EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost the series opener at the University of Tennessee at Martin, 10-4, Friday evening in Martin, Tennessee. USI is 20-25 overall and 9-10 in the OVC, while UTM is 17-27, 8-10 OVC.
The Screaming Eagles, after spotting the Skyhawks an 8-0 lead after two innings, scored three times in the top of the fourth and trailed 8-3. Senior centerfielder Khi Holiday led off with a double and scored on a two-run blast down by junior first baseman Cole Kitchens. The home run was Kitchens’ team-best 11th of the season.
Following a pair of singles and a walk, junior leftfielder Hunter Miller sent a sacrifice fly to left field to score sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd to make the score 8-3.
USI cut the lead in half by the halfway point of the game, 8-4, when Holiday hit a solo home run to left center. The solo blast was Holiday’s second of the year.
UTM got two of the runs back in the bottom of the sixth and re-extended the margin to six, 10-4. The Skyhawks would hold the Eagles scoreless and strand four USI base runners through the final four frames.
Holiday, Kitchens, and Boyd led the Eagles at the plate with two hits each.
On the bump, junior right-hander Blake Kimball started and took the loss. Kimball allowed eight runs on seven hits and four walks, while striking out one in three innings of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles and the Skyhawks continue the series Saturday at 3 p.m. and conclude the three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m.
Following the three-set with UTM, the Eagles return to the USI Baseball Field for the final homestand of the season. The homestand starts Tuesday (May 6) at 6 p.m. when the University of Evansville visits the USI Baseball Field for the first time since 1987.
After USI hosts UE, the Eagles finish the 2025 OVC home schedule by welcoming Southeast Missouri State University for three-game series May 9-11. The homestand concludes May 13 when UE returns to the USI Baseball Field for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
