CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball built a 6-0 lead early before getting an 8-3 win over the University of Illinois Sunday afternoon in Champaign, Illinois. USI is 9-10 in the non-conference season, while Illinois goes to 7-11.
The Screaming Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first, scoring on a ground out by senior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana). The 1-0 lead would stand until the sixth when USI increased the lead to 4-0 with a trio of runs.
USI’s first two runs of the three-run sixth were the result of Illinois miscues. USI sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) crossed the plate with run number two when junior second baseman/first baseman Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri) reached on an error, while Ellis scored to put USI up 3-0 when junior catcher Logan Mock (Livingston, California) reached on second Illini error of the frame.
The Eagles pushed the fourth run of the game and third of the inning when sophomore first baseman Jacob Winzenread (McCordsville, Indiana) used a bunt single to drive in Emerich for a 4-0 lead.
Ellis would strike again for USI to increase the lead to 6-0 when he blasted his third-round tripper of the series and the season. The junior designated hitter’s two-run shot would give him three RBI in the game.
The Illini got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, driving three runs to cut the USI advantage in half. The Eagle re-extended the lead to four runs when senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) gave USI a 7-3 advantage with an RBI single.
USI sealed the 8-3 victory with another tally in the ninth when Niehaus scored after Emerich reached on a ground out.
USI junior right-hander Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana) started and picked up the win. Morris (2-1) allowed three runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out five in 6.2 innings of work.
