MOREHEAD, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball stopped a nineth inning Morehead State University rally to win 8-7 Friday evening in Morehead, Kentucky. USI is 12-14 overall and 3-2 in the OVC, while MSU goes to 15-12, 2-3 OVC.
The MSU Eagles plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to get the early 2-0 lead. USI junior catcher Logan Mock (Livermore, California) and junior rightfielder Adam Euler (Evansville, Indiana) evened the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth with back-to-back home runs to lead off the frame.
After a one-out walk to junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela), junior second baseman Land Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) blasted a two-run homer to right center to give the Screaming Eagles a 4-2 lead in the middle of the fourth.
Following a two-run MSU rally that tied the score, 4-4, in the bottom of the sixth, USI took the lead for good with a run in the seventh for a 5-4 lead. Euler would strike again with an RBI single to right, plating senior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas).
USI sealed the victory with a three-run eighth inning extending the margin to 8-4. Sophomore second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) made the score 6-5 with a run-scoring double down the left field line, while junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) finished the USI scoring with a two-run home run to right field for the 8-4 advantage.
The MSU Eagles would make a game of it in the final two innings. MSU cut the USI advantage to 8-5 with a tally in the eighth before threatening in the Screaming Eagles in the ninth.
After cutting the USI lead to 8-7, MSU loaded the bases with two out before the Screaming Eagles’ junior right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) shut door on the USI victory. The save was Hutson’s team-high fourth of the year.
The victory on the mound went to junior right-hander Gavin Wilson (Lee’s Summit, Missouri). Wilson (2-1) went 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits in addition to striking out three batters.
USI junior right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) started and got a no decision. Seebold gave up four runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out three in five innings.
