PULLMAN, Wash. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball left the bases loaded in the ninth in losing to Washington State University, 7-5, Friday afternoon in Pullman, Washington. The Eagles watch their record go to 6-3, while WSU goes to 8-1.
USI had an uphill climb after WSU jumped out to a 4-0 lead with three in the first and one in the second. The Eagles rallied to cut the deficit to one run, with a three-run third inning and tied the score with a tally in the sixth.
USI junior designated hitter Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky) put the Eagles on the scoreboard in the third with a RBI-single, while freshman second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) shrank the deficit to one run, 4-3, with a two-run triple. The Eagles knotted the score in the sixth, 4-4, when senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas).
The Cougar bats came back to life to regain the lead 7-4 by scoring a tally in the seventh and sealed the eventual victory with two runs in the eighth for a 7-4 advantage.
The Eagles tried to rally in the ninth, but fell short after loading the bases with no outs. Niehaus, who led USI with three RBIs in the game, drove in a run with a RBI-single to cut the deficit to two, but the Cougar hurlers struck a pair of USI hitters to stranded a trio of Eagles on base as they closed out the 7-5 final.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Adam Weihe (Louisville, Kentucky) took the loss for USI relief. Weihe allowed one run on four hits, while striking out five in three innings of work.
Eagles’ sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) started for USI and picked up the no-decision. Hutson gave up four runs on six hits and a pair of walks in 2.2 innings of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Cougars continue the three-game series Saturday with a 4:05 p.m. (CST) first pitch. The three-game slate concludes Sunday and is scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m.
Following the three-game series at WSU, the Eagles come back to the Midwest and will visit Austin Peay State University on March 7 before hosting Oakland University for a three-game slate at the USI Baseball Field March 10-12.
