USI rallies to earn a series split with Quincy

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball rallied to earn a series split with Quincy University by posting a 6-4 win Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles are 13-13 overall and 2-2 in the GLVC, while Quincy is 14-12, 5-3 in the league.   
 
USI spotted Quincy a pair of runs in the opening frame before rallying to tie the game in the bottom half to tie the score, 2-2. Sophomore designated hitter Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky) opened the scoring for USI with an RBI-double to left center before sophomore rightfielder Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) knocked the tying run across with a single to center.
 
The score remained tied, 2-2, until the fifth when the Eagles and Hawks pushed in their third runs of the game. USI junior leftfielder Evan Kahre (Evansvlle, Indiana) started USI’s fifth with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice, and scored on a ground out by junior centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan).
 
The Eagles evaded a Hawk rally in the sixth and broke the 3-3 tie in the eighth when USI scored three times to take a 6-3 advantage. Junior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) broke the tie with a RBI-single to left center and was followed by a RBI-sacrifice fly by McLarty for the eventual game winning run. Robinson sealed the victory with a sacrifice fly for a 6-3 lead.
 
The Hawks challenged in the ninth with back-to-back doubles to cut the USI lead to 6-4 before the Eagles closed the door on the win.
 
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Carter Stamm (Jasper, Indiana) posted his second win of the year in relief. Stamm (2-1) permitted one run in four innings of work, allowing two hits and three walks, while striking out four.
 
USI junior left-hander Sammy Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) finished ninth for his first save of the season, setting down both of the batters he faced.
 
The Eagles started game with junior right-hander Garrett Welch (New Castle, Indiana), going the first 4.1 innings. Welch allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
 
 Up Next for the Eagles:
USI returns to the road for its first road trip of the 2022 GLVC schedule, visiting the University of Illinois Springfield April 8-10 in Springfield, Illinois. The Eagles hold a 23-15 all-time series lead over the Prairie Stars, despite dropping four of five last season (three of four during the regular seaosn; one in the GLVC Tournament).
 
Illinois Springfield is 20-6 overall after sweeping a non-conference series with the University of Missouri-St. Louis last week. The Stars have won three of their last four, but are 1-3 in the GLVC.