The University of Southern Indiana baseball team rallied to defeat the fourth-ranked University of Tampa, 6-3, Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field to win the three-game series. USI watched its record go to 21-17 overall, while Tampa ends the game 32-7.
USI junior lefthander Chase Partain (Evansville, Indiana) led the way for the Eagles with the first complete game of his career. Partain (2-1) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out five.
The junior lefthander worked his way out of jams in the first three innings, allowing the three runs before setting down 11 of the final 13 Tampa hitters.
The Eagles and the Spartans plated a run in the opening frame with USI freshman centerfielder Bryce Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) scoring on a RBI-single by senior leftfieler Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) to even the score, 1-1. Tampa got the lead with a run in the third and fourth to take a 3-1 lead and held the advantage until the bottom of the sixth.
USI evened the score, 3-3 in the sixth when senior rightfielder Buddy Johnson (Shelbyville, Kentucky) singled in sophomore second baseman Jacob Fleming (Evansville, Indiana) and McNamara.
The Eagles took their first lead of the game with a three-run eighth inning. Johnson struck again with a RBI-single to score McNamara for the 4-3 lead, while junior designated hitter Brodie Brown (Carmi, Illinois) sealed the victory with a two-run single  and a 6-3 margin.
Johnson led the Eagles at the plate with two hits and three RBIs, while Brown finished with the two RBIs in the eighth.
USI will be on the road for the next two games with visits to Kentucky Wesleyan College Tuesday for a 3 p.m. game and the University of Evansville Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start. The Eagles start their final homestand of the 2018 regular season next weekend, April 28-29, when they host McKendree University for a four-game GLVC series. Senior Day is April 29.
The final regular-season home game is May 1 when the University of Missouri-St. Louis visits USI for a 6 p.m. contest.
