University of Southern Indiana Baseball bounced back in the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split with McKendree University Friday afternoon in Lebanon, Illinois. USI lost a heartbreaker in the opener, 12-11, and won the nightcap 4-2.
The Screaming Eagles go to 13-12 overall and 10-8 in the GLVC, while McKendree ends the afternoon 11-11, 4-10 GLVC.
Game 1:
USI hit four home runs in the opening game, but the blasts were not enough as McKendree walked off with a 12-11 victory.
The Eagles blasted their way to a 6-1 lead after three-and-half frames that included three home runs. Senior shortstop Kobe Stephens started the scoring for the Eagles with a RBI single in the second for a 1-0 lead, while senior rightfielder Manny Lopez upped the lead to 3-0 with a two-run blast in the third.
After the Bearcats got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, sophomore center fielder Austin Moody got the run back to start the fourth with a solo shot, while junior second baseman Ethan Hunter put the Eagles up 6-1 with a two-run round-tripper to cap off the fourth.
McKendree closed the gap to 6-4 with a three-run home run of their own in the bottom of the fourth. The Eagles re-extend the margin to 8-4 in the sixth, but the Bearcats bounced back with two more to get within two again, 8-6.
The Eagles regained a five-run lead in the top of the ninth when senior catcher Wyatt Daly hit a two-run shot and freshman first baseman Adam Wildeman knocked in Hunter with a sacrifice fly for an 11-6 margin.
In the ninth, USI’s bullpen could not stop McKendree, which scored six times on five hits to conclude the walk-off 12-11 victory. Senior right-hander Paul Perez allowed the first two runs in the final frame, while freshman right-hander Carter Stamm (2-1) gave up the final three for the loss.
Game 2:
USI built a 3-0 lead in the nightcap and held on to earn a doubleheader split, 4-2.
USI senior rightfielder Manny Lopez gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the second inning to get the Eagles rolling. The home run was Lopez’s seventh of the season and his third-straight game with a round tripper.
The Eagle would up the lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth when freshman first baseman Adam Wildeman reached on an error that scored senior shortstop Bryce Krizan and sophomore centerfielder Austin Moody.
The Bearcats would cut the 3-0 advantage to 3-2 with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the fifth. That would be as close as McKendree would in game two as Moody would seal the 4-2 victory for the Eagles in the top of the seventh by scoring on a wild pitch.
On the mound, USI sophomore right-hander Garrett Welch picked up his second win of the season. Welch (2-2) allowed one run on one hit and four walks, while striking out four in 4.1 innings of work.
Senior right-hander Tyler Hagedorn posted team-best second save of the season in relief. Hagedorn blanked the Bearcats for 2.2 innings, allowing two walks and striking out three. The senior right-hander (84) needs two more appearances to tie Trevor Leach (86; 2008-11) for the USI all-time record for trips to the mound in an Eagles’ uniform.
