USI Swept Doubleheader From University of Illinois Springfield
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 30th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team returned to form and swept a doubleheader from University of Illinois Springfield, 9-1 and 14-1, Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI saw its record rise to 16-10 overall, 5-3 in the GLVC, while Illinois Springfield finished the series 11-12 overall, 4-4 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles got back on track in the opening game behind the strong seven-inning performance of junior right-hander Devin Williams (Evansville, Indiana). Williams (3-3) held the Prairie Stars to one run on seven hits and a walk, while striking out six in the complete game win.
Offensively, the Eagles jumped out in front with a three-run third inning, highlighted by the two-run double by senior first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana). USI would add a run in the fourth, two in the fifth, and three more in the sixth to seal the victory.
USI senior third baseman Trent Gunn (Tell City, Indiana) led the way at the plate with three hits and three runs scored. Cope and sophomore first baseman/designated hitter Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) had two RBIs each in the contest.
In the nightcap, USI senior rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) drove in a career-high five runs and freshman right-hander Austin Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) gave the Eagles seven strong innings in the 14-1 win. The Eagles scored all of the runs they would need in a five-run second inning before pushing nine more tallies across the plate over the next five frames to seal the victory.
Kempf finished the second game four-for-four, tying a career-high for hits for the fifth time in his career, while driving in the five RBIs and scoring once. Senior centerfielder Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) followed with three RBIs and three runs scored, while sophomore second baseman Sam Griggs(Evansville, Indiana) posted three hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored in the series finale.
On the mound, Krizan (2-0) was dominating through seven of the nine innings. He scattered three hits and three walks, while striking out three. Junior right-hander Nick Coudret (Newburgh, Indiana) and senior right-hander Ben Blaize (Henderson, Kentucky) pitched the final two innings to close out the game.
USI hits the road for the next 10 games, beginning the re-scheduled non-conference game versus the University of Missouri-St. Louis Wednesday at 2 p.m. in St. Louis, Missouri. The Eagles hold a 49-41 lead over the Tritons all-time after splitting a four-game series in 2015 in St. Louis.
The Tritons are 18-7 overall in 2016 after splitting a four-game series with William Jewell College over the weekend.
