EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball pounded out 17 hits in winning the series opener with Eastern Illinois University, 13-6, Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI, which has won three-straight games, is 20-22 overall and 9-7 in the OVC, while EIU is 21-18, 9-6 OVC.
The Screaming Eagles spotted the Panthers leads of 3-0 and 4-1 before using a three-run fourth inning to tie the game, 4-4. Junior shortstop Clayton Slack drove in the first two runs of the frame with a single to right center, while sophomore second baseman Parker Martin drove in the tying run with a double to left center.
USI would take its first lead of the game, 6-4, in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI-groundout by junior designated hitter Charlie Marisca and an RBI single up the middle by junior leftfielder Hunter Miller. The Eagles would carry the two-run advantage into the sixth when they increased the margin to 7-4 when Martin scored on an RBI ground out by senior centerfielder Khi Holiday.
After the Panthers closed the gap to 7-5 in the top of the seventh, the Eagles pushed the lead back to 8-5 when Miller struck again with an RBI double to right center in the bottom half of the frame. USI sealed the victory with another five runs in the bottom of the eighth for the 13-6 victory.
Martin, Miller, and sophomore Cameron Boyd led the Eagles in the victory with three hits each. Boyd, Miller, Marisca, and Slack also tied for the team lead with two RBIs apiece.
On the bump, USI junior right-hander Blake Kimball got back on track with his team-best fifth win of the year. Kimball, who won for the first time in three decisions, allowed four runs on nine hits and three walks. The junior right-hander also struck out a season-high six batters.
