@Murray State (1-0): 3 Southern Indiana (0-1): 1

MURRAY, Ky. -- The University of Southern Indiana baseball team fell in the season opener, 3-1, to Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, Thursday afternoon. The season opener for both teams was called after eight innings due to darkness.

The Screaming Eagles took a 1-0 in the first inning. Senior leftfielder Andy Nucci (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) singled to open the inning and stole second. He scored on a wild pitch after advancing to third on a pair walks by senior second baseman Adam Schiff (Evansville, Indiana) and senior rightfielder Steve Owen (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin).

The first inning tally was all of the offense the Eagles could generate in the season's first game. The Racers took the lead with a pair of runs in the second inning and finished the scoring with a tally in the bottom of the seventh.

On the mound for USI, senior left-hander Brian Anderson (Brazil, Indiana) took the loss for the Eagles. He went 3 1/3 innings, allowing just seven hits, two runs, one earned run, and struck out two. Anderson was followed to the mound by junior right-hander Drew Neel (Newburgh, Indiana), senior left-hander Joe Stanisz (Highland, Indiana) and senior right-hander Bowie Johnson (Brazil, Indiana).

The Eagles hope to open the 2003 home schedule Saturday, February 22, when they play the first of three-game series with Purdue University North Central. Game time Saturday is 2 p.m. The series will conclude Sunday, February 23, with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.