USI 6, Saint Joseph's 4 (9 innings)
Saint Joseph's 3, USI 1

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The University of Southern Indiana baseball team split a twinbill with Saint Joseph's College Saturday afternoon at Gil Hodges Field in Rensselaer, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles took the first game, 6-4 in extra innings, but lost the nightcap, 3-1.

USI (21-24 overall, 10-14 GLVC) scored a pair of runs in the top of the third, one in the top of the fourth, and another in the top of the seventh inning as it went into the bottom half of the seventh and final inning clinging to a 4-1 advantage. However, SJC (26-21 overall, 13-12 GLVC) tagged USI for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the first game into extra frames.

In the top of the ninth, USI senior rightfielder Steve Owen (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin) singled with one out. He advanced to second when USI's cleanup hitter and starting pitcher, sophomore Matt Keener (Newburgh, Indiana) was hit by a pitch.

Freshman third baseman Brent Perry (Versailles, Indiana) took advantage of the situation with a single that drove in both runners to give USI a 6-4 lead.

Owen finished the game with a 3-of-4 performance that included a run scored and a pair of RBIs. He also hit his seventh and eighth triples of the year.

Senior right-hander Bowie Johnson (Brazil, Indiana) came on in relief to pick up the win. Johnson (2-5) gave up just one hit while striking out two batters in 1 1/3 innings pitched.

Keener, who gave up just three runs off eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, went 1-of-4 from the plate with a pair of RBIs. Perry finished the game 2-of-5 from the plate with the game-winning RBIs.

In game two, the Eagles scored their only run in the second when Perry doubled and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt by senior catcher Paul Kohler (Arnold, Missouri). However, USI surrendered a run in the bottom of the third inning and two more in the bottom of the fifth inning as it fell 3-1.

Senior hurler Dan Tomashek (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) threw six innings, giving up just three runs off five hits. Despite the solid performance, Tomshek (2-3) was charged with the loss.

USI and SJC will meet Sunday for the rubber-match in the series. First pitch for the single nine-inning affair is slated for noon at Gil Hodges Field.