Box Score Game 1: Bellarmine 9, USI 2

Box Score Game 2: USI 3, Bellarmine 1

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team remained in first place in the GLVC by a half-game by splitting a doubleheader with Bellarmine University Wednesday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. Bellarmine took the first game, 9-2, while USI bounced back to take the nightcap, 3-1.

USI's record goes to 33-15 overall and 21-11 in the GLVC, while Bellarmine is 24-24, 20-11 GLVC.

USI senior left-hander Brent Wendholt (St. Anthony, Indiana) continued to have the hot hand in pitching the Eagles to a 3-1 victory. Wendholt (5-2) scattered nine hits and allowed one run in 6.1 innings of work. He also struck out two hitters.

In his last eight appearances, Wendholt has won four-straight starts and has a 0.62 ERA. He had a 1-2 record and an 11.70 ERA in his first four appearances of the season.

USI sophomore right-hander Dan Kissel (Evansville, Indiana) entered the game in the seventh and got the Eagles and Wendholt out of first-and-third one-out jam. Kissel allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings of work before giving way to senior right-hander Adam Vetter (Crown Point, Indiana) in the ninth.

Vetter picked up his second save of the year by pitching a nearly flawless final inning, allowing one hit.

Offensively, USI scored three runs on five hits. USI junior leftfielder Bryan Rudden (Crystal Lake, Illinois) and freshman catcher Josh Jarboe (Connersville, Indiana) had RBI singles to lead the attack.

In the opener, the Knights grounded the Eagles to win 9-2.

USI senior right-hander Aaron Clark (Madisonville, Indiana) had a rough outing, allowing six hits and five runs in the first two innings and took the loss. The Eagles also did not support Clark (3-2) offensively, producing only six hits with three coming in the final inning.

The first game highlight for the Eagles was a pair of stolen bases by junior second baseman Darin Mastroianni (Huntersville, North Carolina), who stole his 41st and 42nd bases in 44 attempts.

The Eagles return to action Friday night when they open a three-game series with the University of Indianapolis at Bosse Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The remainder of the series will be played at the USI Baseball Field Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday's start time will be 2 p.m. for Varsity Club Day, while Sunday's will be 1 p.m. for Senior Day.