Box Score: USI 9, UMR 8

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team erased a 7-0 deficit and came-from-behind to defeat the University of Missouri-Rolla, 9-8, Tuesday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI raises its record 19-9 overall and 10-6 in the GLVC, while UMR falls to 12-15 overall, 5-12 GLVC.

After a pair of comebacks, the Screaming Eagles scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. USI sophomore pinch runner Chad Werry (New Harmony, Indiana) scored the winning run when junior pinch-hitter Josh Malone (Chesterton, Indiana) singled to left. Werry was running for junior designated hitter Matt Pleiss (Newburgh, Indiana), who singled up the middle to start the inning.

USI freshman right-hander Casey Geiger (Albion, Indiana) recorded his first collegiate win for the Eagles. Geiger (1-0) went 3.1 innings, allowing just two hits.

The first inning was almost disastrous for the Eagles. USI committed five fielding errors in the first inning that resulted in a 7-0 Miner lead.

USI senior right-hander Aaron Clark (Madisonville, Kentucky) started for the Eagles, going four innings. Clark allowed seven hits and eight runs (one earned), while striking out four.

The Eagles started its comeback in the bottom of the first inning with three runs. USI would go on to score a pair of tallies in the second and third innings to tie the score, 7-7.

UMR retook the lead, 8-7, with a run in the top fifth, before USI tied the score once more in the bottom of the eighth. USI knotted up the score at eight all when junior second baseman Darin Mastroianni (Huntersville, North Carolina) singled in junior leftfielder Bryan Rudden (Crystal Lake, Illinois) to set up the ninth inning.

Mastroianni led the Eagles at the plate Tuesday by going three-for-five with a run scored and two RBIs.

After a 15 minute rain delay, the Eagles blocked the Miners from taking the lead for a third time when junior centerfielder Michael Beaven (Indianapolis, Indiana) threw out UMR centerfielder Gerad Fox at the plate.

USI will leave GLVC action for one game this week when it travels across town to the University of Evansville for the "Battle at the Braun" Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Eagles resume GLVC action Saturday and Sunday when Southern Illinois University Edwardsville visits the USI Baseball Field for a four-game series.