Box Score: USI 2, SVSU 0

AKRON, Ohio. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team advanced in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Division II North Central Regional with a 2-0 victory over Saginaw Valley State University Friday evening in Akron, Ohio. Fifth-seeded USI raises its record to 39-21 overall, while fourth-seeded SVSU goes to 33-13 in 2007.

The 39 victories are just two short of the USI record of 41 set by the 1993 squad.

USI advances to play top-seeded Grand Valley State University at 10 a.m. (CDT). The 6th-ranked Lakers are 44-7 overall after stealing a 5-4 win over Drury University to begin the tournament and a coming-from-behind 6-5 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville today.

The Eagles were led this evening by junior left-hander Cory Julian (Lynnville, Indiana). Julian threw his fifth complete game and second shut of the year, allowing just two hits and only three batters to reach base. He also had six strike outs.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the first inning when SVSU second baseman dropped a pop up, scoring junior first baseman Matt Pleiss (Newburgh, Indiana). Pleiss had reached on a one-out single and advanced to second on a single by junior second baseman Darin Mastroianni (Huntersville, North Carolina).

USI sealed the victory with a run in the sixth when Mastroianni scored on an RBI double by senior rightfielder Hunter Slade (Newburgh, Indiana). The RBI was the 60th of the season for Slade, making him the third Eagle all-time to have reach the 60 RBI mark in a season.

Mastroianni, who was three-for-four in the game, had reached on a single and advanced into scoring position on his 56th stolen base of the year.

For more information about the North Central Regional, click here .