Box Score: #4 CSU 11, #13 USI 2

MONTGOMERY, Ala.. – The 13th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team lost its first game in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship, 11-2, to fourth-ranked Columbus State University Saturday evening at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. The Screaming Eagles fall to 41-22 and see their four game winning streak come to an end, while the Cougars go to 49-18.

USI continues action in the championship series against fifth-ranked Franklin Pierce College Monday at 2:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce, who is 49-10 this season, lost 12-3 to Angelo State University in the first game Saturday. The Ravens gave up 10 runs in the top of the 10th to lose the game.

The Eagles got on the board in the top of the fourth after spotting the Cougars three runs in the first two innings. USI senior rightfielder Hunter Slade (Newburgh, Indiana) scored the Eagles' first run in a championship series on a ground out by junior catcher Garrett Oros (Aurora, Illinois).

Slade had singled to started the inning and advanced to second on a single by sophomore designated hitter Chad Werry (New Harmony, Indiana). The pair moved up to second and third on a sacrifice by sophomore third baseman Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana).

After the Cougars responded with seven unanswered runs to make the score 10-1, the Eagles cut into the lead by manufacturing a run in the eighth. USI junior leftfielder Bryan Rudden (Crystal Lake, Illinois) scored on a ground out by junior second baseman Darin Mastroianni (Huntersville, North Carolina). Rudden had moved to third on a single, a wild pitch, and a fly out.

Columbus State added one more run in the eighth for the 11-2 final.

USI senior right-hander Adam Summers failed in his bid to break the Eagles' single-season record for wins in taking the loss. Summers (8-5) allowed six runs (five earned) in three-plus innings. He was followed to the mound by sophomore right-hander Jeremy Kehrt (Plainfield, Indiana), senior left-hander Brent Wendholt (St. Anthony, Indiana), and senior right-hander Aaron Clark (Madisonville, Indiana).