Box Score: #22 Southern Indiana 5, Henderson State 2

ARKEDELPHIA, Ark.. – The 22nd-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team picked up its first victory of the year with a 5-2 win over Henderson State University Sunday afternoon in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. USI takes its record to 1-3 overall, while Henderson State goes to 4-4.

The squads will finish the three-game series with a doubleheader on Monday at noon. Wet and cold weather forced a schedule change on Sunday.

USI senior left-hander Cory Julian (Lynnville, Indiana) picked up the win for the Eagles. Julian (1-1) earned the win by throwing five shutout innings, while allowing five hits and striking out three.

Julian was followed to the mound by sophomore right-hander Casey Geiger (Albion, Indiana) and junior right-hander Shaun Larsen (Tell City, Indiana). Geiger allowed two runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings, while Larsen got the final out to earn his first save as an Eagle.

Offensively, the Eagles took advantage Reddies fielding mistakes to score five runs in the middle innings. USI opened up a 2-0 lead in the fourth when sophomore shortstop Wes Fink (Clarksville, Tennessee) and junior third baseman Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) scored on a throwing error by HSU third baseman Ryan Ellis.

USI extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth with the help two HSU pass balls. Senior first baseman Matt Pleiss (Newburgh, Indiana) to scored on the first pass ball, while Thieroff, who had advanced to third on the second pass ball, scored on a double-steal attempt.

The Eagles sealed the victory in the sixth sophomore catcher Josh Jarboe (Connersville, Indiana) scored on a sacrifice fly by senior centerfielder Michael Beaven (Indianapolis, Indiana).

Pleiss, Thieroff , and junior outfielder Royle Beach (Aurora, Colorado) were USI's top hitters in the first game of the series with two hits each.