Box Score Game 1: Southern Indiana 6, Drury 4 (8)

Box Score: Southern Indiana 7, Drury 6


SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. – The 24th-ranked University of Sothern Indiana baseball team concluded the 2008 regular season on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Drury University, 6-4 and 7-6, Sunday afternoon in Springfield, Missouri. USI raises its records to 36-18 overall and 24-7 in the GLVC, while Drury fall to 27-22 overall, 15-14 GLVC.

The Screaming Eagles, the number one seed from the GLVC West Division, will play the University of Indianapolis, the number one wild card from the East Division, at noon Thursday in the first round of the conference tournament. The Greyhounds finished the year 36-19 overall, 20-12 in the GLVC.

In the opener, the Eagles let a four-run lead slip away before playing an extra inning to win 6-4. USI junior rightfielder Chad Werry (New Harmony, Indiana) provided the Eagles with the margin of victory with a two-run single in the eighth.

The win on the mound went to junior right-handed closer Shaun Larsen (Tell City, Indiana). Larsen (4-1) had a chance to earn the record-setting save, but a pair of USI defensive miscues of fly balls in the sun allowed Drury to tie the game 4-4 and force the extra frame.

The Eagles scored the first four runs of the game in the first inning. Senior first baseman Matt Pleiss (Newburgh, Indiana) knocked in junior second baseman Josh Huebner (Evansville, Indiana) with the first run of the game on a single and later scored on a two-run home run by junior third baseman Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) to make the score 3-0.

Werry concluded the scoring in the opening frame after doubling, advancing to third on a sacrifice, and crossing the plate on a ground ball to give the Eagles a 4-0 margin.

USI senior left-hander Cory Julian (Lynnville, Indiana) started the game for the Eagles and got a no-decision. Julian went five innings and allowed two runs on nine hits before giving way to sophomore right-hander Casey Geiger (Albion, Indiana) in the sixth. Julian also struck out five Panther hitters.

The Eagles won the nightcap in dramatic fashion as junior leftfielder Royle Beach (Aurora, Colorado) made a diving catch with the tying and winning runs on base to preserve the 7-6 USI win.

USI junior right-hander Michael Dewig (Haubstadt, Indiana) picked up his third win in relief. Dewig (3-0), who followed junior left-hander Patrick Crider (Owensboro, Kentucky) and Geiger to the mound, went 1 2/3 innings and set the stage for Larsen career record appearance.

Larson set the USI career record and extended his single-season mark with his 17th save of the season, breaking the mark set by left-hander Mike Fetscher (1992-95).  The right-hander threw two innings in game two, allowing three hits and one run, while striking out two.