Box Score Game 1: Southern Indiana 7, Kentucky Wesleyan 2
Box Score Game 2: Kentucky Wesleyan 2, Southern Indiana 1

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team split its home opening doubleheader with Kentucky Wesleyan College Wednesday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI won the opener, 7-2, but lost the nightcap to KWC, 2-1.

The Screaming Eagles' overall record goes to 3-5, while the Panthers are 1-9 in 2009 after getting their first win of the year.

USI senior leftfielder Chad Werry (New Harmony, Indiana) powered the Eagles to the 7-2 game one victory. Werry hit a three-run homer to left field in the first inning for all of the runs USI would need after KWC took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the inning.

The USI offensive attack also was bolsterd by the two-hit performance of sophomore catcher Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri). Mooney was two-for-two with a double and two RBIs.

On the mound, USI junior right-hander Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana) posted his first win of the year as a starter. Leach (1-0) pitched 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, one earned. He also struck out two batters.

USI sophomore right-hander Cody Brandenstein (Evansville, Indiana) finished the game on the mound for the Eagles. Brandenstein went 1.2 innings, allowing a hit and striking out three.

In the nightcap, the Eagles jumped out in front with a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Wes Fink (Clarksville, Tennessee). Junior first baseman Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois) scored on the play to give USI the early lead.

USI made the run stand up until the Panthers scored the tying run in the fifth and the eventual game winner in the sixth. KWC sophomore right-hander Nick Knight stymied the USI hitters in the nightcap, allowing just one run on six hits.

Offensively, Choate and senior pitcher/designated hitter Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) led the Eagles at the plate with two hits each. Choate was two-for-three with a pair of doubles, while Thieroff was two-for-four with a double.

Thieroff also pitched well in his first start of the year, getting a no decision. The junior right-hander went 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and one run. He also struck out a career-high nine batters.

USI senior right-hander Shaun Larsen (Tell City, Indiana) took the loss in relief for USI. Larsen (1-2) allowed one run on two hits, while striking out two in pair of innings.

The Eagles conclude their first homestand of the season Friday when they host a nine-inning contest with Spalding University at the USI Baseball Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.