at Southern Indiana (7-5): 5
#24 Wayne State (Neb.) (3-2): 4
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana baseball team plated four runs in the first inning and took advantage of a late error to plate another in the seventh inning as it downed No. 24 Wayne State College (Neb.) 5-4 Friday afternoon in the first game of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational at the USI Baseball Field.

USI (7-5), which has won four straight and five of its last six, got a three-run triple off the bat of senior pitcher/infielder Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri) had a bunt single two batters later to stake the Screaming Eagles to a 4-0 advantage.

Wayne State (3-2), which had a tally in the top of the second inning to cut into the Eagles' cushion, used a two-run blast off he stick of junior shortstop Eric Bond to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the third inning. Junior catcher John Plasha hit a solo shot two batters later to even the score at four runs apiece.

After five consecutive scoreless innings, the Eagles took advantage of a two-out error to break the stalemate and give themselves a 5-4 edge heading into the final two innings.

The Eagles' bullpen, which combined for 6.2 innings of relief, held the Wildcats scoreless throughout the final six frames to complete the victory.

Sophomore right-handed hurler Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana) picked up the victory, while senior All-American closer Shaun Larsen (Tell City, Indiana) was awarded the save. Leach (3-0) gave up just one hit and one walk in 2.2 innings of work, while Larsen allowed just one hit and a walk in the ninth inning to record his third save of the year.

USI concludes the Dunn Hospitality Invitational Saturday when it hosts Wayne State at 2 p.m. Wayne State also faces Spalding University Saturday at 11 a.m.