Box Score: Southern Indiana 5, Bellarmine 4

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team held on to win on the road at Bellarmine University, 5-4, Thursday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky. USI raises its record to 33-11 overall, while Bellarmine falls to 28-17.

After spotting the Knights a run in the first inning, the Screaming Eagles bounced back to take the lead, 2-1, with a pair of tallies in the fourth. The runs crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by senior rightfielder Chad Werry (Newburgh, Indiana) and a RBI-single by junior shortstop Wes Fink (Clarksville, Tennessee).

Bellarmine pulled back even with a run in the bottom half of the fourth, but USI replied with two more runs in the top of the fifth to lead 4-2. Junior first baseman Caleb Ehmke (Waterloo, Indiana) doubled with one out and scored on a single by sophomore catcher Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri), who advanced third on a single by senior third baseman Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) and scored on a wild pitch to give the Eagles a two-run cushion.

USI scored the eventual game-winning run in the seventh. Senior centerfielder Royle Beach (Aurora, Colorado) opened the inning with a walk and later scored on Mooney's second RBI single of the game to give the Eagles a 5-2 margin.

The Knights tried to come back, getting runs across the plate in the seventh and eighth, before the Eagles' bullpen once again closed the door. USI senior right-hander Shaun Larsen (Tell City, Indiana) recorded his 15th save of the season with a near perfect ninth inning. Larsen is just two saves away from tying the singles-season record of 17 that he established last year.

Junior right-hander D.J. Smith (Vincennes, Indiana) started and picked up his fifth win of the year for the Eagles. Smith (5-1) allowed four hits and two runs, while striking out five in six innings of work.

Sandwiched between Smith and Larsen was an inning by junior right-hander Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana) and junior right-hander/designated hitter Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois).

USI returns to play in Evansville this weekend when it host Indiana State University at Bosse Field Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for children under 14. USI students are admitted free with a valid University I.D.

The Eagles finished the 2009 home schedule Sunday when they have Senior Day and host Oakland City at the USI Baseball Field. USI will honor the eight seniors prior to the 3 p.m. first pitch.