GAME 1 BOX SCORE: USI 7, AASU 3
GAME 2 BOX SCORE: AASU 8, USI 7
SAVANNAH, Ga. — The 29th -ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team concluded the first half of a season-opening road trip with a doubleheader split at Armstrong Atlantic State University Sunday afternoon in Savannah, Georgia. USI (2-1) took the first game, 7-3, but AASU (4-2) came-from-behind to take the nightcap, 8-7.
Four USI hurlers combined to scatter 13 AASU hits as the Screaming Eagles took game one. Junior right-hander Taylor Dennis (Covington, Indiana) led the way for the Eagles, allowing one run on seven hits through the first six innings. Dennis also struck out three batters.
At the plate, junior catcher Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri) and junior leftfielder Justin Blinn (Vincennes, Indiana) banged out two hits and drove in a RBI each to lead the way for the Eagles. Senior second baseman/right-handed pitcher Wandy Rosario (Boston, Massachusetts) also highlighted the USI offensive attack with his first home run as an Eagle to lead off the game.
In the nightcap, AASU used a four-run eighth inning to salvage a victory in the three game series. USI jumped out in front for the third straight game and had leads of 4-1 and 7-3, but could not hold off the Pirates.
USI junior right-hander Mark Walther (Kankakee, Illinois) took the loss in relief in the nightcap. Walther allowed four runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
The Eagles started the game with junior right-hander Dan Marcacci (Jupiter, Florida), who gave up four runs and seven hits during seven innings of work. Junior right-hander Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana) finished the game for USI, working a third of an inning.
Offensively, Rosario and junior first baseman Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois) led the attack with two hits each. Rosario also scored a pair of runs, while Choate scored twice and knocked in two more. Senior catcher Kyle Rowley (Indianapolis, Indiana) had a career-high three RBIs in the game with a first inning three-run double.
USI resumes action on the road next weekend when it travels to Russellville, Arkansas, to play Arkansas Tech University Friday at 3 p.m. The Eagles conclude the trip to Arkansas with a neutral site doubleheader against Missouri Western State University Saturday at noon.
