BOX SCORE: Bellarmine 7, USI 4; PHOTO GALLERY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 19th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team had missed opportunities and committed four errors in losing a non-conference contest to Bellarmine University, 7-4, Wednesday night at the USI Baseball Field. USI falls to 9-5 overall, while Bellarmine goes to 7-10.
A pitcher's duel through the first three with both teams missing opportunities to score in the second inning. Bellarmine left a runner at third, while USI stranded three runners after loading the bags to lead off the bottom half of the inning. USI would strand 12 runners in the game.
The Eagles posted the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Junior catcher Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri) led off with a single and moved into scoring position by stealing second. He would score on an RBI single by junior designated hitter Todd Martin (Rockport, Indiana).
After Bellarmine bounced back to tie the score, 1-1, in the top of the fifth, the Knights took their first lead of the game on a lead-off home run to start the sixth. The Eagles responded by scoring three runs and retook the lead when they sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom half of the frame.
USI tied the score when senior shortstop Wandy Rosario (Boston Massachusetts) drove in a run by being hit by a pitch after the Eagles loaded the bases with two outs. Martin scored his second run of the game when the Knight's pitcher Kyle Swatalski threw wildly to first in a failed attempt to pick off Rosario, giving USI a 3-2 lead.
After a walk to sophomore second baseman Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky) to reload the bases, the Eagles extended the lead to 4-2 on a bases loaded walk by junior centerfielder Justin Blinn (Vincennes, Indiana) to drive in a run.
Bellarmine strung four runs in the next two innings to retake the lead, including a three-run eighth. The Knights would seal the victory with a single tally in the ninth before setting the Eagles went down in the bottom half of ninth.
USI left-hander Scott Handley (Schererville, Indiana) took the loss for the Eagles. The only runner Handley (0-1) faced reached on an error and came around to score the go-ahead run in the eighth.
USI sophomore right-hander Josh Schultze (Evansville, Indiana) started and received a no-decision in his first start of the year. Schultze allowed 10 hits and three runs, while striking out four in 6.2 innings of work.
The Eagles continue the homestand this weekend when they start 2010 GLVC action at the USI Baseball Field. USI starts league play by hosting the University of Indianapolis Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. before finishing the 12-game homestand with a doubleheader against Kentucky Wesleyan College Sunday at 1 p.m.
