BOX SCORES AND PLAY-BY-PLAY: USI 12, UMSL 11
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 24th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to come from behind and defeat the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 12-11, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI takes its record to 14-7 overall and 4-2 in the GLVC, while UMSL falls to 3-16, 0-7 GLVC.
After spotting the Tritons a 4-0 lead in the top of the third, the Screaming Eagles rebounded with eight unanswered in the bottom of the third and fourth to take the lead. USI scored six times on seven hits in the bottom of the third to take a 6-4 lead and increased the margin to 8-4 in the fourth with two runs on two hits.
UMSL cut the lead to 8-5 in the top of the fifth, but USI increased the lead back to four, 9-5, without the aid of a hit in the bottom half of the inning. The Tritons countered with a six-run sixth to take back the lead, 11-9.
The Eagles cut the two-run lead to 11-10 on a RBI double by sophomore second baseman Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky) in the bottom of the eighth. Junior designated hitter Craig Heinz (Vincennes, Indiana) scored on the double after reaching on a one-out walk and set the stage for the ninth.
In the ninth, junior first baseman Adam Enright (Hammond, Indiana) started the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He scored the tying run on a single to right field by senior rightfielder Caleb Ehmke (Waterloo, Indiana). Ehmke would score the game-winner two batters later on a single to left by junior leftfielder Michael Huling (South Bend, Indiana).
For the game, Ehmke led the Eagles by going three-for-five with two runs scored, and three RBIs, Enright followed with two-for-four performance, scoring a pair of runs scored and driving in two more.
On the mound, junior right-hander Mark Walther (Kankakee, Illinois) recorded his first win as an Eagle out of the bullpen. Walther (1-2) allowed one hit and struck out one, while pitching two scoreless innings.
Junior right-hander Taylor Dennis (Covington, Indiana) started for the Eagles and went the five-plus innings. Dennis allowed 10 hits and six runs (five earned) before giving way to sophomore right-hander Josh Schultze (Evansville, Indiana) and junior left-hander Scott Handley (Schererville, Indiana) in the sixth.
USI and UMSL concluded the series in St. Louis, Missouri, with a noon doubleheader on Sunday. The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field Wednesday when they host Oakland City University for a 6 p.m. contest.
