BOX SCORES AND PLAY-BY-PLAY:
GAME 1: USI 5, Drury 1
GAME 2; Drury 3, USI 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 24th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team split a doubleheader with Drury University Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI extended its school-record winning streak to 15 games with a 5-1 win in the opener, but saw the streak snapped in the nightcap, 3-2.
The Screaming Eagles concluded four-game series with a 25-8 overall mark and 13-3 in the GLVC, while the Panthers go to 14-14, 8-6 GLVC.
The Eagles scored all the runs they would need in the first inning of the opener as they defeated the Panthers, 5-1. USI scored twice in the first inning with the aid of two Drury errors to lead, 2-0. The Eagles would seal the victory on a three-run blast by junior centerfielder Justin Blinn (Vincennes, Indiana) in the bottom sixth for the four-run win.
Junior right-hander Dan Marcacci (Jupiter, Floirida) got the win on the mound for the Eagles after subbing for scheduled starter, senior right-hander Casey Geiger (Albion, Indiana). Marcacci (3-1) allowed five hits and one run, while striking out two in 4.2 innings and his first start since March 23.
Out of the bullpen, junior right-hander Mark Walther (Kankakee, Illinois) and junior left-hander Scott Handley (Schererville, Indiana) held the Panthers in check for an inning and turned the game over to senior closer/shortstop Wandy Rosario (Boston, Massachusetts). Rosario pitched a near perfect 1.1 innings to record his sixth save of the year.
In the nightcap, the Panthers scored twice in the fourth and once in the sixth to defeat the Eagles, 3-2. USI got on the board bottom of the fourth on a RBI-double by junior leftfielder Michael Huling (South Bend, Indiana).
After Blinn drove in junior catcher Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri) to make the score 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, USI left runners at the corners when sophomore second baseman Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky) popped out to end the game.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Josh Schultze (Evansville, Indiana) took the loss for the Eages. Schultze (3-2) allowed three runs on eight hits and three runs in five-plus innings of work.
The Eagles finish their six-game homestand Wednesday when they host Oakland City University for a 6 p.m. single game. USI defeated the Mighty Oaks, 14-4, in the first meeting of the season two weeks ago.
