RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The 13th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball lost wild game in the bottom of the ninth at Arkansas Tech University, 10-9, Sunday afternoon in Russellville, Arkansas. USI falls to 2-3 overall, while ATU goes to 5-4.

 

The Wonder Boys' rightfielder Colt Loehrs hit a home run off of freshman right-hander Jim Mulvaney (Mt. Vernon, Illinois) with two-outs in the bottom of the ninth. The walk-off home run completed a game of big innings and momentum swings.

 

The Screaming Eagles spotted the Wonder Boys a 5-0 lead after ATU scored five times in the second inning. USI cut the lead to 5-1 in the top of the fifth when junior catcher Jarrod Rose (Mishawaka, Indiana) hit his first home run as an Eagle.

 

One inning later after ATU got the run back in the bottom of the fifth, USI proceeded to erase a second five-run deficit by crossing the plate eight times in the top of the sixth. Junior shortstop Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky) capped off the eight-run rally with a grand slam to give USI a 9-6 advantage.

 

The Wonder Boys bounced right back with a three-spot in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game, 9-9, and set the stage for the ninth.

 

Mulvaney (1-1) took the loss after 3.1 innings of work. He allowed a total of two hits and one run, while striking out one.

 

USI senior right-hander Taylor Dennis (Covington, Indiana) started on the mound for the Eagle, lasting one innings and 10 batters. He allowed two hits and five runs, while walking five.

 

Senior designated hitter/right-handed pitcher Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois) followed Dennis to the mound. Choate worked 4.1 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and a pair of walks.

 

The Eagles open the 2011 home schedule Friday at 3 p.m. when they start a three-game series with the University of Montevallo. The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday at noon.