EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team scored eight unanswered runs to defeat the University of Illinois Springfield, 9-6, in the Dunn Hospitality Tournament at the USI Baseball Field Saturday night. USI rises to 7-5 overall, while UIS falls to 2-6.
After Screaming Eagles scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, the Prairie Stars touched USI senior right-hander Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana) for five runs in the top of the second on six hits. Leach (3-1) would later pick up the win by allowing one run and four hits in the final seven innings.
The Eagles started their comeback in the bottom of the third when senior leftfielder Michael Huling (South Bend, Indiana) plated three runs with a bases loaded double to close the game to 5-4.
USI took the lead 6-5 in the bottom half of the fourth. Freshman rightfielder Brad Wannemuehler (Evansville, Indiana) ignited the rally by circling the bases on a RBI double and a UIS throwing error.
A three-run sixth would seal the victory for the Eagles, but the Prairie Stars would not go quietly with a run in the eighth.
USI and UIS resume the Dunn Hospitality Tournament Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the USI Baseball Field. The Eagles' final game in the tournament will be Sunday at 5:30 p.m. versus St. Cloud State University.
