BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind.  – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team pulled its record back to the .500 mark with a 5-2 win over Wayne State College Wednesday evening to conclude Tuesday's suspended game in the Dunn Hospitality Tournament at the USI Baseball Field.USI rises to 5-5, while WSC falls to 2-6

 

The Screaming Eagles opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning. Junior shortstop Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky) started the rally with a two-out single, advancing to third after stealing second and a bunt single by senior centerfielder Justin Blinn (Vincennes, Indiana).

 

Vance scored on a double steal with Blinn to make the score 1-0. Blinn crossed the plate to give USI a 2-0 lead on a RBI double by senior pitcher/designated hitter Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois).

 

USI increased the margin to 3-0 in the bottom of the second on a one-out bases-loaded single by freshman rightfielder Brad Wannemuehler (Evansville, Indiana), scoring senior first baseman Adam Enright (Hammond, Indiana).

 

The Wildcats cut the Eagles' lead to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third.

 

USI responded with its second two-run rally in the bottom of the fifth. Blinn, who had three hits in the game, came home with USI's fourth run on a RBI double by senior leftfielder Michael Huling (South Bend, Indiana). Huling later scored USI's fifth tally on a dropped fly ball by WSC leftfielder Justin Beranek.

 

The Eagles received dominating starting pitching from Choate on Tuesday and senior right-handed reliever Dan Marcacci (Jupiter, Florida) on Wednesday. Choate (2-0) picked up the win after going seven innings Tuesday, allowing five hits and two runs. He also struck out six.

 

As play resumed Wednesday, Marcacci picked up were Choate left off. The senior, after allowing a pair of hits to start the eighth, earned his first save of the season by striking out five of the next six batters.

 

The Eagles resume the Dunn Hospitality Tournament Friday at 6 p.m. at the USI Baseball Field when they play the University of Illinois Springfield.