BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind.  – University of Southern Indiana senior right-hander Dan Marcacci (Jupiter, Florida) rescued the 16^th-ranked Screaming Eagles with 7.1 innings of relief work in a 7-2 victory over Northern Kentucky University Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI raises its record to 21-9 overall and 13-3 in the GLVC, while NKU falls to 16-15, 6-10 GLVC.

 

Marcacci (1-1) shutdown the Norse on three hits and a walk, allowing only one run in the sixth. He also struck out four batters in his longest appearance of the season.

 

USI senior right-hander Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois) started for the Eagles, but left in the second inning with an arm injury. Choate got the no-decision after allowing three hits and one run in 1.2 innings.

 

At the plate, the Eagles pounded the Norse hurlers with 13 hits in scoring seven times. USI produced all of the offense it would need with a three-run rally in the third inning before sealing the victory with two runs in the fourth and the sixth.

 

Leading the way for the Eagles was senior centerfielder Justin Blinn (Vincennes, Indiana) and senior second baseman Ben Griggs (Evansville, Indiana). Blinn was three-for-five with a run scored, three RBIs, and a double, while Griggs was two-for four with two RBIs and a pair of triples.

 

Griggs, who recorded the first two triples of his USI career in the win, ignited the three-run third inning with a two-run triple and scored the eventual game winner when Blinn reached on an error.

 

USI starts a six-game road swing next weekend when it travels to Lewis University for a pair of noon doubleheaders on April 16-17. The road trip concludes April 19 with a 1 p.m. double at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

 

The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field April 22 when they start their final regular season homestand against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.