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GAME SCORE 1: USI 8, UIS 6; GAME SCORE 2: USI 9, UIS 2
CHATAM, Ill. – The 27
th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team started a 10-game road swing with a doubleheader sweep of the University of Illinois Springfield Saturday afternoon in Chatham, Illinois. USI held on to win the opener, 8-6, and out slugged UI Springfield, 9-2, in the nightcap.
The Screaming Eagles see their record go to 13-6 overall and 4-2 in the GLVC, while the Prairie Stars go to 5-14, 0-7 GLVC.
The Eagles made their third lead of the game stand up as they took the opener, 8-6. USI got on the scoreboard first with tally in the top of the third on an RBI single by junior catcher
Colton White (Springfield, Illinois).
After the Prairie Stars rallied to knot up the game 1-1 in the bottom of the third, USI scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to post a 6-1 lead. UI Springfield rallied for a second time with a five-spot in the bottom of the seventh to tie game one at 6-6.
USI took the lead for good in the top of the seventh when junior designated hitter
B.J. Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored when White reached on an error with two outs. The Eagles would pick up an insurance run in the top of the ninth after senior second baseman
Ryan Kaczmarski (Mishawaka, Indiana) scored on a wild pitch for the eventual final score of 8-6.
On the mound, junior right-handers
Ben Lady (Louisville, Kentucky) and
Matthew Davidson (St. Charles, Missouri) posted scoreless innings out of the bullpen to finish the game. Lady (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one, for his first win as an Eagle. Davidson (St. Charles, Missouri) allowed two runners in the ninth, but closed out the game to post his third save of the season.
In the nightcap, the Eagles three straight doubles ignited a four-run first inning as they flew to a 9-2 win in the nightcap. USI followed the four-run first with one more in the second, and two more in the fifth and seventh innings to secure the victory.
USI was led in the nightcap by senior designated hitter
Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri) and junior left-handed pitcher
Adam Carver (Arthur, Illinois). Mooney was three-for-three with a pair of doubles and three RBIs at the plate. He also scored a run.
Carver (3-2) won his third game of the season by throwing his first complete game of the year. He allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and four walks, while striking out five in his seven innings of work.
USI continues the road trip Sunday when it travels to Quincy University for a noon doubleheader. The next home dates for the Eagles are April 6-7 when they host Bellarmine University at the USI Baseball Field.