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Game Score: USI 4, UIS 2

EVANSVILLE, Ind.  – University of Southern Indiana senior right-handed pitcher Scott Cole (Patrick, Virginia) threw 134 pitches to lead the 27th-ranked Screaming Eagles to a 4-2 victory over the University of Illinois Springfield Friday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI rises to 8-4 overall, while UIS goes to 1-4 in 2012.
 
Cole (3-1) allowed two unearned runs on three hits and five walks, while striking out a season-high 11 batters to win his third of the season.  
 
The Eagles took advantage of a two-out error by the Prairie Star to lead 1-0 in the second inning. Senior shortstop Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky), who had singled and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and a walk, scored when senior catcher Jarrod Rose (Mishawaka, Indiana) reached on the two-out gift.
 
USI increased the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third. Junior rightfielder B.J. Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) doubled to lead off the third and advanced to third on a balk. He would cross the plate with USI's second tally of the game on a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Reece Rounder (Evansville, Indiana).
 
The Prairie Stars cut the Eagles' lead in half with a tally in the top of the fourth. The score would remain 2-1 until the Prairie Stars helped the Eagles push a third run across the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Senior leftfielder Bryan Chestnut reached and advanced to second on an error to lead off the seventh. Chestnut raced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out.
 
The Eagles sealed the victory with a final run in the eighth. Senior Brennan Malham (Auburn, Illinois), who stole second base after pinch running for junior catcher Colton White (Springfield, Illinois), scored the fourth run of the game for USI on a sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Todd Martin (Rockport, Indiana) to give the Eagles a game-high 4-1 lead.
 
UIS tried to rally in the ninth, loading the bases on a USI error and pair of walks with one outs. The Prairie Stars were able to push a run across on a ground out, but stranded runners at second and third as Cole closed out the victory.
               
The Eagles conclude their part of the Dunn Hospitality Tournament Sunday when they pat UIS at 5 p.m. Sunday's match-up is the midway portion of USI's six-game homestand.