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GAME SCORE: NKU 7, USI 3
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team lost the series finale at Northern Kentucky University, 7-3, Sunday afternoon in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles, who have lost six in a row, see their record go to 13-12 overall and 4-8 in the GLVC, while the Norse go to 17-9, 10-2 GLVC.
The Norse took command early, scoring five run in the first two innings to lead 5-0. They upped the margin to 7-0 with single tallies in the fourth and fifth inning.
USI got the bats going in the top of the seventh with a three-run rally. Sophomore designated hitter
Bryce Shoulders (Newburgh, Indiana) had the big hit in the inning with a two-run single to right center, scoring junior shortstop
Reece Rounder (Evansville, Indiana) and junior catcher
Colton White (Springfield, Illinois)
The Eagles pushed their third run of the inning across on a ground out by senior second baseman
Ryan Kaczmarski (Mishawaka, Indiana), scoring Shoulders. Shoulder had advanced into scoring position after senior first baseman
Todd Martin (Rockport, Indiana) singled and senior centerfielder
Bryan Chestnut (West Terre Haute, Indiana) was hit by a pitch.
After junior leftfielder
B.J. Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) struck out, senior third baseman
Brennan Malham (Auburn, Illinois) walked to load the bases for a second time in the inning, but sophomore rightfielder
Brent Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana) grounded into a fielder's choice to leave the bags full and end the rally.
USI attempted to come back in the ninth, putting two runners on with one out, but could not push another run across.
Shoulders had the best day at the plate for the Eagles, recording a pair of hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Martin followed with two hits in the contest.
On the mound, junior right-hander
Keith Greer (Lowell, Indiana) took the loss for USI. Greer (0-1) gave up five runs in 2.1 innings of work, allowing seven hits and striking out one. Junior left-hander
Adam Carver (Arthur, Illinois) followed Greer to the mound and was charged with the last two Norse runs, one earned, on three hits.
A bright spot on the mound for the Eagles was the effort of junior right-hander
Matthew Davidson (St. Charles, Missouri). Davidson gave USI three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out a season-high eight batters.
The Eagles finish their 10-game road trip April 4 when they cross the Ohio River to play a doubleheader against the Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Panthers, who were rained out at Bellarmine today, are 12-10 and 6-4 in the GLVC.
USI leads the all-time series with KWC, 87-62, after taking three of four from the Panthers last season. The Eagles also has won five of the last eight meetings with the Panthers over the last three years.
