FINAL SCORE: USI 16, LEC 4
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana senior designated hitter
B.J. Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior outfielder
Brent Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana) drove in five runs each as the Screaming Eagles completed a sweep of Lake Erie College, 16-4, Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI opens the year with a 3-0 record, while LEC falls to 0-3 to start the 2013 campaign.
After spotting the Storm a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Eagles fired back with a six spot in the bottom half of the inning. USI sent 11 men to the plate during the frame that was highlight by a two-run double to right center by Willis.
USI expanded its lead to 7-3 in the third when Willis drove in his third run of the game on a sacrifice fly.
The Eagles blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth with their second six-spot of the game. This time USI sent 10 batters to the plate, including five straight hits to start the frame and a two-run double down the left field line by Weinzapfel. Willis also drove in his fourth and fifth runs of the game with a single up the middle.
Weinzapfel increased the lead to 15-4 in the seventh with a two-run home run over the left field fence for his fourth and fifth RBIs of the day. The Eagles would add a final tally in the eighth for the 16-4 win.
On the mound, junior right-hander
Matt Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) posted his first win as an Eagle. Bowles (1-0) allowed eight hits and four runs, while striking out six in five innings of work.
Senior left-hander
Adam Carver (Arthur, Illinois), junior right-hander
Brandon Shaw (Cuba, Illinois), and sophomore right-hander
Craig Austin (Evansville, Indiana) finished the game on the mound for USI, combining to blank the Storm over the final four innings.
The Eagles continue the season-opening 10-game homestand with the start of the Dunn Hospitality Classic March 1. The 2013 Dunn Hospitality Classic features USI, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Ashland University, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Drury University, and Augustana University. A total of 14 games are scheduled between March 1 and March 12.
