GAME 1 SCORE: SJC 5, USI 3
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GAME 2 SCORE: USI 5, SJC 2
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team broke a seven-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over Saint Joseph's College and salvaged a doubleheader split Friday afternoon in Rensselaer, Indiana. Saint Joseph's took the opener, 5-3.
USI sees its record go to 12-8 overall and 3-7 in the GLVC, while Saint Joseph's goes to 9-8, 6-4 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles broke the out offensively in the nightcap with runs in three-straight innings. USI opened the scoring in the third when senior third baseman
Reece Rounder (Evansville, Indiana) drove in freshman second baseman
Kyle Niemeier (Evansville, Indiana) on a ground out to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
After the Pumas rebounded to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of third, USI regained the lead on a two-run single by junior rightfielder
Bryce Shoulders (Newburgh, Indiana) to give the Eagles a 3-2 advantage. The Eagles sealed the game in the top of the fifth when senior designated hitter
B.J. Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) hit a two-run home run.
The home run was Willis' first of the season and the Eagles' third of 2013.
On the mound, junior right-hander
Matt Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) threw a seven-inning complete game to get his team-best fourth win of the year. Bowles (4-2) allowed two runs on seven hits, while striking out six Saint Joseph's batters.
The Eagles missed chances in the opening game, while the Pumas took advantage of theirs to defeat USI, 5-3.
Saint Joseph's began the scoring with a tally in the third before Rounder and freshman first baseman
Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana) combined for a tally in the top of the fourth.
Rounder started the inning by reaching on a bunt single and advanced second on a sacrifice bunt by Willis. Cope followed with a RBI-single to right field to put USI on the scoreboard.
After the Pumas responded with another run in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead, 2-1, Rounder and Cope struck again. Rounder was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a second sacrifice bunt by Willis. Cope drove in his second run of the game with a single to left field to push Rounder across the plate.
The Eagles had a chance to take its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. Niemeier and freshman catcher
Ryan Bertram (Zionsville, Indiana) were stranded on second and third base after moving into scoring position with less than two outs.
The Pumas, however, did not miss their chance in the bottom of the seventh with three unearned runs on a three-run home run by Saint Joseph's second baseman Matt Skrypiec to take a 5-2 lead.
USI had another chance in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs. Niemeier scored USI's third run of the game on a passed ball, but freshman centerfielder
Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) and junior rightfielder
Brad Wannemuehler (Evansville, Indiana) were left at second and third when Rounder grounded out to end the game with USI still trailing 5-3.
Sophomore right-hander
Ben Wright (Newburgh, Indiana) took the loss for USI and saw his record fall to .500. Wright (3-3) threw a complete game, but allowed five runs, one earned, on seven hits. He also struck out two in eight innings of work.
USI and Saint Joseph's complete the four-game series in Rensselaer Sunday with a noon doubleheader. The Eagles come home next week for a six-game homestand, beginning April 2 when they host Kentucky Wesleyan College for a 6 p.m. contest at the USI Baseball Field.
