GAME 1 SCORE: USI 4, Lewis 3
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GAME 2 SCORE: USI 15, Lewis 8
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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team got back on track with a doubleheader sweep of 16
th-ranked Lewis University, 4-3 and 15-8, Sunday afternoon in Romeoville, Illinois. USI goes to 24-15 overall and 14-14 in the GLVC, while Lewis falls to 25-7, 19-5 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles rallied from a two-run deficit and held on in the seventh inning to defeat the Flyers, 4-3, in the opening game.
After Lewis built a two run lead with tallies in the first and second inning, USI cut the deficit in half in the fourth inning when freshman first baseman
Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana) knocked in senior designated hitter
Brent Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana) with a two-out single.
The Eagles took command in the sixth inning when Cope struck again by driving a two-run double off the fence with two outs to give USI a 3-2 lead. Weinzapfel drove in the eventual winning run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly that gave the Eagles a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Flyers loaded the bases against USI starting right-hander
Matt Bowles (Mt. Washington, Indiana). Senior left-hander
Adam Carver (Arthur, Illinois) relieved Bowles and walked two batters, allowing the Flyers to cut the Eagles' lead to 4-3, setting the stage for junior right-hander
Brandon Shaw (Cuba, Illinois). Shaw saved the USI victory by the getting the final out for his team-best fourth save of the year.
Bowles (7-3) went 6.2 innings to pick up his team-best seventh win of the year. He allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and four walks, while striking out five batters.
In the nightcap, senior third baseman
Reece Rounder (Evansville, Indiana) was six-for-six, stole three bases, drove in four runs, and scored four more to lead the Eagles to a 15-8 victory. Rounder led a USI offensive attack that jumped out to a 7-0 lead with two runs in the first inning, three more in the third, and two runs in the fourth. USI pounded out a season-best 21 hits in the nightcap victory.
In addition to Rounder, freshman leftfielder
Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) was four-for-five, scored five times, and stole three bases.
The Flyers rallied to cut the USI lead to 7-3 and 9-5 before the Eagles put the game out of reach with a four-run outburst in the ninth. Lewis would score three more in the bottom half of the ninth before USI closed out the 15-8 win and the doubleheader sweep.
On the mound, Shaw (4-1) picked up the win after battling through seven innings to get his fourth win of the year. He allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits, while tying a season-high with six strike outs.
Sophomore right-hander
Craig Austin (Evansville, Indiana) finished the game for the Eagles. Austin gave up three run on three hits and one walk, while striking out two.
The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field Wednesday when they host Oakland City University for a 6 p.m. contest. USI resumes GLVC action April 26-28 when it welcomes McKendree University to Evansville for a four-game series.
