Eagles fall short in the ninth
 
GAME SCORE: CSUS 8, USI 5 
Box Score (Sortable); Box Score (HTML)
 
TURLOCK, Calif. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team could not overcome a five-run, ninth inning deficit and dropped game two to California State University Stanislaus, 8-5, Saturday night in Turlock, California. USI starts the year 0-2, while CSUS has posted a record of 4-2 to start its 2014 campaign.
 
The Screaming Eagles scored their first run and took their first lead of the season in the first inning when junior leftfielder Tyler Mikrut (Evansville, Indiana) singled in sophomore first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana).  CSUS knotted the game up 1-1 in the bottom of the first before USI retook the lead, 2-1, on an RBI single by sophomore rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana).
 
After CSUS tied the score, 2-2, with a tally in the third inning,  junior shortstop Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico) gave USI a one-run lead for a third time in the game when he scored in the fourth inning. Chavarria was pushed across the plate when senior centerfielder Brad Wannemuehler (Evansville, Indiana) reached on a CSUS error.
 
The Warriors, however, took command of the game in the bottom of the fourth with a six-run rally off of USI starting right-hander Jonathon Wandling (Evansville, Indiana) to take an 8-3 lead. Wandling (0-1) was knocked out in the fourth after allowing seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits.
 
In the ninth, USI pushed a pair of runs across to cut the deficit to 8-5, but left could get no closer in dropping the second game of the season. Wannemuheler scored on a one-out single by Kempf, who was later score on an RBI-single by Cope.
 
USI and CSUS conclude the three-game series today at 2 p.m. (CST). Live stats and audio are available at gousieagles.com. The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field when they host Grand Valley State University for a three-game series February 21-23. The home opener on Friday is a 2 p.m. first pitch.