GAME 1: McKendree 7, USI 6BOX SCORE (Sortable) | BOX SCORE (HTML)
GAME 2: USI 8, McKendree 5 (13 Innings)BOX SCORE (Sortable) | BOX SCORE (HTML)
LEBANON, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team had to battle McKendree University 13 innings in the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split Sunday afternoon in Lebanon, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles lost a heartbreaker in the opener, 7-6, but bounced back to win the nightcap in four extra innings, 8-5.
USI sees its record go to 15-7 overall and 7-3 in the GLVC, while McKendree goes to 7-12, 3-7 GLVC.
In the nightcap, the Eagles had control early, building a 5-1 lead with single tallies in the second, third, fifth, sixth, and ninth inning. The Bearcats, however, were not done as they came back to tie the score, 5-5, with a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth.
USI was able to stave off the McKendree bats for another addition three innings until it could put together a rally of its own. The Eagles, who were aided by a Bearcat error, got RBI singles by senior infielder
Caleb Eickhoff (Evansville, Indiana), sophomore first baseman
Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana), and junior shortstop/relief pitcher
Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico) in the 13
th for the 8-5 win.
On the mound, Chavarria (1-0) picked up his first victory in relief. The junior closer, who could not close the door on the Bearcats in the ninth, ended up working five innings to get the win. He allowed one unearned run, five hits, and two walks, while striking out a season-best six batters.
USI senior right-hander
David Toth (Danville, Illinois) started for the Eagles and got the no decision. Toth allowed one run on six hits, while striking out five batters.
Toth was followed by sophomore right-hander
Tyler Nichols (Newburgh, Indiana), who pitched three innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits and a walk. He also struck out three batters.
In the opener, USI jumped out to a 3-1 lead before permitting six unanswered runs and falling to McKendree, 7-6. The Eagles scored first with a tally in the first inning and posted a 3-1advantage with a two-run third.
McKendree began its string of three-straight innings with two runs in each frame in the fourth and propelled the Bearcats to a 7-3 lead. USI broke the McKendree's run in the sixth when senior leftfielder
Bryce Shoulders (Newburgh, Indiana) hit a two-run shot to left field. The home run was Shoulders' and USI's first of the 2014 campaign.
The Eagles scored another run in the seventh inning on an RBI-single by Chavarria, scoring sophomore rightfielder
Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana). USI would leave the tying run on base and dropped the opener to McKendree, 7-6.
USI senior right-hander
Matt Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) suffered his second loss of the season after allowing six runs, four earned. Bowles surrendered the six runs on nine hits and a walk, while striking out five batters.
The Eagles complete the 10-game road swing Tuesday when they play a doubleheader at Bellarmine University. The first pitch is slated for 11 a.m. (CDT).
