GAME Score: USI 6, Lander 5
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CARY, N.C. – The sixth-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team pulled off an upset for the second game in a row, defeating third-ranked Lander University, 6-5, in the NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals at the USA Baseball National Training Center in Cary, North Carolina. USI sees its record rise to 47-12, while Lander goes to 52-8.
 
The Screaming Eagles victories in the national finals have come against teams with a combined record of 103-11.
 
USI jumped out in front for the second game in row, 1-0, when sophomore rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) put the Eagles' first hit of the game over the left field fence in the third inning. The home run was Kempf's team-best fourth of the year.
 
The Eagles followed Kempf's home run with a four-run fourth, highlighted by two walks, three hit batters, and a two-run double by sophomore first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana). USI missed a chance to score more when Kempf was thrown out at the plate and Cope was thrown out at third.
 
After Lander closed the gap to 5-4 with a four-run fifth, the Eagles pushed the lead back to two-runs, 6-4, when junior shortstop/closer Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico) knocked in Kempf with a sacrifice fly. Kempf had moved into scoring position on a walk, a balk, and a sacrifice bunt by Cope.
 
On the mound for USI, senior right-hander Jonathon Wandling (Evansville, Indiana) went six-plus innings to get the win. Wandling (10-1) allowed five runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out three batters. He set the USI single-season record for strikeouts by striking out the first batter of the game and currently has 84.
 
Junior right-hander Andrew Mercer (Mount Pearl, Newfoundland) got the Eagles out of the seventh inning, while senior right-hander David Toth (Danville, Illinois) used 10 pitches to set the Bearcats down in order in the eighth. Chavarria took over in the ninth and set Lander down in order to get his 13^th save of the year.
 
The Eagles continue the NCAA II Baseball National Finals Thursday at 3 p.m. (CDT) against second-ranked Minnesota State University-Mankato. The game was moved up from its scheduled 6 p.m. (CDT) start time due to weather concerns.