USI and MSU play again Friday
 
GAME Score: Minnesota State 5, USI 1
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CARY, N.C. – The sixth-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team knocked off number one and number three, but could not get past second-ranked Minnesota State University-Mankato, 5-1, in the NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals at the USA Baseball National Training Center in Cary, North Carolina. USI sees its record fall to 47-13, while MSU goes to 48-10.
 
With the USI loss today, the Screaming Eagles and the Mavericks will play an elimination game Friday at 4 p.m. (CDT) for the right to play in the NCAA II National Championship game Saturday at 6 p.m. (CDT).  
 
The opponent for either USI or MSU in Saturday's national title game will be the winner of tomorrow's match-up of number-one ranked University of Tampa and fourth-ranked Colorado Mesa University. Tampa (54-3) forced Colorado Mesa (46-12) into Friday's elimination games with a 3-1 victory in Thursday's first game.  
 
The Eagles grabbed the early lead in the second inning on an RBI-single by senior second baseman Caleb Eickhoff (Evansville, Indiana). This would be the lone highlight of the day for the Eagles.
 
USI would hold that 1-0 advantage until the bottom of the fourth when MSU got a two-out double to snatch the lead, 2-1. The Mavericks would increase their lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and added a tally in the eighth to hold onto the 5-1 victory.
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Matt Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) started and took the loss for the Eagles. Bowles (9-4) allowed four runs on seven hits, while striking out two in 4.2 innings of work.
 
Senior right-hander Brandon Shaw (Cuba, Illinois) followed Bowles in relief and finished the game for the Eagles. Shaw allowed one run on four hits and struck out three in 3.1 innings of work.