EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The fifth-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Truman State University, 14-5 and 7-1, Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI goes to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in the GLVC, while Truman State sees its record rise to 10-2 overall, 3-0 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles could not overcome a 10-run third inning by the Bulldogs and lost the opening game 14-5. Truman State opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning before blowing the game open with the 10-run rally to lead 12-1 after two-and-a-half frames.
USI would chip away at the lead, cutting the deficit to 12-5 on the strength of a four-run rally in the bottom half of the third. That would be as close as the Eagles would come as the Bulldogs tacked on a tally in the fifth and sixth for the 14-5 final score.
On the mound in the opener, junior right-hander
Tyler Nichols (Newburgh, Indiana) took the loss. Nichols (0-2) allowed seven runs, six earned, in 2.1 innings of work.
In the nightcap, the Eagle bats were frustrated for nine innings by the Bulldogs' right-hander Kent Frantz as Truman State completed its sweep of USI, 7-1. USI was limited to four hits and one run that came in the bottom of the second inning.
Leading 3-1 after six innings, Truman State posted a four-run seventh inning to seal the 7-1 victory. The four-run inning was the seventh multi-run inning of the first three games of the series by the Bulldogs.
USI sophomore
Lucas Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) took the loss in the nightcap. Barnett (0-1) allowed five runs, four earned, in six-plus inning of work and being relieved in the seventh.
Individually at the plate for USI, senior third baseman
Trent Gunn (Tell City, Indiana) and freshman designated hitter
Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) led the way with three hits each in the doubleheader. McNamara picked up his third hit in the second inning of game two, but had to leave the game after aggravating a hamstring injury.
The Eagles and the Bulldogs conclude the series Monday with single game at noon.
