EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team allowed three unearned runs on a pair of errors in dropping a 5-3 decision to Saint Joseph's College Saturday afternoon in Rensselaer, Indiana. USI saw its records go to 5-10 overall and 2-7 in the GLVC, while Saint Joseph's finishes the day 7-10-1 overall, 3-5-1 GLVC.
 
The Screaming Eagles fell behind in the opening frame, 2-0, when the Pumas posted a pair of tallies, one unearned. USI cut the deficit in half in the second inning when freshman leftfielder Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) doubled in senior designated hitter/centerfielder Tyler Mikrut (Edwardsville, Illinois) with the Eagles' first run.
 
Saint Joseph's extended the one-run lead to four, 5-1, in the fourth, scoring three runs, two unearned, to seal the victory. USI tried to rally with a tally in the fifth on a RBI-single by junior second baseman Kyle Niemeier (Evansville, Indiana) and a run in the ninth on a home run by junior first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana), but left a runner on in the final frame in losing the 5-3 decision. USI left a total of seven runners on base in the contest.
 
Senior right-hander Ben Wright (Newburgh, Indiana) continued to look for his first victory of the season in taking the loss. Wright (0-4) went the distance Saturday, allowing five runs, two earned, on eight hits and a walk. He also struck out a career-high nine batters.   
 
USI and Saint Joseph's continue the four-game series Sunday with a new early start of 9 a.m. to try and beat the weather for the single game tomorrow. The series concludes Monday with a noon doubleheader.