EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team jumped from fifth to second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings after sweeping a doubleheader from McKendree University, 3-0 and 7-6 (eight innings), Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles saw their record rise to the .500 mark at 19-19 overall and 15-15 in the GLVC, while the Bearcats finish the doubleheader 9-32, 8-22 GLVC.
The Eagles, despite having the same GLVC record (15-15) as Bellarmine University and the University of Illinois Springfield, have a hold on second by virtue of their 13-9 mark within the East Division. Bellarmine is 12-10 within the division, while UIS, which is USI's opponent next weekend, is 11-11 in the East.
USI senior right-hander
Ben Wright (Newburgh, Indiana) posted his third win and complete game in shutting out McKendree in the opener, 3-0. Wright (3-5), who also recorded his second shutout of the season, scattered eight hits and struck out five in nine innings of work to get the victory.
At the plate, USI took advantage of five McKendree errors, including two in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Junior first baseman
Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana) blasted a home run to lead off the seventh inning to up the lead to 2-0, while junior third baseman
Trent Gunn (Tell City, Indiana) sealed the victory with an RBI-single up the middle to make the score 3-0.
Wright cruised through to the ninth, but after the Bearcats loaded the bases with two outs, junior centerfielder
Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) made a diving catch in right center to end the game and preserve the victory.
In the nightcap, USI senior shortstop/right-handed pitcher
Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico) had three hits, two RBIs, and posted his fifth victory of the year as the Eagles battled back from a 4-0 deficit to win in extra-innings, 7-6.
After spotting the Bearcats a 4-0 lead in the first three-and-a-half innings, USI rallied to tie the game, 4-4, in the bottom of the fourth. The rally was highlighted by a two-run double by Chavarria for the Eagles' first two runs and a two-run single up the middle by senior catcher
Austin Edge (Whitesville, Kentucky) to knot the game, 4-4.
USI struck for two more runs in the fifth to take its first lead of the nightcap, 6-4 on RBI singles by freshman designated hitter
Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and freshman second baseman
Joe Redburn (Newburgh, Indiana). The Bearcats put together a rally in the sixth to tie the score, 6-6, on a pair of unearned runs off of USI's senior right-handed reliever
Scott Haag (Ft. Wayne, Indiana).
In the extra-inning eighth, Carr tripled to lead off the inning and was followed by a pair of intentional walks by McKendree to load the bases. Senior third baseman
Trent Gunn (Tell City, Indiana) forced in the winning run with a walk-off, RBI-walk to give USI the 7-6 win.
Chavarria got the win in relief after throwing two innings, allowing one hit and striking out one batter. USI junior right-hander
Alex Holder (Princeton, Indiana) started for the Eagles, allowing four runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings of work.
The Eagles and the Bearcats are slated to conclude the four-game series Saturday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader (weather permitting). The start time could be moved up, depending upon the weather. More information will be posted on Facebook and Twitter at USIAthletics and on GoUSIEagles.com
