EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team dropped its 2016 season-opener in heartbreaking fashion to Grand Valley State University, 4-3 in 11 innings, Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field.
 
After spotting the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, USI exploded for three runs in the bottom half of the first on back-to-back-to-back doubles and a ground out to lead 3-1. Senior centerfielder Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana), sophomore second baseman/shortstop Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana), and senior rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) lined doubles off the left field wall to open Eagles' season at the plate. Carr and Kempf would finish the game with a game-high two hits each.
 
USI would hold onto the 3-1 lead until the top of the fifth when GVSU knotted the game up at 3-3 with a two-run home run. The Lakers pushed the eventual game-winning run across in the 11^th when on double down the left field line by first baseman Josh Griffith off of USI senior right-hander Alex Holder (Princeton, Indiana).
 
Holder (0-1) took the loss in relief. He allowed one unearned run on two hits and a walk in 5.2 innings of work.
 
USI junior right-hander Colin Nowak (Carol Stream, Illinois) started for the Eagles and went the first 5.1 innings. Nowak gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits and a walk, while striking out six hitters.
 
The three-game series continues Saturday with 1 p.m. first pitch. Live stats will be available at GoUSIEagles.com.