EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team scored 11 times in the first four innings in cruising to a 13-5 win over Grand Valley State University Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI goes to 1-1 in the season's first series, while GVSU sees its record got to 1-1.
 
The Screaming Eagles established command of the contest early with a five-run first inning. USI sophomore second baseman/third baseman Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) started the first inning rally with a two-run blast after senior centerfielder Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) led off with a walk.
 
Sophomore designated hitter Joe Redburn (Newburgh, Indiana) capped off the first frame scoring with a two-run double.
 
USI scored the eventual game-winning run in the second inning when senior rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) scored on a RBI-single by sophomore leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) to make the score 6-0. The Eagles added four insurance runs in the third, one in the fourth, and two more in the sixth to lead 13-2.
 
The Lakers would push a run across in the seventh and two more in the ninth before the Eagles closed out the 13-5 win.
 
USI senior catcher Ryan Bertram (Zionsville, Indiana) led the offensive attack overall with a four-for-four performance, three runs scored, and a pair of RBIs. Senior first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana) and McNamara followed with two hits apiece.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Lucas Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) posted the win for the Eagles. Barnett allowed two runs on six hits in six innings, while striking out a career-high nine batters.
 
Senior right-hander T.J. Decker (Brazil, Indiana), senior right-hander Ben Blaize (Henderson, Kentucky), and sophomore right-hander Colin Hudson (Henderson, Kentucky) combined for the final three innings on the mound for the Eagles.
 
The three-game series concludes Sunday with noon first pitch. Live coverage, statistics and audio broadcast, will be available at GoUSIEagles.com. Fans also can listen to live call of the game on WPSR 90.7FM.