EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana senior first baseman Andrew Cope (Evansville, Indiana) singled in senior third baseman Trent Gunn (Tell City, Indiana) with the game-winner in the 11^th-inning to propel the Screaming Eagles to a 14-13 slugfest victory over Truman State University Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI, ranked 21^st in the NCBWA Top 25 poll, sees its record go to 3-1 mark, while TSU watched its record got to 1-4.
 
Gunn started the game-winning rally in the 11^th with a one-out single to right field and advanced to third on single by senior catcher Ryan Bertram (Zionsville, Indiana). Cope pushed Gunn across the plate with a walk-off single to left center to end the 4:05 marathon.
 
USI had command of the game early, building a 13-6 lead after four frames that included a six-run third and five-run fourth. The Bulldogs began to chip away at the Eagles' margin, scoring three in the sixth and two in the seventh before they tied game with two tallies in the eighth, 13-13. The teams would battle through a scoreless ninth and 10^th.
 
At the plate, sophomore second baseman Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) led the Eagle hitters with three hits (single, double, and triple) and five RBIs. Griggs also scored three times.
 
Sophomore leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and senior shortstop Kyle Niemeier (Evansville, Indiana) joined Griggs with three hits each, while three other Eagles had a pair of hits.
 
The extra-inning win went to senior right-hander T.J. Decker (Brazil, Indiana). Decker (1-0), the last of five USI hurlers in the contest, threw 2.2 innings, allowing a walk and striking out four.
 
The Eagles continues the Dunn Hospitality Classic, beginning with showdown with Ashland University at 4 p.m. 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 and WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM.