SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 18
th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Drury University, 2-0 and 9-3, Friday afternoon in Springfield, Missouri. USI sees its record go to the 10-4 mark with Drury finishing the day 4-10.
The Screaming Eagles struck in the opening frame of game one, scoring a pair of runs to lead 2-0. USI senior centerfielder
Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) scored the first run on a single by senior rightfielder
Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana), while sophomore second baseman
Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) crossed the plate when sophomore designated hitter
Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) hit into a double play.
On the mound, junior right-hander
Lucas Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) went the distance for his team-best third win of the year. Barnett (3-1) pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the second inning, scattered seven hits and three walks, while striking out three in nine innings of work. The complete game and the shutout were the first of Barnett's career at USI.
In the nightcap, the Eagles did not waste any time in taking command. USI scored twice in the first, four times in the fourth, and a run in the fifth and sixth to lead 8-0. Drury got their first two runs of the day in the sixth and one in the eighth to narrow the margin to 8-3. The Eagles finished their scoring with a tally in the ninth for the 9-3 final.
USI senior catcher
Ryan Bertram (Zionsville, Indiana) led the way for the Eagles at the plate in the nightcap with three hits and three RBIs, while Griggs followed with three hits, three runs scored, and two RBIs.
Senior right-handed pitcher
Alex Holder (Princeton, Indiana) picked up his second win of the year with seven strong innings on the mound. Holder (2-1) allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out two in seven innings of work.
USI and Drury conclude the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. The Eagles will finish the road swing March 18 when they visit the University of Evansville for a 6 p.m. game at Braun Stadium.