Third trip to championship series since 2010
  
QUINCY, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team captured its fourth NCAA Division II Midwest Regional title since 2007 with a 10-5 victory over Missouri University of Science & Technology Monday afternoon in Quincy, Illinois. USI, the fourth seed, sees its record go to 37-19 overall, while Missouri S&T sees its season end with a 39-19 mark.
 
With the regional championship, the Screaming Eagles will be making their fourth trip the NCAA II Baseball Championship series, their second in three seasons. USI has captured national championships in 2010 and 2014, while tying for third in 2007. The Eagles start championship round play Saturday at 4 p.m. (CDT) against the NCAA II West Region champion. California Baptist University plays Cal Poly Pomona for the West championship today at 6 p.m. (CDT).
 
After USI spotted Missouri S&T a 2-0 lead in the first inning, senior catcher Ryan Bertram (Zionsville, Indiana) quickly erased the deficit in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run bomb to left field to make the score 3-2. The home run was Bertram's fifth of the season and third in the NCAA II Tournament.
 
The Miners knotted the game, 3-3, with a tally in the second and the score would remain tied until USI exploded for six runs over the next three innings. The Eagles took the lead for good with a two-spot in the fourth to make the score, 5-3; added to lead with a three-run fifth, increasing the margin to 8-3; and maintained the lead with a single tally in the sixth to make the score, 9-5.
 
Missouri S&T made one final run at the Eagles, loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth, when senior right-hander T.J. Decker (Brazil, Indiana) came in to shut the door on the Miners. Decker, the regional Most Outstanding Player, converted his fourth save of the tournament by getting the final four outs, allowing only one hit.
 
In the regional, Decker saved all four games in pitching 7.1 scoreless innings and striking out six. The championship game save was Decker's 10^th of the year.
 
The Eagles added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth for the10-5 final score. Freshman designated hitter Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) led the Eagles in the championship game, going four-for-four, while senior rightfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) scored three times and Bertram drove in three RBIs.
 
Freshman right-hander Chase Partain (Evansville, Indiana) earned his third victory in his third start of the season. Partain (3-0) allowed five runs on nine hits and one walk in getting the Eagles through the first seven innings.
 
In addition to Decker, USI placed Bertram, Kempf, and sophomore second baseman Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) were placed on the All-Tournament team.