EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 22^nd-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team started the final home weekend of 2017 with an exciting doubleheader sweep of the University of Indianapolis, 7-6 and 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 27-16 overall and 17-5 in the GLVC, while UIndy goes to 25-19, 9-13 GLVC.
 
The Screaming Eagles flew out to a 6-1 lead after five innings before holding on to win, 7-6, in the opening game. USI scored two in the first, second, and fifth inning before scoring the eventual deciding run in the eighth.
 
The USI offensive attack was led by senior designated hitter Jaylen Quarles (Indianapolis, Indiana) and sophomore catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) with three hits each. Quarles was three-for-three with two runs scored, an RBI, and a double, while Brown three-for-four with two runs scored.
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Colin Nowak (Carol Stream, Illinois) won his team-best sixth game of the year. Nowak (6-3) allowed five runs, four earned, on nine hits and a walk, striking out three in 5.2 innings on the bump.
 
After senior right-hander Mike Ringer (Springfield, Illinois) finished the sixth and pitched a scoreless seventh, senior right-hander Justin Watts (Bryan, Ohio) finished the game to earn his sixth save of the year. Watts allowed two hits and one run, striking out two for the save.
 
In the nightcap, senior shortstop Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) recorded a walk-off single to center field as the Eagles rallied in the bottom of the seventh for the 4-3 victory. USI scored three times in the final frame after falling behind 3-1 in the first six-and-a-half innings.
 
In addition to Griggs' RBI game-winner in the seventh, Quarles drove in a run with an RBI-walk and junior rightfielder Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) knocked in the second tally of the frame with a fielder's choice. Junior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) also had a team-best three hits in the second game, scoring a run.
 
Freshman right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) picked up his second run of the season in relief of senior starting right-hander Lucas Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana). Hagedorn allowed one run on two hits and two walks, while striking out one in 2.1 innings of work.
 
Barnett went the first 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk. He also struck out two batters.

The Eagles and the Greyhounds are scheduled to complete the four-game series Sunday with a noon doubleheader. Sunday's USI-UIndy match-up is Senior Day for the Eagles. In case of rain on Sunday, updated start times will be posted on GoUSIEagles.com or USIAthletics on Facebook and Twitter.