Eagles advance in GLVC Tournament
 
OZARK, Mo. – University of Southern Indiana senior right-hander Devin Williams (Evansville, Indiana) dominated second-ranked University of Illinois Springfield in a nine-inning complete game and lead the Screaming Eagles to an 11-2 win Friday afternoon in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Baseball Tournament at U.S. Baseball Field in Ozark, Missouri. USI, the third seed from the GLVC East Division, watched its record go to 30-20 overall, while Illinois Springfield goes 45-7.
 
The Eagles, with the win, advance to the 12:30 p.m. game Saturday against Missouri University of Science & Technology (26-25). A win in the 12:30 p.m. game would force the Eagles to turn around quickly to play the University of Indianapolis in the 4 p.m. contest in a third-straight elimination game for USI. 
 
Following a tough first inning that saw Illinois Springfield scratch out a pair of runs on two hits, Williams (5-4) was in total command over the final eight frames. The senior right-hander, who had a seven-inning complete game win last weekend over the University of Indianapolis, blanked the NCAA Division II number two ranked team in the final eight innings by scattering three hits and finishing the game with a career-high 10 strikeouts.
 
The nine-inning complete game was William's first since March 12, 2016, when he shutout Drury University on the road, 4-0.
 
USI kicked into gear offensively in the third innings when the Eagles plated five runs that would be all Williams would need for the victory. The five-run third was highlighted by a two-run double by senior first baseman Nick Gobert (Jasper, Indiana) that gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
 
The Eagle bats would go on to score two more in the fifth; three in the sixth; and one in the seventh for the 11-2 margin of victory. USI took advantage of seven walks and two hit batters by Prairie Star hurlers during the run scoring innings.
 
Gobert finished the victory with a team-high three RBIs, while freshman shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) completed the contest with a team-best three hits, including the rally-starting single in the third. Senior rightfielder Buddy Johnson (Shelbyville, Kentucky) and junior designated hitter Brodie Brown (Carmi, Illinois) followed Gobert in the RBI column with two each.
 
Continuing coverage of Eagles baseball games this post-season can be found on GoUSIEagles.com. Watch Twitter, Facebook, and GoUSIEagles.com for any schedule changes due to weather.