DAHLONEGA, Ga. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened the 2019 campaign with a 9-6 win over the University of North Georgia on Friday. The Screaming Eagles pick up their first season-opening victory since the 2013 season.

Sophomore infielder Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) belted the game-winning three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie and give the game to USI.

Junior right-hander Jacob Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) picked up the victory on the mound in relief of starter senior Austin Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana). Bowles struck out five North Georgia batters, only allowing one hit in 3.1 innings, shutting out the Nighthawks to seal the victory.

North Georgia struck immediately against Krizan with a leadoff home run by Cruz Taylor in the first frame, then followed with a three-run second inning. Krizan was able to ride out the tough start to keep USI's bats in range to take the game back.

The Eagles overcame a slow start at the plate by posting six runs between the fourth and fifth innings. Junior outfielder Manny Lopez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) got the bats going with a one-out triple to score senior second baseman Jacob Fleming (Evansville, Indiana), then Lopez scored on a sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Nathan Kuester (Rockport, Indiana).

USI kept the offense hot in the fifth with a one-out double to the wall by Hunter. Back-to-back singles by sophomore outfielder Bryce Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and junior infielder Kobe Stephens (Dale, Indiana) tied the game at 4-4. Lopez and Kuester finished the four-run fifth inning with a sacrifice fly and triple, respectively.

Austin Krizan was relieved by Bowles in the sixth with the bases loaded. With the game knotted up at 6-6, Bowles got the Eagles out of the jam with a flyout to sophomore Austin Euler (Evansville, Indiana) in left field. Krizan ended his first start of the year with 5.2 innings pitched, fanning five batters, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs.

After Bowles struck out the side to end the seventh, Hunter came up to bat with two men on, courtesy of two free passes, and sent the first home run of the year for USI out to right centerfield to push the score to 9-6. The home run is Hunter's fourth in his career, after posting three in his freshman season.

Bowles rolled into the ninth on cruise control before Bill LeRoy picked up the only hit let up by the reliever. North Georgia's Jake Arnold picked up a walk with one out remaining in the game before Bowles forced a foul popout back to junior catcher Wyatt Daly (Newburgh, Indiana).

USI Baseball returns to Bob Stein Stadium at noon on Saturday for a doubleheader to finish the three-game series with the Nighthawks. Senior right-hander Austin Gossman (Avon, Indiana) and senior left-hander Chase Partain (Evansville, Indiana) are the anticipated starters.

Game Notes

• Four Eagles picked up extra-base hits in the effort: Ethan Hunter (double, home run), Manny Lopez (triple), Nathan Kuester (triple), and Jacob Fleming (double)
• Lopez, Hunter, and Kobe Stephens each picked up two hits in the game. Eight of the nine in the starting order picked up a hit
• Austin Krizan and Jacob Bowles combined for 10 strikeouts, a total surpassed only eight times last season