EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team scored nine times in the first inning and cruised to a 20-1 victory over Truman State University Sunday evening at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles move their record to 4-1 to start the year, while Bulldogs fall to 0-7.  
 
The Eagles scored those nine first-inning runs on four hits, including a grand slam by sophomore shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana). The home run was Hunter's team-best third of the season.
 
USI would go on to add two in the second, five in the fourth, and four in the sixth to close out the 20-1 victory. Overall, the Eagles scored their 20 runs on 14 hits, 14 walks, and three hit batters.
 
Individually at the plate, Hunter finished with a team-best three hits and a double short of the cycle (first inning grand slam, a second-inning single, and a sixth inning triple). He also drove in eight runs, two shy of the USI single-game record, and scored twice.
 
Senior designated hitter Jayden Beshears (Evansville, Indiana) followed with four RBIs on a pair of hits and scored four runs in the victory.  
 
Freshman right-hander Garrett Welch (New Castle, Indiana) picked up the win in his first career start at USI. Welch (1-0) allowed one run on five hits, while striking out five in five innings of work.
 
Junior right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) and junior right-hander Jordan Kelly (Carbondale, Illinois) finished the game on the mound for USI. Hagedorn went one inning and struck out two, while Kelly stranded a pair and struck out one in the final frame.
 
The Eagles conclude the Dunn Hospitality Classic Monday at noon when they play a doubleheader against Grand Valley State University. GVSU (1-1) opened its season with a split on Sunday, falling to Ohio Dominican University, 10-6, and defeating Truman State, 13-1.