SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball broke out the bats to snap a three-game losing streak and open its GLVC season with a 4-1 victory over Illinois Springfield. With the victory, the Screaming Eagles improved to 3-4 on the season while UIS dropped its first game of the season, moving to 4-1.
The Screaming Eagles got on top early following a double by freshman infielder
Michael Conner, his third of the season. The freshman Conner brought in fellow freshman, outfielder
Steven Molinet, who reached base on a walk, for the first run of the game. Conner gathered three hits in four at-bats on the day along with his one RBI.
Senior outfielder
Manny Lopez came through with a big game to help get the Screaming Eagles back on track, amassing three hits on four plate appearances. Lopez crushed his first homerun of the season while dropping in two singles and an RBI.
USI extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth with Lopez's homerun and
Wyatt Daly's single, which brought in
Lucas McNew. Daly went one-of-three at the plate with his single, also drawing a walk. The Screaming Eagles capped off the game with a fourth run in the eighth inning off a hit by Lopez, bringing
Trent Robinson, who was pinch running for Conner, around to home.
The USI defense held up through the bottom of the ninth when the Stars pushed their one and only run through on a wild pitch.
Austin Gossmann tossed eight innings with three strikeouts to hold off the Prairie Stars, allowing only four hits and one run.
Paul Perez entered in the ninth to finish off UIS and struck out one during the inning.
UP NEXT:
USI returns on Saturday, March 13, for day two against Illinois Springfield with a double-header scheduled for 11 A.M. and 2 P.M.
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW:
While fans are not permitted to attend the games, they can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network, which is available both you're your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV (4th Generation). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. Apple users also can use AirPlay with their Apple TV or some of the newer smart TVs. (GLVCSN FAQs)
Previews, live game updates, and post game information can be found via USI Athletics (@USIAthletics | #GoUSIEagles) social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
