EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana were battered by Lewis University and lost both ends of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI lost the opener, 10-9, and the nightcap, 10-6.
 
The Screaming Eagles go to 15-23 overall and 4-10 in the GLVC, while the Flyers are 13-20-1, 8-10 GLVC.   
 
Game One:
USI lost a heartbreaker in the opening game, falling 10-9 as Lewis walked it off with three runs in the bottom of the ninth. In a four hour contest, the Eagles and the Flyers combined for 30 hits and used 12 pitchers in the nine innings.
 
The Flyers had a control of the first four frames, building a 6-1 lead. The Eagles got their first run in the third when junior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) knocked in junior third baseman Daniel Lopez (Dominican Republic) with an RBI-single.
 
USI got back in to the game in the final three frames, outscoring Lewis, 8-2, from the seventh to the top of the ninth. The Eagles put three on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh on RBI-singles by Kahre, junior catcher/leftfielder Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana), and senior shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) to deficit to 6-4.
 
Kahre, who finished the game four-for-six with five RBIs, struck again in the eighth on an RBI-single to cut the margin 6-5, before junior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) tied the score, 6-6, with an RBI-single up the middle. The Flyers, however, responded by retaking the lead, 7-6, with a tally in the bottom half of the eighth.
 
The Eagles rallied once again with three in the top of the ninth to get their first lead of the game, 9-7. Kahre led the charge with a two-run single through the right side for the final two USI tallies of the game and the lead.
 
The Flyers had the final say in the contest, scoring three times in the ninth to walk off the victory. Lewis scored three times on two hits and a pair of walks.
 
Game Two:
USI could not overcome missed opportunities and late errors in losing the nightcap, 10-6.  
 
The Eagles rallied twice in the first four frames to get to a 6-6 tie. The Flyers led with a five-run frame in the second before USI knotted the game for the first time with a five-run frame of its own in the top of the third.
 
USI junior first baseman Michael Conner (Moline, Illinois) highlighted the five-run third with a two run double before sophomore second baseman Alex Archuleta (Evansville, Indiana) tied the score, 5-5, with an RBI-single up the middle. The Eagles had three doubles in the rally.
 
After Lewis regained the lead, 6-5, in the bottom of the third, USI bounced back once again with senior shortstop Ethan Hunter scoring the tying run, 6-6, on a RBI-double by sophomore leftfielder Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky).
 
The game would remain knotted at 6-6 until the bottom of the sixth when the Flyers put the game into the win column with a four-run frame. Lewis scored the four runs on one hit and was aided by four USI throwing errors in the deciding inning.
 
USI missed opportunities throughout the game at the plate, stranding 15 runners on base in seven innings despite posting 13 hits.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Flyers conclude the four-game slate Sunday with a noon doubleheader at the USI Baseball Field.
 
Following Sunday's action, USI continues its nine-game homestand Tuesday when it hosts Kentucky Wesleyan College for a rematch of the last week's game in Owensboro, Kentucky. The USI-KWC match-up also is Tri-State Hot Stove League Night at the USI Baseball Field.
 
USI finishes the homestand and the 2022 home schedule April 29-May 1 when it hosts Missouri University of Science & Technology for Alumni Weekend and Senior Day. The 2010 NCAA Division II national championship team will be recognized prior to the April 30 doubleheader.