NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball tried to rally in the ninth, but fell short Lipscomb University, 6-4, Tuesday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. The Screaming Eagles watch their record go to 3-2, while Lipscomb goes to 3-1.
USI spotted Lipscomb a 2-0 with tallies in the first and third before exploding for a trio of runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. USI junior designated hitter
Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) singled in the first Eagle run, while senior leftfielder
Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) drove in the tying and lead runs with a double to center.
The 3-2 lead lasted until the bottom of the seventh when the Bison tied the game and jumped back in front, 6-3, with a four-run frame.
After the Eagles were blanked in the eighth, USI tried to rally in the ninth. Freshman second baseman
Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) opened the final frame with a single, advancing to second on an error and third on a ground out before scoring on a wild pitch with two outs to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Sophomore shortstop
Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) extended the final frame by being hit by a pitch but was left on base when senior catcher
Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) struck out the end the game.
On the mound, USI used eight hurlers in the game with junior right-hander
Shea Hendrixson (Centerville, Ohio) getting the loss. Hendrixon allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two in an inning of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI opens the 2023 home schedule Friday when the Eagles start a three-game series with Bellarmine University at the USI Baseball Field. The series opens with a 3 p.m. start February 24; continues with a 1 p.m. game February 25; and concludes with a noon contest February 26.
The Bellarmine Knights (3-0) started the year with a three-game sweep of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The Eagles hold an 83-76 lead in the all-time series with the Knights, dating back to 1972. USI and Bellarmine also were founding members of the NCAA Division II's Great Lakes Valley Conference.
The Knights have had the advantage with the Eagles over the last 10 meeting, going 6-4, and won the last meeting, 14-7, in the 2019 GLVC Tournament in Ozark, Missouri.
