EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost the home opener to Bellarmine University, 4-2, Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles watch their record go to 3-3, while Bellarmine goes to 4-0.
USI took the initial lead in the first frame when senior centerfielder
Ren Tachioka (Japan) scored on a RBI-single to right center by junior first baseman
Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas). Tachioka had moved into scoring position after reaching on an error and stealing second.
The 1-0 lead would last until the top of the third when Bellarmine grabbed a 2-1 lead on a two-run home run. The Knights extended lead to 4-1 with another two runs in the sixth.
USI cut into the deficit in the eighth with a tally to make the score 4-2. Junior rightfielder
Drew Taylor (Jefferson, Indiana) entered the game as a pinch runner in the eighth and scored a sacrifice fly by Tachioka before USI left the bases jammed.
In the ninth, Bellarmine set USI down in order in the ninth to notch its fourth win of the year. The Eagles were limited to just three hits in the game.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander
Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) took the loss for the Eagles. Hutson (1-1) allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks, while striking out six in five-plus innings of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and Bellarmine continue the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday at noon.
The Eagles hit the road next week to play a three-game set at Washington State University March 3-5 in Pullman, Washington. The thee-game set will be the first meetings between the two programs all-time.
