EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) hit a three-run blast in the eighth to rocket the Screaming Eagles by Bellarmine University, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Eagles watch their record go to 4-3, while Bellarmine goes to 4-1.
 
The Knights control the first seven inning of the game, scoring two in the fourth and one in the seventh to build a 3-0 advantage and seemingly had control of the contest. The Bellarmine hurlers also held the USI hitters to just two hits in the first seven frames.
 
USI's bats came to life in the eighth inning, exploding for six runs on four hits and were aided by three Bellarmine errors. Ebest highlighted the frame with a towering three-run drive to right field for his third home run of the season that put the Eagles in front for the first time in the game.
 
USI started the eighth inning rally and broke up the shutout when junior pinch-runner Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) scored on an error after senior centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) reached on an infield single. Freshman second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) scored on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) after sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) was hit by a pitch to load the bases to make the score 3-2 and set the stage for Ebest.
 
Following the Ebest blast that made the score, 5-3, the Eagles sealed the victory when junior pinch-runner Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) scored on a single to right by senior leftfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) for the sixth run of the frame that saw the Eagles send 11 batters to the plate.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Matthew Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) set the Knights down in order in the ninth to close out the 6-3 victory and earned first save of the year.
 
USI sophomore left-hander Mason Sweeney (Fishers, Indiana) picked up the win in relief. Sweeney (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning also setting the Knights down in order.
 
For the game, USI's five pitchers allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits and a walk, while striking out five.  
 
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.