EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored eight times in the seventh to defeat University of St. Thomas (Minn.), 14-11, Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 3-6 to start the season, while St. Thomas goes 4-5.
 
USI fell behind in third, allowing a trio of Tommie tallies. St. Thomas' 3-0 lead would last until the bottom of the fourth when USI plated a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
USI sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) got the Eagles on the scoreboard when he scored on a wild pitch. Niehaus walked before stealing second and third to move into scoring position.
 
The Eagles cut the deficit for a second time in the fourth when junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) crossed the plate for a 3-2 score. Thompson-Allen, who had reached on a walk, advanced to second on a stolen base, and took third on a wild pitch, scored on a base hit by freshman leftfielder Cameron Boyd (Villa Hills, Kentucky) that ricocheted off the Tommie pitcher.
 
After the Tommies built a 5-2 lead, USI closed the gap to 5-3 on a home run by senior designated hitter Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas), who led off the frame with his first round tripper of the season. The Eagles closed to within one, 5-4, when Boyd scored on a single by junior first baseman Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri).
 
Following a three run seventh by St. Thomas, USI erased the deficit with an eight-run frame that included a two-run single by Niehaus as Eagles built a 12-8 lead. The Tommies climbed back into the game with three runs in the eighth to trail by one, 12-11, before USI sealed the victory with a pair of runs in the eighth for a 14-11 final.
 
At the plate, Ebest led the Eagle hitters by going three-for-five with two runs scored, a RBI, and a home run.
 
USI junior right-hander Gavin Wilson (Lee's Summit, Missouri) picked up his first win of the season. Wilson (1-1) pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing a hit and a walk to get the win. USI junior right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) posted his first save of the year, going the final 1.2 frames, allowing two hits and striking out four.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Tommies continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. for the middle game of a three-game set. The series concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. start.
 
Following the three-game set with St. Thomas, USI will be on the road for the next nine games. The Eagles will visit the University of Tennessee (March 6), Bellarmine University (March 8-10); Middle Tennessee State University (March 12); the University of Illinois (March 15-17); and Western Kentucky University (March 19).