MARION, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball walked it off the nightcap in the 11^th  to earn a double-header split with Murray State University Sunday afternoon at Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles lost the opener, 17-6, but bounced back to win the nightcap 8-7 in 11 innings.
 
USI is 8-11 overall after the doubleheader, while Murray State goes 12-4 this year. The doubleheader was originally scheduled at the USI Baseball Field, but was moved due to rain.
 
Game 1:
The Screaming Eagles rallied to within a run in the bottom of the fifth, but lost momentum and lost the opening game, 17-6. USI allowed a combined 10 runs in the sixth and seventh after shrinking a five-run deficit with four in the fifth to close to within 7-6.
 
USI was led by junior first baseman Kannon Coakley, who was two-for-three, including a three-run double in the four-run fifth. USI sophomore second baseman Parker Martin and sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd also had a pair of hits each in the loss.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Blake Kimball started and took the loss for USI. Kimball (2-3) allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out three in four innings of work.
 
Game 2:
USI rallied from two runs down in the 11^th inning to walk off an 8-7 victory and earn the split. Sophomore third baseman Anthony Umbach capped off the 11^th-inning rally with a walk-off single, scoring sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd with the game-winner.
 
After Murray State scored twice in the top of the 11^th to take a 7-5 lead, USI junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens led off with a double and closed the deficit to 7-6 by scoring on an RBI single by junior leftfielder Hunter Miller. Miller would score the tying run one batter later when junior shortstop Clayton Slack converted a two-strike suicide squeeze and set the stage for Umbach.
 
The Eagles spotted the Racers a 3-0 lead in the opening frame, but rallied with three of their own in the second inning and took the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth. The Racers would knot the game up with a tally in the top of the sixth, 4-4.
 
USI took the lead to 5-4 with a tally in the bottom of the eighth before Murray State scored the tying run to send the game into extra innings tied, 5-5.
 
Eagles' sophomore right-hander Jay Kennedy picked up the win in relief. Kennedy got the final out of the 11^th in relief of freshman right-hander Sage Stout, who went 2.2 in relief and allowed three runs.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles are on the road for the five games with visits to Austin Peay State University (March 19); Western Illinois University (March 21-23); and Ball State University (March 25). The three-game series with WIU is the start of the OVC schedule in 2025.
 
First up on the road swing is APSU, who saw its record go to 13-7 after falling in the series finale to Lipscomb University, 8-6. USI defeated APSU for the first time in the history of the series last Tuesday at the USI Baseball Field, 6-4.
 
USI returns home to the USI Baseball Field March 28-30 when the Eagles host the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for a three-game OVC series.
 
USI Schedule Update:
USI has rescheduled a pair of games that were postponed due to weather. The Screaming Eagles will visit Saint Louis University on April 22 at 5 p.m. in a game that was postponed from March 5 and will host the University of Evansville May 13 at 6 p.m. for a game that was postponed February 22.
 
Due to the ever-changing weather in March, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com, X, and Facebook.