MACOMB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored six times in the top of the eighth and posted an 8-5 win over Western Illinois University Saturday afternoon in Macomb, Illinois. USI is 9-13 overall and 1-1 in the OVC after today's game, while WIU goes 6-13, 1-1 OVC this year.
 
After a scoreless draw through the first three frames, the Screaming Eagles scored twice to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Junior third baseman Patrick McLellan started the frame by being hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a hit by junior first baseman Kannon Coakley, and scored on an error for the first run of the game.
 
Coakley, who had moved to third on the error, crossed the plate with USI's second run on a sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Clayton Slack. The Leathernecks fought back in the bottom half of the frame with a pair of tallies and knotted the game 2-2.
 
WIU stayed hot in the fifth, scoring three more times to take a 5-2 lead. The score would remain 5-2 until USI broke through with six runs in the eighth.
 
McLellan started the scoring in the eighth, crossing the plate on an RBI single by sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd. Slack continued USI's parade around the diamond with a two-run double down the right-field line, scoring Coakley to cut the deficit to 5-4.
 
USI sophomore third baseman Anthony Umbach doubled in Boyd with the tying run before Slack scored the eventual game-winning run on a fielder's choice and a WIU error for a 6-5 score. USI finished out the scoring on a sacrifice fly by senior centerfielder Khi Holiday and an RBI double by junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens to take an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
 
Kitchens and Coakley finished the game tied with a team-high three hits each.
 
Eagles' sophomore right-hander Brady Watts took over on the mound and set down six-straight Leathernecks in the eighth and ninth for his first save of the season and career at USI. 
 
USI junior left-hander Jake Porter picked up his second win of the season in relief. Porter (2-0) threw 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk and striking out four.
 
USI junior right-hander Blake Kimball started and picked up a no-decision on the mound. Kimball struck out a season-high five batters while allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits and a walk.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Leathernecks conclude Sunday. Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m.