MACOMB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning to defeat Western Illinois University, 6-4, Sunday afternoon in Macomb, Illinois. USI, which wins the opening series of the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference schedule, is 10-13 overall and 2-1 in the league, while WIU goes 6-14, 1-2 OVC this year.
 
The Screaming Eagles struck first and built a 3-0 after three-and-a-half frames. Sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd sent an RBI single up the middle in the first inning for the 1-0 lead, while sophomore third baseman Parker Martin and junior catcher Micajah Wall singled in runs in the two-run fourth inning.
 
WIU got on the board in the bottom of the fourth and knotted the game, 3-3. USI regained the lead 4-3 in the sixth on an RBI triple by junior leftfielder Patrick McLellan before the Leathernecks knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom half of the frame.
 
The Leathernecks had a chance to take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on third with one out, but USI junior shortstop Clayton Slack made two outstanding plays on the infield to strand the man and end the inning.
 
In the ninth, USI senior centerfielder Khi Holiday led off the inning with a hit before advancing to third on a stolen base and a WIU error. Junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens drove in Holiday two pitches later with the eventual game-winning run on an RBI double to right for the 5-4 lead.
 
The Eagles pushed the lead to 6-4 with an insurance run when Slack singled to center to drive in junior Hunter Miller, who pinch ran for Kitchens.
 
WIU would mount a challenge in the ninth, putting runners at second and third with one out in the ninth, but sophomore right-hander Abdriel Figueroa got the final two outs for his first save of the year and as an Eagle.
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Ian Anderson picked up his first win of the year in relief. Anderson (1-0) pitched a pair of scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk and striking out one.
 
USI senior right-hander Hiroyuki Yamada started and got a no-decision in the contest. Yamada allowed three runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out four.
 
Up Next for the Eagles: