EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana junior rightfielder/leftfielder
Patrick McLellan hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to walk off a 6-4 win over Morehead State University Monday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI, which has won a season-best six-straight, is 16-15 overall and 7-2 in the OVC, while MSU goes to 10-19, 1-8 OVC.
USI's six-game winning streak is the longest by the squad since 2021 when the Screaming Eagles won eight straight. The Screaming Eagles also moved in sole possession of first in the OVC by one game after losses by Tennessee Tech University at Western Illinois University and Southeast Missouri State University at Southern Illinois University today.
USI had the early lead, 1-0, after one inning and 3-1 after two frames. Senior centerfielder
Khi Holiday scored the first run on a passed ball in the first, while junior designated hitter
Cole Kitchens and McLellan drove in a pair of runs in the second with a fielder's choice and a single, respectively.
The score would remain 3-1 until the top of the ninth when Morehead State took the lead 4-3 with a three-run home run off of USI senior right-hander
Ian Anderson and set the stage for McLellan in the ninth.
With one out, Holiday singles and moved to third on single by Kitchens. McLellan followed with a towering three-run blast over the left field wall for the Screaming Eagles to walk off with the 6-4 victory. McLellan finished the day two-for-four with a run scored and four RBIs.
On the mound, Anderson (3-0) picked up the victory after throwing the ninth and allowing the three runs on two hits and a walk, while striking out one.
USI junior left-hander
Jake Porter started and got a no-decision for the Screaming Eagles. Porter went the first six inning, allowing one run on eight hits and struck out four.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles and the MSU Eagles conclude the homestand Monday at 2 p.m. at the USI Baseball Field.
Following the conclusion of the homestand, USI starts a nine-game road swing with a visit to Western Kentucky University Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Bowling Green, Kentucky. WKU is 27-5 overall after taking two of three at Dallas Baptist University this weekend in Texas.
The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series with USI, 10-2, after sweeping a home-and-home series last spring.
Due to the ever-changing weather in April, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com,
X,
and Facebook.