BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball split a doubleheader with Cal State Bakersfield to finish a four-game series Sunday afternoon in Bakersfield, California. USI, which is 2-2 to start the season, took game one, 14-8, and lost in the nightcap, 11-10.
 
Game 1:
USI slugged its way to a 14-8 victory in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Screaming Eagles scored six in the second, one in the third and fourth, four in the seventh, and one in the eighth and ninth.
 
USI senior first baseman Patrick McLellan led the way for the Screaming Eagles with six hits, five RBIs, and a home run. Junior third baseman Parker Martin followed with three RBIs, a home run, and two runs scored.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Trey O'Neil posted his first win of the year in relief. O'Neal threw a third of an inning, walking one.
 
Game 2:
The Screaming Eagles rallied, but left the bases loaded in the ninth in losing the nightcap, 11-10. USI trailed by 11-5 after seven innings and fell short after scoring five times in the eighth and ninth before Bakersfield closed out the 11-10 final.
 
USI senior shortstop Clayton Slack provided the offense for the Screaming Eagles in the nightcap, going two-for-three with two runs scored, four RBIs, and a two-run blast to left center.
 
On the bump, junior right-hander Jared Eckstein stared and took the loss for USI. Eckstein allowed five runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.
 
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles open the 2026 home schedule February 20 when they start a four-game series with Oakland at the USI Baseball Field. Oakland started the season by going 1-2 against Lamar after salvaging the last game of the series, 3-2, Sunday.
 
Oakland leads the all-time series with USI, 3-2, after taking two of three from the Screaming Eagles in 2023.