EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball pounded out 14 hits in rolling to an 18-9 victory over Oakland Thursday evening to start the Fairfield Inn Invitational at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 3-2 to start the season, while Oakland goes to 1-3.
 
USI wasted very little time in taking command of the game with an eight-run first inning to lead 8-0. The Screaming Eagles scored eight times on just four hits, while taking advantage of three walks and four hit batters to move runners around the bag.
 
The Grizzlies would respond in the top of the second, scoring five times to shrink the Screaming Eagles' lead to 8-5. USI got the runs back in the bottom of the third with senior shortstop Clayton Slack driving in the first run with a sacrifice fly before graduate designated hitter Noah Foster and graduate rightfielder Jesse Velders singled in a run each to push the margin to 11-5.
 
Following an Oakland three-run rally in the fifth, USI sealed the game with four in the seventh and three in the eighth to cruise to the 18-9 win. Senior catcher Micajah Wall highlighted the four-run seventh with a two-run triple to right field.
 
Overall at the plate in the win, USI was led by Slack, Foster, and Wall with three RBIs each. Junior third baseman Parker Martin and senior first baseman Patrick McLellan followed with two RBIs each.
 
USI junior left-hander Trey O'Neil was the best Screaming Eagle on the bump and picked up the win in relief. O'Neil (2-0) blanked the Grizzlies through two innings, striking out four to get the win.
 
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles and the Grizzlies continue the series Friday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at the USI Baseball Field. The series will conclude Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The game that was originally scheduled for Sunday was moved to Friday due to the forecast of cold weather.