FLORENCE, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball fell short of a series sweep in losing a 7-3 decision to North Alabama Sunday afternoon in Florence, Alabama. USI is 8-4 this season, while UNA goes to 7-5.
 
UNA turned the tables on USI in the series finale, building a 5-0 lead after five innings. USI attempted to come back by scoring twice in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to 5-2. Senior shortstop Clayton Slack pushed the first run across with a sacrifice fly before senior first baseman Patrick McLellan drove in the second with a double.
 
The Lions responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to re-extend the lead to five, 7-2. McLellan finished the scoring with a RBI-single in the ninth to cut the deficit to 7-3 before UNA closed out the contest.
 
Junior right-hander Ryan Skwarek started for USI on the mound and took the loss. Skwarek (1-1) allowed one run on two hits and two walks, while striking out two.
 
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
USI starts a four-game series at home next week, beginning Tuesday at 4 p.m. when the Eagles host Illinois State at the USI Baseball Field. Illinois State is 7-4 in 2026 after salvaging the final game of a three-game series at Middle Tennessee State, 14-7, this afternoon.
 
USI leads the all-time series with ISU, 1-0, posting a 6-5 victory at the USI Baseball Field in 1977.  
 
The four-game series concludes with a three-game series against Youngstown State March 6-8. The series starts Friday at 4 p.m., continues Saturday at 4 p.m., and concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
The series will be the first meetings between USI and Youngstown State in baseball.