EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball ended its four-game homestand with a big 13-3 victory over Ball State University Tuesday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI, which defeated Ball State for the first time in the series, is 16-9 this season, while BSU falls to 12-11 this spring.
Both teams battled back and forth for the lead through the first three frames. Ball State took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, while USI pushed three runners across to grab the lead in the bottom half of the frame, 3-1. USI senior first baseman
Patrick McLellan and senior designated hitter
Micajah Wall had RBI-singles, while graduate rightfielder
Noah Foster had a RBI-double to cap off the scoring.
After Ball State tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the second, USI took the lead for good in the bottom of the third with its second three-run frame, 6-3. USI would go on to score three more in the fourth and closed out the game early with a four-run seventh for the 13-3 victory.
McLellan led the way for USI at the plate, going three-for-four with three runs scored and a RBI, while Wall was two-for-three with three RBIs. The Screaming Eagles, as a team, had 10 hits and took advantage of eight walks allowed by Ball State.
On the bump, junior right-hander
Levin East posted his team-best third victory of the season in relief. East (3-2) threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.
USI senior left-hander
Jake Porter started and got the no-decision after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out two. Junior right-hander
Eben Hansen followed East to the mound and closed out the game by throwing two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out one.
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles, who are 2-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play, return to league action this weekend (March 27-29) when they travel to Little Rock for a three-game conference series. Game time Friday is set for 6 p.m., with the series continuing Saturday at 4 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Trojans are 14-10 and 3-0 in the OVC after sweeping Tennessee Tech to open OVC play. Little Rock was scheduled to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff this evening.
In the series between USI and Little Rock since both teams joined the OVC in 2023, the Trojans lead the series, 7-3, after splitting four games in 2025. USI won the series at the USI Baseball Field last year, but Little Rock knocked out the Screaming Eagles out of the OVC Championship last year in the first round.
The next OVC action for USI will be on the road March 27-29 when it travels to Little Rock for a three-game series.
Following the series at Little Rock, USI will conclude the four-game road swing with a visit to Middle Tennessee State March 31 for a 4 p.m. matchup in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
