EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball broke up a pitchers' duel with three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to defeat Youngstown State, 5-2, Friday evening during the first game of the Holiday Inn Showcase at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 10-4 this season, while YSU goes to 1-11.
 
USI junior right-hander Abdriel Figueroa  and YSU's senior left-hander Braden Gebhardt went toe-to-toe for the first six innings in a old fashion pitcher's duel. Figuerora blanked YSU on two hits and two walks, while striking out five. Gebhardt allowed three hits and two walks in addition to strikingout four.
 
USI would break up the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the seventh. USI junior second baseman Zion Stephens pushed the first two runs across with a two-run single before scoring the third run of the game on an attempted double-steal with junior leftfielder Dan DeWees for the 3-0 lead. Stephens and DeWees were the only two Screaming Eagles to post a pair of hits in the series opener.
 
The Screaming Eagles increased the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the eighth when junior rightfielder Ethan Rothschild scored on an error and senior first baseman Patrick McLellan scored on a sacrifice fly. The Penguins would close the gap in the top of the ninth before graduate right-hander Nathan Anderson closed the door for his third save of the season.
 
The USI winning pitcher in the game was junior right-hander Levin East in relief. East (1-1) threw one inning, allowing a hit and striking out two to earn the victory.
 
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
USI and YSU continue the Holiday Inn Showcase Saturday at 4 p.m. at the USI Baseball Field. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.