CHARLESTON, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball allowed five runs in the eighth inning and lost the series finale at Eastern Illinois University, 9-6, Sunday afternoon at Coaches Stadium in Charleston, Illinois. USI is 20-17 overall and 4-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference this season, while EIU goes to 21-11, 10-2 OVC.
The Screaming Eagles spotted the Panthers a lead for the third-straight game, falling behind, 2-0, after three innings. USI junior designated hitter
Gavyn Boyle gave the Screaming Eagles their first lead of the series, 3-2, with a three-run bomb in the sixth. The home run was Boyle's first of the season.
EIU rebounded with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the sixth to lead, 4-3, but USI knotted the game at 4-4 with a single run in the top of the seventh. USI junior leftfielder
Dane DeWees scored the tying run when junior second baseman
Parker Martin reached on a fielding error.
USI regained the lead, 6-4, with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Graduate centerfielder
Khi Holiday drove in a run with a sacrifice fly for the lead, while junior third baseman
Ryan Skwarek gave the Screaming Eagles a two-run advantage, 6-4.
The Panthers would rally in the bottom of the eighth with five runs to race back into the lead, 9-6. EIU would hold serve in the top of the ninth, stranding a USI runner on base.
On the mound, junior right-hander
Eben Hansen took the loss in relief. Hansen allowed two runs on two hits in facing three hitters in a third of a frame.
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles finish their five-game road swing Wednesday when they visit Ball State University for a 2 p.m. (CDT) first pitch. The Ball State Cardinals are 18-17 after falling in the series finale with the University of Akron Sunday afternoon, 7-6. Ball State is 5-5 in the last 10 games.
The Cardinals lead the all-time series with the Screaming Eagles, 5-1, after USI took the first meeting at the USI Baseball Field, 13-3.
Following the USI-Ball State game, the Screaming Eagles return home for four games at the USI Baseball Field, beginning April 17-18 with a three-game conference series versus UT Martin.