EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth to defeat Bellarmine University, 9-8, Monday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 20-13 this season, while Bellarmine is 13-18.
 
USI had to battle back from the start of the contest after Bellarmine posted a 2-0 lead after a half-inning. The Screaming Eagles tied the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the first on a RBI-triple by graduate rightfielder Noah Foster, who would score the tying run on a single by junior third baseman Collin Senior.
 
The Knights responded by scoring five unanswered runs with three in the second and two in the third to lead 7-2. USI bounced back to cut the deficit in half with two in the fourth, 7-4, on a two-run double by senior shortstop Clayton Slack.
 
The Screaming Eagles battled back to within a tally, 7-6, with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the fifth. USI graduate leftfielder Jesse Velders knocked in the Screaming Eagles' fifth run of the game with a RBI-double, while senior centerfielder Ethan Rothschild drove in the sixth run with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
USI took the lead for the first time, 8-7, in the sixth, scoring twice for the third-straight frame. The Screaming Eagles tied the contest, 7-7, on a RBI-single by junior catcher Drue Saenz and jumped into the lead, 8-7, when Velders reached on a fielder's choice that scored Foster.
 
After the Knights tied the game, 8-8, with a home run in the seventh, USI would take the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth when junior pinch runner Dane DeWees scored on a wild pitch. Senior, who had a team-high three hits in the game, had led off the eighth with a triple to right field to set the stage for DeWees' sprint home.
 
In the ninth, graduate right-hander Nathan Anderson allowed two runners on before shutting the door on the Knights to earn his fourth save of the season. He allowed one hit and struck out the final three batters.
 
Junior right-hander Trey O'Neil picked up the win in relief. O'Neil (3-0) threw a scoreless eighth inning, allowing one hit and a walk, while striking out one.
 
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
 
The Screaming Eagles hit the road for the next five games, beginning with a visit to Butler University Tuesday in Indianapolis, Indiana. Butler, which has won six of its last seven games, is 11-20 overall after sweeping Villanova University last weekend.
 
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with USI, 6-2, with the last two-game series coming in 1978, when Butler swept the series. The Screaming Eagles' two victories over the Bulldogs came in 1977, 6-4 and 11-5, at the USI Baseball Field.