CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- University of Southern Indiana Baseball closes out the series at Southeast Missouri State University Sunday afternoon with a 9-6 loss following a late surge. USI moves to 25-26 overall and 8-16 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
After a scoreless first inning, the Redhawks' offense was active in the second inning, managing six runs off an RBI single, a bases-loaded walk, and a grand slam.
The Screaming Eagles quickly responded in the next inning as graduate student
Noah Foster was the first Eagle to tally a hit with a single to left field. Graduate student
Khi Holiday recorded his first hit of the series, an RBI, to get USI into the score column.
USI was the next to score in the sixth inning, as leftfielder
Hunter Miller tallied his second home run of the season for two runs after Holiday reached first on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning. The Redhawks responded by tacking on another three runs (9-3) between the sixth and seventh innings, before a scoreless eighth frame from both sides.
The Screaming Eagles managed to put together a three-run rally in the final inning, for their highest scoring frame. Senior
Patrick McLellan scored a double RBI, then Miller advanced on a wild pitch to round out USI's points.
It was an active bullpen game for the Screaming Eagles, after
Levin East (5-4) got the start, just his second of the season, and earned the loss following SEMO's six-run second inning. USI turned to eight relievers for the game, who combined for the final three runs on five hits. Junior
Trey O'Neil took the mound in the fourth and fifth innings, throwing a strikeout with no runs and one hit.
With the loss, the Screaming Eagles remain in the hunt for a spot in the OVC postseason tournament. USI is tied with Western Illinois University (8-16 OVC) for eighth in the league following this weekend's series.
The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the OVC Championship, which is slated for May 19-23 at Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Illinois.
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles return home to prepare for the final series of the season against Lindenwood University, May 14
th-16
th. The series starts Thursday at 6 p.m., continues Friday at 6 p.m., and concludes Saturday at 2 p.m. Friday's game is West Side Nut Club Night at the USI Baseball Field, while Saturday's contest is Senior Day.
The Lindenwood Lions are 28-23 overall and 12-12 in the OVC this spring. The Lions went 2-1 in their series against Tennessee Tech University this weekend. Lindenwood is set to visit Indiana State University on May 12 before closing out the regular season at USI on May 14-16.
Lindenwood leads the series, 9-5, after USI took two of three from the Lions last spring.
Fans can follow USI Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, and X, as well as online at usiscreamingeagles.com for any schedule changes due to weather. Links to follow the Screaming Eagles during 2026 can be found on
USIScreamingEagles.com and the
USI Baseball Schedule.
