BLUE HOSE BASEBALL SWEPT BY SCREAMING EAGLES
CLINTON, S.C. –The University of Southern Indiana (7-7) returned to an even record on the season as they defeated Presbyterian College (10-12) for the second time in as many days 8-3.
The Screaming Eagles got their bats warmed up early in the game. With two outs in the second inning sophomore short stop Corey Goers (LaPorte, IN) knocked a two-run homer off the left field foul pole scoring two runs. USI scored again in the third inning after sophomore first baseman Matt Keener (Newburgh, IN) singled though the left side and drove in a run. Keener had another stellar performance against the Blue Hose going two-for-three with two RBI and one run scored. The Screaming Eagles put three more runs on the board in the fourth inning off of just two hits to give them a nice six run lead heading into the fifth inning.
In the fifth inning PC finally got on the board when junior center fielder Kevin White (Spartanburg, SC) sent his sixth home run of the season over the right field fence. USI came right back in the sixth and put their final two runs on the board to go up by seven runs.
PC’s redshirt freshman third baseman Matt Bodie (Aiken, SC) had the best day at the plate and pitching for the Blue Hose as he went three-of-five with one RBI and one run scored hitting as well as coming into the game in the seventh inning and pitching three innings striking out four and allowing only four hits.
The Blue Hose put another run on the board in the bottom of the sixth and rallied for a run in the ninth but were silenced by senior relief pitcher Bowie Johnson (Brazil, IN) who notched his second straight save and third of the season.
PC’s sophomore starting pitcher Jake Lunnen (Sylva, NC) took the loss going three innings and allowing six earned runs off of 10 hits while striking out four batters. USI’s starting pitcher Joe Stanisz (Highland, IN) won his first game of the season going five and two-thirds of an inning scattering seven hits for two runs and striking out two.
The Blue Hose return to conference action tomorrow as they take on the Eagles of Carson-Newman College at the PC Baseball Complex in a doubleheader that will start at noon. USI will take the weekend off after their long road trip and will play Indiana University-Southeast at 2:00 pm on Monday.