The University of Southern Indiana baseball team dropped a pair of high-scoring games to McKendree College this afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles lost the first game 23-14 and dropped the second game 11-6 after jumping out to a 6-0 lead. Both games went six innings due darkness.

After grabbing a 5-3 lead through three innings of the first game, USI watched the McKendree Bearcats, who are ranked 14^th in the NAIA national rankings, post a six-run fourth inning followed by back-to-back seven-run innings. The two teams combined for 39 hits, 11 of which were home runs. Sophomore infielder/designated hitter Josh Perkins (Lafayette, Indiana) extended his hitting streak to 18 games, breaking the school mark of 17, set by Kevin Brown in 1993, before leaving the game with an injury.

Sophomore hurler Dustin Macke (Evansville, Indiana) was charged with the loss after giving up six runs off nine hits in 3.1 innings of work. Senior first baseman/pitcher Aaron Piening (Indianapolis, Indiana) went three-for-four with a double and a solo home run in the first game.

Freshman Drew Neel (Newburgh, Indiana) was charged with the loss in the second game after giving up five runs off five hits in his 0.2 innings of work. Junior third baseman Brian Branson (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) was two-for-two from the plate, including a solo home run.

For the day, USI was led by sophomore first baseman/right fielder Justin Konopacki (Fort Wayne, Indiana), who went seven-of-seven from the plate including two doubles, a pair of home runs, and eight RBIs.

The Eagles, who fall to 9-8 with the losses, will attempt to rebound as they prepare for a three-game set with Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25. Saturday’s doubleheader will start at 12 p.m. while the series finale is scheduled for the same time on Sunday. McKendree College raises its record to 15-3 on the season.

Dan McDonnell,
Sports Information Assistant

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