The University of Southern Indiana baseball team split with the Norse of Northern Kentucky University at the USI Baseball Field Saturday afternoon. USI won the first contest, 15-9, but stumbled in game two 4-3.

The Screaming Eagles go to 22-21 overall, 11-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while the Norse go to 32-14 overall, 10-9 GLVC.

The top four in USI’s line-up sparked the 15-9 victory in game one, combining to go eight-for-17 with seven runs scored and 11 runs driven in. Sophomore shortstop Josh Perkins (Lafayette, Indiana), who has hit safely in 35 of 38 games this season, was three-for-five with two runs scored, four RBIs, and a double.

Perkins was followed by sophomore second baseman Adam Schiff (Evansville, Indiana), who was two-for-four with three runs scored, three RBIs, and a double, while sophomore leftfielder Andy Nucci (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) was two-for-four with two runs scored, and a RBI.

Sophomore rightfielder Justin Konopacki (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) was only one-for-four, but his one hit was a triple which drove in three runs to give USI the lead for good in the sixth inning.

On the mound in game one, junior right-hander Steve Arnold (Evansville, Indiana) picked up the win in relief. Arnold (3-1) went the final three innings, allowing four hits and one run, following senior starter Jon Adams (Ft. Branch, Indiana). Adams, a right-hander, went four innings and allowed six hits and eight runs while striking out only one.

Game two saw Northern Kentucky pick up three runs in the second and one in the eighth off of senior left-hander Aaron Piening (Indianapolis, Indiana), who was making his first start of the season. After giving up the three runs in the second, Piening blanked the Norse for five innings before surrendering a run in the eighth.

Pienning, who pitched nearly as many innings today as he had all season, falls to 2-1. He went 7 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits, four runs and four walks while striking out two. Sophomore right-hander Dustin Macke (Evansville, Indiana) pitched well in relief of Piening, going an 1 2/3 innings and allowing just a hit.

The Eagles will resume GLVC action Sunday, April 22, when they host the 10^th ranked University of Indianapolis in a doubleheader. Game time is noon.