In the battle for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s South Division, the University of Southern Indiana baseball team lost the first round to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 6-3, at the USI Baseball Field Wednesday afternoon. USI falls to 15-14 overall, 5-3 in the GLVC, while SIUE goes to 20-15 overall, 6-2 GLVC.

USI, which will have two more chances at SIUE next Wednesday (April 18), did not have enough to come back from spotting SIUE a 6-0 lead in the first five innings. Senior right-hander Kylan Stuck (Carmel, Indiana) took the loss for Screaming Eagles, allowing five runs (three earned), and nine hits in four innings. Stuck falls to 4-3 in 2001.

Offensively, the Eagles had some chances. The squad left runners at first and third in the third inning and the seventh inning, while stranding three in the eighth. Sophomore second baseman Adam Schiff (Evansville, Indiana), sophomore centerfielder Neil Duckworth (Henderson, Kentucky) and senior catcher Greg Baisden (Schererville, Indiana) had two hits each to lead the Eagles at the plate.

Baisden had USI’s biggest swing of the day with a triple in the fifth inning, driving in Duckworth from first.

The Eagles will resume GLVC action at the USI Baseball Field this weekend when they entertain the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Saturday, April 7, and Lewis University Sunday, April 8. The doubleheaders will begin at noon each day.

Ray Simmons,
USI Sports Information