March 06, 2009
Eagles take advantage of late error to top #24 Wayne State
at Southern Indiana (7-5): 5
#24 Wayne State (Neb.) (3-2): 4
Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana baseball team plated four runs in the first inning and took advantage of a late error to plate another in the seventh inning as it downed No. 24 Wayne State College (Neb.) 5-4 Friday afternoon in the first game of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational at the USI Baseball Field.
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Alex Thieroff |
USI (7-5), which has won four straight and five of its last six, got a three-run triple off the bat of senior pitcher/infielder
Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. Sophomore catcher
Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri) had a bunt single two batters later to stake the Screaming Eagles to a 4-0 advantage.
Wayne State (3-2), which had a tally in the top of the second inning to cut into the Eagles' cushion, used a two-run blast off he stick of junior shortstop Eric Bond to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the third inning. Junior catcher John Plasha hit a solo shot two batters later to even the score at four runs apiece.
After five consecutive scoreless innings, the Eagles took advantage of a two-out error to break the stalemate and give themselves a 5-4 edge heading into the final two innings.
The Eagles' bullpen, which combined for 6.2 innings of relief, held the Wildcats scoreless throughout the final six frames to complete the victory.
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Trevor Leach |
Sophomore right-handed hurler
Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana) picked up the victory, while senior All-American closer
Shaun Larsen (Tell City, Indiana) was awarded the save. Leach (3-0) gave up just one hit and one walk in 2.2 innings of work, while Larsen allowed just one hit and a walk in the ninth inning to record his third save of the year.
USI concludes the Dunn Hospitality Invitational Saturday when it hosts Wayne State at 2 p.m. Wayne State also faces Spalding University Saturday at 11 a.m.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
