April 03, 2009
USI blasts by Lewis to open series
Box Score: Southern Indiana 13, Lewis 3
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Tyler
Choate |
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 29th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team used six home runs to blast its way to a 13-3 win over Lewis University to start at three-game series Friday afternoon in Romeoville, Illinois. USI takes its record to 23-8 overall and 11-2 in the GLVC, while Lewis falls to 13-13, 2-7 GLVC.
The win is the fifth straight for the Screaming Eagles and pulls USI to the .500 mark on the road at 5-5.
The Eagles started their long ball barrage with a solo shot by senior first baseman
Caleb Ehmke (Waterloo, Indiana) to give USI a 1-0 lead. The margin was increased to 5-0 in the sixth on a solo home run by junior right-handed pitcher
Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois) and a three-run blast by junior centerfielder
Brad Mangold (Evansville, Indiana).
After the Flyers got onto the scoreboard with a single tally in the bottom of the sixth, USI responded with pair of runs of its own to take a 7-1 lead on Choate's RBI triple and junior shortstop
Wes Fink (Clarksville, Tennessee) crossing the plate on a passed ball in the top of the seventh.
Lewis tried to get back into the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice. USI answered with a four-spot in the top of the eighth to make the score 11-3, starting with the first home run of freshman second baseman
Brad Vance's (Louisville, Kentucky) collegiate career. The Eagles got the next three runs on back-to-back home runs by Ehmke and Choate.
Ehmke hit his second round tripper of the game with a man aboard, while Choate's shot was his second solo blast of the contest.
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Caleb
Ehmke |
The Eagles concluded the scoring in the top of ninth when Choate doubled in two more runs to give USI a 13-3 lead. Choate finished the day by going four-for-four with two runs scored, five RBIs, a double, a triple, and two home runs at the plate.
On the mound, Choate (6-1) was nearly as good in recording his team-best sixth win of the season. He allowed three runs, one earned, and nine hits, while striking out five in eight innings of work.
USI freshman right-hander
Zach Binder (Rushville, Indiana) finished the game on the bump, allowing two runners on a hit by pitch and a fielder's choice.
USI and Lewis conclude the three-game series Saturday with a noon doubleheader in Romeoville. The Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field Tuesday when they host Bellarmine University for a 1 p.m. non-conference contest.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
