Box score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.- The 17th-ranked UIndy baseball team (37-14) had a rough start to its postseason Thursday, as the Greyhounds dropped an 8-2 decision to Lewis in the opening round of the 2012 GLVC Tournament, held at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind.

The Hounds came in as the tourney's top seed, but the Flyers generated 15 hits and eight runs.  UIndy didn't help matters, as its normally-solid defense committed three errors, while its usually-patient offense scored five runs below its average.


Lewis (33-18) set the tone early with a big first inning against starter Donovan Drake.  The frame began with a leadoff double and an error to put Drake in a quick jam.  The eighth-seeded Flyers followed with three more hits to hang four runs on the board before the first Greyhound stepped to the plate.  One of the tallies was unearned, while one scored on a balk.

After Lewis tacked on another run in the second, Drake (7-2) held the Flyers scoreless for the next two frames but was pulled after four innings – easily his shortest start of the season.  The GLVC Pitcher of the Year came in to the day holding opponents to a paltry .192 batting average, but the Flyers managed nine hits and five runs against the ace, both season highs for a Drake opponent.

UIndy's only offense came with single runs in the third and sixth innings.  Leftfielder Ryan Wides started the third with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a balk, before senior Mike Page drove him in with a base knock.  Later, rightfielder Adam Rusche was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth, and came around on a Matt Maringer double.

Reliever Sean Elliott was a bright spot for the Hounds, as the sophomore finished the game with 3 1/3 scoreless innings to help save the bullpen.

The loss affords the Hounds no rest, as UIndy plays No. 5 seed Quincy, who fell 3-1 to Rockhurst in today's first game, at 7 p.m. Eastern tonight.  The winner stays alive to play Friday at 3:30 ET, while the loser heads home.

A live audio webcast is available here.