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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The eighth-ranked Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles handed UIndy a 5-3 loss in the opening round of the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Thursday night at USI Field.

Top seed and host USI (42-11) got a stellar start from Jonathan Wandling, named to the Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region First Team earlier in the day. In seven innings of work, Wandling gave up just two hits and one run while striking out five. If not for a one hour, 13 minute rain delay in the middle of the seventh inning the righty may have stayed on the bump.

His counterpart, UIndy righty Matthew Kaplanis, came out looking just as sharp, allowing two hits through the opening four frames. After giving up a leadoff single to Kyle Kempf in the bottom of the first, Kaplanis retired seven of the next eight Screaming Eagle batters.

The two hurlers went toe-to-toe for most of the game, making runs a premium in the opening round contest.

Andrew Cope roped a double down the right field line to open the bottom of the fourth, marking the first hit for USI since the first Eagle batter. Kaplanis promptly dropped the next three in order to escape the inning.

UIndy (30-24) got its first hit in the top of the fifth when Kenny Mahala singled through the right side. Much like Kaplanis had, Wandling held serve and worked out of the early trouble to keep the game scoreless.

After giving up two hits through the first four innings, Kaplanis surrendered the first runs of the game in the fifth. Hamilton Carr hit an infield single to short, and Wannemuehler hit a soft single into left field to put two on base. The next batter, Caleb Eickhoff, hit a slow-roller to second, and Anthony Asalon tried to get him out by bare-handing the ball. Carr headed for home, and Asalon recovered to throw the ball to Ritchie well ahead of the base runner. Ritchie went to apply the tag and collided with Carr, jarring the ball loose and giving USI a 1-0 edge.

Ritchie had to leave the game following the incident due to an injured wrist, being replaced by senior Caleb Hallman.

The Eagles scored another with a sac fly from Kempf, taking a 2-0 lead into the sixth.

The Greyhounds responded in the next half inning. Sean McCracken led off with a deep double over the center fielder's head, and smartly took third base on a dropped third strike with Jake Weinzapfel batting. Asalon later drove him in with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.

With the rain starting to fall, USI added another pair in the bottom of the sixth. With a runner on second base, Ryan Bertram hit a liner to center field, and Zach Jacobs slipped on the wet grass while tracking down the ball. Bertram's stand-up double scored a run, and Wannemuehler later brought in him in on a sacrifice fly to increase USI's lead, 4-1.

After the top of the seventh the rain began to pick up, and the tarp was eventually brought on. The game fell under a one hour, 13 minute delay.

Kaplanis returned to the mound following the extended seventh-inning stretch, and struck out the first batter he faced. The Screaming Eagles were still able to piece together a run, however, making it 5-1 on a sac fly.

Mother Nature forced Wandling out of the game and the Greyhounds were able to take advantage in the top of the eighth. After Brandon Shaw issued consecutive walks, Weinzapfel smoked a liner into left to bring around Luke Andrade, making it 5-2.

Asalon reached on an error by the third basemen, scoring McCracken and cutting it to 5-3, but the Eagles escaped the inning with a double play to avoid more damage.

Matt Chavarria came on to close the game in the ninth, and earned his league-leading 12th save by retiring the Hounds in order.

The Greyhounds face Lake Erie College in a win-or-go-home game Friday at 12 p.m. ET. The Storm fell to Grand Valley State 9-4 earlier today.