LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Five days after sweeping a doubleheader versus Bellarmine at Greyhound Park, the University of Indianapolis baseball squad traveled to Frazier Stadium in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday and earned a split on the Knights’ home field.  After dropping the first game 8-0, senior Daren Johnson (pictured) ensured the split with a game-winning homerun in the contest’s first extra frame to give the Hounds a 3-2 win.

 

The Hounds (19-21, 13-13 GLVC) managed multiple base runners in four of the nine innings, as Knights’ starter Michael Thompson was forced to work in and out of trouble for much of the game.  Indianapolis could not muster a run, however, as Thompson benefited from key strikeouts and errorless defense as the right-hander scattered six hits and fanned eight on his way to the complete-game shutout.

 

Seniors Kyle Stephenson and Tom Bingham each reached based three times via two hit-by-pitches and a single.  Centerfielder Jake Tranchant was the only Greyhound with more than one hit as he managed two singles.

 

Bellarmine (22-20, 18-8 GLVC) scored first as back-to-back hits in the third inning gave the Knights a 1-0 lead.  UIndy responded with a two-run fourth, as a Daren Johnson double scored Tranchant while Dalan Dugger immediately followed with a single to plate Johnson.

 

The hosts tacked on one more to tie the game and push it past the scheduled length of seven innings.  With one down in the top of the eighth, Johnson lifted a drive over the leftfield wall to give the Hounds the final edge.  The Center Grove product finished the game by going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two driven in.

 

Reliever David Early earned his second win of the season after allowing zero runs and one hit in three innings.

 

UIndy travels to Owensboro, Ky. this weekend for a three-game series versus Kentucky Wesleyan.  Doubleheader action is scheduled to start at 1 pm EDT on Saturday.