RENSSELAER, Ind. – There was no shortage of offense on display when the No. 22-ranked UIndy baseball team opened up GLVC play with a split against No. 18 Saint Joseph's College on Friday afternoon.
 
The Hounds (15-6, 1-1 GLVC) erased a trio of six-run deficits to take game one, 15-11. In game two, the Pumas (15-3, 1-1 GLVC) got even by keeping the Hounds in check on their way to a 9-4 win.
 
Nick Miller drove in five runs to lead the Hounds while Storm Joop, John Eberhardt and Ryan Wood all connected for home runs on the day.
 
GAME ONE: #22 UIndy 15 – #18 St. Joseph's 11
 
Disaster struck early for the Greyhounds as the Pumas pounced on UIndy starter Michael Schalasky in their first trip to the plate. Saint Joseph's scored six times in the opening inning, chasing the sophomore starter after just 2/3 of an inning.
 
After leaving the bags full in the second, UIndy broke through an inning later on a two-out, two-run double from Dylan Jones. St. Joseph's answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third but UIndy returned the favor in the fourth. Kyle Orloff scored on a wild pitch and Storm Joop belted his first home run of the year to trim the lead to 8-4.
 
The Pumas added two more runs in the fifth and threatened later in the inning by loading the bases with one out. Needing to keep the game close, senior Jeff Lavin came in from the bullpen and induced a pair of pop outs to end the inning.
 
That proved to be the spark the Greyhounds needed as the offense rallied for seven runs in the sixth for their first lead of the day. Macy Holdsworth plated two with a bases loaded double to cut the lead to four and one batter later, the Hounds were within one thanks to a massive three-run home from from John Eberhardt. With two out and two on, pinch-hitter Nick Miller put UIndy in front with a two-run single, making it 11-10.
 
Jake Perreira made it a 12-10 game with an RBI single in the eighth. St. Joseph's would load the bases in the bottom of the inning, but were held to one run after Dylan Stutsman conceded just an RBI ground out to keep the Hounds in front.
 
Pinch hitter Ryan Wood gave UIndy some much-needed insurance in the ninth with a three-run home run, the first of his UIndy career. St. Joseph's loaded the bags once again in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't push a run across as Stutsman nailed down his seventh save of the year.
 
Chris Boettcher (2-1) earned the win after tossing 2 1/3 innings of two-hit ball.
 
GAME TWO: #18 St. Joseph's 9 - #22 UIndy 4
 
UIndy jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Joop reached on an error and scored later in the frame on a wild pitch. The lead didn't last long though as the Pumas scored two runs in each of the first two innings.
 
UIndy would struggle to get the bats going, managing just one hit over the first five innings while St. Joseph's stretched their lead to 8-1. The Hounds got within striking distance in the sixth thanks to a bases-clearing double from Nick Miller that cut the deficit to 8-4. It was as close as the Greyhounds would get as the Pumas added another run in the sixth before shutting down the Hounds in the final inning.
 
Bailey Buescher (0-1) lasted 1 1/3 innings in his first career start, allowing four earned runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout.
 
The Hounds and Pumas are set to wrap up their four-game set on Saturday afternoon at Gil Hodges Field. Game one's first pitch is set for approximately 1:00 p.m. eastern time.