EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The UIndy baseball team opened up a four-game set with long-time rival and GLVC East-leading Southern Indiana on Saturday afternoon. UIndy was unable to snap their current skid, dropping a pair of one run games by scores of 7-6 and 4-3.
 
GAME ONE: Southern Indiana 7 – UIndy 6
The Screaming Eagles came out of the gate swinging, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after scoring twice in each of their first two trips to the plate.
 
UIndy cut into the lead in their half of the third. Blake Richardson reached with a two-out double and came in to score two batters later on an RBI single from Dylan Jones.
 
The Screaming Eagles took advantage of two UIndy errors in the fifth to scratch two more runs across and stretch their lead to 6-1.
 
The bats came alive for the Hounds in the sixth as UIndy tagged Southern Indiana starter Colin Nowak for four runs in the frame. Michael Schalasky brought home a run with a one-out double and was followed by a run-scoring single from Nick Miller. Will Smithey drove in Schalasky with squeeze bunt and the Hounds took advantage of a USI error to cut the lead to 6-5.
 
After the Hounds stranded two runners in the top of the eighth, the Screaming Eagles added to their lead with an insurance run in the eighth.
 
But the Hounds wouldn't go away quietly, cutting the deficit to one thanks to a two-out RBI single from Kyle Orloff. That was where the rally ended, however, as Ryan Wood was retired to end the game.
 
Jake Sprinkle (5-1) suffered his first defeat of the year. The redshirt sophomore allowed five earned runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out four over five innings of work.
 
GAME TWO: Southern Indiana 4 – UIndy 3
After a scoreless first inning, the Greyhounds jumped out to an early lead thanks to four singles, the last coming from Jake Perreira that brought home Schalasky to make it 1-0.
 
The hosts would draw even in the bottom of the second and that's how the score would remain until the fifth. Storm Joop led off the inning with a double to center and came in to score one batter later on a single up the middle from Macy Holdsworth. One inning later, Brendan Dudas stretched the lead to 3-1 with an RBI single of his own.
 
The Greyhounds fought off a Screaming Eagle rally in the sixth to keep the lead at two. However, the dam broke in the seventh and the hosts scored three times to earn the walk-off win.
 
Chris Boettcher (2-2) took the loss after being charged with the game-tying and game-winning runs. Dylan Stutsman was brilliant in his first start of the year, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and two punch-outs in 4 2/3 innings of work.
 
The Greyhounds look to snap their winless streak when the two teams lock up tomorrow in Evansville. First pitch is currently set for 1:00 p.m. eastern time. There is rain in the forecast, so stay tuned to UIndyAthletics.com for any schedule changes.