UIndy Athletics

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The UIndy baseball team survived once again, eliminating GLVC-rival and sixth-seeded Missouri-St. Louis from the Midwest Regional on Saturday with a 14-11 extra-inning win.
 
The Greyhounds scraped across six runs in the top of the 10th inning before Aidan Pearson closed the door with the final two outs on 50-hours rest. Drake Downing was credited with the win, while the All-GLVC southpaw Pearson earned his first collegiate save.
 
Seven Hounds recorded an RBI, with Brayton Bowen and Chase Mason leading the way with three apiece. Nathan Jessup joined Bowen and Mason with homers, his first as a college player.
 
INS & OUTS
Trailing 7-5 in the sixth, Jessup and Mason dingers put the Hounds ahead to give Downing his first lead on the mound. The righty worked around trouble in his five-plus frames, but managed three 3-up-3-down innings to keep the Tritons' bats at bay.
 
UIndy's bottom of the lineup was due up in the 10th with the game tied at eight apiece. Jessup walked after singles from Garret Rusch and Ryan Degroot to load the bases for GLVC Player of the Year Austin Bode. The designated hitter abided, singling home a pair of runs to give the Greyhounds the lead for good. The Hounds took advantage of UMSL miscues, as Bret Perry (fumbled bunt) and Gavin Duran (error) also reached base to keep the inning alive.
 
Luke Smock drove in Perry with a sacrifice fly, while Rusch scored moments later thanks to a wild pitch.
 
The Tritons scored three in their half of the frame before Pearson closed it out with a pair of flyouts.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- With their respective 3 RBI performances, Bowen and Mason upped their season total to 55 apiece, good for second on the team.
- Bode is now 8 for 14 during the Midwest Regional, with seven RBI and two extra-base hits. The graduate student also sports a .600 on-base percentage in Springfield.
- The UIndy offense scattered five hits and three runs against GLVC Pitcher of the Year Eli Cartwright, who started twice in a three-day span for UMSL.
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds must win twice on Sunday against second-seeded Illinois Springfield to advance to their fourth straight Super Regional. The host Prairie Stars defeated UIndy in Thursday's regional opener, 10-8, in extra innings.