The baseball team hosted Illinois State University for a one-game matchup. The weather was perfect for mid-day baseball, with warm temperatures and clear skies. 

Southern Indiana’s head coach Chris Ramirez submitted a strong hitting lineup card featuring Khi Holiday, graduate outfielder, Patrick McLellan, senior outfielder (playing first base), Clayton Slack, senior infielder (at shortstop) and Parker Martin, junior infielder (at third base). 

Illinois State, which entered the game with a record of 7-4, offered a potential test of the Screaming Eagles’ fortitude. 

In the top of the first inning, the Redbirds scored four runs on four hits, one of which was a three-run double to center field. However, Ean DiPasquale, sophomore pitcher, was able to get out of the inning without a call to the bullpen, limiting the deficit to 0-4. 

The Screaming Eagles worked to fight back into the game immediately, as Holiday and Hunter Miller, senior outfielder, were able to reach base, as the two were walked and hit by a pitch, respectively. 

McLellan stood up to the plate as the three-hitter and hit a single to center field, scoring a speedy Holiday from second base. Next up, Slack hit a single to right field, which brought in Miller, cutting the deficit to 2-4. 

Next up was Martin, who placed a nice sacrifice bunt, which brought in McLellan, to bring the score to 3-4, at the cost of the Screaming Eagles’ first out. Noah Foster, graduate infielder, sensed the importance of the moment and hit a rocket to right field, driving in another run, which tied the game at 4-4. 

The scoring run would continue for Southern Indiana, as Micajah Wall, senior catcher, grounded out in the infield, but Foster was able to score, giving the Screaming Eagles a 5-4 lead. 

The Redbirds were able to stop the scoring run soon after, as Jesse Velders, graduate outfielder, hit a pop-up to right field, which ended the inning. It was a strong first inning for the Screaming Eagles’ bats, as they scored five runs on three hits. 

In the top of the second inning, coach Ramirez was forced to change pitchers, bringing in Trey O’Neil, junior pitcher. O’Neil’s inning went somewhat uneventfully as he only gave up one hit and left the inning without giving up any runs. 

However, the Screaming Eagles bats cooled off in the bottom half of the second inning, as Zion Stephens, junior infielder, struckout, while Holiday and Miller also failed to reach base. 

The top of the third inning presented a potential scoring opportunity for the Redbirds, as two of the first three batters reached base, bringing a potential tying run to third base. Southern Indiana once again made a pitching change, bringing Sage Stout into the game to see out the innings.

Sage did give up a run technically (it was attributed to O’Neil, since he gave up the hits that pushed runners into scoring position), a sacrifice fly to right field, but he was able to get out of the inning, as Illinois State tied the game up at 5-5. 

The Screaming Eagles and Redbirds both failed to score runs in the bottom of the third and top of the fourth innings, as Jake Porter, senior pitcher, only allowed a single in that inning and in the top of the fifth inning. However, in the bottom of the fourth, Foster continued his hitting streak, smoking a double to center field.

Foster would eventually break the tie, as Wall and Velders hit sacrifice flies and ground balls. The Screaming Eagles once again grabbed the lead, 6-5. 

Porter continued a strong inning of work, but he could not take all the credit, as Stephens made some incredible fielding displays to throw out three straight batters from shortstop. The Screaming Eagles’ bats got back to work in the fifth inning, as Holiday barely reached first base on a grounder to third base. 

Holiday would take advantage of his baserunning speed, first from a balk (an illegal motion by a pitcher, when runners are on base). Then he stole third base and scored a run after Illinois State’s catcher overthrew the ball into left field, giving the Screaming Eagles a 7-5 lead. 

The game cooled off a bit, as both sides failed to score runs in the sixth inning, which was still a benefit for Southern Indiana. 

Following another scoreless inning for the Redbirds, the Screaming Eagle bats woke up, after a brief slumber, as Stephens hit a double down the third base line to open the bottom of the seventh. 

Collin Senior, senior infielder, pinch-hitting for Miller, took advantage of the opportunity, singling up the middle, which brought Stephens to third base, a prime scoring opportunity. 

The next hitter, McLellan, continued to up the pressure, hitting a single, bringing in Stephens, for an eight-run lead. Then Martin doubled into the outfield, bringing the lead up to 10-5. 

Foster, looking to continue his solid hitting night, continued the scoring barrage, hitting a single up the middle of the field, scoring another two runs, 12-5. The scoring would end there, as the Redbirds were able to get out of the inning, but with considerable damage to their hopes, as the Screaming Eagles scored five runs. 

The Screaming Eagles took the foot off the pedal in the last two innings, as coach Ramirez looked to rest his starters. The USI baseball team would go on to close out the Redbirds, as Nathan Anderson, graduate pitcher, gave up no hits in the final inning of play and struck out two batters. 

Final: USI – 12 Illinois State – 5

It was a strong display from the Screaming Eagles, a big, strong suit of the team going into the game. The Screaming Eagles scored 12 runs on 13 hits, an excellent performance. Pitching started a bit inauspiciously, but the bullpen righted the ship, only giving up one run in the remaining eight innings. 

My player of the game is likely Noah Foster, who drove in three runs on as many hits. Defensively, Stephens was immaculate, making some strong displays at shortstop; He will be a clear difference-maker in the infield. As for pitching, Porter ultimately got the win in two innings of work. 

The Screaming Eagles host Youngstown State University this weekend, Friday through Sunday, March 6 through 8. The games Friday and Saturday begin at 4 p.m., while Sunday’s game is at 1 p.m.