The USI baseball team hosted Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Thursday for the first of a three-game homestand. 

The game was moved up to avoid rainy weather conditions anticipated to hit the tri-state area. The temperature headed into first pitch was 79 degrees, but windy, with winds reaching upwards of 37 miles per hour, which would certainly affect pitching and fielding for both teams. A low-scoring affair was likely on the horizon. 

This prediction seemed true early on as both USI SIUE struggled to put the ball into play, managing only two hits in the first inning. 

For USI, Patrick McLellan, senior outfielder, hit a single to right field, but didn’t get a chance to move around the bases. 

In the second inning, SIUE started to get the bats going as Abdriel Figueroa, junior pitcher, gave up hits to two out of the first three hitters he faced, one of which reached base on a throwing error. Ultimately, this error came back to bite the Screaming Eagles, as the Cougars struck first, but were limited to one run in the inning.

The Screaming Eagles struggled to fight back in the next two innings, as they failed to register a hit in the second and third innings, while SIUE was able to put the ball into play with relative ease. In spite of that, Southern Indiana still kept the game within reach. 

However, in the top of the fourth inning, the Cougars were once again able to create contact, seeing the first three batters reach base. This ultimately put the team behind the eight-ball, as they gave up another error, which was made worse by another throwing error. 

Yet, the Screaming Eagles were still able to limit the damage, through some savvy, but risky strategery by Head Coach Chris Ramirez, who called for Figueroa to intentionally walk a hitter and to force a double-play ball to end the inning. 

Despite being closely behind on the scoreboard, the Screaming Eagles struggled to spark some momentum, as their hitless streak continued through the fourth inning. To make matters worse, SIUE’s hitting barrage continued, as Figueroa gave up a single and a triple, which gave the Cougars a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. 

At the bottom of the fifth inning, the bats woke up for the Screaming Eagles, as Micajah Wall, senior catcher playing at designated hitter, reached first base on a throwing error. He eventually reached third base, off a single to right field from Drue Saenz, junior catcher. The Screaming Eagles, finally in prime scoring territory, scored on a fielder’s choice play off a hit from Jesse Velders, graduate outfielder, which cut the deficit to 3-1. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Caydon Laird, sophomore pitcher, entered the game for Figueroa, and gave up no hits in the sixth inning. On the other half of the inning, the Screaming Eagles once again, showed up, as Parker Martin, junior infielder, drew a leadoff walk, and made his way to third base off a sacrifice bunt from Khi Holiday, graduate outfielder, and a single from McLellan. Martin eventually crossed home plate with a groundball from a Clayton Slack, senior infielder, bringing the game to 3-2

The seventh inning was strong for Southern Indiana, as they didn’t allow a run, but SIUE also held the Screaming Eagles scoreless; A zero-sum game. 

Andres Gonzalez, senior pitcher, entered the game in the eighth inning for USI, and shoved, striking out three straight batters, which gave the Screaming Eagles a chance to make a run going into the bottom of the eight. In that inning, the Screaming Eagles first two batters, Charlie Marisca, senior catcher, and Martin both failed to reach base. 

Holiday, however, singled up the middle, and then stole second and third base, off a throwing error from SIUE. With a strong opportunity to crack the game wide open, McLellan made contact on the ball, but ultimately grounded the ball to second base, ending a promising inning. 

The top of the ninth inning provided a last-chance opportunity for SIUE to fortify their lead, which they took advantage of, as they scored following a double, a single, and a throwing error from Gonzalez. Ian Anderson, graduate pitcher, relieved Anderson, and limited the damage to just a single run, but even that run was a significant hit against Southern Indiana’s chances. 

In the bottom of the ninth, the Screaming Eagles attempted to mount a comeback, but ultimately fell short, despite Slack and Wall both reaching base. 

The Cougars ended victorious over the Screaming Eagles, 4-2.