Screaming Eagles Slip Past Pirates, 8-7, In 10 Innings

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Southern Indiana scored five unanswered runs, erasing a 7-3 seventh-inning deficit to come away with an 8-7 college baseball victory over Armstrong Atlantic in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon at Pirate Field, salvaging a game of the three-game series.

For the second straight game between the Screaming Eagles (1-2) and the Pirates (3-3), nine innings were not enough to settle the game. AASU looked like it would cruise to the victory after Josh Wilson led off the bottom of the first with a home run, and the Pirates loaded the bases with nobody out against USI starter D.J. Smith. Smith induced a ground ball double play and struck out John Roberts, allowing just one more run to score.

The Screaming Eagles got on the board in the third on a Dylan Mooney double, an error and a passed ball. AASU answered in the bottom of the third when Wilson scored on a wild pitch by Smith.

In the fourth, Wes Fink led off the inning with a solo home run for USI, but again AASU answered in the bottom of the inning, getting two runs on a solo home run by Kenny Cail and an RBI single by Wilson, making the lead 5-2.

The fifth saw a run from USI on Tyler Choate's RBI double, but the Pirates stretched the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth thanks to Juan Dorado's two-RBI single.

Southern Indiana started its comeback in the seventh inning on another RBI double by Tyler Choate and an RBI single by Fink.

In the top of the eighth, AASU reliever Blake Culberson allowed the first two runners to reach, forcing the Pirates to bring in closer Brandon McCreery. A bunt single by Brad Mangold loaded the bases, then a wild pitch by McCreery scored Caleb Ehmke, making it 7-6. With two outs and runners on second and third, Chad Bruce struck out, but AASU catcher John Roberts' passed ball allowed Chad Werry to score and Bruce to reach first, tying the game at 7-7.

AASU had a golden opportunity to go ahead in the eighth with runners on second and third with one out, reliever Michael Dewig struck out Josh Heath, then after intentionally walking Wilson, retired Dorado on a groundout to third.

The Pirates appeared to have won the game in the bottom of the ninth as, with runners on first and third and one out, Michael Price's slight hesitation from third cost him on a ground ball to short. Fink threw home, cutting down the winning run at the plate. AASU loaded the bases with two out, but All-American closer Shaun Larsen was summoned from the bullpen and retired Carlos Cardoza-Oquendo on a groundout to end the threat.

Southern Indiana brought home the winning run in the top of the 10th on an RBI double by Chad Bruce, scoring Royle Beach. Larsen then worked a hitless ninth to secure the victory.

Larsen (1-1) worked 1 1/3 innings, striking out two, to pick up the win for the Screaming Eagles. McCreery (0-2) gave up one run and four hits in three innings of work, striking out four, to take the loss for the Pirates.

Wilson finished the day 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Bryan Roby collected three hits to pace the Pirates. Southern Indiana was led by Fink's three hits and two RBI, as well as Choate's two RBI doubles.

The Pirates return to action on Friday, February 13, with a 2:00 p.m. contest against Shepherd at Pirate Field.