EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — A dominant start by Abdriel Figueroa and a three-run seventh inning propelled the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles to a 5-2 victory over the Youngstown State Penguins on Friday at the Physical Activities Center.

The game was a pitchers’ duel for six innings before the Southern Indiana offense broke through against the Youngstown State bullpen.

Figueroa, the top star for Southern Indiana, set the tone with six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. He faced minimal trouble, with Youngstown State’s only runner to reach second against him coming on a stolen base in the second inning. His performance lowered his ERA to 0.50 over his last two starts, which included five hitless innings against North Alabama on Feb. 27.

Youngstown State starter Braden Gebhardt matched Figueroa zero for zero, delivering six shutout innings of his own with four strikeouts. He scattered three hits and worked around three walks to keep the game scoreless.

The stalemate ended abruptly in the bottom of the seventh. After Gebhardt exited, Southern Indiana mounted a rally against relievers Luke Zmolik and Sloan Ulrich. Micajah Wall walked and pinch-hitter Hunter Miller was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt by Parker Martin set the stage for Zion Stephens, who delivered the game’s biggest hit, a two-run single to left-center field to tie the game at 2-2.

Stephens then scored the go-ahead run on a peculiar play, coming home after Dane DeWees was picked off first base, giving Southern Indiana a 3-2 lead.

The Screaming Eagles added two unearned insurance runs in the eighth inning, capitalizing on a throwing error by Youngstown State pitcher Griffin Almond. Ethan Rothschild scored on the error, and Patrick McLellan came home on a sacrifice fly by Wall.

Youngstown State, which fell to 1-11, made a final push in the ninth. Alex Jang, who finished 2-for-2 with a walk, doubled and scored on an RBI single by Nathan Beckley. Beckley later scored on a single by Luke Rossi to cut the deficit to 5-4. With the tying run on second, Southern Indiana brought in Nathan Anderson, who recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to secure the victory and earn the save.

Southern Indiana’s bullpen trio of Levin East, Andres Gonzalez and Anderson combined for three innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five.

The Screaming Eagles improved to 10-4 with the win. The teams are scheduled to continue their series on Saturday and Sunday at the Physical Activities Center.

Youngstown State’s next 10 games include a midweek contest against Central Michigan and a weekend series against Oakland. Southern Indiana’s upcoming schedule features a road game at Missouri and a weekend series at Southern Illinois.