HALDEMAN, Ky. (Interstat) — Morehead State rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, overcoming a five-run deficit to defeat Southern Indiana 6-5 on Saturday afternoon at Allen Field.

The Eagles, who trailed 5-2 entering the final frame, benefited from two Southern Indiana errors and a balk to steal the victory and even the Ohio Valley Conference series at one game apiece. Morehead State improved to 21-20 overall while the Screaming Eagles fell to 23-20.

Morehead State starter Landon Waugh earned the win with a solid outing, allowing one earned run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings with one strikeout. Waugh, who had struggled in his previous start against Lindenwood, rebounded to keep his team within striking distance. Devin Costa tossed a scoreless ninth inning for the save, giving up one hit.

Southern Indiana starter Ean DiPasquale had a statistically dominant performance, striking out eight over six innings without allowing a hit. He surrendered two earned runs, however, on a solo home run by Morehead State’s Jaden Ean in the fifth and a solo shot by Caden Sheridan in the sixth. DiPasquale left with a 5-2 lead.

The Screaming Eagles built their advantage with a four-run second inning. Zion Stephens delivered a two-run double, Hunter Miller drove in a run with a double in the third and finished 3 for 3 with an RBI. Stephens went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Morehead State chipped away. Sheridan homered in the sixth, and Aubrey Kearns tied the game with a two-run single in the eighth, scoring Jack Germann and Bryce Olson. Kearns finished 1 for 2 with two RBIs.

The decisive rally came in the bottom of the ninth against Southern Indiana reliever Levin East, who had struck out three over two scoreless innings. East hit leadoff batter Trevor Griffith. After a strikeout, pinch hitter Jaden Dutton singled to shallow right field, and a throwing error by right fielder Hunter Rothschild allowed Griffith to score and Dutton to advance to second.

Evan Krupp then reached on a fielding error by second baseman Stephens, allowing Dutton to score the tying run. Krupp moved to second on a passed ball, took third on a balk and watched as Dutton scored the winning run on the same balk when the Southern Indiana pitcher was called for the infraction.

Southern Indiana had taken a 5-2 lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Stephens, but the Screaming Eagles managed only one hit in the ninth and left two runners stranded. Morehead State grounded into four double plays but still found a way to win.

The game featured strong relief appearances from Southern Indiana’s Abdriel Figueroa, who struck out one in one-third of an inning, and Andres Gonzalez, who allowed one earned run in one-third of an inning. East was charged with the loss despite allowing no hits in two innings.

Miller was the lone Screaming Eagle with multiple hits, going 3 for 3 with a walk. Southern Indiana outhit Morehead State 11-7.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Morehead State 5, Southern Indiana 4, and the Interstat ELO system gave Morehead State a 50.90 percent probability to win. The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday at Allen Field.