BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana Hoosiers struck for two runs in the first inning and scored three unearned runs in the eighth inning to pick up a 7-2 victory over Georgia Southern's baseball team in the series opener Friday at Sembower Field.
    GSU (22-18) was unable to get its bats going early and crossed the plate for the first time in the seventh inning.
    GSU starter Chris Beck struggled in the first inning for the second straight start and gave up two runs in the opening frame on a Sam Travis two-run home run over the center field wall.
    Indiana (17-21) was aggressive early in the count and  had early success with three runs in the first three innings.
    Dillon Dooney gave the Hoosiers a three-run lead in the third inning with an RBI single to right field. Kyle Schwerber picked up his second hit in as many at-bats and doubled to lead off the inning. The Hoosiers tallied six hits in the first three innings, before Beck (4-4) struck out the side in the fourth inning.
    Beck struck out 11 batters, including seven from the fourth inning on, to post his fourth-career 10-plus strikeout game for GSU. The junior right-hander took the loss after allowing seven runs — four earned — in his third complete game of the season.
    Beck did not walk a batter but gave up a career-high 12 hits in his fourth loss of the season.
    Joey DeNato produced his fifth straight quality start for Indiana and held the Eagles scoreless through six innings. DeNato (6-1) earned his first win at home after allowing just one earned run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
    Indiana's bullpen of Ryan Halstead and Jonny Hoffman combined to throw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just a hit apiece. Hoffman earned his second save after tossing the final 1 2/3 innings.
    GSU finally got to DeNato in the seventh inning and scored two runs on one play. With two runners in scoring position, Tyler Avera chopped a ball down the third-base line that scored Chase Griffin on a play at the plate. The throw from a fielding DeNato sailed high of the catcher and allowed another run as T.D. Davis crossed the plate.
    A two-out error in the eighth inning kept the inning alive and gave the runs back. GSU's Eric Phillips, who had two hits, was unable to get a handle on a ball hit to him by Will Nolden. Chris Sujka doubled to right field to plate the first two runs in the frame, and Dustin DeMuth struck for another run on a bouncing ball back up the middle.
    The three-game series continues at 1 p.m. today and concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday.
    All GSU baseball games can be heard on the Boomer 103.7 FM.