Eagles Baseball Team Are 31st In Preseason Poll

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University of Southern Indiana Baseball is ranked 31st nationally in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Preseason Top 40 Poll as it prepares for the first pitch of 2020 on February 14 versus Davenport University. The Screaming Eagles have been ranked 10 times in the last 13 preseason polls, getting the top spot in 2011 and 2015.

USI throws out the first pitch in eight weeks when it plays a neutral site region three-game series with Davenport February 14-15 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Eagles open the 2020 home schedule with the Dunn Hospitality Classic February 21-22 versus Trevecca Nazarene University.

The early non-conference schedule also is highlighted by a visit by eighth-ranked Ashland University (February 28-March 1) for a three-game set at home; and two-game road series at 22nd-ranked West Florida University (March 10-11). Locally, the non-conference schedule has a home-and-home series with Kentucky Wesleyan College (March 24 and April 28) and a home game with Oakland City University (April 7).

The 35-game 2020 Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule starts March 7-8 when USI visits the 40th-ranked University of Illinois Springfield for a three-game series. USI begins the home portion of the league schedule March 14-15 when Drury University visits the USI Baseball Field.

The conference home campaign, in addition to the three-game set with Drury, includes Rockhurst University (March 28-29); University of Missouri-St. Louis (March 31); 38th-ranked Quincy University (March 4-5); McKendree University (April 14); and Lindenwood University (April 18-19). The Eagles are on the road in the GLVC against 14th-ranked Bellarmine University (March 18); Missouri University of Science & Technology (March 21-22); Maryville University (April 10-11); University of Indianapolis (April 22); Truman State University (April 25-26); and Lewis University (May 2-3).

The GLVC Tournament is May 7-10 and will be played at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark, Missouri.

The NCAA Division II Tournament has changed this season to include a super-regional format. The Midwest Regional is May 15-17, followed by the Midwest Super-Regional May 23-24. The NCAA II Championship Series is May 30-June 6 in Cary, North Carolina.

The Eagles begin their 14th season under the direction of Head Coach Tracy Archuleta, who has a 477-257 (.650) record at USI and is the all-time winningest coach in the history of the program. USI completed the 2019 campaign with a 30-21 overall record, 21-12 in the GLVC, and a tie for third in the GLVC Tournament.