Eagles make non-conference visit to #16 ORU

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball takes a break from Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend when it makes a visit to 16th-ranked Oral Roberts University for a three-game series in Tulsa, Oklahoma. First pitch of the series at J.L. Johnson Stadium is Friday at 6 p.m. before continuing Saturday at 2 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Links to follow all of the action during the homestand can be found on the Eagles’ baseball schedule at USIScreamingEagles.com.

USI Baseball Notes:
USI has rough week to start May: The USI Screaming Eagles (15-32) started May with an 0-4 record, falling 14-3 to Southern Illinois University; 12-2 to Miami (OH) University; and a pair, 4-3 and 14-10 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Senior centerfielder Evan Kahre led the USI hitters with a .412 average, four runs scored, and two RBIs, while senior catcher/second baseman Lucas McNew had a team-best five RBIs.
 
USI’s offense surges: USI has the offense going, averaging 8.1 runs per game in the last 10 games and reaching double-digits in seven of the last 11 games. Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest has a .429 average over the last 10 games with four home runs and 18 RBIs. Senior infielder/catcher Lucas McNew follows with 17 RBIs in the last 10.
 
Eagles in the OVC standings: The Eagles are ninth in the OVC standings by percentage points with a 6-14 record and a .300 winning percentage. USI, which is .033 away from an OVC Tournament spot, has three conference games left and must finish amongst the top eight to earn a trip to the OVC Tournament May 24-26.
 
Leading hitters: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest leads the Eagles with a .329 average, 11 home runs, and 49 RBIs. Ebest is followed by junior catcher Parker Stroh, who has a .328 batting average, while senior catcher/second baseman Lucas McNew is second to Ebest with 43 RBIs and has a team-high 11 doubles.   
 
Versus the OVC: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest has a team-best .397 batting average and five RBIs in OVC play. Senior catcher/second baseman Lucas McNew leads the squad in OVC action with 21 RBIs.
 
Among the OVC leaders: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest is tied for first in the OVC in RBIs (49), while sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken is the OVC leader in on-base percentage (.500). Senior centerfielder Evan Kahre is fourth in triples (3), sixth in runs scored (36), and seventh in hits (47) and stolen bases (12).
 
Van Grieken gets hit for record. Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken has been hit by a pitch in a season more than any other Eagle, getting hit 23 times this season. The mark of 20 was previously held by Wes Fink (2008) and Nick Gobert (2018).  
 
McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher/infielder Lucas McNew is fifth all-time at USI in home runs (24); fifth in RBIs (169) and sixth in doubles (51).
 
Oral Roberts this spring: The #16 Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts enter the three-game series with a 37-11 overall record after a 4-1 road win at Wichita State University Tuesday. Oral Roberts also has won their last nine games and 17 of the last 18 contests. USI and Oral Roberts will be meeting for the first time in baseball.  
 
OVC Ranked Wins: OVC teams have had a trio of wins over nationally ranked teams this season and have 26 victories over ranked teams since 2018. This season’s OVC wins over ranked opponents are:
 
Feb. 26 – Eastern Illinois 12, #3 Arkansas
Apr. 12 – Little Rock 11, #5 Arkansas 4
Apr. 18 – Tennessee Tech 12, #19 Tennessee 5

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