Eagles hosts Ball State to conclude home slate

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball begins the final week of the 2023 regular season by hosting Ball State University Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. The USI-Ball State matchup also is the final home date of the season for the Screaming Eagles.
 
Following Tuesday’s home game, USI finishes the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference schedule on the road when it visits Tennessee Tech University May 18-20 in Cookeville, Tennessee. The first pitches of the series is Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. before concluding Saturday at 2 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 blanked by Oral Roberts: The USI Screaming Eagles were swept by #16 Oral Roberts University over the weekend (12-4 Friday, 9-2 Saturday, 5-0 Sunday).
 
Eagles looking to reverse course this week: USI is looking to reverse course to end the 2023 campaign and snap an eight-game losing streak. The Eagles have not gotten into the win column since defeating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville April 29.
 
USI finishes home schedule: The Eagles finish their first NCAA I home slate with the matchup with Ball State University Tuesday. USI, which is 8-15 at home this year, is led by a .438 batting average by junior catcher Parker Stroh. Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest has a team-best five home runs and 32 RBIs this year at the USI Baseball Field.
 
Eagles in the OVC standings: The Eagles starts the final week of the regular season in eighth place in the OVC standings and a grasp on the final spot in the league’s post-season tournament by percentage points. To secure a spot in the OVC Championship, USI must match Lindenwood University win-for-win in the final weekend to clinch a berth (USI is at Tennessee Tech University; Lindenwood hosts SIUE). The OVC Championship is scheduled for May 24-27 in Marion, Illinois.  
 
Leading hitters: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest leads the Eagles with a .327 average, 12 home runs, and 51 RBIs this spring. Ebest is followed by senior outfielder Evan Kahre and junior outfielder Drew Taylor, who are hitting .310 each.   
 
Last five, last 10 games: Junior outfielder Ren Tachioka is the leading USI hitter over the last five games, batting .333, and 10 games, hitting .412.
 
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 leads the OVC in RBIs per game (1.16) and tied for third in total RBIs (51). Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken is second in the league in on-base percentage (.489).
 
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).
 
Ball State this spring: The Cardinals of Ball State University are 32-18 in 2023 and are 14-12 since playing USI in March. Ball State also is 6-4 in its last 10 games.
 

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