USI launches 2024 home schedule Friday

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball launches the 2024 home schedule Friday when it starts a three-game series with Eastern Michigan University. The series is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
The first 200 fans to Friday’s home opener will receive a USI Baseball magnet schedule. Fans attending Saturday’s contest will receive a USI Blanket (first 50 fans), hand warmers, and hot chocolate, while series finale Sunday is Family Day at USI Baseball Field with kids 12-and-under allowed to run the bases after the game.
 
The USI-EMU series is the start of a seven-game homestand at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles also host Ball State University (February 27) and the University of St. Thomas (March 1-3) during the homestand.
 
Links to follow the Eagles during the opening weekend of 2024 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com and on the USI Baseball Schedule.    
 
USI Baseball Notes:

Tough opening weekend for USI. The USI Eagles had a tough opening weekend in Mobile, Alabama, going 0-4 at the Jaguar Classic. USI opened the season with losses to Lamar University, 4-2, and the University of North Alabama, 13-7, before losing twice to the University of South Alabama, 5-3 and 11-0.
 
Leaders in week one. Sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus led the Eagles in the first four games, hitting .438 (7-16) with four runs scored, five doubles, and two RBI. Senior first baseman Tucker Ebest followed with a .385 average (5-13) and also drove in a pair of runs.
 
Converting chances. USI needs to convert at the plate with runners in scoring position, leaving 35 runners on base in the first four game and hitting just .197 (12-61) with runners on.
 
Good starts on the mound. USI had a pair of good starts on the mound in losing causes. Junior right-hander Gavin Morris had the start in game one, going 4.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits and two walk, while freshman right-hander Grant Parson started and went 4.0 frames in game three, allowing one run on three hits and four walks.
 
USI under Archuleta. The Eagles are in their 18th season under Head Coach Tracy Archuleta, who has led the Eagles to two NCAA Division II national championships (2010, 2014) in his 17 years at the helm. He also has been recognized as the Division II ABCA National Coach of the Year twice (2010, 2014); the ABCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year five times (2007, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) and the GLVC Coach of the Year twice (2011, 2014) since taking over the program in 2007. He also is the winningest coach in the history of the program with 544 victories in 17 years.
 
New opponents on the 2024 Schedule. The Eagles are playing 15 of the first 19 games against opponents who are making their first appearance on a USI baseball schedule.
 
Eastern Michigan in 2024. Eastern Michigan University was 1-3 versus Belmont University to start the 2024 campaign. The EMU Eagles lost the first two games before splitting the final two games of the series. Belmont took game one, 4-3; game two, 3-2; and the series finale, 9-7; while EMU snagged game three, 16-6.  
 
USI vs. Eastern Michigan. USI and Eastern Michigan will be meeting for the first time in the history of both baseball programs.
 
Ball State in 2024. The Ball State University Cardinals took three of four in the Swig & Swine College Classic in Charleston, South Carolina. The Cardinals opened with an 8-4 win over Lehigh University; lost 5-0 to #20 University of Iowa; bounced back to defeat Merrimack University, 2-1; finished the tournament with a 4-1 win over Michigan State University. Ball State is schedule to play the University of Cincinnati (February 23); the University of Illinois (February 23); and Coastal Carolina University (February 24) before leaving South Carolina for Evansville.           
 
USI vs. Ball State. USI trails the all-time series with Ball State, 2-0, after meeting for the first time in 2023. The Cardinals took the opening game last year in Muncie, Indiana, 7-6, in 11 innings and captured the game at the USI Baseball Field, 12-1. USI senior first baseman Tucker Ebest and senior infielder Jack Ellis led USI in the opening game with a pair of RBI each.