EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball hopes to get back on track when it finishes a road trip with a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Southeast Missouri State University April 12-14 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The USI-SEMO series starts Friday with a 6 p.m. first pitch before continuing Saturday at 2 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.
Links to follow the Eagles during the opening weekend of 2024 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com and on the USI Baseball Schedule.
Following the USI-SEMO series, USI (14-19, 4-5 OVC) returns to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field for a five-game homestand that includes Western Kentucky University (April 16), the University of Tennessee at Martin (April 19-21), and Belmont University (April 23).
USI Baseball Notes
USI started week with loss at SLU. The USI Screaming Eagles started the week with a 13-5 loss at Saint Louis University. USI sophomore second baseman Lane Crowden led the USI hitters by going two-for-three with a home run and three RBIs.
USI Eagles 1-3 homestand. The USI Eagles were 1-3 on the four-game homestand last week. The Eagles opened the homestand with a loss to Murray State University before dropping two of three to Lindenwood University. Junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken led the Eagle regulars by hitting .462 (6-13), while senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka hit .438 (7-16). Senior first baseman Tucker Ebest and senior designated hitter Jack Ellis were first and second on the team with five RBIs and four RBIs, respectively.
Ellis and Thompson-Allen leads Eagles in homers. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis has hit a team-best and career-high six home runs this season, while junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen follows with five round trippers.
The Last 10 Games for USI. USI is 3-7 in the last 10 games. Senior catcher Tyler Kapust is batting .444 (8-18) in six of the 10 games, while junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen is hitting .415 with 15 runs scored, one double, five home runs, and eight RBIs. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis has driven in a team-high 12 RBIs during the last 10 games.
Leaders at the plate in 2024. Senior outfielder Ren Tachioka is hitting a team best .415 (34-82) in 22 of the 32 games, while senior designated hitter Jack Ellis follows with a .397 (27-68). Ellis also has a team best six home runs, while senior infielder/designated hitter Tucker Ebest has driven in a team-best 27 RBIs.
Leaders on the mound in 2024. USI junior right-handers Gavin Seebold and Gavin Morris and freshman right-hander Grant Parson lead the team with three victories each. Morris also has a team-high 37 strikeouts, while Parson follows with 33. Junior right-hander Tyler Hutson has a team-best four saves.
USI in the OVC. Senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka leads the Eagles in OVC play with a .529 average (9-17) in five of the nine games. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis is second batting .412 (14-34) in addition to knocking in a team-high 12 RBIs. Ellis, junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen, and junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken have hit two home runs each in conference play.
In the OVC. USI as a team is fourth in the OVC in pitching with a team 5.99 ERA and fifth in the league in hitting with a .284 team batting average. Freshman right-hander Grant Parson is seventh with a 4.50 ERA. Junior right-hander Gavin Morris is seventh in the OVC overall with 37 strikeouts.
In OVC Games Only. USI is second in the league with a .316 team batting average for OVC games only, but sixth with a 6.86 team ERA.
SEMO in 2024. The Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State University is 16-17 overall and 6-3 in the OVC after defeating Southern Illinois University, 3-2, Tuesday. SEMO is 4-4 in the last eight games.
USI vs. SEMO. The Eagles lead the all-time series with SEMO, 27-25, despite losing two of three in their first season in the OVC last year.
WKU in 2024. The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University are 22-11 this season and are 7-4 since defeating USI in March. WKU is set to play Bellarmine University and Sam Houston State University.
USI vs. WKU. WKU leads the all-time series with USI, 9-2, after defeating the Eagles in March, 5-3. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis led the USI hitters with two hits, while sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus had two of the three USI RBIs.
