Eagles to host Austin Peay Tuesday USI at home for the next four

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball (5-6) starts a four-game homestand Tuesday when it hosts Austin Peay State University for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The homestand continues with a three-game series versus Oakland University Friday at 6 p.m. before continuing Saturday at 2 p.m. and concluding Sunday at noon.
 
Austin Peay’s (2-9) visit to the USI Baseball Field is the first for the Governors since 1982, while Oakland (2-8) is making its first visit to USI since 1977.  

USI frozen by Washington State: The USI Screaming Eagles suffered a three-game sweep by Washington State University over the weekend. The Eagles held it tight in the opening game 7-5 loss, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth, before losing 11-5 and 6-0 in the final two games.
 
USI junior infielder Nolan Cook and senior outfielder Ren Tachioka had the best weekend at the plate for the Eagles, hitting .429 (3-7) and .400 (4-10), respectively.   
 
Cook hits first collegiate home run: Junior infielder Nolan Cook hit his first collegiate home run as an Eagle in game two of the series with Washington State. Cook hit his home run on his 108^th at-bat as an Eagle.  
 
Long ball Eagles: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest has a team-high three home runs in the first eight games. Freshman infielder Caleb Niehaus follows with a pair of round trippers.
 
Leading hitters: Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (11-30) and senior outfielder Evan Kahre (14-40) are leading the Eagles in batting averages, hitting .367 and .350, respectively.  
 
McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher Lucas McNew is sixth all-time at USI in home runs (21); ninth in RBIs (142) and 12^th in doubles (42).
 
USI vs. Austin Peay: USI and Austin Peay are meeting for the ninth time, with the Governors leading the series, 8-0, overall and 2-0 at the USI Baseball Field.
 
Austin Peay in 2023: The Governors of Austin Peay (2-9) begin this week on a seven-game losing streak after losing three to 12^th-ranked Oklahoma State University last weekend. Austin Peay last won on February 21 when they defeated Southern Illinois University at home, 14-13.
 
USI vs. Oakland: The all-time series between USI and Oakland is even at 1-1 after the Screaming Eagles and the Golden Grizzlies split a double-header in 1977. USI took the opening game, 8-3, but stumble in the nightcap, 4-0.
 
Oakland in 2023: The Grizzlies of Oakland are 2-8 to start the 2023 campaign after losing two of three at Wichita State University last weekend. Oakland, who visit Eastern Michigan University Tuesday and the University of Michigan Tuesday before coming to USI, also is 2-3 in its last five games.