EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) was selected as a member of the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team in a vote of the conference coaches and athletic communications directors. The preseason honor is the first for McNew.
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McNew, who also was named preseason All-OVC by Perfect Game, was second on the team in 2022 with a .321 batting average, while driving in a team-high and career-high 57 RBIs and hitting a team-best eight home runs last spring. He also is a .306 career hitter with 126 RBIs and 20 home runs.
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The senior catcher enters the season tied for sixth all-time at USI in home runs (20); 13th in RBIs (126); and 14th in doubles (40).
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The Eagles, as a team, are predicted to place eighth in the OVC during 2023. USI, which was 21-28 over during the final season in the NCAA Division II and in fifth place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Blue Division with a 10-14, received 26 points.
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Southeast Missouri State University is predicted to win the OVC in 2023 with 16 of the 18 first place votes and 128 points. Morehead State University was forecast to place second with 100 points and the final two first place votes.
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In addition to McNew, the USI lineup returns senior outfielders Ren Tachioka (Japan) and Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana). Tachioka, USI’s leadoff hitter in 2022, batted .295 in his first season and ranked second on the team with 45 runs scored and 21 stolen bases.
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Kahre batted .290 with 18 runs scored and 22 RBIs in his first season as an Eagle last spring.
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On the mound, USI is led into 2023 by sophomore lefthander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky). Hutson was 2-2 in 20 appearances out of the pen last season with three saves and a 4.83 ERA.
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The Eagles enter their 17th season under Head Coach Tracy Archuleta, who has led the Eagles to two NCAA Division II national championships (2010, 2014) in his 16 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 527 victories in 16 years.
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USI opens the 2023 season with a neutral site four-game series against Western Illinois University, beginning February 17 and running through February 19. The Eagles open the 2023 home schedule with a three-game series against former GLVC-foe Bellarmine University February 24-26.
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USI’s first OVC series is March-24-26 when the Eagles host Morehead State University for a three-game set. Season tickets are available now at USIScreamingEagles.com.
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2023 OVC Baseball Preseason Poll (Selected by OVC Head Baseball Coaches and Communications Directors)
1. Southeast Missouri (16 first-place votes) …..128
2. Morehead State (2) ………………………………..100
3. Eastern Illinois ………………………………………..89
4. Little Rock……………………………………………….86
5. Tennessee Tech ………………………………………78
6. SIUE ……………………………………………………..76
7. UT Martin ……………………………………………….41
8. Southern Indiana …………………………………….26
9. Lindenwood ……………………………………………24
(8 points awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. – Coaches/SID’s could not vote for their own teams)
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2023 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Team
C-Lucas McNew, Southern Indiana
C-Hayden Gilliland, Tennessee Tech
1B-Jackson Feltner, Morehead State*
2B-Nick Gooden, Morehead State*
SS-Chris Worcester, Eastern Illinois
3B-Josh Ohl, SIUE Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
OF-Brett Graber, Southeast Missouri*
OF-Brennan Orf, SIUE
OF-Jevon Mason, Southeast Missouri
DH-Brady Bunten, SIUE*
UT-Ryan Ignoff o, Eastern Illinois*
SP-John Bakke, Morehead State*
SP-Peyton Calitir, Tennessee Tech
SP-Jackson Wells, Little Rock
SP-Eric Steensma, UT Martin
RP-Kyle Miller, Southeast Missouri*
* All-OVC Selection in 2022
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Preseason OVC Player of the Year:Â Jackson Feltner (1B), Morehead State
Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year:Â John Bakke (LHP), Morehead State
