EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball take its 2023 post-season hopes on the road this week when it visits Tennessee Tech University for a three-game, Ohio Valley Conference series in Cookeville, Tennessee. The first pitches Thursday and Friday are set for 6 p.m. before the series concludes Saturday at 2 p.m.
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USI Baseball Notes:
OVC post-season hopes alive:Â Hopes for the USI Screaming Eagles to advance to the OVC Championships (May 24-27) remain alive as they enter the final weekend of the conference schedule. USI needs to maintain pace with Lindenwood University (win-for-win) to clinch a spot in the tournament. USI, currently in eighth with a 15-36 overall and 6-14 OVC records, visits Tennessee Tech University for a three-game set, while Lindenwood, currently ninth, hosts Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, currently seventh, for a three-game set to determine the final two spots.
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Eagles looking to reverse course this week:Â USI is looking to reverse course to end the 2023 campaign and snap a nine-game losing streak. The Eagles have not gotten into the win column since defeating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville April 29.
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USI has rough start to the week:Â The Eagles got off to a rough start to the week, losing the 2023 home finale to Ball State University, 12-1.
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Leading hitters: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest leads the Eagles with a .321 average, 12 home runs, and 51 RBIs this spring. Ebest is followed by junior outfielder Drew Taylor and senior outfielder Evan Kahre, who are hitting .306 and .304, respectively.  Â
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USI on the road: The Eagles are 4-19 on the road this season and led by junior first baseman Tucker Ebest, who is batting .344 with five home runs and 16 RBIs. Senior second baseman/catcher Lucas McNew follows with a .322 mark and 15 RBIs. Â
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Last five games: Junior outfielder Ren Tachioka is the leading USI hitters over the last five games, batting .353 with four RBIs.
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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.
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Among the OVC leaders: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest leads the OVC in RBIs per game (1.13) and tied for third in total RBIs (51). Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken is second in the league in on-base percentage (.489).
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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).  Â
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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).
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Tennessee Tech this spring:Â The Golden Eagles enter the series with an 18-30 overall record, 9-12 in the OVC. Tennessee Tech, currently, is sixth in the OVC and will be looking to solidify that position or move up to fifth in the standings. The Golden Eagles are a .500 team (5-5) over the last 10 games overall, but 6-4 in the last 10 conference games.
