USI hits the road to play top-25 Prairie Stars​​​​​​​

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball continues the 2022 GLVC schedule with its first league road trip Saturday and Sunday, visiting the #18 (NCBWA)/#28 (ABCA) University of Illinois Springfield for a four-game series. The series starts Saturday with a noon doubleheader and concludes Sunday with a noon twin bill.  
 
The series, which was originally slated for Friday through Sunday, was changed to Saturday/Sunday doubleheaders due to the Friday forecast of inclement weather.
 
Throughout the 2022 season, fans can follow the Screaming Eagles all season long on GoUSIEagles.com. Selected games can be heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin, in addition to live stats, video streams, and audio broadcasts.
 
The Eagles will return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field April 13 when they start a five-game home stand, beginning with a single game versus Oakland City (April 13) and ending with a four-game GLVC slate versus Truman State University (April 14-16).
 
USI Baseball Notes:

USI vs. Illinois Springfield: The Eagles hold a 23-15 all-time series lead over the Prairie Stars, despite dropping four of five last season (falling in three of four during the regular season; stumbling once in the GLVC Tournament).
 
Eagles in 2022: USI is .500 this spring, going 13-13 overall and 2-2 after the first weekend of the 2022 GLVC schedule. The squad was 2-3 last week after losing a non-conference match-up with Maryville University and going 2-2 in the first conference action of the year versus Quincy University. The Eagles have struggled of late, going 4-6 in the last 10 games, but are 5-3 versus ranked opponents this season.
 
Freshman catcher/designated hitter Cordell Coburn led the Eagles with a .357 batting average last week, while sophomore outfielder/designated hitter Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky) had a team-best seven RBIs, including a grand slam for his first hit of the year in the loss to Maryville.
 
Illinois Springfield in 2022: Nationally-ranked Illinois Springfield is 20-6 overall after sweeping a non-conference series with the University of Missouri-St. Louis last week. The Stars have won three of their last four but are 1-3 in the GLVC.
 
Predicted in the GLVC:  USI was predicted to place third in the GLVC Blue Division, while Illinois Springfield was forecast to win the Blue Division.             
 
Eagle Leaders: USI junior infielder/catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) leads the Eagles with a .363 batting average; 10 doubles; four home runs; and 33 RBIs. He also is third on the team with 20 runs scored. Senior shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) follows McNew with a .337 batting average, two home runs, and 20 RBIs.  
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Brice Stuteville (Rockport, Indiana) has a team-best four wins and is 4-1 overall. He also has a team-best 2.60 ERA (pitchers with 10 IP in 2022).  

Hunter all-time at USI: USI senior infielder Ethan Hunter continues to move up the all-time lists for USI. Hunter ranks first in triples (16); 11th total bases (321); 12th in RBIs (134) and tied for 13th in home runs (16); tied for eighth in runs scored (158); 13th in hits (211); and 21st in doubles (30).
 
McNew all-time at USI: Junior infielder/catcher Lucas McNew is starting his move up the all-time rankings at USI. He is tied for 19th in doubles (34); tied for 13th in home runs (16); and tied for 20th in RBIs (102).  
 
Archuleta at USI: USI Head Coach Tracy Archuleta is in his 16^th season at the helm of the Screaming Eagles. He has a USI record of 519-298 during his 16 season and has a 19-year record of 667-422 (5 years University of Wisconsin-Parkside; 16 years USI).