University of Southern Indiana Baseball was projected to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Blue Division in the annual coaches poll Wednesday.
USI, which received five first place votes, followed sixth-ranked Lindenwood University in the Blue Division. The University of Indianapolis follows USI in the poll, while Maryville University, Lewis University, McKendree University, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis round out the Blue Division.
Quincy selected to win the Green Division with the University of Illinois Springfield and Drury University claiming a first-place vote to round out the top three. The remainder of the Green Division is rounded out by Missouri University of Science & Technology, Southwest Baptist University, William Jewell College, Rockhurst University, and Truman State University.
The Screaming Eagles begin their 15th season under the direction of Head Coach Tracy Archuleta, who has a 483-265 (.646) record at USI and is the all-time winningest coach in the history of the program. USI was 6-8 in 2020 before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.
USI throws out the first pitch at the end of the month when it hosts a three-game series with Lake Erie  February 26-28 at the USI Baseball Field. The three-game series starts a 40-game COVID-19 shortened schedule that includes a 32-game Great Lakes Valley Conference slate.
The complete 2021 GLVC preseason poll can be found below.
2021 GLVC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL – BLUE DIVISION
Points (1st-place votes)
1. Lindenwood               92 (8)
2. Southern Indiana    84 (5)
3. Indianapolis               74 (2)
4. Maryville           60
5. Lewis             48
6. McKendree         30
7. Missouri-St. Louis    25
2021 GLVC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL – GREEN DIVISION
Points (1st-place votes)
1. Quincy                   111 (13)
2. Illinois Springfield     93 (1)
3. Drury             91 (1)
4. Missouri S&TÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 73
5. Southwest Baptist    54
6. William Jewell       42
7. Rockhurst          37
8. Truman           31
