EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 13^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team opened the GLVC Tournament with an 11-3 victory over Lewis University Thursday afternoon at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles reach the 40-win plateau for just the fourth time in the history of the program at 40-12, while Flyers fall to 27-29.

USI is just three wins away from tying the school record for wins (43) set by the NCAA Division II Championship Series team in 2007. The 2007 squad went on to tie for third nationally.

The Eagles put a notch on the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning when senior shortstop Wandy Rosario (Boston, Massachusetts) scored on a fielder's choice by senior rightfielder Caleb Ehmke (Waterloo, Indiana).

The Flyers tied the score 1-1 in the top of the third before the Eagles exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the inning and four more in the fourth to take an 11-1 lead. USI scored the 10 runs on 10 hits with Rosario and junior designated hitter Todd Martin (Rockport, Indiana) knocking in a pair of RBIs each.

For the game, Rosario was three-for-three with two runs scored and drove in those two RBIs. Sophomore second baseman Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky) also had three hits in the game, scoring twice and knocking in one run.

USI junior right-hander Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana) led the Eagles on the mound, posting his third complete game and his nine win of the year. Leach (9-1) allowed eight hits and three runs (two earned), while striking out five.

With nine wins this year, Leach is just two wins away from tying the school record for wins (11) that he established last season. He also is four wins away from tying Todd Niemeier's  all-time record for wins (25 between 1992 and 1995).

The Eagles resume GLVC action Friday at noon when they play Rockhurst University. The Hawks, who are 30-23, won their opening round game with the University of Indianapolis, 13-10. USI swept a four-game series at Rockhurst last month.