USI plays three-game series at AASU
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team begins its NCAA Division II national championship defense Friday at 1 p.m. (CST) when it starts a three-game series at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. USI is ranked number one in the NCAA II by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association polls.
The series continues Saturday at noon (CST) before concluding Sunday at 10 a.m. (CST). Fans can follow all of the action on WSWI 820AM or online at
www.gousieagles.com.
The Screaming Eagles were 52-14 a year ago in making their run toward their first NCAA Division II national championship. They also won the NCAA II Midwest Regional for the second time and won the GLVC Tournament title for the first time since 1993.
Returning to lead the Eagles are honorable mention All-Americans
Trevor Leach (Danville, Indiana), a senior right-handed pitcher, and
Dylan Mooney (St. Charles, Missouri), a senior catcher.
Leach, who got the win in the national championship game, was a single-season record tying 12-1 overall last year and needs just one victory to tie the USI all-time mark for career wins. He is 24-2 in his three seasons with the Eagles.
Joining Leach in the starting rotation is the 2010 championship series Most Outstanding Player
Taylor Dennis (Covington, Indiana). Dennis, who was 12-1 last spring, won two starts in the championship series and reached the 12-win mark a game before Leach.
Mooney tied the USI mark for home runs a year ago with 14 and was second on the team with 68 RBIs. He also was second on the team with a .369 batting average.
Returning to the USI infield is the 2010 regional Most Outstanding Player,
Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky). Vance led the Eagles with a school-record 70 RBIs as a junior. He also batted .407 with 12 RBIs and three home runs during the NCAA II Midwest Regional.
AASU has already started its season with a 1-1 mark, splitting a doubleheader with Winston-Salem State University. The Pirates lead the all-time series with the Eagles, 14-4, but USI took two-of-three from AASU last year to start the season.
LINK TO STORY ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER POLL
NCBWA NATIONAL TOP 25 (Release 2/7/11)
1 Southern Indiana (10) 52-14
2 UC San Diego (3) 54-8
3 Central Missouri 47-8
4 Georgia College & State 42-17
5 Kutztown, Pa. 42-15
6 Tampa, Fla. 46-11
7 Franklin Pierce, N.H. 43-17-1
8 Abilene Christian, Texas 46-13
9 Southern Arkansas 47-10
10 Minnesota State 44-16
11 Columbus State, Ga. 44-12
12 Valdosta State, Ga. 43-17
13 Emporia State, Kans. 42-14
Francis Marion, S.C. 40-14
15 Grand Valley State, Mich. 37-16
West Chester, Pa. 39-14
17 Mount Olive, N.C. 41-11
18 Florida Southern 41-16
19 Chico State, Calif. 35-20
20 Cal State Dominguez Hills 41-20
21 Mesa State, Colo. 37-20
22 Northern Kentucky 43-17
23 Southern Connecticut State 38-13-1
24 California, Pa. 34-18
25 St. Mary's, Texas 39-17
Also receiving votes: West Florida (36-20); St. Cloud State, Minn. (41-17); Hawaii Pacific (39-12); New Mexico Highlands (41-13); Catawba, N.C. (40-13); Incarnate Word, Texas (40-16) ; Stonehill, Mass. (31-18); Seton Hill, Pa. (36-21); Delta State, Miss. (34-16-1); USC-Aiken (32-19); UT-Permian Basin (38-21); Erskine, N.C. (40-15); Florida Tech (39-16); Winona State, Minn. (36-16) .
NCBWA MIDWEST REGION PRESEASON POLL
1 Southern Indiana (7)
2 Grand Valley State, Mich.
3 Northern Kentucky
4 Ashland, Ohio
5 Wayne State, Mich.
6 Indianapolis, Ind.
7 St. Joseph's, Ind.
8 Rockhurst, Mo.
9 Drury, Mo.
10 Quincy, Ill.
Also receiving votes: Bellarmine, Ky. and Saginaw Valley State, Mich.
