USI hosts Lake Erie for three-game series
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The University of Southern Indiana baseball team opens the 2012 home schedule by hosting Lake Erie College Saturday and Sunday at the USI Baseball Field. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is 1 p.m., while Sunday's series finale is slated for 11 a.m.
 
Game coverage for the series, including live stats and/or audio broadcasts, is available at gousieagles.com.
 
The Screaming Eagles (1-2) are off to a slow start in 2012 after dropping two of three at Armstrong Atlantic State University last weekend. USI salvaged the Saturday series finale, 11-7, after losing both ends of Friday's doubleheader, 12-4 and 14-2.
 
Sophomore outfielder Bryce Shoulders (Newburgh, Indiana) and junior infielder Reece Rounder (Evansville, Indiana) led the way for the Eagles during the opening weekend. Shoulders batted .800 (4-5) in two games with three RBIs and a double, while Rounder batted .583 (7-12) with four RBIs, a double, and a triple.
 
Rounder also had the game-winning hit in Saturday's victory, tripling in three runs during USI's  game-winning, four-run seventh inning.
 
After the first weekend, USI fell to 28^th in the Collegiate Baseball /NCAA Division II Top 30 poll and to 19^th in the College Baseball Lineup Top 30.
 
The Storm of Lake Erie starts the 2012 season after posting a 21-26 record last spring. Lake Erie also placed seventh in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 14-20 mark.
 
This weekend's match-up is the first baseball games between USI and Lake Erie.
 
Following the USI-Lake Erie three-game series, the Eagles complete the six-game homestand March 2-4 when Tiffin University visits the USI Baseball Field.

Collegiate Baseball/Division II Top 30
  1. West Florida
  2. Tampa
  3. Central Missouri
  4. Columbus St.
  5. Grand Valley St.
  6. LeMoyne
  7. Emporia St.
  8. St. Cloud St.
  9. N.C. Pembroke
10. Millersville
11. St. Mary's (TX)
12. Francis Marion
13. Delta St.
14. Southern Conn. St.
15. Cal. St. Chico
16. Franklin Pierce
17. Armstrong Atlantic St.
18. Western Oregon
19. Mercyhurst
20. Mount Olive
      Harding
22. Winona St.
23. Tusculum
24. Angelo St.
25. North Alabama
26. North Georgia
27. Minnesota St.-Mankato
28. Southern Indiana
29. S.C. Aiken
30. Tarleton St.
 
Also Receiving Votes: E. Stroudsburg, Cal. St. Monterey Bay, Cal. Poly Pomona, Wayne St., MI, Catawba, Abilene Christian, Florida Southern, Belmont Abbey, Mesa St., N.W. Nazarene, Georgia College, Seton Hill, S. Arkansas, S.E. Oklahoma St., Ark.-Monticello, West Texas A&M, Rollins, Florida Tech., West Alabama, Cal. Baptist, California, PA, Kutztown, West Virginia St., N. Kentucky, Ashland, Indianapolis, Drury, Missouri S&T, Quincy, Wayne St., NE, Augustana, New Mexico Highlands, Mass.-Lowell, Wilmington, Adelphi.

COLLEGE BASEBALL LINEUP DII BASEBALL TOP 30 RANKINGS
  1. Tampa Spartans
  2. St. Mary's (TX) Rattlers
  3. UNC Pembroke Braves
  4. St. Cloud State Huskies
  5. Southern Connecticut St. Fighting Owls
  6. Millersville Marauders
  7. Winona St. Warriors
  8. North Alabama Lions
  9. West Florida Argonauts
10. Grand Valley St. Lakers
11. Francis Marion Patriots
12. Incarnate Word Cardinals
13. Columbus St. Cougars
14. Central Missouri Mules
15. Armstrong Atlantic Pirates
16. Emporia State Hornets
17. Barry Buccaneers
18. Franklin Pierce Ravens
19. Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
20. Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
21. Minnesota State Mavericks
22. Mercyhurst Lakers
23. Le Moyne Dolphins
24. Southern Ark. Muleriders
25. Mount Olive Trojans
26. Delta St. Statesmen
27. Tusculum Pioneers
28. Mass.-Lowell River Hawks
29. Cal St. Chico Wildcats
30. West Chester Golden Rams