USI still needs to gain ground in GLVC
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The University of Southern Indiana baseball team has picked up momentum in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, but still has a lot of ground to cover if it is to earn a slot in the league's post-season tournament. USI has 12 games left in the 2012 GLVC schedule, beginning with Lewis University Saturday and Sunday at the USI Baseball Field.
 
First pitch Saturday is slated for 2 p.m., while Sunday is scheduled for noon start.
 
The Screaming Eagles (20-17, 11-13 GLVC) have won five of their last six games after taking three of four from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last weekend and a pair from Kentucky Wesleyan College this week. The surge of victories over the last five days puts the Eagles 1.5 games away from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, which currently holds the eighth slot, and 3.5 games behind Quincy University, which is holding down the seventh spot.
 
Eight teams qualify for the GLVC Tournament, consisting of the top three teams from the GLVC East Division, the top two from the GLVC West Division, and three wild cards.
 
Spending time at the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field seems to have put the Eagles on track. USI, which is 15-7 at home this season, is 6-4 during the latest 16-game homestand. The Eagles got a bonus of four more home games last weekend when the UW-Parkside series was moved to Evansville due to rain.
 
USI junior catcher Colton White (Springfield, Illinois) has led the Eagles during the homestand, batting .429 with nine RBIs, three doubles, and one triple in nine games. White also is hitting a team-high .391 at home and .373 for the season .
 
The Eagles also have benefited over the last four games by the return of shortstop Brad Vance (Louisville, Kentucky), who missed 20 games with a knee injury. Vance, who is batting .308 for the season, has hit .375 with five RBIs and two doubles since his return to the line-up.
 
On the mound, USI's hurlers are led by senior left-hander Scott Cole (Patrick, Virginia) and freshman right-hander Ben Wright (Newburgh, Indiana). Cole has a 4-2 mark and two saves to go with his team-best 61 strikeouts, while Wright is 5-3 during his first year with a 3.70 ERA.
 
Junior right-hander Matthew Davidson (St. Charles, Missouri) is USI's best out of the bullpen, posting a  1.80 ERA and three saves. He also has a 1-0 record.
 
The Flyers of Lewis (26-11, 16-8 GLVC), currently, are third in the GLVC East Division, five games ahead of USI in the standings. Lewis also has been rolling over the last week, posting a five-game winning streak and winning six of the last seven games.
 
USI took over the all-time series lead last year, 48-47, after winning four of the five meetings with Lewis. The Eagles won the last match-up with the Flyers in the GLVC Tournament, 10-3, last spring.
 
Game coverage, including live statistics and audio broadcasts for all four games between USI and Lewis, is available at gousieagles.com.