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Live Stats
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The University of Southern Indiana baseball team opens the 2013 calendar by hosting a three-game series with Lake Erie College February 22-24 at the USI Baseball Field. The first pitch Friday is slated for 2 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday have a 1 p.m. and noon start times, respectively.
The Screaming Eagles launch the new campaign in search of their seventh-straight winning season and rebound from missing the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since 2006. USI finished 2012 with a 26-24 record, but was just 16-20 in the GLVC.
The 2012 season marked the first time since 2008 that the Eagles had not won either the GLVC East or West Division. USI is forecast to place second in the GLVC East Division by the league's head coaches.
The Eagles are under the leadership of seventh-year Head Coach
Tracy Archuleta. Archuleta has a 233-119 record at USI, ranking second all-time in program history. He also has a 381-243 mark in 11 years as a head coach.
Leading the USI charge into 2013 is senior outfielder
B.J. Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior catcher
Colton White (Springfield, Illinois). Willis and White are the Eagles top returning hitters, both hit .324 in their first season with USI.
Willis also tied for the team lead in stolen bases (21), while ranking second in doubles (11). White led USI with 31 RBIs, while tying for third on the squad with a pair of home runs.
On the mound, USI's starting staff is led by sophomore right-hander
Ben Wright (Newburgh, Indiana). Wright had the best ERA (3.24) among the starting pitchers as a freshman, producing a 5-5 record in 13 starts. He also had three complete games and 29 strikeouts.
Joining Wright on the mound for his first season as an Eagle is senior right-hander
Scott Spears (Somerset, Kentucky). Spears comes to USI from Murray State University where he appeared in three games after a two-year stint at Cleveland State Community College. He had a 13-4 mark in two seasons at CSCC.
Coverage of the Eagles' games, including live stats and audio broadcasts, is available at gousieagles.com.
