USI is ranked second in first regional poll
 
GAME SCORE: USI 10, OCU 3 
Box Score (Sortable); Box Score (HTML)
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team scored seven times in the first four innings and went on to defeat Oakland City University, 10-3, Wednesday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI sees its record rise to 25-15 overall, while OCU goes to 13-26.
 
In addition to the victory tonight, the Screaming Eagles were ranked second in the first NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll of 2013, trailing only Ashland University. USI was joined in the poll by the Great Lakes Valley Conference's Lewis University (third), Drury University (fourth), Saint Joseph's College (fifth), Quincy University (seventh), and the University of Indianapolis (eighth). Wayne State University joined Ashland from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference at the sixth spot.
 
USI took command early against Oakland City, opening the game with a run in the first inning and sealing the victory early with five runs in the third. The Mighty Oaks cut the lead to 6-1 with a tally in the fourth, but the Eagles got the run back in the bottom half to lead 7-1 after four frames.
 
Oakland City made the game interesting with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to cut the USI advantage to 7-3. The Eagles responded with a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth and closed out a scoreless ninth for the 10-3 win.
 
USI freshman leftfielder Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) led the Eagles with three hits, three runs scored, and three stolen bases. Senior designated hitter Brent Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana) was the top run producer with three RBIs, while junior second baseman A.J. Dokey (Howell, Michigan) and senior third baseman Reece Rounder (Evansville, Indiana) followed with two RBIs each.
 
On the mound, senior left-hander Ben Lady (Louisville, Kentucky) posted his first win of the year. Lady (1-0) allowed one run on four hits and struck out two in his three scheduled innings.
 
Sophomore right-hander Jay Hachmeister (Tennysen, Indiana) relieved Lady in the fourth and went 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Senior left-hander Adam Carver (Arthur, Illinois) and junior right-hander Brandon Shaw (Cuba, Illinois) finished the game for USI.
 
The Eagles continue its five-game homestand and resumes GLVC action this weekend when they host McKendree University for a four-game series. The GLVC action is slated to start at 6 p.m. Friday with single game, continue at 2 p.m. Saturday with a doubleheader, and concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday with single game. Sunday's USI-McKendree contest is Senior Day for the Eagles.