USI and UIS percentage points apart in GLVC East
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The 24^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team returns to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field to battle the University of Illinois Springfield for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference's East Division in a four-game series Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Screaming Eagles (17-7, 9-3 GLVC) start the weekend percentage points ahead of the Prairie Stars (17-8, 10-4 GLVC) and the rest of the GLVC East field.
 
The four-game series at the USI Baseball Field starts Friday with a 6 p.m. contest, continues Saturday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader, and concludes Sunday with a noon single game. Coverage of the four-game series, including live stats, audio, and video, can be found on gousieagles.com
 
SCREAMING EAGLES BASEBALL NOTES:

Eagles ranked nationally as a team.  The Eagles moved into the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 25 poll last week and remained 24^th this week. USI is the highest ranked GLVC institution in the NCBWA poll. 

USI hurlers leading the GLVC, ranked nationally.  USI pitchers are leading the GLVC and rank 13^th nationally with a 2.53 ERA in 206.2 innings of work. The Eagles also are leading the GLVC in opponent batting average, holding the opposing hitters to a .242 mark.  
 
Leading USI starters on the bump. USI junior right-hander Ben Wright (Newburgh, Indiana) leads Eagle starters with a 1.09 ERA in six starts and 33 innings of work. Senior right-hander Matt Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) has the team-lead in wins with four victories in seven starts, while senior right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Jonathon Wandling (Evansville, Indiana) has struck out a team-best 34 batters this year.
 
Leader in the pen. USI junior right-handed closer Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico) leads all Eagle hurlers with a 0.00 ERA in seven appearances and 10 innings of work. He also has five saves this season.
 
Pitching in the GLVC. USI junior right-hander Ben Wright leads the GLVC with a 1.09 ERA, while junior right-handed closer Matt Chavarria is tied for first with his five saves. Tying for second in the GLVC is senior right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Jonathon Wandling with 34 strikeouts.
 
At the plate in 2014. Sophomore outfielder Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) leads the USI hitters with a .500 average in 15 games and 20 plate appearances. Senior right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Jonathon Wandling and senior infielder Caleb Eickhoff  (Evansville, Indiana) follow at .326. The top run producer is senior outfielder Brent Weinzapfel (Evansville, Indiana), who has 14 RBIs this year.
 
This week at the plate. Junior catcher Austin Edge (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) led the Eagle hitters against Bellarmine University on Tuesday with a .667 average (two-for-three), while senior right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Jonathon Wandling and senior infielder Caleb Eickhoff followed by hitting .500 versus the Knights.
 
Eagles in the GLVC. USI ranks seventh in hitting and is tied for fifth in runs scored among the GLVC teams in 2014.
 
USI gets a long-ball from Shoulders. In the Eagles' 21^st game of the season versus McKendree University, USI senior outfielder Bryce Shoulders (Newburgh, Indiana) hit his first and the Eagles' first home run of the year.
 
Archuleta at the helm. USI Head Coach Tracy Archuleta has a USI record of 280-144 (.660) in seven-plus seasons and is 418-268 (.609) in 12-plus seasons as a head coach. He was named the ABCA Division II Coach of the Year after leading the Screaming Eagles to the 2010 national championship.
 
Eagles at the USI Baseball Field. The Eagles are 163-57 (.741) when playing at the USI Baseball Field since 2007 and 243-138 (.638) since 2000.
 
Illinois Springfield in 2014. The Prairie Stars of Illinois Springfield is having its best season since joining the GLVC in 2011. Illinois Springfield is in the middle of a four-game winning streak and has won nine of its last 13 games.
 
USI vs. Illinois Springfield. The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Prairie Stars, 6-0, including a four-game sweep back in the 2012 season.
 

NCBWA DIVISION II POLL (APRIL 1)
Rk.	School [1st place]
1.	Tampa (Fla.) [15]
2.	Lander (S.C.)
3.	Minnesota State
4.	West Florida
5.	Chico State (Calif.)
6.	West Texas A&M
7.	Georgia College
8.	Southern Arkansas
9.	Shippensburg (Pa.)
10.	Grand Valley State (Mich.)
11.	Lynn (Fla.)
12.	Southern New Hampshire
13.	Colorado Mesa
14.	Cal. Poly-Pomona
15.	Delta State
16.	UNC Pembroke
17.	Arkansas Tech
18.	Lubbock Christian
19.	Wilmington (Del.)
20.	California Baptist
21.	Millersville (Pa.)
22.	Columbus State (Ga.)
23.	Nova Southeastern (Fla.)
24.	Southern Indiana
25.	St. Mary's (Texas)
Also receiving votes: USC Aiken; Central Missouri; St. Edward's, Texas; UC San Diego, Calif.; Texas A&M-Kingsville; Franklin Pierce, N.H.; Dixie State, Utah; Oklahoma Christian; Wayne State, Mich.; Mount Olive, N.C.; East Stroudsburg, Pa.; St. Cloud State, Minn.; Florida Southern.