USI makes the jump into the top 10 this week

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The ninth-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team concludes the 2014 home schedule and its 11-game homestand this week when it hosts Saint Joseph's College for a GLVC four-game series. USI (31-8, 22-4 GLVC) and Saint Joseph's (17-25, 12-16 GLVC) play a single game Friday at 6 p.m., a doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m., and a single game Sunday at noon.
 
The Screaming Eagles also will celebrate Senior Day Sunday when they honor the 11 seniors prior to the game. Links coverage of the games can be found on gousieagles.com
 
SCREAMING EAGLES BASEBALL NOTES:

Eagles move up the national poll.  In a matter of four weeks, the Eagles have moved from the realm of the unranked to the top 10 when the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ranked USI ninth in its top 25 poll. USI has not been ranked in the top 10 since the 2011 season. 
 
USI sits on top of the first Midwest Region Poll. The Eagles were the top-ranked team in the first NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll of 2014. USI was followed in the poll by Drury University, Grand Valley State University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Ohio Dominican University, Wayne State University, Ashland University, and Lake Erie College.
 
Winning streak has Eagles flying high in April. USI has a 10-game winning streak, its longest of the season. The longest winning streak in program history was 15 in 2010. The Eagles also have won 16 of their 17 games in April.
 
Pitching rules during winning streak. USI pitching has ruled during the 10-game winning streak, producing a 1.69 ERA and holding opponents to a .217 batting average.
 
USI hurlers leading the GLVC, ranked nationally.  USI pitchers are leading the NCAA Division II and the GLVC with a 2.24 ERA in 333.2 innings of work this spring. The Eagles also are leading the GLVC in opponent batting average, holding opposing hitters to a .240 mark.  
 
Leading USI starters on the bump. USI senior right-hander David Toth (Danville, Illinois) leads the Eagle starters and ranks sixth nationally with a 0.81 ERA in 44.2 innings of work (nine games and five starts). Senior right-hander Matt Bowles (Mt. Washington, Kentucky) and senior right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Jonathon Wandling (Evansville, Indiana) have the team-lead in wins with six victories each. Wandling also has struck out a team-best 56 batters this year.
 
Leader in the pen. USI junior right-handed closer Matt Chavarria (Carlsbad, New Mexico) has a 3-0 record and nine saves in 13 appearances out of the bullpen. The nine saves ranks ninth nationally and first in the GLVC.
 
At the plate in 2014. Sophomore outfielder Hamilton Carr (Evansville, Indiana) leads the USI hitters with a .369 average in 30 games and 65 plate appearances. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Kempf (Evansville, Indiana) follows at .355. Kempf, who is USI's lead-off hitter, also has a team-best 25 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.
 
During the homestand. Senior pitcher/designated hitter Jonathon Wandling leads the Eagles at the plate during the homestand with a .545 average in four of the seven games (6-11). He also has five runs scored, four RBIs, and two doubles. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Kempf follows with a .419 mark (13-31), knocking in four RBIs and scoring seven runs.
Archuleta at the helm. USI Head Coach Tracy Archuleta has a USI record of 294-145 (.670) in seven-plus seasons and is 432-269 (.616) 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 174-57 (.753) when playing at the USI Baseball Field since 2007 and 254-138 (.648) since 2000.
 
Saint Joseph's College in 2014. The Pumas of Saint Joseph's has lost it last two games, but is 3-3 in the last six games. Saint Joseph's, currently, sits in fifth place in the GLVC East Division.
 
USI vs. Saint Josephs'. The Pumas lead the all-time series with the Eagles, 38-33, after winning three of four in Rensselaer, Indiana last spring.  USI has won seven of the last meetings with Saint Jospeh's College at the USI Baseball Field.

 

NCBWA DIVISION II POLL (APRIL 23)
Rk.	School [1st place]
1.	Tampa (12)
2.	Lander
3.	Minnesota State-Mankato
4.	West Florida
5.	Chico State
6.	Colorado Mesa
7.	Arkansas Tech
8.	Columbus State
9.	Southern Indiana
10.	Southern New Hampshire
11.	Lubbock Christian
12.	Delta State
13.	Millersville
14.	Cal Poly Pomona
15.	Mount Olive
16.	West Texas A&M
17.	Central Missouri
18.	Lynn
19.	Grand Valley State
20.	Wilmington (Del.)
21.	St. Edward's
22.	St. Cloud State
23.	UC San Diego
24.	Seton Hill
25.	Drury

 

NCAA II MIDWEST REGION RANKINGS
1	Southern Indiana
2	Drury
3	Grand Valley State
4	Kentucky Wesleyan
5	Ohio Dominican
6	Wayne State (Mich.)
7	Ashland
8	Lake Erie