Archuleta wins 400^th game at USI

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team completed a perfect 5-0 homestand with a 2-0 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan College Tuesday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 22-14 overall, while KWC goes to 18-18 in 2017.
 
The victory also marked the 400^th win of Head Coach Tracy Archuleta's career at USI. Archuleta, who has led USI to pair of NCAA Division II national championships, has a USI record of 400-206 (.660) since 2007 and a career mark of 548-330 (.624) in 14-plus seasons as a head coach (USI and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside).
 
In the game, the Screaming Eagles and the Panthers battled to a scoreless draw through the first seven innings and a one-hour 30 minute rain delay. The Eagles missed a chance with the bases loaded with third, while the Panthers left the bags jammed in the eighth.
 
USI junior third baseman Sam Griggs (Evansville, Indiana) broke the scoreless tie with an RBI-double in the eighth inning, scoring junior pinch runner Grant Malott (New Castle, Indiana) from second. The Eagles sealed the 2-0 victory when junior leftfielder Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana), who had a team-high three hits, doubled in Griggs with the final run of the game.
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Mike Ringer (Springfield, Illinois) picked up the victory in relief for the Eagles. Ringer (2-1) got the Eagles out of the eighth inning jam and threw a scoreless ninth, striking out one.
 
Senior right-hander Justin Watts (Bryan, Ohio) made his first start as an Eagle and got the no-decision. Watts allowed two hits and two walks, while striking out six in four frames of work.
 
The middle innings for USI went to freshman right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana). Hagedorn scattered six hits and struck out two in 3.2 innings.
 
The Eagles hit the road this weekend in the Great Lakes Valley Conference when they visit Lewis University Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders. First pitch is slated for noon each day.
 
USI leads the all-time series with Lewis, 59-56, after splitting the four-game set at the USI Baseball Field last spring. The Eagles are 35-11 against the Flyers since 2007, going 13-6 versus Lewis in Romeoville, Illinois.

For live coverage of USI Baseball, visit GoUSIEagles.com.