EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened the 2022 home schedule with a dominating 12-4 victory over Lake Erie College Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles are 4-0 to start the year, while Lake Erie opens 2022 0-1.   
 
USI exploded for 11 runs between the second and sixth innings to put the game into the win column. The Eagles scored three in the second to get the lead for good and sealed the victory with one in the third, two in the fourth, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth to build a commanding 11-4 advantage.
 
The Eagles added one final run in the eighth to cap off the 12-4 final.
 
At the plat for the Eagles, senior shortstop Ethan Hunter (Terre Haute, Indiana) led the explosive USI bats with four hits, including a double; two runs scored; and four RBIs. Junior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) followed with three hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases, while junior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) had three RBIs.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Garrett Welch (New Castle, Indiana) posted his first win of the season after completing the first five frames. Welch allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out six.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
 
The Eagles and the Storm continue the three-game set Sunday with a 1p.m. first pitch. The start time Sunday was moved due to the rescheduling of the series due to cold weather.
 
The USI-Lake Erie series is set to conclude Monday at noon. Monday's game was postponed from Friday due to weather.
 
Following the first home series of the season, USI concludes the first home stand of the season with a three-game set versus Trevecca Nazarene University March 4-5 at the USI Baseball Field.
 
Trevecca Nazarene holds the all-time series lead, 6-4, following a series sweep of the Eagles in Nashville, Tennessee, last spring. The Trojans are off to a 6-1 start and host Truman State University for a four-game stet before visiting the Eagles in March.