EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball added five transfers and two freshman to the 2023 roster. The new Screaming Eagles are in addition to the three winter signees (freshman outfielder Ethan Rothschild, freshman infielder/pitcher Brandon Juarez, sophomore infielder Ricardo Van Grieken).

USI will make the transition to NCAA Division I competition in the Ohio Valley Conference after finishing last season with a 21-28 record.

Biographies of USI Baseball's Spring & Summer Signees:

Lane Crowden | 6'6" | Infielder | Jackson, Mo.
The Jackson High School (Jackson, Missouri) product comes to USI after two seasons at Three Rivers Community College. The junior infielder started his collegiate career by hitting .288 with 11 RBIs, four doubles, one triple, and eight stolen bases. 

COACH ARCHULETA ON CROWDEN: "Lane is a great defender that has a chance to play any of the four infield positions. He is very athletic and I am looking forward to seeing him develop over the next few years."
 
Tucker Ebest | 6'3" | Infielder | Austin, Texas
The junior infielder transfers to USI from Indian Hills Community College where he hit .305 over two years, producing 87 RBIs, 14 home runs, 23 doubles, and one triple. Ebest batted a two-year best .333 with 11 home runs, 14 doubles, and 58 RBIs, while being a member of the IHCC NJCAA World Series team in 2021. The Liberal Arts and Science Academy (Austin, Texas) graduate also was named first-team All-Region as a designated hitter his sophomore campaign. 

COACH ARCHULETA ON EBEST: "Tucker is a left-handed bat with some power. In his two years at Indian Hills CC, he has helped his team win at a high level. Tucker is a very intense player that will help us build the culture we need during this transition."
 
Thomas Emerich | 5'11" | Infielder | Warrensburg, Mo.
Emerich comes to USI after a year at Indian Hills Community College and Crowder College where he batted .322 with 31 RBIs, three home runs, and 32 runs scored in 2022. The junior infielder was a member of the Warriors' 2022 NJCAA World Series squad. He also appeared in two games during freshman season at Crowder in 2021, getting a hit in two at-bats, producing two RBIs while being a member of the NJCAA World Series team. Emerich graduated from Ava High School (Ava, Missouri) where he earned first-team All-Conference and All-District honors in three-straight seasons.

COACH ARCHULETA ON EMERICH: "Thomas played second base this past season but can also play some shortstop. He is a contact hitter that plays the game hard and has been around great teams in his juco career."
 
Roy Holcomb | 5'11" | Pitcher | St. Joseph, Mo.
The junior pitcher transfers to USI from State Fair Community College where he was 6-3 in 2022 after 12 appearances and six starts on the mound with 53 strikeouts in 41.1 innings of work. The St. Joseph Central High School (St. Joseph, Missouri) product earned first-team All-Conference as an infielder and pitcher in 2018 and 2019 at SJCHS.

COACH ARCHULETA ON HOLOCOMB: "Roy commands the zone well with multiple pitches. He also has the ability to throw a lot of innings for us next year."
 
Caleb Meeks | 6'2" | Pitcher | Evansville, Ind. (Reitz)
The Wabash Valley College transfer comes to USI after spending two seasons with the Warriors. Meeks finished 5-0 with two saves as a sophomore, striking out 45 batters and posting a 3.73 ERA in 31.0 innings of work. He also helped the Warriors to the NJCAA World Series in 2022 and a number one ranking. The Evansville native began his collegiate career at the University of Evansville before transferring to WVC. The Memorial High School (Evansville, Indiana) grad lettered in baseball, basketball, and soccer for the Tigers, earning first-team All-State as an outfielder his senior slate.

COACH ARCHULETA ON MEEKS: "Caleb is coming off a World Series appearance with Wabash Valley this past season and has pitched in some big games in his juco career. Caleb is a hard thrower that we expect to pitch a lot of innings out of the pen. He has the potential to be our closer and we are expecting great things from him."
 
Caleb Niehaus | 6'0" | Infielder | Newburgh, Ind. (Castle)
The Castle High School (Newburgh, Indiana) product travels to the west side after lettering in baseball and basketball for the Knights. He earned first-team All-Conference honors in 2021 and 2022.

COACH ARCHULETA ON NIEHAUS: "Caleb is a very athletic infielder that handles the bat well. He is a good runner and gives us the versatility that we need on the infield.  Caleb has had a great high school career and I look forward to seeing him develop into a great college player."
 
Jake Winzenread | 6'2" | Infielder | McCordsville, Ind.
The Lawrence North High School (Indianapolis, Indiana) grad comes to USI after earning All-Conference Player of the Year honors his senior campaign. Winzenread also earned first-team All-Marion County, first-team All-State, Academic All-State, and landed himself on the first-team All-USA Central Indiana Super Team as a senior. He also was named an Indiana South All-Star after leading LNHS to a conference championship in 2022.

COACH ARCHULETA ON WINZENREAD: "Jake is a right-handed hitter that has some juice in the bat. He is a corner infielder that has the potential to hit in the middle of our order. Looking forward to working with him over the next four years."