EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball (5-7) wraps up its four-game homestand this weekend with a three-game series versus Oakland University (Michigan) at the USI Baseball Field. The series starts Friday at 6 p.m. before continuing Saturday at 2 p.m. and concluding Sunday at noon.
 
Oakland (3-8) is making its first visit to USI since 1977 when the two teams split a doubleheader at the USI Baseball Field.
 
Links to follow the Eagles during 2023 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com.  
  USI vetoed by Governors to start the week: The USI Screaming Eagles lost a 10-6 decision to Austin Peay State University to start the week. USI senior outfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) led with three hits, while freshman infielder Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) had a pair of RBIs.
 
Ciuffetelli posts career-best strikeouts versus Austin Peay: Junior lefthander Blake Ciuffetelli (Newburgh, Indiana) posted a career-best seven strikeouts in relief versus Austin Peay. Ciuffetelli recorded his seven strikeouts over 4.1 innings of work.
 
USI frozen by Washington State: The USI Screaming Eagles suffered a three-game sweep by Washington State University over the weekend. The Eagles held it tight in the opening game 7-5 loss, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth, before losing 11-5 and 6-0 in the final two games.
 
Cook hit first collegiate home run: Junior infielder Nolan Cook (Evansville, Indiana) hit his first collegiate home run as an Eagle in game two of the series with Washington State. Cook hit his home run on his 108^th at-bat as an Eagle. 
 
Long ball Eagles: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) has a team-high three home runs in the first eight games. Freshman infielder Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) follows with a pair of round trippers.
 
Leading hitters: Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) (12-32) and senior outfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) (15-45) are leading the Eagles in batting averages, hitting .375 and .333, respectively. 
 
McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) is sixth all-time at USI in home runs (21); 12^th in RBIs (135) and 12^th in doubles (42).
 
USI vs. Oakland: The all-time series between USI and Oakland is even at 1-1 after the Screaming Eagles and the Golden Grizzlies split a double-header in 1977. USI took the opening game, 8-3, but stumble in the nightcap, 4-0.
 
Oakland in 2023: The Grizzlies of Oakland are 3-8 to start the 2023 campaign after losing two of three at Wichita State University last weekend, but bouncing back to win at the University of Michigan, 4-1, Wednesday.