EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball is predicted to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference, according to a preseason poll announced on Thursday. The Screaming Eagles received 70 votes from the league's coaches and communications directors.
 
SIU Edwardsville topped the poll, receiving a conference-high 10 first-place votes and 137 points, while Southeast Missouri State was predicted second with three first-place votes and 136 points. Eastern Illinois came in third with four first-place votes and 132 points.
 
Little Rock was fourth with 122 points and the last three first-place votes. Tennessee Tech and Lindenwood rounded out the second three with 98 and 86 points, respectively.
 
Following seventh-place USI are UT Martin (54), Morehead State (37), and Western Illinois (28) in the final three slots.
 
The 2026 OVC Championship will return to Marion Stadium in Marion, Illinois, on May 20-23, where the top eight teams will compete for a title.
 
The Eagles, who also are predicted to place 7th in the OVC by D1Baseball.com, are coming off a third-straight OVC Championship appearance, following a 27-29 regular season record and a 15-12 conference mark. USI's 15 conference wins were a three-year high by the Screaming Eagles in the OVC.
 
USI will be led by three returning All-OVC players – graduate outfielder Khi Holiday, junior infielder Parker Martin, senior infielder Clayton Slack – and a pair of OVC Players to Watch – senior left-hander Jake Porter and junior right-hander Abdriel Figueroa.
 
Martin and Holiday are the top returning hitters, batting .341 and .335, respectively. Holiday also led USI with 24 stolen bases, while Martin was second on the squad with 40 RBI. 
 
Slack started all 56 games at shortstop last year for the Screaming Eagles, batting .294 with 35 RBIs during his first season with USI.
 
Porter finished last season tied for second with four victories in 17 appearances and 11 starts. He also struck out 47 batters in 50 innings of work.
 
Figueroa made 22 appearances overall (21 out of the bullpen) and was second on the team with three saves. He struck out 40 batters in 35 innings as a sophomore.
 
The Eagles begin their season February 13-16 with a trip to Bakersfield, California, for a four-game series against Cal State Bakersfield. USI will host its home opener against Oakland on February 20, starting a four-game series against the Grizzlies.
 
For more information, visit our website at USIScreamingEagles.com or find us on social media at @USIAthletics.
 
2026 OVC Baseball Predicted Order of Finish:
  1. SIUE (10 first-place votes) - 137 points
  2. Southeast Missouri (3) - 136
  3. Eastern Illinois (4) - 132
  4. Little Rock (3) - 122
  5. Tennessee Tech - 98
  6. Lindenwood - 86
  7. Southern Indiana - 70
  8. UT Martin - 54
  9. Morehead State - 37
10. Western Illinois - 28
 
2026 Returning All-OVC Selections:
Khi Holiday (OF, Grad.)
Parker Martin (INF, Jr.)
Clayton Slack (INF, Sr.)
 
2026 Players to Watch:
Abdriel Figueroa (RHP, Jr.)
Jake Porter (LHP, Sr.)