February 24, 2005
USI baseball opens season next week
One on the road One at home
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana baseball team opens the 2005 campaign on the road March 1 at Brescia University before opening the home schedule March 2 against Indiana University Southeast at the USI Baseball Field. Game time at Brescia is 1 p.m., while the first pitch against IUS is 2 p.m.
USI senior right-hander Andy Rumpler (Hamilton, Ohio) will get the opening day start for the Screaming Eagles. Rumpler was USI’s top starter last season with a 7-3 record and a 3.25 ERA in 11 games and 61.0 innings pitched. He also had personal six-game winning streak midway through the year.
Opening day at the USI Baseball Field will see senior right-hander Jae Fadde (West Lafayette, Indiana) get the start. Fadde won three of his last four starts with a 4.63 ERA, including a one-hit shutout of Saint Joseph’s College. He began the year 0-3 in his first six starts with a 6.09 ERA.
At the plate, USI hopes its one-three punch of senior centerfielder Noah Wetzel (New Salisbury, Indiana) and senior utility player Matt Keener (Newburgh, Indiana) will continue to produce offensively.
Wetzel, the projected lead-off man in the line-up, was an All-GLVC performer a year ago after having his best season as an Eagle. The two-time All-GLVC player led the team with a career-high .368 average, 41 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. Wetzel also was nearly flawless in centerfield with a .977 fielding percentage in 132 chances.
Keener, who will fill the three-hole in the line-up for a second straight year, became USI baseball’s first Academic All-American after a being named All-GLVC for a second straight season. He was second on the team with a .347 batting average and led the team with 47 RBIs, eight home runs, and six triples. Keener could see action in rightfield, first base, and on the mound.
Directing the Eagles is Head Coach Mike Goedde. The all-time winningest coach in USI history begins his 12th season at the helm and has a career-record of 304-266.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
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