April 12, 2006
USI ranks 17th nationally in pitching
Saturday's opener features USI's Arnold vs. SIUE's Jones
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team ranks 17th nationally in the NCAA Division II with a 3.07 ERA. The 3.07 ERA is on track to break the USI single season record of 3.36 in 1972.
The Screaming Eagles (14-22, 11-21 GLVC), who rank sixth in the GLVC in ERA, host the nation's and conference's best pitching team – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville – Saturday at the USI Baseball Field. The Cougars (23-11-1, 18-10-1 GLVC), who have a team 1.86 ERA in 35 games, host the Eagles Sunday at the Simmons Baseball Complex in Edwardsville, Illinois on Sunday.
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Nathan Arnold |
First pitch for the Saturday and Sunday doubleheaders is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Individually, senior left-hander
Nathan Arnold (Evansville, Indiana) leads the team and ranks second nationally with a 0.81 ERA (minimum 25 innings pitched). Arnold, who is 2-3 in six starts, has limited the opposition to just five runs (four earned) and a .236 batting average in 44.2 innings of work. He set a USI single-game record last weekend when he pitched 11 2/3 innings before taking a 1-0 loss on an unearned run. All three of Arnold's losses this season have been 1-0.
In the GLVC, Arnold ranks first in fewest walks allowed and second in complete games and ERA.
The SIUE opponent for Arnold in Saturday's opener will be senior right-hander Kyle Jones, the nation's best in ERA at 0.00. Jones established a new NCAA Division II record of 48 scoreless innings and tied the NCAA II single-season record for complete game shutouts last weekend when he defeated Lewis University, 1-0.
Arnold is followed on the team by junior right-handers
Adam Summers (Dyer, Indiana), who is 3-2 with a 2.51 ERA in six starts, and
Adam Vetter (Crown Point, Indiana), who is 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
