INA, Ill. – The No. 14 ranked Vincennes University Trailblazers earned the No. 2 seed in this year’s Region 24/Central District Tournament and began tournament play Monday night with a 79-67 win over Lake Land College.

The Trailblazers broke away earlier in the first half, quickly building a 19-8 lead.

VU would maintain this double-digit lead throughout the rest of the opening half of play, growing as large as 15 before the Lakers scored the final four points of the half to cut the Vincennes lead down to 39-28 at the break.

Vincennes came out of the locker room in the second half looking to pull away but the Lakers had other ideas.

Lake Land used a 14-2 scoring run to cut the VU lead down to just four points midway through the final period.

This would be as close as Lake Land would get however as VU immediately followed up with a 7-0 scoring run of their own and would build their lead to 16 points for their largest lead of the night.

The Lakers would attempt another late comeback but were unable to put together another scoring run as VU closed out the game at the free throw line to pick up the 79-67 win over Lake Land College.

”It just is what it is when it’s the first day of the tournament,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin said. “There were some good things and some bad. You just try to find who is going to be comfortable and play and who is going to have a little bit of anxiety and can’t function. That typically affects you on the offensive end and I felt like we had some of that at times tonight. But we made enough plays that we were able to get it done.”

“I thought we had a chance to get a big lead at the half,” Franklin added. “We were up 11, which is solid, but I thought we should have been up by about 20 to 25 points and the opportunity was definitely there. Then to start the second half I thought we should have put it away. But I knew when we didn’t that they were eventually going to go on a little bit of a run. We got a little tight because everybody is looking around and nobody is doing it and we don’t have the guy that has done it before.”

The Trailblazers were led offensively by sophomore Caleb Johnson (N. Preston, Nova Scotia) who tied his season-high with 27 points on just 15 shots. Johnson would also grab four rebounds and lead the Blazers with a pair of blocks.

Sophomore Tasos Cook (Columbus, Ohio) helped put the game away late at the free throw line, connecting on all eight of his free throw attempts on his way to 21 points and a team-high nine assists.

Sophomore Shilo Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind.) had another tough assignment on the low block and finished his night with seven points and six rebounds.

Freshman Ryan Oliver (Antioch, Tenn.) came off the bench to add six points and dish out four assists, while freshman Michael Osei-Bonsu (Bolingbrook, Ill.) led the Blazers with eight rebounds.

“We tried to get some isolation situations for Caleb,” Franklin said. “He attacked and made a few plays. I thought Devawn gave us some good minutes during that stretch when we pulled it away again. Tasos is fighting out there and he’s having to play big minutes. I thought Ryan Oliver gave us some good things during that time.”

“The job that Ryan has done defensively against Johnny Close this season is phenomenal,” Franklin added. “Our fans might not know this, but Johnny Close has been lighting it up all year and in the three games we’ve played them, Ryan has locked him down and done a tremendous job of chasing through screens and staying on task. That’s a big factor in the game. That’s worth about 25 points, probably more. The ability for Ryan to do that. It’s like if somebody scored 25 points, we’d say he had a great game, Ryan scored 25 tonight by not letting Johnny Close get any.”

“At different times, different guys stepped up,” Franklin added. “We don’t have anybody back that’s done it, so we are learning as we go and hoping that we can survive long enough to learn enough to get comfortable in it. Hopefully we will be a lot more comfortable in here Wednesday night and if we are then we will play better. The truth of the matter is it’s about these players getting through that line and figuring it out. Once they’ve done it and have been through it, most of the time your good players will start to get comfortable in it. I hope that’s what happens Wednesday.”

Vincennes advances to the Region 24 Semi Finals Wednesday, March 8 and will face the winner of No. 3 seed Southwestern Illinois and No. 6 seed Wabash Valley. Tip-off time Wednesday is set for 8 p.m. eastern.

Other scores from the Quarterfinals of the Region 24 tournament include No. 1 seed John A. Logan winning over No. 9 seed Lewis & Clark 86-61 and No. 4 seed Olney Central winning over No. 5 seed Kaskaskia College 72-71.

“We’ve just got to get through it,” Franklin said. “Sometimes you can really get one or two guys to step through that line and it makes it more comfortable for everybody else. We haven’t known who that was going to be. Caleb came through pretty big offensively when we needed it and we really needed it when they were getting back closer to us.”

“I just told them in the timeout, ‘guys, do you really want it’,” Franklin added. “I told them to just play Lake Land. Don’t play being in the playoffs, just play Lake Land for these last 10 minutes and if we do that, then I think we’ll be okay. You never really know if anything is going to work or how anyone will respond. It’s kind of up to the players and I’m never going to claim any different and at that point we had some players step up and that was the difference. We pushed them back away and held them off at the end.”

“I’m proud of them,” Franklin said. “They got through it tonight. Basically led wire-to-wire against a hot ball club who is very talented. But we did the things that you don’t always notice, but were tremendous. Locking up Johnny Close like we did, we kept the guards out of the lane most of the night. They were just blowing by Lincoln Trail on Saturday in a dominant performance and we knew we had to stop that. We kept Kuljuhovic off of the glass for the most part. He’s a tremendous offensive rebounder. When you stop those things, everybody takes it for granted. Keeping those big guys off of the offensive glass is pretty hard. Keeping Johnny Close from getting those shots off is really hard. We let Hussein get too many, but we were playing him one-on-one and not giving up the offensive glass to the other big guys and not helping off of guys like Close. But there were a lot of things that we did well tonight that are not the most spectacular and that’s why we won and we were able to lead pretty much wire-to-wire.”

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (79): Tasos Cook 6-13 8-8 21, Trenton Johnson 2-7 2-3 6, Caleb Johnson 10-15 4-5 27, Michael Osei-Bonsu 2-2 0-0 4, Shilo Jackson 3-7 1-3 7, Devawn White 1-2 0-1 2, Kale Gaither 0-0 0-0 0, Kris King 2-10 0-1 4, Ryan Oliver 2-7 1-3 6, Kent King 0-0 0-0 0, Karyiek Dixon 1-1 0-0 2, Team 29-64 16-24 79.

Lake Land – 28   39 – 67

VU (27-4, 15-4) – 39   40 – 79

Three-point goals: VU 5 (C. Johnson 3, Cook, Oliver). Rebounds: VU 30 (Osei-Bonsu 8). Assists: VU 22 (Cook 9). Steals: VU 6 (Kr. King 3). Blocked Shots: VU 4 (C. Johnson 2). Turnovers: VU 13. Personal Fouls: VU 18. Fouled out: None.

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The No. 14 VU Trailblazers improve to 27-4, with a 15-4 record against Region 24 opponents.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games on Sunday by completing a four-game series sweep of the visiting Bowling Green State Falcons with 8-4 and 13-3 victories at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“What a way to cap a great overall weekend for our ballclub,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “I thought that we played well in all three facets of the game this weekend.  Our offense had a great approach all weekend and really grinded out at-bats, and I thought top to bottom, our lineup competed well.

“Chase Hug and Simon Scherry are really hot right now at the plate, while Eric Roberts and Danny Borgstrom continue to have good days at the yard.  On the mound, I thought that our starters had great starts as well today.  The next four games on the road will be a challenge, but we are a confident team right now.”

In the opener, UE jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a run-scoring wild pitch, before scoring two runs in the third inning on a two-run opposite-field home run by Roberts, his second of the year.

Bowling Green would answer back with two unearned runs in the fourth inning to cut the UE lead to 3-2, but Evansville would respond with an RBI single by Scherry in their half of the inning.  Then, UE exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the game away.  Junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse started the four-run rally with a sacrifice fly, before Hug delivered a two-run triple and scored on another sacrifice fly by Scherry to move the lead to 8-2.

Junior starter Donovan Schultz (1-1) earned the victory for UE on the mound by scattering two unearned runs on one hit in 5.0 innings of work, while striking out five.  Hug went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Scherry and Roberts drove in two runs each.

In the nightcap, Evansville used back-to-back four-run frames in the first two innings to grab control of the contest.  The Purple Aces sent 10 men to the plate in the first inning, with Hug and Borgstrom coming through with RBI base hits to build a 4-0 lead.  Then, Evansville doubled the lead in the second inning with four more runs, highlighted by a two-run single by Roberts and another RBI single by Borgstrom.

Evansville would add single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, as Hug would add an opposite-field solo home run to left field in the fifth inning to help build an 11-1 lead.  The two teams would then trade two-run innings in the sixth inning to provide the final score of 13-3, with Hug plating an RBI double and senior third baseman Brent Widder producing an RBI single in the sixth.

Hug and Scherry both had four-hit games for UE, with Hug finishing a triple shy of the cycle.  Borgstrom also went 3-for-3 with two runs driven in, while Widder went 2-for-3 with two RBI.

With the victories, Evansville improves its overall record to 7-5.  Bowling Green, meanwhile, drops to 2-8 with the two losses.  Evansville will now hit the road for four games this week, beginning on Wednesday, when the Purple Aces travel to Nashville, Tennessee to take on #7 Vanderbilt in a mid-week contest.  First-pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday’s game can be seen live on the SEC Network-Plus streaming service.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike/Olney Central) earned his second-straight Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Award on Monday, after continuing his torrid pace at the plate last week while helping Evansville win five-straight games.

Hug slashed .647/1.000/.739, while collecting a double, a triple, a home run, driving in eight runs, and scoring 10 more to help UE to a perfect 5-0 week.  He collected multi-hit and multi-run games in four of UE’s five contests, while having three multi-RBI games.

Hug opened the week going 3-for-5 with two runs scored to help Evansville to a 14-8 victory over preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite Southeast Missouri State.  He then went 8-for-12 in a four-game series sweep of Bowling Green, and capped the series by going a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI in UE’s 13-3 seven-inning mercy-rule win over the Falcons.  He finished a triple shy of the cycle in the contest, which marked the second weekend in a row in which he just narrowly missed hitting for the cycle.

Overall, Hug is now hitting .463 to rank 42nd in NCAA Division I baseball, and he has hit an amazing .680 (17-for-25) over the last seven games to help Evansville to a seven-game winning streak.  Evansville (7-5) will put that winning streak on the line on Wednesday, as the Purple Aces will travel to Nashville, Tennessee to take on #7 Vanderbilt (8-4) in a mid-week contest.  First-pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday’s game can be seen live on the SEC Network+ streaming platform.

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – University of Southern Indiana Softball (4-6) earned a split on the first day of games for the Screaming Eagles at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida, recording a 2-0 win against Holy Cross before getting edged by Yale University, 3-2, in the night cap.
 
In the first game of the day against Holy Cross, the offenses were rather limited by the starting pitchers. Sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched her second shutout of the season on Saturday for USI. Newman struck out 12 in seven innings, giving up only three hits, to improve her season record to 3-3. Her opposition in the circle from Holy Cross, sophomore pitcher Sophia Roncone, was also strong. Roncone went seven innings, surrendering two runs – one earned – with three strikeouts, as her record dropped to 1-3.
 
USI had a chance in the top of the third with the bases loaded but were unable to score. In the top of the fourth inning, the Screaming Eagles found a little momentum the second time through the lineup in the middle of the batting order. Following a stolen base by sophomore outfielder Olivia Howard (Fishers, Indiana), who came in as a pinch runner, junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) found the left-center gap for an RBI double to drive in Howard and give USI a 1-0 lead after four innings.
 
Meanwhile, Newman had struck out eight through four innings, including striking out the side in order in the bottom of the fourth.
 
In the top of the seventh, USI scored an insurance run, as junior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) doubled in a run with two outs to put USI ahead, 2-0, which allowed Newman to finish the game with ease.
 
In USI’s second game of the day against Yale, once again, both starting pitchers put up zeroes through the first three innings, working around a few baserunners along the way.
 
For USI, senior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) made the start in the circle. In the top of the fourth, Goodin pitched with the bases loaded. A double by Yale scored two unearned runs after an error earlier in the inning. USI answered right away in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to knot the game, 2-2. Goodin helped her own cause with an RBI single that scored junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana), and later in the inning, Fair singled in the tying run.
 
Yale recaptured the lead, 3-2, in the top of the fifth on a solo home run by sophomore infielder Lauren Perren. Yale held on the rest of the way.
 
Goodin was charged a tough loss, going six innings with five strikeouts. The senior allowed three runs – one earned. Her record dropped to 0-3.
 
Yale freshman pitcher Emma Taylor picked up the win after a complete game with three strikeouts and two runs allowed. Her record moved to 2-2.
 
Offensively, on the day, Bedrick recorded a pair of hits against Holy Cross, and Kihega had a two-hit game against Yale.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball (5-6) starts a four-game homestand Tuesday when it hosts Austin Peay State University for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The homestand continues with a three-game series versus Oakland University Friday at 6 p.m. before continuing Saturday at 2 p.m. and concluding Sunday at noon.
 
Austin Peay’s (2-9) visit to the USI Baseball Field is the first for the Governors since 1982, while Oakland (2-8) is making its first visit to USI since 1977.  

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.
 
USI junior infielder Nolan Cook and senior outfielder Ren Tachioka had the best weekend at the plate for the Eagles, hitting .429 (3-7) and .400 (4-10), respectively.   
 
Cook hits first collegiate home run: Junior infielder Nolan Cook 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 has a team-high three home runs in the first eight games. Freshman infielder Caleb Niehaus follows with a pair of round trippers.
 
Leading hitters: Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (11-30) and senior outfielder Evan Kahre (14-40) are leading the Eagles in batting averages, hitting .367 and .350, respectively.  
 
McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher Lucas McNew is sixth all-time at USI in home runs (21); ninth in RBIs (142) and 12^th in doubles (42).
 
USI vs. Austin Peay: USI and Austin Peay are meeting for the ninth time, with the Governors leading the series, 8-0, overall and 2-0 at the USI Baseball Field.
 
Austin Peay in 2023: The Governors of Austin Peay (2-9) begin this week on a seven-game losing streak after losing three to 12^th-ranked Oklahoma State University last weekend. Austin Peay last won on February 21 when they defeated Southern Illinois University at home, 14-13.
 
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 2-8 to start the 2023 campaign after losing two of three at Wichita State University last weekend. Oakland, who visit Eastern Michigan University Tuesday and the University of Michigan Tuesday before coming to USI, also is 2-3 in its last five games.  
 

The University of Southern Indiana, in collaboration with Trelcru Inc., broke ground Monday, March 6 on the construction of a one-acre mountain bike park on the west side of the USI campus. The section of flow trail, which will be built by Trelcru trail builders in collaboration with Trail Heads – Southwest Indiana, will include three downhill runs complete with dirt jumps and bermed corners, offering beginner, intermediate and expert level experiences. These trails, funded through a $25,000 grant toward the project from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, will become the first dedicated mountain bike trails on campus and are expected to be completed this spring.

Trail Heads – Southwest Indiana first received approval from the University of Southern Indiana and its Board of Trustees to move forward with a mountain bike trail project in fall 2021 and began raising funds for the project. Trail Heads – Southwest Indiana is a non-profit focused on developing quality trails and support programs throughout southwest Indiana, including after-school group rides, bike maintenance and trail work.

“Trelcru is honored to have the opportunity to develop trails and bike parks on the USI campus. We believe this project will improve the well-being and overall experience of University students and the greater community,” said Brad Scales, Principal of Trelcru Inc.

Trail Heads – Southwest Indiana also announced a fundraising effort underway to raise matching funds for a $50,000 state grant that would enable a second phase of trails to be built on the USI campus. The matching grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) would help fund the construction of the 2.75-mile Campus Loop and 0.5-mile Broadway Connector Trail, as well as trailhead kiosks and trail signage. The fundraising campaign, which has already secured more than $15,000 in donations, is hosted at patronicity.com/usi, and Trail Heads is currently seeking corporate and individual donations to help reach the matching goal of $50,000. Donations are being accepted until 9 a.m. Friday, March 24. “We’re thrilled to be participating in the CreatINg Places program, and we’re confident our community will help us raise the matching dollars for this grant from IHCDA,” said Scales.

The new single-track loop, with beginner-level features, would be constructed on more than 30 acres of wooded area adjacent to campus apartments and connecting to other existing trails on campus, including the paved USI-Burdette Trail.

“We look forward to collaborating with Trelcru and Trail Heads on this project that will create an experience not found in most Midwestern college campuses,” said Jim Wolfe, USI Director of Facility Operations and Planning. “We hope to draw more of the community, near and far, to the USI campus, while also providing more outdoor recreational activities for our students.”