Senate passes bill to stop transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care
Senate passes bill to stop transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care
Late Tuesday, at the end of an eight-hour session, the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 480, which would prohibit transgender children from receiving gender-affirming surgeries, hormonal therapy, and other medications.
In defending Senate Bill 480 Tuesday before the Senate, author Sen. Tyler Johnson, R-Leo, said the legislative body has a moral, medical and legal obligation to protect kids from harm.
Bill author Sen. Tyler Johnson, R-Leo, repeatedly said the legislative body has a moral, medical and legal obligation to protect kids from harm.
However, Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, said parents’ rights and the safety of trans children were at stake.
“Parents do not choose pain for their children. Parents do not choose for their children to struggle in any way, whether that’s struggling in school, whether that’s struggling when they’re taking their driver’s exams, or whether they’re struggling with their gender identity,†she said. “Parents don’t choose that for their kids because we don’t want our children to feel pain, but parents work really hard to know what’s best for their children. And sometimes we disagree with what parents believe is best.â€
Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, went further, saying the legislature was in fact “bullying children.â€
Only three Republicans, Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, and Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, and Sen. Kyle Walker, R-Indianapolis, joined Democrats in voting against the bill, which passed 36-12.
FOOTNOTE: Editor’s note: This story was corrected to add Sen. Kyle Walker to the list of Republicans who voted no on SB 480.
Xain Ballenger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
City Officials, OVC leadership Kick Off “OVC Championship Week†in Evansville
Evansville, Ind. – Today, Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke joined Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Commissioner Beth DeBauche and the OVC host committee, led by Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer and Old National Bank’s Jim Sandgren, to officially kick off “OVC Championship Week†in southwestern Indiana.Â
The men’s and women’s OVC Basketball Championships presented by United Fidelity Bank will get underway tomorrow, Wednesday, March 1 and conclude Saturday, March 4 at Evansville’s Ford Center.
March Madness begins in Evansville as 16 teams will battle to be the first to claim their spot in the NCAA Division I tournament. After concluding conference play on Saturday, the Morehead State men and Little Rock women claimed the top seeds. Only the top 8 teams from each gender make the tournament; see page 2 for seeding details.
Mayor Winnecke announced that the Admissions Fair will return this year on Thursday night to attract local high school students. In addition, the women’s and men’s championship games are again scheduled for 2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. with the Boom Squad performing at the Ford Center plaza before the men’s championship game.
“What a privilege to be able to again welcome OVC staff, teams and fans to Evansville, and a special welcome to the newest OVC member universities – Lindenwood University, the University of Southern Indiana and University of Arkansas at Little Rock – who have a chance to be a part of the tournament for the first time,†said Mayor Winnecke. “The Ford Center has been the perfect venue to showcase these Division I athletes. I’m hopeful basketball fans throughout the Tri-State take advantage of the ticket discounts and downtown activities to watch these teams compete.â€
“The City of Evansville continues to embrace the tournament athletes, staff and spectators, and the OVC membership is grateful for the warm welcome and wonderful hospitality,†said DeBauche. “With three new schools having a chance to participate this year, I’m hopeful even more spectators join us for what’s sure to be an exciting, highly competitive tournament.â€
Ticket Information
Several single-game promotions listed below are available directly through the Ford Center Box Office. Single-session and all-session passes can be purchased at the box office or at www.ticketmaster.com.Â
Wednesday, March 1Â
- Women’s Session (1 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.)
- Men’s Session (6:30 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.)
Thursday, March 2
- Women’s Session (1 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.)
- Men’s Session (6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.)
– more –
Friday, March 3Â
- Women’s Session (1 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.)
- Men’s Session (7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.) – Youth Basketball Night (Children 12 and under who wear a basketball jersey receive free admission with a purchase of a discounted $15 adult ticket)
Saturday, March 4Â
- Women’s Championship (2 p.m.) – German American Bank Family Day (4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hot dogs for $40)
- Men’s Championship (7:00 p.m.) – German American Bank Family Night (4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hot dogs for $60)
All other games: Individual game tickets (includes a 2-game session except for Saturday) are only $30 for the men’s games and $15 for women’s games.
OVC Tournament Seedings
Men’s Tournament Women’s Tournament
- Morehead State 1. Little Rock
- Tennessee Tech 2. Eastern Illinois
- UT Martin 3. Tennessee Tech
- Tennessee State 4. Southeast Missouri
- Southeast Missouri 5. UT Martin
- SIUE 6. SIUE
- Southern Indiana 7. Tennessee State
- Lindenwood 8. Morehead State
Tournament bracket and game times can be found at www.ovcsports.com/Evansville.Â
Admissions Fair
The OVC Admissions Fair, sponsored by United Fidelity Bank, will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2 in the Ford Center concourse. High school students will have access to admissions counselors from all 10 OVC schools to learn about courses and programs offered at each institution.
To register for the free event, high school students should visit: http://ovcsports.com/admissionsfair.Â
All attendees will receive a free ticket to the Thursday night’s OVC men’s basketball quarterfinals, which will immediately follow the college fair at 6:30 p.m. The tickets will be provided to the registered students at the fair.
Brendan Hord and Danny Borgstrom hit homers as UE Baseball Bounces SEMO, 14-8
HORD, BORGSTROM HOMER AS BASEBALL ACES BOUNCE SEMO, 14-8
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – University of Evansville junior catcher Brendan Hord (Lexington, Ky./Paul Dunbar) and fifth-year outfielder Danny Borgstrom (Morris, Ill./Morris) both launched home runs on Wednesday, and UE used a six-run third inning and five-run eighth to blast past the host Southeast Missouri State Redhawks, 14-8, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
“It was great to get a win on the road against a good SEMO club,†said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “The offense was able to put up a couple of big innings, and our pitching staff did well enough to get the win.
“Top to bottom in our lineup, we had guys contribute and we got a couple of big blasts from (Brendan) Hord and (Danny) Borgstrom in some key spots. We also got an outstanding performance from Jakob Meyer in relief, which was great to see. Now, we have a big weekend ahead, with four games back at home.â€
It took Evansville just two batters to score the game’s first run on a day where UE set season-highs for runs and hits. After junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse (Linton, Ind./Linton-Stockton) led off the game with a walk and advanced into scoring position due to an error, current Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Chase Hug drove him home with an RBI single to left field to give UE a 1-0 lead.
After the Redhawks answered back with a run of its own in the second inning, UE would explode for six runs in the third inning to grab a lead it would never lose. Hug led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on an error by the outfielder. Junior shortstop Simon Scherry (Santa Claus, Ind./Heritage Hills) would then follow with an RBI double down the right field line, and scored on a two-run home run by Hord, his third home run of the year.
After a pair of walks and another SEMO error put runners on second and third, sophomore DH Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind./Bedford North Lawrence) would drive in a run on an RBI ground-out to push the UE lead to 5-1. Sophomore outfielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind./North) then followed with an RBI single and a stolen base, and Fougerousse would drive in Rumsey with another RBI single to help UE build a 7-1 cushion.
SEMO would respond in the bottom of the third inning with a two-out grand slam by DH Carlos Aranda, who would drive in the first five runs of the day for the Redhawks, to cut the UE lead to 7-5. But, that would be as close as SEMO would get, as UE added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on RBI base hits by fifth-year outfielder Eric Roberts (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) and Waggoner, before Borgstrom would respond with a grand slam of his own in the eighth inning to help UE cruise to a 14-8 victory.
Borgstrom would go 2-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI for UE, while Rumsey and Hug each had three hits to pace the UE offense. Waggoner, making his first career start, would go 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Hord added two RBI as well. Scherry and Roberts also had two-hit days for UE, which pounded out 16 hits.
Freshman RHP Max Hansmann (2-0) earned the win, allowing five runs on four hits in 3.0 innings of work in a scheduled short-start. Senior reliever Jakob Meyer and graduate reliever Jarrett Blunt combined to toss 4.0 scoreless innings of one-hit relief while striking out five to help aid the UE bullpen.
With the victory, Evansville (3-5) extends its winning streak to three games. Meanwhile, SEMO falls to 2-7 on the season with the loss. The Purple Aces will return home to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium this weekend for a four-game series against the Bowling Green State University Falcons (2-4). The series begins Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and will continue with a Saturday noon doubleheader and a Sunday 1 p.m. contest.
Downtown Evansville 2023 Events Schedule Announced
EID organized events showcase Downtown and support businesses
ANNOUNCEMENT – March 1, 2023: The Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District (EID) announces their 2023 event schedule. The event dates are listed below.
April 28Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3rd Annual Spring Wine Walk Presented by Romain Cross Pointe Auto Park
May 13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5th Annual Sidewalk Sale Presented by Heritage Federal Credit Union
July 4                                                  Fireworks on the Ohio Presented by Bally’s Evansville
August 11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Night Market Presented by Deaconess
August 25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th Annual Fall Wine Walk Presented by Romain Cross Pointe Auto Park
September 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th Annual Dog Day Downtown Presented by German American Bank
October 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6th Annual NoCo Makers Market Presented by Grateful Threads Fabric & Furnishings
October 28Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3rd Annual Halloween Stroll and Trunk or Treat Car Show
November 10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Night Market Presented by Deaconess
November 25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9th Annual Small Business Saturday
December 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8th Annual A Downtown Christmas Presented by the Stephanie M. Engelbrecht Charitable Fund
December 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th Annual Santa Stroll Presented by Riverside Capital Management Group Jim Back, CFP Financial Advisor & Daniel Schweikhart Financial Advisor
The Market on Main returns to Downtown Evansville on Wednesdays from 9 AM until 1 PM from June 7 through September 20.
Additional events such as a Yoga Series will return in May with individual dates announced at a later time.
“We’re excited to welcome guests, vendors, and sponsors to our 2023 events,†said Josh Armstrong, EID President. “We’re growing our popular events and introducing a new night market series. We’re planning a collection of great experiences that showcase the best of our growing Downtown,†he added.
“Sponsors help us create more impactful events,†added Adam Trinkel, EID Marketing, Communications, & Events Director. “Contact us to learn how your business or organization can be showcased to our 40,000+ event attendees.â€
USI and Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites end Unified Program to better align with institutional missions
USI and Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites end Unified Program to better align with institutional missions
After nearly three decades of collaboration, the University of Southern Indiana and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (ISMHS) have agreed to end their Unified Program in New Harmony, Indiana, as part of a move to streamline operations. While the Unified Program is being discontinued, both USI’s Historic New Harmony (HNH) program and the ISMHS will continue to have a presence in the town, located on the Wabash River in southwestern Indiana, and offer quality tours and programming for visitors that better align with each organization’s mission.
“We’ve had a long and rewarding partnership with ISMHS in New Harmony,†says Leslie Townsend, Director of Community Engagement and Historic New Harmony. “However, as each of our areas of focus have transitioned over the years, it became evident to ISMHS and HNH that the Unified Program model was no longer the most efficient way to best serve the interests of our respective groups and continue to provide the best experience for visitors. This shift will allow each of our organizations the freedom to provide the best tours and educational programming for our students and visitors and continue to support the business community and residents of New Harmony.â€
USI will continue to operate the Historic New Harmony program, encouraging cultural and educational programs and maintaining USI’s historic properties. Tours offered through Historic New Harmony will include:
• Atheneum Visitors Center, 401 N. Arthur St.
• David Lenz House, 324 North St.
• Rapp-Owen Granary, 413 Granary St.
• Salomon Wolf House, 601 Granary St.
• 1830 Owen House, 531 Tavern St.
• Jaquess Parlor, 531 Tavern St.
• Maximillian-Bodmer Exhibition housed in the Lichtenberger Building, 520 Main St.
• Church Park, 408 Church St.
USI tours originate at the Atheneum Visitor Center and are offered Tuesday through Sunday at 1 p.m. March 15 through October 31. From November 1 through mid-December, tours are offered on weekends.
Beginning March 15, New Harmony State Historic Site, part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites 12-location museum system, will begin offering new guided tours of their six historic properties, including:
• Community House No. 2, 410 Main St.
• Thrall’s Opera House, 612 Church St.
• Fauntleroy House, 411 West St.
• Harmonist Cemetery, behind 411 West St.
• Scholle House, 604 Tavern St. (during special exhibits)
• Harmonist Labyrinth, 1239 Main St.
The New Harmony State Historic Site tours will originate in Community House No. 2 and will be offered year-round at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Central Time) Wednesday through Sunday. Community House No. 2 will also continue to serve as a programming and rental space and house a small gift shop.
“We are delighted to be able to expand opportunities for visitors to New Harmony to have additional ways to explore the many historic properties in town,†said Cathy Ferree, President and CEO of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (ISMHS). “The operational changes that each institution is making will allow each of us to focus on our areas of strength and expertise. We look forward to continuing to explore opportunities to collaborate moving forward.â€
UE Announces The Investiture Of Two Chemistry Professors
UE Announces The Investiture Of Two Chemistry Professors
EVANSVILLE, IND. (03/01/2023) The University of Evansville’s (UE) Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences announced the investiture of two Chemistry faculty members during a ceremony on Tuesday.
Dr. Kristy K. Miller was named the Weller Endowed Professor in Chemistry and Dr. Roslyn Lampkins was named the Wargel Endowed Chair in Chemistry.
Weller Endowed Professor in Chemistry
Eloise and Lowell Weller were natives of Ohio, and both graduated with bachelor’s degrees from Bowling Green State University. Lowell earned a master’s and doctoral degree in Chemistry from Michigan State University. Eloise earned a master’s degree from Indiana University and was a teacher in the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation. Lowell was an assistant professor at Michigan State University before joining the faculty of Evansville College in 1957. He was a professor and the chair of the Department of Chemistry until his retirement in 1989, after which the University conferred the status of professor emeritus to him. Lowell was a member of the American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was also a World War II veteran and served in the ETO. Eloise and Lowell had two sons, Ronald Weller, MD, of Merion Station, Pennsylvania, and Donald Weller, PhD, of Millersville, Maryland.
Kristy Miller, PhD, is Professor and Chair of the Robert J. ’66 and Judy Decker ’66 Wargel Department of Chemistry at the University of Evansville. Miller obtained her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Indiana University (Bloomington) in 1999 and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Louisville in 2004. She began her career in the UE Department of Chemistry in 2004 and has been Chair since 2011. Miller is passionate about teaching and covers both general chemistry and biochemistry. Her research interests include the enzyme regulation of 11-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 as well as best practices of assessment of chemical education. Since her appointment, Miller has mentored 20 undergraduate research students and been awarded over $80,000 in external funding from both the MERCK/AAAS Undergraduate Science Research Program and the Jean Dreyfus Boissevain Lectureship for Undergraduate Institutions Program. Miller helped initiate the Baccalaureate to Doctor of Medicine (B/ MD) program at UE and has also served on various committees during her tenure at UE, including the University Judicial Board, the Academic Assessment Committee, the Faculty Appeals Committee, Admission and Standards Committee, as well as several search committees. She received the Sidelle and Sydney Berger Award for University Service and has been a recipient of the Eykamp Prize, an award that acknowledges faculty achievement. Miller was also named to the 20 Under 40 Class of 2012 which recognizes individuals under 40 in the Evansville community who exhibit leadership in various ways. Miller enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and their daughters, Erica, 14, and Kate, 12. She also enjoys playing golf and tennis and coaching girls’ tennis at Evansville Christian School. A native of Washington, Indiana, she is a 1995 graduate of Washington High School.
Wargel Endowed Chair in Chemistry
Roslyn Lampkins, PhD, joined UE’s Department of Chemistry as an Assistant Professor in 2017, and she wasted no time getting her undergraduate research lab up and running. The theme for her research is “supramolecular therapeutics.” Lampkins’ group uses the principles of supramolecular chemistry (molecular recognition and intermolecular interactions) and computational analysis to design and synthesize purine-based scaffolds that can be used as enzyme inhibitors and DNA minor-groove binders. Lampkins received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Western Kentucky University. During her time at WKU, she had the opportunity to work as an undergraduate researcher studying substrate-assisted ortho-metalation of aromatic molecules in hydrocarbon solvents to improve the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. She also participated in a summer research experience for undergraduates at the University of Tennessee, where she synthesized and investigated polymer-supported dyes to selectively bind and remove toxic metals from aqueous environments. It was these undergraduate research experiences that sparked her interest in chemistry and inspired her to pursue a career path toward becoming an academic scientist and educator. Lampkins received her PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Florida. Her graduate training in the Castellano lab involved designing, synthesizing, and characterizing a novel class of purine derivatives and exploring their applications in self-assembly and molecular electronics. After receiving her PhD, she conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Notre Dame in the lab of Professor Paul Bohn, where she worked on integrating microfluidics and electrokinetics to develop early prototypes of novel “lab on a chip” sensor devices. Lampkins has mentored 17 undergraduate researchers since joining UE. These students have delivered presentations of their work at various local, regional, and national conferences. Lampkins enjoys reading, the outdoors, and spending time with her husband, Andy, and their twin sons, Clark and Luke.
Dr. Robert J. ’66 and Judy Decker ’66 Wargel
The University of Evansville Department of Chemistry is proud to be named after Bob and Judy Wargel, two alumni and friends whose generosity has supported remarkable student experiences, cutting-edge faculty research, and a continuously enhanced academic experience. Bob and Judy were students of UE when it was still known as Evansville College. Through the years, they remained connected to the University where they first met. For Judy, whose mother had graduated from Evansville College, attending UE was a family tradition. For Bob, the decision was financial. He enlisted in the Air Force after high school. Upon his discharge, he returned to Evansville, lived at home, and worked full-time while attending college. They both earned degrees in Chemistry. After graduating from UE in 1966, Bob pursued his PhD from Northwestern University in Illinois, and Judy joined Abbott Laboratories where she worked as an information scientist, a medical writer, and ultimately in regulatory affairs. Upon retirement, the Wargels followed their love of volunteering. One of their passions was improving health and wellness in third-world countries. The UE Department of Chemistry has been a particular recipient of the Wargels’ generosity. The couple helped spearhead the Dr. Lowell Weller Chemistry Instrumentation Fund, which led to the purchase of a new 400 MHz Bruker Biospin NMR spectrometer. Bob and Judy gave countless hours to the department by sponsoring summer internships for students and establishing a planned gift to the department.
Eight Swimmers, All Five Relays Invited to Women’s NCAA Championships
Eight Swimmers, All Five Relays Invited to Women’s NCAA Championships
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s swimming and diving will send eight swimmers and all five relays to the 2023 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships as the NCAA announced invitations to the national meet on Wednesday (March 1).
The four-day meet will take place between March 15-18 at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Including the five relays, Indiana will have competitors in 16 swimming events. IU’s most concentrated events will be the 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard IM, with three participants in each. The Hoosiers have multiple swimmers in eight races.
IU could add a ninth swimmers to its meet roster, as senior Maggie Wallace is listed as the alternate in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Should an athlete scratch from that event, Wallace would earn the invite.
Indiana will look to add more NCAA qualifiers via the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. IU will host the Zone C qualifiers at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center March 9-11.
INDIANA WOMEN’S SWIMMING QUALIFIERS
2023 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
200 Freestyle Relay (1:27.70)
400 Freestyle Relay (3:13.45)
800 Freestyle Relay (6:58.44)
200 Medley Relay (1:35.98)
400 Medley Relay (3:29.82)
Brearna Crawford – 100 Breaststroke (59.86), 200 Breaststroke (2:09.36)
Mariah Denigan – 500 Freestyle (4:40.52), 1,650 Freestyle (15:57.82), 400 IM (4:11.25)
Ching Hwee Gan – 500 Freestyle (4:38.96), 1,650 Freestyle (15:65.55), 400 IM (4:14.00)
Mackenzie Looze – 200 Breaststroke (2:08.58), 200 IM (1:56.52), 400 IM (4:09.67)
Kristina Paegle – 50 Freestyle (21.91), 100 Freestyle (48.15), 200 Freestyle (1:46.69)
Anna Peplowski – 200 Freestyle (1:43.33), 100 Backstroke (51.62), 200 Backstroke (1:51.81)
Noelle Peplowski – 100 Breaststroke (59.10), 200 Breaststroke (2:05.52)
Ashley Turak – 50 Freestyle (22.00), 100 Freestyle (48.66)
Baseball Aces look to extend win streak Wednesday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team will look to extend its winning streak to three games on Wednesday afternoon, as the Purple Aces will travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to battle preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite Southeast Missouri State in a mid-week contest. First-pitch is set for 3 p.m.
Wednesday’s game will feature the respective Players of the Week in the Missouri Valley Conference and OVC. Evansville fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug earned MVC Player of the Week honors on Monday after slashing .667/1.083/.778 in UE’s four games last week, while helping power the Purple Aces to a series victory over Eastern Michigan. Meanwhile, SEMO outfielder Josh Cameron was named OVC Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .471 with three home runs, two triples, a double and six RBI in five starts for the Redhawks.
Evansville will enter Wednesday’s game at 2-5 overall after winning the last two games of a weekend series against Eastern Michigan. The Purple Aces rallied for nine runs in the eighth inning on Saturday to pick up its first win of 2023, 9-7, over Eastern Michigan. Junior catcher Brendan Hord then hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning on Sunday to help UE to a 5-3 victory over the Eagles.
SEMO, meanwhile, will bring a 2-6 overall record into the Redhawks’ home-opener. The Redhawks exploded for a 23-2 seven-inning victory in game two of a Saturday doubleheader at Abilene Christian to snap a four-game skid, but ACU swept a Sunday twinbill by scores of 7-4 and 5-4 to win the series. Southeast Missouri State is the reigning OVC Tournament champions and the Redhawks posted a 23-2 overall record at home last season.
Evansville will start freshman RHP Max Hansmann (1-0, 10.80 ERA) on Wednesday. SEMO has not announced a starter yet.