LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Junior McKenna Cavanaugh (New Albany, Indiana) scored a first-place finish in the 1,500 meters to lead University of Southern Indiana Women’s Track & Field to a sixth-place finish at the Jim Vargo Invitational Friday.
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Cavanaugh finished the race in four minutes, 39.79 seconds as the Screaming Eagles opened their outdoor schedule with a dominating effort in the 1,500 meters.
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Freshman Emily Rempe (Owensboro, Kentucky) and junior Audrey Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) were second and third, respectively, in the 1,500 meters as the Eagles had four of the top nine finishers in the event.
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The Eagles were aided by the efforts of senior Kara Martin (Herrin, Illinois), who was third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:24.30.
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Senior Gabrielle McGregor (Louisville, Kentucky) was fifth in the shot put and sixth in the discus, while junior Olivia Clark (Newburgh, Indiana) was fifth in the 200 meters to round out the scoring efforts for USI, which finished with 41 points.
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USI returns to action March 31-April 1 when it competes at the WashU Invitational in St. Louis as well as the Joey Haines Invite in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
USI women dominate 1,500 meters in outdoor-opener
USI begins weekend stint with 7-0 loss
BOWLING GREEN, Ken. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis (3-9) kicked off the weekend with a 7-0 defeat to Western Kentucky University at the WKU Tennis Complex Friday evening. The Screaming Eagles start Ohio Valley Conference play tomorrow for the first time in program history.
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Doubles: The Eagles were close to edging out a win in doubles play but could not finish it out. Junior Lauren Rowe (Terre Haute, Indiana)/sophomore Madison Windham (Clarksville, Tennessee) paired up for the first time in their collegiate careers to put up a strong fight despite falling 6-4 at number one.
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Singles:Â USI could not control the momentum in the singles competition, falling in all six singles spots.
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NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles begin OVC play tomorrow against Eastern Illinois University at the Danville Tennis Center in Danville, Illinois. USI is 0-3 all-time against the Panthers with the most recent match being a 4-3 loss in April 2022 in Charleston, Illinois.
GORSUCH, THUNDERBOLTS SHUT OUT BULLS 1-0Â
 Pelham, Ala.:  In yet another strong bounce-back performance, the Thunderbolts defeated the Birmingham Bulls by the slimmest of margins, 1-0 the final score in Pelham on Friday night.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, March 18th against the Birmingham Bulls at 7:00pm CT.  For tickets, call (812)422-BOLT (2658), go to EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or visit the Ford Center Ticket Office.
The lone goal of the game came from Jeremy Masella, who scored unassisted at the 13:00 mark of the second period to give Evansville the 1-0 lead.  The goal was the only one given up on 26 shots by Bulls goaltender Austin Lotz.  Trevor Gorsuch went perfect on 34 shots faced from the Bulls, with many of his best saves coming in the third period with Lotz pulled and Birmingham pressing in the fading minutes for the equalizing goal that never came.  The win was Gorsuch’s 13th of the season, and his 2nd shutout of the season.  With the win, Evansville now only needs just 1 point out of 16 possible to clinch a playoff spot and can do so on Saturday with either a win or a Fayetteville regulation loss.  The Thunderbolts remain in 4th place in the SPHL standings with the victory, at which a finish in 4th place or higher would secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs next month.  The Thunderbolts and Bulls meet again on Saturday, March 18th at Ford Center.
UE Softball Splits MVC Doubleheader Against Bradley
UE Softball splits MVC doubleheader against Bradley
UE opens with a 5-4 win in extra innings
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Opening day of Missouri Valley Conference action saw the University of Evansville softball team split a doubleheader against Bradley. UE opened the day with a 5-4 victory in eight innings before the Braves countered with an 8-0 win the second match-up.
Game 1 – UE 5, Bradley 4 (8 innings)
Trailing by a 4-3 score entering the bottom of the seventh, the Purple Aces tied the score before clinching a 5-4 win over Bradley in the 8th inning. Alexa Davis drew a bases loaded walk to give UE the win.
Mikayla Jolly had a nice start, striking out a pair of batters in the top of the first. In the second, Abbott Badgley broke the scoreless tie with a fly ball that left the park for a solo home run.
Evansville got the offense going in the bottom of the third when Taylor Howe and Alexa Davis recorded hits to open the inning. Abby Husak made her collegiate debut, pinch running for Howe. After advancing to third on a fielder’s choice by Zoe Frossard, Husak scored the first run of the game on a bunt attempt by Marah Wood. Jess Willsey added a sacrifice fly to score Frossard and give Evansville a 2-1 lead.
Bradley used the long ball to retake the lead in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Kierston McCoy belted a 2-run home run to right center field to put Bradley on top – 3-2. UE immediately responded in the bottom of the inning when Lacy Smith hit an RBI double to right center to bring in Jenna Nink, who walked earlier in the frame.
Things remained knotted at 3-3 until the Braves retook the lead in the sixth as they drew three consecutive walks, including one with the bases loaded, to go up 4-3. Down to the final three outs, Alexa Davis opened the seventh with a single before stealing second and going to third on a passed ball. With one out, Marah Wood brought her in with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
In the 8th, Hannah Hood and Nink reached on walks while advancing to second and third with one out. Taylor Howe was hit by a pitch to load the bases up with two outs and bring Davis to the plate. On a 3-2 count, Davis earned the game-winning walk to give UE the conference-opening triumph. Davis was Evansville’s top performer, going 2-4 with a walk, RBI and run. Sydney Weatherford picked up her first win of the season, tossing a scoreless 1 2/3 innings.
Game 2 – Bradley 8, UE 0
A 3-run third inning set Bradley on pace as they completed the day with an 8-0 victory in six innings of game two.
Following a scoreless two innings, the Braves jumped out in front with a pair of home runs. With two outs, Grace French launched a 2-run shot to center field before Abbott Badgley followed with a solo shot to extend the lead to 3-0 in the third. The ensuing inning saw the Braves add their fourth run while holding UE off the board.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Evansville put its first runner in scoring position as Jenna Nink reached on a 1-out triple but the Braves got out of the jam to retain their 4-0 lead. In the 6th, the Braves put the game out of reach, scoring four more runs to complete the shoutout win. Evansville finished the game with four hits while the Braves had nine while adding six walks.
Camryn Schaller took the win for Bradley, allowing four hits in six innings. Erin Kleffman took the loss, giving up three runs in 2 2/3 innings of work. None of the eight Bradley runs in the game were earned.
Sunday’s game is still slated to begin at 12 p.m.
Fowler Silver Highlights Friday Finals
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana swimming and diving sophomore Anne Fowler followed up her Big Ten 3-meter diving title with an NCAA runner-up finish on the second springboard Friday (March 17) night at the 2023 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.
Five athletes scored for Indiana on the third day of the national meet with two podium finishes and fowler silver medal. With 121 points and 21 All-America honors, Indiana has already surpassed its totals from a year ago. The No. 10 ranked Hoosiers sit 10th in the team standings going into a final day full of opportunity.
Fowler, now a four-time All-American, earned her top national finish in any event. The junior tallied scores of 63.00, 63.00, 49.50, 52.65, 69.75, 72.00 for a 369.60 total. Indiana has collected six national medals over the last four championships, three of those coming on 3-meter. Fowler became the third different Hoosier to medal on 3-meter in the last two seasons as Kristen Hayden and Tarrin Gilliland finished second and third at the 2022 meet.
For Fowler, Friday was not just a test of skill on the springboard, but a character check too. In Thursday’s 1-meter prelim, Fowler uncharacteristically placed 50th; mostly due to a failed dive in the fifth round. A day later, she celebrated on the podium surrounded by her teammates.
“What a great comeback for Anne!†IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “She experienced the lowest of lows yesterday, and with the strength and support of her team, she was able to give a career-best finish at this meet today. I am so proud of her and this team for never giving up. One more day!â€
Sophomore Anna Peplowski also earned a podium placement, finishing sixth in the 200-yard freestyle. Peplowski improved from 10th place a year ago and is the first Hoosier to reach the podium since Haley Lips in 2016. During prelims, Peplowski posted her career-best non-relay time, a 1:43.27.
Indiana added three honorable mention All-Americans Friday, as senior Noelle Peplowski placed 13th in the 100-yard breaststroke (58.99), sophomore Skyler Liu finished 14th on the springboard (324.90) and senior Mackenzie Looze took 16th in the 400 IM (4:12.54). Neither Peplowski or Looze were projected to score based on their seeding coming into the meet.
“I thought the day overall was a really gritty performance,†IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “Scoring Mackenzie in the IM and Noelle in the breaststroke, they weren’t supposed to get any points. Just getting points was huge. I’m really proud of Anna Peplowski for making her first A final in the 200 freestyle. Congrats to Anne Fowler for just a massive rebound. I’m so respectful of her being able to do that. And then Skyler scoring her first points and almost making an A final was great.â€
Indiana’s 400-yard medley relay was disqualified due to an early takeoff in the fourth leg. Of the four relays so far this week, it was the first time an IU relay has not finished with All-America status.
“The relay was unfortunate,†Looze said. “It just wasn’t a good relay, and then we jumped it. So, we’re going to lay that to rest and focus on what we have left tomorrow. I really like how we’re competing. It’s really inspiring, I’m really proud of these girls, and we’re going to push really hard to finish the meet off as well as we can.”
RESULTS
400 IM
- Mackenzie Looze – 4:12.54 (Honorable Mention All-America)
200 FREESTYLE
- Anna Peplowski – 1:43.57 (All-America)
100 BREASTSTROKE
- Noelle Peplowski – 58.99 (Honorable Mention All-America)
3-METER DIVE
- Anne Fowler – 369.90 (Silver, All-America)
- Skyler Liu – 324.90 (Honorable Mention All-America)
400 MEDLEY RELAY
DQ – Early take off.
HOOSIER ALL-AMERICANS
Elizabeth Broshears (200 Medley Relay*, 200 Freestyle Relay)
Ching Hwee Gan (800 Freestyle Relay, 500 Freestyle)
Anne Fowler (3-Meter)
Skyler Liu (3-Meter*)
Mackenzie Looze (800 Freestyle Relay, 400 IM*)
Kristina Paegle (200 Medley Relay*, 800 Freestyle Relay, 50 Freestyle*, 200 Freestyle Relay)
Anna Peplowski (200 Medley Relay*, 800 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle)
Noelle Peplowski (200 Medley Relay*, 200 IM*, 100 Breaststroke*)
Ashley Turak (50 Freestyle*, 200 Freestyle Relay)
* – Denotes Honorable Mention
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UP NEXT
Saturday is the final day of the 2023 NCAA Championships. Indiana has six preliminary swims, two divers in the platform event and will race the 400 freestyle relay during the night session. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. ET, followed by finals at 6 p.m.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORTED
DAILY ACTIVITY REPORTFOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT Â information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Schwomeyer overcomes slow start to tie for top spot at LTC Spring Invitational
ROBINSON, Ill. – VU sophomore Paxton Schwomeyer (Oakland City, Ind.) had one of his best tournaments as a Trailblazer Wednesday afternoon in the 27-hole Lincoln Trail College Spring Invitational at Quail Creek Country Club in Robinson.
Schwomeyer got off to a slow start to the tournament, taking a triple bogey on his second hole of the day, but was able to regroup and power through to finish the day with a 27-hole score of 119 and end in a five-way tie for first place on the leaderboard.
Schwomeyer shot an 82 in the full 18 hole round and followed that with an impressive one-over 37 in the final nine holes.
Sophomore Luke VanDeventer (Columbus, Ind.) was the second lowest VU scorer, matching Schwomeyer’s 82 in the first round, before coming back with a very solid three-over 39 in the nine-hole round. VanDeventer would finish with a total tournament score of 121 and finish eighth overall.
Sophomore Caleb Newman (Vincennes, Ind.) was next on the leaderboard and was the third Trailblazer to finish in the top 10 Wednesday. Newman shot an opening round 83 and a final round 40 to place 10th.
Freshmen Nate Olsen (Greenwood, Ind.) and Aaron Brink (Nashville, Ill.) finished the day tied on the scoreboard, with Olsen shooting the best 18-hole score for the Blazers with an 81 before shooting a 46 in the final nine holes.
Brink showed the most improvement out of any VU golfer Wednesday, shooting an 87 in the first round and ending the day with a 40 in the final round. Olsen and Brink each tied for 12th overall.
Sophomores Adam Leach (North Vernon, Ind.), Sam Stewart (Floyds Knobs, Ind.) and Caleb Maris (Terre Haute, Ind.) finished one after another on the scoreboard, with Leach ending with a tournament score of 130 and placing 18th, Stewart placed 19th at 131 and Maris finished 20th at 132.
Sophomore Garrett Hulfachor (Lawrenceville, Ill.) rounded out the VU scorers Wednesday, with the sophomore lefty shooting a 134, placing him in a tie for 21st.
“Paxton struggled out of the gate with a triple bogy on a tough par three on his second hole,†VU Hall of Fame Golf Coach Dennis Chattin said. “I think that created some doubt but I was proud of the way he came back with a one over 37 in the last nine. He actually missed a three-foot putt, lipping out on the last hole. It was tough because had it fallen, he would have won the tournament outright, instead of tying for first.â€
“Caleb Newman had his best tournament, finishing 10th,†Chattin added. “He has really worked hard and I was really glad to see him rewarded.â€
The Blazers will hope to keep this hot streak going into their next tournament, when VU travels to Nicholasville, Ky. to take part in the Garn Championships at the Keene Trace Golf Club.
First round will take place on Monday, March 27, with the final round closing out the tournament on Tuesday, March 28.
RESULTS
TEAM RESULTS
Illinois Central – 321, 156 – 477
VU (A) – 330, 161 – 491
Lincoln Trail – 330, 164 – 494
VU (B) – 347, 173 – 520
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Paxton Schwomeyer (T1) – 82, 37 – 119
Luke VanDeventer (8) – 82, 39 – 121
Caleb Newman (10) – 83, 40 – 123
Nate Olsen (T12) – 81, 46 – 127
Aaron Brink (T12) – 87, 40 – 127
Adam Leach (18) – 85, 45 – 130
Sam Stewart (19) – 87, 44 – 131
Caleb Maris (20) – 88, 44 – 132
Garrett Hulfachor (T21) – 89, 45 – 134