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HOT JOBS
USI Softball sets schedule for the 2023 season
USI Softball opens the 2023 season on February 10
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball has set its 2023 schedule and first as an NCAA Division I program, opening the 2023 season at the Elon Softball Classic February 10-12.
The 2023 regular season schedule will feature 48 total games with 15 home games at USI Softball Field.
“I feel good about the schedule and the opponents our team will face this season,” Head Coach Sue Kunkle said. “Our preseason tournaments will prepare us for our OVC season and give us an idea of where we are at and what we need to do to continue our success.”
“Our competition will be solid all year and our standards within our program will remain high. I think it will be important to take it one game at a time and look for continued growth throughout the season.”
Opening weekend at the Elon Softball Classic February 10-12 from Elon, North Carolina will include matchups against Winthrop University, Elon University, and Morgan State University.
The following weekend, February 18-19, the Screaming Eagles will return to Evansville but will play across town at the University of Evansville Softball Classic, taking on the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and the University of Evansville.
The non-conference slate will continue at the Bulldog Classic in Birmingham, Alabama, hosted by Samford University, February 24-26. USI will face Samford, the University of North Alabama, and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) while in Birmingham.
USI will conclude the main portion of its non-conference schedule at The Spring Games Tournament March 4-8 in Madeira Beach, Florida. USI will play six schools across eight games in four days.
Southern Indiana’s inaugural series as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference will be March 11-12 at Morehead State University. The conference-opening series will kick off 24 total conference games for the Screaming Eagles.
USI’s first home series at USI Softball Field will be the following weekend, March 18-19, as the Screaming Eagles face off against Lindenwood University. Lindenwood is a fellow newcomer to the OVC and a former NCAA Division II member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference with Southern Indiana.
Two other non-conference matchups for USI will be a home doubleheader against IUPUI on April 4 and a home meeting against Butler University on April 12.
Southern Indiana will finish the regular season May 6-7 in an OVC series hosting Tennessee Tech University.
The Ohio Valley Conference Tournament will take place May 10-14 from Oxford, Alabama.
“We are staying focused on our goals and ready to attack the upcoming season,” Kunkle added. “Everyone is excited about the new experiences that are ahead of us and ready to win some games, making a mark in the OVC.”
USI Softball is coming off a 2022 season that saw the Screaming Eagles capture their third NCAA II Midwest Region title since 2017 and another Great Lakes Valley Conference championship season.
Further information regarding game broadcasts, tickets, and more will become available at a later date.
Henderson pedestrian
The Vanderburgh County Coroners Office and the Henderson Police are investigating the death of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in Henderson on US 41. The victim has been identified as Lucious B. Rogers, age 47, of Henderson. Â Â He died at St. Vincent Hospital at 19:00 hrs on 01/15/2023. Â An autopsy schedule in currently pending.
Fatality Accident at Louisiana St. and Mary St.
 On January 17th, around 8:50 a.m., Evansville Police Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Louisiana St. and Mary St. in reference to an EVSC school bus that had collided with a male on a bicycle. Officers arrived and found the adult male victim laying in the street next to the school bus. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. EPD Detectives, EPD Crime Scene Unit, and an EPD Accident Reconstructionist, were called to the scene of the accident to investigate. The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office was also called to the scene.Â
The driver of the bus fully cooperated with the investigation and was taken to a local hospital for a blood draw, which is normal protocol after a fatality accident. It appears that the school bus was traveling northbound on Mary St. and turned westbound onto Louisiana St. The bicyclist was traveling eastbound on Louisiana St. when they collided. There were no students or any other passengers on the school bus when the accident occurred.Â
This investigation is still active. If anyone has any information regarding this accident, please contact the Adult Investigations Unit at (812) 436-7979Â
Battery on Law Enforcement Arrest-Georgia St/Fourth Ave
 On January 16th, around 4:25 p.m., an EPD Officer working motor patrol in a marked squad car conducted a traffic stop on an individual who was riding a bicycle. The individual was identified as Robert Medlock. Medlock was riding his bicycle in the roadway and disregarded a stop sign at the intersection of Fourth Ave./Florida St. The officer witnesses the traffic violation and initiated his emergency lights. Medlock rode his bicycle into a yard and the officer exited his vehicle and approached Medlock.Â
The officer explained why he stopped Medlock and asked for identification. The officer also asked if Medlock had any weapons on his person. Medlock did have a pocket knife on him. The officer asked if he could check his pockets and removed the knife. The officer also found a small container that contained a crystal-like substance that the officer recognized as methamphetamine. The officer told Medlock to drop his backpack and put his hands behind his back. The officer attempted to handcuff Medlock but Medlock attempted to run. The officer grabbed Medlock’s coat and Medlock tried to get away. The officer and Medlock went to the ground and Medlock began fighting with the officer. The officer drew his Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) and attempted to use it in order to gain control of Medlock. The CEW was unsuccessful and Medlock began to kick and strike the officer in the face. The officer and Medlock began to fight over control of the CEW but Medlock was able to fire the CEW, striking the officer in the right ear with both prongs. Medlock cycled the CEW threw times and caused neuromuscular incapacitation in the officer’s right arm.Â
Medlock ran away after the third cycle. The officer was able to get up and run after Medlock. He gave Medlock multiple commands to stop and get on the ground. Medlock refused to listen to any commands and gained entrance into a detached garage in the 1100 block of Georgia St. There were individuals inside the garage at the time and did not know Medlock. Medlock armed himself with an axe and blocked the door. He prevented the officers from getting inside. He also prevented the 3 individuals from exiting the garage. Officers eventually opened the door and got Medlock out of the garage and into handcuffs. While attempting to getÂ
Medlock into the transport vehicle, Medlock kicked another officer in his shin and also caused a laceration to that officer’s hand.Â
Medlock was transported to the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center and charged with 2 counts of Battery on Law Enforcement, 2 counts of Resisting Law Enforcement, Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer, Burglary, Confinement, Possession of Methamphetamine, Obstruction of Justice, and Battery with a Deadly Weapon. Medlock had an active Felony Warrant for a Parole Violation. Medlock had previously been convicted of Domestic Battery, Dealing Meth, and Burglary.Â
The officer involved in the initial incident sustained multiple injuries including two puncture wounds to his ear, cuts on his right neck, contusion on his hand, laceration on his finger, a laceration on his tongue, and a chipped tooth. The officer was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment but has been releasedÂ
No. 9 Trailblazers fall in defensive Region 24 road showdown
BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The No. 9 Vincennes University Trailblazers fell for the second time this season on the road in a Region 24 showdown, this time to Southwestern Illinois in Belleville Monday night 59-50.
The Trailblazers got going early against the host Blue Storm, opening a 17-8 lead to begin the game.
SWIC would respond on their home floor to cut the VU lead down to one late in the first half, before the Blazers closed out the first half of play scoring five of the final six points to take a 31-26 lead into the halftime break.
Vincennes came out of the locker room strong to start the second half, matching their largest lead of the first half by taking a 43-34 lead midway through the second half.
The Blue Storm slowly chipped away at the Vincennes lead before evening the score at 47-47 with four minutes to play and taking their first lead since early in the first half at the 3:40 mark.
Southwestern Illinois grabbed complete control of the game after taking the lead, closing out the game at the free throw line and scoring the final seven points of the game to come away with the 59-50 win over the Trailblazers.
“I just couldn’t find a guy,†VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin said. “At the end of the day, I just couldn’t find a guy to go to. I thought we ran some things and found some shots, but it’s on me, I couldn’t find the right equation to free ourselves up to score tonight. At the end of the game, I still don’t have a good answer for that.â€
“The bottom line is, you can’t score 19 points,†Franklin added. “That’s what it is. We did not put the ball in the basket at any point and even when we were getting the lead, we were struggling to put the ball in the basket. Guys that we usually can depend on, it just wasn’t there. Somebody might say it was just one of those nights. That’s one of those lines that guys will give. I’m more of a guy that wants to have control and if I’m a player I want to have control. I don’t want to think that there is some kind of luck thing that goes on. So, for me, nights like tonight are very difficult. I struggle with nights like tonight.â€
Vincennes was led offensively by sophomore Shilo Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind.) who controlled the paint on both ends of the floor to finish with a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double. His fifth double-double of the season and 20th of his VU career.
Jackson also led the Blazers with three blocks and a pair of steals defensively.
Sophomore Caleb Johnson (N. Preston, Nova Scotia) got the VU scoring going early and finished with 10 points, seven of which coming in the first half, while also snagging five rebounds.
Freshman Ryan Oliver (Antioch, Tenn.) also finished the game with 10 points and five rebounds, his third time scoring in double-figures this season.
“I thought Shilo played pretty well,†Franklin said. “But he’s not physically the strongest guy and they were able to collapse on him very quickly because they didn’t have any fear of us hitting a shot from outside. We’ve been hitting shots from outside, we’ve been hitting shots in games, we’ve been hitting shots in practice and we could get those shots tonight, just none of that was going to go in tonight.â€
“I don’t know how many shots we had where we really came close to making it,†Franklin added. “We not only missed them. I don’t think we really even came close. That’s hard for me. I don’t know how to explain that. As a competitor and a guy that has won a lot in my life and I’ve been around a lot of guys who have won a lot, it’s tough. But that’s what happens. We got enough stops, they got fouled a couple of times and even there was some lack of discipline, then finally Franklin hit a couple of shots for SWIC. Eventually when he does that and you don’t score, it will be enough.â€
“Credit to SWIC,†Franklin said. “They played hard. We knew they would. But Shilo got 14. It’s hard for him to get much more than that because he’s not strong enough and if they can get onto him immediately like that, he needs some people to hit some shots outside. We didn’t get anything going from Michael on the low block. Kris struggled, we got him isolated down in the post and they left him one-on-one on the block to score and he just couldn’t quite get a finish. Caleb was in another stratosphere tonight. For as good as he has been this season, it just wasn’t there tonight. I couldn’t get him to run the actions right that we do all the time. That started from the very first possession and never stopped.â€
“We got a few transitions in the first half, got a dunk, got a few plays and maybe it would continue but it didn’t,†Franklin added. “I’ve got to find a way. I don’t know what that is. The isolation plays didn’t work. Cross screens, action swings, anything, they were going to collapse and press up on the guy with the ball and play physical and plug up the post. The thing that we could really get open was when we screened and rescreened up top. Our point guards got wide open but we don’t make shots. When we get that, we should have been able to score, then they would have had to jump out and do something different. But that wasn’t going to happen. I just couldn’t find it tonight. That’s on me. I could not find the answer and if we had to go play five more minutes right now, I don’t know where I would go to get points.â€
The Trailblazers will look to quickly bounce back when Vincennes hosts Wabash Valley College Wednesday, Jan. 18 at the Physical Education Complex. VU will tip-off against the Warriors at 7 p.m. eastern.
“I thought we did what we needed to do in practice leading into tonight,†Franklin said. “I thought the opportunities were there tonight. I think this is just one of those things where the players have to do some soul searching. I’m going to try to figure out everything that I can. I’ll do everything I can to figure out how to get them perform better offensively. I will and maybe I’ll fail, but I will try.â€
“I think a little soul searching is needed,†Franklin added. “Because you have to ask yourself the question of why could I just not function tonight. Because if you could function, then the game was there. Victory was within your hands. But past that, I think that is the biggest thing. We are not going to come up with something new. What we had was working just fine as of last Wednesday. There wasn’t anything that we were presented with tonight that was something new. It’s just are we going to be able to handle the lights.â€
“We’ve had two significant games on the road this season that we didn’t handle the lights,†Franklin said. “We’ve won three pretty good road games in the Region and we’ve had two times where I don’t think we stepped up and performed. I think that’s just one of those things where our guys have to decide if that’s who they want to be. I’ll try, but at some point, they have to tell me in these situations who am I going to lean on. That’s what it comes down to. Honestly, tonight, I didn’t know.â€
“I thought Shilo was trying but he couldn’t because they were going to collapse on him,†Franklin added. “He got his number and protected the rim pretty well. But after that, where were we going to go. Where were we going to go, even if we got them an open shot that you thought was going in and there were times tonight where we did get open shots. It’s just one of those things. I don’t think we can work on it more in practice, I think tonight was more mental. But you are going to be in big pressure situations and you have to learn how to handle it. I think that is going to be a big moment for us right now. We’ve got to take it all out and win all of them. There is going to be pressure and if you are going to be a champion there is going to be pressure moments and pressure situations. We are going to have to be able to stroke that ball through the net or go up strong through contact to put it in the hole and make that play when the time comes. I’ll do what I can. It’s always on me. It was on me tonight. I should have found some way, somehow, to get us to where we could put two or three buckets together because that’s about all it would have taken at one point to get over the hill. But I failed to do that.â€
USI hosts sellout crowd for MLK Luncheon and speaker Keith Beauchamp
Sophie Kloppenburg honored for work with Posey County memorialÂ
In front of a sold-out crowd, including a live-streamed overflow, the University of Southern Indiana honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including a rousing talk by Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Keith Beauchamp. Â
In 1999, Beauchamp founded Till Freedom Come Productions, a company devoted to socially significant projects aimed at teaching and entertaining. Over the past 22 years, he has worked tirelessly to tell the story of Emmett Till and has traveled extensively between New York, Chicago and Mississippi to investigate the historic murder. Â
Beauchamp welcomed all to “a time where we celebrate the birthday and memory of our brother, the late, great, Dr. Martin Luther King. A day for not only remembering his legacy but memorializing those who have lost their lives on this continuous struggle for civil and human rights in this country, and those who continue to understand the importance of fighting for justice.â€Â
Beauchamp talked heartfeltly about his work over the years to uncover more facts behind the Emmett Till story. Till was a 14-year-old African American boy who was abducted, tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. The brutality of his murder and the fact his killers were acquitted drew attention to the long history of violent persecution of African Americans in the United States, and he posthumously became an icon of the civil rights movement. Â
“With the recent climate of race relations in our country there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done. It’s shocking to be a part of King’s legacy and live long enough to see history repeats itself. It’s shocking to realize that many of the rights our ancestors gave their lives for, and King fought for, slowly dwindling away,†said Beauchamp. Â
Sophie Kloppenburg honoredÂ
During Monday’s luncheon, USI President Ronald S. Rochon presented Sophie Kloppenburg with an honor for her work to establish a memorial on the Posey County Courthouse lawn honoring seven men whose lynching and murder in the late 1800s were never recognized. Â
The Posey County site where the memorial was placed is where residents Jim Good, William Chambers, Edward Warner and Jeff Hopkins were lynched. Daniel Harrison, Sr., Daniel Harrison, Jr., and John Harrison were also murdered at other sites in the Posey County community. A grand jury was called to investigate the tragic events—however, no one was ever indicted.  Â
“Young and daring, committed to caring, a humble nature who challenged each of us to address our past and give humanity a reason to trust. Sophie, we thank you for highlighting a horrific past by teaching us to attack injustice with grace and mercy that will last,†Rochon said while addressing Kloppenburg. Â
Also recognized were Kloppenburg’s high school teacher, Kevin Krizan; mother, Dr. Lioba Kloppenburg; and USI faculty mentor Kristalyn Shefveland, Associate Professor of History, for their part in Kloppenburg’s journey. “Without the love and the investment and the dedication and commitment that people have that pour into them, this doesn’t happen,†said Rochon speaking on the power of support. Â
Additional speakers and a dance performance rounded out the luncheon event. Â
Aces travel to Carbondale on Tuesday
UE faces SIU at 7 p.m.
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On Tuesday evening, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team makes the short trek to Carbondale, Ill. for a road game at Southern Illinois. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage.
Last Time Out
– Trailing by as many as 18 points in the second half, the Purple Aces rallied to get within five points before Valparaiso won by a 76-69 final on Saturday at the Ford Center
– Yacine Toumi tied his career mark with 18 points while adding 7 rebounds
– Antoine Smith Jr. posted a season-best 16 points while Marvin Coleman II and Kenny Strawbridge Jr. added 15 and 12 points, respectively
– Freshman Gabe Spinelli made the first start of his career and scored 3 points
Continuing the Turnaround
– Over his last nine games, Marvin Coleman II is averaging 14.7 points per game while raising his season average from 5.4 points to 9.8
– He scored a career-best 22 points at Missouri State on Jan. 4 and followed that with 16 points against Illinois State
– Coleman reached double figures just once in the first 10 games before doing so in eight of the last nine outings
– His effort at Missouri State bested his old record of 18 points, which came earlier this season against Campbell
– Along with his scoring, Coleman has been depended on for extra minutes and has played at least 35 minutes in 8 of the last 9 contests
Season High
– Antoine Smith Jr. scored a season-high 16 points against Valparaiso and has recorded an average of 10.7 points in his last three outings
– It is a nice rebound from the prior four games that saw him post 4.8 PPG
– Smith has regained his edge from outside, knocking down 7 of his last 18 attempts and is shooting 39.2% from outside on the year
Top Marks
– Chris Moncrief has played at least 23 minutes in each of the last two games including his top season total of 24:51 against Valparaiso
– He recorded two blocks and two rebounds against the Beacons
– In the road game at Bradley, Moncrief played 23:13 and picked up two blocked shots
Scouting the Opponent
– Southern Illinois has won 9 of its last 10 games to enter Tuesday’s game with a 14-5 overall mark
– The Salukis are one of three teams tied for the MVC lead at 6-2 in a logjam atop the conference with no clear cut favorite with the top eight teams separated by just one game
– Marcus Domask continues to pace the SIU in scoring and rebounding
– Domask is recording an average of 16.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest while pacing the squad with 67 assists and 10 blocks on the season
– Lance Jones is the other double digit scorer for the Salukis with 14.4 points and a team-best 34 steals
