TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The No. 19-ranked VU men’s and No. 25-ranked VU women’s indoor track and field teams took part in their final meet of the 2023 season before Nationals Saturday in the ISU Open hosted by Indiana State University.

The VU men’s team got off to a good start Saturday with freshman Justin Emmanuel (Jamaica) and sophomore Yamar Lyons (Kalamazoo, Mich.) both placing in the top five in the 200 meters.

Emmanuel took home a third-place finish with a time of 22.92 seconds and Lyons finished fifth at 23.84 seconds.

Emmanuel and Lyons would later team up with sophomore Trent Faulkner (Wheatland, Ind.) and Desroy Jordan (Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) to take the top spot in the 4×400 meter relay. The team finished with a time of 3:33.20.

Jordan and Faulkner then took part in the 400 meter dash with Jordan placing first at 49.04 and Faulkner placing fourth after winning his heat with a time of 52.91 seconds.

Sophomore Ernest Momodu (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Matthew Gray (Washington, Ind.) each placed in the 800 meters with Momodu placing eighth at 2:02.43 and Gray finishing close behind in ninth at 2:02.51.

Momodu would also place fifth in the 3000 meters with a final time of 9:41.87.

Sophomore Ian Boit (Kimilili, Kenya) placed 10th in the men’s mile with a time of 4:34.57.

The VU men’s field events were led by freshman Olegs Kozjakovs (Riga, Latvia) who placed in the high jump, long jump and shot put events.

Kozjakovs placed fourth in the long jump at 6.22 meters, fifth in the high jump at 1.83 meters and ninth in the shot put with a throw of 13.57 meters.

Sophomore David Beadle (Jamaica) placed 10th in the shot put with a longest throw of 11.75 meters and ninth in the weight throw with a distance of 14.46 meters.

Freshman Cody Dawson (Monroe City, Ind.) rounded out the VU men’s results with a 10th place finish in the weight throw with a final throw of 11.30 meters.

“We finished our regular indoor season with another busy and productive weekend,” VU Head Track and Field Coach Marty Rogier said. “We increased our number of national qualifying marks to 16 and just missed out on another three. I am very proud of what this group has accomplished and the effort by the coaches to put us in such a good position heading to the National Championships in Topeka.”

“Isaac and Mathew went to Eastern Illinois on Friday night to get in a fast mile,” VU Assistant Track and Field Coach Tyler Steigenga said. “Isaac ran a great race to improve on his time from last week. He also moved up to 13th overall in the NJCAA mile list.”

“On Saturday, Ian dropped down in distance to race in the mile after focusing on the 3000m and 5000m all season,” Steigenga added. “He ran a solid race and ended up with a big PR. Ian has been running great this indoor season. He opened up the first race of the year only four seconds off his PR in the 3000m. In the next five races he ran PRs in all of them.”

“Trent ran a PR in the 400 to win his heat by one-hundredth of a second,” Steigenga said. “In the 800, Matthew and Ernest ran well. Ernest got an indoor PR by half a second and Matthew ran over two seconds faster than his PR from three weeks ago.”

“Desroy easily won the 400, hitting the national qualifier while also setting a meet and facility record,” Rogier added. “That’s a pretty impressive feat considering who has run in that facility. Paketo competed unattached today as well and set a meet record while winning the long jump with a 7.27-meter jump.”

“Olegs had another good day competing in three events to try and get ready for the Heptathlon at Nationals,” Rogier said. “He is currently ranked 10th but with his recent improvements, I believe he will compete for a top spot. David had a PR in the weight throw to end the regular season on a good note.”

The VU women’s team cracked the USTFCCCA Top-25 rankings for the first time this season and did not disappoint this weekend, led by freshman Haley Kohlhouse (Bruceville, Ind.) who took home a ninth place finish in the 60 meter sprint at 8.78 seconds and seventh place in the 200 meters at 28.84 seconds.

Kohlhouse was followed by freshman Gwen Weaver (Hebron, Ind.) who placed ninth in the 200 meters at 32.23 seconds.

Sophomore Brittany Page (Freelandville, Ind.) placed fourth in the 800 meters crossing the finish line at 2:28.74.

Sophomore Hope Laughlin (Olney, Ill.) placed 13th in the women’s mile at 6:03.51 and sophomore Daisie Kinnett (Wheatland, Ind.) had the best finish of the day with a second-place finish in the 3000 meters at 11:14.33.

The Trailblazer women’s field events were led by a fifth-place finish by freshman Julia Do Armaral Salvi (Sao Paulo, Brazil) after reaching a height of 3.30 meters.

The day was ended on a high note with freshman Madison Davis (Chesterton, Ind.) placing third in the shot put with a throw of 12.17 meters.

“Brittany ran an indoor PR in the 800 and Daisie PRed in the 3000m with a very evenly paced race, running half a second faster than last week,” Steigenga said.

“Madison had another nice day in the shot, just missing National Qualifier by an inch,” Rogier said. “She moved up to ninth overall on the VU All-Time list in the shot put as well. Haley and Gwen both had PR’s in the 200 with their best efforts of the season.”

“We had a tough day in the pole vault with Julia and Ysnaira due to mostly the coaching,” Rogier added. “I tried to change almost everything they know. But I believe for them to jump what they are capable of it is necessary. They are both ranked high nationally and have a chance to do very well at the big meet.”

The Trailblazers will now head to the NJCAA Division I Indoor Nationals Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 in Topeka, Kan.

“It was a great weekend overall,” Steigenga said. “For the athletes that finished their indoor season, they did so on a high note as almost everyone PRed. For those moving onto Nationals, we were able to improve a few National Qualifying marks and build confidence in their fitness. We have some big goals to accomplish in two weeks at Nationals as we look to improve on our position from last year.”

VINCENNES RESULTS

MEN’S RESULTS

200m

Justin Emmanuel – 3, 22.92

Yamar Lyons – 5, 23.84

400m

Desroy Jordan – 1, 49.04

Trent Faulkner – 4, 52.91

800m

Ernest Momodu – 8, 2:02.43

Matthew Gray – 9, 2:02.51

Mile

Ian Boit – 10, 4:34.57

3000m

Ernest Momodu – 5, 9:41.87

4×400 Relay

Lyons, Faulkner, Jordan, Emmanuel – 1, 3:33.20

High Jump

Olegs Kozjakovs – 5, 1.83m

Long Jump

Olegs Kozjakovs – 4, 6.22m

Shot Put

Olegs Kozjakovs – 9, 13.57m

David Beadle – 10, 11.75m

Weight Throw

David Beadle – 9, 14.46m

Cody Dawson – 10, 11.30m

WOMEN’S RESULTS

60m

Haley Kohlhouse – 9, 8.78

200m

Haley Kohlhouse – 7, 28.84

Gwen Weaver – 9, 32.23

800m

Brittany Page – 4, 2:28.74

Mile

Hope Laughlin – 13, 6:03.51

3000m

Daisie Kinnett – 2, 11:14.33

Pole Vault

Julia Do Armaral Salvi – 5, 3.30m

Shot Put

Madison Davis – 3, 12.17m

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball used a three-run eighth inning rally to defeat Western Illinois University, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at USA Stadium in Millington, Tennessee. The Screaming Eagles take the opening series of the year and pushed their record to 3-1, while the Leathernecks go to 1-3.
 
USI freshman second/third baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana), who led the way for the Eagles by going three-for-four with two runs scored and four RBIs, gave USI an early 1-0 lead in the third on his second home run of the season. The lead was short lived as Western Illinois responded with three unanswered runs to lead 3-1 after four innings.
 
The Eagles got a run back in the top of the fifth when junior shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) singled up the middle to score Niehaus and make the score 3-2. The WIU 3-2 lead would stand up until the eighth inning when Niehaus struck again.
 
The freshman infielder stroked a three-run triple to right field for a 5-3 Eagles’ lead. Western Illinois would get a run in the bottom half of the eighth after loading the bases with no one out, while USI junior right-hander Cory Anderson (Linton, Indiana) finished the game by striking out the only batter he would face with the bases full of Leathernecks in the ninth for his first save of the year.
 
USI junior right-hander Carter Stamm (Jasper, Indiana) picked up the win in relief, entering the game in the fifth. Stamm (1-0) pitched three scoreless frames, allowing two walks and striking out four.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles continue the season opening road swing with a visit to Lipscomb University Tuesday for a 3 p.m. first pitch. Lipscomb opened the 2023 with a three-game series win over the University of Notre Dame, taking games one (5-4) and three (4-20) and falling in the middle game (8-4).
 
Lipscomb leads the series, 11-1, with USI winning the last meeting after splitting a doubleheader in 1980.
 
USI opens the 2023 home schedule February 24-26 when the Eagles host Bellarmine University at the USI Baseball Field. The series opens with a 3 p.m. start February 24; continues with a 1 p.m. game February 25; and concludes with a noon contest February 26.
 

Aces tied for third place

 

PRATTVILLE, Ala. – With the completion of the first round of play at the ASU Spring Classic at RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill, the University of Evansville men’s golf team sits in a tie for third place.

Standing at a 297, the Purple Aces are tied with Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the third position.  The duo is just one behind a first-place tie between Chicago State and Savannah State.

Michael Ikejiani led the team with an even round of 72.  His effort is tied for 5^th place.  Two behind him was freshman Daniil Romashkin.  His 74 puts him in a tie for 9^th.  Third for UE is Henry Kiel.  Completing the day with a 75, he is tied for 15^th.

Nicholas Gushrowski carded a 77 for UE.  His opening-round score is tied for 20^th.  Caleb Wassmer rounded out the UE contingent with a 77.  He is in a tie for 27^th.

Round two opens on Monday morning.

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball offense is beginning to round into form this weekend after scoring 19 totals runs in two games Saturday at Jerry Blemker Field, VU returned to the field Sunday evening to score 13 more runs in a 13-4 win over Ancilla College.

The Trailblazers picked up right where they left off yesterday with freshman starting pitcher Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) throwing a clean three-up, three-out top of the first.

VU then got things going at the plate with sophomore Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) beating out an infield hit to lead off the first. Burdette would later score on a passed ball.

Sophomores Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) and Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) followed with a walk by Evans and Long reaching on an error.

Freshman Holden Clifton (Louisville, Ill.) brought home Evans with an RBI single and sophomore Dale Coy drove in Long with an RBI double to give VU a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

Ancilla would answer back with a pair of runs in the second, which Vincennes would get back in the third when VU executed a delayed double-steal to score Dale Coy, freshman Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.) got an RBI single and Ethan Burdette picked up an RBI double to score four runs in the inning and take a 7-2 lead.

Vincennes would continue to add to their lead in the fourth in a big way with a leadoff triple by Colin Long and a two-run home run by Holden Clifton.

The Chargers would get those two runs back in the fifth before VU answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a two-RBI double by sophomore Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.), a sacrifice fly by Holden Clifton, giving him four RBIs on the day, and an RBI double by freshman Brandon Juarez (Evansville, In.).

VU would close the game out strong on the mound as Vincennes finished off their third win of the season by the final score of 13-4.

“Our offense is what we think is going to be one of the strengths in our club,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “Ethan Burdette had three hits and an RBI double, then some timely hitting with Elliott. Clifton comes through with four RBIs and Dale Coy gets a big RBI double in the first inning to put us up 3-0.”

“Brandon Juarez did a great job of coming in and getting an RBI late in the game,” Barney added. “It was just some really good hitting. Some guys really stepped up and I’m excited for that, especially our one through seven hitters, they all had pretty good days.”

Gavin Craggs got things going for VU on the mound and held his own, allowing four runs, in four-plus innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.

Freshman Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) picked two innings of relief, allowing only one hit and striking out three.

Sophomore Eli Steimel (Sullivan, Ind.) retired the only batter he faced on just four pitches before freshman Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) came in to close out the seventh inning, striking out one.

“Gavin Craggs was a tale of different innings today,” Barney said. “If throws like he did in the first and third innings he’s really good. In the second he was able to work himself out of a little bit of a jam and struggled in the fifth and obviously couldn’t finish it out. But he kept us in the game and gave us a chance to play.”

“Then Jace Parnin comes in in relief and picks up the win,” Barney added. “He did a great job for his two innings. Then Steimel comes in before Pinson and Pinson records his first collegiate outs to get the last two outs of the game. It was a good day for us on the mound there.”

The Trailblazers will be on the road to start next week when VU travels to Mt. Carmel, Ill. to face-off against NJCAA Division I No. 8-ranked Wabash Valley Tuesday, Feb. 21. First pitch Tuesday is set for 2 p.m. eastern.

“We played four games this week and hopefully we’ve gained some experience from that,” Barney said. “Hopefully we’ve gained a little bit of confidence that we can play. We are going to have to play really well at Wabash Valley. They are a good club. They are coming off of a three-game series and we’ve played four games this weekend. We are just going to have to be ready to get after it.”

“I feel good about where we stand with our pitching,” Barney added. “Josh McCormick will start on Tuesday and we’ve got Logan Medsker right behind him to help get us ready for a mid-week game, plus our regular bullpen. It should be an interesting game over there on Tuesday.”

UE wraps up home weekend on Monday

 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Sunday’s action at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James & Dorothy Cooper Stadium saw the University of Evansville softball team pick up an 8-3 win over Kansas City before taking a 7-6 win over USI in nine innings.

Game 1 – UE 8, Kansas City 3

Hannah Hood was 2-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs to pace the UE softball team to an 8-3 win over Kansas City in their first game of the day.  Taylor Howe and Jenna Nink registered two hits apiece while Hood and Lacy Smith each scored twice.

Each team threatened in the first.  Kansas City put runners on second and third with one out with Mikayla Jolly striking out the final two batters to get out of the inning.  UE put its first two batters on base and would load the bases with two outs, but the Kangaroos recorded two strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.

Hits by Lacy Smith and Jenna Nink were followed by a Sydney Kalonihea walk to load the bases to open the second inning.  Taylor Howe got the Aces on the board with two runs crossing the plate on a deep sacrifice fly to center field.  Zoe Frossard added another sac fly to make it a 3-0 game.

Hannah Hood led the third with a double and scored on a double steal while Jenna Nink followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-0.  The Kangaroos plated two runs in the top of the fourth but a swing of the bat by Hood got those right back.  With Alexa Davis on base, Hood homered to left center to make it a 7-2 game in the bottom of the 5^th.

In the sixth, the Aces plated their final run as Marah Wood hit a sacrifice fly for the eighth run of the game.  The Kangaroos scored one in the seventh but the Aces held on for the 8-3 win.  Mikayla Jolly earned the win, tossing four innings.  She gave up two runs on four hits, one earned.  Megan Brenton threw two scoreless frames while Ariel Thomasson gave up one run in the 7^th.

Game 2 – UE 7, USI 6 (9 innings)

Taylor Howe and Marah Wood each hit home runs to help the Purple Aces defeat USI by a 7-6 final on Sunday evening.  The home runs accounted for two of UE’s three hits.  Sydney Weatherford gave up five earned runs with two being earned.  Megan Brenton earned the win, giving up one unearned run in four innings.

USI had the first big scoring threat of the day in the top half of the second.  A pair of hits led off the inning before the duo advanced to second and third with one out.  Lacy Smith threw a laser from right field to tag out the runner on a sacrifice fly attempt to keep the game scoreless.  In the third, the Screaming Eagles were first to get on the board on a 2-RBI double by Kennedy Nalley.

Evansville knotted the game in the bottom of the third when Taylor Howe belted the first home run of her career.  The 2-run shot scored Sydney Kalonihea, who reached on a walk.  An inning later, the Aces took their first lead when a 2-run standup double by Jenna Nink put UE in front at 4-2.

After loading up the bases with no outs to open the fifth, USI cashed in as they retook the lead.  Two Evansville errors contributed to three runs by the Screaming Eagles.  In the bottom of the frame, UE jumped right back in front.  Marah Wood homered to center to plate Jess Willsey and give Evansville a 6-5 edge.  In the top of the 6^th, USI tied the game on the third UE error of the night.  Things would remain that way until the bottom of the ninth.  Pinch runner Dori Brown would score the game-winner on a Screaming Eagles error to finalize a 7-6 win.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball split its two games on Sunday to conclude its opening weekend, winning 3-2 against the University of Wisconsin Green Bay in the morning before falling 7-6 in extra innings against the University of Evansville Sunday evening.
 
Heading into the morning matchup against Green Bay, USI looked to take care of business once again after defeating the Phoenix, 1-0, on Saturday. However, it was the Phoenix who struck first Sunday morning. Green Bay scored the game’s first run in the top of the first inning on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice.
 
USI responded to tie the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the second. With a runner in scoring position at second base, senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) fought off multiple 0-2 pitches before rocketing a hit into centerfield to drive in the tying run.
 
After the first run in the first, sophomore pitcher Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) found a nice groove in the second and third frames, retiring the side in order. Then in the fourth inning, Gotshall had an opportunity at the plate to help her own cause to tie the game after giving up a solo home run to Green Bay in the top of the fourth. Gotshall placed one toward the right-center gap for a two-out double that scored Martinez all the way from first to knot the game at 2-2. After a wild pitch allowed Gotshall to advance to third, senior outfielder Emma Tucher (New Palestine, Indiana) delivered with a two-out RBI single that scored Gotshall as the go-ahead run, giving the Screaming Eagles a 3-2 lead.
 
From that point, freshman pitcher Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana) took over in the circle and pitched the last three innings for her first save, showing great poise with runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings. Meanwhile, Gotshall picked up her first win of the season after four innings pitched with two runs and a pair of strikeouts. Green Bay’s freshman pitcher Paeton Kringel took her second loss of the season.
 
Going into the night game against Evansville, USI was hopeful to build on its 2-0 start and complete the weekend undefeated. Early indications in the first two innings showed promise for a pitcher’s duel, as the game remained scoreless after the two innings of play. Senior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) started the game for USI, striking out three in the first two frames.
 
Southern Indiana broke the scoreless contest against Evansville’s sophomore pitcher Sydney Weatherford in the top of the third inning. With runners on the corners, sophomore outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana) drilled one to left center for a two-RBI double to put USI up, 2-0. Evansville freshman Taylor Howe tied the game, 2-2, with a home run in the bottom of the third.
 
Evansville went ahead with two runs in the fourth inning, but Southern Indiana answered in the top of the fifth with three runs. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana), who led USI in the game with a three-hit night, singled to lead off the inning. Following an error and a fielder’s choice, the bases were loaded for the Screaming Eagles. Another fielder’s choice scored a USI run to make it a 4-3 game. Then senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) evened the game back up at 4-4 with an RBI single. A fielder’s choice and error allowed another USI run to score and put the Screaming Eagles ahead, 5-4.
 
The Purple Aces responded with their third straight two-run inning in the bottom of the fifth, as junior infielder Marah Wood went deep for a two-run home run to put UE back in front by one. Southern Indiana was not fazed, knotting the game 6-6 with a run in the top of the sixth off an Evansville error. The game remained deadlocked into extra innings, as USI sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) and UE junior pitcher Megan Brenton had taken over in the circle, trying to give their respective teams a chance to win late. Newman came through with clutch strikeouts in the sixth, as UE had a go-ahead runner in scoring position but was left stranded.
 
At the start of extra innings in the eighth, the international tie-breaker rule took effect with a runner starting the inning at second base. USI was able to get the runner to third but could not score. In the bottom of the eighth, UE had the bases loaded and one out, but once again, Newman picked up a pair of key strikeouts to end the inning.
 
In the ninth, Southern Indiana advanced the second base runner to third and drew a walk to have runners at the corners with one gone. However, Evansville got out of the threat with an inning-ending double play off a flyout and a throw that was in time to nab USI’s runner at home after tagging up. In the bottom half of the ninth, UE placed down a sacrifice bunt to advance the second base runner to third. The next batter, Howe, flew out to center but an errant throw allowed the game-winning run at third to score and end the game.
 
Besides Bedrick’s three hits, Rager also had a multi-hit game with two hits to go along with an RBI. Nalley had a two-RBI game for Southern Indiana. USI tallied six runs on 11 hits. Goodin went 3.2 innings in the circle with four runs and five strikeouts. Newman tossed five innings with three runs – two earned – and seven strikeouts. She was dealt the loss to move her record to 1-1 this season.
 
Evansville’s Weatherford did not factor into the pitching decision after five innings pitched, allowing five runs – two earned. Brenton was credited with her second win of the season, pitching four innings, and allowing one unearned run with four strikeouts. Offensively, the Purple Aces scored seven runs with three hits.
 
Next up, the Screaming Eagles will carry their 2-1 start to the season to Birmingham, Alabama next weekend at the Bulldog Classic hosted by Samford University. USI will face Samford on Friday, play against the University of North Alabama and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) on Saturday, and take on Samford and North Alabama again on Sunday.