CARBONDALE, Ill.—Junior Audrey Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) raced to a first-place finish in the 800 meters Saturday as University of Southern Indiana Women’s Track & Field went 1-4 in the event en route to a fourth-place finish at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic.

Comastri finished the race with an outdoor personal-best time of two minutes, 15.56 seconds as four Screaming Eagles etched their names on USI’s all-time outdoor 800-meter list.

While Comastri’s time is third all-time at USI, senior Kara Martin (Herrin, Illinois) was on her heals in a second-place finish. Martin crossed the finish line in 2:15.97, which ranks fourth all-time at USI.

Freshman Emily Rempe (Owensboro, Kentucky) ran the fifth-fastest outdoor 800-meter time in school history as she was third with a time of 2:17.31, while junior McKenna Cavanaugh’s (New Albany, Indiana) fourth-place time of 2:18.98 ranks 11th all-time.

In addition to the 800 meters, Comastri, Martin and Rempe teamed with senior Emma Brown (Evansville, Indiana) for a second-place finish in the 4×400-meter relay, while senior Carmen Rodriguez (Olney, Illinois) was second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Sophomore Katie Winkler (Santa Claus, Indiana) was third in the 1,500 meters to lead of a quartet of Eagles that placed 3-6 in the event.

As a team, the Eagles racked up 52 points en route to their fourth-place finish.

USI returns to action April 13-15 when it competes at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team used a little two-out magic on Saturday afternoon to erupt for nine runs, and the Purple Aces held off a furious ninth-inning rally by the visiting Valparaiso Beacons to even their Missouri Valley Conference series with a 9-8 win at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“Our offense came through with some big at-bats today, which was great to see,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “It is also great to see Brent Widder getting hot, as he delivered multiple times for us today.

“Tomorrow is an important day, with the series on the line.”

Evansville went 6-for-14 with two outs and produced six two-out RBI in the contest to fuel the offense.

The Purple Aces struck first in the second inning, as junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse knocked a one-out double and fifth-year outfielder Danny Borgstrom produced a sacrifice fly to give UE a 2-0 advantage.

The Beacons would answer right back with a two-out run of its own in the third inning, before Fougerousse would deliver a two-out, two-run single in the home-half of the frame to push UE’s lead to 4-1.

Two more two-out runs would score in the sixth inning to move the lead to 6-1.  Graduate outfielder Eric Roberts knocked a two-out RBI double, and junior shortstop Simon Scherry followed two batters later with an RBI single for UE.

The Beacons would scratch across two runs in the seventh inning to make it a 6-3 contest.  UE’s two-out magic was not done though, as Widder came through with a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning as part of a three-run frame to push the lead to 9-3.  The three insurance runs were needed for UE, as Valparaiso scored five two-out runs in the top of the ninth inning, before freshman Max Hansmann got the final out to nail down his first collegiate save.

Widder went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI to help lead the UE attack.  Fougerousse also had two hits and drove in three runs, and Scherry and Roberts added two hits apiece as well.  Graduate reliever Michael Parks (2-0) picked up the victory on the mound, scattering two runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of relief work.

With the victory, Evansville improves to 18-12 overall and evens its MVC record at 4-4.  Valparaiso, meanwhile, falls to 10-13 overall and 2-6 in the MVC with the loss.  The series will conclude on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., as UE junior LHP Donovan Schultz (4-2, 3.82 ERA) is expected to face off against Valparaiso RHP Bobby Nowak (3-0, 2.12 ERA).  Sunday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers returned to Jerry Blemker Field Saturday afternoon for the final two games of this weekend’s four-game Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series with No. 2 Heartland Community College.

The Trailblazers dropped game one of the day to the Hawks 20-2, before falling in game two 19-10.

Vincennes got off to a slow start Saturday, with Heartland setting the tone early and often in game one of the day.

The Hawks plated two runs in the first and three runs in the second before completely breaking the game open with a pair of seven-run innings in the third and fourth, before taking on another run in the fifth to take a 20-0 lead.

VU would finally get the bats going in the bottom of the fifth after VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney began to empty his bench and the reserves took full advantage of their at bats.

Freshman Bryan Kohlmeyer (Paris, Ill.) picked up a single in the fifth and would come around to score on an RBI double by freshman Keegan Schlotterbeck (Centerville, Ind.).

Freshman Xavier Brown (Franklin, Ind.) followed that by being hit by a pitch and freshman Bracey Breneman (Linton, Ind.) drew a walk to load the bases.

Freshman Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.) drove in the second run of the inning after being hit by a pitch as well, but this would be as far as the monster comeback attempt would get as VU fell in game one 20-2.

Freshman Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) got the start on the mound in game one Saturday, throwing two and one-third innings, allowing 10 runs on eight hits and striking out two.

Sophomore Jake Stuteville (Rockport, Ind.) was the first out of the bullpen, throwing one inning, allowing five runs on two hits and striking out two.

Sophomore Rich Robinson (Chicago, Ill.) closed out the final two outs of the fourth inning, allowing four runs on two hits and striking out one, before turning it over to freshman Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) in the fifth. Lines allowed one run on one hit in an inning of work.

The Hawks picked up where the left off to begin game two, scoring four runs in the first inning to take an early lead.

VU would answer back after shuffling the lineup in game two with sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) plating a run on an RBI double, followed by a run scoring groundout by Kaden Elliott to cut the deficit to 4-2 after one.

Heartland would continue to keep their foot on the gas offensively though with three runs in the second, two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth to take a 10-2 lead.

Vincennes would start their comeback in the fifth after freshman Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) led off the inning with a single, advanced on a balk and later scored on two wild pitches.

Sophomore Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.) would keep the rally going with an RBI single to score the second run of the inning.

Heartland would get a run back in the sixth before VU would again answer back with a two-RBI double by Colton Evans, his second double of the game and giving him third RBIs, followed by an RBI single by sophomore Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.) as VU cut the lead down to 11-8.

The Hawks would score in the top of the inning before Vincennes cut into the deficit again in the bottom of the seventh after Keegan Schlotterbeck led off the inning with a walk, followed by a pinch-hit, two-RBI home run by sophomore Nick Kapostasy (Cincinnati, Ohio), his first collegiate home run, to cut the Hawks lead to 12-10.

Heartland would grab the momentum back in a big way in the top of the ninth with a big seven run inning to grow their lead back to nine runs, which VU was unable to overcome in the bottom half of the inning as Vincennes fell in game two of the day 19-10.

Freshman Aaron Fenn (Fort Wayne, Ind.) got the start on the mound in game two, throwing an inning and a third, allowing seven runs on six hits and striking out two.

Freshman Logan Medsker (Marshall, Ill.) took over out of the bullpen and threw two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out three.

Sophomore Caleb Moore (St. Louis, Mo.) threw and inning and a third, allowing one run on one hit and striking out one, before turning the game over to freshman Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) who threw an inning and two-thirds, allowing one run on two hits.

Sophomore Eli Steimel (Sullivan, Ind.) pitched an inning and allowed one run on one hit, while Keegan Schlotterbeck and freshman Bryton Griffy (Louisville, Ill.) combined to finish the ninth, with Schlotterbeck allowing three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning and Griffy allowing two runs on one hit in one-third of an inning.

The Trailblazers will look to bounce back when Vincennes hits the road next weekend for another MWAC Conference series, traveling to Quincy, Ill. to face-off against John Wood Community College Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16. First pitch for both days is set for 1 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

Heartland – 237   71 – 20

VU (16-19, 4-7) – 000   02 – 2

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Schlotterbeck, Breneman, Evans. RBI – Schlotterbeck, Heyerly. HBP – Heyerly, Brown.

GAME TWO

Heartland – 430   211   107 – 19

VU (16-20, 4-8) – 200   024   200 – 10

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Evans 2. HR – Kapostasy. RBI – Evans 3, Kapostasy 2, Elliott, Bartlett.

Series finale set for 12 p.m. on Sunday

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Freshman Jess Willsey was a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI on Saturday to pace the University of Evansville softball team to a 4-3 victory over Southern Illinois at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.

Each of Willsey’s hits resulted in RBIs as the Purple Aces earned a huge rebound victory.  Jenna Nink scored three runs while earning two walks and a hit.

Sydney Weatherford encountered some trouble in the first inning with four of the first five batters reaching base, resulting in a 1-0 lead for the Salukis.  Weatherford escaped further damage as she recorded the last two outs.  With one out in the bottom of the first, three 1-out walks loaded the bases.   Facing a 3-2 count, Jess Willsey doubled to left field to score Jenna Nink and Taylor Howe and give UE a 2-1 lead.

Jenna Nink opened the bottom half of the third with an infield single.  After a Howe sacrifice advanced her to second, Jess Willsey came through once again.  Another double to left field scored Nink and gave UE a 3-1 edge.  Southern Illinois manufactured a run in the fourth to get back within one before an RBI single tied the game in the fifth.

For the third time in the contest, it was Willsey picked up the big hit.  With two outs, her single to right field score Nink to put the Aces back in the lead.  SIU put its first two runners on to begin the top of half of the 6^th but Megan Brenton, who entered at the top of the frame, pitched out of the jam to keep her squad on top.

Brenton recorded her fourth save of the season as she sat the Salukis down in order to clinch the win.  Weatherford earned her third victory of 2023.

Sunday’s series finale is set for a 12 p.m. start time.

CHARLESTON, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Softball picked up a road series win at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles shut out the Panthers, 2-0, to finish off the series.
 
Entering Saturday’s series finale, USI was third in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 7-6 conference record. Eastern Illinois was second in the league table at 9-1 in the OVC, sitting percentage points behind first-place Southeast Missouri State University.
 
The start of Saturday’s game was reminiscent of Friday’s series opener, as both starting pitchers were dialed in early. Southern Indiana sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) held Eastern Illinois hitless through 3.1 innings. With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Panthers cracked the hit column with a double and then a single, placing runners at the corners. Newman was unfazed, as she struck out back-to-back batters to get out of the jam. The sophomore had five strikeouts through four innings.
 
On the flip side, Eastern Illinois junior pitcher Olivia Price was just as solid as her game 1 start on Friday. In the second and third innings, Southern Indiana sophomore infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) and senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) each had leadoff singles, but Price was able to draw a double play in each inning.
 
The Screaming Eagles struck for the game’s first run in the top of the fifth inning. Gotshall led off the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second after a productive sacrifice from senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana). Senior Emma Tucher (New Palestine, Indiana) pinch ran for Gotshall at second base and came around to score on a two-out, RBI single into centerfield by Martinez.
 
Southern Indiana threatened again and doubled its lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth inning. Senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) began the inning with a single down the left-field line and advanced to second on an EIU error, forcing Eastern Illinois to remove Price for senior pitcher Rachel Kaufman in the circle. Two batters later, Bedrick crossed home plate on an RBI single from senior Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana).
 
Gotshall and Martinez led USI at the plate, finishing 2-for-3, while Martinez and Goodin accounted for the RBIs.
 
Newman locked in the 2-0 shutout win in the bottom of the seventh inning, picking up a pair of strikeouts. Newman earned her 12^th win of the season to move to 12-7. She also tossed her 12^th complete game and fifth shutout of the 2023 campaign. The right-hander struck out eight total in seven innings of work.
 
Eastern Illinois’ Price dropped to 8-3 with the loss, going five innings and allowing two runs – one earned – off five hits.
 
With the win, the Screaming Eagles improved to 14-17 this season and 8-6 in the OVC. Eastern Illinois dropped to 20-15 overall and 9-2 in conference play, as both of EIU’s OVC losses came at the hands of USI this weekend.
 

Evansville, In.:  Down 3-0 through two periods, the Thunderbolts rallied with a pair of goals and stellar goaltending in a strong third period to close out a 3-2 loss to end the regular season in Pelham on Saturday night.  Now, the calendar turns to the postseason, as the Thunderbolts will take on the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs in Round 1 of the President Cup Playoffs, starting Thursday, April 13^th at Ford Center at 7:00pm CT.

Carson Rose scored in the first period at 10:06 to give the Bulls the first lead of the game.  A pair of goals from Jared Bethune in the second period extended the lead to 3-0, with the Thunderbolts getting their fair share of chances the whole way, in a game that got progressively nastier as the game went on.  After several skirmishes in the first two periods, the first official fight came 6:06 into the third period, as Pierre-Luc Lurette knocked out Troy MacTavish.  The third period also saw the debut of goaltender Lucas Fitzpatrick, who stopped all 15 shots faced, many in spectacular fashion.  Evansville’s first goal came at 7:24, as Scott Kirton scored his 25^th goal of the season from Tanner Butler and Aaron Huffnagle on a 5-on-3 power play.  With Fitzpatrick pulled, Brendan Harrogate scored to get Evansville back within a goal, with 1:10 remaining from Cameron Cook and John DeRoche.

Kirton and Harrogate each finished with one goal.  Zane Steeves stopped 22 of 25 shots in the first two periods, while Lucas Fitzpatrick stopped all 15 shots faced in the third period.  The Thunderbolts will host the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs for Game One of the best-of-three President’s Cup Quarterfinals on Thursday, April 13^th at Ford Center, faceoff at 7:00pm CT.  Game Two will be on Saturday, April 15^th at Berglund Center in Roanoke, faceoff at 6:05pm CT.  Game Three, if necessary, will be on Sunday, April 16^th at Berglund Center, faceoff at 2:05pm CT.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost the three-game series finale to Southeast Missouri State University, 14-2, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI watched its record go to 9-22 and 2-7 in the OVC, while SEMO goes to 18-16, 7-2 OVC.
 
USI was under the gun from the start of the game as SEMO got the lead with a run in the top of the first. USI tied the game, 1-1, in the second when junior designated hitter Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) smacked his team-best fifth home run of the season over the right field wall.
 
The Redhawks took command for good in the top of the third when they scored four times to take a 5-1 lead. USI cut the deficit in the third with a single tally in the bottom of the third on a RBI-single by junior centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan).
 
SEMO pulled away with a two run fourth and five runs in the fifth before finishing out the 14-2 game with two more in the seventh.
 
USI sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) received the loss on the mound for the Eagles. Hutson (1-5) allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and two walks in 3.1 innings of work.
 
Up Next for the Eagles:  
USI continues the four-game homestand Tuesday when it hosts St. Louis University for the second game of a home-and-home series in 2023. The Eagles took the first game of the series on the road, 10-2, on March 14. USI senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) led the Eagles with three hits and three runs scored in the victory.
 
St. Louis finished off a three-game series win at St. Bonaventure University with a 7-5 win Saturday in New York. The Billikens have won six of their last seven games and are 8-9 since the Eagles snapped their 10-game winning streak last month.

Following the mid-week game with St. Louis, USI returns to OVC action with a visit to the University of Tennessee at Martin for a three-game series April 14-16.