FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Aces baseball wins first Valley series against Murray State
Aces baseball wins first Valley series against Murray State
The Purple Aces split their Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday
MURRAY, Ky. – The University of Evansville baseball team took the series win over the Murray State Racers on Saturday by splitting the doubleheader with a first-game victory.
The Purple Aces offense exploded in its first of two games on Saturday afternoon as all nine batters recorded at least one hit in the 15-10 win. UE continued to outhit the Murray State in the second game of the day but stranded 11 runners in the 9-5 loss to close out the weekend.
Evansville was led at the plate by left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) who had five hits and three doubles in two games for the Aces. Center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) was right behind him with UE’s first multiple-home run performance in 2025 with four hits and two long balls. Rumsey also led Evansville in RBIs with five, all of which came in the first game of the doubleheader.
“This weekend was a great start to Valley play with a series win!” said Head Coach Wes Carroll. “We also finished a challenging road trip on a positive note taking two of three games. I look forward to the team playing back at the Braun on Tuesday.”
Game 1 – UE 15, MSU 10
Both offenses got going early on Saturday afternoon as the Aces struck first in the top of the first. A lead off walk to Rumsey came back to bite Murray State as he stole second on the next at-bat. Infielder Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) put a single into the outfield to bring Rumsey home for a 1-0 UE lead at the half inning.
The Racers answered back in the first with a solo home run to tie the game after two outs. Murray’s two-out rally continued with back-to-back hit-by-pitches to put two on. Racer left fielder Dan Tauken singled to left field and gave Murray State a 2-1 lead after only an inning despite starter Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville HS) striking out the side.
Evansville got two batters on in the top of the second as catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) singled to center and designated hitter Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) walked. But neither runner came home as the final out to the Aces came on a strikeout. UE’s defense had a similar result in the bottom of the second giving up a lead off walk but then getting three straight outs to keep it a 2-1 ballgame.
Rumsey jump-started the Evansville offense in the top of the third with his first long ball of the season to tie the game up. McGinnis then reached second two at-bats later thanks to an error out in left field for the go-ahead run. Longmeier got the hit that put the Aces back in front with a double off the right field wall. Longmeier’s fourth double of the season scored McGinnis to make it 3-2 for UE.
Evansville’s defense returned the offense’s favor taking down the Racers in order. It was a quiet fourth inning as neither team recorded a hit. Murray State took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning with a grand slam to make it 6-3. The Racers got two more runners on in the fifth, but both were stranded with reliever Drew Fieger’s (Fort Mitchell, Ky. / Lincoln Trail CC) first strikeout.
It was a quiet sixth inning as the Aces went down in order and UE’s defense had its 12th double play to end the frame. Evansville began the seventh with an out, but the Aces put together a big offensive inning. UE got back-to-back singles from Nehls and infielder Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) to begin the rally.
It was again Rumsey who came through for Evansville at the plate for his first career game with multiple home runs. The three-run bomb tied the game at six runs each, but the game didn’t stay tied for long. After the homer outfielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) put a double into left center with some help from the wind and was quickly at third on a flyout.
A walk to shortstop Brodie Peart (Markham, Ontario) put runners at the corner for the Aces. Longmeier was next up at the plate and connected on his first pitch with a double to right scoring Taubert to take the 7-6 lead. UE’s final out of the seventh came in the next at-bat as Evansville scored four runs on five hits.
The Aces’ defense quickly worked through the Murray State batters allowing one hit that didn’t score. UE’s offense continued its dominance in the top of the eighth as the entire order made it on base without an out. Infielder Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) led off the eighth with his first hit in a week. Also connecting on hits in the eighth were Howard, McGinnis, Peart, and Longmeier as Evansville scored seven runs and loaded the bases twice.
The Racers had their own long offensive half-inning in the eighth. Murray State had its entire lineup come to the plate with three singles, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch. The Racers scored four runs as the Aces used three pitchers to get out of the inning. Thanks to runners’ interference in the ninth at-bat of the eighth UE had another double play to go to the final inning.
Evansville loaded the bases again in the top of the ninth as the team’s first runner got on base with a hit by pitch. Another single for Pert and a walk to Longmeier had three on for Flaherty. The graduate catcher put a single into center field getting a run back for the Aces. UE only scored the one run as they needed three outs to keep the 15-10 final score.
Closer right-hander Owen Byberg (Barrie, Ontario) faced the minimum number of batters in the bottom of the ninth beginning with a strikeout looking. Evansville’s defense turned another double play to end the game securing the series victory by a score of 15-10. Fieger earned his first win of the season in 2.2 innings of work while Longmeier led the team at the plate going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a walk, and three RBIs.
Game 2 – UE 5, MSU 9
After an offensive explosion in the first game of the day the second game was a little quieter. But both teams scored early as Murray State scored on back-to-back hits in the bottom of the first with a triple. The Aces tied the game in the top of the second as their first two batters walked. A sacrifice fly from Peart to right center scored Longmeier to make it 1-1.
It remained a tied game until the bottom of the third when the Racers retook the lead on a three-run blast in the bottom of the third. UE started the frame with two outs, but Murray had two batters reach base after. Racer designated hitter Tauken brought both home with a homer out to right field for a 4-1 game after a third.
Evansville got a run back in the top of the fourth as Longmeier had a lead off single to center. For the second time in the game, Peart hit a sacrifice fly to right center to score a run. The Aces only brought the one run home for a two-run game in the middle of the fourth.
Murray State extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth after UE wasn’t able to score with the bases loaded in the top of the inning. The Racers loaded the bases quickly with one out on the board and then added two runs with a single and a ground out. Murray returned to its four-run lead halfway through the second game.
The Racers added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth as Evansville was deep in its bullpen. A lead off triple for Murray turned into its first run of the inning in the next at-bat on a single. The Aces got a strikeout from reliever Jack Clevidence (Ankeny, Iowa / Ankeny HS) and a flyout for two with two on. The Racers loaded the bases and scored two more runs without connecting on a hit for a 9-2 advantage.
But UE wasn’t going to go down without a fight as the offense returned with a vengeance in the top of the seventh. Evansville loaded the bases quickly with two hits and a walk in its first three at-bats. A sacrifice fly to right scored Rumsey for the fifth time in two games. Back-to-back singles from Peart and catcher Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence HS) brought in two more runners to make it a 9-5 game. A strikeout ended the Aces offensive surge in the seventh.
Murray State was kept scoreless over the next two innings as UE’s fifth reliever left-hander Jacob Jarvis (Farmington, Mo. / Jefferson College) pitched two full innings. Jarvis had one strikeout and only allowed one hit in his time on the mound for Evansville to be the only pitcher to not allow a run. The Aces started the top of the ninth with Longmeier’s third double of the day. But three straight outs after the double ended the potential comeback for UE to drop the final game of the weekend.
Four batters had two hits in the second game of the doubleheader for Evansville as eight of the team’s 11 players recorded a hit. Byberg was credited with the loss as he pitched 2.2 innings in the second game while allowing two runs and throwing one strikeout.
The Aces return home to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium for the first time in over a month next week. UE welcomes Western Kentucky to Evansville for the first game in a home-and-home series on Tuesday. First pitch from GAB Field is set for 6 p.m. on March 25.
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Softball falls in doubleheader at Missouri State
Softball falls in doubleheader at Missouri State
Aces back on the road next weekend at Valparaiso
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Saturday’s doubleheader saw the University of Evansville softball team fall in both contests at Missouri State. Following a 9-0 game to open the day, a late rally by the Bears saw them take the second game by a final of 4-3 in eight innings.
Game 1 – Missouri State 9, UE 0
Scoring seven runs in the second inning, Missouri State opened the day with a 9-0 victory in five innings. Miriah Powell was Evansville’s first baserunner, reaching on a single to center field in the top half of the second. Highlighting the rally for MSU was a 3-run home run by McKenzie Vaughan.
Looking for a rally, the Purple Aces got back to work in the third with Taylor Howe reaching on a 1-out single before a double play ended the inning. Niki Bode added a single in the fourth before Powell doubled in the fifth, but UE could not get its first run across.
Two runs by MSU finished off the game in the bottom of the fifth. Makenzi Swick earned the win for the Bears, allowing four hits in five innings of work. Two of those hits came off the bat of Powell. Cassidy Gall made the start for UE, allowing five runs, none of which were earned, on five hits in 1 2/3 innings. Kate Ridgway tossed the final 2 2/3 frames with four runs, two earned, scoring for MSU.
Game 2 – Missouri State 4, UE 3
Scoring the final four runs of the game, Missouri State clinched the series sweep with a 4-3 win in game two.
After recording three hits in the first two innings, the Aces pushed their first three runs across in the top of the third. Taylor Howe reached on a leadoff single before Niki Bode singled with two outs. Eliza Piggott doubled to bring in the opening two runs of the day while Callie Meinel added an RBI hit to make it a 3-0 game.
In the fifth, Missouri State tied the game with three runs. After scoring two runs, it appeared that MSU tied the game on a close play at home as Jess Willsey attempted to throw out the runner. The call was overturned in Evansville’s favor to keep the game at 3-2, but MSU would later tie the game.
Following a scoreless 7th frame, Evansville looked to retake the lead in the 8th. Jenna Donohoo singled with one out and was pinch run for by Cassidy Gall. With two outs, Howe doubled to left field. Looking to score, the Bears threw the runner out at the plate to end the inning before scoring the winning run in the bottom of the frame.
Gracie Hollingsworth threw the full game with four runs, two earned, scoring. Evansville accumulated 13 hits in the game with How going 4-5. Callie Meinel was a perfect 3-3. UE is back on the road next weekend for a 3-game series at Valparaiso.
-www.GoPurpleAces.com-
Mackey’s two-home run game leads USI to series finale win and doubleheader split
Mackey’s two-home run game leads USI to series finale win and doubleheader split
MOREHEAD, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Softball split its road doubleheader against Morehead State University on Saturday, capturing a big 14-4 win in the series finale after a 5-1 setback to start the day that gave Morehead State the Ohio Valley Conference series win.
In game one, Southern Indiana quickly got on the scoreboard after a bunt single from junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton and a throwing error by Morehead State that allowed Stapleton to come all the way around to lead off the game and give USI a 1-0 lead.
Just like Friday’s game, Morehead State recorded another crooked number on the scoreboard in the third inning. Morehead State struck for five runs, including three on a bases-clearing double, to surge ahead 5-1 through the bottom of the third.
The Screaming Eagles got runners to second and third in the fifth and sixth innings, but Morehead State kept those runners on base and went on to close out the game.
Stapleton finished with two hits to lead USI, which totaled six hits in the game. Freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus (2-6) took the loss after a complete game with three strikeouts and allowing five runs – only two earned.
Morehead State tallied five hits. Junior pitcher Rylie Burney (2-12), who recorded Friday’s win in the series opener, went the distance and surrendered only one run.
In the series finale and second game of the day, Southern Indiana wasted no time getting on the scoreboard again. Following a leadoff hit by Stapleton, freshman third baseman Jordan Mackey crushed a pitch to straightaway center for a two-run home run to give USI a 2-0 advantage.
Mackey was not done there, as the Evansville, Indiana native belted another two-run shot in the top of the third inning for her first career multi-home run game and the second such game by a USI player this season. Ahead 4-0, the Screaming Eagles were the ones who got their big third inning by totaling six runs in the frame to carry an 8-0 lead to the fourth.
USI put up another six-spot in the fourth inning to skyrocket ahead 14-0. The fourth inning was highlighted by a two-run double from senior pitcher Josie Newman and a pinch-hit two-RBI single by junior Julianna Hibbs.
Morehead State scored four unanswered in the last two home innings, but Southern Indiana sealed the game in five innings to secure a win in the series finale and avoid the series sweep.
USI registered 10 total hits with multi-hit games from Mackey and Newman. Mackey paced the Screaming Eagles with four RBIs off the two home runs. Mackey’s performance propelled the freshman into the team lead with four home runs and 15 RBIs on the season. Newman accounted for three RBIs in the game. Newman (4-10) also got the winning decision after pitching the five-inning complete with a pair of strikeouts.
Morehead State posted four runs on seven hits. Burney (2-13) suffered the loss after bookending the game for Morehead State. Burney hurled two total innings with two runs allowed. Morehead State used four pitchers in the contest.
The Screaming Eagles will return home next weekend for the start of a six-game homestand. USI will host Tennessee Tech University next weekend. The series opener next Saturday is at 3 p.m. Sunday’s doubleheader to conclude the series begins at Noon. Coverage information can be found online at usiscreamingeagles.com.
Trailblazers drop conference doubleheader at Parkland College
Trailblazers drop conference doubleheader at Parkland College
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their four-game weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference series Saturday afternoon against No. 14-ranked Parkland College.
The Trailblazers dropped the pair of games to close out the series, falling in game one to the Cobras 11-1 before falling in game two 12-2.
Vincennes got the day started in game one, breaking onto the scoreboard in the second inning after sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) reached on an error to lead off the inning.
Edlin would later steal third and come in to score on a groundout put in play by sophomore Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) to give the Blazers the early 1-0 lead.
Parkland College would respond in their half of the inning, scoring three runs in the second and three more runs in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead over VU.
The Blazers continued to battle down the stretch, getting a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning and runners on second and third in the fifth, but were unable to turn those baserunners into runs.
Parkland put the game away in the sixth with five runs to give the Cobras the 11-1 victory in game one of the day.
Freshman Eastin Whaley (Kokomo, Ind.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers in game one, throwing into the fourth inning allowing five runs on three hits and striking out two in the game.
Whaley then turned it over to freshman Jakob Hoyer (Georgetown, Ind.) who threw two solid innings, allowing one run on two hits.
The Blazers looked to bounce back and get the series split with the Cobras in the series finale but quickly found themselves playing from behind after Parkland plated a pair of runs in the first inning.
VU would respond in the second after a lead off walk by Yancey Edlin and a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.), followed by a walk by sophomore Damon Kay (Spencer, Ind.) and a single by sophomore Canaan Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) to load the bases.
Vincennes would get on the scoreboard with an RBI single by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.), followed by a run scoring fielder’s choice put in play by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.) to even the score at 2-2.
Parkland would again answer back in the bottom half of the inning, plating three runs to regain the lead at 5-2.
Parkland would add on to this lead in the fourth with a run before putting the game away again in the fifth with a big six run inning to take game two of the day 12-2.
Freshman Grayson Reichert (Shepherdsville, Ky.) got the start in game two of the day, throwing two and one-third innings, allowing five runs, four earned runs on four hits and striking out three.
Freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) was the first out of the bullpen for the Blazers, throwing one and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out two.
The Trailblazers will look to bounce back and get back in the win column when the Blazers hit the road next week to take on Wabash Valley College Wednesday, March 26 in Mt. Carmel, Ill., with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. eastern.
Vincennes will then hit the road over the weekend for another Mid-West Athletic Conference series, taking on Illinois Central College in Peoria, Ill. Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. eastern and Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. eastern.
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
GAME ONE
VU (12-14, 3-8) – 010 000 – 1
Parkland – 030 305 – 11
VINCENNES HITTING
2B – Gricius. RBI – Johnson. HBP – Gricius. SB – Johnson. Edlin.
GAME TWO
VU (12-15, 3-9) – 020 00 – 2
Parkland – 230 16 – 12
VINCENNES HITTING
RBI – Douglas, Andrews. HBP – Montgomery. SB – Edlin.
-30-
The Vincennes University baseball team drops to 12-15 on the season, with a 3-9 record in MWAC Conference play.
Check Out These Cute Faces and Give Them a Home
Dogs need a new home!
Come in and meet all the available animals TODAY!!
If you can foster please reach out to your rescue of choice!!
Come in anytime during open hours for a meet and greet to adopt!! If you have other dogs please make sure to bring them in as well!! – adoptions must be in progress by 4:30
Evansville Animal Care and Control
815 E Uhlhorn Street Evansville
10am to 5pm
Monday through Saturday
812-435-6015
Jim Redwine Gavel Gamut: HATE SPEECH
GAVEL GAMUT
By Jim Redwine
www.jamesmredwine.com
HATE SPEECH
Time Magazine’s book, The Making of America, posits Benjamin Franklin’s aversion to
the abuse of arbitrary power was at the root of his philosophy. Ben believed that the surest guard against such abuse was freedom of speech and the unfettered flow of ideas. As Colonial America’s most influential member of the press, Franklin was instrumental in the birth of our nation as one where the otherwise unchecked power of government could be reined in by the free flow of ideas and truth publicly aired.
Without the First Amendment, there would have been no United States of America, such
was the fear of unchained governmental power among our Founders:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances.”
While freedom of speech is generally protected throughout government and in the public,
it has always been the pride and guiding principle of America’s institutions of higher learning.
Universities have encouraged, tolerated and protected the free flow of ideas, especially
unpopular ones. Therefore, it has raised alarm throughout academia that students and professors are being summarily silenced and even removed from the United States merely based on their philosophical beliefs.
Freedom of speech is designed to allow unpopular views. We do not need protection of
popular ones. One method of controlling free expression is to label it as hateful to others,
especially if the expression comes from those with whom our government, or the general
population, may disagree. That appears to be the driving force behind allegations that those who oppose Israel’s assault on its neighbors are antisemitic and must be punished.
Neither our government or the national media defines what it means to be antisemitic or
why there is no right to be so, or why one cannot be unprejudiced against any group, say Jews, and still find fault with the government of the country identified with that group, say Israel. As long as prejudice is not displayed in such a way as to cause harm to a group, say Palestinians or Jews, in America one has the right to believe as one wishes and to peaceably express those views.
The grave danger from even repugnant prejudice is not one’s beliefs, but actions. Nazis in
Germany in the 1930’s and 1940’s and Zionists in Israel today may be morally corrupt, but as long as no Jim Crow type prejudice is displayed, they can wallow in their own ignorance without the government becoming involved. No, the true grave danger to our democracy and the unquestioned violation of the First Amendment comes when a government or institution takes the side of those who would deny free speech to others.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Local Family Farm Honored with the Hoosier Homestead Award
At the Indiana Statehouse Friday, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Don Lamb presented 56 farming families with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their commitment to Indiana agriculture.
“Agriculture has always served as the foundation of Indiana’s economy and way of life,” said Lt. Gov. Beckwith, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “It was a privilege to celebrate these longstanding farming families for their enduring legacies during today’s ceremony.”
To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres. If less than 20 acres, the farm must produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. Indiana farms may qualify for three honors: Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.
Represented by State Sen. Vaneta Becker (R-Evansville) and State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville), the Henry G. Wallis farms in Vanderburgh County received Centennial and Sesquicentennial awards.
The Hoosier Homestead Award Program honors families who have made significant contributions to Indiana agriculture. Instituted in 1976, the program has recognized more than 6,000 family farms that have impacted Indiana’s economic, cultural and social advancement.
“Farmers are the backbone of Indiana’s economic success,” Becker said. “The Henry G. Wallis farms have worked tirelessly for generations to become a long-lasting and respected part of our agricultural community, and I am proud to celebrate all the work they do for our great state.”
“Agriculture is more than just a business, it’s a tradition and a way of life. Our Hoosier farmers are a national treasure,” O’Brien said. “Families who have farmed for generations embody the very best of Indiana, and I’m honored to recognize their contributions.”
Since the program’s inception in 1976, over 6,200 families have received the Hoosier Homestead Award. Often, a Hoosier Homestead farm is easily recognized because most recipients proudly display their awarded sign on their property.
“Each year I look forward to honoring these long-standing farming families during the Hoosier Homestead ceremonies,” said Lamb. “I know firsthand the amount of hard work, and grit required to ensure a family remains in the same family for 100 years or more. I commend each of this year’s awardees and thank them for their dedication to Indiana and our agriculture industry.”
During the ceremonies, two Indiana farms received the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of continuous ownership: the Hamilton Batterton family and the McCoy family, both from Decatur County.
Below is a list of the Hoosier Homestead Award recipients honored during the spring 2025 ceremony:
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Local Postal Workers to Protest on Sunday
Postal workers plan to gather at the Four Freedoms Monument on Sunday at 2 PM to protest possible changes to the postal service.
The Evansville protest is one of hundreds of gatherings across the nation planned by the unions representing Postal workers. The NALC, members “oppose any plans to eliminate the (United States Postal Service) leadership, abolish regulatory oversight, and carve up postal operations, thereby threatening the universal mandate to deliver everywhere for the same price regardless of zip code,” according to a press release.
At issue is a plan by President Donald Trump to put the postal service under the control of the Department of Commerce.