UE track and field begins outdoor season in Saint Louis

USI falls short in homestand opener, 2-1

Game 2 of the series has been moved up to 11 a.m. Saturday

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened its homestand with a disappointing 2-1 loss to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Friday evening at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 10-15 overall and 2-2 in the OVC after the first game of the series, while Little Rock goes to 10-16, 1-3 in the OVC.

USI allowed two runs in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and walk in a very tight pitcher’s duel and spelled the difference in the contest. The score would remain 2-0 until the ninth inning when USI put up a final challenge of Little Rock.

The Screaming Eagles opened the final frame with a single by junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens, who extended his team-best hitting streak to 14 games. Junior pinch runner Hunter Miller entered for Kitchens and advanced to second on a one-out walk to junior first baseman Kannon Coakley, who saw his hitting streak come to an end at 12 games.

After junior shortstop Clayton Slack flew out for the second out, USI got on the scoreboard with an RBI single by sophomore third baseman Parker Martin, scoring Miller with the Eagles’ lone tally. Little Rock would close out the contest with a strikeout of sophomore second baseman Anthony Umbach, stranding the tying and winning runs on base. For the game, USI stranded seven runners on the base paths.

On the mound, junior right Andres Gonzalez started and took the loss for the Eagles. Gonzalez (0-4) pitched the first four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.

USI sophomore right-hand Abdriel Figueroa relieved effectively and kept the game close by matching a career-high 3.0 innings of work. Figueroa also struck out a career-best five Trojans in the outing.

Up Next for the Eagles:

The Eagles and the Trojans continue the series Saturday at a new start time of 11 a.m. and conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.

Saturday’s game is Jersey Day at the USI Baseball Field. Fans wearing a jersey to the game will receive a free popcorn and will have a chance to win St. Louis Cardinals tickets in a sixth-inning drawing.

Due to the ever-changing weather in March, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com, X, and Facebook.

UE softball sweeps doubleheader at Valparaiso

Aces look for series sweep on Saturday

 VALPARAISO, Ind. – University of Evansville head softball coach Mat Mundell picked up his 200^th victory with the Purple Aces program as his team swept a road doubleheader at Valparaiso on Friday.

Game 1 – UE 7, Valparaiso 5

With the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning, the Purple Aces scored four unanswered runs and hung on to take a 7-5 win in Friday’s opener.

After Valparaiso scored the opening run of the game in the bottom of the first, Evansville responded with a 3-run second inning.  Jess Willsey led things off with a single and Eliza Piggott followed with a walk.  Next up was Brooke Voss, who doubled to center field to bring in Willsey.  Miriah Powell added a sacrifice fly that gave UE its first lead at 2-1 before Voss capped thins off as she crossed the plate on a passed ball.

It did not take long for the Beacons to counter as they tied the game on a 2-run single with two outs in the bottom of the inning.  Evansville took advantage of a Valpo error to retake the lead in the third.  Niki Bode reached on a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch.  She would later score on a VU error.

Willsey’s second hit of the game brought in Niki Bode in the fifth to extend the lead to two runs before a 2-run sixth frame pushed the lead to 7-3.  Kynadee Warner and Powell scored on a dropped sacrifice fly off the bat of Callie Meinel.  A solo home run by Valpo cut the deficit to three and they looked for a final rally in the bottom of the seventh.  Two singles opened the frame before UE picked up the first out.  On the ensuing play, Voss and Bode recorded the game-ending double play to secure the victory.

Cassidy Gall picked up the pitching victory.  She tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames.  Gracie Hollingsworth was credited with the save.  In 2 2/3 innings, she allowed two earned runs.  Kate Ridgway made the start.  In two frames, she allowed three runs, two being earned, on one hit.  As a team, UE posted seven hits with Willsey going 2-4.  Bode led the way with two runs scored.

Game 2 – UE 6, Valparaiso 4

Jess Willsey delivered an RBI double in the top of the 8^th inning that proved to be the game winner in the second contest against the Beacons.

Patient at-bats in the first inning led to four walks and a 2-0 lead for the Aces.  Taylor Howe, Niki Bode, and Morgan Adams each drew walks to load the bases with no outs.  Eliza Piggott recorded UE’s fourth walk of the frame to bring in the first runoff the game before Brooke Voss was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in another run.

Valparaiso had its first scoring threat in the bottom half of the second, picking up two hits while loading the bases with two outs.  Sydney Weatherford forced a flyout to end the frame.  Bode led the top of the third off with a double and crossed the plate on a Beacon error to extend the advantage to 3-0.

Looking to tack on some extra insurance, the Aces loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but a flyout kept the lead at 3-0.  Valpo capitalized in the bottom of the inning, breaking through with two outs.  After loading the bases, a 2-run single cut the UE lead to a single run.  Evansville got that run back when Howe crossed the plate in the sixth.

Trailing by two entering the bottom of the seventh, the Beacons rallied to tie the game on a 2-run single with two outs.  Despite the late rally by VU, the Aces did not give up.  Howe led the top of the 8^th off with a single, but the next two batters recorded outs.  That brought WIllsey to the plate, who delivered an RBI double to put UE back in front.  Eliza Piggott added an RBI triple to push the lead to two.  In the bottom of the frame, reliever Kate Ridgway retired the side in order to secure the win.

UE finished with seven hits with Willsey and Piggott picking up two apiece.  Sydney Weatherford made the start, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings of work.  Elle Jarrett threw the next 1 1/3 frames before Kate Ridgway registered the final five outs on the way to her fifth win of the season.  On Saturday, the Aces look for the series sweep as the teams square off at 12 p.m.

-www.GoPurpleAces.com-

Trailblazers split back-and-forth doubleheader at Illinois Central College

PEORIA, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team picked up a two-game split Friday afternoon in the first two games of their four-game Mid-West Athletic Conference series at Illinois Central College.

The Blazers dropped game one to the host Cougars 11-10 before returning strong to take game two of the day 13-7 over ICC.

The day got off to a tough start for the Blazers with Illinois Central striking first with three runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 3-0 lead in game one.

VU would get on the board in the third inning after a leadoff walk by sophomore Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) and sophomore Damon Kay (Spencer, Ind.) being hit by a pitch.

The pair then moved up to scoring position after a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) before sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) came through with a sacrifice fly to score Johnson from third.

Illinois Central would get the run back in the bottom half of the inning to put their lead back at 4-1.

VU responded with another run in the fourth after freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) was hit by pitch and later scored on an RBI single by Noble Johnson.

After Illinois Central responded back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, Vincennes shifted the momentum with a big five-run fifth inning.

The Trailblazers opened the inning with a double by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.), followed by a single by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and a walk by Carter Gricius to load the bases.

VU would open the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly by sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) and an RBI single by sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) and an RBI double by Noble Johnson, giving him two RBIs in the game.

Edlin would later score on a wild pitch and Johnson scoring after Bryce Gross reached on a fielding error to give the Trailblazers a 7-6 lead over the Cougars.

Illinois Central would even the score with a run in the fifth before VU regained the lead in the sixth on an RBI double by Carter Gricius.

ICC once again evened the score with a run in the bottom of the sixth, which Vincennes immediately responded with a pair of runs in the seventh, scoring on a two-out two-RBI double by Carter Gricius to give the Blazers a 10-8 lead.

Illinois Central would pick up some momentum in the eighth with a run to cut the deficit to one before coming back and scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the walk-off win over the Blazers 11-10.

Sophomore Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers in game one, throwing four innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and striking out two.

Freshman Ty Stultz (Terre Haute, Ind.) pitched four strong innings out of the bullpen, allowing one earned run on seven hits and punching out a career-high eight.

Illinois Central carried this momentum into game two, again striking early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead.

Vincennes once again got on the board in the third, this time capitalizing on walks by Bryce Gross and Nate Montgomery to set up a big three-run home run by Carter Gricius, his third of the season, to give the Blazers a 3-2 lead.

VU continued to add to their lead in the fourth with a leadoff solo home run by Yancey Edlin, his second of the season to put the Blazers up 4-2, before getting another leadoff solo home run in the fifth by Jevan Andrews, his second of the season to give VU a three-run lead.

Illinois Central answered back in the bottom of the fifth to even the score at 5-5 with three runs in the inning.

Vincennes then came back stronger in the sixth, breaking away with a big six-run inning.

VU’s first six batter in the inning reached base safely, headlined by a bases loaded walk by Jevan Andrews, his second RBI of the game before Nate Montgomery cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to put the Blazers up 9-5.

Montgomery would come around to score on a fielding error put in play by Carter Gricius, who later came around to score in the inning on a fielding error put in play by Noble Johnson to give the Blazers an 11-5 advantage.

Illinois Central cut into the deficit in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs, which was answered by a pair of insurance runs by VU in the seventh.

Vincennes added their insurance runs in the seventh with a leadoff single by Bryce Gross, his third hit of the game, followed by a single by Jevan Andrews.

Gross scored his third run of the game on a fielder’s choice by Carter Gricius, his fourth RBI of the game and Andrews later scored on a successful double steal with Gricius.

Vincennes was able to hold off a late Cougar comeback in the bottom half of the inning as the Blazers picked up the 13-7 win over Illinois Central College.

Sophomore JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) got the start in game two for the Trailblazers, throwing six innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits and striking out eight, matching his season high.

Freshman Jakob Hoyer (Georgetown, Ind.) came in from his shortstop position to close out the seventh inning, striking out two in one inning of work on the mound.

The Trailblazers will look to carry this momentum into the series finale doubleheader when the two teams return to the field tomorrow, Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

VU (12-17, 3-10) – 001   151   200 – 10

Illinois Central – 301   211   012 – 11

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Gricius 2, Andrews, Johnson. RBI – Gricius 3, Johnson 2, Douglas, Napier, Edlin. HBP – Kay 2, Gross, Gricius. Sac Fly – Douglas, Napier. SB – Gross, Johnson, Edlin. Sac Bunt – Gross.

GAME TWO

VU (13-17, 4-10) – 003   116   2 – 13

Illinois Central – 200   032   0 – 7

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Gross, Montgomery. HR – Gricius, Andrews, Edlin. RBI – Gricius 4, Montgomery 3, Andrews 2, Edlin. HBP – Napier. SB – Gricius, Andrews. Sac Bunt – Douglas.

-30-

The Vincennes University baseball team improves to 13-17 on the season, with a 4-10 record in MWAC Conference play.

Screaming Eagles clinch series win with doubleheader sweep Friday

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball kicked off the start of a six-game homestand Friday with a doubleheader sweep to clinch a series win against Tennessee Tech University, winning 5-1 and 3-0 from USI Softball Field.

Southern Indiana (8-17, 5-5 OVC), who had been on the road for the previous six games in the last couple of weeks, came out with a bang in the bottom of the first inning in Friday’s first game. After a pair of free passes, senior infielder Whitley Hunter barreled up a three-run home run to left field to put the Screaming Eagles up early, 3-0. It was Hunter’s first career home run in a USI uniform.

USI tacked onto its lead in the bottom of the fourth. After three consecutive singles to load the bases, sophomore infielder Sydney Long shot a pitch back up the middle to drive in a pair of runs and push the Screaming Eagles’ advantage up to 5-0.

Tennessee Tech (10-22, 4-7 OVC) tallied an unearned run in the sixth, but senior pitcher Josie Newman sealed the deal with her 11^th complete game this season.

Newman (5-10) struck out six and gave up only two hits and the unearned run. Offensively, USI totaled nine hits in game one with freshman first baseman Lilly Brown recording two hits and sophomore outfielder Kate Satkoski going 3-3 at the plate.

For the Golden Eagles, sophomore starting pitcher Emily York (4-6) was dealt the loss after surrendering all five runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Senior pitcher Payton Wagner tossed the last 2.2 innings.

The second game of the twin bill started out in a pitcher’s duel between Tennessee Tech’s freshman pitcher Lainey Fitzgerald and USI’s freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus. There were only four combined singles allowed through the first three and a half innings.

USI ended the scoreless battle in the home half of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton delivered a two-out RBI single to give the Screaming Eagles a 1-0 lead. Stapleton registered two hits in the game.

After Witthaus kept the shutout intact in the fifth and sixth innings, Southern Indiana added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth with a run on an RBI triple by Satkoski who later came home to score on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 lead for USI.

Witthaus finished the game to improve to 3-6 on the season, notched her fifth complete game this season, and also pitched her first career shutout and first of the season for USI. Witthaus struck out four and allowed only four hits in the outing.

Tennessee Tech’s Fitzgerald also went the distance, dropping to 3-6 after surrendering three runs with eight strikeouts in six innings of work.

Southern Indiana will aim to collect a series sweep on Saturday in the series finale. First pitch for Saturday’s game at USI Softball Field has been moved up to 9:30 a.m. due to rain in the afternoon forecast.

Saturday’s game can be heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.