FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
USI downed by ORU, 4-2
USI downed by ORU, 4-2
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Next Game: at Oral Roberts University • 3/9/2025 | 1 p.m.
TULSA, Okla. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball was downed by Oral Roberts University, 4-2, Saturday afternoon at J.L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. USI is 6-7 overall in 2025, while ORU goes 8-4 this year.
It was a pitcher’s duel for the first five innings of the contest. USI junior right-hander Blake Kimball shut out the Golden Eagles on five hits through the first five frames before being touched for four runs in the sixth. Kimball (2-2) took the loss allowing the four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out two.
The score would remain 4-0 until the top of the ninth when USI closed the gap to 4-2. Junior shortstop Clayton Slack reached on a one-out single and advanced to third on a double by sophomore pinch hitter Evan Zapp before scoring the Screaming Eagles’ first run on a sacrifice fly by junior pinch hitter Charlie Marisca.
Zapp crossed the plate with USI’s second tally when junior third baseman Patrick McLellan reached on an error with two outs. The 4-2 score would be as close as USI would come as ORU closed out the game.
At the plate, junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens led USI with three hits in the contest.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and ORU conclude the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field Tuesday when they host Austin Peay State for a 5 p.m. contest. USI will be at home for four of the next five games after completing the series at ORU.
Due to the ever-changing weather in March, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com, X, and Facebook.
Aces baseball ties up the series with Central Arkansas in a 6-5 win
Aces baseball ties up the series with Central Arkansas in a 6-5 win
The Purple Aces’ offense stayed hot with 15 hits on Saturday
CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Evansville baseball team found its revenge for yesterday’s extra-innings loss with a 6-5 win over the Central Arkansas Bears on Saturday afternoon.
The Purple Aces offense didn’t step off the gas on Saturday as they churned out 15 hits for the team’s first back-to-back games with 10+ hits this season. Senior outfielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) continues to be a monster at the plate with another three-hit game, all of which went for extra bases along with leading UE in RBIs with two. On the mound, junior RHP Elias Hachem (Oak Park, Ill. / Mt. Carmel HS) picked up his first career win going 1.1 innings with no hits and one strikeout while facing four batters.
“It was great to win a close game and give us a chance to win a series on the road,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll following Saturday’s win. “Byberg was able to avoid the big inning on the mound. But today comes down to Harrison Taubert. The young man is playing like an All-American at the plate and in the field. An outfield assist to win a game might be the spark this team needs.”
The Aces jumped out to an early lead at Bear Stadium as center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) took first base on a hit by pitch to lead off the game. Taubert followed up with UE’s first hit of the game with a double to left field as Rumsey landed at third. Shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) then ground out to Central Arkansas pitcher giving Rumsey enough time to score the first run of the game.
Evansville added another run on its next at-bat as designated hitter Jake McGhee (Felton, Mo. / Christian Brothers Academy) put a long single into left field, scoring Taubert. McGhee made it all the way to third on the next at-bat as catcher Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / North Bedford Lawrence HS) reached on a fielder’s choice and McGhee advanced on a throwing error. McGhee scored the Aces’ third run of the inning when left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) put a double down the left field line.
UE’s defense didn’t allow a run to score in the bottom of the inning from the Bears despite a lead-off walk and a fielding error as both runners were stranded on base. Evansville had one hit in the top of the second as second baseman Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill. / Bishop McNamara HS) connected on his first hit as an Ace. McCue put the ball into right center with only one out on the board. But a foul out and a strikeout in the next two at-bats stranded the freshman at second.
Central Arkansas added a run in the bottom of the second as two batters connected on a hit and one runner advanced to third on a throwing error. It was a 3-1 game as UE headed into the top of the third and got a lead-off hit by pitch to start the inning. A single for Waggoner followed by first baseman Kevin McCormick (Orland Park, Ill. / St. Laurence HS) walking had the bases loaded for Evansville with two outs on the board. The Aces weren’t able to bring anyone across home as a fielder’s choice with an out at third ended the top of the third.
It seemed like the Bears were threatening early in the bottom of the third with a lead-off single. But the UE defense turned its fifth double play of the season to end the potential threat. Evansville had two runners on early to start the fourth as McCue was hit by a pitch and Rumsey singled up the middle. A strikeout and then a double play from Central Arkansas ended the offensive inning early for the Aces.
The Bears tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as they hit back-to-back solo home runs to make it 3-3. Central Arkansas followed up the home runs with a single down the right field line. UE was able to lock in and end the inning shortly after as starting pitcher Owen Byberg (Barrie, Ontario / Frontier CC) threw his first strikeout and two putouts.
Evansville’s offense had two hits in the top of the fifth but didn’t bring a runner home. While the Bears took a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice bunt after getting both of their first batters on base. The Aces were able to limit Central Arkansas to only one run with a long third out to home from right field.
UE’s offense was able to answer in the top of the sixth as Taubert hit his third home run of the season past the left field fence. The solo homer was the only hit of the sixth for Evansville as they headed to the bottom of the inning tied at four runs each.
The Bears again threatened early in the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off single and a hit by pitch. A sacrifice bunt put both runners for Central Arkansas in scoring position and the Aces made a change on the mound to senior RHP Jacob Jarvis (Farmington, Mo. / Jefferson College). While Jarvis walked the first batter he faced, he got his second batter to hit into a double play by grabbing a lineout to himself and throwing a putout to Waggoner for the third out at home to end the inning still tied 4-4.
McGhee and Longmeier singled for UE in the top of the seventh, but a double play and a caught stealing quickly ended the top of the inning. It was a different story in the bottom of the inning as the Bears had back-to-back walks and a single to load the bases after Evansville switched to RHP Parker MacCauley (Paducah, Ky. / Tennessee Tech) on the mound. The Aces got back-to-back outs on the next two batters, but a wild pitch to Central Arkansas pinch hitter scored the go-ahead run.
UE had a strong start to the eighth inning as McCormick and third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Park Forest HS) had back-to-back singles. Evansville’s next two batters struck out but a balk from Bears pitcher Cole MacRae tied the game at five as McCormick got to walk home. Taubert came up big again for the Aces with his third hit of the game putting a double into right field to score Howard for the lead.
In the bottom of the eighth UE switched pitchers as Hachem made his season debut. Evansville took down the Bears in order for only the second time that day while Hachem threw his first strikeout. The Aces’ offense didn’t add an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Longmeier was the only batter to reach base. But UE’s defense had a strong start to the bottom of the ninth with a ground out.
Evansville switched pitchers one last time, putting in closer RHP Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich. / Monroe HS) to get the last two outs. Roberts walked the first batter he faced but struck out the second. Central Arkansas got a single to put a runner into scoring position with two outs on the board. The Bears had another single on their next at-bat but a long throw from Taubert to Waggoner made it to home just in time to record the final out of the game.
Eight Aces recorded a hit on Saturday while Taubert and Longmeier led the way with three apiece. Also recording multiple hits on Saturday was McGhee, Waggoner, and McCormick. On the mound all but one UE pitcher recorded a strikeout while Jarvis and Hachem were the only pitchers to not allow a hit.
Evansville will look to win its first series of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Aces’ main ace on the mound in 2025, sophomore left-handed pitcher Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville HS) is projected to start for UE. First pitch for the finale from Bear Stadium is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 9.
Aces women’s basketball celebrates Senior Day against Belmont
Aces women’s basketball celebrates Senior Day against Belmont
The Purple Aces honored their four graduating players prior to Saturday’s contest
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team closed out its regular season celebrating its four senior players before dropping the final game to the Belmont Bruins 75-48.
The Purple Aces kept things close with Belmont through three quarters in Saturday’s regular-season finale. But an 18-point run for the Bruins to begin the fourth quarter put the game out of reach for UE. Freshman guard Avery Kelley (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS) was Evansville’s offensive leader on Saturday with 14 points and a career-high four steals. Prior to the game, the Aces celebrated their four graduating players, guard Madlena Gerke (Riga, Latvia), guard Alana Striverson (Sellersburg, Ind. / Lindenwood), forward Anica Skrivan (Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and guard Júlia Palomo (La Seu d’Urgell, Spain).
It was a slow start to the game for both teams as it took over a minute for anyone to score. Belmont took the early lead with five points, but freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) soon cut the Bruins lead to only a basket with a three just under four minutes into the game. Belmont responded by getting the lead up to six before another three from Kelley brought it back down to a three-point game. The first quarter ended in back-and-forth fashion with UE getting the last points at the line. With 1:51 on the clock in the first, sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City, Wis. / Sauk Prairie HS) pulled down her 500th career rebound. The rebound made Hartwig the first sophomore to reach 500 career rebounds since Christy Greis during the 1990-91 season.
Down by only three points starting the second quarter, an early Bruins foul got Evansville back within a possession. The Aces tied the game up less than a minute into the second as Hartwig made her first three of the game. The teams traded free throws over the next minute until Belmont jumped out on a nine-point run. Freshman guard Kaiden Kreinhagen (Indianapolis / North Central HS) ended UE’s drought with a three and made the next basket of the game two minutes later with a layup. Evansville’s defense held the Bruins scoreless for over three minutes in the second and then kept Belmont from scoring a field goal in the final three minutes of the half. The Aces ended the first half on a 6-3 run and headed into the locker room trailing by only five.
The start of the third quarter was all defense as the first points of the half didn’t come until the 8:45 mark. The teams traded points for most of the quarter as there were multiple two-minute gaps between scoring. The Bruins had the only true run of the quarter, scoring four points in a minute and a half to get the first double-figure lead of the game with 1:58 left on the clock. UE got the score back within single digits as it was a 47-38 game heading into the final 10 minutes of the regular season.
The start of the fourth quarter was all Belmont as they grew their lead to 27 points. Hartwig broke the scoreless streak with a three with just over five minutes left in the game. The Bruins countered with another run getting their lead up to 30 at one point. The final minute of the game was dominated by fouls and free throws as Evansville made six attempts at the line in under 55 seconds. The six points gave the Aces a 75-48 final score in their last regular season contest.
Three UE players had double-figure performances on Saturday with Kelley leading the way. Runner and Hartwig scored 13 and 10 points apiece while Hartwig led the team in rebounds with nine. Kelley also led Evansville in steals with four, setting a new career high. And Palomo led the team in assists with two in her final regular season game as an Ace.
UE has secured the 10th seed in the 2025 Credit Union 1 Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament. Evansville is set to take on the seventh-seed UIC Flames on Thursday, March 13 at 6 p.m. The Aces won’t go far to play in the postseason as the MVC Tournament is being held in downtown Evansville at the Ford Center. UE is one of only two Valley teams to play in the Ford Center this season as they hosted Drake back in December.
-www.gopurpleaces.com-
Jim Redwine GAVEL GAMUT: Congressional Food Fight
GAVEL GAMUT
By Jim Redwine
www.jamesmredwine.com
FOOD FIGHT
President Trump spoke to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 04, 2025 for 99 minutes. His entrance to and exit from the podium each took about 15 minutes. The Cabinet, the Supreme Court and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were in attendance as were invited guests, members of the media and numerous interested observers. The proceedings were telecast to the world by several media outlets, which commented on the events. The Democratic Party’s selected responder, Senator Elissa Slotkin, spoke briefly after President Trump.
As the President entered the chamber, numerous Democrat senators and House members
turned their backs, displayed custom designed placards with anti-MAGA comments and did not applaud; virtually all Republican members applauded incessantly, cheered and arose to stand many times. On television, the effect was as if one-half of attendees were at the Super Bowl and the other half were at a funeral. The gathering looked like a combination of sycophants and official witnesses at an execution who alternated between tossing roses and brickbats.
My reaction was to be rhetorically reminded of food fights at summer camp. My guess is
the only reason there was no general tossing of rotten eggs is due to the price. My overarching impression was: surely there is a better way for members of our national government to interact concerning issues. I will suggest a couple: The Executive Branch could remain in the West Wing while both houses of the Legislative Branch submit proposed bills for the President’s consideration. The Supreme Court could remain stoic unless called upon to resolve a Constitutional issue. The military could and should remain at each of their designated posts until and unless America needs defending as determined by Congress and the President.
There is no good reason to subject anyone to the burlesque show that taxpayers are
paying trillions to endure. If Tuesday night was democracy in action, perhaps we need, at least, less action. I call for no more “Joint Sessions” of any kind. As our mothers made clear, “If you cannot play nice, you will not play”.
Riverside Sink Hole Will Take Weeks to Repair
Westbound lanes of Riverside Drive have been closed since a sinkhole formed. Officials say it could be two weeks or more before repairs can be completed and Riverside reopens.
Evansville Water and Sewer said the problem is a more than 100-year-old brick sewer. Workers must shore up the walls to make the repairs.
“EWSU is working as quickly and as safely as we can to get this repaired,” said EWSU Executive Director Vic Kelson.
When detouring around the site, motorists are reminded to follow the detour signs and use Second Street instead of First. First Street, they say, is an old brick street that is not designed to handle a higher volume of heavy traffic.
February Product Recalls
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in February:
If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice (linked above for all products). Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product, how to get the product fixed, how to dispose of the product, how to receive a refund for the product, or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product.
To view recalls issued prior to February visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.