Aces baseball drops Opening Day doubleheader at Little Rock
USI Baseball opens 2025 with 3-1 win
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened the 2025 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. USI is 1-0 to start the season, while Alabama State is 0-1 to begin its season.
USI grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top first when junior third baseman Patrick McLellan singled through the right side to score senior centerfielder Khi Holiday from third. Holiday had moved into scoring position after singling to lead off the game, stole second, and advanced to third on a ground out.
After Alabama State tied the score in the bottom of the second, USI senior leftfielder BJ Banyon put the Eagles back into the lead, 2-1, after stealing third and scoring on a throwing error in the top of the third. The Eagles added to lead in the sixth when freshman third baseman Kannon Coakley scored on a passed ball for the eventual 3-1 final.
On the mound, USI junior right-hander Blake Kimball picked up the win after going six innings. Kendall allowed one run on five hits, one hit, and one walk, while striking out one.
USI sophomore right-hander Aaron Rubio closed out the final three innings to earn his first save as an Eagle. Rubio threw three innings, setting down all nine hitters, striking out two.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI continues the four-game series with Alabama State Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Eagles open the 2025 home schedule by hosting Western Kentucky University Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the first 200 fans get a USI red rally towel.
Webb’s career-high 24 points leads USI over Leathernecks Screaming Eagles secure OVC tournament berth
MACOMB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball secured its berth in the 2024-25 Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament Thursday evening after earning a hard-fought 76-70 win on the road at Western Illinois University.
Southern Indiana clinched its second consecutive berth into the OVC tournament and will continue to work toward defending its OVC championship from last season come early March. USI also locked up its second win in a row and moved back to 10 games over .500 on Thursday behind a career-high 24 points from graduate forward Madi Webb. The Screaming Eagles improved to 18-8 overall and 10-5 in the OVC, remaining in fifth place in the conference. Western Illinois dropped to 12-12 on the season with a 6-9 conference record.
In a tight contest out of the gates, Southern Indiana found early success inside through the play of graduate forward Meredith Raley and sophomore forward Chloe Gannon. Each scored a pair of field goals in the early minutes of the opening quarter. USI’s trap defense also had an early presence, forcing Western Illinois into five first-quarter turnovers. Despite some outside shooting woes with an 0-6 start from three, the Screaming Eagles continued to find offense in the paint. Webb matched Raley and Gannon with two conversions under the basket. Southern Indiana led 18-14 after the first 10 minutes.
USI continued attacking the post with Webb and Raley combining to score the Eagles’ first three buckets in the second period. At the 7:20 mark of the second, Southern Indiana increased its lead to eight, 27-19, after getting its first three-point make from junior guard Ali Saunders. Webb continued to have a strong first half, reaching double digits for the game and giving USI a 12-point, 33-21 advantage with four minutes left in the first half. Webb totaled 14 first-half points. Western Illinois ended the first half with a small run, cutting USI’s lead in half down to six, 38-32, at the break.
Western Illinois scored seven straight points out of halftime to take the lead before Southern Indiana scored its first second-half points on a basket from Gannon at the 6:32 mark of the third quarter. The Leathernecks tallied eight consecutive points after the Gannon basket to go ahead by seven, 47-40. Later in the period, Raley earned a three-point play and scored once more to hit double figures in the game and bring USI back within one possession with under three minutes left in the third. Webb resumed her solid performance with a pair of buckets late in the frame to help knot the game at 54 going into the fourth quarter.
The two sides went back and forth into the middle of the fourth quarter. Even when Western Illinois grabbed a four-point lead on a triple near the seven-minute mark of the fourth, Southern Indiana answered with a three-point of its own. Later, Webb tied the game at 66 and surpassed 20 points for the game at the midway point of the fourth quarter. After the Leathernecks went up by four, USI responded and went ahead 71-70 on a go-ahead trey from sophomore guard Triniti Ralston with two minutes remaining, as the Screaming Eagles sealed the win at the free-throw line.
Southern Indiana shot over 42 percent (29-68) from the floor and just above 23 percent (4-17) from three-point range. USI went for 70 percent (14-20) at the free-throw stripe. The Eagles had a strong game on the glass, outrebounding Western Illinois 47-40. USI also outscored the Leathernecks 46-20 in the paint. The Screaming Eagles did a good job taking care of the basketball, recording a season-low eight turnovers.
Webb led USI and tied a game-high 24 points on 10-19 shooting in setting her new career mark. Raley posted her seventh career double-double and first of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford tallied 14 points and pulled down nine boards.
Western Illinois was held to 39.4 percent (26-66) shooting overall but did connect for 37 percent (10-27) from three. The Leathernecks were 8-14 for 57 percent at the foul line. Sophomore guard Raegan McCowan led four Leathernecks in double figures, tying a game-high 24 points.
Next, the Screaming Eagles will make the trip to St. Charles, Missouri on Saturday for an 11 a.m. matchup against Lindenwood University. Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPNU and is the first nationally televised game for USI Women’s Basketball at the D-I level. The Spin 95.7 FM will have additional radio coverage.
UE baseball begins 2025 season at Little Rock
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After a historic season the University of Evansville baseball team will look to run it back in 2025.
After a record season, Aces Baseball is back and hungry for more success in 2025. UE appeared in the program’s first Super Regional in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, forcing eventual 2024 Champions #1 Tennessee to an “as necessary” third game. While Evansville has enjoyed its success from the 2024 NCAA Tournament the program turns the page on a new chapter this weekend. The Aces begin the 2025 season with their first visit to Little Rock in six years on Friday afternoon.
It will be a new-look team for UE in 2025 as six consistent 2024 starters graduated from the program. Evansville returns 39.7% of its at-bats from the prior season and only 38.1% of its hits. The Aces do welcome a large incoming class in 2025 with 11 freshmen and 4 transfer players. Most notably UE brings in graduate catcher Matt Flaherty who spent the prior season with ASUN Bellarmine.
Evansville will have several familiar faces on the mound in 2025. The Aces return 2024 MVC Freshman of the Year and 2025 D1Baseball Preseason Third Team All-American left-hander Kenton Deverman. UE will also rotate in redshirt junior right-hander Max Hansmann for his first full season as a starter and sophomore left-hander Kevin Reed. At the plate the Aces return a trio of seniors in second baseman Cal McGinnis, right fielder Harrison Taubert, and center fielder Ty Rumsey. Of the three McGinnis saw the most production in 2024 with a .348 average, 69 hits, 38 runs, two triples, and six home runs.
UE makes its return to face the Little Rock Trojans after six seasons away. The two teams have only ever met on the Trojans turf with Evansville holding the 7-4 advantage. In the two teams’ last meeting in 2019, the Aces picked up two of three wins including the team’s first double-figure win of the season in the final game at 10-5.
The Little Rock Trojans are replacing the majority of their everyday players in the lineup from 2024 to 2025. After capturing the Ohio Valley Conference regular season in 2024, the Trojans will have a much different look compared to last year’s roster, which finished 32-24 overall. However, Little Rock does return Jackson Wells, the 2023 OVC Pitcher of the Year, who will face off with UE right-hander Max Hansmann to start the series on Friday afternoon
USI falls to hot-shooting WIU, 87-62
USI falls to hot-shooting WIU, 87-62
MACOMB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball fell to a hot-shooting Western Illinois University, 87-62, Thursday evening at Western Hall. The Screaming Eagles are 9-16 overall and 4-11 in OVC action, while the Leathernecks go to 9-17, 3-12 OVC.
USI jumped out to a quick 4-0 start, but WIU swiftly bounced back with a 12-4 dash to get control. The Leathernecks would extend the lead to as many as 17 points, 39-22, before an Eagles’ offensive surge cut the margin to single digits, 39-31, in the first half.
WIU scored the final six points of the first half to lead 45-31 at the break. Junior guard Damoni Harrison led the way for USI during the first 20 minutes with 13 points, while junior guard Jayland Randall added nine first-half points.
In the second half, USI was unable to get any momentum going as WIU continued its hot-shooting game. The Leathernecks extended its halftime margin to as many as 28 points (87-59) by shooting 62.1 percent in the final 20 minutes (18-29) and 56.7 percent for the game (34-60).
USI was led in the 87-62 loss by Harrison, who posted his second double-double of the year with 21 points and 10 rebounds. He was followed by Randall, who had 17 points, while sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi closed out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.
After the loss, the Eagles are three games out of the OVC post-season race. USI trails the University of Tennessee at Martin and Lindenwood University, who are tied for seventh in the league standings.
Next Up For USI:
The Lions of Lindenwood are 12-14 overall and 7-8 in the OVC after upsetting Morehead State University, 73-60, at home tonight. Lindenwood is 3-2 in the last five games and .500 over the last 10 contests.
The Eagles lead the all-time series, 8-1, after taking the first meeting of the year in January, 80-73. Harrison led three Eagles in double-digits with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He was followed by Randall, who had 17 points, and graduate forward Jack Mielke, who had 10 points.
UE women’s basketball earns second MVC win over Bradley
ANALYSIS: Exploring The Evansville DORA: Will it be like Austin, TX or Shawneetown, IL?
The Evansville City Council’s unanimous decision to establish a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) aims to invigorate the downtown area by permitting patrons to carry alcoholic beverages from participating establishments within a specified zone. As the city prepares to launch this initiative in April, with 22 restaurants and bars on board, it’s essential to consider the potential impacts on economic growth, crime rates, and livability, especially given the concerns of downtown’s predominantly older residents.
Economic Growth
Implementing a DORA can bolster the economic vitality of downtown areas. By allowing patrons to move freely with beverages, these zones can enhance the appeal of downtown districts, potentially increasing foot traffic and benefiting local businesses. For instance, a report from Ohio State University noted that DORAs could support the economic vitality of downtown areas, especially as they recover from the pandemic.
However, the success of a DORA in stimulating economic growth depends on various factors, including effective management, community engagement, and the unique characteristics of the area. It’s crucial to set realistic expectations and recognize that while a DORA can contribute to economic development, it is not a standalone solution. It will also create a need to hire more law enforcement officers to keep downtown Evansville from being a stomping ground for wandering drunks.
Crime and Safety
Concerns about increased crime, such as fistfights and robberies, in areas with relaxed open container laws are valid. However, evidence suggests that with proper planning and enforcement, DORAs do not necessarily lead to higher crime rates. For example, in Montgomery, Ohio, the police department conducts routine patrols and enforces responsible behavior within the DORA, ensuring that the boundaries are strictly maintained and that alcoholic beverages are not carried outside the designated area.
The key to maintaining safety is proactive management, including clear signage, designated patrols, and community involvement. By establishing and enforcing guidelines, Evansville can mitigate potential safety concerns associated with the DORA.
Livability and Community Impact
The introduction of a DORA can have mixed effects on livability, particularly in areas with a significant residential population. In Jasper, Indiana, discussions about implementing a DORA raised questions about its impact on downtown residents and future development.
For Evansville, where the downtown population is relatively small and has experienced slow growth, it’s essential to balance the interests of businesses and residents. Engaging with the community, particularly older residents, to address concerns such as noise, litter, and safety will be crucial. Implementing measures like restricted hours, designated consumption areas, and regular clean-up efforts can help maintain the quality of life for downtown inhabitants.
Conclusion
As Evansville moves forward with establishing its DORA, the city can look to the experiences of other communities to anticipate potential outcomes. While DORAs offer opportunities for economic enhancement and increased vibrancy, they also require careful planning and management to address concerns related to crime and livability. By proactively engaging with residents, enforcing regulations, and fostering collaboration between businesses and law enforcement, Evansville can work towards creating a DORA that benefits the downtown residential community.
FOOTNOTE: This article was posted by the CCO without bias, opinion, or editing.
Love—and then some health-care legislation—was in the air in the Indiana House

In a place where there can be no love lost, Rep. Vernon G. Smith, D-Gary, took a moment to celebrate love by distributing Valentine’s Day stuffed animals to legislators on both sides of the aisle.
But after the pink bears and bandana-wearing dogs were happily displayed on desks, it was back to business as usual.
A number of bills read in the House on Thursday would impact Hoosier health care, with a common theme being accessibility and affordability.
House Bill 1024 received bipartisan support and will continue to the Senate, sponsored by Sens. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and Mike Bohacek, R-Michigan Shores. The author, Rep. Harold Slager, R-Shererville, explained that the bill would continue Medicaid reimbursement for some children’s hospitals in neighboring states.
“This is a really popular program, and interestingly, the cost is not that high,” said Slager.
Rep. Earl L. Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, was one of the members who spoke in support of the bill. He shared a personal anecdote of a young cousin who had to come from Northwest Indiana to Indianapolis to receive proper medical care. This was before the law, which would have allowed the child to visit a closer hospital in Chicago.
“This has been a great move,” said Harris. The bill passed with 91 yea votes and zero nays.
House Bill 1555 aims to expand health-care accessibility for Hoosiers by allowing limited medical licensure to those who were trained internationally. The providers would need to meet certain criteria, and after five years of practice, the board may choose to provide them an unlimited license.
“House Bill 1555 is an important step towards addressing two critical challenges in our health care system: rising costs and the ongoing shortage of medical professionals, particularly in rural and underserved communities,” Rep. Beau Baird, R-Greencastle, the bill’s author, said.
The bill received 91 yeas and one nay from Rep. Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend. It will be sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, Susan Glick, R-LaGrange and Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis.
House Bill 1666 by Rep. Julie McGuire, R-Indianapolis, would require more transparency from health-care providers in relation to ownership. It would require a merger review through a board, which would approve or deny merger requests. This process would have a 90-day limit.
“Patients, providers and the public need to trust that health-care decisions are made based on the best interest of the patient, rather than hidden financial motives,” said McGuire.
Rep. Maureen Baur, D-South Bend, spoke in opposition to the bill, raising concerns about specific measures it has outlined.
“While transparency in health care is essential, this bill introduced some measures that could have unintended and detrimental consequences for our state’s health-care system,” said Baur. She highlighted smaller and specialty health-care providers as particularly vulnerable to the review process and the burden it may place on them.
Rep. DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, also spoke in opposition to the bill.
“I understand that there’s a real desire to deal with medical costs. We have bill after bill, year after year, to deal with it. My belief is, we do not have, as a state, the economic, political, legal power to effectively touch that market,” said DeLaney.
Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, is one of the co-authors on the bill.
“We want to discover conflicts of interest,” he said of the bill’s intentions. “If a merger doesn’t get approved, there’s a reason for that.”
The bill passed with 70 yeas and 25 nays. Senate sponsors are Sens. Tyler Johnson, R-Leo, Chris Garten, R-Scottsburg, and Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso.