The University of Southern Indiana baseball team split a doubleheader with Bellarmine University and finished the first Great Lakes Valley Conference weekend of 2017 with a series split Saturday morning in Louisville, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles took the opener, 10-1, but lost the nightcap, 4-3.

USI, which missed a chance to get to .500 in the nightcap, watched its record go to 9-10 overall and 2-2 in the GLVC, while Bellarmine goes to 14-10 overall, 2-2 GLVC.

USI controlled the opening game from start to finish and won 10-1 behind dominating performance of senior right-hander Lucas Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana). Barnett (2-0), who set down 13 of the first 14 batters faced, allowed one run on four hits and struck out three batters in the seven-inning complete-game win.

The Eagles got the offense going in early in the opening game and scored in five of the seven innings. USI scored two in the second, one in the third, sealed the victory with four in the fourth before closing out the contest with one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

At the plate, junior centerfielder Buddy Johnson (Shelbyville, Kentucky) and junior shortstop Angel Torres (Puerto Rico) led an offensive attack that produced a season-high 15 hits. Johnson was four-for-four with a run scored, two RBIs, and a double, while Torres was three-for-three with two runs scored, a RBI, and a double.

Sophomore catcher Logan Brown (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) rounded out the multi-hit Eagles with a two-for-four performance on a pair of doubles, adding an RBI. Junior designated hitter Drake McNamara (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) also matched Johnson’s two RBIs to help lead the Eagles in the 10-1 win.

In the second game, Bellarmine broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom ninth to defeat USI, 4-3. USI had a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth and battled back to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning before falling short.

Freshman right-hander Tyler Hagedorn (Evansville, Indiana) took the loss in relief for the Eagles. Hagedorn (0-2) allowed one run on one hit and four walks (two intentional), while striking out two in 2.1 innings of work.

The Eagles started sophomore right-hander Austin Krizan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) on the mound in the nightcap. Krizan got the no-decision after allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits and a walk. The sophomore also tied a career-high with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings on the bump.

Offensively, Brown had a pair of hits and two RBIs to lead the Eagles in the nightcap. Brown also led the Eagles for the day with three RBIs in the two games, while tying Johnson with four hits each in the two games on Saturday.

For the weekend, Torres led the team with a .500 average (6-12) and tied with Brown with Brown with four RBIs each in the four games with Bellarmine.

The Eagles return to action and to the USI Baseball Field March 29 when they host Oakland City University for a non-conference game before returning to the road in the GLVC to play at the University of Illinois Springfield April 1-2.

The No. 4-ranked Indiana University men’ swimming and diving team had a successful final prelim session at the 2017 NCAA Championships on Saturday morning at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.

Entering the final night of competition at the NCAA Championships, Indiana is in fifth place with a total of 189.5 points, just 7.5 points behind NC State in fourth. Texas sits atop the team standings with a score of 391.5, followed by California with 253 and Florida with 224.5.

200 Backstroke
In the 200 backstroke, senior Bob Glover finished 24th overall in the event with a time of 1:41.79.

100 Freestyle
Blake Pieroni continued his outstanding week at the NCAA Championships, qualifying sixth overall for the Championship Final of the 100 freestyle with a time of 41.89. Pieroni’s time is the second-fastest in school history.

Mohamed Samy improved 14 spots from his seed, placing 29th overall with a personal-best time of 43.03. With his mark, Samy ranks as the fourth-best performer in the event at IU. Anze Tavcar placed 38th overall with a time of 44.00.

200 Breaststroke
Ian Finnerty placed 42nd in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 1:58.97.

200 Butterfly
Indiana’s Vini Lanza qualified for Saturday night’s Consolation Final of the 200 butterfly, touching the wall in a time of 1:41.57. Lanza’s mark is the third-fastest in school history.

400 Freestyle Relay
In the 400 freestyle relay prelims, the IU team of Pieroni, Ali Khalafalla, Sam Lorentz and Samy qualified seventh overall to earn a spot in the Championship Final with a mark of 2:49.62. The time is the third-best in the event in program history.

Pieroni’s leadoff leg of 42.30 in the 100 free for the Hoosiers was the fifth-fastest time in school history.

Platform Dive
In the prelims of the platform dive, Cody Coldren had a great showing, placing 11th overall to earn a spot in the Consolation Final with a total of 362.50. Coldren had a great final dive to help him earn his place, scoring a 72.00.

The No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers will conclude competition at the 2017 NCAA Championships on Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. ET with the finals of the 1,650 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 butterfly, 400 freestyle relay and platform dive.

Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana women’s swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

200 Backstroke
24. Bob Glover – 1:41.79

100 Freestyle
Blake Pieroni – 41.89 (Championship Final)
29. Mohamed Samy – 43.03 (Personal-Best)
38. Anze Tavcar – 44.00

200 Breaststroke
42. Ian Finnerty – 1:58.97

200 Butterfly
Vini Lanza – 1:41.57 (Consolation Final)

400 Freestyle Relay
Blake Pieroni, Ali Khalafalla, Sam Lorentz, Mohamed Samy – 2:49.62

Platform Dive
Cody Coldren – 362.50 (Consolation Final)

The 34th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s tennis team dropped a close matchup with 36th-ranked Grand Valley State, falling to the Lakers 5-4 Friday at Wesselman Park.

The Screaming Eagles held a 2-1 advantage after doubles play, but were unable to hold onto the lead. After falling behind 1-0, sophomores Ilia Karelin (Ekaterinburg, Russia) and Andrew Dones (Georgetown, Indiana) tied the match with an 8-3 victory at number three. USI then took a 2-1 lead behind the duo of senior Aaron Barris (Marietta, Georgia) and junior Samuel Kiladejo (London, England), as they picked up an 8-4 win at number two.

USI dropped the first three singles matches to fall behind 4-2, before freshman Denis Davydov (Chorvatsky Grob, Slovakia) got the Eagles back within a point with a 6-4, 6-1 win at number two. GVSU then sealed the win with a point at number five, and Barris won at number four 7-5, 6-4, to give the match its final tally.

Next up for the Eagles is a trip to Illinois Springfield, as they open up GLVC play tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.
#36 Grand Valley State 5, #34 Southern Indiana 4
Mar 24, 2017 at Evansville, Indiana (Wesselman Park)
Singles competition
1. Sebastien Lescoulie (GV-M) def. James Hardiman (USI) 6-1, 1-0
2. Denis Davydov (USI) def. Zach Phillps (GV-M) 6-4, 6-1
3. Jack Geissler (GV-M) def. Samuel Kiladejo (USI) 6-2, 6-3
4. Aaron Barris (USI) def. Alex vande Steenoven (GV-M) 7-5, 6-4
5. Jack Heiniger (GV-M) def. Ilia Karelin (USI) 6-3, 6-4
6. Nicholas Urban (GV-M) def. Andrew Dones (USI) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Zach Phillps/Alex vande Steenoven (GV-M) def. James Hardiman/Denis Davydov (USI) 8-2
2. Aaron Barris/Samuel Kiladejo (USI) def. Jack Heiniger/Sebastien Lescoulie (GV-M) 8-4
3. Ilia Karelin/Andrew Dones (USI) def. Nicholas Urban/Jack Geissler (GV-M) 8-3
Match Notes
Grand Valley State 12-4; National ranking #36
Southern Indiana 12-7; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,6,3,2,5,4)

Teams wrap up series tomorrow

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A Saturday doubleheader saw the University of Evansville and Bradley split a pair of softball games at Cooper Stadium.

Evansville (12-13, 4-1 MVC) started the day with a 7-0 victory before the Braves (16-15, 2-3 MVC) completed the twin bill with a 7-2 triumph.

“We did a great job to get the split today; it was a tale of 2 games,” UE head coach Mat Mundell said.  “I like how we competed in the first game, but we got outside of what we like to do in 2nd. We are excited to come out tomorrow and play for Beth Csukas in front of a good crowd and get the series win.”

Morgan Florey had a stellar game in the circle to start the day as she tossed her sixth-consecutive complete game victory.  She fanned eight batters on the way to her 9^th win of the year.  Hayli Scott was a perfect 3-3 with a walk in the contest while Hay and Norris registered two hits apiece.

Bradley looked to jump out to an early lead in the first inning as they put runners on first and second with one out.  Florey was able to get out of the jam and would go on to retire the next 16 batters before the Braves got their first hit in the top of the 6^th.

Evansville got on the board in the bottom of the third inning as Tess Hupe was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and quickly stole second.  Brittany Hay delivered another big hit as her single to right brought Hupe home to give the Aces a 1-0 lead.  UE looked to add more to its lead, but left the bases loaded.

Two more Aces runs scored in the fourth.  With runners on second and third with no outs, it was Hay coming through once again in the clutch as her suicide squeeze brought home Ashlee Kawall.  The base running success continued as a double steal resulted in Courtney Land posting the third run of the day.

The runs kept coming for the Aces as Susan Norris hit a long 2-out double to center field to make it a 4-0.  Norris would later score on a BU error as the Aces plated four runs in the frame to grab a 7-0 advantage.  That would be the final as Florey finished off the win in the circle.

After being held scoreless in the first game, the Braves wasted little time in getting on the board in game two.  Maria Schroeder hit a 2-run home run to left field in the first to take a 2-0 lead.  The Braves continued to threaten, loading the bases in the second and third frames, but pitcher Emily Lockhart kept them out of the scoring column.

Michal Luckett cut the gap in half in the third.  After Hay reached on a walk, Luckett doubled to left to put the Aces on the board.  Luckett tied the game one batter later on a Florey double to right.  Schroeder put the Braves back on top with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth.

Bradley extended its lead in the sixth when Caitlyn McCarron hit a 3-run home run to center field to make it a 6-2 contest.  Kealia Wysocki added a solo shot of her own in the inning.  The Aces did not give up their fight as Tess Hupe hit a 1-out double before Brittany Hay homered to left to get UE within three at 7-4.  That would be the final as the squads split the doubleheader.

On Sunday, the rubber match will be played at 12 p.m.  At 11:45 a.m., former UE player Beth Csukas will be honored with the Missouri Valley Conference Most Courageous Award.  Csukas, a former Evansville Firefighter, will be presented with the award prior to the game.  All first responders, current and former, will receive free admission to support Beth.