EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball announced the signing of junior guard Braxton Jones (Monroe, New Jersey) for the 2024-25 season. Jones is the first player to sign with USI and Head Coach Stan Gouard this spring.
 
“USI is extremely excited to welcome Braxton and his family to the Screaming Eagles family,” said Gouard. “We have been recruiting Braxton and his family hard and cannot wait to watch him knock down threes in front the of the best fans and student section in all of college basketball.”
 
“I know Braxton is excited to uphold the standards of all the USI greats that have come before him,” continued Gouard.  “He embodies our culture both on and off the court.”
 
“Braxton is an absolute gym rat who has an immense amount of pride in how he plays and competes on a daily basis. I cannot wait to get to work with him and have him here in Evansville this summer,” concluded Gouard.
 
Jones comes to USI from Garden City Community College where he was named second-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. He posted 18.9 points, 2.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds during his only season with GCCC, posting a season-high 33 points versus Seward County Community College and 10 assists versus Dodge City Community College.
 
The 2023-24 sophomore guard shot nearly 35 percent from beyond the arc, hitting a school-record eight triples vs. Sterling College and drained five or more three-pointers in a game nine times. He also posted a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 109-72 victory over Dodge City in January.
 
Jones ranked as high as 15^th in JucoRecruiting.com, finishing the year 31^st.
 
Prior to playing at GCCC, Jones began his collegiate career at the University of Harford where he averaged 4.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 28 games during 2022-23. He posted a season-high 24 points and eight rebounds versus Fairleigh Dickinson University.
 
A graduate of Roselle Catholic High School, Jones helped the Lions to the 2022 NJSIAAA Tournament championship. He played a pivotal role the title game, hitting the go-ahead bucket on the way to the championship.
 
The Screaming Eagles reached the Ohio Valley Conference Championship post-season in 2023-24 marking the second-straight season since USI made the transition to NCAA Division I.
 

CHARLESTON, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored eight times in the nightcap and earned a doubleheader split at Eastern Illinois University Thursday afternoon in Charleston, Illinois. USI lost the opening game, 4-2, but took the nightcap, 8-1. The Screaming Eagles are 18-25 and 7-10 OVC, while Panthers goes to 14-25, 8-9 OVC.
 
Game 1:
The Screaming Eagles and the Panthers battle back and forth, but EIU came out on top, 4-2, in the opening game of the doubleheader.
 
USI opened up the game with a 1-0 lead in the first inning when senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) scored after sophomore second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) reached on an error. EIU knotted the score at 1-1 with a tally in the bottom of the first, USI regained the lead briefly when junior first baseman Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri) scored on a ground out by Tachioka in the top of the fourth.
 
The Panther put together a run in the fifth and sixth to take command of the game, 3-2, and sealed the game with a run in the bottom of the eighth for the 4-2 decision.
 
USI freshman right-hander Grant Parson (Owensboro, Kentucky) started and took the loss for the Eagles. Parson (3-3) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four in seven innings of work.
 
Freshman right-hander Clayton Weisheit (Ferdinand, Indiana) followed and finished the game for the Eagles. Weisheit gave up one run on a home run and struck out one in two innings.
 
Game 2:
USI scored five times in the top of the first and cruised to an 8-1 victory in the night cap.
 
In the opening frame, USI scored five times on four hits and was highlighted by a two-run single up the middle by junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) and a RBI-single by Niehaus. The Eagles increased the lead to 6-0 on a sacrifice fly by Thompson-Allen, who finished game two with a pair of hits and a team-high three RBIs.
 
After EIU pushed a run across in the third, USI re-extend its lead to 8-1 with a pair of tallies in the fifth. Emerich knocked in the first run of the frame with a RBI-single up the middle, while junior second baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) scored on a Tachioka sacrifice fly for the seven-run advantage.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Carson Seeman (Auburn, California) picked up the win with a dominating relief performance. Seeman (3-2) blanked the Panthers through six innings, allowing four hits and striking out four.
USI junior right-hander Peyton Brown (Clemmons, North Carolina) started and got a no-decision. Brown went the first three frames and permitted EIU’s lone second game run on two hits, while striking out four.
 
Up Next for the Ea

 Three rounds set for May 6-8

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On the heels of her second Missouri Valley Conference individual championship in as many tries, University of Evansville golfer Kate Petrova is set to take part in the NCAA Regionals.

Petrova was selected to represent the MVC as an individual at the East Lansing Regional with play to take place from May 6-8.  Michigan State University is the host institution for the regional.  She joins individuals from Illinois, Notre Dame, Louisville and Western Kentucky in the 3-round tournament.

Teams set to participate in the East Lansing Regional include USC, Northwestern, Florida, Pepperdine, Michigan State, Kentucky, Denver, Oklahoma State, Indiana, Augusta, Illinois State and Oakland.  This marks just the second time UE has been represented at an NCAA Regional.  In 2021, the Purple Aces won the team championship and took part in the Columbus Regional.

For the second year in a row, the 2024 MVC Championship came down to a playoff with Petrova earning the victory.  Trailing by four strokes entering the final round, Petrova carded a 3-under 69 to force a playoff with Ali Schrock of Illinois State.  Petrova birdied the third playoff hole to seal the victory.  Her win marked the fourth time in the last eight seasons that the University of Evansville has had the individual league champion.

Petrova is Evansville’s first 2-time MVC women’s golf champion.  Kayla Katterhenry (2017) and Sophia Rohleder (2021) are Evansville’s other champions.  Along with being Medalist, Petrova was named to the All-Conference and All-Tournament Teams.  She is the 7^th golfer to earn MVC Medalist two or more times.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. –  University of Evansville freshman starter Kenton Deverman tossed a complete-game four-hitter on Friday night, as the host Purple Aces knocked off the visiting Missouri State Bears, 4-1, at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“What a special performance tonight by Kenton Deverman on the mound,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “He certainly did not look like a freshman tonight, as he went out and battled against a very good lineup in Missouri State.

“Tonight was a classic Friday night pitcher’s duel in the Missouri Valley Conference.  I thought that their guy (Brandt Thompson) was really good tonight as well, and we were just able to scratch across enough runs to get the win and set us up for a situation to win another series on a Saturday.”

Deverman was strong from the start, allowing just a single hit through the first four innings.  Missouri State would strike first against him in the fifth inning on a one-out RBI single by catcher Dylan Leach, but Deverman’s teammates quickly answered back to tie the game, and he retired 13 of the final 15 men he faced, not allowing a base runner past first base after the fifth inning.

UE tied the game for Deverman in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a hustle double by junior outfielder Harrison Taubert and a Missouri State error.  Graduate third baseman Brent Widder then gave UE the lead for good in the sixth inning with a line-shot home run to left field for his ninth home run of the year.  Senior shortstop Simon Scherry followed two batters later with an RBI double down the left-field line to move UE’s lead to 3-1.  Another double by Taubert and an RBI single by graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger in the seventh inning capped the scoring for UE.

Deverman improved to 6-1 with the victory, striking out six in a complete-game effort.  Taubert went 3-for-5 with three doubles, while Shallenberger added two hits.

With the victory, Evansville improved to 23-18 overall and 11-5 in the MVC.  Missouri State, meanwhile, dropped to 17-23 overall and 6-10 in the MVC with the loss.  The series will continue on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., with UE graduate left-hander Donovan Schultz (2-1, 6.29 ERA) scheduled to get the start for the Purple Aces.  Saturday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.

UE hits four home runs in series opened

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With two outs and two runners on base in the bottom of the 7^thinning, Jenna Nink launched a walk-off 3-run home run to give the University of Evansville softball team a 6-5 win over Missouri State at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.

Nink’s home run was the fourth of the game for the Purple Aces, who continued to battle throughout the game.  Alexa Davis, Marah Wood and Niki Bode also hit homers in the win.  Nink finished the night going 2-4 with three RBI and a run while Hannah Hood was 2-2 with a walk.  Sydney Weatherford had another strong start, giving up five runs, three earned, in 6 2/3 innings.  Megan Brenton recorded the final out in the top of the 7^th and was credited with the win.

Missouri State took an early lead as a 2-run home run by Annie Mueller in the top of the first put the Bears in front.  In the top of the fourth, a solo shot by Kenzie Derryberry made it a 3-0 game.

UE drew a pair of walks in the opening three frames before notching its first hit in the bottom half of the fourth.  Jenna Nink singled through the left side before a bloop single by Hannah Hood put two runners on with one out.  MSU starter Gracie Johnson picked up the final two outs to keep UE off the board.

Lacy Smith made a stellar defensive play in the top of the fifth, securing a catch against the outfield wall to keep a sure run from scoring.  That work paid off as the offense came through in the bottom of the inning.  Alexa Davis picked up a solo home run to get her squad on the board.

Back-to-back solo shots by Marah Wood and Niki Bode in the bottom of the 6^th tied the game heading into the 7^th.  Missouri State rallied back with two scores to retake a 5-3 lead in the top half of the 7^th, but UE staged a 2-out rally in the bottom of the frame.  Brooke Voss drew a walk before Jess Willsey singled to right.  That brought Nink to the plate and she came through with her second long ball of the season to secure the win.

On Saturday, the squads meet up at 2 p.m.