Nealis, Trailblazers win at Lincoln Trail Spring Invitational

ROBINSON, Ill. – The 2025 Spring Golf season continues to roll for the Vincennes University Trailblazers, heading just up the road to Quail Creek Country Club in Robinson, Ill. for the 2025 Lincoln Trail College Spring Invitational.

The Trailblazers dominated the 36-hole, two-day tournament, coming away with a team win by 40 strokes and finishing with four Blazers in the top five and six in the top 10 individually.

Vincennes opened the two day tournament Thursday afternoon with the first round, finishing the day with VU golfers claiming all spots in the top five.

VU finished the first round with a tie at the top of the leaderboard, with sophomore Alex Nealis (Olney, Ill.) and freshman Brock Naile (Trico, Ill.) finishing the day with a three-over par 75.

Nealis closed out his opening round with three birdies on the day, with Naile claiming one birdie on the scorecard.

Freshman Kadin Gibson (Franklin, Ind.) found himself in third place overall after the first 18 holes, shooting a 77, just one shot ahead of freshman teammate Landon Gardner (Danville, Ind.) in fourth and two shots ahead of freshman Parker Steininger (Vincennes, Ind.) in fifth.

Freshmen Matthew Mills (Boonville, Ind.), Brayden Gough (Tuscola, Ill.) and sophomore Jackson Stone (Vincennes, Ind.) each played the tournament as individuals, with Mills holding seventh place on the leaderboard with an opening round 80, while Gough placed 20th with a 91 and Stone checked in a 22nd with an opening round 94.

The Trailblazers as a team closed out the first round of the tournament with a score of 305, holding a 22 shot lead over the second place team.

Vincennes then returned to the course Friday morning for a very windy final round.

VU was able to handle the conditions and build on their first round success, with Alex Nealis finishing the day with an impressive even par 72, with an outstanding four birdies on the day, to claim solo first for the tournament with a two-day total of 147.

Brock Naile also improved on his opening round score, posting a 74 in the final round to take second place overall.

Landon Gardner moved up into the top three on the leaderboard with a 78 in his final round to finish the tournament with a total of 156.

Kadin Gibson rounded out the Vincennes top five finishers, shooting an 82 Friday to take fifth place overall.

Parker Steininger and Matthew Mills each tied for eighth overall, with Steininger coming in with an 83 on Friday and Mills posting an 82 to close out the tournament with a final score of 162.

Jackson Stone and Braydon Gough round out the VU representatives in the tournament with Stone posting the largest improvement in the tournament for VU, taking four shots of his opening round to post a 90 on Friday. Gough checked in Friday with a final round 93.

VU as a team posted a final round score of 306, giving them a tournament total of 611 and claiming their first tournament victory of the spring season by a 40 shot margin.

“Winning a tournament by 40 shots is aways fun but also having the medalist and two other players in the top three makes it better,” VU Hall of Fame Golf Coach Dennis Chattin said. “I was really happy for Alex, shooting three over par for the two days. His even par round Friday was really good with the wind an pin locations. Alex really works hard on his game and this score was something he deserved. The wind an pin locations were really tough, so I thought our round Friday was considerably better even though the team score was one stroke higher.”

“Brock Naile played consistently with his 75 and 74,” Chattin added. “Landon struggled a little but he continues to improve.”

The Trailblazers will look to build on this momentum as they get set to hit the road again Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18 to take part in the Brad Rose Collegiate Invitational at Willow Creek Golf Club in Knoxville, Tenn.

TEAM RESULTS

VINCENNES – 305, 306 – 611

Lincoln Trail – 328, 323 – 651

Lewis & Clark – 327, 344 – 671

VINCENNES RESULTS

Alex Nealis (1) – 75, 72 – 147

Brock Naile (2) – 75, 74 – 149

Landon Gardner (3) – 78, 78 – 156

Kadin Gibson (5) – 77, 82 – 159

Parker Steininger (T8) – 79, 83 – 162

Matthew Mills (T8) – 80, 82 – 162

Jackson Stone (T21) – 94, 90 – 184

Braydon Gough (T21) – 91, 93 – 184

USI caps off Friday doubleheader split with big win

NASHVILLE – University of Southern Indiana Softball notched a big 9-2 win following a narrow 6-5 loss against Tennessee State University to earn a doubleheader split Friday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee State (12-8, 3-2 OVC) opened the scoring in game one with a four-run bottom of the first inning. Southern Indiana (5-15, 2-3 OVC) responded in the top of the second inning when freshman catcher Jordan Mackey belted her second home run of the season to cut the early deficit in half, 4-2.

After a sac fly from freshman designated player Grace Huffman made it a one-run ballgame, 4-3, in the top of the fourth, the Tigers answered with two more runs in the home half of the inning to go up by three, 6-3.

The scoreboard remained quiet until the top of the seventh inning when USI made a push. Three consecutive singles, including an RBI hit by senior pitcher Josie Newman, brought the Screaming Eagles within two, 6-4. In the next at-bat, senior third baseman Whitley Hunter kept the charge going with another RBI knock to bring USI within one, 6-5. However, after a Tennessee State pitching change, the Tigers recorded the final two outs to win the series opener.

USI tallied 12 total hits with seven players registering a hit in the game. Five Screaming Eagles recorded two-hit games. Mackey led with two RBIs. Newman (3-9) pitched a complete game, striking out a dozen in the loss.

Senior pitcher Reina Castillo (10-3) was credited with the win after 6.1 innings pitched, five runs allowed, and three strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Kristian Holder picked up the save, getting the last two outs of the contest.

In game two, Tennessee State scored once in the bottom of the first inning with a two-out RBI triple to take a 1-0 lead, which lasted until the third inning.

Southern Indiana posted a big third inning with five runs on the board. Junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton tied the game at one with an RBI single. With the bases loaded, Mackey delivered a two-run double to propel USI ahead, 3-1. In the next at-bat, senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley singled to score two more runs to give USI a 5-1 lead.

The Screaming Eagles were not done after the third frame, dropping another crooked number with four runs in the top of the fourth. Huffman recorded another sac fly on the day, Mackey added to her big afternoon with a two-RBI base hit, and Nalley followed with another RBI knock of her own. USI led 9-1 through four innings.

The Tigers scratched one more run across, but the Screaming Eagles sealed the 9-2 win with scoreless sixth and seventh innings.

USI posted 10 hits in the second game. Sophomore infielder Sydney Long, sophomore outfielder Kate Satkoski, and Nalley each had two hits. Mackey finished with three hits and four RBIs. Nalley had a three-RBI game. Freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus (2-5) secured her second win of the season with a complete game. Witthaus struck out four batters.

For Tennessee State, Holder (1-2) got the start in game two, lasting only 2.2 innings with five runs allowed. The Tigers used four pitchers in the second contest.

The Screaming Eagles and Tigers look to decide the series Saturday in a rubber match. Saturday’s start time has been pushed up to 10 a.m. to avoid bad weather in the forecast. Further updates can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com and through the USI Athletics social media platforms.

Aces drop doubleheader to UNI

Series finale set for Sunday at noon

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Friday’s Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader saw Northern Iowa finish with a pair of victories over the University of Evansville softball team at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.

Game 1 – UNI 7, UE 2

With the scored tied at 1-1, Northern Iowa scored six runs in the top of the fifth inning to pull away for a 7-2 win in Friday’s MVC opener.

After UNI left two runners on in the top of the first, the Aces had a scoring threat in the bottom of the frame before a baserunner got thrown out at the plate for the final out.  Kate Ridgway pitched out of another jam in the top of the second with the Panthers leaving the bases loaded.  In the top of the third, the Panthers finally broke through with the first run of the afternoon.

Evansville tied the score in the bottom of the 4^th when Brooke Voss scored on a Panther error.  She reached on a leadoff single before a pair of bunts sent her to third.  Unfortunately, UNI erupted for six runs in the top of the fifth to retake the lead.

Abby Bode hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 5^th but that would be the final as UNI took the game by a score of 7-2.  Anna Wischnowski earned the win for the Panthers, throwing the full game with two runs, one earned, crossing the plate.  Ridgway took the loss allowing seven runs, five earned, in 4 1/3 innings.  Willsey and Eliza Piggott led UE with two hits apiece.

Game 2 – UNI 14, UE 13

Miriah Powell had a career-high four RBI while Taylor Howe added three as a furious comeback attempt fell short with UNI holding on for a 14-13 win.

Building off the momentum from taking the win in the opener, the Panthers hit a solo home run in the top half of the 1^st inning.  They added to it in the second with a grand slam to go up 5-0.  They looked to add more with runners on second and third with one out before Sydney Weatherford came on in relief to record the final two outs.

Eliza Piggott belted her fifth home run of the season in the bottom of the second to cut into the deficit.  Following a scoreless third frame, the Panthers pushed the lead to 7-1 on a 2-run home run.

Looking for a rally, the Aces put the first two runners on in the fourth as Piggott singled while Brooke Voss reached on a walk.  Next up to the plate was Taylor Howe, who came through with a 3-run home to make it a 7-4 game.  Despite the rally by UE, the Panthers plated two more runs in the fifth and threatened to add more, but Cassidy Gall recorded the final out as they stranded the bases loaded.

Evansville did not give up as they got two runs closer in the bottom of the fifth.  A sac fly by Piggott and an RBI single from Miriah Powell cut the UNI lead to 9-6, however, just as fast as UE made its way back, Northern Iowa countered with three more runs.  Powell struck again with a 3-run double in the bottom of the 6^th as UE stormed back within three once again.

Down to its final three outs, the Aces staged one final rally.  With one out, Morgan Adams hit a long ball to left to make it a 2-run game.  Jess Willsey followed with a single before Piggott doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third with one away.  Brooke Voss hit a long sacrifice fly to right to bring UE within one but UNI picked up the final out to clinch the game.

Sunday’s series finale is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch.

USI comes up short in series opener, 5-4
Screaming Eagles and Racers continue the series Saturday at 11 a.m

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Next Game:  Murray State University • 3/15/2025 | 11 a.m. (NEW TIME)

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball came up short in the series opener with Murray State University, 5-4, Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 7-10 overall in 2025, while Murray State goes 11-3 this year.

The Screaming Eagles spotted the Racers a 4-0 lead with single tallies in the third, fourth, seventh, and eighth frames. USI warmed up the bats in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three times in the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit to 4-3.

USI got its first run on a two-out triple by junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens, who would later score the second run on an RBI single by junior first baseman Kannon Coakley. Junior Hunter Miller would pinch run for Coakley and came around for the third tally of the frame on a single by junior second/third baseman Parker Martin.

After Murray State got a run back in the top of the ninth, USI would close the gap one more time to pull to within one, 5-4. Sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd led off the ninth on a three-bag error by the centerfielder and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior utility player Patrick McLellan. The one-run deficit would be as close as the Eagles would get in falling 5-4.

On the mound, junior right-hander Andres Gonzalez took a tough loss. Gonzalez (0-2) allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk, while striking out four in six innings of work.

Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and  Racers continue the series Saturday at 11 a.m. and conclude the three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m.

USI Schedule Update:
USI has rescheduled a pair of games that were postponed due to weather. The Screaming Eagles will visit Saint Louis University on April 22 at 5 p.m. in a game that was postponed from March 5 and will host the University of Evansville May 13 at 6 p.m. for a game that was postponed February 22.

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

Blazer big bats lead VU to doubleheader split

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team opened another Mid-West Athletic Conference series weekend Friday afternoon at Jerry Blemker Field.

The Blazers played host to Lewis & Clark Community College from Godfrey, Ill. in the annual ‘Battle of the Trailblazers’.

Vincennes was able to battle back and split the first two games of this four-game weekend series, falling in game one 10-2 before bouncing back and taking game two of the day 13-3.

VU got the day off to a good start in game one, breaking onto the scoreboard in the first inning after a double by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.), who later scored on a well-executed double steal with sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.).

Lewis & Clark would immediately answer back with a big second inning, scoring five runs in the second and adding one more in the third to take a 6-1 lead.

L&C continued to add to their lead late in the game with another run in the sixth and three more in the eighth, extending their advantage to 10-1.

VU came to the plate in the eighth needing two runs to extend the game and got off to a great start with a leadoff double by Jevan Andrews, his second double of the game, followed by an RBI single by sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) to cut the deficit to 10-2.

This would be the only run of the inning for the Trailblazers though, as Lewis & Clark was able to settle in and close out the 10-2 game one victory over Vincennes.

Sophomore Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers in game one, settling in after a tough second inning to throw six innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits and striking out five.

Sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) came in for VU in relief, throwing two innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out one.

“We’ve got to step up and play prior to giving up a bunch of runs on a crooked number,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “After the first two innings Carson Allen really settled in but he’s got to get settled in right from the start.”

“Then we’ve got to step up when we’ve got opportunities to score runs,” Barney added. “I think we had three two-out hits with no one on base out of the six hits that we had. So we’ve got to do a better job of getting on base, moving guys around and continuing to be aggressive.”

Vincennes would look to bounce back and even the series in game two, with Lewis & Clark striking first in the top of the first, scoring one run in the inning.

VU would respond in the bottom half of the inning in a big way, getting eight of their first 10 batter to reach base in the inning, including singles by sophomores Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) and Nate Montgomery.

A walk by freshman Jaret Phillips (Jeffersonville, Ind.) loaded the bases for sophomores Damon Kay (Spencer, Ind.) and Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) to drive in runs on bases loaded hit by pitches.

Sophomore Yancey Edlin followed this with an RBI single before freshman Jakob Hoyer (Georgetown, Ind.) coming through with a two-RBI single.

Bradyn Douglas kept the inning going with an RBI single, his second hit of the inning to put the Blazers on top 6-1 after a busy first inning on the base paths.

Lewis & Clark would respond with a run in the second, which VU countered with another big inning oft their own.

Nate Montgomery and Jaret Phillips led off the inning with singles, with Montgomery coming in to score on a wild pitch, just before Damon Kay was hit by pitch for the second time in the game.

Freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) cleared the bases in a big way, launching a big three-run home run, his first of the season, to increase the VU lead to 10-2.

Yancey Edlin kept the scoring going later in the inning with a solo home run of his own, his first of the season and first collegiate home run to put the Blazers up 11-2.

VU would get another run in the third after a lead off double by Jevan Andrews, who would score on a groundout by Jaret Phillips.

Lewis & Clark got a run of their own in the fourth, which was again immediately answered by the Trailblazers in the bottom of the fourth after Noble Johnson got a double and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Yancey Edlin, his third RBI of the game.

Vincennes was able to hold Lewis & Clark off the scoreboard in the fifth to close out a strong 13-3 victory for VU.

Sophomore JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) got the start on the mound for Vincennes in game two, throwing a five-inning complete game, allowing three runs, two earned on four hits and striking out five.

“First this game started on the mound,” Barney said. “JD Bowser gave us a chance, didn’t give up a crooked number in the first two innings and only gave up three runs in five innings and only two of them were earned.”

“Offensively it was timely hitting and taking advantage of their walks and hit by pitches, which is something that teams have been doing to us,” Barney added. “We’ve just got to build on this and build some momentum and get feeling a little bit better about ourselves moving into tomorrow.”

The Trailblazers will look to build on this momentum as the two teams head back to Jerry Blemker Field tomorrow, Saturday, March 15 for the final two games of this MWAC Conference series.

Game time tomorrow is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. but can be pushed back to 10 a.m. depending on rain Friday night and forecast for Saturday evening.

“We’ve just got to play well right from the get-go,” Barney said. “Our pitching staff has got to give us a chance. Our hitters have got to continue to step up. We’ve played alright defense. We’ve got Colton Okes on the mound tomorrow in game three. We are going to shoot for a 9:30 start but we may move it back to 10 if we get more rain tonight that we anticipate. Then game four’s starter is still to be announced. Our guys have got to respond and figure out a way to get two more wins and win the series tomorrow.”

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

Lewis & Clark – 051   001   03 – 10

VU (8-11, 0-5) – 100   000   01 – 2

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Andrews 2, Johnson 2. RBI – Napier. HBP – Montgomery. SB – Andrews, Montgomery.

GAME TWO

Lewis & Clark – 110   10 – 3

VU (9-11, 1-5) – 651   1x – 13

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Andrews, Johnson. HR – Gricius, Edlin. RBI – Gricius 3, Edlin 3, Hoyer 2, Douglas, Phillips, Kay, Johnson. HBP – Kay 2, Johnson. Sac Fly – Edlin. SB – Douglas 2, Hoyer, Montgomery.

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The Vincennes University baseball team improves to 9-11 on the season, with a 1-5 record in MWAC Conference play.