Starting today, Monday, March 3, email notifications from workflows & forms at workflow.evansville.edu will be sent from workflow@evansville.edu instead of no-reply@frevvo.com. If you have Outlook rules or filters in place for these notifications, please update them accordingly.

Employees in need of a headshot can have theirs taken on Thursday, March 27 at 9:45AM.

Headshots will be taken outdoors near the southwest corner of the front oval lawn. In the event of rain, they will be moved indoors to the SOBA atrium.

To add your name to the list, please contact Abbie Perry at ap445@evansville.edu.

1095-C forms have been processed for benefit eligbile employees. If you have provided consent for electronic 1095-Cs, you can view/print your 1095-C for your records now. Simply log into Self Service  https://selfservice.evansville.edu and click on "Tax Information." You will the option to receive the 1095-C form. 1095-Cs have been mailed for those employees who did not provide their electronic consent.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the payroll department at payroll@evansville.edu.

The Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament presented by Credit Union 1 will be in Evansville later this month! Make sure you're in the Ford Center to cheer on your Aces as they play for a trip to March Madness. The tournament will be in downtown Evansville from Thursday, March 13th until Sunday, March 16th.

To get your tickets for the MVC Women's Basketball Tournament please contact Logan Belz by phone at 812-488-2623 or by email at lb334@evansville.edu. Full pricing for tickets to the tournament are as follows:

• $20 for adults (reserved)
• $5 for youth (reserved)/ Student ID
• $12 for adults (GA)
• $5 for youth (GA)

Ross Mayfield, CFA®-Investment Strategy Analyst at Baird, and John Watkins, CFA®-Co-Portfolio Manager of Baird Trusts Large Cap Equity and Equity Income strategies, will speak to University of Evansville students on Thursday, March 6 at 3.00 p.m. in SOBA Room 162.

Managing over $26 billion in assets, their large-cap equity portfolio has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 over 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years, placing them among the top 5% of large-company managers in the U.S. They will discuss the strategies behind their long-term market outperformance and share insights on the current market outlook. Additionally, they will offer guidance on careers in investment analysis and portfolio management.

This event is open to the UE community.  For more information, please contact Dr. Walayet A. Khan at wk3@evansville.edu.

March 4, 2025

Victory Theatre

7:30 p.m.

Please join the UE Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble for their recital featuring selections from Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and our very own Roger and Rebecca Cichy.

Admission is free and open to the public.  

Saladpalooza 2025!   Welcoming all types of salad for our new luncheon Saladpalooza. Tuna, chicken, broccoli etc. Join the SAA on March 18, 11:30am-1:00pm, and enjoy a spread of yummy and unique salads. We will be in Eykamp Hall, and it is $5 per plate to sample all the salads! All of the proceeds will go to the SAA and it's scholarhip fund. Does your favorite salad have what it takes to be grand champion? We hope to see you there.   Sign up below to bring your favorite salad.   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4AAAAF2AA2FA7-54902781-saladpalooza#/  

Join the ASV TSC team to learn all about hypertension prevention & management, heart health tips & recommendations and how the wellness clinic can support your heart health!

This webinar will be held on two different days:

• Tuesday, March 11th @ 10:00 AM
• Tuesday, March 18th @ 2:00 PM 

Sign-up here: https://forms.gle/msKGmYXQUQb97d5i9

*A Google Meet link will be shared with you the day before the presentation!

We hope you can join us!!

For questions, email Taylor (taylor.kollak@ascension.org).

Iftar is the fast-breaking meal in the evenings throughout Ramadan. Let's come together as a community to share a meal and learn more about each other.

Ross Mayfield, CFA®-Investment Strategy Analyst at Baird, and John Watkins, CFA®-Co-Portfolio Manager of Baird Trusts Large Cap Equity and Equity Income strategies, will speak to University of Evansville students on Thursday, March 6 at 3.00 p.m. in SOBA Room 162.

Managing over $26 billion in assets, their large-cap equity portfolio has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 over 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years, placing them among the top 5% of large-company managers in the U.S. They will discuss the strategies behind their long-term market outperformance and share insights on the current market outlook. Additionally, they will offer guidance on careers in investment analysis and portfolio management.

This event is open to the UE community and the public. For more information, please contact Dr. Walayet A. Khan at wk3@evansville.edu.

Join the Center for Student Engagement for this semester's Leadership Lunch and Learn Series!

The Center for Student Engagement is excited to introduce a new leadership development framework that combines the Social Change Model of Leadership Development and Corey Seemiller's Student Leadership Competencies. This framework provides a holistic approach to cultivating impactful student leaders.

Breanna Bondurant, the University of Evansville's Spiritual Formation Coordinator, will be using her expertise and experiences in her workshop about group leadership. She brings a wealth of wisdom and passion that you do not want to miss!

All students are invited and lunch will be provided for the first 10 people in attendance! To reserve your spot and your meal, please RSVP here on UEngage. Walk-ins are welcome!

This semester's sessions will take place on the first Wednesday of each month during the Spring Semester and will cover the following topics:

- Individual Leadership (February 5)

- Group Leadership (March 5)

- Community Leadership (April 2)

For any questions, please reach out to the Center for Student Engagement at cse@evansville.edu

UE Employees: take advantage of a free blood pressure screening!

An Ascension St. Vincent Tri State Clinic Health Advocate will be on-site on March 3rd to do walk-in blood pressure screenings. Get your blood pressure checked and get information on how you can continue to care for your heart!

Date: Monday, March 3rd  ---  Location: Eykamp Room 254  ---  Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Think you've got what it takes to be UE's next trivia champ? Nerd Wars is back and we want YOU to join us for a night full of fierce competition, good vibes, and some awesome prizes—brought to you by the Honors Activity Board!

Details: Tuesday, March 18th at 6PM in Eykamp!

Every team gets FREE pizza and a shot at cool prizes like an Owala, Lego Sets, an air fryer, a Kindle Paperwhite, and more!

This FREE event is open to all students, faculty, and staff! Grab your friends, sign up in teams of 5, and let’s make it a night to remember!

Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/nerdwars2025

University of Evansville Employee Biggest Loser Challenge 2025

Challenge Dates: March 17th - May 11th

Welcome! This 8-week challenge is designed to help motivate participants to take on healthier lifestyle choices and pursue health-driven weight loss. While this is a weight loss-based challenge, we want this to be a positive experience for you and your team members to make healthier lifestyle choices for long-term health & success! **We do not encourage or support extreme dieting with this challenge.**

As a bonus, we’ll share a newsletter with different healthy habit topics to help you improve your own routine each week.

Challenge Details:

• All employees & spouses are welcome to participate!

• Teams must be between 4-8 individuals.

• Entry fee is $5.00 (cash only please). Submit your buy-in to Lori Leduc in HR.

• Initial weigh-in must be completed the week of March 17th - 20th.

• Only 1 missed weigh-in is allowed.

• No extreme dieting, supplementing or other measures for drastic weight loss is permitted. We want this to serve as a positive experience with healthy changes for long-term success!

Weigh-In Info:

• Weekly weigh-ins will take place at the clinic:

• Monday - Thursday from 8:00am - 12:00pm

Prizes:

• 1st, 2nd & 3rd place (male & female) with the highest % weight lost

• Team with the highest overall % weight lost

Earn a one-time $150 HRA credit for participating!

Want to sign up? Click this link: https://forms.gle/QrNkz2mjL4eHLKUCA

Reach out to Taylor (taylor.kollak@ascension.org) with any questions!

Commencement Central is an event where students planning to graduate Spring or Summer 2025 will check their diploma name and degree programs and touch base with the University Bookstore, Alumni Relations, and the Center for Career Development.

This event will be held in Eykamp Hall on these dates:

March 3, 2025 : 11am-1pm

March 4, 2025 : 11am-1pm and 4pm-6pm

If you plan on graduating Spring or Summer of 2025, please use this link to sign up for a 20 minute time slot:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DABA822A3FCCF8-55107009-2025

It's important to come to this event even if you do not plan on attending the Commencement ceremony!

Hiring Soon! 

Interested in staying on campus over the summer? Want to make a difference for visiting members of our community? Need a place to stay and a stipend to use for the fall?

Look no further than our Summer Housing Assistants! These 4 staff members will be responsible for running our summer conferences and summer housing.

If you want to learn more about the position, including what job responsibilities, expectations, and payment look like, please join us for two information sessions:

Wednesday, March 19th from 8pm-8:30pm 

Thursday, March 20th from 8pm-8:30pm

Both meetings will be in SOBA 170!

For questions, please contact Will McDonner at wm99@evansville.edu

The housing selection process for fall housing begins on March 3.  Students should review the attached slideshow and review the information on the Residnce Life website at https://www.evansville.edu/residencelife/housingapplyreturn/calendar.cfm and the other header options on that page.  In the slideshow, you can click the image on the “Demo Screens” slide to link to a ScribeHow that will walk you through the application process and how to form a roommate group.

All housing applications, registration fees, forming roommate groups, and selection of rooms will take place in your eRezLife account.

Key dates to remember are:

• March 3 – March 21
• Apply for housing in eRezLife
• Submit your $75 non-refundable housing registration fee in your eRezLife account
• March 3 - March 24
• Form roommate groups in eRezLife (roommates will need to have a completed application and accept your roommate group invitation)
• March 24 – April 4
• Room selection appointments by assigned time
• View available rooms and save preferences after you receive your selection application

If you have any questions, please reach out to Residence Life or stop by one of the upcoming ResLife tabling events throughout the month of March in Ridgway (March 3, 6, 17, and 20).

Tune into the first Episode of Season 2 of the (Spanish/English/Spanglish) podcast "Celebrating Hispanic Voices"!

In Episode 1, listen to Mia Meléndez, Sophia Reyes, and Jocelyn Solano Sánchez share their experiences as Hispanic/Latinx students at UE. They cover topics such as Día de los Muertos (ofrenda), Hispanic Latin@ Student Union (HLSU), personal experiences, and cultural differences.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RT5PkTUThuWwoLnqcJVa7?si=pmnruel4QGSMKF_ehNy6ng

Huge THANKS to our production team, Sophia Reyes and Tommy Housman!

Family, friends and loved ones of the late Dr. Marvin E. Hartig are pleased to announce the application process for the Dr. Marvin E. Hartig Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is dedicated to the loving memory of Dr. Hartig, Dean of Evansville College’s Evening College in 1967, and administrator for the Center for Advanced Study, director of the Evansville chapter of the American Institute of Banking (AIB), and the international student advisor. In 1974, Dr. Hartig was appointed Dean of Academic Services. He retired in 1984 after serving his alma mater for thirty-five years and passed away in 2007.

This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving sophomore student. Preference will be given to a student working while being enrolled as a full-time student. International students are encouraged to apply.

Eligible students for the 2025-2026 Hartig Memorial Scholarship will be sophomores in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Download the application.

Deadline: Please return all materials to the Office of Student Financial Services by April 28, 2025. The decision will be announced by May 27, 2025.

Questions: Amber Chandler, Administrative Assistant to the Office of Student Financial Services, at ac547@evansville.edu or 812-488-2364

Do you know a senior deserving of the highest award given by UE? Ten finalists will be selected, and one student will be presented this award at Commencement. Selection is based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, and community and campus engagement. 

 
The Guthrie May and Mabel Dillingham Nenneker Outstanding Senior Service Award nominations will be accepted February 20 – March 14, 2025. Students nominated must accept their nomination by 5:00 p.m. on March 21st, 2025. 

 
You can nominate deserving seniors by completing the form below. Once you submit a nomination, students will receive an automatic email giving them the opportunity to accept the award.  

https://form.jotform.com/220724520906046 

Please contact Shelby Gardner, Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students Office (sg293@evansville.edu) with any questions.

The Margaret E. Schriefer Liberal Arts Scholarship has been established for the University of Evansville in loving memory of Margaret E. Schriefer. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving student, covering full tuition, books, supplies, materials, and laboratory fees. To be considered for this scholarship, students must meet the following qualifications:

• Must be enrolled at the University of Evansville and have a major of study in Literature, English, Music or Theatre.
• Must be a natural-born citizen of the United States of America with no prior criminal record, other than minor traffic violations.
• Must be a free and accepted Mason in good standing in a local lodge under the authority of the Grand Lodge of its state, or be the descendant, sibling, or nephew/niece of a Master Mason in good standing in his respective lodge under the authority of the Grand Lodge of its respective state. If the related Mason shall not be living at the time of the student’s consideration for this scholarship, a letter shall be obtained from the Lodge of the related Mason to the effect that the related Mason was in good standing at the time of his death.

Must have and maintain a “C” average.

If you meet the requirements for this scholarship, please complete the scholarship application and return to the Office of Student Financial Services by April 18, 2025.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services by email at studentfinancialservices@evansville.edu or by phone at 812-488-2364.

The University of Evansville African American Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2025 Zerah Priestly Carter Endowed Scholarship in honor of Zerah Priestly Carter, the first African American graduate of the University.

This scholarship is awarded annually to deserving African American students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at UE. These scholarship funds of at least $1,000 annually, are in addition to other financial aid/scholarships awarded to the recipient and are renewable, dependent on academic progress and annual community service. Eligible students are encouraged to apply at this time.

Applications will be accepted until March 14, 2025.

Please apply at https://www.uealumnionline.com/ZPC2025

The Eykamp Prize was established by Richard and Rita Eykamp in 2015 to honor Faculty Achievement at the University of Evansville. Recipients of the prize will receive an award of $10,000 in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the University. Examples of such contributions include deep and successful involvement in recruiting students; expanding the number, scope, and competitiveness of grant funding for their department; and bringing positive public awareness to the University through scholarship, knowledge, and understanding of their discipline. Up to two prizes a year may be awarded.

Nominations for the Eykamp Prize may come from any member of the University of Evansville Community. Nominees should be tenured or tenure-track faculty members at the University who have not received the award in the previous five years. Nominations can be submitted in writing or via e-mail to Mary Kessler, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost, by March 7, 2025. Nominations should include the name of the faculty member and a brief statement of the reasons that individual is being nominated.

Recipients of the Eykamp Prize will be selected by an Awards Committee, appointed by the Interim EVPAA/Provost, that includes members of the faculty and staff, academic administrators, and at least one member of the Board of Trustees. The award will be announced and presented at the May Commencement Ceremony.

Recipients in the previous five years: 2020 – Dr. Jerrilee LaMar; 2021 – Dr. Joyce Stamm; 2022 – Dr. Mari Plikuhn; 2023 – Dr. Suresh Immanuel; 2024 – Dr. Alan Kaiser.

Free, Confidential HIV and Hep C testing at the Student Health Center performed by Matthew 25 the first Wednesday of each month when school is in session from 9-11am.  No appointment necessary, all are welcome! Walmart giftcard incentives available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dr. Alison Jones, assistant professor in the School of Education, received the Exemplary Teacher Award at the Spring Faculty Meeting on Thursday, February 27. The award recognizes exceptional achievements in the classroom by creating distinctive opportunities and promoting intellectual, moral, social, and emotional growth of our students. Dr. Jones exemplifies these traits through the Education courses that she teaches, including preparing UE students for the ever-changing real-world experiences they will face in their classrooms.

Congratulations, Dr. Jones!

Congratulations to our February Employee of the Month, Susan Walter! Susan continuously gives noteworthy service through determined and competent performance, provides inspiration and motivation to fellow employees resulting in enthusiasm, commitment, and higher morale among other employees, and provides assistance to other employees and students gladly and with patience and a good attitude.

Susan works in the UE Libraries and has been with UE for 24 years. Please take a moment to congratulate her on this well-deserved award.

Harlaxton College is excited to invite you to the inaugural Mini Olympics at Harlaxton, an unforgettable summer experience in an enchanting English manor house. This unique program is designed to provide you with a valuable opportunity to inspire, elevate, and empower children through the power of sports while enjoying a beautiful, historic setting.

Inspire+ is Harlaxton College's sponsored charity of the year. They are an independent sports and education charity that changes young people's lives by leading healthier lifestyles through physical and well-being activities. They work with local Olympians and Paralympians to host a three-day Mini Olympics for over 2800 school children from the Grantham area where Harlaxton is located.

This fun event brings children together in non-competitive sports. There are 17 stations, each with a unique activity, and opening and closing ceremonies sponsored by the Royal Opera House. Harlaxton College will have one station, Cheerleading, and participants will teach the children a cheer to perform at the closing ceremonies.

If you choose to join this exciting adventure, you'll fly to London's Heathrow Airport for a June 6 arrival and spend time planning and organizing for the Mini Olympics before the big three-day event that will be followed by an elegant dinner in one of the grand State Rooms at Harlaxton. You'll also have time to tour Harlaxton Manor; explore Grantham's nightlife; enjoy dinner at the Gregory Arms, a traditional British pub; tour local schools, including a prestigious boarding school; spend time in London; and go on a backstage tour of the Royal Opera House before flying back to the USA on June 14.

Your room and meals at Harlaxton are included in the cost of this $2350 trip. This unique experience has limited capacity so please reserve your spot as soon as possible. For more information, please contact Lisa Hale at lh241@evansville.edu.

NORMAL, Ill. – Trailing by 18 in the first half, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team staged a furious rally to take a lead in the second half before Illinois State fended off the challenge to take a 62-53 win on Sunday inside CEFCU Arena.

Leading the way for UE was Tanner Cuff.  Converting six of his nine field goal attempts, he scored 15 points while adding four assists and two boards.  Connor Turnbull scored 14 points while grabbing seven boards and Gabriel Pozzato checked in with 13 points and nine caroms.

Illinois State recorded the first basket of the game while Tayshawn Comer quickly tied the score at 2-2.  The Redbirds pushed the lead to 7-2 while their defense held the Purple Aces to a 1-of-7 start from the field.  Comer knocked down his second shot of the game to end the stretch.

Three-pointers from Connor Turnbull and Gabriel Pozzato kept it a one-possession game at 15-12 in favor of the Redbirds heading into the final 10 minutes of the half.  Illinois State took control at that point, scoring the next 15 points to open a 30-12 lead with three minutes remaining in the period.  Evansville was held scoreless for just under eight minutes with ISU holding them to 0-for-9 shooting while picking up three turnovers.

Tanner Cuff hit a jumper at the 2:38 mark to end the stretch, but ISU held a 34-17 advantage going into the final minute.  A nice finish by the Aces saw them score the final six points to trail by just 11 at the half – 34-23.

Out of the break, the Aces connected on their first six shots to make it a 1-point game at 38-37 with just over 14 minutes on the clock.  Turnbull accounted for three field goals and a pair of free throws to open the period.  Comer made a spin around pass to Cuff, who finished with the dunk to give UE its first lead of the game at 39-38.  Going back to the first half, UE outscored ISU by a 27-8 margin as they turned the 30-12 deficit a 39-38 edge.

Over the next sequence, the teams swapped the lead several times before Comer scored three in a row to tie the game at 45-45 inside of nine minutes remaining.  ISU countered with a pair of triples to go back up by six while Pozzato cut the deficit in half with his second triple of the game.  Despite his basket, the Redbirds saw their lead creep back up to seven – 55-48 – heading into the final four minutes.

Just when it looked like the Redbirds would pull away, the Aces fought back.  With 2:43 left, a driving layup by Pozzato made it a 2-point game at 55-53.  ISU fended off the challenge once again and completed the day with the 62-53 victory.

Dalton Banks led ISU with 13 points.  The Redbirds shot 35% while UE finished at 45.5%.  Illinois State forced 19 UE turnovers, resulting in 18 points.

Evansville enters Arch Madness as the #10 seed and will play at 6 p.m. on Thursday in St. Louis.  The opponent will be determined by Monday morning.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the final of four games this weekend the University of Evansville baseball team evened its series with the Missouri Tigers in a 9-5 victory.

The Purple Aces led from the third inning on in their final game at Taylor Stadium. Senior outfielders Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) and Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) and designated hitter Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS) powered the offense with multi-hit days. Taubert went 3-of-5 at the plate with a home run, a double, and a single with five RBIs for his fifth career three-hit game. Starting pitcher Kevin Reed had another big performance on the mound for UE as he picked up his second win of the season through six innings of work with only two runs allowed on 10 hits.

“It was a great team effort today as we played a complete baseball game,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the conclusion of the series. “It started on the mound with an outstanding performance from Kevin Reed. We took care of the baseball on defense with multiple double-play balls and a couple of great catches. Taubert had a huge day at the plate and the rest of the lineup really competed today.”

It was a pitchers' dual early at Taylor Field as only one hitter per team put a ball in play in the first two innings. Reed was dialed in early striking out three of four Missouri batters in the bottom of the second. After two innings with little offense, Evansville’s bats began to come alive in the top of the third.

The Aces' first two batters didn’t get to first base, but Rumsey connected for a single to center field during his second time up. And Rumsey wouldn’t stay at first for long as just a pitch later Taubert launched a home run into left field to give UE an early 2-0 lead. The Tigers answered with a solo home run of their own in the bottom of the third cutting Evansville’s lead in half.

But the Aces' offense was ready in the top of the fourth as lead-off batter shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) walked to first. UE then got two singles in a row from infielders Kevin McCormick (Orland Park, Ill. / St. Laurence HS) and Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) scoring McConnell. Evansville wasn’t done there as second baseman Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill. / Bishop MacNamara HS) and Rumsey was hit by pitches to walk in a fourth run.

Missouri didn’t get a chance to respond in the bottom of the fourth as the Aces turned their second double play of the day, taking the Tigers down in order. Both teams went three up and three down in the fifth. UE got two runners on in the sixth with a walk and another hit by pitch to Rumsey, but no hits left two Evansville players stranded on base.

In the bottom of the sixth Missouri cut the Aces lead in half scoring the teams second run after a double, a wild pitch, and a single. UE continued to get runners on base over the next two innings as McGhee doubled and Rumsey added a single. But Evansville stranded five runners in the seventh and eighth.

The Tigers had a big offensive start to the bottom of the eighth with two straight singles. Missouri scored one run on the two hits as a ground out to third brought the Tigers' first batter of the inning home. The Aces were able to keep the other Mizzou runner at third as RHP Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich. / Monroe HS) made his second appearance of the weekend and struck out the second batter he faced.

Evansville went into the ninth hoping to find some insurance for its one-run lead. And insurance the Aces found with a two-out rally in the top of the ninth. UE loaded the bases without connecting on a hit as the Tigers pitcher threw three walks. The pitcher then hit Rumsey for the third time in the game, scoring Evansville’s fifth run of the game.

But it was Taubert who found the big hit for the Aces as he smacked a bases-clearing double into left field, making it an 8-3 game. UE added one more run in the top of the ninth as McGhee followed up Taubert’s double with a long single to center, scoring the right fielder. Evansville headed into the final frame of the game leading Missouri by six runs.

After a lead-off ground out to start the bottom of the ninth, the Aces defense had to try and quiet a Tiger rally. Mizzou connected on three singles in four at-bats scoring a fourth run on the third single. The Tigers were able to add another run on a wild pitch by Roberts as he faced his seventh batter of the inning. Roberts was able to lock in after the wild pitch, striking out the batter to close the door on a potential Missouri comeback with the third out.

Pitching 1.2 innings Roberts earned his second save of the season and second save of the weekend on Sunday. The Aces benefited from nine hits and almost as many walks on offense to score nine runs while only seven UE batters struck out in 35 at-bats.

Evansville visits its last SEC opponent of non-conference play in its next game. The Aces travel south to Nashville to play at #14 Vanderbilt. First pitch from Hawkins Field is set for 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4.

CHICAGO – Sophomore mid-distance runner Tomasso Losma (Lombardia, Italy) qualified for the men’s mile final for the University of Evansville track and field team on the first day of the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships.

Losma was the only Purple Aces runner to qualify for a separate final on Sunday afternoon running a 4:11.64 mile for ninth place. But two of UE’s women runners set PRs in their events on Sunday as well. Sophomore sprinter Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) and sophomore distance runner Avery Stephens (Newburg, Ind. / Castle HS) had personal records in the 200-meter and the 5,000-meter races.

Sunday was dominated by preliminary sprint and mid-distance races for Evansville. In sprints, Johnson set a PR of 25 seconds in the 200-meters while sophomore Raymond Felton III (Houston / Clear Brook HS) finished just outside of qualifying range in the men’s 200 at 21.84 seconds for 10th place. Johnson, Felton, and freshman Myles Terry (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) also ran in the 400-meter races with Felton having the fastest time at 49.28 seconds for 11th.

Also competing in a shorter preliminary race was hurdler Kate Walke (Batesville, Ind. / Oldenburg Academy) in the 60-meter hurdles. Walke came two-tenths of a second shy of her PR in the event finishing in 9.49 seconds.

In the mid-distance races the Aces had three runners in the men’s 800-meters and one in the women’s race. Senior Adam Oulgout (St. Paul, Minn. / Central HS) was the closest to qualifying for UE in 12th place with a time of 1:55.35. He was closely followed by sophomores Jakub Nowicki (Poznan, Poland) and Owen Cuplin (Hampshire, Ill. / Hampshire HS) at 1:58.10 and 1:58.44 finishes. In the women’s race sophomore Chase Hayes (Noblesville, Ind. / Western HS) finished in 2:24.26.

Along with Losma qualifying for the mile with a time of 4:11.64, sophomore Rafael Rodriguez (Sergovia, Spain) finished the mile in 4:16.67 for 13th place. Evansville also had two runners in the men’s and women’s 5,000-meter races. Sophomore Samuel Lea (Worchester, England) finished the men’s in 15:04.16 while Stephens set a PR in the women’s at 18:27.23.

In the field, the Aces had three participants in the men’s and women’s weight throw. Sophomore Tyler Cherne (Boardman, Ohio / Boardman HS) had the highest finish at 14th with a throw of 14.48 meters. Freshman Beau Baldwin (Mt. Vernon, Ind. / Mt. Vernon HS) also competed on the men’s side with a throw of 12.42 meters. Junior Gwen Darrah (Cleveland, Ohio / Orange HS) was UE’s only women’s thrower, placing 19th with a throw of 13.56 meters.

Evansville ended the first day of the Indoor Championships with the distance medley relays. The men’s team of Losma, Terry, Oulgout, and Rodriguez had the best finish at seventh with a time of 10:16.69. The women’s team of freshman Rebekah Sachs (Milwaukee / Milwaukee School of Languages), Johnson, Hayes, and sophomore Kyndall Anthis (Patoka, Ind. / Princeton Community HS) finished 12th with a time of 13:21.86.

The Aces will close out the MVC Indoor Championships on Monday with seven events. UE will have athletes participating in the men’s mile final, the men’s 3,000 race, the men’s high jump, the men’s triple jump, the women’s shot put, and both the men’s and women’s 4x400 meter relays. The second day of the Indoor Championships is set to begin at 11:15 a.m. on Monday.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team had a strong start to its three-game homestand with a 79-68 win over the Indiana State Sycamores.

Four Purple Aces ended the night in double figures and all, but two players recorded an assist in the victory on Saturday night. UE shared the ball well resulting in seven of the eight players in the lineup making a basket. Sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City, Wis. / Sauk Prairie HS) led Evansville with her fourth straight double-double, coming one point shy of her career-high in scoring with 28 points.

“Tonight was a great win,” said Head Coach Robyn Scherr after the game. “I’m really proud of the team. We’ve been pretty banged up and short handed and tonight was no exception. I loved the way we fought hard through some fatigue being a little bit short handed and came up with a really big team win.”

Indiana State took a six-point lead to start Saturday night forcing an early Aces timeout. UE responded out of the timeout getting the game back within a possession. The Sycamores got back to a six-point lead shortly after. But Evansville took control of the action on the floor with an eight-point run to take its first lead of the game.  Indiana State answered by retaking the lead until the final two minutes of the quarter. The Aces led by three going into the second quarter after freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) made a late layup.

UE extended its lead early in the second quarter on an 8-2 run in the first three minutes. The game’s pace slowed down after as the teams traded shots until the Sycamores had a four-point run. Evansville was able to respond with a run of its own as freshman guard Avery Kelley (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS) made back-to-back jumpers. The final two minutes of the first half returned to being back and forth as the Aces took a nine-point lead into the locker room.

It was another quick start for UE in the third as Hartwig made a three to extend Evansville’s lead to 11 points. But the three would be the Aces last made basket over the next minute and a half. Indiana State was able to tie the game up for the first time since the first quarter with 3:55 on the clock thanks to an 11-2 run. The lead was traded five times over the next two minutes. It was UE who ended the back-and-forth with two threes and a trip to the line in the final minute and a half of the third.

With only a six-point lead to begin the fourth quarter, Evansville struggled to keep the lead as the Sycamores opened the final frame on a four-point run. It remained a one-possession game over two minutes into the fourth. The Aces were able to pull away midway through the quarter with small bursts of scoring. UE put the game completely out of reach in the final four minutes with seven points to Indiana State’s three. The final statement on Evansville’s win was a made and-1 from Hartwig with 1:48 on the clock to put the Aces lead into double figures.

While Hartwig led UE with 28 points, Runner, Kelley, and freshman guard Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky. / Randall K. Cooper HS) all had double-digit nights with 14, 13, and 10 points respectively. Hartwig also had her best night under the glass in MVC action with 15 boards. Runner led the team in assists and steals with seven dishes, just one shy of her career-high, and three takeaways.

Evansville returns to action next week as they welcome two of the top teams in the Valley. The Aces begin their final week of regular season action with the Murray State Racers on Thursday, March 6. Tip-off from Meeks Family Fieldhouse with the Racers is set for 6 p.m.

WAUKEE, Iowa – On Saturday, the University of Evansville women’s swimming and diving team completed the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

In the 1650-free finals, Hannah Krings posted the top time for the Purple Aces.  Finishing in 18:15.50, she finished in 23rd.  Ane Madina led the way in the 200-backstroke. Posting a time of 2:07.20, she placed 24th in the finals.

Mari Mueller paced Evansville in the 200-breaststroke.  Following a 2:23.20 in the prelims, she swam a 2:23.46 to earn a 20th-place effort in Saturday’s final.

Sveva Brugnoli had a solid effort in the 200-fly.  After recording a 2:08.03 in the prelims, she lowered her time to a 2:06.73 in the finals to take 21st.  Rebecca Lago, Evelyn Chin, Madina, and Brugnoli swam for Evansville in the 400-free relay.  Their effort of 3:31.92 saw them finish in 7th.

Maddie Rollett took 13th in the 3-meter dive.  After scoring a 230.00 in the prelims, she improved to a 236.65 in the finals.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After falling in Saturday’s Hilltopper Spring Fling opener, the University of Evansville softball team rallied to earn a 9-6 win over Tennessee Tech in the nightcap.

Game 1 – Western Kentucky 5, UE 4

Saturday’s opener was a back-and-forth contest.  Following a scoreless three frames, it was Evansville getting on the board first in the top half of the fourth.  Jess Willsey and Taylor Howe hit back-to-back doubles to score the first run of the game.  It did not take long for the Hilltoppers to respond as they plated three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Eliza Piggott cut into the deficit in the fifth.  Following a walk by Jenna Donohoo, Piggott launched a 2-run home run to tie the game.  Kynadee Warner gave the Purple Aces a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth with an RBI double that scored Niki Bode.

WKU countered with the tying run in the bottom of the inning before UE looked for a rally in the top of the seventh.  Keghan Pye reached on a single while Willsey reached on a walk, but the Hilltoppers escaped without allowing the go-ahead run.  Western Kentucky rallied in the bottom of the seventh as a leadoff double was followed by an error that scored the winning run.

Kate Ridgway put forth another solid effort in the circle.  In six innings, she allowed five runs, none of which were earned.  She fanned four batters.  Seven players accounted for UE’s seven hits in the contest.

Game 2 – UE 9, Tennessee Tech 6

Evansville led throughout most of the contest before Tennessee Tech rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.  A 3-run seventh was the different as the Aces hung on for the 9-6 win.

Jess Willsey got UE started with a 2-run home run in the top of the first.  Brooke Voss, who reached on a 1-out single, also scored on the play.  The Aces doubled their lead in the second.  Kynadee Warner led off with a walk and scored on a single by Eliza Piggott.  Voss added a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-0 game.

Tennessee Tech cut into the UE lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs to get within one.  It remained a 4-3 game until the top half of the fourth when the Aces added two more runs on Piggott’s 2-run single.  Warner and Jenna Donohoo scored on the hit.  After scoring a single run in the bottom of the frame, the Golden Eagles rallied to tie the game with two runs in the sixth.

Utilizing a 2-out rally, the Aces scored three runs to retake the lead in the 7th.  Morgan Adams had an RBI single before Callie Meinel had a 2-run single to right field to give her team some insurance.  Elle Jarrett took care of business in the bottom of the inning to pick up the win.  She threw the final three innings with two unearned runs scoring.  Gracie Hollingsworth made the start, going four innings while allowing four runs, two being earned.  The offense posted nine runs on ten hits with Donohoo and Piggott posting two apiece.  Piggott led the team with three RBI.

Sunday’s weekend finale against Kentucky is set to begin at 10 a.m.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Sunday’s rematch against #24 Kentucky saw the University of Evansville softball team fall by a final of 8-0 in six innings.  The Purple Aces complete the Hilltopper Spring Fling with a 3-2 record.

Evansville looked to capitalize on a Wildcat error in the top half of the first before picking up a scoring chance in the third.  With two outs, Brooke Voss doubled to left field but was stranded end the inning.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Kentucky added two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to go up 6-0.  UE stranded a runner in the fourth and sixth before the Wildcats emerged unscathed on both occasions.

Scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth, Kentucky clinched the 8-0 victory.  Kate Ridgway tossed five innings with six runs, five earned, scoring in the appearance.  Elle Jarrett gave up two runs while Cassidy Gall recorded the final two outs.

Brooke Voss picked up the hit for UE.  Next weekend, UE travels to Louisville, Ky. to play in a tournament hosted by Bellarmine.  The Aces are set to take on Stonehill, Ball State, and Bellarmine.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Evansville baseball team earned its first road win of 2025 in a back-and-forth battle with the Missouri Tigers.

The lead on Friday night changed hands three times before the Purple Aces closed the door on Missouri with a 7-6 win. It was the team’s first meeting in just under 40 years as UE tied the series on Friday with the victory. Evansville’s offense combined for 14 hits and seven RBIs while its pitching threw nine strikeouts and only three walks.

“We took a big step tonight as we won a close game early in the season,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll following the game. “We had great overall approaches at the plate, especially seeing Cal McGinnis have a big game. [Pitchers] Deverman and Roberts made some big pitches to earn this win. I’m ready to see us compete for 18 innings tomorrow.”

The Aces offense got going early as third baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) hit a solo home run into right field with two outs on the board. Friday was the first game this year where UE scored in the first inning. But the Tigers quickly tied the game up in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot of their own.

Evansville kept attacking the ball as left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) led off the second with a single to left. Longmeier soon made his way to third as he stole second base and advanced on a throwing error. But he would be stranded in scoring position as the Aces didn’t find a deep ball to bring Longmeier home.

Missouri had a similar result in the bottom of the inning as UE’s defense stranded a runner on base. Evansville’s offense got going again in the top of the third as right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) hit his second double of the season to lead the team in slugging percentage. Taubert scored to give the Aces another one-run lead with McGinnis connected on his second hit with a long single to center field.

The UE defense stranded two more Tigers in the third to preserve the one-run lead. Evansville got a little insurance in the top of the fourth as Longmeier took first on an error and scored two at-bats later as shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) had an RBI groundout to second.

But the Aces' two-run lead didn’t last long as Missouri began the bottom of the fourth with a double, a single, and two bunts to tie the game. The Tigers then took the lead with a sacrifice fly and another single for a two-run advantage. Starting pitcher Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo. / Fort Zumwalt West HS) got out of the inning with his fourth strikeout of the night but was credited with three of the scored runs.

It remained a 5-3 game for the next two innings as neither offense could get anything going. But it was UE who broke out first in the top of the seventh. Evansville’s top of the order hit five singles in a row with only one out on the board to tie up the game. Longmeier helped give the Aces the lead with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring McGinnis to make it a 6-5 game.

UE’s defense quickly ended the seventh with three outs in four at-bats while the offense added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. After a ground out to begin the inning, second baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) was hit by a pitch to take first base. Evansville returned to the top of its order for center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) who already had a hit and a diving out on the night. Rumsey smashed the fifth pitch he saw down the right field line for the Aces' first triple of 2025 and a two-run lead.

UE was able to hang onto its lead with strong defense and a big performance from RHP Kellen Roberts (Monroe, Mich. / Monroe HS). Despite a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth, Evansville limited the damage with two strikeouts and a ground out. Missouri was able to score, making it only a one-run game for the Aces going into the ninth.

Longmeier and first baseman Ben Stuart (Mason, Ohio / Willam Mason HS) singled in the ninth. But with two outs on the board beforehand, neither runner scored an insurance run for UE. In the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers' first batter flew out to left for an out while their pinch hitter was walked. Roberts was able to buckle down after the walk, throwing back-to-back strikeouts to close the door on a potential Missouri comeback.

Deverman earned his first win of the season pitching seven innings with seven hits, five runs, four earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. Roberts had Evansville’s first save of the year pitching two innings in relief for no hits, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts. On offense, Taubert and McGinnis led the way with three hits each. McGinnis also led the Aces in RBIs bringing in three runs on the night.

UE and Missouri face off again tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader. The first game is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch from Taylor Stadium.

WAUKEE, Iowa – Sveva Brugnoli, Evelyn Chin, and Ane Madina all set personal bests for the University of Evansville women’s swimming and diving team on Friday in the third day of Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

Evelyn Chin qualified for the finals with a time of 56.39 in the prelims of the 100-fly.  She bested that time in the finals, coming in 17th with her effort of 55.68. The time was 0.21 quicker than her previous low time of 55.89 and remains as the third-fastest time in school history.  Mia Pesavento (59.35) and Amanda Denny (59.80) rounded out the Purple Aces top three in the event.

Sveva Brugnoli’s success came in the 400-IM.  Posting a 4:31.76 in the prelims, she finished in 14th place to qualify for the finals.  In the evening session, Brugnoli improved by nearly two seconds, swimming a 4:29.90 to mark her lowest career time in the race.  Her time was 4th-best in UE history.

Ane Madina swam her low time in the 100-backstroke.  She opened with the top performance of her career in the prelims, swimming a 57.50 to finish in 19th.  Her low time last season was a 58.01.  Her time keeps her 8th in the Aces record book.  She qualified for the final where she swam the second-best time of her career, taking 20th with a 57.68.  Luana Carrotta took 29th in the prelims, recording a 1:01.17.

Maddie Rollett qualified for the finals in the 3-meter dive.  Posting a score of 230.00, she came in 11th place to advance.

In the 100-breaststroke, Mari Mueller and Rafaela Markarewicz each qualified for the finals.  Mueller’s finish of 1:06.36 saw her take 21st to advance while Markarewicz finished 22nd with her time of 1:07.02.  Mueller lowered her time to a 1:05.99 to take 21st in the finals while Markarewicz was 24th with a 1:07.91.

Delaney Miller was Evansville’s top finisher in the 200-free prelims.  Her time finished at 2:00.21.  Just behind her were Lilly Yancey (2:02.56) and Hannah Krings (2:04.42).

Rebecca Lago, Madina, Denny, and Chin took part in the 200-free relay.  The group came home in 8th place, posting a 1:36.50.  UE completes the championships on Saturday.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Evansville baseball team didn’t keep its series lead against the Missouri Tigers as they lost 6-2 and 17-7 on Saturday.

The Purple Aces played from behind in both games of its doubleheader with Mizzou on Saturday. UE’s offense wasn’t able to keep up with the Tigers red hot hitters as they pulled away for two wins. Of the 17 hits Evansville connected with on Saturday shortstop Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) led the Aces with four. On the mound UE used six pitchers with starters Owen Byberg (Barrie, Ontario / Frontier CC) and RJ James (Toronto, Ontario / Sir John A MacDonald HS) recording the losses.

“Game one was a competitive game that we just couldn’t get the lead in,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the doubleheader. “Byberg battled through the first couple of innings to give us a chance, but our offense couldn’t get the big inning. We didn’t pitch or defend well enough in game two to earn a win. Tomorrow is an important game as we need to compete in all three facets of the game.”

Game 1

Evansville struggled with leaving runners on base while at the plate early on Saturday. The Aces stranded two runners to start the first game while the Tigers only stranded one and scored three runs in the first inning.  UE was able to recover in the top of the second as its first three batters loaded the bases on a walk and two singles.

Evansville scored its first run on a sacrifice fly from center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) to send home first baseman Ben Stuart (Mason, Ohio / William Mason HS). A walk to right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) reloaded the bases and the Aces capitalized as McGinnis singled up the middle. Second baseman Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) scored UE’s second run to make it a one-run game.

Designated hitter Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. Christian Brothers College HS) popped up on the next at-bat to end Evansville’s offensive response. The Aces didn’t score another run over the next seven innings despite a strong performance on the mound from Byberg. Missouri added a run in the bottom of the second after three hits. A strikeout along with a ground out ended the inning at 4-2.

Over the next four innings, Byberg took down 12 of the 16 batters he faced to keep it a 4-2 game while setting a new career high in strikeouts with six. UE looked like they would add a run in the top of the seventh as a single for McGinnis followed by a double for McGhee had both in scoring position with two outs. But Missouri closed the door with a strikeout from their starter.

The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two more runs on a hit by pitch and a fielding error. Evansville had two runners reach base in the eighth but a double play and a flyout ended the half inning. The Aces went into the top of the ninth down to their last three outs.

After a lead-off strikeout, Taubert connected on his second hit of the game. Taubert was thrown out on the next play as McGinnis reached first on a fielder’s choice. McGinnis then advanced to second during a 10-pitch at-bat for McGhee that resulted in a walk. UE again had two on with two outs and couldn’t capitalize as a groundout ended the first game.

Game 2

It was another rough start in Evansville’s second game of the day as Missouri loaded the bases with its first three batters. It wasn’t long before the Tigers scored adding four runs in the bottom of the first three straight singles and a fielder’s choice. James was able to end the inning with his first strikeout of the day.

Missouri got right back to scoring in the bottom of the second with a lead-off solo shot to right center. Two doubles in the next three at-bats had the Tigers up by six runs and they added a seventh on a scoring error before the Aces could get out of the inning. UE kept Missouri from scoring in the third with its second double play of the year and a fly out.

The Tigers added an eighth run in the bottom of the fourth as RHP Parker MacCauley (Paducah, Ky. / Tennessee Tech) took over on the mound for James after two batters. The first batter MacCauley faced singled through the right side to score a run. But Evansville sat down three of the next four batters to end the inning.

It was a scoreless fifth for both teams as MacCauley struck out the side, getting three of four batters down swinging. The Aces broke the shutout in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs with only one out on the board. UE’s next two batters flew out and struck out to keep it at an 8-2 score going into the bottom of the sixth.

Missouri’s offense exploded in the bottom of the sixth, putting the game out of reach for Evansville. The Tigers scored nine runs on eight hits and an error while going through their lineup a full-time. The Aces used three pitchers in the inning starting with MacCauley followed by freshman pitchers Jack Wills (Shelbyville, Ky. / Shelby County HS) and Jack Clevidence (Ankeny, Iowa / Ankeny HS).

But UE wasn’t going to go down without a fight as they headed into the top of the seventh facing a run-rule loss down by 15 runs. Catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) led off the inning with a single to right center while third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) walked to have a runner in scoring position. First baseman Kevin McCormick (Orland Park, Ill. / St. Laurence HS) followed Howard’s walk with a double down the left field line, scoring Flaherty.

Evansville kept the hit parade going as its next two batters connected and scored a run each to make it 17-6. The Aces' second out of the inning came in the next at-bat as they needed two more runs to go to an eighth inning. McGhee hit his second double of the day to score one of the two runs UE needed to avoid the run rule.

Left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) connected on his only hit of the day to put McGhee into scoring position. Flaherty followed Longmeier at the plate and loaded up the bases after being hit by a pitch. But with two outs on the board, a seven-pitch strikeout for McConnell ended Evansville’s chance at a comeback in the final game of the day.

UP NEXT

The Aces will look to leave Columbia with a series split on Sunday. In the final game of the weekend UE is slated to pitch LHP Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville, Ind.) who had a career outing against USI a week ago. First pitch from Taylor Stadium on Sunday is set for 1 p.m. and can be followed along through live stats.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 2024-25 regular season comes to a close on Sunday as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Normal, Ill. to face Illinois State at 2 p.m.  ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.

Last Time Out 

- Facing Drake in the home finale, the Purple Aces put up a fight before coming up just short in a 65-61 contest on Wednesday

- The teams swapped the lead 13 times in a competitive contest that saw Tayshawn Comer lead the way with 20 points while Tanner Cuff added 14

Looking Ahead

- Entering Sunday’s action, the Aces have a chance to be seeded anywhere between 5th and 10th for next week’s Arch Madness

- Standings may not be finalized until Monday morning when the latest NET rankings are released

Full 40

- For the fourth game in a row and ninth time this season, Gabriel Pozzato played all 40 minutes against Drake

- Pozzato is 6th in the MVC with 34.94 minutes per game

- He has averaged 18.0 PPG over the last three contests

- The 3-time MVC Freshman of the Week is the #7 scorer in the league with 15.45 PPG

- He earned his third MVC freshman accolade on Feb. 3 as he averaged 25.5 PPG in wins over Murray State and Belmont

- After missing eight games, he returned on Jan. 18 against Belmont

- Pozzato has posted double figures in 18 of his 22 games this year

Reaching 1K

- Tayshawn Comer scored 22 points at UIC to surpass the 1,000-point mark in his career

- After scoring 539 points in two seasons at Eastern Kentucky, Comer has 487 this season at UE to stand at 1,026 points

- Comer recorded his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 assists against Valparaiso

- His 11 assists tied his career mark

- Over the last 17 games, Comer is averaging 20.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game over that time and leads UE with his season scoring average of 16.2 PPG

- Included in that tally is a career-high 27 points in the win over Murray State, besting his mark of 26 in the road win at SIU

Scouting the Opponent                                                                                                  

- Illinois State has won two of its last three games to enter the regular season finale with a record of 17-13 and 9-10 in the Valley

- The Redbirds hold an 11-4 mark at home this season

- Chase Walker is the top threat for the Redbirds, pacing the team with 15.4 PPG and 6.0 RPG

- Johnny Kinziger is averaging 15.2 points and 3.8 rebounds

- Dalton Banks has chipped in 9.8 PPG and paces the team with 112 assists and 50 steals on the season

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For the first time since defeating #17 Illinois State in 2007, the University of Evansville softball team defeated a ranked opponent to open the Hilltopper Spring Fling on Friday.  The Purple Aces held on to take a 7-5 win over 24th-ranked Kentucky to open the weekend before defeating Tennessee Tech in the second game of the day.

Game 1 – UE 7, #24 Kentucky 5

Scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first, the Purple Aces held off a late challenge to defeat 24th-ranked Kentucky by a final of 7-5

Evansville opened the game with a 7-run bottom of the first.  A pair of walks set up the scoring opportunity for Taylor Howe, who singled down the left field line to bring in the first run of the game.  Niki Bode followed with a sac fly to bring in the second run of the day.  Three 2-out hits saw the lead expand even more.  Kynadee Warner singled to left to bring in Howe while Jenna Donohoo followed with a 2-run double to right center.  Eliza Piggott capped things off with a 2-run home run to make it a 7-0 game.

Kentucky quickly responded with three runs in the top half of the second.  Neither team would record a hit until the top of the 5th when the Wildcats plated two more runs to cut the deficit to just two.  UK looked to add more in the sixth as they posted a pair of hits before Aces starter Kate Ridgway kept them off the board.

Warner registered her second hit of the day in the bottom of the 6th, but the deficit remained at two runs heading to the 7th.  Ridgway retired the Wildcats in order to seal the win.  She tossed the entire game and allowed five runs on five hits while striking out four batters on the way to her third win of the season.  Evansville had five hits on the day with Warner picking up two.

Game 2 – UE 4, Tennessee Tech 0

Elle Jarrett threw a complete game 2-hit shutout to lead the Purple Aces to a 4-0 win over Tennessee Tech to wrap up the day on Friday.  Evansville did not take long to score as Keghan Pye gave her team a 1-0 lead.  Pye reached on a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball.  When Taylor Howe reached on a TTU error, Pye scored from second base.

Tennessee Tech picked up a hit in the first inning but would not pick up another until the 6th as Jarrett took care of business in the circle.  The lone baserunner for the Golden Eagles between the 2nd and 5th reached on an error.

The score remained at 1-0 until the bottom of the 5th when UE picked up some insurance.  Pye and Jess Willsey both reached on a walk before Morgan Adams acme to the plate and delivered a 3-run home run with two outs to push the lead to four.  From there, Jarrett kept the shutout intact to lead UE to its fifth win in a row and a sweep of the day.

Saturday will see UE face Tennessee Tech and Western Kentucky.