The advanced screening of the movie Bernie will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 22 in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. 

Student tickets are $5 and  general admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. All funds raised at the Evansville premiere will provide scholarships for UE students.

Starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey, Bernie is produced by Wind Dancer Films, an independent motion picture and television development, production, and financing company. UE theatre alumni Matt Williams '73 and David McFadzean '73 are principals in the company, and communications graduate Dete Meserve '84 is president. McFadzean and Meserve will attend the Evansville premiere of Bernie, which opens nationwide on April 27.

The screening is co-sponsored by UE, 14 News, and the Evansville Courier & Press.

Purchase tickets for the movie Bernie in the Shanklin Theatre ticket office Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are only $5. Bernie is a film produced by three UE alums. The film will be premiered on Sunday, April 22 in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center, at 6:00 p.m.

Check out the trailer here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1704573/.
 

Design a logo for UE’s new Center for Innovation Engineering! This competition is open to all UE students! Cash prize!

The Center for Innovation Engineering (CIE) was founded in the summer of 2011 with the goal of instilling an entrepreneurial mindset in UE engineering students through the transformation of undergraduate engineering education. The CIE will aspire to enhance the skills of graduates of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and to foster direct collaboration with regional business.

CONSIDERATIONS
This will be the visual voice of what the Center for Innovation Engineering is. It must be unique and aesthetically pleasing. Keep it simple. The center serves to encourage and support innovation and invention in all UE students. It will provide opportunities for experiential learning and the development of new ideas and the furthering of technology throughout all disciplines.

The logo must be flexible.
• Must be able to enlarge or shrink the logo
• Must work well on the web
• Must service a wide range of applications

The logo will be used for letterhead, business cards, #10 envelopes, and additional marketing pieces.

The logo must be produced as a vector image, so only Adobe Illustrator may be used to create the logo. The dominant colors should be purple and gold.

TO SUBMIT:
Burn your files onto a CD marked clearly with your name, e-mail address, and telephone number. Bring your CD to the Office of Publications (Sampson Hall) by 5:00 p.m. on April 20.

If you have any questions, please e-mail publications@evansville.edu.

The center serves to encourage and support innovation and invention in all UE students. It will provide opportunities for experiential learning and the development of new ideas and the furthering of technology throughout all disciplines.
 

The University will begin a modified summer schedule starting Monday, May 7 and ending Monday, August 6. 

Business hours for the campus will be adjusted during this period to 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In all cases, the area supervisor is responsible for the scheduling decisions that will best meet the University’s and their respective department’s service requirements during business hours. We will return to regular hours on Monday, August 6.

The modified summer work schedule is incumbent on ensuring coverage to service our many constituencies. It is important to maintain our commitment and communication with students and their parents during the summer months. Your assistance in this regard is greatly appreciated. 
 

Today is the FINAL DAY for the Scholastic Book Fair which is being held in Ridgway University Center from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. If you haven't already come to look at the wide selection you should do so today! There are many excellent items left!

The University of Evansville String Ensemble, under the direction of Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Activities Brian St. John will present its final concert of the year on Friday, April 20, 6 p.m., in Wheeler Auditorium. This concert will feature music by Gyorgy Orban, Leos Janacek and UE student Caleb Gorrell; it is free and open to the public.

To show support and care for LGBT youth who, due to fear of abuse, cannot come out to anyone in their lives, UE PRIDE will be participating in the Day of Silence march, together with schools all over the nation.  Any student who shares interest in this cause is welcome to meet on Friday, April 20 at 5:00 p.m.in the Ridgway University Center's East Terrace (Grassy Knoll).  The group will march once in silence around campus, then meet back on the East Terrace to break the silence in the form of one big, group scream.  There will be buttons, stickers, signs and streamers available for free as well!
 

Even if you cannot join our UE team at the March of Dimes, March for Babies walk on April 28, please consider making a donation in support of our UE team. To make a donation online, go to http://marchforbabies.org/ue and click “join this team.” If you prefer, you can drop off your cash or check donations in the Office of Student Accounts.

Remember, your participation and support will save babies.

Book Buyback at the UE Bookstore starts at noon on April 25 and runs through Wednesday, May 2.  Promotions during the week include an IPAD giveaway and daily ITune drawings. You can register each time you sell books. Promotions also include merchandise discounts, Sweet Poppins and other items. 

You may sell books back as many times during the week as you wish and you do NOT need your original receipt. You will need your student ID. We freely offer quotes on books whether used on this campus or not. You'll always get cash on spot. A majority of the books we buy stay on campus to benefit the campus community.  In addition to regular pricing on books we have over 200 titles that offer special bonus pricing well above any others. 

Please remember to bring all components, including CDs, that came with your textbooks as that may result in better pricing.  Any workbooks or texts that require answers be written in them should be clean for value.  Also always keep an eye on your books and report any missing textbooks to the Bookstore as soon as possible.  

If you have any questions about Buyback be sure to ask or contact the Bookstore.  Buyback ends promptly at 5 p.m. on May 2 so make sure you get in before that time.    
 

Rev. Larry A. Rascoe, senior pastor of  Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church, men’s basketball chaplain, and University of Evansville Board of Trustees member is inviting you to a wonderful home cooked meal.  You are invited to attend “The Last Supper” on Sunday, April 29, at 1:00 p.m., after the 11:00 a.m. worship service.  It will be held at Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church at 867 Walnut Street, Evansville, Ind.  R.S.V.P. to 812 424-7368 by April 26.  “Last Supper” refers to the last big supper before the end of finals!  Invite your roommates and friends. Need a ride?  Contact the church at 812-424-7368.

Take a break from studying for 10 minutes and come play with a dog! Only $5. On Saturday April 21 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., come help Zeta Tau Alpha raise money for local Humane Societies. All of the money raised will benefit dogs in Warrick and Posey County. Donations are welcome as well. This event is open to students and professors. Email hs92@evansville.edu with any questions!

The priest for this Sunday's 1:00 Mass in Neu Chapel will be Fr. Alex Zenthoefer, associate pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, chaplain of Memorial High School, and vocations director for the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. Everyone is welcome!
 

The Medieval Society will be having a free Renaissance Faire on Saturday, April 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. It will be located on the lawn between Neu Chapel and Morton Hall. There will be apothecary, tarot readings, weaving, dancing, fighting, and more.     

On Tuesday, April 24, you can turn in obsolete electronics for recycling, at no cost to you. Nearly all such items will be accepted, including small appliances such as dorm room sized refrigerators.  Exceptions include typewriters, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, and the like. Qualified obsolete electronics can be dropped off between 1:30-3:30 p.m. by the basketball court between Hale Hall and Hughes Hall; and in the parking lot between Moore Hall and Morton/Brentano Halls.  If you have any questions please contact Janice Walker at 2941 or jw469@evansville.edu
 

The UE Cheer Team is looking for males and females to join the cheer team for the 2012-2013 season.  Cheer Tryouts will be held on April 27 and 28.  The clinic will be Friday, April 27 at 5 p.m. in Carson Center with the tryouts being held on Saturday, April 28 at 8 a.m. in Carson Center.  For more information on tryouts or qualifications, go to gopurpleaces.com or email head coach Courtney Moore at courtney.moore2@gmail.com.  There is a non-refundable $25 tryout fee that must be paid before trying out for the team.  Join the tradition and be part of the UE Cheer Team!

The Venturing Crew is going hiking Saturday afternoon. Meet at Ridgway University Center at noon to carpool to this event, which is free for members. You must fill out an activity waiver on WebAdvisor prior to departure. If you would like to become a member contact Nicky at nl22@evansville.edu.

Any other questions e-mail Kevin at ku18@evansville.edu.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/367857413258665/#!/events/301509066566895/

On Saturday April 21, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the University of Evansville’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon will host its Eighth Annual Luau Car and Bike Show.  The show will be held in the parking lot of the Arby’s Restaurant at the corner of Burkhardt and Lloyd Expressway in Evansville. Prizes will be given at this event, including trophies for top vehicles in over a dozen categories, door prizes, half-pot drawing and much much more. Additionally, a prize package along with a trophy will be awarded to the largest car club in attendance! Preregistration for this event is $10 per vehicle and $12 on the day of the event. The first 100 cars to register will receive a free dash plaque! All proceeds from this event will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network.
 

The University of Evansville Aces Dance Team invites all eligible students to audition for the Dance Team for the 2012-2013 season. Auditions will be held on April 21 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first day of auditions will consist of learning a short, choreographed dance and practicing technique. The second day will consist of showing examples of required technique, preforming the choreographed routine, showcasing 1 minute of original original choreography to music (this should be prepared prior to auditions), and a short interview. Auditions will be held in the Small Gym of the Carson Center.

Information about the 2012-2013 season will be provided at the call out meeting on April 16 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Room 113 of the Carson Center.

A private or video audition may be arranged if needed and will be allowed at the discretion of the coaching staff.

There is a $20 audition fee. Please refrain from wearing baggy clothing during auditions. Footwear is required.

More information is available at gopurpleaces.com. Please contact Coach Arata at ma112@evansville.edu  or 502.689.4085 with any questions or concerns.

We hope to see you at auditions!
 

Family Weekend is scheduled for September 28–30. The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations has started working on event planning for this weekend. If your department or organization would like to have an event during Family Weekend, please complete a newly developed “Family Weekend Event Form” by clicking on this link http://acelink.evansville.edu/Areas/Alumni/, or by e-mailing the information to: alumni@evansville.edu.  

Like last year’s successful weekend, we would love to have a lot of student and department participation!  If you have any questions, please contact Angela Williams, assistant director of Alumni and Parent Relations, at 488-2900 or Donna Jones, at 488-2586.
 

With semester end fast approaching, the Writing Center calendar is bursting with appointments--a good thing! If you have booked an appointment, please honor it by coming to it on time. If by chance you cannot keep the appointment you have made, remember to cancel it, allowing enough time for another student to take the spot you held. Time at the Center is coveted, and the tutors want to serve as many students as they can. When someone does not show up for an appointment he or she has booked, this is time wasted--and not fair to the other students. Thank you for honoring the appointments you make!
 

All staff are encouraged to volunteer to assist with Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 5, at the Ford Center.  Commencement volunteers are needed at the Ford Center by 12:15 p.m. at the latest. Commencement begins at 1:30 p.m. and some volunteers will be asked to stay through the ceremony to assist at the conclusion. Please contact Cara Fabrocini by the end of the day on Friday April 20, at cf107@evansville.edu or 488-2058 if you are able to assist at Commencement.

The Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana has announced the 2012-13 Recipients of the UE Global Scholar Award.

As a UE Global Scholar, the recipients of this award will engage in scholarship, curriculum development, travel and/or research activities related to the impact of globalization on our learning environment.

Professor of Creative Writing William Baer will travel to Portugal this summer to research the life, work and various manuscripts of Natalia Correia (1923-1993), in preparation for translating her poetry.  Natalia Correia is one of the most renowned poets in Portuguese history, and she was also, for many decades, at the very center of intellectual life in Lisbon.  A fearless social activist, Natalia was sentenced to three years in prison under the Salazar dictatorship.  Eventually, her sentence was suspended, and after the “Bloodless Revolution” of 1974, she was elected to serve in the Assemblia da República (the Portuguese Parliament) for over ten years.  Regarding her literary reputation, The New York Times wrote at the time of her death that “Ms. Correia’s anthology of poetry, Sonetos Românticos, is considered one of the most beautiful contemporary literary works in Portuguese.” 

Assistant Professor of English Mark Cirino will use his Global Scholar grant to travel to Italy to research the setting of Ernest Hemingway’s novel Across the River and into the Trees by visiting sites in and around Venice and the Veneto where Hemingway traveled and composed the novel.  The work will make an immeasurable contribution to his teaching by providing a global perspective to his work and research.

Associate Professor of Political Science Young-Choul Kim will apply his Global Scholar award to study why China’s youth have negative perceptions towards the U.S.  Is it possible for this perception to change in the future? In order to explore this complex nature, he will conduct an empirical survey research in China. Summarily, the surveys will ask Chinese college students’ opinions on current controversial issues between the two countries such as US-China economic relations, military competition, political status of Taiwan and Tibet, roles of the U.S. and China in the 21st century, etc. In preparation of this field research in China, Dr. Kim has been studying the Chinese language since 2009. He has also taken Chinese courses (Chinese 111 and 112) at UE. With this research project, he is planning to visit several universities in China including our partner university, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, to conduct these surveys and intensive interviews.

Professor of Marketing Robert Montgomery will conduct survey research to determine differences in who, why, where, what and how frequently American and Chinese consumers use Social Networking Media.  The Global Scholar award will be used to collect data for a cross-cultural comparison of American and Chinese social-network users.  The results will pinpoint marketing strategies that can be standardized across cultures and strategies that need to be tailored to a specific culture.  Furthermore, the impact of individualism vs. a collective culture and censorship vs. the free flow of information on the use of social network media will be ascertained.

Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science/Director of Public Health Payal Patel-Dovlatabadi plans to utilize her Global Scholar grant to expand her experience in the area of global health with a year-long comparative study of health systems in a low-income and high-income country, specifically India and the U.S., respectively.  Reducing health disparities is an essential component to address when observing health care globally. From a global health perspective, the structure of health systems in countries with relation to social and economic development differ significantly leading to access to and quality of care issues. By comparing and contrasting health systems of countries differing in social and economic development, population health statistics such as differences in malnutrition, infant mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, and prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases may be better explained.

Wanted - Students to share their University of Evansville experiences with prospective students.

The Office of Admission is looking for students to blog about their 2012-13 UE experiences. Bloggers will receive $250 per semester upon fulfilling the requirements which include:
• Complete a written blog post, photo post, or video post twice a month. Posts do not have to be long, but share portions of campus life.
• Write a short informational post which provides information about major and campus activities and involvement.
• Provide a photo for the blogging platform or have photo taken by UE staff.

Interested students should e-mail Kim McDonald (km117@evansville.edu) a sample post. For more information, contact Kim at km117@evansville.edu or ext. 2683.

• Wednesday, April 25:  7:45  a.m.   -    1:00 a.m.
• Thursday, April 26:       7:45 a.m.    -    1:00 a.m.
• Friday, April 27:             7:45 a.m.    -    8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 28:      10:00 a.m.   -    8:00 p.m.  
• Sunday, April 29:                   Noon   -    1:00 a.m.
• Monday, April 30:          7:45 a.m.   -    1:00 a.m.     
• Tuesday, May 1:              7:45 a.m.   -    Midnight
• Wednesday, May 2:       7:45 a.m.   -    5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 3:            7:45 a.m.   -    5:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 4:                  7:45 a.m.   -    5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 5:             CLOSED
• Sunday, May 6:                CLOSED
 

Spring and summer graduates need to stop by the Registrar’s Office in Room 106 in Olmsted Hall to pick up their May commencement line cards.  The cards contain important information for commencement day and should be brought to the graduation ceremony.  Cords will also be distributed to students earning Latin honors.

All UE residential facilities officially close at noon on the Thursday, May 3. However, students must officially check out of housing within 24 hours following their last exam. If you need to stay later, an Online Extended Request Form must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Reading & Study Day. These forms are available on the Residence Life Web site. There may be a $35 per night fee depending on the reason for staying. Graduating seniors and those participating in graduation may remain in housing until noon the day following commencement (but still must submit an extended stay request).
 

Consider taking a UE online course this summer. Check out these online courses to meet your needs. Visiting students can contact the Center for Adult Education Department (812-488-2981) for registration assistance.  For a detailed listing of ALL summer course offerings at UE, please visit http://www.evansville.edu/summersessions/

Summer I Online Courses:
ART 105 – Introduction to Visual Arts
ARTH 209 – Survey of Art II
BUS 380 – Leadership
CHEM 108 – Elementary Chemistry
COMM 380 – Intercultural Communication
EDUC 100 – History & Found of Amer Educ
EDUC 320 – Teach Strategies in K-12 Schools
EDUC 322 – Spec Need Stud K-12
EXSS 190 – Intro to Public Health
MATH 105 – College Algebra
MATH 221 – Calculus I
MATH 222 – Calculus II
MGT 280 – Leadership
MGT 311 – Mgmt Information Systems
MGT 377 – Organizational Behavior
MKT 325 – Principles of Marketing
PSCI 100 – World Politics
QM 227 – Introduction to Statistics
REL 150 – Intro New Testament
SOC 105 – Intro to Sociology

Summer II Online Courses:
ACCT 211 – Principles of Accounting II
ART 105 – Introduction to Visual Arts
BUS 380 – Social Media Strategy
COMM 130 – Intro to Communication
EDUC 320 – Teach Strategies in K-12 Schools
EDUC 516 – Adv Educ Technol & Application
EXSS 195 – Global Health Issues
HSA 414/514 – Health Care Mgmt & HR
HIST 111 – World History to 1500
MGT 310 – Production/Operations Mgmt
NUTR 280 – Nutrition in Health & Disease
PSCI 100 – World Politics
PSYC 416 – Human Sexuality
REL 130 – Christian Thought
SOC 230 – Social Problems Modern World
 

Students, will you be taking classes in Evansville or staying during the summer to work? If you need summer housing, come by the Office of Residence Life to pick up a summer housing application. UE summer housing will be located in Schroeder Hall. For more information about on-campus summer housing ask the Residence Life staff or visit the summer housing website. Applications for summer housing are due April 20. 

John David Lutz, Chair of the University of Evansville Department of Theatre, has been selected to receive the award for Outstanding Career Achievement in Directing, from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The award will be presented on Saturday, April 22, at a ceremony in Washington, DC.

Lutz is in his 47th year on the faculty and has directed 71 productions at UE. Last fall, Lutz directed Athol Fugard’s “MASTER HAROLD”…and the boys, marking his 24th production showcased at an ACTF regional festival, since 1971. Six of these productions were additionally showcased at the national festival at the Kennedy Center.  In 2007, by special invitation, the UE production of The Comedy of Errors was one of the Kennedy Center’s contributions to the “Shakespeare in Washington” celebration. Lutz has also directed at regional theatres and the Off-Broadway premiere of Between Daylight and Boonville, by Matt Williams, a UE alumnus and member of the Board of Trustees.

In lieu of showcasing productions at a national festival this year, a group of 22 theatre educators travelled to all six regional festivals and have recognized the cast, crew, and creative team of the “MASTER HAROLD”…and the boys with the following awards:
Distinguished Production of a Play;
Distinguished Performance and Production Ensemble;
Distinguished Scenic Design, to Eric Renschler, Assistant Professor of Scenic Design;
Outstanding Performance by an Actor, to Dylan Frederick, a sophomore from Edina, Minn.

A reception was held April 11 to honor the recipients of the annual Foreign Languages Department Outstanding Student Awards.  The faculty in each language taught by the department selects the students they feel were exceptional in their language studies over the past year.
This year’s winners are:
Bianca E. Edelhoff - French
Ashley R. Rich - German
Kristen M. Sholander - Spanish
Hillary J. Degenhardt - Russian
Anna V. Whiteman - Japanese
Cody C. Baker - Chinese

Former UE organ students Douglas O’Neill, Kirk Rich, and Michael Salazar will perform a concert in celebration of Dr. Douglas Reed’s continuing UE teaching career on Sunday, April 22, at First Presbyterian Church, 609 S.E. Second Street, Evansville. The 4:00 p.m. concert is sponsored by the Evansville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and is free and open to the public. Douglas Reed began teaching at UE as an Assistant Professor of Music and University Organist in 1975.  Although he retired from full-time teaching in 2010, he continues as University Organist and teaches organ and harpsichord students.

Dr. O’Neill is Organist and Assistant Director of Music at The Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.  After graduating from UE, O’Neill earned masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Iowa and the University of Kansas.  He has served as Assistant University Organist at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, Associate Organist and Director of the Organ Academy at Saint Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, and as sabbatical replacement for Dr. Reed at the University of Evansville.  Douglas O’Neill was the First Prize Winner of the 1999 Dublin International Organ Competition.

Kirk Rich enrolled at UE for organ study as a high school freshman and continued study at UE for four years. He earned the Bachelor of Music degree in organ  performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He won the 2007 American Guild of Organists/Quimby Competition for Young Organists (Region V) and performed as a “Rising Star” at the 2008 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists in Minneapolis.  He is the music coordinator at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as well as the Organist-Choirmaster of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson, North Carolina.

Michael Salazar graduated magna cum laude from UE in 2011 with the Music Department’s highest honor, the Gumberts Award. He is currently working on the Master of Music degree at Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music. A native of Prescott, Arizona, Salazar is the Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Woodbury, Connecticut, and served as organist of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Boonville, Indiana for four years.
 

Congratulations to UE students Kayla Brenton, Aimee Gray, Brooke Maher, Hannah McNeill, and Anna Millns, who were chosen by the School of Education faculty to be recognized at the Indiana Association for Colleges of Teacher Education's annual Outstanding Future Educators Banquet. The event, held Friday, April 13 at the Ritz Charles in Indianapolis, honored the top student teachers in the state of Indiana. 

Sincere condolences to Lesa Hofferth, husband John, son Addison and family in the death of their son William Justin Hofferth. He died on Tuesday, April 17 in Raleigh, N.C. Justin was a UE 2009 graduate and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He worked as a real estate appraiser for Tate and Harrell Inc. in Raleigh. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, April 20, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel, 5330 Washington Avenue, Evansville, Ind. The funeral will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, April 20, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel with a private burial at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net.

Amidst a 12-game home stand and five-game non-conference break, the University of Evansville baseball team will welcome the University of Dayton Flyers to Braun Stadium for a three-game series this weekend. The games are set for 6:00 p.m. CT Friday, 2:00 p.m. Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

Evansville comes off a 10-2 midweek triumph over SIU Edwardsville and an exciting series win over conference foe Wichita State last weekend. Hitting .260 as a team, freshmen Kyle Pollock (.314) and Kevin Kaczmarski (.313) have continued to see their averages skyrocket, as Pollock enters the weekend on a 12-game hitting streak. Juniors Jason Hockemeyer (.299) and Eric Stamets (.298, 11 2B, 22 SB) have also been strong offensive threats. Defensively, Evansville’s pitching staff boasts a 3.94 earned run average and is backed by a .977 fielding percentage.

Sophomore Cole Isom’s three-hit, complete-game gem steered Evansville to a 4-1 victory over Wichita State Friday evening at Braun Stadium and set up the Aces for their first series win over the Shockers since 2006. The southpaw struck out a career-high 11 batters in his first Valley victory of the season and did not allow a hit until the seventh inning. Isom also had a shutout into the ninth, giving up just a solo shot. In his ninth season appearance, Isom held the Shockers to a .094 batting average and lowered his season earned run average to 3.75. The performance garnered MVC Pitcher of the Week honors for Isom.

On the week, Pollock hit .400 as the designated hitter with a .667 slugging percentage. In UE’s Friday night victory, Pollock hit a team-best 2-for-2 and scored what would be the winning run in the fourth inning. The Clinton, Ohio native kept his hitting streak intact in the series clincher with a single in the first inning, and recorded his second home run of the season, finishing with two hits in the series finale game with the Shockers. Pollock elevated his batting average in Valley play to .333.

Wednesday’s 10-2 victory completed the home-and-home series sweep over SIU Edwardsville. The Aces won the first meeting 8-6 at Roy. E Lee Field on April 3rd. Evansville never trailed in the series, scoring two runs in the first inning of game one, and built an 8-0 advantage through the first three innings in game two. Right-hander Ryan Billo earned the win in both meetings, tossing 5.1 innings, allowing four runs, eight hits, and struck out four April 3rd, and allowed just one run, five hits, and struck out five in seven innings of work Wednesday. In the two games, Eric Stamets led UE with a .714 average (5-for-7, 4 R, 4 RBI) followed by Kyle Pollock’s .625 mark (5-for-8, 1 R, 3 RBI).

Evansville doubled their home run output for the season in Sunday’s game versus Wichita State, as senior Trentt Copeland blasted a grand slam in the second inning and freshman Kyle Pollock went yard in the sixth. UE entered the contest with two long-balls total this spring -- both also hit by Copeland and Pollock.

Making two appearances versus Wichita State, senior Zach Taylor moved into second place all-time at UE with 82 career appearances on the mound. Not allowing a run in either outing, Taylor (3-2) earned the win out of the bullpen in UE’s 5-4 series clincher and tossed a scoreless ninth Sunday. The Fort Wayne, Ind. native is tied with Corey Davisson (2008-10) in second place behind Willie Glen’s (1998-01) 97 career appearances.

Evansville’s series win versus Wichita State marks the Aces’ first over the Shockers since the 2006 season. Two weeks ago, the Aces won the series at Creighton, also marking the first time since ’06. That season, Evansville was Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Champions and won three NCAA Regional Tournament games.

Cole Isom’s 11 strikeouts in his last outing versus Wichita State (4/13) marked a career-high, a team season-high, and the most since Cody Fick struck out 11 on May 24, 2011, also against the Shockers in the MVC Tournament in Omaha.

UE’s bullpen has inherited 38 runners this season and allowed just 12 of them to score. Josh Biggs and Jake Naumann have been the most efficient mid-inning relievers, as Biggs has inherited 15 runners and allowed only two to score. Naumann has taken over 14 base runners, allowing five to come in.

The Aces are 17-0 this spring when they lead after the seventh inning. UE has given up just seven runs in the ninth inning, while scoring 25 runs themselves in the frame.

Freshman Kyle Pollock enters the weekend riding a 12-game hitting streak, marking the longest streak of any Ace this season. In addition, Pollock has hit in each of the last 11 Valley contests. Jason Hockemeyer also enters the series on a 13-game on-base streak.

Evansville ranks second in the Missouri Valley Conference with 63 stolen bases in 80 attempts. Eric Stamets leads the conference and also ranks 17th in the nation with 22 swiped bags in 26 tries.

The Aces were in position to sweep Wichita State last weekend, but the Shockers came from behind to score 10 runs across the seventh and eighth innings for the win. On the other hand, faced with their first possible sweep, Evansville bounced back to top Southern Illinois (4/8), 6-2, to hold UE’s longest winless streak to just two games this spring. Evansville is 4-3 in weekend series of three or four games, neither sweeping nor being swept in any of them.

The Aces are amidst a 12-game home stand after playing eighth straight contests on the road. Evansville owns a 12-9 record on the road and 11-5 mark in Evansville.

Evansville owns a 7-1 record this season on games played on Tuesday or Wednesday. UE is 3-0 on Tuesdays and 5-1 on Wednesdays.

Senior Trentt Copeland enters the weekend with 196 career hits. He needs four more to become the 24th member of UE’s 200-hit club.

The Aces lead the MVC and rank 8th in the nation with 47 sacrifice bunts this season and also ranks second in the Valley for stolen bases with 63. Tim Bodine leads the league with nine sac bunts while Eric Stamets leads the MVC with 22 swiped bags.

Three active UE pitchers have recorded complete games in their careers, and they all happen to be left-handed. Sophomore Cole Isom has hurled four, including two this season versus Indiana State (3/23) and his most recent outing versus Wichita State (4/15). Against ISU, Isom took the tough-luck 2-0 loss, allowing two runs, nine hits, and struck out five, but earned the win versus WSU, throwing a three-hit gem with a career-high 11 punch-outs. Freshman Kyle Freeland recorded a three-hit complete game shutout at Creighton (4/1) with six strikeouts, while Josh Biggs is UE’s only other hurler who has tossed all nine, being done vs. Saint Louis on April 12th, 2011. He allowed four runs, five hits, and stuck out six.

Head Coach Wes Carroll recorded his 100th career win versus Indiana State (3/24) in UE’s 3-2 walk-off victory. Carroll has led his squad to above .500 records in each of the last two seasons, going 32-27 in 2010 and 28-25 in 2011, and posted the second-highest victory total by a first-year baseball coach at Evansville with 25 wins in 2009. Carroll, a 2001 Evansville graduate, is in his fourth season at the helm with a 108-96 record.

Kevin Kaczmarski ranks second in the MVC with four triples this season. Kaczmarski recorded one in three consecutive games from 3/18-3/23 and another in the series clincher vs. Wichita State (4/14).

Trentt Copeland continues to move up the career doubles list, now with 53 after recording a two-bagger vs. SIUE (4/18) to lead off a three-run third inning. Copeland now stands alone in eighth all-time, passing Rob Maurer (1986-88). He needs one more to move into seventh, and two more to become sixth.

Leading the Valley and ranking 24th in the nation, sophomore Jake Mahon has been plunked 14 times this year, already surpassing his season total in 2011 (12) that marked a team-high last year. In the first 20 games this spring, the sophomore was hit 12 times.

In game 17 of the season at Austin Peay (3/14), freshman Kyle Pollock recorded both his first home run of this career and the first long ball hit by an Ace this year. Trentt Copeland’s solo shot at Creighton (4/1) marked the second and both Pollock and Copeland went yard versus Wichita State (4/15). Copeland leads all active players with seven home runs in his career.

Eric Stamets, who has stolen 22 bases in 26 attempts this season, ranks 17th in the nation for steals. He also currently ranks third in program history with 92 steals (92-114) in just his third year of play. Stamets needs two more to tie Ryan Brownlee (1994-97) in second place. Aaron Pembroke (1995-98) holds UE’s record with 106 career steals.

Evansville returns 12-of-13 pitchers from last season and also adds three newcomers to the staff, including Kyle Freeland, a 35th round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

For the second consecutive year, shortstop Eric Stamets was named to the Missouri Valley Conference preseason all-conference team, voted on by the league’s eight head coaches. Stamets, a junior from Dublin, Ohio, projects to be one of the best shortstops in the nation this year. Last season, Stamets hit .292 with a team-high 51 runs scored and 27 stolen bases. Defensively, he led the Aces with 181 assists and helped the squad to a program-best .977 fielding percentage with a record-low 48 errors as a team. In addition, Stamets turned heads in the summer, playing for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and was named a Cape Cod League All-Star. Stamets was a consensus Freshman All-American and the MVC Freshman of the Year in 2010.

The Aces welcome Murray State to Braun Stadium Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

The University of Evansville softball team posted a pair of wins in tonight’s doubleheader against Saint Louis, defeating the Billikens by 5-3 in the opener before taking a 5-2 victory in the nightcap.

Sophomore Katie Sears extended her hitting streak to five-games, notching a triple in each of tonight’s games as she ended 2-for-7 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored.  Freshman Victoria Dellorto and senior Maggie Little also ended the night with a pair of hits.

The Aces (13-28) will resume Missouri Valley Conference action this weekend, traveling to Omaha, Neb., for a three-game series against Creighton. The Aces will face off against the Blue Jays in a doubleheader on Saturday before completing the series with a single game on Sunday.

Game 1: UE 5, SLU 3
The Aces jumped on board early to start game one, taking advantage of two SLU infield errors to grab a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. With one out in the inning, sophomore Tamara Robey forced a throwing error by SLU shortstop Jessica Van Nostrand, advancing to second on the overthrow. After Robey moved to third on a stolen base, freshman Kayla Fortner worked a walk to give the Aces runners on the corners. Fortner then advanced to second on a stolen base before Billiken fielding error allowed Robey to cross the plate safely.

The Billikens evened it up in the top of the third as a leadoff single and a one-base error put Van Nostrand  on second to start the frame. A sacrifice bunt moved her to third before Jessica Buschjost hit a double down the left field line to score the run and tie the game at 1-all.

Little opened the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle before sophomore Kacey Rogers entered the game as a pinch-runner. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dellorto, Rogers reached third on a single by sophomore Niki Rahming, but an overthrow to the plate allowed Rogers to come home safely as Rahming moved over to second. Junior Halie Malone was hit by pitch in the next at bat to put runners on first and second with still one out on the board, prompting a SLU pitching change. Reliever Hannah Huebbe replaced Kelcie Matesa in the circle, striking out pinch-hitter Kendall Kautz for the second out. Sophomore Katie Sears then hit a tough infield grounder, reaching on a fielder’s choice to loading the bases for UE. A wild pitch then allowed Rahming to score, extending the Aces’  lead to 3-1 before another strikeout ended the inning.
Saint Louis quickly answered in the top of the fifth, using a leadoff walk and an infield hit to put runners at first and second. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third before Laura Bohning hit a screamer off the arm of UE starter Sarah Patterson. Second baseman senior Amy Gaertner fielded the deflection to get the out at first, but not before Kerri Dockins scored from third. Alyson Brand followed with a soft pop-up in the infield that landed just in front of second base for a hit, scoring Buschjost and tying the game up at 3-all.

Dellorto started the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single before moving to second on a ground out by Rahming. A SLU fielder’s choice allowed Malone to reach first as Dellorto was able to beat the throw to third to put runners on the corners. A Huebbe strikeout put two outs on the board, but Sears delivered her first triple of the day, belting a line drive to right center to bring in both runners and give UE the  5-3 lead.

Junior Sarah Patterson improved to 7-14 on the year, allowing three runs on six hits while picking up four strikeouts in the complete-game victory.

Game 2: UE 5, SLU 2
The Aces used two singles and an error to push two runs across in the bottom of the second to take an early lead in game two. Dellorto and Little sparked a two-out rally with back-to-back singles to give UE runners on the corners. Malone then hit a chopper back to SLU starter Julian Austin, but Austin overthrew first base, allowing both runners to cross the plate on the error.

Trailing 2-0, the Billikens were able to manufacture a pair of runs to tie the game in the top of the fourth. An infield error allowed Harcar to lead off the inning at first, before moving to second on a fly out to right field. After a walk put runners at first and second for SLU, Rachel Faletto singled up the middle to bring in the Billikens’ first run of the game. An infield ground out then put runners at second and third before another single plated the tying run.

The game remained tied 2-all until the bottom of the fifth, when the Aces used three hits to score three runs as they reclaimed the lead. Little struck out to start the inning, but a drop third strike allowed her to reach first with no outs recorded. Rogers, who pinch-ran for Little, moved to second on a sacrifice by Malone. Kendall Kautz followed with a pinch-hit walk to give UE runners at first and second before Sears belted her second triple, scoring one run before the second out was recorded as junior Brianna Villanueva, who re-entered for Kautz, was gunned down at the plate for out number two. Robey followed with a single through the right side to bring home Sears before freshman Kayla Fortner notched her first hit of the night, scoring Robey to give UE the 5-2 lead.

Sophomore Taylor Perry (4-6) was given the complete-game win in the circle, scattering two runs on just four hits while striking out four Billiken batters.