HEERF III Grant funding is available for spring 2022.

• New students are required to authorize distribution of HEERF grant funds.
• Previous recipients who wish to alter prior authorization must resubmit distribution authorization.

All educationally related expenses are eligible for HEERF III funding and may be applied to current and/or future student account balances. Please be aware that funding is limited. Grant recipients requesting a refund must have bank information on file as refunds will be issued electronically via direct deposit.

Submit/Review: HEERF Grant Authorization

For those who didn’t meet the previous deadline, the next round of spring 2022 HEERF grants will be processed in mid-March, and the deadline to submit or change authorization for the next round of disbursements is February 25, 2022.

The University of Evansville has partnered with Tri-State Community Clinics and Ascension St. Vincent to provide a UE Student and Employee Vaccination and a Booster Clinic on Monday, February 28, from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. CST.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY FEBRUARY 21 AT 5:00 P.M. CST.

Students who are taking their first vaccine dose of the 2-dose protocol will make their second dose appointment (minimum of 21 days) at the vaccine clinic after they receive their first dose of vaccine.

The vaccines and boosters are available to all students regardless of residency or citizenship status. If you are receiving a booster or a second dose, make sure to bring your existing vaccination card with you to your appointment. You are eligible for a booster if you are over 12 years old and the date of your 2nd dose is on or before:

• Pfizer or Moderna - September 28, 2021 (5 months prior)
• Johnson & Johnson - December 28, 2021 (2 months prior)

If you do not meet these criteria, please do not register for an appointment for a booster shot at this time.

Learn more and register today at www.evansville.edu/YourShot

Transportation is available from the UE Campus to Ascension St. Vincent Evansville. Information will be included through the registration process.

Happy Black History Month!

Join the Center for Diversity Equity and Inclusion for 'Wear the Culture Day' on Friday, February 25th! Regardless of what your background culture is, we want to see you representing Black culture (appropriately)! So, dig out those #BLM and social justice t-shirts and lets show out for the culture! If you are Black and want to wear something specific to your ethnic/national background, please do it! We want to see it all!

We can't wait to see what gets represented! Make sure to share on social media and tag us!

If you have any questions regarding what is considered appropriate, please reach out to the CDEI at Center4DEI@evansville.edu

The UE Music Conservatory presents a concert featuring the UE University Choir and faculty chamber ensemble on Tuesday, February 22. The choir will perform works by Norwegian-American composer Ola Gjeilo, the American maverick composer Charles Ives, and works by Stanford, Gounod, and Schubert. The concert will open with Consortium Instructors of oboe and flute, Elizabeth Robertson and Leanne Hampton joined by Robert Nicholls on harpsichord and Graham Cullen on Cello in a performance of a trio sonata by Johann Joachim Quantz, who was a composer in the court of Frederic the Great. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. in Neu Chapel. It is free and open to the public. Livestream is available at: https://www.evansville.edu/majors/music/calendar.cfm

The University of Evansville Theatre continues their spring 2022 season with Bertolt Brecht’s THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, English version by Eric Bentley. Teeming with political overtones and a sharp look at human nature, this play, written at the end of WWII, retells the story of an innocent child claimed and fought over by two mothers, resulting in one of the most riveting trials ever staged. This production opens on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the May Studio Theatre. Additional performances are 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 and 26, and at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 26 and 27.

THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE is directed by Obi Roberts, a senior theatre performance major from Arvada, Colo. Angus Creech, a senior theatre studies major from Brooklyn, N.Y., serves as the scenic designer; Sara Mathew, a junior design & technology major from Union, Ky., is the costume designer; Stephen Boulmetis, associate professor of lighting design, serves as the lighting designer; guest artist Araceli Ramirez serves as the sound designer; Rebecca Conaway, a junior theatre studies major from Wellsburg, W.Va., is the dramaturg; Madison Wilson, a junior stage management major from Fort Worth, Texas, is the stage manager, and Blake Cooper, assistant technical director and scene shop manager, serves as the technical director.

The cast features Jake Conrad, a junior performance major from Olympia, Wash., as the singer; Kayleigh Doyle, a senior performance major from McKinney, Texas, as Grusha; Aivelyn Karsten, a junior performance major from Clackamas, Ore., as Simon; Josh Gelman, a senior performance major from Denver, Colo., as Azdak; Ben Bravard, a junior performance major from Batavia, Ohio, as Governor and others; Liv Campbell, a senior performance major from Kingwood, Texas, as Delegate and others; Jack Cory, a junior performance major from Southlake, Texas, as Fat Prince and others; and Bryce Galvan, a junior performance major from West Carrollton, Ohio, as Adjutant and others; Lillie Kolich, a senior performance major from Albuquerque, N.M., as Governor’s wife and others; Kirkland Long, a senior performance major from Canal Winchester, Ohio, as Corporal and others; Jeff Parkinson, a junior performance major from Mercer Island, Wash., as Lavrenti and others; Lindsay Perr, a first-year performance major from Medford, N.J., as Sister-in-law and others; and Brynna Waters, a first-year performance major from Brownsburg, Ind., as Shauwa and others.

In following industry standards, as established by the Broadway League, all audience members must show proof of COVID–19 vaccination or a negative test result taken within 48-hours of the date on their ticket. Upon arrival at the theatre, proof of vaccination/negative test result and an ID will be checked before each performance. In compliance with the UE Coronavirus Task Force guidelines, all audience members must remain masked when indoors on campus. Additionally, both Shanklin Theatre and the May Studio Theatre will be seated at no more than 50% capacity. It is our hope that these restrictions will allow our student actors to safely perform unmasked in both spaces.

Ticket prices are $12. UE students may obtain one free student rush ticket beginning at 12 p.m. on the day of the performance they wish to attend. Seating is limited and tickets are available by calling 812.488.2031.

Join Bracket Busters Today!

This step challenge is modeled after the NCAA's March Madness tournament.

Track your steps each day.

Those with the highest step counts at the end of the week will advance to the next round.

March 14-May 8th

To sign up click the following link and enter your information: https://forms.gle/xZq88hveCeDsig8r7

Challenge participants will earn $150 in Healthy Behavior Credits (if not already earned in the 2021-2022 benefit plan year)

All employees are welcome to participate, only those with the HRA Health Plan can be awarded the healthy behavior credit

The Department of Art is pleased to announce that the reception for David Gamble has been rescheduled for Friday, February 25 6:30 pm-8:30 pm in the Melvin Peterson Gallery. Please join us for light refreshments and the opportunity to meet the artist behind the exhibit “David Unsupervised”.

What are you doing for Spring Break? Are you interested in having an amazing adventure for only $25?

Join the UE Venturing Crew from March 5th thru the 8th as we backpack Red River Gorge, (an area of absolutely incredible beauty in Daniel Boone National Forest), stay at a luxurious cabin and on the last day, we will be doing a climbing experience like no other, Via Farrata.

We will leave campus early Saturday Morning.

Arriving at Red River Gorge around lunch time where we will eat at the trail head before beginning our trek.

We will spend Saturday night under the stars (in tents) and then wake up Sunday to see one of the most amazing views in the Gorge.

Sunday night we will be under the stars again and will work our way back to the vehicles Monday to have dinner at Miguel’s Pizza.

We will spend Monday night at a luxurious cabin reserved just for us.

Tuesday morning we will fill our tummies with a home cooked meal at the cabin before heading to do a Via Farrata style climbing adventure.

We will be returning back to campus Tuesday evening.

The price for this trip is only $25.

Don’t have the gear? The Crew has you covered from backpacks, sleeping bags to tents and cooking utensils.

Can’t afford $25, borrow it from a friend, check the couch cushions, anything, you need to go on this trip.

The $25 includes all fees, and food (except for 1 dinner at Miguel’s Pizza on your own).

Sign-ups start Thursday (2/17/2022) and will run through Wednesday in Ridgeway from 11am-1pm and 4-6pm.

You must sign up at the tables in Ridgway or email venturing@evansville.edu to schedule a time and place to sign up.

Again, this trip is only $25.

The UE Statistics and Data Science Club have arranged the following workshops:

Intro to Python
Presented by Dr. Omid Khormali
KC 102
February 23
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Intro to SQL
Presented by Dr. Omid Khormali
KC 102
March 2
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact nt74@evansville.edu.

Students interested in living in Village housing (Jones Hall, Townhouses, Apartments, or Houses) next year should plan to attend an information meeting. The Villages are reserved primarily for students with 60 plus credit hours. In order to apply to live in the Villages, each person in your group must have at least 44 credit hours on file with the University by the end of the Fall 2021 semester.

Information meetings will be Tuesday, February 22, at 6:00pm and 9:00pm in Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center. During the meetings, we will discuss how you can apply for Village housing for 2022-23.

If you have questions, please contact Residence Life or email Brian Conner at bc32.

Join us in Indianapolis on Thursday, February 24, 2022 for the Career Expo. More than 84 top employers from Indiana and beyond will be available offering full-time, summer, internship and co-op positions. Students in all class years and all majors are encouraged to attend. See Handshake for a complete list of employers and to register for this event.

This event is held in Indianapolis, IN and UE will provide FREE transportation and lunch. To reserve your seat on the bus, see link in Handshake or in your email. If you have any questions, contact the Center for Career Development at career@evansville.edu or 812-488-1083.

The Department of Art invites you to the Krannert Gallery for the exhibit It Started with a Moose: Watercolors by Diane Ubelhor-Wunderlich. The artist exhibition will be open February 20 - March 27, 2022.

The Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is pleased to host a Black History Month Keynote Speaker. Join us as we hear from Anthony Murdock II, an Indiana native and the founder of Murdock LLC. to learn about the importance of storytelling and the power in voice.

As an entrepreneur, Murdock is empowering communities to leverage their influence & fuel efforts for Black liberation through people-centric partnerships and community-driven collaborations. He is empowering a generation to “talk that talk” and tell their story.

Please scan the QR Code on the flyer above to successfully register for this virtual event.

We look forward to seeing you on February 22nd from 5:30-6:30 pm!

As part of Black History Month, we invite you to join the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a Local Leaders Panel! This event will be held on Tuesday, February 23rd from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Young and Established Center (1308 Van Avenue) here in Evansville.

The panelists, Reverend Gerald Arnold, Dr. Roseyn Hood, and Jessica Angelique will share their experiences, knowledge, and answer any questions that you may have.

We hope to see you there!

Custom Engineered Equipment - Where Business and Technical Applications of Engineering Converge
February 23, 2022
12 - 1 pm CST via Zoom
https://www.evansville.edu/engineering/engineers-week.cfm

Please join the School of Engineering and Computer Science as we explore the synergies between a technical engineering education and the broad world of project management and business development. Join UE Alumnus Jesse Schneider (Mechanical Engineering ’06) as he delves into his pathway through career development and continuous education. This presentation will discuss opportunities and challenges facing both current students and alumni. Q&A to follow.

Jesse is currently serving as the Director of Engineering for Kelley Engineered Equipment, LLC after working as a Project Engineer & Engineering Manager at Frontier-Kemper Constructors for 10 years. Since moving to KEE in May 2016 to further his career in mechanical design specializing in custom tunneling equipment, Jesse has led multiple projects through to completion. He earned a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Evansville in 2006, his MBA from the University of Southern Indiana in 2020, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Indiana, Nevada, New York, and Washington. In his spare time, Jesse enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids by either mountain biking or snow skiing.

Zoom info found at web address listed above.

Join the Center for Diversity Equity and Inclusion and facilitator, Dr. Curran, in Safe Zone Training on February 24th beginning at 5pm! Safe Zone Training is a training that will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to ensure their 'zone' is a safe place for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Your 'zone' is anything from your classroom and your office to any space you are in!

Join us in ensuring every zone is a Safe Zone!

During Black History Month join the UE BHM Challenge sponsored by the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion! In this challenge you will find 28 ways for 28 days of Black History Month to actively learn, engage, support, and uplift Black culture from Evansville and around the world. Items listed in the challenge can be done personally or in a social group! Do some personal research on Juneteenth or grab a friend and some popcorn and watch Just Mercy. Either way you do it, #BHMChallenge yourself! Happy Black History Month!
1. Watch a documentary on civil-rights movements
2. Listen to a new Black artist, composer, or band
3. Look at or add art on Black history and culture to your collection
4. Research UE and the surrounding community’s Black history
5. Research a local/global Black activist
6. Read a Black biography or autobiography
7. Visit the African-American museum
8. Bring awareness to a charity focused on supporting the Black community
9. Incorporate BHM into your Teachings/ Learning/ Work
10. Attend a diversity training, event or workshop hosted by UE CDEI or others
11. Sign up to receive news from a Black own and operated organization
12. Find a Black story that speaks to you or that you can relate to
13. Create a "Talking about Race" Toolkit
14. Learn the full version of Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing
15. Listen to a Black speaker via TedTalk, PodCast, etc.
16. Watch a Black movie not about Black trauma
17. Host and/or participate in a Black history trivia event
18. Have an uncomfortable discussion with someone, don’t be color-blind
19. Research Juneteenth, Kwanza and other Black holidays
20. Spend time learning about an influential Black individual in Evansville
21. Read Dr. King’s "I Have a Dream" speech
22. Add some Black cuisines to your menu
23. Share a quote on your social media or with friends from an influential Black Voice
24. Find an everyday item created by a Black inventor
25. Use something related to Black culture as a background on zoom and explain what it is
26. Follow or Subscribe to a Black creator
27. Support or partner with a Black business
28. Download 3 Black-owned apps

To celebrate Black History Month, we're sending out daily posts to honor icons whose selfless contributions through out history, continue to inspire growth in our various communities. Today's icon is James Forten and you can find more information in the attached poster. You can follow BSU @UEBlackStudentU, @uevansville for more programming during BHM.

The Honorary Degree Committee is seeking your recommendations for honorary degrees to be conferred at the May 2022 Commencement. We need your help in selecting accomplished individuals to receive one of our university’s highest honors. Nominations may be made on the basis of individual service to the University or individual achievement that exemplifies the University’s mission. Recently selected persons have excelled in a variety of areas--law, medicine, education, business, literature, politics, and entertainment. The committee will forward nominations to President Pietruszkiewicz so he can make his recommendations to the faculty for their approval. Please email the following information to Robert Dion, committee chairperson, at rd35@evansville.edu, by Friday, February 25: Your name, the name of your nominee, the rationale for your nomination, biographical information on the nominee, and contact information for the nominee. Thank you in advance for your ideas.

There's still time to register for this year's Nerd Wars trivia competition! The registration deadline has been extended to Friday, February 25. Nerd Wars will take place on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00pm in various classrooms in Koch and over Zoom. Gather your team of up to 5 participants (students, faculty, staff, or administrators) and join us for the trivia battle of the year, complete with Nerdiest Dressed contest, snacks/giveaways, and the chance to win fabulous prizes.

Registration this year is FREE. Register online now at this link: https://forms.gle/4YKs4vp9CW4HrRH28

Please contact Connor Luebbehusen (cl196) or Pranav Haran (ph100) with any questions.

Seniors,

If you have not applied for graduation, please make sure you do so. You can do this through the Self-Service Graduation Overview tab. You must apply for graduation even if you do not plan on attending Commencement.

Questions, please contact Ashley Nels at an89@evansville.edu

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 a one-time award of $10,000 in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the University of Evansville as University Citizens. Examples of such contributions include deep and successful involvement in recruiting students; expanding the number, scope, and competitiveness of grant funding for their department; bringing positive public awareness to the University through scholarship, knowledge, and understanding of their discipline.

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 of Evansville who have not received the award in the previous five years. Nominations can be submitted in writing or via e-mail to Michael Austin, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost, at ma352@evansville.edu by March 11, 2022. Nominations should include the name of the faculty member and a brief statement of the reasons that he or she is being nominated.

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

Recipients in the previous five years: 2017 – Dr. Lora Becker; 2018 – Dr. David Dwyer; 2019 – Dr. Kristy Miller; 2020 – Dr. Jerrilee LaMar; 2021 – Dr. Joyce Stamm

Dr. Bethany Huebner, Chair and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, received the APTA Academy of Physical Therapy Education's Adopt-A-Doc Scholarship at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, TX. The APTA Academy of Education Adopt-A-Doc program seeks to increase the number of doctorally prepared PTs and PTAs by providing financial support to Academy members who are in the dissertation phase of their post-professional doctoral programs. Dr. Huebner entered dissertation phase of her PhD program in August 2021. Her dissertation is titled, "Feedback Matters, but Which Form is Best for Learning Post Computer-Based Assessments." She plans to defend in March 2022 with a May 2022 graduation.

Dr. Adam Grannan, a DPT graduate of UE in 2021, presented his research titled, "High Injury Risk Multisport Athlete: Discharged from Care at 6 months Following ACL Reconstruction" at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting 2022 in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Grannan was assisted by DPT professors, Dr. Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer and Dr. Phil Plisky in the development and dissemination of this research. Dr. Grannan is working at Johnson Memorial Health in Franklin, IN as a physical therapist.

Dr. Katie Whetstone, Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy, presented her research titled, "Reliability of Visual Estimation for Quadruped Lumber-Locked Position in Determining Thoracic Rotation Mobility" at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio. Dr. Whetstone's research team included Dr. Kyle Matsel, Assistant Professor, Dr. Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer, Associate Professor, Sarah Gehres (DPT '22), and Andrew Patton (DPT '22). The APTA's Combined Section Meeting is the largest physical therapy conference held annually to highlight physical therapy research.

Nicholas Gushrowski recorded the low score for the University of Evansville men’s golf team in Sunday’s opening round of the ASU Spring Classic. 

Gushrowski finished the round with a 75 to stand in fifth place at RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill.  His score was three over par.  Carson Parker is tied for 9th place on the leaderboard with a 6-over 78 while Isaac Rohleder is one behind him with a 79.

Masatoyo Kato was the fourth Purple Aces player to finish the first round in the top 15, carding an 81.  Michael Ikejiani is in the 25th spot with an 83.  Henry Kiel played as an individual and scored a 79.

Following the first 18, UE sits in third place with a 313, just three strokes behind leader Western Illinois.  The teams finished a few holes short of completing the second round on Sunday and will complete that round on Monday before the third round of 18.

Host school Alabama State ranked second with a 312 after round one.  Felipe Gomez Lopez of Alabama A&M leads the individuals with an even 72.  He is one stroke ahead of WIU’s Parker Govern.

On Monday, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team completes its third home-and-home series of the season traveling to Valparaiso for a 7 p.m. game.  ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the coverage.

Approaching 1K
- Two UE players are on the cusp of reaching 1,000 in their careers
- With 21 points on Saturday, Shamar Givance now has 975 in his career while Noah Frederking also has 975
- There are currently 50 members of the Purple Aces’ 1,000-point club
- The last player to reach 1,000 was K.J. Riley, who did so in 2019 and finished with 1,062 in his career

Last Time Out
- Trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half, the Aces chopped the deficit in half in the final 20 minutes before Valparaiso finished with a 72-56 win
- UE took a 9-8 first-half lead before the Beacons went on a 31-11 run to take their largest advantage
- Shamar Givance tied for the game-high with 21 points while Evan Kuhlman posted 9 points, 7 boards and 4 steals
- Emmette Page recorded his top scoring total with six points in the contest
- Kobe King matched Givance’s scoring mark with 21 points to lead Valpo

In a Zone
- Blaise Beauchamp added his third double figure game in a row on Wednesday at Drake, scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from outside before scoring 7 against Valpo on Saturday
- Over his last four games, Beauchamp has averaged 16.8 points per game
- After scoring a career-high 29 points in a double overtime game against Indiana State on Feb. 10, he added 19 points in the road game at SIU two days later

Finding his Consistency
- In a 5-game stretch between 1/21 and 2/5, Shamar Givance scored six or few points in three of those contests
- Over the last five games, Givance has scored at least 17 points in four of those contests while averaging 16.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists and is approaching 1,000 in his career and stands at 975
- The latest streak raised his season average to a team-best 14.1 PPG, which ranks 13th in the MVC
- Givance led the Aces with 21 points on Saturday versus the Beacons, hitting 8 of his 13 attempts
- At SIU, Givance added six assists and has been credited with four or more helpers in 7 of the last 9 games and is averaging 3.6 on the season, which is 5th in the Valley

Scouting the Opponent
- With Saturday’s win over UE at the Ford Center, Valparaiso improved to 12-15 on the season and 5-10 in the conference
- Kobe King led the Beacons with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting while Kevion Taylor added 16 points
- Ben Krikke is the top scorer for Valpo, averaging 14.6 points
- He is shooting 55.3% from the field and is second on the team with 20 blocked shots
- King averages 14.3 points per game while Kevion Taylor (12.1) and Sheldon Edwards (11.5) round out the double figure scorers
- On the boards, Thomas Kithier is averaging a team-high 6.7 per game

Facing its third top 10 opponent of the weekend, the University of Evansville softball team battled to the end once again, falling by a 5-0 final to #8 Virginia Tech in Sunday’s final game of the Easton Bama Bash.

Evansville picked up two hits in the contest with Hannah Hood and Alexa Davis reaching base while the Hokies recorded seven hits in the contest.  Following the game, it was announced that Jessica Fehr and Alexa Davis were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Virginia Tech picked up a hit in each of the opening three frames while Evansville had its first hit when Hannah Hood hit a double in the third inning to get into scoring position.  Neither team could find its way onto the board until the Hokies plated a pair of runs in the fourth.  Addy Greene and Rachel Castine had RBI hits to give VT the lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Virginia Tech extended the lead to 5-0 when Mackenzie Lawter hit a 3-run home run and held strong for the 5-0 win.  Alexa Davis gave UE a chance in the seventh, leading off with a double, but was stranded at second to finish the day.  Emma Lemley made the start for VT, striking out nine batters in four frames.  Keely Rochard tossed the final three frames and fanned five. 

Sydney Weatherford started Sunday’s game for UE, throwing four innings.  A solid outing saw her allow two earned runs on five hits.  Izzy Vetter pitched the final two frames and gave up three runs, two of which were earned.

Next weekend, the Aces will be in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for the Hub City Challenge.  UE is set for five more games between Friday and Sunday.

NC State pitchers David Harrison, Garrett Payne, and Justin Lawson combined on a five-hit shutout on Sunday, and Wolfpack freshman first baseman Tommy White launched his fifth home run of the series, as #10 NC State took the series finale from the visiting University of Evansville baseball team by a final score of 7-0 at Doak Field at Dail Park.

“NC State played the game at a high level today,” said UE head baseball coach Wes Carroll. “We couldn’t capture any momentum today and the result showed.

“We need to keep learning and growing as a team.”

Harrison (1-0) scattered four hits over 6.0 innings of work, while inducing three double-plays to keep the Purple Aces’ offense at bay. The Wolfpack scored three runs in the second inning off of UE starter Shane Harris (0-1) on RBI singles by second baseman J.T. Jarrett and shortstop Peyton Green to grab a 3-0 lead.

NC State would tack on a single run in the third inning, before White launched a two-run home run to left-center field in the fourth inning to push the lead to 6-0. The Wolfpack would add a single run in the bottom of the eighth inning to produce the final margin of victory.

Jarrett went 4-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI to lead the NC State offense. Senior first baseman Tanner Craig went 1-for-3 with a double, while graduate senior third baseman Evan Berkey, sophomore shortstop Simon Scherry, junior right-fielder Mark Shallenberger and sophomore catcher Brendan Hord also collected hits for UE.

With the victory, NC State improves to 3-0 on the season, while Evansville falls to 0-3. The Purple Aces will return to the road on Wednesday afternoon, as UE will travel to Nashville, Tennessee to take on #3 Vanderbilt. First-pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. central time.

Jenna Nink hit a walk-off single to give the University of Evansville softball team a 2-1 win over Middle Tennessee State to earn a split on Saturday in the second day of the Easton Bama Bash.

Game 1 – #8 Virginia Tech 5, UE 1

Facing another top ten squad, the Purple Aces held strong against Virginia Tech to open the day. The Hokies broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third when Cameron Fagan and Ally Repko each had RBIs. Three more Virginia Tech runs came home in the fourth with a 2-run single from Kelsey Brown extending the lead to 5-0.

Marah Wood got the Aces on the board in the top half of the seventh, scoring Paige McAllister, who came in to run for Alyssa Barela. Jenna Nink added a single in the inning before the Hokies avoided any further damage to take the 5-1 decision. UE had three hits with Jessica Fehr, Nink and Wood picking them up. McAllister threw the complete game, giving up five earned runs in six frames. Keely Rochard picked up the win for the Hokies, striking out 11 in five innings.

Game 2 – UE 2, Middle Tennessee State 1

Middle Tennessee State picked up a single hit in each of the opening three frames and Izzy Vetter had the answer each time, keeping the game scoreless. Evansville had its first big scoring threat in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Haley Woolf picked up the Aces first hit of the day and Alex Barnaby drew a walk, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.

Evansville's persistence paid off in the fifth when Marah Wood hit an RBI single to bring in Jessica Fehr, who walked to lead off the inning. UE held the lead until the top of the seventh when the Blue Raiders rallied, scoring the tying run on a sacrifice fly. Evansville went down in order to complete the 7th inning before Vetter had a 1-2-3 inning to start off the eighth.

Just when it looked like the game would move on to the 9th, Alexa Davis came through with a 2-out triple to give the Aces some life. Mackenzie McFeron and Jessica Fehr earned walks to load the bases for Nink. She came through with the game-winning single to left field to give Evansville its sixth win of the season.

Sunday morning will see the Aces complete the Easton Bama Bash with an 11 a.m. rematch against #8 Virginia Tech.

The University of Evansville baseball team rallied for two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings on Saturday, and had the go-ahead run at the plate in the final frame, but ultimately the #10 NC State Wolfpack held off the Purple Aces, 6-4, at Doak Field at Dail Park in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"It is tough what our club did today coming off of the type of game yesterday was, where nothing went right," said UE baseball coach Wes Carroll. "I was proud of how we showed up to the yard loose today and competed hard for the full nine innings.

"Nick Smith had a great start against a very special lineup and gave us a chance today. Our offense fought back into it late with some great at-bats to have a chance with the go-ahead run at the plate."

NC State jumped to a 6-0 lead with two runs in the fourth and four more in the sixth, coming courtesy of freshman first baseman Tommy White's fourth home run of the series – a grand slam to center field. Evansville would answer back though with a two-run home run by senior first baseman Tanner Craig (Scottsburg, Ind./Austin) in the eighth inning to cut the lead to 6-2.

Then, in the ninth inning, freshman Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind./North) delivered a one-out triple to kick-start a final threat for UE. Sophomore shortstop Simon Scherry (Santa Claus, Ind./Heritage Hills) followed with a walk, and advanced to second with two outs, before graduate senior Evan Berkey (Laquinta, Calif./CSU – Bakersfield) produced a two-run single to cut the NC State lead to 6-4.

Senior designated hitter Eric Roberts (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) was able to reach base via an error to put runners on the corners with two out, but NC State relief pitcher Logan Whitaker got Craig to fly out to right field to end the threat and the contest.

Smith (0-1) was the tough-luck loser for UE after giving up just two runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings of work. Reliever Canaan Silver (1-0) earned the victory by scattering two runs on two hits in 3.0 innings on the mound for the Wolfpack.

The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday afternoon as 12 noon central. Redshirt sophomore Shane Harris (Poseyville, Ind./North Posey) will get the start for the Purple Aces. Sunday's game can be seen live on ACC Network Extra.

Shamar Givance tied for the game high with 21 points on Saturday when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team fell to Valparaiso by a final of 72-56 at the Ford Center.

Givance was the only double-digit scorer for the Purple Aces (6-10, 2-13 MVC), hitting 8 of his 13 attempts on his way to the 21-point game.  Evan Kuhlman scored nine points while leading the team in rebounds (7) and steals (4).  Kobe King was one of four double figure scorers for the Beacons (12-15, 5-10 MVC), tying Givance for the game’s top scoring tally with 21.  Kevion Taylor added 16 while Ben Krikke and Sheldon Edwards scored 12 and 11, respectively.

“Today was frustrating more than anything.  We got some pretty good looks but did not have enough consistency.  We want to win and there is no question but there are things that we encounter that make that hard,” head coach Todd Lickliter said.  “We got some good production from some of our guys while we have been shorthanded.  Blaise (Beauchamp) has stepped up over the last few games and Emmette (Page) played some good minutes today.”

Valparaiso started the game 3-for-3 from the field to take the early edge.  The Beacons opened the game with four in a row before Evan Kuhlman took a feed from Shamar Givance and connected from downtown.  Valpo extended the lead to 8-5 before the Aces took their first lead at 9-8 on a pair of Blake Sisley free throws at the 13:08 mark.

On the ensuing Valpo possession, a triple put the lead right back in their hands and they would lead by as many as 19 in the first half.  After a Preston Ruedinger triple gave the Beacons a 21-14 lead, the second 3-point play of the day by Givance made it a 21-17 game.  That is when the tides turned with Valparaiso going on an 18-3 run to take their largest lead at 39-20 with 2:34 left in the opening half.  Emmette Page came in to hit a triple and cut the deficit to 39-23 at the break.

Evansville chipped away at the Valparaiso lead in the second half.  With 11:08 left in the contest, Noah Frederking hit his first triple to get the game back within 10 points at 47-37.  Two minutes later, the Aces got even closer when a basket from Givance cut the VU lead to single figures (50-41) for the first time in the final half.  While UE would get back within nine on another occasion, Valpo kept the lead between ten and 15 points for the remainder of the game to finish with the 72-56 win.

Hitting 13 out of 19 second-half attempts, Valpo finished the game shooting 60.0% with UE completing the day at 42.0%.  The Beacons also finished with a 34-19 edge on the boards.  The teams will meet again on Monday for a 7 p.m. game in Valparaiso.

For the fourth meet in as many tries this season, the University of Evansville track and field team rewrote the record book on Saturday, as graduate student J.J. Pedersen (Milford, Conn./Platt Tech) and senior Taiza Alexander (Berea, Ky./Berea Community) both set new school records at the Indiana State Open in Terre Haute.

Pedersen beat the UE indoor school record in the 3,000-meter event by over six seconds, as he placed third overall with a time of 8:48.59. Alexander, meanwhile, tied her own indoor school record in the long jump with a distance of 5.15 meters. Overall, Evansville set 14 different individual personal-best marks at the meet as well.

“Overall, I thought that we did a great job today across the board,” said UE track and field head coach Don Walters. “We have been stressing the importance of teamwork all week, and the team really bought in today and were pulling for each other, and it helped big time.

“J.J. was outstanding in his race today, and really smashed the old school record. And, I thought that Taiza was locked in today and jumped really well. Those are good signs with the conference championships coming up next weekend.”

Pedersen led a group of six men to PR on Saturday with his third-place finish in the 3,000-meters. Senior Joey Rucinski (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) set a new personal standard in the pole vault with a height of 4.37 meters, while placing fourth. Junior sprinter Giovanni Purser (Port Maria, Jamaica) ran a personal-best 60-meter time of 7.10 to advance to the main finals. Sophomore Peter Epur (Eldoret, Kenya) set a new standard in the mile with a time of 4:30.73, and freshmen Adam Oulgout (St. Paul, Minn./Central) and Justin Nichols (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) turned in personal-best performances in the 800-meters (2:00.30) and 3,000-meters (9:57.99), respectively.

On the women’s side, eight PRs were set, led by Alexander tying the school record in the long jump. Senior Skylar Tucker (Linton, Ind./Linton-Stockton) set indoor PR marks in both the long jump (5.07 meters) and the 200-meters (27.71). Senior McKenna Sapp (Bloomington, Ill/University) turned her fastest 60-meter dash time of 8.47, while junior Mariah Schaefer (Columbia City HS) recorded her indoor-best mark in the pole vault of 3.08 meters. Junior Claire Griffy (Salem, Ill./Salem Community) lowered her personal-best time in the mile, while freshman Kara Yunker (Evansville, Ind./North) turned in personal-best performances in both the 60- (8.45) and 200-meter (29.17) races.

Overall, the UE men placed fifth and the women placed sixth at the Indiana State Open. The Purple Aces will return to action next on Sunday, February 27, when UE opens competition at the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships wrapped up on Saturday night with four members of the University of Evansville earning honorable mention all-MVC honors, as seniors Jessie Steele (Houston, Texas/Klein), Fae Keighley (Johannesburg, South Africa), and Maggie Franz (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) and junior Sage Moore (Lexington, Ohio/Lexington) all garnered all-Valley laurels.

Steele earned honorable mention all-MVC honors by placing fourth overall in the 100-yard Freestyle with a personal-best time of 50.39, cutting over six-tenths of a second off of her career-best time and moving her into the third-fastest position in UE history. Franz placed sixth and Keighley placed eighth in the three-meter diving competition with scores of 236.00 and 225.95, respectively, to earn honorable mention all-MVC honors. While Moore finished eighth in the conference in the 200-yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:20.59 to earn honorable mention all-MVC honors.

“This was a great way to close out the Valley Championships, with the highlight of the night being Jessie finishing fourth in the 100 free with a big drop in time,” said UE head swimming coach Stuart Wilson. “Overall, the team has been great all season, and it is a fitting way to end the year by going out with a bang!

“I want to thank our seniors for representing UE with heart and pride! You made a mark on the program, and I know that every one of them will be successful in their next step in life.”

Overall, Evansville produced one first team all-MVC performer in junior Maya Cunningham (Yakima, Wash./Eisenhower) and eight honorable mention all-MVC competitors at the 2022 Valley Championships. Evansville also had success in the Valley’s “B Finals” for a majority of the week, and that continued on Saturday, as both Cunningham and junior Sarah Jahns (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview) won the “B Finals” races in the 200-yard Butterfly and 200-yard Backstroke events, respectively.

While the main portion of the 2022 swimming and diving season concluded Saturday night with the MVC Championships, a select few Purple Aces have qualified to compete in the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, which will take place in March in Elkhart, Indiana. A full list of competitors for the NIC will be announced at a later date.

University of Evansville junior Maya Cunningham (Yakima, Wash./Eisenhower) broke UE’s fourth school record of the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships on Friday on her way to earning first-team all-MVC honors.

Cunningham posted UE’s fastest time ever in the 400-yard IM event with a time of 4:26.77 in Friday’s preliminary round. She then came back later on Friday to earn first team all-MVC honors by placing third in the 400 IM with a time of 4:26.95. She is the first Purple Ace to earn first team all-MVC honors since diver Courtney Coverdale did so in 2018.

“Maya is the star of the night,” said UE head swimming coach Stuart Wilson. “To break a school record and finish in the top three at conference is a tremendous accomplishment.

“I will say that I thought that the ladies swam much better at night in the finals. They are a persistent group and they will not give up. I am proud of how they swam tonight. I also thought the divers stepped up again today. One more day to grind.”

Cunningham was not the only Purple Ace to earn all-MVC honors on Friday, as sophomore Iryna Tsesiul (Minsk, Belarus) also earned honorable mention all-Valley honors in the 100-yard Backstroke, as she placed seventh overall with a time of 56.03. It marks the second-straight year in which Tsesiul has earned honorable mention all-MVC honors.

UE also continued to have strong showings in the “B Finals” at the Valley Championships, as juniors Allison McDonald (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Cape Central) and Sage Moore (Lexington, Ohio/Lexington) finished third and fourth respectively in the “B Finals” of the 100-yard Breaststroke. Fellow junior Sonsoles Aguayo (Jerez, Spain) also finished third in the “B Finals” of the 200-yard Freestyle.

The 2022 MVC Swimming & Diving Championships will conclude on Saturday with a full day of events. Saturday’s action will feature the finals of the three-meter diving competition, as well as prelims and finals in the 1,650-yard Freestyle, the 200-yard Backstroke, the 100-yard Freestyle, the 200-yard Breaststroke, 200-yard Butterfly, and the 400-yard Medley Relay. Preliminary swims will begin at 11 a.m., with finals set for 6 p.m.

Tenth-ranked North Carolina State launched five home runs and nine doubles Friday afternoon as part of a 24-hit attack to win the series-opener over the visiting University of Evansville baseball team, 24-6, at Doak Field at Dail Park in Raleigh, North Carolina.

NC State freshman first baseman Tommy White went 5-for-6 with three home runs and six RBI in his first collegiate game, and sophomore DH Dominic Pilolli went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI to ignite the Wolfpack’s offensive attack. White’s solo home run in the top of the first inning set the tone for the day, and Pilolli capped a seven-run second inning with a two-run home run of his own.

“Give credit to NC State,” said UE baseball coach Wes Carroll. “They had a tremendous plan against our pitching staff today and executed it very well.

“Opening Day is now out of the way and we need to bounce back tomorrow.”

Evansville did pound out six runs on 12 base hits in the contest. UE scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double by junior second baseman Brent Widder (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan North) and a two-run home run by grad senior third baseman Evan Berkey (Laquinta, Calif./CSU – Bakersfield).

Widder would add a run-scoring single in the sixth inning for UE, before adding an RBI single in the ninth inning, as he went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Freshman center-fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind./North), senior DH Eric Roberts (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) and redshirt sophomore catcher Brendan Hord (Lexington, Ky./Kentucky) also had two-hit efforts for UE.

The series will continue on Saturday with a single game beginning at 1 p.m. central time. The game can be seen live on ACC Network Extra.

Putting on one of its best offensive performances of the season, the University of Evansville women's basketball battled, but fell in an overtime heartbreaker, 75-70, to Valparaiso on Friday night inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

On a top-notch night for the offense, Evansville was led by a pair of 20-plus point scorers in senior A'Niah Griffin and junior Je'Naiya Davis. Griffin recorded a new career-high with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Davis recorded her fifth game of 20-or-more points this season, matching Griffin's 21 points for team-high. Junior Abby Feit also finished in double-digits on the evening, hitting a pair of important triples late en route to 10 points. The Beacons were powered by three double-figure scores, led by Shay Frederick, who finished with 18 points.

On a night that saw the largest crowd of the year all decked-out in orange, the Aces got off to a solid start in the first period. After falling behind 12-4, Evansville put together a 7-0 run to get within a point, eventually trailing just 14-13 after the opening 10 minutes of action.

After shooting 38% from the field in the first period, Evansville upped its efficiency in the second quarter, hitting six of its 13 attempts (46.2%). The Beacons matched the Aces efficiency, hitting 53.9% from the field in the quarter, but neither side could gain much separation in the period as Valpo went to the break with a 30-28 lead on a layup by Frederick in the closing seconds of the half.

Out of the break it was the Beacons who took control of the contest, opening up a 39-28 lead on a quick 9-0 run out of the halftime locker room. As has become the modus operandi for the Aces as of late, a double-digit lead was ripe for a comeback. Evansville mounted a 14-2 spree that pushed the Aces in front with a 42-41 advantage with 3:20 left in the quarter. A back-and-forth finish to the period concluded with a layup by Carie Weinman at the buzzer that earned the Beacons a two-point advantage with a quarter of regulation left to play.

Multiple times in the final 10 minutes, Evansville looked to have grabbed control, holding four-point leads on more than one occasion, but the Beacons battled back from each. With 1:37 left in regulation, Feit knocked-down an important three that broke a tie and pushed Evansville in front 68-65. A bevy of missed opportunities for both sides unfolded in the final minutes with Valpo having possession with under 30 seconds left. The ball found Frederick on the right wing who drained a three to tie the game and send it to over time tied at 68.

Early in the overtime period, the Aces were able to drive to the basket and get to the free-throw line, where Evansville twice split a pair to hold a 70-68 lead. Shooting woes over the final five minutes would prove to be the difference as Valpo edged in front on a Frederick's free throws, holding on for the 75-70 win.

Evansville closes-out its three-game homestand on Sunday against Loyola at 1 PM for Senior Day as the Aces recognize a pair of senior student-athletes for their efforts.

Battling against some of the top competition that college softball has to offer, the University of Evansville softball team came up short against Middle Tennessee State and #2 Alabama in Friday’s opening day of the Easton Bama Bash at Rhoads Stadium.

Game 1 – Middle Tennessee State 4, UE 2
Middle Tennessee State plated two runs in both the first and second innings and would hang on to finish Friday’s opener with a 4-2 win over the Purple Aces.  A bases loaded walk and a Claire Czajkowski RBI single got the Blue Raiders going in the first inning before Abby Shoulders picked a 2-RBI knock in the second.

Jessica Fehr picked up the first hit of the day, hitting a 2-out single in the third before coming through in an even larger way in the fifth.  Jenna Nink reached on an error to open the frame and stole second base.  With two outs, Mackenzie McFeron walkeds to bring up Fehr, who belted a 2-RBI double to left-center to get the Aces on the scoreboard. 

UE threatened again in the sixth with a pair of 2-out baserunners with Hannah Hood drawing a walk before Nink was hit by a pitch.  Unfortunately, a strikeout ended the threat.  Fehr recorded her third hit of the day in the seventh but was stranded at second with MTSU clinching the win.  Sydney Weatherford pitched the complete game for UE, giving up four runs, three earned, on three hits.  Keri Munn tossed the full seven frames for MTSU.  Both UE runs were unearned.

Game 2 - #2 Alabama 10, UE 2
Second-ranked Alabama plated three runs in the first inning before inching away to finish with a 10-2 victory over the Aces in six innings.  After picking up three hits in game one, Jessica Fehr got the game started with a single up the middle with Crimson Tide starter Jaala Torrence striking out the Aces in order to end the threat.

Alabama responded in the bottom half of the first, scoring three runs on three walks and three batters hit by a pitch.  Just when it looked like the Tide had taken control, Evansville bounced back with a run on two hits in the top of the second.  With one out, Jenna Nink singled through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch.  With two outs, Alexa Davis belted a single through the right side to plate UE’s first run of the day.

Evansville remained close until a 4-run fourth inning extended Alabama’s lead to 8-1.  The offense for UE added a second run in the fifth inning as a Sydney Weatherford single scored McFeron, who reached on a 1-out single.  The Crimson Tide added single runs in the fifth and sixth to clinch the 10-2 win.  Alabama had nine hits with the Aces picking up six.  Ally Shipman led the Tide with three RBI while Kaylee Tow registered two. 

Weatherford paced Evansville with a pair of hits and a RBI.  Aces starter Izzy Vetter suffered her first loss of the season, allowing 10 runs, seven earned, in five frames.  She struck out four.  Torrence tossed the complete game for the Tide, giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out 10.

On Saturday, the Aces open with an 11 a.m. game against #8 Virginia Tech before facing Middle Tennessee State at 6:30 p.m.

This weekend, the University of Evansville men’s golf team opens its spring season with a trip to Prattville, Alabama for the ASU Spring Classic.

Hosted by Alabama State, the tournament will be played at the RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill.  Sunday’s opening day will feature 36 holes with the final 18 slated to be played on Monday.  Par is a 72 and the yardage is 7,008.

Joining the Purple Aces in the event will be Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Western Illinois, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morehouse College and Savannah State.

Michael Ikejiani recorded the lowest average last fall among those on the team who played over seven rounds.  He registered a 76.22 average over the course of his nine rounds with a low of 71 coming in the opening 18 holes at the Alabama A&M Fall Invite.  That event saw him come home in the 8th position.

Isaac Rohleder completed the fall with a 76.86 stroke average while playing in all 15 rounds.  Rohleder picked up a pair of top 17 finishes, including a tie for 16th a the Valpo Fall Invitational.  The opening round of that event saw him shoot a season-low 70.

Just behind him was Henry Kiel, who tallied a 77.11 mark in nine rounds to open the 2021-22 season.  His low round was a 73, which came at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate and the Alabama A&M Fall Invite.

A stretch of four games in eight days comprises the final week of the regular season for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team and begins on Saturday with a 1 p.m. home game against Valparaiso.  ESPN3 and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the coverage.

Last Time Out
- Drake hit 9 of its opening 10 attempts on Wednesday and put things out of reach early before taking a 73-51 victory at the Knapp Center in Des Moines
- The Bulldogs took a 19-3 lead just over six minutes into the contest and would lead by 32 at the half and as many as 38 in the second half before the Purple Aces finished the game on a 26-10 run to cut into the deficit
- Blake Sisley paced UE with 14 points, converting six of his 14 field goal tries
- Blaise Beauchamp continued his scoring streak, knocking down four triples on his way to 12 points

In a Zone
- Blaise Beauchamp added his third double figure game in a row on Wednesday at Drake, scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from outside
- Over his last three games, Beauchamp has averaged 20.0 points per game
- After scoring a career-high 29 points in a double overtime game against Indiana State on Feb. 10, he added 19 points in the road game at SIU two days later
- The stretch has seen him hit 13 of his 20 attempts from long range while going 19-for-38 from the field
- Entering the 2/10 game, Beauchamp’s season average was 6.0 PPG, but the recent streak has lifted that mark to 7.6 PPG
- His effectiveness has been better when he is in the starting lineup with his scoring average in five starts sitting at 14.8 PPG...in games he comes off the bench, his scoring checks in at 5.9 PPG

Top Tally in Des Moines
- Hitting six field goals in the game at Drake, Blake Sisley led the Aces with 14 points, marking the third time in four games that he has scored 9 or more
- Over the last four outings, Sisley is averaging 10.5 points per game while hitting 54.8% (17/31) of his field goal tries
- In the home-and-home against Indiana State, Sisley averaged 13 points while hitting 10 of his 14 attempts
- He connected on six of his eight shots on Feb. 10 at the Ford Center on his way to a career-high 17 points...his high mark of 5 rebounds also came in that contest

Scouting the Opponent
- Valparaiso has lost five of its last six games to fall to 11-15 on the season and 4-10 in the Valley
- In their last contest, the Beacons dropped a close 71-69 home game to Loyola after falling on the road at Missouri State by a final of 84-66 last weekend
- Ben Krikke is the top scorer for Valpo, averaging 14.7 points
- He is shooting 55.2% from the field and is seccond on the team with 20 blocked shots
- Kobe King averages 13.9 points per game while Kevion Taylor (12.0) and Sheldon Edwards (11.5) round out the double figure scorers
- On the boards, Thomas Kithier is averaging a team-high 6.7 per game