The University of Evansville (UE) bestowed 505 degrees upon 488 graduates during the 166th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 4. President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz presided.

Several awards were given at the ceremony including the Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May Outstanding Senior Award, the Outstanding Teacher Award, and the Eykamp Prize. Additionally, two honorary degrees were featured during the celebration.

Full information on the award recipients is as follows:

2024 Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May Outstanding Senior Award

Each year, a committee of students and faculty selects an award recipient for the most outstanding senior. The selection is based on high academic performance, commitment to service, outstanding leadership, and involvement in diverse campus activities. The award is named after two of the University's most respected alumni, Mabel Dillingham Nenneker and Guthrie May. This year's recipient was Crispin Ewen.

Ewen is known for her warmth, passion, and inclusivity. Throughout her time at UE, she spearheaded various initiatives to enhance student life, including safety upgrades, menstrual product accessibility, and gathering student feedback for dining services. Always dedicated to improving the student experience, Ewen advocated tirelessly to ensure that proposed improvements were recognized and acted upon by those in positions of influence.

2024 Outstanding Teacher Award Recipient

The 2024 Outstanding Teacher was awarded to Dr. Diana Rodriguez Quevedo, Associate Professor of Spanish.

Dr. Rodriguez Quevedo is a beloved professor in the foreign language department. She prioritizes student success. She helped to implement online entry-level Spanish courses to meet evolving needs. Students boast about her innovative teaching methods that foster engaging learning environments. Beyond the classroom, she actively contributes to campus diversity and professional development initiatives. Dr. Rodriguez Quevedo's dedication to excellence earned her the 2024 Outstanding Teacher Award, celebrated for her impactful teaching and support.

2024 Eykamp Prize Recipient

The recipient for the 2024 Eykamp Prize was Dr. Alan Kaiser, Professor of Archaeology.

Dr. Kaiser has elevated his department to national recognition, notably through its distinctive undergraduate program in classical archaeology. Under his guidance, students benefit from a well-rounded education integrating classical languages, history, and technical skills, distinguishing them within the field. His dedication to experiential learning shines through initiatives like the Tin City Archaeological Project, marking its 20th anniversary this year.

Mrs. Rita Eykamp: Honorary Degree - Doctor of Humane Letters

The University of Evansville honored Mrs. Rita Eykamp's countless contributions to the University and community. Her impact at UE spans over three decades, from her pivotal role on the Board of Trustees, serving as chair and later full board member, to her significant leadership contributions in Evansville. Her dedication has earned her prestigious awards and accolades, reflecting her commitment to both UE and the broader community. As a Co-Owner of Mid-States Rubber Products, Inc., she excels in business while embodying values of service and compassion. During commencement, UE honored Mrs. Eykamp with an Honorary Degree, recognizing her as a guiding light whose legacy will inspire generations to come.

Hon. Richard L. Young: Honorary Degree - Doctor of Humane Letters

The University of Evansville celebrates the Honorable Richard L. Young as he tirelessly supports community initiatives in Evansville and beyond. From his active roles in organizations like the Evansville Bar Association to his dedication to mental health advocacy, his impact is felt across diverse causes. The dedication of the UE Mental Health and Wellness Clinic and Emily M. Young Assessment Center in November 2023 stands as a lasting tribute to his commitment to mental health awareness and support. UE was proud to honor Judge Young with an Honorary Degree during the Commencement Ceremony.

Join Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry at the second ‘Traveling City Hall’ at 5:30 p.m. on May 15 in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center. Speak directly with city officials and share your thoughts on upcoming projects like the Lloyd4U initiative. It's your chance to make your voice heard and shape the future of our community right here on the UE campus.

Dr. Jerrilee LaMar, Dr. Bryan Lynch, Dr. Bill Stroube, and Dr. Gregg Wilson were honored this past Sunday at the Faculty Retirement Tree Planting Ceremony and Reception.  The Redbud Appalachian Red tree that was planted in their honor is located in the inner oval closest to Olmsted Hall and the Koch Center.  They will each leave with a great legacy of successful careers and excellent service to our institution.  Please join us in wishing them the best in their retirements.

As there are fewer news articles during the summer, Purple Pulse will only be published on Wednesdays starting the week of May 6.

UE Bulletins will still be published as needed.

The regular Purple Pulse schedule will resume when summer hours end in August.

The Tri State Clinic Wellness Team is offering free one-on-one health coaching sessions for employees & spouses on the UE medical plan this summer at the Health Center!

• Conveniently located at the on-site Health Center
• Schedule with a health coach to identify your health and wellness goals and create a sustainable plan unique to you and your lifestyle
• Continue sessions as desired for ongoing support & accountability

Dates & times:

• Tuesday, May 14th @ 8:00 am-12:00 pm

• Monday, June 17th @ 8:00 am-12:00 pm

• Tuesday, July 16th @ 8:00 am-12:00 pm

Schedule with us online at: https://shorturl.at/xBKY7

Questions? Email the Wellness Team at tscwellness@ascension.org!

Employee & Spouse Summer Health Risk Assessments are right around the corner!

Dates: June 10th -12th

Time: 7:00am -10:45am

Location: Eykamp Room 251

Complete your health risk assessment and earn HRA credits! This health risk assessment is available for UE employees and their spouses on the UE medical insurance plan. Please remember, fasting 8-10 hours is recommended. Drink plenty of water before your arrival. Take maintenance medications as prescribed, as long as they are not required to be taken with food.

Click here to book your appointment: https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/1bblnzjg/

Campers will experience instruction led by the Evansville Women's Basketball coaching staff with support from Evansville players.

• This camp is for all ability levels, and the purpose of Little Ballers Camp is to teach the fundamentals of basketball: dribbling, shooting, passing, rebounding, defense, and teamwork, while also stressing the importance of hard work and a positive attitude!  
• Each camper will experience instruction through individual skill work, as well as small-sided games, and competitions.  
• All campers will receive a t-shirt as well as a camp evaluation/certificate.

Grades: 2nd - 8th

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost:
$175 | Individual/First Child Registration
$150 | Additional Sibling (same household)

*$20 off Individual/First Child Registration when registered by May 25th

Join us for our last Book gathering of the year. We will be discussing the novel, The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

Wednesday May 22nd at 12noon. Location to be determined. There are tentative plans to meet either at Honeymoon Coffee or at The Slice. Please R.S.V.P to ks6@evansville.edu so we can pick a location that works with our numbers.

The Secret History is the first novel by author Donna Tartt. Set in New England, the campus novel tells the story of a closely knit group of six classics students at Hampden College, a small, elite liberal arts college located in Vermont based up Bennington College where Tartt was a student.

The Secret History is an inverted detective story narrated by one of the six students, Richard Papen, who reflects years later upon a situation that let to the murder of their friend Edmund "Bunny" Corcoran- wherein the events leading up to the murder are revealed sequentially. The novel explores the circumstances and lasting effects of Bunny's death on the academically and socially isolated group of classics students of which he was a part. 

This was a best-selling debut novel. Normally a debut novel only has 10,000 orders but the Secret History had 75,000 orders and they were sold out upon release. 

Evansville's mens soccer staff is hosting two junior skills day camps (co-ed) 5/28-5/31 & 6/10-6/14.

tarversoccercamps.com

The Krannert Gallery will host the Hanns Pieper UE Photography Exhibition from April 10 through May 15.  This exhibit is comprised of photography created by our campus community - active and retired.

Please join us in celebrating this meaningful work at a reception on Thursday, April 11 at 4:30 p.m. in the Krannert Gallery.

Aces Fans, Faculty, & Staff –

We are only 1 month away from hosting our first ever on campus MVC Baseball Championship. Due to this event being an MVC sponsored championship, UE Faculty/Staff will not be able to redeem their 2 free tickets as they would for a regular season competition event.

We would love to have you join us out at The Braun on May 21-25 and cheer on your Aces as we punch our ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Interested in all-session tournament tickets for you and your family? Please contact Logan Belz in the Athletics Ticket office at 812-488-2623 or his email at lb334@evansville.edu.

All-Session Passes are:

• $65 for adults (17-59 years old)
• $45 for youths (3-17 years old)
• $45 for seniors (60+ years old)

You can view the full online ticketing site by clicking here.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Go Aces!!

The University is pleased to share a new centralized document storage location for all institutional policies. The new site, located at https://policies.evansville.edu, will serve as a comprehensive repository for all university policies, making it easier for everyone to access and reference important information. Policies can be located by office, constituency, and alphabetically, simplifying the search process. Users can also utilize keyword searching to quickly find specific policies or topics.

However, for this new repository to be successful, we need your help to populate it. We are calling on representatives from every area and department on campus to upload their policies to the site.

Please note that while we strive to include all university policies on the website, some policies may be documented in the Faculty Manual or Student Handbook rather than on the site itself.

All policies must be in PDF format and must be ADA Accessible to ensure they are usable by everyone in our community. Instructions for making policies ADA-compliant and uploading them are attached to this message.

We appreciate your cooperation in this effort to centralize and streamline our university policies. If you have any questions or need assistance with uploading your policies, please don't hesitate to reach out to Help@evansville.edu.

Policy Accessibility Check

How to Upload to Policy Center

The UE Library has been awarded an Advancing Racial Equity Collection Development Grant from Indiana Humanities. Grant funds will purchase hard copy books addressing topics of race, systemic racism, and the Black experience. The books will be housed in our Inclusion Diversity Equity & Access (IDEA) space on the second floor.

The Department of Art and the Melvin Peterson Gallery are pleased to present an exhibition of work by Elizabeth Garland from May 13 - 31, 2024.  Elizabeth Garland is the University of Evansville 2023 - 2024 Efroymson Bridge Fellow.

The Gallery will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays 11 am - 2 pm.  Please join us for a reception on Thursday May 16 from 5 pm - 7pm in the Gallery.

Beginning Monday, May 6th, the campus bookstore will begin their Summer hours:

Monday-Thursday: 10am-3pm

Friday: 10am-2pm

Saturday-Sunday: CLOSED

ES 103 (Fundamentals of Environmental Science), which fulfills the non-lab science General Education credit (Outcome 8), will be offered during Summer Session 2 as an online, asynchronous class. If you have questions about this 3 credit hour course, which will run from June 17-July 19, please contact Dr. Aldred via email ka59@evansville.edu

The Office of Marketing is seeking a creative and driven student to join our team as a Student Worker for the fall semester. In this role, you will collaborate with the University Marketing Content Specialist, Abigail Perry, to assist in creating engaging and dynamic video content for the University's social media pages.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with the production of video content from concept to completion.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas for video projects.
• Video editing on CapCut and TikTok.
• Coordinate with Abigail to ensure projects are completed on time and meet quality standards.
• Stay updated and research current trends and techniques in video production to contribute fresh ideas and approaches.
• Attend student on-campus events and capture video content for future video projects (or recaps).

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at the University of Evansville.
• Basic understanding of video editing software (e.g., CapCut, TikTok).
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

This position offers 6-8 hours per week with a pay rate of $10 per hour. If you're interested in this hands-on experience, reach out to Abigail Perry at ap445@evansville.edu with a copy of your resume.

The University of Evansville has done something culturally significant this past weekend for this campus and students! On Saturday, April 20th for the first time since the 90s UE has multiple D9 organizations on campus. It has been 5 years since we’ve had UE Kappas and 19 years since we had UE Deltas! It is also the first time ever that UE has had multiple D9 and a Latina/Multicultural (Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc.) chapter on campus! Below are the new members of the Divine 9 Organizations on campus. Please take a moment to congratulate these UE students on such an exciting milestone and accomplishment when you see them on campus.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Raymond Felton

1st-year Construction Management

Fellows Scholar

Track & Field student-athlete

Houston, TX

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Brynna Waters

3rd-year Theatre Performance

UE Theatre Artists of Color, President

Fellows Scholar

Brownsburg, Indiana

Alexis Stovall

2nd-year International Studies and Business Management

Member of Black Student Union

Gary, Indiana

Trinitie Terrell

4th-year Public Health (BS and MPH)

Black Student Union, President

Fellows Scholar

Indianapolis, Indiana

Discover how to easily add comments and annotations to your attached files after submitting a request to the Marketing Office.

With Request File Markup you can navigate through your document, highlight text, and toggle between light and dark modes for optimal viewing.

Experience hassle-free markup with intuitive tools and streamlined functionality. Please read the whole article on this Lytho feature by visiting the URL.

https://guide.lytho.com/help/request-file-markup

FIN 280 – Introduction to Personal Finance

I know the idea of taking a class during summer winter break doesn’t sound too exciting, but this is a great opportunity to take a class that is relevant to everyone and will benefit you all in the future! FIN 280 is an asynchronous online class that will introduce students to the basic concepts of Personal Finance. These concepts should be of great interest to all students, whether you are just beginning your college life or will soon be out in the working-world. The class will be set up so you can work more or less at your own pace. Lectures will be delivered via PowerPoints and videos going over the PPTs will be posted. This will  help you keep up with the class and be aware of exactly what you need to know.

The Office of Youth Programs has opened registration for UE Summer Camps 2024! Once again, we are offering a 50% discount to UE Employees that would like to register their youth. The 50% off discount code is UE50. Esports Camp is excluded from this discount. Employees should also be aware that there is a new registration system and they will have to create an account to register.

To learn more please visit, evansville.edu/camps. If you have any questions, please email youthprograms@evansville.edu.

In an era where cultural preservation meets modern innovation, we are excited to announce the launch of our newly revamped Master of Arts program in Cultural Resource Management right here at the University of Evansville. Formerly known as 'Innovative Leadership in Heritage Management,' the program has undergone a transformation to better reflect its focus and appeal to aspiring students like you.

Designed with your passions and aspirations in mind, our MA in Cultural Resource Management offers a dynamic blend of theory and practice, equipping you with the skills and expertise needed to thrive in the diverse landscape of heritage and cultural preservation.

With an emphasis on accessibility and flexibility, our online, asynchronous format allows you to pursue your degree at your own pace, seamlessly integrating your studies into your busy life. Whether you're juggling work commitments, social engagements, or other academic pursuits, our program empowers you to chart your own path to success. Even better? No expensive, standardized test scores required.

What sets our program apart is the unparalleled opportunities it offers. From internship placements in Evansville to immersive workshops at the historic Harlaxton College, you'll gain hands-on experience and invaluable insights from industry leaders and experts. Our extensive network of partners and collaborators ensures that you'll be at the forefront of cultural preservation efforts, making a tangible impact in communities near and far.

As a student in our MA program, you'll delve into a diverse range of courses, including:

• Cultural Heritage Conservation
• Cultural Landscape Management
• Archaeological Resource Management
• Cultural Policy and Advocacy
• Digital Humanities and Cultural Mapping
• Heritage Tourism and Sustainable Development

Upon graduation, you'll be equipped to pursue a wide array of rewarding career paths, including:

• Cultural Resource Manager
• Museum Curator or Director
• Heritage Conservation Specialist
• Archaeological Field Supervisor
• Cultural Policy Analyst
• Tourism Development Officer

With no standardized test results required for admission, there's never been a better time to apply and embark on your journey towards a fulfilling career in cultural resource management. Seize the opportunity to shape the future of our shared heritage and make a difference in the world.

Apply today and join us in preserving the past for generations to come. Visit our University of Evansville site to learn more and start your application process. Apply today!

Hey Juniors and Seniors!

In an era where cultural preservation meets modern innovation, we are excited to announce the launch of our newly revamped Master of Arts program in Cultural Resource Management based right here at UE. Formerly known as 'Innovative Leadership in Heritage Management,' the program has undergone a transformation to better reflect its focus and appeal to aspiring students like you.

Designed with your passions and aspirations in mind, our MA in Cultural Resource Management offers a blend of theory and practice, equipping you with the skills and expertise needed to thrive in the diverse landscape of heritage and cultural preservation.

With an emphasis on accessibility and flexibility, our online, asynchronous format allows you to pursue your degree at your own pace, seamlessly integrating your studies into your busy life. Whether you're juggling work commitments, social engagements, or other academic pursuits, our program empowers you to chart your own path to success. We even have four dynamic 'majors' within the MA, putting you in the driver's seat of your graduate studies. You can choose between:

• Historic Preservation and Conservation
• Sustainable Landscape Management
• Cultural Resource Governance and Policy
• Cultural Business and Economics 

From internship placements in Evansville to immersive workshops at Harlaxton College, you'll gain hands-on experience and invaluable insights from industry leaders and experts. Our extensive network of partners and collaborators ensures that you'll be at the forefront of cultural preservation efforts, making a tangible impact in communities near and far.

As a student in our MA program, you'll delve into a diverse range of courses and workshops, including:

• Cultural Heritage Conservation
• Museum Studies and Exhibition Design
• Archaeological Resource Management
• Cultural Policy and Advocacy
• Digital Humanities and Cultural Mapping
• Heritage Tourism and Sustainable Development

Upon graduation, you'll be equipped to pursue a wide array of rewarding career paths, including:

• Cultural Resource Manager
• Museum Curator or Director
• Heritage Conservation Specialist
• Archaeological Field Supervisor
• Cultural Policy Analyst
• Tourism Development Officer

With no standardized test results required for admission, there's never been a better time to apply and embark on your journey towards a fulfilling career in cultural resource management. We're still accepting applications for this Fall 2024, so seize the opportunity to shape the future of our shared heritage and make a difference in the world and continue your journey with the UE and Harlaxton family!

It was the desire of the donor, Margery Florence Kahn, that her scholarship be awarded to "dedicated and conscientious students who exhibit a true passion for their chosen fields of study, and who, in the opinion of the members of the University of Evansville faculty, are likely to bring the same enthusiasm into the performance of their jobs or the practice of the professions which they will pursue following graduation."

All University of Evansville full-time undergraduate students who will be juniors or seniors in the 2024-25 academic year may apply. An essay of about 300 words must accompany the application along with two to five faculty recommendation letters.

View the application and faculty recommendation information.

Completed applications and recommendation letters should be returned to the Office of Student Financial Services by MAY 10, 2024.

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

The Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence (ECTE) offers certificates to faculty members who meet the requirement of engagement and participation in ECTE sponsored events.

Congratulations to the faculty who earned a certificate or an award for the 2023-20234 academic year by demonstrating dedication to teaching and learning!

Outstanding New Faculty of the Year Award:

Tommy Housman (Communication/Student Media)

Congratulations, Tommy, for a terrific first year as a full-time faculty member at UE!

New Faculty Engagement Certificate:

·       Juliet Aura (Clinical Psychology)

·       Kyle Clark (Anthropology)

·       Tommy Housman (Communication/Student Media)

·       Fahad Humayun (Communication)

·       Jessica Snow (Health Sciences)

·       Michael Turlington (Chemistry)

Teaching Development Certificate:

·       Joan Fedor-Bassemier (Nursing)

·       Kristina Groves (English/FYS/Writing Center)

·       Lisa Hale (Education)

·       Sara Petrosillo (English)

·       Megan Voss-Warner (Civil Engineering)

Leadership award in recognition of exceptional dedication to course design and pedagogy by developing the online teaching certificate.

·       Leslie Barton (Director of Online Learning)

·       Kristen Strandberg (Assistant Director of Online Learning)

ECTE Team: Julie Merkle, Trenda Ridge, and Diana Rodríguez Quevedo

The American Theatre Wing announced nominations for the 77th Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards on Tues., April 30. The hit new Broadway play, STEREOPHONIC, by David Adjmi, garnered a historic 13 Tony Award nominations and became the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway’s history with four University of Evansville Theatre alumni attached. The production, which is nominated for “Best Play” among other awards, includes producing credits for two 2003 classmates, Nick Mills, a lead producer, and UE Assistant Professor Wes Grantom, both of whom became Tony nominees with the announcement. The production also includes Miriam Cortes ’21, Assistant to the Costume Designer, and Benjamin Anderson ’15, an understudy actor for the roles of “Charlie” and “Peter.”

“We’re all very proud of this show. But I certainly wouldn’t imagine that we would make history today as the most Tony-nominated play of all time. The work of this cast and creative team is amazing, and everyone should do their best to see it,” said Grantom.

Other nominations for STEREOPHONIC include: “Best Original Score (Will Butler),” “Best Scenic Design of a Play (David Zinn),” “Best Costume Design of a Play (Enver Chakartash),” “Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jiyoun Chang),” “Best Sound Design of a Play (Ryan Rumery),” “Best Direction of a Play (Daniel Aukin),” “Best Orchestrations (Will Butler & Justin Craig),” “Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Will Brill),” “Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Eli Gelb),” “Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tom Peckina),” “Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Juliana Canfield),” and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Sarah Pidgeon).”

Loosely based on Fleetwood Mac and their seminal album “Rumours,” STEREOPHONIC mines the agony and the ecstasy of creation as it zooms in on a music studio in 1976. Here, an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album finds itself suddenly on the cusp of superstardom. The ensuing pressures could spark their breakup—or their breakthrough. Written by David Adjmi, directed by Daniel Aukin, and featuring original music by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler, STEREOPHONIC invites the audience to immerse themselves—with flyon-the-wall intimacy—in the powder keg process of a band on the brink of blowing up.

After a hugely successful Off-Broadway run at Playwrights Horizons, STEREOPHONIC transferred to Broadway’s Golden Theatre on April 19 and recently announced an extension through Aug. 18. The 77th Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards, airs live from the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on Sun., June 16, at 7:00 p.m. CT, on CBS and Paramount+.

The Dean’s Teaching Awards for 2023-2024 have been awarded. The faculty members being honored are:

Daniel Byrne, professor of History from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences.

Alanna Keenan, associate professor of Music from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences.

Christopher Brockman, professor of Finance from the College of Business and Engineering.

Maxwell Omwenga, assistant professor of Computer Science from the College of Business and Engineering.

Mark Marchino, director of Clinical Education and clinical assistant professor of Physical Therapy from the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Leanne Nayden, lecturer of Education from the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Congratulations to our most deserving faculty members!

The University of Evansville baseball team posted its second-straight shutout on Tuesday night, and the Purple Aces launched four home runs, as UE run-ruled the University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles, 10-0, at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“Tonight was another good mid-week win for us,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “It all started on the mound for us tonight, as I thought that Kevin Reed, Drew Fieger and Nick Smith were outstanding.  For us to have back-to-back shutouts really shows how locked in our pitchers have been lately.

“Offensively, I thought the guys were locked in from the start.  It was great to see Kip Fougerousse have a huge game tonight, and I thought that Brent Widder and Ty Rumsey had some great swings as well.  This was a great effort, and hopefully, we can keep it going this weekend against a very good Indiana State team.”

Freshman Kevin Reed Issued a lead-off walk to start the game, but he quickly bounced back with a double-play ground ball and a strikeout to set the tone for the game.  Then, Evansville exploded offensively for seven runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab complete control of the contest.

Senior designated hitter Kip Fougerousse crushed a 434-foot home run to dead center field three batters into the inning to give UE a 2-0 lead.  Graduate third baseman Brent Widder would then follow two batters later with another two-run home run to left-center field to push the lead to 4-0.  Junior outfielder Ty Rumsey then crushed a ball into Arad McCutchan Stadium down the right-field line four batters later for a three-run shot to give UE a 7-0 cushion.

From there, Reed (4-1) motored through the USI lineup, retiring eight-straight batters in order at one point, as he tossed 5.0 scoreless innings to run his scoreless-innings streak to 11.0.  He would limit USI to just three hits and a walk while striking out three to earn the victory.

Fougerousse would add his second home run of the game with a solo shot in the fourth inning, and the Purple Aces would tack on a pair of runs in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk to graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger and an RBI ground out by graduate first baseman Chase Hug to move the lead to 10-0.  From there, junior reliever Drew Fieger tossed a perfect sixth inning, and senior reliever Nick Smith tossed a scoreless seventh inning to nail down UE’s second-straight shutout.  It is the first time in which UE has posted back-to-back shutouts since Evansville blanked Western Illinois in back-to-back games (4-0 and 8-0) on March 2 and 3, 2018.

Fougerousse led Evansville offensively by going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI.  Rumsey and Widder both added home runs for the second-straight game and combined for five RBI.

With the victory, Evansville improved to 28-20 overall, and has now won 19 of its last 24 games.  USI, meanwhile, dropped to 22-27 overall with the loss.  The Purple Aces will now travel north to Terre Haute, Indiana this weekend to square off with nationally-ranked Indiana State, which is ranked as high as 14th nationally in the various collegiate baseball polls.  The series will begin on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. central time in a game that can be seen nationwide on ESPNU.  The game is also available on the radio in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.

The Missouri Valley Conference announced its 2024 All-Conference recognition on Wednesday morning with Sydney Weatherford representing the University of Evansville softball team as a member of the All-Defensive squad.

Weatherford was one of the top performers in all facets of the game for the Purple Aces in 2024.  She anchored the pitching staff with a season ERA of 3.04 while posting an even lower mark (2.83) against MVC opponents.

In three appearances against Illinois State, she allowed one earned run in 8 innings.  One of her top performances of the season came in the road win at Indiana State where she allowed three hits in a complete game shutout win over the Sycamores.  It marked her 7th win of the season.

The April 19 8-inning win over Murray State saw her go the entire distance allowing three runs on six hits.  In Sunday’s win later that weekend, she allowed two runs, just one being earned.  Weatherford was at her best between March 15 and April 6 as she gave up just eight earned runs in a span of 50 innings of work.

UE opens the championship later today with a 4 p.m. meeting against Drake.

After completing a solid freshman season at the University of Rio Grande, Trent Hundley has officially transferred to the University of Evansville men’s basketball program.

The 6-foot-6 forward is a native of Mt. Orab, Ohio where he played at Eastern Brown High School.  In his first season of collegiate basketball, Hundley played in 30 games and averaged 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds.  Hundley was a 44.8% shooter from the field and was nearly as efficient from outside, hitting 40.9% of his 3-point attempts.

“We are excited about the addition of Trent Hundley to our roster.  Trent is another important piece we needed this offseason in order to continue to add perimeter shooting to our roster.  What we like about Trent is that he is a dynamic scorer.  He is very good at making catch and shoot 3's but he can also put the ball on the floor and get to his spots,” Purple Aces head men’s basketball coach David Ragland exclaimed.  “Trent has good athletic ability and is very capable of having scoring burst.  Trent comes from a family of hard workers, and he has worked extremely hard on his game so that he can produce the way he has since he has been in college.”

“We felt it was necessary to bring more experience to the group of returners we have and Trent fits our roster perfectly.”

On November 19, 2023. Hundley had his first double digit game of the season with 11 against Ohio Christian.  A week later against Miami Univ.-Hamilton, he connected on 7 of his 13 attempts while going 4-of-7 from outside on his way to 18 points.

As the month of January ended, Hundley was at his best.  Between Jan. 31 and Feb. 22, he averaged 14.4 points per game while recording a season-high 20 points against WVU Tech.  For his efforts, he was named to the 2023-24 All-River States Conference Men’s Basketball Second Team.

“I chose Evansville because of the players, we have the potential to be great, I know Evansville has a great staff, and it’s environment is something I’ve dreamed about playing in since I was a kid,” Hundley said.

Hundley completed his high school career with 1,020 career points, 10th in the school record book.

Round two of the NCAA Division I East Lansing Regional saw University of Evansville golfer Kate Petrova post a 6-over 78 at Forest Akers West Golf Course.

With a 2-round tally of 148, Petrova is tied for 37th place heading into Wednesday’s final 18 holes.  On Monday, she opened the tournament with a 2-under 70 to rank in a tie for 4th place.

Bailey Shoemaker of USC continues to lead the individual standings with a score of 136.  She heads into the final day with a 1-stroke lead over Lauren Beaudreau of Notre Dame.

USC continues to pace the team standings with a 570.  They are two in front of Northwestern and three on top of Pepperdine.

University of Evansville sophomore Kate Petrova had an impressive start to the NCAA Division I East Lansing Regional on Monday, posting a 2-under 70 to sit among the leaders of the pack.

Petrova completed the opening day at Forest Akers West Golf Course tied for 4th place on the leaderboard.  Her 2-under 70 is tied with Jennifer Cai (Northwestern), Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (Oklahoma State), Marta Lopez Echevarria (Kentucky), Lauryn Nguyen (Northwestern), Catherine Park (USC), Hana Ryskova (Louisville) and Anna Zanusso (Denver).

Leading the individuals is Bailey Shoemaker of USC, who posted a 7-under 65.  Lion Higo of Pepperdine is two behind in second while Lauren Beaudreau of Notre Dame is third, three off the lead pace.

The group that is tied for 4th are just five shots behind Shoemaker’s pace.  Petrova is competing as an individual at the event.  On the team side, USC holds a 2-shot lead over Pepperdine with the first of three rounds complete.

On Tuesday, Petrova looks to keep things rolling in the second round of 18.

For the first time in his collegiate career, University of Evansville senior pitcher Shane Harris captured Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday, after helping UE post its first shutout of the 2024 season on Sunday in a 9-0 victory at Valparaiso.

Harris anchored UE’s first shutout since last May on Sunday by tossing a career-high 7.0 innings on the mound, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out a career-best eight men.  Of the 21 outs that Harris recorded, 18 of them were either on the infield or via the strikeout, and after allowing a lead-off double to begin the game, Harris retired 14 of the next 15 Valparaiso hitters in order.  He allowed just two base-runners to advance past second base on the afternoon.

With the shutout, Evansville improved to 27-20 overall and 14-7 in the MVC.  The Purple Aces will return home briefly on Tuesday night to host crosstown rival Southern Indiana in a mid-week contest.  First-pitch is set for 6 p.m.  Both teams will enter the game red-hot, as Evansville has won 18 of its last 23 games overall, while USI (22-26) has won seven of its last 10 games.

Offensively, Evansville is led by graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger, who will bring an MVC-leading .391 batting average into Tuesday night’s game.  Shallenberger has hit safely in each of his last eight games, while also owning an 18-game on-base streak.  USI, meanwhile, is led offensively by senior outfielder Ren Tachioka, who will bring a team-best .400 batting average into Tuesday’s game.  He currently ranks second in the OVC in hitting with his .400 average.

On the mound, Evansville will turn to freshman left-hander Kevin Reed (3-1, 6.96 ERA) against the Screaming Eagles.  Reed is coming off his best start of the year, as he tossed a season-high 6.0 shutout innings in UE’s 7-6 win at OVC co-leader Southeast Missouri State last Tuesday.  Reed, Harris and fellow starters Kenton Deverman and Donovan Schultz all posted “quality starts” (6.0 innings pitched or more and three or fewer earned runs) for UE last week in its four games, and combined, UE’s starting staff posted a 1.44 ERA last week.

Tickets are currently on sale in the UE athletic ticket office, and can be purchased by contacting Logan Belz by phone at 812-488-2623.  Tuesday’s game can also be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and seen live on ESPN+.

Entering the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship as the #10 seed, the University of Evansville softball team opens the tournament on Wednesday against 7th-seeded Drake.  Game time is set for 4 p.m. CT at Marian Kneer Stadium in Normal, Ill. with ESPN+ having the coverage.

Last Time Out

- In the final weekend of the regular season, the Purple Aces were in Normal to face Illinois State with the Redbirds taking the three games by a combined five runs

- Jess Willsey paced the team batting 444 with four hits in nine at-bats along with two RBI

- Lacy Smith recorded her first home run of the season in the weekend finale

Another Strong Weekend

- Finishing the Illinois State series batting .444, Jess Willsey led the Aces and season average at .291, its highest mark since March 29

- Over the last nine games, she is batting .414 with 12 hits in 29 at-bats

- Willsey recorded four hits in 11 plate appearances against Missouri State

Providing a Spark

- Freshman Niki Bode has been unbelievable when given the opportunity against MVC opponents, batting .455 with five hits in 11 at-bats while adding a home run, three RBI and three runs scored

- Bode added another pinch hit at Illinois State and has come through in three of her last five pinch hit opportunities

Finishing Strong

- Hannah Hood picked up three hits in eight at-bats against Missouri State to continue a strong finish to her 5th campaign at UE

- Over her last eight games, Hood is batting .471 with eight hits in 17 trips to the plate

- She picked up the game-winning hit in the 8th inning of the series opener against Murray State before going 1-3 in the second contest

Big Hits

- Jenna Nink was responsible for one of the top moments of the season for the Aces as she belted a 3-run walk-off home run in the April 26 win over Missouri State

- With UE trailing by a 5-3 score entering the bottom of the seventh, she picked up the game-winner with two outs to seal the win

- Nink leads the team with 25 RBI and has a hit in 12 of the last 18 games

Lacy Smith and Jess Willsey recorded two hits apiece, but the Illinois State defense turned three doubles players on their way to a 4-1 win over the University of Evansville softball team on Sunday afternoon at Marian Kneer Stadium.

Jess Willsey picked up the first hit of the game in the top of the second with a double play later ending the threat.  Illinois State countered in the bottom of the frame with the first run of the game scoring on an RBI groundout.  Two sacrifice flies by ISU pushed the lead to 3-0 as the third inning came to a close.

Brooke Voss added a single in the top half of the fourth before the Redbirds plated the fourth run of the game on a single in the bottom of the inning.

With one out in the fifth, Lacy Smith hit a home run to left field to get Evansville on the board.  Zoe Frossard, who reached on a walk earlier in the game, added a hit as UE worked to get closer in the fifth.

Still trailing by a 4-1 score, UE made a late rally with Hannah Hood and Smith leading off with singles.  A double play got the Redbirds back on track and they recorded the final out to take the win.

The pitching staff for the Purple Aces had a solid day.  Sydney Weatherford, Mikayla Jolly and Megan Brenton tossed two innings apiece.  Weatherford allowed one run on two hits while Brenton threw a scoreless final two frames.  Paige McLeod allowed one run on eight hits in the complete game for ISU.

UE is set for the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Championship, which opens on Wednesday in Normal, Ill.

University of Evansville senior pitchers Shane Harris and Jakob Meyer combined on a three-hit shutout on Sunday, and the Purple Aces launched three home runs, as UE posted a 9-0 shutout victory over the Valparaiso Beacons at Emory G. Bauer Field in Valparaiso, Indiana.

“What a great bounce-back effort today, as I thought that we got a total team effort,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “Share Harris and Jakob Meyer were outstanding on the mound, and I thought that offensively, we had a lot of different guys step up and provide quality at-bats today.

“Today’s game was an important game for us.  We needed this win before going into a very important stretch going into the conference tournament in two weeks.”

After giving up a lead-off double in the first inning, Harris (5-5) retired 14 of the next 15 Valparaiso hitters in order to set the tone for the day.  Harris would limit the Beacons to just three hits and a walk in a career-high 7.0 innings of work, with a career-best eight strikeouts to earn the victory.  Overall, 18 of Harris’ 21 outs were recorded either via strikeout or on the infield on the afternoon.

His teammates would give him all of the offensive support he would need in the second inning, as graduate third baseman Brent Widder launched a solo home run, his 10th of the year, and junior outfielder Ty Rumsey drove in two runs with a single and a Valparaiso error to give UE a 3-0 lead.

Rumsey would add a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to push the UE lead to 4-0, while graduate first baseman Chase Hug would add a two-run single in the seventh inning to move the UE advantage to 6-0.  Rumsey then belted a two-run home run to right-center field in the eighth inning, and graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger added his team-leading 14th home run of the year two batters later with a solo shot to cap the scoring.

Meyer worked the final two innings without giving up a hit to finish off the shutout for UE.  His strikeout to end the game capped UE’s first shutout since a 1-0 victory at Illinois State on May 6, 2023, almost one year to the day of Sunday’s shutout.

Rumsey led UE offensively by going 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.  Senior designated hitter Kip Fougerousse also added three hits, and Shallenberger, Hug, and junior second baseman Cal McGinnis had two-hit days as well.  Senior shortstop Simon Scherry also recorded his 250th career hit with a single in the sixth inning.

With the victory, Evansville improved to 27-20 overall and 14-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference, as the Purple Aces earned their sixth-straight MVC series victory.  Valparaiso, meanwhile, dropped to 14-31 overall and 6-15 in the MVC with the loss.  Evansville will now briefly return home to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium on Tuesday night to host crosstown rival Southern Indiana in a mid-week contest.  First-pitch is set for 6 p.m. and tickets for Tuesday’s game can be purchased by calling Logan Belz in the UE athletic ticket office by phone at 812-488-2623.

With the score tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the 7th, Illinois State saw its first four batters reach base to defeat the University of Evansville softball team by a final of 6-5 on Saturday at Marian Kneer Stadium.

Three RBI hits in the bottom of the first saw Illinois State jump out to the early lead.  UE looked to respond in the top of the second as Hannah Hood reached on a leadoff walk before Jenna Nink doubled to right center.  A double play quickly ended the threat.

Illinois State registered three hits in the bottom of the frame before Purple Aces starter Megan Brenton forced a fly out to keep the deficit at three runs with ISU stranding the bases loaded.

Evansville got on the board in the top of the third with three consecutive batters reaching base with two outs.  A Zoe Frossard walk and Brooke Voss single were followed by an RBI hit by Jess Willsey to make it a 3-1 game.  The Redbirds quickly fought back, plating two runs in the bottom of the third.

Things remained at 5-1 until the top of the 5th when two runs scored on another hit by Jess Willsey to cut the deficit to 5-3.  One inning later, it was Frossard coming through with the game-tying hit.  Niki Bode opened the frame with a pinch hit single while Marah Wood reached on a 1-out fielder’s choice.  With two outs, Frossard double to left center to bring in both runners.

Still tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the 7th, the Redbirds rallied to take the win.  Following a leadoff single, ISU saw its next three batters walk as the winning run crossed the plate.   Evansville posted eight hits in the game with Willsey recording a pair.

Brenton tossed three innings with five runs, four earned, crossing the plate.  Mikayla Jolly threw three innings with just one run scoring.

Sunday’s regular-season finale begins with a 12 p.m. first pitch.

The Valparaiso baseball team launched three home runs on Saturday, and scored seven of its eight runs with two outs in an inning, as the Beacons evened the Missouri Valley Conference series with the University of Evansville Purple Aces with a 8-4 victory at Emory G. Bauer Field in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Evansville struck first with some two-out luck of its own in the second inning, as junior outfielder Harrison Taubert had a check-swing RBI single through the right-side of the Valparaiso infield to give UE a 1-0 lead.  But, it would be UE’s only lead of the afternoon.

The Beacons quickly scored two two-out runs in the bottom of the second inning thanks to RBI singles by catcher Kade Reinertson and third baseman Kaleb Hannahs.  Evansville would respond by loading the bases in the third inning, but could get only one run on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Simon Scherry to tie the game at 2-2.

The teams would trade solo home runs by the two designated hitters:  Valparaiso’s Ryan Maka in the third inning and UE’s Cal McGinnis in the sixth inning to move the score to 3-3.  Hannahs hit a solo home run with two outs in the seventh inning to give Valpo the lead, and the Beacons tacked on four more two-out runs in the eighth inning to grow an 8-3 advantage.    Evansville would get a lead-off solo home run by Taubert in the ninth inning, but UE could get no closer.

Hannahs went 4-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Valparaiso offense.  Taubert, graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger and senior outfielder Kip Fougerousse all had two hits for UE.

With the victory, Valparaiso improved to 14-30 overall and 6-14 in the MVC.  Evansville, meanwhile, dropped to 26-20 overall and 13-7 in the MVC with the loss.  The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in a game that can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.  Senior right-hander Shane Harris (4-5, 4.34 ERA) is expected to get the start for the Purple Aces in the series finale.

Sydney Weatherford allowed just one run on five hits, but Paige McLeod’s no-hitter paced Illinois State to a 1-0 win over the University of Evansville softball team on Friday at Marian Kneer Stadium.

Weatherford’s lone run was unearned, scoring on an error in the bottom of the second.  She walked just one batter in the contest.  McLeod struck out two Purple Aces batters and did not issue a walk.

Jayden Standish opened the bottom half of the second with a double and would score the lone run of the game on an error.

Evansville’s first baserunner came in the fifth when Jess Willsey reached on a fielding error before the threat was ended on a double play.  Brooke Voss reached on an error in the seventh before a strike out ended the game.

Saturday’s game has been moved up to 12 p.m. due to inclement weather in the forecast.

The University of Evansville track and field team ended the outdoor regular season with three more program records.

On Friday the Purple Aces reset two records and broke a third at the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by the Indiana Hoosiers. The first record set was the men’s hammer throw by graduate thrower Zach Dove (Princeton, Ind. / Princeton Community HS). After teammate Jaden Hayes (Huntingburg, Ind. / Southridge HS) set the record earlier in the season, Dove took back the top spot with a throw of 52.90 meters for 13th in the event. Hayes finished the event in 14th with a throw of 50.20 meters while freshman Cole Johnson (Salem, Ill. / Salem Community HS) had a throw of 35.26 meters.

UE’s other program record that was reset in the 2024 outdoor season came from freshman sprinter Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS). She became the third runner this season to set a new 400-meter dash program record with a time of 57.70 seconds for sixth place. Teammate Eilen Brenne (Skien, Norway) finished 17th in the event with a time of 59.71 seconds.

Evansville’s only completely new 2024 outdoor season record of the day came from freshman Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain) in the men’s 800-meter. Rodriguez broke the 2018 record set by Stanley Chepchieng by over a second with a time of 1:52.39 for a fifth-place finish. The Aces also had top 15 placements for freshman Tommaso Losma (Lombardia, Italy) and junior Adam Oulgout (St. Paul, Minn. / Central HS) with times of 1:54.19 and 1:54.35 for 12th and 14th.

UE’s best placement was from freshman mid-distance runner Nicole Prauchner (Neuhofen an der Ybbs, Austria) in the women’s 800-meter. Prauchner adds another podium finish to her early collegiate career taking third in the event finishing in 2:11.49. Evansville also added another top 10 finish in the event from Kalina Urbaniak (Suchy Las, Poland) with a PR of 2:14.12.

The Aces began their day at the Billy Hayes Invitational in the field as junior Preston Riggs (Ft. Branch, Ind. / Gibson Southern HS) placed eighth in the men’s javelin throw with a throw of 45.33 meters. Also, in the field for UE on the men’s side, Hayes and Dove placed 15th and 16th in the shot put with throws of 14.74 and 14.70 meters.

On the women’s side of the field sophomore Gwen Darrah (Cleveland, Ohio / Orange HS) placed 15th in the women’s hammer throw with a PR of 41.84 meters. Senior Hannah Bryant (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) also placed in the event with a throw of 37.04 meters. In the women’s javelin junior Kaitlyn Sansone (Fairfield, Ohio / Mercy McAuley HS) and Bryan earned ninth and 11th place with throws of 28.87 meters and 25.33 meters respectively. Senior thrower Brooke Springer (Henderson, Ky. / Henderson Community HS) set a PR in the women’s discus with a throw of 35.02 meters, while freshman Jillian Miller (Boonville, Ind. / Boonville HS) was the only Ace to throw in the women’s shot put with a throw of 9.20 meters.

On the track, freshman sprinter Raymond Felton III had two Top 10 finishes for Evansville in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Felton’s best finish was seventh in the 200-meter dash at 21.73 seconds, while taking 10th in the 100-meter dash at 10.85 seconds. Sophomore José Ocampo (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico) also ran both events with a 15th finish in the 200-meter dash in 22.55 seconds. The Aces only distance placement of the day came from freshman Samuel Lea (Worchester, England) in the 1500-meter race finishing 11th with a time of 3:56.63.

Sophomore Kate Walke (Batesville, Ind. / Oldenburg Academy) and freshman Woody Burrell (Cedarburg, Wis. / Cedarburg HS) were UE’s two hurdle runners in Bloomington. Walke finished 12th in the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.72 seconds. While Burrell finished 17th in the men’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.41 seconds.

Evansville also ran two relays on Saturday in the men’s 4x100 relay and the men’s 4x400 relay. The Aces best finish came in the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:23.07 for fourth place. While the 4x100 relay team placed sixth with a season-best time of 43.44 seconds.

UE will head to Terre Haute next weekend for the MVC Outdoor Championship hosted by Indiana State. Evansville looks to improve on its 10th place finishes from the Indoor Championships in February. The MVC Outdoor Championships are set for Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12.

University of Evansville graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger launched his fourth home run in the last three games on Friday, and all nine members of the UE starting lineup scored a run, as the Purple Aces routed the host Valparaiso Beacons, 13-1, in seven innings at Emory G. Bauer Field in Valparaiso, Indiana.

“I am proud of our club today, as I thought that we executed in all three facets of the game extremely well,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “On the mound, I thought that Kenton Deverman was outstanding once again, and it was nice to see Jacob Jarvis put up a scoreless inning, as he has worked extremely hard to get back up on the bump for us.

“Offensively, I thought all nine guys were locked in, which is great to see at this time of year.  It was also nice to see Mark Shallenberger go up top with the grand slam, and Brendan Hord come through with two big hits as well.  Now, we just need to keep this going here this weekend.”

Evansville jumped on top early, as the Purple Aces scored three runs in the second inning to kick-start the offense.  Graduate third baseman Brent Widder led off the second inning with a walk, and moved to third base on senior shortstop Simon Scherry’s 248th career hit to left-center field.  On the play, Scherry cracked UE’s career top 10 for hits, tying former UE shortstop Robbie Minor (2004-07).

Widder would score on a throwing error by the Valparaiso catcher on a steal by Scherry to begin the scoring.  Then, graduate catcher Brendan Hord followed two batters later with an RBI single to push the UE lead to 2-0.  A bases-loaded walk later in the frame to senior designated hitter Kip Fougerousse would cap the three-run frame.

Evansville loaded the bases again in the third inning, and got a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Ty Rumsey to push the lead to 4-0.  UE then piled on five runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by an RBI single by Widder, a two-run double by Hord, and an RBI ground out by Rumsey.

After Valpo scored its only run of the game in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly, the Purple Aces would once again load the bases in the sixth inning.  Only, this time, Shallenberger would quickly clear them with a no-doubt grand slam to right field for his team-leading 13th home run of the year, and fourth home run in UE’s last three games.

While UE’s offense was rolling, freshman starter Kenton Deverman kept the Beacons’ offense at bay.  Deverman improved to 7-1 on the season with 6.0 innings of one-run, five-hit baseball with three strikeouts.  Junior reliever Jacob Jarvis, who had not pitched since March 2, then worked a perfect seventh inning on just seven pitches to help UE enact the mercy rule.

Hord, Widder, Scherry and freshman second baseman Brodie Peart all had two-hit afternoons for UE, while Shallenberger drove in four runs, and Hord added three RBI.

With the victory, Evansville improved to 26-19 overall and 13-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while winning its 17th game in the last 21 contests.  Valparaiso, meanwhile, dropped to 13-30 overall and 5-14 in the MVC.  The series will continue on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in a game that can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.  Graduate left-hander Donovan Schultz (3-1, 6.16 ERA) is expected to get the start for UE.