Indiana
Arizona softball sweeps Indiana, Marshall to stay perfect in Hillenbrand Invitational
Arizona softball’s high-powered offense kept it perfect in the Hillenbrand Invitational, sweeping a doubleheader against Indiana and Marshall on Friday.
The 22nd-ranked Wildcats beat Indiana 6-3 and then knocked off Marshall 12-4 in six innings
UA’s bats started slow in both of the games but when the second and third at bats came around the offense got going.
“Definitely think our hitters are taking the adjustments that they need to be making during the games and we’d like to see it earlier than the second or third at bat,” coach Caitlin Lowe said. “Usually when they have a good first at bat but don’t have the result, they’re pretty excited about their second and third. Just a huge credit to them.”
Here’s what happened in the wins against Indiana and Marshall.
Game One
Miranda Stoddard got her second start of the season and pitched 3.0 innings, allowed four hits, allowed three earned runs and struck out one in 53 pitches (34 strikes).
Aissa Silva came in for relief in the top of the fourth inning and earned her sixth win of the season (6-0), she pitched 4.0 innings, allowed two hits, struck out four in 65 pitches (42 strikes).
Stoddard came out firing in the top of the first, picking up the first two outs in three pitches but after two straight walks Indiana looked to capitalize with a runner in scoring position. A single allowed a runner to score from second, 1-0.
UA didn’t wait long to respond, Dakota Kennedy singled through the left side of the infield and advanced to second base on a wild pitch bringing up power hitter Carlie Scupin. Scupin drove a two-run shot over the batter’s eye for her sixth home run of the year, 2-1.
In the bottom of the third inning UA had a chance to add some insurance runs with the bases loaded and one out but two pop-ups got Indiana out of the inning clean.
After a single to the pitcher to start the top of the fourth for the Hoosiers, Indiana’s Sarah Stone hit a two-run shot over right center to give Indiana the lead back, 3-2.
Arizona responded as they had all season adding another three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
After a lead-off walk by Biehl, back-to-back perfect bunts by Jasmine Perezchica and Regan Shockey resulted in singles but back-to-back throwing errors on their hits by Indiana allowed two runs to come home for UA, 4-3.
Arizona continued to be over aggressive on the bases when Shockey got waved home from second base on a wild pitch and beat the tag, 5-3.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, with runners on second and third bae Olivia DiNardo hit a SAC fly to left field which brought home Shockey, 6-3.
Game Two
After pitching four innings in relief in the game before, sophomore Silva got the start on the mound. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowed three hits, gave up one earned run, struckout three in 31 pitches (20 strikes).
“Just in a doubleheader, like that Aissa (Silva) was hot to finish the game,” Lowe said. “So, we felt like rolling her into that game was the smartest decision with that 20 minute break. They came out swinging and I think just needed a change of pace after that.”
In the top of the second inning with a runner on second Arizona turned to game one starter Stoddard for relief. She pitched 2.2 innings, allowed three hits, gave up three earned runs, struckout one in 32 pitches (23 strikes).
Brooke Mannon came in for relief in the top of the fifth inning with a runner on third and picked up the win (4-0). She pitched 1.2 innings, allowed one hit, struck out one in 21 pitches (15 strikes).
In the top of the first inning, Marshall got its offense started with a solo home run to left field, 1-0.
After Emily Schepp walked in the bottom of the second inning, Tayler Biehl hit her first career home run when she hit a two-run shot to center field putting UA up 2-1.
Marshall didn’t wait long to strike back, Brooklyn Ulrich hit a two-run home run to center field, 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning after two walks and a bunt, Arizona had runners on second and third base. Shockey hit an infield single and had to use all of her speed to beat out the throw to allow Allie Skaggs to score, 3-3.
Marshall looked to take advantage of a leadoff triple to start the top of the fifth inning and hit a single through the right side of the infield bringing home another run, 4-3.
After back-to-back walks for Arizona in the bottom of the fifth Arizona added a seven-run fifth inning.
With two outs Paige Dimler came up to pinch hit and drove a double to left field and two runs came home, 5-4. The very next batter Biehl added onto her night and hit a double to left center which brought home another run and added a run for UA, 6-4. Arizona’s two out rally didn’t stop there when Shockey hit a single through the right infield and brought home another two runs for Arizona, 8-4. After Kennedy singled up the middle, Scupin hit a double off the right wall and extended UA’s lead to 10-4.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded for UA, Perezchica added her first RBI of the game when she drove home Blaise Biringer, 11-4. The very next batter Shockey hit a single up the middle to score the game ending run, 12-4.
UA’s run-rule win over Marshall was its tenth game run-ruling an opponent.
Next up
Arizona’s next games are a double-header on Saturday against Indiana at 4 p.m. MT and Marshall at 6 p.m.
Indiana
Nicolas Cage to make his first U.S. comic convention appearance in Indiana
Catch everything that went on at day 1 of the Indiana Comic Convention
Day 1 of the 2025 Indiana Comic Convention is in the books. IndyStar reporter John Tufts gives you an inside look of everything that went on.
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is making his U.S. comic con scene debut, appearing at the Indiana Comic Convention this week.
Fans can meet Cage and get an autograph or photo with him during the June 5-7 event taking place at the Indiana Convention Center.
The appearance marks Cage’s first at a U.S. comic convention. The 62-year-old actor, who has starred in movies spanning romance, action and superhero genres over more than 40 years, appeared at the Osaka Comic Convention in 2025.
Cage’s Indiana visit comes after the May 27 release on Prime Video of “Spider-Noir,” the live-action superhero series he leads. He voiced the character in the 2018 animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and will reprise the role in 2027’s “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.”
Among his other superhero genre movie roles are Big Daddy in “Kick-Ass” and Johnny Blaze in Marvel’s Ghost Rider franchise. He was set to star in director Tim Burton’s scrapped Superman movie in the 1990s. Fans finally got to see him on the big screen as the Man of Steel when he cameoed in “The Flash” in 2024.
Cage, whose movies have grossed more than $6.4 billion, also starred in “National Treasure,” “The Rock,” “Face/Off,” “Con Air,” “Valley Girl,” “Raising Arizona,” “Adaptation” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
“Nicolas Cage is one of the most accomplished and recognizable actors in the world, and to have him choose Indiana Comic Convention as his first fan convention is huge for fans and a tribute to the reputation they’ve built for treating celebrity attendees with so much love and respect,” show producer Dan Farr said in an announcement of the appearance.
Watch ‘Spider-Noir’ on Prime
How much is a Nicolas Cage photo op?
Indiana Comic Convention features celebrities, authors, comic creators and exhibitors that cater to a wide spectrum of interests and fandoms, including comic books, magazines, toys, games, anime, manga, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel.
In-person Nicolas Cage autographs will cost $400. Photo ops are $250. A pre-signed autograph is $225. A photo op/pre-signed autobiography bundle is $450.
Tickets and photo ops are available now at indianacomicconvention.com.
Contact reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky:@cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
Indiana
Hobart police officer rescues family from house fire
Monday, June 1, 2026 3:34AM
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) — A northwest Indiana family is safe thanks to the heroic actions of a Hobart police officer.
Adam Zormier rescued a woman and four children from a burning home.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
ABC7 talked to Zormier, who told us he was on patrol in Hobart on Sunday when he noticed heavy black smoke in the air.
He discovered it was coming from the windows and roof of a house in nearby Merrillville.
A Good Samaritan helped him knock on doors. When there was no answer, he forced his way in.
Zormier was treated for smoke inhalation. No one was seriously hurt.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Indiana
Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.
Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.
The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.
The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.
The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.
Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.
The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.
It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:
- Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
- Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
- Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
- Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
- Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”
During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.
After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.
Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.
No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.
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