“THE SCOREBOARD”
CENTRAL INDIANA BASEBALL SCORES
INDY GENESIS 6 INDIANAPOLIS KINGS 3
INDY GENESIS 5 W. MICHIGAN HOMESCHOOL 3
SETON CATHOLIC 12 INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 9
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 8 W. VIGO 2
LAWRENCE NORTH 5 MOUNT VERNON 4
WALDRON 11 MORRISTOWN 5
PLAINFIELD 13 CASCADE 2
SCECINA 12 EASTERN HANCOCK 5
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 23 ANDERSON PREP 4
MONROVIA 10 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 8
RICHMOND 8 MUNCIE CENTRAL 1
BEECH GROVE 7 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 0
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 10 ALEXANDRIA MONROE 1
IRVINGTON PREP 24 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 0
GUERIN CATHOLIC 7 ZIONSVILLE 2
HERRON 6 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 5
SHELBYVILLE 6 NEW CASTLE 0
HAGERSTOWN 10 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 0
MCCUTCHEON 11 TRI-WEST 4
FISHERS 2 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 1
CARMEL 9 RONCALLI 7
TERRE HAUTE NORTH 4 NORTHVIEW 0
MADISON 8 FRANKLIN COUNTY 7
WESTFIELD 9 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 5
DELTA 10 DALEVILLE 0
PERRY MERIDIAN 1 PALESTINE 0
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 2 GREENCASTLE 1
BLACKFORD 7 MONROE CENTRAL 3
DECATUR CENTRAL 6 MARTINSVILLE 1
SOUTH DEARBORN 4 CONNERSVILLE 3
YORKTOWN 2 WAPAHANI 0
NOBLESVILLE 5 BROWNSBURG 3
WEST VIGO 5 TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 2
CATHEDRAL 8 MISHAWAKA MARIAN 1
SOUTH DEARBORN 7 CONNERSVILLE 1
MOORESVILLE 5 N. CENTRAL 1
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/10/2024
CENTRAL INDIANA SOFTBALL SCORES
NEW CASTLE 13 COWAN 3
HERRON 17 HORIZON CHRISTIAN 2
MADISON GRANT 4 WES DEL 1
TRITON CENTRAL 9 SOUTHPORT 0
SCECINA 18 WARREN CENTRAL 5
LAWRENCE CENTRAL 4 N. CENTRAL 3
NORTHVIEW 3 TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 2
NORTH MONTGOMERY 10 CRAWFORDSVILLE 9
GREENWOOD 12 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 0
ZIONSVILLE 5 CATHEDRAL 4
INDIAN CREEK 11 WHITELAND 5
COLUMBIA CITY 6 CENTRAL NOBLE 5
CENTER GROVE 14 EDINBURGH 0
WESTERN BOONE 13 GUERIN 1
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 10 IRVINGTON PREP 0
NORTHEASTERN 11 UNION CITY 9
COLUMBUS NORTH 15 SHELBYVILLE 7
DALEVILLE 20 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 1
GREENSBURG 4 S. DEARBORN 1
FRANKLIN COUNTY 3 BATESVILLE 0
NEW PALESTINE 5 EASTERN HANCOCK 0
YORKTOWN 9 WAPAHANI 1
BROWNSBURG 11 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 1
TERRE HAUTE NORTH 11 CARMEL 10
PLAINFIELD 11 BEN DAVIS 0
LAWRENCE NORTH 17 PIKE 1
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/10/2024
INDIANA TRACK RESULTS: https://in.milesplit.com/results
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
• GAME 1: CELTICS 120, CAVALIERS 95
• GAME 2: CAVALIERS 118, CELTICS 94
• GAME 3: CELTICS VS. CAVALIERS, SATURDAY, MAY 11 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 4: CELTICS VS. CAVALIERS, MONDAY, MAY 13 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: CAVALIERS VS. CELTICS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 6: CELTICS VS. CAVALIERS, FRIDAY, MAY 17 (TBD, ESPN) *
• GAME 7: CAVALIERS VS. CELTICS, SUNDAY, MAY 19 (TBD, TBD) *
SERIES TIED 1-1
* = IF NECESSARY
• GAME 1: KNICKS 121, PACERS 117
• GAME 2: KNICKS 130, PACERS 121
• GAME 3: PACERS 111, KNICKS 106
• GAME 4: KNICKS VS. PACERS, SUNDAY, MAY 12 (3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: PACERS VS. KNICKS, TUESDAY, MAY 14 (8 ET, TNT)
• GAME 6: KNICKS VS. PACERS, FRIDAY, MAY 17 (TBD, ESPN) *
• GAME 7: PACERS VS. KNICKS, SUNDAY, MAY 19 (3:30 ET, ABC) *
NEW YORK LEADS SERIES 2-1
* = IF NECESSARY
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) OKLAHOMA CITY VS. (5) DALLAS
• GAME 1: THUNDER 117, MAVERICKS 95
• GAME 2: MAVERICKS 119, THUNDER 110
• GAME 3: THUNDER VS. MAVERICKS, SATURDAY, MAY 11 (3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 4: THUNDER VS. MAVERICKS, MONDAY, MAY 13 (9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: MAVERICKS VS. THUNDER, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 (9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 6: THUNDER VS. MAVERICKS, SATURDAY, MAY 18 (8:30 ET, ESPN) *
• GAME 7: MAVERICKS VS. THUNDER, MONDAY, MAY 20 (8:30 ET, TNT) *
SERIES TIED 1-1
* = IF NECESSARY
• GAME 1: TIMBERWOLVES 106, NUGGETS 99
• GAME 2: TIMBERWOLVES 106, NUGGETS 80
• GAME 3: NUGGETS 117, TIMBERWOLVES 90
• GAME 4: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES, SUNDAY, MAY 12 (8 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS, TUESDAY, MAY 14 (10:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 6: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES, THURSDAY, MAY 16 (8:30, ESPN) *
• GAME 7: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS, SUNDAY, MAY 19 (TBD, TBD) *
MINNESOTA LEADS SERIES 2-1
* = IF NECESSARY
NHL PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FLORIDA PANTHERS (1A) VS. BOSTON BRUINS (2A)
FLORIDA LEADS SERIES 2-1
GAME 1: BRUINS 5, PANTHERS 1
GAME 2: PANTHERS 6, BRUINS 1
GAME 3: PANTHERS 6, BRUINS 2
GAME 4: PANTHERS AT BRUINS — MAY 12, 6:30 P.M. ET (TBS, MAX, TRUTV, SN, TVAS)
GAME 5: BRUINS AT PANTHERS — MAY 14, 7 P.M. ET (ESPN, SNE, SNO, CBC, TVAS)
+ GAME 6: PANTHERS AT BRUINS — MAY 17, TBD
+ GAME 7: BRUINS AT PANTHERS — MAY 19, TBD
COMPLETE PANTHERS-BRUINS SERIES COVERAGE
NEW YORK RANGERS (1M) VS. CAROLINA HURRICANES (2M)
NEW YORK LEADS SERIES 3-0
GAME 1: RANGERS 4, HURRICANES 3
GAME 2: RANGERS 4, HURRICANES 3 (2OT)
GAME 3: RANGERS 3, HURRICANES 2 (OT)
GAME 4: RANGERS AT HURRICANES — MAY 11, 7 P.M. ET (TNT, MAX, TRUTV, SN, CBC, TVAS)
+ GAME 5: HURRICANES AT RANGERS — MAY 13, 7 P.M. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
+ GAME 6: RANGERS AT HURRICANES — MAY 16, TBD
+ GAME 7: HURRICANES AT RANGERS — MAY 18, TBD
COMPLETE RANGERS-HURRICANES SERIES COVERAGE
WESTERN CONFERENCE
DALLAS STARS (1C) VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE (3C)
SERIES TIED 1-1
GAME 1: AVALANCHE 4, STARS 3 (OT)
GAME 2: STARS 5, AVALANCHE 3
GAME 3: STARS AT AVALANCHE — MAY 11, 10 P.M. ET (TNT, MAX, TRUTV, SN, SN1, TVAS)
GAME 4: STARS AT AVALANCHE — MAY 13, TBD (ESPN)
GAME 5: AVALANCHE AT STARS — MAY 15, 8 P.M. ET (ESPN, SN, TVAS)
+ GAME 6: STARS AT AVALANCHE — MAY 17, TBD (TBD)
+ GAME 7: AVALANCHE AT STARS — MAY 19, TBD (TBD)
COMPLETE STARS-AVALANCHE SERIES COVERAGE
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (1P) VS. EDMONTON OILERS (2P)
SERIES TIED 1-1
GAME 1: CANUCKS 5, OILERS 4
GAME 2: OILERS 4, CANUCKS 3 (OT)
GAME 3: CANUCKS AT OILERS — MAY 12, 9:30 P.M. ET (TBS, MAX, TRUTV, SN, SN360, TVAS)
GAME 4: CANUCKS AT OILERS — MAY 14, 9:30 P.M. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
+ GAME 5: OILERS AT CANUCKS — MAY 16, TBD (TBD)
+ GAME 6: CANUCKS AT OILERS — MAY 18, TBD (TBD)
+ GAME 7: OILERS AT CANUCKS — MAY 20, TBD (TBD)
COMPLETE CANUCKS-OILERS SERIES COVERAGE
+ = IF NECESSARY
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
HOUSTON 5 DETROIT 2
CHICAGO CUBS 7 PITTSBURGH 2
NY YANKEES 2 TAMPA BAY 0
BALTIMORE 4 ARIZONA 2
MINNESOTA 3 TORONTO 2
ATLANTA 4 NY METS 2
WASHINGTON 5 BOSTON 1
PHILADELPHIA 8 MIAMI 2
MILWAUKEE 11 ST. LOUIS 2
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 6 CLEVELAND 3
COLORADO 4 TEXAS 2
KANSAS CITY 2 LA ANGELS 1
SEATTLE 8 OAKLAND 1
SAN DIEGO 2 LA DODGERS 1
CINCINNATI 4 SAN FRANCISCO 2
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
LOUISVILLE 3 INDIANAPOLIS 0
FT. WAYNE 5 WEST MICHIGAN 3
SOUTH BEND 7 CEDAR RAPIDS 6
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
Notre Dame 6 Toledo 5
Penn State 7 Rutgers 6
Purdue 4 Michigan 0
Ohio State 7 Northwestern 2
Illinois 10 Iowa 5
Michigan State 6 Minnesota 4
Indiana 10 Nebraska 5
Purdue Fort Wayne 18 Northern Kentucky 8
Kent State 10 Akron 8
Miami Ohio 4 Ohio 3
Eastern Michigan 10 Bowling Green 9
Ball State 6 Central Michigan 1
Western Michigan 15 Northern Illinois 5
Kent State 6 Akron 5
Indiana State 5 Evansville 4
Murray State 11 Valparaiso 10
Little Rock 11 Southern Indiana 9
HCAC TOURNAMENT
TRANSYLVANIA 7 ROSE HULMAN 2
ANDERSON 11 FRANKLIN 7
ROSE HULMAN 11 MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 10
TRANSYLVANIA 12 HANOVER 10
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
Indiana 9 Nebraska 5
Michigan 6 Wisconsin 4
Ball State 7 Central Michigan 6
Ball State 9 Toledo 7
Ball State 5 Ohio 1
Miami Ohio 3 Ohio 1
Southern Indiana 4 Tennessee State 1
Eastern Illinois 3 Southern Indiana 2
HCAC TOURNAMENT
EARLHAM 7 DEFIANCE 6
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 3 MANCHESTER 2
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 9 EARLHAM 1
TRANSYLVANIA 5 FRANKLIN 0
UFL
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
TOP NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES AND NEWS REPORTS
NBA NEWS
PACERS NIP KNICKS ON ANDREW NEMBHARD’S LATE TREY
Andrew Nembhard made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 17.8 seconds remaining to fuel the Indiana Pacers to a 111-106 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series in Indianapolis.
The Knicks still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis.
New York’s Jalen Brunson sank a 3-pointer to forge a 106-106 tie before Nembhard drained a step-back 3-pointer from well behind the arc as the shot clock wound down. Nembhard was 1-for-7 from the floor prior to that basket.
Brunson’s subsequent bid to tie the contest fell short and Aaron Nesmith made a pair of free throws to seal the victory for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who overcame a 35-point performance from Donte DiVincenzo to win their ninth straight game at home.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton scored 35 points on 14-of 26 shooting from the floor. He also had seven assists.
Pascal Siakam put up 26 points for the Pacers. Myles Turner added 21 points and 10 rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
DiVincenzo made seven 3-pointers and Brunson overcame a sluggish start to score 26 points despite being listed as questionable prior to the game due to a sore right foot. Alec Burks added 14 points off the bench and Josh Hart recorded 10 points and 18 rebounds.
Miles McBride drained a 3-pointer to stake New York to a 98-89 lead before Haliburton scored seven straight points as part of a 13-3 Indiana run. Siakam converted a three-point play and three free throws to give the Pacers a 102-101 advantage with 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.
In the third quarter, Haliburton sank a 3-pointer and Siakam did the same before adding a mid-range jumper to give the Pacers a 77-66 lead. New York halted the momentum with a 24-6 run, highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers and a three-point play from DiVincenzo. Hart went coast to coast for a layup to cap a 10-0 run by the Knicks.
Earlier on Friday, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle was fined $35,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing the officiating and questioning the integrity of the league following Game 2.
NIKOLA JOKIC, NUGGETS BLOW OUT WOLVES IN GAME 3
Nikola Jokic recorded 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists as the Denver Nuggets dominated in a 117-90 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinals series on Friday in Minneapolis.
Jamal Murray finished with 24 points on 11-for-21 shooting for Denver, which cut its deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 points, Aaron Gordon chipped in 13 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 12.
Anthony Edwards finished with 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting to lead Minnesota, which sustained its first postseason loss after winning its first six playoff games in a row. Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points, and Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels put up 10 apiece.
The teams will remain in Minneapolis, where the defending champion Nuggets have a chance to pull even in the series in Game 4 on Sunday evening.
After struggling against the Timberwolves’ defense in the first two games, Denver broke through in front of a hostile crowd. The Nuggets shot 53.8 percent (43 of 80) overall and 48.3 percent (14 of 29) from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, Minnesota shot 43.7 percent (31 of 71) from the field and 30.3 percent (10 of 33) from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets led by as many as 34 points in the second half.
The Timberwolves were outscored in each of the first three quarters and trailed by double digits for the majority of the game. The Nuggets outscored Minnesota 37-25 in the third to carry a 93-66 lead into the final 12 minutes.
An 11-0 run ballooned the Nuggets’ lead to 109-75 with 5:54 to go. Jokic had two baskets and Porter buried a 3-pointer during the run.
Denver rolled to a 56-41 lead entering halftime.
The score was even at 16-16 before Denver finished the first quarter on a 12-4 run. Murray made a driving layup and a jump shot during the surge, and Jokic finished it with a layup with 1.1 seconds remaining to give the Nuggets a 28-20 advantage.
In the second, the Nuggets maintained the pressure on Minnesota by posting a 28-21 edge to increase their lead to 15 points. Murray finished the half with 18 points, which was more than double the eight points he scored in Game 2.
REPORT: SUNS, BUDENHOLZER AGREE TO 5-YEAR, $50M DEAL
Mike Budenholzer agreed to a five-year deal worth at least $50 million to become the Phoenix Suns’ next head coach, sources told The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The two-time Coach of the Year replaces Frank Vogel, who was let go after just one season.
Budenholzer will be the Suns’ third head coach in as many years. He has a 484-317 career mark over two stints as the lead man on an NBA bench.
The 54-year-old guided the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship three years ago. He’s posted five 50-win campaigns, including a pair of 60-victory seasons.
Before landing his first NBA head coaching gig with the Atlanta Hawks, the Arizona native spent 17 years as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich.
The Suns were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs.
BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: PADRES WALK OFF, HALT DODGERS’ WIN STREAK
Luis Arraez lined a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night as the San Diego Padres snapped the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers’ seven-game winning streak with a 2-1 decision.
Luis Campusano started the inning with his and the team’s second hit of the game, a double into the left field corner off Michael Grove (1-2). After Ha-Seong Kim struck out, Arraez laced a first-pitch fastball into center field and pinch runner Tyler Wade easily beat the throw home. Robert Suarez (2-0) worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the win.
Robert Suarez (2-0) worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the win, San Diego’s seventh in nine games. It was only the third loss in 17 games for Los Angeles, which still leads the second-place Padres by 5 1/2 games in the National League West.
Neither starter was involved in the decision despite dominating performances. The Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow gave up just one hit and one run in seven innings, walking two and fanning 10 to take over the major league lead in strikeouts with 73. However, the Padres’ Michael King outpitched him in his seven scoreless innings, permitting only two hits and three walks while striking out 11.
Brewers 11, Cardinals 2
Highly touted prospect Robert Gasser delivered six scoreless innings in his big league debut to pace host Milwaukee to a victory over St. Louis, extending the Cardinals’ losing streak to six games.
Gasser (1-0), called up from Triple-A Nashville earlier in the day, allowed just a pair of early singles. The 24-year-old left-hander, acquired in the 2022 deadline deal that sent All-Star closer Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres, struck out four, walked none and hit one batter in his 79-pitch outing.
The Cardinals scored one run in the seventh off Kevin Herget on a walk and two-out double by Alec Burleson. Lance Lynn (1-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in 4 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out five.
Braves 4, Mets 2
Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson homered in the third inning for visiting Atlanta, who beat New York in the opener of a three-game series.
Charlie Morton (3-0) tossed seven strong innings to earn the victory for the Braves, who have won three straight following a three-game losing streak.
The Mets had their two-game winning streak snapped and fell for the fourth time in six games. Francisco Lindor hit a solo shot and Pete Alonso added an RBI single, but Jose Quintana (1-4) took the loss, allowing all four runs.
Yankees 2, Rays 0
Clarke Schmidt fired 6 2/3 scoreless innings, Anthony Rizzo drove in both runs and New York earned a shutout victory over Tampa Bay at St. Petersburg, Fla.
Schmidt (4-1) won for the third time in four starts, while limiting the Rays to five hits and two walks while striking out six in 87 pitches. Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run. Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Trevino and Jon Berti also had two hits apiece, while Aaron Judge walked twice and scored a run.
In his season debut for the Rays, Taj Bradley (0-1) was impressive. Using an upper 90s fastball, the right-hander allowed just one run on four hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Phillies 8, Marlins 2
Ranger Suarez struck out nine in seven scoreless innings, and Nick Castellanos homered in front of his hometown fans as Philadelphia defeated host Miami.
Castellanos is from Davie, Fla., 24 miles from the Marlins’ stadium. Johan Rojas also homered, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Suarez (7-0) continued his impressive start, lowering his ERA to 1.50 as the Phillies – who have the National League’s best record — won for the 12th time in 14 games.
Miami has one of the worst records in the majors, and it trails the Phillies by 17 1/2 games in the NL East. Trevor Rogers (0-6) took the loss as the Marlins fell to 0-8 when he starts this season. He is also 1-6 in 10 career starts against Philadelphia.
Orioles 4, Diamondbacks 2
Cole Irvin worked 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball in Baltimore’s victory over visiting Arizona.
Irvin (4-1) won his fourth consecutive start, and Yennier Cano tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his second save. Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson had run-scoring doubles as the Orioles won for the sixth time in seven games.
Ketel Marte homered and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had two hits for the Diamondbacks, whose season-high, four-game winning streak ended. Brandon Pfaadt (1-3) gave up three runs in six innings.
Royals 2, Angels 1
Adam Frazier’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning flipped the game and lifted Kansas City to a victory over Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.
The Angels finished with only five hits, including Jo Adell’s solo homer in the fifth. Angels starter Griffin Canning and three relievers combined to shut out the Royals for eight innings, handing the ball over to closer Carlos Estevez with a 1-0 lead.
With one out in the ninth, MJ Melendez got his third hit of the game with a single off Estevez (0-2). Frazier followed and got a 96-mph fastball on a 2-0 count, hitting the ball over the fence in right for his first homer of the season and a 2-1 Royals advantage.
Twins 3, Blue Jays 2
Carlos Santana hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth, Joe Ryan pitched seven strong innings and visiting Minnesota defeated Toronto.
Carlos Correa added two hits and two runs for the Twins, who have won 16 of their past 18 games. Ryan (2-2) allowed one run and six hits with seven strikeouts. Griffin Jax earned his fifth save of the season despite allowing a run in the bottom of the ninth.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in both of the Blue Jays’ runs, including one on a solo homer, in the opener of a three-game series. The Blue Jays have lost 11 of their past 15 games. Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi (2-3) allowed two runs, four hits and struck out three in eight innings.
Cubs 7, Pirates 2
Cody Bellinger had four hits, including a solo homer and two doubles, and visiting Chicago opened a three-game series against Pittsburgh with a victory.
Christopher Morel and Ian Happ each contributed two hits and an RBI while Nick Madrigal added a two-run single as Chicago won for the fourth time in six games. Reliever Ben Brown (1-1) struck out six over 3 2/3 scoreless innings for his first major league victory.
Oneil Cruz had two hits and Nick Gonzales singled home two runs for Pittsburgh, which is 6-17 in its past 23 games. The Pirates were outhit 14-7 and went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Nationals 5, Red Sox 1
Patrick Corbin pitched five innings to earn his first victory of the season as visiting Washington kicked off a three-game series against Boston with a win.
Corbin (1-3) limited Boston to a run on seven hits. He struck out four and walked one, throwing 54 of his 86 pitches for strikes. Trey Lipscomb had a two-run single for the Nationals, who got two hits from both Eddie Rosario and Victor Robles.
The Red Sox have lost six of their last seven, and they have totaled seven runs in those six losses. Starter Tanner Houck (3-4) went seven innings, surrendering three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four.
Astros 5, Tigers 2
Jeremy Pena knocked in the go-ahead run during a four-run, eighth-inning rally as visiting Houston downed Detroit.
Kyle Tucker homered and scored two runs for Houston, while Pena and Yordan Alvarez each had two hits and an RBI. The Astros have won two straight after a four-game losing streak. Astros starter Framber Valdez (2-1) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked two. Josh Hader pitched around a walk in the ninth for his fifth save.
Matt Vierling knocked in both Detroit runners with a double, but he committed a key error in Houston’s winning rally. Tigers starter Casey Mize yielded one run on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings. Detroit has lost six of its past seven games.
Rockies 4, Rangers 2
Charlie Blackmon hit a tiebreaking, two-out double in the eighth inning and Colorado produced its first winning streak of the year with a victory over Texas in Denver.
The Rockies got the latest victory thanks to an eighth-inning rally. Doyle singled to left, stole second and Jake Cave was intentionally walked. Grant Anderson (0-1) fanned Elehuris Montero for the second out before Blackmon hit a two-run double to center to put Colorado ahead.
Jake Bird (1-1) got the win in relief, and Jalen Beeks pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save. Corey Seager homered and doubled and Ezequiel Duran also had two hits for Texas.
Mariners 8, Athletics 1
Dylan Moore homered and drove in a career-high five runs as Seattle defeated visiting Oakland in the opener of a three-game series.
Oakland avoided the shutout thanks to Lawrence Butler’s RBI broken-bat grounder up the middle with two outs in the ninth off Austin Voth. The Mariners broke a scoreless tie by scoring five times off A’s right-hander Paul Blackburn (3-2) in the fourth inning.
Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, making his season debut, left after 4 1/3 scoreless innings due to precautionary reasons, the club said. Trent Thornton (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief for the victory.
Reds 4, Giants 2
Andrew Abbott and four relievers combined on a seven-hitter, Stuart Fairchild homered and Cincinnati held on to beat host San Francisco and snap an eight-game losing streak.
Elly De La Cruz followed two hits with stolen bases that led to runs as the Reds spoiled the opener of San Francisco’s nine-game homestand. Abbott (2-4) tossed five innings of two-run ball, and Alexis Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.
Thairo Estrada homered for the Giants. Logan Webb (3-4) went seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned).
White Sox 6, Guardians 3
Korey Lee and Paul DeJong connected on back-to-back home runs and Garrett Crochet struck out a career-high 11 in six shutout innings to lift host Chicago to a win against Cleveland.
Crochet (3-4) allowed five hits and no walks. Jordan Leasure recorded the final four outs for his second save. Andrew Benintendi, Lee and DeJong had two hits apiece for the White Sox.
Guardians starter Carlos Carrasco (2-3) yielded five runs, three earned, in seven innings. Cleveland’s Tyler Freeman and Jose Ramirez homered.
PAUL SKENES IS READY TO DELIVER ON THE HYPE AS PRIZED PIRATES ROOKIE PREPARES FOR MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes thought he was ready for the majors months ago.
Turns out, life doesn’t work like that. Or at least the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t want it to work like that for perhaps the best pitching prospect in a generation.
“You can’t just show up in spring training and throw seven innings, even if I feel like I can,” Skenes said.
Instead, the Pirates opted to bring the top overall pick in last year’s draft along slowly in hopes of protecting the 21-year-old’s right arm that regularly delivers fastballs that reach triple digits. The buildup at Triple-A Indianapolis was gradual and deliberate.
Skenes understood the assignment. He embraced it as best he could across seven almost uniformly dominant starts in which he posted a 0.99 ERA, doing his best to push the wondering about when “the call” would come out of his mind.
It worked. Maybe too well.
Skenes was actually napping Wednesday when manager Miguel Perez tried to break the news Skenes was going to Pittsburgh. Perez, who’s notoriously creative in finding ways to let his players know they’re moving up, opted to take a more direct approach with Skenes. Fitting for a franchise eager for the future to arrive as fast as possible.
“He says, ‘Are you really gonna make me look for another pitcher on Saturday?’” Skenes said. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know, am I?’ He says, ‘Yeah, you are. You’re going to the show.’”
The conversation lasted two minutes. Less than 48 sometimes frantic hours later, Skenes walked into a clubhouse at PNC Park on Friday that had a stall featuring his name and the number “30.” Skenes will make his first major league start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs in perhaps the most anticipated pitching debut since former Washington star Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 Pirates in 2009.
Skenes, who turned 7 that night, has no recollection of it. Then again, life has come at him so fast of late that keeping track can be difficult.
Two years ago, he was a somewhat anonymous transfer from Air Force to LSU. Now he’s considered a franchise cornerstone for a club that hasn’t won a playoff series since 1979.
It can be a lot to take in.
“Two years ago feels really long ago and really short ago at the same time, if that makes sense,” he said. “In some ways, it flew by. In some ways, it was really long.”
The buzz around the city and on social media since the announcement of Skenes’ promotion has been palpable. He’s trying to tune it out. Emphasis on “trying,” considering his girlfriend is LSU gymnast/prominent social media influencer Livvy Dunne, who joined Skenes for his first trip to Pittsburgh as a big leaguer.
“I do my best to not see any of it, but it’s unavoidable at the same time,” he said. “You’re going to have to see some of it.”
While Skenes — who never threw more than 75 pitches in any of his starts at Indianapolis — considers his buildup “finished,” it’s unlikely he’s going to be allowed to go much beyond that number against the Cubs.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton stressed “it was time” for Skenes to join the Pirates because “he had checked all the boxes that we felt he needed to do in the minor leagues and he checked them very quickly.”
Just not quickly enough for Pittsburgh to let Skenes think about reaching the 100-pitch mark, a number he hit in 12 of his 19 starts last year at LSU.
“There’s still going to be a process as we move forward,” Shelton said.
It’s a process Skenes is putting his trust in, thanks in part to the way the Pirates have handled rookie right-hander Jared Jones.
Jones, 22, made the team out of spring training and entered Friday’s start against the Cubs with a 2.63 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 41 innings. Pittsburgh has used kid gloves with Jones at times, though he also threw a career-high 96 pitches over seven brilliant innings against Colorado last weekend.
“It’s also a little bit easier to know that I’m not the only one that’s going through (a build up),” Skenes said. “It is frustrating to go out there and throw three innings (even though) I knew I was going to throw three innings. I knew that it was setting me up to be able to throw six, seven, eight innings in September, October this year.”
The use of “October” was intentional. The Pirates didn’t draft Skenes and lavish him with a record $9.2 million signing bonus just to sell tickets (though that will almost certainly happen). They see a player that can potentially help take the franchise places it hasn’t been in decades.
Pittsburgh entered the weekend in a 6-16 funk following an 11-5 start. While the offense has struggled, a starting rotation considered a question mark when the season began looks like it could be a strength thanks to Jones’ emergence, the steady hand of Martin Perez and Skenes’ arrival.
“I would definitely say we’re close,” Skenes said. “I think being around the team in spring training and watching the club over the past month or so, we’re close. I think there is a lot to look forward to.”
Skenes isn’t afraid of the challenge that awaits. Still, he’s going to try to breathe in a moment he long dreamed of but tried to put out of his mind until it finally happened.
“I definitely want to take a minute and realize how cool it is.”
GIANTS TRADE DAULTON JEFFERIES TO PIRATES, MITCH WHITE TO BREWERS
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants acquired minor league outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco from the Pirates on Friday in a trade that sent right-hander Daulton Jefferies to Pittsburgh.
San Francisco also dealt right-hander Mitch White to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash.
The 28-year-old Jefferies worked back from a second Tommy John surgery this season and was 0-2 with a 17.36 ERA over two appearances with one start, allowing nine earned runs on 14 hits with a pair of home runs over 4 2/3 innings.
He missed all of last season following his second elbow reconstruction surgery on Sept. 9, 2022, and the process had Jefferies contemplating quitting baseball altogether. He was 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA in four outings with Triple-A Sacramento.
Nolasco was playing for Pittsburgh’s High-A Greensboro affiliate, batting .173 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 21 games.
This marks the second time this season that White has changed teams. He is 1-0 with a 7.63 ERA in seven combined relief appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays and Giants.
After acquiring White from the Blue Jays for cash last month, the Giants designated him for assignment earlier this week. The 29-year-old went 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in four appearances for Toronto and was 0-0 with an 11.81 ERA in three games with the Giants.
He is 4-11 with a 5.20 ERA in 65 career appearances, including 22 starts.
The White acquisition was part of a series of pitching moves the Brewers made Friday. They also selected left-hander Robert Gasser from Triple-A Nashville, recalled right-hander Janson Junk from Nashville, placed right-hander Joel Payamps on the bereavement list, optioned right-hander Tobias Myers to Nashville, transferred right-hander JB Bukauskas to the 60-day injured list and designated right-hander Corbin Martin for assignment.
Myers started the Brewers’ 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday and owned an 0-2 record with a 5.29 ERA in four starts. Martin hadn’t pitched for Milwaukee this year but was 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in seven relief appearances with Nashville.
REPORT: FORMER MLB INFIELDER SEAN BURROUGHS DIES AT 43
Sean Burroughs — winner of the Little League World Series, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist and a first-round pick in the MLB draft — has died at age 43, USA Today reported.
Burroughs collapsed while coaching his son’s Little League team Thursday, per the report. No further details were immediately available.
Growing up in Long Beach, Calif., Burroughs won consecutive Little League World Series championships in 1992 and ’93, throwing back-to-back no-hitters. He then went on to star at Long Beach Wilson High.
The son of 1974 American League MVP Jeff Burroughs, the third baseman was selected with the No. 9 overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 1998. He made his major league debut in April 2002, recorded the first walk-off hit for the Padres in Petco Park history in 2004 and was out of baseball in 2007 before returning to play from 2011-12.
“I just didn’t have the drive or the passion,” Burroughs told ESPN in an interview in June 2011 of his decision to walk away from the game. “I was spent physically and spent mentally. It just wasn’t there. I was emotionally drained. I still loved the game and respected the game, but I didn’t have the drive to go to the park every day. I kind of lost the desire.”
In the interview, he said that in part of the span in which he was out of baseball, he was a substance abuser living in cheap motels in Las Vegas and eating out of trash cans. It lasted until he looked in the mirror, decided he didn’t recognize himself and vowed to turn things around.
He moved back into his childhood home, under the house rules, and worked himself back into baseball shape.
Burroughs played for the Padres from 2002-05 and was traded to Tampa Bay in late 2005. The Rays released him the following August. After a brief stint in the Seattle Mariners organization, he walked away.
He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011 and ended his MLB career in 2012 after 10 games with the Minnesota Twins.
He played 79 games with the independent Long Island Ducks (2015-16), winning the Atlantic League batting title in 2015.
In his major league career, Burroughs appeared in 528 games, batted .278, hit 12 home runs and drove in 143.
NFL NEWS
BEARS COACH MATT EBERFLUS SAYS NO. 1 PICK CALEB WILLIAMS WILL OPEN SEASON AS NO. 1 QB
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Caleb Williams is the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback. Just in case there was a shred of doubt the No. 1 overall draft pick is the team’s No. 1 QB, coach Matt Eberflus erased it on Friday.
“No conversation. He’s the starter,” he said.
Eberflus’ comment was hardly a surprise considering the Bears have been all in on Williams since the early stages of the draft process. They made their intentions clear when they traded Justin Fields to Pittsburgh in March.
Chicago brought in veteran quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Andy Dalton when they drafted Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields with high picks in recent years, thinking the rookies would watch from the sideline in a sort of redshirt season. The plan blew up in both cases, with Glennon getting benched for poor play and Dalton getting hurt. But the Bears were under a different regime at the time, with former general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy.
The other quarterbacks currently on the Bears’ roster are Tyson Bagent and undrafted rookie Austin Reed.
Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, is widely viewed as a generational talent. The Bears are banking on him to become the sort of franchise quarterback Chicago has craved for decades.
Williams seems to be embracing his new surroundings, whether he’s sitting courtside at a Chicago Sky preseason game, getting a rousing ovation at Wrigley Field or doing regular-guy stuff like shopping at Target.
“You want to find balance within all of this,” Williams said Friday. “That’s really important. And then the other part of it, just getting around. Going to Target, that was for all of the installs and all the small things that I needed. And I just thought it was a funny picture, the way I was walking. It’s all of it. All of it goes together to enjoy and find a good balance, but also, in a sense, get acclimated to the area of the land and things like that.”
Williams put up huge numbers in college, with 93 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions during three seasons at Oklahoma and Southern California. He followed coach Lincoln Riley from Norman to Los Angeles and threw for 72 TDs and just 10 interceptions in two years with the Trojans.
The Bears have made just three playoff appearances since the 2006 team advanced to the Super Bowl. They are 10-24 in two seasons under general manager Ryan Poles and Eberflus. But they see themselves as a playoff contender after going from three wins in 2022 to finishing 7-10 last season.
That largely hinges on Williams.
“You can really tell he’s comfortable in his own skin and he is who he is,” Eberflus said. “His personality starts. His light comes out from the inside. You can certainly feel that energy. He’s a one-plus-one-equals-three guy. He’s an enhancer. He’s a guy that brings out the best in people. You can certainly feel that in him within five minutes of meeting him.”
Williams got a bit of a leg up in learning the basics of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s system through his work with personal QB coach Will Hewlett.
Williams checked all the boxes for Chicago during the pre-draft process. He has continued to make a good impression on the Bears since they drafted him, whether he’s working out with teammates or taking in Cubs or Sky games with them.
“The community has been rallying behind us, which we appreciate and we look to be able to pay that respect back with our on-the-field contributions,” said receiver Rome Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick. “It’s been awesome. Chicago has welcomed us with welcoming arms. We’re doing well.”
Odunze, an All-American at Washington, said it’s “hard to imagine a better situation” getting to grow with a rookie quarterback. It doesn’t hurt him or Williams, either, that the Bears have two veteran playmaking receivers in DJ Moore and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen.
“Right now I’m following all the vets, I’m following all the coaches. I’m listening, having both ears open and my mouth shut,” Williams said. “Just kind of sitting back listening and when I get to the point of when I learn everything, when I learn the ways of how we do it with the culture, the playbook, and what the offensive line, the receivers are all doing, running backs and tight ends and things like that — then you can start taking the lead. Then you can start taking the helms of all of it and take the next steps.”
LIONS MADE OT GIOVANNI MANU OF TONGA THE 1ST NFL DRAFT PICK FROM UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Lions offensive tackle Giovanni Manu woke up at 4 a.m. Friday and couldn’t fall back asleep.
On the rookie’s ride to work, he was overcome by tears of joy.
Manu’s excitement and emotions were triggered by a long and lonely path, leaving his parents on the south Pacific island of Tonga at age 11 to live with his aunt and two older siblings in Vancouver in the hopes of a better life.
A growth spurt in high school, along with support on and off the field, led to Manu becoming a 6-foot-7, 354-pound prospect that intrigued the Lions enough to trade up to draft him in the fourth round last month.
“It’s been such a long journey,” he said after participating in Detroit’s rookie minicamp.
Manu’s parents haven’t seen him play a snap of football in person, but he hopes they’ll come for a preseason game in August.
“It’s going to be really emotional, for sure,” he said.
Manu became the first football player taken in the NFL draft from the University of British Columbia, a school he chose instead of playing across the border for the Washington Huskies because of Thunderbirds coach Blake Nill.
“He sort of played that father figure role, knowing that my parents weren’t around,” Manu said. “It was a no-brainer for me to go play for a guy like that.”
The Lions, clearly, thought it was an intelligent move to give up a third-round pick next year to acquire a late, four-round selection to take the under-the-radar Manu at No. 126 overall.
“In the world of scouting, we talk about turning over every stone,” general manager Brad Holmes said.
It’s easy to see why the Lions were intrigued.
Manu is massive, even by NFL standards, and nimble enough to move his feet for a left tackle and to make low-post moves on a basketball court as he did in high school.
Detroit also has the luxury of letting him develop behind All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who is from American Samoa, along with standout veteran Taylor Decker at offensive tackle.
While there isn’t pressure on Manu to perform right away in games, he is keeping expectations high on the practice field and in the weight room.
“I refuse to get outworked by my peers or my opponents,” he said. “The way I look at it is that, if someone outworks me, it stops me from feeding my family.”
NHL NEWS
PANTHERS OWN POWER PLAY IN GAME 3 WIN OVER BRUINS
The Florida Panthers built a four-goal lead and finished off a 6-2 win over the host Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday.
Evan Rodrigues scored twice, Brandon Montour had a goal and an assist, while Vladimir Tarasenko, Carter Verhaeghe and Brandon Montour also scored for Florida, which took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Matthew Tkachuk had three assists, while Aleksander Barkov added two assists as the Panthers went 4-for-6 on the power play.
Sergei Bobrovsky needed to make only 14 saves in Florida’s net in an impressive defensive effort, as Boston recorded half of its 16 shots in the third period.
After the Bruins accumulated only seven shots by the halfway mark of the game, Jakub Lauko and Jake DeBrusk each scored in a 3:30 span in the third period to break up Florida’s 10-0 scoring run in the series. DeBrusk added an assist.
Prior to Florida’s dominating run of goals, no team had scored more than seven straight in this postseason.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots for the Bruins.
Boston captain Brad Marchand did not return for the third period due to an upper-body injury.
Pavel Zacha’s blind backhand pass allowed Florida to maintain offensive-zone possession and score the opening goal 8:04 into the first period. Gustav Forsling took a shot from above the left circle that Rodrigues deflected over Swayman’s shoulder from the doorstep.
Boston defenseman Mason Lohrei’s double-minor penalty for high sticking in the second period proved costly, leading to two Florida goals in exactly a minute.
Tarasenko made it 2-0 when he snapped off a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Swayman upstairs at 16:14 of the middle period. A minute later, Verhaeghe redirected Matthew Tkachuk’s centering pass over Swayman’s blocker for a 3-0 lead.
After Lauko was called for a questionable goaltender interference penalty on a net drive early in the third, Montour took advantage on the ensuing power play and ripped a top-shelf shot from the center point at 3:09 for a 4-0 lead.
A delayed penalty helped Boston get on the board at 5:01, as Lauko tucked a wrister over Bobrovsky off a DeBrusk feed to the left circle.
Lohrei sent a pass to DeBrusk for a hard shot from the left dot that brought Boston back within 4-2 at 8:31.
Reinhart’s empty-netter with 1:24 left punctuated the Florida win, and Rodrigues added on with a power-play tally inside the final minute.
EVAN BOUCHARD’S OT TALLY LIFTS OILERS OVER CANUCKS IN GAME 2
Evan Bouchard scored in overtime to give the visiting Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday and evened their Western Conference semifinal series at one win apiece.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid both scored once in four-point games for Edmonton. Mattias Ekholm added a goal, and Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner made 16 saves.
Building on a third period in which they outshot the Canucks by a 15-2 margin, the Oilers were rewarded when Bouchard joined a rush led by his team’s dynamic duo, took a drop pass and sent a long shot that banked into the net off the stick of Canucks defenseman Ian Cole at 5:38 of overtime.
McDavid and Draisaitl are the third-fastest players in NHL history to reach 90 career playoff points, both reaching the mark in 56 games. Their pace was eclipsed only by Wayne Gretzky (43 games) and Mario Lemieux (45 games).
Nikita Zadorov collected one goal and one assist for the Canucks, while Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser also tallied. Goalie Arturs Silovs stopped 27 shots and J.T. Miller collected two assists.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will be played Sunday in Edmonton.
Three times the clubs exchanged goals, with the Oilers erasing a deficit each time.
Pettersson netted a power-play goal at 4:14 of the first period to open the scoring, utilizing a quick release after receiving Miller’s cross-ice pass. It was his first of the postseason.
Draisaitl responded with a power-play goal at 10:56 of the first. He finished a perfectly executed give-and-go with McDavid for his sixth tally of the playoffs.
Boeser’s marker 53 seconds into the second period, a neat deflection of Carson Soucy’s point shot for his fifth of the playoffs, put Vancouver ahead a second time. However, Ekholm tied the game 23 seconds later with a shot from the slot for his second of the playoffs.
Zadorov’s fourth goal of the playoffs, a sharp-angled offering from the bottom of the left circle with 1:43 remaining in the second period, gave the hosts their third lead. But McDavid converted a breakaway opportunity at 5:27 of the third period for his second goal of the payoffs, again tying the clash.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL STAR TERRENCE SHANNON JR. ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL ON A RAPE CHARGE IN KANSAS
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge on Friday ordered University of Illinois basketball standout Terrence Shannon Jr. to stand trial on a rape charge following testimony from a woman who said she was “terrified” as she was being assaulted.
Shannon, 23, of Champaign, Illinois, is accused of committing sexual assault on Sept. 9, in Lawrence, Kansas. The Lawrence Journal-World reported that Shannon was in Lawrence that day to watch a football game between the Illini and the University of Kansas.
He has been charged with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. The charge led to Shannon being suspended for six games before a federal judge reinstated him, ruling his civil rights had been violated.
A woman told police she was at a bar when a man she later identified as Shannon grabbed her buttocks and reached under her skirt and touched her sexually. The woman said the bar was crowded, so she couldn’t move.
Shannon testified on Friday that he never touched the woman, the Journal-World reported.
Judge Sally Pokorny ordered Shannon to stand trial and allowed him to remain free on $50,000 bond.
As a fifth-year student this past season, Shannon led the Illini in scoring and helped them reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual champion Connecticut.
GOLF NEWS
NELLY KORDA GAINING ON CO-LEADERS ZHANG, SAGSTROM AT FOUNDERS
Rose Zhang and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom will carry the lead at the Cognizant Founders Cup into the weekend, but Nelly Korda intends on crashing the party.
Zhang and Sagstrom are tied at 13-under 131 after two trips around Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, N.J., and Korda is the only player within six shots of them. Korda posted a bogey-free, 6-under 66 Friday to get to 9 under, four off the pace.
Korda is vying to break an LPGA record by winning her sixth start in a row. She shares the record streak of five with legends Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez.
Korda, however, made up no ground on Sagstrom, who also fired a 66 Friday to catch up to Zhang.
After going out in 5-under 31, Sagstrom had a rollercoaster four-hole stretch at Nos. 10-13 – double bogey, birdie, eagle, bogey. She managed to tack on one more birdie at No. 15.
“I grinded hard. I made a big mistake on 10 by leaving it in the fairway bunker,” Sagstrom said. “Trying not to hit it fat in the water meant I thinned it into the lip. Not great.
“It’s one of those like you’re going to make mistakes. It was just a bit unfortunate happening when I was having momentum. Got it back quickly hit a good drive on 11, great second shot on 11, and a good putt. The eagle on 12 is a little bit of a bonus.”
Zhang, the 20-year-old who won her professional debut last year, is hunting for her second LPGA title. She piled up birdies at Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 7 before a birdie and bogey on the back nine left her with a 68.
“It was grueling out there,” Zhang said. “I felt like conditions were drastically different from (Thursday), but I was able to really just keep myself in there and hit the shots I need to do to stabilize myself. And was able to make some clutch par putts, which it’s crucial out here to be able to (do).”
Then there was Korda, who birdied four of her first seven holes – including three par-4s – before sinking birdie putts at Nos. 14 and 18.
“I mean, gosh, I putted really well today,” Korda said. “Even when I didn’t hit it close my putts just scared the hole. Overall very pleased with how I played today and hopefully I can take that into the next 36 holes.”
Yan Liu of China shot 70 and is alone in fourth at 6 under. Mel Reid of England is fifth at 5 under after an even-par 72. A 10-player tie for sixth at 4 under includes the likes of New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (71) and Australians Minjee Lee (70) and Hannah Green (71), who was last week’s winner in Los Angeles while Korda took the week off.
Notables missing the cut of 1 over par included Lexi Thompson (2 over), Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul (2 over) and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai (5 over).
XANDER SCHAUFFELE INCREASES WELLS FARGO LEAD; RORY MCILROY T2
Xander Schauffele built up a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the Wells Fargo Championship by posting a 4-under 67 on Friday in Charlotte, N.C.
The World No. 4 started the day with a three-shot cushion on the field and went out to produce a five-birdie round to get to 11-under 131. He finished his round at Quail Hollow Club with his only bogey of the day after missing the 18th green in regulation and lipping out a 14-foot would-be par save.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (68) and Jason Day of Australia (67) are the closest to Schauffele, tied at 7 under.
McIlroy had four bogeys on Thursday but put those struggles in the rearview Friday by carding three birdies and 15 pars.
Taylor Moore shot his second straight round of 68 to get to 6 under and was tied with Collin Morikawa and Sungjae Im of South Korea, who were still on the course late Friday afternoon.
The sixth signature event of the season comes with a $20 million purse while also serving as PGA Tour players’ final tune-up before next week’s PGA Championship. There is no 36-hole cut.
AUTO RACING
23XI TO ENTER THIRD CAR AT NASHVILLE WITH COREY HEIM
Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing will enter a third car in next month’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Nashville, Tenn., with Corey Heim behind the wheel in his first appearance for the team.
It will be the fourth time 23XI has entered a third car. Travis Pastrana finished 11th at the 2023 Daytona 500, while Kamui Kobayashi had a pair of finishes in the back of the pack, including a 29th-place result in March at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
The 21-year-old Heim has been making a name for himself in the NASCAR Truck Series, where he has seven career wins.
Heim made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Dover Motor Speedway on April 28 as a fill-in driver for Legacy Motor Club and finished 25th. He also raced at Kansas on Sunday and finished 22nd after a spin-out on the last lap.
When he takes part in the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 30, Heim will be behind the wheel of the No. 50 car with Mobil 1 as primary sponsor.
23XI’s full time drivers are Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 car and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45. Reddick is currently fifth in the overall standings with a win at Talladega on April 21 and has four top-10 finishes. Wallace is currently 16th overall standings with three top-10s.
DRIVERS TRY TO TAME TRACK AT DARLINGTON IN GOODYEAR 400
While celebrating his second win after making NASCAR history Sunday on the frontstretch at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Larson uttered the words that needed to be said in front of a national audience.
“I wish we had more mile-and-a-half (tracks),” Larson said after nipping Chris Buescher in the sport’s closest finish ever. “You know, we all (complain) about the package and all that, but these mile-and-a-halfs … these cars just race so amazing (on them).”
There’s a friendly tip for you via Larson: The 1 1/2-mile tracks of Atlanta, Kansas, Charlotte, Texas and Las Vegas are where it’s at if you want to bring friends to their first race and hook them on NASCAR.
Now, welcome to Darlington Raceway, the site of Sunday’s Goodyear 400 on Throwback Weekend at the legendary South Carolina track.
Granted, Darlington is not quite 1 1/2 miles long and doesn’t possess the D-shaped layout of a place like Kansas or Atlanta this season, which hosted two nail-biting finishes with cars clanging off each other off the final turn.
Instead, Darlington measures 1.366 miles and is egg-shaped, the result of not having as much property to work with on the track’s west end as was needed to create a true oval back in 1949 when ground was broken.
Since its first race in 1950, Darlington has dished out 73 years of challenging driving at the one speedway that might be the most demanding of them all.
It’s a true driver’s track known as “The Lady in Black” and “The Track Too Tough to Tame.”
Darlington also has been known to provide a spectacular finish or two like its slightly lengthier neighbors.
There have been many remarkable races at difficult Darlington, but none stands out more than the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 in 2003.
In that one, 31st-place starter Ricky Craven ran down leader Kurt Busch in the final 10 laps then traded the lead with the Roush Racing driver as the ill-handling cars slipped around on high-banked asphalt.
Exiting Turn 4, Craven’s No. 32 banged with Busch’s No. 97 Ford in a door-to-door drag race. The Tide-sponsored Pontiac then delivered Craven his second career win in an instant classic by a scant 0.002 seconds.
“Have you ever?” blurted FOX Sports announcer Mike Joy as the clashing cars billowed smoke past the finish line.
“No, I’ve never,” shot back boothmate Darrell Waltrip after Craven notched the fifth last-lap pass for victory at Darlington.
This year, William Byron is the defending race of an event held one year ago this weekend, which has not always been the case.
When the track had two scheduled events, the first race was held in the Spring while the Southern 500 was on Labor Day weekend. That occurred until 2004, then the venerable speedway lost a race and ran just one for 15 straight seasons.
In 2020, Darlington hosted three races, including the first race after NASCAR’s two-month hiatus for COVID.
Currently, the slate is the same as it has been since 1960, minus that one-race schedule for 15 years and the oddity of 2020, and the start-finish line was moved to the speedway’s opposite side in 1997.
But as for the track itself at Darlington?
It’s still as tough to tame as it was in 1950.
TENNIS NEWS
NOVAK DJOKOVIC STARTS STRONG IN ROME; CASPER RUUD OUT IN SHOCKER
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia overcame a shaky start and defeated French lucky loser Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1 in his first match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday in Rome.
Djokovic is on to the Round of 32 after taking care of Moutet in 84 minutes. He dropped his first two service games to fall behind 3-1 before winning the final five games of the set and 11 of the final 12 games overall.
“I played a lefty and I have not practiced with a lefty in a while, so it took me a little time to adjust to the different rotations of the ball,” Djokovic said. “The first four games were quite bad from me. A bad start.
“But then I played well. I only lost one game from 1-3 down. Corentin is a very talented player. He has great hands and is very unpredictable. You don’t know what comes up next, so I had to stay focused, which I did, and it is a good opening match.”
Djokovic needed only one ace en route to victory. He saved 5 of 7 break points while converting 6 of 9 chances to break Moutet.
Djokovic is now only one match win away from 1,100 for his career. His next opponent will be No. 29 seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, who defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 7-6 (4).
No. 5 seed Casper Ruud of Norway was upset in surprising fashion. After sweeping the first set against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, Ruud fell 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 on his preferred surface, clay. Ruud once won four clay-court tournaments in a row and was a semifinalist in Rome in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
“It means a lot, especially on clay, where he is one of the best players today,” said Kecmanovic, who had seven aces to just one double fault. “I’m happy that I was able (after the first set) to come back and win.”
No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany cruised to a 6-0, 6-4 win over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic, and No. 8 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria beat Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 6-4.
Three American stalwarts are on to the next round. No. 11 seed Taylor Fritz swept Italian wild card Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4; No. 12 Ben Shelton rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Russia’s Pavel Kotov; and No. 24 Sebastian Korda outlasted Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4.
Ruud was not the only seeded player eliminated Friday. Portugal’s Nuno Borges defeated No. 15 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-4, as Bublik’s seven aces were hindered by six double faults. China’s Zhizhen Zhang knocked out French No. 19 seed Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 6-3.
Italian qualifier Francesco Passaro, ranked just No. 240 in the world, toppled No. 23 seed Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Another Italy native, Luciano Darderi, beat No. 28 Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-3, 6-2, and Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro upset Australian No. 32 Jordan Thompson 6-1, 6-3.
No. 16 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia and No. 20 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina both won in straight sets. French qualifier Terence Atmane moved on when No. 26 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy retired down 7-5, 1-0.
TOP INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES AND NEWS REPORTS
INDIANA PACERS
PACERS’ CARLISLE FINED $35,000 BY NBA FOR CRITICIZING REFEREES, IMPLYING BIAS AGAINST SMALL MARKETS
NEW YORK (AP) — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Friday for criticizing the officials and “questioning the integrity of the league” with his pleas for fairness for small-market teams.
Carlisle made his comments after the Pacers’ 130-121 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He was called for two technical fouls and ejected late in the game as Indiana fell into a 2-0 hole in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Carlisle complained about a number of missed calls, which the Pacers subsequently sent to the league for review, and implied a bias in favor of New York.
“Small-market teams deserve an equal shot,” he said. “They deserve a fair shot no matter where they are playing.”
On Thursday, the Pacers sent 78 plays they believed were officiated incorrectly from the first two games to the NBA office for review, a person with knowledge of the action said Thursday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the Pacers nor the league publicly confirmed the plays were actually sent.
Carlisle had said the Pacers identified 29 plays they felt were wrong in Game 1 — referees had already acknowledged one of them on a kicked ball violation they said was called incorrectly — so that meant 49 more in Game 2.
The Pacers host Game 3 on Friday night.
GAME REWIND: PACERS 111, KNICKS 106 (GAME 3)
Heroes are made in the playoffs. Pacers fans won’t soon forget Andrew Nembhard’s name after the second-year guard’s heroics in Game 3 against the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
With the game tied at 106 and under 40 seconds remaining, Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton took a three from right wing. He missed, but Aaron Nesmith was there to corral the rebound. They kicked the ball out to Haliburton who called for an isolation and dribbled down the shot clock.
But the Knicks sent a double-double Haliburton’s way as the shot clock wound down, so he kicked to Nembhard on the left wing with just four seconds left on the shot clock.
The second-year guard was well beyond the 3-point line, but knew he had to hoist it quickly. Nembhard, who always carries himself with a calm demeanor, didn’t panic.
Instead, he took a couple dribbles and stepped back from Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, hoisting a shot from 31 feet away. It swished through the net as the shot clock buzzer sounded with 16.4 seconds remaining, the decisive blow in a 111-106 Pacers win.
“I heard (Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau) yelling to double,” Haliburton said. “I probably held the ball a little too long. I should have been more aggressive to attack the blitz. I put Drew in a kind of a bad situation. He just made an unbelievable shot, big shot. Just really stepped up to the moment when we needed him the most.”
“When I got the ball, I didn’t really realize what the time was,” Nembhard added. “…I just knew I had to get something off. Tried to create a little space and put it up.”
It was a pivotal moment in a pivotal game, as the Pacers defended their home court after dropping the first two games of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal series earlier this week at Madison Square Garden. Indiana will try to even the series when it hosts Game 4 on Monday.
PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Follow Indiana’s Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>
The Pacers had led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but trailed by nine early in the fourth quarter before rallying. They rallied to tie the game at 99 by the seven-minute mark and took a one-point lead after Pascal Siakam hit one of two free throws with 5:42 remaining.
That’s where the score remained until Brunson hit a step-back jumper over Aaron Nesmith to put the Knicks back in front with 3:53 to play.
On the other end, Siakam drove and drew a foul on Brunson, then hit both free throws to retake the lead. The two teams traded misses on their next two possessions before Josh Hart attacked the basket and drew a foul on Siakam (the fifth for the Pacers forward). Hart hit one of two shots at the foul line to tie the game at 102 with 2:26 left.
On the other end, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton got caught in mid-air with no one to pass to and turned the ball over. It looked like Hart was going to score on the other end, but Myles Turner came out of nowhere to block the shot off the backboard. That triggered a fastbreak where Nembhard converted a layup to put Indiana in front.
Haliburton was whistled for a foul on Brunson on the other end, but the Knicks’ All-Star guard came up short on his first free throw before hitting the second. Siakam added a layup with 54.1 seconds left to put Indiana up 106-103, but Brunson answered with a three on the other end to tie the game once again with 42.4 seconds remaining.
That set the stage for Nembhard’s heroics. After a timeout, Brunson missed a potential game-tying three and Nesmith sealed the win at the free throw line.
Four starters scored in double figures for the Pacers in the victory, with Haliburton leading the way with 35 points on 14-of-26 shooting, (6-of-16 from 3-point range) and seven assists.
Siakam scored 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Turner tallied 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Nesmith finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Nembhard was the only starter to not reach double figures, but hit the biggest shot of the night. He finished with five points (all in the final two minutes), five rebounds, and six assists. He started 0-for-6 from the field, but his last two shots, both of which gave Indiana the lead.
RELATED: Nembhard, Turner Etch Names in Pacers-Knicks Postseason Lore >>
“Basketball’s a game of many mistakes,” Nembhard said. “It’s about being neutral, not getting high or low based off good or bad plays. Just trying to move on and understand the next play’s the most important.”
The Pacers made a defensive adjustment for start of Game 3, putting the bigger wing Nesmith on Brunson instead of Nembhard.
Though New York scored the first points of the evening on a second-chance three by Hart, Indiana’s defense otherwise dominated the opening minutes. The Pacers capitalized, using a three by Nesmith and two from Haliburton to open up a 14-4 lead, limiting the Knicks to just a single point over a nearly four-minute span.
The Blue & Gold led 20-8 before the Knicks put together a 12-4 run to get back within four. But a Siakam layup and another Nesmith three closed the quarter to give Indiana a 29-20.
Indiana limited the Knicks to 7-of-19 shooting (36.8 percent) in the opening frame while also forcing six turnovers. Brunson went 1-for-5 with three turnovers.
The Knicks got their offense going in the ensuing frame, as Donte DiVincenzo scored seven straight points for the visitors during a 13-6 run that pulled New York within two.
That forced a timeout from Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, but after the stoppage Alec Burks converted a three-point play to briefly put the visitors in front. But Myles Turner answered with a jumper on the other end and then Haliburton knocked down two threes on the next two Pacers possessions to start to rebuild the cushion.
A three from Turner pushed the lead to eight before the Knicks made another charge, this time reeling off 11 unanswered points (six from Brunson and five from Burks). The Pacers answered with a 9-0 spurt of their own, with Haliburton scoring the final seven, capping the sequence with his fifth 3-pointer of the first half.
The hosts remained in front up until halftime, with Siakam scoring Indiana’s last six points to make it a 63-58 lead entering the intermission.
The Pacers were able to extend the lead early in the third quarter, using an 8-0 that featured back-to-back threes from Haliburton and Siakam and another Siakam jumper to push the margin to 77-66 with 7:31 remaining in the frame.
But the Knicks dominated the rest of the frame, outscoring Indiana 24-8 over the remainder of the quarter. DiVincenzo scored nine points during that run and 17 overall in the quarter as New York took a 90-85 lead into the fourth.
The Knicks had pushed their lead to 98-89 with under 10 minutes to play, when Haliburton drove and converted a floater while being knocked to the floor by New York guard Miles McBride. He made the free throw to complete a three-point play, then added another layup at 8:10 to draw Indiana within four.
On the other end, Haliburton darted in front of a Brunson pass and streaked down the floor for two more points.
After Brunson hit one of two free throws, Siakam spun around Hart and banked in a jumper through contact. The ensuing free throw tied the game at 99 with 6:58 to play.
It wasn’t all pretty down the stretch, but the Pacers made enough key plays when it mattered to come away with the win.
“Just really proud of our guys,” Carlisle said. “They’re going against a highly experienced, very tough-minded team that is very motivated. They put us in a big bind in the second half. Was really proud of the way our guys hung in, kept fighting, stayed the course, kept their emotions in check.”
DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 35 points, going 12-for-26 from the field and 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. Brunson, who was listed as questionable after hurting his right foot in Game 2, had 26 points and six assists for New York in 38 minutes.
Burks scored 14 points off the bench, while Hart had a double-double with 10 points and 18 rebounds.
The two teams won’t have long to rest ahead of Game 4, which is a mid-afternoon tip at 3:30 PM on Sunday.
“Whatever happens, you’ve got to wipe it clean,” Carlisle said. “The next game is a completely new palate. You’ve just got to get ready to compete when that time comes.”
Inside the Numbers
Haliburton’s 35 points one-upped his 34 points in Game 2 to become his new playoff career high. His 26 field goal attempts were the second most he’s taken in any game in his career (he shot 28 times at Miami on Nov. 30). On Friday, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to score 30 or more points and make six or more threes in consecutive playoff games, joining a list that includes Stephen Curry (seven times), Donovan Mitchell (twice), James Harden, and Damian Lillard.
Siakam had his first 20-point game since scoring 36 and 37 points in the first two games of Indiana’s first-round series against Milwaukee.
Turner surpassed 20 points for the fifth time this postseason while also recording his first double-double of the playoffs.
The Pacers outscored the Knicks 56-40 in the paint on Friday.
DiVincenzo’s seven 3-pointers tied the Knicks franchise record for threes in a playoff game, tying a mark originally set by Derek Harper May 4, 1995 against Cleveland and matched by John Starks a week later in Indiana that same postseason.
Burks had played just one minute all posteason (in Game 2), but was forced into action on Friday after the Knicks lost starting forward OG Anunoby to a hamstring strain. The 13-year veteran rose to the occasion with 14 points and four rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench, going 4-for-6 from the field, 2-for-4 from 3-point range, and 4-for-5 from the free throw line.
After playing all 48 minutes in both Game 1 and Game 2, Hart came out for the first time all series on Friday due to foul trouble. He still played 43:05 and pulled down 18 rebounds, all of them on the defensive end.
The Pacers had outscored the Knicks 92-15 in bench points over the first two games of the series, but New York’s reserves actually outscored Indiana 24-14 on Friday, thanks to 14 points from Burks and 10 from McBride.
The Knicks led the NBA in offensive rebounding this season, but Indiana had 13 offensive boards to New York’s 10 in Game 3 and outscored the Knicks 16-8 in second-chance points.
You Can Quote Me On That
“Just digging in. Understanding our backs are against the wall. We’re here at home. Obviously they handled business getting both at home and everybody knows what it looks like when you go down 3-0. We had to come out and play desperate, play hard. The third quarter got us again. We’ve really been poor in these third quarters all series. We just didn’t let that deter us, and responded the right way in the fourth.” -Haliburton on the final stretch of the game
“They made a run. We just tried to communicate to the guys to just keep the focus. I thought there was a lot of big plays that the guys made. Just fighting, man, being resilient. We understand how hard these games are and how tough that team is. It’s going to take a lot. I thought that we dug deep and just kept fighting.” -Siakam on the Pacers’ comeback in the fourth quarter
“We made some good stops, had good rotations, we rebounded the ball going down the stretch. Tyrese was making plays, opening it up for a lot of guys. The middle screen with him and Pascal was really working.” -Nembhard on the Pacers’ comeback in the fourth quarter to erase a nine-point deficit
“He’s one of our toughest guys, mentally and physically. He’s really gained a love for these types of moments and playing in this kind of stage, this kind of level of competition…The clock was down. Sometimes in those situations, it frees you up even more. He just laced it.” -Carlisle on Nembhard’s big shot
“Andrew does so many things for us as a team, just fights every possession, picking up full court. He’s so valuable for us. Obviously, he wasn’t making shots or anything like that. But we have full trust in him, the work that he puts in. He’s a confident kid…Obviously it’s a tough shot, but if somebody’s going to make that, it’s going to be him. I just love everything about him and his focus.” -Siakam on Nembhard’s shot
“You can’t give New York a recipe of the same thing over and over again. They’re going too adjust — Brunson’s too great a player. The idea was just change the matchup, give him a little more size. Aaron did as good a job I think as you can possibly do. Brunson’s so good. He’s the best scorer in the playoffs I believe. We had good timely help tonight, too.” -Carlisle on switching Nesmith onto Brunson for Game 3
“He adapts quickly. For a first-timer in the playoffs, he’s had to do some pretty significant adjusting in both series. Sometimes it’s you know you can score, but there’s a need to get other guys involved. Sometimes it’s the other way around, he knows we need his scoring…His aggression was very important in this game. Whether he’s scoring a lot of points or not, his aggression is going to be important in every game of this series.” -Carlisle on Haliburton’s big night
“It’s been awesome…The way he affects the game for us, it’s more than scoring. Obviously when you look at the scoreboard, he made a lot of threes and he scored a lot. But he’s an engine for us and he gets us going. His pace, the way he sees the game, how smart he is as a player…everything else he does for us as a team, that’s what makes us great.” -Siakam on Haliburton
“It’s been unbelievable in here. It’s been unbelievable , the energy. I think that our fans have just been itching for playoff basketball again, just like us. I think that’s the excitement in our city and that’s why everyone is so excited. Obviously just a lot of energy around basketball in Indiana right now, especially with the Fever and us. It’s really cool to see that energy in the building every game. They really willed us to a win tonight, to be honest. We’re just going to keep riding that train and hopefully they keep coming supporting us and we just keep performing the way we’re able to.” – Haliburton on the home crowd
“Just taking what’s there. I know it feels like we’ve been together for a while, but I think the guys are still learning about me…For me, the type of player that I am, it’s just continue to find my way in the flow of the game, understand that things are going to come. And knowing that it’s not just about scoring. I can make plays, just my energy, trying to find different ways (like) rebounding and staying active out there, that overall activity is probably going to help me a little bit more.” -Siakam on picking up his scoring in Game 3
“I think there are certain plays that happen over the course of a series, and the course of a game, that can really change things…I think we’re going to remember that play, because I feel like that changed the game. It was a game-changing moment. I think it just speaks to how hard he played and the tone he set today.” -Haliburton on Turner’s block in the final minutes
Stat of the Night
Andrew Nembhard had zero points with under two minutes remaining in Game 3, but scored two massive baskets to lift the Pacers to victory.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers have won the first four playoff games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and nine straight at home dating back to the regular season. They have not lost at home since March 18.
- Several former Pacers stars were in attendance on Friday. Two-time All-Star center Roy Hibbert “revved up” the crowd before the game, former All-Star Dale Davis was seated courtside, and fan favorite Lance Stephenson was also in attendance.
- Others in attendance included Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James and current Colts lineback Zaire Franklin.
Up Next
The Pacers and Knicks will meet again in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, May 12 at 3:30 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANS HELD SCORELESS BY BATS, 3-0
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Indianapolis Indians offense was held scoreless for the first time in the 2024 season by the Louisville Bats at Louisville Slugger Field on Friday night, 3-0.
With both teams scoreless in the bottom of the fifth frame, Louisville (19-18) plated the first run of the contest courtesy of a sacrifice fly off the bat of Livian Soto. Soto then brought home the game’s next run in the seventh inning on an RBI single to left. The Bats added an insurance run in the eighth with a solo shot from Nick Martini to put the game out of reach for Indianapolis (17-17).
In his first appearance with the Indians, Isaac Mattson (L, 0-1) yielded one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Christian Roa (W, 1-2) tossed 3.0 shutout innings in relief for Louisville, allowing just one hit with two punchouts.
The Indians and Bats will meet for the penultimate game of the six-game series tomorrow at 7:15 PM ET at Louisville Slugger Field. RHP Lyon Richardson (0-0, 3.81) will take the hill for Louisville. Indianapolis has yet to name a starter.
INDY 500
WILL POWER AND JOSEF NEWGARDEN BEGIN INDY QUESTS BY ADAPTING TO NEW STRATEGISTS AND ENGINEERS
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Josef Newgarden and Will Power went back to work Friday with revamped teams.
The drivers’ race strategists, Tim Cindric and Ron Ruzewski, will miss Saturday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 on May 26 while serving two-race suspensions for cheating. So will engineers Luke Mason and Robbie Atkinson.
How quickly the drivers adapt to the new voices on their radios could determine whether either of the two 500 winners and series champs can achieve their traditional May goal of putting team owner Roger Penske back in victory lane.
“It’s not ideal losing someone off your stand. Losing two people is definitely not ideal. We were better off with them,” Power said Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “But I sat down with Dave (Faustino) and we just said we’re going to do absolutely the best we can with what we’ve got. We’ve got very good people on the team. It is what it is.”
Fortunately for Team Penske, Faustino and Power have a longstanding relationship that should help smooth the transition between now and IndyCar’s most prestigious race, the 500, in two weeks.
But this is certainly not how the team owner wanted to start what he has long considered the most important month on the series’ schedule.
Penske became a household name by changing the image of auto racing. He brought an exacting, businesslike approach to the Brickyard’s historic Gasoline Alley and when the pole-winning runs and race victories started piling up, he won converts, too.
Now, though, The Captain’s ship is taking on water.
Six weeks after Newgarden won the season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida, series officials determined the team’s three cars each had a software system that provided the drivers with horsepower boosts on starts and restarts — violating series rules.
“For Ron and I as leaders of this team, it’s not about what we did, it’s about what we didn’t do,” Cindric said this week in a statement. “It is our responsibility to provide the team and all our drivers with the right processes to ensure something like this can’t happen. For that, I apologize to Roger, our team and everyone that supports us. Our No. 1 job is to protect and enhance the reputation of our brand and that of those that support us.”
The drivers took the hardest hits.
Newgarden was stripped of his win, Scott McLaughlin was stripped of a third-place finish and all three drivers lost 10 points and were fined $25,000. Although Power was cleared of any wrongdoing and none of McLaughlin’s team members were punished, Power and Newgarden are now dealing with the transition to new team members.
“That’s the call that Roger made, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” Power said.
Newgarden said after Friday’s qualifying he was surprised that team president Cindric was suspended.
“I was surprised, but this isn’t my team, it is Roger’s team,” Newgarden said. “And all I can say is I am so happy to be here. It is not disingenuous, I feel so good to be here, and we’ve got a team, a little different than it looked last year, but not that different. We’re here as a team and we’re ready to go.”
Other drivers had thoughts to share about the situation at Penske.
Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 Indy 500 champ, noted that Cindric and Ruzewski are the two key leaders at one of the series’ powerhouse teams. Six-time series champ Scott Dixon said Chip Ganassi Racing might have fired those responsible for such an infraction.
“It’s a huge thing,” points leader Colton Herta said when asked about the penalties. “But I think it’s the right thing to do.”
For Power, the suspensions may not matter as much.
He’s quite comfortable on Indy’s road course, winning five times with a record-tying three Indy GP crowns on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit. Plus, he’s still working with Faustino.
Will that be enough for the 43-year-old Australian to overcome the loss of two team members?
“I’ve been at it so long, I can almost do strategy from the car, and he’s the one that basically does the strategy anyway, and Ron sort of calls the races,” said Power, a two-time series champ and the 2018 Indy winner. “Not a massive change. It will suck not having Ron. I’ve really gotten used to him. He’s very calming and good on the radio. That’s a pity, but that’s the way it is, and we have to do our best.”
PALOU ON POLE
Two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou became the fourth different pole winner through four IndyCar races this season with his Friday run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It was Palou’s first pole on the Indy road course and the first this season for Chip Ganassi Racing. Palou won this race from third last year in the first of five victories that carried him to his second series.
He dedicated the pole run to his mother, who celebrated her birthday Friday.
To get the pole, Palou had to contend with Power, who was dominant in every qualifying round and seemed a lock for the top starting spot. But as he pushed for the final seconds he needed, Power slid slightly and dropped to third in a run that denied him both a 71st career pole and the point needed to tie Herta for the championship lead.
Christian Lundgaard qualified second for Rahal Letterman Lanigan. Newgarden was fourth for Penske and followed by Pato O’Ward of McLaren and Scott Dixon of Ganassi.
Andretti Global had a rough qualifying session and failed to advance any of its three entries out of the first round. Herta, who had been fastest in morning practice, ran out of gas on his qualifying lap. Marcus Ericsson said his car simply lacked pace and Kyle Kirkwood chalked his miss up to the tight margins of IndyCar qualifying.
INDY ELEVEN
PREVIEW #MIAVIND
#MIAvIND Preview
Miami FC vs Indy Eleven
Sunday, May 12, 2024 – 7 p.m. ET
FIU Stadium | Miami, Fla.
Follow Live
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #MIAvIND MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Miami FC: 2-6-1, 7 pts (-5); 11th Eastern Conference
Indy Eleven: 3-4-2, 11 pts (-3); 6th Eastern Conference
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to USL Championship action Sunday when they travel south to face Miami FC.
Indy is coming off a 2-0 Round of 32 U.S. Open Cup win over San Antonio FC and defeated Monterey Bay F.C., 1-0, in its last USL match. Indy sits at 3-4-2 in the Eastern Conference and is in sixth place. Miami fell to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in its last outing and is 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 2-6-1 record.
SERIES VS. MIAMI
Saturday marks the 12th all-time meeting between the two sides, with Miami holding the 6-3-2 advantage. Indy has won the two most recent meetings, including a 1-0 victory on the road in 2023.
Indy trails 3-6-2 | GF 9, GA 16
Recent Meetings
Sept. 2, 2023 | W, 1-0 | Home
Aug. 12, 2023 | W, 1-0 | Away
July 2, 2022 | L, 1-0 | Home
June 8, 2022 | D, 1-1 | Away
Oct. 14, 2017 | L, 3-0 | Home
#GOALS
The Boys in Blue have scored in nine straight USLC matches to open the 2024 season, bringing their total to 14 goals (T4 USL). The streak is the longest to open a USLC campaign (6 in 2019) and longer than any streak during the 2023 season (5 – 2x). It is the longest run overall within a season for the club since a 12-game streak in 2022.
In total, Indy has scored in 12 straight regular season matches dating back to Sept. 30, 2023.
THE [NEW] GAFFER
2024 is Indy’s first season under head coach Sean McAuley, who previously served as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others.
McAuley got his first career win in the USL Championship on March 16, 2024, a 2-1 defeat of Memphis 901 FC.
STREAKING
The Boys in Blue are currently riding a five-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, which includes a three-game streak in USL Championship action.
4.17 | Chicago Fire FC II* | W, 1-0
4.20 | at Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC | D, 1-1
4.27 | North Carolina FC | W, 2-1
5.4 | at Monterey Bay F.C. | W, 1-0
5.8 | San Antonio FC* | W, 2-0
*denotes U.S. Open Cup match
The Boys in Blue’s longest unbeaten streak in 2023 ended at six matches (8.9-9.2) with victories over Birmingham, Miami (2x), El Paso and Loudoun and a tie at Memphis. Indy closed the regular season on a three-match unbeaten streak (2-0-1) its fourth such streak of 2023.
TOTW REGULAR
Jack Blake earned his fourth USL Championship Team of the Week honor of the 2024 season following Indy Eleven’s 1-0 win over Monterey Bay F.C. Blake leads Indy Eleven with four goals in nine matches, already besting his season total (3) from 2023. The midfielder had seven shots in the match, including one on target, and won three of five tackles and 13 of 16 duels.
Indy opened the season with back-to-back weeks with two players on the USL Championship Team of the Week. Blake and Younes Boudadi were honored after the week one match at Oakland, while Blake repeated alongside Aedan Stanley after the win over Memphis week two. Both Callum Chapman-Page (week 8) and Adrian Diz Pe (week 9) have earned bench honors.
TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (T6th, 72) and Augi Williams (9th, 68) serve as the only pair of active teammates in the USL Championship’s top 10 for all-time regular season goals.
FAMILIAR FOE
In it’s most recent transaction, Indy welcomed Ben Mines and Benjamin Ofeimu to the Circle City. As part of the move, Danny Barbir and Roberto Molina headed south to Miami.
The Boys in Blue also received Aedan Stanley from MIA ahead of the 2024 season and Callum Chapman-Page arrived on loan in 2023 before signing with Indy.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Eleven finished the 2023 regular season 8-5-4 on the road, giving them the most regular season wins away from home in the club’s USLC history (previously 6 in 2019). Indy outscored its opponents 27-21 on the road with eight multi-goal performances and four of 3+ (3 at ELP, PIT, SA; 4 at CHS).
Indy is 3-2-1 across all competitions on the road this season.
LAST TIME OUT (USL CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION)
SEASIDE, Calif. (Saturday, May 4, 2024) – Elliot Collier scored the match winner in the 88th minute to send Indy Eleven to a 1-0 victory over Monterey Bay F.C.
The tally was the first for Elliot Collier this season, but second overall as part of Indy Eleven having scored one in his previous stint in 2018.
In a back and forth first half, Indy outshot Monterey Bay 9-5 with five coming from Jack Blake and three from Augi Williams. The home team had the minor edge in possession at 50.7% and had two shots on frame to Indy’s one.
Indy finished with the 16-7 advantage in shots, with four coming on target. Bake finished with a season-high seven shots, while Williams had four and Douglas Martinez added a pair. Hunter Sulte picked up the first clean sheet of the season for Indy, registering three saves.
Scoring Summary
IND – Elliot Collier 88’
Discipline Summary
IND – Aedan Stanley (caution) 71’
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (caution) 74’
MB – Luther Archimede (caution) 75’
MB – Mobi Fehr (caution) 87’
IND – Jack Blake (caution) 90+2’
INDIANA BASEBALL
LINCOLN, Neb. – It’s not over until it’s over. Not with this team. Down two runs in the ninth, the Indiana Baseball team (28-19-1, 13-6 B1G) put up seven runs to take the series opener, 10-5, in a massive weekend at Nebraska. The Hoosiers batted 11 players in the final inning, overturning a multi-run deficit for the second time in as many games.
Junior outfielder Carter Mathison had a pair of hits in the final frame including a leadoff double and a two-run single to further the damage. Freshman second baseman Jasen Oliver had an RBI-single to cut the deficit to one. Junior third baseman Josh Pyne drove in the tying run on a sacrifice fly.
With the bases loaded, Nebraska tried to pick off the runner at second but threw the ball into center field. Sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor scored the go-ahead run and IU tacked on four more insurance runs to close it out.
Jacob Vogel got the final three outs, lowering his season earned run average to 0.48 across 18.2 innings this year. Brayden Risedorph (W, 3-6) got the win. He had to throw 73 pitches in 3.1 innings of work but kept the game in hand to give IU a chance in the ninth. Ty Bothwell was not factored into the decision but went 4.2 innings with just one run and three strikeouts.
The Hoosiers continue to keep pace at the top of the Big Ten race. IU, Purdue and Illinois all won tonight. The Fighting Illini remain a game up on both the Boilermakers and Hoosiers for the conference lead. Closing out a series victory tomorrow (7:05 PM ET/6:05 PM CT) will go a long way in having a chance to win the league next weekend.
Scoring Recap
Top First
Devin Taylor hit a home run to lead off the game for the Hoosiers, his 13th long ball of the season.
Indiana 1, Nebraska 0
Top Fourth
After a Nebraska error extended the inning, Brock Tibbitts got an RBI on the sacrifice fly to score Nick Mitchell.
Indiana 2, Nebraska 0
Bottom Fifth
The Huskers finally cracked Ty Bothwell in the fifth on a two-out rally. A single and walk put runners on as Josh Caron singled to left field to open the scoring. Brayden Risedorph was able to get the final out on an unassisted ground ball to the shortstop.
Indiana 2, Nebraska 1
Bottom Seventh
Caron handed Nebraska the lead in the seventh, launching a home run into the deepest part of the ballpark to go up a run.
Nebraska 3, Indiana 2
Top Eighth
Jasen Oliver quickly tied the game back up on a solo home run to lead off the eighth inning.
Indiana 3, Nebraska 3
Bottom Eighth
Things got hairy for Risedorph in the eighth who was stretched a long way on his pitch count to help the rest of the bullpen. A walk and a single put two runners on. Nebraska gave IU an out on a sacrifice bunt but the runners advanced into scoring position. The Hoosiers brought their infield in and Joshua Overbeek hit a ground ball at Oliver. IU made the throw home but Clay Bradford, the pinch runner, made a fantastic slide to beat the catcher’s tag. One more came around on a sacrifice fly.
Nebraska 5, Indiana 3
Top Ninth
Once again, a little bit of comeback magic struck in the ninth. Carter Mathison led off with a double and immediately advanced to third on a ground out from Cal Sefcik. Oliver singled into left field to close the gap to one. Devin Taylor singled to put runners on the corner. Josh Pyne came through with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at five. An intentional walk and a five-pitch walk to Tyler Cerny loaded the bases. Nebraska tried to pick off Mitchell at second but threw the ball into center field, allowing Taylor to score the go-ahead run. Joey Brenczewski delivered a two-run single and Mathison drove in another pair of runs as IU blew it open late.
Indiana 10, Nebraska 5
Top Hoosier Performers
#3 Mathison, Carter
2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI
#5 Taylor, Devin
2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
#2 Oliver, Jasen
2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Notes to Know
• IU was able to score 10+ runs for the 20th time this season. In those games, the Hoosiers are 19-1. In nine of IU’s 13 conference wins this year, it has scored 10+ runs.
• Devin Taylor homered to lead off the game and finished with a multi-hit game, his sixth-consecutive multi-hit game and 25th of the season. In his last 10 games, he’s hitting a sizzling .455 (20-44) with six home runs and 11 RBIs.
• The Hoosiers have now overturned three multi-run ninth-inning deficits in conference play, all of which resulted in eventual wins. IU scored three in the ninth vs. Penn State (W, 10-9), four in the ninth at. Purdue (W, 5-4) and seven in the ninth at Nebraska (W, 10-5).
Up Next
A chance at winning the series on the road awaits IU tomorrow night at Nebraska The game, with a first pitch of 7:05 PM ET, will be carried nationally on the Big Ten Network and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
IOWA CITY, IOWA. –––– Despite trailing 3-0 early, No. 8 seed Indiana rallied to force extra innings and exploded for a six-run eighth inning to defeat No. 4 seed Nebraska, 9-3, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal.
Indiana will play for a Big Ten Championship tomorrow at 4 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (CT) against the winner of No. 2 seed Michigan and No. 11 seed Wisconsin.
No. 8 Seed INDIANA 9, No. 4 Seed NEBRASKA 3
KEY MOMENTS
• Nebraska started the game with a 1-0 lead off an Andrews home run in the bottom of the first inning.
• Nebraska would build the lead out to 3-0 with another home run and an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning.
• In the bottom of the third, sophomore pitcher Sophie Kleiman recorded two of the inning’s three outs on strikeouts.
• Junior Sarah Stone got Indiana on the board with a blast of a home run to left center to make it a 3-1 game in the top of the fourth.
• In the top of the fifth, the Hoosiers would tack on one more with junior Brianna Copeland hitting an RBI single up the middle to bring freshman Alex Cooper home.
• In the first at-bat in the top of the seventh, Cooper hit a game-tying home run to right center to make it a 3-3 game.
• In the first at-bat in the top of the seventh, Cooper hit a game-tying home run to right center to make it a 3-3 game.
• The Hoosier defense got the job done in the seventh, forcing extra innings.
• In the top of the eighth, Indiana would go on a six-run rally to take a finalizing 9-3 lead.
At the start of the eighth, sophomore Avery Parker walked and freshman Aly VanBrandt bunted for a single. Then, redshirt senior Cora Bassett put down a sac bunt to advance both runners into scoring position.
• Then, senior Aaliyah Andrews would start the scoring rally when she hit a clutch single up the middle to bring home two Hoosier runs in.
• The rally continued with two singles to follow as Cooper hit a single to right field followed by an RBI single from senior Brooke Benson to extend the lead to 6-3.
• Junior Brianna Copleand came up to bat to put the exclamation mark on the inning with a rocket of a home run out to left center, making the score 9-3.
NOTABLES
• Indiana is heading to the Big Ten Championship game for the second year in a row.
• Stone, Cooper and Copeland all hit home runs.
• Copeland had four RBI in the game.
• Seven Hoosiers recorded a hit.
• Copeland, Andrews, Cooper and Benson all had two hits.
• Indiana has eclipsed the 40-win mark for two consecutive seasons (had 44 wins in 2023).
• Indiana’s season record now stands at 40-17.
UP NEXT
Indiana will face the winner of No. 2 seed Michigan and No. 11 seed Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament Final tomorrow at 4 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (CT).
PURDUE BASEBALL
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Keenan Spence hit two long home runs and also robbed a homer defensively in right field, starring in support of a quality start from Jordan Morales as Purdue Baseball shutout Michigan 4-0 Friday for its ninth consecutive road win.
The Boilermakers (33-17, 13-6 Big Ten) held their ground one game behind Illinois (14-5 Big Ten) in the Big Ten standings with five games remaining in the conference schedule. The Fighting Illini visiting Alexander Field next weekend (May 16-18).
Purdue won its fifth straight series opener in league play and posted its fifth shutout victory of the season, both marks being the program’s best since the 2012 Big Ten championship season (6 shutouts, 8-0 in Big Ten series openers). Morales (7-4) struck out four over 7 2/3 innings of five-hit ball, matching his longest outing of the year and the longest by any Boilermaker.
Spence connected for a 399-foot homer over the tall left field wall in the top of the seventh, the two-run blast breaking a scoreless stalemate. Two innings later, the slugger from Down Under blasted off again for a 416-foot moon shot to left center to account for the game’s final margin.
FRIDAY NOTABLES
• The nine-game road win streak is the program’s longest since winning 10 consecutive road games in 2001 en route to setting a team record with 21 true road wins. Purdue ended the Wolverines’ six-game home win streak Friday and has defeated five different teams during its streak – Ohio State, Rutgers (3), Northwestern (3), UIC and Michigan.
• Keenan Spence (10) joined Connor Caskenette (12) and Luke Gaffney (12) with 10-plus home runs this season. The Boilermakers have three players with 10 homers for just the second time in team history, joining the 1986 team that set the program record for wins (37) that stood until 2012.
• Jo Stevens, Caskenette and Spence have all barreled up for a multi-homer game over the last eight games since April 27. Purdue has three players with a multi-homer game in a season for the first time since 2011.
• Jordan Morales earned his seventh victory, tying teammate Luke Wagner for the Big Ten lead. The Boilermakers have two pitchers with seven victories for the first time since having three with eight-plus in 2012.
• Purdue improved to 17-5 since March 31, including 12-2 in Big Ten play, since March 31.
Avery Cook retired all four batters he faced, closing out the win with a 1-2-3 inning vs. Michigan’s 6-7-8 hitters. He has pitched in the last three games and five of the last seven Big Ten games, earning two wins and two saves in the process. The sidearmer stranded inherited runners at second and third base while finishing off the eighth inning.
Spence robbed Mack Timbrook of a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth, making a leaping grab underneath the videoboard in right field. It marked the second game in a row a Purdue outfielder took away a potential home run after Couper Cornblum did likewise in center field in the ninth inning Tuesday at UIC.
As the second baseman, Thomas Green saved a run with a diving stop in short right field with a runner at second base in the sixth inning. The game was still scoreless at the time. Camden Gasser made an elite pick on a short hop smash, turning it into a 6-3 double play to erase a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth. The Wolverines (26-24, 11-8 Big Ten) had the bases loaded with two outs in the third inning when Jo Stevens (diving stop at third) and Luke Gaffney (pick at first) teamed up for a big out.
Cornblum’s opposite-field double chased U-M starter Kurt Barr with two outs in the seventh inning. The Wolverines went to its top relief pitcher, lefty Jacob Denner, to face Mike Bolton Jr. but Bolton delivered a two-out RBI single all the same. Bolton’s 13-game Big Ten hit streak is tied for the sixth longest by a Boilermaker since 2001.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 29-game on-base streak; 25-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 13-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Luke Gaffney – 15-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; 8-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 7-game on-base streak; 103 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Morales worked a trio of 1-2-3 innings and retired eight of his nine his first time through the U-M lineup. The only extra-base hit he conceded was a two-out double to the final batter he faced. The lefty rolled through the Wolverines’ 7-8-9 hitters, who were a combined 0-for-9 against Morales.
Barr (5-3) was dominant his first time through the lineup, striking out six in a row and seven total. He held the Boilermakers without a hit until Spence singled to open the top of the fifth. Five of Purdue’s seven hits came during a stretch of 11 batters from the seventh through ninth innings, beginning with Spence’s first home run.
One more victory will lock up a Big Ten Tournament berth for the Boilermakers. They also need just one more win this weekend to clinch their first series victory in Ann Arbor since 1993. Game 2 is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame (26-21) took the series-opening win over Toledo (24-26) Friday with a score of 6-5. RHP Ricky Reeth (2-5) earned the win, while RHP Nate Hardman notched his sixth save of the season.
INF Simon Baumgardt led the Irish with three RBI on the day, while INF Connor Hincks went two-for-two with an RBI and a run.
Reeth went three full innings in relief with five strikeouts, no runs, and just two hits allowed. Hardman entered to pitch the full ninth inning, posting two strikeouts and allowing no runners on base.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Toledo led off the game with a single, and Helwig dealt a strikeout in response. A Toledo homer put two on the board for the Rockets. In the bottom of the inning, OF David Glancy led off with a walk, and INF Jack Penney took a HBP. After a strikeout, Hincks doubled to score Glancy, the Irish pulling within one run. Two strikeouts ended the inning with a 2-1 Toledo lead.
Both teams went scoreless in the second, with Toledo adding a hit. After two outs in the top of the third, Toledo took a HBP, the runner subsequently stealing second. A single brought the runner home, increasing the Rockets’ lead to 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, Glancy hit a ball hard for a single to lead off, and Penney singled to push Glancy to third. After a strikeout, Hincks took an HBP to load the bases. Baumgardt sent a line drive to center field to score both Glancy and Penney, tying the score at three runs apiece.
Reeth took the mound to start the fourth inning for the Irish, and the Rockets were held from scoring, with Spence and Penney catching a runner stealing and Reeth ending the inning on a strikeout. The Irish went down in order in the bottom of the inning.
Reeth dealt two strikeouts in the fifth as Toledo went three up, three down. In the bottom of the inning, Penney drew a leadoff walk, reaching second on a groundout. Hincks singled, pushing Penney to third, and a Baumgardt sac fly scored Penney. OF Tito Flores followed it up with a single, placing Hincks on third, and Flores then stole second. OF Brady Gumpf sent a high-flying ball that dropped in the outfield for a single, scoring Hincks and Flores. The inning ended with the Irish up 6-3.
Both sides went scoreless in the sixth, as Toledo added another hit, but Reeth added two strikeouts to bring his total to five on the day.
RHP Will Jacobsen entered to pitch to begin the seventh, and struck out two en route to retiring the Rockets in order. The Irish drew a walk and HBP in the bottom of the inning, but both runners were stranded on base.
Toledo struck back in the eighth, leading off with two-consecutive solo home runs. Jacobsen retired the next three batters, including the final two on strikeouts, to limit the damage.
Hardman took the mound for the ninth inning, posting two strikeouts and forcing a flyout to secure the 6-5 win and Hardman’s sixth save of the season.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and Toledo return for the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The seventh-seeded University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team rolled to a convincing 24-6 win over Coastal Carolina Friday afternoon in round one of the NCAA Tournament. The 24 goals forced was a program record in the postseason while the 18-goal differential also set a NCAA Tournament record for Notre Dame. The victory comes as the program’s 300th all-time.
With nine assists in the outing, Jackie Wolak set the program record for single game assists while her five assists in the first quarter tied a Notre Dame best for assists in a half.
The Irish wasted no time finding the scoreboard when Kasey Choma gave the Irish the 1-0 lead just 27 seconds into the first quarter.
The Chanticleers had their first possession of the game later but Olivia Dooley caused a turnover on their opening possession to set up the Irish for another tally, this time from the stick of Arden Tierney.
Tierney gave the Irish the 3-0 lead shortly after as the graduate attacker capitalized off the free position at 10:58 of the first.
After assisting on the first two goals of the day, Jackie Wolak net her first goal of the day to make it a 4-0 game at 6:40 of the opening quarter.
Madison Ahern’s first goal of the day extended the Irish lead while Wolak added another assist to her record-breaking day at 5:34 of the first quarter.
The Irish closed out the first quarter with four additional goals from MK Doherty, Choma and Tierney as Notre Dame took the 9-0 lead into the second quarter.
Coastal Carolina cut into the Irish lead with a goal at 13:11 as a shot from the Chanticleers’ attacker beat Lilly Callahan in the crease for their first NCAA Tournament goal in program history.
Tierney, Ahern and Choma extended the Irish lead partway through the second quarter to give the seventh-seeded Irish the 12-1 lead.
The Chanticleers got another one back with an unassisted tally at 7:01 of the second quarter but Abby Maichin net her first of the day moments later to give the Irish the 13-2 lead.
The visitors found the back of the net once more before the half as the Irish carried the 10-goal lead into the halftime break.
Keelin Schlageter opened the second half scoring with Doherty setting her up for the 14-3 tally before Ahern and Wolak added to the Irish lead shortly after.
The Irish scoring continued with Kathryn Morrissey netting two consecutive goals, both of which were assisted by Wolak as the Irish took the 18-3 lead with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter.
Ahern and Tierney closed out the third quarter scoring to take the 20-3 lead into the final quarter of play. With assists on both goals and the final four goals of the third quarter, Jackie Wolak set a program record for assists in a game with nine.
The Irish scored four goals in the fourth quarter to cap off the 24-6 victory Friday afternoon. Choma’s free position goal to start the final quarter’s scoring was her fifth of the season while Morrissey’s goal at 7:57 of the frame was her third of the day and the first career hat trick for the freshman.
Meghan O’Hare and Kate Timarky closed out the scoring for the Irish, including Timarky’s which came in the final second of regulation.
With the decision in cage, Lilly Callahan boasts a 16-3 record this season and ties the single-season record for wins for an Irish goalkeeper.
KEY STATS
With the win over Coastal Carolina, the Irish women collect program victory No. 300.
Jackie Wolak set a program record with nine assists in the contest, while tying her career-best 11 points which she set earlier this season.
Arden Tierney and Kasey Choma led the way for the Irish with five goals a piece as the graduate students combined for 10 of the team’s 24 goals. For Tierney, the five goal outing was a career best.
Their fellow graduate, Madison Ahern, had four goals on the day and added an assist for five points total.
Kathryn Morrissey’s three-goal game was a career best for the freshman, marking her first-ever hat trick.
Earning the win in cage, Lilly Callahan ties the program record for wins in a single season at 16 and breaks her previous best of 15 victories set in 2023.
Choma’s second goal of the day marked career point No. 300 for the graduate midfielder as she becomes the fifth Irish woman to accomplish the feat and joins teammates Wolak and Ahern in the 300-point club. The trio marks the first ever teammates to boast 300+ points in a career at one time.
With 11 draw controls on the day, Kelly Denes led the team in the category and posted her fifth double-digit draw performance of the season. She now owns a career record of 381 draw controls and her 142 this season is 11 shy of setting the single-season program record.
After 11 points in Friday’s win over Coastal Carolina, Wolak is fast approaching the all-time career points record. Now at 334 over her Irish career, Wolak is three points shy of breaking the program record, 336, currently held by Jillian Byers.
Her 11 points in the NCAA First Round gives her 40 points in NCAA Tournament play which is a Notre Dame record. Choma’s 32 in postseason NCAA play ranks second all-time while Ahern’s 24 ranks third.
UP NEXT
The Irish advance to Sunday’s NCAA Second Round matchup and will face the winner of Mercer/Michigan at noon.
BALL STATE SOFTBALL
AKRON, Ohio – – Redshirt junior Emma Eubank picked the perfect time to throw her first collegiate complete game, limiting second-seeded Ohio to just four hits and guiding sixth-seeded Ball State to a 5-1 win and to the title games of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship at Firestone Stadium.
Eubank, who also pitched the final two outs to earn the save in the 9-7 win over fourth-seeded Toledo earlier in the day, also struck out a pair of batters over her 7.0 innings of work against the Bobcats (31-24). Her effort helped the Cardinals (29-28) reach the MAC Championship games for the first time since BSU captured its last tournament title in 2015 and avenge Thursday’s 8-0 (5) setback to Ohio.
The effort capped a stellar day for the Cardinals who went 3-0 by eliminating fifth-seed Central Michigan, fourth-seeded Toledo, and second-seeded Ohio.
On the offensive front, graduate designated player Jazmyne Armendariz got the Cardinals rolling with a bases loaded sacrifice fly in foul territory in left field, bringing home senior center fielder Hannah Dukeman for the game’s first run in the top of the third.
The next inning saw redshirt sophomore pinch hitter Jessica Hoffman drive in what proved to be the game-winning run with a two-out double to left center. Dukeman followed with a RBI single to center, giving BSU a 3-0 edge.
BSU would score its final two runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from freshman second baseman Maia Pietrzak and a sac fly from graduate first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata.
Not to be lost was the defensive play of Dukeman in center field, including an amazing diving catch in left center to end the sixth inning and limit the Bobcats to just one run in the frame.
SCORING SUMMARY – No. 6 Ball State 5 – No. 2 Ohio 1
T3 | A bases loaded foul fly to left field by Armendariz brings home Dukeman for the game’s first run (1-0)
T4 | A two-out pinch hit double by Hoffman drives in Pietrzak (2-0)
T4 | Dukeman follows with an RBI single to center, driving in a re-entered senior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews (3-0)
T5 | With runners at second and third, an infield single from Pietrzak plates redshirt junior catcher McKayla Timmons for BSU’s fourth run of the game (4-0)
T5 | A sac fly from Mata drives in redshirt sophomore shortstop McKenna Mulholland (5-0)
B6 | Ohio’s lone run scores on a wild pitch with runners at second and third (5-1)
UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team will battle top-seeded Miami for the MAC Championship title with a 1 p.m. first pitch back at Firestone Stadium.
The Cardinals will need to defeat the RedHawks twice to earn its first MAC title since the 2015 season and claim the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Championship.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
MUNCIE, Ind. – Merritt Beeker dominated the Central Michigan bats and Michael Hallquist powered the Ball State offense in its 6-1 series-opening win over the Chippewas on Friday afternoon at Ball Diamond.
The Cardinals (29-19-1, 15-10 Mid-American Conference) officially clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament with the triumph over the Chippewas (15-34, 6-19) combined with Northern Illinois’ setback at Western Michigan.
Beeker locked in after allowing a single unearned run in the first inning, striking out 13 and allowing only three hits and a walk in 7.0 innings of work to increase his season strikeout total to 105 and improve to 7-3 on the year with a 4.66 ERA.
After the visitors scored their lone tally of the contest in the top of the first, Ball State responded with one run each in the first on a Decker Scheffler single, in the second on a Clay Jacobs RBI groundout and in the third on a Hallquist RBI double to claim a 3-1 lead.
The Cardinals extended the advantage with a Hallquist solo homer to right field in the sixth and a pair of runs in the eighth highlighted by a Blake Bevis RBI single. Sam Klein came on in relief of Beeker and notched three strikeouts in two scoreless innings for his fifth save of the year.
“Great pitching effort from Merritt Beeker and Sam Klein,” head coach Rich Maloney said. “A lot of guys made contributions today.”
Hallquist went 2-for-3 on the day with the home run, double, two RBI and two runs scored. The homer was his 18th of the year to claim the team lead.
Central Michigan’s Ben Vitas (2-6) fired a completed game but allowed the six runs on nine hits and three walks to be hit with the loss. The Chippewas’ offense was limited to four hits in the game.
Ball State and CMU are scheduled to play the middle game of the set at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday. A Senior Day ceremony will be held pregame, and there will be giveaways throughout the game for First Merchants Ballpark Day.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Dominic Listi connected on the game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and Adam Pottinger drove in the game-winning RBI with a single in the same frame as Indiana State rallied back to take the Friday opener against Evansville at Bob Warn Field, 5-4.
The Sycamores (35-10, 18-4) trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning as Evansville (28-22, 14-8) took advantage of uncharacteristic wildness from the ISU pitching staff to plate three runs in the fifth. Cal McGinnis connected on an RBI single in the top of the eighth to put the Purple Aces ahead following a strong performance from UE starting pitcher Kenton Deverman.
The momentum quickly shifted back to ISU in the bottom of the frame as Randal Diaz worked a leadoff walk against UE reliever Shane Harris (5-6) to bring the tying run to the plate. Harris jumped ahead of Listi and took the early 0-2 count, before the Sycamore left fielder drove an inside fastball into the trees beyond the right field wall to tie the game at 4-4.
The late-inning rally continued as Luis Hernandez connected on a hard-hit single through the left side of the infield and an Evansville error on a fielder’s choice put two on with none out in the frame. Two batters later, Pottinger drove a line drive single into right field allowing Hernandez to score from second base and giving the Sycamores a 5-4 lead.
Jacob Pruitt (3-2) faced the top of the Evansville lineup in the top of the ninth inning and pitched around a one-out walk to strike out the final two batters of the game to secure his third win of the season.
Grant Magill put Indiana State ahead early with a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to highlight a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, while Diaz doubled twice among his three hits on the day as the Sycamores connected on 10 hits as a team in the win.
Pruitt went the final 3.0 innings in the contest as the sophomore right-hander allowed four hits and one run while striking out five in the game. Jared Spencer went the first 4.1 innings in the start allowing one hit and three runs while walking four and striking out five. Cam Edmonson worked 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to bridge the gap in the middle innings.
Mark Shallenberger had two of Evansville’s six hits in the contest and Shallenberger and Brent Widder both doubled to highlight the Purple Aces at the plate.
Deverman worked 7.0 innings in the quality start on the mound for UE. The freshman left-hander allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out six before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Harris worked 0.1 innings allowing three hits and three runs (two earned), while Jakob Meyer retired the final two outs for UE.
How They Scored
Indiana State took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning as Grant Magill connected on a solo home run over the left field wall to put the Sycamores ahead.
Evansville took advantage Sycamore wildness on the mound in the fifth to score three runs as the Aces drew five walks and were hit by a pitch to take the 3-1 lead.
Indiana State took one back in the bottom of the fifth as Randal Diaz singled home Magill to cut the UE lead down to 3-2.
Cal McGinnis extended Evansville’s lead in the top of the eighth inning with an RBI single driving in Brent Widder to put the Aces ahead 4-2.
Dominic Listi tied the game up with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and Adam Pottinger gave the Sycamores the lead with an RBI single scoring Luis Hernandez to put Indiana State ahead 5-4.
News & Notes
Randal Diaz extended his hitting streak to 18 consecutive games and on-base streak to 24 games following his leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning in the bottom of the second inning. He finished the day 3-for-3 with two doubles, a run, an RBI, and a walk.
Josue Urdaneta extended his on-base streak to 34 consecutive games after connecting on a single in the bottom of the fifth. He finished the day 1-for-3 from the plate.
Parker Stinson saw his 23-game on-base streak come to an end on Friday afternoon. The senior right fielder finished the day 0-for-4 from the plate to end the longest on-base streak of his career.
Adam Pottinger extended his on-base streak to 17 consecutive games on Friday following his RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.
Indiana State improved to 15-1 at Bob Warn Field in the 2024 season with Friday afternoon’s win over the Aces.
The Sycamores are 44-7-1 over their last 52 Missouri Valley conference games.
Magill connected on his sixth home run of the season in the third inning.
Listi connected on his third home run of the year in the eighth inning.
Randal Diaz’s two-double day marked his fourth game of the 2024 season with two or more doubles and first since doubling twice on April 14 against Bradley. He connected on a career-high three doubles in the same game back on March 15 against Xavier.
Jacob Pruitt recorded his second win in as many appearances as the sophomore right-hander was the pitcher of record on Friday afternoon. He also recorded the win last weekend in the opener against Belmont going 3.2 innings in relief in ISU’s 15-5 win over the Bruins.
Up Next
Indiana State continues the weekend series on Saturday afternoon as the Sycamores take on the Purple Aces with a 2 p.m. ET first pitch at Bob Warn Field. The game is set to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky – Cade Fitzpatrick became the fourth Mastodon in the NCAA Division I era to hit three home runs in a game to help Purdue Fort Wayne defeat Northern Kentucky 18-8 on Friday (May 10) in Horizon League baseball action.
The Mastodons tied a season high with five home runs in the game. Nick Sutherlin had a home run in the first and Ben Higgins hit one in the fifth. Fitzpatrick’s home runs came in the first, third and fifth innings. He finished with five RBIs in the game. He is the first Mastodon to hit three home runs in a game since Higgins did it last season at Youngstown State.
The odd innings were good for the ‘Dons on Friday, scoring four in the first, seven in the third, three in the fifth and four in the seventh. The third inning was highlighted by Fitzpatrick’s home run and a two-RBI single by Grant Thoroman.
The ‘Dons recorded 20 hits with Brooks Sailors and Jacob Walker joining Fitzpatrick with three hits. All nine starters had at least one hit, one run and one RBI. Eight of nine starters had multiple hits. Purdue Fort Wayne went 7-for-16 (.438) with runners in scoring position.
Kevin Fee (6-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Purdue Fort Wayne. The right-hander went 3.1 innings, giving up one unearned run on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out two. He entered the game in the fourth with the ‘Dons up 11-7 and the bases loaded with two outs for the Norse. He needed just one pitch to get the third out and end the threat.
Northern Kentucky was led offensively by Brennan Rowe, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Ben Gerl took the loss for NKU. He is 3-6.
The ‘Dons improve to 17-31 (10-15 Horizon League). NKU is now 28-21 (15-10 Horizon League). The two teams will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday. A win by the ‘Dons would give the season series to the ‘Dons after taking two-of-three from NKU earlier this year.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The nationally-ranked Indiana State Sycamores rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday afternoon to rally past the visiting University of Evansville baseball team, 5-4, at Bob Warn Field in Terre Haute, Indiana.
“I thought that we had a great effort from our club today in a nationally-televised game,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “We had a lead with six outs to go, but just couldn’t close the door.
“I thought that we got an outstanding performance from Kenton Deverman today. He really battled against a very good Indiana State lineup. Now, we need to bounce back tomorrow to get back in the series.”
Indiana State struck first with a solo home run to left field by catcher Grant McGill in the third inning, but, after that, UE starter Kenton Deverman buckled down and got out of the frame and worked a perfect fourth inning.
His teammates would give him the lead in the fifth inning thanks to wildness by the Indiana State pitching staff. Five walks by Indiana State pitching, including bases-loaded walks to UE junior outfielder Harrison Taubert and graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger gave UE a 2-1 advantage. A sacrifice fly by senior designated hitter Kip Fougerousse pushed the UE lead to 3-1 halfway through the contest.
Indiana State would answer back with single run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but UE would take a 3-2 lead to the eighth inning, as Deverman retired seven of the final eight men he faced on the mound. Overall, Deverman limited Indiana State to two runs on seven hits and a walk in 7.0 innings of work, while striking out six.
UE would tack on a run in the top of the eighth inning on a double by graduate third baseman Brent Widder and an RBI single by junior infielder Cal McGinnis to take a 4-2 lead. But, that lead would be short-lived, as a lead-off walk by Indiana State and a two-run home run by outfielder Dominic Listi would tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth. The Sycamores would add on an unearned run to grab a 5-4 lead, and ISU reliever Jacob Pruitt (3-2) would make the lead stand up by working a scoreless ninth inning to seal the victory.
Shallenberger was the only Purple Ace with a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Shortstop Randal Diaz went 3-for-3 with a run scored and RBI to lead Indiana State, while McGill went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
With the victory, Indiana State improved to 35-10 overall and 18-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville, meanwhile, dropped to 28-21 overall and 14-8 in the MVC with the loss. The series will continue on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. central time. Graduate LHP Donovan Schultz (3-1, 6.01 ERA) will get the start for UE. Saturday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and seen live on-line on ESPN+.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL
PEORIA, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Softball avoided elimination in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament early Friday with a 4-1 victory against Tennessee State University, but the Screaming Eagles’ deepest-ever run in the OVC Tournament came up a game short of a championship-round appearance late Friday after a 3-2 loss in eight innings against Eastern Illinois University.
In the morning matinee against no. 3 Tennessee State (26-25), Southern Indiana’s bats were working from the first pitch in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back singles by the top of the order got things rolling. A few batters later, freshman infielder Sydney Long (Haubstadt, Indiana) drove in the first run before a productive RBI out by junior infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) put USI up 2-0. Then junior Whitley Hunter (Nashville, Illinois), hitting in the designated player spot, brought home two more runs on a hit to the opposite field. The 4-seeded Screaming Eagles tallied four runs on four hits in the top of the first.
The game turned into a defensive pitching duel. Both starting pitchers, junior Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) for USI and senior Cailtyn Manus for Tennessee State, settled into a groove. The two hurlers posted zeroes on the scoreboard until the seventh inning when the Tigers tallied a solo home run, but Newman closed the door on Tennessee State after that.
USI scored its four runs on nine hits with Long leading the way with three hits and Hunter with two RBIs.
Newman earned her 22nd win of the season, allowing one run off three hits with a pair of strikeouts in the complete game. Tennessee State’s Manus dropped to 12-13 after also going the distance.
After defeating Tennessee State, Southern Indiana had to wait and find out who its afternoon opponent would be. USI eventually drew a rematch from Thursday’s contest against top-seeded Eastern Illinois (40-16), who fell in the middle of the day against no. 2 Southeast Missouri State University.
The win-or-go-home contest against Eastern Illinois started with three shutout innings. The Panthers broke through first with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. However, Southern Indiana equalized the home run in the bottom of the fourth when Newman provided her own run support with a solo home run to left field to tie the game at one.
Newman and Eastern Illinois senior pitcher Olivia Price pitched three more consecutive scoreless innings. Although USI put the potential go-ahead run on base in the sixth and seventh innings, the game carried on into extra innings still tied 1-1.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Panthers quickly generated momentum by getting the first three batters on base to load the bases. A sac fly gave EIU a 2-1 advantage and an RBI single made it a 3-1 deficit for the Screaming Eagles to come back from.
Southern Indiana did not go quietly, getting the first two batters on base and advancing both into scoring position with a sacrifice. Newman recorded her second RBI with a single to bring USI within one, but that was all USI scored as Eastern Illinois halted the comeback bid to end the Screaming Eagles’ 2024 season.
USI had two runs on six hits against EIU. Senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) had two hits while Newman finished with three and two RBIs.
On the pitching side, Newman went all eight innings and struck out four. Newman finished the season with a 22-10 record. Eastern Illinois’ Price moved to 12-9 with the win after surrendering two runs – one earned – in eight innings of work.
Southern Indiana ended the season with a 25-22 overall record. The Screaming Eagles went 16-11 to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference regular season. Both win totals surpassed USI’s marks in 2023. Plus, the Screaming Eagles went deeper into the Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship Tournament compared to last season, as USI fell just short of an appearance in the championship round. Now the program will turn its attention to preparing for 2025 and taking another step forward.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not hold off the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and lost 11-9 Friday evening in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Screaming Eagles are 22-28 overall and 11-11 OVC, while Trojans go to 27-21, 14-8 OVC.
With the loss, USI falls to sixth in the OVC standings. The Eagles also remain a game behind fifth-place University of Tennessee at Martin and two games Tennessee Tech University with five conference games remaining.
USI struck first in the opening game of the series, taking a 1-0 lead in the first frame. USI junior second baseman Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri) laced a double to right field to score senior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) from second base.
The lead would remain 1-0 until the fourth inning when the Trojans pushed a pair across the plate for a 2-1 lead. USI responded to regain the lead, 4-2, with three runs in the top of the fifth.
USI junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux, Iowa) scored from second and senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) raced around the diamond from first when junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) reached on a sacrifice bunt and throwing error. Van Grieken would come home to roost for the fourth run of the game and third of the frame on a sacrifice fly Emerich.
Little Rock would take its turn at the lead, 8-4, after posting a run in the bottom of the fifth and five in the bottom of the sixth. The Trojans scored all five of their runs in the sixth with two outs.
The Eagles flew back into the lead in the top of the seventh, 9-8, with a five-run frame of their own. Ebest started the rally with an RBI-single before sophomore second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) and junior leftfielder Adam Euler (Evansville, Indiana) forced in a run each with bases-loaded walks. Junior catcher Logan Mock (Livermore, California) finished the scored in the frame with a two-run single to right.
Little Rock bounced back once again to get the lead, 10-9, with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the seventh. The Trojans added to the lead with another run in the eighth to seal the 11-9 decision.
USI junior right-hander Peyton Brown (Clemmons, North Carolina) took the loss in relief. Brown (1-2) allowed three runs on four hits and one walk, while striking out three in two innings of work.
The Eagles started with junior right-hander Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana) on the bump. Morris threw the first 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits and a walk.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Trojans continue the three-game series Saturday at 4 p.m. before concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.
Coming up this month:
The final series of the season will be Alumni Weekend when USI hosts Western Illinois University (May 16-18). The Eagles will have Senior Day and will honor the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship team prior to the 1 p.m. game May 18.
VALPO BASEBALL
A miraculous ninth-inning rally featuring a pair of three-run home runs helped the Valparaiso University baseball team erase a six-run deficit to force extras, but host Murray State used a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th to prevail 11-10 on Friday evening at Reagan Field in Murray, Ky. Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) hit a long three-run bomb with one away in the ninth to half the deficit, then Connor Giusti’s (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd [Wisconsin Oshkosh]) two-out, first-pitch three-run shot narrowly cleared the wall to tie the game at 10. The Racers bounced back, scoring the winning run with nobody out in the last of the 10th.
How It Happened
Murray State’s Drew Vogel led off the bottom of the first with a home run. Later in the inning, Taylor Howell hit a grand slam to make it 5-0.
Valpo responded with two in the top of the second. The first crossed the dish on a run-scoring single by Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central), then an error allowed a second run to score and make it 5-2.
Murray State added an unearned run in the bottom of the second. Valpo starter Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) retired the side in order in the third thanks in part to a nice play by second baseman Giusti to end the inning.
Lockwood held Murray State off the board in the fourth and fifth frames to make it three straight scoreless innings. In the sixth, the Racers added one but stranded another 90 feet away and it was 7-2 with six innings in the books.
Valpo climbed back into the game with two runs in the top of the seventh. A string of base hits including an RBI ground-ball single that one-hopped past the shortstop for Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) and an RBI single to center for Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) made it 7-4.
Murray State responded with two of their own in the bottom of the seventh to extend the lead back to five at 9-4. They added one more in the bottom of the eighth to make it 10-4.
A big swing by Kyle Schmack with one away in the top of the ninth sliced the deficit in half as he powered a long three-run home run to left to make it 10-7.
After Schmack’s home run, Murray State recorded the second out of the inning and Valpo still trailed by three with two outs and nobody on base. A walk by Carson Husmann (Hanna, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) and single by Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) prompted a Murray State pitching change.
The first pitch from the new Murray State pitcher was drilled to left by Giusti and narrowly cleared the wall for a game-tying, three-run jack to level the score at 10.
Valpo’s Trent Turzenski (Burlington, Wis. / Burlington) worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth to push the game to extras.
Carson Garner had the game-ending hit in the bottom of the 10th.
Inside the Game
Schmack’s home run was his 15th of the season, moving him into sole possession of second in single-season program history. He is three away from tying the program record.
Schmack’s home run was the 33rd of his career. He also moved into sole possession of second in the career program record book. He is three home runs away from tying that program record as well.
This is the second time this season Valpo has been down to its final out and hit a home run to tie or take the lead. Brady Renfro had a walk-off home run with Valpo down to its final out against Missouri State before Giusti’s game-tying big fly on Friday.
Giusti’s home run was his sixth of the season. It was the 16th of his career including his time at Wisconsin Oshkosh.
Missouri State lost to Belmont in a strangely similar game, 11-10 in 10 innings on Friday in Nashville. That means Valpo remains two games back plus the tiebreaker, needing to make up three games on the Bears with five games to play.
Murray State’s Drew Vogel hit for the reverse natural cycle. His single to lead off the 10th clinched it before he eventually scored the winning run. Previously, a Valpo opposing player hit for the cycle on May 13, 2018 – Illinois State’s Owen Miller, now in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers.
This was Valpo’s fourth extra-inning game of the season with the Beacons dropping to 2-2 in such contests. Valpo played its 11th one-run game and fell to 3-8 in those games and the team’s 18th game decided by two runs or fewer, falling to 4-14.
Six Beacons had multi-hit games, led by Schmack and Kade Reinertson (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) with three hits apiece.
Each team produced 16 hits, Valpo’s second-highest hit total in league play behind 18 on April 28 at UIC.
Valpo has been on the wrong side of a walk-off five times this season – Friday at Murray State, April 30 at Western Michigan, April 23 at Northern Illinois, March 15 at No. 21 Campbell and March 5 at Jacksonville.
Up Next
Valpo (14-32, 6-16) will continue the series with Murray State at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The game will air on ESPN+.
UINDY BASEBALL
MARION, Ill. – The University of Indianapolis baseball team suffered their first loss of the GLVC conference tournament late on Friday night. The Greyhounds battled the Quincy Hawks, dropping the 5-4 affair in 11 innings of action.
Diego Cardenas was the story of the night as the starter. The All-GLVC First Team honoree made a show, punching out 11 Hawks through eight innings of work. That 11-K mark as well at the 8 IP signaled new single-game career highs for Cardenas.
The Hounds now move to the loser’s bracket, facing the Lewis Flyers once again at 1:30 p.m. ET in Marion, Ill.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks, after a scoreless first, did what they are known for: homers. A solo shot in the top of the second gave the Hawks a quick 1-0 lead, one that Will Spear quickly erased in the bottom half of that frame.
The Hawks and Hounds kept going blow for blow with Quincy tossing up two in the third and the Hounds doing the same in the bottom of the fourth, the tying run coming off the bat of Drew Donaldson.
The score stayed tied up until the eighth where solid contact by Will Spear allowed speedy Dakota Sill to slide around a tag and make it a 4-3 ballgame. The Hawks rallied back and scored one of their own in the top of the ninth, forcing extra.
The tenth saw both teams get a runner to third but neither could get the job done. The 11th finally broke it as the Hawks, with runners at first and second, poked a ball through the right side for the eventual game winner.
UP NEXT
It’s bounce back time for the Hounds as they will face off with Lewis in the loser’s bracket at 1:30 p.m. ET in Marion, Ill.
UINDY SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 2-ranked and top-seeded UIndy softball team continued to roll at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Friday. Behind another shutout from by ace pitcher Kenzee Smith, the Greyhounds notched a 3-0 win against fifth-seeded Saginaw Valley.
UIndy’s 55th victory of the year not only moved the Hounds to Saturday’s regional final but also set a new program record for most wins in a season. UIndy and fourth-seeded Lewis will play for a spot in the Super Regional on Saturday at 11 a.m. With Lewis having already endured a loss at the regional, the Flyers will need to defeat the Greyhounds twice to advance, while UIndy needs just a single win.
INS & OUTS
With Smith dealing from the pitcher’s circle, the Hounds broke a scoreless tie with a two-run rally in the fourth. An error and a walk set the table for Braxton Downs, whose base knock up the middle scored Emily O’Connor for the first run of the day.
Lexy Rees took care of the rest of the runs. She scored on a wild pitch shortly after O’connor crossed the plate, and later went opposite field for a solo home run in the sixth.
Smith finished the game with a two-hitter, fanning five and walking only two. She moves to 34-2 on the season, matching her career high for wins.
Shelby Cook and Dominique Proctor each had a single, while Downs and Rees both earned a walk.
INSIDE THE BOX
-UIndy’s win total of 55 surpasses the previous program record of 54 set back in 2013.
-Smith upped her school-record total of shutouts to 19.
-The Hounds have now faced Saginaw Valley eight times in the NCAA Tournament—UIndy’s second-most matchups for any postseason opponent. Friday’s result marks UIndy first NCAA victory over Saginaw since the 2009 Super Regional.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
May 11, 1897 – Washington Senators catcher Charles Duke Farrell threw out 8 Baltimore runners that attempted to steal a base in one game per the Reach Guide Publication in 1898. SARR.org challenges this stating that though he had eight assists in the game for outs they can verify only 6 of these at second base. A lofty number none-the less.
May 11, 1919 – Cincinnati Reds pitcher, Hod Eller tossed a no-hit shutout against the St Louis Cardinals, in a Red 6-0 victory.
Eller was not the only MLB pitcher turning down batters that day…
May 11, 1919 – Washington Senators future Baseball Hall of Fame ace Walter Johnson pitched 12 scoreless innings in a famous 0-0 duel with Jack Quinn of the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
End Langdon “Biffy” Lea
May 11, 1874 – Germantown, Pennsylvania – Princeton University’s brilliant end/ tackle, Langdon Lea was born. Langdon was often called “Biffy” by friends and he is credited as being Princeton University’s first ever “official” football coach according to the National Football Foundation’s bio on him. Biffy became the cornerstone of the Tigers defense in an era when defense dominated the sport. Lea would garner the first of his three All-America awards as a sophomore in 1893, leading the Orange and Black to an untainted 11-0-0 record. The bio goes on to describe Lea as swift, aggressive and agile as Langdon roamed the field from his end or tackle position like a big cat stalking his prey of ball carriers. Lea was denoted as a smart blocker and tackler, Lea captained the Princeton team which finished 10-1-1 in 1895. Yale was the only team to rattle the Tigers that season, dropping the Orange and Black, 20-10 to place the single mark in the “L” column. Up until 1901, players or alumni served as coaches of the Princeton teams but that year, school officials decided to name Lea as their first formal coach. He promptly led the team to a 9-1-1 record however that season was his only one at the helm of the Tigers with the title of Coach. During Biffy’s four seasons wearing the Orange and Black, he anchored a defense that posted 35 shutouts in 47 games. He was not soon forgotten either as fifty years after he played his last game for the Tigers, he was still being named to All-Time Eastern teams. Langdon Biffy Lea received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1964 .
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QB Matt Leinart
May 11, 1983 – Santa Ana, California – Southern California’s quarterback from 2003 to 2005, Matt Leinart celebrates his date of birth. The Trojan signal caller had one of the top careers in the history of any collegiate player. Matt took home the prestige of the 2004 Heisman Trophy while guiding his USC squad to consecutive national championships according to the National Football Foundation’s bio on him. Leinart was a two-time First Team All-American, Leinart earned consensus honors in 2004 when besides earning the Heisman he also claimed the Walter Camp Award, Manning Award and AP Player of the Year honors. Matt was also a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year as the Trojans claimed consecutive AP national titles after wins in the 2004 Rose Bowl, where he earned MVP honors, and the 2005 Orange Bowl. In 2005, Leinart finished third for the Heisman and led USC to a national championship game appearance in the 2006 Rose Bowl. Amazingly Pete Carroll coached the Trojans during Leinart’s tenure, lost only twice in that span posting a lofty record of 37-2. He once threw 212 completions without an interception among many other Pac-10 Conference records. The standout QB held a school-record three 3,000-yard passing seasons and set 12 other USC records by career’s end. Currently ranked third in school history with 10,693 passing yards, Leinart’s 1.85 percent interception ratio was an NCAA-record, and his 94.9 winning percentage was a school record and second-best in NCAA history. Leinart’s number 11 USC jersey was retired after his last game wearing the uniform. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Matt Leinart into their legendary museum in 2017. Leinart was selected 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2006 NFL Draft, playing for the Cardinals, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills during his career.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
May 11
1904 — Cy Young’s 23-inning no-hit string ended. The streak included two innings on April 25, six on April 30, a perfect game against the Philadelphia A’s on May 5, and six innings today.
1919 — Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators pitched 12 scoreless innings in a duel with Jack Quinn of the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. The Big Train allowed only two hits and retired 28 batters in a row. Future football star George Halas, batting leadoff for the Yankees, went 0-for-5, striking out twice.
1919 — Hod Eller of the Cincinnati Reds pitched a no-hitter to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-0. Eller struck out eight and walked three.
1923 — Setting several Pacific Coast League records, Pete Schneider of Vernon hit five homers and a double to knock in 14 runs in a 35-11 romp over Salt Lake City.
1955 — Ernie Banks’ grand slam — the first of five on the year — led the Chicago Cubs to a 10-8 victory that snapped the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 11-game winning streak.
1963 — Sandy Koufax pitched the second of four career no-hitters to help Los Angeles beat San Francisco 8-0.
1971 — Cleveland pitcher Steve Dunning became the last American League pitcher to hit a grand slam before the inception of the designated hitter rule in 1973. Dunning’s homer off Diego Segui of the Oakland A’s gave the Indians a 5-0 lead, but Phil Hennigan got the victory as the Indians won 7-5.
1972 — Tom Seaver wins his 100th game in a 2-1 New York Mets victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets also acquire veteran outfielder Willie Mays from the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Charlie Williams and $50,000.
1977 — Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner decides to take the managerial reins of his team, which has lost 16 straight games. The Braves lose their 17th in a row in Turner’s debut, as coach Vern Benson makes most of the strategic decisions. After the game, the National League removes Turner from the dugout, citing a rule that prevents an owner from doubling as manager. Dave Bristol, who was given a “sabbatical” to allow Turner to step into the dugout, will be brought back to finish the year at the helm of the team.
1980 — 39-year-old Pete Rose steals second base, third, and home in one inning for the Phillies. The last National League player to pull this feat had been Jackie Robinson in 1954.
1996 — Al Leiter, the wildest pitcher in the American League the previous season, pitched the first no-hitter in Florida’s brief history as the Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 11-0.
1998 — Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs set the major league record for strikeouts in consecutive games (33) by fanning 13 Arizona Diamondbacks in a 4-2 victory. The record for strikeouts in two starts had been 32, set by Luis Tiant in 1968 and matched by Nolan Ryan (1974), Dwight Gooden (1984) and Randy Johnson (1997).
2000 — The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 14-8 in the longest nine-inning game in National League history — 4 hours, 22 minutes. The teams tied the major league record set by Baltimore and the Yankees on Sept. 5, 1997.
2003 — Rafael Palmeiro of Texas became the 19th player to join the 500-homer club. In a 17-10 win, Palmeiro hit a full-count fastball into the right field stands off Cleveland right-hander David Elder.
2009 — In the tallest pitching matchup in baseball history, 6-foot-10 Randy Johnson beat 6-9 Daniel Cabrera. The Big Unit and the towering Cabrera measure a combined 163 inches — one more than the combined heights of Cabrera and Mark Hendrickson on Sept. 1, 2004, in the previous record-holding matchup. Johnson struck out nine for his 298th career victory as San Francisco topped Washington 11-7.
2011 — Tim Wakefield takes the mound for the Red Sox at age 44 years and 282 days. He breaks Deacon McGuire’s record as the oldest performer in Boston Red Sox history – McGuire was 44 years and 280 days old on August 24, 1908, his last game for the franchise.
2016 — Max Scherzer ties the major league record by striking out 20 batters in a nine-inning game against his former team as the Nationals defeat the Tigers, 3-2. He now shares the mark with Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson. Scherzer does not issue a single walk in the game.
2020 — Major League Baseball owners agree on a tentative plan to resume the season that has been put on hold since spring training was shut down in early March by the coronavirus pandemic. Training would resume in June and an 82-game season would start around July 1-4, with games played in home ballparks, but without spectators. Teams would play games only against divisional opponents, or teams from the corresponding division in the other league, and the postseason would be expanded to 14 teams from the current 10. Rosters would be expanded to 30 players, with an additional 22-man taxi squad available as replacements in the absence of minor league games. Owners insist that the Players Association will need to accept that salaries will be based on total revenues for the plan to go ahead, something that is unlikely to be acceptable, however. This exact plan will be rejected, but the two sides will agree on a 60-game season starting in late July along the same general parameters.
2021 — The Oakland Athletics receive permission from MLB to start exploring relocation options, as their most recent attempt to come to an agreement with local authorities on replacing the outdated Oakland Coliseum, has gone nowhere.
2022 — Christian Yelich becomes the 5th player to hit for the cycle for the third time when he does so in a 14-11 Brewers loss to the Reds. His previous two cycles had also come against the Reds, within a three-week span in 2018.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1999 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)..
Off the field…
President Bill Clinton was acquitted of impeachment charges and remained in office despite originally denying that he had improper relations with a White House intern. After a thorough investigation it was later discovered that the President had lied under oath and he eventually confessed and apologized to the American people.
The disturbing trend of violence in American schools reached an all-time high as two students entered Columbine High School with an arsenal of weapons and explosives killing thirteen of their classmates before taking their own lives.
John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister in-law were killed as their plane, piloted by JFK Jr., crashed en route to a Kennedy cousin’s wedding ceremony.
In the American League…
In a surprise move, the New York Yankees traded pitcher David Wells to the Toronto Blue Jays for five-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. Both are later reunited in pinstripes on the same Yankee rotation.
Texas Ranger Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez tied the highest batting average for a catcher since Bill Dickey batted .332 in 1937. He also added thirty-five home runs, twenty-five stolen bases and one-hundred thirteen runs batted in to his cumulative stats.
The Baltimore Orioles traveled to Havana Cuba to play the national team in an exhibition game witnessed by the attending Fidel Castro. The Blackbirds defeated the Cubans 3-2 in an eleven inning affair. Two months later, the tables were turned though as the national team traveled to Camden Yards and crushed the home team 12-6 in the first game ever played between the two countries on American soil.
In the National League…
“The Big Unit”, Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks, continued to dominate on the hill winning the National League Cy Young with a 17-9 record, 2.48 ERA, twelve complete games and an astonishing three-hundred sixty-four strike outs.
On April 23rd, St. Louis Cardinal Fernando Tatis set a Major League record as the only player ever to hit two grand slams in a single inning as well as the only player ever to drive-in eight runs during a single frame. Both slams are off of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chan Ho Park who had certainly seen better days on the mound.
Another Cardinal, Mark McGwire continued to set a new standard at the plate by following up his record-breaking seventy-home run season with sixty-five more. The St. Louis slugger now held the #1 and #2 spots for single-season performances and belted his 500th career homer only a year after slamming number four-hundred.
Around the League…
Commissioner Bud Selig announced baseball’s newest annual award created for the leading hitter in each respective league. Named after Hank Aaron, the citation recognizes the leader in hits, home runs and runs batted in.
The Associated Press reported that the average salary for a Major League ball player had grown to an astonishing $1.7 million dollars a year. The New York Times later printed that the average salary for a New York Yankee was $3 million much to the dismay of the rest of the league.
Baseball announced its twenty-five man All-Century Team as selected by fan balloting. The line-up included: Lou Gehrig (1B), Jackie Robinson (2B), Cal Ripken Jr. (SS), Mike Schmidt (3B), Babe Ruth (OF), Hank Aaron (OF), Ted Williams (OF), Johnny Bench (C), Nolan Ryan (RHP) and Sandy Koufax (LHP).
Baseball and the world bid farewell to Joe DiMaggio who passed away on May 8th. During his fabled thirteen-year career, “The Yankee Clipper” captured three Most Valuable Player trophies and became one of the most revered players ever to lace up a pair of cleats.
HISTORY OF THE A’S (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
From the white elephants of the east coast to the green and gold of the west coast, the Philadelphia Athletics have had a colorful and successful run in the American League, witnessing its birth and leading its geographic expansion to the Midwest and west coast. Along the way, the Athletics have done much to influence and shape the destiny of the national game.
For its inaugural season of 1901, the American League awarded a franchise to Philadelphia and the Shibe family, which had made its name in the sporting goods business. Connie Mack, a serviceable catcher in the 19th century, became the man to oversee baseball operations for the team, and he proceeded to do so for the next 50 years, a record of longevity unmatched in the game.
The Athletics debuted on April 26, 1901 with a 5-1 loss to Washington and won the franchise’s first game 8-5 against the Red Sox three days later. Nap Lajoie was the star of this first team, hitting .422 (still an American League record). He also recorded 14 home runs and drove in 125 runs — a Triple Crown performance.
In 1902, Lajoie was gone to Cleveland in a legal dispute. But Mack led his team to its first pennant behind legendary aces Rube Waddell (24-7, 2.05) and Eddie Plank (20-15, 3.30).
Because the World Series was not devised until 1903, the Mackmen had to wait until their 1905 pennant to participate in a fall classic. They got there behind the spinning of Waddell (26-11, 1.48) and Plank (25-12, 2.26) and a young Chief Bender (16-11, 2.83). Philadelphia lost the series to the New York Giants 4-1, a bitter pill to swallow since it was Giant manager John McGraw who had disparagingly labeled the Athletics as “White Elephants” when they were formed, a less-than-generous evaluation of the team and Mack’s ability to manage it.
Mack built one of the league’s first real dynasties, moving into Shibe Park (later Connie Mack Stadium) in 1909, and winning world Championships in 1910-11-13 behind the famous “$100,000 infield— of Stuffy McInnis, Eddie Collins, Jack Barry and Frank “Home Run” Baker – solid players all, with Collins the leader of the pack hitting .322, .365 and .345 in the championship years.
The team steamrolled to another American League pennant in 1914, but they were swept by the miracle Boston Braves in the Series, still considered one of the biggest upsets in baseball history. Mack, always operating on a noose-tight budget, decided he could not afford to keep his championship team intact.
He took the team apart so quickly that the Athletics plummeted to last place in 1915, and lost a then-record 117 games in 1916. Things didn’t improve until the mid 1920’s when Mack began to assemble the greatest team of his tenure.
The Athletics won three consecutive pennants in 1929-31 behind a sledgehammer of a lineup featuring Jimmie Foxx, the most prolific right hand home run hitter of his time. The burly slugger averaged .342 in these three years, totaling 100 and 393 runs-batted-in.
Foxx was backed by the equally fearsome Al Simmons, who averaged .378 during this three-year span, getting 200 or more hits each year, totaling 92 home runs and 450 RBI. Catcher Mickey Cochran would hit .331, .357 and .349 and handle a first-rate pitching staff led by arguably one of the best southpaws in American League history, Lefty Grove. Grove would win 20, 28 and 31 games in this span, leading the league in ERA and strikeouts all three seasons. With Rube Walberg and George Earnshaw sharing starter duties, the A’s rarely wanted for a quality start.
The Athletics won the 1929 World Series against the Cubs in five games, using an amazing 10-run seventh inning rally to erase an 8-0 deficit and win the pivotal fourth game. They also won in 1930, but lost in 1931, both against St. Louis.
Foxx made a run at Ruth’s single season home run record in 1932 with 58 homers. He also knocked in 169 runs and batted.349). Grove went 25-10 but the team finished a distant second to the Yankees. Again facing financial problems, Mack began slowly selling off his team rather than pay the salaries commanded by his stars. In the next few seasons Grove, Foxx, Simmons and Cochran would be gone and the Athletics would never know another post season while in Philadelphia. In fact, the team finished last nine times between 1935-46.
Mack finally retired after the 1950 season and his sons, now running the team, could no longer maintain the financial viability of a perennial loser. Attendance had slipped badly as had the Shibe Park neighborhood. The Mack family sold the team to businessman Arnold Johnson, who took the franchise west to Kansas City in 1954.
KANSAS CITY ATHLETICS
The Athletics spent 13 undistinguished years playing at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. The team never contended or escaped the second division. Charlie Finley bought the team in 1960 and moved it to Oakland eight years later.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The A’s were shortly on the upswing and soon dynasty would be the watchword. They won five consecutive Western Division titles from 1971-75 and three consecutive world championships in 1972-74. They won with a flair unique to baseball at the time, wearing green and gold uniforms in a baseball world of home whites and road grays; and sporting fancy moustaches and long sideburns. The offense featured a solid lineup including Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi, Sal Bando and Bert Campaneris. They never put up gaudy numbers, but their pitchers did, especially Jim “Catfish” Hunter, with 21 victories in 1971-73 and 25 in 1974, Ken Holtzman (21, 19 and eighteen wins) and Vida Blue (three 20-plus win seasons).
Like Connie Mack before him, Finley could not, or would not, pay the high salary demands of his winning ballplayers and soon his fire sale and free agency stripped the club again. Except for a half-pennant under Billy Martin in the strike-shortened 1981 season, Finley’s winning days were behind him and he sold the club to Levi Jeans owner Walter Haas in 1981.
Haas’ new front office poured money and scouting resources into the club and the A’s were talking dynasty again, winning pennants in 1988-89-90. Sparked by leadoff hitter Ricky Henderson (who would set career marks in runs scored, stolen bases and walks) and buttressed by the power of Jose Canseco (the first-ever 40 home run/40 stolen base season in 1988) and Mark McGwire (32, 33 and 39 home runs), the A’s pummeled the American League and swept the Giants of San Francisco in the 1989 World Series. The blemish against this dynasty was its losing the World Series in 1988 and 1990 to the underdog Dodgers and Reds respectively.
The team slogged its way through the 1990’s but was resurrected again by the tandem of General Manager Billy Beane and field manager Art Howe. It won division titles in 2000-02-03 and a 2001 wild card slot. Although they did not get far in postseason play, they had a bedrock starting staff for those four seasons featuring Tim Hudson (69 wins), Mark Mulder (64 wins) and Barry Zito (61 wins) and later Rich Harden.
They also developed sluggers Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada until both sought more lucrative pastures through free agency, and Eric Chavez. They also won their division in 2006, advancing to the league championship series before losing to Detroit. Overall, the Athletics have a record of success second to the Yankees, with nine world championships, 15 pennants, 13 division titles and one wild card slot — much more than John McGraw ever won. Not bad for a bunch of white elephants.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
May 11
1892 — Azra, ridden by Alonzo Cayton, wins the first three-horse field in the Kentucky Derby, nipping Huron by a nose.
1900 — James J. Jeffries KOs James J Corbett in 23 for heavyweight boxing title.
1918 — Exterminator, a 30-1 long shot ridden by Willie Knapp, loses the lead but regains it to win the Kentucky Derby by one length over Escoba.
1923 — Setting several Pacific Coast League records, Pete Schneider of Vernon hit five homers and a double to drive in 14 runs in a 35-11 romp over Salt Lake City.
1928 — British Open Men’s Golf, Royal St George’s GC: Walter Hagen wins 3rd of his 4 Open Championship titles, 2 strokes ahead of fellow American Gene Sarazen.
1959 — New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra’s errorless streak of 148 games ends.
1963 — LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax throws his second career no-hitter.
1966 — European Cup Final, Heysel Stadium, Brussels: Fernando Serena scores the winner as Real Madrid beats Partizan Belgrade, 2-1; Madrid’s 6th title.
1968 — The Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup, completing a four-game sweep over the St. Louis Blues with a 3-2 victory.
1972 — The Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup in six games with a 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers.
1977 — Ted Turner manages an Atlanta Braves game.
1980 — Pete Rose, 39, steals second, third, & home in one inning for Phillies.
1983 — Aberdeen of Scotland win 23rd European Cup Winner’s Cup against Real Madrid of Spain 2-1 in Gothenburg.
1988 — KV Mechelen of Belgium win 28th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Ajax of Netherlands 1-0 in Strasbourg.
1992 — The Portland Trail Blazers win the highest-scoring playoff game in NBA history, 153-151 in double overtime against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.
1994 — The Phoenix Suns, down 104-84 with 10 minutes left, come back to force overtime and beat Houston 124-117 for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. The Suns start the fourth quarter trailing by 18 and are down 20 with 10 minutes to go. Phoenix holds the Rockets to eight points in the quarter and Danny Ainge hits a three to tie the game at 1:08 and send the game into overtime.
2008 — PGA Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass: Sergio García of Spain claims the biggest win of his career to date in a sudden-death playoff over American Paul Goydos.
2009 — Cleveland makes it an NBA-record eight straight wins by double digits with an 84-74 victory over Atlanta to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. The Cavaliers are the second team to sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs since the NBA expanded the first round to best-of-seven in 2003.
2013 — English FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London (86,254): Wigan Athletic upsets Manchester City, 1-0; Ben Watson scores 90+1′ winner.
2016 — Max Scherzer strikes out 20 batters, matching the major league record for a nine-inning game as he pitches the Washington Nationals past the Detroit Tigers 3-2.
2014 — PGA Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass: German Martin Kaymer leads after each round to win by 1 stroke ahead of Jim Furyk; first 8-figure purse in golf with winner’s share $1.8 million.
2018 — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal loses to Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-3 in the Madrid Open quarterfinals, breaking the defending champion’s run of 21 straight wins on clay courts. Nadal hadn’t lost a single set on clay since falling to Thiem a year ago in the Italian Open quarterfinals. Nadal had come to this event fresh off winning his 11th titles at both Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Minnesota at Toronto | 3:07pm | Bally Sports-North Sportsnet MLB.TV Fubo |
| Chi. Cubs at Pittsburgh | 4:05pm | MARQ ATTSN-Pittsburgh MLB.TV Fubo |
| Arizona at Baltimore | 4:05pm | YurView MASN2 MLB.TV Fubo |
| Atlanta at NY Mets | 4:10pm | FS1 Bally Sports South SNY MLB.TV Fubo |
| Washington at Boston | 4:10pm | MASN NESN MLB.TV Fubo |
| Philadelphia at Miami | 4:10pm | NBC Sports-Philadelphia Bally Sports-Florida MLB.TV Fubo |
| NY Yankees at Tampa Bay | 4:10pm | YES Bally Sports-Sun MLB.TV Fubo |
| Houston at Detroit | 6:10pm | SCHN Bally Sports-Detroit MLB.TV Fubo |
| Cleveland at Chi. White Sox | 7:10pm | Bally Sports-Great Lakes NBC Sports-Chicago MLB.TV Fubo |
| St. Louis at Milwuakee | 7:15pm | FOX Bally Sports-Midwest Bally Sports-Wisconsin MLB.TV Fubo |
| Cincinnati at San Francisco | 7:15pm | FOX Bally Sports-Ohio NBC Sports-Bay Area MLB.TV Fubo |
| Texas at Colorado | 8:10pm | Bally Sports-Southwest Rockies.TV MLB.TV Fubo |
| LA Dodgers at San Diego | 8:40pm | SNLA Padres.TV MLB.TV Fubo |
| Kansas City at LA Angels | 9:38pm | MLBN Bally Sports-Kansas City Bally Sports-West MLB.TV Fubo |
| Oakland at Seattle | 9:40pm | MLBN NBC Sports-California Root Sports MLB.TV Fubo |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| West Semifinals Game 3: Oklahoma City at Dallas | 3:30pm | ABC Fubo |
| East Semifinals Game 3: Boston at Cleveland | 8:30pm | ABC Fubo |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| East Semifinals Game 4: NY Rangers at Carolina | 7:00pm | TNT |
| West Semifinals Game 3: Dallas at Colorado | 10:00pm | TNT |
| UFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Memphis at Arlington | 1:00pm | ESPN |
| St. Louis at Birmingham | 4:00pm | FOX |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Xfinity: Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 | 1:30pm | FS1 |
| IndyCar: Sonsio Grand Prix | 3:00pm | NBC |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA: Wells Fargo Championship | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA: Myrtle Beach Classic | 3:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA: Wells Fargo Championship | 3:00pm | CBS |
| Champions: Regions Tradition | 5:00pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| EPL: Fulham vs Manchester City | 7:30am | USA Fubo |
| Scottish Premiership: Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth | 7:30am | Paramount+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Mallorca vs Las Palmas | 8:00am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Borussia M’gladbach vs Eintracht Frankfurt | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Freiburg vs Heidenheim | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Köln vs Union Berlin | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs Werder Bremen | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| EPL: AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| EPL: Everton vs Sheffield United | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| EPL: Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| EPL: Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| EPL: West Ham United vs Luton Town | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| EPL: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Crystal Palace | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| La Liga: Villarreal vs Sevilla | 10:15am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Serie A: Napoli vs Bologna | 12:00pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Granada vs Real Madrid | 12:30pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Mainz 05 vs Borussia Dortmund | 12:30pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| EPL: Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea | 12:30pm | Peacock Fubo |
| Canadian Premier League: HFX Wanderers vs Cavalry | 2:00pm | FOX Soccer Plus Fubo |
| Serie A: Milan vs Cagliari | 2:45pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Belgium Pro League Anderlecht vs Genk | 2:45pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Athletic Club vs Osasuna | 3:00pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Canadian Premier League: Pacific vs Forge | 5:00pm | FOX Soccer Plus Fubo |
| MLS: Atlanta United vs DC United | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Charlotte vs Nashville SC | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: CF Montréal vs Inter Miami | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: New York RB vs New England | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Toronto FC vs New York City | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| NWSL: Orlando Pride vs Bay FC | 7:30pm | ION Fubo |
| MLS: Columbus Crew vs Cincinnati | 7:45pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Dallas vs Austin | 8:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Sporting KC vs Houston Dynamoy | 8:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: St. Louis City vs Chicago Fire | 8:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Colorado Rapids vs SJ Earthquakes | 9:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| NWSL: Portland Thorns vs Seattle Reign | 10:00pm | ION Fubo |
| MLS: LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake | 10:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps | 10:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| St. Bonaventure vs Davidson | 11:00am | ESPN+ |
| Harvard vs Yale | 11:30am | ESPN+ |
| Harvard vs Yale | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Kentucky vs Florida | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Louisville vs North Carolina | 12:00pm | ACCNX |
| Arizona vs Utah | 1:00pm | PAC12N |
| Central Michigan vs Ball State | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Marist vs Siena | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Purdue Fort Wayne vs Northern Kentucky | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Richmond vs Rhode Island | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UMass vs George Washington | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cincinnati vs BYU | 1:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Bradley vs Southern Illinois | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| East Tennessee State vs Wofford | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Eastern Kentucky vs Florida Gulf Coast | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Evansville vs Indiana State | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Fairfield vs Niagara | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| George Mason vs Saint Joseph’s | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Georgia State vs Coastal Carolina | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Kent State vs Akron | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Louisiana vs Georgia Southern | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northwestern vs Ohio State | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Purdue vs Michigan | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Radford vs Charleston Southern | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Rutgers vs Penn State | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| South Carolina Upstate vs Longwood | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| South Florida vs UTSA | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southeast Missouri State vs Western Illinois | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Stetson vs Queens (NC) | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Creighton vs UConn | 2:05pm | FloSports |
| Harvard vs Yale | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Appalachian State vs Old Dominion | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Bellarmine vs Lipscomb | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Canisius vs Mount St. Mary’s | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Charlotte vs Wichita State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Dayton vs Saint Louis | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Florida State vs Pittsburgh | 3:00pm | ACCNX |
| Gardner-Webb vs UNC Asheville | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Houston vs Kansas | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Houston Christian vs McNeese | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Illinois State vs UIC | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Liberty vs Dallas Baptist | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Little Rock vs SIU Edwardsville | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Memphis vs UAB | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Michigan State vs Minnesota | 3:00pm | B1G+ |
| Missouri State vs Belmont | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| New Orleans vs Northwestern State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| SE Louisiana vs Incarnate Word | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tennessee vs Vanderbilt | 3:00pm | SECN |
| UL Monroe vs South Alabama | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Troy vs Texas State | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Auburn vs Missouri | 4:00pm | SECN+ |
| Clemson vs Wake Forest | 4:00pm | ACCN |
| College Baseball Regular Season | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Duke vs Georgia Tech | 4:00pm | ACCNX |
| Iowa vs Illinois | 4:00pm | B1G+ |
| Kansas State vs West Virginia | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Lindenwood vs UT Martin | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Loyola Marymount vs Santa Clara | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Florida vs North Alabama | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Pacific vs Saint Mary’s | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Portland vs Pepperdine | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| San Diego vs San Francisco | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Miss vs Arkansas State | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Utah Tech vs Cal Poly | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Utah Valley vs Tarleton | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Winthrop vs High Point | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Baylor vs Oklahoma | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| LSU vs Alabama | 5:00pm | SECN+ |
| Maine vs Bryant | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Mercer vs Western Carolina | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| New Mexico State vs TCU | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sam Houston vs Florida International | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Indiana vs Little Rock | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas A&M vs Mississippi | 5:00pm | SECN+ |
| UC San Diego vs Cal State Northridge | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| USC vs Washington State | 5:00pm | PAC12N |
| Marshall vs James Madison | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas vs UCF | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Valparaiso vs Murray State | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Florida Atlantic vs Rice | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Indiana vs Nebraska | 7:00pm | BTN |
| Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Middle Tennessee vs Jacksonville State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Mississippi State vs Arkansas | 7:00pm | SECN+ |
| Texas Tech vs Oklahoma State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Utah Tech vs Cal Poly | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| East Carolina vs Tulane | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Oregon vs Washington | 8:00pm | P12WA |
| UC Davis vs Cal State Fullerton | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UCLA vs Oregon State | 8:00pm | PAC12N |
| UT Rio Grande Valley vs California Baptist | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UC Irvine vs Long Beach State | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UC Santa Barbara vs Cal State Bakersfield | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Abilene Christian vs Grand Canyon | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Stephen F. Austin vs Sacramento State | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Horizon Softball Tournament | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| A10 Softball Tournament | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| American Softball Tournament | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Ohio Valley Softball Tournament | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| America East Softball Tournament | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Big South Softball Tournament | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| SoCon Softball Tournament | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sun Belt Softball Tournament | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| MVC Softball Tournament | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| ASUN Softball Tournament | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Big Sky Softball Tournament | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| America East Softball Tournament | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| ACC Softball Tournament | 2:30pm | ESPN2 |
| Horizon Softball Tournament | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UC Riverside vs Cal State Bakersfield | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| SoCon Softball Tournament | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Cal Poly vs UC San Diego | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cal State Northridge vs UC Santa Barbara | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Hawai’i vs UC Davis | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Big Ten Softball Tournament | 4:00pm | BTN |
| Big South Softball Tournament | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| WAC Softball Tournament | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| ASUN Softball Tournament | 4:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Big Sky Softball Tournament | 4:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Long Beach State vs Cal State Fullerton | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| SEC Softball Tournament | 5:00pm | ESPN2 |
| UC Riverside vs Cal State Bakersfield | 5:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Cal Poly vs UC San Diego | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Hawai’i vs UC Davis | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| WAC Softball Tournament | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Long Beach State vs Cal State Fullerton | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Big 12 Softball Tournament | 7:30pm | ESPN2 |
| Pac 12 Softball Tournament | 10:00pm | ESPN2 |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Internazionali BNL d’Italia Tennis: ATP 2nd Round, WTA 3rd Round | 5:00am | TENNIS |
| Internazionali BNL d’Italia Tennis: ATP 2nd Round, WTA 3rd Round | 1:00pm | TENNIS |