“THE SCOREBOARD”
CENTRAL INDIANA BASEBALL SCORES
CENTERVILLE 7 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 2
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 11 ANDERSON PREP 10
WES DEL 5 EASTBROOK 4
LAPEL 7 ALEXANDRIA MONROE 2
NORTHEASTERN 13 BLUE RIVER VALLEY 3
LAWRENCE NORTH 3 BEN DAVIS 1
LAWRENCE CENTRAL 8 SOUTHPORT 4
DECATUR CENTRAL 10 BEECH GROVE 0
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 13 SHENANDOAH 1
CASCADE 6 DANVILLE 4
PARK TUDOR 8 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 5
SPEEDWAY 9 WARREN CENTRAL 8
SOUTHMONT 10 PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 0
CATHEDRAL 9 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 0
INDIAN CREEK 8 MARTINSVILLE 3
FRANKLIN 3 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 0
FISHERS 4 NEW PALESTINE 2
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 5 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 4
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 5 MITCHELL 1
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 2 RONCALLI 1
PERRY MERIDIAN 13 PIKE 3
BREBEUF 2 NORTH CENTRAL 0
COLUMBUS NORTH 1 COLUMBUS EAST 0
NOBLESVILLE 10 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 0
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 8 WESTERN BOONE 0
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/3/2024
CENTRAL INDIANA SOFTBALL SCORES
CATHEDRAL 10 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 4
ALEXANDRIA MONROE 13 SHERIDAN 2
BISHOP CHATARD 15 SCECINA 4
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 9 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 4
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 11 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 1
PERRY MERIDIAN 16 SOUTHPORT 4
MONROVIA 9 CLOVERDALE 8
EASTERN HANCOCK 2 LAPEL 1
ZIONSVILLE 11 WESTERN BOONE 0
LAWRENCE NORTH 18 WARREN CENTRAL 1
CENTERVILLE 3 NORTHEASTERN 2
RUSHVILLE 11 BATESVILLE 0
SPEEDWAY 6 BREBEUF 1
IRVINGTON PREP 18 PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY 3
WARREN CENTRAL 8 PIKE 6
CARMEL 6 MOORESVILLE 5
DECATUR CENTRAL 4 BEN DAVIS 0
COLUMBUS EAST 6 CONNERSVILLE 3
WESTFIELD 10 MOUNT VERNON 4
RONCALLI 15 NORTH CENTRAL 1
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 2 SHELBYVILLE 1
TERRE HAUTE NORTH 12 COLUMBUS NORTH 5
BROWNSBURG 11 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 1
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 11 KANKAKEE VALLEY 0
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/3/2024
INDIANA TRACK RESULTS: HTTPS://IN.MILESPLIT.COM/RESULTS
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
• GAME 1: CELTICS 114, HEAT 94
• GAME 2: HEAT 111, CELTICS 101
• GAME 3: CELTICS 104, HEAT 84
• GAME 4: CELTICS 102, HEAT 88
• GAME 5: CELTICS 118, HEAT 84
BOSTON WINS SERIES 4-1
(2) NEW YORK VS. (7) PHILADELPHIA
• GAME 1: KNICKS 111, 76ERS 104
• GAME 2: KNICKS 104, 76ERS 101
• GAME 3: 76ERS 125, KNICKS 114
• GAME 4: KNICKS 97, 76ERS 92
• GAME 5: 76ERS 112, KNICKS 106 (OT)
• GAME 6: KNICKS 118, 76ERS 115
NEW YORK WINS SERIES 4-2
• GAME 1: BUCKS 109, PACERS 94
• GAME 2: PACERS 125, BUCKS 108
• GAME 3: PACERS 121, BUCKS 118 (OT)
• GAME 4: PACERS 126, BUCKS 113
• GAME 5: BUCKS 115, PACERS 92
• GAME 6: PACERS 120, BUCKS 98
INDIANA WINS SERIES 4-2
• GAME 1: CAVALIERS 97, MAGIC 83
• GAME 2: CAVALIERS 96, MAGIC 86
• GAME 3: MAGIC 121, CAVALIERS 83
• GAME 4: MAGIC 112, CAVALIERS 89
• GAME 5: CAVALIERS 104, MAGIC 103
• GAME 6: MAGIC 103, CAVALIERS 96
• GAME 7: MAGIC VS. CAVALIERS; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (1 ET, ABC)
SERIES TIED 3-3
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) OKLAHOMA CITY VS. (8) NEW ORLEANS
• GAME 1: THUNDER 94, PELICANS 92
• GAME 2: THUNDER 124, PELICANS 92
• GAME 3: THUNDER 106, PELICANS 85
• GAME 4: THUNDER 97, PELICANS 89
OKLAHOMA CITY WINS SERIES 4-0
(2) DENVER VS. (7) L.A. LAKERS
• GAME 1: NUGGETS 114, LAKERS 103
• GAME 2: NUGGETS 101, LAKERS 99
• GAME 3: NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105
• GAME 4: LAKERS 119, NUGGETS 108
• GAME 5: NUGGETS 108, LAKERS 106
DENVER WINS SERIES 4-1
• GAME 1: TIMBERWOLVES 120, SUNS 95
• GAME 2: TIMBERWOLVES 105, SUNS 93
• GAME 3: TIMBERWOLVES 126, SUNS 109
• GAME 4: TIMBERWOLVES 122, SUNS 116
MINNESOTA WINS SERIES 4-0
(4) LA CLIPPERS VS. (5) DALLAS
• GAME 1: CLIPPERS 109, MAVERICKS 97
• GAME 2: MAVERICKS 96, CLIPPERS 93
• GAME 3: MAVERICKS 101, CLIPPERS 90
• GAME 4: CLIPPERS 116, MAVERICKS 111
• GAME 5: MAVERICKS 123, CLIPPERS 93
• GAME 6: MAVERICKS 114, CLIPPERS 101
DALLAS WINS SERIES 4-2
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
• GAME 1: TBD VS. CELTICS, TUESDAY, MAY 7 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: TBD VS. CELTICS, THURSDAY, MAY 9 (7 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 3: CELTICS VS. TBD, SATURDAY, MAY 11 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 4: CELTICS VS. TBD, MONDAY, MAY 13 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: TBD VS. CELTICS, TBD (TBD, TNT) *
• GAME 6: CELTICS VS. TBD, TBD (TBD, ESPN) *
• GAME 7: TBD VS. CELTICS, TBD (TBD, TBD) *
SERIES TIED 0-0
* = IF NECESSARY
• GAME 1: PACERS VS. KNICKS, MONDAY, MAY 6 (7:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: PACERS VS. KNICKS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 (8 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: KNICKS VS. PACERS, FRIDAY, MAY 10 (7 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 4: KNICKS VS. PACERS, SUNDAY, MAY 12 (3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: PACERS VS. KNICKS, TUESDAY, MAY 14 (TBD, TNT) *
• GAME 6: KNICKS VS. PACERS, FRIDAY, MAY 17 (TBD, ESPN) *
• GAME 7: PACERS VS. KNICKS, SUNDAY, MAY 19 (TBD, TBD) *
SERIES TIED 0-0
* = IF NECESSARY
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) OKLAHOMA CITY VS. (5) DALLAS
• GAME 1: MAVERICKS VS. THUNDER, TUESDAY, MAY 7 (9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: MAVERICKS VS. THUNDER, THURSDAY, MAY 9 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
• 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 (TBD, 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 0-0
* = IF NECESSARY
• GAME 1: WOLVES VS. NUGGETS, SATURDAY, MAY 4 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: WOLVES VS. NUGGETS, MONDAY, MAY 6 (10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: NUGGETS VS. WOLVES, FRIDAY, MAY 10 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 4: NUGGETS VS. WOLVES, SUNDAY, MAY 12 (8 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: WOLVES VS. NUGGETS, TUESDAY, MAY 14 (TBD, TNT) *
• GAME 6: NUGGETS VS. WOLVES, THURSDAY, MAY 16 (8:30, ESPN) *
• GAME 7: WOLVES VS. NUGGETS, SUNDAY, MAY 19 (TBD, TBD) *
SERIES TIED 0-0
* = IF NECESSARY
NHL PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FLORIDA PANTHERS (1A) VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (WC1)
FLORIDA WINS SERIES 4-1
GAME 1: PANTHERS 3, LIGHTNING 2
GAME 2: PANTHERS 3, LIGHTNING 2 (OT)
GAME 3: PANTHERS 5, LIGHTNING 3
GAME 4: LIGHTNING 6, PANTHERS 3
GAME 5: PANTHERS 6, LIGHTNING 1
COMPLETE PANTHERS-LIGHTNING SERIES COVERAGE
BOSTON BRUINS (2A) VS. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (3A)
SERIES TIED 3-3
GAME 1: BRUINS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 1
GAME 2: MAPLE LEAFS 3, BRUINS 2
GAME 3: BRUINS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 2
GAME 4: BRUINS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 1
GAME 5: MAPLE LEAFS 2, BRUINS 1 (OT)
GAME 6: MAPLE LEAFS 2, BRUINS 1
GAME 7: MAPLE LEAFS AT BRUINS — MAY 4, 8 P.M. ET (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)
COMPLETE BRUINS-MAPLE LEAFS SERIES COVERAGE
NEW YORK RANGERS (1M) VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (WC2)
NEW YORK WINS SERIES 4-0
GAME 1: RANGERS 4, CAPITALS 1
GAME 2: RANGERS 4, CAPITALS 3
GAME 3: RANGERS 3, CAPITALS 1
GAME 4: RANGERS 4, CAPITALS 2
COMPLETE RANGERS-CAPITALS SERIES COVERAGE
CAROLINA HURRICANES (2M) VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3M)
CAROLINA WINS SERIES 4-1
GAME 1: HURRICANES 3, ISLANDERS 1
GAME 2: HURRICANES 5, ISLANDERS 3
GAME 3: HURRICANES 3, ISLANDERS 2
GAME 4: ISLANDERS 3, HURRICANES 2 (2OT)
GAME 5: HURRICANES 6, ISLANDERS 3
COMPLETE HURRICANES-ISLANDERS SERIES COVERAGE
WESTERN CONFERENCE
DALLAS STARS (1C) VS. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (WC2)
SERIES TIED 3-3
GAME 1: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, STARS 3
GAME 2: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, STARS 1
GAME 3: STARS 3, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2 (OT)
GAME 4: STARS 4, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2
GAME 5: STARS 3, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2
GAME 6: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2, STARS 0
GAME 7: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT STARS — MAY 5, 7:30 P.M. ET (TBS, TRUTV, MAX, SN, TVAS)
COMPLETE STARS-GOLDEN KNIGHTS SERIES COVERAGE
WINNIPEG JETS (2C) VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE (3C)
COLORADO WINS SERIES 4-1
GAME 1: JETS 7, AVALANCHE 6
GAME 2: AVALANCHE 5, JETS 2
GAME 3: AVALANCHE 6, JETS 2
GAME 4: AVALANCHE 5, JETS 1
GAME 5: AVALANCHE 6, JETS 3
COMPLETE JETS-AVALANCHE SERIES COVERAGE
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (1P) VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (WC1)
VANCOUVER WINS SERIES 4-2
GAME 1: CANUCKS 4, PREDATORS 2
GAME 2: PREDATORS 4, CANUCKS 1
GAME 3: CANUCKS 2, PREDATORS 1
GAME 4: CANUCKS 4, PREDATORS 3 (OT)
GAME 5: PREDATORS 2, CANUCKS 1
GAME 6: CANUCKS 1, PREDATORS 0
COMPLETE CANUCKS-PREDATORS SERIES COVERAGE
EDMONTON OILERS (2P) VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS (3P)
EDMONTON WINS SERIES 4-1
GAME 1: OILERS 7, KINGS 4
GAME 2: KINGS 5, OILERS 4 (OT)
GAME 3: OILERS 6, KINGS 1
GAME 4: OILERS 1, KINGS 0
GAME 5: OILERS 4, KINGS 3
COMPLETE OILERS-KINGS SERIES COVERAGE
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MILWAUKEE 3 CHICAGO CUBS 1
BALTIMORE 3 CINCINNATI 0
PHILADELPHIA 4 SAN FRANCISCO 3
COLORADO 3 PITTSBURGH 2
WASHINGTON 9 TORONTO 3
TAMPA BAY 10 NY METS 0
NY YANKEES 2 DETROIT 1
LA ANGELS 6 CLEVELAND 0
KANSAS CITY 7 TEXAS 1
MINNESOTA 5 BOSTON 2
HOUSTON 5 SEATTLE 3
ST. LOUIS 3 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 0
SAN DIEGO 7 ARIZONA 1
OAKLAND 3 MIAMI 1
LA DODGERS 4 ATLANTA 3 (11)
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
BUFFALO 10 INDIANAPOLIS 4
LAKE COUNTY 6 FT. WAYNE 4
SOUTH BEND 3 LANSING 0
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
INDIANA STATE 15 BELMONT 5
PITTSBURGH 3 NOTRE DAME 1
XAVIER 13 BUTLER 6
PENN STATE 7 GEORGETOWN 2
NEBRASKA 10 MINNESOTA 7
PURDUE 7 INDIANA 4
MICHIGAN STATE 3 MICHIGAN 2
MARYLAND 4 RUTGERS 3
OHIO STATE 7 ILLINOIS 5
IOWA 4 NORTHWESTERN 3
MIAMI OHIO 4 KENT STATE 3
TOLEDO 10 MICHIGAN 9
BALL STATE 4 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3
BOWLING GREEN 8 WESTERN MICHIGAN 3
EVANSVILLE 13 VALPARAISO 1
SOUTHERN INDIANA 5 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS EDWARDSVILLE 1
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
BUTLER 7 VILLANOVA 3
VILLANOVA 7 BUTLER 5
PENN STATE 4 RUTGERS 1
NORTHWESTERN 6 INDIANA 3
MICHIGAN STATE 3 PURDUE 0
ILLINOIS 2 IOWA 1
MARYLAND 12 WISCONSIN 2
NEBRASKA 7 MINNESOTA 6
OAKLAND 8 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 5
YOUNGSTOWN STATE 3 IUPUI 2
AKRON 9 KENT STATE 4
KENT STATE 9 AKRON 8
MISSOURI STATE 4 INDIANA STATE 2
INDIANA STATE 6 MISSOURI STATE 5
NORTHERN IOWA 5 VALPARAISO 0
ILLINOIS STATE 1 EVANSVILLE 0
UFL
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
TOP NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES AND NEWS REPORTS
NBA NEWS
PAOLO BANCHERO SCORES 27 POINTS, MAGIC OVERCOME MITCHELL’S 50 TO BEAT CAVS 103-96 AND FORCE GAME 7
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Orlando Magic overcome Donovan Mitchell’s 50 points and hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96 on Friday night to force a decisive Game 7 in their first-round NBA playoff series.
Three nights after scoring 39 points on 14-of-24 shooting in a one-point road loss that left the Magic on the brink of elimination, the 21-year-old Banchero put his team on his back and carried them to their biggest win in years.
Franz Wagner had 26 points and Jalen Suggs made six 3-pointers and finished with 22 for the Magic, who pulled away in the closing minutes, with Banchero hitting a 3-pointer that put Orlando ahead for good at 92-89.
Mitchell was magnificent for Cleveland, scoring all of his team’s 18 points in the fourth quarter. Darius Garland finished with 21, but ultimately the Cavs were unable to overcome poor 3-point shooting (7 of 28).
Game 7 is Sunday in Cleveland, where the Cavs won Games 1, 2 and 5 and clearly play better than on the road, where they’ve dropped seven straight playoff games dating to a LeBron James-led Game 7 victory at Boston in the 2018 Eastern Conference finals.
The Cavs haven’t won a postseason series since then. The Magic, in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, are seeking their first series win in 14 years.
Orlando took Games 3 and 4 by a combined 61 points, yet came out Friday night with a slightly different look, inserting forward Jonathan Isaac into the starting lineup and shifting Wagner from forward to guard to put four 6-foot-10 players on the floor at the same time.
With center Jarrett Allen out for the second consecutive game because of a bruised rib, the Cavs slid forward Evan Mobley to center and started Marcus Morris Sr. after the 34-year-old came off the bench to score 12 points and elevate Cleveland’s level of physicality.
The Cavs trailed 53-49 at the half and were fortunate the deficit wasn’t larger, considering they had misfired on 13 of 14 3-point attempts.
With an aggressive Mitchell and Garland seemingly driving to the basket at will, Cleveland converted 22 of 32 shots inside the arc and wound up shooting 50% overall (23 of 46) before the break to stay close.
They finally heated up from long range in the third quarter, with Mitchell and Max Strus making 3-pointers during a 17-4 surge to begin the period. The trailed by as many as nine before closing within 78-73 leading into the fourth quarter.
LUKA DONCIC AND KYRIE IRVING CARRY MAVS PAST CLIPPERS 114-101 TO ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic had 28 points and 13 assists, Kyrie Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in a second-half surge and the Dallas Mavericks advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 114-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
Doncic pushed through another rough shooting night with his ailing right knee to do what the Slovenian superstar couldn’t three years earlier — close out the Clippers in Dallas in Game 6 of a first-round series.
The fifth-seeded Mavericks beat the Clippers for the the first time in three first-round tries over the past five seasons and will open the Western Conference semifinals at the top seed, Oklahoma City, on Tuesday night.
Paul George had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who won the first two times they played without Kawhi Leonard in the series but didn’t have enough scoring punch in the last two he was sidelined by right knee inflammation.
James Harden had 16 points and 13 assists but was just 5 of 16 from the field and missed all six of his 3-pointers as LA was eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive season.
Irving, Doncic’s co-star added at the trade deadline last year for the kind of playoff run the Mavs hope they just started, gave Dallas its biggest lead with a flashy four-point play when he hit a leaning 3-pointer as he was bumped by P.J. Tucker and made the free throw for a 106-82 lead.
The Clippers answered with an 11-2 run to get within 13 but never seriously threatened a big comeback in the final minutes.
The Mavs broke a 52-52 halftime tie by outscoring the Clippers 35-20 in the third quarter — the same quarter that fueled the Game 5 win in Los Angeles for a chance to clinch — and pushed the lead to 20 early in the fourth.
Doncic, who also has dealt with illness in addition to a sore knee, started 0 of 7 from 3-point range to drop below 25% for the series but made his first try of the second half to start the third-quarter surge.
The NBA scoring champion was 9 of 26 from the field and just 1 of 10 from 3 while going 9 of 11 on free throws. Irving was 10 of 13 from the field after halftime.
Norman Powell scored 20 for the Clippers, and Ivica Zubac had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
P.J. Washington scored 14 points with some big 3-pointers for the Mavs, going 4 of 8 from deep, and Daniel Gafford had 13 points with several emphatic buckets down low.
Dallas’ Maxi Kleber didn’t return after spraining his right shoulder when he took a hard fall on a blocking foul against Amir Coffey on a drive in the first minute of the second quarter.
Kleber, whose 3-point shooting was a boost for Dallas in the series, returned to shoot free throws, making one of two before leaving at the next dead ball.
76ERS WASTE ANOTHER SEASON OF EMBIID’S PRIME. WILL THEY EVER MAKE A RUN AT AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP?
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid gingerly plopped into his seat set to explain yet another season-ending playoff loss, a familiar scene year-after-year for Philadelphia’s oft-injured All-Star center. Embiid, though, wasn’t alone. He usually dissects defeats by himself on the news conference dais. Tyrese Maxey was by his side this time, though — just as the All-Star guard was on the court, just as he’s expected to be for as long as their contracts allow.
Yes, one more empty season is stamped on Embiid’s prime years.
Will his postseason fortunes ever change in Philly?
Maybe the future really will be different this time for the 76ers. After a decade churning through Embiid sidekicks — Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, James Harden and others — the Sixers at last believe they have a perfect partner for Embiid. Maxey’s career skyrocketed this season with his first All-Star berth, the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, and a season-extending 46-point effort in a Game 5 win in New York.
Embiid and Maxey. Maxey and Embiid.
It sounds like the dawn of something good in Philly.
Just like it did with Embiid and Simmons. And Embiid and Butler. And … and, the only guarantee in Philly, no matter the supposed dynamic duo, is a postseason flameout. The Sixers first-round exit against the Knicks made it 41 years since their last NBA championship. The Sixers haven’t even advanced out of the second round since 2001, when Maxey was seven months old.
“I still believe if everything went right, we had a chance,” Embiid said. “But everything didn’t go right.”
The 76ers finished 31-8 in the regular season with Embiid — about a 65-win pace — and a woeful 16-27 without him.
As Embiid goes, so go the Sixers.
He just needs more help and, outside of Maxey, the 76ers were ill-equipped to deliver it for him.
“Every single year it’s always been one person comes in, and the following year they’re gone,” Embiid said. “The same thing just kept happening, kept happening the last few years. This is really the first time where you got him, and obviously, (Maxey’s) taken a step, and he was amazing this year. One of the 10 best players in the world this year. And then you finally get the chance to build around it.”
The summer is set-up as a pivotal one for team president Daryl Morey. The Sixers have the cap space to build a winner around the 30-year-old Embiid, who has two more years and a player option left on his deal. Either way, the 76ers promise to have yet another makeover ahead of next year.
SEE YA, TOBIAS
How was it possible for starting forward Tobias Harris to go scoreless in Game 6 — and take only two shots in 29 minutes — in what was all-but guaranteed to be his last game as a Sixer with his five-year, $180-million contract off the books.
Harris, one of the most unpopular Sixers this century, averaged 17 points in the regular season but just nine points in six playoff games. He went scoreless for the Sixers for the first time since he was acquired from the Clippers in February 2019.
“Not really thinking about that, but thanks,” he said, when asked about his potential Philly finale.
Sixers fans are ready to move on — and so are the Sixers.
CAP SPACE
Harris’ exit would help clear space in the salary cap and give the Sixers about $65 million under the cap to play with this summer. Morey and team ownership haven’t been shy about spending, signing Embiid and Harris to max contracts, for example. Maxey is set to get paid, with a max deal on the table for the restricted free agent. He could get that offer as early as the start of free agency on June 30.
“We have some experience together and so I think that’s the way to go,” Embiid said. “You just have to keep going, keep building around it, and find the right mix of people to make it happen.”
FREE AGENCY
The Sixers were pleased with the play of Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry and Nic Batum, and all could be brought back on one-year deals.
But with money to spend, how about a big play at a big free agent? The 76ers toyed with signing LeBron James in the past. How about one more shot to see if he wants to chase a championship with Embiid? Clippers forward Paul George could be a top target. James and George would have to decline player options to hit the market. Sixers coach Nick Nurse won a championship in Toronto with Pascal Siakam and was an assistant coach with the Raptors when DeMar DeRozan was on the team. Both players are free agents and could be a nice fit in Philly.
EMBIID’S FUTURE
Embiid was hurt, again. He played on one good leg and through a bout with Bell’s palsy in the postseason. Injuries are just part of the deal with Embiid, who has never even played 70 games in a season. Last season’s NBA MVP, Embiid is set to play this summer for Team USA at the Paris Olympics. While there’s clearly value in playing with a team full of superstars — some who know how to win an NBA championship — do the Sixers really want the 7-footer logging more minutes in the summer when he could be resting, recovering and trying to enter training camp completely healthy?
“I feel like coming back this year, I could have taken more time to heal and get back to myself,” he said. “That’s always been my mindset. I’ve always played through stuff, it’s never been an excuse and it’s not an excuse so, for me for the most part I was healthy.”
LAWYERS FOR TEEN SUING NBA STAR JA MORANT OVER A FIGHT DURING A PICKUP GAME WITHDRAW FROM THE CASE
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Lawyers for a teenager who is suing two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant over a fight during an offseason pickup game can withdraw from the case after citing irreconcilable conflicts with their client, a Tennessee judge ruled Friday.
Rebecca Adelman and Leslie Ballin had filed a motion in Shelby County Circuit Court asking a judge to allow them to withdraw from the lawsuit filed by Joshua Holloway against Morant, who hosted a daylong series of pickup games at his parents’ home in July 2022 that ended when the Memphis Grizzlies guard punched the then 17-year-old Holloway once in the face.
Judge Carol Chumney granted the request during a brief hearing Friday. Adelman did not provide details of the nature of conflicts, only saying in court that she felt she was unable to exercise her “legal judgement” in support of Holloway. The judge gave Holloway’s parents 30 days to report to the court with information on a new lawyer.
Myca Clay, Holloway’s mother, said she was seeking new representation for her son, who plays college basketball for Samford. Clay said after the hearing that she is not open to settling the lawsuit filed in September 2022 and she did not agree with the way her son’s lawyers represented him.
“I’m just trying to get justice for my son,” Clay told reporters.
The lawyers’ exit from the case came about three weeks after Chumney ruled that Morant “enjoys a presumption of civil immunity” from liability under Tennessee law. Morant claimed he acted in self-defense when he punched Holloway after the teen threw a basketball at Morant, which hit the NBA player in the face.
Morant testified during a December hearing that he was worried about getting hurt after the teen bumped him in the chest, balled his fists and got into a fighting stance before Morant punched Holloway.
The NBA player’s lawyers have argued Morant is protected under Tennessee’s “stand your ground” law allowing people who feel threatened at their homes to act with force in certain situations. The law is used in criminal cases, but an earlier ruling by the judge cleared the way for Morant’s lawyers to apply it in the civil case.
A trial had been set in April, but it has been postponed indefinitely.
Morant tore the labrum in his right shoulder in early January, a injury that required surgery, ending a season that started with Morant suspended by the NBA for the first 25 games for a video of the guard flashing a handgun online.
The video showed Morant sitting in the passenger seat of a car and was posted after he finished serving an eight-game suspension in March for another video in which he displayed a handgun in a Denver-area strip club.
Morant apologized for both videos.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
CLEMSON ALL-ACC CENTER PJ HALL IS ENTERING NBA DRAFT
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson all-Atlantic Coast Conference center PJ Hall is entering the NBA draft.
Hall announced his decision on social media on Friday. The 6-foot-10 Hall led the Tigers with 18.3 points a game this season and in blocks with 51. He helped them reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Alabama for a spot in the Final Four.
Hall, from Spartanburg, South Carolina, said he had poured everything he had the past four years at Clemson.
“With that being said, I will be chasing my dream and entering my name in the NBA draft,” he said in the post.
Hall went through the NBA draft process a year ago before deciding to return to Clemson. This time, Hall has signed with an agent, meaning he cannot change his mind.
Hall is considered a second-round pick in the NBA draft.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
OHIO STATE LANDS 5-STAR DUKE TRANSFER SEAN STEWART
Duke transfer forward Sean Stewart committed to Ohio State on Friday.
He announced on April 19 that he was entering the transfer portal after one season with the Blue Devils.
New Ohio State coach Jake Diebler got to know Stewart as a five-star prospect in the 2023 class, when Diebler was the recruiter trying to sell him on the Buckeyes.
The relationship they had forged paid dividends for Ohio State this time around.
“Me and Diebler picked up our previous vibe from the first time recruiting me,” Stewart told The Columbus Dispatch. “He was the lead recruiter when I was in high school. We talked almost every day leading up to my decision day, so to have that call when he called me the first day when I entered the portal, it was exciting to talk to him again. He kept reiterating how crazy it was that this came full circle that he recruited me as an assistant coach and now he’s a head coach.
“It’s a lot of chemistry since the first day he started recruiting me.”
Stewart averaged 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 33 games off the bench for Duke. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-9 Stewart, from Windermere Fla., was a five-star prospect in the 2023 draft class as ranked by the 247 Sports composite. Another blue-chip recruit in that class, former Kentucky center Aaron Bradshaw, also is transferring to Ohio State.
NHL NEWS
CANUCKS ADVANCE TO 2ND ROUND, BEATING PREDATORS 1-0 IN GAME 6 ON PIUS SUTER’S LATE GOAL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
Nashville had a final chance to force overtime with a power play with 33.9 seconds left after Elias Lindholm was called for cross-checking Gustav Nyquist. But the Predators couldn’t beat rookie goalie Arturs Silovs before time expired, and Nashville captain Roman Josi slammed his stick to the ice.
Silovs made 27 saves to become the 14th rookie goalie in NHL history to finish off a series with a shutout and just the fifth in 30 years. He joined Akira Schmid (2023), Matt Murray (2017 against Nashville in the Stanley Cup Final winner), Carey Price (2008) and Ilya Bryzgalov (2006) in that select group.
Vancouver will play Edmonton. The Oilers finished second behind the Canucks in the Pacific Division and beat the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
The Canucks continued the streak started in Game 2 of the road team winning each of the final five games. They won their first playoff series outside the pandemic bubble since 2011 when Vancouver reached the Stanley Cup Final, a run that included a Game 6 win over the Preds in Nashville.
The Predators have lost six straight playoff games on home ice, taking some of the luster off the franchise’s reputation as Smashville. They haven’t won a postseason series since 2018 after winning the Presidents’ Trophy a season after Nashville’s unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
Suter scored only his second of the series from in front off a pass from Brock Boeser.
Vancouver outshot Nashville for the first time in this series after being held to a combined 92 shots through the first five games. That was the second-fewest in a playoff series through five games since 1960 trailing only Washington (90) in the 1998 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Silovs got into the mix when Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko was declared week-to-week with an injury after winning Game 1. Casey DeSmith started Games 2 and 3 before his own injury, then Silovs made his postseason debut, winning Game 4 for a 3-1 lead.
ADIN HILL FLASHES OLD PLAYOFF FORM AS GOLDEN KNIGHTS BEAT STARS 2-0 TO FORCE GAME 7
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Beginning with Tyler Seguin on a breakaway, the shots came in waves at Vegas goalie Adin Hill.
He stopped Seguin at point blank, saved Joe Pavelski’s rebound and then stopped Seguin again.
This was the Hill of last year’s Stanley Cup championship run, and because of him the Golden Knights kept alive their hopes of repeating by beating the Dallas Stars 2-0 on Friday night to force a Game 7.
“You need to make big saves at big times in big games,” Hill said. “That’s how you win playoff games. I think our team learned that last year, and any team that’s won, their goalies had to catch fire at times.”
The deciding game in the first-round series is Sunday in Dallas.
Hill stopped 23 shots for first shutout since having two in three games in early November. Noah Hanifin broke a scoreless tie at 9:54 of the third period and Mark Stone scored an empty-netter from 176 feet away with 18.9 seconds left to seal the victory.
This was the second winning goal this series for Hanifin, who was a trade-deadline acquisition from Calgary.
“Ever since I got traded here, I was super excited about the opportunity coming to a team with guys that have won,” Hanifin said. “It’s a great culture here and I’m fortunate to be a part of it. I feel good about my game and I’m trying to contribute whichever way I can.”
This was a classic goalie duel, with Hill looking like the player who went 11-4 with a .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals goals allowed per game in last year’s playoffs. But Hill had been up and down late in this season, and Logan Thompson got the starting job in the series’ first four games.
The Knights turned to Hill for Game 5 in their 3-2 loss and then again for this one.
“At the end of the year, Adin was feeling pretty good about this game,” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You could see it in practice. It was just pucks were finding their way in. … He should have confidence. He just pitched a shutout and made some really high-end saves.”
On the other side, Jake Oettinger made 28 saves and entered the game without giving up a goal in this series in the third period or overtime. Hanifin’s goal ended Oettinger’s streak at 60 saves.
“I would’ve like to have shut it down tonight, but now that we’re in this position, that’s why we played so well during the regular season to get Game 7 at home if it comes to that,” Oettinger said. “The ball’s in our court. We’re on home ice, and now it’s on us to take care of business.”
There are numbers that favor either side going into Game 7.
Vegas took a 2-0 lead in this series, and the Knights are 4-0 when holding such an advantage. The Stars have never overcome such a deficit in the nine previous tries since moving to Dallas. NHL teams overall are 351-55 when given that early lead.
But no team has been able to solve Stars coach Pete DeBoer in a seventh game. He is 7-0.
“There’s nothing better than Game 7s,” DeBoer said. “That’s what you grew up dreaming about playing and the second-best thing is coaching in them.”
This game had electricity from the beginning, both teams missing major scoring opportunities with the tension building as the game progressed. The Golden Knights added some star touches with recording artist Shania Twain cranking the horn before the game and James Holzhauer of Jeopardy fame doing it before the third.
The Golden Knights, as expected given the circumstances, came out flying, living in the Stars’ offensive zone early on. Dallas didn’t get its first shot on goal until 7:45 into the game, but the Knights failed to cash in on several chances, including a point-blank opportunity by Nicolas Roy and a shot from Keegan Kolesar that went off the post to keep the game scoreless in the first period.
The game remained that way through the second period, but it wasn’t for a lack of action. In addition to Hill’s three spectacular saves during that one sequence, he later received an assist from Stone, who cleared the puck from the goal line. Logan Stankoven missed an open net for the Stars, and Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault had a shot from the left circle that William Karlsson tipped that caused the crowd to believe the puck went into the net.
Hanifin finally broke through, with his unassisted wrister from the right circle.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS FIRE ASSISTANT COACH TODD REIRDEN AFTER MISSING OUT ON THE PLAYOFFS
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins fired assistant coach Todd Reirden on Friday, just over two weeks after the organization missed out on the playoffs for a second straight season.
Reirden was in charge of Pittsburgh’s power play. The Penguins struggled while on the man advantage all season despite having a star-studded unit that included Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson. Pittsburgh converted on just 15% of its power play opportunities, 30th in the 32-team NHL.
“Mike Sullivan and I have spent time over the past two weeks evaluating the coaching staff, and although these decisions are never easy, we agree that this change was in the best interest of the team moving forward,” general manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement.
The firing ends Reirden’s second stint with the organization. He served as an assistant in Pittsburgh from 2010-14 before moving on to Washington. He spent two years as head coach of the Capitals from 2018-20 before returning to the Penguins.
BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: TWINS DOWN RED SOX FOR 11TH STRAIGHT WIN
Edouard Julien and Ryan Jeffers drove in two runs apiece, and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 5-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Willi Castro went 2-for-3 with a double for Minnesota, which won its 11th game in a row. The Twins have not lost since April 21 against the Detroit Tigers.
Rafael Devers went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Boston. Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran recorded the only other hits for the Red Sox.
Twins right-hander Chris Paddack (3-1) allowed two hits in six scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out six. Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck (3-3) gave up four runs on six hits in six-plus innings. He walked two and struck out five.
Dodgers 4, Braves 3 (11 innings)
Rookie Andy Pages capped his first career four-hit performance with a game-ending single in the 11th inning as Los Angeles walked away with a victory over visiting Atlanta in the opener of a three-game series.
Teoscar Hernandez hit a home run, Shohei Ohtani drove in a run in the 10th and Gavin Stone went five strong innings as the Dodgers improved to 8-2 since going 3-6 on their previous homestand while losing all three series. Michael Grove (1-1) picked up the win for the Dodgers with a scoreless 11th.
Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. hit home runs and right-hander Charlie Morton gave up two runs on five hits over six innings as the Braves lost for the fourth time in their last six games and fell to 1-3 on a six-game West Coast road trip.
Brewers 3, Cubs 1
Willy Adames headlined a three-run rally with a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth as Milwaukee beat host Chicago in the opener of a three-game series.
Brice Turang went 2-for-4 for the Brewers, who pushed their winning streak to three games.
Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Michael Busch each had two hits as Chicago’s offensive struggles continued. The Cubs have averaged just 2.4 runs over their past seven games.
Phillies 4, Giants 3
Brandon Marsh drove in two runs, Alec Bohm extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a run-scoring single, and Philadelphia opened a four-game series against visiting San Francisco with a win.
Trea Turner had two hits before exiting with left hamstring soreness for Philadelphia, which won its third straight and improved to a season-best 11 games over .500 at 22-11. Aaron Nola allowed two runs and four hits over four innings before yielding to Matt Strahm (2-0), Seranthony Dominguez, Orion Kerkering and Jeff Hoffman. Jose Alvarado worked around a leadoff single in the ninth for his sixth save.
San Francisco went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and lost for the third time in its last four games. The Giants have scored a total of 19 runs over their last eight games.
Yankees 2, Tigers 1
Anthony Rizzo hit a walk-off single with nobody out in the ninth inning as host New York rallied past Detroit.
On the verge of being shut out for the sixth time this season, the Yankees earned their first walk-off win of the season thanks to rallying against Detroit closer Jason Foley (2-1), who blew his first save of the season.
Riley Green went 3-for-4 for the Tigers, who were held to five hits and saw their two-game win streak come to an end.
Rays 10, Mets 8
Harold Ramirez and Amed Rosario each went 3-for-5 for Tampa Bay, which scored five times in the third inning in a win against visiting New York in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Shawn Armstrong (1-1) came on in relief in the fifth inning, allowing two hits and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. Jason Adam allowed one run on two hits in the ninth for his second save of the season.
Mets starter Jose Quintana (1-3) allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Athletics 3, Marlins 1
Miami kicked off the post-Luis Arraez era with a whimper, accumulating just seven hits off JP Sears and three relievers as host Oakland opened a three-game interleague series with a victory.
Arraez, the defending National League batting champion, was scratched from the lineup minutes before the first pitch, reportedly having been dealt to the San Diego Padres for four prospects. Miami then saw a three-game winning streak end when Brent Rooker smacked a two-run homer, Sears worked 6 1/3 shutout innings and the A’s recorded a season-best fifth straight win.
Rooker’s homer came off Miami starter Ryan Weathers (2-3), who dueled Sears into the last of the fourth before allowing his first hit of the game — a single by Abraham Toro. Rooker followed with his sixth homer of the season. Weathers was pulled after six innings, having allowed three runs and five hits. He struck out five and didn’t walk anyone.
Nationals 9, Blue Jays 3
Pinch hitter Luis Garcia Jr. hit a three-run home run in a four-run seventh and Washington defeated visiting Toronto.
Beginning a five-game homestand, the Nationals overcame a 3-0 deficit to take the opener of a three-game series.
The Blue Jays, who began a five-game road trip, have lost three games in a row and eight of their past 10.
Orioles 3, Reds 0
Cole Irvin extended his scoreless innings streak by allowing just two hits over 6 1/3 innings, combining with three relievers as Baltimore shut out Cincinnati in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
Adley Rutschman snapped a scoreless tie with a seventh-inning RBI double and scored on a homer by Ryan O’Hearn as the Orioles won for the fourth time in five games. The Reds have lost three straight and six of eight.
Irvin (3-1) walked none and struck out four. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 20 innings dating back to the fourth inning of an April 15 start. Reds starter Hunter Greene gave up five hits and four walks while striking out five over 5 2/3 innings. He has thrown 14 2/3 straight scoreless innings dating back to April 22.
Rockies 3, Pirates 2
Ryan McMahon homered to spark a three-run sixth inning, Cal Quantrill pitched strongly into the eighth and Colorado beat host Pittsburgh.
Colorado snapped a five-game skid and ended a string that saw it set a major league record by trailing at some point in each of their first 31 games. McMahon, Ezequiel Tovar, Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings finished with two hits each for Colorado. Quantrill (1-3) gave up three hits, struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter in 7 2/3 innings.
Oneil Cruz homered and Jared Triolo had two hits for Pittsburgh, which has lost five in a row and eight of nine. The Rockies managed just five singles against Pirates starter Martin Perez (1-2) through five innings but broke out in the sixth. McMahon led off with his fifth home run, a 445-foot shot into the Allegheny River beyond the seats in right field.
Angels 6, Guardians 0
Jose Soriano threw six stellar innings to continue his road dominance and Mickey Moniak launched a three-run homer as visiting Los Angeles beat Cleveland.
Nolan Schanuel homered for one of his three hits, and Willie Calhoun also had three in his season debut for the Angels, who won for just the third time in 14 games. Soriano (1-4), who allowed five hits and a walk, has yielded one earned run over 17 innings of his three 2024 road starts.
Los Angeles roughed up Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee (2-1) for all six runs, plus eight hits allowed, in five innings. Steven Kwan had two hits for the AL Central-leading Guardians, who have lost two straight and are 3-6 since winning five in a row.
Astros 5, Mariners 3
Jose Altuve deposited a perfect bunt single down the third base line with two outs in the seventh inning, the lone run-scoring hit of a four-run frame that lifted Houston to a victory over visiting Seattle.
Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Astros recorded five walks, two singles and a sacrifice fly to forge ahead. Astros closer Josh Hader recorded his third save with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth.
The Mariners forged their lead with a pair of homers off Astros starter Ronel Blanco, who worked six innings and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Jorge Polanco smoked a two-out, solo shot to right-center in the third and Dylan Moore ripped a two-run blast in the fifth.
Royals 7, Rangers 1
Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe homered as host Kansas City rallied past Texas.
With one out in the fifth, Renfroe belted Michael Lorenzen’s slider down the left-field line for his third homer of the year to tie the score 1-1. Then Kansas City scored six times in the seventh, capped by Perez’s three-run homer. Reliever John Schreiber (3-0) allowed two hits and two walks in the seventh but escaped damage by striking out Marcus Semien with the bases loaded to end the inning.
In the third inning, Semien hit a two-out double and Corey Seager followed with a single to left, scoring the first run of the game. Seager had two of the Rangers’ seven hits. Losing pitcher Cole Winn (0-1) gave up four runs on four hits in one-third of an inning.
Cardinals 3, White Sox 0
Sonny Gray, JoJo Romero and Ryan Helsley combined for a three-hitter as St. Louis blanked visiting Chicago.
Gray (4-1) allowed those three hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one while lowering his season ERA to 0.89 in 30 1/3 innings. Romero handled the White Sox in the eighth inning, and Helsley closed out the ninth for his 11th save.
Nolan Arenado drove in three runs with two doubles and Willson Contreras went 3-for-3 with a walk, a steal and two runs for St. Louis. Brad Keller (0-1) allowed three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings for the White Sox, who lost for the 11th time in 14 games.
Padres 7, Diamondbacks 1
Fernando Tatis Jr. homered and drove in three runs, Dylan Cease pitched 6 2/3 innings and San Diego opened a three-game weekend series with a win over Arizona in Phoenix.
Tatis collected three hits and scored twice, while Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado also slugged homers as San Diego won its third straight game. The Padres finished with 12 hits and scored at least six runs for the fourth time in five games. Cease (4-2) allowed three hits and one run with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Slade Cecconi (1-2) retired the first nine batters he faced for Arizona but was hit hard his second time through the order. He was removed after Tatis’ RBI single in the fifth made it 5-0. Cecconi gave up six runs on five hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings, striking out four.
REPORTS: PADRES ACQUIRE TWO-TIME BATTING CHAMP LUIS ARRAEZ FROM MARLINS
The San Diego Padres are acquiring two-time batting champion Luis Arraez of the Miami Marlins, according to multiple reports on Friday night.
Reports say San Diego is sending right-handed reliever Woo-Suk Go, outfield prospects Dillon Head and Jakob Marsee and first baseman/outfielder prospect Nathan Martorella to the Marlins.
Head is rated as the Padres’ No. 6 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. Marsee is No. 9 and Martorella is No. 13.
Arraez batted .316 for the Minnesota Twins while winning the American League batting title in 2022. Last season, he hit a career-high .354 with the Marlins to win the National League batting crown.
Arraez was scratched from the starting lineup shortly before Friday night’s game at the Oakland Athletics. During the top of the second inning, the television broadcast showed Arraez exchanging hugs with some of his teammates.
This season, Arraez is batting .299 with five RBIs. He owns a six-game hitting streak.
Arraez, 27, has started 33 games at second base this season and can also play first base and the outfield. He is earning $10.6 million in 2024.
San Diego moved veteran shortstop Xander Bogaerts to second base during spring training.
Arraez, a two-time All-Star, owns a .324 career average with 24 homers and 206 RBIs in 569 games with the Twins (2019-22) and Marlins (2023-24).
Go, 25, has a 4.38 ERA in 12 1/3 innings at Double-A San Antonio. He pitched in South Korea the past seven seasons.
Head, 19, was a first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2023 draft. He is batting .237 with one homer and nine RBIs in 21 games at Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Marsee, 22, is batting .185 with two homers, five RBIs and 12 steals for San Antonio.
Martorella, 23, is batting .294 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 23 games at San Antonio.
NFL NEWS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AGREE TO SIGN ODELL BECKHAM JR. TO A 1-YEAR CONTRACT, AP SOURCE SAYS
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins agreed to sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was not finalized.
NFL Network first reported the agreement, which is expected to be worth up to $8.25 million, the network reported.
Beckham, 31, will join his fifth team after previously playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore, Cleveland, and the New York Giants, who drafted him 12th overall in 2014. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams during the 2021-22 season.
Beckham is joining a Dolphins group with last year’s receiving yards leader Tyreek Hill and his speedy counterpart Jaylen Waddle. Hill and Waddle combined for more yards (2,813) than any other wide receiver duo in the NFL in 2023, but Miami had depth concerns at wide receiver beyond those two.
Beckham, who had 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns with Baltimore last season, was cut by the Ravens in March. He visited the Dolphins earlier in the offseason and was made an offer, but the two sides hadn’t yet come to an agreement.
BILLS SIGN WR CHASE CLAYPOOL, DE DAWUANE SMOOT AND LB DEION JONES TO 1-YEAR CONTRACTS
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills announced the signings of wide receiver Chase Claypool, defensive end Dawuane Smoot and linebacker Deion Jones to one-year contracts on Friday.
In a continuing need to upgrade their receiving corps after trading star Stefon Diggs and losing Gabe Davis in free agency, Claypool has a chance to make an impact in a revamped group. The Bills have added Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins, Quintez Cephus and used their top pick (33rd) on Florida State WR Keon Coleman.
Claypool, 6–foot-4 and 238 pounds, has over 2,000 receiving yards and 13 TDs since entering the league. Claypool was a second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2020 NFL Draft and he set the franchise record in Week 5 with his four-touchdown performance.
Smoot spent seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 99 games, including 17 starts, he’s had 23.5 sacks, 133 total tackles, 64 quarterback hits, 27 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, five passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. He’ll have a chance to fill a spot behind Von Miller and Greg Rousseau.
Jones has played for three teams in his nine NFL seasons and has 13 career interceptions, five of which he’s returned for touchdowns. He has 731 tackles overall, 12 sacks and made at least 100 tackles in a season five times.
REPORTS: CHARGERS ADD WIDE RECEIVER DJ CHARK
Free agent wideout DJ Chark has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to multiple reports.
The contract could be worth up to $5 million with all incentives, according to CBS Sports.
Veteran receivers Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears) and Mike Williams (New York Jets) departed this offseason, leaving the Chargers with vacancies to fill in the passing game for quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Chargers used the draft to start filling some of those holes, selecting Georgia’s Ladd McConkey with the 34th overall pick. They added two more receivers in the seventh round, picking Cornelius Johnson out of Michigan and USC’s Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.
Chark, 27, caught 35 passes for 525 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) last season with the Carolina Panthers.
He has 212 receptions for 3,069 yards and 23 scores in 69 games (51 starts) with the Panthers, Detroit Lions (2022) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018-21), who drafted the 2019 Pro Bowl selection in the second round in 2018.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MIKE RILEY, FORMER COACH AT OREGON STATE AND NEBRASKA, WILL TAKE OVER FOR PAT CHUN ON CFP COMMITTEE
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Former Oregon State and Nebraska coach Mike Riley has been named to the College Football Playoff selection committee, executive director Bill Hancock announced Friday.
Riley will replace Pat Chun, who stepped down from the 13-person committee when he became athletic director at Washington in March.
“We are pleased to have Mike join the committee,” Hancock said. “He has significant experience as a player and coach, and he loves college football. He will bring a unique perspective to the committee. Plus, he is a delightful human being.”
Riley coached 48 years at the college and pro levels. He was head coach at Oregon State (1997-98 and 2003-14) and Nebraska (2015-17). He also has coached in five different pro leagues, including in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers (1999-2001). Most recently he was coach of the USFL’s New Jersey Generals (2022-23).
The CFP selection committee is responsible for ranking the top 25 teams beginning in early November and then assigning the 12 teams to the playoff bracket.
HORSE RACING
AFTER TOP BETTING CHOICES FIERCENESS AND SIERRA LEONE, IT’S WIDE OPEN FOR THE 150TH KENTUCKY DERBY
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Fate has not been kind to Mike Repole in the Kentucky Derby. The outspoken owner is 0 for 7, although he is perhaps best known for his two champions that never made the starting gate.
In 2011, Uncle Mo was scratched the day before the race because of a gastrointestinal infection. Last year, Forte was scratched the morning of the race due to a bruised right front foot.
Now, the self-made billionaire from Queens, New York, is back with Fierceness, the morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 150th Derby. The bay colt was last year’s 2-year-old champion and is coming off a 13 1/2-length win in the Florida Derby.
Fierceness will have to overcome a bit of Derby history: No horse has ever won out of the No. 17 post.
“The horse is just a different kind. He does everything so easy, so calm, so cool,” said Repole, known for his high energy and using his account on X as an incubator for racing reform and challenging critics. “A horse like this calms me down.”
A sharp-dressed crowd of about 150,000 is expected to jam Churchill Downs to wager and watch the 1 1/4-mile Derby. Post time is 6:57 p.m. EDT. The forecast calls for 79 degrees (26 Celsius) and a 40% chance of showers.
Fierceness is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, who have won a combined five derbies.
“I hope it doesn’t take as long as it took the Cubs to win the World Series,” Repole said of his efforts to bag one.
Like Repole, trainer Chad Brown is 0 for 7. He will saddle early 3-1 second choice Sierra Leone, who is known as a closer, and long shot Domestic Product. Sierra Leone is the priciest horse in the field, having cost $2.3 million.
Besides Brown, trainers Brad Cox and Danny Gargan have two entries apiece.
Louisville-born Cox won his first Derby belatedly when Mandaloun was elevated to first place after Medina Spirit’s disqualification nine months after the 2021 race. Now he has early 8-1 third choice Catching Freedom and 10-1 co-fourth choice Just a Touch, who didn’t race at age 2 like his sire, 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.
Gargan’s long-shot duo is Dornach and Society Man. Front-running Dornach breaks from the No. 1 post for co-owner and retired Philadelphia Phillies star Jayson Werth.
“Hopefully he’ll break running and we’ll put him on the front end and see how it goes,” Gargan said. “We planned on keeping his face clean. Now we’ll keep it real clean.”
Society Man is ridden by Frankie Dettori, who is back in the Derby at age 53 after 24 years.
Larry Demeritte is just the second Black trainer since 1951 to take a shot at winning the Derby. The 74-year-old who has fought cancer for several years will saddle the star of his 11-horse stable, West Saratoga, a colt that cost $11,000.
“My motto is, ‘I don’t buy cheap horses, I buy good horses cheap,’” he said.
Japan is represented by early 10-1 shot Forever Young (winner of five straight starts) and 30-1 shot T O Password. No horse from that country has ever won the Derby.
A year ago, two horses died on Derby day at Churchill Downs, where a total of 12 horses died in the weeks surrounding the race. The historic track has deepened its dirt racing surface and added to its safety protocols in an effort to prevent more tragedy.
Last May, Churchill Downs suspended trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. after two of his horses died and it scratched his Derby horse, Lord Miles. He is back this week with Catalytic.
Six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert is not. The trainer had his two-year suspension for Medina Spirit’s failed drug test in 2021 extended to a third year by Churchill Downs despite not having any further medication violations.
Four-time winner D. Wayne Lukas saddled long shot Just Steel, ridden by Keith Asmussen, the son of trainer Steve Asmussen. The elder Asmussen entered Track Phantom in an effort to stop his 0 for 25 skid in the Derby.
AUTO RACING
FOCUS SHIFTS TO KANSAS FOR FRUSTRATED DRIVERS
As the NASCAR Cup Series looked ahead to Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, much of the talk about last week’s race regarded the frustrations of falling behind.
As teams prepare for the season’s 12th race, a 267-lapper in Kansas City, Kan., drivers voiced concerns about the current Next Gen car, specifically how it has become a defensive asset instead of an offensive weapon.
Following last Saturday’s qualifying session and pole-winning lap at Dover, two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch said the car has better value essentially as a blocking tool than for pulling out and roaring by the car in front of him.
That manifested Sunday as Busch fought to get by former teammate Martin Truex Jr. but did not have the force in his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to move up a position.
“The aero blocking is just so bad,” Busch said after running fourth. “It’s so bad and everybody knows it and uses it as a defense item.”
Basically, getting the lead, moving around and making the car wider to prevent a second-place driver from being triumphant, is now the path to success on the speedway ovals.
In the 1987 version of The Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt, who would have turned 73 this week, famously frustrated Bill Elliott in the 10-lap dash for a $200,000 payout.
Despite his No. 9 Ford Thunderbird being faster, an angry Elliott could not pass Earnhardt’s blue and yellow No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in a race that featured the Intimidator’s legendary “Pass in the Grass” en route to victory.
However, blocking has become more sophisticated with technology.
When Earnhardt shut down Elliott, it was drivers and rear-view mirrors — and eventually spotters in the late 1980s — getting them to Victory Lane.
Nowadays, drivers have a rear-view camera mounted to the top of their back window that allows the leader to look at his dashboard and track the car behind him, making aero blocking in the closing laps just a simple act of following wherever the trailing car moves and snuffing an opposing run.
Kyle Larson was running down Dover winner Denny Hamlin over the last 50 laps but could only get as close as 0.20 seconds from the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s No. 11 Toyota.
“It’s just so easy as the leader … (to air block),” said Larson after Hamlin’s series-tying third win. “You just shut off the air to the guys behind you. I knew that when I got to within three car-lengths he’d start moving around.”
In fairness, Larson admitted that his only victory, at Las Vegas in March, was achieved by the same move of blocking the progress of Tyler Reddick in the final circuits — now an oval track trend.
Larson, the 2021 champion, also suggested maybe doing away with the rear cameras would improve the racing.
While the series is constantly looking ahead to the schedule’s next race, rest assured these drivers will continue to be looking back at what’s closing in on them as the laps wind down.
GOLF NEWS
JAKE KNAPP TAKES CONTROL AT CJ CUP BYRON NELSON
Jake Knapp’s second straight 7-under-par 64 vaulted him into the lead at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Friday in McKinney, Texas.
Starting his round on the back nine at TPC Craig Ranch, Knapp rolled in four birdies on each side, finishing with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 ninth to get him to 14-under 128. That was enough for a one-shot lead over Troy Merritt, who fired a 9-under 62 Friday, and first-round leader Matt Wallace of England (66).
Knapp, 29, is a PGA Tour rookie who broke through for an unlikely win at the Mexico Open in February. He tied for fourth the following week at the Cognizant Classic, but his results spiraled downward after that.
“I think I just got a little tired,” Knapp said. “I think mentally it was just a lot going on, and I wouldn’t say necessarily life changing, just everything got busier and days got longer. It was just a bit of an adjustment. Didn’t feel like I had the same energy throughout the day in some of those weeks, which was kind of a bummer.
“Decided to take last week off and give myself a good reset at home and work on some things I’ve been struggling with, and feel like it’s working out this week so far.”
Merritt also started on the back nine and made the turn in 3-under 32, then picked up steam on the front nine. After four more birdies, he drained a 16-foot eagle putt at No. 9 to secure the low round of the day.
Kelly Kraft (66) is in fourth at 12 under and Keith Mitchell shot a 65 to join a tie for fifth at 11 under with Davis Riley (67) and Canada’s Taylor Pendrith (67).
Defending champion Jason Day of Australia posted a 70 and was on track to make the cut on the number at 6 under. Jordan Spieth, the Dallas hometown favorite and highest-ranked player in the field at No. 20, will miss the cut at 4 under (68-70).
TOP INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES AND NEWS REPORTS
INDIANA PACERS
A PACERS-KNICKS PLAYOFF HISTORY PRIMER
After advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Thursday night, the Pacers will face a familiar foe in their next playoff series: the New York Knicks
1993: Starks’ Headbutt of Miller Sparks a Rivalry
The Knicks were heavy favorites in the first playoff meeting between the two teams. New York was the top seed in the East after winning 60 games in the regular season, while the Pacers snuck into the playoffs as the eighth seed with a .500 record.
The Knicks took the first two games of the series at Madison Square Garden, but the series is best remembered for what happened in Game 3 at Market Square Arena. As Miller recalled in the 30-for-30 documentary, “Winning Time,” when he went to shake hands with Knicks guard John Starks prior to the start of the game, Starks ignored him. “From that point, on I made it a mission — I’m going to embarrass this kid,” Miller said.
Miller was feeling himself on this particular night, knocking down shots and exchanging trash talk with Starks after every make. At one point in the third quarter, the two came face-to-face near midcourt. Starks lost his cool, headbutting Miller, who threw himself backwards in theatrical fashion. Starks was ejected and the Pacers rolled to a 116-93 win, with Miller scoring a game-high 36 points.
The Knicks would win Game 4 two days later to close out the best-of-five series, but the rivalry was officially born.
1994: Miller Taunts Spike Lee in Comeback Victory
Perhaps the most iconic image of Reggie Miller to Pacers fans is him making the choke sign at acclaimed director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee. That image is from Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, when Miller led the Pacers to an improbable comeback at Madison Square Garden.
The fifth-seeded Pacers had made their deepest postseason run, knocking off the Orlando Magic in the first round before upsetting top seed Atlanta in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to set up another meeting with the Knicks with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.
Both teams won the first two games on their homecourt, so the series shifted back to New York for Game 5 knotted at 2-2. The Knicks appeared on their way to another victory, up 70-58 entering the fourth quarter.
But Miller caught fire in the final frame, erupting for 25 points in the fourth quarter. As he hit shot after shot, he made sure to let Lee know, repeatedly shouting toward’s Lee’s courtside seat on his way back up the floor. The Pacers outscored New York 35-16 in the fourth quarter to steal the game, with Miller finishing with 39 points.
In his postgame interview with NBC’s Ahmad Rashad, Miller smiled said “Spike Who?” when asked about his interactions with Lee.
As memorable as that moment was for Pacers fans, the Knicks got the last laugh in this particular series, winning Game 6 in Indianapolis and then closing out the series in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.
1995: 8 Points in 9 Seconds, Pacers Eliminate Knicks for First Time
If Miller doing the choke sign is the most famous image from his career, his most memorable moment came in the same arena one year later.
The Pacers and Knicks met for the third straight year in 1995, this time in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In Game 1, the Knicks again appeared to have wrapped up a victory, up by six with 18.7 seconds remaining.
But once again, Miller rose the occasion. After hitting a quick three out of a timeout. Knicks forward Anthony Mason attempted to inbound Greg Anthony, but Anthony slipped and Mason’s pass went directly into the hands of Miller. Miller then quickly stepped outside the 3-point line and drilled another three to tie the game.
In the ensuing confusion, Pacers forward Sam Mitchell fouled Starks, not realizing the game was now tied. Once again, Miller taunted Starks and the Knicks guard missed both free throws. Miller rebounded the second and was fouled by Starks.
On the other end, Miller didn’t miss his free throws, making both to seal the most improbable victory in franchise history.
Miller’s postgame interview with NBC’s Dan Hicks is iconic in its own right, with Miller’s trademark bravado on full display.
“Mason choked, he threw it to me, I hit a three…John Starks choked, we came up big,” a euphoric Miller recalled, then closed the interview by exclaiming, “We feel we can sweep this team. This is for you, Indiana!”
It wouldn’t be a sweep, but the Pacers would ultimately prevail. Indiana got up 3-1, but the Knicks took the next two games to force a winner-take-all Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.
The final game came down to the wire, with Miller dueling with Knicks star center Patrick Ewing, both players finishing with 29 points. But Ewing missed a layup in the final seconds, allowing the Pacers to escape with a 97-95 victory.
Pacers radio broadcaster Mark Boyle celebrated the moment by shouting, “Ding dong! The witch is dead!” as the Blue & Gold finally bested the Knicks.
1998: More Miller Heroics, Pacers Prevail Again
The Pacers and Knicks didn’t meet in the playoffs for the next two seasons, but found themselves matched up once again in the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Pacers took the first two games at Market Square Arena before the Knicks won Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Game 4 was most competitive game in the series and featured even more heroics from Miller, who hit a 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left to force overtime.
Indiana pulled away in the extra session for a 118-107 victory, behind 38 points from Miller. Rik Smits added 23 and Mark Jackson had a double-double with 16 points and 15 assists.
The Pacers closed out the series in Game 5 at home, with Jackson recording the first triple-double in the NBA playoffs in franchise history with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists.
1999: Four-Point Play Propels Knicks Upset
The Pacers wound up losing in seven games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, but it felt like it was finally Indiana’s year in 1999 following Jordan’s retirement.
The second-seeded Pacers swept series with Milwaukee and Philadelphia to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they faced the upstart Knicks, who won two series as the eighth seed.
The two teams split a pair of games in Indiana with Ewing notably injuring his Achilles in Game 2, an ailment that would keep him sidelined for the remainder of the postseason.
Game 3 was the turning point in the series. Indiana led 91-88 in the closing seconds before Knicks forward Larry Johnson was fouled by Antonio Davis and hit a three (a call still considered questionable by many Pacers fans). Johnson completed the four-point play to lift New York to victory.
The Pacers rebounded to win Game 4, but the Knicks took the final two games of the series, with Allan Houston’s 32-point performance in a close-out Game 6 eliminating Indiana.
2000: Pacers Exact Revenge, Reach First NBA Finals
The Pacers and Knicks would meet again in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000. This time, the Pacers got their revenge.
The series opened at Indiana’s new arena, Conseco Fieldhouse (now Gainbridge Fieldhouse), where the Pacers protected their home court by sweeping the first two games. The Knicks did the same in Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden and the Pacers took Game 5 back in Indianapolis.
In Game 6, Miller had another magical night in what would be his final playoff game at Madison Square Garden. The future Hall of Famer scored 34 points, going 10-for-19 from the field, 5-for-7 from 3-point range, and 9-for-9 from the free throw line to lift Indiana to its first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. As the final buzzer sounded, an ecstatic Miller leapt into the arms of teammate Jalen Rose.
2013: Rivalry Renewed, Hibbert Blocks Carmelo to Seal Series Win
While the Pacers-Knicks rivalry is best remembered for those six playoff series involving Miller, the two teams had one more memorable postseason battle in 2013.
The third-seeded Pacers and second-seeded Knicks met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals that season. The Pacers were a young upstart team, led by All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert, while the Knicks had a veteran squad built around scoring phenom Carmelo Anthony.
Indiana took Game 1 in New York before the Knicks rebounded to win Game 2. The Pacers protected their home court over the next two games, taking Game 3 behind 24 points and 12 rebounds from Hibbert and Game 4 thanks to 26 points from George Hill and double-doubles by George and David West.
Anthony scored 28 points in Game 5 as the Knicks extended the series, but the Pacers returned to Indianapolis with a chance to close it out on their home court. The Knicks wouldn’t make it easy.
Anthony dropped 39 points in Game 6 and the Knicks led 92-90 with five minutes to go. That’s when Anthony spun past George on the baseline and rose up for a right-hand slam. Hibbert was there to meet him at the rim, however, somehow having the strength to deny the dunk attempt.
That proved to be the turning point, as the Pacers outscored New York 16-7 the rest of the way en route to victory. Three players surpassed 20 points for the Blue & Gold in the victory: Lance Stephenson (25 points and 10 rebounds), George (23 points), and Hibbert (21 points, 12 boards, and five blocks.
INDIANA FEVER
GAME RECAP: CLARK AND SMITH LEAD FEVER IN PRESEASON LOSS AT DALLAS
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and forward NaLyssa Smith led Indiana with 21 and 20 points each as the Fever dropped the 2024 preseason opener at the Dallas Wings, 79-76, on Friday night.
Clark’s 21 points and five made 3-point field goals both set franchise records for rookie preseason debuts, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Her final 3-point attempt did not fall at the buzzer in an attempt to send the game to overtime. Smith ended her night converting 10-of-13 from the free throw line.
In the first quarter, Clark led the Fever with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range, including making her first two attempts from beyond the arc in an Indiana Fever uniform.
Fever guard Erica Wheeler had 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting and a team-high four assists to go along with four rebounds. Center Aliyah Boston began her second season with Indiana with eight points and a team-best eight rebounds. Center Temi Fagbenle led Indiana in bench scoring with five points to go along with three rebounds.
For Dallas, guard Jaelyn Brown led the Wings with 21 points, while center Teaira McCowan finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Guard Arike Ogunbowale started the preseason with 19 points on 9-of-24 shooting.
UP NEXT
The Fever close out the preseason schedule against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. ET. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the WNBA App and on WNBA League Pass. Find Tickets »
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
BISONS BREAK AWAY IN THE SIXTH FOR INDIANS FIRST LOSS OF HOMESTAND
INDIANAPOLIS – The Buffalo Bisons scored in five consecutive innings as the Indianapolis Indians suffered their first loss of the homestand on Friday night at Victory Field, 10-4.
After tying the game at 2-2 in the fifth, the Bisons (17-13) outscored the Indians 8-2 in the final four innings to erupt for the win. The game-winning runs came in the sixth inning against J.C. Flowers (L, 2-1) after two walks, two errors and an RBI single by Leo Jimenez.
Buffalo got on the board first in the top of the third inning, after Steward Berroa singled to left and was then knocked in after swiping a bag by a Spencer Horwitz single. The lead was short-lived, with Indianapolis (15-13) responding in the bottom half on a two-run single by Jake Lamb.
Following a Jimenez leadoff walk and a Will Robertson single, Buffalo tied the game in the fifth on a Cam Eden sacrifice fly. The Bisons then continued the momentum for the win.
Bisons reliver Hayden Juenger (W, 2-0) punched out five in 2.0 innings of work. He led the bullpen as four relievers combined for eight punchouts in 5.0 innings.
The Indians defense committed six errors, their most since also having six on May 21, 2022, vs. Toledo.
Indianapolis and Buffalo will square off in the fifth game of the six-game set tomorrow at 6:35 PM ET. Neither team has named a starting pitcher.
INDY ELEVEN
PREVIEW #MBVIND
#MBvIND Preview
Monterey Bay F.C. vs Indy Eleven
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – 10 p.m. ET /7 p.m. PT
Cardinale Stadium | Seaside, Calif.
Follow Live
Streaming Video: CBS Sports Golazo Network
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #MBvIND MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Monterey Bay F.C.: 4-2-2, 14 pts (+2); 3rd Western Conference
Indy Eleven: 2-4-2, 8 pts (-4); 8th Eastern Conference
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday at Western Conference opponent Monterey Bay F.C.
Indy is coming off a 2-1 win over North Carolina FC to move to 2-4-2 on the season and sit at eighth in the Eastern Conference. Monterey Bay F.C. fell to Orange County, 2-0, in its last outing and sits at 4-2-2 and third in the Western Conference in 2024.
SERIES VS. MONTEREY BAY
Saturday marks the third all-time meeting between the two clubs with Monterey Bay holding the 2-0-0 all-time advantage.
Indy trails 0-2-0 | GF 2, GA 8
Recent Meetings
April 22, 2023 | L, 3-2 | Home
Sept. 17, 2022 | L, 5-0 | Away
LAST TIME OUT
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, April 27, 2024) – A 75th-minute strike from Douglas Martinez gave Indy Eleven a 2-1 victory over Eastern Conference foe North Carolina FC on Saturday.
After a scoreless first half, it didn’t take long for either team to get on the board with Indy Eleven doing so courtesy of a North Carolina own goal off a 48th-minute Jack Blake free kick. The visitors evened the score just three minutes later as Louis Perez got on the end of a Rafa Mentzingen cross.
Indy Eleven saw déjà vu in the 75th minute as Blake and Cam Lindley stepped up to take a free kick in roughly the same spot as where the opening goal started. This time, Blake found Callum Chapman-Page on the back post, who played a one-time ball into the head of Martinez. Martinez beat the North Carolina keeper for his second goal of the season. The helper was the first for Chapman-Page.
Blake led the Boys in Blue with four of the team’s seven shots, while Hunter Sulte registered three saves.
Scoring Summary
IND – own goal 48’
NC – Louis Perez (Rafa Mentzingen) 51’
IND – Douglas Martinez (Callum Chapman-Page) 75’
Discipline Summary
IND – Tega Ikoba (caution) 45+1’
NC – Julian Placias (caution) 72’
NC – Ezra Armstrong (caution) 74’
NC – Shaft Brewer (caution) 85’
NC – Rodrigo da Costa (caution) 90+1’
#GOALS
The Boys in Blue have scored in eight straight matches to open the 2024 season, bringing their total to 13 (T4 USL). The streak is the longest to open a USL Championship campaign (6 in 2019) and longer than any streak during the 2023 season (5 – 2x). It is the longest run overall for the club since a 12-game streak during the 2022 season.
In total, Indy has scored in 11 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.
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.
TOTW X3
Jack Blake earned his third USL Championship Team of the Week honor of the 2024 season following a two-goal performance against Louisville City FC (4.6). Blake also earned back-to-back team of the week accolades following his performances in weeks one and two. Blake leads Indy Eleven with four goals in six matches after scoring a pair against LouCity, already besting his season total (3) from 2023.
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. Following week eight, Callum Chapman-Page earned bench honors.
INDIANA TRACK
MOCKLER BETTERS SCHOOL RECORD IN HAMMER, HOOSIERS WIN SEVEN EVENTS AT BILLY HAYES INVITATIONAL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana track and field closed out the regular season with a school record in the Hammer Throw from Sean Mockler and seven event wins and 24 personal bests at the Billy Hayes Invitational.
Mockler broke his own school record in the Hammer throw, pushing his mark to 68.82m/225-09. He currently ranks in the top-20 in the NCAA, with the 17th best mark.
The Hoosiers went to work on the track and field as they led in seven events from: Alex Smith (Long Jump), Grayson Rolen (High Jump), Antonio Laidler (100m), Micah Camble (400mH), Otto De St Jeor (200m), Mariah Wehrle (1500m) and the men’s 4x100m relay.
Laidler had the fastest time of the day in the 100m dash with a time of 10.34 in the final heat. De St Jeor had a great win in the 200m race as he crossed the finish with a personal best of 20.95. Novo Onovwerosuoke finished in second with a time of 21.31.
The sprinters improved on their 4x100m relay as they entered the top-10 all-time performance list. Onovwerosuoke, Laidler, De St Jeor and Trelee Banks ran the sixth fastest time in program history of 39.91 for the win.
Micah Camble had his best race of the season with a win and a personal best in the 400mH. He clocked a time of 51.15 in his lap around the oval. On the women’s side, Ryann Parrish added a top-three finish with a PR of 1:00.68.
Nico Colchico had a lifetime personal best of 1:47.59, as he entered in the top-10 list with the sixth fastest time.
Cole Raymond finished second in the 3000m Steeplechase with a big personal best time of 9:13.52. Mariah Wehrle added a win in the 1500m with the fastest time of 4:21.12.
In the field, Smith and Rolen led the men’s jumpers in their respective events. Rolen posted a season best mark of 2.06m/6-9 while teammate Deepak Laungani finished second after clearing the same height for a personal best. Kelly Moran placed second in the triple jump with a personal best mark of 12.13m/39-9.75.
Up next, Indiana will head to the Outdoor Big Ten Championships, hosted by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on May 10-12.
Billy Hayes Invitational: May 3
Time Event: Athletes
100mH: Prelims (M) 3. Olivia Gee: 13.60q (13.598)
100mH: Finals (W) 3. Olivia Gee: 13.95
100 Meter: Prelims (W) 11. Symone Adams: 12:34
14. Tripti Tiwari: 12.48 | Personal Best
100 Meter: Prelims (M) 1. Antonio Laidler: 10.38Q
17. Gage Pratt: 11.12
100 Meter: Finals (M) 1. Antonio Laidler: 10.34
3000 Meters (W) 4. Claire Overfelt: 10:00.68
14. Andi VanMeter: 10:36.38
3000 Meters (M) 4. Abe Eckman: 8:25.09
4×100 Meter Relay (M) 1. Onovwerosuoke, Laidler, De St Jeor, Banks: 39.91 | No. 6 in program history
1500 Meters (W) 6. Grace Tyson: 4:38.92 | Personal Best
8. Allie Latta: 4:45.09 | Personal Best
12. Jasmine Klopstad: 4:50.64
800 Meter Invite (W) 4. Maddie Russin: 2:08.15
800 Meter Invite (M) 2. Nico Colchico: 1:47.59 | Personal Best, No. 6 in program history
7. Keefer Soehngen: 1:50.37
400 Meter (W) 11. Cambell Wamsley: 58.25
400 Meter (M) 6. Jaylen Grimes: 48.69 | Personal Best
400mH (W) 3. Ryann Parrish: 1:00.68 | Personal Best
6. Kai Snell: 1:02.66 | Personal Best
400mH (M) 1. Micah Camble: 51.15 | Personal Best
5. John Colquitt: 53.24
200 Meter (W) 2. Morgan Snow: 24.30
9. Kristina Vincic: 24.82
10. Tripti Tiwari: 25:44 | Personal Best
200 Meter (M) 1. Otto De St Jeor: 20.95 | Personal Best
2. Novo Onovwerosuoke: 21.31
4. Trelee Banks: 21.54
10. Gage Pratt: 22.00 | Personal Best
12. Jaylen Grimes: 22.30 | Personal Best
3000 Meter Steeple (W) 2. Cole Raymond: 9:13.52 | Personal Best
1500 Meter (W) 1. Mariah Wehrle: 4:21.12 | Personal Best
4. Lily Myers: 4:22.54 | Personal Best
1500 Meter (M) 3. Aidan Lord: 3:41.77 | Personal Best
6. Martin Segurola: 3:43.70 | Personal Best
9. Skylar Stidam: 3:46.51 | Personal Best
Hammer (W) 9. Emily Herndon: 50.08m/164-03 | Personal Best
10. Bridget Beyer: 47.79m/156-09
Hammer (M) 2. Sean Mockler: 68.82m/225-09 | Personal Best, School Record, No. 17 in NCAA
8. Tyler Reyna: 57.62m/189-0
10. Hunter Smith: 54.43m/178-7
Discus (M) 7. Tyler Reyna: 49.77m/163-03 | Personal Best
9. Drew Franklin: 48.26m/158-04
17. Hunter Smith: 45.75m/150-01
20. Garrett Messer: 44.56m/146-02
31. Max Grangier: 28.85m/94-08
Javelin (W) 5. Shanna Esters: 39.97m/131-01 | Personal Best
Pole Vault (M) 2. Tyler Carrel: 5.30m/17-4.50
3. Nathan Stone: 5.15m/16-10.75
4. Riley Johnston: 5.00m/16-4.75
8. Tyler Sierks: 4.85m/15-11
Long Jump (M) 1. Alex Smith: 7.41m/24-3.75
High Jump (W) 5. Taylor Schoonveld: 1.69m/5-6.50
High Jump (M) 1. Grayson Rolen: 2.06m/6-9
2. Deepak Laungani: 2.06m/6-9 | Personal Best
Shot Put (M) 13. Drew Franklin: 14.98m/49-1.75
Shot Put (W) 7. Emily Herndon: 14.37m/47-1.75
Triple Jump (W) 2. Kelly Moran: 12.13m/39-9.75 | Personal Best
INDIANA SB
INDIANA DROPS FRIDAY GAME AT NO. 20 NORTHWESTERN
EVANSTON, Ill. ––– After leading through the first five innings, Indiana fell to No. 20 Northwestern, 6-3, on Friday night.
With the loss, the Hoosiers’ season record now stands at 36-16 overall with an 11-10 Big Ten mark.
INDIANA 3, NO. 20 NORTHWESTERN 6
KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana drew three walks in the top of the first inning but could not score.
• The Hoosiers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when senior Aaliyah Andrews scored on a groundout double play.
• They extended the lead in the fourth to 3-0. Junior Brianna Copeland singled to right field to score freshman Alex Cooper. In the next at bat, senior Brooke Benson scored on a Northwestern error.
• Northwestern scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Raye hit a left center to make it 3-1.
• The Wildcats continued their run in the fifth and sixth innings. Cady singled up the middle in the fifth and scored Nader to bring the score to 3-2.
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, an RBI double from Lindsey and a three-run home run from Nader made it a 6-3 game.
NOTABLES
• Benson was 2-for-3 with a double.
• Copeland’s five strikeouts brings her season total to 148.
• Minnick and Copeland each had an RBI.
UP NEXT
Indiana will be back in action tomorrow for game two of the series at No. 20 Northwestern with a 2 p.m. (ET)/1 p.m. (CT) first pitch.
INDIANA BASEBALL
DEFENSIVE MISCUES HURT HOOSIERS IN SERIES OPENER
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A quartet of errors from the Hoosier defense on Friday (May 3rd) cost the Indiana Baseball team (25-19-1, 10-6 B1G) the series opener at Alexander Field in West Lafayette. Purdue plated five combined runs in the seventh and eighth to finish off a 7-4 Friday victory.
IU opened the game in top of the first on an RBI-single from redshirt freshman Joey Brenczewski but the defensive miscues began in the bottom half of the frame. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Keyster walked the first batter before he committed a throwing error. Purdue’s three-hole hitter doubled into left field to take the lead right back.
The Hoosiers leveled the score in the sixth with a double from sophomore shortstop Tyler Cerny. IU had a chance to get out of the seventh but Cerny was forced to make a double play on his own and the throw was too late. Purdue’s catcher Connor Caskenette singled to hand the hosts a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Graduate student pitcher Drew Buhr was phenomenal with 4.2 innings of work, allowing just five hits and zero runs with three strikeouts. He wasn’t factored into the decision. Brayden Risedorph (L, 2-6) allowed five runs, only three were earned in 2.1 innings. His defense didn’t help him with back-to-back errors forcing his exit from the contest.
The Hoosiers will hand the ball over to sophomore Connor Foley tomorrow afternoon who is scheduled to make his first appearance since the Penn State series. IU got multi-hit games from three different players but will look for more offensive production on Saturday (May 4th) afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.
Scoring Recap
Top First
After a double from Josh Pyne and a single from Tyler Cerny, Joey Brenczewski singled past the outstretched arm of the Purdue shortstop to hand IU an early lead.
Indiana 1, Purdue 0
Bottom First
IU’s lead was short lived in the first. Starting pitcher Brandon Keyster walked the first batter and then committed a fielding error on the very next play. Connor Caskenette made him pay, taking the next pitch into left field for a two-run double. Keyster only recorded one out. Drew Buhr came in to finish off the next two.
Purdue 2, Indiana 1
Top Sixth
After four-straight scoreless innings, Cerny leveled the score in the sixth with a double down the right field line to score Devin Taylor.
Indiana 2, Purdue 2
Bottom Seventh
Once again, Caskenette came to the plate to pounce on an IU miscue. Brayden Risedorph induced a groundball to the shortstop but IU couldn’t complete the double play. The ball was hit hard enough that second baseman Jasen Oliver couldn’t get to the bag. Cerny had to take it himself but the throw was late to first base. After taking second without a throw, Purdue got a two-run single up the middle to take a 4-2 lead.
Purdue 4, Indiana 2
Top Eighth
Taylor did his best to crawl back into the game. He hit a 440-foot home run, 110 miles per hour off the bat, over the fence to cut the deficit to one.
Purdue 4, Indiana 3
Bottom Eighth
Things got out of hand in the eighth as IU continued its defensive struggles. Risedorph got another groundball, this time to Brandon Burckel at second base, but he threw away a potential double play ball. The Hoosiers also had a catcher’s interference and allowed a bunt single after slowly running for the ball that went right back to the pitcher. In total, Purdue plated three but left the bases loaded.
Purdue 7, Indiana 3
Top Ninth
The Hoosiers got a consolation run in the ninth. Brenczewski walked but a pair of hard hit balls right at the defense only allowed him to score via a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carter Mathison. Brock Tibbitts, who singled on his return to the lineup, was thrown out trying to steal second to end the game.
Purdue 7, Indiana 4
Top Hoosier Performers
#23 Brenczewski, Joey
1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB
#5 Taylor, Devin
2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
#24 Buhr, Drew
4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 K
Notes to Know
• Graduate student Drew Buhr lowered his season earned run average (ERA) to 3.13 across 31.2 innings pitched and 16 appearances this year. He’s continued his phenomenal performance as of late and has just a 1.31 ERA in conference play, allowing just three runs in 20.2 innings pitched in the Big Ten.
• Sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor hit his team-leading 12th home run of the season. In two years of college ball, he’s hit 28 home runs. He also has 126 hits in just 99 games played.
• Junior third baseman Josh Pyne had a pair of doubles to take his career tally to 54. He moves into a tie for seventh in program history with Mike Sabo (1985-88). Next up on the all-time list is Sam Travis (2012-14).
Up Next
A quick turnaround awaits as these two teams are set to meet on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM. The game will be streamed on BTN+ and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
PURDUE BASEBALL
CASKENETTE STARS AGAIN WITH 5 RBI IN BASEBALL’S 11TH STRAIGHT B1G WIN
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – As the only Boilermaker to record an RBI in the game, Connor Caskenette’s fourth five-RBI effort of the season powered Purdue Baseball to an 11th consecutive win in Big Ten play with a 7-4 victory vs. rival Indiana on Friday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (31-15, 12-4) won their sixth consecutive game overall and moved into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten after Ohio State handed Illinois only its second home loss of the season Friday. Purdue’s 11-game win streak in Big Ten play now stands alone as a program record and the longest in the conference since Michigan opened league play 11-0 in 2018.
The Boilermakers did not trail for a full frame (top and bottom) for the sixth consecutive game and eighth straight in Big Ten play – a streak that now stands at 72 straight innings against conference rivals. Purdue also has victories against five different foes – Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan State, Northwestern and Indiana – during its long Big Ten win streak.
Caskenette connected for a two-run double in the first inning and a two-out, two-run single to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh. He also drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the eighth inning as the Boilermakers scored three insurance runs to extend their lead. Caskenette has 15 RBI in the last three games and a Big Ten-best 65 for the season, moving into fourth place on the program’s single-season list. His double was Purdue’s lone extra-base hit of the night.
Jordan Morales gave the Boilermakers another quality outing, striking out five over 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball. The lefty threw only 72 pitches and posted four consecutive zeros, retiring 11 of 12 batters from the second through fifth innings.
Mike Bolton Jr. reached base safely in four of his five plate appearances. He opened the night with a leadoff walk, igniting a first-inning rally for the eighth straight game.
Off the bench, Ty Gill and Logan Sutter both reached base safely to begin an inning and in doing so helped Purdue score five times over its final two frames at the plate. Sutter singled in both of his at-bats, joining Breck Nowik, Couper Cornblum and Caskenette with a pair of hits.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 25-game on-base streak; 22-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 15-game on-base streak at home; 10-game hit streak in Big Ten play; reached base safely to begin a game in 8 straight contests
• Connor Caskenette – 9-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 14-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; hit safely, drove in a run in 6 consecutive games (all games)
• Keenan Spence – 9-game on-base streak at home
• Ty Gill – 9-game on-base streak at home
• Couper Cornblum – 98 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
A replay review proved to be a key moment in the game, with an overturned call helping bring Caskenette to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Camden Gasser beat a relay throw to first base to stay out of an inning-ending 6-3 double play. Although he was initially called out at first, it was quickly overturned on review. Caskenette came to the plate with runners on the corners and one out. The Hoosiers’ Brayden Risedorph put Caskenette in an 0-2 count, but IU (25-19-1, 10-6 Big Ten) gave Gasser second on an uncontested stolen base on ball one and Caskenette hit a 2-2 pitch up the middle to put the Boilermakers ahead to stay.
The game ended on an unexpected out at second base as Brock Tibbitts unwisely tried to catch Purdue napping and steal second before Aaron Suval delivered a pitch. Suval stepped off the mound and threw to Gasser covering the bag for the 27th out of the night.
Avery Cook (2-1) retired the first five batters he faced as the first man out of the bullpen in relief of Morales. Suval earned his seventh career save while being on the mound for the game’s final five outs.
The Boilermakers improved to 6-2 vs. their rivals at Alexander Field since the stadium opened in 2013.
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
PURDUE SB
SOFTBALL TIES TRIPLES RECORD VS MICHIGAN STATE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With Tyrina Jones’ triple in the sixth inning, Purdue softball tied its season record of 18 triples, originally set in its inaugural season (1994) and last matched in 2012. Despite the effort, Purdue (25-24, 11-10 Big Ten) fell 0-3 to Michigan State (19-30, 5-16 Big Ten) in the series opener.
The Boilermakers entered the weekend ranked 10th in the nation in triples per game (0.35), now tie Maryland for first in the Big Ten in triples (18). It is the third time in program history the Boilermakers have reached the threshold (1994, 2010 and 2012).
Despite the shutout, Purdue and Michigan State were tied 3-3 in hits. No errors were committed.
Michigan State scored in the fourth inning and held the one-run lead until the seventh inning, when the Spartans earned a walk with the bases loaded, followed by a run on a fielder’s choice.
Hits were recorded by Moriah Polar (single in the third inning), Jones (triple in the sixth) and Hailey Hayes (single in the seventh). In total, five Boilermakers were left stranded, with Jones the lone Boilermaker to reach third base during the game.
Julia Gossett (9-11) received the loss, allowing one run and two hits over the first four innings of play. Jules Raymond entered in relief to close out the game, allowing two runs on one hit.
Two games remain in the regular season. Tomorrow, the Boilermakers return to take on the Spartans at 2 p.m. ET for Senior Day before the regular season finale and Bark at the Park takes place Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The games will be streamed on B1G+.
NOTRE DAME LAX
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND: #1 IRISH BLOW BY #5 VIRGINIA, 18-9
CHARLOTTE – The No. 1 Fighting Irish punched its ticket to the ACC Championship title game for the fourth tournament in a row, defeating No. 5 Virginia 18-9 with their most complete performance of the season.
An astounding 14 different Notre Dame players registered a goal in the victory. The Irish attack was led by Devon McLane’s four goals, while Pat Kavanagh, Chris Kavanagh and Jordan Faison each finished with four points off a goal and three assists.
Liam Entenmann showed why he was voted the ACC Goalie and Defensive Player of the Year earlier in the week, as he put on a masterclass in goal on Friday. The graduate student finished with 18 saves while allowing just six goals, completely shutting down the Virginia attack.
Freshman Shawn Lyght also had a remarkable game, shutting down Connor Shellenberger in his defensive assignment. The defenseman didn’t allow the All-American to record a single point while guarding him throughout the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish could not have asked for a much better opening 15 minutes of action, as they jumped on top with a score of 6-1 after the first quarter. Lynch won the first five faceoffs of the day and Notre Dame took advantage by scoring the first four goals courtesy of Will Angrick, Devon McLane, Jake Taylor and Lynch.
After a Virginia goal cut the lead to 4-1, Jordan Faison and Will Donovan scored the final two goals of the frame to put the Irish on top by five.
Notre Dame continued its strong run of play into the second quarter. After a Cavaliers goal trimmed the lead to 6-2, the Irish responded with goals from Chris Kavanagh and Jalen Seymour to extend the advantage to 8-2 with 10 minutes left in the half.
The Irish then scored two of the final three goals of the quarter, making the score 10-3 at the halftime break. The two final Fighting Irish were scored by McLane and Angrick to give the Irish the seven-goal lead after 30 minutes of play.
The Blue and Gold carried its momentum from the first half into the second, outsourcing the Cavaliers 4-1 in the period to take a 14-4 lead into the final frame. Virginia opened the scoring in the second half, finding the back of the net within the first minute and then it was all Irish the rest of the quarter.
Bryce Walker, Pat Kavanagh, Nick Harris and Max Busenkell each found the back of the net in the quarter to push the lead to 10, the largest of the day at that point.
The Irish lead grew to as many as 12 with the score at 17-5 with just under 10 minutes left in regulation but Virginia managed to score four of the final five goals after Notre Dame went deeper into its bench and the Irish won by a score of 18-9.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
The Irish will play in their fifth ACC Championship title game in program history, including each of the last four.
Notre Dame is now 6-0 against top-10 teams this season, including a mark of 4-0 against teams ranked in the top five at the time of the game.
The Irish remained unbeaten away from Arlotta Stadium in 2024, going 6-0 in games played outside of South Bend.
The Notre Dame attack has finished in double-figures for goals in every game this season.
The Irish limited Virginia to single-digit goals for the second-straight week, marking the first time the Cavaliers have been held under 10 goals in back-to-back games since the 2016 season.
Notre Dame leveled the all-time series against Virginia with the win at 11-11, winning each of the last three matchups.
The nine-goal win is tied for the second largest by the Irish in the all-time series against the Cavaliers.
Notre Dame’s nine game win streak is the longest in a season since winning 10 consecutive games during the 2012 season.
The Irish extra-man unit was clicking on all cylinders, finishing 4-for-5 on the day.
With four points, Pat Kavanagh has posted four or more points in 10 of 12 games this season and has finished with at least three in every contest.
Entenmann has recorded double-digit saves in four straight games and in six of his last seven outings.
McLane registered his fifth hat trick of the season and has recorded three or more goals in three straight games.
Chris Conlin scored his first goal in his time at Notre Dame and his second career goal.
UP NEXT
The Irish will play for the ACC Championship title in Charlotte at American Legion Memorial Stadium at noon ET on Sunday, May 5. Notre Dame will play the winner of Syracuse vs. Duke and the game will air on ACCN.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
NOTRE DAME DROPS SERIES OPENER 3-1 TO PITTSBURGH
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame (23-21, 7-18 ACC) suffered a gritty 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh (19-23, 6-16 ACC) in the first of three meetings between the teams.
Pittsburgh scored all three of their runs in the first four innings with Notre Dame holding them scoreless in the final five innings. The Irish have outscored opponents 122-68 in the seventh inning or later this season through today’s game.
The Irish came into the game leading the nation with a .984 fielding percentage. They recorded another perfect 1.000 fielding performance in today’s game, including a spectacular over-the-shoulder diving catch in the outfield by OF TJ Williams, who laid out to retire the leadoff batter in the top of the third.
Entering the weekend, Notre Dame had turned 39 fielding double plays this season, ranking second in the ACC. They bring the season total to 40 with another combined effort from infielders Jack Penney, Estevan Moreno and Connor Hincks. Hincks, leading the ACC in fielding double plays, brings his individual season total to 39. The next-closest individual entered the weekend with 31.
RHP Ricky Reeth did not give up any runs, walked just one and struck out three in his relief effort through four complete innings. Starting RHP Matt Bedford (2-6) struck out five, but ultimately took the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After forcing Pittsburgh’s leadoff batter into a groundout and giving up a walk, Bedford dealt back-to-back strikeouts to swiftly send the Irish up to bat. The Irish reciprocated a leadoff groundout and a drawn walk by OF David Glancy, but another groundout into a double play moved the game to the second inning.
In the second, after another lead off groundout to Moreno for the Panthers, Bedford delivered his third strikeout of the night. Though the next couple of Pittsburgh batters were able to draw walks, another groundout to Moreno secured the third out.
Pittsburgh starter RHP Ryan Andrade managed to strike out the first two Irish in order. INF Simon Baumgardt singled to the left side, and was then able to advance on a passed ball. A foul out pushed the game to the next half inning.
In the top of the third, Williams made an incredible over-the-shoulder snag in deep center field to sit the leadoff batter. A pair of singles put two on base for the Panthers. Another single to follow scored one, putting Pittsburgh up 1-0. A flyout and a foul out ended the half inning, but the Irish were unable to produce from the plate, going three up, three down.
The Panthers led off with a single in the fourth, but Bedford quickly struck out the next batter swinging. After a flyout and a drawn walk, the next Pittsburgh batter doubled, tacking on two more runs and bringing the score to 3-0. Bedford then delivered a three-pitch strikeout, recording his fifth of the night and helping the Irish escape the top half of the inning. Glancy singled up the middle, but a flyout and double play closed out the fourth.
After a groundout and a single in the top of the fifth, the Irish turned a double play–a combined effort from Penney, Moreno, and Hincks. The double play marked Notre Dame’s 40th of the season, Hincks having a hand in 39 of them. All three Irish batters were retired in the bottom of the fifth.
Reeth took the mound for Bedford in the top of the sixth. It was a quiet inning with both teams going three up, three down. Reeth recorded his first strikeout as part of the defensive effort. The Irish defense further held the Panthers a second-consecutive three up, three down in the top of the seventh, but after a strikeout, drawn walk by Penney, a flyout and groundout, were also held scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the eighth, the Panthers hit a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt and a fielder’s choice to Penney notched the first two outs for the Irish defense. After another single, Reeth struck out his second batter of the night to bring the Irish back to the plate.
Baumgardt led off the top of the eighth with a single up the middle. Another single by OF Tito Flores advanced Baumgardt. DH Brady Gumpf sent one more single to left field, scoring Baumgardt. A sacrifice bunt by C Joey Spence advanced Gumpf and Flores into scoring position, but neither were able to turn home on a strikeout and flyout to move the game to the ninth at 3-1.
Notre Dame kept Pittsburgh scoreless in the ninth, forcing a flyout on the leadoff batter. After the next batter singled to second base, Reeth rang another strikeout. After a passed ball and a walk, the Irish forced a final groundout. In the bottom of the ninth, after a flyout and a strikeout, Hincks singled to left field. However, the Irish were unable to pull off a rally, and the game ended on a flyout with a 3-1 score.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and Pittsburgh continue for Game Two of the weekend series on Saturday, May 4 at 4 p.m. ET. The series will then conclude on Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. ET. Both games will be broadcast nationally on ACC Network.
BUTLER SOFTBALL
BUTLER SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH VILLANOVA, STILL IN HUNT FOR POSTSEASON
VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Butler softball team won the opening game of a series with regular-season conference champion Villanova but then dropped the second game of the Friday doubleheader. The Bulldogs (21-27, 10-13 BIG EAST) and Wildcats (28-21, 19-4 BIG EAST) will play the rubber match on Saturday.
Villanova has locked up the number one seed in the postseason BIG EAST Tournament, while the Bulldogs are fighting with Providence for the sixth and final spot. Winning percentage in BIG EAST play is the determining factor in all seeding, with head-to-head results breaking any ties. With its win today, Butler is now 10-13 (.435) with one game to potentially play. Providence is 10-12 (.455) with two potential games remaining, both at Creighton.
Game 1: Butler 7, Villanova 3 (7 innings)
In the top of the first inning, Hailey Conger reached base, and Ella White (2-4, HR, 2RBI) brought her home with a two-run home run. Butler led, 2-0, after one complete.
In the second, Villanova got one back using a double, a passed ball, and an RBI single. The score was 2-1 Bulldogs.
After the Wildcats had tied the game at 2-2 in the third, Rylyn Dyer replaced starter Katie Petran in the circle. Villanova added one more and led, 3-2, going into the fourth.
Back-to-back singles in the fourth put Butler back into the lead. Olivia Moxley (2-3, 2RBI) knocked in Olivia Roberts from third, and Cate Lehner’s (3-4, RBI, SB) hard infield hit caromed off the Villanova pitcher, allowing Kieli Ryan to score.
In the sixth, Moxley hit her second RBI-single of the day, putting the Bulldogs up, 5-3.
The Dawgs added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. After a White single, Monique Hoosen (3-4, 2B, RBI) and Teagan O’Rilley hit back-to-back doubles, extending the lead to 7-3.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but a diving catch by Kaylee Gross in left field produced the third out and ended the game.
Katie Petran (3.0IP, 3R, 5H, 3BB) started in the circle for Butler. She was replaced by Rylyn Dyer in the third inning but returned in the seventh to finish the game. Dyer pitched 4.0 innings and was credited with the win for the Bulldogs. She held the Wildcats scoreless while giving up four hits and a walk.
Game 2: Villanova 7, Butler 5 (7 innings)
Villanova struck early, scoring three runs on five singles in the bottom of the first inning.
In the top of the third, three straight singles from the Bulldogs pushed Olivia Moxley across for Butler’s first run. Ella White (2-4, RBI) then singled and sent Cate Lehner (3-4, RBI) home. Finally, Paige Dorsett hit a bloop single to right center that allowed Hailey Conger and White to score. The Bulldogs took the lead, 4-3.
In the bottom of the third, the Wildcats tied the game with a home run.
In the top of the fourth, Moxley tripled and then slid home on a Lehner single. The 5-4 lead was short lived, however, as Villanova used a single and a double to tie the game at five in the bottom half of the frame.
One inning later, the Wildcats scored a pair of runs and recaptured the lead, 7-5.
In the top of the seventh, Butler loaded the bases, with one out, but a fly ball and a strikeout ended the game.
Katie Petran (1.0IP, 3R, 5H) started in the circle for Butler and was replaced by Sydney Cammon at the top of the second inning. Cammon (7-10) lasted 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks to go along with one strikeout. She took the loss. Kayla Noerr (1.2IP, H, K) finished the game without allowing a run.
Bulldog Bits
Ella White’s home run in game one was her ninth of the season and the 21st of her career. She totaled four hits on the day.
Olivia Moxley’s triple in game two was her first of the season and third of her career.
Monique Hoosen’s double in game one was her fifth of the season and 20th of her career.
Teagan O’Rilley’s double in game one was her eighth of the season and 15th of the season.
Cate Lehner led the Bulldogs with six hits and two stolen bases on the day. She now has 24 stolen bases this season and 41 in her career.
The win in the circle for Rylyn Dyer in game one was her first victory of the season and the sixth of her career.
Butler’s 15 hits in game one were the most in a BIG EAST game this season and the third most in the 2024 schedule.
Up Next
Butler remains in Villanova for the final game of the series with the Wildcats. First pitch on Saturday, Apr. 4, is scheduled for 12:15.
BUTLER BASEBALL
BULLDOGS FALL TO XAVIER ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON 13-6
INDIANAPOLIS – Xavier scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to move ahead with a 13-6 win over Butler at Bulldog Park on Friday. The Musketeers are now one game above .500 this year with a 23-22 record while the Bulldogs move to 17-28.
Carter Dorighi and Kade Lewis were outstanding from the plate in the series opener, combining for seven hits and six RBI. Dorighi hit a home run in the bottom of the first, would double to lead-off the third, and singled up the middle to score Ian Choi in the fourth.
Lewis singled through the right side of the infield to collect an RBI in the third and singled again in the fourth to make the game 5-4. His final at-bat went down as a two-RBI single to the gap in right.
Defensively, Tyler Banks got the start for Butler and was one of four Bulldogs to touch the rubber in the series opener. Banks allowed six runs off five hits over 4.1 innings of action and would hand the ball off to Andrew Crumbley for 1.1 innings of relief.
Grant Brooks matched Crumbley with four outs out of the pen and Cade Vota would throw a clean top of the eighth. Vota returned to throw the ninth for BU. Back-to-back doubles would add another run to the scoreboard. Xavier’s 13 runs came off 14 hits.
Jonathan Kelly got the start for the visitors, but he would not earn the win after 3.1 innings of work. Instead, the win would fall to Alex Vera. Vera and Kelly each struck out three Bulldogs before Ashton Chronister would take over. Freshman Aiden Cook would get Xavier out of the bottom of the eighth inning and return for the ninth. He got one out and Terry Murray would be responsible for the final two.
These two teams will meet up again tomorrow for a 2 PM start.
IUPUI SOFTBALL
JAGUARS FALL IN SEASON FINALE AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The IUPUI softball team concluded the regular season with a single game at Youngstown State on Friday afternoon. The Jags fell to the Horizon League leader, Youngstown State, 3-2.
The Penguins took the lead first in the bottom of the first inning. Sara Fessler scored on a sacrifice fly from Jillian Jakse to take the 1-0 lead.
The Jags took the lead in the third inning with two runs on three Penguins’ errors. Kennedy Cowan reached on a fielding error from the third baseman which allowed Kendal Calvert to score to tie the game at 1-1. Kayla Freiberg then laid down a sac bunt which then allowed Cowan to score on a throwing error to give the Jags the 2-1 lead.
Youngstown State tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth frame with an RBI single.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Penguins once again walked it off in the bottom of the seventh inning with one run on two hits.
Carly Metcalf took the loss giving up one earned run on six hits in 6.1 innings. Cowan led the Jags at the plate with two hits, one RBI and one run. Calvert, Frieberg, Victoria Sivert, Maicey Bedrick and Kelli Riordan all added one hit each.
With the loss, IUPUI will now wait to see their fate in the Horizon League Tournament. They currently sit in seventh, but if Oakland sweeps the three-game series against Purdue Fort Wayne, the Jags would be in contention for the sixth seed. IUPUI finished the 2024 season with a 13-35 overall record and 9-14 mark in league play.
IUPUI TRACK
PROVENZANO, LAFFOON LEAD JAGUARS ON OPENING DAY OF #HLTF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROCHESTER, Mich. – Freshman Paige Laffoon tied the IUPUI school record in the high jump and junior Laci Provenzano earned a podium finish in the 10,000m event to highlight day one of the #HLTF Outdoor Championships at Oakland University on Friday (May 3). Laffoon is in third-place in the heptathlon heading into Saturday’s action, following a strong start on Friday.
Laffoon started well in the multis with a personal record time of 15.39 in the 100m hurdles while Morgan Hoard turned in a time of 15.53. In the high jump, Laffoon jumped 1.60m (5′ 3”) to tie the school record and top all 14 entrants in the heptathlon. In the shot put, Hoard extended her school record with a best throw of 10.46m (34′ 4”) to place third among the entrants. Laffoon had a personal best toss of 9.53m (31′ 3.75”) to maintain a third-place spot.
Laffoon ended the day with a time of 27.23 in the 200m dash while Hoard ran 28.76.
Later in the day, freshman Shelby McGee just missed scoring in the javelin with a best throw of 33.10m (108-07), more than four meters beyond her previous best mark. Laffoon’s busy day concluded with a best throw of 25.99m (85-03) in the javelin.
No IUPUI runners advanced beyond the prelims of the 1,500 as Sophie Reichard was 15th at 4:49.16 and Hannah Sale ran 4:53.87. Hannah Robbins ran a time of 4:55.62 to shed three seconds off her prior best.
Provenzano capped the evening with a feel good effort in the 10K, crossing at 37:42.58 for a seventh-place finish. The junior moved to the back early in the race as two clearly defined packs formed at the opening run. She took command of the secondary pack midway through the race before ultimately relinquishing one spot with roughly 2,500m remaining. From there, she maintained clear distance in a seventh-place finish, earning a podium spot.
Action will resume on Saturday with a full slate of events broadcast on ESPN+.
DISTANCE CREW LEADS MEN’S TRACK SQUAD ON DAY ONE OF #HLTF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROCHESTER, Mich. – The IUPUI men’s track team showcased some of its distance depth on the opening night of the Horizon League Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday night (May 3), securing three of the top six spots in the 10,000m event to stack up 14 points. Senior Andrew Whitinger collected a third-place finish, nipping teammate Eric Petersen at the line. Nick Perkins, who led much of the early stages of the race, placed sixth overall.
Youngstown State took the top two spots in the 10K with Hunter Christopher winning at 30:04.03 and Ryan Meadows separating from a pack of four runners late to claim second at 30:10.25. Whitinger crossed at 30:12.46 while Petersen was fourth at 30:12.86, setting a new personal best time by 22 seconds. Perkins, who paced Christopher for the opening half of the race, crossed at 30:33.84.
Junior Grant Moon finished 11th at 31:30.86 and Mitchell Rans spun a time of 32:29.77 to finish 13th.
Earlier in the evening, freshman Luke Shappell punched a ticket into the finals of the 1,500m event with a runner-up finish in his heat with a time of 3:53.97. Junior Will Clark just missed a spot in the finals with a time of 3:57.32, shedding a half second off his previous best mark.
Freshman Noah Price ran 4:02.56 and Solomon Barket spun a time of 4:06.61. Sophomore Ethan Walsh ran a personal best time of 4:08.27, taking 10 seconds off his previous best.
The Jaguars will return to action on Saturday with entrants in the 800m event and 3,000m steeplechase.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
BASEBALL CONTROLS THE LATE INNINGS IN SERIES-OPENING WIN AT NIU
DeKALB, Ill. – Michael Hallquist hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning before a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh to lead the Ball State baseball team to a 4-3 win at Northern Illinois on Friday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field.
The Cardinals (26-18-1, 13-9 Mid-American Conference) put two runs on the board in the second inning on a Clay Jacobs RBI that plated Blake Bevis followed by a Nick Gregory triple which scored Dylan Grego to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The Huskies (15-30, 9-13 MAC) had single tallies in the first, second and fourth innings before Hallquist’s heroics.
Hallquist, a senior shortstop from Fargo, N.D., blasted his first homer to left center and his second to center to power the Cardinals to their 12th win in 14 tries in conference contests.
Merritt Beeker struck out nine in 5.1 innings of three-run ball as the Ball State starter and handed it off to Nate Blain who earned his first win of the year thanks to 3.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen with five strikeouts.
NIU’s Ty Brachbill (5-6) suffered the loss after giving up four runs in 6.0 innings on the mound.
Hallquist increased his season home run total to 16 with the pair of dingers to regain the team lead. Nick Husovsky joined Hallquist as Cardinals with multiple hits on the afternoon, while 8 of 9 in the visiting lineup collected a safety. Gregory reached base three times with the triple and two walks.
“Gritty performance by Merritt Beeker and Nate Blain,” head coach Rich Maloney said. “Michael Hallquist came up big at the plate. Solid team effort!”
Ball State and Northern Illinois are scheduled to play the middle game of the set at 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT) on Saturday.
BALL STATE MEN’S GOLF
SMITH, BELLAR AND KHAN EARN ALL-MAC RECOGNITION IN MEN’S GOLF
MUNCIE, Ind. – Reflecting the success of a Mid-American Conference championship season, three Ball State men’s golfers have been named to All-MAC teams today. Sophomore Carter Smith was named a first-team All-MAC honoree, with juniors Kash Bellar and Ali Khan each earning second-team accolades.
Smith’s naming as a first-teamer is Ball State’s first first-team selection since Johnny Watts in 2015. The Cardinals’ three All-MAC selections are the most by a Ball State squad since the program had three selections in 2013 – also the last time Ball State received an invitation to an NCAA regional.
Smith, Bellar and Khan will lead Ball State into next week’s Chapel Hill Regional, May 13-15, as one of 81 teams nationally to reach an NCAA regional. The trio played an integral role in Ball State’s postseason appearance last year, earning a fourth-place finish at the first-ever National Golf Invitational that was won, in fact, by Bellar.
Smith posted a team-best 72.55 stroke average for the Cardinals this season, competing out of Ball State’s No. 1 or No. 2 position in all 10 events in which the team has competed. He has earned mention as the MAC’s Golfer of the Week on three different occasions.
Bellar earns All-MAC second-team honors for a second straight season, and was an all-tournament selection last week after tying with Khan for fourth place at the 2024 MAC Championships. He owns a 73.14 stroke average over 29 rounds, and his 13 rounds of par or better share the team lead with Smith. His finish at the MAC Championships was the 10th top-10 finish of his career and his fourth this season.
Khan has earned his first all-conference selection after posting a 73.38 stroke average in the same 29 rounds as Smith and Bellar. Khan has routinely competed out of Ball State’s No. 3 lineup position, and last week posted one of the best tournaments of his career, tying with Bellar for fourth place at the MAC Championships. He earned all-tournament honors last week after what was his first top-10 finish this season and the fifth of his career.
BALL STATE SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL CLOSES REGULAR SEASON AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
» THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE SOFTBALL: The Ball State softball program will battle to secure its second consecutive Mid-American Conference Championship berth this weekend went it travels to Central Michigan for a pivotal league series … The Cardinals and Chippewas are scheduled to play a Saturday doubleheader (1 p.m.) and a single game Sunday (Noon) at Margo Jonker Stadium.
» WHERE THEY STAND: Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Ball State currently holds the sixth and final spot for the six-team MAC Championship which will be played next week (May 8-11) at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio … Miami (23-1), Ohio (16-8) and Western Michigan (16-8) have already locked up tournament bids … Toledo (12-10) and Central Michigan (12-10) are one win away from securing their spots … Ball State (10-12), Akron (10-13) and Kent State (10-14) are the only other teams in contention, with the Zips and Golden Flashes playing a three-game series in Kent, Ohio … The Cardinals can secure a berth with either a three-game sweep at CMU or with two wins and neither Akron or Kent State sweeping their three-game set … Ball State will be eliminated from tournament contention with two or three losses at CMU … Above scenarios assume all three-game series will be completed.
» THE OVERALL RECORD: Ball State enters the weekend with a 1171-1168-4 (.501) overall record dating back to 1975 … The Cardinals have tallied 30-or-more wins in 16 seasons, most recently a 37-18 mark in 2021 … Of the 16 seasons with 30-or-more wins, 11 have come in the past 16 years.
» A QUICK LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Led by first-year head coach Helen Peña, the Cardinals own a 23-26 overall record … Ball State maintains a .267 team batting average, led by redshirt junior utility player McKayla Timmons at .386 … Timmons ranks third both in the MAC and nationally with 22 home runs, while ranking fourth in the league and 28th among all NCAA Division I players with 51 RBIs … Sophomore Ashlee Lovett is second on the squad with a .306 average, while graduate third baseman Haley Wynn is third at .302 … Wynn is also second in runs scored (35) and third in both home runs (7) and RBI (23) … In the circle, the Cardinals own a 4.17 ERA led by senior Francys King who boasts an 11-12 record and a 3.62 ERA over 135.1 innings of work … King has also tallied three complete game shutouts this season and 70 strikeouts … Sophomore Bridie Murphy has a .275 average against over 117.0 innings, to go along with a 9-9 record, one save and 69 strikeouts.
» CARDINALS VERSUS THE CHIPPEWAS: While Central Michigan holds a 78-41 edge in the all-time series, Ball State has won 11 of the last 16 meetings including sweeping a three-game series in Muncie last season … BSU is 21-45 all-time in Mount Pleasant, with CMU sweeping a March 25, 2022 doubleheader at Margo Jonker Stadium by scores of 4-3 and 9-8 (9) … BSU did sweep a four-game series at CMU during the 2021 season, out-scoring the Chippewas 48-22.
» SCOUTING CMU: The Chippewas enter the weekend with a 15-29 (12-10 MAC) record after splitting a Tuesday doubleheader at Kent State by scores of 6-7 and 11-2 (6) … Skylar Coberley leads the CMU offense with a .311 batting average and is second on the squad in RBI (23) and runs scored (26) … Carly Sleeman leads the team with 28 RBI and has 17 doubles … Grace Lehto is CMU’s ace, throwing 125.1 innings with an 8-16 record, a 3.46 ERA and 100 strikeouts … Mackenzie Langan is second on the squad in innings (55.1) and owns a 3-1 record and 2.91 ERA to go along with 39 strikeouts.
BALL STATE NEWS & NOTES:
» MAC PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS: Ball State was picked to finish fourth among 11 teams in the Mid-American Conference’s annual preseason poll … The Cardinals, who finished fourth in the league last season with a 17-12 MAC record, are looking for a second consecutive MAC Softball Championship berth, with the league’s top six teams advancing to Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, for the three-day event which runs May 8-11.
» THE WYNN FACTOR: Graduate third baseman Haley Wynn has taken advantage of her extra year of eligibility, ranking second on the team with 51 hits so far this season … That raises her career total to 232 which is sixth in program history … Wynn has registered at least one hit in 33 of BSU’s first 49 games of the season, including seven home runs to up her career long ball total to 26 which is tied for eighth in program history.
» MORE ON WYNN: Haley Wynn is one of the most prolific batters in program history ranking 20th on Ball State’s career charts with a .327 career average … She is also 13th all-time in slugging percentage (.529) and 17th in on base percentage (.402) … In addition, her 167 career runs scored tie for second in program history and 36th among all active NCAA Division I players … She also ranks 29th among active DI players with 45 career doubles which is seventh in program history, while her 10 career triples are 44th among active DI players and tied for 11th at BSU.
» TIMMONS CLIMBING THE CHARTS TOO: After leading the Ball State offense with a .386 batting average, a .890 slugging percentage and a .505 on base percentage through the first 49 games of the season, McKayla Timmons continues her climb up BSU’s career charts … She currently ranks second in program history in on base percentage (.467), third in slugging percentage (.723) and fifth in batting average (.359) … Timmons has blasted a team-leading 22 home runs so far this season, including her first collegiate grand slam at Georgia State (Feb. 24) … Overall, her 38 career long balls tie for third on BSU’s all-time list.
» RBI LEADER: McKayla Timmons enters the weekend ranked 28th nationally with her 51 RBIs this season … The effort included seven RBIs in the 9-5 (9) win over Georgia State (Feb. 24) and six in the 13-9 victory at Marshall (March 7) … The program record for RBIs in a single game is eight by Stacy Paytonversus Oakland on May 4, 2019.
» SHINING BEHIND THE PLATE TOO: In addition to pacing the offense, McKayla Timmons has proven to be one of the nation’s top threats behind the plate and was recently named one of the nation’s best catchers by Softball America, ranking fifth on the MAC position list … It is one spot higher than her April ranking of sixth … The effort is aided by Timmons throwing out eight of the 33 runners attempting to steal a base on her so far this season.
» BALL STATE’S BEST THIEF: Senior outfielder Remington Ross enters the weekend as the greatest base thief in program history with a .966 (56-for-58) career stolen base percentage at Ball State … Last season, she went a perfect 23-for-23 in stolen base attempts and ranked second in the MAC and 54th nationally with a 0.47 steals-per-game average … Ross, who is seventh in program history with 56 career stolen bases, had been successful in her previous 36 stolen base attempts before being caught stealing for just the second time in her Ball State career at Georgia State (Feb. 24) … She has stolen seven straight bases since.
» SPEAKING OF STOLEN BASES: Ball State enters the CMU series ranked second in the league and 24th nationally with 84 stolen bases this season … Haley Wynn and McKayla Timmons lead the squad with 14 apiece, while senior outfielder Kaitlyn Mathews has 13 and Remington Ross has 11 … Overall, 11 different Cardinals have stolen at least one base this season … Ball State’s 84 stolen bases in 2024 are the eighth-most in a season in program history … The program record is 151 set by the 2008 squad.
» A SLAMMING FIRST HIT: Redshirt sophomore Jessica Hoffman had just two career at bats when she stepped up to the plate with bases loaded in the 10-8 win over Fordham (Feb. 11) … She proceeded to blast her first career hit over the fence in right center field for her first career home run and Ball State’s first grand slam since April 6, 2022 … A regular in the lineup since, Hoffman has 34 career hits and is fourth on the team with a .270 average this season … Of her 34 hits, 16 have driven in at least one RBI and she currently ranks second on the squad with 30 RBIs.
» SPEAKING OF SLAMS: Kaitlyn Mathews blasted her first career grand slam in the 13-9 (8) victory at Buffalo (April 6), taking a two-out, 3-2 pitch over the fence in center field … It was Mathews’ first home run of the season and Ball State’s fourth grand slam on the campaign … She would add two more home runs in the Akron series and another at Purdue to raise her career total to eight.
» KING OF THE PEN: Senior Francys King leads the Ball State pitching staff with a 3.62 ERA over 135.1 innings of work … She has earned the victory in 11 of BSU’s 23 wins, including three of the team’s five complete game shutouts … She also leads the squad with 70 strikeouts while issuing just 39 walks … Overall, King has 20 career collegiate pitching victories with 14 coming at Ball State and six coming in her two seasons at Tennessee State (2021-22).
» TRIPLING UP: The Ball State defense owns one of the nation’s seven triple plays this season, turning what was a squeeze bunt attempt into a triple killing in the fifth inning of the 5-4 win over Jacksonville State on Feb. 17 … The bunt was fielded by Haley Wynn at third base, who threw to McKayla Timmons to get the out at first … The play then went to catcher Jazmyne Armendariz to get the runner out trying to advance home, who in turn threw to shortstop Maia Pietrzak to get the final out … It was just the second recorded triple play in program history, with the first coming in 1985.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
DIAZ, SEARS HOMER TWICE TO POWER INDIANA STATE PAST BELMONT IN FRIDAY SERIES OPENER
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Randal Diaz and Mike Sears both homered twice in an offensive explosion that featured 10 different Indiana State players reaching base as the Sycamores topped visiting Belmont, 15-5, in Friday night’s series opener at Bob Warn Field.
Luis Hernandez, Diaz (twice), and Sears (twice) combined for five home runs as the Sycamores (32-10, 15-4) connected early and often in taking the Friday night contest against Belmont (22-23, 9-10). Jacob Pruitt (2-2) went 3.2 innings in relief to pick up the win as the Sycamore pitching staff limited the Bruins to five hits in the contest.
Hernandez and Sears homered in the first inning to propel the Sycamores to an early 5-0 lead, while Diaz connected on a pair of solo shots in the second and third frames as Indiana State jumped out to an 8-3 advantage early.
Pruitt took over on the mound in the bottom of the third inning getting a double play ball to end Belmont’s best scoring opportunity in the game on his way to a 3.2-inning relief outing. The sophomore right-hander allowed two hits and struck out three in a strong outing to pick up his second win of the season.
Sears connected on his second home run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning to continue the scoring and put ISU ahead 11-4 and Parker Stinson capped the scoring in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off two-run double to right center as the Sycamores secured their sixth walk-off win of the 2024 season.
Six Sycamores recorded multi-hit games as Indiana State’s offense combined for 17 hits in the game. Stinson and Sears had three hits apiece, while Diaz, Dominic Listi, Hernandez, and Adam Pottinger all recorded two hits apiece in the win. Stinson had a pair of doubles in the win, while Joe Kido added a double as ISU combined for eight extra-base hits in the contest.
Jared Spencer went the first 2.1 innings in the Friday night start allowing one hit and three runs while striking out five early in the contest. Cam Edmonson allowed one run in the top of the seventh while striking out one in his lone inning of work.
Max Blessinger homered and Landon Godsey doubled for Belmont as the Bruins’ offense was limited to five hits on Friday night. Brodey Heaton connected on a pair of singles in the loss.
Blake Ciuffetelli (2-4) took the loss allowing four hits and five runs over 0.2 innings. Jordan Zuger and Ty Allen went six combined innings in relief, while Jett Thielke faced the final two batters in the game.
How They Scored
Luis Hernandez and Mike Sears put the Sycamores on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of home runs to take the early 5-0 lead. Hernandez connected on a two-run shot to score Dominic Listi, while Sears brought home Parker Stinson and Adam Pottinger to put ISU ahead early.
Diaz connected on a solo home run to left center and Sears added an RBI single bringing home Stinson to make it a 7-0 Sycamore lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Belmont scored three runs in the top of the third inning taking advantage of five walks issued by the ISU pitching staff while Brodey Heaton added an RBI single to cut the Sycamore lead down to 7-3.
Diaz put the Sycamores back in the scoring column in the bottom of the third inning with a one-out solo home run into the trees beyond the left field wall to make it an 8-3 game.
Belmont’s Max Jones’ RBI groundout scored Blake Barton in the top of the sixth inning to cut the ISU lead down to 8-4.
Adam Pottinger connected on an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Luis Hernandez, before Sears connected on his second home run of the game, driving home Stinson with a shot near the scoreboard in right center to make it an 11-4 ISU lead.
Belmont continued to chip away at the Indiana State lead in the top of the seventh as Max Blessinger connected on a leadoff solo home run to make it an 11-5 ballgame.
Joe Kido scored on a wild pitch and Listi singled home Josue Urdaneta, before Parker Stinson connected on the walk-off two-run double bringing home Hernandez and Listi to cap the scoring at 15-5.
News & Notes
Randal Diaz extended his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games following his leadoff solo home run in the second inning. He finished the day 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs in the win.
Diaz connected on solo home runs in both the second and the third innings to become the fifth different Sycamore to post a multi-homer game in the 2024 season.
Mike Sears connected on a three-run home run in the first and a two-run shot in the sixth inning to mark his third multi-homer game in the 2024 season and sixth of his career.
Diaz’s 11th and 12th home runs and Sears’ 16th and 17th of the season add on to a list that includes Sears (Mar. 8 at Florida A&M, Mar. 31 vs. UIC), Luis Hernandez (Mar. 15 at Xavier), Adam Pottinger (Apr. 14 vs. Bradley), and Parker Stinson (Apr. 30 at Illinois) with multi-homer games in 2024.
Josue Urdaneta extended his on-base streak to 31 consecutive games with a bunt single in the seventh inning. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Mike Sears recorded Indiana State’s eighth game with five-plus RBIs in the 2024 season after driving in six runs on Friday night. It marked his third game with five-plus RBIs this year.
Friday featured Indiana State’s sixth walk-off win of the 2024 season and fourth in Missouri Valley play. The last came back April 14 when Adam Pottinger connected on a walk-off grand slam in the 17-6 win over Bradley.
The Sycamores picked up their fourth consecutive run-rule win at Bob Warn Field dating back to the Bradley series when ISU topped the Braves in run-shortened games in all three contests.
Jacob Pruitt picked up his second win of the season on the mound and first since he went 6.0 scoreless innings in the start against UConn back on February 17.
Up Next
Indiana State continues the weekend series on Saturday afternoon against Belmont with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Among Saturday’s game day festivities include a Star Wars Day/Lightsaber Keychain Giveaway, Kids Run the Bases Postgame, and State Dance Marathon/Riley Member Throws Out First Pitch.
INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL
SYCAMORES SPLIT FRIDAY DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST MISSOURI STATE
SPRINGFIELD- Indiana State Softball split a pair of games against Missouri State on Friday afternoon. The series is now tied 1-1, with the finale tomorrow at 2 p.m ET!
Game One: Missouri State 4, Indiana State 2
The Sycamores rally fell short in game one of the three-game series against Missouri State on Friday afternoon, where they fell to the Bears with a score of 4-2.
The Bears took the early lead and scored all four of their runs in inning two, from a grand slam by Krehbiel, to take the 4-0 lead over the Sycamores.
The Sycamores connected on four hits in game one which came from Kennedy Shade (2), Haley Webb, and Livi Colip. Two of the hits came in the seventh inning, when the Sycamores rallied and drove in two runs to cut the Bears lead to 4-2. Isabella Henning was hit by a pitch, Kennedy Shade recorded a double before a sacrifice fly RBI by Kenzie Cornwell drove in the first run for the Sycamores. The second and final run from ISU came from an RBI single by Livi Colip to score Shade, but that wasn’t enough to outscore the Bears in game one.
Lauren Sackett (8-15) took the loss in the circle for Indiana State, where she allowed four hits and four runs scored, while striking out three. Cassi Newbanks took over the ball in the third inning, allowing four hits and zero runs scored, while striking out one in the 4-2 loss.
Game Two: Indiana State 6, Missouri State 5
The Sycamores won game two of the series over Missouri State with a score of 6-5 on Friday evening.
Indiana State scored three runs in the first inning to take the 3-0 lead over Missouri State. Isabella Henning knocked in the first run of the game with an RBI single to score Abi Chipps before Kenzie Cornwell reached on a fielder’s choice, which scored Henning. The final run of the first inning came from a sacrifice fly RBI by Danielle Henning to advance the Sycamores lead to 3-0 over the Bears.
Missouri State cut Indiana State’s lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the first inning where they connected on three hits by Krehbiel, Ulrich, and Derryberry to drive in two runs for the Bears to close out inning one.
The Sycamores picked up another three hits and three runs scored in the second inning to advance their lead to 6-2 over Missouri State in game two. With bases loaded, Livi Colip connected on a 2 RBI single to drive in runs from Chipps and Esposito before Kenzie Cornwell recorded an RBI single to put the sixth run on the board for Indiana State.
The Bears added one run in the bottom of the fourth inning with a triple by Lewis, where she scored on a wild pitch to cut the Sycamores lead to 6-3 after four innings of play. The final two runs of game two came in the fifth inning when Perales connected on a 2 RBI single to make it a 6-5 score, but Kennedy Shade threw out the tying run at home to keep the ISU lead.
Hailey Griffin (7-6) took the win in the circle for Indiana State in 5.0 innings of work, where she allowed eight hits and five runs scored. Annie Waggoner took over the ball in the sixth inning where she allowed one hit and zero runs scored. Megan Asher recorded a save for the Sycamores in the victory where she struck out one and the Sycamore defense got the final two outs to take game two of the series over the Bears.
Up Next:
The Sycamores will play game three of the series against Missouri state tomorrow at 2 p.m ET. This game will have live stats available and streamed on ESPN+.
INDIANA STATE TRACK
STAGGS RESETS POLE VAULT RECORD, TRIO OF SYCAMORES WIN EVENTS AT BILLY HAYES INVITATIONAL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Will Staggs cleared 18 feet for the first time at an outdoor meet Friday at the Billy Hayes Invitational, breaking his own program record in the pole vault as part of another productive meet for Indiana State.
Staggs’ mark of 5.50m (18-00.50) marked the first time since 2007 that an MVC athlete cleared a mark of that height or better in the pole vault. He was one of three event winners on the day for the Sycamores, alongside Napoleon Hernandez in the 800m and Rachel Mehringer in the 100m hurdles.
In addition to the first place finishes, Rachel Conhoff and Jason Dworak both climbed their way up the program top-10 charts in the 1500m with strong showings in the invitational section. Indiana State finished the meet with 13 top-five finishes, despite not competing with a full squad with the MVC Outdoor Championships just one week away.
Event Winners
Napoleon Hernandez – 800m (1:50.89, tied-ninth in program history)
Rachel Mehringer – 100m hurdles (13.47)
Will Staggs – pole vault (5.50m/18-00.50, school record)
Top-Three Finishes
Collin Forrest – 110m hurdles (second, 14.34)
Kamilla Gibson – 3000m steeplechase (second, 11:22.21)
Brett Norton – shot put (second, 18.37m/60-03.25)
Emma Gresham – 1500m (third, 4:36.51)
Other Notable Results
Jason Dworak – 1500m, invitational section (3:43.69, second in program history)
Rachel Conhoff – 1500m, invitational section (4:26.72, fifth in program history)
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State’s hurdlers posted a strong day in Bloomington, headlined by another first-place finish for Rachel Mehringer. Mehringer’s 100m hurdles times of 13.48 in prelims and 13.47 in the finals were two of her three fastest wind-legal times this season. She was also joined in the finals by Taylor Jackson (14.51), while Grace Quinlan (14.68) posted a career-best time in the event.
Collin Forrest ran his best wind-legal 110m hurdles time of the season at 14.34, nearly earning himself a first-place finish. Forrest was edged out by three-thousandths of a second for the top spot in a photo finish. Quincy Armstrong paced the Sycamores’ 400m hurdles contingent with a time of 53.95, while Parker Doyle (55.29) and Graham West (57.39) both ran career-best times in the event. The Sycamores also got career-best times in the women’s 400m hurdles from Noelle Dilosa (1:04.76) and Kaylen Gustafson (1:08.84).
Friday’s meet was light for Indiana State’s sprinters with all focus towards the upcoming MVC Outdoor Championships in Terre Haute. Sophie Yovanovich and Cameron Stevens were the lone Sycamore sprinters to compete in Bloomington, with Yovanovich posting a 200m time of 25.76 and Stevens running a 400m time of 49.95.
Mid-Distance/Distance
Indiana State’s distance crew put together another strong outing at the Billy Hayes Invitational, with a trio of program top-10 marks being set by the Sycamores on the day. Napoleon Hernandez cracked the outdoor program top-10 charts for the first time in his career, with his 800m time of 1:50.89 putting him in a tie for ninth in program history and also earning him a first-place finish at the meet. In addition to Hernandez, Xavier Wills ran a career-best time of 1:53.44 in the event.
The 1500m was an extremely successful event for the Trees on Friday, featuring a pair of program top-five marks in the invitational sections and multiple top-five finishes in the open sections. Jason Dworak continued his ascent up the program ranks on the men’s side, climbing all the way to second in program history in the event with his time of 3:43.69. Likewise, on the women’s side, Rachel Conhoff jumped into the top five in the program ranks with her time of 4:26.72 placing her fifth all-time. Emma Gresham (4:36.51) and Morgan Dyer (4:38.29) placed in the top five of the open section on the women’s side, while Jackson Krieg (3:52.67) and Emerson Fayman (3:53.43) did the same on the men’s side. In the invitational section, Ethan Breen ran his best 1500m time of the season at 3:50.92.
Indiana State also had entries in the 3000m steeplechase, with Kamilla Gibson running a career-best time of 11:22.21, more than 20 seconds better than her previous best in the event. Cannen Wolf ran a time of 9:31.54 on the men’s side, with both Sycamore entries placing in the top five.
Jumps
Will Staggs’ record-setting season rolled right along in Bloomington, as he broke his own pole vault school record for the third time this season by clearing 5.50m (18-00.25). Staggs’ mark was the best by an MVC athlete since 2007 and was his third time clearing 18 feet in the 2023-24 year, having done so twice during indoor season.
The Sycamores’ strength in numbers in the women’s pole vault was on full display at the Billy Hayes Invitational, as four different Sycamores cleared 3.75m (12-03.50) in the event. Landis Brandon, Selene Weaver, Abby Ballengee and Kennedy Merrell all earned top-10 finishes with their marks.
Indiana State also got a strong performance from Janiya Bowman in the long jump, as she recorded her second-best mark of the season at 5.74m (18-10.00) on her way to a top-five finish in the event.
Throws
Brett Norton continued his strong final season with the Sycamores in the shot put, with a season-best mark of 18.37m (60-03.25) to place second overall in the field. Norton was one of two Sycamores in the event, with Gavin Connelly also recording his second-best mark of the season at 15.16m (49-09.00).
Indiana State’s women’s throwers had a busy day, with Niesha Anderson posting her second-best marks of the season in both the shot put (14.52m/47-07.75) and hammer throw (53.97m/177-00). Aliseonna Garnett also posted a career-best mark in the hammer throw (44.75m/146-10), while Hannah Redlin earned top-10 finishes in both the shot put (13.88m/45-06.50) and discus (47.83m/156-11).
Up Next
Indiana State sets its sights on the 2024 MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships Presented by the Terre Haute CVB. The Sycamores are the championship hosts this season, with this year’s meet taking place May 10-12 at the Gibson Track and Field Complex.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE TRACK
MASTODON MEN DOMINATE JAVELIN; TIED FOR LEAD AFTER DAY ONE
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s track and field team is tied with Youngstown State with 31 points to lead the Horizon League Outdoor Championships after the first day of action on Friday (May 3).
Mastodons took all three spots in the javelin throw with Viktor Ertelt winning the title with a mark of 59.26m. Aaron Martin finished second at 58.54m and Kai Auernheimer placed third at 53.25m. In fifth was Brevin Miller (49.71 meters).
The ‘Dons also got points from Austin Hall, who finished seventh in the 10000 meters at 30:51.82, and Hunter Crew, who took eighth in the discus with a throw of 45.23m.
Five events of the decathlon are in the books with Kai Auernheimer in fourth (2862) and Brejion Peters is fifth (2803). The 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meters will be held on Saturday.
The Horizon League Outdoor Championships continue on Saturday (May 4). The events are streamed on ESPN+.
RILEY TATE EARNS SECOND IN THE 10,000 METERS
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s track and field team scored 20 points on the opening day of the Horizon League Outdoor Championships on Friday (May 3) and is tied for second place overall.
Riley Tate finished second in the 10,000 meters with a time of 35:32.01. Lydia Carrell also scored points in the event with her eighth-place finish (38:13.51).
Three Mastodons scored in the javelin throw. Megan Sinnott had the team’s top mark at 35.44m and finished fourth followed by Emery Carrico in fifth (34.90m) and Ellie Zagel in eighth (34.59m).
Ali Sparks also added a point to the team’s score with an eighth-place finish in the discus (40.17m)
Dylan Kirkwood is in second place in the heptathlon with 2912 points after four events. She is 57 points behind Milwaukee’s Anna Szepieniec. Freshman Ellie Zagel is in fourth (2691). The long jump, javelin and 800 are left for Saturday.
The Horizon League Outdoor Championships continue on Saturday (May 4).
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
AGLAIA RUDD HITS THREE-RUN HOMER IN EXTRA-INNING GAME WITH OAKLAND
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne softball dropped a Horizon League contest to Oakland 8-5 in eight innings on Friday (May 3) in the season’s final series opener.
Oakland scored first, getting two in the second inning on a single. In the third, the Mastodons scored their first on a single from Grace Hollopeter.
Two innings later, Brooke Lickey scored on an Oakland miscue to tie the game. From there, Bailey Manos reached on a fielding error to put two runners on. Aglaia Rudd stepped up on the next at bat and knocked in a three-run home run to take a 5-2 lead.
With two outs in the seventh, the Golden Grizzlies managed a three-run home run of their own to tie up the contest. In extras, Oakland had a two-run homer to break the tie and added one more run for insurance.
Offensively, the Mastodons were paced by Aglaia Rudd, who went 2-for-4 on the day with her home run and three RBIs. The Mastodons totaled seven hits against reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Year Sydney Campbell.
Alanah Jones took the loss despite six strikeouts. Campbell got the win, giving up just one earned run to improve to 17-7.
Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 14-31, 9-13 in the Horizon League. Oakland improves to 23-17, 15-6. The Mastodons and Golden Grizzlies will play two games tomorrow (May 4) with Senior Day celebrations prior to the doubleheader at 12:35 p.m.
EVANSVILLE TRACK
ACES TRACK AND FIELD ENDS THE SEASON AT THE BILLY HAYES INVITATIONAL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The University of Evansville track and field team ended the outdoor regular season with three more program records.
On Friday the Purple Aces reset two records and broke a third at the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by the Indiana Hoosiers. The first record set was the men’s hammer throw by graduate thrower Zach Dove (Princeton, Ind. / Princeton Community HS). After teammate Jaden Hayes (Huntingburg, Ind. / Southridge HS) set the record earlier in the season, Dove took back the top spot with a throw of 52.90 meters for 13th in the event. Hayes finished the event in 14th with a throw of 50.20 meters while freshman Cole Johnson (Salem, Ill. / Salem Community HS) had a throw of 35.26 meters.
UE’s other program record that was reset in the 2024 outdoor season came from freshman sprinter Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS). She became the third runner this season to set a new 400-meter dash program record with a time of 57.70 seconds for sixth place. Teammate Eilen Brenne (Skien, Norway) finished 17th in the event with a time of 59.71 seconds.
Evansville’s only completely new 2024 outdoor season record of the day came from freshman Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain) in the men’s 800-meter. Rodriguez broke the 2018 record set by Stanley Chepchieng by over a second with a time of 1:52.39 for a fifth-place finish. The Aces also had top 15 placements for freshman Tommaso Losma (Lombardia, Italy) and junior Adam Oulgout (St. Paul, Minn. / Central HS) with times of 1:54.19 and 1:54.35 for 12th and 14th.
UE’s best placement was from freshman mid-distance runner Nicole Prauchner (Neuhofen an der Ybbs, Austria) in the women’s 800-meter. Prauchner adds another podium finish to her early collegiate career taking third in the event finishing in 2:11.49. Evansville also added another top 10 finish in the event from Kalina Urbaniak (Suchy Las, Poland) with a PR of 2:14.12.
The Aces began their day at the Billy Hayes Invitational in the field as junior Preston Riggs (Ft. Branch, Ind. / Gibson Southern HS) placed eighth in the men’s javelin throw with a throw of 45.33 meters. Also, in the field for UE on the men’s side, Hayes and Dove placed 15th and 16th in the shot put with throws of 14.74 and 14.70 meters.
On the women’s side of the field sophomore Gwen Darrah (Cleveland, Ohio / Orange HS) placed 15th in the women’s hammer throw with a PR of 41.84 meters. Senior Hannah Bryant (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) also placed in the event with a throw of 37.04 meters. In the women’s javelin junior Kaitlyn Sansone (Fairfield, Ohio / Mercy McAuley HS) and Bryan earned ninth and 11th place with throws of 28.87 meters and 25.33 meters respectively. Senior thrower Brooke Springer (Henderson, Ky. / Henderson Community HS) set a PR in the women’s discus with a throw of 35.02 meters, while freshman Jillian Miller (Boonville, Ind. / Boonville HS) was the only Ace to throw in the women’s shot put with a throw of 9.20 meters.
On the track, freshman sprinter Raymond Felton III had two Top 10 finishes for Evansville in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Felton’s best finish was seventh in the 200-meter dash at 21.73 seconds, while taking 10th in the 100-meter dash at 10.85 seconds. Sophomore José Ocampo (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico) also ran both events with a 15th finish in the 200-meter dash in 22.55 seconds. The Aces only distance placement of the day came from freshman Samuel Lea (Worchester, England) in the 1500-meter race finishing 11th with a time of 3:56.63.
Sophomore Kate Walke (Batesville, Ind. / Oldenburg Academy) and freshman Woody Burrell (Cedarburg, Wis. / Cedarburg HS) were UE’s two hurdle runners in Bloomington. Walke finished 12th in the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.72 seconds. While Burrell finished 17th in the men’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.41 seconds.
Evansville also ran two relays on Saturday in the men’s 4×100 relay and the men’s 4×400 relay. The Aces best finish came in the 4×400 meter relay with a time of 3:23.07 for fourth place. While the 4×100 relay team placed sixth with a season-best time of 43.44 seconds.
UE will head to Terre Haute next weekend for the MVC Outdoor Championship hosted by Indiana State. Evansville looks to improve on its 10th place finishes from the Indoor Championships in February. The MVC Outdoor Championships are set for Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12.
EVANSVILLE SOFTBALL
WEATHERFORD TOSSES GEM IN WEEKEND OPENER
NORMAL, Ill. – Sydney Weatherford allowed just one run on five hits, but Paige McLeod’s no-hitter paced Illinois State to a 1-0 win over the University of Evansville softball team on Friday at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Weatherford’s lone run was unearned, scoring on an error in the bottom of the second. She walked just one batter in the contest. McLeod struck out two Purple Aces batters and did not issue a walk.
Jayden Standish opened the bottom half of the second with a double and would score the lone run of the game on an error.
Evansville’s first baserunner came in the fifth when Jess Willsey reached on a fielding error before the threat was ended on a double play. Brooke Voss reached on an error in the seventh before a strike out ended the game.
Saturday’s game has been moved up to 12 p.m. due to inclement weather in the forecast.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
BASEBALL ROUTS VALPARAISO, 13-1, IN SERIES OPENER
VALPARAISO, Ind. – University of Evansville graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger launched his fourth home run in the last three games on Friday, and all nine members of the UE starting lineup scored a run, as the Purple Aces routed the host Valparaiso Beacons, 13-1, in seven innings at Emory G. Bauer Field in Valparaiso, Indiana.
“I am proud of our club today, as I thought that we executed in all three facets of the game extremely well,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “On the mound, I thought that Kenton Deverman was outstanding once again, and it was nice to see Jacob Jarvis put up a scoreless inning, as he has worked extremely hard to get back up on the bump for us.
“Offensively, I thought all nine guys were locked in, which is great to see at this time of year. It was also nice to see Mark Shallenberger go up top with the grand slam, and Brendan Hord come through with two big hits as well. Now, we just need to keep this going here this weekend.”
Evansville jumped on top early, as the Purple Aces scored three runs in the second inning to kick-start the offense. Graduate third baseman Brent Widder led off the second inning with a walk, and moved to third base on senior shortstop Simon Scherry’s 248th career hit to left-center field. On the play, Scherry cracked UE’s career top 10 for hits, tying former UE shortstop Robbie Minor (2004-07).
Widder would score on a throwing error by the Valparaiso catcher on a steal by Scherry to begin the scoring. Then, graduate catcher Brendan Hord followed two batters later with an RBI single to push the UE lead to 2-0. A bases-loaded walk later in the frame to senior designated hitter Kip Fougerousse would cap the three-run frame.
Evansville loaded the bases again in the third inning, and got a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Ty Rumsey to push the lead to 4-0. UE then piled on five runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by an RBI single by Widder, a two-run double by Hord, and an RBI ground out by Rumsey.
After Valpo scored its only run of the game in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly, the Purple Aces would once again load the bases in the sixth inning. Only, this time, Shallenberger would quickly clear them with a no-doubt grand slam to right field for his team-leading 13th home run of the year, and fourth home run in UE’s last three games.
While UE’s offense was rolling, freshman starter Kenton Deverman kept the Beacons’ offense at bay. Deverman improved to 7-1 on the season with 6.0 innings of one-run, five-hit baseball with three strikeouts. Junior reliever Jacob Jarvis, who had not pitched since March 2, then worked a perfect seventh inning on just seven pitches to help UE enact the mercy rule.
Hord, Widder, Scherry and freshman second baseman Brodie Peart all had two-hit afternoons for UE, while Shallenberger drove in four runs, and Hord added three RBI.
With the victory, Evansville improved to 26-19 overall and 13-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while winning its 17th game in the last 21 contests. Valparaiso, meanwhile, dropped to 13-30 overall and 5-14 in the MVC. The series will continue on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in a game that can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS. Graduate left-hander Donovan Schultz (3-1, 6.16 ERA) is expected to get the start for UE.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
USI OPENS SERIES WITH 5-1 WIN
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened a three-game set with a 5-1 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friday evening at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles are 20-26 overall and 9-10 OVC, while Cougars go to 18-26-1, 10-9 OVC.
USI senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) gave the Eagles the initial 1-0 advantage in the first inning. Tachioka led off the game for the Eagles with a single to center, advanced to third on an error on a failed pick off, and scored on a ground out to short by sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana).
The Eagles increased the lead to 2-0 in the fourth on a RBI-double by senior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana). Ellis knocked in the second USI run of the game after junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) and junior leftfielder Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri) walked to start the frame.
After SIUE cut the USI lead in half with a tally in the sixth, Tachioka and junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) gave the Eagles back control, 4-1, with back-to-back singles to start the scoring in the top of the seventh. Tachioka, who is second in the OVC in hitting with a .390 average, would eventually score the Eagles’ fifth run and the four-run lead on an attempted double steal with Niehaus.
The USI hurlers and defense would hold the Cougars scoreless the rest of the way and rolled to a 5-1 win.
On the mound, freshman right-hander Grant Parson (Owensville, Kentucky) picked up his fourth win of the season. Parson (4-1) went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks. The freshman right-hander also struck out a season-high nine batters in the victory.
USI freshman right-hander Clayton Weisheit (Ferdinand, Indiana) finished the game for the Eagles on the mound. Weisheit threw a pair of scoreless innings, striking out a pair.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and SIUE continue the series Saturday with USI Dugout Club Day at 3 p.m. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. when its “Bark at the Park” at the USI Baseball Field.
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 SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL DROPS SERIES OPENER TO UNI
The Valpo softball team opened the final weekend of regular season play at the Valpo Softball Complex on Friday afternoon, falling to UNI by a 5-0 final despite limiting one of the MVC’s top offenses to just five hits.
How It Happened
Valpo had its best chance to score in the first inning, as senior Alexis Johnson (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) lined a one-out single and freshman Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) followed by working a walk. Back-to-back strikeouts stranded the pair of runners on base.
A two-out RBI single in the top of the second opened the scoring for the Panthers.
Freshman Anna Wilming (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) worked around a one-out walk in the third and a leadoff single in the fourth to keep UNI off the board in both frames, limiting the Panthers to just one run over the first four innings.
Meanwhile, Valpo had a base hit apiece in each of the first four innings, but was unable to convert any of those opportunities into runs.
UNI loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before a strong defensive play from Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) to come home for a force out on a slow grounder — a play which was originally ruled safe before being overturned on review — resulted in the second out. A tough-luck hop on a sharp grounder to third pushed two runs across the plate for the Panthers, though.
UNI capped the scoring with two unearned runs in the seventh.
Inside the Game
Wilming did well to limit the Panthers’ offensive production, holding them to just five hits and three earned runs in a complete-game effort while striking out four.
Johnson was productive in all three of her plate appearances, tallying a single, a walk and a sacrifice bunt.
The senior also continued her stellar defensive campaign which has her positioned for a shot at MVC Defensive Player of the Year. She tallied four putouts and five assists on Friday, including one of each on a line-drive double play in the sixth inning, and has committed just one error on 93 chances in MVC play.
Johnson was the only Beacon to reach base multiple times on Friday. Senior Kayla Skapyak (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) did go 1-for-3 to boost her batting average in MVC play ever closer to the .300 mark.
Next Up
Valpo (8-38, 2-19 MVC) continues the series with the Panthers on Senior Day Saturday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m., with Senior Day ceremonies getting underway at about 1:40 p.m.
VALPO BASEBALL
VALPO FALLS TO EVANSVILLE IN SERIES OPENER
The Valparaiso University baseball team lost to Evansville 13-1 in seven innings on Friday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field.
How It Happened
Evansville scored three times in the top of the second to take the lead, then added a run to make it 4-0 in the third.
The Purple Aces got five in the fourth to open up a 9-0 lead.
Valpo got on the board when Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) lifted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth. That plated Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd [Wisconsin Oshkosh]), who had doubled to lead off the inning.
Evansville added a grand slam in the sixth.
Inside the Game
The Beacons were led by Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo), who enjoyed a two-hit game.
Fifth-year senior Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) had his 45th career double, moving ahead of Nate Palace (2013-2017) and into sole possession of sixth in program history.
The bright spot of the pitching staff was Josh Spencer (Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville [Tacoma]), who worked a clean inning. He improved his season ERA to 2.45.
Up Next
Valpo (13-30, 5-14) will continue the series against Evansville on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field.
VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL
LOUTH-M COULIBALY TRANSFERS INTO VALPO BASKETBALL PROGRAM
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program and head coach Roger Powell Jr. have announced the addition of 6-foot-9 forward Louth-M Coulibaly (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada / Canada Topflight Academy [Holy Cross]), who joins the program as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.
Coulibaly, whose full name is Louth-Mohamed Coulibaly but goes by Louth or Louth-M, spent the last four seasons at the College of Holy Cross.
“Louth had a great workout with us and showed that he has the ability to go along with physicality, rebounding, toughness and defense,” Powell said. “We’re excited about having multiple years of a high-character kid who is going to give us a physical presence that we needed.”
Coulibaly arrived on campus at Holy Cross in January 2021, coming late due to COVID-19 restrictions. He described that season as more of a redshirt year, followed by a more traditional sophomore season, his first year of playing collegiate basketball. After two games and one start as a junior in 2022-23, he missed the majority of the season due to an injury. A new coaching staff arrived for the 2023-24 campaign.
At Valpo, Coulibaly will reunite with an old friend, Darius DeAveiro, who he has known since eighth or ninth grade.
“We developed a good friendship in Ottawa and have a lot of friends in common back home,” Coulibaly said. “We’ve been playing basketball against and with each other for a while now. Knowing Darius was a big factor to come to Valpo along with the coaching staff. I connected well with Coach (Pat) Baldwin and met Coach Powell on campus.”
Coulibaly played in 62 games and made 11 starts over his four years at Holy Cross. He lists this past season’s win at Georgetown as his favorite basketball memory.
“I bring a rebounding ability to the table,” Coulibaly said. “Valpo fans are getting a hustle guy, a good teammate and someone who plays hard and never gives up on plays.”
The son of Adama and Alima, Coulibaly has one brother (Cheick) and three sisters (Sarrah, Aicha and Latifa). He averaged 13.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game during his senior year of high school in Canada, hitting 47 percent of his field-goal attempts.
Coulibaly is graduating from Holy Cross with a degree in international relations and will pursue a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) at Valpo. Away from the court, he enjoys watching MMA and UFC Fights as well as soccer.
“Coach Powell is a coach who keeps it real with his players,” Coulibaly said. “He has a good relationship with his players from what I saw on my visit. I’m looking forward to having an honest relationship with my coach and knowing what’s wanted and what’s needed from me for the betterment of the team.”
ALL WRIGHT JOINS VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program and head coach Roger Powell Jr. have announced the addition of 6-foot-3 point guard All Wright (Durango, Mexico / Link Year), who joins the program as a true freshman for the 2024-25 season.
“I really believe in Coach Roger Powell and everything that he’s doing with the program,” Wright said. “He was very honest with me during the recruiting process and has faith and belief in me as a player. I feel like Valpo has a chance to be a really strong team in the extremely strong Missouri Valley Conference next year, and that’s something I want to be a part of. I’ve been working for this my whole life since I was 2 years old, and it means a lot to be at the D1 level and have a chance to bring the winning tradition back to Valparaiso.”
Wright played his first three high school seasons at Joplin High School in Missouri before transferring to Link Year for his senior season, when he averaged 15.0 points and 7.0 assists per contest.
“All Wright is an unbelievable late pick up for us,” Powell said. “He has high-level ability and leadership. He is an unbelievable kid with unbelievable ability. He shows signs of greatness. He adds size and depth at the point and combo guard positions. He gives us a great young player to build the future with and continues our Link connection.”
Wright was born in Durango, Mexico before moving to Carthage, Mo. at age 2. His brother Always Wright is a member of the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball program, while his father Joe played at Kansas State University from 1984-1986 and went on to play professionally overseas. He holds the single-season scoring record for his team in Iceland after averaging 46.6 points per game in 1992-93. All’s mother Karina is a school teacher.
“My mom is the foundation for my career,” Wright said. “She was a tennis player back in her day, so she was also an athlete. I couldn’t have done this without my mom.”
Wright’s legal full name is Andre All Wright Vargas, but he goes by All Wright.
“My dad’s friend said, ‘You should name your kids All and Always,’” Wright said with a laugh. “The next thing you know, me and my brother have ridiculous names.”
During his junior year at Joplin, Wright hit two free throws to win a playoff game, a moment that he holds as a special memory.
“My brother had graduated the year before, so junior year was my time to take over the team,” Wright said. “Winning that playoff game was a special moment.”
Wright spent his senior season at Link Year, the same school that helped produce 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Cooper Schwieger as well as Valpo signees Carson Schwieger and Devon Ellis.
“Link has been awesome and was a stepping stone for me in my career,” Wright said. “It’s been a great experience to move out of a high school a year early and prepare myself for Valpo. It’s been nothing short of a great year for me.”
Off the court, Wright loves food and said the coaching staff showed him a lot of great places to eat in Valparaiso during his official visit. Academically, he is interested in pursuing either finance or aviation.
“I’m a playmaking point guard, and you’re going to see a lot of buckets, whether that’s from me or me giving the ball to some of our best players – Cooper and guys like that,” Wright said. “This whole team has dudes and I’m a player who is going to get them the ball and we’re going to score a lot of points, that’s for sure.”
UINDY TENNIS
GREYHOUNDS BREEZE PAST LEWIS IN GLVC QUARTERFINAL
SPRINGFIELD, Mo – For the past five seasons the GLVC has run through the UIndy women’s tennis team, and the Greyhounds made the first steps of their journey to make it six straight seasons today, picking up a big quarterfinal win against the 4-seeded Lewis Flyers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Flyers kept the pace with the Hounds in doubles play, forcing a tiebreak at court two, but the fire of Tyffaine Pais and Ana Hollweg was too much to overcome. On the other side of it was Maissane Aik and Valetin Colin who snagged a 6-3 score at the third court to give the Hounds an early lead.
The Flyers continued and continued to battle but the Hounds kept them just enough away. Lewis snagged first sets at No. 2 singles and No. 3 singles, but fell victim to comeback efforts by both Bendetta Sensi and Hollweg. The clincher came from Maria Fiacan who after dropping the second set, roared back with a 6-3 decider.
UP NEXT
The Hounds will battle SBU in the semifinal in Springfield tomorrow afternoon. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
#8 MEN’S TENNIS DOMINATES QUINCY IN GLVC QUARTERFINAL
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The reigning GLVC champions UIndy men’s tennis got off to a hot start in their campaign for back-to-back titles, demolishing the Quincy Hawks 4-0 in the quarterfinals of this year’s bracket. The Hounds now move to a semifinal bout with Southwest Baptist on Saturday morning for a shot at the championship on Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The top-dawgs of Tom Zeuch and Matthieu Derache, the No. 1-doubles team in the country set the table for the Hounds securing the first of two doubles matches for the first point of the match. Louis Picaud and Erwan Momo Andre, both All-GLVC First Teamers captured a 6-3 victory at court two to bring the match 1-0 for the reigning champs.
As the Hounds have done all GLVC split, they crushed singles play. Zeuch, Momo Andre and Picaud made it one, two, three and match. All three singles matches went in straight-sets with the no Hawk scoring more than two games on a Hound.
UP NEXT
The Hounds are back in the hunt for glory tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET tomorrow in Springfield Ill. against the SBU Bearcats.
UINDY BASEBALL
BASEBALL SECURES REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP IN DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT AT LEWIS
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The No. 20-ranked University of Indianapolis baseball team made its first major accomplishment of the season, clinching the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season title by defeating Lewis in the second game of the doubleheader.
The Hounds dropped the first game of the twill bill 7-4, falling just short of a big seventh-inning comeback, but rebounded and more in game two, scratching across a big six-run second frame to give them a lead they never lost.
Caleb Vaughn hammered a grand slam in the seventh of game one while Easton Good led the Hounds in the second affair with a three-RBI bout.
GAME 1 | Lewis 7, UIndy 4
After a lockdown first inning by Jackson Kirkpatrick, the Flyers used some timely patience in the second inning to score a pair of bases-loaded walks that signaled the end of the day for Kirk. With Payton Plym coming in for relief with the bases still juiced Mikey Kocen golfed a 3-2 slider deep over the centerfield wall to make it a six run inning for the home team.
That lead held for the remainder of the game, with it taking until the top of the seventh for the Hounds to respond. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Caleb Vaughn who blasted a ball over the dead-center wall to bring the lead down to three. The Cardiac Hounds got started too late however, failing to convert the comeback.
GAME 2 | UIndy 10, Lewis 6
The Flyers scratched across a run in the bottom of the first, but with the Hounds already hot from the first game, it didn’t take long for them to respond. The Hounds started with a RBI-bunt by Bryce Goodwine which started a cycle of Hounds success. From there, Easton Good, Drew Donaldson and Zack Williams went single after single to make it 6-1.
The Flyers attempted to comeback in the third and fourth, scratching a three in the third and one in the fourth. But the Hounds kept going blow-for-blow, punching back with three in the top of the fifth with the final run coming via a Good sac bunt. Cole Hampton tallied another in the sixth with a big RBI double in the sixth.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will go for the split on Saturday with the Flyers. First pitch in Romeoville is set for 1 p.m. ET.
UINDY SOFTBALL
HOUNDS EARN COMEBACK WIN AT GLVC TOURNEY
EAST PEORIA, Ill. – The No. 1-ranked and top-seeded UIndy softball team overcame a three-run deficit to earn a 5-4 win against fifth-seeded Missouri-St. Louis at the 2024 GLVC Championship Tournament Friday evening. Junior Jayden Casebolt delivered the clutch hit in the sixth inning, driving in the tying and go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit single.
Junior second baseman Jocelyn Calvin also provided a memorable moment, as her first-inning walk pushed her season total to 45 to break the UIndy single-season record for bases on balls.
UIndy remains in the winners’ bracket and will face the winner of tomorrow’s Lewis/Drury elimination game. First pitch was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, but with afternoon showers expected, the start time has been moved up to 1 ET.
INS & OUTS
Facing the only GLVC team to beat them in the regular season, the Hounds got off to a rocky start, allowing four runs in the bottom of the first. But UIndy ace Kenzee Smith made adjustments and settled in, tossing six scoreless innings the rest of the way to give the Hounds a chance.
The UIndy offense chipped away with a single run in the second inning. Calvin found the outfield grass to plate Dominique Proctor, who earlier earned a walk.
The scored remained 4-2 Tritons until the top of the sixth. Braxton Downs sparked the rally with a one-out walk and eventually came around on a single from Proctor, setting the stage for Casebolt.
Down one with two outs and runners on second and third, Head Coach Melissa Frost looked to her bench for some pinch-hit magic.
“I think as soon as we saw Dom’s hit up the middle,” recalled Coach Frost, “we knew that we needed somebody that was going to provide us a little bit of power and Jay was the first person that came to mind. She hit for us early in the year and I thought she took really great rounds of BP off of me today, and I think that’s something that stuck with me.
“As soon as the (third) run crossed the plate, I held up ‘two’ to Coach Ferrell [Casebolt’s jersey number is two]. We talked about it and decided to go with my gut feeling, and I’m glad it worked out.”
Taking her first at bat since February 17, Casebolt calmly stepped into the box and took a 2-1 pitch to the opposite field, scoring Shelby Cook and pinch runner Nicole Pearce to ultimately lift the Hounds to victory.
UINDY TRACK
FOUR GLVC CHAMPS, BROKEN RECORDS HIGHLIGHT DAY TWO OF CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The UIndy men’s and women’s track and field team left a handful of metals after day two of the GLVC Outdoor Championships. Heading into the final day the women are holding on to the lead with 80 points. With 47 points, the men currently reside in third.
The field events will kick off at 10 a.m. ET tomorrow with the running events following at 1 p.m. ET.
FRIDAY
Ellie Lengerich broke a school and GLVC record to kick off day two. Lengerich broke the records in the heptathlon with 4968 points. Cole Hurt participated in the men’s decathlon, finishing second overall with 6271 points.
In the field, Emily Bonser, Sabrina Robison, and Alex Meyer took the top spot in the respective events. Bonser took on the discus, her final attempt of the day was the winning throw of 46.02m (PR). All-American pole vaulter Robison defended her title, clearing 3.98m for the win. Finally, Meyer won the long jump in his first GLVC Outdoor Championships. The freshman reached 7.53m in his first jump and held on to the top spot.
Samuel Sommers also reached the podium in the men’s long jump. Sommers took third with 7.03m. In the women’s long jump, Joanna Fields jumped 5.54m setting a new PR and claiming third. Dylan Mayhew placed third in the shot-put throwing for 15.69m. In the pole vault, Treyton Arnold cleared 4.64m earning him second place.
The only running final of the day was the 3000m steeplechase. Felix Rivet placed third and set a new PR clocking 9:20.40. A group of Greyhounds participated in the prelims for multiple running events. Moving on to tomorrow’s finals – Ailliyah Reese (100m hurdles, 100m), Lindsey Wormuth (100m hurdles), Ndubisi Eze (110m hurdles), Emily Sonderman (400m), Tom Saint-Juvin (800m), Ellie Lengerich (400m hurdles), Cloey Simon (400m hurdles), Drayden Gates (400m hurdles), and Hallie Montgomery (200m).
THURSDAY
The UIndy women started off strong with hammer throw. Zoe Pentecost won the event, demolishing her own school and GLVC record with 62.74m. Pentecost created a new school record (61.94m) at the Marian Open to start off the outdoor season. Audra Hogan also finished on the podium claiming third place with 51.84m (PR). Emily Bonser (51.57m) and Makenna Maschino (50.33m, PR) rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth place respectively.
Hadley Fisher took on the 10K on Thursday night, finishing second in the event with a time of 36:08.12.
MARIAN TRACK
KNIGHTS COME HOME WITH NEW RECORDS AND THE CROSSROADS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Marion, Ind. – For the fourth consecutive year, the Marian men’s track and field program finished with a dominating victory at the Crossroads League Outdoor Championship, winning their fourth title in four years, and their ninth title in program history. The Knights finished with a score of 269, Indiana Wesleyan came in second with a score of 130.50, and Mount Vernon came in third with a score of 95. Grace, Taylor, Spring Arbor, Huntington, Bethel (Ind.), Goshen, and St. Francis finished out the team scores for the weekend.
The Knights claimed two of the top three spots in the 100m with Jeremiah Brown claiming second and Manny Manneh claiming third. Marian finished with three of the top four spots in the 200m with, Oliver Lifrange claiming second, Brown claiming third, and Eli Givens claiming fourth. Marian took all top-four places in the 400m with, Eric Materna hitting NAIA B standard with a time of 48.18 to claim first place. Givens claimed second, Lifrange claimed third, and Richard Dube claimed fourth.
Tristan Trevino set a new school record in the 800m and hit the NAIA A standard with a time of 1:50.28 to claim first place as well. Mason Piatt claimed seventh place earning two points for the Knights. Ben Moster claimed two points for the Knights finishing seventh in the 1500m. Blake Hipkiss claimed three points for the Knights finishing sixth in the 5000m.
Marian claimed two of the top-five places in the 110m hurdles with Gus Martinez finishing fourth and Caleb Carter finishing fifth. Carter also placed sixth in the 400m hurdles claiming three more points for the Knights. Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez claimed eigth place in the 3000m Steeplechase and hit NAIA B standard with a time of 9:29.59.
The team of Brown, Lifrange, Manneh, and Will Osafo in the 4x100m relay hit NAIA B standard with a time of 41.05 to claim first place in the event. The Knights claimed a new conference record in the 4x400m relay, as the team of Gideon Brimmage, Dube, Givens, and Lifrange hit NAIA A standard with a time of 3:14.66 and claimed first place in the event.
The Knights claimed all top-three positions in the triple jump, with Van Lian claiming first with a mark of 13.63, Armani Glass claiming second, and Jordan Pohl claiming third. In the hammer Marian claimed three of the top-four positions, with Isaiah Tipping claiming first and hitting the NAIA A standard with a mark of 63.97m, Christian Rios claiming second and hitting the NAIA A standard with a mark of 60.70m, and Jacob Netral claiming fourth.
In the Javelin Marian claimed two of the top eight spots with Felipe Mentz claiming fourth with a mark of 46.90m, and Brendan Oleksak claiming eighth. Mentz also claimed second place in the Decathlon with 5195 points.
Marian hosts their last chance meet on Wednesday May 8th-9th.
KNIGHTS CONTINUE THEIR DOMINANCE WITH FOURTH CONSECUTIVE CROSSROADS LEAGUE OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Marion, Ind. – For the fourth consecutive year and the fifth time in program history, the Marian women’s track and field team won the Crossroads League Outdoor Track and Field Championship. The Knights scored 161 points overall ,with Indiana Wesleyan behind in second with 149 points, and Bethel (Ind.) placing in third with 136 points. Taylor, Grace, Goshen, St. Francis (Ind.), Huntington, Spring Arbor, and Mount Vernon rounded out the team scores.
On the track Marian scored in the 100m with Catalla Jones and Armoney Clay both scoring in the top eight. The Knights had three finishers in the top seven in the 200m with Janae Bailey placing third with a time of 25.08, Jones placing sixth, and Hanna Reuter placing seventh. Marian took home four spots in the top eight of the 400m with Taylor Thomas claiming first place with a time of 58.06, Reuter was not far behind in second place with a time of 58.68. Maya Mundy and Adrianna Boyd finished off the race in seventh and eighth place both claiming points for the team.
Katie Woods hit the NAIA A standard in the 800m with a time of 2:13.29 to claim second place in the race, Nora Steele also claimed a spot in the top eight with a finish in seventh place. Woods dominated in the 1500m with another NAIA A standard of 4:32.47 to claim first place in the event. Liz Loichinger also claimed points for Marian finishing in seventh place.
The Knights claimed two spots in the top eight of the 100m Hurdles with Nina Marinkovic claiming fourth and Brooke Coffman claiming sixth both tallying up points for the Knights. Marian placed fourth in the 4x100m relay, as the team of Bailey, Clay, Jones, and Marinkovic tallied up five points. The team of Bailey, Boyd, Mundy, and Reuter hit the NAIA A standard with a time of 3:53.22 and claimed first place in the 4x400m relay.
Marinkovic finished in third place in the triple jump with a mark of 11.01m, Shirmara Anderson finished in fifth, and Gina Butz finished in seventh to claim points for the Knights. Arriana Benjamin claimed first place in the Hammer with a mark of 50.30m which hit the NAIA B standard. Keeley Hughes finished in third place which tallied up six points for the Knights.
Bella Dean finished in sixth place in the Javelin with a mark of 30.44m to claim three points for Marian. Dean also claimed fifth in the Heptathlon with 3306 points.
Marian hosts their last chance meet on Wednesday May 8th-9th.
MARIAN SOFTBALL
NO. 8 MARIAN CLAIMS CROSSROADS LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Spring Arbor, Mich. – Entering the final day of the Crossroads League Tournament, the Marian softball team needed two games to secure their second consecutive CL Championship, winning the if-necessary title game 1-0 over No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan to claim their hardware. Marian is 44-10 overall after their pair of championship games, entering the NAIA Championship as the owners of both Crossroads League titles.
Game 1 | Marian 5-9 Indiana Wesleyan
Marian wasted little time jumping on the Wildcats in the first championship game, scoring in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from Abby Madere. The Wildcats would respond in the top of the second inning, coming back at Macy Coan with three unearned runs, as an error on a bunt play allowed three Wildcats to score. Coan shut down the inning, and re-entered in the third inning in a tie game, as Brooke Knox drove in Anna Pritchett and Savannah Harweger with a two-out single. Madere and Sierra Norman would follow with singles, but Knox was gunned down at the plate on Norman’s base hit, ending the inning in a 3-3 tie.
In the third inning Marian looked primed to take a lead once more as Grace Meyer and Caroline Roop were hit by wild pitches while Hayley Greene singled to help load the bases. Brenna Fink would come in to pinch hit and try and push the Knights in front, but a ground ball was unable leave the infield as Meyer was thrown out at the dish, and a fly out would close the effort with the bases loaded.
Indiana Wesleyan capitalized on the missed opportunity with a run in the top of the fourth as two singles and a pair of fielder’s choice plays allowed the go-ahead run to score. After obtaining the 4-3 lead, the Wildcats gripped tightly to their lead, scoring one run in the fifth inning and four in the top of the sixth, pushing the lead to six runs at a 9-3 margin.
In the bottom of the seventh Marian started a late rally, with Grace Meyer and Jenna Minnix drawing walks to start the inning, eventually coming in to score on an RBI groundout from Raegan Hiatt and wild pitch, respectively. Anna Pritchett and Savannah Harweger would reach base before the game reached its conclusion, but with two outs against Marian was unable to stay alive at the dish, falling 9-5.
Marian ended the game with nine hits, getting a pair of base hits from Harweger, Knox, and Madere. Knox had two of the four RBI, and Pritchett reached base safely three times, all on walks. Coan took the loss in the circle, pitching 5.2 innings. The freshman gave up nine runs, four of which were earned. Katie Lackman recorded the final four outs in the circle, giving up two hits in relief duty.
Game 2 | Marian 1-0 Indiana Wesleyan
The second act between Marian and Indiana Wesleyan in the if-necessary game belonged to the pitchers, as Olivia Stunkel went toe-to-toe with Alyssa Wagner. Stunkel breezed through the first inning as she recorded a strikeout in a perfect start, while Wagner struggled as Savannah Harweger roped a single and Sierra Norman drew a walk, however the Knights failed to bring in a run keeping a pair of zeros on the scoreboard.
Stunkel gave up her first runner in the second inning with a lead-off single, but worked out of harm with a pair of pop-ups to first base and a fly out to right. Marian looked to capitalize in the bottom of the second as Abbey Hofmann singled to lead off the inning while reaching second on an error, but in an attempt to trade places on Lily Wendt’s double, the left fielder was thrown out at the plate. Marian would fail to score in the inning, but after another hit was scattered by Stunkel in the third, the Knights broke the deadlock with Harweger starting a rally. The senior singled and took second on a stolen base, setting up Sierra Norman with two outs, as the first baseman roped a hit into the outfield for the game’s first and only run.
The RBI single gave Marian a 1-0 lead, which would be more than enough for Stunkel, who carved up the Wildcat lineup over the final four innings. A double would be left on an island in the fourth as the Marian ace recorded an inning-ending strikeout, while in the fifth inning Stunkel was perfect with a pair of groundouts aiding her cause. Indiana Wesleyan recorded their final hit of the game in the top of the sixth with a one-out single, but a pair of ground balls never left the infield, as the Knights recorded two quick outs to end the frame.
In the seventh Marian aimed to wrap up their championship, getting a quick fly out to center for the first retirement of the frame. Stunkel would get tested as she allowed a walk and single to put two runners on, but the Wildcats would fail to get past second base, as Chloe Tragesser lined out into a double play, with Hayley Greene making the catch and firing the ball back to first base to complete the game and give Marian the 1-0 championship win.
Stunkel came out on top in the pitcher’s duel, firing a complete-game shutout while allowing just five hits. The junior pitcher fired 64 pitches in the win, and struck out two batters. At the plate, Norman reached twice with a walk and single, recording the game’s only RBI with her third inning single. Harweger collected two hits in the win, and three other Knights had one hit. Wendt and Grace Meyer doubled in the win.
Marian will now await their draw for the NAIA Opening Round, as the Knights will host the first stage of the national tournament for the second consecutive year. The NAIA selection show is Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. on their YouTube channel.
MARIAN WOMEN’S GOLF
MARIAN WOMEN’S GOLF QUALIFIES FOR 2024 NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the competing teams and individuals for the 29th Annual NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship, running from May 14-17 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
The 156-player field consists of 19 automatic qualifying teams, who won their respective conference/independent tournament or were ranked in the final Top 25 for the conference’s second automatic berth. Automatic berths are given to conferences who have six or more schools declare at the beginning of the season. Conferences with 12+ schools who finish the conference tournament are eligible for a second automatic qualifier, as long as the second team is rated in the final regular-season Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
Marian women’s golf, who moved up one spot to No. 8 in the final NAIA ratings period of the 2023-24 season on Friday, earned an automatic bid to the NAIA Championships as the winner of the Crossroads League. Marian’s ranking of No. 8 is the best rating in program history. This is the second consecutive season Marian has earned an automatic berth to the NAIA Championship, and the third berth in four seasons.
Eleven teams reached the championship field through an at-large selection. At-large teams were determined using the final regular-season Coaches’ Top 25 Poll released today. To access the poll, CLICK HERE.
To receive an individual automatic berth, the conference medalist must be from a team who did not win the conference team title, or be an All-Tournament Team honoree from the previous year’s national championships that did not qualify otherwise. To earn an at-large individual berth, the selection is determined by the NAIA Women’s Golf Executive Committee.
First and second round pairings and tee times for the championships will be released on Monday, May 6th on NAIA.org.
Marian’s first round at the 2024 NAIA National Championships will be on Tuesday, May 14.
MARIAN BASEBALL
HOGG’S GEM KEEPS MARIAN ALIVE AS KNIGHTS ELIMINATE MT. VERNON 10-6
Upland, Ind. – Behind a strong pitching performance from Seth Hogg and a 10-run game, the Marian baseball team staved off elimination as they defeated Mt. Vernon Nazarene 10-6 in the Crossroads League Tournament. Marian’s win advances them to Saturday, with the record improving to 24-26.
Pitching headlined the first two innings of the game, as both teams were held hitless until the third inning. Jarin Bertke allowed two Knights to reach on walks but neither free pass would advance beyond third base, while Seth Hogg recorded a perfect first inning, striking out the side in the second to strand a walk and error that allowed a pair of Cougars to reach.
In the third inning Dawson Estep ignited the offenses, doubling to center field for the game’s first hit. Caden Mason was hit by a pitch and Josh Lamb poked a single through the right side to load the bases, setting up Kameron Salazar who roped a two RBI single to center. With a 2-0 lead, Marian got a hitless inning from Hogg to close the third, and in the fourth inning doubled their lead as Johnny Roeder hammered a two-run home run. Mount Vernon would get a run back in the bottom of the fourth as the freshman pitcher for Marian gave up a solo homerun, but limited the damage to one as Marian led 4-1 after four complete.
The Knights wasted no time getting the run back, driving home two scores in the top of the fifth inning. A pair of base hits opened the frame and moved a runner into scoring position for Pierson Barnes, who was able to deliver a sacrifice fly and score the team’s fifth run. Bryce Davenport followed with an RBI single of his own, pushing Marian in front 6-1. The score would hold until the bottom of the sixth inning, as Hogg was able to pitch a perfect fifth. In the bottom of the sixth the freshman allowed a pair of singles, but got a double play from his defense, cutting what could have been a two-run frame to one, as a final fly out would keep the Knights in control 6-2.
The game broke open for Marian in the seventh inning, as the Knights brought home four runs to expand their lead to eight. Davenport recorded an RBI single, and after a pitching change Barnes scored an unearned run. Dawson Estep and Caden Mason would record back-to-back RBI singles to complete the inning’s fireworks, giving Marian a 10-2 lead.
The score would hold until the bottom of the eighth inning, as Hogg was unable to follow his scoreless seventh frame into the penultimate inning. The freshman was roughed for four runs, giving up four hits before exiting the game in favor of Jayson Cottrell. With two outs, Cottrell would allow a double that brought the score within four, but held strong with a strikeout stranding two runners. In the ninth the third-year reliever gave up a lead-off single, but got the help from his defense as the final three batters were retired, closing out Marian’s 10-6 win.
The Knights had 12 hits in their win as their postseason offense returned to form, picking up nine RBI. Davenport had two hits and two RBI in the win, while Rylan Huntley, Dawson Estep, and Josh Lamb each had two-hit games. Davenport also drew two of the team’s six walks, with the senior reaching safely four times. Salazar and Roeder each had two RBI.
On the mound, Hogg dominated through seven innings before fatigue settled in the eighth inning, lasting 7.2 innings as he moved to 5-4 on the year. The freshman gave up six runs and eight hits, striking out six batters. Cottrell picked up the final four outs, allowing two hits with one strikeout.
Marian will advance to another elimination game on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Pending the result of the Taylor and Huntington game, Marian could play either the previous teams, or the loser between Indiana Wesleyan and St. Francis.
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
4 – 26 – 22 – 34 – 13 – 27 – 87 – 8
May 4, 1871 – The first official league game of baseball was played in the National Association of Baseball Players. In the contest Fort Wayne outscored Cleveland 2-0. Ft Wayne Deacons player Jim White is the player that recorded the first hit, which was a double.
May 4, 1929 – Yankees star, Lou Gehrig, Number 4, belts three consecutive Home Runs to help New York to an 11-9 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Gehrig knocked a total of 35 pitches over the wall that season for the Yanks.
May 4, 1963 – A very strange record was established by a player on this date. Pitcher Bob Shaw, Number 26 of the Milwaukee Braves was called for five balks in one game as the Chicago Cubs outlasted the Braves 7-5 in a contest that had a total of 7 balks called!
FOOTBALL HISTORY
A Tale of one of the 4 Horseman
May 4, 1903 – Davenport, Iowa – The famous Notre Dame fullback of 1922 to 1924, Elmer Layden was born. The National Football Foundation has a really good bio on Layden that says that he was one of the famed Fighting Irish Four Horsemen. He was the heaviest of the four at 162 pounds but yet his nickname was “thin man.” New Year’s Day, 1925, at the Rose Bowl, and the final curtain call for Notre Dame’s famed Four Horsemen. Their opponent was the Stanford Cardinal team, who had prepared for the Irish offensive firepower which had been headlined across the nation. Instead, it was the defensive prowess of Elmer Layden which buried Stanford. The Los Angeles Times had an article the next day that stated “BREAKS DECIDE ROSE BOWL FRAY, Cards outscore Notre Dame in all but points.” The article says that the Stanford defense prevented the Irish from even registering a first down in the second half! Layden scored first on a three-yard run before turning a pair of pick sixes of 78 and 60 yards! Knute Rockne could afford to play a bit more conservatively in the back half of the game when your defense is churning out points like that with splash plays. Elmer had tallied three of four Irish touchdowns to provide a final triumph in a perfect 10-game season which brought Notre Dame its first undisputed national championship. Layden’s unique running style at fullback was equally uncanny. “He developed a straight-line dive that made him one of the most unusual fullbacks in football”, stated coach Knute Rockne. The Irish posted a combined record of 27-2-1 during Layden’s varsity career. Elmer Layden’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1951. The prolific player later became the head coach at Duquesne and then served as Irish coach from 1934 to 1940, compiling a record of 47-13-3 before leaving to become Commissioner of the National Football League for six seasons.
If you want to be able to be able to read through some old articles like _the LA Times, you need to check out Newspapers.com. At Newspapers.com, you can get access to over 640 million pages’ worth of news from the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland and more dating back from 1798 to yesterday. Get a free one week subscription to Newspapers.com by visiting SportsHistoryNetwork.com/newspapers. And with a paid subscription, you’ll also be helping to support the production of this and other Sports History Network shows.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for May 4
Here are the bios on some birthday boys that are either in the College Football Hall of Fame or the Pro Football Hall of Fame that were born on this day. There is plenty more about them to read by either clicking their high-lighted name or at the top of this page clicking the “On This Day in Football History” and going to May 4 Football History.
May 4, 1910 – Milton, Massachusetts – Barry Wood the Harvard University quarterback from 1929 to 1931 arrived into this life. The National Football Foundation selected Barry Wood for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
May 4, 1928 – Ponca City, Oklahoma – Michigan State’s fine tackle of 1949 to 1951, Don Coleman was born. Coleman’s good name and collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1975.
May 4, 1938 – Hampton, Arkansas – Wayne Harris who played center for Arkansas from 1958 to 1960 arrived into this life. Mr. Harris was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004 after the National Football Foundation tabulated their votes.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
May 4
1869 — Henry Chadwick published his first annual baseball handbook. The book eventually evolved into Spalding’s Official Baseball Guide.
1869 — The Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first all-professional team, played its first regular season game and beat the Great Westerns of Cincinnati 45-9.
1871 — The Fort Wayne Kekiongas beat the Cleveland Forest Citys, 2-0, in the first game played in the National Association. In the 127 games during the 1871 season, there were a total of four shutouts.
1910 — The Browns and Cardinals played home games in St. Louis, and President Taft, not wanting to offend either club, saw parts of each game at Robinson Field and Sportsman’s Park.
1931 — In an effort to put less strain on his leg, Babe Ruth plays first base as Lou Gehrig moves to right field.
1939 — Boston rookie Ted Williams became the first player to hit a home run that cleared the right field seats at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. It was his first at-bat at Detroit. The Red Sox edged the Tigers 7-6.
1944 — Blacks were allowed to buy grandstand seats for the first time in St. Louis history. St. Louis was the last of the major league clubs to integrate seating. Negroes had been restricted to the bleachers.
1963 — Bob Shaw of the Milwaukee Braves sets a major league record by committing five balks.
1966 — Willie Mays broke the National League record with the 512th home run of his career in a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Candlestick Park. Mays passed another Giant, breaking the mark established by Mel Ott in 1946.
1969 — The Houston Astros set an NL record by turning seven double plays against the San Francisco Giants. First baseman Curt Blefary participated in all seven.
1975 — Bob Watson of the Houston Astros, sensing baseball history, raced around the bases on Milt May’s home run and crossed the plate at Candlestick Park in time to score major league baseball’s 1 millionth run, seconds ahead of Dave Concepcion of Cincinnati.
1980 — Chicago White Sox first baseman Mike Squires caught the final inning of an 11-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He was the first left-handed catcher to play in major league baseball since Dale Long in 1958.
1981 — New York Yankees relief pitcher Ron Davis strikes out eight consecutive batters in a 4 – 2 victory over the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium, tying an American League record set by Nolan Ryan.
1987 — Candy Maldonado hit for the cycle to help the San Francisco Giants overcome a six-run deficit and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-7.
1991 — Chris James drove in nine runs with two homers and two singles, breaking Cleveland’s club record for RBIs and leading the Indians to a 20-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
1996 — The Texas Rangers became the first American League team in 79 years to pitch consecutive one-hitters as Roger Pavlik held Detroit to a fifth-inning home run in a 3-1 win. Ken Hill one-hit Detroit on May 3, retiring the last 26 batters he faced.
2001 — Raul Mondesi of the Blue Jays went 4-for-4, with two homers, two doubles and six RBIs, leading Toronto to an 8-3 victory over Seattle.
2002 — Barry Bonds hits his 400th home run with the San Francisco Giants.
2015 — Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Brook Jacoby was suspended 14 games for his postgame conduct toward the umpire crew assigned to the April 29 game at Boston. Jacoby was accused of pinning umpire Doug Eddings against a wall in a dugout tunnel at Fenway Park, putting his forearms up near the ump’s neck following Toronto’s loss.
2018 — Dodger Rookie Walker Buehler and a trio of Los Angeles relievers combined for the franchise’s 23rd no-hitter in a 4-0 victory over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a neutral-site series at Monterrey, Mexico. In just his third start in the majors, Buehler went six innings before Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore closed it out.
2018 — Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols got his 3,000th hit, reaching the mark with a broken-bat single in a 5-0 win against Seattle. Pujols joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Alex Rodriguez as the only players in baseball history with 3,000 hits and 600 homers.
2021 — The minor leagues start their season, after having been on hiatus since September of 2019 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In the interim, the governing structure, Minor League Baseball, has been thoroughly reorganized and in effect replaced by the Professional Development League.
2022 — By pitching 7 innings of one-hit ball, Adam Wainwright gets credit for a 10 – 0 win by the Cardinals over the Royals. It is the 202nd time that the battery of Wainwright and C Yadier Molina have combined on a win, tying the all-time record set by Warren Spahn and Del Crandall of the Boston and Milwaukee Braves.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1994 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)..
Off the field…
A major earthquake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale, struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in northern Los Angeles. In the aftermath, fifty-seven people were killed, 1,500 were injured and over 12,500 buildings were damaged.
Richard M. Nixon, the thirty-seventh President of the United States, who won a record landslide and resigned in disgrace twenty-one months later died after suffering a stroke at the age of eighty-one.
U.S. national champion figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, a 1992 Olympic bronze medalist and one of the favorites to win the gold medal, was attacked after a practice at the U.S. Olympic trials. It was later discovered that one of her rivals, Tonya Harding and her husband were behind the plot.
In the American League…
Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Shuey went four (K’s) for four in the ninth inning of the Tribe’s 9-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. In doing so he became only the tenth pitcher in American League history, (and the first rookie) to strike out four batters in a single inning.
The Twins’ Pedro Munoz drove in seven runs to defeat the Detroit Tigers 21-7 as Minnesota became the first team since the 1950 Red Sox to score more than twenty runs in a game, two times in the same season. Their previous rally was a 21-2 homerun derby over the Boston Red Sox.
Kevin Appier, of the Kansas City Royals, set an all-time record (traced back to 1986) after striking out thirteen Texas Rangers in only five and 2/3 innings of work. To date, no pitcher, in the history of baseball had ever pitched less than six innings in a game with that many strikeouts.
In the National League…
The Chicago Cubs’ Tuffy Rhodes became the first National League player to tally three home runs (all consecutive) on Opening Day at Wrigley Field. Despite the setback, Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets held on to beat the home team 12-8.
The St. Louis Cardinals set a new major-league record by stranding sixteen base runners in a 4-0 shutout by the Philadelphia Phillies. After eight innings, the game remained scoreless, but reliever Mike Perez stumbled in the ninth surrendering two hits, one walk and a three-run homer.
Jeff Bagwell became the twenty-eighth player in Major League history to homer twice in the same inning as Houston rallied for nine runs in the sixth during a 16-4 massacre over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Around the League…
The Major League Players Association rejected an owner’s salary cap proposal, asking players to split all revenues 50-50. In addition, the citation stated that salary arbitration would be eliminated and free agency for players could be reached after four years in the majors instead of six.
As negotiations continued to heat up, the owners decided to withhold $7.8 million that they were obligated to pay into the players’ pension and benefit plans. The final straw fell after the Senate Judiciary Committee failed to approve an antitrust legislation that left the players with little choice but to strike.
On September 14th, the remainder of the baseball season was canceled thirty-four days into the players’ strike. As a result, the World Series was also called off for the first time since 1904. Three months later, the owners unilaterally implemented a salary cap as negotiations remained at a standstill.
HISTORY OF THE ANGELS (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
The Official History of the Los Angeles Angels | Baseball Almanac
What can you say about a baseball franchise that was owned by a singing cowboy for 35 years and the world’s most popular mouse for another seven, except that it had to be interesting, even when it was dull.
Gene Autry was one of Hollywood’s wealthiest stars when he bought the new American League franchise about to be planted in California. It started a 35 year love affair between Autry and his Angels.
The Halos played their first game in 1961, beating Baltimore 7-2. They wound up 70-91, a winning percentage of .435, the best ever recorded by a first-year team.
In their second season, the Angels contended into September before fading. A perfect made-for-Hollywood personality burst onto the Angels baseball scene that summer — Bo Belinsky, a highly touted left-handed prospect who threw a no-hitter in May and then began dating virtually every starlet in Hollywood. His pitching never panned out as well as his social life, as he received more headlines that any pitcher who went 10-11 in his first season. Arm trouble turned him into a journeyman pitcher and he finished his career 28-51.
Two years later it was Dean Chance who shot across the sky. Only 5-5 at the All Star break, he finished the 1964 season 20-9 with a league leading 278 strikeouts, 11 shutouts and a 1.65 ERA that earned him the Cy Young Award.
CALIFORNIA ANGELS
The Angels stayed fairly respectable through the rest of the 1960’s, and in 1970 produced their only batting champion in Alex Johnson, an outfielder they acquired the year before from the Reds. Johnson was moody, given to fits of pique and anger and was another great source of headlines for the press. He was gone to Cleveland a year later.
The Angels traded their franchise player, Jim Fregosi, to the Mets for Nolan Ryan in 1972. Ryan became the premier pitcher in the league, tossing two no-hitters in 1973 (when he also struck out 383 batters) and one each in 1974 and 1975.
Despite the individual achievements of players like Chance, Johnson and Ryan, Gene Autry’s postseason trophy was empty accept for Tumbling Tumbleweeds until 1979. That year, a veteran group of Angels finally put the team over the top in the American League Western Division led by Don Baylor’s MVP season (.296, 36 home runs and a league leading 139 runs batted in). Veterans like Rod Carew (.318), Bobby Grich (.294, 30 home runs, 101 RBI) and Dan Ford (.290, 21 homers, 101 RBI) contributed much along the way. The Angels lost the American League Championship Series to Baltimore.
After a few off seasons, Autry’s boys were Back in the Saddle Again in 1982, with many of the same veterans now joined by Reggie Jackson (.275, 39 HR, 101 RBI). California defeated Milwaukee in the first two games of the best-of-five league championship series only to lose the next three in a row.
Jackson was with the Angels when he clubbed his 500th home run in 1984, but the Angles did not have the horses to compete that season. With Gene Mauch at the helm in 1985 they faded in September but rebounded to win the division again in 1986. Wally Joyner drove in 100 runs and hit .290, but no other regular hit better than .267. That was good enough for a pitching staff with Mike Witt, Kirk McCaskill, John Candelaria and Don Sutton all winning in double digits.
The best-of-seven American League Championship Series started well for the Angels, as they won three of the first four against the Red Sox. They took a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning of Game Five, and had two outs when Don Baylor (ironically) hit a two-run homer to make it 5-4. Then with another man aboard, Dave Henderson hit a shocking two-run homer off Angel relief ace Donnie Moore to give Boston 6-5 lead. Although the Angels managed to tie in their half of the ninth, they lost in extra innings and the next two games as well. A still-despondent Moore committed suicide three years later.
The Angels remained in a downward spiral after that. The only two seasons in which they contended, 1989 and 1995, they blew comfortable August leads. In 1995 they lost a one-game playoff to Seattle to decide the division.
ANAHEIM ANGELS
Autry sold his interest in the Angels to the Walt Disney Company in 1997. Disney promptly spruced up the ballpark, changed the logo and added new promotions. But most importantly it let the baseball people, led by manager Mike Scioscia, build up the team with quality talent and youthful pitching arms.
Solid players such as Troy Glaus (.250, 30 home runs, 111 RBI) and Garrett Anderson (.306, 29 homers, 123 RBI) helped the Angels take the wild card in 2002. They then torpedoed the Yankees and the Twins in the American League playoffs, and then defeated the San Francisco Giants in seven games for their only world championship.
They pulled a miracle of their own, rebounding from a 5-0 deficit after six innings of Game Six, when the Giants were eight outs from winning the championship. Long time Angel players, fans and employees found the championship bittersweet as Autry had not lived to see it. He had died four years earlier.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Disney World sold the team in 2005 to advertising executive Arturo Moreno, who became the first Hispanic owner of a Major League baseball team. A four-year dispute ensued as to what to call the team. They were originally called the Los Angeles Angels. Then they became the California Angels.
Today they are officially the Los Angeles Angels – the one constant during the Moreno years is that the team has remained competitive, making the playoffs four of his five years as owner.
They haven’t returned to the World Series, but between Disney’s promotions, a larger-than-life owner in Gene Autry, Bo Belinsky, Alex Johnson, Nolan Ryan and his no-hitters, Reggie Jackson, the monumental losses and incredible comebacks, the one thing you cannot call the Angels is dull.
THE MEN OF BASEBALL
Gus Bell
David Bell’s parents so admired catcher Gus Mancuso they nicknamed their son Gus, but instead of a catcher, he became a power-hitting outfielder. Bell was hitting .400 at Indianapolis when he was called up to the Pirates in 1950, joining Ralph Kiner in the Bucs’ outfield. After two strong seasons, he spent part of 1952 back in the minors because of a dispute with the Pirate front office; he had wanted his family to travel with him, including his son Buddy, later an outstanding ML third baseman.
Traded to Cincinnati, Bell hit a career-high 30 homers in 1953. He had his best years with the Reds (1953-61), four times topping 100 RBI.
In the 1957 All-Star voting, Cincinnati fans sent in so many ballots they succeeded in having seven Reds named to the starting lineup. Commissioner Ford Frick removed Bell and Wally Post as starters, but Manager Walter Alston named Bell to the squad and he doubled in two runs in the seventh.
Selected by the Mets in the expansion draft, he collected the first Met hit, a single on April 11, 1962.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
May 4
1905 — Belmont Park in New York opens for its first thoroughbred meet.
1924 — VIII Summer Olympic Games open at Olympic Stadium of Colombes, Paris, France.
1935 — Omaha, ridden by Willis Saunders, wins the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Roman Soldier. Omaha goes on to win the Triple Crown.
1946 — Assault, ridden by Warren Mehrtens, wins the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths over Spy Song on his way to the Triple Crown.
1957 — Iron Liege, ridden by Bill Hartack, wins the Kentucky Derby by a nose when jockey Willie Shoemaker, aboard Gallant Man, misjudges the finish line. Shoemaker is in front but stands the saddle before the finish.
1965 — Willie Mays 512th HR breaks Mel Ott’s 511th NL record.
1968 — Dancer’s Image, ridden by Bob Ussery, wins the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Forward Pass. Three days later, Dancer’s Image is disqualified when traces of a painkiller are found in tests. Forward Pass, ridden by Ismael Valenzuela, is declared the winner.
1968 — The Pittsburgh Pipers beat New Orleans Buccaneers 122-113 in Game 7 to win the first ABA championship.
1968 — 94th Kentucky Derby: Ismael Valenzuela aboard Forward Pass wins.
1969 — The Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup with a four-game sweep, beating the St. Louis Blues 2-1.
1974 — 100th Kentucky Derby: Puerto Rican jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. wins aboard Cannonade for first of 3 Derby victories.
1985 — 111th Kentucky Derby: Puerto Rican jockey Ángel Cordero Jr.wins aboard Spend A Buck for his third Derby triumph.
1991 — 117th Kentucky Derby: Chris Antley wins aboard Strike the Gold, the first of 2 Derby victories.
1994 — Charles Barkley scores 56 points, including a playoff-record 38 in the first half, to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 140-133 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
1994 — Arsenal of England win 34th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Parma of Italy 1-0 in Copenhagen.
1999 — The New Jersey Devils become the first top-seeded team to lose in the first round of the playoffs in consecutive years when they are beaten 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7.
2000 — Keith Primeau ends the third-longest game in NHL history by scoring at 12:01 of the fifth overtime to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, tying their Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.
2002 — Barry Bonds hits his 400th home run as an SF Giant.
2002 — English FA Cup Final, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (73,963): Arsenal beats Chelsea, 2-0 for 8th title.
2003 — Detroit becomes the seventh NBA team to advance after falling behind 3-1 in a series, beating Orlando 108-93.
2008 — In the eighth longest game in NHL history, Dallas eliminates San Jose in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. In a game that lasts 5 hours, 17 minutes, the Stars beat the Sharks 2-1 after Brenden Morrow scores a power play goal 9:03 into the fourth overtime.
2009 — Cleveland’s LeBron James, unstoppable at both ends of the floor this season, is named the NBA’s MVP. James, who easily outdistanced Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers in the voting, averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
2009 — Alex Ovechkin records his first NHL playoff hat trick and scores the winning goal in Washington’s 4-3 win over Pittsburgh in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference series. Sidney Crosby of the Penguins also scores three goals.
2013 — Floyd Mayweather comes back from a year’s absence to win a unanimous 12-round decision over Robert Guerrero in their welterweight title fight in Las Vegas. All three judges score the bout 117-111 and Mayweather remains unbeaten in 44 fights.
2015 — Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry is named MVP for the 2014-15 NBA season.
2016 — J.R. Smith makes seven 3-pointers and the Cleveland Cavaliers drain an NBA-record 25 3s in a 123-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of the second round. Cleveland finishes 25 of 45 behind the arc, with 10 players making at least one 3. Cleveland’s 25 3s are the most in any game — regular or postseason.
2018 — Albert Pujols, LA Angels hits his 3,000 hit.
2019 — Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez unifies a trio of middleweight world titles in a close, unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
TV SPORTS SATURDAY/SUNDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Detroit at NY Yankees | 1:05pm | MLBN Bally Sports-Detroit YES MLB.TV Fubo |
| Boston at Minnesota | 2:10pm | MLBN NESN Bally Sports-North MLB.TV Fubo |
| Chi. White Sox at St. Louis | 2:15pm | NBC Sports-Chicago Bally Sports-Midwest MLB.TV Fubo |
| Milwuakee at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | Bally Sports-Wisconsin MARQ MLB.TV Fubo |
| Toronto at Washington | 4:05pm | MLBN Sportsnet MASN MLB.TV Fubo |
| Colorado at Pittsburgh | 4:05pm | MLBN Rockies.TV ATTSN-Pittsburgh MLB.TV Fubo |
| Miami at Oakland | 4:07pm | Bally Sports-Florida NBC Sports-California MLB.TV Fubo |
| San Francisco at Philadelphia | 6:05pm | NBC Sports-Bay Area NBC Sports-Philadelphia MLB.TV Fubo |
| LA Angels at Cleveland | 6:10pm | Bally Sports-West Bally Sports-Great Lakes MLB.TV Fubo |
| Baltimore at Cincinnati | 6:40pm | MASN2 Bally Sports-Ohio MLB.TV Fubo |
| Texas at Kansas City | 7:10pm | Bally Sports-Southwest Bally Sports-Kansas City MLB.TV Fubo |
| Seattle at Houston | 7:15pm | FOX Root Sports SCHN MLB.TV Fubo |
| NY Mets at Tampa Bay | 7:15pm | FOX SNY Bally Sports-Sun MLB.TV Fubo |
| San Diego at Arizona | 8:10pm | MLBN Padres.TV YurView MLB.TV Fubo |
| Atlanta at LA Dodgers | 9:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports-South SNLA MLB.TV Fubo |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| West Semifinals Game 1: Minnesota at Denver | 7:00pm | TNT Fubo |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| First Round Game 7: Toronto at Boston | 8:00pm | ABC Fubo |
| UFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Birmingham at Memphis | 12:00pm | ABC |
| Houston at St. Louis | 3:00pm | FOX |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| FIA Formula E: World Championship | 12:00pm | CBS |
| NASCAR Truck: Heart Of America 200 | 8:00pm | FS1 |
| HORSE RACING | TIME ET | TV |
| Kentucky Derby | 6:30pm | NBC |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA: Byron Nelson | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA: Byron Nelson | 3:00pm | CBS |
| Champions: Insperity Invitational | 3:00pm | GOLF |
| DP World: ISPS Handa Championship | 10:30pm | GOLF |
| BOWLING | TIME ET | TV |
| PBA Playoffs | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Women’s Super League: Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur | 7:00am | Paramount+ Fubo |
| EPL: Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth | 7:30am | USA Fubo |
| La Liga: Real Sociedad vs Las Palmas | 8:00am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Ligue 1: Le Havre vs Strasbourg | 9:00am | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Stuttgart vs Bayern München | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Augsburg | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs Darmstadt 98 | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs Borussia M’gladbach | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| EPL: Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest | 10:00am | USA Fubo |
| EPL: Burnley vs Newcastle United | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| EPL: Brentford vs Fulham | 10:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| La Liga: Real Madrid vs Cádiz | 10:15am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Ligue 1: Monaco vs Clermont | 11:00am | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Serie A: Monza vs Lazio | 12:00pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Girona vs Barcelona | 12:30pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Köln vs Freiburg | 12:30pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| EPL: Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12:30pm | NBC Fubo |
| Ligue 1: Metz vs Rennes | 1:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Serie A: Sassuolo vs Internazionale | 2:45pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| EPL: Aston Villa vs Chelsea | 3:00pm | Peacock Fubo |
| La Liga: Mallorca vs Atlético Madrid | 3:00pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Ligue 1: Brest vs Nantes | 3:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| MLS: Atlanta United vs Minnesota United | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Charlotte vs Portland Timbers | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: DC United vs Philadelphia Union | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Inter Miami vs New York RB | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Orlando City SC vs Cincinnati | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: SJ Earthquakes vs Los Angeles FC | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Toronto FC vs Dallas | 7:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Chicago Fire vs New England | 8:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| NWSL: Houston Dynamo vs St. Louis City | 8:30pm | ION Fubo |
| MLS: Nashville SC vs CF Montréal | 8:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| MLS: Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC | 9:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| NWSL: Portland Thorns vs Washington Spirit | 10:00pm | ION Fubo |
| MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Austin | 10:30pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Maryland vs Rutgers | 12:00pm | BTN |
| BYU vs Miami | 1:00pm | ACCNX |
| Arkansas vs Kentucky | 2:00pm | SECN+ |
| Georgia Tech vs Clemson | 2:00pm | ACCNX |
| Indiana vs Purdue | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Vanderbilt vs Georgia | 2:00pm | SECN+ |
| Northwestern vs Iowa | 3:00pm | B1G+ |
| South Alabama vs Appalachian State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Michigan vs Michigan State | 3:30pm | B1G+ |
| Oklahoma State vs Texas | 3:30pm | LHN |
| Nebraska vs Minnesota | 4:00pm | B1G+ |
| Ohio State vs Illinois | 4:00pm | B1G+ |
| Pittsburgh vs Notre Dame | 4:00pm | ACCN |
| Western Carolina vs Wake Forest | 6:00pm | ACCNX |
| NC State vs Florida State | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| Ohio vs Virginia Tech | 7:00pm | ACCNX |
| Texas A&M vs LSU | 7:30pm | ESPNU |
| Ole Miss vs Auburn | 8:00pm | SECN |
| Oregon State vs Washington State | 9:00pm | PAC12N |
| Washington vs Arizona State | 9:30pm | PAC12N |
| Oregon State vs Washington State | 10:00pm | PAC12N |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Alabama vs Auburn | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Louisville vs Boston College | 12:00pm | ACCN |
| Indiana vs Northwestern | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Iowa vs Illinois | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Maryland vs Wisconsin | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Michigan State vs Purdue | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Ohio State vs Michigan | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Pittsburgh vs NC State | 2:00pm | ACCN |
| Texas A&M vs Florida | 2:00pm | SECN |
| Nebraska vs Minnesota | 3:00pm | BTN |
| Penn State vs Rutgers | 3:00pm | B1G+ |
| Mississippi vs Arkansas | 4:00pm | SECN |
| Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma | 5:00pm | ESPNU |
| COLLEGE LACROSSE | TIME ET | TV |
| Notre Dame at Virginia | 2:00pm | ESPNU |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Mutua Madrid Open Tennis: ATP Doubles Final | 9:30am | TENNIS Fubo |
| Mutua Madrid Open Tennis: WTA Singles Final | 12:30pm | TENNIS Fubo |
Sunday, 5/5/24
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Toronto at Washington | 1:35pm | Sportsnet MASN MLB.TV Fubo |
| Colorado at Pittsburgh | 1:35pm | Rockies.TV ATTSN-Pittsburgh MLB.TV Fubo |
| Detroit at NY Yankees | 1:35pm | MLBN Bally Sports-Detroit YES MLB.TV Fubo |
| LA Angels at Cleveland | 1:40pm | MLBN Bally Sports-West Bally Sports-Great Lakes MLB.TV Fubo |
| NY Mets at Tampa Bay | 1:40pm | SNY Bally Sports-Sun MLB.TV Fubo |
| Seattle at Houston | 2:10pm | Root Sports SCHN MLB.TV Fubo |
| Texas at Kansas City | 2:10pm | Bally Sports-Southwest Bally Sports-Kansas City MLB.TV Fubo |
| Boston at Minnesota | 2:10pm | NESN Bally Sports-North MLB.TV Fubo |
| Chi. White Sox at St. Louis | 2:15pm | NBC Sports-Chicago Bally Sports-Midwest MLB.TV Fubo |
| Milwuakee at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | Bally Sports-Wisconsin MARQ MLB.TV Fubo |
| Miami at Oakland | 4:07pm | Bally Sports-Florida NBC Sports-California MLB.TV Fubo |
| Atlanta at LA Dodgers | 4:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports South SNLA MLB.TV Fubo |
| Baltimore at Cincinnati | 4:10pm | MLBN MASN2 Bally Sports-Ohio MLB.TV Fubo |
| San Diego at Arizona | 4:10pm | Padres.TV YurView MLB.TV Fubo |
| San Francisco at Philadelphia | 7:10pm | ESPN NBC Sports-Bay Area NBC Sports-Philadelphia MLB.TV Fubo |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| First Round Game 7: Orlando at Cleveland | 1:00pm | ABC Fubo |
| First Round Game 7: Dallas at LA Clippers | 8:00pm | TNT Fubo |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| First Round Game 7: Nashville at Vancouver | – | Fubo |
| First Round Game 7: Vegas at Dallas | – | Fubo |
| UFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Arlington at Michigan | 1:00pm | FOX |
| San Antonio at DC | 4:00pm | FOX |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA: Byron Nelson | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA: Byron Nelson | 3:00pm | CBS |
| Champions: Insperity Invitational | 3:00pm | GOLF |
| LPGA Tour: Chevron Championship | 3:00pm | NBC |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| NASCAR Cup: AdventHealth 400 | 3:00pm | FS1 |
| Formula One: Miami Grand Prix | 4:00pm | ESPN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Serie A: Cagliari vs Lecce | 6:30am | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Scottish Premiership: Rangers vs Kilmarnock | 8:00am | Paramount+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Osasuna vs Real Betis | 8:00am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| EPL: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa | 9:00am | USA Fubo |
| EPL: Chelsea vs West Ham United | 9:00am | Peacock Fubo |
| Serie A: Hellas Verona vs Fiorentina | 9:00am | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Serie A: Empoli vs Frosinone | 9:00am | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Women’s Super League: Manchester City vs Arsenal | 9:15am | CBSSN Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Union Berlin vs Bochum | 9:30am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal | 10:15am | ESPN+ Fubo |
| EPL: Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur | 11:30am | USA Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayer Leverkusen | 11:30am | ESPN2 Fubo |
| Serie A: Milan vs Genoa | 12:00pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Valencia vs Deportivo Alavés | 12:30pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| NWSL: Houston Dash vs Kansas City Current | 1:00pm | CBS Fubo |
| Bundesliga: Heidenheim vs Mainz 05 | 1:30pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Women’s Super League: Chelsea FC vs Bristol City | 1:45pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Serie A: Roma vs Juventus | 2:45pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Sevilla vs Granada | 3:00pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Rayo Vallecano vs Almería | 3:00pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Brasileirão: Athletico-PR vs Vasco da Gama | 3:00pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Brasileirão: Grêmio vs Criciúma | 3:00pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Brasileirão: Vitória vs São Paulo | 3:00pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| MLS: New York City vs Colorado Rapids | 4:00pm | MLS Pass Fubo |
| Brasileirão: Botafogo vs Bahia | 5:30pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| Brasileirão: Cuiabá vs Palmeiras | 5:30pm | Paramount+ Fubo |
| MLS: Seattle Sounders FC vs LA Galaxy | 6:45pm | FS1 Fubo |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Arkansas vs Kentucky | 1:00pm | SECN+ |
| Georgia Tech vs Clemson | 1:00pm | ACCNX |
| Indiana vs Purdue | 1:00pm | B1G+ |
| Maryland vs Rutgers | 1:00pm | B1G+ |
| NC State vs Florida State | 1:00pm | ACCNX |
| Ohio vs Virginia Tech | 1:00pm | ACCNX |
| Vanderbilt vs Georgia | 1:00pm | SECN+ |
| Western Carolina vs Wake Forest | 1:00pm | ACCNX |
| Lipscomb vs Central Arkansas | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Nebraska vs Minnesota | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Northwestern vs Iowa | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Ohio State vs Illinois | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Oklahoma State vs Texas | 2:00pm | LHN |
| Pittsburgh vs Notre Dame | 2:00pm | ACCN |
| South Carolina vs Missouri | 2:00pm | SECN+ |
| Michigan vs Michigan State | 3:00pm | B1G+ |
| Ole Miss vs Auburn | 4:00pm | SECN |
| Ole Miss vs Auburn | 4:00pm | SECN+ |
| Oregon State vs Washington State | 4:00pm | PAC12N |
| Washington vs Arizona State | 4:00pm | PAC12N |
| Western Carolina vs Wake Forest | 4:00pm | ACCNX |
| Longwood vs Duke | 5:00pm | ACCNX |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Georgia vs Mississippi State | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Indiana vs Northwestern | 1:00pm | B1G+ |
| Iowa vs Illinois | 1:00pm | B1G+ |
| Michigan State vs Purdue | 1:00pm | B1G+ |
| Ohio State vs Michigan | 1:00pm | B1G+ |
| Penn State vs Rutgers | 1:00pm | B1G+ |
| Maryland vs Wisconsin | 2:00pm | B1G+ |
| Mississippi vs Arkansas | 2:00pm | SECN |
| Texas A&M vs Florida | 2:00pm | ESPNU |
| Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma | 5:00pm | ESPNU |
| BOWLING | TIME ET | TV |
| PBA Playoffs | 12:00Pm | FS1 |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Mutua Madrid Open Tennis: WTA Doubles Final | 9:30am | TENNIS Fubo |
| Mutua Madrid Open Tennis: ATP Singles Final | 12:30pm | TENNIS Fubo |