“THE SCOREBOARD”
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCORES
UNION CITY 4 SHENANDOAH 1
MT. VERNON 8 RICHMOND 1
WAPAHANI 9 GREENWOOD CHRSITIAN 6
ELWOOD 6 SHERIDAN 3
YORKTOWN 11 NEW CASTLE 3
TRITON CENTRAL 13 INDY GENESIS 3
SOUTHPORT 3 GREENWOOD 1
SCECINA 20 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 0
IRVINGTON PREP 7 BEECH GROVE 3
AVON 9 PROVIDENCE 3
HARRISON 8 PLAINFIELD 5
RUSHVILLE 10 S. RIPLEY 7
INDIAN CREEK 18 TRI-WEST 10
TRINITY LUTHERAN 3 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN
BEN DAVIS 15 WHITELAND 11
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 9 LAFAYETTE JEFF 0
SOUTHERN WELLS 4 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 1
COLUMBUS NORTH 14 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 0
DANVILLE 6 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 3
LAWRENCE CENTRAL 13 PIKE 9
SHELBYVILLE 10 FRANKLIN COUNTY 6
WINCHESTER 10 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 0
RICHMOND 2 MOUNT VERNON 0
BATESVILLE 4 CONNERSVILLE 0
PARK TUDOR 8 JAY COUNTY 2
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 8 DALEVILLE 4
LOGANSPORT 13 ANDERSON 8
MUNCIE BURRIS 10 INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 0
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 8 TRINITY LUTHERAN 4
HARRISON 10 PLAINFIELD 8
GREENWOOD 13 SOUTHPORT 0
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 8 DANVILLE 5
CATHEDRAL 5 FRANKLIN 1
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 6 LAFAYETTE JEFF 5
TRITON CENTRAL 12 INDY GENESIS 7
NOBLESVILLE 11 BREBEUF 2
UNION CITY 12 SOUTHERN WELLS 1
CENTER GROVE 8 ST. XAVIER 2
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
FLOYD CENTRAL 12 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 5
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 24 INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 8
CENTER GROVE 13 COLUMBUS EAST 0
TRI 14 MORRISTOWN 1
BISHOP CHATARD 13 HERRON 2
TRI-VILLAGE 11 SHENANDOAH 4
KOKOMO 11 N. CENTRAL 5
PLAINFIELD 6 LAFAYETTE JEFF 0
WHITELAND 10 GREENWOOD 1
NOBLESVILLE 11 DECATUR CENTRAL 1
NORTHEASTERN 8 NEW CASTLE 1
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 5 KNIGHTSTOWN 4
ZIONSVILLE 12 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 4
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 5 SILVER CREEK 1
CONNERSVILLE 3 GREENSBURG 1
UNION CITY 3 SOUTH WELLS 2
BLUFFTON 10 DALEVILLE 7
MCCUTCHEON 12 COLUMBUS NORTH 2
NOBLESVILLE 8 PLAINFIELD 7
DECATUR CENTRAL 11 LAFAYETTE JEFF 1
FRANKLIN 18 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 2
SILVER CREEK 4 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 2
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 11 RITTER 2
SHELBYVILLE 2 E. CENTRAL 1
FLOYD CENTRAL 15 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 4
COLUMBUS NORTH 6 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 4
BLUFFTON 11 DALEVILLE 6
SHENANDOAH 13 SOUTHERN WELLS 0
FRANKLIN 11 MCCUTCHEON 9
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/
INDIANA TRACK RESULTS: HTTPS://IN.MILESPLIT.COM/RESULTS
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LAX
BISHOP CHATARD 16 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 5
LAFAYETTE JEFF 9 SOUTHPORT 5
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS LAX
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 19 HERTIAGE CHRISTIAN 8
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 8 FOREST HILLS CENTRAL 4
CARMEL 13 WHEATON ACADEMY 10
INDIANA GIRLS TENNIS
EAST NOBLE 4 ALEXANDRIA 1
ALEXANDRIA 3 JIMTOWN 2
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 VS. HEAT; MONDAY, APRIL 29 (7:30, TNT)
• GAME 5: HEAT VS. CELTICS; WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 (7:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 6: CELTICS VS. HEAT; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: HEAT VS. CELTICS; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
BOSTON LEADS SERIES 2-1
* = IF NECESSARY
(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 VS. 76ERS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (1 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: 76ERS VS. KNICKS; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TNT)
• GAME 6: KNICKS VS. 76ERS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: 76ERS VS. KNICKS; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
NEW YORK LEADS SERIES 2-1
* = IF NECESSARY
• GAME 1: BUCKS 109, PACERS 94
• GAME 2: PACERS 125, BUCKS 108
• GAME 3: PACERS 121, BUCKS 118 (OT)
• GAME 4: BUCKS VS. PACERS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: PACERS VS. BUCKS; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TBD)
• GAME 6: BUCKS VS. PACERS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: PACERS VS. BUCKS; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
INDIANA LEADS SERIES 2-1
* = IF NECESSARY
• 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: MAGIC VS. CAVALIERS; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TBD)
• GAME 6: CAVALIERS VS. MAGIC; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)
• GAME 7: MAGIC VS. CAVALIERS; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
SERIES TIED 2-2
* = IF NECESSARY
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 VS. PELICANS; MONDAY, APRIL 29 (8:30 ET, NBA TV)
• GAME 5: PELICANS VS. THUNDER; WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 (8:30 ET, NBA TV)*
• GAME 6: THUNDER VS. PELICANS; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: PELICANS VS. THUNDER; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
OKLAHOMA CITY LEADS SERIES 3-0
* = IF NECESSARY
(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: LAKERS VS. NUGGETS; MONDAY, APRIL 29 (10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 6: NUGGETS VS. LAKERS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: LAKERS VS. NUGGETS; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
DENVER LEADS SERIES 3-1
* = IF NECESSARY
• GAME 1: TIMBERWOLVES 120, SUNS 95
• GAME 2: TIMBERWOLVES 105, SUNS 93
• GAME 3: TIMBERWOLVES 126, SUNS 109
• GAME 4: TIMBERWOLVES VS. SUNS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: SUNS VS. TIMBERWOLVES; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TNT)*
• GAME 6: TIMBERWOLVES VS. SUNS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: SUNS VS. TIMBERWOLVES; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
MINNESOTA LEADS SERIES 3-0
* = IF NECESSARY
(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 VS. MAVERICKS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: MAVERICKS VS. CLIPPERS; WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 (10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 6: CLIPPERS VS. MAVERICKS; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: MAVERICKS VS. CLIPPERS; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
DALLAS LEADS SERIES 2-1
* = IF NECESSARY
NHL PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FLORIDA PANTHERS (1A) VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (WC1)
FLORIDA LEADS SERIES 3-1
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: LIGHTNING AT PANTHERS — APRIL 29, 7 P.M. ET (ESPN, SN, TVAS)
+ GAME 6: PANTHERS AT LIGHTNING — MAY 1, TBD
+ GAME 7: LIGHTNING AT PANTHERS — MAY 4, TBD
COMPLETE PANTHERS-LIGHTNING SERIES COVERAGE
BOSTON BRUINS (2A) VS. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (3A)
BOSTON LEADS SERIES 3-1
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 AT BRUINS — APRIL 30, 7 P.M. ET (ESPN, CBC, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP)
+ GAME 6: BRUINS AT MAPLE LEAFS — MAY 2, TBD
+ GAME 7: MAPLE LEAFS AT BRUINS — MAY 4, TBD
COMPLETE BRUINS-MAPLE LEAFS SERIES COVERAGE
NEW YORK RANGERS (1M) VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (WC2)
NEW YORK LEADS SERIES 3-0
GAME 1: RANGERS 4, CAPITALS 1
GAME 2: RANGERS 4, CAPITALS 3
GAME 3: RANGERS 3, CAPITALS 1
GAME 4: RANGERS AT CAPITALS — APRIL 28, 8 P.M. ET (TBS, TRUTV, MAX, SN360, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP)
+ GAME 5: CAPITALS AT RANGERS — MAY 1, 7 P.M. ET (ESPN)
+ GAME 6: RANGERS AT CAPITALS — MAY 3, TBD
+ GAME 7: CAPITALS AT RANGERS — MAY 5, TBD
COMPLETE RANGERS-CAPITALS SERIES COVERAGE
CAROLINA HURRICANES (2M) VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3M)
CAROLINA LEADS SERIES 3-1
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: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES — APRIL 30, 7:30 P.M. ET (TBS, MAX, SN360, TVAS)
+ GAME 6: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS — MAY 2, TBD
+ GAME 7: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES — MAY 4, TBD
COMPLETE HURRICANES-ISLANDERS SERIES COVERAGE
WESTERN CONFERENCE
DALLAS STARS (1C) VS. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (WC2)
VEGAS LEADS SERIES 2-1
GAME 1: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, STARS 3
GAME 2: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, STARS 1
GAME 3: STARS 3, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2
GAME 4: STARS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS — APRIL 29, 9:30 P.M. ET (ESPN, SN, TVAS)
GAME 5: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT STARS — MAY 1, TBD
+ GAME 6: STARS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS — MAY 3, TBD
+ GAME 7: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT STARS — MAY 5, TBD
COMPLETE STARS-GOLDEN KNIGHTS SERIES COVERAGE
WINNIPEG JETS (2C) VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE (3C)
COLORADO LEADS SERIES 2-1
GAME 1: JETS 7, AVALANCHE 6
GAME 2: AVALANCHE 5, JETS 2
GAME 3: AVALANCHE 6, JETS 2
GAME 4: JETS AT AVALANCHE — APRIL 28, 2:30 P.M. ET (TNT, TRUTV, MAX, SN, TVAS)
GAME 5: AVALANCHE AT JETS — APRIL 30, 9:30 P.M. ET (ESPN, CBC, TVAS, SNW)
+ GAME 6: JETS AT AVALANCHE — MAY 2, TBD
+ GAME 7: AVALANCHE AT JETS — MAY 4, TBD
COMPLETE JETS-AVALANCHE SERIES COVERAGE
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (1P) VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (WC1)
VANCOUVER LEADS SERIES 2-1
GAME 1: CANUCKS 4, PREDATORS 2
GAME 2: PREDATORS 4, CANUCKS 1
GAME 3: CANUCKS 2, PREDATORS 1
GAME 4: CANUCKS AT PREDATORS — APRIL 28, 5 P.M. ET (TBS, TRUTV, MAX, SN, TVAS)
GAME 5: PREDATORS AT CANUCKS — APRIL 30, 10 P.M. ET (TBS, MAX, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP)
+ GAME 6: CANUCKS AT PREDATORS — MAY 3, TBD
+ GAME 7: PREDATORS AT CANUCKS — MAY 5, TBD
COMPLETE CANUCKS-PREDATORS SERIES COVERAGE
EDMONTON OILERS (2P) VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS (3P)
EDMONTON LEADS SERIES 2-1
GAME 1: OILERS 7, KINGS 4
GAME 2: KINGS 5, OILERS 4 (OT)
GAME 3: OILERS 6, KINGS 1
GAME 4: OILERS AT KINGS — APRIL 28, 10:30 P.M. ET (TBS, TRUTV, MAX, SN, SN1, TVAS)
GAME 5: KINGS AT OILERS — MAY 1, TBD
+ GAME 6: OILERS AT KINGS — MAY 3, TBD
+ GAME 7: KINGS AT OILERS — MAY 5, TBD
COMPLETE OILERS-KINGS SERIES COVERAGE
+ – IF NECESSARY
NFL DRAFT TRACKER: HTTPS://WWW.NFL.COM/DRAFT/TRACKER/PICKS/
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LA DODGERS 4 TORONTO 2
ST. LOUIS 7 NY METS 4
BALTIMORE 7 OAKLAND 0
CINCINNATI 8 TEXAS 4
BOSTON 17 CHICAGO CUBS 0
WASHINGTON 11 MIAMI 4
HOUSTON 12 COLORADO 4
DETROIT 6 KANSAS CITY 5
NY YANKEES 15 MILWAUKEE 3
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 8 TAMPA BAY 7 (10)
CLEVELAND 4 ATLANTA 2 (11)
PHILADELPHIA 5 SAN DIEGO 1
PITTSBURGH 4 SAN FRANCISCO 3 (10)
MINNESOTA 16 LA ANGELS 5
SEATTLE 3 ARIZONA 1
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS AT OMAHA PPD
GREAT LAKES 14 FT. WAYNE 3
QUAD CITIES 12 SOUTH BEND 7
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
NC STATE 9 BALL STATE 3
SETON HALL 13 BUTLER 1
MICHIGAN 7 LONG BEACH STATE 5
INDIANA 12 RUTGERS 6
MINNESOTA 5 PENN STATE 4
PURDUE 10 NORTHWESTERN 7
MARYLAND 9 ILLINOIS 8
MICHIGAN STATE 17 OHIO STATE 12
WRIGHT STATE 11 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 4
AKRON 8 WESTERN MICHIGAN 3
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 9 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 6
MIAMI OHIO 11 EASTERN MICHIGAN 8
TOLEDO 16 OHIO 2
EVANSVILLE 8 MISSOURI STATE 7
ILLINOIS CHICAGO 3 VALPARAISO 2
NOTRE DAME 11 WAKE FOREST 3
BOWLING GREEN 10 KENT STATE 0
INDIANA STATE 9 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 7
SOUTHERN INDIANA14 EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
NORTHWESTERN 8 NEBRASKA 1
BOSTON COLLEGE 10 NOTRE DAME 9
MINNESOTA 7 IOWA 5
RUTGERS 9 MICHIGAN STATE 4
MICHIGAN 14 PENN STATE 3
OHIO STATE 13 ILLINOIS 5
WISCONSIN 8 INDIANA 6
MARYLAND 5 PURDUE 4 (10)
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 4 GREEN BAY 1
MIAMI OHIO 13 KENT STATE 1
MIAMI OHIO 9 KENT STATE 1
BOWLING GREEN 11 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 14 BOWLING GREEN 4
OHIO 8 BUFFALO 3
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 5 AKRON 4
WESTERN MICHIGAN 3 TOLEDO 0
MURRAY STATE 5 VALPARAISO 0
MURRAY STATE 8 VALPARAISO 2
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 12 INDIANA STATE 1
MURRAY STATE 4 EVANSVILLE 3
SOUTHERN INDIANA 5 TENNESSEE STATE 4
TENNESSEE STATE 7 SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
COLLEGE MEN’S LAX SCORES
MICHIGAN 15 OHIO STATE 9
PENN STATE 14 RUTGERS 8
COLLEGE WOMEN’S LAX SCORES
DETROIT MERCY 13 BUTLER 11
PENN STATE 15 OHIO STATE 13
KENT STATE 15 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 9
ROBERT MORRIS 12 EASTERN MICHIGAN 10
JOHNS HOPKINS 10 MICHIGAN 9
RUTGERS 9 MARYLAND 8
UFL
BIRMINGHAM 32 HOUSTON 9
SAN ANTONIO 25 ARLINGTON 15
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
AUSTIN 2 LA GALAXY 0
SALT LAKE 2 PHILADELPHIA 1
TORONTO 2 ORLANDO CITY 1
VANCOUVER 1 NY RED BULLS 1
MIAMI 4 NEW ENGLAND 1
MONTRÉAL 0 COLUMBUS 0
CINCINNATI 2 COLORADO 1
NEW YORK CITY 2 CHARLOTTE 1
DC UNITED 2 SEATTLE 1
MINNESOTA 2 SPORTING KANSAS CITY 1
DALLAS 2 HOUSTON 0
CHICAGO 0 ATLANTA 0
NASHVILLE 1 SAN JOSE 1
LOS ANGELES 3 PORTLAND 2
TOP NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES AND NEWS REPORTS
NBA NEWS
BUCKS’ LILLARD HAS MRI, TEAM AWAITING RESULTS BEFORE DECIDING IF HE PLAYS IN GAME 4 VS. PACERS
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Damian Lillard underwent an MRI to determine the severity of his Achilles tendon injury, and the Milwaukee Bucks could be without the star guard for Game 4 of their playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, coach Doc Rivers said Saturday.
Lillard greeted reporters as he strolled through an Indianapolis hotel wearing a walking boot on his right foot, but he did not take questions. Officially, Lillard and two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo are both listed as doubtful for Sunday.
“We don’t know yet. Not looking great but we don’t know yet,” Rivers said when asked about Lillard’s status for Sunday. “They’re going to give us the test results soon, so we should know a little later today.”
Milwaukee was 1-8 when Lillard didn’t start a game in the regular season.
Lillard was clearly limping at times during the Bucks’ 121-118 overtime loss at Indiana on Friday night. The eight-time All-Star twisted his left knee when Pacers forward Pascal Siakam stepped on his foot in the first quarter. He stayed on the ground briefly before going to the locker room.
The 33-year-old Lillard returned in the second quarter and finished with 28 points and eight assists while going 6 of 20 from the field.
After the game, Lillard said he also hurt an Achilles tendon late in regulation. He scored two points, both on free throws and none in overtime, over the final 10 minutes Friday as Milwaukee fell into a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series.
Lillard’s injury means Milwaukee could be without its top two players for Game 4.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since straining his left calf April 9. Rivers said Antetokounmpo could be cleared for Game 4, though he believes it’s unlikely.
“Today is his day off so he’s going to go hard early (Sunday) and then we’re going to make a decision after that,” Rivers said before being asked directly whether Antetokounmpo might play. “I doubt it, but we’ll see.”
The Bucks did get some promising news Saturday.
Rivers said Khris Middleton — who finished with a playoff-career high 42 points in Game 3 — appeared to be feeling well after playing 41 minutes on the sprained right ankle that kept him out of Thursday’s practice.
“He felt great,” Rivers said. “Obviously, you’ve got to go to sleep and wake up in the morning and I’m looking around and don’t see a lot of old guys — a couple of us — you know how when we wake up our body feels, so we have to wait for Khris to wake up in the morning. The good news is there wasn’t a lot of swelling, and he said he felt better as the game went on.”
Dealing with postseason injuries is nothing new for the Bucks.
A sprained ankle kept Antetokounmpo out of the final 1½ games of a 2020 second-round loss to Miami. He also missed the final two games of the 2021 Eastern Conference finals with a hyperextended knee. Antetokounmpo returned against Phoenix and was voted the NBA Finals MVP after scoring 50 points in a title-clinching Game 6 victory.
Middleton missed the Bucks’ last 10 playoff games in 2022 with a sprained medial collateral ligament, and Antetokounmpo left Game 1 of last year’s first-round loss to Miami with a bruised lower back that also kept him out of Games 2 and 3.
The Bucks are facing a similar scenario Sunday.
“We have 24 hours to work on that and figure it out,” Rivers said. “In the past, without him (Lillard), we’ve had Giannis at the point. If he doesn’t play, you have to just figure out something. We have guys. There are certain ways in the motion offense we can play, we’ve worked a little bit on that, so we’ll be ready.”
NBA ROUNDUP: LAKERS FINALLY SOLVE NUGGETS, AVOID SWEEP
Anthony Davis had 25 points and 23 rebounds, and LeBron James added 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers avoided elimination in a first-round Western Conference playoff series with a 119-108 Game 4 victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves each scored 21 points as the Lakers avoided being swept by the Nuggets for the second straight year. They head back to Denver for Game 5 on Monday with the Nuggets leading 3-1 in the series.
Los Angeles shot 52.2 percent from the floor as it ended an 11-game losing streak to Denver. Russell was 8 of 15 shooting and 4 of 8 from 3-point range after missing all seven of his shots from the floor in Game 3.
Nikola Jokic put together his second triple-double of the series with 33 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists. Michael Porter Jr. added 27 points and 11 rebounds as the Nuggets fell to the Lakers for the first time since December 2022.
Celtics 104, Heat 84
Jayson Tatum posted 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as visiting Boston regained home-court advantage in its first-round playoff series with Miami, routing the Heat in Game 3.
Boston, the NBA’s top seed, leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game 4 set for Monday in Miami. After losing Game 2 in Boston, the Celtics never trailed in this battle against the eighth-seeded Heat.
The Celtics also got 22 points from Jaylen Brown, who added eight rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis added 18 points and Derrick White added 16 points.
The Heat again played without injured standouts Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck). Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 20 points and nine rebounds. Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro added 15 points each.
Magic 112, Cavaliers 89
Orlando rode a dominant third quarter to emphatically even its best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series with visiting Cleveland, shellacking the Cavs in Game 4.
Franz Wagner had 12 of his game-high 34 points and three teammates chipped in with a combined five 3-pointers in the third, which turned a 60-51 Cavaliers advantage at the break into an 88-70 Magic romp by the third quarter’s end.
Game 5 in a series dominated by the home team is scheduled for Tuesday at Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell had 18 points and teammates Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined for 28 while missing just three shots in a first half in which Cleveland led by as many as 10. But Mitchell never scored again. In fact, the Cavaliers only made four field goals in the entire third quarter.
Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points and visiting Oklahoma City took a 3-0 series lead by routing New Orleans.
Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams added 21 points each and Luguentz Dort had 12 for the No. 1 seed Thunder, who will try to complete a sweep of the Western Conference first-round series Monday night in New Orleans.
Brandon Ingram scored 19 points, CJ McCollum had 16, Herb Jones added 15 and Trey Murphy III chipped in 10. New Orleans’ offense continued to struggle in the absence of injured leading scorer Zion Williamson. The Pelicans fell short of the 92 points they scored in each of the first two losses, shooting just 38.1 percent from the floor and 28.1 percent on 3-pointers.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: ISLANDERS REMAIN ALIVE WITH DOUBLE-OT WIN
Mathew Barzal scored 1:24 into the second overtime Saturday for the host New York Islanders, who avoided elimination in their Eastern Conference first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes with a 3-2 win in Game 4 in Elmont, N.Y.
The Hurricanes lead the best-of-seven series three games to one. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Barzal redirected Robert Bortuzzo’s shot from the blue line for his second goal of the game. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored in the third for the Islanders. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov made 42 saves.
Seth Jarvis scored in the first period for the Hurricanes and Stefan Noesen tied the score with 5:52 left in the third. Goalie Frederik Andersen recorded 32 saves.
Stars 3, Golden Knights 2 (OT)
Wyatt Johnston scored at 16:23 of overtime to give Dallas a victory over Vegas in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas.
Johnston roofed a sharp-angled wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle over the left shoulder of Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson for the game-winner and his second goal of the game. Miro Heiskanen had a goal and an assist and Jason Robertson added two assists for Dallas, which still trails the best-of-seven series, 2-1. Jake Oettinger finished with 32 saves. Game 4 is Monday night in Las Vegas.
Brayden McNabb had a goal and an assist and Jack Eichel scored a short-handed goal for Vegas, which had a six-game winning streak against the Stars snapped. Thompson tied his career high with 43 saves, including four breakaways in the second period alone.
Lightning 6, Panthers 3
Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel each tallied twice and the Lightning stayed alive in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with a win over visiting Florida.
Brayden Point netted one goal and had two assists, and NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov had three assists for 166 career playoff points, the third-most among active players. The Lightning broke a six-game postseason home losing streak to force Game 5 on Monday in Sunrise, Fla.
For Florida, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Oliver Ekman-Larsson found the net, while Matthew Tkachuk posted two assists. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves.
Bruins 3, Maple Leafs 1
Jeremy Swayman started back-to-back games for the first time in more than two months and made 25 saves to help visiting Boston take command of the Eastern Conference first-round series against Toronto.
Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Bruins, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Game 5 on Tuesday in Boston.
Mitch Marner scored and Ilya Samsonov made 14 saves through the first two periods for the Maple Leafs before Joseph Woll replaced Samsonov and made five saves in the third period.
BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: CEDDANNE RAFAELA, RED SOX ROLL CUBS 17-0
Ceddanne Rafaela went 4-for-4 with seven RBIs while Masataka Yoshida also had four hits and three runs scored as the host Boston Red Sox cruised past the Chicago Cubs 17-0 on Saturday.
The Red Sox totaled a season-high 21 hits while scoring six runs in both the fifth and eighth innings. Tyler O’Neill added a 3-for-5 performance including a home run and two RBIs, and Bobby Dalbec drove in three runs and scored two more.
Justin Slaten (2-0) earned the win in relief, pitching 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth.
Boston starter Josh Winckowski stranded two runners to post a first-inning zero and send his offense to the plate. O’Neill, hitting third, staked the Red Sox to a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer over the Green Monster against Chicago’s Ben Brown (0-1) to begin the rout.
Yankees 15, Brewers 3
Alex Verdugo drove in four runs and left-hander Carlos Rodon threw six innings as New York routed host Milwaukee in the second of a three-game series.
The Yankees posted season highs in both runs and hits (19) in winning for the sixth time in their last 10 games. Anthony Rizzo, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton also homered. Rodon (2-1) allowed just one run, walked one and struck out eight in a 93-pitch effort in getting the win.
Rhys Hoskins hit his sixth homer for the Brewers, who lost for just the third time in 10 games. Joe Ross (1-3) needed 99 pitches to get through five innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs (six earned) with three walks and five strikeouts.
White Sox 8, Rays 7 (10 innings)
Andrew Benintendi went 3-for-5 with six RBIs and drilled a game-ending two-run home run in the 10th inning to propel host Chicago to a victory over Tampa Bay.
Benintendi connected against Phil Maton (0-2), who blew the save after the Rays scored a run against Deivi Garcia (1-2) in the top half of the 10th. The White Sox have won consecutive games for the first time this season while securing their first series win.
Eloy Jimenez and Tommy Pham had two hits apiece for Chicago. Richie Palacios and Ben Rortvedt each had three hits for the Rays.
Mariners 3, Diamondbacks 1
George Kirby pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters as Seattle defeated visiting Arizona in an interleague game.
Ty France hit a two-run homer for the American League West-leading Mariners, who won their third game in a row and for the ninth time in their past 11. Kirby (3-2) allowed two hits and one base on balls.
Arizona rookie Slade Cecconi (1-1), starting in place of the injured Merrill Kelly, nearly matched Kirby. The righty went six innings and gave up just one run on three hits, with one walk and a career-high eight strikeouts.
Dodgers 4, Blue Jays 2
Mookie Betts had three hits, one RBI and a stolen base, right-hander Tyler Glasnow struck out nine and visiting Los Angeles defeated Toronto.
The Dodgers have won the first two games of the three-game series. They are 5-0 to open a nine-game road trip and have won six in a row overall. Glasnow (5-1) allowed one run, two hits and three walks in six-plus innings. He left the game with cramps.
The Blue Jays have lost five in a row, including the first two games of a six-game homestand. Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-2) allowed four runs, nine hits and no walks with three strikeouts in six innings.
Cardinals 7, Mets 4
Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run double in a four-run first inning as St. Louis topped host New York.
Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado hit an RBI single in the opening frame against Mets starter Adrian Houser (0-3) and reached base for a 25th straight game. Arenado also avoided a potentially scary injury in the seventh when he fouled a ball off his face in the area above his nose and near his forehead.
Pete Alonso hit his 200th career homer in the loss. He joined Darryl Strawberry, Mike Piazza and David Wright as the fourth player to hit 200 home runs with the Mets.
Nationals 11, Marlins 4
Jesse Winker hit a grand slam and Keibert Ruiz and Nick Senzel each added solo shots as Washington scored a season high in runs and hammered host Miami.
No. 9 hitter Jacob Young bundled two hits, one RBI, two stolen bases and four runs scored for Washington, which has won the first two of the teams’ four-game series.
Jacob Barnes (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for Washington in relief of starter Mitchell Parker, who allowed one run on six hits while striking out two and walking two over four innings.
Orioles 7, Athletics 0
Cole Irvin pitched seven shutout innings and Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle hit back-to-back solo home runs as host Baltimore defeated Oakland.
Gunnar Henderson added a two-run homer as the Orioles cranked up their power numbers after a slight decline in that area. It was his third homer in four games and ninth for the season. Irvin (2-1) limited the Athletics to four hits while striking out five without a walk. Mike Baumann and Dillon Tate each pitched an inning to complete the five-hitter.
JP Sears worked 6 1/3 innings for the Athletics, allowing seven runs on eight hits. He struck out eight and issued his only walk in the seventh.
Tigers 6, Royals 5
Matt Vierling hit a three-run homer as part of a five-run seventh inning to lift Detroit over visiting Kansas City.
Vierling’s two-out home run to left-center off Kansas City reliever Chris Stratton (2-2) capped the Tigers’ comeback after they trailed 3-1 going into the seventh.
Kansas City scored two runs in the ninth inning off Detroit closer Jason Foley to trim its deficit to 6-5, but Vinnie Pasquantino flied out to center field with Bobby Witt Jr. on first base to end the game.
Reds 8, Rangers 4
Hunter Greene allowed one hit over seven shutout innings and Jonathan India went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs to lead visiting Cincinnati over Texas.
It was the first win in six starts this season for Greene (1-2), who walked one and struck out six. Will Benson also homered and had two hits for the Reds, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Davis Wendzel hit his first major league home run, Josh Smith had two doubles and an RBI and Corey Seager also homered for the Rangers. Michael Lorenzen (2-1) suffered the loss allowing five runs on six hits over six-plus innings. He walked one, struck out three and also hit a pair of batters.
Guardians 4, Braves 2 (11 innings)
Josh Naylor doubled home the go-ahead run and pinch-hitter Ramon Laureano added a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning to help visiting Cleveland defeat Atlanta, ending the Braves’ four-game winning streak.
Scott Barlow (2-2) held the Braves scoreless in the bottom of the 10th inning and Nick Sandlin came in in the 11th to get the save and square the three-game series at one game apiece. The losing pitcher was Dylan Lee (0-1).
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision despite each pitching seven scoreless innings. Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee allowed two hits, no walks and matched his career high with nine strikeouts. Atlanta’s Charlie Morton went a season-long seven innings, gave up four hits, one walk and struck out six.
Twins 16, Angels 5
Carlos Santana went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and four RBIs, and Minnesota cruised past the host Angels in Anaheim, Calif.
Santana homered for the third game in a row for Minnesota, which won its sixth straight contest. Edouard Julien went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and Max Kepler finished 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs.
Jo Adell went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs to lead the Angels, who lost for the eighth time in their past nine games. Angels right-hander Jose Soriano (0-4) gave up four runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one.
Astros 12, Rockies 4
Yordan Alvarez homered twice and finished with three hits, Kyle Tucker also went deep and Houston routed Colorado in the first game of the Mexico City Series.
Yainer Diaz had three hits and three runs and Tucker, Mauricio Dubon and Jose Abreu each finished with two hits in the win. Ronel Blanco (3-0) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out eight, in 5 2/3 innings for Houston, which snapped a five-game skid.
Ryan McMahon homered and Nolan Jones had two hits for Colorado. Cal Quantrill allowed six runs on six hits and two walks in five-plus innings.
Phillies 5, Padres 1
Ranger Suarez threw eight brilliant innings and Alec Bohm drove in four runs as visiting Philadelphia cruised past San Diego.
Suarez (5-0) gave up three hits and a run with no walks and eight strikeouts for the Phillies. The only blemish was Eguy Rosario’s third homer of the year with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Padres starter Dylan Cease (3-2) suffered his first loss since March 30, lasting six innings and allowing five runs on six hits and three walks. Cease fanned five.
Pirates 4, Giants 3 (10 innings)
Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run home run and Ke’Bryan Hayes followed with a solo shot in the top of the 10th inning, lifting visiting Pittsburgh over San Francisco.
Reynolds, Hayes and Connor Joe each had two hits for the Pirates, who outhit the Giants 11-7 en route to snapping a three-game losing streak.
Patrick Bailey had a pair of singles for the Giants, who lost for the second time in their past five games.
REPORTS: RED SOX ACQUIRE 1B GARRETT COOPER FROM CUBS
The Boston Red Sox acquired first baseman Garrett Cooper from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday for cash considerations, multiple outlets reported.
Cooper, 33, was designated for assignment by the Cubs this week after hitting .270 with a home run and six RBIs in 12 games. His playing time was limited with the emergence of Michael Busch.
Boston has playing time available at first base after Triston Casas (ribs) went on the injured list.
In eight seasons with three different organizations, Cooper is a .268 hitter with 57 home runs and 228 RBIs in 493 games. He combined to hit 17 home runs with 61 RBIs in 123 games for the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins last season.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: ISLANDERS REMAIN ALIVE WITH DOUBLE-OT WIN
Mathew Barzal scored 1:24 into the second overtime Saturday for the host New York Islanders, who avoided elimination in their Eastern Conference first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes with a 3-2 win in Game 4 in Elmont, N.Y.
The Hurricanes lead the best-of-seven series three games to one. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Barzal redirected Robert Bortuzzo’s shot from the blue line for his second goal of the game. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored in the third for the Islanders. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov made 42 saves.
Seth Jarvis scored in the first period for the Hurricanes and Stefan Noesen tied the score with 5:52 left in the third. Goalie Frederik Andersen recorded 32 saves.
Stars 3, Golden Knights 2 (OT)
Wyatt Johnston scored at 16:23 of overtime to give Dallas a victory over Vegas in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas.
Johnston roofed a sharp-angled wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle over the left shoulder of Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson for the game-winner and his second goal of the game. Miro Heiskanen had a goal and an assist and Jason Robertson added two assists for Dallas, which still trails the best-of-seven series, 2-1. Jake Oettinger finished with 32 saves. Game 4 is Monday night in Las Vegas.
Brayden McNabb had a goal and an assist and Jack Eichel scored a short-handed goal for Vegas, which had a six-game winning streak against the Stars snapped. Thompson tied his career high with 43 saves, including four breakaways in the second period alone.
Lightning 6, Panthers 3
Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel each tallied twice and the Lightning stayed alive in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with a win over visiting Florida.
Brayden Point netted one goal and had two assists, and NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov had three assists for 166 career playoff points, the third-most among active players. The Lightning broke a six-game postseason home losing streak to force Game 5 on Monday in Sunrise, Fla.
For Florida, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Oliver Ekman-Larsson found the net, while Matthew Tkachuk posted two assists. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves.
Bruins 3, Maple Leafs 1
Jeremy Swayman started back-to-back games for the first time in more than two months and made 25 saves to help visiting Boston take command of the Eastern Conference first-round series against Toronto.
Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Bruins, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Game 5 on Tuesday in Boston.
Mitch Marner scored and Ilya Samsonov made 14 saves through the first two periods for the Maple Leafs before Joseph Woll replaced Samsonov and made five saves in the third period.
NFL NEWS
NFL DRAFT ATTENDANCE RECORD SET WITH MORE THAN 700,000 FANS ATTENDING THE EVENT IN DETROIT
DETROIT (AP) — The NFL draft has a new attendance record after more than 700,000 fans flooded downtown Detroit for the three-day event.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer broke the news at Campus Martius Park during the third and final day of the draft.
“It has been a historic week here in the great city of Detroit,” Whitmer said Saturday. “We have shown the world what the Motor City is all about.”
While it will take years to know if this week’s picks delivered, there’s no doubt that Detroit made the most of an opportunity to host hundreds of thousands of fans and show 50-plus million viewers the new-look city.
Motown beat Music City’s three-day attendance record of 600,000 set in 2019, when fans filled Broadway in Nashville.
The NFL did not charge fans to attend the event in Detroit, though the visitors and area residents were expected to generate more than $160 million in economic impact at sold-out hotels, packed bars and restaurants, as well as retail stores in the heart of downtown.
Former Lions running back Billy Sims was enjoying brisk sales of barbecue from his restaurant under a tent on a sidewalk along Woodward Avenue on Saturday.
JETS TRADE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN JOHN FRANKLIN-MYERS TO BRONCOS, AP SOURCE SAYS
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets traded defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos on Saturday for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
Franklin-Myers, whose base salary this season was $13.3 million, was due to count about $16.4 million on the Jets’ salary cap. Instead, New York cleared $7.3 million in cap space by dealing him to Denver in the middle of the final day of this year’s draft.
ESPN first reported the trade of Franklin-Myers, who had 3 1/2 sacks last season and 17 1/2 in four seasons with the Jets. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t yet announced the deal.
It’s the second trade between the teams this week after New York sent quarterback Zach Wilson and a seventh-round pick in this week’s NFL draft to Denver for a sixth-rounder on Monday.
It was also one of four deals Jets general manager Joe Douglas made Saturday when trading down three times in the fourth round before taking Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen with the 134th overall pick.
Franklin-Myers appeared to know his days with the Jets were numbered when he posted a cryptic message on the social media platform X on Friday.
“Life’s a trampoline,” he posted. “I’m gone bounce back regardless.”
Franklin-Myers became expendable on the Jets’ defensive line — generally considered the team’s best position group — after New York acquired edge rusher Haason Reddick from Philadelphia on April 1. The Jets also have Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw, Leki Fotu, Solomon Thomas, Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald on a loaded D-line.
Franklin-Myers was likely going to see reduced playing time and was due to make about $29 million over the final two years of the four-year, $55 million extension he signed in 2021. ESPN reported the defensive lineman agreed to a new two-year, $15 million deal with the Broncos.
He was a fourth-round pick of the Rams out of Stephen F. Austin in 2018 and had two sacks as a rookie, along with a sack and forced fumble against New England in the Super Bowl. The Jets claimed Franklin-Myers off waivers before the 2019 season and he developed into a productive pass rusher for New York.
CHIEFS OWNER SAYS LEAVING ARROWHEAD STADIUM IS AN OPTION AFTER SALES TAX FUNDING WAS REJECTED
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs plan to explore options that include leaving Arrowhead Stadium after voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a sales tax initiative that would have helped to pay for renovations to the 52-year-old building.
The Chiefs and Royals, whose Kauffman Stadium shares the Truman Sports Complex with the football stadium, have relied on a three-eighths cent sales tax for upkeep. The franchises wanted to extend that tax with the Royals using their share of the money for a new downtown ballpark and the Chiefs envisioning an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead.
More than 58% of voters rejected the sales tax initiative after the campaign was met with criticism from all sides.
“Time is short for us at this point and so we need to see what other options are out there for us,″ Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said Saturday. “When we started on this process three years ago, it felt like we had a very long time — a long runway with about 9 1/2 (years) left on our lease. We’re now down to 6 1/2 and so I do feel very much of a sense of urgency.”
Hunt, whose father Lamar founded the Chiefs and helped to get Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums built, has always preferred to renovate a stadium that his father called one of his favorite places in the world. The Hunt family had promised to spend $300 million in private funds on the renovation with the remainder coming from public funding.
Now, the Chiefs are left to consider overtures from other locations. One of those could be just across the state line, where public officials in Kansas have made it clear that they would love to have the Chiefs on their side of the border.
“Stadium development projects just take a long time,” Hunt said, “and I don’t want to put a specific number on it, but with only 6 1/2 years left on the lease, we’re going to have to work very hard over the next year, year-and-a-half.”
Whatever direction the Chiefs go next, Hunt indicated they would head that way on their own, rather than be tied together with the Royals. That would give the NFL franchise greater latitude to seek the best financing package for itself, whether that means with a renovation of Arrowhead Stadium in mind or a completely new facility elsewhere.
“There’s certainly nothing to preclude us coming back and doing something together,” Hunt said, “but (Royals owner John Sherman) also feels that sense of urgency and I know he’s eager to try to find a long-term solution, which we are as well.”
UFL NEWS
UFL ROUNDUP: STALLIONS CRUSH ROUGHNECKS TO REMAIN UNBEATEN
Adrian Martinez ran for 138 yards on nine carries and Ricky Person Jr. rushed for two touchdowns as the Birmingham Stallions beat the host Houston Roughnecks 32-9 on Saturday to remain undefeated.
Martinez also completed 11 of 20 attempts for 155 yards as the Stallions improved to 5-0 and are the lone unbeaten team in the league.
Reid Sinnett threw for 203 yards on 27-of-38 passing, including one touchdown and one interception for the Roughnecks (1-4), who earned their only win of the season last week against the Arlington Renegades.
Birmingham pulled away in the second quarter as Martinez threw for a touchdown and Person ran for another to help the Stallions outscore Houston 20-9 in the frame. Birmingham averaged 6.7 yards per rush and outgained the Roughnecks 358-271 in the win.
Brahmas 25, Renegades 15
John Lovett ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns, including the tiebreaking score in the fourth quarter, to help San Antonio top host Arlington.
Morgan Ellison ran for 84 yards on seven carries and Quinten Dormady threw for a touchdown for the Brahmas (4-1), who outscored the Renegades 10-0 in the final quarter to win their second game in a row.
Luis Perez completed 26 of 36 attempts for 270 yards and a touchdown but it wasn’t enough for Arlington (0-5), which is the only winless team in the league.
AUTO RACING
TEAM PENSKE’S POWER, MCLAUGHLIN LOCK UP FRONT ROW AT INDYCAR AFTER CONTROVERSIAL WEEK
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Getting back in the race car was “the best medicine in the world” for Josef Newgarden. That’s also Scott McLaughlin’s “favorite place in the world.”
Team Penske, Newgarden, McLaughlin and Will Power get to end a controversy-filled week tucked into their high-speed sanctuaries for a couple of hours during Sunday’s race at Barber, a picturesque road course where they’ve combined for seven wins over the years.
On Wednesday, Newgarden was stripped of his season-opening win at St. Petersburg, Florida, and defending Barber winner McLaughlin lost his third-place finish for manipulating their push-to-pass system. Power was docked series points and also fined, though he didn’t make improper use of the push-to-pass.
Back on the track, Team Penske got much better news in Saturday’s qualifying, when McLaughlin won the pole and Power was second-fastest to set up an all-Penske front row. That successful qualifying came shortly after series and team owner Roger Penske summoned his fellow owners for a meeting.
“Ultimately very proud of Team Penske,” McLaughlin said. “One-two is tough to come by in any series, let alone IndyCar. Obviously after the week we’ve all had, it’s a nice little reward.”
Fastest in Friday’s practice session, Newgarden didn’t fare as well. The two-time series champion and reigning Indianapolis 500 winner qualified eighth at a track where he won three times from 2015-18.
“I’m here. I’m here with my team,” he said afterward. “I’m ready to rock.”
The race has been nearly an afterthought coming into the weekend, overshadowed by the cloud hovering over Newgarden and Team Penske.
It wasn’t clear what the 87-year-old Roger Penske discussed with his fellow team owners.
“It went OK,” Andretti Global team owner Michael Andretti told NBCSports.com. “We didn’t really learn a lot, but it was a good talking session among everybody.”
A week of negative headlines turned into celebration with Team Penske crew members high-fiving and cheering the qualifying results.
McLaughlin won his sixth IndyCar pole with a final lap of 1 minute, 5.9490 seconds. Power turned a fast lap of 1:06.0460 to lock up the other front row spot, ahead of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong of Chip Ganassi Racing.
“Good bounce-back for the team,” said Power, who won at Barber in 2011 and 2012.
O’WARD’S WIN
O’Ward and his Arrow McLaren team didn’t get to celebrate on victory lane. He had to settle for a playful moment, telling Newgarden on X (formerly Twitter), “Let me know if you need my address to send over the hardware.”
O’Ward’s second-place finish at St. Petersburg turned to a win some six weeks later. He’d love a more exuberant celebration soon, perhaps on Sunday. “A win’s a win, right? Take it,” O’Ward said. “But I’d love to give the team a proper celebration, not for St. Pete, but for a future race coming up.
“This weekend would be fantastic. I’m glad that we got the recognition for it and we got awarded I believe what we deserved. But a big part of the celebration is done there and then you move forward.”
Team Principal Gavin Ward did his best to give the team a treat, settling for five dozen donuts at the shop instead of champagne at the track. It was the team’s first win since 2022, when O’Ward won at Barber and Iowa.
“We’re very happy with the points,” Ward said. “Very happy to get it. Would have loved to celebrate in Victory Lane. But this team’s just been working so friggin’ hard.”
DIXON’S CHASE
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon won’t start near the front at a track where he has routinely made the podium. He just missed making it out of the first round of qualifying, finishing seventh in his session and qualifying 13th.
The current points leader hasn’t won at Barber despite being a regular on the podium. Dixon has six runner-up finishes there and has been third twice.
Dixon picked up career win No. 57 with a victory at Long Beach, 10 shy of A.J. Foyt’s IndyCar record 67.
“It’s frustrating to just miss but as a group we’ve been a little off this weekend,” he said.
TAKE 5: INTRIGUING DRIVERS TO WATCH IN WURTH 400 AT DOVER
As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Monster Mile this weekend, there are many storylines to follow. From favorites looking for a win, a former champ looking to relive the glory days, and a young phenom making his first Cup Series start, here are five drivers that you should keep up with during the Wurth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday.
5. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE, Legacy Motor Club: Nobody has conquered Dover more than Johnson, who has 11 wins at the track. Making his first start at Dover since 2020, Johnson is hoping that the Sunday race will be a return to his Dover dominance, rather than a continuation of his streak of poor showings in NASCAR’s seventh generation car. In five starts with the Next-Gen car, Johnson’s best finish is 28th, which occurred in the 2024 Daytona 500. He did earn his first lead-lap finish with the Next-Gen car on April 14 at Texas, but that was still a lackluster 29th-place run. Nobody is asking the 48-year-old driver to win on Sunday, but an incident-free, top-25 day would be much appreciated for a driver who has struggled mightily in his part-time role.
4. Corey Heim, No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE, Legacy Motor Club: Heim makes his first Cup Series start on Sunday in a similar fashion to Bubba Wallace, a current Cup Series star. Wallace made his Cup debut at Pocono in 2017 after Aric Almirola sustained a back injury at Kansas, while Heim will make his first Cup start as a substitute for Erik Jones, who injured his back in a crash at Talladega last Sunday. While not the circumstances Heim was hoping for going into his Cup Series debut, the 21-year-old phenom has proven he has what it takes behind the wheel, and has the opportunity to show his talent to the world on Sunday.
3. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro, Hendrick Motorsports: A two-time winner at Dover, Elliott broke a 42-race winless streak just two weeks ago at Texas. Despite a mediocre 15th-place finish at Talladega, Elliott has three top-five results in the past four races and is seemingly back to being the championship threat that he was from 2020-2022. With the winless streak snapped, he is one of the favorites heading into the weekend — and oh by the way, he won the first race at Dover with the Next-Gen car in 2022.
2. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing: A Mayetta, N.J., native, Dover is a home race for Truex, which could be part of the reason why he has won there four times, including a victory there last year that completed a Truex family weekend sweep. His brother Ryan won the 2023 Xfinity Series race at Dover. Truex is always a contender at the Monster Mile but has lost some pace since his heartbreaking Richmond defeat on Easter, with three straight finishes outside the top 10 since the March 31 race. Dover could be a “get-right” race for the veteran driver, and a win would be huge for a team looking to rebound from its embarrassing playoff run in 2023.
1. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro, Hendrick Motorsports: Perhaps the favorite for Sunday’s race, Larson won at Dover in 2019 and finished second to Alex Bowman in Hendrick’s iconic 1-2-3-4 finish at Dover in 2021. Unfortunately for Larson, he didn’t get to show how fast his car was at Dover a year ago, as an early incident with Ross Chastain took the No. 5 car out of contention. After two straight 21st-place finishes at Texas and Talladega, — neither of which can be blamed solely on Larson — the 2021 Cup Series champ is looking to avenge his 2023 Dover defeat and notch his second win of the 2024 season.
RYAN TRUEX GOES BACK-TO-BACK AT DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOR 2ND CAREER NASCAR VICTORY
DOVER, Del. (AP) — It was another Truex family reunion in victory lane at Dover.
Ryan Truex won the Xfinity Series race Saturday at Dover Motor Speedway for the second straight year, giving the younger brother of Martin Truex Jr. the only NASCAR victories of his career.
Truex went back-to-back at the Monster Mile to give him two wins in 194 career starts over the three national series. The No. 20 Toyota pulled away over the final two laps in a race that went eight laps over its scheduled 200-lap finish. The race was slowed by rain, but it sure didn’t matter to Truex, who does not have a fulltime Xfinity ride and made just his fourth start this season.
The Truex family had a special weekend last year at Dover. Ryan Truex dominated on the concrete-mile track and swept all three stages of the Xfinity race, leading 124 of the 200 laps. Two days later, Martin Truex Jr. won the Cup Series race at Dover — with their dad on hand to celebrate with both sons.
“Really in this sport, what you did last year doesn’t mean a thing,” Martin Truex Jr. said earlier Saturday. “He felt pretty good about his car yesterday. He didn’t get the lap he wanted in qualifying.”
Hours later, Ryan Truex got the laps he wanted down the stretch.
“I can’t believe it,” he said. “Our car was just good at the end when it mattered. I was so loose all day.”
Joe Gibbs Racing won its 200th career Xfinity race with Toyota.
The 32-year-old Truex huffed and puffed during a postrace interview saying: “I think I held my breath the last two laps.”
Truex was again joined by his father and brother in victory lane — and also his fiancee, who had started to leave the track with under 20 laps left before she hitched a ride back on a cart.
“Martin was pretty pumped-up again. Not as much as last year,” Truex said, laughing. “He was still pretty pumped up. And so was my dad.”
Martin Truex Jr. starts 15th in Sunday’s Cup race.
“The pressure is definitely on Martin tomorrow,” Truex said.
With his NASCAR champion father rooting him on, Carson Kvapil finished second. The 21-year-old Kvapil was trying to win his first career NASCAR race in just his second start in the developmental series. His dad, Travis, won NASCAR’s Truck Series championship in 2003.
“I know he can do it,” the elder Kvapil said on TV ahead of the final laps.
His kid almost delivered.
“I thought we had a pretty good restart,” he said. “It sucked, right, to get that close? I really don’t even know what to say. I think we had a really fast Chevrolet here. I’m just really fortunate to be in the spot that I am. I’m happy that I had a shot to win the race at the end there.”
Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed and Cole Custer rounded out the top five.
Anthony Alfredo finished ninth and took a $100,000 bonus from the series’ Dash-4-Cash program.
“We’ve been punching above our weight this year,” Alfredo said. “The money is kind of overwhelming us.”
KYLE BUSCH EDGES RYAN BLANEY FOR DOVER CUP POLE
First out for final qualifying and first on the scoring chart, Kyle Busch earned his first pole position of the season Saturday with a lap of 162.191 mph in the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet around the one-mile Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
It’s the 34th career pole position for the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and he’ll start on the front row for Sunday’s Wurth 400 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) alongside Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, whose fast lap (161.951 mph) in the No. 12 Ford Mustang was a mere .033-second off Busch’s pole speed.
“The last month or so there’s definitely been a struggle with speed,” Busch said. “It’s pretty funny we were standing here talking about sitting on the pole last year too with the rainout and started first. And then my over-excitement of coming down pit road for the first time, speeding on pit road, sent us to the back and didn’t quite have the race we wanted.
“Don’t want to make that same mistake this year. The guys here did a great job. … we’re wanting to trend the right way and putting in the effort, the hours and all the extra work to figure out what’s going on and why. This is our first test. We felt like Dover and (next week’s venue) Kansas would be a really good test of some stuff. And what do ya know? It worked. Let’s go.”
This season’s three-race winner, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron will start his No. 24 Chevrolet third, alongside last week’s Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway race winner, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota. Noah Gragson in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford and former Dover winner, Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota will start fifth and sixth.
The Fords of SHR’s Chase Briscoe and last week’s Talladega pole-winner, Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell were next fastest in qualifying, followed by Hendrick Motorsport’s Alex Bowman — the 2021 Dover winner — and Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger.
It was a strong qualifying outing for the Ford Mustang, which is still looking to score its first series victory of 2024. Not only were there four Fords in the top-10, but fellow Ford drivers Austin Cindric, Josh Berry and Joey Logano will line up 11th-13th on the 37-car grid.
Of note, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell — a winner at Phoenix this year — spun on his qualifying lap and will have to start 33rd. Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, an 11-time Dover winner, is making one of his limited season starts and will start the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota 27th. Defending race winner, JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. will start 15th.
And 21-year old Corey Heim, who is making his NASCAR Cup Series debut filling in for injured Legacy Motor Club driver Erik Jones, will start the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota 32nd — a row ahead of the team’s fulltime driver John Hunter Nemechek.
Heim was 14th fastest of the 16 cars in the opening practice but reasonably close on speed to the pack. Several of the veteran NASCAR Cup Series drivers — former champion Kyle Larson and this year’s three-time race winner William Byron, in particular — were very complimentary of Heim, despite the young driver’s challenging circumstances.
“Just so much different, a lot of fun, a lot of grip,” Heim said after his first official practice in the car, adding, “Just trying to find my limits but in these 20-minutes practices, it’s tough.”
Jones spoke to the media at track and said he is feeling better after a hard crash at Talladega last week that left him with a compression fracture in his lower vertebrae. He did not give a timetable for a return.
NOTEBOOK
*Jones, 28, was in the pits Saturday at Dover and will be trackside for Sunday’s Wurth 400, assisting the team as needed while NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship contender Heim drives Jones’ No. 43 Toyota.
Jones — a three-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner- conceded the hard racing on the unforgiving one-mile Dover oval did not present the best situation to be back in the car and testing his injury.
“To be honest right now, I’m feeling pretty good,” Jones said. “As a driver, probably any driver, they want to just hop back in. I would love to say that I could get back in and do it right now. Is that possible? I don’t know. I don’t know how I would truly feel in the car, especially a place like Dover.
“I get pretty sore at night and when I’m not moving around. My range of motion is a bit limited right now, but the soreness has faded away. It was pretty bad earlier in the week and I was just resting. By yesterday and today, I’m feeling better and better.”
This is the first race Jones has missed since becoming a fulltime NASCAR Cup Series driver and described it as “a unique perspective for me.”
“It is definitely more challenging I thought, waking up this morning to be honest, and getting ready for today and realizing that you are not getting in the car,” he said.
Team co-owner Johnson would not predict how long Jones may be out of the car, but did confirm Saturday, should Jones be unable to race at Kansas Speedway next week, Heim would indeed be back in the No. 43 for that race too.
Jones received a medical waiver from NASCAR this week that would allow him to still participate in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs should he qualify.
*The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Johnson confirmed this week he will compete in back-to-back events for the first time since he retired from fulltime NASCAR competition in 2020 — Sunday’s race at Dover and then next week at Kansas Speedway. Johnson has a record 11 victories at the concrete Dover mile and is a three-time winner at Kansas.
Yet even with all that success, the 48-year old Johnson concedes he’s still learning this NextGen race car with finishes of 28th (Daytona) and 29th (Texas) in his only other 2024 starts in the No. 84 Toyota. He competed only three times in 2023 with a best finish of 31st coming in the Daytona 500 — a race he’s won twice.
“It’s just so different,” Johnson said of the new car compared to the ones he drove to 83 wins and the record-tying seven titles. “I realized that quickly at Texas. I have a few wins at Texas that didn’t carry in. It is really on me. It is such a different environment as a driver and to spot these drivers in the garage, a two-year head-start on the little nuances that you need from the prep side on a Tuesday, all the way to the completion on a Monday when you debrief and work through it all.
“There is just a lot of distance to make up and first and foremost, I need to do my part and get in tune with this car. Through this stretch, I will be able to do so.”
Johnson last raced at Dover in 2020 with finishes of seventh and third place. His earned the last win of his career there in 2017.
*Bowman credits his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Johnson with being a big help with his Monster Mile education. Bowman, 31, who won at Dover in 2021 and has five top-10 finishes in the last six Dover races, missed this race last year because of injury, but is very optimistic about his chances Sunday in what will be his 300th career series start.
“I think it’s just a place where I enjoy going to,” said Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. “I feel like I bring a little something to the table and know what I want and know what I need in my race car to be successful here.”
“I attribute a lot of my success here to Jimmie (Johnson) as well,” he said of the 11-time Dover race winner and NASCAR Hall of Famer. “Definitely a special place for the No. 48 car. When you think of think of the dominance that team had kind of throughout that whole era, this is a place that comes top of mind. So, it’s super cool to have also been successful here in the No. 48 car. I think even my own successes here, I definitely attribute to him as well.”
Bowman’s fifth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway last week made him one of the strongest movers inside the championship standings — vaulting him four positions from 14th place to 10th place.
GOLF NEWS
AUSTRALIANS GRACE KIM, HANNAH GREEN ATOP LA CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD
After two days of shooting the best round of the day, Grace Kim blew up with a 5-over-par 76 but managed to share the lead at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Kim had a four-stroke lead going into the third round was caught at 7-under 206 by defending champion and fellow Australian Hannah Green, who carded a 1-under 70.
“When Gracie (Kim) was 12-under par after two rounds, I didn’t think anyone would really get to that number,” Green said. “Even now, I think we’re all at 7-under, and I’m kind of not surprised.
“I felt like earlier in the week the greens were firmer and usually we had a little bit softer conditions,” Green continued. “I like that’s if you’re 1-under par, you’re having a good day.”
South Korean rookie Jin Hee Im shot the best round Saturday with an 8-under 63 — the new tournament course record at Wilshire Country Club. She is tied for third at 6 under with Germany’s Esther Henseleit (71 on Saturday) and Sweden’s Maja Stark (73).
Im had matching rounds of 1-over 72 before Saturday’s 63, when she had six birdies on the back nine and nine total along with a bogey at No. 6. She hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation.
“So, first two days I start really bad,” Im said. “First day, bogey, double bogey start. Yesterday, double start. … But today I start good and played good.
“I thought the (setup on the back nine) was a little easier than before, so I had a lot of chance to play with my short irons; it works.”
Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (64) is alone in sixth at 5 under after a bogey at the par-3 18th hole.
Kim carded rounds of 64 (tying the then-scoring record) on Thursday and 66 on Friday, but her effort Saturday included no birdies or better. She made bogeys at Nos. 2, 10 and 16, and a double bogey at the par-3 No. 4.
“The wind did pick up,” Kim said of afternoon conditions. “It was a bit gusty out there, so mentally I knew it was going to be tough, and I’d seen some high scores already. I just tried to stay in the present. Again, like I backed away a few times because the wind died or gusted up, so the club selection was crucial.
“As you can see, it’s tough for everyone today. Yeah, it was just one of those days. It’s just golf.”
Green had her third consecutive round below par, though it was an adventure. She recorded an eagle at the par-5 No. 13 and made birdies at Nos. 2, 14 and 16. She hit 12 of 14 fairways in regulation and was 2-for-2 on sand saves.
But she also made four bogeys, at Nos. 5, 6, 9 and 17.
“Hopefully, (Sunday) I can be a bit more consistent,” Green said. “Didn’t hit many greens today and that’s probably led to some of my bogeys. Hopefully, I just play boring golf tomorrow and those putts go in.”
PAUL BROADHURST EYES SECOND STRAIGHT TITLE, LEADS IN GEORGIA
Englishman Paul Broadhurst fired a 5-under 67 on Saturday and holds a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Mitsubishi Electric Classic at Duluth, Ga.
Broadhurst, who is looking for his second straight victory, is at 10-under 134 after two trips around TPC Sugarloaf.
Steven Ames is second after tying the course record with an 8-under 64.
Steven Alker, who was a co-leader after the first round, is two shots back at 136. He shot 71 on Saturday.
Broadhurst shot four straight birdies on Holes 3 and 6 and later added two more. He had one bogey.
Broadhurst is certainly ready to make a run at a second straight victory.
“Absolutely, this is what we play for. I don’t enjoy finishing 30th every week, no one does,” Broadhurst said. “You want to get up there in contention and test yourself. It will be a test again tomorrow.”
Ames is the defending champion and he happens to turn 60 on Sunday.
Ames had four birdies on both the front and back nines while substantially improving on his opening-round 71.
“You know what, I was completely out of the picture yesterday,” Ames said. “A good day, started off nicely and I continued rolling it and hit some good putts, hit some good shots, the number added up to 64. That’s golf, you know. …
“You know what, golf, tomorrow’s golf, it’s another round of golf, we’ll see what happens. Nice to be in this position again, obviously.”
Alker carded five birdies but also was hurt by two bogeys and a double-bogey. One of his bogeys was on 18.
Five players are tied in fourth at 7-under 137.
Lee Janzen and South Korea’s K.J. Choi shot 69, Australia’s John Senden shot 70 while Shane Bertsch carded a 71 and Doug Barron had a 72.
Last week, Broadhurst notched a one-shot victory at the rain-shortened Invited Celebrity Classic at Irving, Texas, for his first title since 2018.
ZAC BLAIR, PATRICK FISHBURN ATOP LEADERBOARD GOING INTO ZURICH FINAL ROUND
Utah natives and former BYU teammates Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn shot a 60 in four-ball (best ball) — one shy of a tournament record — and took the lead Saturday after 54 holes of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in Avondale, La.
The two-man team is at 23-under 193, one shot ahead of Luke List and Sweden’s Henrik Norlander (62 on Saturday).
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and teammate Shane Lowry of Ireland (64) are two strokes back, tied for third with Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard (64).
Blair and Fishburn, each looking for his first PGA Tour victory, carded 29 on the front nine with an eagle at the par-5 No. 2 and birdies at Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. They stayed hot with birdies at Nos. 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15. Three consecutive pars to close out the round left them one stroke off the 18-hole tournament record of 59 set by Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in Round 1 of the 2022 event.
Fishburn, a tour rookie, had made two cuts in nine starts in 2024 entering the week. Blair is making his 185th start on tour and his best finish is a tie for second at the 2023 Travelers Championship.
The team event moves back to foursomes for the final round Sunday at TPC Louisiana.
UFC NEWS
ALEX PEREZ GETS LONG-AWAITED WIN AT UFC FIGHT NIGHT
Flyweight Alex Perez picked up his first win in nearly four years Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, beating Matheus Nicolau with a second-round knockout.
Before dropping Nicolau with a right hook to end the fight at 2:16 of the second, Perez won Round 1 of the main event on all three scorecards. The win ended a three-fight losing streak for Perez, whose last win in June 2020 earned him a flyweight title shot against Deiveson Figueiredo.
Perez lost that match via first-round submission then dealt with years of injuries.
Perez is now 25-8-0. Nicolau is 19-5-1.
In the co-main event on Saturday, Bogdan Guskov beat Ryan Spann when the fight was stopped due to strikes at 3:16 of the second round.
It is the second straight stoppage win for the 31-year-old Guskov (16-3-0), who is looking to climb the rankings in the light heavyweight division. Spann fell to 21-10-0.
On the women’s side, Karine Silva (19-4-0) defeated fellow Brazilian Ariane da Silva (17-9-0) by unanimous decision.
TOP INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES AND NEWS REPORTS
COLTS FOOTBALL
WITH FINAL 6 PICKS IN NFL DRAFT, COLTS SETTING UP INTENSE COMPETITION FOR ROLES, ROSTER SPOTS IN 2024
The Colts made six picks on the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft, adding talent and competition on offense, defense and special teams with these players:
- Fourth round, No. 117 overall (selected Wisconsin G Tanor Bortolini)
- Fifth round, No. 142 overall (selected Oregon State WR Anthony Gould)
- Fifth round, No. 151 overall (selected Missouri LB Jaylon Carlies)
- Fifth round, No. 164 overall (selected Auburn CB Jaylin Simpson)
- Sixth round, No. 201 overall (selected Marshall CB Micah Abraham)
- Seventh round, No. 234 overall (selected Oklahoma DT Jonah Laulu)
With those picks, the Colts added a stable of players they believe can compete to contribute in all three phases beginning right off the bat in 2024.
And ultimately, the competitive atmosphere the Colts believe they’ve fostered through roster continuity and draft-week additions will result in legitimate growth from this team in 2024 and beyond.
“There’s going to be great competition upfront, both sides of the ball,” general manager Chris Ballard said. “Both o-line and d-line. It’ll be really good competition at wideout depending on how many we keep. We get some guys back that did some things at the end of the year that we really liked.
“I think across the board, we’ll continue to work – there’s a few spots we want to continue to add between now and the season. Like I always tell you all, there’s no perfect team – there’s not. Everybody has got something that, man, I wish I could get a little bit better. You go to work, and you take your time and you don’t press and you make sure that by the time the season starts, when you get into the season, you can plug those positions. But yeah, I’m pleased about where we’re at right now.”
As Ballard alluded to, the Colts are not done adding players. A group of undrafted free agents will join the team, and no doors are closed on bringing in veteran free agents in the coming weeks and months.
But the Colts came away from Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft with specific visions for each player not only this year, but into the future of their careers.
“Day Three, you’re really looking for guys with upside that you have a chance to hit on, come down the line and be a future starter, which we know the odds are low,” Ballard said. “I mean, they are. The odds are low at it but we’ve had some success in the third day, we’ve had a lot of success in the third day finding those types of players. Excited about the guys we got. Our scouts, that’s really – look, they’re involved at every round but, I give them a lot of credit especially on the third day. They’re the ones that have been digging and fighting for these guys.”
Bortolini profiles as someone who can give the Colts depth on the interior of their line, either as a left/right guard or center.
“He started a lot of games at Wisconsin, he played at both tackle positions at one time, he’s played guard, he started at center,” Ballard said. “We think he’s got really good value as an inside-swing guy for us and he’s got a really bright future.”
Gould offers intriguing upside as a punt and/or kick returner with his vision, instincts and blazing speed (he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine). Gould sees himself as more than just a return guy, but his potential there gives him a baseline shot at competing to play a key role right away.
“This new kickoff return rule is going to change some things,” Ballard said. “It’s a little bit of an unknown right now but we think he’s got – he’s an explosive player with the ball in his hands, he has had a lot of success in college returning punts and he’s a pretty good wideout so excited to get him.”
Carlies will move from safety – where he played the last three years at Mizzou – to linebacker. The Colts believe his athleticism and length (he has 34-inch arms and an 80-inch wingspan) will benefit him in making the transition as he begins his NFL career.
“We always think guys with length that can run have an advantage,” Ballard said. “It’s going to fit him well inside.”
Simpson, too, will switch from safety to cornerback but has multi-position flexibility and, like Carlies, a good amount of special teams experience in a competitive, high-level conference.
“He’s got some versatility where he can play corner, nickel, safety,” Ballard said. “(He) played a lot of games in the SEC.”
Abraham picked off 12 passes in college and has strong NFL cornerback bloodlines – his father, Donnie, led the NFL in interceptions in 1999 and was a Pro Bowler in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; his cousin, Tim Jennings, was a two-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL in interceptions in 2012.
“His ability to go inside and play the nickel is important,” Ballard said. “That gives him some flexibility. So, to go in and out gives him some real value and gives him a chance to actually compete and make the roster. 12 picks is 12 picks, that’s not easy to do. So, he’s got a natural instinct and ball skills. That usually translates. We’ll see, but we like him.”
Laulu played defensive end from 2018-2022 before Oklahoma moved him to play defensive tackle in 2023, and the Colts valued his explosive athleticism (he had a 36-inch vertical at 292 pounds) and upside on tape to make him their last pick in the draft.
“You finally saw his talent come to life (in 2023),” Ballard said. “He needs some work and some development, but excited to get him.”
So with these players, plus Laiatu Latu, Adonai Mitchell, Matt Goncalves and whoever else the Colts sign in rookie/veteran free agency, head coach Shane Steichen said he’s “fired up” to see how these new and returning players begin competing this spring and into training camp this summer.
“Competition makes everybody better,” Steichen said. “To add the guys that we did, I couldn’t be more fired up about the guys that we are adding. It’s going to bring great competition on both sides of the football. Again, when you talk about the continuity – everyone coming back on really both sides of the football and then to add these guys, we’re fired up about it.”
INDIANA PACERS
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS BUCKS (GAME 4)
The Indiana Pacers have the Milwaukee Bucks right where they want them heading into Game 4.
Up 2-1 in their best-of-seven first-round series, the sixth-seeded Pacers can maintain home-court advantage and put the No. 3 Bucks’ backs against the wall with a win on Sunday in Indianapolis.
If Game 4 resembles Game 3 in any way, the energy at Gainbridge Fieldhouse will reverberate throughout the state from tip to final buzzer.
Game 3, a 121-118 Pacers overtime win, had everything a basketball fan could want: competitive play, jaw-dropping highlights, and clutch performances by stars.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle best summed up the events of Game 3 during postgame interviews.
“The playoffs are insanity,” Carlisle said.
PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Follow Indiana’s Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>
After the Bucks overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half, and veteran forward Khris Middleton sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer at the end of regulation, the Pacers dug in during extra time.
With 1.6 seconds left, Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton — playing in his first ever home playoff game — got a floater to fall through contact before making a free throw to seal it.
The game-winner capped a historic night for Halibuton, who became the fourth player in Pacers playoff history to record a triple-double by logging 18 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Haliburton’s 16 assists were also the second-most ever by a Pacer in a playoff game, as he finished one short of tying Mark Jackson’s franchise mark set in 1998.
RELATED: Haliburton Caps Historic Game 3 Performance with Overtime Heroics >>
On top of Haliburton’s memorable performance, and other clutch plays by other players like Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith down the stretch, Myles Turner posted a career playoff-high 29 points for the Blue & Gold in Game 3.
Turner, who has played for the Pacers since 2015, said he hopes the environment from Game 3 carries over into the rest of the playoff home games and that it makes a difference for the players.
“That was unreal, bro. Don’t get me started,” Turner said postgame. “That was everything I hoped for. I wouldn’t say worth the five-year wait — I wish it was here sooner, but it was definitely just an amazing atmosphere to play in. Just for my family to be able to experience that this time of year, it was really cool. For the guys that haven’t been here for the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs, this was a great introduction for them. It’s only going to get crazier. It was amazing. Just energetic the entire game, never really was any lows. It was cool.”
Without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Middleton stepped up on the offensive end for the Bucks, posting 42 points on 16-for-29 shooting while collecting 10 rebounds. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played yet this postseason and his status remains in question as he recovers from a calf injury.
Another injury to monitor will be Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who momentarily left Game 3 in the first quarter with what he described as an Achilles issue. Lillard still had 28 points on Friday despite the injury.
Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, the Pacers will play in Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum for Game 5 on Tuesday, with a start time still to be announced by the league.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Bucks: G – Patrick Beverley, G – Malik Beasley, F – Khris Middleton, F – Bobby Portis, C – Brook Lopez
Injury Report
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin – out (right shoulder labral tear)
Bucks: Khris Middleton – probable (right ankle sprain), Giannis Antetokounmpo – doubtful (left soleus strain), Damian Lillard – doubtful (right Achilles tendinitis), Chris Livingston – out (non-COVID illness)
Last Meeting
April 26, 2024: In a wildly entertaining Game 3, the Pacers outlasted the Bucks 121-118 in overtime at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
After giving up a 19-point lead, the Pacers led by three in the final seconds of regulation before Bucks forward Khris Middleton drilled a 3-pointer right before the buzzer to push the game into extra minutes.
Extra time started out wacky, including a possession in which the Pacers pulled down five strong offensive rebounds, but the Blue & Gold stayed locked in.
Tied at 118 with 6.7 seconds left in overtime, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton sprinted up the court, got a floater to fall through contact with 1.6 ticks on the clock and hit the ensuing free throw to end the game.
Haliburton became just the fourth Pacers player to record a triple-double in the playoffs, finishing with 18 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds, and Myles Turner recorded a playoff-best 29 points in the win.
Middleton scored 42 points (16-for-29 shooting) to anchor the Bucks, Damian Lillard added 28, and Bobby Portis chipped in 17.
Six players scored in double figures for the Pacers, including all five starters. Indiana’s bench outscored Milwaukee’s reserves 28-6.
The Pacers outrebounded the Bucks 50-43 and outscored the visitors 12-4 in fast-break points.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers have never won two straight home games after splitting their first two games on the road to open a playoff series. They’re 0-10 all-time in those situations.
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlislie has 65 career playoff wins and is one short of tying Billy Cunnigham for the 16th most in NBA coaching history.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: TNT – Announcers TBA
Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers and Bucks will meet again at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 4 on Sunday, April 28 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
INDY ELEVEN
MARTINEZ SCORES 75TH-MINUTE MATCH WINNER
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 evening at Carroll Stadium. The win improves the Boys in Blue’s record to 2-4-2 in 2024, while North Carolina falls to 1-4-3.
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.
Indy has now scored in each of its eight matches to open the 2024 season, the longest run for the club since a 12-game streak during the 2022 season.
The Boys in Blue travel to Monterey Bay F.C. next Saturday for a 10 p.m. ET kick. The match will stream on CBS Sports Golazo Network.
USL Championship Regular Season
Indy Eleven 2:1 North Carolina FC
Saturday, April 27, 2024 – 7 p.m. ET
Michael A. Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Indiana
2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 2-4-2, 8 pts (-4)
North Carolina FC: 1-4-3, 6 pts (-4)
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’
Indy Eleven line-up (4-3-3): Hunter Sulte, Aedan Stanley, Adrian Diz Pe (Elliot Collier 75’), Callum Chapman-Page, Josh O’Brien (Benjamin Ofeimu 60’), Jack Blake, Tyler Gibson (captain), Cam Lindley, Sebastian Guenzatti, Tega Ikoba (Ben Mines 60’), Douglas Martinez
Indy Subs: Yannik Oettl, Laurence Wootton, Karsen Henderlong, Logan Neidlinger, Max Schneider
North Carolina FC line-up: Jake McGuire, Justin Malou (Oalex Anderson 78’), Paco Craig, Bryce Washington, Ezra Armstrong (Shaft Brewer 78’), Collin Martin (Jaden Servania 87’), Mikey Maldonado, Rafa Mentzingen (Raheem Somersall 87’), Luis Perez, Julian Placias (Garrett McLaughlin 89’), Rodrigo da Costa
North Carolina Subs: Lamar Batista, Antonio Carrera
INDY FUEL
FUEL END SEASON WITH LOSS TO WHEELING
INDIANAPOLIS- The Fuel headed to Cranberry, Pennsylvania for the fifth game in the opening round of the playoffs against the Wheeling Nailers. Facing elimination, the Fuel rallied hard and outshot Wheeling however could not mount a comeback and fell to the Nailers 4-2, losing the series 4-1.
1ST PERIOD
The Fuel came out hot, maintaining possession of the puck and getting chances early despite Jaxon Castor holding strong in goal for the Nailers.
At 13:26, Indy’s Ross MacDougall took a slashing penalty, giving Wheeling the first power play opportunity of the game. After killing off the penalty, it was MacDougall himself who got on the board first with a goal assisted by Jon Martin and former Nailer Cam Hausinger at 15:49.
Things got progressively chippier which resulted in some pushing and shoving after time expired on the first period. After one frame, the Fuel were outshooting Wheeling, 11-8.
2ND PERIOD
At 1:02, Lukas Svejkovsky took Wheeling’s first penalty of the game for tripping. Just over a minute later, Matt Koopman scored a shorthanded goal at 2:21 in the second period.
DJ King took a hooking penalty at 5:28, giving Wheeling another power play change. This time they did capitalize on it with a goal from Justin Addamo at 6:24 to take a 2-1 lead.
Matthew Quercia took the game’s next penalty at 11:30 for roughing but the Nailers killed off the penalty before Wheeling’s Addamo scored again at 14:04 to make it 3-1.
Things continued to get chippy between both teams but there were no more penalties in the second period.
Just twelve seconds before the second frame ended, Santino Centorame scored for the Fuel, to make it 3-2. Andrew Bellant and Matus Spodniak both claimed assists on that goal.
Despite allowing three goals, Indy outshot Wheeling 5-7 in the second period.
3RD PERIOD
At 6:32, Addamo took a hooking penalty but the Nailers killed it off.
The Fuel kept the momentum and kept the pressure on, throwing everything they could at the net but Castor deflected well in net.
At 1:44, the Fuel took a timeout after a long stretch of time with no whistle. After that, they pulled Mitchell Weeks from net in favor of the extra skater.
Despite missing a few attempts, it was Wheeling who scored next on the empty net to make it 4-2. Koopman claimed his second goal of the game with that shot.
Chris Cameron was given a misconduct penalty after the goal but ultimately it would not matter. Time ticked down and Wheeling claimed the 4-2 victory, winning the series 4-1.
INDIANA BASEBALL
BUHR, BATS DELIVER SERIES VICTORY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Called upon earlier than expected on Saturday (April 27) afternoon, graduate student Drew Buhr (W, 1-1) was up for the challenge on the mound. He allowed two runs (both charged to starter Ty Bothwell) but escaped a two-on, no-out scenario in the fifth inning.
From there, he was flawless. He retired the final 15 batters of the game on just four hits with no earned runs as the Indiana Baseball team (24-18-1, 9-5 B1G) won 12-6 at Bart Kaufman Field. He needed just 58 pitches in five innings and tallied four strikeouts. His defense was helpful behind him with sophomore shortstop Tyler Cerny and junior outfielder Nick Mitchell making outstanding catches.
The bats, led by productive days from Mitchell and sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor, were all over the Rutgers’ pitching from the jump. Despite struggling with mid-inning pitching changes, IU still tallied 12 runs on 16 hits. Five players had multi-hit days including three apiece from Taylor and Mitchell.
Taylor hit a home run in the bottom of the first inning, crushing a ball to center field to set the tone. It gave IU a home run in the opening inning on back-to-back days after a three-run jack from redshirt freshman Joey Brenczewski last night. Mitchell went 3-for-3 at the plate and reached base all five times.
Redshirt junior catcher Jake Stadler (RBI-single), freshman second baseman (RBI-groundout) and junior outfielder Carter Mathison (two-run home run) provided massive insurance runs in the eighth to allow Buhr to comfortably close the game out in the ninth.
The Hoosiers have a chance to go for their first Big Ten sweep of the season tomorrow, a win that would prove crucial not only for RPI purposes but also the chance to further close the gap on Illinois in the chase for a conference title. Sixth-year senior Ty Rybarczyk will open the game for IU at 11:00 AM ET on the Big Ten Network.
Scoring Recap
Top First
After a routine flyball, that got lost in the sun, dropped for a leadoff double, Rutgers slowly moved the runner around before Jordan Sweeney singled up the middle to score Johnny Volpe.
Rutgers 1, Indiana 0
Bottom First
Devin Taylor crushed a home run on the fourth pitch he saw to tie the game in the first inning.
Indiana 1, Rutgers 1
Bottom Second
The Hoosiers pieced together nice at-bats in the second inning to grow the lead. Cal Sefcik drove a breaking ball into left field to bring home Jake Stadler. Taylor followed that by clearing the bases with a triple in the gap. Nick Mitchell had a single to centerfield on a two-strike count to add another run to the tally.
Indiana 5, Rutgers 1
Top Fourth
Rutgers started to get to IU starter Ty Bothwell in the fourth. The Big Ten’s leading hitter, Josh Kuroda-Grauer singled to center field to bring home a pair of runs. Ty Doucette, who has been phenomenal this weekend, hit a ground-rule double to center field to score another.
Indiana 5, Rutgers 4
Top Fifth
Rutgers began the inning with a walk and hit-by-pitch to chase Bothwell and bring in Drew Buhr. Trevor Cohen grounded out to the shortstop as IU exchanged an out for a run. Cameron Love took a 1-0 pitch for a single into left field to cut the deficit to just one.
Indiana 7, Rutgers 6
Bottom Sixth
After Mitchell singled down the left-field line, Tyler Cerny followed that with a double down the line to score the runner from first.
Indiana 8, Rutgers 6
Bottom Eighth
Jake Stadler was the first to beat the new-pitcher curse, taking a ball through the right side to score Cerny after a pitching change from Rutgers. Jasen Oliver grounded out to the third baseman, allowing another run to score. Carter Mathison effectively put the game on ice with a massive two-run shot into right field.
Indiana 12, Rutgers 6
Top Hoosier Performers
#5 Taylor, Devin
3-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 3B
#20 Mitchell, Nick
3-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
#24 Buhr, Drew
5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 K
Notes to Know
• Junior outfielder Carter Mathison hit his 10th home run of the season and 39th of his career. He is already seventh in program history in long balls but is now one away from becoming the newest member of the 40-home run club. Only two other players (Alex Dickerson, Kyle Schwarber) have reached that mark in three years. Mathison is the first player to hit 10+ home runs in three-straight seasons since Vasili Spanos (2001-03)
• IU has won all four conference series in the month of April after losing the first Big Ten weekend to Illinois in the month of March. The Hoosiers will go for the first Big Ten sweep since last year at Northwestern. Under head coach Jeff Mercer, IU has seven Big Ten sweeps (in traditional three-or-four game settings). The last time these two teams met (2019), the Hoosiers swept the Scarlet Knights.
• In the month of April (14 games to date), redshirt freshman Joey Brenczewski and junior outfielder Nick Mitchell are each hitting .404. Jake Stadler, who is carrying all of the catching load, is up to a .340 average during the month. On the mound, graduate student Drew Buhr (5 app., 1-0, 2.30 ERA, 4 ER, 19 K) has been a revelation as the Hoosiers get back into Big Ten contention).
Up Next
A massive opportunity awaits the Hoosiers on Sunday. A sweep would put pressure on Illinois, Michigan and Purdue at the top of the Big Ten standings heading into the final month. Sunday’s game will be broadcasted nationally on BTN at 11:00 AM and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
INDIANA TRACK
INDIANA TRACK & FIELD SHOWS STEADY IMPROVEMENTS ON FINAL DAY OF TEXAS INVITATIONAL
AUSTIN, Texas – Indiana Track and Field totaled nine season best marks and two personal bests on the final day of the Texas Invitational at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Taylor Schoonveld recorded the ninth best mark in the High Jump after clearing a personal best height of 1.75m/5-8.75.
Mahogany Jenkins finished second in the Triple Jump with a season best of 12.75m/41-10. Shanna Esters improved her throw in the Javelin with a mark of 38.80m/127-3.
Tyler Carrel and Nathan Stone finished with a season-best marks in the Pole Vault. They soared a height of 5.45m/17-10.50 before attempting a personal best at a height of 5.55m/18-2.50.
Novo Onovwerosuoke, Antonio Laidler, Otto De St Jeor and Trelee Banks ran a time of 40.01 in the 4x100m relay for sixth fastest time in program with 40.01 Season Best, No. 6 in program history.
Laidler won the 100m dash with a time of 10.11w. Trelee Banks also added a season-best time of 10.33w.
Up next, IU will host the annual Billy Hayes meet at home to close out the regular season.
IUTF TALLIES EIGHT PERSONAL BESTS AT SYCAMORE OPEN
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana Track and Field tallied eight personal bests and three season bests in the throws and sprint events at the Sycamore Open on Saturday.
Drew Franklin led the Hoosiers with big personal best with and a fourth-place finish with a throw of 50.58m/165-11 in the discus. Hunter Smith finished fifth with a mark of 49.43m/162-02 followed by a season-best performance from Tyler Reyna (48.31m/158-06).
Reyna achieved a personal best in the Hammer to finish third with a throw of 57.74m/189-5.00. Smith earned his second personal best on the day with a mark of 55.10m/180-9.00.
On the women’s side, Bridget Beyer put up a big throw (51.75m/169-9) in the Hammer to finish third. Emily Herndon also had a great day with a fourth-place finish and a personal best in the event (49.01m/160-9).
Jaylen Grimes won the 400 Meters with a personal best time of 49.05. Gage Pratt PR’d in the 100 meters with a time of 10.98.
Up next, IU will host the annual Billy Hayes meet at home to close out the regular season.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
INDIANA FALLS TO WISCONSIN
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana dropped the second game of its home series with Wisconsin, 8-6, on Saturday afternoon at Andy Mohr Field. The Hoosiers made a late push, scoring four runs in the sixth inning, but were unable to complete the comeback.
With the loss, Indiana is now 36-14 on the season, and 11-8 in Big Ten play.
INDIANA 6, WISCONSIN 8
KEY MOMENTS
• Wisconsin took the early 1-0 lead when Linkletter scored off of a single by Kuffel in the top of the first inning.
• Later in the first inning, sophomore Sophie Kleiman threw three strikeouts for all three outs of the inning.
• The Hoosiers would tie the game in the bottom of the second inning as freshman Aly VanBrandt scored off of a groundout.
• Wisconsin added five runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead, with two coming from a home run by Kuszak.
• Indiana got one run back in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Alex Cooper singled to right field to score VanBrandt and make it 6-2.
• In the sixth, Wisconsin would add on two more runs prior to Indiana scoring four in the bottom of the inning.
• Cooper laced a perfect bunt for a single with the bases loaded to score VanBrandt. Senior Brooke Benson hit a sacrifice fly to right field and brought Bassett home. In the next at bat, junior Brianna Copeland hit a single through the left side to bring two more runs in.
NOTABLES
• VanBrandt was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored.
• Cooper picked up from her great performance yesterday and was 2-for-3 hitting with three RBI.
• Copeland (2), Cooper (3) and Benson (1) all recorded at least one RBI.
PURDUE TRACK
SMITH ENTERS RECORD BOOK IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
DES MOINES, Iowa, and TUCSON, Ariz. – The Purdue track & field team concluded the regular season with a top-10 time in school history as the Boilermakers competed at the Desert Heat Classic in Tucson, Arizona, and the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday.
Freshman Alexia Smith entered the record books in the 400-meter on Saturday evening in Arizona, two days after the Old Gold and Black earned three top-10 times in Iowa. This weekend, Purdue’s distance runners, throwers and jumpers were at Drake Stadium from April 25-27 and the sprinters and jumpers competed in the one-day meet at Arizona’s Drachman Stadium.
On a sunny and slightly windy late afternoon in Tucson, Smith ran the 400m in 53.56 seconds to tie for No. 10 in program history. Her time is fifth-fastest in the Big Ten this season and is a collegiate-best by 0.99 seconds. Smith was fifth overall in the event on Saturday and placed first in the third heat by nearly one second.
On Saturday morning in Iowa, sophomore Collin Kao was the runner-up in the pole vault. He cleared a personal-best 5.12m to register Purdue’s best mark in the event since 2015. The clearance came on Kao’s second attempt, and he eclipsed his previous PR of 5.00m set twice before during this outdoor campaign.
Fellow sophomore Leo Maxwell was third in the hammer throw with a 62.45m on his first attempt. Additionally, senior Logan Sandlin also posted a PR in the pole vault, clearing 4.82m in Des Moines.
Collegiate-best times also were achieved in Tucson by freshmen Jada Lee (100m, 11.97), Alyssa Tate (100m, 11.98 and 200m, 24.53) and Nia Wilson (100m, 11.78). Lee and Wilson’s bests were in all conditions and Tate’s is a wind-legal PR. Senior Jahn Riley (400m, 47.28), sophomore Nolan Macklin (200m, 21.27) and the women’s 4×100 relay (45.13) ran season-best times on Saturday in the Grand Canyon State.
On Thursday to begin the weekend, a pair of record-book marks in the steeplechase, by senior Caleb Williams and junior Jaelyn Burgos, was followed by a top-10 time in the 10,000-meters from senior Caroline Jordan. Junior Jason Polydoris won the 10,000m to conclude the night. The Boilermakers earned four top-five finishes and registered five personal-best times. Friday’s Drake Relays was highlighted by sophomore Seth Allen placing third in the discus championship.
The postseason is up next, beginning with the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships from May 10-12. Michigan will host the annual event in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
TYRONE TRACY JR. AND SANOUSSI KANE CHOSEN IN 2024 NFL DRAFT
DETROIT, Mich. – On the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft, two Purdue Football alumni heard their names called to fulfill their dreams of playing at the highest level. Tyrone Tracy Jr. was the first Boilermaker off the board, as the New York Giants selected the running back in the fifth round with the 166th overall pick. Before the day was finished, the Baltimore Ravens drafted defensive back Sanoussi Kane with their final pick (7th Round – 250th Overall).
The 2024 NFL Draft marked the fifth straight year that at least two Boilermakers were chosen, totaling 14 over the span. That last time Purdue had a five-year streak of multiple Boilermakers drafted was 1998-2002.
Tracy became just the second Purdue running back to be selected in the NFL Draft since 1999, including the highest on the board since Mike Alstott (2nd Round – 1996). Until Tracy on Saturday, wide receiver Brian Alford was the last Boilermaker to be drafted by the Giants (3rd Round – 1998).
Ending his collegiate career and second year as a Boilermaker, Tracy had a breakout season to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors (AP) as an all-purpose/return specialist. The Indianapolis native showcased his versatility by transitioning from wide receiver to running back at the start of the year, while also leading the Purdue return game. Tracy tallied 1,270 all-purpose yards, including 408 kick return yards, to rank second in the conference in both categories. Averaging 25.5 yards per return, Tracy finished with the 11th-best kickoff return average in Purdue history and the highest since Akeem Hunt in 2013 (26.1).
Despite sharing the workload in the backfield with Devin Mockobee, Tracy tallied 716 yards on the ground, while leading the team in touchdowns (eight rushing, one kickoff return) and pacing the Big Ten in all-purpose yards in conference games (127.4 ypg). He averaged 6.3 yards per carry on 113 attempts, the second-best single-season rushing average in school history. Tracy produced a team-high three 100-yard games during the 2023 campaign. He had the biggest game of his career at Northwestern, recording 276 all-purpose yards for the most by a Boilermaker since Rondale Moore (2019). The senior turned 16 carries into a career-high 160 yards (10.0 yards per carry) with a touchdown, while adding 78 kickoff return yards and 38 receiving yards. He helped Purdue beat Minnesota with a team-high 174 all-purpose yards, including 122 on the ground. Rumbling for 112 yards in the win over Illinois earned Tracy the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
At the NFL Combine last month, Tracy put together some of the best numbers among running backs. The Boilermaker produced the fastest 3-cone drill by a running back, weaving through the cones in 6.81 seconds. Once again showing his shiftiness, Tracy clocked in at 4.06 seconds for the 20-yard shuttle, ranking second in his position. His 40-inch vertical jump also ranked second. In the always-intriguing 40-yard dash, Tracy raced down the sideline in 4.48 seconds. During that run, he reached a top speed of 23.01 mph to rank fourth by a running back according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Kane became the first Boilermaker drafted by the Ravens, although Hall of Famer and Boilermaker legend Rod Woodson helped lead the team to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV.
A four-year letterman, Kane played in 45 games over his Purdue career. He made 25 starts for the Old Gold and Black, totaling 161 tackles that included 115 solo stops. The Harlem, New York, native had a knack for delivering big hits, forcing three fumbles and tallying 11 tackles-for-loss from the secondary.
Earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, Kane made 79 stops in 2023 to rank second on the team behind Dillon Thieneman and 15th in the Big Ten, averaging 6.6 per game. The team captain paced Purdue with seven pass breakups and added 6.0 TFLs, third on the team and the most by a member of the Boilermaker secondary. He forced a fumble to in a victory at Virginia Tech and made a career-high 10 tackles at Nebraska.
As a junior, Kane helped lead Purdue to the first Big Ten West title in program history with a team-high 72 tackles. He started 12 games at safety, and his 54 solo tackles were also more than any other Boilermaker. During his sophomore campaign, Kane played in all 13 games. The defensive back also appeared in all six games as a freshman, the 2020 season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2024 PURDUE FOOTBALL DRAFT PICKS
5th Round (166th Overall) – New York Giants: Tyrone Tracy Jr.
7th Round (250th Overall) – Baltimore Ravens: Sanoussi Kane
PURDUE BASEBALL
PURDUE TIES TEAM RECORD WITH 6 HR, EXTENDS B1G WIN STREAK TO 9
EVANSTON, Ill. – Mike Bolton Jr. set the tone by hitting the first pitch of the game for a home run for the second Saturday in a row, leading to a team record-tying six-homer day for Purdue Baseball in a 10-7 victory at Northwestern on Saturday.
The Boilermakers (28-15, 10-4 Big Ten) won their ninth consecutive game in Big Ten play and moved within a game of first place after Illinois (11-3) lost at Maryland. Purdue is riding its second nine-game conference win with coach Greg Goff in the dugout after also achieving the feat in 2018. The 2001 team’s 10-game Big Ten win streak remains the program’s single-season record.
Luke Gaffney (120) eclipsed the Purdue freshman record for total bases (119) when he connected for a home run off the batter’s eye on a 3-0 pitch in the third inning. It was the third freshman benchmark he has eclipsed in a week’s time after also breaking the RBI record last Saturday and the runs scored mark Wednesday. It was Gaffney’s team-leading 11th homer and 60th RBI. He’s just the sixth Boilermaker to post 60-RBI season and the first since Cameron Perkins (61) in 2012. Perkins was the co-owner (with Brett Roach) of the freshman total bases record.
Jo Stevens went deep twice, posting the first multi-homer game of the season by a Boilermaker. Connor Caskenette’s leadoff home run in the fifth inning gave the catcher 50 RBI this season, making him the second fastest Boilermaker since 2001 to reach the benchmark. Keenan Spence’s two-run blast in the seventh inning was the final long ball of the day and gave Purdue a 10-3 lead.
The Boilermakers have not trailed in 54 consecutive innings in Big Ten play dating back to the start of the Sunday, April 7 victory at Rutgers. A combined 9-0 scoring edge over the first three innings this weekend has helped Purdue secure its fifth straight series victory vs. Northwestern (13-25, 2-12 Big Ten) dating back to 2018. But this year the Boilers won’t need to win a rubber game like they did in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
After winning Friday’s game at Wrigley Field with all 10 hits being singles, the six home runs plated nine of Purdue’s 10 runs Saturday on a day in which the wind was blowing out on a warm spring day in Chicagoland. The Boilermakers also hit six homers in an April 2006 win at Indiana.
Luke Wagner began his outing on the mound with three consecutive zeros as Purdue built an early 6-0 lead. He worked five-plus innings of three-run ball to improve to 7-0 on the season, becoming the first Boilermaker with seven victories since Tanner Andrews in 2018. Purdue has never had a pitcher finish a season with seven or more victories without taking a loss.
Out of the bullpen, Davis Pratt induced a quick 5-4-3 double play against the first batter he faced, marking the only time the Boilermakers retired 8-hole hitter Griffin Mills (3-for-4) on the day. Highlighted by a 1-2-3 ninth inning vs. NU’s 3-4-5 hitters, Aaron Suval retired seven of the final nine batters he faced to close out the victory.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 22-game on-base streak; 20-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 8-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Luke Gaffney – 14-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; 7-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Jo Stevens – 11-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 17-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23)
• Camden Gasser – Reached base safely multiple times in 9 consecutive games
• Connor Caskenette – 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; 7-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 96 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Purdue’s 54 home runs this season rank fourth in program history as the most of the BBCOR bat era (2011-present). The team record Is 73 from 1987.
Prior to last weekend, the Boilermakers had gone without a game-opening home run since May 2017. Bolton has now done it twice in a week
Gaffney was ejected after touching the plate on his home run, with the third base umpire ruling the slugger was jawing with some combination of the Northwestern third baseman and pitcher as he rounded the bag. No one from the Wildcats were ejected simultaneously. He’ll have to sit out Sunday’s series finale, which is slated for a 2 p.m. ET first pitch.
PURDUE MEN’S GOLF
PURDUE SLIPS TO FIFTH AT WIND-BLOWN BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 28-ranked Purdue men’s golf team continued to struggle on the greens and fell to fifth on a wind-blown Saturday at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio.
The Boilermakers totaled a round-two score 21-over par 301 to fall to fifth place after 36 holes on a day when winds gusted to 30 miles per hour. Purdue sits in fifth place with a 29-over par 589 (288-301), 15 shots behind leader Northwestern. Michigan State is second at 17-over par 577, while Illinois (+26) is third and Ohio State (+28) is fourth.
Wisconsin is in sixth at 33-over par 593, followed by Rutgers (+37), Nebraska (+38), Indiana (+39), Penn State (+40), Iowa (+44), Michigan (+49), Minnesota (+49) and Maryland (+63).
Purdue struggled mightily on the greens for the second straight day, registering just six birdies in round two. The Boilermakers have managed just 15 birdies through two rounds, ranking seventh in the field.
Scioto showed its teeth in round two, as the 70 golfers averaged 76.79 strokes per round, well worse than the 74.13 round-one average. The par-5 6th hole yielded 31 birdies in round two, while the other 17 holes combined for just 70 birdies. Hole 8 and 17 saw no birdies in round two and hole No. 8 has yet to see a birdie this week. Hole 9 and 18 had just one birdie in round two.
Two Boilermakers are in the top 10 after 36 holes, as both Kent Hsiao and Herman Sekne are just five shots off the lead. Hsiao shot a 5-over par 75 for a two-round total of 5-over par 145 (70-75). Sekne shot a 2-over par 72 after his opening-round 73 to move up 13 spots into the top 10.
Peyton Snoeberger looks for his first top-20 finish at the Big Ten Championships, currently in T-18 at 8-over par 148 (71-77). Nels Surtani is tied for 33rd at 11-over par 151 (74-77), while freshman Sam Easterbrook is tied for 44th at 13-over par 153 (74-79).
The Boilermakers will tee off in Sunday’s second-to-last grouping, starting at 8:50 a.m. ET, off hole No. 1, while being paired with Ohio State and Wisconsin.
PURDUE SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL FALLS IN 10-INNING HEARTBREAKER
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Despite taking the lead in two critical moments with the go-ahead runs in the seventh and 10th innings, the Purdue softball team fell, 4-5 at Maryland in 10 innings. The Terrapins recorded the walk-off on a two-run homer to seal the game.
The Boilermakers, coming off a seventh inning comeback last night, was looking to repeat the result, saving their runs for the final hours after posting three runs in the seventh to take a 3-2 lead, then breaking the extra inning stalemate with a run in the 10th. Maryland’s seventh inning game-tying RBI double came with two outs on the board.
Maryland led both teams in hits, 9-13, including 7-8 over the last five innings, and runners left on base, 10-9. Purdue committed no errors while Maryland recorded two.
Sage Scarmardo, Moriah Polar and Olivia McFadden led the team with two hits apiece. Scarmardo registered two RBI, including the go-ahead hit in the 10th inning, while McFadden recorded an RBI double in the seventh inning, which tied the game, 2-2.
Purdue’s defense was key in the ninth inning, with Maryland placing a runner on third base with just one out on the board. The Terps went on to load the bases, however Purdue’s defense made plays for the final two outs of the frame.
Three Boilermakers saw time in the circle, with Julia Gossett tossing the first 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three strikeouts before Madi Elish entered in relief for one inning. Kendall Klochack (7-4) closed the final 2.1 innings, striking out two batters along the way.
The series evened, 1-1, as Purdue dropped to 24-23 (10-9 Big Ten) while Maryland improved to 20-28 (5-14 Big Ten). The series victor will be decided tomorrow at Noon ET on B1G+.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S LAX
PAT KAVANAGH SETS PROGRAM POINTS RECORD IN 11-9 WIN OVER #6/5 VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 1 Fighting Irish capped off the regular season with an impressive 11-9 victory over No. 6/5 Virginia at Klockner Stadium in front of a packed crowd on Saturday afternoon. The win gives Notre Dame a record of 10-1 on the season and marks the second unbeaten regular-season ACC record in program history.
Pat Kavanagh had four points in the win, off two goals and two assists, setting the all-time career points record at Notre Dame with 274. The graduate student passed Randy Colley’s mark of 273, which was set in the 1995 season.
Devon McLane led the Irish in scoring with three goals and an assist. Jake Taylor also scored two goals to help pace the Notre Dame attack.
On the defensive end Will Donovan turned in a monster performance, causing four turnovers and scooping up five ground balls. In goal, Liam Entenmann continued his great run of play, making 11 saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish scored on its opening possession of the day, as McLane finished a low shot on the crease off a feed from Chris Kavanagh to put Notre Dame on top 1-0. After a Virginia goal leveled it at 1-1 a goal from Chris Kavanagh off a pass from Max Busenkell gave Notre Dame a 2-1 lead with over 10 minutes left in the quarter.
The hosts once again answered to tie it at 2-2 before Pat Kavanagh scored the final goal of the frame to give the Irish a 3-2 lead but it was short lived, as UVA once again answered to make the score 3-3 after the opening 15 minutes of action.
Virginia managed to outscore the Irish 3-1 in the second quarter to take a 6-4 lead into the halftime intermission. The lone Notre Dame goal came on the man-up, as Jake Taylor scored off a feed from Chris Kavanagh.
After a Cavalier goal out of the break pushed the lead to three, the Irish roared back with four goals of their own to go back on top at 8-7 with three minutes left in the third quarter. The Irish goals were scored by Pat Kavanagh, Max Busenkell, Jeffery Ricciardelli and Jake Taylor. Virginia managed to level the score at 8-8 in the final minute of the period to make it a tie game heading into the fourth.
The hosts scored the opening goal of the fourth quarter to retake the lead at 9-8 but that would be the last goal the Irish would allow on the day.
Notre Dame leveled the score two minutes later off McLane’s second goal which was setup from a perfect pass from Eric Dobson with 10:40 left in regulation. Just 90 seconds later Jordan Faison blew by his defender and scored his first of the game to give the Irish the 10-9 lead.
With under four minutes left in the game and the shot clock winding down, Busenkell found a cutting McLane, who finished his hat trick and gave the Irish some breathing room at 11-9.
The Irish defense put the clamps on the Cavaliers’ attack in the final minutes, causing turnovers and limiting shot attempts as Notre Dame came away with the victory to remain unbeaten in ACC play.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
The Irish are the outright ACC regular-season champions, marking the second time they have gone unbeaten in league play.
Notre Dame finished the regular season with a record of 10-1, the best regular season mark since also going 10-1 during the 2015 season.
The Irish are now 5-0 against top-10 teams this season, tying the program record for most regular season top-10 wins in a season (2013 – 5-1).
Notre Dame is the first team to hold Virginia to single-digit goals since Maryland did so in the 2022 NCAA Quarterfinals and the first to do so at Klockner since the Irish held the Cavaliers to seven goals in the 2018 ACC Championship game.
The Irish attack has finished in double-figures for goals in every game this season.
Notre Dame’s eight game win streak is the longest in a season since winning 10 consecutive games during the 2012 season.
The Irish scooped up a season-high 50 ground balls in the victory with Entenmann and Lynch leading the way with six apiece.
With 53 points on the season, Pat Kavanagh becomes just the second player in program history to register 50 or more points in four consecutive seasons, joining Randy Colley.
McLane’s hat trick is his fourth of the season.
Entenmann has recorded double-digit saves in four straight games and in six of his last seven outings.
UP NEXT
The Irish travel to Charlotte next weekend to play in the ACC Tournament as the top-seed in the tournament at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Notre Dame will play Virginia in the semifinals at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, May 3 and the game will air on ACCN.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
IRISH POWER TO 11-3 VICTORY OVER NO. 8 WAKE FOREST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame (21-20, 6-17 ACC) topped No. 8 Wake Forest (27-15, 12-11 ACC) with a resounding 11-3 victory Saturday. The evening was headlined by three Irish home runs in the first inning, complemented by five and one-thirds steady innings from starting RHP Jack Radel, who improved to 4-2 with the win.
OF TJ Williams, INF Estevan Moreno and INF Connor Hincks were responsible for the three solo homers in the bottom of the first inning, as Williams took the very first pitch in the leadoff spot for a trip around the bases. Moreno added another homer in the sixth, notching his fourth game this season with multiple home runs.
Radel earned five strikeouts on the mound, giving up just three hits. The bullpen won several impact at-bats, with RHP Will Jacobsen going two innings with three strikeouts, and RHP Nate Hardman closing out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth.
The victory marks Notre Dame’s first win over a ranked team since April 23, 2023 vs No. 8 Virginia (5-4).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first two Wake Forest batters were retired in the first. After ceding a walk, INF Simon Baumgardt snagged a foulout to end the inning.
Williams took the first pitch for a leadoff homer to put the Irish on the board. Glancy drew a walk, but was tagged out on a double play. Moreno then homered to put the Irish up 2, and Hincks took the immediately-following pitch for a solo homer, as well. A walk and a single put two on base for Notre Dame, but a fielder’s choice tagged Baumgardt out to end the inning with a 3-0 Irish lead.
Radel and the Irish retired Wake in order in the top of the second, with Radel closing the inning with his first strikeout of the day. After two outs to lead off the bottom of the second, Glancy singled, and sped all the way home on an RBI double from INF Jack Penney. Moreno forced an error to reach first, pushing Penney to third. A passed ball on the next at-bat allowed Penney to come home, while Moreno reached second. Hincks then doubled to score Moreno, putting the Irish up 6-0. Baumgardt drew a walk, and both Hincks and Baumgardt took another base on a wild pitch. OF Tito Flores took a HBP to load the bases, and a passed ball allowed all three to take another base, Hincks scoring Notre Dame’s seventh run. A strikeout ended the inning.
Both sides added a hit in the third, but neither team scored. In the fourth, each team went three up, three down. Radel added two strikeouts in the third and one in the fourth, holding Wake Forest scoreless.
The Demon Deacons led off the fifth with a single, but a fielder’s choice caught the first out. Radel dealt another strikeout, and C Tony Lindwedel fired a laser to Moreno at second to catch the runner stealing for the third out. The Irish again went three up, three down in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Wake Forest led off with a walk, and put a second runner on base with a single. Another walk loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly scored Wake Forest’s first run of the game. RHP Caden Spivey took the mound for Notre Dame, and a single brought two more runs home. Moreno picked up a grounder for the second out, and after a walk, Moreno again grabbed a ground ball, dishing to Hincks to end the top of the inning. Glancy led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, and after a flyout, Moreno hit his second home run of the game to put Notre Dame up 9-3. Two strikeouts ended the inning.
RHP Will Jacobsen took the mound to start the seventh for the Irish, and after two outs, Wake Forest hit a single. Jacobsen struck out the next batter on a full count to hold the Demon Deacons off the board. After two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Lindwedel drew a walk, but was left on base with a strikeout.
Wake Forest led off the eighth with a single, but the next three batters were retired, including by two strikeouts from Jacobsen to end the inning. After a flyout in the bottom of the inning, Penney drew a walk, and Moreno took a HBP to place two on base. After a strikeout, Baumgardt tripled to bring both runners home, increasing the lead to 11-3. A groundout ended the inning.
RHP Nate Hardman entered to close the game in the ninth for Notre Dame. Penney snagged a speedy liner for the opening out, and Hardman struck out the next two batters to give Notre Dame the win.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and Wake Forest return for the rubber match Sunday at Noon ET. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
IRISH SPLIT A PAIR OF OUTCOMES ON SENIOR DAY
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team closed out its weather postponed Friday contest with a 3-2 victory over the Boston College Eagles to start the day Saturday, before falling 10-9 in the nightcap to split the day’s events. The Irish are now 26-21 overall and 9-14 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Boston College moves to 26-21, and 6-14 in the league.
Alexis Laudenslager started both games, one on Friday and the originally scheduled game Saturday. In Friday’s contest, the graduate student worked 1.1 innings, allowing a hit, an earned run, struck out two and walked three before giving way to Shannon Becker. Becker closed out Friday and rolled that momentum into Saturday. In total, she threw 5.2 innings, scattering four hits, one earned run and struck out five as she earned her eighth win of the season.
The nightcap saw Laudenslager toss 3.0 innings, allowing three hits, three earned runs and three strikeouts before giving way to Micaela Kastor. Kastor suffered the loss, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing five hits, six earned runs and striking out four. Kami Kamzik tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and an earned run to go with two strikeouts.
The Irish offense managed five hits, all singles in game one. Carlli Kloss, Addison Amaral, Cassidy Grimm, Rachel Allen and Mac Vasquez, each tallied a base knock. Amaral and Allen drove in runs, and Vasquez’s pinch hit single ignited the rally that tied the game in the fifth inning.
The second game saw the offense go for 12 hits, led by a 2-for-4 effort from Amaral. Amaral hit her ninth and 10th homers of the season, driving in three runs and scoring three times. Kloss, Winchell, and Anna Holloway each added a two-hit effort. Kloss drove in two runs, Cassidy Grimm added an RBI, and Holloway drove in two. Jane Kronenberger finished game two going 1-for-1 with an RBI, a run scored and drew a pair of walks.
How It Happened – Game 1
After a scoreless first inning, Boston College got on the board in the second. Three walks loaded the bases as the Irish went to the bullpen. Becker got the ground ball she needed, but a run scored on the fielder’s choice. Another ground ball retired the side as the Eagles took a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles doubled up their lead in the fourth, bringing home a lead off triple with a sacrifice fly.
The Irish responded in the bottom of the fourth with a solo run. Amaral led off with a single and moved up when Gaskins was walked. Allen singled to bring in the run and cut the lead in half.
Notre Dame tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. A lead-off pinch hit single from Vasquez got the rally going as a sacrifice and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Amaral drove in the run with a sacrifice fly as the runner from third scored before the runner at second was out attempting to take third on the throw.
The game then entered a rain delay and the teams reconvened at noon Saturday.
The Irish scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. A one-out single and a walk put two on. Kronenberger hit a topspin ground ball that was misplayed, allowing Grimm to score from second and give the lead to Notre Dame.
Becker worked through traffic in the seventh, as the tying run eventually landed 60 feet away from home. With two outs, the junior got the ground ball to the shortstop that was fielded and relayed to first for the final out.
How It Happened – Game 2
Notre Dame got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning. Kloss led off with a single and scored when Amaral hit her team-leading ninth homer to the top row of the bleachers beyond left field.
Boston College responded for three runs in the third. A hit batter and a single put two on as a walk loaded the bases. A single through the right side brought in two before another single to center scored the third run of the inning as the Eagles took a 3-2 lead.
The Irish battled back, scoring four in their half of the third. A lead-off single from Winchell followed by three-consecutive walks drove in a run and loaded the bases. Jane Kronenberger brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to right as the throw home skipped in, allowing Gaskins and Grimm to move into scoring position. Holloway attacked the first pitch of her at bat, as she singled down the left field line to score two and put the Irish up 6-3.
A lead-off homer for BC in the fourth cut the lead down to 6-4, Irish.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Amaral responded with a solo homer the opposite way to extend the lead back to three at 7-4.
Boston College roared back in the sixth, plating five runs, capping it with back-to-back homers to take the 9-7 lead. Another solo homer in the seventh extended the lead to 10-7.
Notre Dame battled in the bottom of the seventh, putting the go-ahead run into scoring position. A single, a walk and an error on a fielder’s choice loaded the bases with one out. Kloss singled through the right side to score two. Winchell followed with a single past the pitcher that the diving Boston College second baseman kept on the infield to hold the bases loaded. A fly ball to left field retired the side as the Irish couldn’t complete the comeback.
Up Next
The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium, with the action being broadcasted on the ACC Network.
BUTLER TRACK
OVER 20 @BUTLERXCTF STUDENT-ATHLETES POST PERSONAL BESTS AT THE CLARK WOOD INVITATIONAL
The Butler track and field team had a busy weekend at the Clark Wood Invitational in Louisville, Ky. The Bulldogs had over 30 student athletes earn season bests with over 20 of them even setting new lifetime bests.
Luke Walden broke a 36-year-old school record in the men’s pole vault with a jump of 5.13m or 16’10”. His mark moves to second in the BIG EAST and 40th in the east region with the top 48 earning a qualifying bid to the first round of nationals in a few weeks.
Luke Finnegan became the first Bulldog to break 21 seconds in the 200 meters. He crossed the line with a time of 20.91 to place second in the event. Finnegan now holds the second-best time this season in the men’s 200 meters in the BIG EAST Conference.
Zac Stanley recorded the second best jump in school history in the men’s long jump. Stanley finished third in the event with a distance of 7.52 meters. His mark moved up to third in the conference and 38th in the east region.
Wiktoria Klebowska ran a new season best in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at 10:28.27. She took second in the event and now holds the second-best time in the conference. Renate Toldo also earned second this time in the women’s 5,000 meters posting a time of 17:16.43.
Liam Dennis secured the last podium finish for the Bulldogs placing third in the men’s 800 meters at 1:52.66.
The men’s 4×100 team of Finnegan, Troy Larrison, Gavin Cougle and Jack Elder placed fourth in the event. Their mark was a new season best and is now currently the leading mark in the BIG EAST.
In total the Bulldogs had 32 season bests and 22 personal bests this weekend. The team will return to the Hoosier State to compete at the Billy Hayes Invitational on Friday, May 3.
BUTLER MEN’S GOLF
BULLDOGS IN THIRD AFTER BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
The Bulldogs find themselves in third place after the opening 18 holes of the 2024 BIG EAST Men’s Golf Championship presented by JEEP.
The 54-hole event began Saturday at the Riverton Pointe Golf Course in Hardeeville, S.C.
Butler is only four shots off the lead as Marquette leads the way at 291, followed by Seton Hall (292) and the Bulldogs (295). Butler has a two-shot lead over fourth-place St. John’s. There are a total of 10 teams in the field.
Derek Tabor led the Bulldogs with an even-par 72 Saturday. Tabor parred 16 of the 18 holes on the 7,158-yard course. Tabor is tied for eighth.
Will Horne’s 73 (+1) Saturday featured three birdies on the back nine after he made the turn at four-over 40. He capped his round with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-5, 567-yard 18th. He is tied for 11th.
Daniel Tanaka’s card included four birdies as he signed for a two-over 74. Leo Zurovac was Butler’s fourth scorer at four-over 76.
Marquette’s Josh Robinson holds the first-round lead after shooting 68 (-4) Saturday. He holds a single-shot advantage over Peicheng Chen of St. John’s.
The Championship is scheduled for 54 holes over three days. The BIG EAST will crown a team champion, which gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. Should the individual champion not be a member of the winning team, he will also earn an automatic spot in the NCAA Championship.
Play will continue Sunday at 8 a.m. ET. A final 18 is scheduled for Monday.
Live stats will be available on GolfStat.com.
GameKast Live, a golf streaming service, will provide coverage for a second straight year. Every hole will be covered in addition to live commentary from the 18th green. Player and coach interviews will be included. GameKast Live provided coverage of the women’s championship last week. The broadcast is entirely free.
Individual Leaders – 18 Holes
1. Josh Robinson, Marquette – 68 (-4)
2. Peicheng Chen, St. John’s – 69 (-3)
T3. Wenliang Xie, Seton Hall – 70 (-2)
T3. Aidan Lafferty, Marquette – 70 (-2)
Team Leaders – 18 Holes
1. Marquette – 291 (+3)
2. Seton Hall – 292 (+4)
3. Butler – 295 (+7)
4. St. John’s – 297 (+9)
T5. Villanova – 298 (+10)
T5. Creighton – 298 (+10)
The Bulldogs
T8. Derek Tabor – 72 (E)
T11. Will Horne – 73 (+1)
T13. Daniel Tanaka – 74 (+2)
T22. Leo Zurovac – 76 (+4)
47. Damon Dickey – 84 (+12)
BUTLER BASEBALL
BUTLER TAKES 13-1 LOSS TO SETON HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Seton Hall Pirates defeated the Butler Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon 13-1. Nine of SHU’s 13 runs came over the final stages of the game to give the visitor’s their 21st win of the season. The Bulldogs broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth. With the setback, BU moves to 16-26 overall.
Kade Lewis tripled down the rightfield line to score Joey Urban to make the game 4-1 in the sixth, but Lewis was stranded at third and the Pirates would add four runs in the seventh, followed by five in the eighth to claim the victory.
SHU had 14 hits compared to Butler’s four. The top four hitters in the lineup recorded the hits for BU. Lewis had the triple and Jack Moroknek added a double to his stat line.
On the mound Ryan Reich would take the win while the loss went to Nate Rosser. Reich tossed seven full innings and struck out eight while walking just one. Rosser went 4.1 innings allowing three runs off five hits.
The series finale will be played tomorrow at 1 PM.
BUTLER WOMEN’S LAX
BUTLER WLACROSSE FALLS SHORT AFTER LATE COMEBACK ON SENIOR DAY
The Butler women’s lacrosse team fell 13-11 today to Detroit Mercy in their final match up of the season at Varsity Field in Indianapolis, Ind. The Bulldogs finished their 2024 season with a 2-14 record overall and are 1-5 in the BIG EAST.
In a pregame ceremony, Butler recognized the program’s six seniors, Aleigh Monroe, Julia Putzi, Kayleigh Colleary, Savannah Behn, Kayla Kielbasa, and Leah Rubino.
Detroit Mercy took in an early lead over the Bulldogs before attack Luci Selander netted in the first Butler goal of the match early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs finished the first half down 3-8 before Kate Kaptrsoky helped spark the Bulldog’s late comeback netting in a goal at the 5:27 mark of the third quarter. Colleary contributed a goal following Kaptrosky’s. Rubino scored a single goal at the start of the fourth quarter to now tie her with Campbell Connors’ most goals made within a single season record of 42. Fellow senior, Kielbasa netted in a goal to follow Rubino’s. Selander followed with three back-to-back goals to help the Bulldogs narrow the Titan’s lead 10-12. The Titan’s leading scorer Cam Kopchia put up her sixth goal of the match within the final minutes not allowing the Bulldogs to clinch the win.
Noteable Match Stats
Senior midfielder Leah Rubino recorded one goal on nine shots, three ground balls, and seven draw controls in her final game as a Bulldog.
Senior goalie Aleigh Monroe recorded seven saves.
Attack Delaney Hudson contributed a goal. Hudson completed her sophomore season ranked third in Butler’s single season assists with 17.
Midfielder Kate Kaptrosky recorded two goals on nine shots, two ground balls, and seven draw controls.
Attack Luci Selander contributed five goals on 10 shots.
Defender Grace Hensley accounted for three ground balls.
Midfielder Patricia Lynn recorded eight draw controls and one ground ball.
Season Stats
Leah Rubino finishes her Butler career setting two program records. She now leads the program with 93 total goals and 113 total points overall. Rubino is also fourth overall in most points scored in a single season with 47.
Luci Selander rounds out the season becoming Butler’s new points leader in a single season after today’s match with 57 points. In addition, Selander is now third in single season goals scored with 38 and second in single season assists with 19.
IUPUI TRACK
ALBA’S WIN HIGHLIGHTS MEN’S TRACK AT REDHAWK INVITATIONAL
OXFORD, Ohio – The IUPUI men’s track and field squad closed out the regular season on Saturday (Apr. 27), highlighted by Alex Alba’s individual win in the 800m event.
Alba led a group of four Jaguars to the finish line in the 800 with a winning time of 2:01.23. Freshman Jay Pillai was runner-up at 2:03.05 and sophomore Ethan Walsh ran 2:04.66 to place third. Freshman Nolan King rounded out the four entries in a time of 2:09.98.
In the 1,500, junior Will Clark was third overall at 4:03.84 and classmate Grant Moon was fifth at 4:06.53. Solomon Barket ran 4:10.26 and Mitchell Rans closed at 4:13.39.
IUPUI also captured a third-place finish in the 4x100m relay as Eric Petersen, Andrew Whitinger, Nick Perkins and Moon spun a time of 1:02.30.
The Jaguars will next compete at the Horizon League Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Rochester, Mich., beginning on May 3.
AWOSANYA WINS LONG JUMP AT ISU’S SYCAMORE OPEN
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Sophomore Modupe Awosanya earned a win in the long jump at the ISU Sycamore Open on Saturday (Apr. 27) as the Jaguars lone entrant in the nearby meet. Awosanya jumped 5.95m (19′ 6.25”) on her fifth attempt of the day, easily outdistancing the second-place competitor by more than four inches.
In doing so, Awosanya earned a meet record, clearing the previous meet record by 0.12m. The Indianapolis-native already holds ISU’s facility record as well, having jumped 6.22m last season.
Awosanya will enter the Horizon League Championships as the league’s No. 2 seed in the event, having jumped 6.02m earlier this season. The HL Championships will be held in Rochester, Mich., this week, beginning on Friday (May 3).
BALL STATE TRACK
BALL STATE TRACK AND FIELD CLOSES OUTDOOR REGULAR SEASON WITH STRONG PERFORMANCES AT MUSIC CITY CHALLENGE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Track and field completed their final regular season meet at Vanderbilt’s Music City Challenge Friday and Saturday.
Events opened with the javelin throw on Friday afternoon. Sophie Daugard finished 13th, throwing a distance of 34.16m.
Jenelle Rogers had a great start to a busy weekend, hitting a mark of 6.10m in the long jump invite and finishing in second place.
Lindley Steele hit a mark of 5.61 in the long jump, a new personal best.
Also on the field, Sydney Miller achieved an eighth-place finish in the discus throw with a mark of 42.8 5m.
On the track, Rogers hit a season best time of 24.09 in the 200m dash, good for an eighth-place finish. Close behind was Makayla Sumrall, who ran a new personal best time of 24.33 and finished 12th.
Distance events saw competitive races from Sarah Mahnensmith and Carly Spletzer. In the 1,500m run, Mahnensmith completed a great race, running a personal best time of 4:31.89. Soon after, Spletzer was a fierce competitor in the 5,000m after finding herself between packs in in the middle of the race. She finished sixth with a time of 17:29.41, just one second off her personal best.
Saturday afternoon continued to bring success for the Cardinals. In the shot put, Daugard hit a mark of 13.34m, finishing seventh overall.
Running events kicked off with the 4x100m relay. The team of Sumrall, Jenna Oriani, Moriah Johnson and Rogers finished second with a collective time of 45.57.
Rogers was strong in the 100m hurdles after hitting a new personal best time of 13.64 and finishing fifth.
Oriani was impressive in the 400m dash as well, finishing second after achieving a new personal best time of 54.40, almost a second faster than her previous best.
In a similar fashion, Sumrall finished third of 65 competitors in the 100m dash after crossing the finish line with a new best time of 11.44.
Closing the meet, the 4x400m relay team of Alexis Thigpen, Paige Kirtz, Oriani and Emma Potter ran a solid race, finishing third and running a collective time of 3:44.67.
The Cardinals will look ahead to the Mid-American Conference Championships, scheduled for May 9-11. The meet will be located in Dekalb, Illinois, hosted by Northern Illinois University.
Ball State Individual Results at Music City Challenge
Friday – Field Events
Javelin
13th – Sophie Daugard – 34.16m
20th – Brooklyn Taylor – 24.57m
22nd – Maci Easton – 20.92m
Long Jump (Invite)
2nd – Jenelle Rogers – 6.10m
Long Jump
11th – Lindley Steele – 5.61m
16th – Emma Upp – 5.44m
Discus
8th – Sydney Miller – 42.85m
16th – Brooklyn Taylor – 38.95m
18th – Malena Higgins – 38.50m
Friday – Track Events
200m
8th – Jenelle Rogers – 24.09
12th – Makayla Sumrall – 24.33
18th – Moriah Johnson – 24.83
3,000m Steeplechase
14th – Shelby Christman – 11:32.91
1,500m
18th – Sarah Mahnensmith – 4:31.89
5,000m
6th – Carly Spletzer – 17:29.41
19th – Ella Fullmer – 18:56.72
27th – Jessica Velez – 20:07.39
Saturday – Field Events
Hammer Throw
13th – Malena Higgins – 41.10m
18th – Sydney Miller – 38.07
21st – Brooklyn Taylor – 36.85
High Jump (Invite)
6th – Malina Miller – 1.70m
Shot Put
7th – Sophie Daugard – 13.34m
18th – Malena Higgins – 12.25m
19th – Brooklyn Taylor – 12.17m
Saturday – Track Events
4x100m Relay
2nd – Makayla Sumrall, Jenna Oriani, Moriah Johnson, Jenelle Rogers – 45.57
100m Hurdles
5th – Jenelle Rogers – 13.64
400m Dash
2nd – Jenna Oriani – 54.40
14th – Emma Potter – 57.14
19th – Paige Kirtz – 58.02
100m Dash
3rd – Makayla Sumrall – 11.44
400m Hurdles
8th – Lindley Steele – 1:03.52
13th – Lauren Graham – 1:06.56
800m
19th – Alexis Thigpen – 2:15.67
26th – Evie Noel – 2:19.54
4x400m Relay
3rd – Alexis Thigpen, Paige Kirtz, Jenna Oriani, Emma Potter – 3:44.67
BALL STATE BASEBALL
BASEBALL DROPS MIDDLE GAME OF SET AT NC STATE
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Ball State baseball team got its offense going late but not enough to complete a comeback at No. 24 NC State as the Wolfpack won 9-3 on Saturday afternoon at Doak Field.
The Cardinals (25-17-1) put single tallies on the scoreboard in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but the Wolfpack (24-16) got out to a 7-0 advantage after five to take control of the game on their way to a series-clinching victory.
Ball State’s Hunter Dobbins got the scoring started for the visitors with a solo homer to left field in the sixth before Houston King rapped an inside-the-park homer to right center that bounced to center field after the two outfielders collided.
King tacked on an RBI single that plated Grant Miller in the eighth for the day’s final scoring. The Cardinals previously had momentum in the seventh down 7-2 and with runners on second and third with only one away, but they couldn’t cut into the Wolfpack lead, and NC State added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Dominic Fritton went 5.2 innings while striking out four and allowing a single run to earn the win and improve to 3-3. Ball State starter Keegan Johnson (6-1) suffered hist first career loss by giving up four runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
Decker Scheffler (three), Dobbins, King and Nick Gregory (two each) collected multiple hits for Ball State on the day. The Cardinals suffered their only series loss of April with the setback.
Ball State and NC State are set to conclude the series with a 1 p.m. showdown on Sunday afternoon.
BALL STATE MEN’S GOLF
CARDINALS CONTINUE MOMENTUM AND MOVE ATOP MAC CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
WESTFIELD, Ind. – Ball State shot 7-under-par on Saturday afternoon and moved past Miami to take a 36-hole lead in the 2024 Mid-American Conference Men’s Golf Championships. The Cardinals shot 5-under on the front nine and 2-under on the back nine, with its top four scorers all firing under-par rounds to catapult Ball State into the lead.
Junior Kash Bellar (139) sits in a fourth-place tie with Kent State’s Jordan Gilikison (139), six strokes behind tournament leader and defending champion Barend Botha (133) of Toledo. Michael Weber (137) and Danny Fisher (137) of Miami both are tied in second place, with the Redhawks (566) three strokes behind the front-running Cardinals (563) in team standings. Toledo (571) is third, ahead of 2023 champ Northern Illinois (575).
The MAC’s Redbird Rivalry between Ball State and Miami began Friday with the clubs tied for the lead after round one. Saturday, the teams jostled for the lead, with the RedHawks leading by three strokes at one point, and the Cardinals assuming a three-stroke lead heading into Sunday.
Like on Friday when the Cardinals were strong on the back nine, Ali Khan (140) and Alec Cesare (144) both fired eagle on the par-5 13th hole to put the Cardinals in the lead. The RedHawks briefly moved ahead, but shot +5 over the final three holes while Ball State remained even to assume command. Bellar birdied the 13th and 14th holes, then shot par over the last four holes. Carter Smith (140) shot birdies on the 16th and 17th holes before a par on the 18th to finish at 2-under for the day and remain in a sixth-place tie with Khan.
“We had all five guys in the game,” said 26th-year head coach Mike Fleck. “We were standing at the first tee and the wind was howling and it was raining, then all of a sudden there’s a bunch of birdies thrown on the board and we kept pace. We managed the last four holes really well.”
Ball State features Beller, Smith and Khan among the tournament’s top seven golfers, with Cesare currently standing in 13th and Braxton Kuntz (146) in 19th at 2-over par.
Added Fleck, in search of his first MAC tournament title, and Ball State’s first since 1986: “We had all five guys in the mix until the end, which is all you can ask for. We’re leading by three shots after two rounds. We’ve played really solid team golf the first two rounds. This is why we play, we embrace the opportunity and we look forward to playing tomorrow.”
The final round is conducted Sunday, with play beginning at 9 a.m.
Ball State Individual Results, through Second Round
No. 2 Kash Bellar (139): 36-34—70 | 34-35—69 (-5, 4th)
No. 1 Carter Smith (140): 36-34—70 | 34-36—70 (-4, 6th)
No. 3 Ali Khan (140): 37-33—70 | 35-35—70 (-4, 6th)
No. 5 Alec Cesare (144): 37-36—73 | 36-35—71 (E, 13th)
No. 4 Braxton Kuntz (146): 37-36—73 | 34-39—73 (+2, 19th)
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
CUTTS SHARP, MAGILL DRIVES IN FIVE AS INDIANA STATE HOLDS OFF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS IN 9-7 WIN
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Brennyn Cutts recorded his fourth consecutive quality start and Grant Magill drove in five RBIs, including a seventh-inning grand slam, as Indiana State held off Southern Illinois’ late rally to even the series with a 9-7 win on Saturday night at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Leading 3-1 with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning, Magill delivered with a two-out grand slam over the wall in left center field scoring Adam Pottinger, Luis Hernandez, and Dominic Listi to give Indiana State the 7-1 advantage. Luis Hernandez added more insurance in the top of the eighth inning with a two-run single scoring Randal Diaz and Josue Urdaneta to put the Sycamores ahead 9-1.
Cutts (6-1) went into the eighth inning as the junior right-hander continues one of the most dominant months on the mound across the country as the Greenup, Ill. native posted his fourth consecutive quality start. He went 7.0 innings allowing three hits and two runs while striking out six, before turning the ball over to the bullpen with a 9-1 lead in the eighth.
The Salukis (25-18, 9-8) responded with a six-run rally with none out in the eighth sparked by Jake Allgeyer’s three-run home run over the right field wall, while Nathan Bandy added a bases-loaded, three-run double down the left field line to cut the ISU lead down to 9-7.
Zach Davidson (S, 3) took over for the Sycamores from there and the senior left-hander ended the SIU rally getting a fly out to center field, before Mike Sears snagged a line drive at third base and beat Bandy to the bag to double up the Saluki runner and end the rally.
After the Sycamores failed to scored in the top of the ninth, Davidson pitched around a leadoff single in the bottom of the frame getting a pair of strikeouts before recording the final fly out to left to close out the contest.
Luis Hernandez had four of Indiana State’s 10 hits in the contest to lead the Sycamore batters, while Magill went 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored. Indiana State worked the SIU pitching staff in drawing eight walks and getting hit by three pitches to keep the pressure on the Salukis throughout the game.
Cutts carried a no-hitter through the first three innings and allowed just one runner in scoring position throughout the contest. Simon Gregersen allowed four hits and five runs during the SIU rally in the eighth, before Davidson went the final two frames posting a pair of strikeouts in the save.
Allgeyer and Bandy combined for four of SIU’s eight hits and six of the team’s seven RBIs in the loss. Cole Christman added a double for SIU.
Ben Riffe (2-3) took the loss allowing three hits and three runs while striking out three over 3.0 innings of work. Cole Koonce, Alec Nigut, Scott Harper, Sam Myers, and Jake Combs went the final six innings on the mound for SIU.
How They Scored
Randal Diaz singled through the left side scoring Joe Kido in the top of the second inning to stake Indiana State to an early 1-0 lead.
The Sycamores added two more runs in the top of the fourth as Grant Magill doubled home Mike Sears, while Magill scored on a double play ball to make it a 3-0 Indiana State lead.
Mathieu Vallee put the Salukis on the board with a single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth scoring Nathan Bandy to cut the Indiana State lead to 3-1.
Magill connected on a two-out grand slam in the top of the seventh inning scoring Adam Pottinger, Luis Hernandez, and Dominic Listi to give the Sycamores a 7-1 lead.
Hernandez made it 9-1 Sycamores in the top of the eighth with a bases-loaded two-run single to left center scoring Diaz and Josue Urdaneta to stake Indiana State to an eight-run lead.
The Salukis rallied back with Jake Allgeyer’s three-run home run to right field and Bandy’s three-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit down to 9-7, before Mike Sears snagged a line drive and doubled off Bandy from third base to end the SIU rally and provide the final scoring margin.
News & Notes
Indiana State moves to 39-7-1 in Missouri Valley play dating back to the end of the 2022 season following Saturday’s win over the Salukis.
The Sycamores are 16-0 in the second game over the 16-series stretch following Saturday’s win.
Grant Magill connected on his second collegiate grand slam in the top of the seventh and Indiana State’s sixth grand slam of the 2024 season in Saturday’s win. Magill connected on his first grand slam last season at Memphis on March 10, 2023, in ISU’s 5-1 win at the Tigers.
Magill’s grand slam makes him the sixth different Sycamore to hit a grand slam this season joining Randal Diaz (vs. Marshall – Feb. 25), Parker Stinson (at Southern Miss – Mar. 3), Mike Sears (at Florida A&M – Mar. 10), Adam Pottinger (vs. Bradley – Apr. 14), and Luis Hernandez (vs. Bradley – Apr. 14).
Brennyn Cutts posted his fourth consecutive quality start in the month of April. Cutts has gone 28.0 innings allowing nine hits, and three runs, while striking out 25 batters over the stretch in recording a 0.96 ERA over the stretch.
Zach Davidson went 2.0 scoreless innings in relief in posting his third save of the season.
ISU became the first MVC team to hit 30 wins in the 2024 season as the Sycamores hit the wins mark for the 33rd time in program history. It marks the first time Indiana State has posted back-to-back 30-plus win seasons since the 2018 & 2019 years.
Up Next
Indiana State closes out the weekend series at Southern Illinois on Sunday afternoon with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and 105.5 The Legend.
INDIANA STATE TRACK
SYCAMORES SHINE IN FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME MEET
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Competing inside the friendly confines of the Gibson Track and Field Complex for the second straight weekend, Indiana State closed its home regular season slate with first-place finishes on both the men’s and women’s side at the Sycamore Open.
The Sycamores had multiple highlight-worthy performances on home soil, with Brooklyn Giertz-Pfaff firmly entering the NCAA East First Round qualifying mix in the pole vault and Elias Foor moving his way to the fringe of US Olympic Trials marks in the discus. Season and personal bests came by the bunches for the Trees on Saturday, with Indiana State’s athletes taking advantage of ideal weather conditions to post their best marks of the year.
As a team, Indiana State recorded 15 first-place finishes, with nine on the men’s side and six on the women’s side. The Sycamores finished with 188.5 points on the men’s side and 161 points on the women’s side.
Event Winners
Terrance O’Bannon – 100m (10.46)
Ryan York – 1500m (3:56.60)
Sara Skaff – 1500m (4:54.39)
Collin Forrest – 110m hurdles (14.24)
Quincy Armstrong – 400m hurdles (52.66)
Kayla Douglas – high jump (1.63m/5-04.25)
Will Staggs – pole vault (5.33m/17-05.75)
Brooklyn Giertz-Pfaff – pole vault (4.15m/13-07.25, fourth in program history)
Shomari Rogers-Walton – triple jump (15.33m/50-03.50)
Brett Norton – shot put (18.05m/59-07.25)
Hannah Redlin – shot put (14.61m/47-11.25), discus (48.07m/157-08)
Elias Foor – discus (59.30m/194-07, facility record), hammer throw (62.29m/204-04)
Lillian Gibbs – javelin (40.76m/133-09)
Top-Three Finishes
Alysha Bradford – 200m (second, 24.79)
Hadley Gradolf – 1500m (second, 4:59.26)
Chloe Rolen – 100m hurdles (second, 15.22)
Jake Ottersbach – 110m hurdles (second, 14.80)
Claire Pittman – long jump (second, 5.84m/19-02.00)
Jaden Smith – triple jump (second, 14.41m/47-03.50)
Gavin Connelly – shot put (second, 15.14m/49-08.25)
Sophie Yovanovich – 100m (third, 12.40)
Ryan Handy – 1500m (third, 4:00.17)
Graham West – 400m hurdles (third, 57.81)
Kaylen Gustafson – 400m hurdles (third, 1:09.28)
Essence Johnson – high jump (third, 1.50m/4-11.00)
Abby Ballengee – pole vault (third, 3.80m/12-05.50)
Faith Frye – long jump (third, 5.54m/18-02.25)
Ali Ilupeju – triple jump (third, 14/10m/46-03.25)
Aliseonna Garnett – shot put (third, 12.70m/41-08.00)
Ryan Golliher – hammer throw (third, 57.56m/188-10)
Cloe Clark – javelin (third, 34.83m/114-03)
Sprints/Hurdles
Terrance O’Bannon’s return to the track was a successful one, as he clocked a wind-legal time of 10.46 to win the 100m in his first meet since the outdoor season opener. O’Bannon was one of three Sycamore men to win in the sprints and hurdles events, alongside season-best performances from both Collin Forrest (14.24) in the 110m hurdles and Quincy Armstrong (52.66) in the 400m hurdles. The Trees also had top-three finishes from Jake Ottersbach (14.80) in the 110m hurdles and Graham West (57.81) in the 400m hurdles.
Indiana State also got strong performances from its women’s sprinters, as Alysha Bradford clocked a career-best 24.79 in the 200m and Sophie Yovanovich ran her best collegiate 100m with a time of 12.40 and added an outdoor season-best 200m time of 25.33. Chloe Rolen (15.22) added a second-place finish in the 100m hurdles, while Kaylen Gustafson (1:09.28) placed third in the 400m hurdles.
Mid-Distance/Distance
While the majority of Indiana State’s distance group competed at the Drake Relays, the Sycamores still made positive strides on their home track. The Trees had the top finishers in both 1500m races, with Ryan York winning the men’s 1500 at 3:56.60 and Sara Skaff pacing the women’s 1500 with a time of 4:54.39. Indiana State also had additional top-three finishers in both 1500s, with Hadley Gradolf (4:59.26) placing second on the women’s side and Ryan Handy (4:00.17) finishing third on the men’s side.
Indiana State also had a pair of top-five finishes in the women’s 800m, led by Kyra Young placing fourth with a time of 2:21.96. Michelle Gasmund finished fifth with a time of 2:23.03.
Jumps
Indiana State’s jumps group posted another strong weekend, with four first-place finishes Saturday. The Trees swept the pole vault titles, with Will Staggs clearing 5.33m (17-05.75) on the men’s side and Brooklyn Giertz-Pfaff clearing a career-best 4.15m (13-07.25) on the women’s side. Giertz-Pfaff climbed to fourth in program history in the event, while Abby Ballengee, Kennedy Merrell and Landis Brandon all cleared 3.80 (12-05.50) for the Sycamores.
Shomari Rogers-Walton continued his strong April for the Sycamores, winning the triple jump with a season-best mark of 15.33m (50-03.50). Rogers-Walton, Jaden Smith (14.41m/47-03.50) and Ali Ilupeju (14.10m/46-03.25) swept the podium in the men’s triple jump for the Trees, while Claire Pittman (5.84m/19-02.00) and Faith Frye (5.54m/18-02.25) had podium finishes in the women’s long jump.
The Trees also had a pair of top-three finishes in the women’s high jump, led by Kayla Douglas clearing a career-best mark of 1.63m (5-04.25). Essence Johnson also earned a top-three finish for the Blue and White after clearing 1.50m (4-11.00).
Throws
Indiana State’s throwers have been strong all season and Saturday’s Sycamore Open was no different. Elias Foor led the way for the Trees with wins in both the discus (59.30m/194-07) and hammer throw (62.29m/204-04), with his mark in the hammer a career-best and his mark in the discuss setting the Gibson Track and Field Complex record. Brett Norton added a win in the shot put (18.05m/59-02.75), while the Trees also got top-three finishes in throws events from Gavin Connelly (shot put, 15.14m/49-08.25) and Ryan Golliher (hammer throw, 57/56m/188-10).
Hannah Redlin was also a winner of multiple events for the Sycamores, earning first-place finishes in both the shot put (14.61m/47-11.25) and discus (48.07m/157-08). Lillian Gibbs also added a win in the javelin for the Trees with a mark of 40.76m (133-09), while Indiana State also got top-three finishes from Aliseonna Garnett (12.70m/41-08.00) in the shot put and Cloe Clark (34.83m/114-03) in the javelin.
Up Next
Indiana State’s final meet before the MVC Outdoor Championships is the Billy Hayes Invitational Friday in Bloomington, Indiana.
SYCAMORES SET MULTIPLE TOP-10 PROGRAM MARKS AT DRAKE RELAYS
DES MOINES, Iowa – Indiana State’s time on the Blue Oval at the 114th Drake Relays was full of success, with program top-10 marks being set in nearly every event the Sycamores competed in at Drake Stadium.
Sycamore relay teams accounted for seven additions to the program top-10 charts in their three days on the Blue Oval, with Indiana State also adding three program top-10 marks in individual events.
Top-Three Finishes
Napoleon Hernandez, Caden Emmert, Nick Burns, Xavier Wills – 4x800m relay (second, 7:32.36, second in program history)
Rachel Mehringer, Shanisa Stinson, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith, Riley Tuerff – shuttle hurdle relay (second, 57.35, third in program history)
Rachel Mehringer – 100m hurdles (13.34, all-conditions program record)
Janiya Bowman, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith, Collette Wolfe, Iyanla Hunter – 4x200m relay (third, 1:37.47, fourth in program history)
Ethan Breen, Jackson Krieg, Jason Dworak, Cael Light – 4x1600m relay (third, 16:52.09, third in program history)
Kyrsten Fehribach – high jump (third, 1.69m/5-06.50)
Other Notable Results
Jason Dworak – 1500m (3:46.55, sixth in program history)
Rachel Conhoff – 1500m (4:31.30, seventh in program history)
Emerson Fayman, Trent Jones, Jocqael Thorpe, Cael Light – distance medley relay (9:51.32, third in program history)
Morgan Dyer, Iyanla Hunter, Halle Miller, Emma Gresham – distance medley relay (11:54.75, seventh in program history)
Emma Gresham, Morgan Dyer, Halle Miller, Rachel Conhoff – 4x1600m relay (20:28.78, fourth in program history)
Grace Quinlan – high jump, championship section (1.75m/5-08.75, sixth in program history)
Sprints/Hurdles
A week after running a wind-legal school record, Rachel Mehringer set an all-conditions program record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.34. Mehringer’s time was just barely above the wind-legal threshold (+2.1), but will count towards NCAA East First Round qualifying.
Mehringer also featured in the Sycamores’ shuttle hurdle relay, alongside Shanisa Stinson, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith and Riley Tuerff, as the Indiana State quartet placed second in the field with a time of 57.35, which ranks third in program history.
Indiana State’s 4x100m relay team also had a productive weekend at the Drake Relays, with the Sycamores’ team of Janiya Bowman, Michelle McDonald, Collette Wolfe and Angel Thomas running a season-best time of 45.80 on their way to a top-five finish. The Sycamores’ 4x200m relay team of Bowman, Gaskin-Griffith, Wolfe and Iyanla Hunter placed second with a time of 1:37.47, which ranks fourth in program history.
Mid-Distance/Distance
Indiana State’s distance crew had an extremely productive weekend, setting program top-10 marks in every relay it competed in. The weekend started with program top-10 times in the 1500m from both Rachel Conhoff (4:31.30) on the women’s side and Jason Dworak (3:46.55) on the men’s side, while Jackson Krieg (3:49.64) and Ethan Breen (3:51.09) both ran season-bests in the event. Indiana State closed its opening day on the Blue Oval with a season-best time of 14:28.75 in the 5000m from Logan Pietrzak.
The Sycamores’ second day of competition started with program top-10 times in both 4x1600m relays. Emma Gresham, Morgan Dyer, Halle Miller and Rachel Conhoff moved up to fourth in program history in the women’s 4×1600 with a time of 20:28.78, while Breen, Krieg, Cael Light and Dworak ran a time of 16:52.09 in the men’s side to move up to third in program history in the event. Indiana State’s 4x800m team also had a strong showing on the second day, with Napoleon Hernandez, Caden Emmert, Nick Burns and Xavier Wills running a time of 7:32.36 to move into second in program history in the event.
Indiana State’s distance group closed the weekend with strong showings in the distance medley relay. The women’s DMR team of Dyer, Hunter, Miller and Gresham ran the seventh-fastest time in program history at 11:54.75, while the men’s DMR team of Emerson Fayman, Trent Jones, Jocqael Thorpe and Light ran the third-fastest time in program history of 9:51.32.
Jumps
Indiana State only featured two jumpers at the Drake Relays, both in the high jump, with both of the Sycamores’ entries having strong weekends. Grace Quinlan moved into the top 10 in program history in the high jump, clearing 1.75m (5-08.50) to move up to sixth in program history. Quinlan finished tied for fourth in the championship section.
Kyrsten Fehribach competed in the open section of the high jump in Des Moines, clearing 1.69m (5-06.75) to earn a third-place finish in the event.
Up Next
Indiana State’s final meet before the MVC Outdoor Championships is the Billy Hayes Invitational Friday in Bloomington, Indiana.
INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL
AN EXPLOSIVE FOURTH INNING PUSHES SIU TO VICTORY OVER ISU IN GAME TWO
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- The Sycamores were defeated by SIU in game two of the series on Saturday afternoon in five innings, with a score of 12-1.
Game two was scoreless until the third inning, when SIU took the lead 1-0 over Indiana State. The first run of the game came from Lis, who reached home on a fielding error by the Sycamores, to put the Salukis on the board.
Sophie Esposito picked up a double in the bottom of the third inning, and was put in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt by Chipps, which advanced Esposito to third. Esposito was left stranded as the Salukis picked up the final out the close out inning three.
SIU picked up seven runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning where they recorded two three-run home runs by Warwick and Hamilton and a solo home run by Johnson to advance their lead to 8-0 over the Sycamores.
Isabella Henning led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double, where she is currently ranked second in the MVC, with 15 on the 2024 season. Kenzie Cornwell kept the momentum going when she followed with a single, which put Henning in scoring position, but the Salukis got the final two outs to leave two Sycamores stranded and scoreless after four innings of play.
The final four runs from Southern Illinois came in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly by Jones to score WIlkerson and three runs walked in with bases loaded to boost the Salukis lead to 12-0 over ISU.
Indiana State drove in one run in the loss in the bottom of the fifth inning when Haley Webb led off with a single to center field, Abi Chipps was walked, and Danielle Henning loaded up the bases for the Sycamores when she connected on a single to left field. A sacrifice fly by Isabella Henning drove in the Sycamores solo run of the game, but they weren’t able to rally more than one, as SIU took the five inning run rule victory.
Lauren Sackett (8-13) took the loss in the circle for Indiana State in 3.2 innings of work, allowing three hits and seven runs scored, while striking out two. Annie Waggoner and Megan Asher each made an appearance in game two against SIU, combining for two hits and five runs scored in the loss on Saturday afternoon.
Up Next:
Indiana State will host game three of the series against SIU, tomorrow for senior day at 12 p.m ET!
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
MCKENNA MINTON RECORDS THREE RBIS IN WIN AT GREEN BAY
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team picked up a 4-1 win at Green Bay on Saturday (April 27) behind three RBIs from McKenna Minton.
Minton put the Mastodons up two in the first inning when her single up the middle scored Grace Hollopeter and Bailey Manos.
Green Bay scored its only run of the contest in the third inning thanks to three singles.
Up 2-1 in the sixth, the Mastodons put an insurance run on the scoreboard when Minton had a sacrifice fly to bring Manos home. Manos had been pushed to third two at bats prior after a double from Aglaia Rudd. An inning later, Hollopeter’s triple brought Brayden Lickey across to make it a 4-1 contest.
Alanah Jones picked up her second win of the weekend with a seven-strikeout performance against the Phoenix without giving up an earned run. Ava Schill took the loss in the complete game, giving up all four earned runs.
Minton went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Manos was 2-for-4 at the plate.
Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 14-30 and 9-12 in the Horizon League. Green Bay falls to 8-36, 4-17. The Mastodons will welcome Oakland to the Purdue Fort Wayne Softball Field on Friday (May 3) for the final league series of the season. Saturday’s doubleheader against the Golden Grizzlies will be Senior Day for the ‘Dons.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
SATURDAY GAME GOES TO WRIGHT STATE
DAYTON, Ohio – Purdue Fort Wayne was unable to overcome an early deficit to Wright State in Saturday’s (April 27) 11-4 loss in Horizon League play.
Wright State scored five runs in the first inning to jump out to an early lead. The ‘Dons were able to get a run back in the sixth and brought across three more in the eighth, but weren’t able to come back.
With two outs in the sixth, Brooks Sailors hit a single up the middle that scored the ‘Dons first run of the afternoon. It was his second of two hits on Saturday as he and Nate Simpson each collected two hits.
The Mastodons started off the eighth inning with back-to-back walks before Simpson’s single brought in a run. After Sailors walked, Nick Sutherlin drove in two more runs with a double. Ben Higgins’ two-out walk loaded the bases, but the ‘Dons were unable to cash in.
Garret Simpson (4-1) got the win for Wright State with five scoreless innings on the mound and five strikeouts. Carter Sabol (4-5) took the loss after striking out two in 4.2 innings.
Jay Luikart had a home run for the Raiders.
The ‘Dons square off with Wright State in game three of the series on Sunday (April 28) at 1:00 P.M.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
BASEBALL HOLDS OFF MISSOURI STATE, 8-7
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team used seven strong innings from graduate starter Donovan Schultz and three home runs to grab an 8-4 lead early on Saturday, and then the Purple Aces held off a hard-charging Missouri State squad to post an 8-7 victory at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.
“We found a way today in a pretty wild game,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “The wind was definitely a factor today, as the ball was really flying well, but thankfully, we were able to take advantage of it and grab an early lead. And, outside of one inning, I thought that Donovan Schultz was spectacular on the mound to help us earn another series victory.
“We have to come to the park ready to compete tomorrow, as I know that Missouri State will be ready to try and salvage a game on the weekend.”
Schultz equaled a career-high with 7.0 innings of work for the fourth-straight start on Saturday, and he had only one bad inning. Missouri State first baseman Cody Kelly hit an opposite-field three-run home run to left field to open the scoring, before third baseman Curry Sutherland took advantage of the wind blowing out to left field to add a solo home run in a four-run second inning.
From there, Schultz buckled down and retired 11 of the next 12 men he faced, with the only batter who reached base doing so on an error. His teammates quickly tied the game in the third inning, taking advantage of the wind as well.
Graduate catcher Brendan Hord opened the scoring in the third inning with a solo home run that took advantage of the wind to left-center field. Senior shortstop Simon Scherry then followed with a no-doubt home run to left field to cut Missouri State’s lead to 4-2. Senior outfielder Kip Fougerousse then tied the game three batters later with a laser-shot two-run home run down the left-field line to tie the game at 4-4.
UE would take the lead for good in the fourth inning on a two-run double off the wall in center field by Hord. After a single by Scherry, Hord would score on a run-scoring fielder’s choice by junior outfielder Harrison Taubert to push the lead to 7-4. UE would add another run in the fifth inning on another run-scoring fielder’s choice by Scherry to take an 8-4 lead.
Schultz (3-1) would take the 8-4 lead through seven innings, as he held the Bears to the four runs on just five hits. Missouri State would quickly strike for three runs in the eighth inning though against the UE bullpen on a pair of home runs by Zack Stewart and Dylan Leach to cut the UE lead to 8-7. Senior Jakob Meyer would come on though to get out of the eighth inning, and then worked a perfect ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts to nail down his third save of the year.
Hord went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI to lead UE offensively. Scherry and graduate third baseman Brent Widder also had two-hit afternoons, while Scherry and Fougerousse both added two RBI.
With the victory, Evansville improved to 24-18 overall and 12-5 in the MVC, as the Purple Aces earned their fifth-straight MVC series victory. Overall, UE has won 15 of its last 18 games. Missouri State, meanwhile, dropped to 17-24 overall and 6-11 in the MVC with the loss. The series will conclude on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., as senior right-hander Shane Harris (4-4, 3.27 ERA) is expected to get the start.
EVANSVILLE SOFTBALL
ACES RALLY AGAIN BUT FALL JUST SHORT
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – One day after staging a dramatic 7th-inning rally, the University of Evansville softball team was primed to do the same on Saturday, but Missouri State held on for a 4-3 win at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.
Trailing by a 4-1 tally entering the bottom of the 7th, the Purple Aces registered five hits and two runs as the bases were loaded with two outs. Interference was called on the final play with finishing with the win.
Saturday marked Senior Day for UE with its 2024 class being recognized. Hannah Hood, Megan Brenton, Alexa Davis, Mikayla Jolly, Brooke McCorkle, Jenna Nink and Marah Wood were honored following the game.
Evansville looked to jump out to an early lead as Zoe Frossard and Brooke Voss reached on consecutive singles before Jenna Nink was issued a 2-out walk to load the bases. A ground-out ended the threat to send the game into the second.
Missouri State scored three times in the third to open the scoring. Chloe Merced had a triple while Annie Mueller had a solo home run in the frame. Another run crossed the plate in the top of the fourth as the Bears picked up three more hits to make it a 4-0 game.
Lacy Smith brought in the first UE run of the game with a single through the left side to score Marah Wood in the bottom of the fourth. Megan Brenton came into the game and tossed three scoreless innings to give the Aces a chance in the bottom of the 7th.
Alexa Davis led off with a single to get things rolling. With one out, Brooke Voss, Jess Willsey and Jenna Nink each hit singles of their own, plating two runs. With two outs, Marah Wood singled to left to load the bases. On the final play, a runner interference ended the threat and MSU took the win.
Sunday’s series-deciding game will begin with a 12 p.m. first pitch.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL
USI SOFTBALL OPENS HOME SERIES WITH DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball split its doubleheader against Tennessee State University at USI Softball Field on Saturday. The Screaming Eagles held on late in a competitive contest to win 5-4 in the opener before a 7-0 loss in the second game.
Saturday’s twin bill kicked off Senior Weekend and the final home series on the 2024 schedule for USI Softball.
In the first game, Tennessee State (24-21, 15-8 OVC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a get them on, get them over, and get them in approach, as the leadoff hitter reached base and came around to score.
The Screaming Eagles (19-19, 13-10 OVC) bounced back immediately against the Tigers’ starting pitcher in the home half of the first. Three consecutive two-out singles by the middle of the order did the trick. RBI knocks from senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) and freshman infielder Sydney Long (Haubstadt, Indiana) put USI ahead 2-1.
In the middle innings, the Eagles’ offense extended the lead with a run in the third, fourth and fifth frames. The Tigers tallied a run in the fourth and fifth innings, but USI junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) got out of the jams and limited the damage by keeping USI ahead 5-3 through five innings of play.
Tennessee State threatened in the top of the seventh by loading the bases and even drawing to within one run of USI, 5-4, on a bases-loaded walk, but once again, Newman pitched out of trouble to clinch the series-opening victory for the Screaming Eagles.
Offensively, Tennessee State ended up with four runs on seven hits while Southern Indiana scored five runs off six hits.
Newman moved to 16-8 with the win, giving up four runs – three earned – with seven strikeouts in the complete game. Tennessee State junior starter Reina Castillo dropped to 7-6 with the loss after surrendering three runs in three innings of work.
In game 2, neither side could strike in the first inning like they did in the opener despite both having runners in scoring position in the first.
Defensive struggles, walks, and wild pitches stacked up against USI in the top of the second inning, allowing Tennessee State to take advantage and score four times. The Tigers added another tally in the third inning.
Sophomore pitcher Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Kentucky) halted Tennessee State’s momentum until the top of the fifth when the Tigers loaded the bases and brought home another run to take a 6-0 advantage.
USI again fell victim to miscues as the Tigers scored their seventh and final run in the seventh inning to seal the win, earn a doubleheader split, and force a decisive series rubber match on Sunday.
Southern Indiana junior starting pitcher Whitley Hunter (Nashville, Illinois) suffered the loss, giving up four unearned runs with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings to drop to 2-7 this season. Gibson tossed 5.1 innings and allowed three runs – one earned – in relief.
Tennessee State junior pitcher Caitlyn Manus went to 11-10 on the season with the shutout win. Manus gave up only two hits.
Both teams maintained their positioning in the Ohio Valley Conference standings on Saturday. USI remained in a tie for fourth place with Lindenwood University, and Tennessee State stayed put in third place. Only four games remain in the conference season.
The Screaming Eagles and Tigers conclude the weekend series Sunday at Noon from USI Softball Field. Senior Day ceremonies will take place following Sunday’s game, recognizing catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana), first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana), and outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana).
Sunday’s rubber game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage links can be found on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
EAGLES OFFENSIVE OUTPOUR OVERWHELMS THE PANTHERS, 14-3.
EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana earned a convincing win at the USI Baseball Field on Saturday afternoon as the visiting team in score book due to unplayable weather conditions in Charleston, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles (19-25) used a monstrous start in the series rubber match to take down Eastern Illinois University (14-26), 14-3. The win improves their Ohio Valley Conference record to 8-10.
USI shot out of a cannon, tallying six runs in the top half of the first. Junior Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) smoked a single to bring home senior Ren Tachioka (Saitama, Japan). The Eagles took advantage of five free passes in the inning and a clutch two-RBI single by Tachioka to build the early lead.
The Eagles chased the Panthers starter out of the game in the third inning. Junior Ricardo Van Grieken (Merida, Venezuela) lined a double into the gap to drive in junior Logan Mock (Livermore, California) to extend the lead to 7-1 after three frames.
Senior Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) smashed his seventh home run of the year for a two-run shot after Van Grieken led the inning off with another double in the sixth.
A trio of eighth inning doubles by senior Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana), Mock, and Van Grieken extended the Eagles lead to 14-2. USI allowed a run in the bottom of the frame but took game three of the series by run-rule in eight innings, 14-3.
Van Grieken led the team offensively with four hits, four RBIs, two runs scored, and one walk. Along with the 14 runs, USI tallied eight extra-base hits, ten walks, and 13 total hits.
On the mound, junior Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) took the start earning the win twirling six strong innings, two earned runs, three strikeouts, and only five hits allowed. Senior Carter Stamm (Jasper, Indiana) relieved Seebold throwing a scoreless seventh inning.
What’s Next
USI travels to Carbondale, Illinois for a midweek competition against Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Tuesday. Then, USI returns home for an OVC weekend series against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
VALPO TRACK
BEACONS TUNE UP FOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SYCAMORE OPEN
The Valparaiso University track & field team competed at Indiana State’s Sycamore Open on Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind., closing out the regular season at the same location where the Beacons will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships in two weeks.
How It Happened
In the high jump, Micah Mullings (Minesing, Ontario, Canada / Barrie North) took the top spot with a leap of 1.85m (6-0.75) to win the event. Elsewhere in the hurdles/jumps, Chaise Magnuson (LaPorte, Ind. / LaPorte) finished the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.61, finishing in the upper half of the field at fifth of 11.
The Beacons boasted two of the top three in the javelin in a 14-athlete field. Ethan Litavecz (Highland, Ind. / Highland) was the runner-up at 51.21 meters (168-0), while Brian Sponaugle (Milton, De. / Mariner) established a PR with a distance of 51.01m (167-4), placing third.
Elsewhere in the men’s throws, Nate Smith (Lake Station, Ind. / Lake Station) led the team in both the shot put and discus. His shot put of 14.09m (46-2.75) was fifth of 12, while his discus heave of 45.09m (147-11) represented a PR and ranked eighth of 18. Josh Leathers (Streamwood, Ill. / Streamwood) finished in the top half of the field in the hammer, placing eight of 17 at 45.03m (147-9), a personal best.
In the pole vault, Tristan Malatlian (Pfafftown, N.C. / Reagan) used a season-best of 4.58m (15-0.25) to place third.
In the women’s sprints, Juliana Ferrara (Fox River Grove, Ill. / Cary Grove) led the team in both the 100 and 200. She posted a PR of 12.70 seconds in the 100, placing seventh of 18. In the 200, she was sixth of 24 with a time of 25.78 seconds.
In the men’s sprints, it was Tim Whitelaw (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) who finished in the upper half of the field in both the 100 and 200. He clocked a time of 10.93 seconds in the 100, placing sixth of 20. In the 200, his time of 22.16 seconds helped him finish seventh of 23.
In the women’s throws, Tori Gerhardt (Westville, Ind. / Chesterton) turned in a season-best 11.87m (378-11.5) for a fifth-place finish in the shot put to go along with a season-best discus toss of 37.70m (123-8) that helped her finish second of nine in that event.
In the javelin, Rhena Kiger (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point) finished fifth thanks to a PR of 30.34m (99-6). In the hammer, Lena Luebbering (Heyworth, Ill. / Heyworth) had a season best at 43.80m (143-4).
Up Next
The Beacons will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships from May 10-12 in Terre Haute, Ind. The meet will air on ESPN+ with a link to live video and results available on ValpoAthletics.com.
VALPO SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL DROPS DOUBLEHEADER TO MURRAY STATE
The Valpo softball team kicked off the next-to-last weekend of regular season play with a doubleheader against visiting Murray State at the Valpo Softball Complex Saturday, falling to the Racers by final scores of 5-0 and 8-2. Freshman Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) continued her recent hot streak at the plate with a trio of extra-base hits over the two games.
How It Happened – Game One
Valpo had a great chance to open the scoring in the bottom of the second, as Bush connected on a double around a Murray State error and a hit batter to load the bases with one out. Back-to-back strikeouts left the bases loaded with no runs scoring, however.
The Racers cracked the scoreboard with a pair of RBI singles in the top of the third.
Murray State scored another run on a Valpo error in the fourth and capped the scoring with an RBI double and a run-scoring triple in the fifth.
How It Happened – Game Two
A two-out RBI single put the Racers on the board in their first turn at the plate.
Adison Hicks delivered a three-run homer in the top of the third to make it 4-0 Murray State.
A mini two-out rally cut Valpo’s deficit in half in the bottom of the third. Senior Alexis Johnson (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) won a seven-pitch battle, lining a single down the left-field line, to put a runner on for Bush. The freshman delivered, drilling a two-run homer to straightaway center to cut Murray State’s lead to 4-2.
The Racers pulled away with a three-run fifth inning and added their final run on a solo homer from Lily Fischer in the sixth.
Inside the Games
Bush went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles in the opener and added her second home run in a one-week span in the nightcap.
Over the last five games, Bush is 7-for-14 at the plate with a walk, three doubles and two homers.
Bush was the only Beacon to reach base multiple times in the same game on Saturday, as Valpo tallied just eight hits and one hit batter over the two contests.
Johnson and senior Kayla Skapyak (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) each picked up one hit in each of Saturday’s two games.
The Beacons were 0-for-6 over the two games with runners in scoring position, while the Racers were 7-for-21.
Freshman Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) took the loss in the circle in game one, going 4.2 innings. Fellow rookie Anna Wilming (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) closed the game with 2.1 innings of hitless relief, striking out three.
Wilming started and was charged with the loss in game two, pitching into the fifth inning.
Next Up
Valpo (8-36, 2-17 MVC) closes out its series with the Racers on Sunday with a single game at noon.
VALPO BASEBALL
LOCKWOOD THROWS SIX SHUTOUT INNINGS; UIC RALLIES LATE
Starting pitcher Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) threw six shutout innings and the Valparaiso University baseball team led 2-0 in the seventh and 2-1 in the eighth, but host UIC rallied with two in the bottom of the eighth to win 3-2 at Curtis Granderson Stadium on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Chicago. The Beacons have dropped both games in the series despite outhitting the Flames in both contests. Defense remained a Beacon bright spot as Valpo did not commit an error and made several dandy plays.
How It Happened
Turning two was the name of the game for the Valpo defense early as Lockwood held the Flames off the board in each of the first three frames thanks in part to a double play in each inning. A 4-6-3 ended the first, then a 6-4-3 accounted for the first two outs of the second. In the third, Lockwood recorded a strikeout and catcher Kade Reinertson (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) threw down to second to complete a strike-him-out, throw-him-out twin killing.
Valpo scored the game’s first runs in the top of the fourth. The frame started with three straight singles including a Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) knock on a hit-and-run to chase a run home. Carson Husmann (Hanna, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Lockwood worked a scoreless fourth. The Valpo defense did not turn two for the first time in the game, but Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) did run in to make a diving snag to end the inning.
Valpo had a golden chance to tack on in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and nobody out, but the Flames recorded three straight strikeouts to escape the jam.
Lockwood left after six shutout innings of two-hit ball. The three double plays and his six strikeouts helped him counteract six walks. He got help from the defense behind him, including a great grab by left fielder Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) in Lockwood’s final inning of work.
The first UIC batter to come to the plate against the Valpo bullpen was Jackson Bessette, who hit a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the seventh and cut the lead to one at 2-1.
Three singles including one by Ryan Nagelbach that drove in two flipped the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth, allowing UIC to take a 3-2 lead. That stood as the game’s final score.
Inside the Game
Valpo played its 10th one-run game and fell to 3-7 in such contests. The Beacons are 4-12 in games decided by two runs or fewer.
The Beacons were hoping to close out a rare lowing-scoring win, but dropped to 0-10 in league games when scoring five runs or fewer.
For the second straight day, Valpo lost despite having more hits than the Flames. The Beacons are 8-5 when outhitting the opponent this season.
Valpo entered the game 8-0 this season when leading after seven innings but incurred the team’s first defeat under those circumstances. In fact, the Beacons had a 37-game winning streak when leading after seven innings snapped on Saturday. That streak dated back to May 11, 2021, a 7-4 loss to No. 8 Notre Dame.
Despite yielding a season-high six walks, Lockwood’s outing was statistically his best of the season when factoring in runs allowed (none), innings pitched (six) and hits allowed (two). He left in line for the win but ended up with no decision.
For the first time in the last 13 games, Valpo batters did not draw any walks.
The Valpo defense remained a bright spot as the Beacons played errorless ball for the fifth time in the last seven games.
Senior Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) had two hits to lead the offense.
Up Next
Valpo (12-28, 4-13 MVC) will close out the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Curtis Granderson Stadium. The game will air on ESPN+.
UINDY MEN’S TENNIS
HOUNDS PICK UP CONVINCING WIN AT UMSL
ST. LOUIS – The University of Indianapolis men’s tennis team, who came into the contest No. 7 in the country, proved that and more, exacting a 4-2 win in St. Louis over UMSL.
The Hounds now move to 13-3 with a perfect 5-0 record in conference action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds took all three matches at doubles with big efforts at the No. 2 slot by Erwan Momo Andre and Louis Picaud to survive a close match. From there, the Hounds kept rolling.
No. 1-ranked Tom Zeuch set the tone, winning easily at the top of the card. UMSL clawed back matches a No. 4 and No. 3 sinlges, but big wins by Matthieu Derache and Momo Andre iced the match.
UP NEXT
The UIndy men’s tennis team will take on the GLVC tournament on May 5, just a week away. The tournament will be hosted at Drury University.
UINDY WOMEN’S TENNIS
WOMEN’S TENNIS CAPTURES SINGLES-ONLY VICTORY IN ST. LOUIS
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 30-ranked UIndy women’s tennis team secured a perfect GLVC regular season record on Saturday afternoon, downing UMSL 4-0 in what became a singles only match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Due to time constraints, the teams played just singles matches on the evening. With that being the case, it was a show for the Hounds players as they took all four matches in straight sets. Jimena De Pablos Hernando only gave up one game in her No. 6 singles win.
Alongside her, Tyffaine Pais, Benedetta Sensi and Maria Fiacan all tasted victory as well.
UP NEXT
Tournament time as the Hounds will batlle the GLVC tournament starting on May 5, hosted by Drury University.
UINDY BASEBALL
SPEAR WALK-OFF HIGHLIGHTS SATURDAY SWEEP OF TRUMAN
INDIANAPOLIS — The No. 25-ranked University of Indianapolis baseball team picked up wins No. 30 and No. 31 on Saturday, taking down the Truman State Bulldogs in a pair of exciting games.
Will Spear was the hero in game one, as with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth – in the normally scheduled seven inning contest – Spear sent a ball deep to right field for the game winning sacrifice fly to secure the Hounds win.
Game two saw Drew Donaldson keep his hot streak going as he went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
GAME 1 | UIndy 7, Truman 6
The Bulldogs got going early, plating four against Carter Nowak in the first, taking advantage of early count pitches to do so. Caleb Vaughn answered in the bottom half of the inning where he scored both Cole Hampton and Easton Good on a single to shallow left field, leaving it 4-2 after just a frame.
The hounds continued to chip away scratching across to in the fourth and one in the sixth to force extras. That sixth inning run came via the longball with Cole Hampton hammering his team leading seventh of the year.
Home runs continued to fuel the Hounds as after a top of the eighth run by the Bulldogs, Zack Williams led off the bottom half of the inning with a bomb of his own. From there it was big at bat after big at bat for the Hounds as Luis Vergara drew a big walk to load the bases for Spear. Facing a 3-1 count, Spear did what he was asked and secured the game one win.
GAME 2 | UIndy 9, Truman 7
Unlike in game one, the Hounds were the aggressors early, plating runs in every inning except for the sixth. Hampton got the party started in the first, doubling to deep left center to give the Hounds the lead.
Nick Lukac added on in the second with his first homer of the season, an opposite field shot that fired up the UIndy crowd.
From there it was all UIndy up until the sixth. That was when the Bulldogs attempted to replicate the “Cardiac Hounds” style of baseball. But, thanks to a big save from Austin Bestul, the Hounds survived and kept to their winnings way.
UP NEXT
Senior day is on the docket tomorrow as the Hounds will look to celebrate their seniors at Greyhound Park. Action is set for noon.
UINDY WOMEN’S GOLF
CEDERHOLM TAKES GLVC MEDALIST HONORS, HOUNDS ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE SEMIS
COAL VALLEY, Ill. – Led by a pair of All-GLVC performances, the UIndy women’s golf team wrapped up stroke play at the GLVC Championships Saturday, capturing the No. 1 seed heading into tomorrow’s medal/match play semifinals. The Greyhounds pulled away in the third and final stroke play round, topping the field by 21 strokes.
Individually, senior Matilda Cederholm captured medalist honors while freshman Jess Haines joined her in the top five.
Held at the at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Ill., the Championships have been whittled down to four teams, with UMSL, Drury and Maryville also surviving to Sunday’s semifinals. UIndy/Maryville pairings will tee off from hole No. 1, with UMSL/Drury simultaneously starting from hole 10. The winners will face off in the afternoon finals with the GLVC trophy on the line. Tee times will be posted when available.
SATURDAY
Cederholm (+13) saved her best round for last, carding a one-over 72 in the final round—good for the lowest stroke-play round of the tournament. The Lomma, Sweden native fired consecutive birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to earn a six-stroke win. The finish marked the seventh time in the last eight GLVC Championships that a Greyhound earned medalist honors.
Haines (+21) took sole possession of fourth place to garner All-GLVC First Team accolades in her conference championship debut. Junior Anci Dy climbed 20 spots on the leaderboard over the final two rounds to take sixth place and finish one stroke out of all-conference status.
ALL-GLVC*
1. Matilda Cederholm, UIndy (+13)
2. Wilma Zanderau, Missouri-St. Louis (+19)
3. Elaine Grant, Illinois-Springfield (+20)
4. Jess Haines, UIndy (+21)
5. Taryn Overstreet, Drury (+24)
*Five more student-athletes will be added via coaches vote at a later date
Sophomore Macey Brown shared 11th at +28. Caroline Whallon and Ava Ray split time in the final lineup spot, with Ray’s final-round 74—and even-par back nine—on Saturday afternoon among the highlights of the week.
FRIDAY
Battling cold, rainy and windy conditions—as well a lengthy lightning delay— the Hounds got off to a slow and found themselves in the bottom half of the leaderboard early. UIndy clawed back with a strong back nine, as Caroline Whallon shot even par on the back and Anci Dy strung together five straight pars coming in.
But it was Matilda Cederholm that had the most consistent round, finishing with a six-over 77 to lead the field by two strokes. Whallon and fellow-freshman Jess Haines sit at +9 to share ninth place. Macey Brown sits at T-20, while Dy’s late push positioned her in a tie for 26th.
UINDY TRACK
TRACK & FIELD TAKES ON 2024 SYCAMORE OPEN AND REDHAWK INVITE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The UIndy men’s and women’s track and field teams prepared for the GLVC Championships by competing in the 2024 Sycamore Open and the RedHawk Invite. The UIndy throws team traveled to Oxford, OH for the Miami (OH) meet while the rest competed at Indiana State.
2024 SYCAMORE INVITE
Hallie Montgomery had an impressive day in Terre Haute by winning two individual events and a relay event. The junior first won the 100m dash, finishing in 12.07 seconds. Montgomery went on to clock 24.25 in the 200m, which passed the NCAA D2 provisional. Besides her individual events the Lebanon, Ind. native participated in the 4×100. Along with Zaleeya Martin, Madison Schofield, and Ailliyah Reese, the UIndy “A” team finished in 47.06, earning first place.
In the hurdles, Ailliyah Reese broke a meet record in the 100m hurdles. Reese clocked 14.27, winning the event and beating the former record by 0.29 seconds. In the 400m hurdle a UIndy athlete placed second in the men’s and women’s races. Drayden Gates (55.87) and Cloey Simon (1:05.67) each created a new personal best in the event.
In the pole vault, Treyton Arnold and Sabrina Robison also earn second in their respective events. Robison cleared 3.95m with Arnold clearing 4.73m.
In the field, Amarion Conyers claimed third in the long jump with a jump of 6.54m.
OTHER TOP FINISHERS
2. Zaleeya Martin, 100m, 12.07
4. Keywuan Taylor, pole vault, 4.13m
5. Lindsey Wormuth, 100m hurdles 15.75
5. Tyje Elias, long jump, 6.13m
6. Evan Stonitsch, 400m, 50.71
REDHAWK INVITE
Emily Bonser finished first in the shot put and third in the hammer throw during the meet. The senior claimed the top spot in the shot put with a throw of 13.22m and reached 51.45m in the hammer.
MaKenna Maschino placed second in the javelin with a mark of 31.36m.
On the men’s side, Bryson Adams and Cameron Smith took third in their respective events. Adams competed in the shot put and reached 15.60m and Smith threw for 52.28m in the hammer throw.
UIndy throws coach Matt Royer also participated in Oxford. Royer, who was a former UIndy throw, won the hammer throw with a mark of 62.25m.
OTHER TOP FINISHERS
4. Faith Hensel, shot put, 13.22m
4. Audra Hogan, discus, 42.98m
4. Cameron Smith, shot put, 15.46m
4. Owen Butler, javelin, 45.08m
5. Dylan Mayhew, hammer, 48.30m
5. Amanda Noel, discus, 42.78m
5. MaKenna Maschino, hammer, 49.36m
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds are set to compete in the 2024 GLVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships next weekend. The meet will start on Thursday, May 2, and last through Saturday, May 4 will take place on the campus of Truman. The competition will take place at Gardner Track at Stokes Stadium in Kirksville, Mo.
MARIAN SOFTBALL
MARIAN CLAIMS CROSSROADS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SENIOR DAY SWEEP
INDIANAPOLIS – Tied for the Crossroads League lead in the standings entering Saturday, the Marian softball team earned two wins over Taylor and got the help needed from Huntington in an upset of Indiana Wesleyan, pushing the Knights to a CL Regular Championship Title. Marian is now 41-9 overall on the season, ending the regular season with a 29-7 overall record in the CL.
Marian’s championship is their eighth title in 10 years and nine seasons of softball, while the Knights have won three championships in four years.
Game 1 | Marian 6-2 Taylor
The Knights started off the game strong with Abby Madere doubling into right center in the home half of the first inning, scoring Brooke Knox for first run of the game. A wild pitch would move the outfielder to third, and following a walk to Grace Meyer the Knights attempted a double steal play, with the catcher moving in safely to second. On the play, the Trojans shortstop attempted to backpick Madere at third, but threw the ball away, allowing a run to score making it a 2-0 game.
Marian continued the hot streak after Olivia Stunkel faced the minimum in the circle in the second, as the junior pitcher got a double play to wipe out Taylor’s first hit of the game. The offense kept their charge going in the home half of the second, as the Knights loaded the bases with walks to Lily Wendt and Anna Pritchett, while Hayley Greene sandwiched a single between the two. Savannah Harweger would line out in the next at bat, but a throw away from the first baseman in an attempt to turn a double play allowed Wendt to score. Knox followed with an RBI single, driving the lead to 4-0.
Both sides retired the side in order in the third as Stunkel fired her first perfect inning of the game, while Maddie Foy silenced the Knights for the first time in the home half. Another perfect inning from Stunkel in the fourth brought the bats to the plate in the home side, with Marian driving home two more to their lead. RBI singles from Abby Madere and Sierra Norman capitalized the four-hit inning, as Marian led 6-0.
In attempts to rally Taylor scored a run off of a ground out to third in the top of the fifth inning, and a sacrifice fly into right field in the top of the sixth inning to bring the score 6-2. Stunkel limited the damage to one run in each inning, as she stranded two runners in the fifth with a strikeout ending the frame, while a groundout in the sixth would stop Taylor’s offense. With the score holding static entering the seventh, Stunkel forced three consecutive groundouts to cap the win, putting Marian in the driver’s seat to clinch a share of the conference championship.
Harweger, Madere, and Norman all claimed two hits in game one. Knox, Wendt, Green, Raegan Hiatt, and Anna Pritchett all claimed one hit in the 11 hits that Marian tallied. Madere claimed two RBI’s in game one, while Norman and Knox each claimed one each. Olivia Stunkel took the win with two strikeouts and five hits given up, moving to 23-2 overall on the year in the circle.
Game 2 | Marian 8-1 Taylor
As Marian celebrated their seniors in between games, the Knights received the ultimate senior day gift as Huntington handed Indiana Wesleyan a walk-off 7-6 defeat, putting the magic number to clinch the Crossroads League to one. Similar to the opening game, Marian recieved strong pitching in the first inning with Macy Coan attacking the Trojans in a quick three-up, three-down inning, and went to work on offense with Sierra Norman recording an RBI sacrifice fly, driving home Brooke Knox who recorded one of two hits in the inning.
Coan continued to mow down the Taylor offense, as she retired the side in order through three complete. The freshman faced the minimum in the second as her catcher Caroline Roop caught a runner stealing to end the inning, while the freshman did the work in the third scattering three groundouts through the infield. In the bottom of the third the Knights would add to their lead, Savannah Harweger singled and reached third on a steal and sacrifice bunt, scoring with ease on an RBI double from Abby Madere. Norman followed with an RBI single of her own, pushing the lead to 3-0.
The freshman Coan would continue her brillance in the fourth inning with a fourth consecutive scoreless inning, but in the fifth saw her streak of facing the minimum close as Madisyn Standridge belted a 3-2 pitch with one out in the fifth out of the park, ending the shutout with a solo home run. Marian’s rookie pitcher rebounded after giving up the long ball, picking up consecutive ground ball outs to end the inning. The offense would respond in the home half of the fifth, repeating their formula from the third as Harweger singled and after stealing and touching third on a sacrifice, scored on an RBI single from Madere. Norman blasted an RBI double for the team’s fifth run, and later in the inning Brenna Fink and Raegan Hiatt delivered pinch-hit RBI singles. Abbey Hofmann and Grace Meyer would also execute a double-steal play, giving Marian an 8-1 lead after five complete innings.
Coan would pitch into a jam in the sixth inning as Taylor put together one final rally cry, loading the bases with two singles and a fielder’s choice. The freshman would pitch out of the inning with a line out to Harweger, and in the top of the seventh she delivered a strikeout and fly out to put Marian withing one out of a league championship. Marian would go to the lineup card before the final out as seniors Abigail McPherson and Jaylah Guilliam reparted in, with Guilliam making her debut at first base and McPherson taking over in the circle. The senior reliever would need just one pitch to cap the championship, forcing a pop up to third base to close Marian’s 8-1 Crossroads League Championship, ending the 4-0 season sweep of Taylor.
Madere led the team going 3-3 in game two and claiming two RBI, Sierra Norman went 2-2 from the plate and claimed three RBI in game two. Macy Coan took home the win as she pitched 6.2 innings, giving up four hits and just one run. The freshman recorded four strikeouts in the win, with reliever Abigail McPherson recording the final out of the game.
Marian’s Crossroads League Regular Season Championship is their third in the last four years, winning outright championships in back-to-back seasons. Marian has won the Crossroads League Regular Season Championship in eight of the last nine CL seasons, a streak that spans over the last 10 years.
With the regular season championship, Marian will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Crossroads League Tournament, playing May 1 at 3:00 p.m. All games of the Crossroads League Tournament will be played at Spring Arbor, with Marian playing either Mt. Vernon or a winner out of Tuesday’s play-in games.
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
20 – 21 – 1
April 28, 1901 – Cleveland Blue’s pitcher Bock Baker had a really bad day on the mound. The left hander gave up a record 23 singles to the Chicago White Sox hitters at old Southside Park, near Chicago. It is not hard to believe with that horrid 5.63 ERA for the day that the Sox beat the Blues 13-1, but it is hard to imagine that Bock pitched all 8 innings without relief in the road loss. C’mon Skip bring in a fresh arm!
April 28, 1956 – Cincinnati Reds Rookie outfielder Frank Robinson, Number 20 belted his first of what would be 586 Home Runs as the Reds doubled up the Chicago Cubs 8-4.
April 28, 1961 – At the ripe old age of 41, future Hall of Fame Pitcher Warren Spahn, Number 21 threw his second career no hitter as he and the Milwaukee Braves beat the San Francisco Giants, 1-0. Remember this is a Giants line-up that included Willie McCovey, Willie Mays and other great hitters.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
Football History Headlines for April 28
April 28, 1987 – The NFL Draft of 1987 took place and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their first overall pick to aquire University of Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde. Vinnie T. had a really nice long career in the League playing for 21 seasons all the way to 2007 wearing the uniforms of seven different franchises along the way with over 46,000 yards passing and 275 TD throws. Testaverde is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame but there is one of his classmates from this Draft of ‘87 that does own a Gold Jacket. Purdue corner Rod Woodson who was the 10th overall pick by Pittsburgh. Woodson played 17 seasons himself in the NFL picking off 71 passes in the process and scoring 15 TDs between the interceptions, fumbles and kick returns.
The balance of the top ten looked like this per the Pro Football Reference:
Pick Tm Player Pos College/Univ
1 TAM Vinny Testaverde QB Miami (FL)
2 IND Cornelius Bennett LB Alabama
3 HOU Alonzo Highsmith RB Miami (FL)
4 GNB Brent Fullwood RB Auburn
5 CLE Mike Junkin LB Duke
6 STL Kelly Stouffer QB Colorado St.
7 DET Reggie Rogers DE Washington
8 BUF Shane Conlan LB Penn St.
9 PHI Jerome Brown DT Miami (FL)
10 PIT Rod Woodson DB Purdue
April 28, 2007 – NFL Draft: LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell first pick by Oakland Raiders. Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson, “Megatron” was the second overall selection by the Detroit Lions per the website Pro-Football-Reference.com. So far Mr Johnson is the only player from this class in Canton but I would keep my eyes open for Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Darelle Revis and others to be in the discussion very soon! https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm
The Top ten of the 2007 NFL Draft rounded out like this:
Pick Tm Player Pos College/Univ
1 OAK JaMarcus Russell QB LSU
2 DET Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech
3 CLE Joe Thomas T Wisconsin
4 TAM Gaines Adams DE Clemson
5 ARI Levi Brown T Penn St.
6 WAS LaRon Landry DB LSU
7 MIN Adrian Peterson RB Oklahoma
8 ATL Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
9 MIA Ted Ginn Jr. WR Ohio St.
10 HOU Amobi Okoye DT Louisville
Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the day The Charlotte Observer “Prospects and fans work hard before the Draft.”
April 28, 2011 – Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the first pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft. It is far too early to have hHall of Famers officially named but I am quite sure in the next decade some of these names will be found in Canton. Here is a look at the top 11 picks per the PFR.
Pick Tm Player Pos College/Univ
1 CAR Cam Newton QB Auburn
2 DEN Von Miller LB Texas A&M
3 BUF Marcell Dareus DT Alabama
4 CIN A.J. Green WR Georgia
5 ARI Patrick Peterson DB LSU
6 ATL Julio Jones WR Alabama
7 SFO Aldon Smith DE Missouri
8 TEN Jake Locker QB Washington
9 DAL Tyron Smith T USC
10 JAX Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri
11 HOU J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin
April 28, 2016 – NFL Draft: Cal quarterback Jared Goff was the first pick by Los Angeles Rams. The Pro Football Reference identifies the rest of the top ten players.
Pick Tm Player Pos College/Univ
1 LAR Jared Goff QB California
2 PHI Carson Wentz QB North Dakota St.
3 SDG Joey Bosa DE Ohio St.
4 DAL Ezekiel Elliott RB Ohio St.
5 JAX Jalen Ramsey CB Florida St.
6 BAL Ronnie Stanley T Notre Dame
7 SFO DeForest Buckner DE Oregon
8 TEN Jack Conklin T Michigan St.
9 CHI Leonard Floyd OLB Georgia
10 NYG Eli Apple CB Ohio State
April 28, 2018 – Shaquem Griffin is the first one-handed person to be drafted into the NFL, for the Seattle Seahawks
Hall of Fame Birthdays for April 28
April 28, 1947 – Pawhuska, Oklahoma – Bill Enyart the big fullback from Oregon State that played from 1966 to 1968 was born. Enyart was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He played three seasons for the Bills and Oakland Raiders.
April 28, 1955 – Brenham, Texas – Wilson Whitley the University of Houston Defensive Tackle was born. The National Football Foundation tells of how Wilson was a two time All-American who lead a very fiesty defense. Wilson Whitley received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He played in the NFL for 7 seasons with the Bengals.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
April 28
1901 — Cleveland pitcher Bock Baker gave up a record 23 singles as the Chicago White Sox beat the Indians 13-1.
1915 — The Detroit Tigers trim the St. Louis Browns, 12 – 3, with Ty Cobb stealing home in the 3rd inning. Cobb will steal home six times this season.
1930 — The first night game in organized baseball was played in Independence, Kan. In a Western Association game, Muskogee defeated Independence 13-3.
1934 — Detroit’s Goose Goslin hit into four double plays, but the Tigers still beat Cleveland 4-1.
1956 — Cincinnati rookie Frank Robinson hit the first home run of his 586 lifetime homers in a 9-1 win over Chicago. Robinson homer came off Paul Minner in Crosley Field.
1961 — Warren Spahn, at the age of 40, no-hit the San Francisco Giants 1-0 at Milwaukee.
1966 — Cleveland’s Sonny Siebert defeated the Angels 2-1 as the Indians tie the modern major league record with its 10th straight win since opening day.
1971 — Hank Aaron connected off Gaylord Perry for his 600th career home run in the Atlanta Braves’ 10-inning, 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
1982 — Philadelphia’s Pete Rose went 5-for-5 to tie Max Carey for the NL record with nine career 5-hit games. The Phillies scored six runs in the top of the ninth to beat Los Angeles 9-3.
1985 — The New York Yankees hire Billy Martin as their manager for a fourth time. The fiery Martin, one of George Steinbrenner’s favorite managers, replaces Yogi Berra, who is fired just 16 games into the season.
1988 — The winless Baltimore Orioles set an American League record by losing their 21st straight, falling to the Minnesota Twins 4-2.
1989 — Rickey Henderson of the New York Yankees set a major league record when he led off a game with a home run for the 36th time in his career, breaking a tie with Bobby Bonds.
1999 — Colorado’s Larry Walker hit three home runs and drove in eight runs to lead the Rockies to a 9-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
2001 — The Seattle Mariners defeat the Chicago White Sox, 8 – 5, for their 20th win this month, setting a new major league record for April.
2001 — Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals ties the major league record for home runs in April by a rookie with 8.
2006 — Barry Bonds hits a bases-clearing double to tie Babe Ruth for third on the all-time career list with 1,356 extra-base hits.
2006 — St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hits his 13th home run in April to tie the major league record, matching the mark shared by Ken Griffey, Jr. in 1997 with Seattle and Luis Gonzalez in 2001 with Arizona.
2007 — Trevor Hoffman pitches in his 803rd game for the San Diego Padres, breaking the record for games pitched with one club.
2010 — Major League Baseball announces a number of changes to the rules that govern the All-Star Game that have been agreed with the Players’ union: the designated hitter will now be used in all games, not just those played in American League parks; a pitcher who started a game on the last Sunday before the All-Star break will not be eligible to play in the game and will be replaced on the roster, although he will still be recognized as an All-Star (this will become known as the Sunday Starter rule); rosters are expanded to 34 players, adding one position player; one of the position players will be designated as being able to re-enter the game in case of injury – catchers are already allowed to do so in those circumstances.
2011 — Ben Zobrist set a Tampa Bay record with eight RBIs, hitting a home run and two doubles as the Rays routed the Minnesota Twins 15-3 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
2012 — Bryce Harper makes his much-anticipated major league debut for the Nationals.
2016 — Marlins 2B Dee Gordon, the defending National League batting champion, is suspended for 80 games for testing positive for PEDs.
2019 — The Nationals do something unprecedented as three players all 21 or younger – Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom – all homer against the Padres.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1988 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)..
Off the field…
Vice President and Republican candidate George Bush Sr. defeated Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis in the presidential race to become the forty-first President of the United States.
The investment firm of Kohlberg-Kravis-Roberts paid nearly $30 billion dollars for the R.J. Reynolds-Nabisco Company, which had merged in 1985, in the largest leveraged buyout ever. The investment deal went on to become the subject of a best-selling novel and television movie entitled “Barbarians at the Gate”.
Undefeated heavyweight boxing champion “Iron Mike” Tyson’s problems outside boxing started to gain prominence after his marriage to Robin Givens ended admidst a media circus. The highly publicized divorce set in motion a series of bizarre events that not only dimished his skills in the ring, but ultimately ended his career after repeated acts of reckless behavior and criminal violence.
In the American League…
The Anaheim Angels signed University of Michigan pitcher Jim Abbott, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic baseball team despite being born without a right hand.
Minnesota Twins reliever Jeff Reardon became the first pitcher in Major League history with forty saves in both leagues after finishing off the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on September 17th. In 1985, Reardon recorded forty-one saves with the National League’s Montreal Expos.
The Oakland Athletics’ Jose Canseco became the first player to hit at least forty home runs and steal forty bases in the same season. His thirty-ninth and fortieth stolen bases as well as his forty-first home run came in a 9-8, fourteen-inning marathon against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 23rd.
In the National League…
On August 30th Kent Tekulve, the side-arm reliever of the Philadelphia Phillies, pitched two innings for a 7-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants in his 1000th game. Only one other player in baseball history, Hoyt Wilhelm, had reached the one-thousand milestone to date.
Tom Browning, of the Cincinnati Reds, tossed the first perfect nine-inning game in the National League in twenty-three years against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Riverfront Stadium. The young lefty threw one-hundred two pitches and finished with a 1-0 victory and seven strikeouts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale’s Major League record after pitching ten shutout innings against the San Diego Padres extending his string to fifty-nine. Hershiser had begun his streak with four shutout innings against the Montreal Expos. Then he beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0, the Cincinnati Reds 5-0, the Braves again 1-0, the Houston Astros 1-0 and the San Francisco Giants 3-0.
Around the league…
Chicago’s Board of Alderman finally approved the addition of lights at Wrigley Field. After a vote of 29-19, the members repeal the anti-noise laws that had kept the Cubs’ ballpark as the only Major League stadium without lights. The decision resulted in the introduction of night games to the other half of the “Windy City” and the promise of the 1990 All-Star Game at Wrigley.
Willie “Pops” Stargell became the only player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. The team captain / outfielder / first baseman played twenty-one years for the Pittsburgh Pirates and hit .282 with 475 home runs and 1,540 runs batted in. He led the National League in slugging average in 1974 with .646, led the Senior Circuit in home runs twice and played in two World Series while batting .315.
In December, Major League Baseball signed a four-year, $1.05 billion dollar television deal with the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) making it one of the largest agreements (to date) between the sport of baseball and the business of broadcasting.
The game-winning RBI was dropped as an official statistic by the rules and regulations committee.
HISTORY OF THE DETROIT TIGERS (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
The Tigers truly reflect the city they represent.
In the first half of the 20th century, the Tigers flourished like the automobile industry and the city of Detroit. They were a vital and thriving baseball enterprise, winning seven pennants and more games than any team except the Yankees. They never finished last, and boasted some of the greatest hitters and personalities the game has seen.
As the second half of the century progressed, the auto industry, Detroit and the Tigers declined together. They managed only two championship seasons, their stadium, once considered stately and quaint, seemed tired and charmless. The team endured long stretches of mediocrity and, like Detroit itself, spent much time searching for the formula that would recapture past glories.
Detroit played in the National League during the 19th century, but the lack of fan support doomed the franchise. Detroit joined the American League as a charter member in 1901. They were known as the Tigers from Day One; old timers said it was due to the orange stripe on their uniform socks. They had an auspicious debut, winning their first-ever game against Milwaukee 14-13 after trailing 13-4.
The Tiger franchise was electrified in 1905 with the arrival of Tyrus Raymond Cobb, a once-in-a-generation ballplayer, who over the next 24 seasons (the last two with Philadelphia) would win 12 batting titles, nine of them consecutively. He retired with a slew of records, including the highest lifetime average (.367) and most hits ever by a player until Pete Rose eclipsed that mark in 1985.
Cobb created an enduring legacy as a player and personality, and an unmatched record as a hitter. This was acknowledged when he won the most votes among the five players selected as the initial inductees into the Hall of Fame in 1936. Cobb earned more votes than Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson or Honus Wagner.
In his earliest seasons, Cobb patrolled center field for an aggressive freewheeling team managed by the colorful and dynamic Hughie Jennings. With Cobb and “Wahoo” Sam Crawford (2,964 career hits and 309 triples — still the all-time record), the Tigers won three consecutive pennants in 1907-09 but lost all three World Series, the first pair to the Cubs and the third to the Pirates.
The Tigers came up short during the next decade, despite the slugging of Cobb and Harry Heilmann, one of the greatest right-hand hitters of all time. He owns a lifetime average of .342 (one of the top 10 marks all time) and won four batting titles with averages of .394, .403, .393 and .398.
In 1912, the Tigers moved their baseball activities to a new ballpark on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues called Navin Field, then Briggs Stadium and eventually Tiger Stadium. They would play more than 6,800 games there during more than 88 years before moving to Comerica Park in 2000.
Jennings resigned the team and Cobb became manager in 1920. His record as a manager was spotty, and finished his career in Philadelphia. The next significant personnel move for the Tigers was the acquisition of Mickey Cochrane from the Philadelphia A’s in 1933. Cochrane, considered one of the best catchers in history, combined on field talent with an ability to lead and rally teammates.
He was soon joined by the “G-Men” – Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg and Leon “Goose” Goslin – Hall of Famers all. Gehringer was the best second baseman of the 1930s – a lifetime .320 hitter; 13 times he batted better than .300 and four times he drove in more than 100 runs. Greenberg, a lifetime .313 hitter, led the American League in home runs four times and drove in more than 100 runs seven times. In 1938 he made a serious run at Babe Ruth’s 60 home run record, finishing with 58. Goslin, a lifetime .316 hitter acquired in a trade with the Washington Senators, would knock in more than 100 runs for Detroit three years in a row.
Along with pitching ace Tommy Bridges, the Tigers won consecutive pennants in 1934-35 and finally won their first world championship with a six game decision against the Cubs in 1935. Cochrane ended his career after being beaned in 1937, but the team added slugger Rudy York and buttressed the pitching staff with Bobo Newsom and Schoolboy Rowe, allowing the Tigers to claw to the top again in 1940 and 1945, winning the latter World Series against the Cubs again.
Ten years later a new anchor appeared in the person of Al Kaline, who became the youngest-ever batting champion (.340 in 1955) at age 20. Kaline’s tenure featured veterans such as Norm Cash and fan favorite Willie Horton. They contended frequently, but reached the Promised Land only once – 1968 when Denny McLain became baseball’s last 30 game winner (31-6, 1.96 ERA)) and the Tigers defeated the Cardinals in seven games.
Sparky Anderson was the next anchor, beginning his managerial reign in 1979. By far his best year came five seasons later, when his 1984 team won 10 of its first 11 games and 35 of 40 leading the American League East wire to wire. They had punch in the lineup with Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammel, Kirk Gibson and Howard Johnson, and a knockout pitching staff – Jack Morris (19-11) led the starters and Willie Hernandez closed to the tune of 32 saves. They easily dispatched the Padres in a five-game World Series.
Tough times ensued after that, sans for a 1987 Eastern Division title. The nadir was 2003 when they challenged the New York Mets modern record of 120 losses and came up one short at 43-119.
Amazingly, a competitive turnaround occurred quickly when Jim Leyland returned to the organization where he coached for 18 seasons as manager prior to the 2006 season. Led by Magglio Ordonez (.298 average, 24 homers, 104 RBI), and Justin Verlander (17-9), the Tigers shocked baseball by winning the American League pennant and advancing to the World Series against St. Louis.
They lost the Series in five games, but the team was once again a factor in the American League Central as it hoped to add to its 10 pennants, four world championships, 23 batting champions and 11 home run champions through 2010.
BASEBALL GREATS
Ernie Banks
He will always be “Mr. Cub,” the most popular player the Cubs ever had. His sunny personality is legend, as is his refrain on a sunny day: “Let’s play two!” The first black player on the Cubs, Banks came up as a shortstop, where he won consecutive MVP awards, but actually played more games at first base. He is also one of a handful of Hall of Famers never to get into postseason play.
Growing up in Dallas, Banks had to be bribed with nickels and dimes by his father to play catch. Banks, more interested in softball than baseball, was a high school star in both football and basketball, and once ran a 52-second quarter mile. At the age of 17, he signed on to play baseball with a Negro barnstorming team for $15 a game. Cool Papa Bell later signed him for the Kansas City Monarchs. He returned to them after two years in the army, and the Cubs discovered him there at the end of the 1953 season. The 22-year-old went right to the Cubs and hit his first homer on September 20, 1953, off Gerry Staley in St. Louis. He quickly replaced Roy Smalley, Sr., as the regular Cub shortstop in 1954. Starting with his first game in 1953, he played 424 consecutive games until fracturing his hand midway through the 1956 season.
Like his contemporary, Hank Aaron, Banks didn’t look like a power hitter. He was slim, with powerful thighs, and he held his bat high, wiggling it nervously while waiting for the pitch. Like Aaron he got his power from amazingly quick and strong wrists. A teammate of his once remarked that Banks had “wrists right up to his armpits.” An opposing player noted that he often “hits the ball right out of the catcher’s mitt.” In 1955, he switched to a lighter bat, starting a trend. He then went out and smacked 44 HR, the most ever for a shortstop, including three in one day at Wrigley against Pittsburgh and an NL-record five grand slams. His best years were his consecutive MVP years in 1958 and 1959. He hit .313 and .304 respectively — his only full years over .300 — and led the league in RBI both years, with 129 and a career-high 143. He also hit a league-leading and career-high 47 HR in 1958 and added another 45 in 1959.
From 1955 to 1960, Banks hit more homers than anyone in the majors, including Mantle, Mays, and Aaron. At the end of the 1959 season, he was so popular that the Cubs wanted to give him his own day. The modest Banks gratefully declined, saying that he hadn’t been around long enough to be so honored. By 1964, Banks had relented, and the honorary day was held.
At first, Banks’s fielding was erratic. He posted error totals of 34, 22, and 25 early in his career, culminating in a league-leading 32 in 1958. He worked dilligently to cut his errors down to 12 in 1959, then a record for shortstops, and led NL shortstops in fielding in both 1960 (he won a Gold Glove) and 1961. Meanwhile, he kept hitting. In the first 1960 All-Star game he had a two-run homer in a 5-3 NL victory, and he ended the season leading the league in HR for the second time, with 41.
Even though Banks had led the league in fielding the previous two seasons, injuries to his legs had cut down his range, so he accepted a move to first base in 1962. When Leo Durocher took over the team in 1966, he kept bringing up young phenoms to replace Banks, but none did. Banks won the fielding title at his new position in 1969, and led NL first basemen in assists five times. By 1970, his legs had begun to weaken from nagging injuries and arthritis. On May 12, 1970, he hit his 500th homer, the most avidly anticipated event in Wrigley Field history, with the possible exception of the first night game. After Banks’s retirement in 1971, the Cubs hoisted a pinstriped pennant with his number 14 atop the left field foul pole at Wrigley Field. He was the first Cubs player to have his number retired.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
April 28
1923 — Wembley Stadium opens – Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham United (FA Cup).
1931 — Program for woman athletes approved for 1932 Olympics track & field.
1956 — Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson hits his 1st of 586 HRs.
1957 — LPGA Western Open Women’s Golf, Montgomery CC: Patty Berg wins her 6th WO by 1 stroke from Wiffi Smith.
1961 — Milwaukee Braves’ future HOF pitcher Warren Spahn throws his second career no hitter at 41.
1966 — Boston edges the Los Angeles Lakers 95-93 in Game 7, giving the Celtics and coach Red Auerbach eight straight NBA titles. Auerbach, who announced his retirement earlier, is replaced by center Bill Russell, the first black head coach of a major U.S. sports team.
1967 — Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the U.S. Armed Forces. He is arrested and the New York State Athletic Commission suspends his boxing license and strips him of his heavyweight title.
1972 — Courts award 1968 Kentucky Derby prize money to 2nd place winner due to the winner being given drugs before the race.
1987 — The NBA awards expansion franchises to Charlotte, N.C. and Miami for 1988, and Minneapolis and Orlando, Fla., in 1989.
1987 — NFL Draft: University of Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde first pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
1990 — Boston set single-game NBA playoff records for scoring and shooting accuracy in a 157-128 rout of the New York Knicks to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
1992 — Video replay is used to decide a playoff game for the first time. In game six of the Detroit-Minnesota division semifinal, Sergei Fedorov of the Red Wings appears to hit the crossbar behind Minnesota goalie Jon Casey during overtime. The Stars ice the puck immediately, but referee Rob Shick calls for a video review. The replay shows the puck enters the goal just below the crossbar and caroms off the frame at the back of the net. Fedorov is awarded the goal to give the Red Wings a series-tying 1-0 victory.
1995 — Michael Jordan, in his first playoff game since his return from retirement, scored 48 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets 108-100.
1995 — The Orlando Magic give the Boston Celtics their worst defeat in team history, 124-77, in a playoff opener.
2001 — Colorado’s Patrick Roy sets an NHL record with his 16th career playoff shutout, making 20 saves in a 2-0 win over Los Angeles.
2003 — Andre Agassi recaptures the world no. 1 ranking to become the oldest top-ranked male in the history of the ATP rankings (33 years, 13 days).
2007 — NFL Draft: LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell first pick by Oakland Raiders.
2009 — Washington edges the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference series to cap a comeback from a 3-games-to-1 deficit. It is the franchise’s first series victory since the 1997-98 season, when Washington made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.
2010 — Montreal beats Washington 2-1 to complete a come-from-behind 4-3 series victory and eliminate the NHL’s best regular-season in the first round of the playoffs. The Canadiens are the ninth No. 8-seeded team to knock off a No. 1 in 32 matchups since the NHL went to its current playoff format in 1994 — and the first to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.
2011 — Canada’s Patrick Chan wins his first world figure skating title in record fashion. Chan sets world records for the free skate and total points to claim titles at the world figure skating championships in Moscow.
2011 — NFL Draft: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton first pick by Carolina Panthers.
2016 — The Los Angeles Rams select California quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and the No. 2 selection for the Philadelphia Eagles is North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. It’s the second straight year that two QBs went 1-2 and the seventh time in the modern era of the draft since 1967.
2018 — Shaquem Griffin is the first one-handed person to be drafted into the NFL, for the Seattle Seahawks.
TV SPORTS SUNDAY
Sunday, April 28
AUTO RACING
7:30 a.m.
TRUTV — FIM MotoGP: The Spanish Grand Prix – Round 4, Cádiz, Spain
11 a.m.
FS1 — NHRA: Qualifying, zMAX Dragway, Concord, N.C. (Taped)
1:30 p.m.
NBC — NTT IndyCar Series: The Children’s Of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala.
2 p.m.
FS1 — NASCAR Cup Series: The Würth 400, Dover Motor Speedway, Dover, Del.
6 p.m.
FS1 — NHRA: The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Concord, N.C. (Taped)
BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE
1 p.m.
NBATV — City Oilers vs. Al Ahly Ly, Cairo
BOWLING
1 p.m.
FOX — PBA: The Tournament Of Champions Finals, Fairlawn, Ohio
COLLEGE BASEBALL
11 a.m.
BTN — Rutgers at Indiana
3 p.m.
SECN — Kentucky at South Carolina
4 p.m.
ESPN2 — Clemson at Louisville
7 p.m.
ESPNU — Indiana St. at S. Illinois
PAC-12N — California at Stanford
COLLEGE LACROSSE (WOMEN’S)
Noon
ACCN — Atlantic Coast Tournament: TBD, Championship, Charlotte, N.C.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
11 a.m.
ESPNU — Oklahoma at UCF
Noon
ESPN2 — Florida at Georgia
1 p.m.
SECN — Auburn at Mississippi
2 p.m.
ACCN — Boston College at Notre Dame
BTN — Illinois at Ohio St.
ESPN2 — Tennessee at Alabama
3 p.m.
PAC-12N — Stanford at Washington
4 p.m.
ACCN — Duke at NC State
5 p.m.
PAC-12N — Arizona at UCLA
6 p.m.
SECN — Mississippi St. at Missouri
GOLF
12:45 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans, Final Round, TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La.
1 p.m.
CW — LIV Golf League: Final Round, Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, Australia (Taped)
2:45 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Mitsubishi Electric Classic, Final Round, TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga.
3 p.m.
CBS — PGA Tour: The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans, Final Round, TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La.
6 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The JM Eagle LA Championship, Final Round, Wilshire Country Club, Los Angeles
HORSE RACING
1 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
IIHF HOCKEY (MEN’S)
8 a.m.
NHLN — IIHF U-18 World Championship Group Stage: Sweden vs. Czech Republic, Group B, Vantaa, Finland
11 a.m.
NHLN — IIHF U-18 World Championship Group Stage: U.S. vs. Latvia, Group A, Espoo, Finland
MLB BASEBALL
1:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: LA Dodgers at Toronto OR St. Louis at NY Mets
4 p.m.
ESPN — Houston vs. Colorado, Mexico City
7 p.m.
ESPN — Chicago Cubs at Boston
NBA BASKETBALL
1 p.m.
ABC — Eastern Conference First Round Playoff: New York at Philadelphia, Game 4
3:30 p.m.
ABC — Western Conference First Round Playoff: LA Clippers at Dallas, Game 4
7 p.m.
TNT — Eastern Conference First Round Playoff: Milwaukee at Indiana, Game 4
9:30 p.m.
TNT — Western Conference First Round Playoff: Minnesota at Phoenix, Game 4
NHL HOCKEY
2:30 p.m.
TNT — Western Conference First Round Playoff: Winnipeg at Colorado, Game 4
TRUTV — Western Conference First Round Playoff: Winnipeg at Colorado, Game 4 (BetCast)
5 p.m.
TBS — Western Conference First Round Playoff: Vancouver at Nashville, Game 4
TRUTV — Western Conference First Round Playoff: Vancouver at Nashville, Game 4 (BetCast)
8 p.m.
TBS — Eastern Conference First Round Playoff: NY Rangers at Washington, Game 4
TRUTV — Eastern Conference First Round Playoff: NY Rangers at Washington, Game 4 (BetCast)
10:30 p.m.
TBS — Western Conference First Round Playoff: Edmonton at Los Angeles, Game 4
TRUTV — Western Conference First Round Playoff: Edmonton at Los Angeles, Game 4 (BetCast)
RODEO
1:30 p.m.
CBS — PBR: Bucking Battle, Louisville, Ky. (Taped)
8 p.m.
CBSSN — PBR: Round 2 & Championship Round, Louisville, Ky.
SOCCER (MEN’S)
9 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur
11:30 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Manchester City at Nottingham Forest
TENNIS
5 a.m.
TENNIS — Madrid-ATP/WTA Early Rounds
6 a.m.
TENNIS — Madrid-ATP/WTA Early Rounds
5 a.m. (Monday)
TENNIS — Madrid-WTA Round of 16; Madrid-ATP Early Rounds
6 a.m. (Monday)
TENNIS — Madrid-WTA Round of 16; Madrid-ATP Early Rounds
TRACK AND FIELD
4 p.m.
NBC — USATF: The Bermuda Grand Prix, Devonshire, Bermuda
UFL FOOTBALL
Noon
ESPN — St. Louis at D.C.
3 p.m.
FOX — Michigan at Memphis
VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
2 p.m. CBSSN — Pro Volleyball Federation: Vegas at Atlanta