CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCORES
WAPAHANI 8 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 0
CENTERVILLE 10 WINCHESTER 4
WINCHESTER 4 CENTERVILLE 3
BEECH GROVE 14 CLINTON PRAIRIE 1
INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 17 TINDLEY 0
RUSHVILLE 5 S. RIPLEY 1
WARREN CENTRAL 4 PLAINFIELD 2
GREENWOOD 6 SOUTHPORT 4
WHITELAND 4 BEN DAVIS 1
WHITELAND 13 BEN DAVIS 1
TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 15 FAITH CHRISTIAN 9
INDIANAPOLIS TECH 7 MARION 3
MARION 11 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 5
LOGANSPORT 7 ANDERSON 1
LOGANSPORT 12 ANDERSON 7
UNION CITY 6 SOUTHERN WELLS 5
SHELBYVILLE 5 FRANKLIN COUNTY 3
JAY COUNTY 5 PARK TUDOR 1
JAY COUNTY 7 WAPAHANI 5
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 26 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 0
TRINITY LUTHERAN 6 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 4
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 4 TRINITY LUTHERAN 0
UNION CITY 8 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 0
LAFAYETTE JEFF 3 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 1
NOBLESVILLE 4 WESTFIELD 2
FISHERS 13 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 2
PURDUE POLY 22 PROVIDENCE CR 2
NORTH CENTRAL 14 HARRISON 1
GREENWOOD 7 SOUTHPORT 2
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/29/2023
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCORES
HARRISON 15 BEN DAVIS 2
DECATUR CENTRAL 21 WARREN CENTRAL 2
CATHEDRAL 16 HERRON 4
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 7 FRANKLIN 3
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 10 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 0
INDIANAPOLIS CHARARD 17 TINDLEY 0
CONNERSVILLE 13 GREENSBURG 3
CONNERSVILLE 12 GREENSBURG 2
AVON 12 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 0
PLAINFIELD 5 NORTHEASTERN 2
NOBLESVILLE 11 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 0
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 11 MCCUTCHEON 8
COLUMBUS NORTH 9 FRANKLIN 3
MCCUTCHEON 4 FRANKLIN 4
NORTHEASTERN 14 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 2
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/29/2023
NBA PLAYOFFS
DENVER 125 PHOENIX 107
NHL PLAYOFFS
TORONTO 2 TAMPA BAY 1
NY RANGERS 5 NEW JERSEY 2
EDMONTON 5 LOS ANGELES 4
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
CINCINNATI 3 OAKLAND 2
PHILADELPHIA 6 HOUSTON 1
MILWAUKEE 7 LA ANGELS 5
DETROIT 7 BALTIMORE 4
KANSAS CITY 3 MINNESOTA 2
TORONTO 1 SEATTLE 0
BOSTON 8 CLEVELAND 7
BALTIMORE 6 DETROIT 4
TEXAS 2 NY YANKEES 0
TAMPA BAY 12 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3
PITTSBURGH 6 WASHINGTON 3
ATLANTA AT NEW YORK METS POSTPONED
MIAMI 7 CHICAGO CUBS 6
SAN DIEGO 16 SAN FRANCISCO 11
PITTSBURGH 16 WASHINGTON 1
ARIZONA 11 COLORADO 4
LA DODGERS 1 ST. LOUIS 0
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
INDIANAPOLIS 8 COLUMBUS 5
FORT WAYNE 5 GREAT LAKES 2
GREAT LAKES 2 FORT WAYNE 0
SOUTH BEND 7 PEORIA 4
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCORES
NASHVILLE 3 ATLANTA 1
MIAMI 2 COLUMBUS 1
DC 3 CHARLOTTE 0
NEW ENGLAND 1 CINCINNATI 1
ORLANDO 2 LA 0
TORONTO 1 NEW YORK CITY 0
CHICAGO 1 NEW YORK 1
AUSTIN 2 SAN JOSE 2
MONTRÉAL 2 KANSAS CITY 0
PORTLAND 2 ST. LOUIS 1
SALT LAKE 0 SEATTLE 0
COLORADO 0 VANCOUVER 0
XFL FOOTBALL SCORES
ARLINGTON 26 HOUSTON 11
USFL SCORES
NEW ORLEANS 45 BIRMINGHAM 31
MICHIGAN 24 PHILADELPHIA 10
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
NOTRE DAME 12 FLORIDA STATE 2
CREIGHTON 5 BUTLER 2
MARYLAND 16 INDIANA 2
PURDUE 6 RUTGERS 3
BALL STATE 10 BOWLING GREEN 8
BOWLING GREEN 7 BALL STATE 3
MISSOURI STATE 12 VALPO 2
INDIANA STATE 7 EVANSVILLE 4
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
BALL STATE 6 AKRON 1
BUTLER 5 GEORGETOWN 3
EVANSVILLE 3 ILLINOIS STATE 2
IUPUI 7 DETROIT MERCY 1
MISSOURI STATE 8 INDIANA STATE 7
INDIANA 4 MICHIGAN 1
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
NBA PLAYOFFS
MURRAY SCORES 34, NUGGETS BEAT SUNS 125-107 IN GAME 1
DENVER (AP) Jamal Murray kept imploring the crowd to get louder and louder with each trip down the floor.
As if the Nuggets point guard even needed to. His play was already rocking the arena.
Murray scored 34 points, hitting six of Denver’s 16 3-pointers, and the Nuggets sprinted past the Phoenix Suns 125-107 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their second-round series.
“He’s a bad man,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
Any response to that adulation?
“Thanks?” Murray said. “Appreciate it. … I’m just playing my game. … I’m doing whatever it takes to win.”
And maybe show a nation that doesn’t always get to watch the Nuggets – you know, because they’re usually on so late – what the players have known all season: They’re talented and worthy of their top seed in the Western Conference. They don’t mind if the Suns, as the fourth seed, are the trendy pick to beat them, either.
“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, keep proving everybody wrong,” Murray said.
Reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 24 points and 19 rebounds, while Aaron Gordon finished with 23 points. But this was the Murray Show, where he went 6 of 10 from 3-point land and frequently exhorted for more noise from the already raucous crowd.
“Let’s be honest, some of the shots he hit tonight I don’t think anybody could have stopped him,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.
Kevin Durant scored 29 points and grabbed 14 boards for the Suns, with Devin Booker adding 27 points and Chris Paul 11. Booker averaged 37.2 points in a first-round series win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I thought that they were just more physical, played with more force,” Williams said. “We’ve got to regroup and do a much better job of playing with pace on offense.”
Game 2 is Monday night in Denver.
This is a different sort of playoff series than two years ago, when the Suns swept the Nuggets in the second round. Back then, Denver was without Murray after he tore his ACL.
Now healthy, Murray is flashing his 2020 form inside the NBA bubble that helped Denver advance to the Western Conference finals.
“Jamal just continues to add to the legend of playoff Jamal,” Malone said.
Murray had the play of the night when he stole a pass, split defenders Paul and Durant at top speed and knocked in a layup high off the glass. It brought the capacity crowd to its feet.
The dynamic point guard was far from done energizing the fans, hitting a 3-pointer with just under 7 minutes remaining. He implored them for more noise, even holding a hand to his ear.
Leading 106-95 with 7:40 remaining, the Nuggets went on a 14-0 run to put away the game. Denver led by as much as 25 and improved to 38-7 at home through the regular season and playoffs.
Durant cut off a question about whether he was surprised by the Nuggets.
Because he’s not.
“They’re the No. 1 seed for a reason. They got a two-time MVP. They’ve got a deep team. I’m not surprised,” Durant said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
The difference was the 3-point line, where the Nuggets outscored the Suns by a 48-21 margin. That and turnovers, where the Suns had 16, including seven by Durant.
“I’ve got to be way more careful with the ball,” Durant said. “I’ve to look to either shoot the ball or make the correct pass. … I dang got near half our turnovers. We’ll be fine. I think we’ve just got to play with confidence, shoot with confidence and see what happens next game.”
TIP-INS
Suns: Williams used his challenge early – with 55.4 seconds left in the first quarter – when Booker was called for a charge on a made a basket. It paid off as the call was overturned and Booker awarded a free throw, which he made. … Deandre Ayton scored 14 points. … Durant has 4,730 playoff points to move closer to passing Karl Malone (4,761) seventh place on the NBA’s postseason points leaderboard.
Nuggets: Malone called a timeout 32 seconds into the second half to settle his team down. Malone said the conversation was simple: “Wake up,” he recounted. … Bruce Brown had 14 points.
PAUL PRAISE
As Paul approaches his 38th birthday next week, Malone said the one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is Paul’s elite competitiveness.
“He’ll be 55 years old, playing in a rec league back in North Carolina, and he’s going to be the same guy,” Malone said. “The guy hates to lose, ultra-competitive and one of the greatest leaders I’ve ever been around. … No matter what stage of his career, he still finds a way to impact winning at a high level.”
NHL NEWS
TAVARES’ OT GOAL GIVES MAPLE LEAFS SERIES WIN OVER LIGHTNING
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs finally advanced in the NHL playoffs, and coach Sheldon Keefe struggled to find the right words to capture the moment.
“It’s been a long road for a lot of our guys. … They’ve been through a lot, been questioned a lot,” he said Saturday night after John Tavares scored 4:35 into overtime, and the Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 for their first postseason win in nearly two decades.
“Today is a significant step, but we’re not going to celebrate anything beyond,” Keefe added. “There’s a lot of work ahead. … I feel like the best is yet to come.”
Ending a frustrating drought that included first-round exits each of the past six years, the Maple Leafs won the best-of-seven matchup in six games and advanced to Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston or Florida. The Bruins and Panthers play Game 7 of their first-round series on Sunday in Boston.
“You’re relieved, and you’re happy,” Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said. “At the same time, it’s the first round. We want to keep going.”
Toronto advanced in a series for the first time since 2004, winning three times in overtime on the road and ending an 11-game losing streak in elimination games.
The loss, meanwhile, ends Tampa Bay’s run of three consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, and then lost to the Colorado Avalanche in six games last year.
“We played well enough to win the series, but you can’t lose three overtime games at home,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
Still, coming up short against the Maple Leafs was tough after winning 11 of 12 playoff series over the previous three postseasons.
“This team hasn’t lost a playoff series against the Eastern Conference since 2019. It’s 2023,” Cooper said. “We’re not used to this feeling.”
Auston Matthews scored his fifth goal of the series for Toronto, beating Andrei Vasilevskiy from the top of the right circle at 13:47 of the second period. Tavares added the winner, which trickled past the Lightning goalie after deflecting off a defender’s skate.
“Obviously, it a great feeling when the puck goes into the net,” said Tavares, who had his first career playoff hat trick to key a win at home in Game 2.
The Maple Leafs also won Games 3 and 4 on the road, with Rielly and Alexander Kerfoot scoring winning goals in overtime.
“You can’t beat Tampa Bay without it being a team effort,” Keefe said.
Steven Stamkos scored for the Lightning, which a year ago rallied from 2-1 and 3-2 series deficits to eliminate Toronto in the first round in seven games.
Stamkos felt Tampa Bay played better this year than it did in defeating the Maple Leafs during the 2022 playoffs.
“I agree,” Cooper said.
Two nights after stopping 28 shots to fend off elimination and trim Toronto’s series lead to 3-2 in Game 5, Vasilevskiy was on top of his game again.
Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov was just as good, though, holding Tampa Bay scoreless until Stamkos positioned himself perfectly in front of the net to knock in a rebound at 4:19 of the third period.
Samsonov finished with 31 saves. Vasilevskiy stopped 20 of 22 shots.
BUNTING RETURNS
Toronto forward Michael Bunting returned to the lineup for the first time since he was suspended for three games for an illegal check to the head and interference against Tampa Bay defenseman Erik Cernak during Game 1. He was eligible to return for Game 5, but Keefe choose to go with the same lineup for the fourth straight game. Cernak has not played for the Lightning since the series opener.
OILERS ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND WITH 5-4 VICTORY OVER KINGS
LOS ANGELES (AP) Kailer Yamamoto scored his first playoff goal with 3:02 remaining, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 on Saturday night to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Klim Kostin had two goals and an assist as the Oilers eliminated the Kings for the second straight season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl also scored in Game 6, and Stuart Skinner stopped 40 shots.
Next up for Edmonton is the Vegas Golden Knights in the next round. The Oilers won three of the four regular-season meetings, but Vegas won the Pacific Division by two points on the way to the top seed in the Western Conference.
Yamamoto got the game-winner after the Kings tied it 7:46 into the third period. Phillip Danault took advantage of Skinner breaking his stick and put in a short-handed goal.
Kevin Fiala had a goal and two assists for Los Angeles, and Adrian Kempe and Sean Durzi also scored. The Kings have been eliminated in their last four first-round series.
Viktor Arvidsson, who was moved up to the top line for this game, had two assists. Joonas Korpisalo made 21 saves.
Los Angeles hasn’t won a playoff series since it defeated the New York Rangers in six games in 2014 to capture its second Stanley Cup title in three seasons.
RALLYING BACK
The Kings trailed 3-1 in the second period before tying it on a pair of power-play goals 100 seconds apart.
Kempe went top shelf from the right faceoff circle at 6:36 for his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs. Fiala evened it at 8:16 when his shot from the back of the left faceoff circle found its way through traffic.
ANOTHER QUICK START
McDavid redirected Bouchard’s shot 85 seconds into the game to stake Edmonton to an early lead. It was the fourth time in the last 17 playoff games that the Oilers scored in first two minutes.
The Oilers are 27-6 when scoring first in potential series-clinching games, including a 12-3 record when doing so on the road.
RECORD BOOK
Evan Bouchard tied an NHL record for most power-play points by a defenseman in a playoff series when he picked up an assist on Draisaitl’s goal. It was Bouchard’s sixth assist and eighth point with the man advantage, joining the New York Islanders’ Denis Potvin (who did it twice), Washington’s John Carlson and Detroit’s Paul Coffey.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
A’S SET RECORD FOR STARTERS NOT GETTING WINS TO BEGIN SEASON
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Jake Fraley’s broken-bat double bounced off first base and into right field and put Cincinnati ahead in the ninth inning. And just like that, yet one more backbreaking moment for the downtrodden Oakland Athletics so far in 2023.
Jeurys Familia gave up a one-run lead in the ninth and Fraley’s deciding hit as the A’s set a major league record of 28 games to begin a season without a win by the starting pitcher in a 3-2 loss Saturday.
A’s starter Kyle Muller tossed five innings and was in line to finally break the streak. But Familia (0-1) walked Henry Ramos, surrendered Kevin Newman’s single, then walked Nick Senzel. Fraley delivered one out later.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay touched on all the difficulties in keeping things going in late April and now dealing with a bad-luck bounce.
“Having a play that if the ball doesn’t hit the base and the ball goes in his glove we win the game, I’m sitting here with a different kind of attitude and reaction,” Kotsay said. “Thus is life, right? When you’re hit with the biggest challenges, it’s how you respond to them and how you stand up to those challenges that make you a better person. Hopefully, you learn from those experiences and move forward.”
Cincinnati’s Casey Legumina (1-0) pitched the eighth for his first major league win and Alexis Díaz earned his fourth save.
“It’s unreal. It’s a great atmosphere coming back in especially after a hard-fought game. We were down most of the game,” Legumina said. “To be able to come back late and take the win, it’s a lot of fun for the guys.”
Luke Maile homered leading off the third for the Reds, who have won five straight on the heels of a season-worst six-game losing streak.
The A’s starters have gone 0-15 while surpassing the 2022 Pirates for the longest streak to start a season without a win by the starter – it’s also a franchise record, too. Washington holds the longest streak ever at 43 consecutive games without a win by the starting pitcher, set last but not at the season’s start.
Ramón Laureano returned from an 11-game absence with a strained left groin and immediately showed off his speed and sensational throwing arm, leading one of Oakland’s best defensive days in a so-far dismal season but it was for naught.
With runners on first and second after a pair of singles to start the Reds’ second, Laureano chased down a high fly in foul territory by Newman and fired to third for a spectacular double play.
In another defensive move, A’s third baseman Jace Peterson turned an unassisted double play on Stuart Fairchild’s liner to end the third.
Reliever Richard Lovelady induced José Barrero’s inning-ending double play in the seventh with runners on first and second.
Reds manager David Bell credited his group for sticking with it at the plate during a tough hitting day until things eventually worked out.
“Sometimes these are the best games, you just keep grinding it out,” Bell said. “It really doesn’t matter how you do it, you stay with it and find a way to keep battling and grinding out at-bats. Early in the game it felt like nothing was going right. … You’re going to have games like that and if you can find a way to win those it’s a beautiful thing.”
Aledmys Díaz and Jordan Díaz hit consecutive RBI singles in the second for the A’s against Reds right-hander and opening day starter Hunter Greene. Facing Oakland for the first time in his career, Greene matched his season high with 10 strikeouts while walking three and allowing two unearned runs on five hits over five innings.
CALLING ALL FANS
Oakland drew an announced crowd of 7,052, its seventh time under 10,000 in 14 home games. It came a day after just 6,423 fans showed up for the Athletics’ first home game since announcing a deal for land to build a ballpark in Las Vegas.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: SS Aledmys Díaz is likely headed for the injured list because of a left hamstring injury. He will undergo an MRI exam. He singled in the second, stole second and went to third on a single then was lifted for a pinch runner. Díaz dove for a hard grounder by Tyler Stephenson to start the second and had grabbed at his leg. Kotsay say him massaging the leg when he went to second on the stolen base.
LOSING SERIES
Oakland has dropped its initial nine series of the season. The A’s fell to to 4-23 in April, already having a franchise record for losses in the month.
UP NEXT
LHP Nick Lodolo (2-1, 6.31 ERA) pitches for Cincinnati in Sunday’s series finale. He’ll face the A’s for the first time in his career opposite fellow southpaw Ken Waldichuk (0-2, 7.82), who is coming off three straight no-decisions after losing his initial two outings of 2023.
VERDUGO’S SINGLE IN 10TH LIFTS RED SOX PAST GUARDIANS 8-7
BOSTON (AP) The Boston Red Sox could easily have figured it just wasn’t their day after blowing a late lead and falling behind in extra innings.
They quickly turned it into one of their best victories so far this season.
Alex Verdugo drove in the winning run to cap a two-run 10th inning for the Red Sox, who rallied for an 8-7 victory Saturday over the Cleveland Guardians despite giving up the lead an inning earlier.
“Obviously, it wasn’t easy, but we kept grinding,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
Rafael Devers had a long first-inning, three-run homer, and it seemed the Red Sox were in line for the victory before the Guardians scored four runs in the seventh and tied it on José Ramírez’s RBI single off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth.
Connor Wong had three singles for the Red Sox, who rebounded after losing the series opener for their fifth win in nine games.
Josh Naylor had a three-run double, and Josh Bell and Andrés Giménez both hit a solo homer for the Guardians. Cleveland has lost five of its last eight.
Myles Straw and Steven Kwan opened the ninth with singles before Ramírez lined one to center off Jansen. It was Jansen’s first blown save and run allowed this season.
Mike Zunino singled home placement runner Gabriel Arias in the 10th against Brennan Bernardino before Christian Arroyo’s leadoff single tied it in the bottom half against Cleveland’s tough closer Emmanuel Clase (1-2).
“A day like this is awesome,” Arroyo said. “There’s not many words you can use to describe it. From the top to the bottom, everyone contributed. To come out with a ‘W’ against a guy like Clase in the bottom of the 10th, that’s huge.”
After Arroyo was sacrificed to second and advanced on Zunino’s passed ball, Verdugo drove his single past a diving Amed Rosario at short.
“They put together some pretty good at-bats,” Straw said. “You tip your cap to them.”
Bernardino (1-0) earned his first major league victory.
Devers hooked a slider from Zach Plesac deep around the Pesky Pole that traveled an estimated 411 feet with an exit velocity of 114.1 mph for his 10th of the season.
Working on six days rest in chilly conditions with scattered showers or light drizzle at times, Plesac gave up five runs, eight hits and was chased in the fourth inning.
“They bailed me out today, for sure. Shout out for everybody,” Plesac said. “Tough way to end it, but we’re going to keep grinding. I’m going to go ahead to take this week, and hopefully come back for these boys. They picked me up so I’m going to go ahead and pick them up.”
Devers also had a couple of nice plays at third against Oscar Gonzalez, barehanding a slower roller before throwing to first for an out and lunging to his right to snag a hard liner.
Recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Boston starter Brayan Bello had trouble with the nail on his index finger twice and a blister. He gave up a run, five hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
TAKE A SEAT
Cora gave struggling first baseman Triston Casas the day off and may keep him out of the lineup Sunday, too.
“It’s a good day just to watch and just detach himself from the whole thing and just see the game from a different angle,” Cora said.
Casas is batting only .133 in 75 at-bats.
RAINY AGAIN
In Plesac’s previous start in Fenway Park, on July 25, 2022, it was delayed by rain and he fired the ball completely out of the park over the third-base stands when he was walking off after the umpires called for the tarp.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Guardians: Right-hander Triston McKenzie (shoulder strain, 60-day injured list) threw a bullpen session on Saturday. He said he “felt good … didn’t feel any restrictions out there.” Manager Terry Francona said of McKenzie: “He did good. … He’s pushing, pushing, pushing but listening to what they say.” … LHP Sam Hentges (left shoulder inflammation) will make his third rehab appearance on Sunday. Francona said he could join the team Monday and be activated Tuesday.
Red Sox: Cora said there’s “a chance” righty reliever Chris Martin (15-day IL, right shoulder inflammation) could be activated Sunday. … A trainer visited Jansen on the mound in the ninth. Cora said he had back spasms he felt running before the game.
UP NEXT
Guardians: LHP Logan Allen (1-0, 1.50 ERA) is slated to start the series finale on Sunday afternoon, weather permitting. Steady rain is in the forecast for most of the day.
Red Sox: LHP Chris Sale (1-2, 8.22) looks to rebound from a rough start. He gave up five runs in five innings at Baltimore on Monday.
RODRIGUEZ GETS 1ST MLB WIN, ORIOLES SPLIT DH WITH TIGERS
DETROIT (AP) Grayson Rodriguez pitched five shutout innings with nine strikeouts for his first major league win, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Saturday to split a doubleheader.
Ryan McKenna homered and drove in three runs for the Orioles, who have won 10 of their last 12 games. Detroit fell to 2-13 against AL East opponents.
“That was a fun day,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “I would have rather gone 2-0 and not almost blown a six-run lead in the second game, but it wasn’t bad.”
Matt Vierling had three hits and four RBIs as the Tigers won the opener 7-4.
Baltimore took control of the nightcap by scoring four second-inning runs off Matthew Boyd (1-2) on five singles and a wild pitch.
Zach McKinstry led off the Tigers first with a double, but Detroit didn’t get another baserunner until Miguel Cabrera’s single with two outs in the fifth.
A top-rated prospect, Rodriguez (1-0) allowed two hits and set a career high for strikeouts in his fifth big league start. Afterward, he was at the center of a messy celebration in the clubhouse.
“That was something I’ve never experienced before,” Rodriguez said. “There was a lot of ketchup and mustard – we’ll leave it at that.”
McKenna made it 6-0 with a two-run homer in the sixth, but the Tigers scored four runs in the bottom half, capped by Tyler Nevin’s three-run homer.
Felix Bautista pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
In the first game, Zack Short went 3 for 4 with a home run and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched effectively into the sixth inning for the Tigers.
Short, who walked and scored in the second game, was called up from the minors as the 27th man for the doubleheader. But he earned a spot on the major league team – Nevin is going back to Triple-A Toledo instead.
“I can’t say I expected that to happen today, but that’s why I’m here,” Short said. “I want to prove to them that I belong here.”
Jorge Mateo had a three-run homer for Baltimore in the opener.
Eduardo Rodriguez (2-2) allowed one run on four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six. He is 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his last four starts.
Alex Lange pitched the ninth for his third save.
Orioles starter Dean Kremer (2-1) gave up five runs on 11 hits and two walks in six innings.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Javier Báez and a two-run single by Vierling.
James McCann homered in the second, snapping Eduardo Rodriguez’s 18-inning scoreless streak. It was McCann’s second home run for Baltimore, both against his former team.
Riley Greene made it 4-1 with an RBI single in the second, scoring McKinstry for the second time on his 28th birthday.
Vierling added RBI doubles in the third and seventh.
McCann popped out with the bases loaded to end the sixth, but Mateo trimmed it to 6-4 with a three-run homer off Mason Englert in the eighth.
Short, the No. 9 batter, homered in the eighth to make it 7-4.
ROSTER MOVES
Baltimore added LHP DL Hall as the 27th man for the doubleheader. Making his season debut, Hall allowed two runs and five hits over three innings of relief in the opener.
GOT YOUR NUMBER
With his win in the opener, Eduardo Rodriguez improved to 11-0 in his last 15 appearances against Baltimore. That matches Clayton Kershaw’s 11-game winning streak against the New York Mets as the longest active run for any major league pitcher against one opponent.
TAMING THE TIGERS
Grayson Rodriguez made his second consecutive start versus the Tigers and still hasn’t allowed a run against them. He has held Detroit to seven hits in 10 scoreless innings, striking out 15.
UNIQUE PLAY
After McKinstry’s leadoff double in the second game, Riley Greene hit a ball into the hole that got past Gunnar Henderson at third, but was fielded by Mateo at shortstop. Seeing the base uncovered, McKinstry broke for third – but Mateo raced over to tag him.
“We were talking about it in the dugout, and none of us ever remember seeing a shortstop make that play,” Hyde said. “That’s the kind of closing speed they were drafting in the NFL.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: Placed OF Kerry Carpenter (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list and selected INF Andy Ibanez from Triple-A Toledo.
UP NEXT
The teams finish their four-game series Sunday, with Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish (1-1, 6.30) facing Spencer Turnbull (1-3, 7.25).
SÁNCHEZ HELPS MARLINS HOLD OFF CUBS FOR 7-6 WIN
MIAMI (AP) Jesús Sánchez hit a two-run double in Miami’s five-run first inning, and the Marlins held off the Chicago Cubs for a 7-6 win on Saturday.
Sánchez also singled home Luis Arraez in the fourth. Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each had three hits as Miami earned its third straight victory.
Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-2) struck out a career-high 12 in five innings. He was charged with two runs and three hits.
“It was one of the first games in a while where we did not chase,” first-year Miami manager Skip Schumaker said.
“You are going to have these games, this is going to happen and you want to make sure you put guys in the right situations. But nothing is perfect and this game is hard. You know you’ll have games like these but it is better when you win.”
Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger homered for Chicago in its fifth loss in seven games. Trey Mancini had two hits and scored two runs.
Caleb Kilian (0-1) struggled in his fourth career start for the Cubs. The right-hander, who was promoted from Triple-A Iowa before the game, was tagged for seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The 25-year-old Kilian hurt himself in the first. He hit two batters – plunking Chisholm with the bases loaded – and walked two. He also threw a wild pitch that brought home a run.
Sánchez’s ground-rule double gave Miami a 2-0 lead, and Jacob Stallings had a run-scoring single. Each of the Marlins’ runs in the first scored with two outs.
Wisdom connected for his 10th homer with two out in the second, sending a two-run shot deep to left-center. But Chisholm’s RBI single in the third helped the Marlins build a 7-2 lead.
Bellinger led off the sixth with a solo shot to right, and the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs. After Edwin Ríos struck out looking, Nico Hoerner drove in Mancini with a sacrifice fly to left.
But the inning came to an end when Eric Hosmer was caught in a rundown trying to tag up from second.
Chicago pulled within one with two runs in the eighth, but Matt Barnes escaped the jam when he retired Dansby Swanson on a popup to first.
Tanner Scott gave up a one-out single in the ninth before finishing his second save of the season.
“We battled our tails off. We had the bases-loaded three times. Didn’t get a lot of runs out of it, but they stayed focused,’’ Chicago manager David Ross said. “We had a tough loss (Friday night) and get down five in the first. They fought all the way back and we had a chance in the ninth. They fought really hard and I am proud of that.”
CARIBE TIME
LoanDepot Park will host the Serie del Caribe in 2024. The Caribbean winter league championship was last held in Miami since 1991.
“Baseball is beloved in Miami, in Latin America and across the globe,’’ Marlins President of Business Operations Caroline O’Connor said. “We just saw the excitement for baseball right here in Miami at the World Baseball Classic. … We saw that our local residents as well as the world are ready to watch this tournament. The party starts today.’’
ROSTER MOVES
Cubs: With Kilian coming up from Triple-A, LHP Brandon Hughes was placed on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation. Ross said Hughes needed some rest so the injury would not “have a snowball effect. He’s definitely important to our group and we want to make sure he’s healthy.’’
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Marlins: INF Joey Wendle (strained right intercostal) went 1 for 4 with a triple for Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday. … RHP Johnny Cueto (right biceps tightness) is scheduled to throw 60 pitches in an extended spring training outing Monday.
UP NEXT
Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (4-0, 1.19 ERA) taKes the mound for the series finale on Sunday. The Marlins will counter with right-hander Bryan Hoeing (0-1, 9.82 ERA), who took the loss in Atlanta on Tuesday.
RAYS END LYNN’S NO-HIT BID IN 7TH, BEAT WHITE SOX 12-3
CHICAGO (AP) Wander Franco homered leading off the seventh inning to end Lance Lynn’s no-hit bid, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for 10 runs in the inning and beat the Chicago White Sox 12-3 on Saturday night.
Randy Arozarena added two homers, one in the seventh and another in the ninth, for the Rays, who improved to a major league-best 23-5.
“That was the strategy we came up with early in the game, not get a hit in six innings and just explode in the seventh inning on,” Arozarena said jokingly through a translator.
Franco hit his fifth homer of the season on an 0-2 count on Lynn’s 84th pitch to begin the eventful seventh. Arozarena and Josh Lowe homered back-to-back to cap the rally as White Sox fans chanted, “Sell the team! Sell the team!”
“All we need is that one little spark at any moment in the game and we just catch fire from there,” Lowe said.
Tampa Bay had nine hits in the inning, including five for extra bases.
The White Sox have lost 10 straight to match their longest skid since 2013. They fell to 0-6 against the Rays this season.
Yonny Chirinos (1-0) allowed a run in 4 2/3 innings.
Lynn (0-4) struck out Arozarena after Franco’s homer before allowing Lowe’s single and Isaac Paredes’ double to cut Chicago’s lead to 3-2. Paredes advanced to third on Lynn’s throwing error to home.
Lynn issued a walk and was replaced by Aaron Bummer, who allowed an infield single to pinch-hitter Manuel Margot to tie it at 3. Jose Siri followed with a go-ahead double.
“Lance Lynn was really, really good, had that command going, had the fastball at the top of the zone, backdoor cutter kind of gave us fits,” manager Kevin Cash said “And then something clicked. Wander’s home run, and it seemed like it just kind of had a little bit of that carryover effect at-bat to at-bat. A lot of really, really good at-bats that inning.”
Lynn, who entered Saturday with a 7.52 ERA, struck out 10, walked two and was charged with four runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings.
“I had a no-hitter? I’m serious,” Lynn said. “I know I got a loss tonight, so it doesn’t (expletive) matter.”
Bummer and Jimmy Lambert each allowed three runs.
Francisco Mejía added a solo shot off Keynan Middleton in the eighth.
The White Sox went ahead 2-0 in the second on Elvis Andrus’s two-run single off opener Calvin Faucher. Eloy Jiménez doubled in the sixth for a 3-0 lead.
Lynn had kept the no-hitter going in the inning by striking out Mejía looking and grabbing Siri’s liner before left fielder Gavin Sheets made a running catch at the wall.
“I’m back to being me, so I need to build off tonight,” Lynn said.
ROSTER MOVE
Tampa Bay acquired right-handed reliever Javy Guerra from Milwaukee for $75,000 or a player to be named. Guerra was 0-0 with an 8.64 ERA in eight appearances with the Brewers this season. He was designated for assignment Monday, one day after he allowed five runs over 1 2/3 innings in a 12-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
Guerra went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 17 appearances with the Rays last season.
Tampa Bay designated RHP Braden Bristo for assignment.
EARLY NIGHT
White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. was pulled before his at-bat in the second inning as a managerial decision, the team said. He grounded out to the pitcher in the first without running full speed. Fans reacted with boos.
Robert said his right hamstring felt tight after he hustled during Friday’s game. He withheld that information from manager Pedro Grifol, who said he told Robert to run hard down the line.
“I think my mistake was that I didn’t tell anybody,” Robert sad. “I didn’t tell the manager because I knew if I said something to him, he probably wouldn’t let me play.”
Robert said he told teammates to help him run down fly balls. Robert said he understood Grifol’s decision because he didn’t know.
“People who know me, they know I’m always doing my best and running hard down the line,” Robert said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (left oblique strain) threw two innings at Tropicana Field and is expected to pitch three innings in a rehab stint with Triple-A Durham, Cash said. … 1B Yandy Díaz (left shoulder soreness) pinch hit after he exited Friday’s game. … Cash said he is unsure of the status of RHP Pete Fairbanks, who has experienced limited circulation in his fingers resulting from Raynaud’s disease in cold weather. He exited Friday’s game after extending his franchise-record scoreless streak to 29 2/3-innings.
White Sox: OF Andrew Benintendi was out of the lineup after he was hit by a pitch Friday, but he could return Sunday, Grifol said. … 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) has been running, hitting and fielding grounders. “His left-handed swing is feeling really, really good. His right-handed swing is a little bit behind,” Grifol said.
UP NEXT
RHP Drew Rasmussen (3-2, 3.33 ERA) is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay against Chicago and RHP Mike Clevinger (2-2, 4.81) on Sunday.
KERSHAW DOMINANT OVER 7 INNINGS, DODGERS BEAT CARDINALS 1-0
LOS ANGELES (AP) Clayton Kershaw continued his dominant start to the season with seven sharp innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the struggling St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 on Saturday night.
Kershaw didn’t allow a baserunner until Dylan Carlson’s one-out single in the fifth. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner gave up two hits, struck out nine and walked none, throwing 88 pitches.
“Four innings, you don’t really think about (being perfect) but it’s nice to get off to a good start like that and kind of get into that rhythm,” Kershaw said.
Back for his 16th season on a one-year deal, the 35-year-old Kershaw (5-1) won his fourth consecutive start. He has yielded one earned run over his last three outings, a span of 20 innings. His ERA dropped to 1.89.
“They were swinging a lot, which kept my pitch count down, which was good,” Kershaw said. “I mean it’s a tough lineup. (Paul) Goldschmidt and (Nolan) Arenado are two of the toughest at-bats I have in the game.”
Austin Barnes hit an RBI single in the second inning for Los Angeles, which will try for its first three-game series sweep Sunday. Evan Phillips worked around a walk and an error by shortstop Chris Taylor in the eighth, and Brusdar Graterol finished the three-hitter for his second save.
Cardinals left-hander Jordan Montgomery (2-4) had his second consecutive hard-luck defeat after taking the loss Monday at San Francisco when he gave up one unearned run. He struck out seven while pitching 6 2/3 innings of five-hit ball, but he lost his fourth consecutive decision.
“Monty was good, man,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “He went toe to toe with (Kershaw). The sinker was in play, seven punchouts overall. He was determined to have a good game. We saw a really good version of him tonight.”
The Cardinals have lost five of six. They are 2-7 on a 10-game West Coast trip that started in Seattle last weekend.
Barnes drove in James Outman with his two-out single to center in the second.
“It felt good and obviously I have been struggling a little bit,” said Barnes, who is batting just .093. “Just to come through, get a run on the board, especially when (Kershaw) is on the mound. When we’re downhill and have a lead he’s really, really good.”
After Carlson’s single, Kershaw retired five straight batters before Goldschmidt singled to lead off the seventh.
“I think I’ve said it before, maybe even this year, but tonight was his best night for me (this season) as far as stuff, start to finish,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw. “I thought the fastball (was good), the curveball, the lateness of it was as good as I’ve seen it. The slider. Just the way he tunneled tonight was exceptional.”
Carlson contributed on defense with a running, over-the-shoulder catch of Mookie Betts’ drive to the center-field warning track in the fifth.
Arenado, who entered batting .248 with a .625 OPS, was moved to the No. 3 spot in the St. Louis order for the first time this season after batting cleanup for all but one game. He went 0 for 4.
RUNNING FREE
The Dodgers stole three bases, including two by Freddie Freeman in the first multi-steal game of his career.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: After he was a late scratch Friday as a precaution following mid-back tightness in batting practice, left fielder Tyler O’Neill was back in the lineup. … RHP Adam Wainwright (groin) is expected to make his third rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Memphis.
Dodgers: SS Miguel Rojas, who has not played since April 18 because of a hamstring injury, began a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday. He could return to the Dodgers by Monday.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Jake Woodford (1-2, 5.47 ERA) starts on Sunday. He has allowed seven home runs over his five starts this season.
Dodgers: RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-3, 6.58 ERA) will make his sixth start for his new club while still looking for a win.
MEN’S GOLF
FINAU HOLDS OFF HARD-CHARGING RAHM FOR 2-SHOT LEAD IN MEXICO
VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) Tony Finau had a terrific stretch at the Mexico Open on Saturday, posting five birdies over his last seven holes for a 6-under 65 that gave him a two-shot lead over Masters champion Jon Rahm and 21-year-old Akshay Bhatia.
Rahm, the defending champion, matched his lowest round on the PGA Tour with a 61. He started the third round six shots behind and at one point took a one-shot lead until Finau rallied at the end.
Bhatia also finished with a flourish, hitting his second shot to 8 feet on the par-5 18th hole at Vallarta Vidanta for an eagle and a 63.
Rahm had enough mistakes over the previous two rounds to put himself in a hole. Saturday was not one of those days. He missed only one green and four of his 10 birdies were putts from about 25 feet or longer.
“If I putt as good as I did today, I’ll definitely give myself a chance,” Rahm said.
Finau was at 19-under 194 as he goes for his second victory this season, and his fourth PGA Tour title in the last nine months.
Right as Rahm was making a charge on the back with three straight birdies, Finau answered with a tough pitch from short of the par-5 12th hole for birdie. After a tee shot went long on the par-3 13th, he hit a lofted pitch that rolled in for birdie, and then followed that with a bold 3-iron that he started toward the water and drew it back to about 12 feet on the par-5 14th for a two-putt birdie.
His only blemish was a three-putt from the fringe on the par-3 17th, but he answered with a final birdie to take a two-shot shot cushion into the final round.
Finau didn’t see a leaderboard until early on the back nine. That was his first indication that Rahm was making a big charge.
“I think it definitely got my juices going a little bit and was able to make a few birdies coming in to stay in front of him,” Finau said. “It was something I expected going into today. He’s an amazing golfer. I play with him a lot and to see him at the top of the leaderboard after only 12 or 13 holes was not a big surprise to me.”
Finau was a runner-up to Rahm last year in the Mexico Open.
Rahm began his round with a birdie putt from just inside 40 feet, a sign of what was to come. He went out in 29 and then ran off three straight birdies in the middle of the back nine. The Spaniard needed birdie on the par-5 closing hole for his lowest round, but his drive settled near the lip of a bunker and he could only blast out sideways, leading to par.
He also shot 61 in the third round of the Mexico Championship at Chapultepec in 2020, and in the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in 2022. He did not win either of those two tournaments.
“Today, everything just seemed perfect. Made a lot of great swings and the ones that weren’t great, still gave myself a good result,” Rahm said.
Not to be overlooked were the long putts.
“One is already a bonus. To do it twice, three times, is amazing,” he said. “I think that’s the difference usually in a course like this. You can see a lot of 6-, 7-under pars. But to get to 10, you’re going to have to make a few lengthy ones. Really happy with what I did and just glad I gave myself a chance tomorrow.”
Rahm at No. 1 in the world and Finau at No. 16 are the only players from the top 20 at the Mexico Open. Bhatia played a practice round with them earlier in the week, and now he gets them on Sunday. It’s heady stuff for the kid who turned pro at 17.
Bhatia is already assured a PGA Tour card for next season, having been runner-up in the Puerto Rico Open earlier this year. That led to special temporary membership, meaning he can get unlimited exemptions the rest of the year.
But he can’t take part in the PGA Tour postseason without winning. This will be another great chance, thanks to a 30 on the back nine that was capped off by the eagle on No. 18.
“Today was amazing because I felt very calm and I’m just putting myself more and more in this position,” Bhatia said. “And I know I’m capable of winning – obviously won on the Korn Ferry Tour – so I know what the feelings feel like going into tomorrow.”
Brandon Wu (67) was three shots behind. No one else was within five shots of Finau.
WOMEN’S GOLF
LOS ANGELES (AP) Cheyenne Knight shot a bogey-free 4-under 67 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead through three rounds of the LA Championship at Wilshire Country Club.
Knight was at 9-under 204 through 54 holes, and her best round of the week had special significance.
Knight made a 20-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 13th hole and birdied the par-4 17th to shoot 3-under 33 on the back nine. Her late brother, Brandon, who died in a car crash when Knight was 12, wore No. 33 while playing high school football in Texas.
Knight teared up when an LPGA official mentioned her back-nine score.
“It’s always special,” Knight said. “I have someone up there watching over me. He’s always with me.”
Hae Ran Ryu also shot 67 and was two shots back alongside Hannah Green, who shot 69. Knight and Green are the only players to have three rounds in the 60s at Wilshire.
Green played her first 12 holes in 3 over but birdied five of her last six.
“I thought the front was actually quite difficult. It was a little bit of a different wind direction, but it was also gusty, so picking the right moments for the club that you decide to hit was quite difficult,” Green said. “I knew there was some holes coming in that I could possibly make some birdies, but to birdie 17 and 18 was obviously a really great finish, and I’m really excited for tomorrow.”
Gemma Dryburgh birdied three of her first five holes, shot 66 and was three back. Xiyu Lin (66) and second-round leader Aditi Ashok (72) were another shot behind.
Knight, ranked No. 60 in the world, won her only LPGA Tour title in 2019 at the Volunteers of America Classic in her home state of Texas. The number 33 came up then, too. She shot 33 on each nine to close with a 66.
Now, she’s in good position for a second victory.
“I think nerves are normal,” Knight said. “I’m always going to be nervous and embrace the nerves. If you’re not nervous, it doesn’t mean anything to you. I’ll try to embrace the nerves. This is why I practice. I want to be in these positions. I want to give myself a chance on Sunday.”
NOTES: Knight’s boyfriend, Easton Stick, a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, was in her gallery.
NASCAR
RYAN TRUEX DOMINATES DOVER FOR 1ST CAREER NASCAR VICTORY
DOVER, Del. (AP) Ryan Truex joked that he held his breath in nervous anticipation during the last 30 laps of a race he had dominated from start. He worried when the caution flag might come out, when there would be a flat tire, a wreck, anything that could derail a 13-year wait for a NASCAR victory.
Nothing could deny Truex at the Monster Mile.
Getting choked up as he approached the checkered flag, Truex won for the first time in 188 career NASCAR starts across all three national series in the Xfinity Series race Saturday at Dover Motor Speedway.
“People that know me, know that I’m not an emotional guy,” Truex said. “It took me a minute before I could key up and say anything because I couldn’t really talk. It has been such a long road and a lot of self-doubt along the way and wondering if it is ever going to happen, am I good enough to do this?”
The 31-year-old younger brother of former NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. sure was good enough on the concrete-mile track. He swept the first two stages and cruised down the stretch, leading 124 of the 200 laps to win by 4.82 seconds.
“This is for everyone that doubted me,” Truex said. “I belong here. I just proved that.”
Truex is winless in 26 Cup starts (none since 2014), is 0 for 73 in the Truck Series and hadn’t won in 88 previous races in the second-tier Xfinity Series. He did have a second and a third among his four previous starts this season in the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“Most people didn’t believe in me and I still did,” said Truex, who is from nearby Mayetta, New Jersey. “Just so thankful to be here. Just amazing. I was just waiting for something to happen. I was praying, please God, let me get to the end of this.”
Once he did, big brother was waiting for him. Martin Truex Jr. stuck his head in Ryan’s window and offered congratulations before he parked it in victory lane.
“It’s been a long road. Honestly, I’m on cloud 9,” Ryan Truex said. “The weight off my shoulders is unexplainable. To dominate in a car that good, oh my God, it’s just amazing.”
Truex, who finished a season-worst 17th last Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, shares the No. 19 and has only one more scheduled Xfinity start this season.
Truex made his first NASCAR start as a teenager in the second-tier series in 2010.
“It is so easy to doubt yourself and be down on yourself, but you just keep digging, keep pushing through, just a huge relief to get the white flag,” he said.
Josh Berry, who starts Sunday in the Cup series for the injured Alex Bowman, finished second. Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill and John Hunter Nemechek complete the top five.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
COLTS FOOTBALL
Adetomiwa Adebawore became the first player in NFL Combine history to weigh at least 280 pounds and run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash. The Northwestern defensive lineman – who the Colts drafted No. 110 overall on Saturday – ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis two months ago.
Three other players also ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and were picked before Adebawore in this year’s NFL Draft. Their heights and weights:
5-foot-8, 165 pounds (WR Nathaniel Dell)
5-foot-11, 173 pounds (WR Jordan Addison)
6-foot-1, 228 pounds (LB Dorian Williams)
Adebawore weighed in at 6-foot-2 and 282 pounds. People his size are not supposed to move as fast as he does.
And Adebawore, at least by one measure, was the fifth most athletic player selected by the Colts on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Adebawore’s Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.72/10 is remarkable, placing him among the elite of the elite athletes in this year’s NFL Draft; again, one of his measurables is a legitimate outlier for someone his size.
But the Colts also drafted on Saturday:
Cal safety Daniel Scott (9.94/10 RAS)
BYU tackle Blake Freeland (9.83/10 RAS)
South Carolina cornerback Darius Rush (9.8/10 RAS)
Northern Michigan tackle Jake Witt (9.8/10 RAS)
“I thought we added a lot more athleticism,” general manager Chris Ballard said.
The Colts, too, added four other high-end athletes:
Northwestern running back Evan Hull (9.32 RAS)
Miami tight end Will Mallory (9.05 RAS)
Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones (8.79 RAS)
Wagner defensive end Titus Leo (8.48 RAS)
(What you need to know about RAS: It’s just one formula to measure size and athletic testing against other players in NFL Draft history. It’s best used to ballpark athleticism rather than pinpoint it. We’re using it here to showcase, though, just how across-the-board athletic the Colts’ draft class is.)
“Chris preaches it and we just really harped on it – don’t ignore traits,” assistant general manager Ed Dodds said. “Some guys are just too big and fast to fail. Now obviously, they can’t have any really bad character. We’re not going to take the shot then. Sometimes you’re just too big and fast to fail.
“I mean, you’re talking high floors, right? We always talk floor and ceiling. When they’re that talented the floor is just so high. You know we’re at least going to get this so it’s just go with it. That’s what the coaches are paid for.”
But in addition to bringing in nine incredibly athletic players, the Colts built competition and depth up and down their roster on Day 3. While the Colts will continue to build their roster in the coming weeks and months through undrafted free agency and the veteran free agent market – as they’ve done in the past – the team’s offensive and defensive lines got deeper on Saturday, while strong competition looks to be on the horizon at tight end and cornerback after the additions of Mallory, Rush and Jones (in addition to cornerback Julius Brents, who was selected on Day 2).
There wasn’t a glaring need at tight end, but Mallory stuck out on the Colts’ draft board. And when the Colts went on the clock at No. 162, head coach Shane Steichen leaned over to Ballard and reminded him: “Chris, this guy’s really good.”
So the Colts took Mallory, and now will see how he competes in a tight end room also including Pharaoh Brown, Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree and Jelani Woods.
“You never just want to pass up a good player,” Ballard said. “I mean, (Mallory’s) got length, he can run. He’s been productive in college. He’s a really good fit for what we want. It’s just going to create real competition at the position. That’s OK. That’s a good thing. That makes you better.”
At cornerback, the Colts are high on Rush – to the point Ballard was considering drafting him in the fourth round. But instead of moving off players in Freeland and Adebawore the team valued, or trading up to ensure they got him, the Colts let the draft come to them – even trading down from No. 138 and adding a sixth-round pick that became Leo – and snagged Rush at No. 141 in the fifth round.
Like Brents before him and Jones after him, Rush is a long, rangy cornerback who fits “our profile,” Ballard said. He possesses speed (a 4.37-second 40-yard dash) and ball skills (he’s a converted wide receiver), and along with Brents and Jones will compete with guys like Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Dallis Flowers for reps at outside cornerback in the coming weeks and months.
“All three corners, we wanted to add competition to that position in which I think we were able to do,” Ballard said. “The room is going to look a little different with these guys added.”
Of course, guys like Freeland, Adebawore, Hull, Scott, Leo and Witt will all have to compete for playing time and/or roster spots during OTAs and training camp, too. But with the 2023 NFL Draft in the books, the Colts’ scouting department identified and brought in an avalanche of athleticism. Now, it’s on the Colts’ coaching staff to take those players, foster competition and mold their athleticism into production on Sundays.
“Any time you can add competition to the room, it’s going to make us all better – the players and coaches,” Steichen said. “All these guys with traits, obviously as a coach – the coaches we have in the building, we’re excited to get these guys in, get going with them and start to develop them.”
INDIANS BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – Josh Palacios continued his torrid stretch with two home runs, a career-high tying five RBI and a sliding catch in left-center field to lead the Indianapolis Indians to an 8-5 win over the Columbus Clippers on Saturday night at Victory Field.
Palacios began his impressive night with a three-run home run far out onto the right-field concourse and didn’t stop there. With the Indians holding a 6-2 lead in the seventh inning, the center fielder followed up an impressive catch in the top half of the frame with his second home run of the game, a two-run shot, in the bottom half.
In the series – which features both of his career-high five RBI games – Palacios is 10-for-18 with five runs scored, three doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI, six walks and only one strikeout.
The Indians (10-16) began the scoring with a five-run first inning, knocking out Clippers starter Brett Daniels (L, 0-2) after he recorded just one out. The first four batters of the frame reached base safely, with four runs plated on an RBI single by Ryan Vilade and Palacios’ first homer. Josh Bissonette capped the scoring with an RBI single of his own.
Aaron Shackelford tacked on another in the bottom of the fifth as Luis Ortiz (W, 2-1) cruised through the Clippers’ lineup. Two Columbus runs scored on a Brayan Roccio triple in the top of the sixth inning, but Ortiz clinched his second consecutive win and quality start with 6.0 two-run innings and six strikeouts to earn the win.
Palacios plated two insurance runs on his homer in the bottom of the second before Columbus (12-14) took the pair back in the next half inning. They threatened again in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and no outs, but Daniel Zamora sat down the next three batters to end the game.
The Indians will look to clinch a series split with the Clippers tomorrow afternoon in a 1:35 PM ET first pitch at Victory Field. RHP Kent Emanuel (1-1, 9.35) will toe the rubber for Indy while Columbus has yet to name a starter.
INDY ELEVEN
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, April 29, 2023) – An 81st minute goal from Jack Blake pulled Indy Eleven even to earn a 1-1 draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Saturday night at IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. With the draw, Indy snaps a three-game losing streak in regular season play and moves to 1W-3L-3D on the young USL Championship season, while Pittsburgh is 2-2-4.
Pittsburgh struck first in the 18th minute when Luke Biasi connected with Albert Dikwa on a ball over top of the Indy backline that saw Dikwa beat Yannik Oettl on a first-touch strike into the lower left corner.
The Eleven had a pair of late chances in the half, as Solomon Asante found himself on the end of a Sebastian Guenzatti blocked shot in the 38th minute but was denied by Jahmali Waite for an Indy corner. Cam Lindley’s 49th-minute strike in first half added time was also denied by the Pittsburgh defense as a last effort to even the scoreline before the break.
Despite Indy holding the 59%-41% advantage in possession and a 6-4 lead in shots, Pittsburgh was able to put all four of its shots on target to the Eleven’s one.
It took much of the second half for either team to garner a quality chance on frame, but it was Indy that made the most of its limited opportunities. Blake, who entered in the 63rd minute for the Eleven, made his minutes count, scoring the equalizer on a one-time hit at the top of the 18 off a poorly cleared cross that initiated from Robby Dambrot. It was the first goal in an Eleven jersey from Blake.
Pittsburgh had one final threat in the match, a shot in the 91st minute from substitute Tola Showunmi that sailed just right of frame.
Indy finished the match with the 62%-38% edge in possession, while outshooting Pittsburgh 7-6 with a pair coming on frame. Blake led the Eleven with a goal and a shot on target, while Guenzatti added a pair of shots to add to his team lead and bring him to 13 on the season. Oettl had four saves for the Boys in Blue, just days after he notched seven saves against Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew SC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play on Wednesday night.
Next up, the Boys in Blue hit the road for a pair of matches, first stopping at Loudoun United FC Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET (live on ESPN+). The Eleven returns home Saturday, May 20, against Colorado Springs for Military Appreciation Night. A portion of each ticket purchased via this link will directly support HVAF of Indiana. Indy Eleven will match each ticket purchased via the Military Giveback Link, ensuring that a veteran/military member will have the opportunity to attend and be recognized.
Single-game tickets for all home games at IUPUI Carroll Stadium along with prorated Season Ticket Memberships, specially-priced group tickets and an increased portfolio of hospitality options are available for purchase now via indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).
USL Championship Regular Season
Indy Eleven 1 : 1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
Indy Eleven: 1W-3L-3D, 6 pts.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: 2W-2L-4D, 10 pts
Scoring Summary:
PIT – Albert Dikwa (Luke Biasi) 18’
IND – Jack Blake (unassisted) 81’
Discipline Summary:
IND – Younes Boudadi (caution) 20’
PIT – Langston Blackstock (caution) 24’
IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 25’
PIT – Nathan Dossantos (caution) 79’
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (caution) 87’
Indy Eleven line-up (4-3-3): Yannik Oettl; Robby Dambrot, Jesus Vazquez (Gustavo Rissi 90’), Adrian Diz Pe, Younes Boudadi; Aodhan Quinn, Cam Lindley (Jack Blake 63’), Bryam Rebellon (Douglas Martinez 63’); Harrison Robledo (Juan Tejada 72’), Sebastian Guenzatti, Solomon Asante
IND subs: Tim Trilk (GK), Mechack Jerome
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC line-up (4-4-2): Jahmali Waite; Nathan Dossantos, Arturo Ordonez, Joseph Farrell, Luke Biasi; Robbie Mertz (Tola Showunmi 67’), Marc Ybarra (Burke Fahling 87’), Langston Blackstock (Trevor Zwetsloot 46’); Kenardo Forbes, Edward Kizza (Patrick Hogan 67’), Albert Dikwa
PIT subs: Christian Garner (GK), Michael DeShields, Dionysius Harmon
INDIANA BASEBALL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana baseball program had chances early against Maryland on Saturday (April 29) at Bart Kaufman Field in an eventual 16-2 loss in the middle game of the series.
Maryland (29-25, 10-4 B1G) took an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second inning, before Indiana (31-13, 9-5 B1G) plated a single run in the bottom of the second. The Terrapins added two runs in the fourth inning and two in the sixth to extend the lead. A nine-run eighth inning and a single run in the ninth for Maryland made it 16-1. A Carter Mathison home run in the ninth accounted for the final score.
A pair of Hoosiers moved hitting streaks to 12 games, as sophomore Josh Pyne and senior Phillip Glasser each collected hits. Pyne was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Glasser used a fifth inning base hit to move his streak along. In the process, Glasser pushed his reached base streak to 44 games. Mathison homered for the second time in as many games.
Sophomore Luke Sinnard (4-1) took the loss with six runs allowed on 10 hits with four walks and four strikeouts. All four pitchers that appeared in the game allowed at least one run.
The Maryland offense was paced by a four-RBI day from Matt Woods and three RBIs from Kevin Keister. Luke Shliger and Matt Shaw each accounted for two RBIs, with each of them hitting home runs. Kyle McCoy (4-5) worked seven innings and allowed one run on five hits to earn the win.
Scoring Recap
Top First
Luke Shliger singled on the first pitch of the game and Matt Shaw followed with a double to left field, and an error on the play allowed Shliger to score.
Maryland 1, Indiana 0
Top Second
Elijah Lambros doubled led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and came in to score on a Kevin Keister base hit.
Maryland 2, Indiana 0
Bottom Second
The first three batters reached base with a Brock Tibbitts single and Carter Mathison hit-by-pitch getting things started. Josh Pyne singled through the left side to drive in Indiana’s first run.
Maryland 2, Indiana 1
Top Fourth
The leadoff hitter reached for the third time in four innings and Shliger homered in the next at-bat.
Maryland 4, Indiana 1
Top Sixth
Shliger walked to start the inning and Matt Shaw hit a two-run home run in the next at-bat.
Maryland 6, Indiana 1
Top Eighth
The first nine batters of the inning reached base and all nine came around to score. A grand slam from Matt Woods highlighted the inning and Keister drove in a pair of runs with a double.
Maryland 15, Indiana 1
Top Ninth
Ian Petrutz hit a solo home run to lead off the inning.
Maryland 16, Indiana 1
Bottom Ninth
Mathison hit a solo home run to center field.
Maryland 16, Indiana 2
Up Next
The series finale between Indiana and Maryland will start at noon on Sunday, April 30. The game will be carried on B1G+ and the Indiana Sports Radio Network
INDIANA SOFTBALL
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana softball (36-15, 14-5 B1G) dominated the doubleheader against the Michigan Wolverines (24-20, 10-9 B1G) winning game one, 4-1, followed by a, 15-1, run-rule in six innings in game two for the series win at Carol Hutchins Stadium on Saturday.
INDIANA 4, MICHIGAN 1
KEY MOMENTS
• The Hoosiers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after sophomore duo Sarah Stone and Brianna Copeland hit RBI doubles.
• In the top of the fifth, redshirt-junior Cora Bassett tripled down the right field line.
• Freshman Taryn Kern stepped up to bat earning herself and RBI on a single through the right side that scored Bassett.
• Indiana loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on a single from sophomore Taylor Minnick and two walks from Kern and Copeland.
• To start the seventh inning, freshman Avery Parker earned an RBI to score Kern on a groundout to shortstop to put the Hoosiers up, 4-0.
• Michigan would get on the board late after a pair of hits and an RBI double to score a runner to close out the bottom of the inning.
INDIANA 15, MICHIGAN 1
KEY MOMENTS
• Michigan started things off with an RBI double in the bottom of the first to take the lead.
• Parker and Copeland scored on a wild pitch to put the Hoosiers in front before the Hoosier defense ended the second with a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts from sophomore pitcher Heather Johnson.
• Indiana continued to string the hits together as they scored three runs on four hits in the top of the third. Stone came up with the first run on a sac fly to right field to score Bassett.
• Copeland hit an RBI double to right center to score pinch runner Aaliyah Andrews followed with an RBI single to center field from Parker, 5-1.
• The Hoosiers went three up, three down to close out the inning.
• Kern hit a two-run bomb over the right center wall in the top of the fourth to extend the Hoosier lead, 7-1.
• In the top of the fifth, freshman Cassidy Kettleman doubled down the right center before sophomore Kinsey Mitchell hit an infield single for the RBI.
• Indiana did not let up as they recorded seven runs on five hits to extend the lead in the top of the sixth.
• Kern went yard for the second time with another two-run homer over the left field wall.
• Copeland wanted in on the fun as she hit her 10th home run on the season, 12-1.
• Parker and Kettleman were in scoring position as Mitchell stepped up to the plate. Her infield single was enough to send Parker home, 14-1.
• Junior Brooke Benson hit a sac bunt to advance the runners which allowed Kettleman to score.
• Once again, IU shut it down faced three UM batters in the bottom of the seventh before the run-rule victory in six innings.
NOTABLES GAME 1
• The Hoosiers outhit the Wolverines 10-7.
• Copeland earned her 17th win on the season, bringing her record to 17-2 inside the circle. She tallied six strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
• Bassett went 3-for-4 at bat recording two singles and a triple.
• Copeland recorded her 15th double on the season.
NOTABLES GAME 2
• Kern hits two, two-run homers totaling 21 long balls on the season while leading the NCAA.
• She also tallied five RBI on the day bringing her season total to 62 just four away from breaking the single season record of 65 that was set by Michelle Venturella in 1994.
• Bassett scored four runs on the day to her 2022 record for most runs scored in a single season (57). Kern trails by three with 54.
• Copeland went yard for the 10th time this season.
• Indiana’s defense was on lock as they shut down the wolverines with three 1-2-3 innings.
• Johnson recorded her 13th win inside the circle this season pitching six innings and allowing only one run on three hits in 23 batters faced.
UP NEXT
Indiana looks for the series sweep against the Wolverines tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPNU with Pam Ward and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call.
INDIANA MEN’S GOLF
GALLOWAY, N.J. – The Indiana men’s golf team has posted a two-round score of 586 (308-278; +18) at the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Golf Championship. The Hoosiers climbed a couple of spots to fourth place at the Galloway National Golf Course after the second on Saturday.
Only Illinois (268; -16) posted a lower team score than Indiana (278; -6) on Saturday’s second round. In total, six teams shot under par.
Indiana produced only six birdies during the rain-soaked first round on Friday but bounced back to card 19 birdies in the second round.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
2023 Big Ten Men’s Golf Championship • Galloway, N.J.
Galloway National Golf Course
Par 71 • 7,111 yards
Live Scoring via GolfStat
Team Standings: 4th/14 – 586 (308-278; +18)
Top Indiana Player: Noah Gillard – 144 (77-67; +2) & Thomas Hursey – 144 (78-66; +2)
CHIP-INS
• Fifth-year senior Thomas Hursey fired a bogey-free 66 (-5) in the second round. All five of his birdies came over the final 10 holes of the day, including four-straight conversions from No. 9 though No. 12. Only one Hoosier (Jeff Overton, 2005) has produced a lower single-round score at the Big Ten Championships.
• Senior Noah Gillard joined Hursey with a bogey-free second round at 67 (-4). He converted three-straight birdies on No. 9, No. 10, and No. 11.
• Fifth-year senior Mitch Davis played a 71 (E) on Saturday. His round included back-to-back birdies on No. 11 and No. 12.
• Junior Drew Salyers had an up-and-down day and turned in his scorecard at 74 (+3). He produced four birdie conversions from No. 6 to No. 11.
• Fifth-year senior Harry Reynolds, who subbed in for senior Eric Berggren before the round started, shot a 74 (+3). He connected on three birdies over the back nine.
HOOSIERS IN THE STANDINGS
t-13. Noah Gillard – 144 (77-67; +2)
t-13. Thomas Hursey – 144 (78-66; +2)
t-17. Mitch Davis – 145 (74-71; +3)
t-43. Drew Salyers – 153 (79-74; +11)
— Eric Berggren* – 84 (+13)
— Harry Reynolds** – 74 (+3)
*Subbed out in the second round
**Subbed in for the second round
UP NEXT
Indiana will be paired with No. 25 Ohio State and Iowa in the third and final round of the tournament. The first group of players with IU representation will tee off at 8 a.m. ET.
PURDUE BASEBALL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Connor Caskenette’s two-run homer capped a quick-strike stretch in the third inning during which Purdue baseball scored four times in the span of four batters, riding the big inning to a 6-3 series-clinching win vs. Rutgers on Saturday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (21-21, 10-7 B1G) clinched their fourth series victory in the five weekends this month.
Jonathan Blackwell and Aaron Suval teamed up to limit the Scarlet Knights (25-18, 7-7 B1G) to eight hits as Purdue used just two pitchers in a win for the second day in a row. Suval retired 10 of the 12 batters he faced in an 11-out save, striking out three and inducing a 6-4-3 double play in his finest outing of the season.
Blackwell (5-3) worked 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball, issuing just one walk while giving the Boilermakers at least five innings for the 10th time in his 11 starts. Purdue pitching has surrendered only four runs on 13 hits (10 singles) over the first 18 innings of the series.
Mike Bolton Jr. singled four times and drew a walk, improving his team-leading on-base percentage to .457. It was the senior’s first career four-hit game. He also had two stolen bases, increasing his Big Ten-leading total to 27, one shy of his career high.
Bolton was the second of two runners to score on Couper Cornblum’s RBI single in the third inning, during which Cornblum ended up on third base. Rutgers failed to throw out Cornblum at second base while advancing on the initial throw home from center field. Bolton was able to scamper home when the RU catcher tried to cut down Cornblum at second. Caskenette went deep to left field three pitches later, on a 0-2 count, chasing starter Grant Besser.
Jake Parr also hit his fourth home run of the season, an opposite-field blast to right to lead off the second inning.
STREAKS EXTENDED SATURDAY
• Connor Caskenette (2-Run HR) – 20-game on-base streak; 13-game hit streak; 12-game hit streak at Alexander
• Jake Parr (2-for-3, HR, BB) – 16-game on-base streak; 12-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 10-game on-base streak at Alexander; scored a run for the 10th straight game
• Paul Toetz (1-for-4) – 14-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Couper Cornblum (1-for-5, RBI, R) – 9-game hit streak
Since recording two saves in Purdue’s April 15th doubleheader sweep of Penn State, Suval had pitched just two-thirds of an inning over the last eight games. He had been limited by an ankle injury suffered before the April 19 win at Alexander Field. The righthander reemerged Saturday as a big weapon in the bullpen. He struck out the first two batters he faced after taking over Blackwell in the sixth inning and went on to earn his fifth save of the season.
Toetz was a big part of both double plays turned by the Boilermakers Saturday. He was in perfect position to turn a chopper over the mound into an inning-ending 4-3 twin killing with runners on the corners in the fifth inning. He navigated a take-out slide to complete the 6-4-3 double play induced by Suval in the top of the seventh. Both twin killings came off the bat of the Rutgers cleanup hitter.
Evan Albrecht was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. His leadoff walk in the bottom of the third ignited the four-run rally.
Sunday’s series finale is slated for a noon ET first pitch. Purdue has an opportunity to sweep a three-game series at home for the first time since May 2018 vs. Michigan.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Five Purdue Boilermakers heard their names called on the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft. Charlie Jones (4th Round – Cincinnati Bengals), Aidan O’Connell (4th Round – Las Vegas Raiders), Payne Durham (5th Round – Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Cory Trice (7th Round – Pittsburgh Steelers) and Jalen Graham (7th Round – San Francisco 49ers) made up the newest class of Pro Boilers, months after leading Purdue to its first Big Ten West title in program history.
The 2023 draft saw five Boilermakers selected, the most in a single draft since Purdue had nine players chosen in 2004. It marked the third straight year that a Purdue wide receiver was drafted, as Jones joined fellow All-American Boilermakers Rondale Moore (Arizona Cardinals – 2021) and David Bell (Cleveland Browns – 2022) as part of the streak. Meanwhile, O’Connell became the 16th Purdue quarterback drafted in history, the first since Curtis Painter was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in 2009. Durham was just the third Purdue tight end drafted over the past 15 years alongside former teammate Brycen Hopkins (Los Angeles Rams – 2020), while Trice became the first Boilermaker cornerback taken in the draft since Anthony Brown (Dallas Cowboys) in 2016.
Jones was the first Boilermaker off the board, as the Cincinnati Bengals selected the All-American wide receiver in the fourth round with the No. 131 overall pick. In his only season at Purdue, Jones led the country in catches (110) and set a single-season school record with 1,361 receiving yards. That yardage total ranked second nationally, while his 12 receiving touchdowns ranked fourth. A First Team All-B1G honoree, Jones was the only Big Ten receiver since 2000 to produce six games with at least 10 catches and 100 yards in a single season. He recorded eight 100-yard games in 2022, surpassing Bell (2021), Moore (2018), John Standeford (2002) and Steve Griffin (1984) for another school record.
In conference action, Jones hauled in 7.6 receptions per game to go along with 91.0 receiving yards per game to lead the league. He put on a show in the conference title game, hauling in 13 receptions for 162 yards against one of the nation’s top defenses in No. 2 Michigan. It marked the sixth time that the Deerfield, Illinois, native eclipsed the 100-yard mark against a B1G opponent. His career high in receiving yards came in non-conference action, tallying 188 yards at Syracuse, while Jones found the end zone a career-high three times against Indiana State.
Four picks later, the Las Vegas Raiders drafted O’Connell to end the fourth round. Arriving in West Lafayette as a walk-on listed eighth on the depth chart, O’Connell concluded his Purdue career as the school’s all-time leader in completion percentage (66.7%), passing efficiency (141.8) and 500-yard passing games (2). The two-time All-Big Ten quarterback etched his name in the program record book in several other categories, including fourth in career completions (826), fifth in career touchdown passes (65) and sixth in passing yards (9,219). His five 400-yard passing games and 14 300-yard passing games rank second in Purdue history, trailing only Drew Brees in both categories.
In his final season as a Boilermaker, O’Connell led the Big Ten in passing yards per game (290.8) and completions per game (26.7), while ranking second in total passing yards (3,490) and third in passing touchdowns (22). The Burlsworth Trophy finalist produced six 300-yard games for the second straight season. He threw for a season-high 424 yards at Syracuse and nearly reached the 400-yard plateau again when he completed 35-of-54 passes for 391 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Nebraska. After helping the Boilermakers capture the first Big Ten West title in program history, O’Connell threw for 366 yards in the Big Ten Championship.
Tampa Bay took Durham in the fifth round, selecting one of the best tight ends in Purdue Football history. Durham played in 45 games as a Boilermaker, making 126 catches for 1,275 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 21 receiving touchdowns rank fifth in the Purdue record book and second all-time by a tight end, trailing only Dave Young (27). He cracked the 1,000-yard mark for his career, ranking sixth all-time in receiving yards by a tight end.
Earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors during his final season in West Lafayette, Durham caught 56 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns to rank second on the team in all three categories. He hauled in a team-high seven passes for a season-high 109 yards to help Purdue beat Maryland, catching the go-ahead touchdown pass before rumbling 56 yards to set up another late touchdown; the performance marked the third 100-yard game of his career. Durham caught his 21st career touchdown reception in the win over Indiana, tying three of the best receivers in Purdue history (former teammate David Bell, Dorien Bryant and Taylor Stubblefield) for fifth on Purdue’s all-time list.
Trice was the first Boilermaker to get drafted on the defensive side of the ball, as the Steelers selected the cornerback in the seventh round. He appeared in 34 games over his Purdue career, starting 24 of them. Trice recorded five interceptions to go along with 20 pass breakups and 105 tackles. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns.
As the Boilermakers’ lockdown corner all season long, Trice led the team in pass breakups (10) with a pair of interceptions. The senior picked off a pass at Maryland, but his biggest play of the season may have come against Indiana. With Purdue inching closer to victory, Trice’s fourth-quarter pick-six put the game on ice to wrap up the rivalry win and divisional crown. He made a season-high eight tackles in the Old Oaken Bucket Game, ending the season as Big Ten Honorable Mention by the league’s coaches and media.
With just five picks left in the draft, Graham became the fifth Boilermaker chosen. The 49ers used their final pick on the Purdue defender, looking to strike gold late in the day. The Detroit, Michigan, native was a focal point of the Boilermaker defense throughout his career, starting 35 of his 36 games wearing the Old Gold and Black. He registered 169 tackles, including 12.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks, to go along with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He brought two of those turnovers to the end zone for touchdowns, a fumble recovery at Illinois (Oct. 31, 2020) and a pick-six at Nebraska (Oct. 30, 2021).
Graham led Purdue in tackles per game (5.8) in his final season in West Lafayette, playing in nine contests and starting each one of them. After missing four games due to injury, he returned to record a team-high nine tackles to help the Boilermakers beat Maryland. The senior followed up his return performance with six tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, one sack and a forced fumble in the win over Nebraska, while adding an interception against Northwestern. He tallied eight tackles, including 1.0 TFL, in the rivalry and Big Ten West-clinching win at Indiana.
2023 PURDUE FOOTBALL DRAFT PICKS
4th Round (131st Overall) – Cincinnati Bengals: Charlie Jones
4th Round (135th Overall) – Las Vegas Raiders: Aidan O’Connell
5th Round (171st Overall) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Payne Durham
7th Round (241st Overall) – Pittsburgh Steelers: Cory Trice
7th Round (255th Overall) – San Francisco 49ers: Jalen Graham
BUTLER MEN’S GOLF
Freshman Connor McNeely shot a four-under round of 68 Saturday to climb into a tie for second at the 2023 BIG EAST Men’s Golf Championship Presented by JEEP.
The 54-hole event concludes Sunday in Hardeeville, S.C.
McNeely entered Saturday’s second round tied for fifth after a Friday 72 (E). His Saturday 68 tied for the second-best round of the day among the 50 players in the field. McNeely had seven birdies Saturday on the 6,987-yard Riverton Pointe Golf Course. He had a stretch of six birdies in an 11-hole stretch midway through his round before giving a pair of shots back with two bogeys to close the 18.
McNeely is tied for second with Ryan Rittberger of St. John’s at 140 (-4). The duo is chasing Rittberger’s teammate Jack Simon, who is at 137 (-7) after rounds of 69 and 68. Four players are a single shot back of McNeely and Rittberger.
The Bulldogs entered Saturday’s play in second place after a strong performance Friday. Butler followed Friday’s two-over 290 with a Saturday round of 294 (+6). Six teams were able to go under par Saturday, which has pushed the Bulldogs down the leaderboard. Butler is seventh heading into Sunday’s final 18 holes at 584 (+8).
Marquette, led by Tyler Leach’s 66 Saturday, shot nine-under 279 in the second round and holds the 36-hole lead at 572 (-4). The Golden Eagles are one shot ahead of first-round leader Seton Hall (573; -3). St. John’s matched Marquette’s 279 Saturday and is two shots back of the team lead at 574 (-2). There is a small degree of separation to Connecticut at fourth (580; +4), which starts a grouping through eighth place that is separated by only five shots.
Damon Dickey is tied for 22nd after a four-over 76 Saturday. Paired with his two-under 70 Friday, he is at 146 (+2).
Will Horne is tied for 27th at 147 (+3) after his 74 Saturday. Daniel Tanaka (151, +7) and Raymond Sullivan (156, +12) are tied for 36th and 43rd, respectively.
Play is scheduled to begin Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Live stats will be available on GolfStat. GameKast Live, a golf streaming service, will provide coverage. Viewers will form an account, but there will be no charge for the service this year. GKLive.TV will cover the entire 54-hole event using over 20 cameras. Live commentary from the 18th green, player and coach interviews and highlights will be provided.
The BIG EAST will crown a team champion, which gains an automatic berth to the 2023 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.
Team Results – Following Round 2
1. Marquette – 293-279–572 (-4)
2. Seton Hall – 286-287–573 (-3)
3. St. John’s – 295-279—574 (-2)
4. Connecticut – 293-287–580 (+4)
5. Villanova – 291-290–581 (+5)
6. Creighton – 295-287–582 (+6)
7. Butler – 290-294–584 (+8)
8. Xavier – 298-287—585 (+9)
9. DePaul – 298-289–587 (+11)
10. Georgetown – 295-294–589 (+13)
BUTLER BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Creighton Bluejays came up with a 5-3 win over Butler at Bulldog Park on Saturday afternoon. The two teams were tied heading to the seventh inning, but CU would score three in the seventh to collect their 21st win of the year.
A solo home run opened up the scoring on Saturday as Sterling Hayes pushed a ball over the wall in right for Creighton. Kollyn All tied the game with an RBI double to right center in the fourth to score Scott Jones.
Creighton regained the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but BU battled back with a Xavier Carter home run in the sixth.
A costly error in the seventh gave Creighton some momentum and a single run to break the 2-2 tie. Ben Gbur added a single in the frame to score Ben North and a Nolan Sailors sac fly made the game 5-2.
The Bulldogs made the game very interesting in the bottom half of the eighth. Jake DeFries returned to the lineup today and scored off a wild pitch to get BU within two runs. The ‘Dawgs had two runners in scoring position and All hit a ball well to deep centerfield. Sailors would retreat and catch the ball on the warning track and the Bluejays would hang on for the win.
Ryan Windham got the win for CU and Tommy Steier was credited with the save. Cory Bosecker only allowed two hits to Creighton over six full innings, but left the mound with no decision. Dawson Taylor took the loss (2-2) and Clay Holzworth ended the game on the hill for BU.
The final game of the weekend series will be pushed up to an 11 AM start.
BUTLER SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler softball team never trailed in game two of a BIG EAST series with Georgetown, winning 5-3 in seven innings. Prior to the first pitch, No. 2 Mallory McMahon, No. 8 Loren Simpson, and No. 16 Mackenzie Griman were honored as the program’s graduating seniors. The Bulldogs (16-30, 10-7 BIG EAST) remain in fourth place in the conference standings, while the Hoyas (16-29, 9-11 BIG EAST) are just behind in fifth. The rubber match of the series will be played on Sunday.
How It Happened
After two scoreless innings, Butler plated four in the bottom of the third. Cate Lehner hit an infield single, and four successive walks pushed two runners across. Sydney Carter (2-2, RBI) then hit a single to left field and extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-0.
Georgetown scored one in the fifth to draw to within three.
In the bottom of the sixth, Paige Dorsett walked and advance to second when Monique Hoosen was hit by a pitch. Ellie Boyer came in as a pinch runner at second, and she scored when Teagan O’Rilley (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI) hit a single through the right side. Butler lead, 5-1, going into the seventh.
The Hoyas threatened in their final at bat. Four singles reduced the Butler lead to 5-3, with only one out, but the final two batters were retired.
Mackenzie Griman (8-14) started in the circle for Butler and earned the win. In 4.0 innings she allowed one run on three hits and two walks. Sydney Cammon (3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, BB, K) provided relief and was credited with the save.
Bulldog Bits
Teagan O’Rilley hit her second double in as many games. She now has three for the season and six in her career.
Sydney Cammon’s save was her second of the season.
Ten conference victories for Butler tie for the second most wins since joining the BIG EAST in 2014. The Bulldogs also had 10 conference wins in the 20 they played in 2014. The record is 16, which was achieved in the 2022 season when Butler went 16-6.
Up Next
Butler will complete the series with Georgetown with game three on Sunday. The Bulldogs will complete the regular season next week with trips to the University of Illinois-Chicago, for a single game on Wednesday, and then to Seton Hall, for their final conference series.
IUPUI SOFTBALL
DETROIT, Mich. – The IUPUI softball team completed the two dub day at Detroit Mercy on Thursday with the offense racking up 17 runs on 20 hits. Madison Bryant and Alexa Holman each earned wins on the day.
In game one, Bryant threw a one-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and just two walks while the Jaguar offense took care of the rest. The Jags were efficient at the plate totaling eight runs on nine hits.
IUPUI opened the game up in the third inning with four runs. Kendal Calvert hit a bunt single to score Kasie Keyes to put the Jags on the board first, 1-0. Jaida Speth followed with a single through the left side scoring Calvert. Kayla Freiberg continued the scoring with a two-run homer over the left field wall, 4-0.
In the top of the fifth inning, IUPUI added three more runs. Freiberg added to her RBI column with a double to right center to score Speth. Victoria Sivert then singled to left center to score Rachael Gregory and Freiberg giving the Jags the 7-0 lead.
The Jags ended the game an inning early with one more run in the sixth inning run ruling the Titans, 8-0. Speth reached on a fielding error which allowed Kennedy Cowan to score.
Bryant earned the win in the circle for the Jags with the complete game shutout. Freiberg went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs while Speth went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.
IUPUI continued their impressive plate appearances in the second game totaling nine runs on 11 hits to earn the 9-3 win.
Detroit Mercy refused to be shut out in game two jumping on the scoreboard first with one run in the second inning and two runs in the third inning, 3-0.
IUPUI quickly fought back with three runs in the fourth inning. Freiberg continued her dominant day with her second two-run home run. Kinsey Pfeiffer singled to right field to score Gregory and tie the game at 3-3.
In the top of the sixth inning, IUPUI took a lengthy lead with six runs. Keyes singled through the right side to score Kelli Riordan and Gregory giving the Jags the lead, 5-3. With the bases loaded, Cowan was hit by pitch to score Sivert followed by Calvert with a sac fly to score Keyes. Speth then knocked a triple down the right field line to score Cowan and Maicey Bedrick sealing the Jags’ lead at 9-3.
Holman earned the win in the circle for IUPUI throwing a complete game giving up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Gregory recorded a 4-for-4 game with two runs while Speth, Freiberg and Keyes all collected two RBI.
IUPUI now sits in fifth in the Horizon League and will finish the three-game series with Detroit Mercy with one game on Saturday at noon.
BALL STATE FOOTBALL
KANSAS CITY – – Ball State University defensive back Nic Jones has been selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, as the 250th overall pick – the final pick by the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. His draft selection is the first by a Cardinals player since offensive guard Danny Pinter was chosen in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.
The 30th Cardinal ever chosen in the NFL Draft and the ninth since 2000, Jones is the first Ball State defensive back chosen since Justin Beriault was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round in 2005. He was the sixth Mid-American Conference player chosen in this year’s draft.
“Nic’s character and makeup are what, in my eyes, will make him a successful pro,” said Ball State head coach Mike Neu. “The physical traits play a role, of course, but what separates him is his maturity, his IQ, and his approach.”
A native of Detroit who played four seasons at Ball State, Jones had two interceptions last year as a junior, both against Murray State, and he led the Cardinals’ defense with 12 pass deflections. The two-year starter was named a team captain last year while leading a secondary alongside fellow draft candidate Amechi Uzodinma II. Jones and Uzodinma both earned second-team All-MAC honors at cornerback and Jones was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Noted for his size (6-0, 189), length and athleticism, Jones also returned kickoffs and was noted for a blocked kick and blocked punt during his tenure on special teams play.
Neu added, “Through good times and bad, Nic never wavers in embracing what it means to take it one day, one set, one rep at a time. Best of all, he brings others along with him. People gravitate toward the type of attitude and energy Nic brings to every room he walks into. Those things will serve him well on the next level.”
BALL STATE SOFTBALL
AKRON, Ohio – – Senior third baseman Haley Wynn opened the weekend with a bang, blasting the first of a program record six home runs as the Ball State softball team opened its three-game series at Akron with a 6-1 win Saturday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.
Prior to Saturday, the most home runs in a single game for the Cardinals (26-24; 16-12 Mid-American Conference) was five in an 11-2 (5) win over Butler on April 9, 2013.
Two batters after Wynn started the game with a blast, redshirt sophomore catcher McKayla Timmons added her team leading 12th home of the season. Wynn followed with a second solo shot in the third, upping her season total to 10 and giving her three two home run games on the year.
The fourth inning saw redshirt freshman shortstop McKenna Mulholland and junior first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata go back-to-back, extending Ball State’s lead to five. After the Zips (25-22, 14-11 MAC) tallied their first run of the series in the bottom of the fourth, sophomore pinch hitter Kaitlyn Gibson provided the record-setting shot, with a seventh inning blast to left field.
Along with the record-setting game at the plate, the Cardinals received some strong pitching, limiting Akron five hits and one run in the game. Junior transfer Francys King was credited with the win in relief, throwing the middle 2.1 innings and holding the Zips to one hit.
Sophomore Angelina Russo closed the game, also allowing just one hit over 1.2 innings of work while striking out a team-high three batters. Redshirt sophomore Emma Eubank started the game, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing three hits and one run. Both King and Eubank tallied a pair of strikeouts on the day.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals could not hold onto the momentum in the nightcap, suffering a 2-1 setback. Akron scored runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-0 edge.
Ball State did attempt to mount a seventh-inning comeback starting with a one-out double from junior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews and followed by an RBI single from senior designated player Amaia Daniel. BSU would go on to get runners at first and second with two outs but could not capitalize.
HIGHLIGHTS
Ball State’s six home runs in the opening game were its most in a game in program history, with the previous best being five in an 11-2 (5) win over Butler on April 9, 2013.
Junior center fielder Remington Ross picked up her 23rd stolen base of the season in the opening game, improving to a perfect 23-for-23 on the year.
The Cardinals also used a three-pitcher rotation in the nightcap, with freshman Bridie Murphy earning the start. Despite holding the Zips to three hits and one unearned run over 3.0 innings of work, Murphy picked up the loss.
With her RBI single in the nightcap, Danial raised her career hit total to 198. She is now just two hits shy of becoming the ninth player in program history to reach 200 career hits.
SCORING SUMMARY: GAME 1 – Ball State 6 – Akron 1
T1 | Wynn opens the series with a solo blast to center on a 3-2 pitch. (1-0)
T1 | Timmons adds a solo shot of her own two batters later. (2-0)
T3 | Wynn’s second blast of the game pushes the lead to three. (3-0)
T4 | Mulholland smashes the first of back-to-back blasts. (4-0)
T4 | Mata follows with the second. (5-0)
B4 | Akron gets a sacrifice fly from Alexis Campbell to drive in Molly McChesney from third. (5-1)
T7 | Gibson caps the scoring with Ball State’s sixth solo home run of the game. (6-1)
SCORING SUMMARY: GAME 2 – Ball State 1 – Akron 2
B1 | A Ball State error on an infield single allows the runner at second to score. (1-0)
B4 | A solo home run from Laurel Devoe doubles Akron’s lead. (2-0)
T7 | A one-out double from Mathews was followed by an RBI single from Daniel. (2-1)
UP NEXT
Ball State and Akron close their three-game series Sunday with a currently scheduled 2 p.m. first pitch back at Lee R. Jackson field.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Ball State baseball team was back in action for a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Bowling Green on Saturday. Ryan Peltier and Andrew Wilhite launched home runs as the Cardinals split the doubleheader with the Falcons.
With the split the Cardinals move to 27-15 overall and 14-6 in league play, while the Falcons go to 15-24 overall and 9-14 in conference action.
Game One – Ball State 10, Bowling Green 8
The Falcons got on the board first with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. Bowling Green extended its lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third with two runs on two hits.
Blake Bevis recorded a one-out triple off the wall in right center. Wilhite grounded out to first but drove in Bevis from third. The Cardinals cut the deficit to 5-1 after five innings.
Hunter Dobbins was hit by a pitch to start the top of the sixth for BSU. Justin Conant drew a seven-pitch walk and moved Dobbins to second. Nick Gregory followed with an RBI single up the middle as Dobbins hustled around from second. Adam Tellier drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Ahead 2-0 in the count, Peltier cleared the bases with a grand slam to right field. Bevis singled through the left side to keep things going for the Cardinals. Wilhite reached safely on a fielder’s choice as Bevis beat the throw at second. Logan Flood walked to load the bases. Conant cleared the bases with a double off the center field wall. Ball State took a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
The Falcons came back with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth, but the Cardinals took a 9-8 lead into the seventh.
Wilhite led off the top of the eighth with a five-pitch walk. Grant Miller came in and pinch ran for Wilhite. Miller stole second with two outs to move into scoring position. Conant came up big with a single to left field that drove in Miller from second. Ball State extended its lead to 10-8 after 7.5 innings.
Trennor O’Donnell got the start on the mound for the Cardinals and went five innings. He picked up the win and improved to 4-2 on the season. He struck out five batters and gave up five earned runs on five hits. Sam Klein went three innings in relief with two strikeouts. He surrendered three earned runs on five hits. He picked up his second save of the season.
Gage Schenk started on the mound for BG. He went five innings with three strikeouts. He gave up five earned runs on five hits. Isaiah Seidel picked up the loss and fell to 0-4 on the season. He gave up two earned runs on two hits in a 1/3 of an inning. Connar Penrod added two innings in relief with two strikeouts. He surrendered three earned runs on two hits. Landon Willeman went 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.
Game Two – Bowling Green 7, Ball State 3
The Falcons got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with solo home runs from Kyle Gurney and Nathan Archer. Bowling Green added two runs on one hit in the bottom of the sixth. BG extended its lead to 4-0 after six innings of play.
Gregory notched a one-out walk to start the top of the seventh inning. Tellier singled through the right side and moved Gregory to second. Peltier drove in Gregory with an RBI single through the left side. BSU cut the BG lead to 4-1.
The Falcons added three runs in the bottom of the seventh on one hit.
Wilhite blasted an opposite field shot over the left field wall for a solo home run. Zach Lane followed with a single through the left side. He moved to second on a balk. Conant delivered another RBI with a single to center. The Cardinals made the score 7-3 after 7.5 innings.
Ty Weatherly got the start in game two for Ball State and went 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. He surrendered four earned runs on four hits. Owen Quinn went 2/3 of an inning. He gave up one hit and had one walk. He gave up one earned run. Logan Schulfer added 1 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. He gave up two earned runs on one hit.
Rigo Ramos got the start for the Falcons in game two. He went 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. He scattered seven hits. Owen Recker added 1 2/3 innings in relief. He did not allow hit but surrendered an earned run. Peyton Wilson added an inning in relief with two earned runs on four hits. Nic Good closed out the game with 1 2/3 innings. He had two strikeouts and gave up just one hit.
The Cardinals and Falcons return to action for the rubber match on Sunday. First pitch is slated for noon.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated Florida State in a dominant fashion as they downed the Seminoles 12-2 on Saturday, April 29 at Frank Eck to make it an even 1-1 in the three-game series. Notre Dame advances to 24-17 on the year and 12-11 in the ACC as the Irish head into the final matchup tomorrow.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Blake Hely (3-1) started on the mound as he took home his third win of the season, pitching 7.0 innings and recording eight strikeouts. He was relieved by Will Mercer, throwing 2.0 innings, recording two strikeouts, and allowing no runs on two hits. The Irish were led today by Vinny Martinez, who finished the day going 3-4, recording one home run, two runs, and three RBI. He was followed by Jack Penney, who tallied two hits, two runs, and four RBI as he recorded his second grand slam of the year in the bottom of the eighth.
The Seminole offense struck first as they homered to left field in their very first at bat to take an early 1-0 lead. Florida State extended the lead in the fourth on another home run to make it a 2-0 ballgame before the Irish offense lit up in the bottom frame.
A six-run inning lifted the Irish to a 6-2 advantage as Carter Putz and Jack Penney got the party started with back-to-back base hits to put runners on first and second. Vinny Martinez sent it deep down the right field line for his eighth home run of the year as the three-run long ball gave the Irish the 3-2 advantage for their first lead of the game. The hitting streak continued as DM Jefferson and Brooks Coetzee recorded back-to-back doubles. Coetzee scored Jefferson to extend the lead with a score of 4-2.
An RBI single to right field from Danny Neri would score Coetzee for the fifth Irish run of the day. TJ Williams followed with a base hit and Zack Prajzner reached via a walk to make it bases loaded. Moreno would tack on the final run of the frame as he scored on a failed pick off attempt at second base from a throwing error by the pitcher.
The Irish led 6-2 throughout the next three innings as another monster frame was on the way. Notre Dame recorded another six runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead 12-2 and take home the win.
A Penney grand slam to right field scored Moreno, Williams, and Putz to make it a 10-2 ballgame. Coetzee recorded his second double of the day as he sent it down the left line, sending home Martinez and Brady Gumpf for the final Irish runs of the day.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back at Frank Eck tomorrow for game three against Florida State as the series is tied at 1-1.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball dropped an 11-2 contest to No. 4 Florida State Saturday afternoon. Prior to the contest, the Irish recognized their five seniors and two graduate students in a pregame ceremony. Brooke Marquez, Leea Hanks, Lexi Orozco, Macie Eck, Payton Tidd, Miranda Johnson and Joley Mitchell were all recognized before first pitch. The Fighting Irish fall to 29-15-1 on the season, and 11-11-1 in conference play. Florida State improves to 42-8 overall and 18-2 in league play.
Micaela Kastor started in the circle, but couldn’t get out of the first inning. The freshman allowed six hits, six earned runs and a strikeout before exiting. Shannon Becker was on in relief. The sophomore threw 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, five earned runs and struck out three.
The Irish offense was paced by a 2-for-3 effort from Orozco. Gaskins added an RBI single, as Mitchell and Carlli Kloss each singled in the contest.
How It Happened
Florida State jumped on the Irish in the first inning, scoring six runs on six hits, capped by a three-run home run.
The Irish got a run back in the bottom of the first. Kloss led off with a single and too second on a ground out. Gaskins drove a ball up the middle to bring the run in.
The Seminoles added three more runs in the top of the third with a three-run homer.
Notre Dame added a run in the third. A single from Mitchell and a stolen base put her in scoring position. Orozco lifted a double to right center to cut the lead to 9-2.
FSU added solo runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings as Notre Dame couldn’t come within the eight runs to extend the game.
Up Next
The Irish and Seminoles conclude the series tomorrow at noon at Melissa Cook Stadium.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Indiana State jumped ahead early and Connor Fenlong provided a steady hand on the mound on Saturday afternoon as the No. 14 Sycamores evened the weekend series at Evansville with the 7-4 win at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
ISU (27-13, 15-2 MVC) scored four runs in the top of the first inning and Fenlong and the Sycamore defense limited Evansville’s (25-17, 9-8 MVC) scoring chances throughout the contest to even the series and send it into Sunday’s rubber match.
The first four Sycamores reached base against Evansville starter Donovan Schultz (5-3) with Keegan Watson, Grant Magill, and Parker Stinson all driving in runs early to put Indiana State ahead 4-0 through the first inning. Randal Diaz added a solo home run and Mike Sears drove in a pair of RBIs to highlight the Sycamore offense.
Evansville battled back with the long ball with Eric Roberts and Chase Hug both homering in the game. However, ISU starter Connor Fenlong (6-2) continued to pitch effectively throughout the game and bounced back from both home runs to retire the side in both frames and limit the damage.
Fenlong went 8.0 strong innings in winning his third consecutive start and team-leading sixth victory of 2023. He surrendered eight hits and four runs while striking out six in the win. Brennyn Cutts (S, 2) pitched a perfect ninth inning in his second save of the season.
Diaz went 2-for-4 with three runs scored to highlight the Sycamore offense on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore shortstop homered and doubled in the contest, while Adam Pottinger and Magill also doubled in the ISU win.
Hug posted three of Evansville’s eight hits in the loss, while Roberts and Stuart both added multi-hit games.
Schultz went the first three innings allowing two hits and five earned runs while walking one and striking out two. The Evansville left-hander battled a bit of wildness hitting three Sycamores in the game. Jarrett Blunt went 4.0 innings in relief with eight strikeouts, while Jakob Meyer went the final 2.0 innings to close out the contest.
How They Scored
Indiana State jumped ahead early with the first four hitters reaching base on their way to taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Keegan Watson was hit by a pitch bringing in the first ISU run, while Grant Magill provided the big hit in the frame with a two-run double down the right field line.
Mike Sears staked the Sycamores to a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Adam Pottinger.
Eric Roberts put Evansville on the board in the bottom of the third with a three-run home run to center field scoring Adam Euler and Ben Stuart to cut the game down to 5-3.
Randal Diaz answered with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning as his blast cleared the center field wall to put ISU ahead 6-3.
Sears came through with his second RBI of the game connecting on a run-scoring single to center in the top of the seventh scoring Diaz to make it a 7-3 game.
Evansville’s Chase Hug connected on a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning to provide the final scoring margin.
News & Notes
Indiana State improved to 15-2 in Missouri Valley play on Saturday afternoon and retain a two-game lead over Missouri State (13-4) for the conference lead.
The 15 wins in conference play this season mark a new high in the Mitch Hannahs coaching era surpassing his 14-win seasons in both 2014 and 2021.
ISU improved to 15-1 overall in April continuing one of the most successful months in program history with Saturday’s win. Indiana State’s 15 wins in April mark the most since the Sycamores went 18-3 in March 2012.
Adam Pottinger ran his on-base streak to a season-best 16 consecutive games and the hitting streak reached 12 games following his 1-for-2 day at the plate. Pottinger drew two walks and was hit by a pitch to reach base four times on Saturday.
Randal Diaz and Keegan Watson were hit by pitches for the second consecutive game and Pottinger was also plunked running ISU’s Missouri Valley leading total to 71 through 40 games.
Josue Urdaneta, Seth Gergely, and Randal Diaz all extended their on-base streaks to eight consecutive games on Saturday.
Connor Fenlong improved to 5-0 in Missouri Valley play on the season following his 8.0-inning start. The Sycamores are 7-3 in Fenlong’s starts in 2023.
Fenlong’s five wins in Missouri Valley play this season leads the conference through Saturday afternoon, while his 42.2-innings on the mound are also a conference-high.
Up Next
Indiana State and Evansville are back on the field tomorrow for the final game of the weekend series at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on 105.5 The Legend.
INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball fell to Missouri State on Saturday as the Bears scored three runs in the top of the seventh to sneak past the Sycamores, 8-7, at Price Field.
The Sycamores (25-24, 13-10 MVC) tallied nine hits in the contest while Missouri State (29-17, 19-4 MVC) finished with eight including four in the final inning.
The series will conclude on Sunday with first pitch set for noon ET following a senior day ceremony for Indiana State’s seven seniors.
The Action
Missouri State got on the board quickly in the top of the first, hitting a two-run home run to center field to put the Bears up 2-0 after a half-inning of play. The lead would not last long as Indiana State poured in four runs on three hits to take a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the first.
Kennedy Shade doubled off the wall in right field to score Olivia Patton and Isabella Henning, tying the game at two with one out. Shade advanced to third on an error and would score on a squeeze bunt by Annie Tokarek to give the Sycamores a 3-2 lead. Following back-to-back walks by Cassie Thomerson and TeAnn Bringle, Kaylee Barrett singled home pinch-runner Morgan Goodrich to grow the ISU lead to 4-2. Missouri State was able to leave the bases loaded, getting back-to-back fly outs to end the opening frame.
Between the second and third innings, both teams had a combined one baserunner as Cassie Thomerson drew another walk for the Sycamores in the bottom of the third.
After a second-straight 1-2-3 inning in the circle from ISU starter Cassi Newbanks in the top of the fourth, Indiana State got singles from Olivia Patton and Danielle Henning but were unable to convert in the bottom half of the frame.
The Bears would retake the lead in the top of the fifth as a RBI single made it a 4-3 game followed by a Sycamore error which allowed two more runs to score, putting Missouri State back in the lead, 5-4. The Sycamores responded quickly again, scoring two runs to go back in front as Kaylee Barrett sent her fourth home run of the season over the wall in left center.
Leading 6-5 entering the sixth inning, Hailey Griffin, who came on in relief in the fifth, set down the Bears in order, bringing the Sycamores back to the plate where Randi Jo Pryor singled to right field, scoring Isabella Henning to increase the ISU lead to 7-5 after six innings.
Leading off the top of the seventh with a single, the Bears quickly got runners on second and third after a one-out double which forced the Sycamores to go back to the bullpen, putting in Lexi Benko in relief of Griffin. Benko’s first batter singled to left, scoring a run to make it a 7-6 contest. Following a stolen base, Missouri State had runners on second and third again and would take the lead on a single through the right side to go up 8-7. Benko got a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. Kaylee Barrett would draw a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh but the Bears were able to hang on for the win to even the weekend series.
Lexi Benko took the loss for ISU, dropping her record to 12-8 on the season. At the plate for ISU, Danielle Henning and Kaylee Barrett had two hits apiece while Olivia Patton, Isabella Henning, Kennedy Shade, Randi Jo Pryor and Abi Chipps had one hit each.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Purdue Fort Wayne hit four home runs on Saturday (April 29) in a 23-15 loss at Northern Kentucky. The 15 runs are the most for the Mastodons in a single game since scoring 15 at Alabama A&M on Feb. 19, 2017.
Jacob Walker had a grand slam, Caileb Johnson hit two home runs and Ben Higgins had a home run. Walker finished the game a triple short of the cycle. Walker was 3-of-5 with seven RBIs and a run scored. Johnson finished 4-of-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Jarrett Bickel had three hits. They helped the ‘Dons recorded 18 hits. Tyler Nelson and Cade Nelis each scored three times
The ‘Dons led 5-3 after four and a half but the Norse scored six in their half of the fourth to go up 9-5. But the ‘Dons tied it up again in the sixth inning at nine after a Higgins home run. The game shifted NKU’s way in the bottom of the sixth when they scored 10 runs. While the ‘Dons did rally back with six in the top of the seventh, highlighted by Walker’s grand slam, in the end it wasn’t enough. Kevin Fee took the loss in relief. He is 1-4. Matthew Lopez is 2-2 after earning the win.
Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 10-34 (6-14 Horizon League). NKU improves to 25-16 (14-5 Horizon League). Game three of the series is on Sunday (April 30) in a noon start.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne softball celebrated its four seniors on Saturday (April 29) during a trio of Horizon League games with Green Bay. The ‘Dons honored Taryn Jenkins, Sonia Solis, Thais Uyema and Taylor Warne.
On the weekend, Jenkins was 7-for-12 (.583) with three RBIs and two runs while slugging 1.000.
GAME 1 – Green Bay 4, Purdue Fort Wayne 2
Game one was suspended on Friday afternoon due to rain and was concluded on Saturday. Green Bay led 3-1 before the pause after four innings.
Jenkins doubled on Friday to bring Alanah Jones home in the third inning. The ‘Dons had the bases loaded after Tori Countryman and Grace Hollopeter was both hit by pitches, but they were stranded. After play resumed on Saturday, The Mastodons got a chance to dig out of a three-run deficit in the seventh. Warne singled, out-running a throw from the shortstop, then scored after Jenkins hit a triple to right field. The senior was left at third with the tying run at the plate.
Between the two days, Jones threw all 7.0 innings with 172 pitches. She struck out 12 Phoenix, tying a season-best, but was the pitcher of record for the ‘Dons. Green Bay’s Brittany Baneck got the win, pitching the full game as well.
GAME 2 – Green Bay 5, Purdue Fort Wayne 4
Green Bay and Purdue Fort Wayne spent the second game of the series trading runs, which ultimately favored Green Bay, as the Phoenix scored a run in the sixth that was the eventual game-winner.
The Phoenix plated two in the first, but the ‘Dons quickly erased that lead with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Jenkins and Countryman singled to start off the inning, then Bailey Manos singled to score both of them. Countryman took advantage of an error by the left fielder.
Green Bay scored one in the second on a Mastodon miscue, then the ‘Dons returned the favor in the bottom of the inning. Jenkins’ single brought Brooke Lickey home. A solo home run to start the fourth for Green Bay put the Phoenix up one, and it remained that way until the fifth. Solis singled and scored after a single from Manos two batters later.
The Phoenix scored their fifth and final run in the sixth off an RBI single. In the bottom of the seventh, the Mastodons had a chance to tie when Brooke Wintlend sent a fly ball to center, but the runner from third left early and was called out after Green Bay tagged up.
Gracie Brinkerhoff threw a complete game but took the loss. Green Bay’s Paeton Kringel got the win in a complete game.
The Mastodons had nine hits, edging the Phoenix’s eight.
GAME 3 – Green Bay 5, Purdue Fort Wayne 2
The Mastodons out-hit the Phoenix for the third-consecutive game in the series finale. The ‘Dons had eight hits to the Phoenix’s five.
Purdue Fort Wayne took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, but that was all the scoring the Mastodons could muster. The Phoenix out-scored the ‘Dons 5-0 from there.
Jenkins led off with a trip to center field, forcing the center fielder to run into the wall trying to make a catch. Manos singled down the left line, but did not send Jenkins home just yet. Manos stole second to set up a pair of runners in scoring position for Solis. Solis hit a sacrifice fly to bring Jenkins home, then Manos snuck home too thanks to a throwing error from the catcher trying to get her out at third. There was more to be desired in the inning though when Epiphany Hang and Countryman both singled, but they were left on base.
Green Bay scored its first and second runs an inning later, taking advantage of three throwing errors by the ‘Dons. The next four innings were quick and quiet both ways. The third inning was done in a combined seven pitches between the two teams. It took until the fifth for either team to strand a baserunner.
In the seventh, the Phoenix had an RBI-single and two-run homer give them the three-run lead that held until the end of the day. Jenkins had one last hit on her senior day before the Phoenix got the last out.
Alyson Quinlan threw a complete game, striking out six batters, but taking the loss in the process. Green Bay’s Kelly Greene got the win.
Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 16-30, 8-12 Horizon League while Green Bay improves to 19-28, 10-9 Horizon League. The Mastodons will close the regular season at Oakland next weekend (May 5-6).
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The visiting #14 Indiana State baseball team took advantage of some uncharacteristic wildness from University of Evansville junior starter Donovan Schultz to score four runs in the first inning Saturday en route to a 7-4 win at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.
“We just couldn’t overcome the first inning today,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “We didn’t play clean baseball, and because of it, we weren’t able to get the series win today.
“I thought that Jarrett Blunt and Jakob Meyer gave us a chance by keeping us close, but we could not put together another big offensive inning that we needed to get the win. Tomorrow is a very important rubber match for us. Hopefully, we can get another great crowd to come out and cheer us on!”
Schultz (5-3), who had hit only one batter in his last six starts on the mound spanning 32.0 innings of work, opened the first inning giving up a hit, a walk and hit two batters to give Indiana State a 1-0 lead. After a strikeout, ISU catcher Grant McGill was able to flare a double down the right field line to score two runs to extend the lead to 3-0. An infield ground out then capped the first-inning scoring for ISU, but Indiana State took a 4-0 lead before Evansville headed to home plate.
ISU would tack on a run in the third inning on another hit-by-pitch by Schultz, a balk, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 5-0. Evansville would finally answer back in the bottom of the third inning, as junior outfielder Adam Euler, making his first start of the year, singled to open the inning. After a single from sophomore third baseman Ben Stuart, graduate outfielder Eric Roberts launched a three-run home run to center field for his MVC-leading 16th home run of the year to cut the ISU lead to 5-3.
The Sycamores would add a run in the fifth inning on a solo home run from shortstop Randal Diaz that went in and out of the glove of UE outfielder Ty Rumsey as he crashed into the wall in center field to take a 6-3 lead. Diaz would later double off of the glove of Rumsey again in the seventh inning and score on an RBI single by third baseman Mike Sears to push the lead to 7-3, before UE fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug would belt a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap the scoring on the day.
Hug went 3-for-4 with a home run, while Roberts went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Stuart also had two hits for UE. Diaz went 2-for-4 with three runs scored to lead ISU.
Fenlong got the victory on the mound by holding Evansville to four runs on eight hits in 8.0 innings of work, while striking out six. Reliever Brennyn Cutts worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save of the year. Schultz took the loss for UE, yielding five runs on just two hits with a walk. He did hit three batters. UE graduate reliever Jarrett Blunt struck out a career-high eight men in a season-best 4.0 innings of work to try and keep Evansville in the game, and senior reliver Jakob Meyer struck out three over 2.0 scoreless innings of work for UE.
With the victory, Indiana State improves to 27-13 overall and 15-2 in the MVC. Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 25-17 overall and 9-8 in the MVC with the loss. The series will be decided on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., with UE expected to start graduate LHP Michael Parks (2-1, 2.34 ERA) against Indiana State
RHP Lane Miller (4-0, 2.12 ERA). Sunday’s rubber match can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.
EVANSVILLE SOFTBALL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Solo home runs from Jenna Nink and Marah Wood, strong pitching and big-time defensive plays around the diamond, helped the University of Evansville softball team take down Illinois State by a score of 3-2 at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
Box Score
Nink registered her sixth homer of the season while Wood picked up her fourth. Erin Kleffman made the start on her Senior Day with one run scoring in her four innings of work. Sydney Weatherford earned her sixth win of the year, tossing two frames of 1-run ball. Megan Brenton threw a scoreless seventh on the way to her sixth save of 2023.
Evansville’s defense was the first to make a statement, coming through in a big way to prevent an Illinois State run in the top of the seconds. With two outs and runners on first and second, the Redbirds picked up a base hit to left field and sent the baserunner home. Zoe Frossard’s accurate throw was grabbed by catcher Taylor Howe, who made the tag and ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third, UE broke the scoreless tie when Marah Wood drilled a 1-out home run to left center. It extended her hit streak to 11 games and marked her fourth homer of 2023. It did not take long for ISU to rebound as they put two runners on with no outs. A sacrifice fly brought in the tying run before Erin Kleffman pitched out of the jam.
Entering the game in the top of the 5th, Sydney Weatherford struggled with the opening three batters as each would get on base. Facing the bases loaded, no out situation, Weatherford regrouped and limited the damage to just one run with the Redbirds going up 2-1.
Jenna NInk wasted little time in tying it right back up. With UE facing its first deficit of the afternoon, her leadoff home run in the bottom of the 5th tied the score. Pinch hitter Brooke McCorkle followed up with a double as Sydney Kalonihea reentered and would score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly from Alexa Davis.
Brenton took to the circle in the 7th and two runners would reach with one out. Appropriately enough, it was the defense shining once again, forcing a game-ending double play to seal the win. Both squads recorded seven hits on the day with Willsey picking up two.
Following the game, seniors Hannah Hood and Kleffman were recognized as well as Alyssa Barela, who played her final season at UE in 2022. The team also recognized senior members of the Illinois State team.
The teams will battle it out for the series on Sunday with first pitch set for 12 p.m.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASBEALL
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball rebounded with a 12-5 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday afternoon in Edwardsville, Illinois. USI watched its record go to 15-27 overall, 6-11 OVC, while SIUE is 23-19, 6-8 OVC, this spring.
USI junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) put the Screaming Eagles on the right track early with a two-run blast and his team-best 10th home run of the season down the right field line for a 2-0 advantage. The 2-0 lead would last until the bottom half of the frame when SIUE knotted the game at 2-2.
The Eagles regained the lead for good in the top of the second, 5-2, by pushing three more across. Senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) started the scoring with a RBI-single before Ebest struck again with a two-run single for his third and fourth RBIs of the game.
USI junior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) increased the margin to 8-2 with a three-run drive over the right field wall. The drive was Ellis’ fourth of the season.
After the Cougars picked up a pair of runs in the sixth to close the gap to 8-4, the Eagles sealed the victory with a three-run seventh to re-extend the lead to 11-4. Senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) had the big hit in the frame with a bases clearing three-run triple.
USI would add an insurance run in the top of the ninth to lead, 12-4, on a sacrifice fly by Ellis. The Cougars would get a tally to end the scoring before the Eagles closed out the 12-5 victory.
For the day at the plate, Ebest and Ellis had a team-best four RBIs each. Ebest also joined Kahre, McNew, and junior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) with three hits each.
On the mound, junior left-hander Blake Ciuffetelli (Newburgh, Indiana) took the win after going 5.1 innings. Ciuffetelli (2-0) allowed four runs on six hits, while striking out one.
USI junior right-hander Carter Stamm (Jasper, Indiana) posted his first save of the season in completing the game for Ciuffetelli. Stamm allowed one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out one in 3.2 innings of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Cougars conclude the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at SIUE’s Roy E. Lee Field.
Following Sunday’s series finale, USI finishes the four-game road swing Tuesday when it visits Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) for a 6 p.m. contest. SIU took the first meeting of the season, 16-9, in March at the USI Baseball Field.
U OF I BASEBALL
KANSAS CITY, Mo., – The University of Indianapolis baseball team took two off Rockhurst on Saturday, winning game one of the doubleheader 20-4, with the second game being closer, but the Hounds still coming out on top 8-6 for their fifth win in a row. With the pair of wins over Rockhurst, the Hound have won the last five meetings between the two squads, with UIndy holding an overall 13-3 historical edge over the Hawks.
The big storyline of the doubleheader was the long-ball power of the Greyhounds. Of the 28 total UIndy runs, 11 came from homers, two of which were grand slams.
GAME 1, UINDY 20, ROCKHURST 5
Game one started much like the game on Friday night did, with the Greyhounds amounting a big lead in the first inning. Denton Shepler was the first to earn an RBI, scoring Brandon DeWitt who reached on a leadoff double. Back-to-back wild pitches kept the Hounds crossing home with walks once again loading the bases allowing for Easton Good to score two on a single into left field. DeWitt helped to finish it off with a single into center that scored one more.
The Hounds and Hawks traded runs in the third before UIndy put up a crooked number in the fourth, the catalyst being Drew Donaldson’s deep drive over the right center wall for a two-run homer. Jared Bujdos made it 10 for the Hounds later that frame with a single into left. Donaldson just an inning later faced bases loaded after a Will Spear double, a Good walk and a DeWitt single. With one swing of the bat the bases were cleared as Donaldson launched the ball deep over the centerfield wall for his first ever multi-homer game as a Greyhound.
MARIAN BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The 2023 Marian baseball season came to its conclusion on Saturday evening, as the Knights fell twice to Huntington on their senior day. Marian’s two losses leave the Knights with a final record of 17-31, going 11-25 in Crossroads League action.
Game 1 | Marian 2-12 Huntington | 7 Innings
The Knights dropped the opening game of the doubleheader to Huntington, as the Foresters offense overpowered Marian. After both sides were retired in order in the first inning, a five-run frame from Huntington in the top of the second put the winning runs on the board against Taylor Soper. Soper allowed a trifecta of singles before giving up a three run home run, pushing the first four runs in. An error at shortstop after a double would bring in another run, closing the five run frame. Marian would answer with a run of their own in the home half as a JJ Rivera single turned into a score on an RBI groundout from Caden Jones.
Soper held the Foresters scoreless in the third inning as a runner he picked off helped him face the minimum, but in the fourth two more runs would get thrown on the board, with another miscue along with two hits in the Knights’ aiding the Huntington cause. Marian was unable to add runs in the third and fourth, and in the fifth Jace Stoops was called in out of the bullpen, getting a strong start with a three pitch strikeout before allowing a home run. Stoops would get the second out of the inning, but a pair of walks and hit batter loaded the bases, setting up a Langston Ginder double to score three more runs.
The Foresters big inning put Marian in an 11-1 hole, but the Knights were able to get a run back in the bottom of the fifth on a Kameron Salazar RBI single. The run made it an 11-2 score, however the rally to get back in the game stopped for Marian as they were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Huntington added a run against Michael Mates in the top of the sixth inning, which stood in the final score of 12-2.
Marian was out-hit 13-5 in the game, with Soper allowing nine base hits as he fell to 1-4 on the year. Stoops allowed two hits and four runs with two showing as earned, and Mates yielded two hits and one run in his two innings of work. The Knights hits were spread out among five players, with Salazar having the lone RBI hit. Rivera, Josh Lamb, Caden Mason, and Dawson Estep each had one hit in the loss.
Game 2 | Marian 5-16 Huntington | 5 Innings
Daniel Brenneman started the final game of the season, and got charged for a pair of runs in the first inning of the game as he allowed two hits and a walk, with a pair of errors helping score two unearned runs. A double play spoiled the Knights’ first at bat of the game, and in the second inning Brenneman was roughed up once more, giving up five runs with three extra base hits helping their cause. Marian would answer with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second as the offense got going, with a Bryce Davenport single starting the hitting, while singles for Caden Jones and Trey Heidlage would help knock in two runs. A Caden Mason double drove in Jones, giving Marian three in the inning to trail 7-3.
A lead off triple in the third would come around to score as Brenneman saw the eighth run cross the plate under his watch, and as the inning switched following three straight outs, mother nature intervened. A storm cell covered the campus, and caused a near three-hour delay in the game. During the break Marian honored their seniors, and after a 2:52 delay, returned to play in the bottom of the third inning.
In the home half Marian got hits from JJ Rivera and Bryce Davenport, but a pair of strikeouts would end the inning. Huntington drove their score up in the top of the fourth inning against Jayson Cottrell, posting five hits to bring in five runs. Ethan Davis would record the final out of the inning to stop the bleeding, leaving Marian trailing 13-3. Marian would get one run back in the bottom of the fourth inning as Trey Heidlage scored on an error, making it 13-4, but Huntington again flexed their offense with Davis yielding three runs to open the inning.
Seth Risley finished the frame, and in the bottom of the fifth Marian scored their final run of the season, with Bryce Davenport belting a solo home run to right center field for his third yard call of the weekend. Davenport would put up the final hit of the game as Marian grounded out three consecutive at bats, as the umpires called the game with five innings complete and an official game being played on the scorecard.
Brenneman took the loss in his final outing, pitching three innings while getting two strikeouts. Cottrell, Davis, and Risley each recorded two outs, with Cottrell and Risley getting one strikeout each. Marian had eight hits in the final, with Davenport going 3-3 and Mason goint 2-3. Heidlage had two RBI in his final outing as a Knight, and Caden Jones and JJ Rivera both posted a single.
Marian ends their season at 17-31, finishing ninth in the final Crossroads League standings.
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Tampa Bay | 23 | 5 | .821 | – | 14 – 2 | 9 – 3 | 5 – 2 | 9 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 8 – 2 | W 3 |
| Baltimore | 18 | 9 | .667 | 4.5 | 9 – 4 | 9 – 5 | 4 – 5 | 7 – 2 | 5 – 2 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| Toronto | 18 | 9 | .667 | 4.5 | 9 – 2 | 9 – 7 | 4 – 2 | 8 – 2 | 5 – 3 | 8 – 2 | W 6 |
| NY Yankees | 15 | 13 | .536 | 8 | 9 – 7 | 6 – 6 | 3 – 3 | 5 – 5 | 3 – 3 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Boston | 14 | 14 | .500 | 9 | 8 – 7 | 6 – 7 | 3 – 7 | 6 – 2 | 3 – 1 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 16 | 12 | .571 | – | 9 – 6 | 7 – 6 | 5 – 5 | 7 – 2 | 2 – 1 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Cleveland | 13 | 14 | .481 | 2.5 | 4 – 8 | 9 – 6 | 2 – 3 | 1 – 2 | 6 – 4 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Detroit | 10 | 16 | .385 | 5 | 5 – 6 | 5 – 10 | 2 – 13 | 2 – 1 | 2 – 1 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 7 | 21 | .250 | 9 | 3 – 9 | 4 – 12 | 1 – 11 | 1 – 2 | 2 – 2 | 0 – 10 | L 10 |
| Kansas City | 7 | 21 | .250 | 9 | 1 – 12 | 6 – 9 | 1 – 3 | 1 – 5 | 2 – 7 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 16 | 11 | .593 | – | 10 – 5 | 6 – 6 | 3 – 3 | 5 – 1 | 4 – 2 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Houston | 14 | 13 | .519 | 2 | 6 – 9 | 8 – 4 | 4 – 2 | 4 – 6 | 1 – 2 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| LA Angels | 14 | 14 | .500 | 2.5 | 8 – 5 | 6 – 9 | 3 – 7 | 2 – 1 | 7 – 3 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Seattle | 11 | 16 | .407 | 5 | 7 – 9 | 4 – 7 | 0 – 2 | 3 – 4 | 1 – 2 | 3 – 7 | L 4 |
| Oakland | 5 | 23 | .179 | 11.5 | 2 – 12 | 3 – 11 | 1 – 6 | 1 – 2 | 3 – 7 | 2 – 8 | L 5 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 18 | 9 | .667 | – | 7 – 7 | 11 – 2 | 6 – 2 | 6 – 0 | 3 – 4 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| NY Mets | 15 | 12 | .556 | 3 | 5 – 5 | 10 – 7 | 6 – 5 | 0 – 3 | 6 – 4 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Miami | 15 | 13 | .536 | 3.5 | 9 – 6 | 6 – 7 | 5 – 9 | 2 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| Philadelphia | 15 | 13 | .536 | 3.5 | 8 – 5 | 7 – 8 | 1 – 2 | 4 – 3 | 3 – 1 | 8 – 2 | W 4 |
| Washington | 9 | 17 | .346 | 8.5 | 2 – 11 | 7 – 6 | 3 – 3 | 0 – 2 | 2 – 2 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Pittsburgh | 20 | 8 | .714 | – | 9 – 4 | 11 – 4 | 2 – 0 | 7 – 4 | 5 – 1 | 9 – 1 | W 4 |
| Milwaukee | 18 | 9 | .667 | 1.5 | 9 – 5 | 9 – 4 | 3 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 4 – 3 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| Chi Cubs | 14 | 12 | .538 | 5 | 8 – 8 | 6 – 4 | 0 – 2 | 2 – 3 | 5 – 5 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Cincinnati | 12 | 15 | .444 | 7.5 | 9 – 6 | 3 – 9 | 3 – 7 | 3 – 6 | 0 – 0 | 5 – 5 | W 5 |
| St. Louis | 10 | 18 | .357 | 10 | 5 – 8 | 5 – 10 | 0 – 3 | 3 – 4 | 4 – 8 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Arizona | 16 | 12 | .571 | – | 8 – 6 | 8 – 6 | 1 – 2 | 4 – 2 | 9 – 7 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| LA Dodgers | 15 | 13 | .536 | 1 | 8 – 6 | 7 – 7 | 1 – 2 | 7 – 5 | 7 – 6 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| San Diego | 14 | 14 | .500 | 2 | 6 – 8 | 8 – 6 | 5 – 5 | 2 – 5 | 7 – 4 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| San Francisco | 11 | 15 | .423 | 4 | 7 – 7 | 4 – 8 | 3 – 4 | 3 – 1 | 1 – 3 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Colorado | 8 | 20 | .286 | 8 | 3 – 9 | 5 – 11 | 3 – 5 | 1 – 5 | 2 – 6 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |