INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE SCORES
CLASS 4A
ELKHART
FISHERS 48 CROWN POINT 37
FORT WAYNE WAYNE 62 MISHAWAKA 47
FISHERS 69 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 61
NEW CASTLE
BEN DAVIS 75 CENTER GROVE 49
JEFFERSONVILLE 62 LAWRENCE NORTH 60
BEN DAVIS 52 JEFFERSONVILLE 51
CLASS 3A
LOGANSPORT
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 88 PERU 80
DELTA 54 FAIRFIELD 45
SOUT BEND ST. JOSEPH 44 DELTA 41 3OT
SEYMOUR
GUERIN CATHOLIC 57 DANVILLE 52
SCOTTSBURG 58 EVANSVILLE BOSSE 45
SCOTTSBURG 70 GUERIN CATHOLIC 54
CLASS 2A
LAFAYETTE JEFF
WAPAHANI 48 NORTH JUDSON 28
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 55 WABASH 51
WAPAHANI 60 FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 49 OT
SOUTHPORT
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 50 PARK TUDOR 49
PARKE HERITAGE 64 FOREST PARK 54
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 66 PARKE HERITAGE 56
CLASS 1A
MICHIGAN CITY
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 50 MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 47
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 60 ELKHART CHRISTIAN 51 OT
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 56 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 53
WASHINGTON
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 53 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 35
BARR-REEVE 54 EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 44
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 63 BARR-REEVE 38
STATE FINALS
SESSION 1
PUBLIC GATES OPEN AT 9:30 AM ET
10:30 AM ET | CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (23-7) VS. FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY (18-9)
APPROX. 12:45 PM ET | CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (27-4) VS. WAPAHANI (26-2)
FIELDHOUSE CLEARED
SESSION 2
PUBLIC GATES OPEN AT 5 PM ET
6 PM ET | CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
SCOTTSBURG (24-5) VS. SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (20-9)
APPROX. 8:15 PM ET | CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BEN DAVIS (23-5) VS. FISHERS (28-1)
MEN’S TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
WISCONSIN 76 #3 PURDUE 75 OT
#12 AUBURN 73 MISSISSIPPI STATE 66
#13 ILLINOIS 98 NEBRASKA 87
#7 IOWA STATE 69 #1 HOUSTON 41
#2 CONNECTICUT 73 #10 MARQUETTE 57
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 84 #4 NORTH CAROLINA 76
ELSEWHERE:
NEW MEXICO 74 COLORADO STATE 61
VCU 66 ST. JOSEPH
VERMONT 66 MASSACHUSETTS- LOWELL 61
BROWN 90 PRINCETON 81
YALE 69 CORNELL 57
HOWARD 70 DELAWARE STATE 67
ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM 93 S. FLORIDA 83
DUQUESNE 70 ST. BONAVENTURE 60
FLORIDA 95 TEXAS A&M 90
TEMPLE 74 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 73
NEW MEXICO 68 SAN DIEGO STATE 61
AKRON 62 KENT STATE 61
ST. PETER 68 FAIRFIELD 63
WESTERN KENTUCKY 78 UTEP 71
OREGON 75 COLORADO 68
GRAMBLING STATE 75 TEXAS SOUTHERN 66
LONG BEACH STATE 74 UC DAVIS 70
GRAND CANYON 89 TEXAS ARLINGTON 74
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOP 25 SCORES
#25 FAIRFIELD 70 NIAGARA 62 OT
ELSEWHERE:
KENT STATE 78 BUFFALO 60
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 75 STEPHEN F AUSTIN 74
STONY BROOK 59 NORTH CAROLINA A&T 51
DRAKE 92 NORTHERN IOWA 83 OT
NORFOLK STATE 51 HOWARD 46
DREXEL 69 TOWSON 68
PRINCETON 75 COLUMBIA 58
MISSOURI STATE 63 BELMONT 48
JACKSON STATE 68 ALCORN STATE 44
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 67 LIBERTY 51
UC IRVINE 53 UC DAVIS 39
FLORIDA GULF COAST 76 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 47
NBA SCOREBOARD
HOUSTON 117 CLEVELAND 103
NEW ORLEANS 126 PORTLAND 107
PHILADELPHIA 109 CHARLOTTE 98
INDIANA 121 BROOKLYN 100
CHICAGO 127 WASHINGTON 98
OKLAHOMA CITY 118 MEMPHIS 112
GOLDEN STATE 128 LA LAKERS 121
MINNESOTA 119 UTAH 100
NEW YORK 98 SACRAMENTO 91
NHL SCOREBOARD
OTTAWA 4 NY ISLANDERS 3 OT
DETROIT 4 BUFFALO 1
NY RANGERS 7 PITTSBURGH 4
ARIZONA 4 NEW JERSEY 1
TAMPA BAY 5 FLORIDA 3
BOSTON 6 PHILADELPHIA 5
CALGARY 5 MONTRÉAL 2
CAROLINA 5 TORONTO 4
COLUMBUS 4 SAN JOSE 2
DALLAS 4 LOS ANGELES 1
ST. LOUIS 3 MINNESOTA 2
WASHINGTON 2 VANCOUVER 1
COLORADO 3 EDMONTON 2 OT
NASHVILLE 4 SEATTLE 1
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ST. LOUIS 8 WASHINGTON 5
MINNESOTA 6 TAMPA BAY 5
NY YANKEES 10 TORONTO 9
BALTIMORE 5 BOSTON 4
PHILADELPHIA 3 MIAMI 3
CHICAGO CUBS 7 KANSAS CITY 6
ARIZONA 5 TEXAS 4
DETROIT 6 PITTSBURGH 4
SAN FRANCISCO 11 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 7
SAN FRANCISCO 6 CLEVELAND 0
SEATTLE 11 CINCINNATI 7
MILWAUKEE 11 OAKLAND 4
COLORADO 11 OAKLAND 9
CHICAGO CUBS 4 LA ANGELS 3
SEATTLE 8 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2
MILWAUKEE 5 TEXAS 1
NY METS 6 HOUSTON 1
PITTSBURGH 4 ATLANTA 2
LA DODGERS 14 KIWOOM HEROES 3
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
CHICAGO 4 MONTRÉAL 3
MIAMI 3 DC 1
SEATTLE 1 COLORADO 1
NEW YORK CITY 2 TORONTO 1
COLUMBUS 3 NEW YORK 0
MINNESOTA 2 LOS ANGELES 0
KANSAS CITY 2 SAN JOSE 1
HOUSTON 1 PORTLAND 0
AUSTIN 2 PHILADELPHIA 2
NASHVILLE 2 CHARLOTTE 1
VANCOUVER 3 DALLAS 1
LOS ANGELES 3 ST. LOUIS 3
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
CAMPBELL 13 VALPARAISO 4
PENN STATE 21 UMASS LOWELL 14
TEXAS SAN ANTONIO 12 NORTHWESTERN 2
NORTHWESTERN 10 TEXAS SAN ANTONIO 4
FLORIDA STATE 4 NOTRE DAME 2
ST. JOHN’S 10 RIDER 9
INDIANA STATE 10 XAVIER 7
PURDUE 6 SAMFORD 1
PURDUE 13 SAMFORD 12 (10)
IOWA 17 WESTERN ILLINOIS 7
IOWA 19 WESTERN ILLINOIS 9
ELON 6 MINNESOTA 5
INDIANA 15 BELMONT 10
RUTGERS 27 DELAWARE 13
SAN DIEGO 16 MICHIGAN 7
NEBRASKA 16 NICHOLLS 0
EVANSVILLE 5 MICHIGAN STATE 3 (11)
ILLINOIS 6 SOUTHERN INDIANA 5
OHIO STATE 7 WEST VIRGINIA 4
MARYLAND 9 PORTLAND 8
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 13 YOUNGSTOWN STATE 3
TOLEDO 21 WESTERN MICHIGAN 14
WESTERN MICHIGAN 15 TOLEDO 6
BOWLING GREEN 34 BALL STATE 8
MOREHEAD STATE 23 EASTERN MICHIGAN 12
MOREHEAD STATE 17 EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
MIAMI OHIO 15 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 6
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 9 AKRON 6
OHIO 10 KENT STATE 9
BRADLEY 21 BUTLER 11
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
FLORIDA 10 INDIANA 4
INDIANA 9 MERCER 2
OMAHA 6 PURDUE 5
WISCONSIN 5 COLGATE 3
NORTHWESTERN 2 BOSTON 0
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 7 OHIO STATE 3
WISCONSIN 1 ALBANY 0
ILLINOIS 13 DARTMOUTH 5
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 3 MICHIGAN STATE 1
IOWA 10 PACIFIC 1
MINNESOTA 14 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 4
MICHIGAN 4 SOUTH DAKOTA 3
NOTRE DAME 6 GEORGIA TECH 3
PENN STATE 8 CANISIUS 2
NEBRASKA 9 CREIGHTON 0
BRYANT 5 MARYLAND 3
IOWA 6 SACRAMENTO STATE 1
RUTGERS 5 SAN DIEGO 3
LOUISVILLE 12 MICHIGAN 4
NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
NEW MICHIGAN DL COACH GREG SCRUGGS SUSPENDED AFTER ARREST
Greg Scruggs, who was named Michigan’s defensive line coach just 10 days ago, was arrested on a drunk-driving charge early Saturday and suspended from the program.
“Greg made an unfortunate mistake and was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said in a statement. “He made no excuses and has taken accountability for his actions. The football program and athletic department have suspended Greg indefinitely while we review details of the incident.”
The Wolverines announced his hiring on March 6. He was the defensive line coach at Wisconsin in 2023 and the assistant line coach with the New York Jets in 2022.
Scruggs, 33, knows Moore from their days at Louisville, when Scruggs was a player and Moore a grad assistant. In late 2011, Scruggs was arrested in Kentucky on a drunk-driving charge and dismissed from the team before Louisville met North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl.
Scruggs appeared in 18 games between 2012-16 for the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears, recording 11 tackles and three sacks.
NFL NEWS
REPORTS: BEARS SENDING QB JUSTIN FIELDS TO STEELERS
Quarterback Justin Fields is heading from the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to multiple reports.
The Bears acquire a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick that, should Fields exceed 50 percent snaps this coming season, would become a fourth-round selection according to ESPN.
Still only 25, Fields threw for 2,562 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 starts in 2023.
He completed 61.4 percent of his throws and rushed for 657 yards and four touchdowns.
Pittsburgh signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson and traded Kenny Pickett to Philadelphia this week. Pickett started 24 games in his two years with the Steelers.
An ESPN source said Fields is unlikely to be the starter in Pittsburgh, at least to begin the season.
The deal opens the door for Chicago to draft a quarterback, widely expected to be Southern California’s Caleb Williams, with the No. 1 overall selection.
“No one wants to live in gray, I know that’s uncomfortable,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Feb. 27. “I wouldn’t want to be in that situation either. So, we will gather the information, we will move as quickly as possible, we are not going to be in a rush and see what presents itself and what’s best for the organization.”
Fields suffered a right thumb injury and missed four games last season for the 7-10 Bears.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOP 25 ROUNDUP: NO. 7 IOWA STATE STIFLES NO. 1 HOUSTON IN BIG 12 FINAL
Milan Momcilovic scored 18 points as No. 7 Iowa State dominated No. 1 Houston 69-41 Saturday night in the Big 12 tournament final in front of a largely partisan Iowa State crowd in Kansas City, Mo.
Iowa State is the only school to have played in the tournament title game and never lost. The Cyclones are now 6-0 all-time in tournament championship games.
It was expected to be a defensive struggle between the two best scoring defenses in the Big 12 and two of the top five in Division I, but this game was all Iowa State. The Cyclones held Houston to just 26.8 percent shooting (15 of 56) from the field.
The Cyclones shot 25 of 50 against the nation’s best field-goal percentage defense. No. 2-seed Iowa State (27-7) also got 16 points from Keshon Gilbert and 13 from Hason Ward. Gilbert was named tournament MVP.
No. 2 UConn 73, No. 10 Marquette 57
Donovan Clingan put up 22 points and 16 rebounds, Tristen Newton and Jaylin Stewart each drilled three critical 3-pointers and the Huskies pulled away from the Golden Eagles to win the Big East championship game in New York.
The top-seeded Huskies claimed their first Big East tournament title since 2011, before the university left the conference from 2013-2020. After sweeping third-seeded Marquette during the regular season, UConn avenged a semifinal loss to the Golden Eagles in last year’s tournament.
Newton had 13 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for UConn (31-3), which will be in the mix for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kam Jones tallied 13 points and eight rebounds and David Joplin added 12 points and six boards for the Golden Eagles (25-9), who reached the final despite star guard Tyler Kolek sitting out all week with an oblique injury.
Wisconsin 76, No. 3 Purdue 75 (OT)
Max Klesmit’s floater bounced in for the decisive basket with 4.8 seconds remaining and the fifth-seeded Badgers upset the top-seeded Boilermakers in Minneapolis to advance to the Big Ten tournament title game.
Chucky Hepburn had 22 points and three steals and AJ Storr scored 20 points for Wisconsin (22-12), but Klesmit was the hero with 12 points. A last-second 3-point attempt by Purdue’s Lance Jones missed everything as the buzzer sounded.
Zach Edey recorded 28 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Boilermakers (29-4). He also became Purdue’s all-time leading scorer with 2,339 career points, surpassing legend Rick Mount (1967-70), who scored 2,323 points in three seasons for the Boilermakers.
NC State 84, No. 4 North Carolina 76
DJ Horne scored 29 points as the Wolfpack, seeded 10th, pulled off their improbable fifth victory in five days, beating the top-seeded Tar Heels to win the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament for the first time since 1987.
For North Carolina (27-7) — No. 4 in the AP poll — the loss snapped an eight-game winning streak. While RJ Davis — the ACC Player of the Year — and Armando Bacot stuffed the stat sheet, only one other Tar Heel scored in double figures. Davis finished with 30 points on 10-of-26 shooting while Bacot had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The play of DJ Burns Jr., who had 20 points and a career-high-tying seven assists, also helped power the Wolfpack (22-14). North Carolina State is the lowest-seeded team to ever win the conference tournament. Mohamed Diarra had a game-high 14 rebounds and 11 points, while Michael O’Connell chipped in 10 points.
No. 12 Auburn 73, Mississippi State 66
Five players scored in double figures as the Tigers got past the Bulldogs to earn a spot in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn.
The fourth-seeded Tigers (26-7) will play sixth-seeded Florida for the SEC tournament title Sunday. The ninth-seeded Bulldogs (21-13) will wait for a possible at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament when the 68-team field is unveiled Sunday.
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 14 points to lead Auburn, while Jaylin Williams and Denver Jones each added 13. Johni Broome and reserve Tre Donaldson tallied 10 points apiece. Freshman guard Josh Hubbard scored a game-high 20 points for Mississippi State but hit only 6 of 17 field goal tries.
No. 13 Illinois 98, Nebraska 87
Terrence Shannon Jr. set a Big Ten tournament record with 40 points and the second-seeded Fighting Illini recovered from a 15-point, second-half deficit to post a victory over the third-seeded Cornhuskers in Minneapolis to reach the conference title game.
Shannon’s career-high output included 22 points in the second half. The Fighting Illini (25-8) outscored the Cornhuskers 58-36 in the second half after trailing by 11 at the break. Marcus Domask added 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Illinois, which will face fifth-seeded Wisconsin in Sunday’s championship game.
Quincy Guerrier added 13 points and Luke Goode had 12 on four 3-pointers for the Illini. Brice Williams scored 23 points for Nebraska (23-10), which played in the Big Ten semis for the first time.
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: STEPH CURRY LIFTS WARRIORS PAST LAKERS IN RETURN
Stephen Curry scored 31 points in his return from a three-game absence and Klay Thompson added 26 points as the visiting Golden State Warriors earned a 128-121 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 23 points, Andrew Wiggins had 16 and Draymond Green added six points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds to help the Warriors (35-31) pull a percentage point ahead of the Lakers (36-32). Both teams are in the final two spots for the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.
Golden State entered with three losses in its previous four games and went 1-2 while Curry was out with a right ankle sprain.
LeBron James scored 13 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter and D’Angelo Russell added 23 points and 13 assists for the Lakers. Anthony Davis did not play after the first quarter because of a left eye contusion. His eye was brushed by the arm of Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis on a drive to the basket.
Knicks 98, Kings 91
Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks provided all the scoring during a critical fourth-quarter run and New York’s defense was stellar once again in a win over host Sacramento.
Jalen Brunson had a game-high 42 points for the Knicks (40-27), who won for the fourth time in their past five games, a stretch in which they haven’t allowed more than 93 points in any game.
Domantas Sabonis had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings (38-28), who led 79-75 after two free throws by De’Aaron Fox with 9:48 remaining.
Pacers 121, Nets 100
Pascal Siakam totaled 28 points and 11 rebounds as host Indiana pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Brooklyn.
Siakam’s double-double helped the Pacers (38-30) improve to 8-5 in their past 13 and moved to within 1 1/2 games of the fifth-place Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference.
The Nets (26-41) dropped to 1-4 on a six-game road that ends Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs and fell 3 1/2 games behind the 10th-place Atlanta Hawks for the final play-in spot in the East.
Timberwolves 119, Jazz 000
Mike Conley scored 25 points in his Salt Lake City return and Anthony Edwards scored 31 to lead Minnesota to a win over Utah.
The night began with a video tribute for Conley, who played three-plus seasons in Utah before being traded to Minnesota in February 2023. Edwards topped all scorers and added 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks for Minnesota (46-21).
Collin Sexton, coming off the bench, led the Jazz (29-38) with 22 points and 10 assists. Utah played without its top three veterans: Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps), Jordan Clarkson (groin) and John Collins (rest).
Rockets 117, Cavaliers 103
Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet posted double-doubles as host Houston extended its winning streak to five games with a victory over Cleveland.
Green posted game-highs of 26 points and 11 rebounds and VanVleet added 13 points and 16 assists to guide the Rockets to their seventh victory in eight games. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Rockets (32-35) seized control behind a balanced scoring attack in the second quarter.
All five starters also scored in double figures for the Cavaliers (42-25) but the squad was led by Caris LeVert and his 21 points off the bench. Georges Niang scored 14 points while Donovan Mitchell tallied 13 points and Darius Garland 12 for Cleveland. Mitchell and Garland shot a combined 9 for 26.
76ers 109, Hornets 98
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 22 and host Philadelphia defeated Charlotte.
Buddy Hield contributed 14 points, Paul Reed had 11 and Cameron Payne chipped in 10 for the Sixers (37-30), who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Tre Mann led the Hornets (17-51) with 21 points, while Davis Bertans added 16. Miles Bridges and Grant Williams scored 14 points apiece, and Nick Richards had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Vasilije Micic also scored 11 points.
Pelicans 126, Trail Blazers 107
CJ McCollum scored 30 points, Zion Williamson had 26 points and 10 rebounds and host New Orleans pulled away from Portland.
Brandon Ingram had 22 points, Trey Murphy III added 20 points and Naji Marshall scored 11 for the Pelicans (41-26), who won for the sixth time in seven games.
Dalano Banton scored 28 points, Anfernee Simons added 25, Deandre Ayton scored 20, Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson had 11 each and Jabari Walker added 10 for the Blazers (19-48), who played without second-leading scorer Jerami Grant (hamstring).
Thunder 118, Grizzlies 112
Jalen Williams scored 23 points to lead visiting Oklahoma City over Memphis.
The Thunder (47-20) have won back-to-back games and five of its past six to move into a tie with the Denver Nuggets for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Desmond Bane played for the first time since Jan. 12, and he led the Grizzlies (23-45) with 22 points and seven assists. Bane had been dealing with an ankle injury.
Bulls 127, Wizards 98
Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 34 points and handed out nine assists as Chicago dominated the first half and never looked back in a win over visiting Washington.
Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago (33-35), which matched its largest margin of victory this season. Alex Caruso had 16 points, Andre Drummond had 13 points and nine rebounds and DeMar DeRozan chipped in 13 points.
Corey Kispert led Washington (11-56) with 16 points while Bilal Coulibaly scored 15. Jordan Poole added 13 points and eight assists and Kyle Kuzma had 11 for the Wizards, who have lost three straight and 19 of their last 21.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: PREDATORS EXTEND POINT STREAK TO 14 GAMES
Roman Josi scored two third-period goals as the Nashville Predators extended their point streak to 14 games with a 4-1 victory over the host Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.
Tommy Novak and Filip Forsberg also scored, the latter an empty-netter with 1:20 remaining. Mark Jankowski and Ryan McDonagh each had a pair of assists for Nashville.
Goaltender Juuse Saros made 23 saves as the Predators allowed two or fewer goals for the 11th time during their 12-0-2 run that has vaulted them to the top of the Western Conference’s wild-card race.
Andre Burakovsky scored for Seattle, which dropped to 0-3-1 on its five-game homestand. Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 of 29 shots.
Senators 4, Islanders 3 (OT)
Brady Tkachuk capped a hat trick by scoring with 24 seconds left in overtime for visiting Ottawa, which damaged New York’s playoff hopes with a win in Elmont, N.Y.
Tkachuk scored off a feed from Shane Pinto 91 seconds into a power play generated when Bo Horvat — who tied the game for the Islanders by scoring on the power play with 37.2 seconds left in the third — was whistled for holding with 1:55 left in overtime.
Matt Martin and Kyle Palmieri scored for the Islanders, who fell out of the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with their third straight loss (0-2-1). New York has 73 points, one behind the Detroit Red Wings, who beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Saturday afternoon.
Hurricanes 5, Maple Leafs 4 (SO)
Jake Guentzel scored the only goal of a shootout and visiting Carolina rallied to defeat Toronto.
The Hurricanes fell behind 3-0, but Sebastian Aho scored at 18:28 and 19:53 of the third period for Carolina to force overtime. Jordan Martinook and Seth Jarvis scored the other goals for the Hurricanes, who have won five of six. Guentzel and Brent Burns added two assists.
John Tavares had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who failed to score on a power play during overtime. William Nylander, Nicholas Robertson and David Kampf also scored for the Maple Leafs. Morgan Rielly added two assists.
Red Wings 4, Sabres 1
Patrick Kane scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and host Detroit snapped a seven-game losing streak with a win over Buffalo.
Christian Fischer, Daniel Sprong and Lucas Raymond had the other goals for the Red Wings, whose last victory came on Feb. 27 against Washington. Andrew Copp added two assists.
Tage Thompson had the lone goal for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves.
Stars 4, Kings 1
Thomas Harley had a goal and an assist for Dallas, which completed a season sweep of visiting Los Angeles.
Craig Smith, Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn also scored and Scott Wedgewood made 27 saves for the Stars, who had lost two in a row to open their five-game homestand. Dallas swept the three-game season series by a combined score of 13-3.
Kevin Fiala scored and David Rittich made 25 saves for the Kings, who were coming off a 5-0 victory at the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, but have alternated wins and losses the past eight games.
Coyotes 4, Devils 1
Clayton Keller scored and set up a goal and Nick Schmaltz notched three assists to lift Arizona over New Jersey in Tempe, Ariz.
Keller set up Dylan Guenther’s power-play goal in the first period to push his career point total to 400 before he sealed the win with an empty-net tally. Logan Cooley and defenseman J.J. Moser also scored and Karel Vejmelka made 37 saves to send the Coyotes to their second straight win.
New Jersey defenseman Nick DeSimone atoned for an earlier miscue by scoring a goal in the second period. Kaapo Kahkonen yielded three goals on 15 shots before being replaced by Nico Daws (16 saves) for the Devils, who have lost nine of their last 13 games.
Lightning 5, Panthers 3
Steven Stamkos scored two goals and dished two assists and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 47 saves as visiting Tampa Bay defeated Florida in Sunrise, Fla.
Stamkos, with 27 goals this season and 542 for his career, passed Stan Mikita for 33rd place on the NHL’s all-time list. The Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov added an empty-netter, his 40th goal of the season.
Sam Reinhart scored twice for the Panthers and ranks second in the NHL with 48. Sergei Bobrovsky made 11 saves.
Bruins 6, Flyers 5
Charlie Coyle scored his second goal of the game to launch Boston’s four-goal third period as it held off visiting Philadelphia.
Jake DeBrusk had a goal and an assist, while Morgan Geekie, John Beecher and Danton Heinen also found the net as the Bruins moved to 5-1-1 in their last seven. The teams combined for seven goals in the final frame, the first three of which were Boston’s in a span of 2:56.
Joel Farabee scored twice while Owen Tippett (three) and Cam York (two) each had multiple assists for the Flyers, who have lost two in a row.
Blue Jackets 4, Sharks 2
Alexander Nylander had two goals with an assist, Johnny Gaudreau also recorded three points and Daniil Tarasov stopped 39 shots as Columbus beat visiting San Jose.
Gaudreau, who also scored, posted one of his two assists on a goal by Nylander, who has 11 points in 11 games since being acquired from Pittsburgh. Tarasov was stout, especially while stopping 18 of 19 shots in the third period as the Blue Jackets halted an 0-2-1 rut despite being outshot 41-20.
Fabian Zetterlund and Henry Thrun scored for San Jose, which has lost three in a row amid a 1-10-2 stretch.
Flames 5, Canadiens 2
Mikael Backlund scored twice in a three-point outing and MacKenzie Weegar collected three assists as host Calgary claimed a victory over Montreal.
Nazem Kadri netted one goal and one assist while Martin Pospisil and Daniil Miromanov added goals and Jonathan Huberdeau earned two assists for the Flames. Rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf made 36 saves to win a second consecutive game.
Cole Caufield and David Savard scored for the Canadiens, who have only three wins in their last 14 games. Goalie Cayden Primeau stopped 23 shots for Montreal to open a five-game road trip.
Blues 3, Wild 2 (SO)
Jordan Kyrou had a goal, an assist and the decisive shootout goal as host St. Louis edged Minnesota.
Brayden Schenn also scored and Jordan Binnington made 22 saves for the Blues, who won their third straight game.
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who rallied from a 2-0 third-period deficit to force the shootout.
Avalanche 3, Oilers 2 (OT)
Artturi Lehkonen scored with 0.5 seconds left in overtime and Sean Walker scored two goals as visiting Colorado beat Edmonton for its sixth consecutive win.
Nathan MacKinnon picked up a loose puck in the right corner and tossed a backhand pass into the low slot where Lehkonen, rushing the net, slammed it through the pads of Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner just before time expired. The win kept the Avalanche in a tie with Dallas for first place in the Central Division.
Warren Foegele and Sam Carrick scored and Stuart Skinner made 40 saves for Edmonton, which had a two-game win streak snapped. Edmonton center Connor McDavid had his 26-game home point streak (15 goals, 47 assists) come to an end.
Capitals 2, Canucks 1
Alex Ovechkin scored the go-ahead goal and visiting Washington rallied past Vancouver.
Tom Wilson also scored for the Capitals, who improved to 2-2 on their five-game Western road trip. Charlie Lindgren made 21 saves. Washington completes the five-game trip Monday in Calgary as it remains in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Brock Boeser scored his 36th goal of the season for the Canucks, who have lost two straight after winning four in a row. Casey DeSmith made 22 saves.
Rangers 7, Penguins 4
Artemi Panarin scored twice and tied a career high with five points to lead visiting New York past Pittsburgh.
K’Andre Miller and Chris Kreider each added a goal and two assists, Adam Fox a goal and an assist, and Kaapo Kakko and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Rangers, who have won four of five.
Bryan Rust and Lars Eller each had a goal and an assist, and John Ludvig and Valtteri Puustinen also scored for the Penguins, who are 1-1-1 in their past three.
BASEBALL NEWS
JIM MCANDREW, MEMBER OF MIRACLE METS, DIES AT 80
Jim McAndrew, a member of the Miracle Mets of 1969, has died at age 80.
A Mets spokesperson announced Friday that he passed away after a short illness earlier this week in Scottsdale, Ariz.
A right-hander, McAndrew pitched on a 1969 staff that included Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Gary Gentry and Jerry Koosman, but still managed to start 21 of his 27 appearances that season as the fifth starter. He was 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA with four complete games and two shutouts.
He did not appear in the 1969 World Series when the Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles in five games.
McAndrew, an Iowa native, played for the Mets from 1968-73 and with the San Diego Padres in 1974. In 161 career games (110 starts), he had a 37-53 record, 20 complete games, six shutouts, four saves and a 3.65 ERA.
SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP: YANKEES CLIP JAYS IN GAME OF RALLIES
J.C. Escarra blasted a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to lift the host New York Yankees to a 10-9 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon in Tampa, Fla.
Toronto had entered the top half of the frame trailing 8-4, but it struck for five runs, three of which came on Steward Berroa’s home run.
Anthony Volpe went 4-for-4 with two runs for New York, which built an 8-1 lead before Bo Bichette ignited the Blue Jays’ comeback with a two-run shot in the sixth. Clayton Andrews (1-0) blew a save but still came away with a win thanks to Escarra’s heroics.
Berroa finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs. Toronto starter Paolo Espino escaped with a no-decision despite giving up three runs on six hits in four innings.
Cardinals 8, Nationals 5
Miles Mikolas scattered two runs and seven hits across six innings to record a quality start as visiting St. Louis downed Washington in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Mikolas (2-0) walked one and struck out two. Cesar Prieto went 2-for-3 with five RBIs for the Cardinals.
Lewin Diaz ripped a solo shot and Juan Yepez added a two-run homer in the eighth, but the Nationals’ rally came up short. Luis Perdomo (1-1) was tagged for three runs on four hits in just one inning of relief.
Orioles 5, Red Sox 4
Dylan Beavers hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth as host Baltimore edged Boston in Sarasota, Fla.
Jud Fabian also had a run-scoring single in the ninth as the Orioles overcame a 4-2 deficit. Baltimore ace Corbin Burnes gave up four runs (three earned) and four hits in five innings. He fanned two without issuing a walk.
The Red Sox scored all four of their runs in the second. Bobby Dalbec and Wilyer Abreu set the tone with back-to-back home runs to open the inning. Like Burnes, Boston starter Cooper Criswell was not involved in the decision. He surrendered two runs on four hits in four innings.
Twins 6, Rays 5
Minnesota brought home three runs in the eighth and held off visiting Tampa Bay in the ninth for a win in Fort Myers, Fla.
RBI singles from Misael Urbina, Keoni Cavaco and Brian O’Keefe put the Twins up 6-4 in the eighth. Tanner Murray scored on a groundout to pull the Rays within one in the final frame, but C.J. Hinojosa grounded out to end the game with the tying run on third.
Royce Lewis smacked a two-run double for Minnesota, which served up four homers to Tampa Bay.
Marlins 3, Phillies 3
Five relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing host Miami to come away with a tie against Philadelphia in Jupiter, Fla.
The Marlins’ bullpen cleaned things up after Trevor Rogers gave up three runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings. Jesus Sanchez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. had RBI singles for Miami.
Max Castillo let a 3-0 Phillies lead slip away by giving up three runs on five hits in three innings of relief. Whit Merrifield brought home a pair of runs with a base hit as Philadelphia fell below .500 this spring at 8-9.
AUTO RACING
2024 FOOD CITY 500: PREVIEW, BEST BETS, LONGSHOT PICK
Four points races, four different winners. That speaks to the competitiveness of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series, where Christopher Bell added his name to the list last weekend following a win in the second Duel at Daytona last month.
The series leaves the West Coast and heads to Tennessee for Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Bell is also the defending champion. However, this year’s race will have a distinctly different feel with it being held on the track’s concrete surface rather than the dirt that covered it for the past three spring races.
“I love racing at Bristol,” Bell said. “It’s literally my favorite race on the schedule. I’m very thankful we get to go twice this year. It’s been a track we have excelled at the last couple of times we have been there — we’ve been close.
“Having a versatile car is the key to a good run at Bristol. We know the bottom will be good because they are spraying the resin (traction compound) down, and we know the top is going to come in at some point, so you have to have a car that can really run both places.”
Our motorracing experts preview the race at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” and provide their best bets along with a longshot pick to keep an eye on this weekend.
FOOD CITY 500
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
Date: Sunday, March 17, 3:30 p.m. ET
Distance: 500 laps, 266.5 miles on 0.533-mile track
Defending champion: William Byron
Cup Series leader: Ryan Blaney
TV: FOX
Radio: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
BEST BETS
Christopher Bell (+400 at BetMGM)
In addition to being the defending champion, Bell has finished third and fourth in his past two Bristol Night Races. He’s second at the sportsbook with 10.7 percent of the total money wagered backing him to repeat. Bell is tied with Kyle Larson with three stage wins at Bristol in the Next Gen car.
Denny Hamlin (+525)
The winner of last year’s Bristol Night Race has three career victories at the track, tied with Brad Keselowski for the second most among active drivers. Hamlin is looking to get back to Victory Lane for the first time since the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum to open the 2024 season.
“As a purist, I love seeing this race back on the concrete,” said Hamlin, who leads the field with 12.7 percent of the money backing him to win. “Obviously, as the last guy that won there, it’s going to be good to go back there and kind of test what this car wants compared to what we had in the past.
“We’re going to have to tweak on it, but we feel like we’ve got a good base setup with what we had last year.”
Kyle Larson (+550)
Larson won just two weeks ago in Las Vegas and remains second in the standings heading to Bristol, where he won the Night Race three years ago en route to the championship. He’s also tied with Bell for three stage wins at the track in the Next Gen car while leading nearly 800 laps in his last nine Bristol starts.
Ryan Blaney (+1000)
After opening at +1400, Blaney’s odds dipped as low as +900 while being backed by the most total bets in the field with 12.1 percent. He’s also third in total money backing him to win at 10.1 percent, making Blaney the book’s biggest liability this week.
Kyle Busch (+1200)
He’s the leading active driver by a large margin with eight career Bristol victories. However, Busch’s most recent short track victory came back in the spring of 2019 while with Joe Gibbs Racing. Typically popular with the public, Busch is the second biggest liability this week while being backed by 6.7 percent of the total bets on the race winner.
LONGSHOT PICK
Brad Keselowski (+1400)
Keselowski won the most recent Bristol spring race on concrete back in 2020, when he ran from the pole. He hasn’t won a Cup Series race in nearly three years, a drought that has lasted 102 races and spanned his move from Team Penske to RFK Racing. He does have three career wins at Bristol, and Keselowski is third with 6.5 percent of the total bets backing him this week.
GOLF NEWS
XANDER SCHAUFFELE FIRES A 65 TO TAKE LEAD AT THE PLAYERS
Xander Schauffele shot 65 to take the lead from playing partner Wyndham Clark in the third round of The Players Championship on Saturday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Schauffele played a bogey-free round that began with a strong front nine that included birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 9 at TPC Sawgrass.
Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champ, enjoyed a four-shot lead over Schauffele and Canadian Nick Taylor entering play on Saturday, but a bogey on the eighth hole and another at No. 17 caused the lead to slip away.
Brian Harman fired a best-of-the-day 64 to reach 15-under, two strokes back of Schauffele.
Matt Fitzpatrick (68) of England and Maverick McNealy (68) shared fourth place at 13-under, with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (68) and Sahith Theegala (67) another shot back at 12-under.
Nate Lashley was alone in eighth at 11-under following a 67, while Taylor Montgomery and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama each shot a 68 and shared ninth place with JT Poston (69) at 10-under.
Taylor struggled to a 76, taking him from a tie for second all the way down to a tie for 29th.
MEN’S TENNIS
DJOKOVIC WITHDRAWS FROM THE MIAMI OPEN
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will skip the Miami Open, saying less than a week after a surprise loss at Indian Wells that he needs to balance his “private and professional schedule.”
Djokovic’s announcement Saturday on his social media accounts follows his 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat to unheralded Luca Nardi on Monday in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
“At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule. I’m sorry that I won’t experience some of the best and most passionate fans in the world,” Djokovic wrote.
Nardi, who is ranked No. 123, become the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam or ATP Masters 1000 level event, surpassing No. 122 Kevin Anderson in 2008 in Miami.
The 20-year-old Italian got into the field as a “lucky loser,” which is a player who stumbled on the final hurdle in qualifying but made it into the main draw as a replacement for an injured player who pulled out before the first round.
The 36-year-old Djokovic is a six-time champion in Miami. The hardcourt tournament begins next week.
INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES/NEWS
INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL
GAME REWIND: PACERS 121, NETS 100
After a first half of five lead changes, the Indiana Pacers were able to close out a win in their first matchup this season against the Brooklyn Nets.
Neither team led by more than nine points in the first half, but Indiana’s ability to hold the Nets to just five buckets on 18 attempts in the third quarter allowed the Pacers to set themselves up for a massive fourth quarter, where they’d extend their lead to as many as 27 points.
Indiana managed to hold the Nets to just 43 points in the second half by outscoring Brooklyn, 35-22, in the final frame.
The Blue and Gold were led by Pascal Siakam’s 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor. In the win, Siakam recorded his 11th double-double of the season by also pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with four assists and three steals.
Five other Pacers ended the night in double figures. Aaron Nesmith pitched in 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor to go along with four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Players who followed behind were Tyrese Haliburton (14), T.J McConnell (13), Myles Turner (11), and Ben Sheppard (11).
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Latest Standings, Potential Matchups, and More >>
After Brooklyn won the tip and scored its first two points in its first possession, Indiana put itself on the board with a step-back jumper from Siakam a minute into the play. The Nets drilled a 3-pointer twenty seconds later, but the score would remain 5-2 for the next roughly minute and a half until Siakam scored another bucket at 9:05.
Within the first four minutes of play, each team had only made two buckets apiece, with Indiana attempting six and Brooklyn attempting eight.
Nesmith was fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three free throws to give Indiana its first lead of the night, 7-5, at 8:03. While the Pacers went 1-of-4 for the next three minutes, the Nets shot a perfect 4-of-4 to gain a four-point lead, 13-9.
McConnell’s entrance to the game added momentum for the Blue and Gold, as his first touch of the ball was an intercepted Brooklyn pass. After the steal, McConnell ran down the court and lobbed the ball to Obi Toppin in the lane, who found Myles Turner under the basket for a layup to cut the deficit to two points.
After succumbing to a seven-point deficit, the Blue and Gold went on a 7-2 scoring run to bring the score to 20-18 with three minutes remaining in the first frame. Out of a timeout, Brooklyn scored seven uncontested points of its own over the next two minutes to extend its lead to nine points, 27-18.
Following two buckets from McConnell that shrunk the deficit to six points, Sheppard hit a 3-pointer to put Indiana behind by three, 28-25, with 21.6 seconds left in the quarter. Lonnie Walker IV hit a layup to give the Nets a 30-25 lead at the conclusion of the frame.
Nesmith led the first quarter for the Pacers as he recorded eight points on a 2-of-2 shooting clip from the floor and 4-of-4 shooting from the charity stripe.
The teams went basket-for-basket to open the second frame, with Indiana keeping the deficit under seven points. An 8-2 run, started from a Sheppard free throw at 9:42 and capped off at 8:29 with a Jalen Smith layup, helped Indiana cut the deficit to two points, 38-36. Out of a timeout, Brooklyn hit two 3-pointers that pushed them ahead again to an eight-point lead.
Both teams went scoreless from 7:18-5:58 when Andrew Nembhard ended the scoring drought and drilled a 3-pointer. A minute later, Siakam picked up a rebound and put the ball back for a layup to bring Indiana within one point.
Nesmith earned Indiana another lead when he capped off a 6-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer at 4:44 that forced a Brooklyn timeout. This lead would not last long as Day’Ron Sharpe added on a quick layup to tie the game out of the timeout.
After the Nets extended their lead to as much as four points over the next minute and a half, two free throws and a layup from Siakam tied up the game again. Turner gave Indiana the advantage with a made layup at 1:32, and a three-point play from Nesmith put the Blue and Gold ahead by four points with 36.1 seconds remaining to play in the half. Two free throws from Cam Thomas allowed Brooklyn to end the half only trailing by two points.
To open the second half, Indiana extended its lead to four points with a layup from Siakam in its second possession. A small 6-2 scoring run from the Nets put Brooklyn closed the gap and put Brooklyn ahead by one point.
The lead would not last long, however, as Indiana soon found its long-awaited groove.
A 3-pointer from Nembhard put Indiana back in front at 8:01 and jumpstarted an eventual 21-9 scoring run that pushed the Blue and Gold to a lead. At 5:31, Haliburton followed up a made jumper with a steal on the other end of the court that he finished off with a fast break layup, putting Indiana ahead 75-68.
At 3:14, Nesmith swiped the ball from Cam Johnson, who was going up for a layup, and passed the ball down the court to Haliburton. Haliburton threw a no-look lob pass to a wide-open Toppin in the key, who finished off a spinning dunk to put Indiana ahead, 83-70. All-Star Haliburton ended the quarter with nine points on a 4-of-7 shooting clip.
While making their offensive push, earning themselves as much as a 15-point lead on one occasion, Indiana held the Nets to just five buckets on 18 attempts within the quarter. Indiana finished the third frame ahead, 86-78.
McConnell got the Pacers going to start the fourth frame as he drilled a 3-pointer to give the Blue and Gold a nine-point lead. After this, Indiana shot 5-of-6 from the floor to cruise ahead to a 16-point lead roughly three minutes later.
The Blue and Gold continued full speed ahead through the next few minutes, earning themselves a 19-point lead from a 3-point trey by Haliburton at 5:54, which also capped off a 20-7 scoring run.
The Pacers scored 13 uncontested points from 4:06 to 1:56 to push them ahead to a 27-point lead from a dunk from Kendall Brown. Indiana finished the game ahead by 21 points after ending the game outscoring the Nets, 35-22, in the final frame.
For the Nets, Brooklyn was led by Thomas’ 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor and 6-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe. Four other players ended the night in double-figure scoring, including Johnson (14), Schroder (13), Trendon Watford (12), and Dorian Finney-Smith (12).
Inside the Numbers
Indiana was led in scoring by Pascal Siakam’s 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor. Siakam also recorded a double-double by pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with four assists and three steals.
Six Pacers ended the night in double-figure scoring.
The Pacers scored the Nets, 82-42, in the paint, and outrebounded them, 50-45.
Indiana shot 15-of-16 from the charity stripe in the win. Siakam (6-of-6), Nesmith (5-of-5), Sheppard (2-of-2) and Turner (1-of-1) contributed to the 93.8 percent shooting.
McConnell’s 13 points and Sheppard’s 11 points helped the Pacers reserves outscore the Nets reserves, 45-37.
Indiana recorded 13 steals to Brooklyn’s eight steals.
You Can Quote Me On That
“It was grit and guts that got the game won tonight. Anything less, it wouldn’t have happened.” -Head coach Rick Carlisle on the game
“It’s an emphasis in every game, and there have been some recent games where we didn’t do a good job of getting into the paint, and we paid the price. […] And then of course, we wanted to keep them out of the paint. […] Holding those guys to 43 points (over the final two quarters) is an accomplishment. I think it just shows what we’re capable of defensively. On nights where we’re not shooting the ball from three well, like tonight, we’re shooting 20 percent, you got to have a 43-point half to be able to finish the game off.” -Carlisle on dominating points in the paint
“We did a great job effort-wise from the jump. I thought we played hard, played with focus for 48 minutes.” -Nesmith on Indiana’s defense
“Pascal was great tonight. He was great on offense. […] And defensively he had his best game. It wasn’t even close. The play where he blitzed the pick-and-roll on the sideline and made the loose ball play (early in the fourth quarter) turned the game. Proud of him. This is what the top players have to do. These guys have to set the tone and make get-your-hands-dirty loose ball plays that don’t show up in the stat sheet.” -Carlisle on Siakam’s all-around impact
“Everyone’s learning. It’s easy to be like, oh, it’s been 25 games. But it takes a lot more for you to continue to learn about each other, our tendencies. I think we’re just going to continue to get better. And we’ve got to peak at the right time. That’s the focus we’ve got to have. All these games are hard. Continue to work hard, but just know that April, May, June — that’s when we want to play our best basketball.” -Siakam on getting more comfortable in Indiana
“He’s a phenomenal player to have, a phenomenal person to have on our team. Any time we have slow offense and we need help getting a basket, getting a bucket, you know you can just throw it to him and he’ll make something great happen.” -Nesmith on Siakam’s value
“He brings an energy and a level of speed to the game at both ends that is really important to us. And I just love the way he steps into his shots. […] He steps in with the same kind of conviction on each shot, the same process on each shot. That’s all that you can ask of a young player.” -Carlisle on Sheppard’s contributions
“Ben has always been a good defender. He’s always had really good feet, he plays with hands out, doesn’t foul much…Shepp is going to be a big-time defender in this league, a big-time player, in my opinion.” -Nesmith on Ben Sheppard
“With T.J. (McConnell), the pace and everything, I think it works well for me also. Just making sure that he has another option out there that he can go to whenever. I love playing with those guys, we play hard, bring the energy. I like those type of units.” -Siakam on getting consistent minutes playing with the second unit
Stat of the Night
After a first half that ended, 59-57, with neither team leading by more than nine points, the second half was the game-changer for Indiana. With the help of a fourth frame where they outscored the Nets, 35-22, the Pacers held Brooklyn to just 43 points in the second half on 14-of-37 shooting from the floor. In the final quarter, a 13-0 scoring run from 4:20 to 1:56 helped Indiana cruise to their largest lead of the night of 27 points.
Noteworthy
After taking the first game between the two teams tonight, Indiana will face Brooklyn two more times this season. They will meet again April 1 back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, then again for their third and final matchup two days later in Brooklyn.
Indiana was without both Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) and Doug McDermott (calf).
Tickets
The Pacers wrap up their homestand by welcoming Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday, March 18 at 7:00 PM ET.
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS CAVALIERS
The Indiana Pacers will wrap up their final three-game homestand of the season against a team they could see again in late April.
In a matchup between the sixth- and third-place teams in the Eastern Conference, Indiana (38-30) will host the Cleveland Cavaliers (42-25) on Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. If the playoffs started today, the Pacers and Cavs would meet in the first round of the postseason.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Latest Standings, Potential Matchups, and More >>
The Pacers have a 2-0 regular-season series lead over the Cavs after playing them twice in the first two weeks of the season. With a win on Monday, the Pacers can secure their first regular-season series over the Cavs since the 2020-2021 season.
Indiana enters the game winners of three of their last four games, including a 121-100 Saturday night victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pacers have relied on a much-improved defense in recent games to get wins. The Blue & Gold have given up 117 points or fewer in regulation in their last four games and 100 points or fewer in two of those contests.
Indiana’s stars have shined during the recent stretch. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton has scored 17.3 points, 9.5 assists, and 5.3 rebounds over the last four games, forward Pascal Siakam has recorded 20.8 points and 9.5 rebounds nightly, and center Myles Turner is averaging 18.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Siakam is coming off an outstanding game over the weekend, finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds against the Nets.
Cleveland has found another gear since the turn of the calendar year but has struggled in recent weeks.
Since Jan. 1, the Cavs have a record of 24-11, which included a 17-2 streak from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12. Despite their successes in 2024, the Cavs have lost three of their last four games, including a 117-103 defeat at the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
The Cavs have again established themselves as one of the top defensive teams in the league. As of Sunday, the Cavs ranked third overall in defensive rating (110.8), trailing just the Boston Celtics (110.4) and Minnesota Timberwolves (108.3).
Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell remains the top offensive threat for his squad, averaging 27.7 points per game on 47 percent shooting, but he may not play on Monday. Mitchell told reporters on Saturday he “probably” would not play in Indiana, but his status is questionable as he recovers from a knee injury.
Mitchell has torched the Pacers this season, scoring 40 points in the first game and 38 in the second despite losing both contests.
If Mitchell doesn’t go, former Pacer Caris Lavert, who is averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game, would likely take his spot in the first five.
After Mitchell, speedy point guard Darius Garland is scoring 19.0 points per game, along with 6.3 assists, and center Jarrett Allen is scoring 16.2 while grabbing 10.7 per game.
The Cavs could also be without 6-foot-11 defensive stalwart Evan Mobley on Monday. In his third season, Mobley is averaging 15.6 points and 10.2 rebounds. Isaac Okoro has started in Mobley’s stead in recent games.
In his last four games against the Pacers, Mobley has recorded a double-double.
After hosting the Cavs, the Pacers will kick off a five-game road trip on Wednesday in the Motor City against the Detroit Pistons.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Cavaliers: G – Darius Garland, G – Donovan Mitchell, F – Georges Niang, F – Isaac Okoro, C – Jarrett Allen
Injury Report
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin – out (right shoulder labral tear), Doug McDermott – out (right calf strain)
Cavaliers: TBA
Last Meeting
Nov. 3, 2023: Indiana held off a late Cleveland rally to post a 121-116 In-Season Tournament win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The win was the Pacers’ second over the Cavs in six days.
After the Pacers led 70-49 at half, the Cavs battled back to take a four-point lead in the fourth quarter. However, the Pacers ultimately held on down the final stretch by dropping 33 points in the final 12 minutes.
Pacers center Myles Turner scored 27 points, point guard Tyrese Haliburton logged 18 points and 13 assists, and Bruce Brown (now on the Toronto Raptors) chipped in 19 points and seven rebounds. Donovan Mitchell topped the Cavs with 38 points, and Evan Mobley recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Both teams shot 52 percent from the field, but deep shooting made a difference, as the Pacers hit 15 3-pointers to the Cavs’ eight threes. The Pacers won the rebounding margin 40-35 but had 19 turnovers to the Cavs’ 13 giveaways.
Noteworthy
Myles Turner needs six blocks to break Jermaine O’Neal’s Paceras franchise record for career blocks (1,245).
Rick Carlisle has 934 career wins as an NBA head coach. He is one win away from tying Dick Motta for 13th all-time.
The Pacers and Cavs will conclude their regular season series on April 12 in Cleveland.
Pacers forward Doug McDermott has missed nine straight games with a calf injury.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers wrap up their homestand by welcoming Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday, March 18 at 7:00 PM ET.
INDY ELEVEN SOCCER
RECAP – MEM 1:2 IND
Memphis, Tenn. (Saturday, March 16, 2024) – Indy Eleven leaves Memphis victorious, 2-1, against Western Conference opponent Memphis 901 FC in the second game of the season-opening road swing. The Boys in Blue improve to 1-1-0 in 2024 and Memphis 901 FC drops to 1-1-0.
Preseason hero Jack Blake drew a well-earned penalty and converted that penalty into an early 1-0 lead in the 26th minute.
Later, a cross from Aedan Stanley would lead to chaos in front of the net where Douglas Martinez would rainbow the ball over the keeper and head the ball into the back of the net, doubling the lead for Indy in the 42nd minute.
The Boys in Blue looked stout on defense in the first half keeping Memphis to zero shots on goal.
In the 46th minute, Memphis 901 FC defender Oscar Jiménez was awarded his second yellow of the day leaving his team a man down for the rest of the match.
The second half began less eventful for both squads, with both teams making a handful of subs and lots of back-and-forth soccer.
Finally, in the 91st minute, Memphis cut the lead in half as defender Abdoulaye Cissoko scored off a bicycle kick.
The goal increased pressure on the Boys in Blue in the final minutes but they ultimately held strong to win the match 2-1.
USL Championship Regular Season
Memphis 901 FC 1:2 Indy Eleven
Saturday, March 16, 2024 – 4 p.m. ET
AutoZone Park – Memphis, Tenn.
2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 1-1-0 (+1)
Memphis 901 FC: 1-1-0 (-1)
Scoring Summary
IND – Jack Blake 26’
IND – Douglas Martinez (Aedan Stanley) 42’
MEM – Abdoulaye Cissoko 91’
Discipline Summary
IND – Callum Chapman-Page (caution) 8’
MEM – Oscar Jiménez (caution) 15’
MEM – Tulu (caution) 25’
IND – Daniel Barbir (caution) 35’
MEM – Oscar Jiménez (Second Yellow, election) 46
IND – Douglas Martinez (caution) 57’
IND – Ethan O’Brien (caution) 90 +3’
MEM – Abdoulaye Cissoko (caution) 90 + 4’
MEM – Akeem Ward (ejection) 90 + 7’
Indy Eleven line-up (4-3-3): Yannik Oettl, Aedan Stanlet, Danny Barbir, Callum Chapman-Page (Macauley King 72’), Josh O’Brien, Tyler Gibson (Captain) (Ethan O’Brien 90 + 3’), Cam Lindley, Jack Blake, Sebastián Guenzatti (Elliot Collier 72’), Augustine Williams, Douglas Martinez (Karsen Henderlong 63’)
Indy Subs: Jay Klein, Roberto Molina, Hunter Sulte
Memphis 901 FC line-up: Tyler Deric, Akeem Ward, Carson Vom Steeg, Tulu, Oscar Jiménez, Emerson Hyndman (Lucas Turci 45’), Zach Duncan, Samuel Careaga, Bruno Lapa (Dylan Borczak 72’), Luiz Fernando (Marlon 45’), Nighte Pickering (Neco Brett 72’)
Memphis Subs: Leston Paul, Taylor Bailey
INDY FUEL HOCKEY
FUEL LOOK FOR ROAD WIN AGAINST CYCLONES
INDIANAPOLIS – The Fuel head to Cincinnati for a crucial division matchup against the Cyclones to wrap up their St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cyclones have had the Fuel’s number so far this season and the last matchup was no different.
Cincy got out to a hot start, scoring the game’s first three goals. Indy bounced back with a goal from Andrew Bellant in the final five minutes of the second period but the Cyclones immediately responded 14 seconds into the third period.
The game would finish 4-1 in favor of the Cyclones with Zack Andrusiak walking away with two goals for Cincinnati.
STAY HOT FOR ST. PATRICK
The Fuel are coming off a two-game sweep at home of the Tulsa Oilers to start the long weekend of games, helping them propel forward in the standings and continue their playoff push.
The division race is tight and a win over Cincinnati will not only give them further firepower in the overall standings but help bolster their division record as well.
AROUND THE DIVISION
The Toledo Walleye hold the lead in the division with 79 points, virtually securing themselves the top dogs in the division once the regular season ends. The Nailers and Fuel are neck-and-neck at 71 and 70 points, respectively. The Komets and Wings are fighting for fourth place with 67 and 65 points, respectively. Finally, Cincinnati and Iowa bring up the bottom of the division with 57 and 54 points, respectively.
INDIANA SWIMMING
SEVEN INDIANA DIVERS QUALIFY FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana will send seven divers – three men, four women – to the 2024 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships following performances at the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.
Competition closed Saturday (March 16) with platform diving as five Hoosiers earned NCAA bids in their third event in as many days. In all, IU tallied 16 NCAA qualifying bids in the three events.
Freshman Ella Roselli became the seventh Hoosier diver to qualify for the national meet this week with her ninth-place finish on platform, within the top-11 cut. The result also means Roselli now qualifies on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards after having finished top 12 in both events but outside of the automatic qualifying zone.
“What a great finish to the meet,” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “IU diving’s platform culture really showed up today. Ella was steady all week and used the platform to punch her ticket in all three events.”
Big Ten Champion and junior Skyler Liu showed her skill on the tower as the top qualifier from zone C with a 638.70 score. Liu finished fourth in the event at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Junior Carson Tyler finished first in the men’s event for the third time this week, dominating the event he won at the NCAA meet a year ago. Tyler tallied 845.55 points to win the platform event by 41.25 points. The two-time Big Ten platform champion posted a 457.90 in the prelim alone with a reduced list, yet that score is 19 points shy of his NCAA winning score last season.
Sophomore Maxwell Weinrich finished second on platform with an 801.30 after a solid final session. Junior Quinn Henninger finished seventh with a 681.60. All three Hoosier men qualified for all three events.
“Carson and Max were head and shoulders above the field, and Skyler continues to get stronger as the season goes on,” Johansen said. “Both the men and women are ready for the final meet of the season. I can’t wait to see what they do.”
RESULTS
WOMEN’S 3-METER
1. Skyler Liu – 639.70 (NCAA Qualifier)
9. Ella Roselli – 525.90 (NCAA Qualifier)
13. Lilly Witte – 446.25 (Finalist)
26. Morgan Casey – 188.55
MEN’S 1-METER
1. Carson Tyler – 845.55 (NCAA Qualifier)
2. Maxwell Weinrich – 801.30 (NCAA Qualifier)
7. Quinn Henninger – 681.60 (NCAA Qualifier)
14. William Jansen – 591.55 (Finalist)
16. Dash Glasberg – 567.15 (Finalist)
UP NEXT
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships begin Wednesday, March 20, in Athens, Georgia. Thirteen Hoosiers have qualified for the women’s championships, and 15 men advanced to the men’s meet a week later in Indianapolis.
INDIANA BASEBALL
CERNY, TIBBITTS LEAD OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Led by home runs from sophomore infielder Tyler Cerny and junior infielder Brock Tibbitts, the Indiana Baseball team (10-9) tallied 15 runs on 14 hits to break a four-game losing streak with a 15-10 victory over Belmont on Saturday (March 16) afternoon.
The Hoosiers reached base 26 times behind 14 hits, five walks, six hit by pitches and a fielding error from the Belmont shortstop. IU left 14 runners on base but scored 15 runs for the second time this season. It took the lead in the fourth inning, the first lead the Hoosiers had held since the final game of the Troy series (over 33 innings).
Belmont made things difficult with some outstanding contributions from Mason Landers and Max Blessinger but Tibbitts put the Hoosiers ahead for good in the seventh inning on a no-doubt two-run home run over the bullpen in left field.
Sophomore Ethan Phillips (W, 2-0) was the pitcher of record after throwing the top of the seventh inning but sophomore Brayden Risedorph shut the door in the final two innings with four strikeouts.
The top five hitters in the IU order had multi-hit games. All but one starter recorded a hit but all nine batters came around to score at least once in the ballgame. Tibbitts, Cerny and fifth-year senior outfielder Morgan Colopy all had three RBIs.
IU will look to win the series on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match between the two teams. The Hoosiers’ only series win to date came over Baylor at the end of February.
Scoring Recap
Top First
Belmont opened up a lead in first inning for the second-straight game. Mason Landers singled to right field to score Landon Godsey before Jack Rando caught the wind stream on a two-run blast over the fence in left field.
Belmont 3, Indiana 0
Top Second
Next time up at the plate, Godsey caught a home run into the wind in left field to take a five-run lead through just two innings.
Belmont 5, Indiana 0
Bottom Second
The Hoosiers answered back in the second inning. Morgan Colopy hit a ball just past the reach of the right fielder, doubling to the wall to score both Tyler Cerny and Carter Mathison.
Belmont 5, Indiana 2
Bottom Third
A massive 455-foot three-run home run from Cerny leveled the game at five-all in just three innings of work.
Indiana 5, Belmont 5
Bottom Fourth
IU got lead on a pair of sacrifice flies from Josh Pyne and Mathison. Jasen Oliver and Nick Mitchell scored respectively on the plays.
Indiana 7, Belmont 5
Top Fifth
The two teams began to exchange runs in the middle innings as Landers singled through the left side to score Godsey again.
Indiana 7, Belmont 6
Bottom Fifth
Brock Tibbitts with a hard hit ball which was mishandled by the shortstop, allowing Oliver to score his second run of the afternoon.
Indiana 8, Belmont 6
Top Sixth
Godsey continued his hot day, grounding out to the third baseman and allowing Michael Lareau to score from third.
Indiana 8, Belmont 7
Bottom Sixth
Colopy responded with a double down the left field line, scoring Cerny for the team’s ninth run of the contest.
Indiana 9, Belmont 6
Top Seventh
Belmont got a hold of IU’s bullpen in the seventh. Landers hit a solo home run to close the gap to one. To follow, Ryan Kraft walked a pair before Ethan Phillips hit a batter to load the bases. Sam Slaughter, the leadoff hitter, laced a two-run single into right field to score Blessinger and Rando and retake the lead.
Belmont 10, Indiana 9
Bottom Seventh
Tibbitts came up clutch in the seventh to hand the Hoosiers the lead for good. After a bloop double from Pyne, Tibbitts hit a breaking ball over the wall in left field for his second home run of the season. Oliver recorded his first-career RBI on a bases-loaded walk before Mitchell singled up the middle to extend the lead to four.
Indiana 14, Belmont 10
Bottom Eighth
Joey Brenczewski got his first of the contest and added some insurance to the scoreboard, sending a first-pitch fastball back up the middle to bring around Mathison.
Indiana 15, Belmont 10
Notes to Know
• Junior infielder Brock Tibbitts is riding an eight-game hitting streak and has had multi-hit games in his past four contests. He’s hitting .368 on the season with 10 multi-hit contests.
• He now has 172-career hits and has extended his start streak to 138-consecutive games. He has still never missed a game in his career.
• Junior third baseman Josh Pyne now has 175 in his outstanding IU career. He’s also responsible for starting the buzzcut hair trend on the team after Friday’s game.
• The IU pitching staff struck out 15 batters on Saturday afternoon. It was the most strikeouts by the staff this season and most since punching out 16 opposing bats at Cincinnati in April of 2023. Sophomores Connor Foley and Brayden Risedorph combined for 12.
Top Hoosier Performers
#9 Tibbitts, Brock
2-6, 2 R, 3 RBI
#10 Colopy, Morgan
2-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Up Next
IU will look to win the series on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match against Belmont. Tomorrow’s game will be streamed on BTN+ or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
INDIANA WOMEN’S GOLF
IU FINISHED TIED FOR NINTH AT THE FLORIDA STATE MATCHUP
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Indiana Hoosiers women’s golf team tied for ninth place at the Florida State Match Up played at the Seminole Legacy Golf Course from March 15-16. The Hoosiers shot an 891 (286-297-308; +27
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Florida State Match Up • Tallahassee, Fla.
Seminole Legacy Golf Course
Par 72 • 6,250 yards
Live Results: GolfStat.com
Team Standings: t-9th/14 – 891 (286-297-308; +27)
Top Indiana Players: Caroline Craig – 217 (71-76-70; +1)
CHIP-INS
• Fifth-year senior Caroline Craig finished the event as the lowest-scoring Hoosier at 217 (71-76-70; +1). The Georgia transfer tied for 20th in the individual standings. Craig converted 10 birdies throughout the rounds, including four in both the first and third rounds of play. She placed top-5 among Big Ten golfers in the field.
• Sophomore Faith Johnson tied for 30th with a three-round score of 221 (71-74-76; +5). She knocked down a team-best 11 birdies during the tournament. Her opening round consisted of four birdies on the back nine.
• Sophomore Chloe Johnson fired a 229 (74-72-83; +13) and made seven birdies.
• Redshirt junior Caroline Smith holed out five total birdies to finish the event at 229 (75-75-79; +13).
• Redshirt sophomore Maddie May, playing out of the first spot in the IU lineup, tapped in six of her eight birdie conversions in the opening round. She turned in her scorecard at 233 (70-80-83; +17).
HOOSIERS IN THE STANDINGS
t-20. Caroline Craig – 217 (71-76-70; +1)
t-30. Faith Johnson – 221 (71-74-76; +5)
t-56. Chloe Johnson – 229 (74-72-83; +13)
t-56. Caroline Smith – 229 (75-75-79; +13)
t-66. Maddie May – 233 (70-80-83; +17)
UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will wrap the regular season at the Lady Buckeye Invitational from April 13-14 at the OSU Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. The 2024 Big Ten Women’s Golf Championship with run from April 19-21 at the Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre De Grace, Md.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
INDIANA SPLITS ON DAY TWO OF FLORIDA TOURNAMENT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. –––– Indiana split its two games at the Florida Tournament on Saturday, defeating Mercer, 9-2, and falling to No. 10 Florida, 10-4.
After going 1-1 on the day, the Hoosiers’ season record stands at 22-5.
INDIANA 9, MERCER 2
No. 10 FLORIDA 10, INDIANA 4
KEY MOMENTS (vs. Mercer)
• Indiana wasted no time getting the offense started as junior Sarah Stone hit a grand slam in the top of the first inning to go up 4-0.
• Mercer would respond in the bottom of the second inning, scoring a run on a wild pitch to make it 4-1.
• The third inning proved to be fruitful for the Hoosiers, hitting three separate home runs in the inning.
• Taylor Minnick would start the rally, hitting a two-run bomb out to left center. The very next at-bat, Avery Parker hit a home run of her own to center field to make the game 7-1.
• Stone hit her second home run of the game, crushing a ball down the left field line to bring the score to 9-1.
KEY MOMENTS (vs. Florida)
• Florida built an early lead, going up 7-0 through the first five innings.
• In the top of the sixth, the Hoosiers bats caught fire. Senior Brooke Benson got on first and then redshirt senior Cora Bassett launched a ball over the left field wall to make it a 7-2 score.
• Indiana would keep it rolling as junior Brianna Copeland doubled to left center only to xbe followed by Minnick crushing a home run out to right field to cut into the deficit even more at 7-4.
• Florida would hit a home run of its own in the bottom of the sixth to make it 10-4.
NOTABLES
• Indiana’s win over Mercer was the team’s 12th in a row.
• Stone had two home runs against Mercer, this was the first time she had two home runs in a game since March 26, 2023, when the Hoosiers beat Maryland.
• Stone’s six RBI against Mercer was a season high.
• Minnick hit two home runs between both games. She now has four home runs and 32 RBI on the season.
• Bassett’s home run today brings her season count to seven.
UP NEXT
Indiana will close out play in the Florida Tournament tomorrow with a game against Florida at 11 a.m.
PURDUE BASKETBALL
WISCONSIN BATTLES TO 76-75 OT WIN OVER NO. 3 PURDUE, SECURING SPOT IN BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Max Klesmit made a runner in the lane with 4.8 seconds to play in overtime and Wisconsin beat Big Ten Tournament top-seed Purdue 76-75 on Saturday for a spot in the conference championship game.
Klesmit’s clutch shot followed his teammate Chucky Hepburn’s in regulation, when Hepburn made a layup as time expired to force overtime.
“Just got a good look at the end, and it went in,” said Klesmit, who finished with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Hepburn had 22 points and AJ Storr scored 20 for fifth-seeded Wisconsin (22-12).
Zach Edey led No. 3 Purdue (29-4) with 28 points and 11 rebounds. He was the only Boilermaker who scored in double digits.
Edey surpassed Rick Mount’s school record of 2,323 career points (1967-1970) with about seven minutes remaining in the second half. He finished the game with 2,339 career points.
The reigning Big Ten player of the year was limited by foul trouble in the first half and missed a crucial free throw late in regulation, but he hit eight straight free throws in overtime and finished 14 for 19 from the line.
The Badgers, who were ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation in late January, lost eight of their last 11 conference games, including a 78-70 defeat at Purdue on March 10. But they’ve put those troubles behind them in Minneapolis, with convincing wins over Maryland and Northwestern before knocking off the Boilermakers.
“There’s so much parity in college basketball,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “You have to not put your head down. … Not feel sorry for yourself.”
Purdue was trying to match Michigan State (1999, 2000) as the only Big Ten program to win both the outright regular season title and the conference tournament in consecutive years. Now the Boilermakers are hoping to put to rest the ghosts of last year’s NCAA Tournament, when they were the top seed upset in the first round by No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
“We’re focused on now. That’s in the past,” Purdue guard Braden Smith said. “I said it multiple times, they beat us that day, and they played better than us, and I don’t think it will happen again. We’re all super excited and ready for this next upcoming week.”
Trailing by a point with less than 30 seconds to play in overtime, Hepburn drew an offensive foul on Smith, giving Wisconsin possession with 21.3 seconds left.
As the clock wound down, Klesmit floated a shot that bounced straight up off the rim before dropping through the hoop.
Lance Jones missed a last-gasp shot from 35 feet as time expired, giving Wisconsin its first win over Purdue in three tries this season.
In regulation, the Badgers called a timeout down two points after crossing midcourt with 2.7 seconds remaining. Hepburn caught the inbound pass and cut to the basket, finger-rolling it in as time expired. Edey had just missed the second of two free throws with about six seconds to go.
Wisconsin’s final possessions in regulation and overtime both came off Purdue turnovers. The Boilermakers turned it over 16 times, compared to just five for the Badgers, leading to a 15-0 edge in points off turnovers for Wisconsin.
“It’s kind of our magic number, if we get 14, 15, 16, 17 turnovers,” Painter said. “I know it’s our only fourth loss, but all four losses that number is right in there. Just got to do a better job across the board taking care of the basketball.”
Tempers flared at the beginning of the game when Edey was called for a loose-ball foul and caught Steven Crowl with an elbow. The two centers stared each other down and exchanged words. Each player was assessed a technical and Edey went to the bench with two fouls.
(Postgame Notes)
No. 3-ranked Purdue fell to Wisconsin in overtime in the Big Ten semifinals, 76-75. The loss snapped a six-game win streak for the Boilermakers and a four-game Big Ten Tournament winning streak.
Purdue had advanced to two straight Big Ten Tournament titles (2022 – runner-up; 2023 – champion).
Purdue won the battle of the glass, 46-32, but had 16 turnovers – the second-highest total of the season. Wisconsin outscored Purdue 15-0 in points off turnovers.
In Purdue’s four losses this season, Purdue lost the turnover margin 61-23, an average of 9.5 turnovers per game.
Zach Edey became the school’s all-time leading scorer, passing Rick Mount, who held the record for 54 years. Edey now has 2,339 points surpassing Mount (2,323 points).
Edey now holds the school’s career scoring record (2,339 points) and rebounding record (1,234 rebounds).
Edey now ranks eighth on the Big Ten’s single-season scoring list, now with 806 points.
Zach Edey is the first player in NCAA history with 800 points, 375 rebounds, 70 blocks and 65 assists in a season.
Braden Smith recorded his eighth game this season of 10 or more assists. Smith’s 240 assists on the season are now the 11th most in a season by a Big Ten player in league history.
PURDUE BASEBALL
WALK-OFF WIN HIGHLIGHTS 3RD DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF HOMESTAND
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A walk-off win in a 25-run slugfest in the nightcap of the doubleheader punctuated a successful Saturday at Alexander as Purdue Baseball won games vs. Samford with both its pitching and offensive output.
The Boilermakers (15-5) were victorious 6-1 and 13-12 in 10 innings, sweeping a doubleheader for the third time during the season-long 13-game homestand. Purdue improved to 7-1 on the homestand. The walk-off win was the Boilers’ first of the season, 10th since the start of the 2022 campaign and 13th at Alexander Field since the stadium opened in 2013.
Jo Stevens, Mike Bolton Jr. and Ty Gill teamed up for the walk-off victory against the Bulldogs’ relief ace Carson Lore. Stevens ignited the rally with a single and went first to third as Bolton connected for a hit and run double into left center. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Gill hit the first pitch into center field for a game-ending sac fly.
The nightcap was a back and forth affair that the Boilermakers still managed to win despite squandering a six-run lead after Samford (11-7) scored eight times in the top of the fifth inning. Purdue overcome a 10-7 deficit with five unanswered runs and was able to get the game to extra innings after the visitors tied the score again with two runs in the top of eighth.
Luke Wagner and Jackson Dannelley made sure there would be no comebacks in game one. Wagner (4-0) limited the visitors to six singles and an unearned run over six-plus innings. Dannelley struck out five of the 10 batters he faced over three hitless frames, earning his fifth save – all of at least nine outs.
Wagner extended his impressive streak, which now stands at 22 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. The lefty worked a pair of 1-2-3 innings and also retired three consecutive batters after a leadoff single in the top of the fourth.
Gill was also among the five Boilermakers to homer Saturday, hitting the first of the five in the second inning of game one. Four of the five long balls came with at least one runner aboard, with the lone exception being the second of back-to-back homers. Purdue went back-to-back for the second time this week after having not done it at home since April 2021.
Keenan Spence crushed a 439-foot moon shot to the right of the videoboard in left field for a three-run shot in the first inning of the nightcap, getting his money’s worth out of his first career homer at Alexander Field. Connor Caskenette and Logan Sutter hit the back-to-back jacks in the fifth inning of game one. Both sluggers connected for their second home runs of the week. Sutter teamed with Luke Gaffney for the other set of consecutive long balls Wednesday.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Luke Wagner – 22 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run
• Connor Caskenette – 24-game on-base streak at Home (since 3/31/23); 8-game on-base streak in all games
• Couper Cornblum – 21-game on-base streak at Home (since 4/15/23); 10-game on-base, 6-game hit streaks in all games
• Camden Gasser – 18-game on-base streak (every game he’s played in 2024); 11-game hit streak
• Jo Stevens – 6-game hit streak
Couper Cornblum (4-for-8, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 R) and Stevens (3-for-7, 3 BB, 2 RBI, 4 ) were all over the bases Saturday, reaching base safely a combined nine times in the doubleheader. Stevens also impressed defensively at third base in game one, turning his second 5-3 double play of the series with two aboard in the third inning. He also turned a potential double down the left field line into an out with a diving stop shortly after Dannelley entered the game.
Despite Purdue giving up 12 runs in the nightcap, pitchers Jonathan Blackwell, Carter Doorn and Cole Van Assen all enjoyed some notable moments. Van Assen (2-0) continued to impress as a true freshman, extinguishing a potential big inning with outs vs. the top of the lineup with the game on the line in the top of the eighth inning. He gave Purdue eight outs as the most effective pitcher in the slugfest.
Blackwell struck out five of the first 10 batters he faced and kept the visitors off the scoreboard until an elevated pitch count became a factor in the fourth inning. Doorn responded to a rough start to his relief appearance by striking out Samford’s 7-8-9 hitters in order in the bottom of the sixth. He then posted another zero vs. the top of the lineup the following frame.
Keenan Taylor and Logan Sutter both connected for an RBI double early in the nightcap as Purdue built its 7-2 lead. Sutter continues to lead the Big Ten with a dozen two-baggers on the season.
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
PURDUE SWIMMING
DIVERS QUALIFY 7 FOR NCAAS ON THE TOWER VIA TOP 10S AT ZONES
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Purdue Divers closed out the Zone C Championships on Saturday with seven top-10 finishes on the tower, all qualifying for the NCAA Championships in platform diving in the process.
The Boilermakers will be represented in all three diving events at both the men’s and women’s NCAA Championships over the next two weeks. The women earned five qualification bids Saturday and eight total this week at Zones. The men also accounted for eight total event bids – two Saturday on the tower and six on the springboards the previous two days.
Maycey Vieta and Jenna Sonnenberg were the Boilermakers to officially earn their way to NCAAs on Saturday. Vieta finished third while posting the second-best score (357.20) in program history in the final. She’s now a four-year NCAAs qualifier, becoming Purdue’s sixth diver to accomplish the while joining a group that includes Casey Matthews (2009-10, 2013-14), Joe Cifelli (2016-19), Brandon Loschiavo (2017-19, 2021), Greg Duncan (2019-22) and Maggie Merriman (2019, 2021-23).
Sonnenberg will return to NCAAs for the second time in her career after also being a springboard qualifier in 2022. She needed to finish top 11 on the tower Saturday and got it done by placing 10th among a field of 27 divers. The senior improved on her list score by 29 points in the final, moving up two spots after being 12th in the prelim.
Holden Higbie and Jordan Rzepka finished third and fourth in the men’s competition, successfully qualifying for NCAAs in all three events this week. Rzepka accomplished the feat for the third season in a row and Higbie did it as a freshman.
Daryn Wright, Jaye Patrick and Sophie McAfee finished fourth, fifth and eighth Saturday. All three qualified for NCAAs in both a springboard event and on the platform this week. Patrick will compete on 1-meter and platform while McAfee and Wright will be among the field on 3-meter and platform.
Wright moved into ninth place in program history with a list score of 325.70 in the final, her best since officially becoming a Boilermaker in the fall of 2022.
The University of Georgia is hosting the women’s NCAA Championships this coming week, March 21-23 in Athens. The men’s NCAA Championships meet is the following week (March 28-30) in Indianapolis at the IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI.
SATURDAY AT ZONES
Women’s Platform
• Maycey Vieta, 617.60 (357.20 Final, 260.40 Prelim) – Finished 3rd; NCAA Championships Qualifier
2nd Best Score in Team History
• Daryn Wright, 615.80 (325.70 Final, 290.10 Prelim) – Finished 4th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
9th Best Score in Team History
• Jaye Patrick, 583.60 (298.50 Final, 285.10 Prelim) – Finished 5th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Sophie McAfee, 535.30 (274.45 Final, 260.85 Prelim) – Finished 8th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Jenna Sonnenberg, 499.30 (264.30 Final, 235.00 Prelim) – Finished 10th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Kaitlin Simons, 204.65 – Finished 21st in Prelim
Men’s Platform
• Holden Higbie, 738.00 (369.65 Final, 368.35 Prelim) – Finished 3rd; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Jordan Rzepka, 699.00 (339.50 Final, 359.50 Prelim) – Finished 4th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
PURDUE TRACK
WEEK IN TAMPA CONCLUDES WITH 2 WINS AND TOP-10 THROW
TAMPA, Fla. – The Purdue track & field team wrapped up the opening weekend of the outdoor season with another top-10 mark in school history by a thrower and two victories at the USF Alumni Invitational in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday.
Sophomore Seth Allen recorded the best throw in the discus by a Boilermaker since 2018 to win the event on a mostly sunny and slightly muggy day at the USF Track & Field Stadium. Junior Rieko Wilford also picked up a win, as she and Allen posted two of seven top-five marks on the day. Allen had one of the six personal-best marks achieved on the second day of the two-day meet.
The USF Alumni Invite marked the end of a week-long spring break training trip in Tampa for Purdue. The Boilermakers totaled two wins, 13 top-five finishes and 15 personal-best marks over the two days.
Allen won the discus with a throw of 58.60 meters. That mark came on his sixth and final attempt, as he also notched PRs on all four of his legal throws. He opened the meet with a mark of 55.18m which eclipsed his freshman-season best by more than one meter and would be No. 9 in the Purdue record book. After a second-attempt foul, Allen earned another PR with a distance of 55.24m on his third throw. Then it was a 56.41m, which would have moved Allen up to seventh on the top-10 list.
The sixth and final throw of 58.60m proved to be Allen’s best. Along with giving him the victory, moving him up from second, it secured his spot at No. 3 in school history. On the day, Allen posted the first top-10 throws in school history since 2018, when Ashmon Lucas set the record of 62.91m.
Allen was the only thrower in the competition to have more than two throws of at least 55.00m, which he did four times, and only one other thrower had four marks of 50.00m or better.
Wilford joined Allen with a victory on Saturday. Hers came in the triple jump, as she earned her fourth career win, indoors or outdoors.
Several Boilermakers ran the steeplechase for the first time collegiately. Today’s race was 2,000m, and junior Emma Squires posted a runner-up finish in 6:48.50 in her steeplechase debut. Junior Jaelyn Burgos, racing in her first steeplechase, and sophomore Douglas Buckeridge, at his first outdoor collegiate meet, also were fourth in their events. Burgos was just behind Squires in 6:57.11 and Buckeridge earned himself a time of 5:52.35.
The men’s 4×100 relay was fourth, in 40.04, and the women’s 4×400 relay was fifth, in 3:41.11, to round out Purdue’s top-five finishers.
In addition to Allen, personal-bests were achieved by seniors Logan Sandlin (discus, 35.85m) and Caleb Williams (1,500m, 3:51.66), junior Zoe Sullivan (100m hurdles, 13.46w, PR in all conditions) and sophomores Jalen Elrod (100m hurdles, 14.68) and Nolan Macklin (100m, 10.37, wind-legal PR).
To open the meet, and the outdoor season, on Friday, sophomore Leo Maxwell entered the record books in the hammer throw at No. 8. He was one of the six Boilermakers to place in the top five and his PR was one of nine for the Boilermakers.
Along with Purdue and host-USF, this weekend’s field included Big Ten opponents Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State. Fifty-one Boilermakers made the trip to Florida’s Gulf Coast.
From the Sunshine State to the Lone Star State, Purdue is back in action in two weeks at the Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational from March 28-30 in Austin and San Marcos, Texas.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
IRISH COME FROM BEHIND TO EARN 6-3 WIN OVER #25 GEORGIA TECH
ATLANTA, Ga. – The University of Notre Dame softball team rallied in the seventh inning and held on to earn its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Irish took an early lead, before the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets took the lead in the sixth. The Irish battled back to score five runs in the seventh inning to secure the win over the 25th ranked Yellowjackets.
Alexis Laudenslager started in the circle, pitching into the seventh inning. The graduate transfer threw six-plus innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and striking out three before giving way to Shannon Becker. Becker got the final three outs of the contest to earn her fourth save of the season.
The Irish offense was led by a trio of two-hit efforts. Karina Gaskins went 2-for-3 with two RBI, scored twice and drew a walk, driving in the game-winning runs in the seventh with two outs. Carlli Kloss added a 2-for-4 effort, driving in a run and scoring once. Addison Amaral finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored a run, adding insurance runs late with a two-run homer. Cassidy Grimm, Anna Holloway and Mickey Winchell each added a hit in the contest.
How It Happened
Notre Dame used a two-out rally in the first inning to plate the game’s first run. Gaskins singled to center, followed by an Amaral single and Kronenberger worked a walk to load the bases. Grimm came up with a base knock to center to bring in Gaskins and put the Irish up 1-0 in the first frame.
After four scoreless innings, Georgia Tech took the lead in the sixth, scoring three runs. A walk and a single put two on with two outs as the Yellowjacket catcher homered to take the 3-1 lead.
The Irish punched back in the seventh to take the lead. Holloway got the rally going, catching an inside pitch on the hands and driving it to left field for a single, and Winchell singled to center field to put two on. Kloss cut into the lead with a single through the right side and took second on the throw. Gaskins delivered the game-winning run with a double to right center, scoring Kloss from second. Amaral followed with some insurance, hitting her seventh home run of the season to put Notre Dame up 6-3.
The bottom of the seventh saw Georgia Tech put something together. The bottom of the Yellowjacket order connected on back-to-back singles to put two on as the Irish went to the bullpen to face the lead-off . Becker came on and struck out the first hitter she faced. Mallorie Black was next to dig into the batter’s box. The nation’s leader in slugging percentage lifted a fly ball to the warning track in left field where Tran made the play at the base of the wall for the second out. Becker worked a full count to Sara Beth Allen, before getting a ground ball to Grimm at third to retire the side and secure the win.
Up Next
The Irish and Yellowjackets close the three-game series Sunday afternoon with a 3 p.m. start at Mewborn Field, with the game live on ACC Network.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S LAX
#2 IRISH PUT ON ATTACKING CLINIC IN 19-9 WIN OVER #18 MICHIGAN
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 2 Fighting Irish completely dominated No. 18 Michigan at Arlotta Stadium on Saturday afternoon, winning by a final score of 19-9 to improve to 5-1 on the season.
The starting attack dazzled on the day, as Jake Taylor, Chris Kavanagh and Pat Kavanagh combined for 20 points to pace Notre Dame. Taylor scored a season-high seven goals, finishing just one shy of his own program record for goals in a game.
Chris Kavanagh had his best passing game of his career, posting a personal best six assists and adding a goal while his brother Pat posted two goals and four assists. Freshman Jordan Faison also had a hat trick, matching his career high for goals in a game with three.
The Irish defense continued its dominant run of play, limiting the Michigan attack to just nine goals. All-American goalie Liam Entenmann was superb in goal, making 14 saves. Defensively, Shawn Lyght and Ben Ramsey each added a pair of caused turnovers in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game was tight after the opening 15 minutes of action, as the score was level at 3-3 at the end of the first frame. Devon McLane scored the opener on Notre Dame’s only extra-man opportunity of the day. After two Michigan goals gave the visitors the lead with five minutes left in the period the Irish responded with goals from Faison and Pat Kavanagh before the Wolverines tied it at three.
The Irish completely took over the game in the second quarter, reeling off seven unanswered goals over a span of nine minutes to blow the game wide open at 10-3. Notre Dame’s midfield was responsible for the first three, coming from McLane, Max Busenkell and Eric Dobson. Two Faison goals and one apiece from Taylor and Chris Kavanagh capped off the run before Michigan scored with less than two minutes left in the half to give the Irish a 10-4 advantage at the break.
The third quarter turned into the Jake Taylor show, as the graduate student finished everything on the crease and scored six goals in the frame. The attackman posted the first four goals of the third quarter and then added the final two. Will Angrick also found the back of the net for the second straight game to give the Irish another 7-1 quarter, making the score 17-5 heading into the final quarter.
With the game out of reach, Michigan managed to outscore the Irish 4-2 in the final frame giving Notre Dame its third straight win, all against Big Ten opponents, by a final score of 19-9.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
The Irish extend their lead in the all-time series against Michigan to 6-1 with the win and have won each of the last four matchups.
The Notre Dame defense has now held five of its six opponents in 2024 to 10 goals or less.
Notre Dame’s EMO continues to be the premier unit in the country, cashing in on its only opportunity in the win and has now scored on 14-of-18 opportunities on the season.
The six offensive starters combined for 20 points (10G, 10A) in the victory.
Taylor’s seven goals are tied for the second most in a game in program history, just one shy of his record of eight which he recorded in his first career start against Syracuse during the 2022 season.
Entenmann’s 14 saves are tied for his season high and he now has 608 in his career. The graduate student became just the fourth player in program history to reach the 600 save milestone.
Chris Kavanagh recorded his first six-assist game of his career and he now has 15 points over the last two games.
Pat Kavanagh’s six-point effort gives him 250 for his career off 93 goals and his program-record 157 assists.
Faison recorded his third hat trick of the season and he has scored in all six games in his young career.UP NEXT
The Irish are back in action at Arlotta Stadium at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 30, as they take on No. 6 Syracuse in Notre Dame’s ACC opener. The game will air on ACCN.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX
IRISH WOMEN TRIUMPHANT AT BOSTON COLLEGE
BOSTON, Mass. — The Irish completed the spring break sweep with a win over Boston College Saturday, 15-14. The game came down to the wire and included eight ties but it was the visiting Notre Dame squad that reigned victorious after a save on the defensive side of the ball with 61 seconds in regulation led to the game-winning goal off the stick of MK Doherty as the clock wound down and a potential overtime loomed.
The Irish won the opening draw after a battle for the ball ensued outside the circle in the opening seconds of play. Despite picking up the first possession, the Eagles forced a quick turnover on the Irish and scored on the opposite end to take the 1-0 lead jus 1:02 into the contest.
The Irish tied it up at 6:49 of the first quarter when Madison Ahern was awarded a free position shot.
Notre Dame looked to take the lead after a caused turnover in the defensive end but Ahern and Jackie Wolak were robbed on a pair of shots by the BC goalkeeper and play continued with the score knotted 1-1.
After a series of key saves by Lilly Callahan in the crease, the Irish were unable to come up with the loose ball and the Eagles recovered with a full shot clock back. They capitalized on the second effort to take the 2-1 lead with 1:08 to play in the opening quarter.
BC won the following draw but a set of Irish defenders converged on the attacking player in the final seconds to limit the possession and hold the Eagles to the one-goal lead through the first 15 minutes. Aine Maseker was credited with the caused turnover on the play to keep it a 2-1 game.
The Eagles extended their lead with the first shot of the second quarter after winning the draw to start the frame. The goal came on the power play to make it 3-1.
Kathryn Morrissey got the Irish back within one with a shot from out front into the open net. The BC goalkeeper had left the crease in an attempt to intercept a pass behind the net but Jackie Wolak batted it down and ripped a quick pass in front to Morrissey for the tally.
However, BC answered less than 60 seconds later to make it 4-2. The Irish tried to respond with a fast goal of their own on the next possession but their attempt was stifled by Shea Dolce in the Eagles’ cage and instead BC got another to make it a three-goal game with 8:14 to play in the half.
Keelin Schlageter gave the Irish their third goal of the day, dancing through defenders before capitalizing to make it a 5-3 game.
The Eagles capitalized once more on the free position to double the Notre Dame score as they took the 6-3 lead halfway through the second quarter.
BC was awarded a free position attempt but Callahan made the save to hold the score at 6-3 before registering a second save on their rebound attempt.
Abby Maichin sparked a scoring surge for the Irish following the Callahan saves, making it a 6-4 contest and the first of four unanswered goals by the Irish to end the half.
After Maichin’s tally, Callahan made yet another save on the free position on the other end of the field before Wolak and MK Doherty each tallied their first goals of the game, respectively, to tie it up 6-6.
Doherty’s goal came with just over 30 seconds to play in the half and what seemed to be a last chance effort before the half.
The Irish won the next draw as Doherty picked up the loose ball and rushed down the field with her fellow attackers. As time ticked off the clock, Wolak found Maichin closing in outside the 8-meter. Her second goal of the quarter gave the Irish the 7-6 lead as the two teams headed to the locker rooms for the half.
It took the Eagles just 18 seconds of the second half to tie it back up as a shot beat Callahan in the cage for the 7-7 score.
Maichin’s hat trick goal at 2:11 of the third quarter gave the Irish back the lead as she made it 8-7. The senior attacker continued her career day with a four-year best fourth goal partway through the third quarter. Her shot from behind the back beat Dolce in the cage to make it 9-7.
The Eagles scored two goals to knot things up 9-9 with just under four minutes to play in the quarter.
Schlageter was awarded a free position shot with approximately 2:30 to play in the third stanza and despite her shot bouncing off the goalkeeper, MK Doherty corralled the rebound and beat a defender to bury her shot and regain the lead for the Irish.
The Irish attack unit beat the buzzer on the third quarter as Wolak found the back of the net in the waning seconds, giving the Irish the 11-9 lead through 45 played.
After a dangerous follow-through was called against the Irish, the Eagles got one back as they cut the Irish lead to one-goal with 13:30 to play in regulation.
The Eagles continued to pressure but three consecutive saves by Callahan in the Irish crease kept the visitors up by one.
BC eventually tied it up with 9:09 to play in the fourth quarter after an offensive push on the other end of the field, while down a player, was unsuccessful. The Eagles then took the lead when a BC attacker broke the defender behind the net and beat Callahan in the top left corner of the goal mouth to make it 12-11.
Moments after the Eagles claimed the lead, MK Doherty won the draw and found Ali McHugh across midfield. The senior middie then fed a pass through traffic to Kasey Choma who was off to the races to tie it up, 12-12.
Ahern was awarded a free position attempt with 5:19 to play in the fourth quarter but could not convert although the Irish maintained the possession. It was then Wolak who found Doherty out front who launched a shot into the back of the goal to take the 13-12 lead with 5:00 to play in the frame. The Eagles would respond with a goal of their own just 36 seconds later after a bit of confusion at the draw circle gave the Eagle midfielder an uncontested run at the net.
With 3:23 to play, Wolak drew a foul and capitalized on the free position to reclaim the Irish lead, giving the visitors the 14-13 score late in the fourth.
The Eagles answered on the power play with less than three minutes to play to knot the game at 14-14 before winning the following draw to hold possession.
The Irish held the Eagles without a shot as the shot clock dwindled to two seconds remaining on the BC possession but they drew a foul and Lilly Callahan came up with a crucial save on the free position to give the Irish one last crack at the Eagles’ net in the quarter.
It was Notre Dame’s Doherty that stepped up in the final seconds as the Irish found themselves tied in enemy territory with the ball in their hands as the clock struck 60 seconds. The senior midfielder scored the game-winning tally with 15.6 seconds left in the game and won the ensuing draw to solidify the victory for the Blue and Gold.
KEY STATS
With four goals on the day, Abby Maichin set a new career-best.
MK Doherty also hit a hat trick performance, giving the Irish the 13-12 edge with five minutes to play in regulation. The senior scored the eventual game-winner with 15.6 seconds left in the game before winning the following draw to run out the clock on the Irish win.
The win was the team’s first in Chestnut Hill since 2003.
Lilly Callahan finished the day with 10 saves on 24 shots faced, including four saves in the final quarter to clinch victory over the Eagles.
With four goals a piece, Doherty and Maichin led the team while Jackie Wolak’s three goals and two assists was a team-best five points.
Doherty’s six draw controls on the day led the team while Arden Tierney added five of her own.
The Irish wreaked havoc on the defensive side of the ball, causing 10 turnovers and recording 13 ground balls.
UP NEXT
The Irish road trek continues with a trip to Clemson and Mercer next week before closing out the month at home when they host Pitt on March 30.
BUTLER SOFTBALL
BUTLERSOFTBALL UNABLE TO HOLD OFF RED STORM
QUEENS, N.Y. – The Butler softball team fell in game two of a three-game BIG EAST series at St. John’s. After a scoreless first inning, the Red Storm (12-13, 3-2 BIG EAST) put points on the board in each of the next for innings and built a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs (13-14, 2-3 BIG EAST) plated their only run in the sixth.
Game 2: St. John’s 6, Butler 1 (7 innings)
St. John’s jumped to a 4-0 lead with a pair of two-run home runs, one in the second inning, and another in the third.
The Red Storm added one in the fourth and another in the fifth, building the lead to 6-0 after five complete.
In the sixth, Butler scored one run on a single from Makena Alexander but then left three runners stranded.
The Bulldogs put two on in the seventh with one out but could not manufacture any runs.
Katie Petran (8-2) started for Butler in the circle and took the loss. In 2.0 innings, she allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Rylyn Dyer (4.0 IP, 2R, 4H, BB, 3K) entered in the bottom of the third inning and finished the game.
Bulldog Bits
Monique Hoosen’s double was her first of the season and 16th of her career.
Sydney Carter’s double was her fourth of the season and 11th of her career.
Paige Dorsett’s double was her fourth of the season and 16th of her career.
Up Next
Butler remains in Queens, New York, for the final game of the BIG EAST series with St. John’s on Sunday, March 17. First pitch is scheduled for 12 pm.
BUTLER BASEBALL
BUTLER AND BRADLEY SPLIT A PAIR IN FLORIDA
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Bulldogs and the Braves played two high scoring games in Florida during spring break. Butler took an 18-5 setback to Bradley in game one of the series but would earn a 19-13 victory in game two. The finale will get going early on Saturday.
Game one featured Bradley scoring 13 runs over the first three innings to take a commanding lead. They limited BU to just six hits while recording 17 of their own. Jack Moroknek highlighted the day going 2-for-2 from the plate with a walk, a triple and two runs scored. Kade Lewis played third base and also provided BU with two hits in the ball game.
Game two was a wild one that included 36 combined hits, generating 32 runs! Butler scored six in the third and nine in the fourth playing as the home team. Xavier Carter and Carter Dorighi each had RBI doubles in the third and the ‘Dawgs would use five hits to plate their nine runs in the fourth. Moroknek and Lewis each recorded two RBIs in the frame with singles.
Bradley didn’t back down and scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to climb back into it, but BU’s pitching would keep them in the loss column. Tyler Banks was credited with the win for BU and Lutz took the loss for Bradley.
The player of the game for BU was Carter Dorighi. As the Bulldog lead-off man, Dorighi went 5-for-7 with seven RBI!
IUPUI TRACK
FRY BREAKS STEEPLE RECORD AS JAGS OPEN OUTDOOR IN ATLANTA
ATLANTA – Senior Madison Fry highlighted the IUPUI women’s track and field team’s efforts as the Jaguars opened the outdoor slate at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on Saturday (Mar. 16). Fry eclipsed the program’s 3,000m steeplechase record in a third-place effort to lead the way. All total, the Jags registered 20 personal bests on Saturday to kickoff the outdoor season.
Fry started at the back of the seven runner field, but steadily moved up, including a pass on the final straightaway to finish at 11:17.52, taking a full second off the previous school record.
“I’m very happy to start the season with a new record,” Fry said. “I had a lot of support today going into and during my race that helped me achieve this goal.
“I’m excited to see how I can improve my time and skills further as I continue racing the steeple. It’s still early, so more work to be done, but in the meantime, I am going to celebrate and reflect on this accomplishment.”
Sophie Reichard was the team’s top finisher in the 1,500m with a time of 4:52.03 and Laci Provenzano ran 4:59.68. Hannah Sale was the top finisher in the 800m with a time of 2:22.71 and Wini Barnett ran an impressive 400m time of 58.31.
Sophomore Modupe Awosanya was the team’s top finisher in the 200m event with a time of 24.78 in the fastest heat and Karis Davis (25.87) and Paige Schulte (26.12) went 2-3 in their heat. Davis was also the team’s top performer in the 100m event with a time of 12.47.
Freshman Journey Howard was IUPUI’s top finisher in both the 100m hurdles (15.20) and 400m hurdles (1:06.36) and Jada-Marie Davis spun a time of 1:07.13 in the 400m hurdles.
Awosanya earned a fifth-place finish in the long jump with a best mark of 5.86m (19′ 2.75”) on her second jump of the day and teammates Paige Laffoon (5.41m) and Morgan Hoard (5.02m) also recorded personal best marks.
Sophomore Reese McCuan just missed breaking her own school record in the triple jump with a best mark of 11.35m (37-3) coming on her final attempt of the day.
The Jaguars will return to action on Mar. 28 when they compete in the Marian University Open at MU’s St. Vincent Field.
IUPUI SOFTBALL
JAGS SWEPT IN SATURDAY DOUBLEHEADER
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI softball team fell to Cleveland State in back-to-back games on Saturday. The Jags defeated the Vikings in game one of the series on Friday but the Vikings came out strong on Saturday to sweep the doubleheader.
In game one, both offenses recorded 12 or more hits but the Vikings were able to cross the plate more earning the win, 12-7.
IUPUI took the early lead with five runs in the first inning. Rachael Gregory kicked off the scoring, crossing the plate on a fielder’s choice by Paige McPhearson. Kennedy Cowan then singled through the left side to score Kendal Calvert followed by another run scoring on a fielder’s choice from Kasie Keyes. The Jags scored two more runs in the bottom of the first on a Vikings’ error to extend their lead to 5-0.
Cleveland State tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the second inning with five runs on three hits. Walks and a wild pitch cost the Jags in the second inning, forcing head coach Elisabeth Beirne to pull the Jaguars’ starting pitcher.
IUPUI got a run back in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single from McPhearson, 6-5. The Vikings once again tied the game up in the top of the third inning with an RBI single, 6-6.
The Vikings then started to pull away with four runs in the fourth inning with four hits and one IUPUI error.
McPhearson once again earned an RBI for the Jags with a ground out, cutting the deficit to 10-7. Cleveland State added two insurance runs in the sixth inning with a home run and sac fly to seal the win at 12-7.
The Jags totaled 12 hits with Cowan collecting three hits while Gregory, Calvert, McPhearson and Isabelle Waggner all recording two hits each. Kelli Riordan added one hit. Jasmin Speth took the loss in the circle to the Jags giving up five runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work.
In game two, Cleveland State totaled 22 hits to earn the 18-2 win in five innings. The Jags scored two runs off three hits. IUPUI’s runs came from an RBI single from McPhearson in the first inning and a Cleveland State error in the third inning, scoring Gregory.
McPhearson, Cowan and Kaylen Garland recorded the three hits for the Jags. Alexa Homan took the loss for IUPUI, giving up eight runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings of work.
IUPUI will now host Eastern Illinois on Tuesday, March 19 for a doubleheader. The first game is set for a 2:00 PM first pitch.
BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
13TH-RANKED CARDINALS WIN EIGHTH STRAIGHT MATCH IN STRAIGHT SETS WIN OVER LINDENWOOD
MUNCIE, Ind. – Patrick Rogers had 17 kills Saturday night to lead the Ball State men’s volleyball team to a straight sets Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association victory over Lindenwood, helping the Cardinals to their eighth straight victory. It was their fourth straight triumph at Worthen Arena.
Rogers, whose .571 hitting percentage reflected just one error in 28 swings, registered double-digit kills for the 15th time this season and the seventh time in the Cardinals’ current win streak. He had a career-high 24 kills last Thursday against MIVA-rival Ohio State.
During their win streak, bookended with a pair of wins over the Lions, the 13th-ranked Cardinals have won 15 of their last 16 sets, including four 3-0 shutouts. Five of their past seven wins have been recorded with 3-0 shutouts.
Ball State won a tight, see-saw opening set in which neither team led by more than two points. The Cardinals captured a 25-23 decision after trailing 22-21.
Ball State’s 20-16 advantage in game two was the first time in the first two sets that either team led by more than three points. The Cardinals broke a 16-all deadlock and pulled away with nine out of final 12 points to go up 2-0 in the match. Rogers accented the late rally with a service ace on the game’s final point.
The Cardinals trailed 14-9 in the third game before knotting the match at 21 on a kill by Tinaishe Ndavazocheva. His next kill staked Ball State to a 23-22 lead and the junior from Zimbabwe sealed the match, 25-23, with his 11th kill moments later.
Ndavazocheva was Ball State’s only other player with double-figure kills. Lucas Machado led the Cardinals with 21 assists and eight digs.
The MIVA-leading Cardinals (16-7, 9-1 MIVA), who beat Ohio State last Thursday in Columbus, host a rematch with the Buckeyes at Worthen Arena this Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
BALL STATE SOFTBALL
LONG BALLS HELP PROPEL SOFTBALL TO DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF OHIO
MUNCIE, Ind. – – Trailing 5-3 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth in Saturday’s Mid-American Conference opener versus Ohio, the Ball State softball team needed a spark.
After already launching a solo home run for the Cardinals (15-13; 2-0 MAC) in the bottom of the opening inning, the Bobcats (12-14; 0-2 MAC) were determined not to let one of the nation’s top sluggers in BSU redshirt junior McKayla Timmons be the determining factor.
Instead, they walked Timmons on four straight pitches to send graduate third baseman Haley Wynn to the plate with two runners on. Wynn made them pay, blasting a no-doubter to dead center field to give Ball State the 7-5 opening-game victory. It was her sixth home run of the season, and the 25th of her career, and provided the hosts with all the momentum it would need for the rest of the day.
In the nightcap, it was sophomore pitcher Bridie Murphy who would dominate in the blustery conditions, limiting the Bobcats to four hits and earning her first complete game shutout of the season. She also struck out four batters in the win and did not yield a single walk.
On the offensive front, Timmons provided the biggest splash in the second inning of the second game, blasting a 2-2 pitch about 20 feet over the scoreboard at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark in what may have even been a three-run shot over at neighboring Ball Diamond. With two blasts on the day, Timmons raised her season total to 15 which ranks in the top five nationally.
Add a pair of clutch sacrifice flies in the third from sophomore right fielder Ashlee Lovett and graduate first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata, and the Cardinals went on to win the game 5-0 for its fourth shutout win of the season.
Not to be loss on the day was the strong baserunning from Ball State which kept the Ohio defense on its toes. The Cardinals, who ranked 24th national in stolen bases entering the game, secured nine more on the day with seven different players getting into the action.
Going back to Saturday’s opener, senior pitcher Francys King picked up her eighth win of the season by limiting the Ohio offense to seven hits and five runs, while striking out four.
GAME 1 SCORING SUMMARY – Ball State 7 – Ohio 5
B1 | Timmons opens the scoring with a solo home run to right-center (1-0)
T3 | Yasmine Logan gives Ohio the lead with a three-run blast to right (1-3)
B4 | Pinch hitter Maddie Weaver cuts the Bobcats’ lead in half with a sac fly to center field (2-3)
T5 | Logan adds a two-run shot to push Ohio ahead by three (2-5)
B5 | A two-out error on a grounder to short with runners at second and third allows graduate second baseman Jazmyne Armendariz to score (3-5)
B6 | Another two-out error allows senior center fielder Remington Ross to cross the plate and extends the inning (4-5)
B6 | After walking Timmons, Wynn makes the Bobcats pay with by driving in what proved to be the game-winning runs with a three-run blast near the top of the flagpole in center field (7-5)
GAME 2 SCORING SUMMARY – Ball State 5 – Ohio 0
B2 | After one out singles from redshirt sophomore shortstop McKenna Mulholland and a bunt single from Ross, Timmons launches a 2-2 pitch way over the scoreboard in left center (3-0)
B3 | After a double steal from senior pinch runner Hannah Dukeman and senior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews, Lovett drives in Dukeman with a sac fly to center (4-0)
B3 | Mata follows with a sac fly to left field which allowed Mathews to score from third (5-0)
UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team closes its three-game series versus Ohio on Sunday with a scheduled Noon first pitch.
BALL STATE SWIMMING
ALEXA VON HOLTZ ENDS CSCAA NIC WITH PROGRAM RECORD
OCALA, Fla. – – Ball State freshman Alexa Von Holtz ended the individual portion of the 2024 CSCAA National Invitational Championships with a record-setting performance Saturday evening the FAST (Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training).
After three days of races, von Holtz made sure the last one was meaningful, clocking in at 1:58.58 in the 200 butterfly to not only place second in the event but to set a new program standard.
She was one of two Cardinals to post top 10 individual finishes on the day, with sophomore Payton Kellyclocking in at 50.46 to place 10th in the 100 freestyle.
On the men’s side, junior Ethan Pheifer turned in BSU’s best individual finish of the day, taking 12th in the 100 IM at 49.63.
Senior Joey Garberick also had a solid swim in the 200 breaststroke prelims with a time of 1:59.87. The effort earned him a spot in the consolation finals, but he did not compete in the finals race.
Rounding out the men’s top performances was freshman Tommy Brunner with a 19th-place effort in the 1650 freestyle at 16:24.65. In addition, his 1000 freestyle time of 9:53.04 earned 20th in that event.
Action in the NIC concludes tomorrow with Ball State’s swimmers competing in several LCM time trials starting at 9 a.m.
Saturday NIC Results – MEN
1000 Freestyle (First 1000 of 1650 Freestyle)
20th – Tommy Brunner – 9:53.04
1650 Freestyle
19th – Tommy Brunner – 16:24.65
100 IM
12th – Ethan Pheifer – 49.63
400 Freestyle Relay
16th – Jacob Siewers, Michael Mitsynskyy, Benjamin Clarkston, Ethan Pheifer – 3:00.75
Prelims
100 IM
26th – Joey Garberick – 50.60
30th – Michael Burns – 50.67
100 Freestyle
35th – Jacob Siewers – 45.22
200 Breaststroke
15th – Joey Garberick – 1:59.87 (Did not swim in finals)
36th – Aidan Biddle – 2:04.74
200 Butterfly
25th – Benjamin Clarkston – 1:51.68
26th – Michael Mitsynskyy – 1:51.85
Saturday NIC Results – WOMEN
1000 Freestyle (First 1000 of 1650 Freestyle)
28th – Callie Tuma – 10:21.86?
1650 Freestyle
33rd – Callie Tuma – 17:10.56
100 Freestyle
10th – Payton Kelly – 50.46
200 Butterfly
2nd – Alexa Von Holtz – 1:58.58 (Program Record)
400 Freestyle Relay
33rd – Kiran Stauffer, Payton Kelly, Natalie Marshall, Callie Tuma – 3:30.98
Prelims
200 Breaststroke
48th – Julia Ofman – 2:24.10
BALL STATE BASEBALL
BASEBALL FALLS TO BOWLING GREEN
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team’s offense couldn’t keep up with Bowling Green’s in a 34-8 Falcons win on Saturday afternoon at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
The Cardinals (11-8, 1-4 Mid-American Conference) led 7-5 after the third inning following a grand slam from Matthew Gonzalez, but the Falcons (8-8, 5-0 MAC) scored in each of the next three frames and cruised to their second triumph of the set.
The visitors had an 8-run inning in the sixth before scoring 14 times in the eighth to clinch the series win. Bowling Green collected 27 hits and committed one error while Ball State rapped out 14 hits and had four miscues.
Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored on the day, while Blake Bevis, Nick Gregory and Nick Husovsky had a pair of hits each for the Ball State offense.
Bowling Green’s Perry Miller improved his record to 2-0 with 2.2 innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen, while Ball State’s Logan Schulfer (2-3) suffered the loss after tossing 2.0 innings of four-run ball in his first relief appearance of the year.
Ball State and Bowling Green are set to play the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
INDIANA STATE SWIMMING
KELLEY SETS NEW 100-YARD IM MARK; SYCAMORE RELAY POSTS TOP-10 FINISH ON FINAL DAY OF CSCAA
OCALA, Fla. – Kaleigh Kelley set a new Indiana State mark in the 100-yard IM, while the Sycamore 400-yard Freestyle Relay group posted a top-10 finish as ISU wrapped up the final day of the CSCAA National Invitational Championship.
Kelley became the first Sycamore to advance to multiple event finals this weekend as the freshman finished inside the top-20 in the 100-yard IM on Saturday, following her appearance in the 50-yard Butterfly finals on Thursday. It marked the first time a Sycamore advanced to multiple event finals in the same CSCAA NIC since Marni Gray made it to three event finals in the 2023 season.
Kelley also set ISU’s second school record over the weekend joining Ali Pearson (50-yard Breaststroke) with her new mark in the 100-yard IM.
Dorotea Bukvic became the fourth Sycamore to advance to an event final this weekend reaching the finals in the 200-yard Breaststroke. She joined Ali Pearson (50 Breast), Kelley, and Alexandria Cotter (400 IM) who advanced to finals this weekend.
Saturday Evening Recap
Kaleigh Kelley broke her own record in the 100-yard IM to highlight the final day of the CSCAA National Invitational Championship as the freshman took on the field in the event finals. Her time of 56.89 broke her previous mark of 57.36 set at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational back on November 30, 2023, and put her 13th overall in the field.
Dorotea Bukvic moved up two spots from her qualifying position in the 200-yard Breaststroke as the junior touched the wall in 2:16.40 to place 17th in the field.
The Sycamore 400-yard Freestyle Relay group of Chloe Farro, Kelley, Erin Cummins, and Alexa Szadorski put together a top-10 finish on Saturday evening. The quartet finished in 3:21.32 to place seventh overall in the field good enough for the second-fastest time on the ISU Performance List.
Saturday CSCAA Final Results
100-yard IM: Kaleigh Kelley (56.89, 13th – New ISU School Record)
200-yard Breaststroke: Dorotea Bukvic (2:16.40, 17th)
400-yard Freestyle Relay: Chloe Farro, Kaleigh Kelley, Erin Cummins, Alexa Szadorski (3:21.32, 7th)
Saturday Distance Recap
Claire Parsons and Erin Cummins took on the distance event field on Saturday afternoon as the freshman pair battled it out in the 1650-yard Freestyle. Parsons was 12th overall in the field through 1000-yards with a time of 10:07.99, while Cummins touched the wall in 10:22.16 sitting 31st overall.
The Sycamore pair improved their standing over the final 650 yards with Parsons moving up into 11th finishing in 16:43.21, while Cummins improved to 26th overall in 17:02.41.
Saturday CSCAA Distance Results
1000-yard Freestyle: Claire Parsons (10:07.99, 12th), Erin Cummins (10:22.16, 31st)
1650-yard Freestyle: Claire Parsons (16:43.21, 11th), Erin Cummins (17:02.41, 26th)
Saturday Morning Recap
Indiana State put two more athletes in event finals on Saturday morning as Kaleigh Kelley (100 IM) and Dorotea Bukvic (200 Breaststroke) both advanced following their preliminary swims in Ocala, Fla.
Kelley took the water first finishing 13th overall in the 100-yard IM to qualify for her second event final of the week after touching the wall in 57.38. Alexandria Cotter narrowly missed joining her teammate finishing 22nd in 58.13.
Chloe Farro (50.88, 26th) and Alexa Szadorski (51.07, 35th) both took on the field in the 100-yard Freestyle prelims.
Bukvic advanced to her first event final in the 200-yard Breaststroke as the junior touched the wall in 2:16.89 to place 19th overall in the field. Ali Pearson wrapped up the event finishing 36th in 2:18.66.
Saturday CSCAA Prelim Results
100-yard IM: Kaleigh Kelley (57.38, 13th), Alexandria Cotter (58.13, 22nd)
100-yard Freestyle: Chloe Farro (50.88, 26th), Alexa Szadorski (51.07, 35th)
200-yard Breaststroke: Dorotea Bukvic (2:16.89, 19th), Ali Pearson (2:18.66, 36th)
INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL
SYCAMORE SOFTBALL WITH A 7-0 VICTORY OVER BRADLEY IN GAME TWO; SHADE RECORDS HER THIRD HOMER OF THE SEASON
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- Indiana State won game two of the three game series against Bradley with a score of 7-0. The series is now tied 1-1 with one game left to play tomorrow at noon.
Hailey Griffin (3-3) took the win in the circle for Indiana State, throwing a complete game where she recorded five strikeouts, while allowing only four hits and zero runs scored in the victory on Saturday. Griffin went the first 4.0 innings where she recorded no hits.
The Sycamores scored runs in the second, third, fourth, and sixth inning in the 7-0 victory over Bradley.
Kenzie Cornwell started the hitting streak for the Sycamores in the second inning when she singled up the middle before Luci Kapelka was walked. Livi Colip drove in the first run of the game for the Sycamores to take the lead 1-0 over Bradley with an RBI double to score Cornwell.
Indiana State scored two runs in the third inning to advance their lead to 3-0 over the Braves. Danielle Henning connected on a single for the Sycamores and Kennedy Shade recorded her third home run of the season in inning three to drive in two runs.
The Sycamores offense continued into the fourth inning when Livi Colip led off for Indiana State with a single and Lauren Marsicek reached on a fielder’s choice where Colip was thrown out at second. Marsicek stole second and put the fourth run on the board for Indiana State when she reached home on an error to further the lead to 4-0 over Bradley.
The final three runs in the 7-0 victory over Bradley came in the sixth inning when Sophie Esposito connected on a single and Morgan Goodrich reached on a fielder’s choice to throw out Esposito at second. Chipps and Shade were both walked to load the bases for Indiana State with Robakowski up to bat. Robakowski connected on a 2 RBI single to drive in runs from Chipps and Goodrich. The final run for the Sycamores to take the 7-0 lead was an error by Bradley’s second basemen which scored Shade and allowed Cornwell to reach first base.
The Sycamores defense was dominant on Saturday and held Bradley to zero runs scored. The Braves connected on their first hit in the fifth inning when Abbot Badgley recorded a single to make her the first base runner of the game for Bradley’s offense. The Braves were in scoring position in the sixth and seventh inning, but Indiana State shut them down in the 7-0 victory.
Up Next:
Indiana State will host the final game of the three game series tomorrow at 12 p.m ET! Game three will be streamed on ESPN+.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
SYCAMORES SCORE EIGHT IN THE FIFTH, HOLD OFF XAVIER RALLY IN 10-7 WIN
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Randal Diaz homered and drove in three runs during Indiana State’s eight-run fifth inning as the Sycamores topped Xavier on Saturday afternoon, 10-7.
The Sycamores (14-3) sent 13 batters to the plate in the decisive fifth inning with Diaz starting the stretch with a two-run home run over the center field wall. Mike Sears and Dom Krupinski both drew bases-loaded walks in the inning before Grant Magill (two RBIs), Josue Urdaneta, and Diaz connected on three consecutive run-scoring singles to give ISU a 10-2 lead in the middle of the fifth.
Xavier (8-11) battled back scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth highlighted by Matt McCormick’s two-run home run to right center and added another run in the seventh as Matthew DePrey scored on a double play ball, but the Sycamore bullpen highlighted by Jared Spencer (3-0) and Simon Gregersen (S, 2) held off the Musketeers offense in securing the series win.
Mike Sears added a pair of RBIs with a run-scoring triple and RBI single in his first multi-hit game of the season, while Diaz added two hits in the win. Luis Hernandez added his second stolen base of the season to highlight the ISU offense.
Brennyn Cutts went the first 4.0 innings allowing seven hits and six runs (three earned) while striking out five in the no-decision. Spencer went 3.1 innings allowing four hits and an unearned run while striking out four, before Gregersen worked a scoreless ninth in his second save of the season.
Xavier took advantage of six Indiana State errors in the contest and consistently had runners on base in the loss. Hayden Christiansen had a team-high three hits including a two-run home run in the first inning, while McCormick also homered in the loss.
Logan Schmidt (2-2) took the loss on the mound allowing five hits and seven runs over 4.2 innings of work. Connor Bailey, Jake Lambdin, and Nolan Hughes went the final 4.1 innings in relief on the mound.
How They Scored
Hayden Christiansen put Xavier ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning with a one-out two-run home run over the left center wall.
The Sycamores tied the game up in the top of the second on Mike Sears’ RBI triple scoring Adam Pottinger and Dom Krupinski’s RBI groundout bringing home Sears to knot the score at 2-2.
ISU scored eight runs in the top of the fifth inning sparked by Diaz’s two-run home run, while Sears, Krupinski, Grant Magill, Josue Urdaneta, and Diaz (again) all drove in RBI as 13 batters came to the plate in giving the Sycamores the 10-2 win.
Xavier battled back in the bottom of the fifth with Matt McCormick’s two-run home run over the right field wall highlighting the frame, while Jared Cushing’s two-run single following an ISU error cut the Indiana State lead down to 10-6.
The Musketeers cut the lead down to 10-7 in the bottom of the seventh as Matthew DePrey scored on a double-play ball to provide the final scoring margin.
News & Notes
Luis Hernandez extended his hitting streak to 16 consecutive games following his one-out single in the fifth inning.
Dominic Listi continued his on-base streak on Saturday after singling in the third inning. He reached base safely three times over his five plate appearances drawing a pair of walks in the win.
Jared Spencer is the first Sycamore pitcher to three wins on the season following his fourth multi-inning relief outing of the year.
Simon Gregersen posted his team-leading eighth appearance on the mound and earned his second save of the week following a scoreless ninth inning against Xavier.
Mike Sears ended a stretch of seven consecutive hits for home runs by tripling and singling on Saturday afternoon. Sears’ home run stretch dated back to February 27 against Vanderbilt and carried through his two-run blast yesterday afternoon at Hayden Field.
Up Next
Indiana State closes out the weekend series against Xavier tomorrow afternoon at Hayden Field with first pitch set for 1 p.m. ET. The entire weekend series is scheduled to be broadcast live via FloBaseball.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL
PURDUE FORT WAYNE MVB SWEEPS NO. 8 OHIO STATE
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball team swept No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday (March 16) night with a three-set victory (25-18, 25-23, 25-23) on the Arnie Ball Court.
It was the Mastodons’ first 3-0 win over the Buckeyes since 2019.
Jon Diedrich led all players with 18 kills and a .536 hitting percentage. Mark Frazier finished with 15 kills and a .619 percentage. Andrej Polomac dished out 31 assists, leading to a team hitting percentage of .359.
After trailing 4-1 in set one, the Mastodons rattled off a 9-2 run to go up 10-6. They never trailed again thanks to another 7-2 run later on to go up 21-16, which was capped off by an ace from Frazier. Andrew Mayer came in to serve late, and he sparked a 4-0 run to close the frame with an ace on his first serve. Bryce Walker blocked Ohio State for set point.
Diedrich had seven kills in each of the final two sets. Set two saw the ‘Dons go up 23-19 before Ohio State rattled off four in a row to tie it at 23. The Mastodons went to Diedrich for a kill to break up the run, then Ohio State had an attack error to give the ‘Dons set two.
Seven more kills from Diedrich were the ticket to the ‘Dons winning the third set. Similar to the second, a Diedrich kill broke a 23-23 tie before Frazier and Walker blocked a Buckeye attack to clinch the three-set victory.
Carlos Mercado had six digs to lead the Mastodons defensively. Three of them came in the first set. Walker had a team-high four blocks.
Ohio State was led by 15 kills from Shane Wetzel.
Purdue Fort Wayne moves to 11-9 and 5-6 in the MIVA. Ohio State drops to 15-7 and 8-4 in the MIVA. The ‘Dons host Ball State next Saturday (Mar. 23) at 7 p.m.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
13-CONSECUTIVE RUNS LIFT MASTODONS TO 13-3 WIN AT YSU
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Mastodon baseball team pounded out 19 hits in a 13-3 victory at Youngstown State on Saturday (March 16) afternoon.
The ‘Dons gave up three runs (two earned) in the second to fall behind 3-0. But YSU was limited to goose eggs the rest of the way.
Purdue Fort Wayne scored one in the third, eight in the fourth, two in the sixth and two more in the seventh to get the margin to 10 runs at 13-3. The game was halted after seven innings per the Horizon League’s 10-run rule.
The eight-run fifth saw the ‘Dons record nine hits, more than twice the four hits Youngstown State earned all game. Grant Sawa singled to start the fifth inning and drove in two with a double later in the inning. Jacob Walker also had two hits in the frame.
Sawa, Walker and Camden Karczewski each had three hits in the contest. Ben Higgins hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Carter Sabol (2-2) went 6.0 innings to get the win. He fanned seven Penguins.
Sloan Ulrich (0-4) took the loss for YSU, giving up six runs in 4.1 innings.
The Mastodons improve to 7-13 (1-1 Horizon League). YSU falls to 3-16 (1-1 Horizon League). The two teams will play the rubber-game of the three-game set on Sunday.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
MASTODONS PICK UP WIN OVER LAFAYETTE IN COLLEGE PARK
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Purdue Fort Wayne softball beat Fairfield 4-2 on Saturday (March 16) in the Mastodons’ last non-league tournament.
GAME 1: Purdue Fort Wayne 4, Lafayette 2
Tori Countryman went 3-for-3 at the plate with a run in the Mastodons’ win over Lafayette.
Lafayette got an early lead in the first inning with a pair of singles. The ‘Dons responded in the second with three singles of their own from Epiphany Hang, Brooke Lickey and Countryman. Kennedy Peckinpaugh then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to tie it up.
The Mastodons kept the Leopards off the scoreboard until the fifth. Meanwhile, they scored two more in the fourth, including the eventual game-winner. Lickey and Countryman got on base again, then Peckinpaugh singled through the middle to bring Lickey home. On the subsequent at bat, Gwen McMenemy reached on an error and Countryman scored.
Lafayette scored one in the fifth, but Gracie Brinkerhoff stranded two Leopards on base. The ‘Dons got an insurance run in the seventh when Grace Hollopeter and Hang both doubled.
Brinkerhoff threw 5.0 innings and got the win. Alanah Jones threw 2.0 innings of scoreless ball and struck out four of the six batters she faced. She earned her first save of the season.
Lafayette fell to 2-16.
GAME 2: Fairfield 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 3
Bailey Manos and Hang each had two hits in game two, but Fairfield topped the ‘Dons 7-3.
Fairfield scored four runs before the Mastodons scored their first. Peckinpaugh singled up the middle, then Manos got on with a fielder’s choice. With the next at bat, Hollopeter doubled to bring Manos home.
After a three-run fourth from Fairfield, the Mastodons scored two in the seventh, but the comeback fell short.
Jones threw 3.1 innings and struck out four, but took the loss. Alyson Quinlan threw 3.2 innings and also struck out four in relief. Alyssa Weinberg got the win for Fairfield.
Purdue Fort Wayne moved to 5-17 with the split. Fairfield moved to 3-12.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
TAUBERT’S DOUBLE SENDS BASEBALL ACES PAST MICHIGAN STATE, 5-3, IN EXTRAS
EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the second time this week, junior outfielder Harrison Taubert played the hero in extra innings for the University of Evansville baseball team, as Taubert hit a two-out, two-run double in the 11th inning on Saturday to help power the Purple Aces past the host Michigan State Spartans, 5-3, at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field in East Lansing, Michigan.
“Today was just an overall great team win,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “I think that today was actually a pivotal game in our season, and we gave a gritty effort that really started on the mound for us. Kenton Deverman really battled all day long and showed the competitor that he is for us, to be able to give our offense a chance in ‘winning time.’
“Offensively, I thought we had some great at-bats, especially late, and then for Harrison to step up and deliver a barrel for us in the 11th was huge. Today’s a big win, and it now sets up tomorrow as an important game for us. We have to come to the park ready to battle tomorrow.”
Taubert, who came through with a walk-off RBI single in Wednesday’s 6-5 win over Southeast Missouri State, launched a double over the head of the left-fielder to score both senior first baseman Kip Fougerousse and graduate catcher Brendan Hord in the top of the 11th inning to give UE a 5-3 lead. Senior reliever Jakob Meyer (2-2) then worked a perfect bottom of the 11th inning to pick up the victory and help Evansville even the series with the Spartans.
Michigan State scored first on Saturday, getting a three-run home run from shortstop Randy Seymour in the second inning. But, from there, UE freshman starter Kenton Deverman silenced the Michigan State bats, as he allowed just the three runs on six singles and Seymour’s home run in 8.0 solid innings of work, striking out seven.
Deverman’s teammates would chip away late to force extra-innings, as Hord launched a solo home run in the seventh inning, and UE tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning. In the eighth, Evansville was able to get a one-out double by graduate third baseman Brent Widder, a two-out infield single by Fougerousse, and a run-scoring wild pitch to plate its first run. Junior outfielder Ty Rumsey then tied the game with a two-out single to left field to score Fougerousse and knot the game at 3-3.
The game would remain tied at 3-3 until the 11th, when Fougerousse worked a one-out walk, and Hord was hit by a pitch with two outs to bring up Taubert. Taubert laced a 1-0 fastball from Michigan State reliever Tommy Szczepanski (0-2) to deep left to score both runners and give UE the win.
Evansville out-hit Michigan State, 9-8, in the contest, with both Widder and freshman second baseman Brodie Peart delivering two-hit days.
With the victory, Evansville evens its record at 9-9 and evens the series at one win apiece. The two teams will square off in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. central time. Senior LHP Donovan Schultz (0-1, 10.38 ERA) will get the start for UE on the mound. Sunday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS.
EVANSVILLE SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL OVERCOMES LATE VALPO RALLY TO CLINCH SERIES WIN
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Up by a score of 9-3 in the top of the seventh inning, the University of Evansville softball team overcame a 4-run rally by Valparaiso to finish with a 9-7 victory inside Tri-State Orthopaedics Field and James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
The Beacons plated four runs in the 7th with the Purple Aces regaining control thanks to a double play and a groundout to end the game. Zoe Frossard was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and a walk in the contest. Marah Wood was 2-3 with three RBI and a walk while Alexa Davis recorded a home run, two hits, two runs and three RBI.
Valparaiso plated the first run of the day, executing a steal of home to take a 1-0 lead. Evansville quickly got it going in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Zoe Frossard singled, Hannah Hood walked and Marah Wood turned a check swing into a base hit to load the bags for Jenna Nink. A patient at-bat resulted in a walk that would tie the game. Next up was Jess Willsey who hit a sacrifice fly to give the Purple Aces their first lead of the day.
Evansville did even more damage in the second, adding five runs to the lead. Taylor Howe reached on a leadoff double and crossed the plate on Lacy Smith’s single. Smith came home when Alexa Davis hit a ground rule double to right field. UE continued its offensive success, loading the bags for Marah Wood, who hit a bases clearing double to make it a 7-1 game.
Over the next two innings, the Beacons made their way back, adding single runs in the third and fourth frames to get within four. They threatened to add more in top half of the fifth, loading the bases before Megan Brenton pitched out of the jam with Willsey making a nice defensive play to end the threat.
In the 5th, it was Alexa Davis hitting one out of the park as her 2-run shot put the Aces in front 9-3. Valpo made a late comeback attempt in the 7th. Trailing by six runs, the Beacons scored four times and threatened to get even closer before a double play got the Aces back on track and relief pitcher Elle Jarrett got a ground out to end the game. Jarrett earned the save as she recorded the final three outs. Mikayla Jolly made the start and picked up her second win of the year. She allowed three runs on six hits in 3 2/3 frames.
Sunday’s series finale is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL
USI COMPLETES DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP AFTER THIRD WALK-OFF WIN THIS SEASON
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball opened its 2024 home schedule at USI Softball Field with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles won 4-1 in game 1 and 2-1 in nine innings in game 2 against Morehead State University.
In the first game, Southern Indiana (9-11, 3-2 OVC) struck first with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman third baseman Shelby Stivers (Louisville, Kentucky) started the scoring with a bases-loaded RBI single. USI then took advantage of a Morehead State (7-10, 1-4 OVC) error and a bases-loaded walk to score the other two runs in the second.
Meanwhile, junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was wheeling and dealing. Newman registered two strikeouts in each of the first four innings for eight total punchouts through four.
Then in the bottom of the sixth inning, Newman got involved in the offensive attack. Newman singled to centerfield to drive in an insurance run to give USI a 4-1 lead. The right-handed pitcher and the Screaming Eagles closed out the game from there.
Southern Indiana posted four runs on four hits in game 1. Senior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana) led USI with a 2-2 game at the plate. Morehead State tallied one run off one hit.
Newman improved to 7-5 with a complete game, striking out 12 in the one-hitter. Morehead State freshman pitcher Addie Stem dropped to 3-8 on the season, surrendering four runs – three earned – off four hits and four walks in six innings pitched.
In the second game, Southern Indiana pushed across the game’s first run once again. Senior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) singled home junior infielder Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) from second base to put USI up early, 1-0. Morehead State answered to tie the game in the second frame.
The game settled into a pitcher’s duel between USI junior pitcher Whitley Hunter (Nashville, Illinois) and Morehead State sophomore pitcher Jessie Begley. Begley took a no-decision, going 4.2 innings with one unearned run allowed before handing the ball off to freshman pitcher Cassiti Baroni.
With Hunter pitching a gem in her best start of the season for USI and Baroni not budging in relief for Morehead State, the game remained tied at one through seven innings to force the contest into extras.
In the top of the seventh and ninth innings, Hunter stranded a potential go-ahead runner at third base in each inning. Hunter’s stellar performance was rewarded in the home half of the ninth inning. After three consecutive singles to load the bases, Fair punched a ball through the right side to score senior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) from third to give USI a 2-1 win and its third walk-off victory of the season.
Southern Indiana recorded two runs on 10 hits, while Morehead State scored one run on seven hits. The two sides combined to leave 22 runners on base. Offensively, Fair and Gotshall had two-hit games in the second game of the twin bill.
With the sensational outing, Hunter moved to 2-3 in her first complete game this season. The right-hander struck out eight batters. For Morehead State, Baroni was charged with her first loss this season. Baroni went 3.1 innings of relief and was responsible for the game-winning run reaching base.
The Screaming Eagles conclude their weekend home series against Morehead State Sunday at Noon from USI Softball Field. Sunday’s series finale can be seen with an ESPN+ subscription and heard on 95.7 The Spin. Live stats and coverage links can be found on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S TENNIS
USI EARNS FIRST EVER OVC WIN
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis (4-7, 1-0 OVC) earned its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference victory at the USI Tennis Courts Saturday afternoon when the Screaming Eagles defeated Eastern Illinois University (0-16, 0-1 OVC), 5-2, with a comeback effort. The victory also snapped a 20-match losing streak in conference play for Southern Indiana, dating back to USI’s membership in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Doubles: USI dropped the doubles point despite a hot start from junior Madison Windham (Clarksville, Tennessee) and freshman Antonia Ferrarini (Caxias do Sul, Brazil), who earned a 6-3 win at number three before the senior duo of Rachel McCorkle (Tulsa, Oklahoma) and Lauren Rowe (Terre Haute, Indiana) dropped their match 7-6 following a 7-4 tiebreaker at number two.
Singles: The Eagles soared back to a clean sweep of the Panthers in singles, being led by Windham’s 6-3, 6-1 victory at number six. Freshman Anais Negrail (Maisons-Alfort, France) clinched the match for USI with her thrilling 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory at number four. Closing out the match, freshman Sofia Davidoff (Lagny-sur-Marne, France) gained a three-set, come-from-behind win at number five
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles head on the road in an attempt to carry momentum to Peoria, Illinois, against Bradley University on Sunday at 10 a.m.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
USI LOSES TO LONG BALL AT ILLINOIS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost to the long ball at the University of Illinois, 6-5, Saturday afternoon in Champaign, Illinois. USI is 8-10 in the non-conference season, while Illinois goes to 7-10.
USI fell behind 4-0 in the first two innings after the Illini hit a two-run home run in each of the frames. The Screaming Eagles would rally to take the lead, 5-4, with a run in the fourth and four in the fifth.
USI senior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) put the Eagles on the scoreboard with a home run in the top of the fourth. The round tripper was his second of the year and of the series.
The Eagles battled back to take the lead with a four-run fifth inning that started with a two-run double by senior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) to cut the deficit to 4-3. Ellis would strike again to tie the score, 4-4, with a RBI-single before junior second baseman/first baseman Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri) gave USI the lead, 5-4, by scoring on a pass ball.
The Illini would take the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth when they regained the advantage, 6-5, with their third two-run bomb of the contest. USI missed a chance in the top of the sixth, leaving runners on first and second, and one runner in the ninth, stranding the tying run.
USI junior right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) took the loss in relief for the Eagles. Seebold (2-2) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings of work.
USI junior right-hander Peyton Brown (Clemmons, NC) picked up a no-decision after going the first 4.2 frames. Brown allowed four runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and Illinois finish the series Sunday with 1 p.m. start in Champaign.
Following the USI-Illinois series, the Eagles finish their nine-game road swing with a visit to Western Kentucky University Tuesday in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers are 13-7 overall after splitting the first two of three at the Ohio Valley Conference’s Southeast Missouri State University this weekend.
VALPO WOMEN’S TENNIS
TENNIS CLOSES OUT NONCONFERENCE PORTION OF SEASON IN VICTORIOUS FASHION
The Valparaiso University tennis team closed out the nonconference portion of the season in victorious fashion, using four singles victories to edge Omaha 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at The Courts of Northwest Indiana. The Beacons closed a successful nonconference slate with a 9-6 record as Missouri Valley Conference play cranks up next week.
How It Happened
The No. 2 tandem in the Valpo doubles lineup of Sydney Stone (Brisbane, Australia / Tyler JC) and Jolene Fernandes (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) defeated Omaha’s Keegan VanPelt and Summer Shannon 6-3. Valpo dropped No. 3 dubs, and the No. 1 Omaha team edged out a 7-5 win at the top spot to give the guests an early 1-0 lead in the match.
The most one-sided singles match was at No. 4, where Fernandes cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over VanPelt, dropping only three games along the way.
After prevailing on a tiebreak in the opening set, Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) ran off six straight games in Set 2 at No. 2 Singles, winning the match 7-6(2), 6-0 over Paula Arcarons.
The Beacons boosted the match lead to 3-1 when Stone polished off a 6-3, 6-4 win over Colby Kelley at No. 5.
The No. 3 singles match went the way of the Mavericks to make it 3-2, but Lillian Kelly (Fullerton, Calif. / Fullerton Union) stepped up at No. 6 singles to rally from a set down and win 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 over Lillian Tiemeyer. In the process, she not only won the battle of the Lillians, but also clinched the match for her team.
The No. 1 singles match was a thriller, but Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Houston Tennis Academy) was edged out by Zoe Adkins in a three-setter that went the distance, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(4).
Inside the Match
Czerwonka boosted her singles win total to 20 this season and 83 in her collegiate career. She advanced into a tie for fourth in single-season program history with her 20th victory, joining Kate Evangelist’s 2004-2005 campaign.
Czerwonka, the program recordholder for career singles wins, moved into sole possession of fourth in school history (men’s and women’s), surpassing Dave Bacalla (2013-2017).
Fernandes (15) and Stone (12) both boosted their season win totals in singles play, while Kelly stepped up in her dual match debut, coming up with a big victory as she was inserted into the singles lineup for the first time this season.
This was Valpo’s seventh match decided by the slimmest of margins at 4-3 this season. Valpo is – fittingly enough – 4-3 in those matches.
Valpo is already only two wins away from tying the program’s highest win total since 2007.
Up Next
The Beacons (9-6) will host Drake on Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. to begin conference play.
VALPO SOFTBALL
COMEBACK EFFORT COMES UP JUST SHORT FOR SOFTBALL SATURDAY
Trailing by six runs after two innings Saturday, the Valpo softball team continued to fight and put four runs on the board in the seventh inning to bring the potential tying run to the plate before falling at Evansville by a 9-7 final.
How It Happened
The Beacons jumped out on top in their first turn at the plate. Senior Alexis Johnson (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) led off the game with a double and moved over to third on a Kam Utendorf (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove [Black Hawk College]) single. With the first and third situation, Valpo sent the runner from first, and with the play being made on her, Johnson raced home with the game’s opening run.
Evansville took the lead with two runs in its first time at the plate. The Purple Aces then put five runs on the board in the second to lead 7-1 after two full innings.
Valpo began to chip away in the top of the third. Johnson connected on a one-out single, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Utendorf.
Senior Regi Hecker (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South) sliced another run off the deficit with a solo homer to lead off the top of the fourth, making it a 7-3 ballgame.
The Purple Aces threatened to add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) induced a grounder to short to keep it a four-run game.
Valpo had a great chance to get closer in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a UE error, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the frame.
Evansville pushed the lead back to six runs with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. Later in the frame, the score was still 9-3 and the Purple Aces had loaded the bases with two outs — the potential winning run via run-rule standing on second base — before Caitlyn Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) got a fly ball to left to extend the game.
It was still a 9-3 game entering the seventh inning, setting the stage for Valpo to go to work in its attempt to rally. The Beacons loaded the bases with nobody out, doing so without a single swing of the bat as Utendorf worked a full-count walk, sophomore Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) was hit by the first pitch she saw and freshman Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) took four straight balls for a walk.
In fact, Valpo’s first swing of the inning — by its fourth batter — resulted in two runs, as Hecker’s soft tapper was enough for an infield single and a subsequent Evansville error allowed a second run to score, making it a 9-5 game.
A walk to pinch-hitter Lauren Sena (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) again loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate for Valpo. The Beacons’ next batter grounded into a double play, bringing home a run to cut the deficit to 9-6, but using up two of their three outs at the same time.
Senior Emily Crompton (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) stepped in as a pinch-hitter and wasted no time, lining the first pitch she saw through the right side to score Sena to make it 9-7.
Once again, Valpo had the potential tying run at the plate, but a groundout ended the game.
Inside the Game
The seven runs the Beacons’ offense produced matched the program’s highest run production in a loss since a 12-9 defeat at Northern Kentucky March 25, 2017.
Utendorf continued her strong season by reaching base all four times on Saturday, going 2-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI. Her MVC-best batting average is up to .462, while Saturday was her team-best seventh multi-hit game of the year.
Hecker delivered her sixth multi-hit game of the season by going 2-for-3 with a walk, including her second home run of the campaign.
Johnson picked up a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot for her fourth multi-hit game. The senior also scored a pair of runs and stole two bases, the latter giving her a team-high 12 stolen bases this year.
Sophomore Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) reached base twice Saturday as well with a single and a walk.
Valpo matched its season high by drawing seven walks at the plate.
Kowalski started in the circle and took the loss, tossing 2.1 innings in two separate stints.
Next Up
Valpo (6-17, 0-2 MVC) concludes its conference-opening series at Evansville on Sunday afternoon at noon, with the game broadcast live on ESPN+.
VALPO BASEBALL
RYAN RIPS TWO HOMERS IN DEFEAT AT NO. 21 CAMPBELL
Senior Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) smoked two home runs to provide a highlight, but the Valparaiso University baseball team dropped the middle game of this weekend’s series at No. 21 Campbell 13-4 on Saturday in Buies, Creek, N.C. Two big innings by a potent Camel offense proved to be the difference in the game as the hosts bookended their offensive day with big frames, scoring six times in the first and five in the eighth.
How It Happened
Campbell jumped in front by scoring six in the opening inning. The first seven Camels to come to the plate all reached base in an inning where the hosts batted around.
After Valpo starter Adam Guazzo (Hunley, Ill. / Huntley) rebounded by retiring the side in order in the second, Ryan led off the third with a 400-foot shot to left to cut the lead to five at 6-1.
After the first seven Campbell batters reached base in the opening inning, Guazzo sent down the next 10 in succession. However, the Camels tallied a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 7-1.
In the top of the fifth, Ryan ripped his second home run of the game, this time a two-run shot that traveled 392 feet to left. That cut the lead to four at 7-3.
Campbell’s Lawson Harrill led off the fifth with a solo shot to extend the lead to 8-3 and spell the end of the day for Guazzo.
The bases were full of Beacons in the top of the sixth, but Valpo did not score and stranded the maximum. Valpo had another chance in the top of the seventh with men at the corners and one away, but a strikeout and a sharp line drive that was caught on the left side of the infield squashed the chance and kept it 8-3 Camels.
Valpo moved a step closer in the top of the eighth when Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) lifted a sacrifice fly that made it 8-4.
After Guazzo departed in the fifth, head coach Brian Schmack turned the ball over to Grant Jablonski (Mishawaka, Ind. / Mishawaka), who did not allow a run over his first three innings of work but allowed a leadoff home run to begin the bottom of the eighth to the final batter he faced, a blast that made it a 9-4 game. In total, he went three plus innings and allowed one run on four hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
Campbell added four more runs in the eighth after Jablonski’s exit (five total in that inning) to make it 13-4, which stood as the game’s final.
Inside the Game
Ryan’s home runs were his first and second of the season and the fourth and fifth of his collegiate career.
Ryan had Valpo’s second multi-homer game of the season, joining Kevin Denty on March 1 at Elon.
Hannahs extended his season-long on-base streak to 17.
The hit column was fairly close as the Camels outhit the Beacons 10-7.
Valpo continued to make opposing pitchers work by drawing seven walks, the team’s seventh straight game with seven or more. However, a Valpo staff that ranked among the national leaders in walks per nine innings entering this weekend continued to have an atypical weekend in terms of command, issuing seven walks on Saturday.
For the second straight game, Valpo had activity on the base paths throughout, stranding 12 base runners while Campbell left only five on base. Valpo has stranded a dozen or more in six of the last seven games.
Ryan was joined with multiple hits by Kade Reinerston (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) and Carson Husmann (Hanna, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]).
Up Next
Valpo (7-10) will close the series at No. 21 Campbell on Sunday at noon CT in Buies Creek, N.C. No video feed will be available, but a live radio broadcast courtesy of Campbell Athletics will help fans follow along. Links to live coverage will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.
UINDY WRESTLING
BLUBAUGH EARNS PROGRAM’S SECOND-EVER INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL TITLE
WICHITA, Kan. – The UIndy wrestling program added another name to its national champion pedestal on Saturday night, as Derek Blubaugh became the first Greyhound to win an individual title since Nick Walpole in 2011.
He also earned the Outstanding Wrestler award for his efforts on the mat over the course of the tournament.
Trey Sizemore (174) and Owen Zablocki (157) also competed in Saturday’s final bracket, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively. As a team, UIndy finished ninth with 37.5 points.
Blubaugh claimed the 197 class as his own with a 5-1 decision over Central Oklahoma’s Dalton Abney, defeating his counterpart for the first time in three consecutive national title bouts. Blubaugh is now the second-ever national champion in program history.
The redshirt-junior advanced to his third straight title match with a 5-2 decision against third-seeded Dominic Murphy out of St. Cloud State.
Sizemore put an exclamation point to end his first season as a Greyhound, earning an 11-3 major decision victory over Parkside’s Brody Hemauer. Meanwhile, Zablocki capped his collegiate career with his own win via major decision, defeating Kutztown’s Bailey Gimbor, 18-7.
On Friday night, junior Jackson Hoover was named as the 2024 NCAA Division II Elite 90 winner, which recognizes student-athletes who compete at the final site with the highest grade-point average (GPA). Hoover, a biology major, carries a 4.0 GPA while advancing to the national bracket in the 149 weight class.
UINDY SWIMMING
BOTH SWIM/DIVE TEAMS EARN PODIUM FINISHES AT NATIONALS
GENEVA, Ohio—The UIndy swimming & diving teams Saturday night wrapped up a success stint at the NCAA DII Championships, held Tuesday through Saturday at the SPIRE Institute Aquatics Center just outside of Cleveland.
The Greyhound men and women combined for 84 All-America honors, 12 school records and seven event national championships, with the latter total good for the second-highest number in program history for a single DII Championships.
SATURDAY
Celina Schmidt earned her second event title in as many days, completed the breaststroke sweep. After winning the 100 breast last night, the Germany native set a school record in the 200 breast Saturday with a time of 2:10.82.
Brynhildur Traustadottir also set a school record Saturday, with her mile swim breaking the oldest record in the UIndy annals. Traustadottir posted a 16:47.53 in the event, besting the previous UIndy mark—set back in 1996—by six-and-a-half seconds.
Cedric Buessing notched his third runner-up finish of the meet, taking second in the men’s mile. Buessing racked up a team-best six All-America First Team nods on the week, including a national championship in the 1000 free.
The Hounds tacked on one more All-America performance in the final event of the evening. The men’s 400 free relay unit of Jeron Thompson, Aqeel Joseph, Cedric Buessing and Joao Silva combined for a time of 2:55.22, good for eighth place.
OTHER NOTABLES
9th- Jamie Glover, women’s 1650 free
9th- Mia Krstevska, women’s 200 back
11th- Joao Silva, men’s 100 free
11th- Stanislaw Chalat, men’s 1650 free
12th- Silas Buessing, men’s 200 back
13th- Andrea Gomez, women’s 200 back
14th- Traustadottir, Gomez, Revstedt and Namutebi, women’s 400 FR
15th- Kirabo Namutebi, women’s 100 free
15th- Alexis Lumaj, women’s 1-meter
16th- Brayden Cole, men’s 200 breast
FRIDAY
Julio Osuna added to an already-storied collegiate career, posting a massive score on the way to winning his second straight 3-meter title. The junior racked up 645.15 points in 11 dives, breaking school, meet and Division II records in the process. Teammate Jason Lenzo earned fourth-place points with 560.30 points.
Meanwhile, Celina Schmidt earned her first career event championship, winning the women’s 100 breaststroke. Her time of 1:01.11 bested second place by more than six tenths of a second.
Cedric Buessing continued a fantastic week with another runner-up swim. Already with a national title (100 free) and a second-place finish (400 IM) to his credit, the junior standout collected another silver medal with a school-record time of 4:18.27 in the 500.
Brayden Cole and Elias Noe also picked up All-America First Team accolades. Cole posted the second-fastest time in UIndy history (52.58) with a third-place showing in the 100 breast, while Noe managed UIndy’s first-ever sub-1:45 swim in the 200 fly (1:44.97)—good for fifth place.
The relays once again capped the night, with both Greyhound squads placing in the top eight in the 200 free relay. The women’s team of Kirabo Namutebi, Isabella Revstedt, Stefanie Markwardt and Leticia Vaselli earned fourth-place points with a time of 1:32.16, while the men’s quartet of Joao Silva, Jeron Thompson, Oskar Sawicki and Aqeel Joseph placed seventh (1:18.86).
OTHER NOTABLES
9th- Brynhildur Traustadottir, women’s 500 free
9th- Andrea Gomez, women’s 200 fly
10th- Caroline Reinke, women’s 100 back
11th- Jamie Glover, women’s 500 free
13th- Isabella Revstedt, women’s 100 back
13th- Silas Buessing, men’s 200 fly
14th, Jackson Vanwanzeele, men’s 200 fly
16th- Jeron Thompson, men’s 100 back
THURSDAY
Cedric Buessing was in the national-championship hunt was once. One day after the winning the 1000 free title, Buessing came just short of capturing another event championship in the 400 IM. The German speedster bested the previous Division II record with a time of 3:40.23, but Colorado Mesa’s Ben Sampson was a hair faster, out-touching Buessing by a mere .01 to earn the win.
Andrea Gomez also earned a runner-up finish, taking second in the women’s 400 IM. She was joined on the podium by sixth-place-finisher Celina Schmidt, as both set personal bests while etching their names in the UIndy top 10.
Both the UIndy 400 medley relay teams earned fourth-place points later in the night. The men’s team of Buessing, Brayden Cole, Oskar Sawicki and Joao Silva set a school record with a time of 3:08.57 to finish just 11 hundredths behind third place. Each of the top four men’s teams hailed from the GLVC.
The UIndy women’s team of Isabella Revstedt, Schmidt, Stefanie Markwardt and Kirabo Namutebi combined for a time of 3:40.31.
On the boards, Alexis Lumaj earned her first career All-America First Team nod on the 3-meter. After a 12th-place finish last year, Lumaj earned a podium spot with 410.20 points, good for eighth.
OTHE NOTABLES
9th- Silas Buessing, men’s 400 IM
10th- Mihir Ambre, men’s 100 fly
12th- Oskar Sawicki, men’s 100 fly
WEDNESDAY
The national titles came early and often Wednesday, starting with a repeat championship by junior standout Cedric Buessing. The two-time reigning GLVC Swimmer of the Year successfully defended his 1000 free crown, breaking his own school record with a time of 8:54.51. He narrowly held off Wayne State’s Khalil Ben Ajmia, besting the freshman by seven hundredths of a second.
From a fast 1000 to the fastest 50 in DII history, UIndy newcomer Kirabo Namutebi posted a lightning-fast 22.08 to win the women’s 50 free. It marked the second straight year a Greyhound broke the Division II record in the 50 at Nationals, as Namutebi’s time just edged former-Hound Johanna Buys and her 22.10 from last year’s championships.
On the boards, Julio Osuna also repeated as national champ on the men’s 1-meter. He finished with a lofty 11-dive score of 602.50, though his total after 10 dives was still good enough the win.
The night concluded with the 200 medley relay, where the Hounds generated even more excitement. The men’s quartet of Jeron Thompson, Brayden Cole, Oskar Sawicki and Aqeel Joseph posted a DII-record 1:24.46, out-touching GLVC-rival McKendree by a half second to win the national title.
The women’s quartet of Caroline Reinke, Celina Schmidt, Stefanie Markwardt and Namutebi earned All-America Second Team honors with a ninth-place time of 1:41.45.
The UIndy women added a pair of individual All-America performances. Schmidt notched her first sub-two-minute swim in the 200 IM, taking runner-up with a 1:59.68, while Andrea Gomez finished third in the 1000 free, breaking her own school record with a time of 9:51.24.
OTHE NOTABLES
9th- Brynhildur Traustadottir, women’s 1000 free
10th- Jason Lenzo, men’s 1-meter
11th- Silas Buessing, men’s 200 IM
14th- Stanislaw Chalat, men’s 1000 free
15th- Joao Silva, men’s 50 free
16th- Jamie Glover, women’s 1000 free
TUESDAY
Celina Schmidt, Andrea Gomez, Jamie Glover and Brynhildur Traustadottir opened the festivities by combining for the fastest women’s 800 freestyle relay time in program history. Their time of 7:21.02 not only earned seventh place and All-America accolades, but also bested the school record by a half second.
The UIndy men’s team followed with an All-American performance of their own. Cedric Buessing, Silas Buessing, Elias Noe and Joao Silva also took seventh place, with their combined time of 6:29.28 topping the school record set at last year’s Nationals.
Earlier in the day, the diving pre-qualification meet was held at the Natatorium. Three UIndy divers officially advanced to Nationals, with Alexis Lumaj, Jason Lenzo and Julio Osuna all earning a chance at All-America and national championship accolades later this week.
UINDY BASEBALL
LATE RALLY LIFTS HOUNDS PAST MCKENDREE
SAUGET, Ill.—The UIndy baseball team used an eight-run seventh inning to springboard to a 14-9 win versus GLVC-rival McKendree University Saturday night. The nine-inning affair was played at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.
INS & OUTS
Trailing 5-1 heading into the top of the seventh, the Hounds exploded for eight runs to sprint into the lead. UIndy sent 13 batters to the plate in the fatal frame, racking up five hits, four walks and three stolen bases in the process. Both Zack Williams and Nick Lukac delivered two-run singles, while Dakota Sill had an RBI double.
The Hounds piled on with five more tallies in the eighth. Caleb Vaughn started things with a leadoff homer, while Easton Good bookended the rally with a two-run double.
Eight different Greyhounds scored at least once on the night, including a game-high three runs from Vaughn. Good and Drew Donaldson adding two walks, while Lukac finished with three ribbies.
On the mound, starter Noah Carter battled through five innings before giving way to the bullpen. Four relievers combined to get the final 12 outs, with Steven Jones (1-0) getting credit for the win.
UP NEXT
The Hounds and Bearcats wrap up their series with a doubleheader at GCS Ballpark starting at 1 p.m. ET.
UINDY MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S HOOPS HOLDS OFF JEWELL IN NCAA FIRST ROUND
INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy men’s basketball team won its first NCAA tournament game in eight years in Saturday’s opening round, defeating eighth-seeded William Jewell, 71-65, from inside Nicoson Hall.
Jarvis Walker led all players with 23 points, scoring at least 20 for the sixth time in the last eight contests.
With the positive result, the Greyhounds will face the winner of the night cap between Northern Michigan and Ferris State in Sunday’s regional semifinal round.
INS & OUTS
The Greyhounds forged a massive 13-0 run in the final five minutes of the first half, building a 16-point lead at the break. Walker, who scored 13 points in the opening 20 minutes, drove through the lane to cap the impressive stretch.
Jewell, which had beaten UIndy twice earlier this season, refused to quit; the visitors held the Hounds scoreless for the first seven-plus minutes of the second half and inched back within single digits. With 12:20 reading on the game clock, Julian Steinfeld cleaned up one of his three offensive rebounds with a putback to get the host offense back in sync.
Josiah Tynes drilled a pair of second-half triples to help fend off the furious Jewell comeback attempt, reaching double figures for just the second time in the last 10 games.
The teams traded buckets the rest of the way, as Kendrick Tchoua iced the game away with a 4-of-5 effort from the charity stripe.
UIndy limited a hot Jewell offense to just 38.3 percent from the field, its best defensive effort since Feb. 8 against Upper Iowa.
INSIDE THE BOX
– UIndy was whistled for 19 fouls compared to Jewell’s 12; as a result, the visitors shot 20 free throws with the host Hounds attempting 11.
– Steinfeld led a key Greyhound bench effort, totaling eight points and seven rebounds in 16+ minutes of action. Sean Craig and Zac Szul combined for eight points, each hitting a 3-pointer in the win.
– The Hounds outrebounded the Cardinals by 10, with David Ejah joining Tchoua (8) and Steinfeld (7) as the three-highest board-getters.
– Jewell’s Kobe McKinley, who was named the GLVC Championship Tournament MVP last weekend, was held scoreless in the second half and finished with 11 points.
– Dylan Ingram contributed to the fantastic bench effort, finishing with two blocks and two rebounds.
MORE NOTES
UIndy now leads the all-time series, 14-3 … Jewell earned the GLVC automatic-qualifying bid to the NCAA DII Midwest Regional by virtue of winning the league tournament title last Sunday, its first conference championship in any sport since beginning its transition to NCAA DII in 2009 … the last time the Greyhounds won an NCAA tournament was game was in 2016 with a 77-60 victory over Ashland in Somers, Wis.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds await their opponent for Sunday evening’s semifinal bout between a pair of GLIAC foes, Northern Michigan and Ferris State. The contest is set for 7:30 p.m. in Nicoson Hall.
UINDY SOFTBALL
GREYHOUNDS OPEN CONFERENCE ACTION WITH SWEEP OVER BEARCATS
BOLIVAR, Mo. – The No. 7 UIndy softball team opened up GLVC play with a doubleheader sweep at Southwest Baptist Saturday, imposing a pair of shutouts on the host Bearcats. The Greyhounds improved their win streak to 14 with an 23-2 overall record.
GAME 1 | UIndy 8, Southwest Baptist 0 (6 innings)
Three-time All-American Kenzee Smith completed the game for her 12th win of the season. The undefeated pitcher only allowed three hits during the contest. In 103 pitches, the senior struck out six batters and only walked one. Smith remains undefeated this season.
Entering the top of the sixth the Greyhounds were up, 4-0. Megan Nichols came up to bat with two on the bases. Nichols singled up the middle, plating Sydnee Perry, who singled earlier. With a runner on second and third, Emily O’Connor stepped up to the plate. O’Connor hit a bomb that flew over the center field fence for a three-run homer.
The homer extends what is shaping up to be a special season for the fifth-year student-athlete. She already has 10 dingers on the year to go with 42 RBIs through 25 games.
Nichols also hit a home run during the contest, her fourth this season. O’Connor added a double to her name today and finished with four ribbies, a team-high.
GAME 2| UIndy 4, Southwest Baptist 0
The UIndy pitching remained a mystery to the Bearcats. Game-two starter Jayden Casebolt kept the home team off-balance, eventually allowing just five hits and zero runs in the complete-game shutout.
Offensively, the Greyhounds scored two runs in both the first and third frames. A wild pitch and a Braxton Downs sac fly accounted for the early runs, while an error and a Dominique Proctor RBI groundout plated the final two.
Proctor also added a hit and a walk. O’Connor had two hits during the second game, another team high.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will return to the field tomorrow for a doubleheader at Drury. The matchup will take place at Thompson Field at Meador Park in Springfield, Mo. The first pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET.
MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MARIAN PUNCHES TICKET FOR SIOUX CITY WITH 63-49 WIN OVER STEPHENS COLLEGE
INDIANAPOLIS – For the 11th time in program history, the Marian women’s basketball team has punched their ticket to the NAIA National Tournament Final Site, as the Knights pieced together a strong second half to take down Stephens College in the NAIA Tournament Second Round. Marian’s 30th consecutive victory after defeating Stephens 63-49 gives them a 32-1 overall record entering the Round of 16.
Despite one of their worst offensive starts of the season, the Marian women’s basketball team managed to hold a lead after the first quarter, as free throws kept the home team in the game. Stephens scored the first four points of the night, but a string of free throws from Allison Bosse and Tamia Perryman helped Marian take a 6-4 lead. Bosse and Perryman would add to the lead with three more shots at the charity stripe before the quarter’s end, and strong defense over the quarter allowed the Knights to win the low-scoring 9-6 struggle. The Knights held the Stars to a 3-12 performance from the field in the first quarter.
Marian would see a pair of shots miss to start the second quarter as their offensive woes continued, but a new energy came about the arena 72 seconds into the period as Tamia Perryman drained an open three to get the offense moving. Perryman found another score in a 9-0 run, while Bosse drove to the rim to cap the scoring frenzy, hitting her 1000th career point in the process. With a double-digit lead at hand, Marian continued to attack Stephens, as shots began to fall at ease. Ella Collier drained four consecutive free throws to give Marian a 26-14 lead with 98 seconds to play before half, and after willing through a Stephens push, a three-point play from the senior made the halftime score 31-19.
The Knights put their offense together as the second half began, opening the third quarter with inside scores from Kinnidy Garrard and open shots from downtown by Ella Collier. The early assault allowed Marian to increase their lead to 18 points, and after withstanding a 5-0 spurt from the Stars, the Knights attacked once more with Garrard and Collier shouldering the offense. The scoring from the seniors allowed Marian to build an 18-point lead by the end of the period, pushing in front 49-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, Marian left no doubt and put the game in their hands, getting an early score from Garrard to take a 20-point lead, while Bosse and Aliyah Evans followed with open scores. The Knights defense forced multiple contested looks from Stephens that fell short, as Marian was able to maintain their double-figure lead on the board. with 4:40 to play Abbey McNally scored to give Marian a 59-37 lead, and after gaining their largest lead of the evening, the home team was able to put the game to rest, bleeding out the clock as they closed the NAIA Tournament Second Round 63-49 victors.
Marian’s final home game of the season faced offensive challenges as they shot 36 percent from the field in the game, but a 90 percent clip from the foul line helped Marian to victory as they were 27-for-30 at the stripe. Collier and Bosse led the team in scoring with 15 points each, and Garrard posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Tamia Perryman scored 12 points off the bench while snagging five rebounds, and Bosse led the team in assists with four.
With her 15 points, Allison Bosse eclipsed 1000 career points, becoming the 25th player in program history to do so.
Marian will play either Lewis Clark State or Jamestown in the NAIA Tournament Round of 16. Marian tips at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 21, at the Tyson Events Center.
MARIAN SOFTBALL
KNIGHTS SWEEP THE FORESTERS IN DOUBLEHEADER
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian softball team sweept the Huntington University Foresters, with a score of 9-7 in game one and a score of 10-2 in five innings of game two. Marian is now 16-2 overall and 5-1 in the Crossroads League
Game 1 | Marian 9-7 Huntington
Olivia Stunkel got the ball in game one, and worked through a few first inning struggles with a one-out double into right field allowed the Foresters to score the first run of the game. Stunkel would finish out the inning leaving one runner on base to keep the score 1-0 in favor of Huntington at the end of the first.
After two back-to-back scoreless innings for both sides the Foresters got on the board once again with a back-to-back double and single to bring in the second run for the Foresters.
The Knights offense picked it up in the bottom of the fourth with Brook Knox and Abby Madere having consecutive doubles to allow Knox to score the first run for the Knights. Madere followed up quickly with a run scored on Lily Wendt’s ground out to second to bring the score 2-2 at the end of the fourth. Marian started to get the bats rolling in the next inning with Abbey Hofmann doubling into right center to allow Madere and Knox to score their second runs of the game. With Wendt’s single up the middle Sierra Norman was able to advance to home to increase the lead. Hayley Greene, and Brenna Fink took advantage of a walk and a hit by pitch to allow Hofmann and Emily Phillips to score two more runs for the Knights. Savannah Harweger ended out the inning with a sacrifice fly to allow Green and Grace Meyer to score two more runs to bring the score 8-2.
Huntington pushed back at the Knights lead with two runs scored off a double into left field in the top of the sixth. The Foresters continued to decrease the lead due to a single into right center to allow for Kasey Hickle to score. Huntington hit a sacrifice fly into right field to allow for another run to cross the plate. Due to a error by third base Nigella Reck was able to advance and Bree Hines of the Foresters to score the final run of the game to bring the score 9-7 to secure the win for the Knights.
The Knights had seven hits in the game, with Brooke Knox, Abbey Hofmann, and Lily Wendt all led the team with two hits each, and Abby Madere had one hit to contribute. Olivia Stunkel had three strike outs on the day to go with the win. Lauren Mayer got her first save of the season and had one strikeout in her single inning pitched.
Game 2 | Marian 10-2 Huntington | 5 Innings
In Game two Marian took no time getting the bats rolling in the bottom of the first inning with four runs scored, by Harweger, Knox, Madere, and Norman all crossing the plate to get the Knights on the board. With bases loaded and only one out on the board Harweger hit a grand slam deep into center field during her second at bat to allow for, Jenna Minnix, Meyer, and Wendt to tally up a run along with her to bring the score 8-0 after the first inning.
The home team continued their hot streak with Madere scoring on Hofmann’s infield single in the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the third Minnix took advantage of a bad throw by the Foresters to score a run for the Knights to bring the score 10-0 going into the fourth inning. After a scoreless inning for both sides Huntington attempted to decrease Marian’s lead with a run scored off a double into right field and a second run scored off of a single to third to bring the final score 10-2 to secure the pair of wins for the Knights in five innings.
The Knights had 10 hits in the win with Harweger, Knox, and Madere all tallying two, and Norman, Hofmann, and Wendt adding to the total with 1 each. Harweger lead the team in RBI’s with four from her grand slam in the first inning. Jaylah Guilliam had two strikeouts with the win, while Katie Lackman had one in her soul inning pitched.
Marian will be back in action on the road Tuesday March 19th aginst Goshen College with the first pitch set for 3:00 pm.
MARIAN BASEBALL
MARIAN COMPLETES FOUR-GAME SWEEP OF SPRING ARBOR WITH SATURDAY TAKEOVER
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian baseball team completed their first sweep of the season, as the Knights won both games Saturday to complete a four-game sweep against Spring Arbor. Marian’s 5-4 and 11-8 victories move the team over .500 on the year, with Marian moving to 11-10 overall and 7-5 in the Crossroads League.
Game 1 | Marian 5-4 Spring Arbor
Game one was on a breakneck pace, and started with a pair of runs in the first inning for both teams, as the Cougars roughed Aden Burnside for two singles and the game’s first run. Marian wasted no time to respond, getting a one-out double from Pierson Barnes to ignite the offense. Rylan Huntley followed with a laser to right-center, as his RBI triple brought in Barnes to level the score 1-1.
Burnside and John Hojnowski locked horns in the second and matched each other with three-up, three-down frames, while a double play helped the Knights’ southpaw face the minimum in the top of the third. Marian managed to get the lead back in the bottom of the third, as a Dawson Estep single started an inning, with small ball efforts from Kameron Salazar and Barnes helping manufacture the 2-1 lead.
The game would move back to a draw in the top of the fourth inning as a lead-off walk would come in to score, but a double play to the aid of Burnside would help the second-year pitcher out of the inning. Continuing to answer each of Spring Arbor’s scores, Marian drove in a run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead, as Bryce Davenport scored from second on a short double hit by Johnny Roeder. The score would hold at 3-2 going into the sixth as Burnside tossed a pair of scoreless innings entering the home side, and the pitcher gained two more runs of support as Caden Mason and Estep collected RBI base hits to give the team a three-urn lead.
Burnside worked out of trouble in the top of the seventh inning as he stranded two runners, and pitched into the top of the eighth inning, but gave up a pair of singles which led to the Cougars third run of the day. Burnside handed the ball over to Garrett West as the freshman came on in relief, and after allowing a pair of hits, West escaped the inning stranding runners on second and third while protecting the 5-4 lead. In the top of the ninth, the Knights turned the ball over to Deacon Spencer to record the final three outs of the game. After hitting the lead-off batter, Spencer settled in, forcing two flyouts and a groundout to close the win and complete Marian’s 5-4 win.
Estep led the Knights at the dish in the win with three of the team’s nine hits, posting a 3-3 game with one RBI. Barnes, Huntley, Roeder, and Mason each had an RBI in the win. Burnside scored the win on the mound to move to 3-1 on the season, throwing into the eighth inning while allowing nine hits and four earned runs with two strikeouts. West gave up two hits as he held the lead, and Spencer tossed a hitless ninth inning to record his third save in as many games.
Game 2 | Marian 11-8 Spring Arbor
Seth Hogg got the ball in game two on the mound, but fell victim to early runs allowed like his teammate Burnside, as the freshman yielded three hits and a pair of runs in the first. Marian rebounded in the bottom of the second after Hogg pitched a scoreless second, with the Knights loading the bases on three hit batters. Kameron Salazar ripped an RBI single to get the Knights on the board, and following the first run four more touched the plate, as Pierson Barnes launched an opposite field grand slam to push Marian in front 5-2.
The Knights would hold the lead for the remainder of the game, but would be challenged in the third as a pair of doubles helped the Cougars tack on two more against Marian. The 5-4 game wouldn’t last long though, as Marian broke the game back open with a Bryce Davenport solo homerun extending the lead. Johnny Roeder and Josh Lamb kept the offense moving with consecutive base hits, and after a single from Caden Mason, Dawson Estep drew a bases loaded walk. Marian would manage one run as Salazar added a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 8-4 at the conclusion of the third.
Hogg tossed his second scoreless frame with a quick fourth inning, and got two more runs of support in the fourth with Lamb and Jacob Dill putting up RBI base hits. Marian led 10-4 after four complete, and would lead 11-6 entering the seventh, as Hogg was able to shake off a solo home run in the fifth and sixth innings, while an RBI single from Roeder in the sixth capped the Knights’ scoring. The freshman Hogg was called on to complete the game on the hill, working around two doubles in the top of the seventh as just two of the four runners to reach base scored, ending the complete game effort in an 11-8 victory.
Marian had 14 hits in the series finale, with three of them of the extra-base variety coming on the home runs of Barnes and Davenport and Dill’s double. Lamb led Marian with a three-hit outing, while Salazar, Barnes, Huntley, and Roeder each finished with two hits. On the mound, Hogg moved to 3-1 on the year, throwing all seven innings with 10 hits and eight runs allowed. Hogg recorded four strikeouts.
Marian is next scheduled to play on Friday, March 22, as they open a four-game series with Grace College.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
FOOTBALL HISTORY
Hall of Fame Birthdays…
March 17, 1871 – Hesper, Kansas – The two way player that manned both the halfback and tackle positions at two schools Kansas in 1895 and Pennsylvania 1897 to 1899, John Outland entered into life. The National Football foundation voters selected the name of John Outland in 2000 to become an inducted player in the College Football Hall of Fame. The Outland Trophy was created in his honor to recognize the best collegiate lineman each season. There is more on this legend when you click his name.
March 17, 1872 – Melbourne, Australia – Pat O’Dea the University of Wisconsin fullback from 1896 to 1899 was born. This fella has an interesting football story that you can find more about by clicking his name.
March 17, 1876 – Cimarron, New Mexico – The halfback/quarterback of the 1895 and 1897 to 1901 Columbia University Football teams, Bill Morley was born. Bill was part of a high powered and worrisome backfield for Columbia Lions opponents as they could score from anywhere per the National Football Foundation. Morley led the first Lions team to beat Yale, and the 5-0 victory was pretty much carried on Morley’s shoulders. Bill beat up the Eli’s pretty good with his crushing blocks and piercing runs. After playing one season at Michigan in 1895, Morley went on to receive All-America honors in 1900 and 1901 with Columbia. During his three Columbia seasons, Morley helped the Blue and White amass a record of 23-11-1. Bill Morley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971. Bill was picked as the first former player to coach the Lions and he notched up a 26-11-4 record during four seasons at the Columbia helm. His 1902 team finished 9-1, losing only to Yale.
March 17, 1905 – Youngstown, Ohio – The University of Pittsburgh’s great end from 1927 to 1929, Joe Donchess was born. The NFF says Donchess quit school in the fifth grade to earn money working in a steel mill. That could been the end of this student-athlete’s story right there but it’s thankfully not. Some five years later, an alumnus of Wyoming Seminary, found out about Donchess’ story and then promptly sent Joe off to that famous prep school. Donchess turned out to be an excellent student and a fast learner and made up three grades in one year. After graduating from Wyoming Seminary Joe attended Pitt and he excelled there both academically and in athletics. The Panthers were undefeated in 1929, and that coincided with the year Donchess was chosen as a consensus All-American. The Panthers were highly touted and went to the Rose Bowl that season, sporting four All-Americans and a label as one of the great teams in the history of Eastern football,” It may have all gone to the team’s heads as Pitt was dominated by the University of Southern California, in a 47-14 thumping. Donchess again played in the Rose Bowl in 1928 against Stanford, and again, despite a powerful team, Pittsburgh was the victim of a 7-6 defeat at the hands of the Cardinal. Joe Donchess received the honor due to his great legacy being placed into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
March 17, 1912 – Kaylor, Pennsylvania – Joe Stydahar the tremendous two way tackle from West Virginia University from 1933 to 1935 was born. The FootballFoundation.org tells of how Stydahar regularly dismantled and caused all kinds of havoc for opposing offenses. As a senior in 1935, Stydahar performed so well that he was asked to play in the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game in Chicago. Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman Trophy winner, playing in the backfield on those All-Star teams had this to say about Stydahar: “I played in two all-star games with him and thought he was the best tackle by far of that collegiate group. He proved to me in those two games that he was a tremendous player.” The College Football Hall of Fame inducted Joe Stydahar in 1972. After school the Chicago Bears used their top pick in the very first NFL Draft of 1936 to chose Joe to join the team. Stydahar played in Chicago for 9 seasons as a two way player that seldom left the field for coach George Halas. He made the All-NFL team in five straight seasons and many times didn’t wear a helmet in the games. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Joe Stydahar in 1967. Joe later went on to be the head coach of the LA Rams and later the Chicago Cardinals.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
7 – 16 – 22
March 17, 1932 – Howie Morenz, Number 7 the center of the Montreal Canadiens nets his 334th career point with an assist in a 10-4 win v New York Americans. With this he passed Cy Denneny, Number 16 of the Ottawa Senators as NHL leader for career points at the time.
March 17, 1983 – Number 22, Mike Bossy fired home the 70th hat trick in New York Islander franchise history as the Isles dropped the New Jersey Devils 9-5.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1899 In Charlotte (NC), the Phillies take the field wearing new sweaters trimmed with green to commemorate St Patrick’s Day. The look is a preview of the team’s uniform colors this season, featuring white suits trimmed in green, a white cap with a green peak, and stockings of two-inch stripes of white and green.
(Ed. Note: Philadelphia abandons the new style next season before returning the color green for the 1910 season. -LP)
1907 After yesterday’s alleged vicious attack on the groundskeeper’s wife by his troubled outfielder, Tigers owner Frank Navin makes an all-out effort to trade Ty Cobb. Indian skipper Nap Lajoie turns down a straight swap for former league batting champ Elmer Flick, calling the ‘Georgia Peach’ a problem player, and Connie Mack of the A’s, given his already strong outfield, shows only a passing interest.
1936 Twenty-one-year-old Joe DiMaggio makes his Yankee debut in a big way, collecting four hits, including a triple, in an 8-7 exhibition loss to the Cardinals at Miller Huggins Field in St. Petersburg (FL). The two-time American League MVP and future Hall of Fame outfielder will play 13 seasons with the Bronx Bombers, appearing in ten Fall Classics, in which the team wins nine World Championships.
(Ed. Note: Jolting’ Joe did not play in the major leagues from 1943 through 1945 due to military service. -LP)
1940 🇫🇮 At Plant Field in Tampa, a capacity crowd sees the National League beat the AL in an interleague exhibition all-star game. The charity contest, which is heard nationally on the Mutual Broadcasting System, raises over $20,000 to help feed, clothe, and house the non-combatant citizens of Finland, whose country was recently attacked in November by the Soviet Union.
1946 In Dayton Beach, the only city that allows him to play, Triple-A Montreal Royals’ infielder Jackie Robinson makes his preseason debut at City Island Ball Park, which the municipality renamed after him in 1990. In the first-ever integrated spring training game, the former Negro League standout goes 0-for-3 against the Dodgers but is encouraged by the crowd’s reception.
1953 The Braves’ spring training game against the Yankees in Bradenton (FL) will prove to be the team’s last full one representing the city of Boston. During the sixth inning of tomorrow’s exhibition contest, the club learns of the National League’s approval of its shift to Milwaukee, unlike the Junior Circuit’s decision two days ago denying Bill Veeck permission to move his Browns to Baltimore due to the short amount of time left before Opening Day.
1953 The Milwaukee County Board, which oversees the County Stadium, tears up its three-year deal with the American Association’s Milwaukee Brewers and offers the newly-built venue to their parent team, the Boston Braves, at the reduced rate of $1,000 for the first two years. The city would receive five percent of the gate receipts and the majority of the ballpark’s concession sales for the first three seasons.
1965 Continuing to break barriers, Jackie Robinson becomes the first black to join a national network broadcasting team when he signs on to announce games with ABC. The Hall of Fame infielder will debut at Fenway Park, teaming with Merle Harmon, the radio voice of the Milwaukee Braves, doing color analysis for the Game of the Week telecast.
1966 Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale play hardball when negotiating with the Dodgers. The duo signs movie contracts, showing they are serious about retiring from baseball if Los Angeles doesn’t agree to their salary demands.
1969 The Braves trade Joe Torre, a spring training holdout publicly feuding with team GM Paul Richards, to the Cardinals for 1967 National League Most Valuable Player Orlando Cepeda. The All-Star catcher/infielder will play six years in St. Louis, compiling a .308 batting average for the Redbirds, including a major league-leading .363 in his 1971 MVP season.
(Ed. Note: The Mets actively sought to obtain the 28-year-old Brooklyn-born backstop but declined the trade when Atlanta GM Paul Richard asked for Amos Otis and Nolan Ryan. -LP)
1976 All clubs will comply within forty-eight hours with Commissioner Kuhn’s orders to open spring training camps as soon as possible, ending the 17-day work stoppage. The lockout, initiated by the owners over their concerns about free agency and the free-entry draft, will not impact the start of the regular season.
1977 In a decision seen as one of the most influential and precedent-setting cases in American jurisprudence regarding professional sports, a federal court rules in favor of Bowie Kuhn’s decision to void the 1976 sale of A’s players by Charlie Finley. The Oakland owner sued the commissioner for illegal restraint of trade when his deals to send Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to the Red Sox for $2 million and Vida Blue to the Yankees for $1.5 million were invalidated “in the best interests of baseball.”
1978 On St. Patrick’s Day, the Reds wear green uniforms, becoming the first team to start a tradition many other clubs will copy. After taking batting practice in their usual garb, Cincinnati, not promoting their green surprise, stun the Yankees and the spring training crowd taking the field sporting their iconic Irish look.
1986 During a Cactus League contest, an official scorer credits Carney Lansford with an unusual two-run inside-the-park homer in the fourth inning of the A’s 5-3 victory over the Indians in Phoenix. The infielder circles the bases when Mel Hall’s shirt gets stuck on the fence, preventing the outfielder from playing the ball, which is barely out of reach, with shortstop Julio Franco, closest to the play, unable to help because he is so incapacitated with laughter.
1999 In a rare dismissal of a manager in spring training, the Blue Jays fire Tim Johnson after deciding he has lost all his credibility, replacing him with Jim Fregosi. After claiming he had seen combat in Vietnam in the offseason, the former Toronto skipper reveals he lied about his military service, causing many players on his team to lose all respect for him as their field boss.
2001 Joe Randa agrees to a two-year contract extension keeping him in Kansas City until the 2003 season. The Royals’ third baseman batted .304 and knocked in 106 runs for the Royals in 155 games last season.
2005 During 11+ hours of the Committee on Government Reform hearing concerning the use of steroids in major leagues, Mark McGwire refuses to talk about the past and does not deny taking performance-enhancing drugs. Other players testifying included Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and former big leaguer Jose Canseco, whose recent book prompted the congressional hearing.
2008 The Dodgers lose to the Astros, 12-10, in their last contest at Dodgertown, the team’s spring training home since 1948. Eighty-one-year-old Carl Erskine, who pitched the first game at Holman Stadium 55 years ago, plays the national anthem on his harmonica before the contest.
2010 In a rare spring training ruling, major league baseball suspends a player due to an incident in an exhibition game. Cliff Lee, the Mariners’ much-hyped acquisition, is fined and suspended for the first five games of the regular season after throwing a pitch over the head of Chris Snyder in a Cactus League contest against Arizona.
2020 An Oakland fan named Justin, who tweeted a picture of himself wearing an A’s hat while in a hospital bed after testing positive for the Coronavirus, receives an invitation from team president Dave Kaval to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day at the Coliseum. In his Twitter post, the 39-year-old COVID-19 patient issued a plea to take the pandemic seriously, saying, “don’t be a moron, stay home!
2023 Appearing as a pinch-hitter with one out in the ninth inning, Brown University’s Olivia Pichardo becomes the first woman to play NCAA Division I baseball. The southpaw-swinging first-year utility player from the Queens (New York) grounds out to first base on the first pitch she sees in the team’s 10-1 loss to Bryant University at Murray Stadium in Providence (RI).
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1945 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
Off the field…
After several days of street-to-street combat in Berlin and the suicide of Nazi leader Adolph Hitler, Germany finally agreed to an unconditional surrender marking the end of the European campaign of World War II. The conflict lasted five years, eight months, and six days, and cost millions of lives, including six million Jews and twenty million soldiers and civilians killed in the U.S.S.R. alone.
In an effort to hasten the Pacific campaign, the United States Air Force dropped the world’s first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, destroying the entire city and killing over seventy-thousand people. Three days later a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki with similar results. Realizing that further resistance was futile, the Japanese government finally agreed to terms of surrender aboard the Battleship U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Harbor marking the absolute end of WWII.
In the American League…
Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns became the first “physically challenged” Major League ballplayer. Despite the loss of his right arm in a childhood accident, Gray had learned to field, throw and bat solely with his left. He quickly built a reputation for hitting clutch, line drives around the field and also exhibited fearless speed and daring on the base paths. As a testament to overcoming adversity, his fielding technique was a study in both agility and dexterity. After catching a fly ball, the outfielder would tuck his thinly padded glove under his stump; roll the ball across his chest, and throw it to the cut-off man in one fluid motion.
Red Sox rookie Boo Ferriss set an American League record after pitching twenty-two consecutive shut out innings for the most scoreless innings at the start of a Major League career. His streak finally ended on May 13th after he allowed one earned run against the Detroit Tigers en route to a 6-2 victory.
In the National League…
On April 17th, New York Giants player-manager Mel Ott set several records during his team’s 11-6 win over the Boston Braves. In nine-innings, Ott collected a double, two walks and three runs to achieve several career marks (for a single player with one team) including one-thousand twenty-six extra-base hits, two-thousand seventy-six total bases, one-thousand seven-hundred seventy-eight RBIs, one-thousand seven-hundred eighty-seven runs and one-thousand six-hundred thirty-one walks.
The Boston Braves swept a July 6th double header against the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-5 and 14-8 as Tommy Holmes hit in his thirty-fourth consecutive game to pass the previous streak of thirty-three set by Rogers Hornsby in 1922.
“Joe D’s” older and less-famous brother Vince DiMaggio tied a Major League record after hitting his fourth grand slam of the season during an 8-3 Philadelphia Phillies victory over the Boston Braves on September 1st. Unfortunately, DiMaggio would not get an opportunity to break the record as an injury would keep him out for the rest of the season.
Around the League…
Major League owners decided to cancel the 1945 All-Star Game due to wartime travel restrictions. Eight simultaneous games were scheduled in place of the Midsummer Classic pitting the National and American Leagues against one another in interleague play.
Billy Southworth Jr., the first player in organized baseball to enlist for military service in WWII, died on February 15th after his B29 crashed off the coast of Flushing, New York. The twenty-seven year-old combat veteran had flown twenty-five successful missions in Europe and was the son of St. Louis Cardinals manager Billy Southworth.
Despite the depletion of quality rosters around the league due to wartime commitments, attendance in ballparks across the majors rose to a staggering 10.28 million, breaking the 1940 record. The Detroit Tigers topped the list with 1.28 million and the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and Chicago Cubs came in a close second with one million fans each.
On October 23rd, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey announced the signing of Jackie Robinson as the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues. Over the course of a distinguished ten year career, Robinson went go on to lead the Dodgers to six National League titles and one World Series championship. A man of many “firsts”, Robinson also became the first black player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
TODAY IN NBA HISTORY
March 17, 1963
During a tearful farewell at Boston Garden on Bob Cousy Day, as the retiring 34-year-old Celtics star tried to compose himself, a throaty fan in the upper balcony relieved an awkward silence by hollering the instantly famous, “We love ya, Cooz!”.
March 17, 1974
The Celtics downed the Capital Bullets 129-103 at Boston Garden, collecting an NBA record 61 defensive rebounds during the contest.
March 17, 1984
Houston retired the No. 23 jersey worn by Calvin Murphy, only the second Rocket player (after Rudy Tomjanovich) to be so honored.
March 17, 1985
Dan Issel of Denver scored 27 points in a 124-119 loss to San Antonio to move past Elvin Hayes into fourth place at the time on pro basketball’s all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Julius Erving.
March 17, 1991
New York forward Kiki Vandeweghe scored 17 points in the Knicks’ 102-101 loss to Milwaukee at the Bradley Center, moving him past the 15,000-point mark for his career.
March 17, 1999
Atlanta head coach Lenny Wilkens coaches in his 2,051st NBA game to surpass Bill Fitch’s 2,050 games coached to become the NBA’s all-time leader in games coached.
March 17, 2010
Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan is approved as majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets).
March 17, 2015
Reggie Jackson of the Detroit Pistons dishes 20 assists in a 105-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
March 17, 2017
John Wall of the Washington Wizards dishes 20 assists in a 112-107 win over the Chicago Bulls.
March 17, 2018
Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul steals the ball of the New Orleans Pelicans’ Nikola Mirotic, giving him 2,000 steals in his career. In accomplishing this feat, he joined Hall of Famers Gary Payton, John Stockton and Jason Kidd as the only players with 8,000 assists and 2,000 steals in their career.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1897 — Bob Fitzsimmons knocks out Jim Corbett in the 14th round to win the world heavyweight title in Carson City, Nev. It’s the first boxing match photographed by a motion picture camera.
1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Jene Roche in 80 seconds at the Royal Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, to retain the world heavyweight title.
1939 — Villanova wins first game of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, defeating Brown 42-30 in Philadelphia. Ohio State beats Wake Forest 64-52 in the second game of the doubleheader.
1940 — For the first time in NHL history, one line — The Kraut Line of Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer — finish 1-2-3 in NHL scoring when the Boston Bruins score five goals in the third period to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 7-2.
1955 — Canadien fans riot in the streets of Montreal protesting NHL President Clarence Campbell’s suspension of Maurice “Rocket” Richard the previous day. The Canadiens forfeit the game to the Detroit after a smoke bomb goes off in the Forum and crowds spill into the streets, setting fires, smashing windows and looting.
1961 — Manhattan District Attorney Frank S. Hogan arrests two professional gamblers, Aaron Wagman and Joseph Hacken, and implicates Hank Gunter and Art Hicks of Seton Hall in a collegiate point shaving scandal.
1993 — Dallas snaps a 19-game losing streak with a 102-96 win over visiting Orlando. The Mavericks were one game away from tying the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history.
2001 — Connecticut cruises to a 101-29 win over Long Island University in the first round of the East Regional, the best defensive effort in the history of the women’s NCAA tournament. Connecticut’s 72-point victory also ties the second-biggest margin in tournament history.
2006 — Jermaine Wallace hits a fadeaway 3-pointer with a split-second left, and little Northwestern State pulls off a shocker with a furious rally, beating No. 3 seed Iowa 64-63 in the first round of the men’s NCAA tournament.
2012 — Lindsey Vonn sets a women’s record for the most World Cup points in a season after finishing eighth in a slalom won by Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser at Schladming, Austria. Vonn reaches 1,980 points to beat the mark of 1,970 set by Janica Kostelic of Croatia in 2006.
2016 — Little Rock advances with an out-of-nowhere comeback that leads to an 85-83 double-overtime victory over Purdue in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
2018 — The UConn Huskies open their NCAA Women’s Tournament with a record-setting 140-52 rout of Saint Francis (Pa.). The tournament’s top seed sets a record for points in a tournament game and all-time NCAA records for points in a period (55 in the first) and a half (94 in the first).
2020 — French Open becomes first Grand Slam tennis tournament to be postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
TV SPORTS SUNDAY
AUTO RACING
3:30 p.m.
FOX — NASCAR Cup Series: The Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
1 a.m. (Monday)
CNBC — AMA Supercross Series: Round 10, Indianapolis (Taped)
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Noon
ACCN — Virginia Tech at Louisville
2 p.m.
SECN — Tennessee at Alabama
7 p.m.
PAC-12N — Arizona St. at Arizona
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
Noon
ESPN2 — Ivy League Tournament: TBD, Championship, New York
1 p.m.
CBS — Atlantic 10 Tournament: TBD, Championship, Brooklyn, N.Y.
ESPN — Southeastern Tournament: TBD, Championship, Nashville, Tenn.
3:15 p.m.
ESPN — American Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Fort Worth, Texas
3:30 p.m.
CBS — Big Ten Tournament: TBD, Championship, Minneapolis
6 p.m.
CBS — NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Show
9:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — NIT Selection Special
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
Noon
CBSSN — Patriot League Tournament: Boston U. at Holy Cross, Championship
ESPNU — Northeast Tournament: Le Moyne at Sacred Heart, Championship
2 p.m.
CBSSN — Coastal Athletic Association Tournament: TBD, Championship, Washington
ESPN2 — Missouri Valley Tournament: TBD, Championship, Moline, Ill.
8 p.m.
ESPN — NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS (MEN’S)
4 p.m.
BTN — Penn St. at Michigan
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS (WOMEN’S)
4 p.m.
ESPN2 — Alabama at Oklahoma
COLLEGE LACROSSE (MEN’S)
2 p.m.
ESPNU — Cornell at Princeton
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Noon
SECN — Alabama at Georgia
3 p.m.
ACCN — Notre Dame at Georgia Tech
FS1 — Villanova at Providence
PAC-12N — Washington at Arizona
5 p.m.
ACCN — Illinois at Louisville
PAC-12N — Stanford at California
5:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — Mississippi at LSU
7 p.m.
ACCN — North Carolina at Clemson
GOLF
1 p.m.
NBC — PGA Tour: The PLAYERS Championship, Final Round, TPC Sawgrass (The Players Stadium Course), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
HORSE RACING
3 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
5 p.m.
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Boston (Split-Squad) vs. Atlanta (Split-Squad), North Port, Fla.
4 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Texas vs. Chicago Cubs, Mesa, Ariz.
7 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Milwaukee vs. Kansas City, Surprise, Ariz.
NBA BASKETBALL
1 p.m.
ABC — Phoenix at Milwaukee
3:30 p.m.
ABC — Denver at Dallas
7 p.m.
NBATV — Brooklyn at San Antonio
9:30 p.m.
NBATV — Atlanta at LA Clippers
NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL
2 p.m.
NBATV — Greensboro at Maine
4 p.m.
NBATV — Mexico City at Iowa
NHL HOCKEY
1 p.m.
TNT — NY Islanders at NY Rangers
3:30 p.m.
TNT — New Jersey at Vegas
6 p.m.
NHLN — Detroit at Pittsburgh
RODEO
4 p.m.
CBSSN — PBR: Round 2 & Championship Round, North Little Rock, Ark.
SOCCER (MEN’S)
7:30 a.m.
CBSSN — Serie A: Genoa at Juventus
10 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Aston Villa at West Ham United
7 p.m.
FS1 — MLS: Orlando City SC at Atlanta United FC
SPEED SKATING
3 p.m.
CNBC — ISU: World Short Track Championships, Rotterdam, Netherlands (Taped)
TENNIS
2 p.m. TENNIS — Indian Wells-WTA/ATP Singles Finals