CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
TRI 14 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 4
NORTHEASTERN 14 SETON CATHOLIC 9
MONROE CENTRAL 7 WINCHESTER 6
WAPAHANI 5 KNIGHTSTOWN 3
TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 12 INDIANA DEAF 2
NORTH CENTRAL 13 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 2
SCECINA 3 SPEEDWAY 0
GREENSBURG 10 S. DECATUR 0
LAWRENCE NORTH 4 THEN DAVIS 2
CATHEDRAL 14 CHATARD 4
MARTINSVILLE 8 PERRY MERIDIAN 7
EMINENCE 8 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 7
NEW CASTLE 3 NEW PALESTINE 2
FISHERS 3 BROWNSBURG 0
BREBEUF 10 TRI WEST 3
WESTFIELD 3 AVON 2
PLAINFIELD 2 GREENWOOD 0
GREENFIELD CENTRAL 7 SHELBYVILLE 1
LOGANSPORT 8 MARION 2
FRANKLIN 6 DECATUR CENTRAL 3
YORKTOWN 7 MOUNT VERNON 5
MOORESVILLE 6 WHITELAND 4
LAPEL 11 ANDERSON 3
NOBLESVILLE 2 ZIONSVILLE 0
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/17/2023
CENTRAL INDIANA SOFTBALL SCORES
NORTHEASTERN 8 DALEVILLE 5
CENTERVILLE 7 LINCOLN 6
SHENANDOAH 14 DELTA 0
YORKTOWN 10 MADISON GRANT 4
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 5 BISHOP CHATARD 4
HAGERSTOWN 6 WINCHESTER 1
BREBEUF 8 PARK TUDOR 1
KOKOMO 13 LEWIS CASS 2
WAPAHANI 6 SOUTH ADAMS 3
TRITON CENTRAL 12 N. DECATUR 0
ZIONSVILLE 5 N. CENTRAL 4
ELWOOD 17 MONROE CENTRAL 2
INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 17 RIVERSIDE 6
FISHERS 18 ANDERSON 0
IRVINGTON PREP 17 INDIANA DEAF 7
MOUNT VERNON 12 WARREN CENTRAL 2
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 10 FRANKFORT 0
UNION COUNTY 12 MILAN 1
CONNERSVILLE 15 RUSHVILLE 2
GREENCASTLE 18 DUGGER UNION 1
DECATUR CENTRAL 6 FRANKLIN 4
PLAINFIELD 2 GREENWOOD 0
NEW CASTLE 8 RICHMOND 0
MOORESVILLE 15 WHITELAND 5
CENTER GROVE 7 TRI-WEST 3
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/17/2023
NBA PLAYOFFS
MIAMI 123 BOSTON 116
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
PITTSBURGH 8 DETROIT 0
LA DODGERS 7 MINNESOTA 3
ARIZONA 5 OAKLAND 3
KANSAS CITY 4 SAN DIEGO 3
NY METS 8 TAMPA BAY 7
ATLANTA SIX TEXAS 5
HOUSTON 7 CHICAGO CUBS 6
BALTIMORE 3 LA ANGELS 1
TORONTO 3 NY YANKEES 0
BOSTON 12 SEATTLE 3
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 7 CLEVELAND 2
COLORADO 11 CINCINNATI 6
SAN FRANCISCO 7 PHILADELPHIA 4
MIAMI 4 WASHINGTON 3
ST. LOUIS 3 MILWAUKEE 0
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
IOWA 5 INDIANAPOLIS 4
SOUTH BEND 10 BELOIT 2
FORT WAYNE 5 DAYTON 1
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCOREBOARD
ATLANTA 4 COLORADO 0
CHARLOTTE 2 CHICAGO 1
CINCINNATI 3 MONTRÉAL 0
COLUMBUS 2 LA 0
ORLANDO 1 NEW YORK CITY 1
TORONTO 0 NEW YORK 0
PHILADELPHIA 0 DC 0
DALLAS 2 VANCOUVER 1
MINNESOTA 1 HOUSTON 0
NASHVILLE 2 MIAMI 1
SALT LAKE 0 PORTLAND 0
LAFC 1 KANSAS CITY 1
AUSTIN 2 SEATTLE 1
NCAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SCHECULE
REGIONALS
DOUBLE ELIMINATION; ALL TIMES ET
NORMAN REGIONAL (NORMAN, OKLAHOMA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: HOFSTRA VS. NO. 1 OKLAHOMA, 5 P.M., ESPNU
GAME 2: MISSOURI VS. CALIFORNIA, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
CLEMSON REGIONAL (CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: UNC GREENSBORO VS. NO. 16 CLEMSON, 3 P.M., ESPNU
GAME 2: CAL STATE FULLERTON VS. AUBURN, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, NOON, ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 2:30 P.M., ESPN+
DURHAM REGIONAL (DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: GEORGE MASON VS. NO. 8 DUKE, NOON, ACC NETWORK
GAME 2: CHARLOTTE VS. CAMPBELL, 2:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, NOON, ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 2:30 P.M., ESPN+
STANFORD REGIONAL (STANFORD, CALIFORNIA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: FLORIDA VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT, ESPN+
GAME 2: LONG BEACH STATE VS. NO. 9 STANFORD, ESPNU
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 5 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 10 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
TUSCALOOSA REGIONAL (TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: CENTRAL ARKANSAS VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 2: LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY VS. NO. 5 ALABAMA, 7 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
EVANSTON REGIONAL (EVANSTON, ILLINOIS)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: MIAMI (OHIO) VS. KENTUCKY, 1 P.M., SEC NETWORK
GAME 2: EASTERN ILLINOIS VS. NO. 12 NORTHWESTERN, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
AUSTIN REGIONAL (AUSTIN, TEXAS)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: SETON HALL VS. NO. 13 TEXAS, 5 P.M., LONGHORN NETWORK
GAME 2: TEXAS STATE VS. TEXAS A&M, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
KNOXVILLE REGIONAL (KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: INDIANA VS. LOUISVILLE, 3 P.M., ESPN2
GAME 2: NORTHERN KENTUCKY VS. NO. 4 TENNESSEE, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL (TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: MARIST VS. NO. 3 FLORIDA STATE, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 2: SOUTH CAROLINA VS. UCF, 7 P.M., ESPN2
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ACC NETWORK
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
ATHENS REGIONAL (ATHENS, GEORGIA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: BOSTON UNIVERSITY VS. VIRGINIA TECH, 2 P.M., ACC NETWORK
GAME 2: NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL VS. NO. 14 GEORGIA, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, NOON, ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 2:30 P.M., ESPN+
FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL (FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: NOTRE DAME VS. OREGON, 5 P.M., ESPN2
GAME 2: HARVARD VS. NO. 11 ARKANSAS, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
STILLWATER REGIONAL (STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: UMBC VS. NO. 6 OKLAHOMA STATE, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 2: WICHITA STATE VS. NEBRASKA, 7 P.M., ESPNU
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
SEATTLE REGIONAL (SEATTLE, WASHINGTON)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: MINNESOTA VS. MCNEESE, 6:30 P.M. ESPN+
GAME 2: NORTHERN COLORADO VS. NO. 7 WASHINGTON, 9 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 5 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 10 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 7 P.M., ESPN+
BATON ROUGE REGIONAL (BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: LOUISIANA VS. OMAHA, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 2: PRAIRIE VIEW A&M VS. NO. 10 LSU, 6 P.M., SEC NETWORK
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
SALT LAKE CITY REGIONAL (SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: OLE MISS VS. BAYLOR, 1 P.M., ESPNU
GAME 2: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS VS. NO. 15 UTAH, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL (LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: GRAND CANYON VS. NO. 2 UCLA, 8 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 2: LIBERTY VS. SAN DIEGO STATE, 11 P.M., ESPNU
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: WINNER GAME 1 VS. WINNER GAME 2, 5 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOSER GAME 1 VS. LOSER GAME 2, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 10 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 6 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 8:30 P.M., ESPN+
TOP NATIONAL NEWS
NBA PLAYOFFS/NEWS
BUTLER SCORES 35, HEAT RALLY TO BEAT CELTICS 123-116 IN EAST FINALS OPENER
BOSTON (AP) The Miami Heat were in need of a calming presence following a sluggish start to their latest conference finals showdown with the Boston Celtics.
Jimmy Butler provided that and a lot more.
Butler scored 35 points, including 20 after halftime, and the Heat rallied in the second half to beat the Celtics 123-116 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.
He said his teammates have given him confidence.
“I’m playing at an incredible level because they are allowing me to do so,” Butler said. “They are not putting a limit on my game. They are trusting me with the ball, on the defensive end. I think that’s what any basketball player wants.”
Miami trailed by nine at the half before turning it around with a franchise playoff-record 46 points in the third and outscoring Boston 66-50 over the final two quarters. It was Butler’s fifth game with 30 or more points this postseason and he added seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.
“One of the premier two-way basketball players of this association. … That’s what we needed.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Down the stretch Jimmy was able to do everything we needed – as a scorer and as a facilitator.”
Bam Adebayo added 20 points and eight rebounds. Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus all added 15 points apiece. The Heat went 16 of 31 from the 3-point line.
The No. 8-seeded Heat have opened all three playoff series with road victories. Game 2 is Friday in Boston.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 30 points, but didn’t take a shot in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon added 19 points.
Boston is just 4-4 at home during this postseason.
“I don’t know why,” Tatum said of their home struggles. “You’ve still got to play the game, you’ve got to make plays, regardless of whether you’re home or away.”
The Celtics, who are at their best when they’re defending and getting up more shots than their opponents, were 10 of 29 from beyond the arc.
“We lost our offensive purpose,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
The tip-off of the series marked the third time in four seasons that the Heat and Celtics have met in this round. Boston won last year’s matchup in seven games.
Wednesday’s opener felt every bit like a continuation of that most recent meeting. Boston dominated inside early on and led by nine at halftime.
Spoelstra said his team was “more intentional” over the final 24 minutes.
Miami took a page out of the Celtics’ book and used a 13-1 run to quickly erase that gap, tying the game at 78 in the third quarter. During the next timeout Mazzulla was captured by broadcast cameras throwing a clipboard in frustration.
Boston couldn’t stop the onslaught and Miami then nudged back in front as Butler penetrated to create opportunities for his teammates.
The Heat outscored the Celtics 46-25 in the period and took a 103-91 lead into the fourth, prompting a few boos from the TD Garden crowd.
Boston responded, scoring the first seven points of the final period before a 3-pointer by Vincent ended the run.
Miami led 114-109 with just over three minutes to play when Brogdon was fouled by Butler. But he connected on just 1 of the 2 free throws. Butler was trapped on the next Miami possession before finding Martin for a corner 3.
Tatum travelled, giving the ball back to the Heat. A Miami miss gave the ball back to Boston, but Tatum was called again for travelling.
Miami wound the shot clock down before getting a 3-pointer by Butler to rattle in with 1:03 remaining.
But everything changed in the second half.
“We are just playing really good basketball,” Butler said. “More than anything, we are staying together through the good and through the bad.”
ROAD WARRIORS
The Heat are the fifth team to open with road wins in each of their first three series, joining the 2021 Hawks, 1999 Knicks, 1989 Bulls and 1981 Rockets. The Knicks were the only other No. 8 seed to make the conference finals.
TIP-INS
Heat: Miami’s previous high in the playoffs was 43 points in a half against Charlotte in 2016. … Lowry hit 5 of his first 6 shots, scoring 13 points in his first nine minutes of action. … Butler (12) and Adebayo (6) combined for 18 of Miami’s 28 points in the first quarter. It marked the seventh time Butler has reached double figures in the first period this postseason.
Celtics: Marcus Smart finished with 13 points and 11 assists. … Led 66-57 at halftime. With the score tied at 47, Boston outscored Miami 19-10 over the final 5:26 of the half. … Brown wore his black protective mask after going without it for the final two games of their semifinals matchup with the 76ers. He fractured a facial bone late in the regular season. … New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was in attendance.
76ERS PREZ MOREY TAKING ‘CAREFUL PROCESS’ IN SEARCH FOR RIVERS’ REPLACEMENT AS COACH
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Joel Embiid was shocked the 76ers fired Doc Rivers. The NBA MVP had no say in his former coach’s fate — and team president Daryl Morey says neither Embiid nor any other player will have a say in the new one.
The 76ers have their share of candidates, many with NBA Finals experience. It’s one reason Morey decided to fire Rivers after three straight seasons of second-round exits and search for a proven winner who can lead them to a championship.
Morey said he was excited about the talent pool — Nick Nurse, Mike Budenholzer and Monty Williams are among the top available names — and would not rush the search.
“We’re taking a careful process with the coach,” Morey said Wednesday. “We do not think it will move quickly. We have to be careful with the process word but it is true.”
The next coach will inherit Embiid.
Embiid and James Harden?
Now that’s where it gets dicey.
The 33-year-old Harden, wildly inconsistent in the playoffs, is expected to decline the $35.6 million option on his contract and become a free agent. The 76ers have the right to offer Harden a $210 million, four-year deal, $8 million more overall than any other team.
Morey said the 76ers are interested in bringing back Harden.
But what if Harden wants to play elsewhere? The 76ers are prepared for either scenario. Morey said Plan A was signing Harden. Plan B was “having to get creative” about replacing the 10-time All-Star while still keeping the team among the best in the East.
“There’s like 26 teams that would rather have our roster,” Morey said. “We’re starting with the MVP of the league. The draft lottery yesterday was hoping to get a top pick to hope that player becomes as good as the MVP of the league. We’re starting in a great spot.”
Embiid might not necessarily agree. Morey did say the 29-year-old center expressed his shock at Rivers’ firing but was committed to improvement no matter who was on the bench.
“It’s my job to help convince him the new coach is someone he’ll have a great relationships with, as well,” Morey said.
Embiid is a wrecking ball in the regular season but sustaining that same level of elite play in the playoffs has been a challenge. He’s been dogged by injuries throughout his postseason career, such as a sprained right knee this season, and his numbers dip at the wrong times. Consider Game 7’s blowout loss at Boston, a game that sealed Rivers’ fate. Embiid scored 15 points after a disappearing act down the stretch in the Game 6 loss at home.
“I wouldn’t bet against him improving again,” Morey said. “A lot of the conversation with Joel was just him like, I can do more, I can work on this, I’m watching the playoffs and looking at this guy, I can add that to my game.”
Morey credited the big games Embiid and Harden had in the playoffs but there was no denying the Game 6 and 7 collapses and both stars ineffectiveness in the clutch helped show Rivers the exit.
“We’re looking for someone who brings leadership and accountability, someone who is good at tactics, someone who has great relationships with his star players, and who someone who is good at recruiting star players and players want to play for, someone who builds a great organization,” Morey said.
Rivers led Boston to a championship in 2008 and look how much that mattered in Philly.
Morey defended his performance as the one calling all the shots and said the franchise was in a better state than it was when he was hired in 2020.
“Frankly, I feel like I’m the best guy to lead the 76ers and ownership believes that,” he said.
One way he tried to defer criticism was steering the narrative away from their second-round failures — the Sixers haven’t reached the conference finals since 2001 — and paint them as one of many talented teams that hasn’t won a title.
One more early exit and the first big press conference next offseason could be the one for Morey’s replacement.
REPORT: BUCKS INTERVIEW HOUSTON’S KELVIN SAMPSON
The Milwaukee Bucks have interviewed University of Houston bench boss Kelvin Sampson for their head coaching vacancy, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sampson has been one of college basketball’s top coaches over the last six years, leading the Cougars to a 176-34 mark and five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Final Four in 2021.
During that same span, the school captured four AAC regular-season titles and two conference tournament crowns.
Only Hall of Famer Guy Lewis has registered more wins at the helm of Houston’s men’s basketball team.
Sampson’s reported meeting with the Bucks was described as “a visit,” a source told Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle. The Cougars simultaneously offered Sampson a new contract that would apparently make him among the 15 highest-paid coaches in college basketball, adds Duarte.
The 67-year-old later commented on the apparent interview.
“Can’t wait to compete in Big 12 next season. Go Coogs!” Sampson said in a text message to Duarte.
Prior to rebuilding Houston into a national contender, the former Pac-10 Coach of the Year spent six years in the NBA as an assistant.
From 2008-11, Sampson was a member of the Bucks’ coaching staff under Scott Skiles. The North Carolina native subsequently joined the Houston Rockets, serving as Kevin McHale’s assistant for another three years.
Milwaukee has been linked to a number of coaches since dismissing Mike Budenholzer earlier this month, including Monty Williams, Kenny Atkinson, Frank Vogel, and Mark Jackson.
WNBA NEWS
BECKY HAMMON, LAS VEGAS ACES COACH, DENIES BULLYING PLAYER OVER PREGNANCY
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon denied Wednesday that former Aces player Dearica Hamby was bullied on her team for being pregnant, saying any ill feelings between the two came from Hamby being traded.
Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, said in a video call with reporters she did nothing to warrant discipline from the WNBA, which suspended her for two games without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation into Hamby’s allegations.
“I’ll take my little lump on the chin and keep it moving,” Hammon said. “We’re bigger than this. It’s just not who the Aces are. It’s not who I am. And so, yeah, everybody’s disappointed in the situation, but at the end of the day, we know who we are and so we go to sleep every night in that truth.”
Hammon said she once asked Hamby about her pregnancy, but didn’t get into the specifics of what she said.
“I guess you’d have to ask for (the league’s) interpretation,” Hammon said. “But, yeah, that from my understanding was my misstep, if you will.”
Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, spent eight seasons as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs and is considered one of the rising stars in the basketball coaching world. She has been linked to the vacant Toronto Raptors job.
The WNBA also rescinded the Aces’ first-round pick in the 2025 draft on Tuesday for a different issue – a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby, who was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks on Jan. 21.
The trade allowed the Aces to clear up salary-cap space to sign former two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker.
“We made the decision to move Hamby because we could get three bodies in for her one contract,” Hammon said. “I think it’s very evident who we signed why we made the move, but (Hamby’s pregnancy) was never an issue and it was never the reason she was traded. It just wasn’t. It came down to math and business. That’s all it was. Nothing personal.
“I had a great relationship with Hamby the whole time, which is probably why she felt the way she did. It feels like a betrayal. It’s a crappy part of my job, but somebody’s got to be the bearer of bad news.”
Hamby said after the Sparks’ practice Tuesday she wanted “to move forward and focus on where I am today.” However, she said she “and the union will continue to explore our options.”
The union was especially critical that Hammon and the Aces weren’t more severely punished, saying in a statement: “Where in this decision does this team or any other team across the league learn the lesson that respect in the workplace is the highest standard and a player’s dignity cannot be manipulated?”
The league told The Associated Press that investigators — two former prosecutors, one from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and one from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office — interviewed everyone who they thought would have relevant information. That included people suggested by the WNBA players’ union.
The Aces were given a chance to provide names to be interviewed and they did not.
The WNBA said it interviewed 33 people and reviewed texts, emails and other documents. Hammon said none of the current Aces players were interviewed, and to her knowledge the only player the league spoke with was former Las Vegas player Liz Cambage.
Hammon also said she sent no negative texts or emails to Hamby.
“I actually haven’t seen that Dearica said she received nasty texts from us,” Hammon said. “I think that’s completely fabricated by somebody on the outside that doesn’t know what the hell’s going on.”
A league spokesman said to the AP that “it is true that the Respect in the Workplace violation included inappropriate questions Becky asked Dearica about her pregnancy. We don’t think it would be appropriate to comment beyond that.”
The Aces issued a statement Tuesday stating their support for Hammon.
“The WNBA’s determinations about Becky Hammon are inconsistent with what we know and love about her,” the statement read. “Becky is a caring human being who forges close personal relationships with her players.”
Hammon said she especially appreciated the support of owner Mark Davis, president Nikki Fargas and her players.
“That’s all I need to keep it moving,” she said.
Hammon became the first woman to assume the head duties in an NBA game when Gregg Popovich was ejected during a December 2020 game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Hammon also coached the Spurs to the 2015 NBA Summer League title.
She will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August. She was a six-time WNBA All-Star and became the seventh player to eclipse 5,000 career points.
MLB NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: ASTROS SCORE FOUR IN NINTH, STUN CUBS
Kyle Tucker slapped a two-run, walk-off single to center field and the host Houston Astros capped a stunning six-run rally with a four-run ninth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-6 on Wednesday.
Houston completed a three-game sweep of the Cubs by rallying against reliever Keegan Thompson. Jake Meyers ripped a two-run homer that cut the deficit to 6-5, and when pinch hitter Mauricio Dubon followed with a walk, Brandon Hughes (0-2) entered in relief of Thompson. Hughes went on to give up Tucker’s game-winning hit.
Seiya Suzuki finished 3-for-3 with two walks and three RBIs for the Cubs. His solo homer in the first inning capped a three-run frame off Astros rookie right-hander J.P. France. Suzuki added a two-run blast off France in the third, extending the Cubs’ lead to 5-1.
The Cubs pounded France for six runs on nine hits. Chicago’s Drew Smyly allowed one run on four hits in six innings in 3 2/3 innings. Houston’s Bryan Abreu (2-0) tossed one scoreless inning for the win.
Pirates 8, Tigers 0
Rich Hill tossed six scoreless innings, Austin Hedges drove in three runs and visiting Pittsburgh cruised to a victory over Detroit.
Hill (4-3) allowed just an infield hit to Matt Vierling and two walks while striking out seven. The Pirates used three relievers to finish off the one-hit shutout. Rodolfo Castro homered and drove in two runs, and Bryan Reynolds contributed three hits and scored twice.
Tigers starter Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3), who had allowed just two runs in his previous six starts, gave up four runs and six hits in five innings. Hedges’ two-out, two-run double in the second ended a streak of 21 consecutive scoreless innings by Rodriguez.
Rockies 11, Reds 6
Elias Diaz had two hits and drove in three runs, Jurickson Profar, Kris Bryant and Brenton Doyle each had two hits and two RBIs and Colorado beat Cincinnati in Denver.
Harold Castro and Michael Toglia also had two hits, Brent Suter (2-0) pitched an inning of relief to earn the win and Pierce Johnson picked up his eighth save. Luke Maile homered among his two hits for Cincinnati. Spencer Steer, Stuart Fairchild and Jose Barrero also had two hits for the Reds.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the Rockies scored all 11 of their runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the rubber match of the three-game series.
Dodgers 7, Twins 3
A pair of rookies stole the show for Los Angeles as Miguel Vargas walked with the bases loaded and James Outman hit a grand slam to power a comeback victory over visiting Minnesota.
With the Dodgers trailing 3-2 in the seventh inning, Vargas’ walk tied it and Outman went deep to center field one pitch later against Emilio Pagan for his second career grand slam and ninth home run of the season. Dodgers starter Dustin May lasted just one inning before he departed with right elbow pain.
Byron Buxton and Joey Gallo hit home runs for the Twins, while major league ERA leader Sonny Gray gave up two runs on five hits in four innings, his shortest start of the season.
Royals 4, Padres 3
Vinnie Pasquantino hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer to highlight a three-run sixth inning, leading Kansas City to a victory at San Diego in the rubber match of a three-game series.
MJ Melendez, who drove in the Royals’ first run with a fourth-inning double, and Maikel Garcia followed Pasquantino’s blast with back-to-back doubles for Kansas City’s final run and a 4-1 lead. Josh Taylor (1-1) got the win in relief, and Scott Barlow earned his sixth save, his second in two days.
Padres starter Yu Darvish (2-3) gave up four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Diamondbacks 5, Athletics 3
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled and scored the go-ahead run as visiting Arizona scored two in the ninth to stave off an Oakland rally and record a victory.
After a Ramon Laureano three-run homer drew Oakland even at 3-3 in the seventh, Gurriel’s double against A’s reliever Shintaro Fujinami (1-5) got the visitors headed toward a second win in three tries in the interleague series.
Ketel Marte’s single made it 5-3 and provided breathing room for Miguel Castro, who worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his third save. Jose Ruiz (1-0) struck out Laureano with two aboard to end the eighth, and he was rewarded with the win.
Giants 7, Phillies 4
Wilmer Flores hit a two-run single to headline a three-run eighth inning and lift host San Francisco over Philadelphia.
Flores had two hits and two RBIs, while Blake Sabol and Thairo Estrada each added two hits and an RBI for the Giants, who swept the three-game series. San Francisco starter Ross Stripling left after 3 1/3 innings with low back tightness. John Brebbia (2-0) earned the win in relief.
Bryson Stott hit a solo home run and J.T. Realmuto doubled, singled and drove in two runs for the Phillies, who have lost four straight. Phillies starter Taijuan Walker lasted only two-thirds of an inning, allowing four hits and four runs.
Marlins 4, Nationals 3
Jorge Soler slugged a go-ahead, two-run homer for the second straight game as host Miami defeated Washington and improved to 14-1 in one-run games.
On Tuesday, Soler hit a walk-off homer with two outs in the ninth inning. On Wednesday, his homer was much less dramatic, putting the Marlins on top in the fourth.
Washington’s Corey Dickerson, who spent 2020 and part of 2021 with the Marlins, went 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs. Teammate Jeimer Candelario went 3-for-4.
Orioles 3, Angels 1
Austin Hays homered, Kyle Bradish pitched into the seventh inning and host Baltimore defeated Los Angeles.
Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson each had two hits for the Orioles, who scored all of their runs via two-out hits. Bradish (2-1) gave up one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Mike Trout hit his ninth homer of the season for the Angels, who managed just four hits. Los Angeles starter Griffin Canning (2-2) worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits.
Blue Jays 3, Yankees 0 (10 innings)
Danny Jansen hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning and Toronto defeated visiting New York.
Jansen’s fourth home run of 2023 came against Wandy Peralta (2-1). The one-out blast gave the Blue Jays their first win in the four-game series after the Yankees won the first two.
Toronto’s Chris Bassitt extended his scoreless streak to 27 innings with seven innings of three-hit ball. Jordan Romano (3-2) threw two shutout innings for the win. New York’s Gerrit Cole allowed seven hits in six-plus scoreless innings.
Mets 8, Rays 7 (10 innings)
Pete Alonso hit a three-run homer into the second deck in the 10th inning to cap a dramatic comeback by host New York, which beat Tampa Bay.
Francisco Alvarez forced extra innings with a three-run, two-out homer in the ninth for the Mets, who won for just the sixth time in 17 games this month. Mark Vientos, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Syracuse, hit a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh for the Mets.
Harold Ramirez and Josh Lowe had RBI singles against David Robertson (1-0) in the top of the 10th for the Rays before the Mets rallied again against Pete Fairbanks (0-1).
Braves 6, Rangers 5
On a night when Spencer Strider started and Ronald Acuna Jr. went deep, Orlando Arcia emerged as Atlanta’s star in a victory at Arlington, Texas.
Arcia broke a 5-5 tie in the ninth inning with a solo home run off Brock Burke (2-2). Braves reliever Nick Anderson (2-0) was credited with the victory after throwing a scoreless eighth. Raisel Iglesias worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi saw his scoreless innings streak end at 29 2/3 innings in the second, and he yielded three runs in seven innings. Adolis Garcia smacked two homers for Texas.
Cardinals 3, Brewers 0
Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and Nolan Arenado delivered his 1,000th career RBI as St. Louis defeated visiting Milwaukee.
Arenado joined Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Chipper Jones as the only third basemen since 1920 to reach 300 homers and 1,000 RBIs before their 1,500th game. Arenado was playing in his 1,426th contest.
Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (1-0) threw five-plus scoreless innings in his season debut. Ryan Helsley got four outs for his fifth save. Brewers starter Corbin Burnes (4-3) yielded three runs on eight hits in six innings.
Red Sox 12, Mariners 3
Pablo Reyes hit a pair of two-run doubles as Boston piled up nine runs over the first two innings en route to a win over visiting Seattle.
Boston tied its season high with 16 hits, including six in a six-run second inning. Justin Turner went 3-for-4 with his second homer in as many games. Rob Refsnyder, Rafael Devers, Enrique Hernandez and Jarren Duran each added multiple hits.
Brayan Bello (3-1) worked around three hits and five walks during his five-inning outing. Julio Rodriguez and Jose Caballero each had an RBI for Seattle. Mariners starter Marco Gonzales (3-1) lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits.
White Sox 7, Guardians 2
Gavin Sheets, Andrew Vaughn and Jake Burger homered and Mike Clevinger pitched into the seventh inning to lift host Chicago to a win against Cleveland.
Sheets and Burger went deep for the second straight night as the White Sox secured a series victory while winning for the third time in four games. Clevinger (3-3) scattered two runs and six hits in six innings.
Guardians starter Peyton Battenfield allowed three home runs as Sheets (second inning) and Vaughn (fourth) delivered solo shots ahead of Burger’s two-run blast in the fourth. Battenfield (0-5) spaced five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Josh Bell had both of Cleveland’s RBIs.
YANKEES PITCHER GERMÁN SUSPENDED 10 GAMES BY MLB FOR USING FOREIGN SUBSTANCE
NEW YORK (AP) New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán was suspended for 10 games Wednesday by Major League Baseball and fined for violating the sport’s prohibition of foreign substances on the mound.
The penalty was announced following Germán’s ejection in the fourth inning Tuesday night at Toronto for what an umpire said was “the stickiest hand I’ve ever felt.”
“My fingers had a hard time coming off his palm,” crew chief James Hoye explained after the game.
The punishment was imposed by Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations. Germán did not appeal, and his suspension began with Wednesday night’s game in Toronto.
Germán cannot be replaced on the roster while he is suspended. Barring rainouts, he will be eligible to return May 28 against San Diego.
“He went over the line that umpires deemed and now we’ve got to live with the consequences of that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday in Toronto. “No one player needs to carry this load. We’ll share it all and we’ll do it together.”
Yankees right-hander Luis Severino is expected to be activated off the injured list Sunday to start in Germán’s place against the Cincinnati Reds.
A two-time All-Star, the 29-year-old Severino has not pitched for New York this season because of a right lat strain. He allowed two runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings Tuesday in a rehab start with Double-A Somerset.
Germán had retired his first nine batters Tuesday night. He denied Hoye’s assertion, saying he didn’t have anything on his hand other than rosin.
“It was definitely just the rosin bag,” Germán said through a translator. “It was sweat and the rosin bag. I don’t need any extra help to grab the baseball.”
Germán’s ejection was the fourth since Major League Baseball started its crackdown on prohibited grip aids two years ago, and the second this season.
Hoye’s crew examined the 30-year-old right-hander during an April 15 start against Minnesota, when Germán retired his first 16 batters, but allowed him to stay in that game. Hoye had asked Germán to wash rosin off his hand and some had remained on the pitcher’s pinkie.
Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was suspended for sticky stuff on April 20, and Seattle’s Héctor Santiago and Arizona’s Caleb Smith were suspended in 2021.
BLUE JAYS’ JAY JACKSON SAYS HE WAS TIPPING PITCHES AGAINST AARON JUDGE
TORONTO (AP) Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jay Jackson says he believes he was tipping his pitches when New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge homered against him Monday night.
That at-bat was quickly scrutinized when cameras caught Judge taking unusual glances toward the first-base line moments before Jackson delivered. Many questioned whether someone on the Yankees was signaling to the 2022 AL MVP an indication of which pitch Jackson was about to throw, based on either sign stealing or pitch tipping.
Jackson told The Athletic on Tuesday night that he believes a Yankees coach was able to see which grip he was using while holding the ball in his glove, and that coach relayed the info to Judge, helping him hit a 462-foot home run. Jackson was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, and Toronto recalled right-hander Thomas Hatch from the Bisons.
There is no prohibition on teammates or coaches using the naked eye to study pitchers and relay that info to batters. When the 2017 Houston Astros were punished for sign stealing, it was because they used banned electronics – including live video feeds – to help gather that intel.
Jackson said he was holding his hands up by his head before coming to the set position, in a spot that might have allowed Yankees first base coach Travis Chapman to see Jackson’s grip on the ball and identify the pitch. Chapman could have relayed the information to Judge using a hand signal.
Jackson also said he was tipping his pitches by moving his hands from his head down to the set position at his hip at different speeds on different pitches.
Neither Blue Jays manager John Schneider nor Yankees manager Aaron Boone had much to say about Jackson’s acknowledgement before Wednesday’s game.
Schneider said it didn’t change the way he felt about anything that happened in the previous two games.
“Nope, not for me,” Toronto’s second-year manager said.
Boone, meanwhile, didn’t believe the admission cleared up accusations of his team cheating.
“It was cleared up long before that,” Boone said. “There was no wrongdoing going on.”
After Monday’s game, Judge said he was looking into his dugout to see which of his teammates was disrupting his at-bat by yelling at plate umpire Clint Vondrak. Vondrak had just ejected Boone for arguing a low strike call to Judge.
Before Tuesday’s game, Schneider expressed concern about where the Yankees were positioning their first and third base coaches, saying his team had spoken to the commissioner’s office about the issue.
“There’s boxes on the field for a reason,” Schneider said.
After Judge struck out in the third inning Tuesday, there was a brief shouting match between Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker and Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas. Walker went to the outfield end of the dugout, yelling and gesturing at Rojas, a former Mets manager.
Later, Boone gestured at Blue Jays third base coach Luis Rivera, motioning for him to return to the box painted in foul territory behind third.
The dramatic series took another turn Tuesday when Yankees right-hander Domingo Germán was ejected after the umpires checked his hands for banned sticky stuff before the fourth inning.
“The instant I looked at his hand, it was extremely shiny and extremely sticky,” home plate umpire and crew chief James Hoye told a pool reporter. “It’s the stickiest hand I’ve ever felt. My fingers had a hard time coming off his palm.”
Germán’s ejection is likely to trigger a 10-game suspension.
PADRES SLUGGER MACHADO HAS FRACTURE IN LEFT HAND, STATUS UNCERTAIN
SAN DIEGO (AP) San Diego Padres slugger Manny Machado has a small fracture in his left hand and the team isn’t sure if he will require a stint on the injured list.
Machado was hurt when he was hit by a pitch in Monday night’s 4-0 win against the Kansas City Royals. Padres manager Bob Melvin said X-rays that night didn’t show a fracture, but Machado had a CT scan and MRI on Tuesday that revealed a fractured metacarpal.
After a 4-3 loss to the Royals on Wednesday, the star third baseman was asked if going on the injured list is a possibility.
“I don’t know. We’ll see,” Machado said.
The slumping Padres lost two of three to the last-place Royals and have dropped nine of 11 overall.
“It’s definitely a tough stretch for us,” said Machado, who is hitting .231 with five homers and 19 RBIs. “We definitely want to be out there and help this team win in whatever way. It’s just a bummer. It’s not ideal for us right now.”
The Padres are off Thursday before opening a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox.
“The swelling’s gone down tremendously. I definitely have more range of motion today. It’s just a matter of dealing with the pain,” said Machado, an All-Star each of the last two seasons who was runner-up in NL MVP voting last year.
He said he hasn’t tried gripping a bit since he got hurt.
“We’re kind of giving it a couple of days to let the bone heal for a little bit before we move on to something else,” Machado said.
DODGERS’ STARTER MAY HEADED BACK TO IL DUE TO RIGHT ELBOW PAIN
LOS ANGELES (AP) Less than a year after coming back from Tommy John surgery, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May is headed back to the injured list due to right elbow pain.
Manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday’s 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins that May has a flexor pronator strain and would miss at least one month.
May – who had reconstructive elbow surgery in May 2021 – went only one inning before exiting the game. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
“It’s tough for Dustin, what he’s had to go through,” Roberts said. “He was throwing the baseball well this year and feeling good. Right now to have this speed bump, I know he’s disappointed.”
Roberts said he noticed early on that May’s velocity was down and that he was moving his hand in a way that indicated something wasn’t right. The average velocity of the right-hander’s sinker and fastball were down two to three miles per hour compared to his first eight outings.
“He felt that it was just normal soreness like any starting pitcher has and obviously he felt good enough to make the start,” Roberts said. “He was trying to lobby to stay in there and finish what he started, but we had to do what’s best for him.”
The 25-year old May has a 4-1 record with a 2.63 ERA. Opponents are batting .173 against May, which is second-lowest in the National League and sixth-lowest in the majors.
May, known for his long, flowing red hair, returned from reconstructive elbow surgery toward the end of last season and was 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts.
Dylan Covey, who was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game, came in for May. Covey allowed two runs – both homers – in five innings.
Covey could be a candidate to take over May’s spot in the rotation. The Dodgers lead the NL West with a 28-16 record. Their starting staff is fourth in the NL with a 3.77 ERA.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
DB KEE’YON STEWART WILL TRANSFER TO ARKANSAS, NOT MICHIGAN ST.
Less than two weeks after committing to Michigan State, former TCU defensive back Kee’yon Stewart announced on Wednesday that he will transfer to Arkansas instead.
Stewart tweeted photos of himself in a Razorbacks uniform, writing, “THIS WHERE I BELONG!! #Woopig”
Stewart, who is from Houston, played four seasons and appeared in 30 games with the Horned Frogs. Last season, he logged 14 tackles, three passed defensed and a forced fumble in 13 games as TCU (13-2) advanced to the College Football Playoff final before losing to Georgia. He made one tackle in the national final.
His best game came against in a 42-34 win at SMU on Sept. 24, when he made six tackles and broke up a pass.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder was a three-star prospect coming out of North Shore Senior High School in Houston.
NFL NEWS
STEELERS FORTIFY QB ROOM, BRING BACK LONGTIME BACKUP MASON RUDOLPH TO 1-YEAR DEAL
PITTSBURGH (AP) Mason Rudolph is staying with the Pittsburgh Steelers after all.
Pittsburgh signed the longtime backup quarterback to a one-year deal on Wednesday, a somewhat unlikely return after Rudolph was essentially passed over twice for the chance to become the starter following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season.
The Steelers selected Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 draft and he went 5-4-1 while making intermittent starts between the 2019 and 2021 seasons, throwing for 2,366 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
While head coach Mike Tomlin and then-general manager Kevin Colbert both said they felt Rudolph could be a full-time starter in the NFL after Roethlisberger retired, the club signed Mitch Trubisky to a two-year deal in the spring of 2022, then drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft.
Rudolph spent the majority of last season as the third-string quarterback and was inactive on gamedays.
He entered the free-agent market in March but with organized team activities beginning later this month and seemingly little opportunity elsewhere in the offing, decided to come back to Pittsburgh as a security blanket of sorts behind Pickett and Trubisky.
MEN’S GOLF NEWS
FLORIDA JUDGE REJECTS ATTEMPT BY TIGER WOODS’ EX-GIRLFRIEND TO THROW OUT NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
(AP) — A Florida judge ruled late Wednesday that the ex-girlfriend of Tiger Woods must abide by a nondisclosure agreement she purportedly signed and resolve her lawsuits seeking millions from the golf superstar through private arbitration behind closed doors.
Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger, in an 11-page opinion, rejected Erica Herman’s attempt to quash the 2017 agreement by saying Woods had committed sexual harassment against her, calling Herman’s allegations “vague and threadbare.”
“Herman has had the opportunity (to) provide factual specificity for any claim relating to sexual assault or sexual harassment, however, she has not done so,” Metzger wrote.
Metzger also said that the evidence shows that a nondisclosure agreement was negotiated between Herman and Woods in 2017, even if her attorney, Benjamin Hodas, now questions whether she actually signed it.
At a May 9 hearing, Hodas conceded that Herman signed an agreement, but he said she doesn’t remember ever seeing the one Woods’ attorneys presented to the court.
Metzger said that if Herman unequivocally denied signing the agreement, she would have ordered a hearing on that issue. But since Herman isn’t sure if she signed it or not, that is a question for the arbitrator to decide.
Nether Hodas nor Woods’ attorney, J.B. Murray, immediately responded to late Wednesday emails seeking comment. It is unknown of Hodas will appeal.
Herman, 39, had sued both Woods, 47, and the trust that owns his $54 million Florida mansion, seeking $30 million from the latter amid unspecified allegations of sexual harassment. Forbes Magazine estimates Woods’ net worth at $1.1 billion.
Herman, who managed Woods’ Palm Beach County restaurant before and during the first years of their romantic relationship, argues that the nondisclosure agreement is unenforceable under a new federal law that says such contracts can be voided when sexual abuse or sexual harassment occurred.
She alleged in court documents that Woods threatened to fire her if she didn’t sign a nondisclosure agreement. Hodas argued that is a type of harassment, treating one employee different than others because they have a sexual relationship.
But the sexual harassment allegation was barely mentioned during last week’s hearing. Metzger told Hodas she needed more information about what allegedly happened to consider it. Hodas said he couldn’t provide more information publicly in fear that he would be violating the nondisclosure agreement if it is ultimately upheld.
Murray has called the allegation “utterly meritless.”
In Herman’s lawsuit against Woods, she asked Metzger to either void the nondisclosure agreement or at least give her guidance about what she can say publicly. She also argued that the contract covers only her work relationship with Woods, not their personal matters.
In her unlawful-eviction lawsuit against the trust, she is basing her $30 million claim on how much it would cost to rent a property like Woods’ beachfront mansion north of Palm Beach for the six years of residence she was allegedly promised by the golfer and then denied.
Before they dated, Woods hired Herman in 2014 to help develop and then operate the golfer’s The Woods sports bar and restaurant in nearby Jupiter – but they do not agree when their romantic relationship and cohabitation began.
Herman says in her court filings that their romantic relationship began in 2015 and that in late 2016 she moved into Woods’ nearly 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square-meter) mansion in the ritzy Hobe Sound community. She says that in 2017, Woods verbally promised she could live there at least 11 more years. Herman says Woods pressured her to quit the job in 2020 so she could spend more time taking care of him and his children.
Woods, in his court documents, says their romantic relationship began in 2017 and that she moved in with him that August, about the time the disputed nondisclosure agreement was signed. In March 2017, Woods had put the mansion into the Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust, an entity he created that has only himself and his two children as beneficiaries.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
INDY 500
SATO, DIXON PUT GANASSI TEAM ATOP SPEED CHART IN 1ST INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Takuma Sato and Scott Dixon gave Chip Ganassi Racing a big boost in the first Indianapolis 500 practice.
Nobody else could catch the two Indianapolis 500 winners Wednesday.
Dixon, the 2008 champ, needed less than 10 minutes to produce a fast lap of 229.174 mph, which stayed atop the speed chart until Sato, a two-time Indy winner, topped it with a late run of 229.439.
Only Santino Ferrucci, of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, prevented Ganassi from sweeping the top three spots. His speed, 228.977, barely edged 2021 series champion and current points leader Alex Palou (228.720). Ganassi’s other driver, defending 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, was seventh.
“It’s good to be on the fast side and to see all the Ganassi cars (high on the speed chart),” Sato said before talking about Dixon’s run. “That was quite impressive to see, Scott up to speed that quickly because I wasn’t up to speed by that time.”
It was an incredibly fast start as Dixon embarks on a potentially historic qualifying weekend.
If he captures a sixth career pole, he’ll tie Rick Mears’ all-time 500 record (six) and become the first driver in race history to earn the top starting spot in three consecutive years. In 2022, Dixon also posted the fastest four-lap qualifying average of any Indy pole winner, 234,046, while his 53 wins and six series titles both rank second all-time to A.J. Foyt (67 wins, seven series titles).
Yet, the 500 has produced some baffling final results for The Iceman.
Since winning his first Indy pole and his only 500 title 15 years ago, Dixon has made 14 starts, won four poles, had six top-five finishes and been the runner-up in 2012 and 2020.
When qualifying is held Saturday and Sunday, his biggest challenge may come from his own teammates.
Palou was third for most of the final hour, four days after winning on Indy’s road course for his first victory this season. Speeds are expected to increase starting Friday, when cars will be given a power boost.
“I think when it goes back to the qualifying trim, I think the speeds will be very similar to last year,” Sato said when asked to predict what it will take to win the pole.
Who else could contend?
Perhaps Rinus VeeKay, who had the fastest no-tow speed at 223.212, or his teammate driver-owner Ed Carpenter, a three-time Indy pole winner. Carpenter’s no-tow speed was 222.341.
Dixon was fourth on the no-tow list at 221.230.
Ferrucci could be in the mix, too. He’s the only IndyCar driver to complete every lap and finish in the top 10 in each of the last four 500s.
“We’re in full race trim, nose down, pretty stacked on there,” he said. “I’m really comfortable.”
Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske’s fastest driver Wednesday, and Colton Herta, the fastest driver for Andretti Autosport, both topped 228 to finish fifth and sixth in practice.
Wednesday’s ideal conditions – light wind and warming temperatures until afternoon clouds helped cool the track – were a welcome change after Tuesday’s practice was rained out.
Drivers couldn’t wait to get started. Nineteen cars were turning laps in the first five minutes of practice, and Dixon was up to speed before most were even watching.
The early week strategies varied.
Some, like RC Enerson, were simply getting acclimated to the track.
Abel Motorsports filed its entry in April, the 34th in a field vying for 33 starting spots in the May 28 race. Enerson was one of two drivers who went home after failing to qualify for the 2021 race and hadn’t been back until passing rookie orientation test in a two-hour session before practice.
Others will be working overtime to find speed.
Callum Ilott of Juncos Hollinger Racing struggled during April’s open test and again Wednesday when he had the slowest speed of the day at 223.409.
Marco Andretti, Indy’s runner-up in 2006 and the pole-sitter in 2020, had better luck after taking his car to the garage and making adjustments to the car. He wound up 10th at 226.982.
“To really have everything together, to have that extra test day, to roll out and be able to just be comfortable was nice,” VeeKay said.
INDIANS BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – Despite Aaron Shackelford’s fourth home run of the season and Osvaldo Bido’s first quality start, the Iowa Cubs narrowly edged the Indianapolis Indians on Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field, 5-4.
With Iowa (23-15) leading 2-0 in the first inning after a throwing error by catcher Endy Rodríguez scored a pair, Shackelford roped a line drive 113.6 MPH over the wall in the right-field corner to cut the deficit to one run. The Indians (19-21) then tied the game on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Chavez Young.
The I-Cubs scored one more run off Bido (L, 2-3) on Nelson Velazquez’s solo home run in the sixth before both teams traded a pair of runs one inning later. An RBI double by Cal Mitchell and bases-loaded walk to Shackelford brought the game within one run.
Brendon Little (W, 2-1) tossed 1.2 scoreless frames in relief of Caleb Kilian to earn the win while Iowa’s pitching staff held Indianapolis hitless with runners in scoring position. Manuel Rodriguez (S, 6) fanned the last two batters of the game.
The six-game series continues Thursday at 11:05 AM ET at Victory Field. LHP Kent Emanuel (1-1, 8.15) will take the mound for Indianapolis while Iowa has yet to name a starter.
INDIANA BASEBALL
EAST LANSING, Mich.– After four months of college baseball, the final week of the regular season has arrived. The Indiana baseball program will travel to Michigan State for a three-game, nationally televised series with a chance to earn a share of the Big Ten regular season crown.
Indiana (39-14, 15-6) have won six straight Big Ten games entering the weekend and are on an eight-game winning streak overall, which ranks No. 7 nationally. Michigan State (30-19, 10-11) enters after a midweek win over Central Michigan and are looking to snap a conference skid and improve on a 15-3 home record.
Quick Hitter
Indiana and Michigan State will meet for the 203rd time in program history on Thursday to start the series. The Spartans lead the series, 105-96-1, but IU has won the last three series in East Lansing.
Indiana’s 15-straight wins to open the season marks the longest home winning streak in Bart Kaufman Field history and the second-longest streak in program history.
Senior Phillip Glasser saw his 45-game reached base come to an end at Northwestern, which tied for the longest streak in program history since at least 2005.
Glasser is among the top-50 active hitters in a bevy of categories, including No. 5 with 269 career hits.
Indiana has won six of seven Big Ten series, including three on the road entering the final weekend of the regular season. That mark is among the best in program history.
With 51 runs scored over three games against Purdue, Indiana posted its most potent scoring weekend in its Big Ten history.
Among relief pitchers nationally, sophomore Ryan Kraft’s 53 innings of relief work is among the most in the country, sitting No. 6 nationally.
Freshman Devin Taylor carried a 32-game reached base streak that spanned Feb. 25-April 28, which is the longest streak for an IU freshman since at least 2005.
Taylor earned his third B1G Freshman of the Week award on April 17 and joined some exclusive company at IU and the Big Ten in the process.
Sophomore Josh Pyne was named NCBWA National Player of the Week and B1G Player of the Week after a 10-hit, 14-RBI week versus Xavier and Purdue.
Sophomore Luke Sinnard is tied for the biggest strikeout game in the Big Ten this season at 13 versus Morehead State.
Head coach Jeff Mercer became the eighth IU skipper to reach 100 victories in the cream and crimson with a series finale win at Auburn on February 19, 2023. He then won his 200th career game as a head coach at Illinois on April 15.
Scouting the Opponents
Michigan State enters the weekend with a 30-19 overall record and a 10-11 mark in Big Ten play. MSU won its midweek contest versus Central Michigan, 9-2.
The past two Big Ten weekends have not been kind to the Spartans, as they were swept in a pair of road series at Illinois and at Nebraska.
As a team, Michigan State has 100 doubles, 51 home runs and a nation-best 28 triples.
Brock Vradenburg leads the team with a .419 average, 60 runs scored, 80 hits and 64 RBIs. His 147 total bases are 57 total bases more than the next closest Spartan.
Trent Farquhar has been the table setter at the top of the order with 57 runs scored and .480 on-base percentage. He has walked 38 times with 11 HBP to just 19 strikeouts.
Joseph Dzierwa has started 12 games on the season with a 5-3 record and a 5.83 ERA. He owns 51 strikeouts to just 18 walks in 66 1/3 innings of work.
Wyatt Rush anchors the bullpen with eight saves and a 4-0 record. Over 39 innings he has 36 strikeouts and just seven walks.
Inside the Series
In 202 all-time meetings between Indiana and Michigan State, MSU leads the series 105-96-1 dating back to the first meeting in 1918.
This will be the fourth straight visit to East Lansing for Indiana, as the Hoosiers are 7-5 in those games with three series wins.
Last home series came in 2015, which Michigan State won (2-1). The last home team to win a series was Indiana during the 2014 season.
Over the 202 all-time meetings, 59 of those have been one-run games. Michigan State is 30-29 in those games.
Prior to last weekend’s 51-run outburst versus Purdue, Indiana’s previous B1G series high run output was a 46-run outburst versus Michigan State (1988) and Michigan (2010).
INDIANA MEN’S GOLF
AUBURN, Ala. –––– Indiana Men’s Golf shot a 293 (+5) to wrap up the third and final round of competition at the NCAA Regional. The Hoosiers finished in seventh place after 18 holes of play at the Auburn University Club on Wednesday.
Indiana junior Drew Salyers qualified for the NCAA Championship as the top-placing individual of a non-advancing team in the regional field. Salyers finished tied for fourth in the regional standings, shooting a 212 (72-68-72; -4) over the course of the three days.
Salyers will be the first Hoosier representative to compete at the NCAA Championship since Jake Brown reached the final in 2018.
The Hoosiers just missed the cutline as a team, placing seventh as the top five teams advanced to the final.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
2023 NCAA Auburn Regional • Auburn, Ala.
Auburn University Club
Par 72 • 7,591 yards
Live Scoring via GolfStat
Tournament Central Page
Team Standings: 7th/13 – 881 (297-291-293; +17)
Top Indiana Player: Drew Salyers – 212 (72-68-72; -4)
CHIP-INS
• Junior Drew Salyers was very consistent on the course today, shooting for par or birdie on 15 holes.
• Fifth-year senior Mitch Davis birdied three times on day three, finishing one stroke under par on holes No. 4, 12 and 15.
• Fifth-year senior Thomas Hursey got off to a great start, shooting for par or birdie on his first four holes.
• Senior Noah Gillard had his best round of the tournament on day three, shooting a 74.
• Fifth-year senior Harry Reynolds shot for par on eight of the back nine holes.
HOOSIERS IN THE STANDINGS
t-4. Drew Salyers – 212 (72-68-72; -4)
t-19 Mitch Davis – 220 (74-73-73; +4)
t-28. Thomas Hursey – 223 (76-73-74; +7)
42. Noah Gillard – 226 (75-77-74; +10)
S. Harry Reynolds – 154 (79-NA-75; N/A)
FROM THE MAYER
“Drew was simply outstanding from start to finish. He has the opportunity and ability to win an NCAA Championship,” head coach Mike Mayer said of Salyers’ regional performance. “The team played solid throughout the regional. We just needed a little more up and down the lineup to advance. Extremely proud of our effort.”
UP NEXT
Drew Salyers will compete in the NCAA Championship from May 26-May 31 at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
PURDUE MEN’S GOLF
SALEM, S.C. – The Purdue men’s golf team’s season came to an end Wednesday in the final round of the NCAA Clemson Regional, finishing 12th after shooting 2-under par 862 (283-296-283) over the three-day event at the Cliffs at Keowee Falls.
The Boilermakers fell short of qualifying for Nationals, missing out on one of the five coveted spots for a trip to Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Purdue has made regional play in eight of nine possible seasons under head coach Rob Bradley, advancing to Nationals three times in 2014, 2016 and 2017. In all three of the seasons that Purdue advanced, the advancing scores were well over par. The scores of this year’s advancing teams were 53-under (Georgia Tech), 45-under (Arkansas), 43-under (North Carolina), 42-under (New Mexico) and 29-under (Texas A&M).
Kentaro Nanayama, playing his first round on the counting team, posted a 4-under par 68, registering birdies on five of his last seven holes to provide the Boilermakers with their lowest individual round of the tournament.
Herman Sekne struck the ball well all weekend, but couldn’t get anything going on the greens, finishing tied for 39th at 3-under par 213 (69-72-72). Sekne finished the year with 18 rounds of even-par or better, the fifth-most in a season in school history. Percentage-wise, 18 of his 29 rounds this season were even- or under-par, 62.1 percent of his rounds – good for second in school history. His stroke average of 70.41 is a school record by 0.37 strokes over Lee Williamson’s 70.78 during the 2001-02 season.
Nels Surtani finished tied for 52nd at even-par 216 (69-75-72), while Peyton Snoeberger was tied for 58th at 2-over par 218 (74-73-71) and Nick Dentino was 62nd at 3-over par 219 (71-76-72).
Purdue, which will likely finish in the top 40 nationally, returns everyone but Andrew Farraye for the 2023-24 season, while welcoming in Sam Easterbrook, who has had an outstanding junior career in England.
The 2024 NCAA Regionals will be held at the Kampen-Cosler Course in West Lafayette, from May 13 to 15, 2024.
PURDUE BASEBALL
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Nebraska (29-20-1, 13-8 B1G) at Purdue (23-27, 10-11 B1G)
Thursday to Saturday, May 18 to 22 / Watch B1G+
Series Opener: Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. Nebraska’s Emmett Olson (Jr, LHP)
Friday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. Nebraska’s Jace Kaminska (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. TBA for Nebraska
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Nebraska leads 18-10
All-Time in West Lafayette: Nebraska leads 9-5
Last Series: Nebraska won 3 of 4 (March 2021 in Round Rock, Texas)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Nebraska swept a 3-game set (March 2016)
Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. Nebraska: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2015 in Lincoln)
Purdue’s Last Win vs. Nebraska in West Lafayette: Purdue 8, Nebraska 2 (1907)
First Meeting: Nebraska 13, Purdue 1 (1899 in West Lafayette)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Thursday: Pregame Commencement Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.; cooling towel giveaway
Friday: $2 tickets for Boy/Girl/Cub Scouts with proof of participation (sash/uniform, etc.)
Saturday: Pregame Senior Day Ceremony at 1:30 p.m.; Coasters Giveaway (Set 4 of 4)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball has an opportunity to win its way into the Big Ten Tournament as Nebraska comes to Alexander Field for the first time since 2016 for a weekend series that features the Boilermakers’ annual on-field commencement ceremony and Senior Day.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Nine graduates from the Class of 2023 will be awarded their diplomas Thursday at 5:30 p.m. from Purdue’s faculty athletics representative Dr. Marcy Towns, a Bodner-Honig professor of chemistry at the university. Eight Boilermakers are in the mix for Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. Senior Day ceremony.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Nebraska (29-20-1, 13-8 B1G) at Purdue (23-27, 10-11 B1G)
Thursday to Saturday, May 18 to 22 / Watch B1G+
Series Opener: Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. Nebraska’s Emmett Olson (Jr, LHP)
Friday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. Nebraska’s Jace Kaminska (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. TBA for Nebraska
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Nebraska leads 18-10
All-Time in West Lafayette: Nebraska leads 9-5
Last Series: Nebraska won 3 of 4 (March 2021 in Round Rock, Texas)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Nebraska swept a 3-game set (March 2016)
Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. Nebraska: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2015 in Lincoln)
Purdue’s Last Win vs. Nebraska in West Lafayette: Purdue 8, Nebraska 2 (1907)
First Meeting: Nebraska 13, Purdue 1 (1899 in West Lafayette)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Thursday: Pregame Commencement Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.; cooling towel giveaway
Friday: $2 tickets for Boy/Girl/Cub Scouts with proof of participation (sash/uniform, etc.)
Saturday: Pregame Senior Day Ceremony at 1:30 p.m.; Coasters Giveaway (Set 4 of 4)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball has an opportunity to win its way into the Big Ten Tournament as Nebraska comes to Alexander Field for the first time since 2016 for a weekend series that features the Boilermakers’ annual on-field commencement ceremony and Senior Day.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Nine graduates from the Class of 2023 will be awarded their diplomas Thursday at 5:30 p.m. from Purdue’s faculty athletics representative Dr. Marcy Towns, a Bodner-Honig professor of chemistry at the university. Eight Boilermakers are in the mix for Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. Senior Day ceremony.
The Boilermakers have played 365 games vs. 69 different teams since last hosting Nebraska for the opening weekend of Big Ten play in March 2016. Additionally, Purdue has played 135 home games (including 74 in Big Ten play) vs. 37 different opponents since Nebraska’s last trip to Alexander. The Huskers were scheduled to visit West Lafayette in April 2020.
Dating back to the beginning of the 2017 campaign, Purdue’s eight games total against the Huskers are its fewest against any Big Ten rival. The teams opened the unique conference-only 2021 season against each other at the Triple-A stadium in Round Rock, Texas. The Boilermakers got an early look at a Nebraska team that went on to win the Big Ten and pushed Arkansas, the NCAA Tournament’s top overall seed, to the wire in a winner-take-all Monday game at the Fayetteville Regional.
Infielders Max Anderson (.409/.453/.777, 18 2B, 19 HR, 65 RBI, 1 error at 2nd base) and Brice Matthews (.380/.496/.771, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 19 SB) made their collegiate debuts vs. Purdue in March 2021 and have now grown into two of the premier hitters in the Big Ten. They’ve led the way as the Huskers have connected for 90 home runs, second behind Maryland in the Big Ten and three shy of the program record that has stood since 1985.
Now the relief ace, Shay Schanaman (6 saves, 60 K vs. 33 hits in 46 1/3 IP) is the most notable remaining member of the pitching staff the Boilermakers faced early in 2021. Emmett Olson (72 strikeouts vs. 58 hits in 73 1/3 IP) and Jace Kaminska (7 wins in 12 starts, .231 B/Avg) have been constants in the weekend rotation all season.
For Purdue, Avery Cook, Cam Thompson, Calvin Schapira and Ramirez are the active Boilermakers that made their team debuts vs. Nebraska in 2021.
LONGEST STRETCHES WITHOUT VISITING WEST LAFAYETTE
• Nebraska – 5 Full Seasons: March 2016 to May 2023
• Maryland – 5 Full Seasons: April 2015 to May 2022
• Minnesota – 5 Full Seasons: April 2010 (at Lambert Field) to May 2016 (at Alexander Field)
• Indiana – 5 Full Seasons: April 2011 (at Lambert Field) to April 2017 (at Alexander Field)
• Illinois – 5 Full Seasons: May 2011 (at Lambert Field) to April 2017 (at Alexander Field)
ACTIVE NOTABLE STREAKS
• Jake Parr – 24-game on-base; 16-game on-base in Big Ten play; 14-game on-base at Home; 6-game hit at Home
• Couper Cornblum – 17-game on-base; 10-game hit at Home; 10-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 16-game hit at Home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 8-game on-base
• Kyle Iwinski – Pitched at least 6 innings in 4 straight starts at Home
• Paul Toetz – 100 consecutive games started (every game since start of 2022)
PARR’S 24-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 2)
• 33-for-82 (.402/.505/.646), 9 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 12 BB, 5 HBP, 21 R, 2 SB
CORNBLUM’S 17-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 15)
• 21-for-66 (.318/.410/.424), 5 2B, 3B, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 16 R, 9 SB
CASKENETTE’S 16-GAME HIT STREAK AT ALEXANDER (Since March 31)
• 21-for-64 (.328/.377/.594), 5 2B, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 2 BB, 3 HBP, 11 R, SB
CORNBLUM’S 10-GAME HIT STREAK AT ALEXANDER (Since April 15)
• 14-for-40 (.350/.422/.450), 4 2B, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 10 R, 6 SB
KYLE IWINSKI’S FIRST 4 STARTS AT ALEXANDER FIELD
• April 2 vs. Northwestern: ND, 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 5 K
• April 15 vs. Penn State: W, 8 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• April 30 vs. Rutgers: ND, 6 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• May 7 vs. South Dakota State: ND, 7 1/3 IP, 7 H, 2 R, BB, 3 K
• Combined at Home: 28 1/3 IP, 20 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 13 K, 1.59 ERA, .200 B/Avg
KHAL STEPHEN AT ALEXANDER
• March 15 vs. Northern Illinois: W, 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
• March 31 vs. Northwestern: W, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K
• April 14 vs. Penn State: L, 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• April 28 vs. Rutgers: W, 7 1/3 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 3 K
• May 5 vs. South Dakota State: W, 8 IP, 5 H, 5 R, ER, BB, 8 K
• Combined at Home: 31 IP, 20 H, 14 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 25 K, 2.03 ERA, .185 B/Avg
BUTLER BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will end the 2023 baseball season with three home games against St. John’s this week. Games will be played Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the final week of the regular season with the Bulldogs hosting Senior Day in the finale. All three games will stream on FloSports.com.
Probable Pitchers
RHP Dawson Taylor vs. LHP Joe Mascio
LHP Cory Bosecker vs. RHP Sonny Fauci
RHP Lukas Galdoni vs. RHP Tyler Roche
Weekend Schedule
Thursday, May 18 – 3 PM
Friday, May 19 – 3 PM
Saturday, May 20 – 1 PM
Scouting St. John’s
The Red Storm are 25-25 overall after taking game one against Xavier in Queens over the weekend. They head to Indianapolis with a 5-12 record against BIG EAST opponents. Graduate transfer Aaron Mann (Drury) leads the team with a .372 batting average. The right-hander has 68 hits, including a team-best 15 doubles and five home runs. Preseason All-BIG EAST selection David Glancy is the Red Storm home run leader with 10 and Tate Ballestero is tied with Mann for the team lead in RBIs with 40. On the mound, St. John’s is expected to start Joe Mascio, Sonny Fauci, and Tyler Roche. Mascio is 3-3 on the year, but 0-0 in conference games. He will make this 13th start of the year this week and leads the team in both innings pitched (61.2) and strikeouts (60).
Recent History vs. the Red Storm
St. John’s is 21-4-1 against Butler since 2014. BU wins in this matchup came in 2021, 2019, 2018 and 2016. The Bulldogs have never won more than one game in a weekend series against the Red Storm. Butler tied St. John’s in the 2022 finale 12-12. These two teams have played in four games that went into extra innings. St. John’s is 4-0 when the contest goes past the scheduled nine innings. These two teams also met in the 2018 BIG EAST Tournament with the Johnnies winning 12-8.
Senior Day
15 Butler student-athletes and a team manager will be recognized 30 minutes prior to first pitch on Saturday for Senior Day. Those involved include Kollyn All, Aaron Barokas, Cory Bosecker, Jake DeFries, Lukas Galdoni, Garret Gray, Clay Holzworth, Scott Jones, Dominic Milano, Ryan O’Halloran, Kyle Pepiot, Parker Shaw, Dawson Taylor, Kyle Van Liere, Jon Vore, Alex Voss.
Signature Win
Butler recorded their second win over a ranked opponent in program history on May 14. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat #9 UConn 11-8. Butler’s only other victory against a ranked team came in 2018 against the Red Storm. In that meeting, Butler defeated No. 12 St. John’s 3-0 to clinch a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Bulldogs vs. the Best
In the history of the program, Butler has played 31 regular season games against ranked opponents. 25 of the 31 have been played on the road. The Bulldogs hosted No. 22 St. John’s in 2017 and most recently hosted No. 15 UConn in 2022. Butler’s first game against a ranked team came in 2003 at No. 23 Notre Dame. BU also faced No. 19 Florida State (2004) and No. 25 Alabama (2005) before joining the BIG EAST in 2014. Butler faced the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in 2022 with a contest at Tennessee. They also played LSU this season when the Tigers were ranked No. 1.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Scott Jones and Cole Graverson each made the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday afternoon. Garnering 11 hits on 25 at-bats, Jones collected 11 RBI in a quartet of games, and scored four runs. The junior registered multiple RBI in each of the four games. In 7.0 innings of work, Graverson allowed just two hits and one earned run, while striking out eight batters.
BIG EAST Honors
Jones and Graverson have landed on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll two times this season along with teammate Cory Bosecker. Jon Vore was recognized once (3/27) and Joey Urban was tabbed BIG EAST Player of the Week at the start of the season (2/20).
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 13-4, 38-12
Xavier 13-5, 32-20
Seton Hall 10-8, 28-22
Creighton 9-9 23-22
Georgetown 8-9, 27-23
Villanova 7-10, 13-34
St. John’s 5-12, 25-25
Butler 5-13, 12-40
Upcoming BIG EAST Schedule
St. John’s at Butler
Georgetown at Xavier
Seton Hall at Villanova
UConn at Creighton
Tournament Talk
The 2023 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Tournament will begin on Wednesday, May 24. The No. 1 seed will face the No. 4 seed at 2:30 PM and the No. 2 seed will play the No. 3 seed after at 6:30. The double elimination tournament will be held at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio and be hosted by Xavier.
Bulldog Bits
– Kollyn All has appeared in 148 games at Butler, starting in 123 contests
– Aaron Barokas went 4-6 on the hill for the Bulldogs over 13 starts
– Cory Bosecker has pitched 156.2 innings for BU over four years
– Bosecker has 134 strikeouts over 27 starts the last two seasons
– Jake DeFries ranks fourth on the team with a .239 BA
– Lukas Galdoni has thrown 75.2 innings for BU over the last two years
– Garret Gray has appeared in 95 games at Butler, making 70 starts
– Clay Holzworth has pitched 26.2 innings this year over 19 appearances
– Scott Jones has 84 hits over his last two years at Butler
– Jones has come up with 18 extra base hits and has scored 46 runs
– Dominic Milano has appeared in 69 games for the Bulldogs over two years
– Ryan O’Halloran has started in 84 of 89 games played at BU
– Kyle Pepiot jumped into the starting lineup five times during his senior season
– Dawson Taylor has 38 strikeouts over 49.1 innings at Butler
– Kyle Van Liere enters the series with 199 at-bats in his BU career
– Jon Vore has thrown 91.1 innings at BU over her four-year career
– Alex Voss recorded four wins and pitched 93.1 innings for the Bulldogs
– Parker Shaw was a team manager for Butler over the last four seasons
– All went 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored the last time he faced STJ
– All’s first four-hit game this year came at UConn on May 14
– Van Liere and Billy Wurch each had a double vs. the Red Storm in 2022
– The Bulldogs broke up UConn’s nine-game winning streak on Sunday
– St. John’s also defeated UConn in game three of their series (April 8)
– Joey Urban has 18 multi-hit games for Butler
– Urban and O’Halloran have reached base safely in eight-straight games
– Urban needs three doubles over Butler’s final three games to tie the BU single-season record of 20
– Urban ranks fourth in the conference in doubles (96th in NCAA)
– Scott Jones is on a nine-game hitting streak
– Jones has been the best BU batter with two-outs in an inning (.408 BA)
– Jones leads the team with a .318 BA
– Xavier Carter and Carter Dorighi are each batting .298 with at least one Bulldog on base
– Dorighi has hit .438 when leading off an inning this season
– BU leads the conference and ranks 14th in the nation in triples (20)
– The Bulldogs hit 13 more triples this season than last (7)
– Butler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 38th in the NCAA in sacrifice bunts (31)
– Kollyn All ranks second in the conference in sac bunts (8)
– Jake DeFries ranks third in the BIG EAST in sacrifice flies (5)
– Butler is 2-10 this season in 1-run games
– Five different Bulldogs are responsible for the team’s six saves
– Jon Vore leads Butler in total mound appearances (20)
– Cole Graverson, Clay Holzworth, and Dawson Taylor are tied for second (19)
– Graverson is the only member of that group with more strikeouts (44) than innings pitched (38)
– Graverson has only allowed five hits over his last nine appearances (14 IP)
– Holzworth has only allowed three runs over his last eight outings (12.2 IP)
– Holzworth hasn’t walked two batters in a game since March 19
– Taylor threw 57 pitches at UConn to cover four full innings for Butler
IUPUI MEN’S DIVING
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Horizon League and IUPUI freshman of the year, Sebastian Otero continues to shine this off season while competing in the USA Diving National Championships. The eight day event, hosted by the University of West Virginia, kicked off yesterday with the men’s 3-meter dive qualifier.
IUPUI’s Otero competed in the prelims for the 3-meter dive on Tuesday where the top 12 divers advance to the semifinals. Otero recorded a score of 291.85 to finish 10th overall, sealing his spot in the next round.
The native of Fishers, Indiana won both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives at the Horizon League Championships earning the league’s Freshman of the Year and Diver of the Meet honors. Otero was also named #HLSD Diver of the Week six times this past season.
The Jaguar will now compete in the semifinals of the 3-meter dive on Sunday, May 21.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team is back in action at the Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark for the final weekend of the 2023 regular season as Kent State makes the Trip to Muncie. The Cardinals and Golden Flashes are scheduled for a 3 p.m. start time on Thursday and Friday, and a 1 p.m. start on Saturday.
Ball State is coming off a 12-1 victory on the road against Southern Indiana on Tuesday. The Cardinals enter the weekend with an overall record of 33-18 and a Mid-American Conference mark of 19-8, while the Golden Flashes are 37-14 overall and 21-6 in league play. If Ball State sweeps the series, the Cardinals will win the MAC regular season title. One victory by Kent State gives the MAC crown to the Golden Flashes.
Gold Glove Peltier
At the conclusion of last season, Ryan Peltier was honored as the best defensive third baseman in the NCAA and received an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove. After being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and earning a spot on the All-MAC Second Team for back-to-back seasons, Peltier was awarded the first Gold Glove in BSU history. He was a 2023 Preseason All-American honoree from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
Peltier is second on the team with a .358 batting average, which is tied for 172nd in the NCAA and fifth in the MAC. He has pelted a team-best 14 homers and has a team-high 51 RBIs. His 14 home runs are tied for 129th in the NCAA and are tied for fifth in the conference. He has a slugging percentage of .676, which is tied for 103rd in the country and third in the MAC. Peltier has scored 61 runs, which is tied for 36th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. He leads the team in doubles with 17 and he has added three triples. His 17 doubles are tied for 96th in the NCAA and are fifth in the conference. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC.
What Can Brown Do for You?
Ryan Brown was named the No. 49 prospect in college baseball by D1 Baseball. Brown was the only Mid-American Conference player selected to the top-100 list. He was also tabbed as one of the top mid-major prospects for the 2023 season. Brown also landed on the 2023 MLB Draft: Rising Righthanded Pitchers watch list. Last season, Brown earned recognition as a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American along with the MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year. He also earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team.
Brown currently has 54 strikeouts, which is second on the team. He his 4-1 on the year and has thrown 27 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .170 against him for the season. He has a 4.88 ERA.
Don’t Mess with Tex
Trennor O’Donnell leads the team with a 2.93 ERA. His ERA is tied for the 49th best in the country and is second in the MAC. His 82 strikeouts are tied for 73rd in the NCAA and tied for sixth in the MAC. He has a 4-2 record and has thrown 73 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .219 against him.
Decking It All Over the Park
Decker Scheffler leads the Cardinals with .382 batting average, which is tied for 66th in the NCAA and is third in the MAC. He has 41 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 12 doubles, six homers, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC. Scheffler is tied for 123rd as the toughest player to strikeout in the NCAA and is fourth in the MAC.
Scouting the Cardinals
Adam Tellier is third on the team with a .332 average. He has 50 runs scored, 36 RBIs, 24 walks, 11 doubles, seven home runs, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC. Justin Conant rounds out the .300 hitters with a .310 average. He has 25 runs scored, 21 walks, 17 RBIs, five doubles, two triples, and two home runs. Nick Gregory might only be hitting .252, but he leads the team with 42 walks. His 42 walks are tied for 60th in the NCAA and are tied for third in the MAC. He has scored 41 runs and driven in 19 runs. Blake Bevis is second on the team with 10 home runs and is hitting .262 for the year.
Ty Weatherly has 63 strikeouts on the season and is second on the staff. He has a 6.50 ERA in 54 innings of work and a 2-3 record. Ty Johnson is third on the team with 57 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings of work. He has a 4-2 record with a 3.35 ERA and has three saves. Logan Schulfer is fourth on the team with 56 strikeouts. He as a 3-2 record with a 7.16 ERA. Tanner Knapp has 44 strikeouts in 50 innings. He is 2-2 on the season with a 6.12 ERA. Sam Klein has 35 strikeouts. He is 6-2 on the season with a 5.34 ERA. Jacob Hartlaub is the remaining pitcher with more that 20 strikeouts, with 25. He has a 3-2 record with a 6.75 ERA and has one save.
Ball State vs. Kent State: The Series
Ball State and Kent State will meet for the 132nd time on Thursday. The Golden Flashes hold the series advantage 71-60. The Cardinals won three of the four meetings last season, but the Golden Flashes won the final meeting, 5-4. Ball State is 24-29 at home against Kent State. The Cardinals are 27-25 against the Golden Flashes under Head Coach Rich Maloney.
Scouting the Golden Flashes
Aidan Longwell leads Kent State with a .398 batting average, which is tied for 36 in the NCAA and second in the MAC. He is tied for the team lead with 10 home runs. He paces the Golden Flashes with 19 doubles, which are tied for 40th in the country and second in the conference. He has a team-best 65 RBIs, which is tied for 21st in the NCAA and tops in the MAC. He has scored 47 runs and has two triples. Collin Mathews is second on the team hitting .330. he has scored 51 runs, 45 RBIs, 14 doubles, eight home runs, and one triple. Josh Johnson has a team-high four triples, which is tied for 52 in the country and second in the conference. He his batting .320 with 51 runs scored, 28 RBIs, 14 doubles, and three home runs. Justin Miknis closes out the .300 hitters with a .312 average. He has 42 runs scored, 35 RBIs, 14 doubles, six home runs, and two triples. Michael McNamara is second on the team with 18 doubles, which is tied for 60th in the NCAA and tied for third in the MAC.
Joe Whitman leads the pitching staff with a 2.61 ERA and 88 strikeouts. He is 8-1 on the season and has a WHIP of 1.16 in 69 innings of work. Ben Cruikshank is second on the squad with 87 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.99. he is 7-1 with 72 1/3 innings of work. Scott Mitchell is third on the team with 56 strikeouts in 26 relief appearances. He is 1-1 with a 1.15 ERA.
MAC Standings
1. Kent State – 37-14, 21-6
2. Ball State – 33-18, 19-8
3. Central Michigan – 32-19, 18-9
4. Western Michigan – 19-28, 16-10
5. Ohio – 18-28, 14-13
6. Toledo – 25-27, 13-14
7. Miami – 19-34, 13-17
8. Bowling Green – 18-29, 11-16
9. Akron – 19-33, 10-17
10. Eastern Michigan – 24-26, 9-18
11. Northern Illinois – 10-40, 5-21
BALL STATE TRACK
CLEVELAND – – For their effort in guiding Ball State to the 2023 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship, seven Cardinals were honored by the league Wednesday (May 17).
Highlighting the list was junior Jenelle Rogers who was named the Women’s Most Outstanding Field Performer after tallying 29 total points, including 26 in field events, over the three-day meet.
In addition, Matt Bigelow was named the Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year after mentoring his jumps/multis/throws group to 62 of BSU’s 108 points at the championships.
Rogers was also one of six Ball State student-athletes to earn First Team All-MAC honors, picking up the award as the MAC Champion in the heptathlon. Senior Charity Griffith collected First Team All-MAC honors for the fourth time in her career after winning the high jump.
Rounding out Ball State’s First Team All-MAC honorees were sophomore Moriah Johnson, freshman Alana Springer, freshman Lindley Steele, and sophomore Jenna Oriani for their winning effort in the 4x100m Relay.
Several members of the Ball State outdoor track & field team look to continue their season at the NCAA East Preliminary Championship which will run May 24-27 in Jacksonville, Florida. Selections will be announced Thursday (May 18) at 1 p.m. ET on NCAA.com
MORE ON WOMEN’S MOST OUTSTANDING FIELD PERFORMER JENELLE ROGERS
The 2023 MAC Most Valuable Performer, Rogers helped guide the Ball State to its first MAC outdoor title since the 2001 season, and just the fifth outdoor team championship in program history, by scoring 29 total points over the three-day championship meet, with 26 of those points coming in field events.
Rogers started with a dominating performance in the heptathlon, earning the event win with a track and program record score of 5,632 points. Among the heptathlon competitors, Rogers won the shot put (13.74m / 45′-1″), 200m (24.38), and long jump (6.11m / 20′-0.5″), placed second in the 100m hurdles (14.16) and high jump (1.73m / 5′-8″), placed fourth in the 800m (career-fast 2:24.80) and took sixth in the javelin throw (28.93m / 94′-11″).
She was not done there, however, starting with a silver medal and career-best distance of 6.21m (20′-4.5″) in the long jump. Rogers also placed fourth in the shot point with a career-best toss of 14.46m (47′ – 5.25″) and sixth in the high jump at 1.69m (5′-6.5″).
Rogers rounded out a solid MAC Outdoor Championship performance with a sixth-place effort in the 100m hurdles at 13.84.
MORE ON WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR MATT BIGELOW
The 2023 MAC Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year, Bigelow’s jumps/multis/throws group continued to excel at the 2023 MAC Outdoor Championships, leading the Cardinals to its first MAC outdoor title since the 2001 season and just the fifth outdoor team championship in program history. The student-athletes he mentored accounted for 62 of the team’s 108 points over the course of the three-day meet, earning 57.4% of Ball State’s total points.
His student-athletes started with a dominating performance in the heptathlon, with junior Jenelle Rogers winning the event with a program and track record score of 5,667 points. It marks the third consecutive season, and seventh time in program history, a Ball State student-athlete has captured the heptathlon.
Rogers was not alone on the heptathlon podium, however, as senior Charity Griffith took second with a personal-best score of 5632, which would have also been a track and program record had it not been for Rogers’ performance. Rounding out Ball State’s solid finish in the heptathlon was a fifth-place effort by senior Lea-Marie Diedicke who also scored a personal best with 5,090 points.
Bigelow’s student-athletes continued to shine outside the heptathlon, starting with a silver medal for Rogers who tallied a career-best distance of 6.21m (20′-4.5″) in the long jump for eight more points. Rogers also placed fourth in the shot point with a career-best toss of 14.46m (47′ – 5.25″), sixth in the high jump at 1.69m (5′-6.5″), and sixth in the 100m hurdles at 13.84 to give her 29 total points over the three-day competition.
The effort continued with Griffith picking up her second consecutive MAC outdoor title in the high jump, being the only athlete to clear 1.73m (5′-8″) on her first attempt after passing the opening four heights. Griffith would add three more points with a sixth-place finish in the long jump at 5.92m (19′-5.25″) and six more points with a third-place effort in the 100m hurdles at 13.74. In all, Griffith accounted for 27 total points.
Barlow also helped mentor freshman Mary Porter to a seventh-place effort in the high jump, rounding out his group with two more points.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S GOLF
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Notre Dame Men’s Golf program sent two individuals to compete in the 2023 NCAA Bath Regional on May 15-17 at Eagle Eye Golf Club in East Lansing, MI. Senior Palmer Jackson and freshman Nate Stevens represented the Irish, finishing T20 and T29 respectively.
Palmer shot a 70 (-1) in round one, followed by his best performance of the tournament as he shot a 68 (-3) in round two. He recorded 4 of his 10 birdies in the second round, while also recording an eagle in round three. He concluded the contest with a 74 (+3) as he finished shooting a collective 212 (-1) in the regional.
Stevens recorded his best round of the tournament with a 69 (-2) on round one. He shot a 71 (E) in round two and a 74 (+3) in round three. Stevens finished the regional with five birdies.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
BOSTON, Mass. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish conclude their regular season schedule with a three-game ACC series at Boston College. The Irish will face the Eagles at the Eddie Pellagrini Diamond on the campus of Boston College on Thursday and Saturday. Friday’s game will be played at Fenway Park as the Irish compete in BC’s 11th Annual ALS Awareness Game.
Final ACC Series of the Season is Set in Boston
What a week for the Irish – Wrigley Field on Tuesday and Fenway Park on Friday this week as Notre Dame plays at both parks for the first time in program history.
This will be the 57th matchup between the Irish and the Eagles as the Irish lead the overall series 37-19. The Irish are 15-5 at home, 15-9 on the road, and 7-5 at neutral sites.
The last matchup between the two squads was a three-game series at Frank Eck Stadium. The Irish took the series, winning the second and third games of the series after falling 7-4 in game one.
The Irish scored eight runs in the opening inning of the second game, propelled by Zack Prajzner’s first career grand slam, to win the middle game of the series with a score of 11-5.
The Irish went on to take the final game of the series in a 16-11 victory after scoring a season-high 11 runs in the sixth inning.
The Irish head into the matchup with Vinny Martinez leading the way with a .301 batting average, followed by Zack Prajzner who is hitting at a clip of .300.
Prajzner has tallied a team best 57 hits and 41 runs and is second on the team with 11 doubles.
Carter Putz leads the Irish with 37 RBI this season. Putz has recorded 52 hits, a team-best 12 doubles, and eight home runs.
Jack Penney and Vinny Martinez are leading the team with 10 home runs a piece.
Irish Play Northwestern at Wrigley Field
For the first time in program history, the Fighting Irish took the field at the historic Wrigley Field to take on Northwestern for the second time this season.
The Irish fell in their second 11 inning game of the season, falling 8-7 in extra innings as the Wildcats scored their final run on a ground ball to third with bases loaded.
Brooks Coetzee recorded his third home run of the season as he crushed it to deep left center field at Wrigley field for a two-run home run for the Irish in the second inning.
Ryan Lynch would take the mound in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the side. Lynch recorded six strikeouts across just 2.0 innings pitched.
Will Mercer would face four batters, striking out three of them to take the Irish into the eleventh. Mercer would finish the day with six strikeouts across just 2.2 innings pitched.
Notre Dame Hosted Akron in Final Home Series of the Season
The Fighting Irish close out their final home series of the year with sweep against the Akron Zips, taking home the final win of the year at Frank Eck Stadium on Degree Day.
The Irish took home game one 5-2 before taking the series with a 5-4 victory over the Zips in the second game.
RHP Blake Hely recorded a season-high nine strikeouts across just 5.0 innings pitched in the game two win.
Notre Dame closed the series with a 2-1 win, taking home the final game in abnormal fashion. Tied in the bottom of the ninth, Brady Gumpf singled, Nick DeMarco walked, and Estevan Moreno also singled. TJ Williams stepped up to the plate and was hit by a pitch to score the final run for the Irish’s second walk-off HBP of the season.
Irish Fall to NC State
Notre Dame took game one of the three game series against NC State, as they defeated the Wolfpack in the first game on Thursday, May 4.
Taking home the 9-7 win in game one, Vinny Martinez led the Irish with three hits and three RBI, followed by Williams, Prajzner, Putz, and Moreno, who tallied two hits a piece.
This was Martinez’s third game in a row where he recorded a home run as his 10th homer of the season gave the Irish the 9-7 lead and eventual game one victory.
The Irish fell in game two 5-1 and game three 6-1.
Florida State at Frank Eck Stadium
The Irish took home their fourth conference series win as they took down the Seminoles last weekend. After falling 3-2 to FSU in game one on Friday night, the Irish dominated game two 12-2 and completed the series win with a 12-8 win in game three.
The Irish tallied 27 hits between games two and three as they were led by Brooks Coetzee with five hits on the weekend, followed by Brady Gumpf, Vinny Martinez, Carter Putz, and Zack Prajzner, who finished with four hits a piece.
Coetzee finished the weekend with three doubles and his second home run of the year, as well as drove in eight runs for the Irish.
Brady Gumpf went 4-6 at the plate, batting .667 on the series.
Putz had a big day in the final game of the series as he finished the day 3-5, recording four RBI, scoring three runs, and homering twice in the 12-8 win.
Blake Hely started on the mound in game two, advancing to 3-1 on the year as he pitched 7.0 innings, striking out eight batters, and giving up just two runs on five hits.
Irish Take on MSU for the Second Time This Season
The Irish fell to the Spartans for the second time this season on Tuesday, April 25 in East Lansing.
Tied at 5-5 in the sixth, Michigan State recorded a six-run inning in the seventh to take the lead 11-5. The Spartans would tack on one more run in the bottom of the eighth to take the win 12-5.
Carter Putz and Brady Gumpf led the Irish with two hits a piece and DM Jefferson recorded his first triple of the season.
The Irish fell to Michigan State in their first extra-inning game of the season at Frank Eck Stadium on Tuesday, April 11 in the first Irish-MSU matchup of the season.
TJ Williams went 3-4 on the day, recording four RBI and his third home run of the year. Zack Prajzner finished the day with two hits as he tallied homer number four of the season.
Falling 7-6 after a Spartan home run in the top of the 11th, the Irish were unable to get the offense rolling in the bottom frame and dropped their first midweek of the season.
Notre Dame Sweeps No. 8 Virginia
The Irish notched their first sweep of the season as they downed No. 8 Virginia at Frank Eck Stadium April 21-23, playing in their fifth doubleheader of the season.
The Irish recorded six home runs in the first win of the series on Friday night as Estevan Moreno led the way with three homers for the Irish. Jack Penney, DM Jefferson, and Brady Gumpf each recorded a home run as well in the 10-7 victory. Penney leads the Irish with nine home runs on the season.
Jefferson’s long ball was the first home run of his career as Gumpf tallied his first homer of the 2023 season.
The Irish finished with a season-high 17 hits in the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, April 23 as they took home the series with a 10-2 win.
Jack Penney led the Irish with four hits, followed by Zack Prajzner and DM Jefferson who recorded three hits a piece. Carter Putz and Vinny Martinez finished with two hits, while TJ Williams, Danny Neri, and Estevan Moreno each finished with one hit in the win.
The Irish capped off their weekend sweep with a 5-4 victory in the second game of the doubleheader.
Blake Hely finished with a season-high 7.1 innings pitched and season-high eight strikeouts as he took home his second win of the season in the final game.
Vinny Martinez batted .700 in the series against No. 8 Virginia, finishing the weekend with seven hits, six RBI, three runs, two doubles, and one home run.
Valparaiso and Western Michigan Come to Frank Eck
The Irish defeated Valparaiso and Western Michigan in their home midweeks to advance to 8-4 at home.
Winning 7-3 over Valpo, the Irish were led by Vinny Martinez who finished the day with two home runs. He also recorded three hits, three runs, and two RBI.
The Irish defeated Western Michigan 2-1 on Wednesday at home as they were led by TJ Williams, who finished with two hits, including a double to left center field.
Irish Travel to Clemson
Notre Dame took game one of the three-game series at Clemson as the Irish offense was hot to start the series, recording 11 hits while winning 10-4 on Friday.
The 10-4 victory was sparked by a big third inning as Notre Dame picked up their eighth ACC win of the year.
Jack Penney and Brooks Coetzee each recorded three hits a piece in the win with Coetzee also recording three RBI and Penney recording two runs.
TJ Williams also tallied his fourth home run of the year in the fifth inning for a two-run home run that extended the lead 8-2.
The Irish fell 5-1 in game two on Saturday and 6-4 in game three on Sunday.
The Irish are now 8-10 in the ACC after dropping the Clemson series on the road.
Michigan State Matchup at Frank Eck
The Irish fell to Michigan State in their first extra-inning game of the season at Frank Eck Stadium on Tuesday, April 11.
TJ Williams went 3-4 on the day, recording four RBI and his third home run of the year. Zack Prajzner finished the day with two hits as he tallied homer number four of the season.
Falling 7-6 after a Spartan home run in the top of the 11th, the Irish were unable to get the offense rolling in the bottom frame and dropped their first midweek of the season.
Conference Play Resumes at Pitt
The Irish took the series at Pitt after winning games one and two on Thursday and Friday. After winning 10-8 in game one, the Irish took game two 11-2 after a big offensive frame in the ninth.
The Irish fell short of the sweep as they dropped Sunday’s game 9-5 against the Panthers.
A six-run first inning gave the Irish an early advantage in game one as Danny Neri capped off the scoring frenzy with his fourth home run of the year in the top of the first.
Jack Penney led off the second with his seventh home run of the season as he homered to right center to tack on another run for Notre Dame and make it a score of 7-2.
The Panthers were able to close the gap to 10-8 with just one out in the bottom of the ninth as Sammy Cooper would come in to close for the Irish.
Pitt chopped a ground ball to Penney at third who turned a double play to preserve the Irish lead. Cooper picked up his second save of the season as Notre Dame took home the 10-8 victory to open the series.
Jackson Dennies started on the mound in game two and finished the day pitching 4.2 innings, recording six strikeouts, and allowing no runs and just one hit.
Leading 4-1 heading into the top of the ninth, the Irish offense dominated in the final inning scoring seven runs off of six hits in the frame to go on and take the 11-2 win.
Irish Take on Northwestern
The Irish are now five-for-five in midweek matchups as they defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 12-0 on Tuesday, April 4 at Frank Eck.
Notre Dame is now 6-3 after their second shutout win of the season.
Jack Penney recorded his sixth homerun of the year in the bottom of the seventh and Joey Spence would record his first career home run in the bottom of the eight for a two-run homerun to extend the Irish lead 12-0 heading into the ninth.
The Irish will face the Wildcats again on the road on Tuesday, May 16.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State closes out the 2023 regular season this weekend as the Sycamores travel to Missouri State for a three-game weekend series at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. over the May 18-20 weekend.
The weekend series is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on both Thursday and Friday nights. Saturday’s series finale is scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET first pitch. Thursday and Friday are slated to be carried live on ESPN3, while all three games will be streamed on 105.5 The Legend. Live stats will also be provided on the links found at GoSycamores.com.
The Sycamores head into the final weekend of the regular season having already clinched a share of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball title. Indiana State (35-14, 21-3 MVC) has a three-game lead over the Bears (31-18, 18-6 MVC) with three games to play. ISU’s share of the championship marks the first time since 2012 Indiana State has clinched at least a part of the MVC regular season title.
Indiana State claimed the title after winning two of three at home this past weekend against Murray State. The Sycamores rebounded after falling in Friday night’s opener to the Racers, 12-5, with 5-0 and 6-2 wins over the final two days to claim their eighth MVC series win in a row and ninth consecutive conference series dating back to the end of the 2022 season.
Adam Pottinger paced the ISU offense with a .500 batting average over the three-game series, while Mike Sears homered and drove in five runs to top the Racers. Additional offensive highlights from the weekend include Grant Magill’s four hits and Josue Urdaneta’s four runs.
The Sycamore pitching staff continued to get it done over the weekend highlighted by Connor Fenlong’s complete game 5-0 shutout over Murray State on Saturday afternoon. The redshirt senior allowed two singles and just one runner past second base in the win. Zach Davidson, Cam Edmonson, and Kyle Cortner also posted scoreless appearances on the mound and combined for nine strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
Indiana State remains one of the hottest teams in the nation heading into the final week of the season. The Sycamores are 27-3 overall dating back to the start of Missouri Valley play on March 25. ISU has not lost a non-conference game during the stretch with wins over Indiana, Vanderbilt, Illinois, Purdue, and Ball State.
The Sycamores remain in the national postseason conversation heading into the final week of the regular season. ISU continues to be in the regional hosting discussion and sits among the top 25 in the country in five of the six major polls. ISU clocked in at No. 9 in Collegiate Baseball, No. 21 on Perfect Game, No. 25 in USA Today, No. 25 in Baseball America and No. 30 in the NCBWA poll.
ISU also boasts one of the nation’s top RPI sitting in the top-15 for the fourth consecutive week as the Sycamores clocked in at No. 13 according to WarrenNolan.com and the NCAA. The Sycamores have been in the top-35 in the rankings over the last two months and remains the MVC leader in RPI. Missouri State (67) and Evansville (89) are also among the top-100 in the rankings heading into the weekend.
After being informed of Tuesday’s cancellation by Missouri, the Sycamores strength of schedule took a hit as ISU fell to third in the non-conference rankings and 45th overall in Division I. Indiana State’s non-conference scheduling sits behind Liberty (1) and Coastal Carolina (2), while remaining ahead of Florida State (4) and Florida A&M (5).
ISU has played against top-50 RPI opponents in Kentucky (1), Vanderbilt (7), Miami (18), Indiana (29), and Iowa (30). Additional top 100 schools on the schedule include the above mentioned MVC schools, as well as Florida Gulf Coast (54), Michigan State (76), and Illinois (80).
ISU enters the conference weekend sitting atop the MVC standings with a 21-3 mark overall in Missouri Valley play. ISU has won their first eight conference series in 2023 marking the best start in school history. The Sycamores currently sit two wins away from equaling the program record for conference wins in a single season after taking 23 wins back in 1998.
The Sycamore hitters continue to sit among the MVC leaders in multiple offensive categories in conference games. ISU is second overall in team batting average (.291) and hits (240), while sitting third in on-base percentage (.372) and slugging percentage (.471) over 24 conference games. Adam Pottinger is currently second in batting average (.397) and first in on-base percentage (.522) in MVC conference games.
On the mound, ISU’s pitching staff paces the Missouri Valley sitting tops in ERA (2.78), opponent batting average (.221), hits allowed (173) and walks allowed (52). The Sycamore weekend rotation sits among the conference leaders in multiple categories paced by Connor Fenlong pacing the MVC in wins (7) and innings pitched (60.2) while sitting second in ERA (2.37) in MVC play.
Pottinger has taken over the mantle as the Sycamores’ top hitter in the 2023 season. The junior outfielder is hitting a team-best .310 from the plate and has reached base safely in 25 consecutive games. His on-base streak is ISU’s second longest this season behind just Luis Hernandez (26 games) set from late February to early April.
Seth Gergely (.298) remains among ISU’s hitting leaders on the year with 54 hits, 28 RBIs, and 35 runs scored. The ISU leadoff man also paces the Sycamores with 27 walks drawn and 10 stolen bases. Josue Urdaneta (.297) has also come on strong late in the season with a team-high 58 hits and 36 runs while connecting on his first triple of 2023 over the weekend. Mike Sears is the team’s power threat with 16 home runs including a trio of two-homer games this year.
Sixteen different Indiana State pitchers have seen time on the mound this year with the Sycamores boasting a team 3.94 ERA and a 422:158 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Connor Fenlong became the first Sycamore to eight wins on the mound, while Lane Miller and Matt Jachec both have five in 2023. Cameron Holycross (1.26 ERA) continues to be a name to watch out of the bullpen on the year while Jachec (82 strikeouts) is the Valley leaders in strikeouts.
The Sycamores boast the nation’s top defense in the NCAA with a .986 fielding percentage in 2023. Two players boast perfect 1.000 percentages with at least 75 chances, while four more players are fielding at a .990 clip or better on the year.
Scouting the Opposition
Missouri State Bears
Missouri State enters the weekend with a 31-18 overall record, including an 18-6 in Missouri Valley play. The Bears have won seven consecutive MVC series dating back to taking two of three at Illinois State on March 31-April 2. The Bears’ lone series loss came back on the opening weekend as Evansville took all three games in Springfield.
Missouri State is the conference’s hitting leader in MVC games with the Bears posting a league-best .291 batting average with a .516 slugging percentage and a .392 on-base mark. The Bears have also combined for 45 home runs and 185 RBI over the conference season. Spencer Nivens (.365) is one of four Bears with double-digit home runs in 2023 boasting a team-high 13 over his 74 hits. Cody Kelly (12), Zach Stewart (11), and Taeg Gollert (10) are also in double-digits this season.
Sixteen different Missouri State pitchers have combined for a 4.60 ERA in the 2023 season. Brandt Thompson, Hayden Minton, and Jake Eddington have been among the team’s primary starters on the season. Thompson leads the way with a 6-3 record and 2.90 ERA, while Minton is 5-1 with an 84:23 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Eddington (4-1, 3.78 ERA) is also among the team leaders on the year. The Bears are allowing teams to hit .256 from the plate.
Missouri State was selected second overall in the 2023 MVC preseason poll as voted on by the league’s head coaches prior to the season. The defending MVC Tournament champions received 87 points and three first-place votes. MSU has a mostly new roster this season with 23 new players on the roster with a mix of four-year transfers, junior college players, and high school standouts.
Indiana State and Missouri State have lined up against one common non-conference opponent in 2023. Missouri State also went 2-0 against SEMO back on March 14-15.
Indiana State – Missouri State History
Missouri State leads the all-time series between the two teams with a 78-50 mark against the Sycamores, including a 40-22 edge in Springfield, Mo. The first 13 games of the series were played away from Bob Warn Field with ISU traveling to the Bears 11 times while playing two neutral site contests. The teams played their inaugural contest back in the 1972 season in Shreveport, La. with ISU topping the Bears, 9-6.
The Sycamores won three of their last four contests in Springfield back in the 2021 season with ISU winning the opener and securing wins on both Saturday and Sunday. The 2021 series win at Hammons Field marked ISU’s first at MSU since the 2007 season, snapping a seven-series stretch away from Terre Haute.
Head Coach Mitch Hannahs is 13-17 all-time against the Bears dating back to the 2014 season.
INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head women’s basketball coach Chad Killinger announced the addition of guard Savannah White to the program Wednesday.
“Savannah is a tremendously talented young lady and her size, along with her high-level basketball IQ, will allow us to utilize her in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor,” Killinger said. “She can handle the ball, attack the rim and knock down the three, but she also sees the floor extremely well, which will allow her to facilitate offensively for her teammates. Her versatility will create matchup problems, while her length and athleticism gives her the ability to defend multiple positions. We can’t wait to begin working with her and helping her to continue to realize her potential both on and off the court.”
White, a 6-2 guard from St. Paul, Minnesota, comes to Terre Haute after spending the 2022-23 season at Wisconsin, where she appeared in six games for the Badgers as a freshman. She was an all-conference and all-state selection at DeLaSalle (Minn.) HS, where she helped lead her team to a state championship, two state championship game appearances and four state playoff appearances.
As a senior, White averaged a double-double with 14.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She also added 4.4 assists, 3.8 blocks and 2.6 steals per game for a DeLaSalle team that won 20 games and reached the sectional championship. White’s junior season saw her average 10.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.1 steals and 3.1 blocks while helping DeLaSalle reach the sectional quarterfinals. She averaged 9.7 points as a sophomore, helping DeLaSalle reach the Minnesota Class AAA State Championship game. DeLaSalle won the Minnesota Class AAA State Championship in her freshman season, with White averaging 5.0 points per game for the title-winning team.
A decorated recruit coming out of high school, White was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022 by ESPN, who also ranked her the No. 90 prospect in the nation and the No. 20 forward prospect. White was also ranked 181st overall and the 33rd-best small forward recruit by the Collegiate Basketball Girls Report, and was ranked the No. 225 prospect in the country by the All-Star Girls Report.
White becomes the third college transfer, and first four-year college transfer, to sign with the Sycamores this season after junior college transfers Deja Jones and Olivia Medford signed earlier this month. The three college transfers join four incoming freshmen who signed with Indiana State in November as part of this season’s signing class.
Indiana State Women’s Basketball 2023-24 Newcomers
Asia Donald // 5-9 // G // Hobart, Ind. // Hobart HS
Deja Jones // 5-9 // G // San Antonio, Texas // East Centra HS/Cochise College
Olivia Medford // 5-11 // G // Rockville Centre, N.Y. // Long Island Lutheran HS/Monroe College
Jailah Pelly // 5-9 // G // Belleville, Ill. // O’Fallon Township HS
Keslyn Secrist // 5-10 // G // Draper, Va. // Pulaski County HS
Saige Stahl // 6-1 // F // Seymour, Ind. // Columbus East HS
Savannah White // 6-2 // G // St. Paul, Minn. // DeLaSalle HS/Wisconsin
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S GOLF
BATH, Mich. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf team wrapped up its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Regional on Wednesday (May 17), led by Fort Wayne native Nick Holder (75-72-76-223).
Holder’s 223 is the Mastodons’ best 54-hole mark in an NCAA Regional by an individual in program history, topping Zach Schroeder’s 236 in 2018. In fact, all five Mastodons that competed in the Bath Regional this year tied or bested that score from Schroeder.
Holder started and ended his final round with streaks of pars, starting with six on the front and finishing with five on the back. His round also featured a birdie on the tough 234-yard par-3 12th hole. The massive green proved no issue for Holder in round three. Holder’s 223 was good enough for 62nd place in the field of 75 of the best golfers in the country.
Burke Pitz had his best round of the week on Wednesday, shooting 74. After a par, bogey, par start, he birdied hole four, a 591-yard par-5. He placed his approach shot perfectly, just four feet shy of the cup, then sank the birdie putt. After four more pars in a five-hole stretch from 7-11, he birdied 12 and 13. He finished with three pars from 15-17 and a bogey on 18. Pitz finished the week with a 75-76-74-225, which put him in 66th place.
Kasey Lilly also had his best round of the week, shooting 75-81-73-229. On Wednesday, he was bogey-free for his first six holes, which included a birdie on hole four. After a well-placed drive, Lilly decided to go for the green on the 591-yarder in two. He was off, but not by much, just five yards off the green and pin-high. He went up-and-down for the birdie. On the back, he joined Holder and Pitz as the Mastodons that birdied 12. Lilly finished in 71st place.
Playing better than in round two, Jadden Ousley finished the week with a 74-83-75-232. In the final round, he started with four pars before birdieing hole six. He was 1-under on six this week. He started the back nine with a birdie, then got five more par putts to fall. Ousley finished one spot behind Lilly in 72nd.
Hunter Mefford finished his NCAA Regional debut with a 72-77-87-236 performance. He started with pars on one and three before a tough stretch of holes that pushed him to 8-over. He settled down to start the back nine, rattling off six pars in the first seven holes. After finding some trouble on his second shot on 18, Mefford chipped from the back fringe of the green and nearly holed out for par. His 236 put him in 73rd place.
As a team, Purdue Fort Wayne shot 296-306-298-900, taking 13th in the 13-team field, which was where they were seeded coming into the event. The Mastodons were not far off of Big Ten foe Wisconsin, as the Badgers shot 873. Georgia took the team title with an impressive 823 (-29). Illinois (831), Oregon (838), Florida (840) and Texas (842) will join the Bulldogs at the NCAA Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona. Kansas State’s Luke O’Neill shot 206, and will be the Bath Regional’s individual representative. Fellow Horizon League competitor Mikkel Mathiesen from Wright State was one shot away from forcing a playoff for the individual spot.
The best season for Purdue Fort Wayne comes to a close with a program-best 293.86 season average.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon baseball team closes the regular season this week with a Horizon League series at Milwaukee.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (11-41, 6-20 Horizon) at Milwaukee (22-28, 10-16 Horizon)
When: Thursday, May 18 | 1 p.m.
Friday, May 19 | 1 p.m.
Saturday, May 20 | 1 p.m.
Where: Franklin Field | Franklin, Wis.
Weather: 70, cloudy | 68, rain | 69, cloudy
Live Stats: Thursday | Friday | Saturday
ESPN+:Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Series History: Milwaukee leads 11-9. Milwaukee won 2-of-3 against the ‘Dons in Fort Wayne April 14-15.
Probable Pitchers:
Purdue Fort Wayne: RHP Mac Ayres (2-4), RHP Brody Fine (1-6), TBD
Milwaukee: LHP Riley Frey (4-6), TBD, TBD
Scouting the Panthers: Milwaukee defeated Northwestern 3-2 on May 8th but have dropped four straight games since that contest. That includes a three-game series sweep by Wright State by scores of 9-2, 8-6 and 9-5. The Panthers fell to Northern Illinois on Tuesday 12-1. Milwaukee is hitting .259 on the season as a team. Mark Connelly has a team-best 33 RBIs. The Panthers own a 5.55 team ERA.
Holy Toledo: The ‘Dons earned an 8-7 extra inning victory on Tuesday at Toledo. The Mastodons are 2-0 in extra innings this season. Colton Shirley had three hits in the game including the game winning hit in the 10th. He also singled and scored the tying run in the ninth.
Miller is the Strikeout King:Justin Miller owns 225 career strikeouts, passing Jason Horvath (2001-2005) for most career strikeouts earlier this season. Horvath recorded 210. Miller broke the record against Dayton on April 26. Additionally, Miller is averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings, the best for a career in program history during the Division I era.
Down Goes Sparty: The Mastodons defeated Michigan State on April 19 3-2. It is the Mastodons’ second straight season with a win over a Big 10 opponent. Last season the ‘Dons defeated eventual league champion Michigan.
Return of the SAC: Dylan Stewart is tied for second in the league in sacrifice bunts with eight.
Put His Name in Ink: Jarrett Bickel has started all 52 games at shortstop.
Grant is Fly: In league play only, Grant Thoroman is tied for the lead league in sacrifice flies with four.
Back in Black: Braedon Blackford is third in the league with 14 home runs. He is tied for third in RBIs (59), fourth in slugging (.600), fifth in OPS (.993) and seventh in runs (44).
Record Time: Braedon Blackford set a new school record for single-season RBIs on May 13th against Oakland. He had six RBIs for the day to pass Jared Davis’ 54 (2007). Blackford now has 59 RBIs this season.
It Might Be…: Braedon Blackford’s 14 home runs has him tied for third place in program history for home runs in a season. The all-time single season record is Shaun VanDriessche’s 18 in 2010. Ronald Dull hit 14 home runs in 1981. Greg Kaiser hit 17 in 2016.
“He Gets On Base”: Cade Nelis has a current 33 game on-base streak. It is the longest for a Mastodon since Jackson Boyce reached base in 37 consecutive games in 2017. Nelis owns 35 walks, second best in the league.
HL is BH Time: In league play only, Ben Higgins is third in the league slugging (.758) and OPS (1.164). He is fourth in doubles (10), sixth in runs (27) and RBIs (31).
Masto-Slams: The ‘Dons hit grand slams in back-to-back games against Northern Kentucky. On March 24 Ben Higgins hit a grand slam and then in game one on March 26 Jarrett Bickel hit a game-tying grand slam in the seventh inning of a 9-5 win.
Save X4: Four different Mastodons have recorded a save this season. Brody Fine, Mac Ayres, JD Deany, and Justin Miller own saves for the ‘Dons.
Closing Time: Justin Miller owns eight career saves, fourth most in Mastodon history for career saves.
‘Dons Dig The Long Ball: 11 different Mastodons have hit a home run this season, it is the most since 2013 when 11 different ‘Dons hit a home run. The 2003 season saw 13 Mastodons hit a home run, the most during the Mastodon Division I era.
Multi-verse: 15 different Mastodons have had a multi-hit game this season.
Smart ‘Dons:Dylan Stewart, JD Deany, Ben Higgins and Kevin Fee were named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
Hey Batter Batter (of the Week):Braedon Blackford hit .429 and slugged 1.357 with four home runs in 16 at bats over four games played in Winston-Salem, N.C. (March 3-5). He also recorded one double, seven RBIs, five runs scored, two walks and 19 total bases to earn the Horizon League Batter of the Week honor.
Hey Batter Batter (of the Week) X2: Ben Higgins was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week on April 4 for his play the prior weekend. His play was highlighted by his thee home run performance at Youngstown State on March 31). Higgins was the first Mastodon to hit three big flys in a game since 2016.
D1Baseball.com Top 40 Daily Top 40:
Hitter
Braedon Blackford
No. 11 – March 4, vs. Cornell – Two home runs and a double
No. 12 – April 15, vs. Milwaukee – Five hits, six RBIs (doubleheader)
No. 37 – May 13, vs. Oakland – Six RBIs, three hits, double
Ben Higgins
No. 3 – March 31, at Youngstown State – Three home runs, five RBIs, intentional walk
Jacob Walker
No. 21 – April 29, at Northern Kentucky – Seven RBIs, three hits, one home run, one double
Caileb Johnson
No. 25 – April 29, at Northern Kentucky – Two home runs, four RBIs, four hits
Pitcher
JD Deany – March 4 vs. Cornell – Five shutout innings, eight strikeouts, win
Up Next: The ‘Dons will play in the 4 p.m. game in the 2023 Horizon League Championship on Wednesday, May 24th. Wright State will host the annual event.
RECORD WATCH: Multiple Mastodons are lurking around the top 10 in program history in several stats this season.
Individual Records:
RBIs
Single Season Record: 59 Braedon Blackford (2023)
10th place: 44 (multiple times)
Ben Higgins: 43
Runs
Single Season Record: 53 Brandon Soat (2015) and Terry Johnson (1997)
10th place: 44 (multiple times)
Braedon Blackford: 43
Total Bases
Single Season Record: 150 Greg Kaiser (2016)
Braedon Blackford: 120 (3rd)
Home Runs
Single Season Record: 18 Shaun VanDriessche (2010)
Braedon Blackford: 14 (currently tied for 3rd)
Caileb Johnson: 11 (currently tied for 8th)
Ben Higgins: 10 (currently tied for 9th)
Walks
Single Season Record: 54 Malcolm White (2012)
Cade Nelis: 35 (currently tied for 6th)
Team Records:
Doubles
Single Season Record: 107 (2023)
Home Runs
Single Season Record: 55 (2010)
Currently: 52 (2nd)
Hit By Pitch
Single Season Record: 79 (1999 & 2002)
Currently: 68 (5th)
Hits
Single Season Record: 539 (2014)
Currently: 469 (8th)
Runs Batted In
Single Season Record: 325 (2015)
Currently: 280 (7th)
Runs
Single Season Record: 355 (1997)
Division I era Record: 353 (2015)
Currently: 302 (6th)
Walks
Single Season Record: 230 (2016)
Currently: 209 (7th)
Double Plays
Single Season Record: 70 (1998)
Division I era Record: 48 (2010)
10th place: 40 (multiple times)
Currently: 35
Runners Picked Off
Single Season Record: 25 (2009)
Currently: 12 (tied for 5th)
Strikeouts
Single Season Record: 398 (2015)
Currently: 376 (2nd)
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Destin Whitaker (Romeoville, Ill. / Romeoville HS / Fresno State) has joined the Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball program, head coach Jon Coffman has announced.
Whitaker (guard, 6-5, 185) played in 68 games with five starts over three seasons at Fresno State. He shot 38.1 percent from three for the Bulldogs. Whitaker averaged 15.7 minutes per game last season. He scored a career-high 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting in the championship game of The Basketball Classic against Coastal Carolina (April 1, 2022). He was named to the All-Tournament Team of the event.
“We are excited to add Destin to our program as he returns to the Midwest,” Coffman said. “We have consistently hung our hat on stretching the floor with shooters, and Destin can really, really shoot the basketball. He is a career 38 percent 3-point shooter at Fresno State who is going to bring three years of college experience in the Mountain West. He is an experienced, tough, skilled, versatile wing that can guard multiple positions.”
Whitaker joins a group of newcomers for 2023-24 that also features: Maximus Nelson (Appleton, Wis. / Appleton North HS / Valparaiso), Jalen Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Northrop High School / UIC), Rasheed Bello (Chicago, Ill. / DePaul Prep / UW-Parkside), Khoi Thurmon (Akron, Ohio / Buchtel HS), CJ Hadnot (Houston, Texas / Cypress Creek HS) and Jermaine Coleman (Indianapolis, Ind. / Park Tudor HS).
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A top-four seed in the Missouri Valley Conference will be on the line this weekend in Chicago, Illinois, as the University of Evansville baseball team will battle the red-hot UIC Flames in a three-game series at Curtis Granderson Stadium. The three-game series will begin Thursday night at 6 p.m. in a game that can be seen live on ESPN+ and heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.
Evansville will bring a 31-21 overall record and 13-11 MVC mark into this weekend’s series after Tuesday night’s 6-2 loss at Indiana. Graduate utility player Eric Roberts launched his 18th and 19th home runs of the year on Tuesday night, but a late ninth-inning rally fell short for UE against the Hoosiers. With the two home runs, Roberts has closed to within just one home run of tying Ed Kothera’s single-season record of 20, set in 1987. Roberts is now also just one home run and two stolen bases shy of becoming the first player in UE history to record over 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the single season. Only UNC’s Mac Horvath has reached that 20-20 plateau in college baseball so far this year.
Roberts currently ranks third on the UE team in hitting with a .302 average. Fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug (.324/11/46) and junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse (.310/11/40) also hit above .300 this year for UE. Hug had his first hit as a Purple Ace against UIC last season, as the two teams split a pair of games in Evansville in early March, and will be playing in his 100th career game at UE in the series opener. Fougerousse, meanwhile, has hit safely in 19 of the last 21 games for Evansville, and he has recorded at least one multi-hit game in every MVC series so far this year.
UIC will bring a 26-21 overall record and 12-12 Valley record into this weekend’s series. The Flames have won seven-straight games entering the weekend, and UIC ranks as the Valley’s highest scoring offense at 7.1 runs per game. UIC second baseman Ryan Nagelbach was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday afternoon, as he helped power the Flames’ sweep of Illinois State last weekend by launching four home runs and driving in 11 in the three-game series. The UIC offense is paced this year by senior transfer Charlie Szykowny, who boasts a team-best .335 average, 16 home runs and 52 RBI entering Thursday night’s opener.
The winner of the Evansville-UIC series will be guaranteed a top-four finish in next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Terre Haute, Indiana. The top-four finish is key, as the top four squads will earn a first-day bye and not have to play until Wednesday. Currently, both teams could finish anywhere from third through sixth in the Valley standings, depending on what happens elsewhere in the league.
Evansville will send junior RHP Nick Smith (3-4, 4.41 ERA) to the mound in Thursday’s opener against UIC freshman LHP Brandon Bak (3-4, 4.91 ERA). Evansville owns a 19-3 edge in the all-time series over UIC, but this weekend will be UE’s first trip to Chicago since a season-ending series in the 1994 season. That series has been UE’s only trip to Chicago all-time, and Evansville leads the series in the Windy City, 3-0.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball take its 2023 post-season hopes on the road this week when it visits Tennessee Tech University for a three-game, Ohio Valley Conference series in Cookeville, Tennessee. The first pitches Thursday and Friday are set for 6 p.m. before the series concludes Saturday at 2 p.m.
Links to follow all of the action during the homestand can be found on the Eagles’ baseball schedule at USIScreamingEagles.com.
USI Baseball Notes:
OVC post-season hopes alive: Hopes for the USI Screaming Eagles to advance to the OVC Championships (May 24-27) remain alive as they enter the final weekend of the conference schedule. USI needs to maintain pace with Lindenwood University (win-for-win) to clinch a spot in the tournament. USI, currently in eighth with 15-36 overall and 6-14 OVC records, visits Tennessee Tech University for a three-game set, while Lindenwood, currently ninth, hosts Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, currently seventh, for a three-game set to determine the final two spots.
Eagles looking to reverse course this week: USI is looking to reverse course to end the 2023 campaign and snap a nine-game losing streak. The Eagles have not gotten into the win column since defeating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville April 29.
USI has rough start to the week: The Eagles got off to a rough start to the week, losing the 2023 home finale to Ball State University, 12-1.
Leading hitters: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest leads the Eagles with a .321 average, 12 home runs, and 51 RBIs this spring. Ebest is followed by junior outfielder Drew Taylor and senior outfielder Evan Kahre, who are hitting .306 and .304, respectively.
USI on the road: The Eagles are 4-19 on the road this season and led by junior first baseman Tucker Ebest, who is batting .344 with five home runs and 16 RBIs. Senior second baseman/catcher Lucas McNew follows with a .322 mark and 15 RBIs.
Last five games: Junior outfielder Ren Tachioka is the leading USI hitters over the last five games, batting .353 with four RBIs.
Versus the OVC: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest has a team-best .397 batting average and five RBIs in OVC play. Senior catcher/second baseman Lucas McNew leads the squad in OVC action with 21 RBIs.
Among the OVC leaders: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest leads the OVC in RBIs per game (1.13) and tied for third in total RBIs (51). Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken is second in the league in on-base percentage (.489).
Van Grieken gets hit for record. Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken has been hit by a pitch in a season more than any other Eagle, getting hit 23 times this season. The mark of 20 was previously held by Wes Fink (2008) and Nick Gobert (2018).
McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher/infielder Lucas McNew is fifth all-time at USI in home runs (24); fifth in RBIs (169) and sixth in doubles (51).
Tennessee Tech this spring: The Golden Eagles enter the series with an 18-30 overall record, 9-12 in the OVC. Tennessee Tech, currently, is sixth in the OVC and will be looking to solidify that position or move up to fifth in the standings. The Golden Eagles are a .500 team (5-5) over the last 10 games overall, but 6-4 in the last 10 conference games.
VALPO MEN’S GOLF
Valparaiso University men’s golf senior Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) and sophomore Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield) closed out the final round of the three-day, 54-hole NCAA Bath Regional on Wednesday at the par-71, 7090-yard Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath, Mich.
Both players closed out the tournament with their best round of the week, as Delisanti stroked a 69 (-2) to finish the event at 218 (+5). He tied for 43rd in the 75-player field. VanArragon turned in a 71 (E) to round out his 54-hole score of 221 (+8, 59th).
VanArragon drained 10 birdies for the tournament, while Delisanti notched seven. VanArragon finished the event with a 4.44 (-5) scoring average on par-5 holes.
The Valpo men’s golf season is not done yet as the team’s campaign continues with the National Golf Invitational (NGI) beginning on Friday at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. The inaugural postseason event is similar to the NIT for basketball. A link to live scoring via GolfStat can be found on ValpoAthletics.com.
U OF I WOMEN’S GOLF
EUREKA, Mo.—The UIndy women’s golf team continued play at the 2023 NCAA DII Championships Wednesday. Led by a second-round 72 by sophomore Anci Dy, the Greyhounds sit at +17 through 36 holes. The top eight teams after Thursday’s third round will move on to the medal/match quarterfinals. UIndy is currently in sixth place, nine strokes ahead of ninth.
Dy carded four birdies in her even-par round Wednesday, vaulting 22 spots on the individual leaderboard and into a tie for 12th place. She currently shares her spot at +3 with teammate Catharina Graf, as the freshly-crowned Elite 90 winner followed yesterday’s 73 with a two-over 74 today.
Fifth-year senior all-region honoree Elyse Stasil (+5) shot a 73 Wednesday to climb to T-27. Freshman Ava Ray sits at +6 and T-32 in her Nationals debut, while senior Katelyn Skinner is currently at +14.
The third and final round of stroke play awaits the 18-team field on Thursday. The Greyhounds’ tee times start at 12:50 p.m. ET. The tournament is being held at Fox Run Golf Club just outside of St. Louis.
ALSO:
CORAL SPRING, Fla.–The Women’s Golf Coaches Association released its annual all-region list Wednesday, with three Greyhounds garnering All-East Region accolades. Anci Dy and Elyse Stasil both collected their second straight all-region nod, while Catharina Graf earned her first such honor.
UIndy’s three all-region recipients matched Findlay’s total for most in the among the East Region schools. Missouri-St. Louis (2) was the only other school with multiple honorees. See below for the complete list of All-East Region performers.
ALL-EAST REGION
Tove Brunell, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Anci Dy, University of Indianapolis
Catharina Graf, University of Indianapolis
Mary Kelly Mulcahy, University of Findlay
Heather McLean, University of Illinois-Springfield
Jill Schmitmeyer, University of Findlay
Lisa Marie Schumacher, Tiffin University
Elyse Stasil, University of Indianapolis
Olivia Stoll, Grand Valley State University
Beca Vestman, Wayne State University
Gabby Woods, University of Findlay
Wilma Zanderau, University of Missouri-St. Louis
U OF I SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS—The UIndy softball team continues its stellar 2023 season this week when the 53-8 Greyhounds host the 43-6 Grand Valley State Lakers at the NCAA DII Midwest Super Regional Thursday and Friday. The region’s top two teams will square off in a best-of-three showdown with a trip to the DII Championship on the line.
With UIndy’s Baumgartner Field as the setting, game one is set for Thursday at 1 p.m. ET. The teams will return to Baumgartner for game two Friday at noon, followed by an if-necessary game (aka if the game one loser wins game two) immediately following.
The Midwest Super Regional will be streamed for free on the GLVC Sports Network. The GLVCSN is available online, as well as on the GLVCSN iOS and Android mobile apps and GLVCSN OTT apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.
The Hounds have advanced to the Super Regional round on four previous occasions, the last of which coming in 2019. UIndy is gunning for its third-ever “World Series” appearance (2009, ’15). This year’s championship will be held in Chattanooga, Tenn., May 25-29.
U OF I TRACK
NEW ORLEANS – Six members of the UIndy outdoor track and field teams were selected to the recent U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region list, officials announced on Wednesday.
On the men’s side, Treyton Arnold was honored in the pole vault. For the women, Brittney Clark and Sabrina Robison garnered recognition in the pole vault while Ellie Lengerich (long jump), Zoe Pentecost (hammer throw), and Ailliyah Reese (100-meter hurdles) also saw their name on the list.
Individuals in the top five of their respective event earn All-Region honors. Only USTFCCCA member programs can be eligible for these awards.
MARIAN MEN’S GOLF
Mesa, Ariz. – The Marian men’s golf team wrapped up their 2022-23 season on Wednesday afternoon, playing the second round of the NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship. Marian opened the day by finishing their final holes in round one, and then played the second, finishing 28th overall in the tournament. Senior Patrick Guymon led Marian with the top finish on the team in his final collegiate outing.
Marian’s lineup each had 1-4 holes to complete from round one after the competition was suspended due to rain and lightning. Patrick Guymon led Marian after round one with a +3 score of 75, while Weston Ogden was +7 with a score of 79. Guymon held a tie for 47th after the first round, while Ogden sat 100th overall. Luke Beetz ended the first round with an 80, while Brandon Heffner and Sam Slaguther showed struggles on the challenging Las Sendas Golf Club course, carding respective 88 and 89 scores.
Marian shot a 322 overall in the opening round of the tournament.
In round two, Marian shot better overall, carding a team score of 312. Beetz led the Knights in the final round with a 76, while Guymon shot a 77 in his final round. Guymon’s final standing stood in a tie for 65th carding a 152 overall, while Beetz tied for 97th with his 156 two-round score. Ogden shot an 80 in the final round to finish the NAIA Tournament with a 159 score, and Heffner shot an 81, carding a total score of 169. Augie Mann subbed into the lineup for the final round in place of Slaughter, and shot a 79 in his first round playing in the NAIA Championship.
Marian’s final two-round score stood at 634, placing Marian in 28th place, 28 strokes off the cut-line.
Marian’s young core will return to action in the fall as they begin building toward another run to the NAIA Championship in 2023-24.
MARIAN SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since 2019, the Marian softball team is headed to the NAIA World Series, as the Knights accomplished the improbable by winning three consecutive elimination games on the same day to win their NAIA Opening Round Bracket. Marian reached the championship game with a morning 5-0 win over Middle Georgia State, and followed with back to back title game wins over Columbia College by 1-0 and 8-1 scores.
GAME 1 | #9 Marian 5-0 #16 Middle Georgia State
Marian was the first to get something going as Sierra Norman started the bottom of the second inning with a single up the middle. Hayley Greene found her way to third after an error to send Norman home for the game’s first run.
Wilson worked quick in the top of the third, with a three up three down. Marian had a chance to add to their lead in the bottom half of the frame, but Middle Georgia put a stop to the threat, leaving two runners stranded.
The Marian offense came alive again in the bottom half of the fourth inning, as Lily Wendt hit the RBI single to score another run for the Knights. Marian tacked on a pair of runs after some mistakes on the Middle Georgia defense, extending their lead to 4-0 after four innings of play.
Marian’s defense continued to prove strong, as they allowed Middle Georgia only two hits through the next two innings. A triple by Savannah Baker gave the Knights another good look to score, as Mackenzie Dalton reached on the error to add another run to the Marian lead.
With the 5-0 lead at hand, all Marian needed were three outs to send them to the championship game. Middle Georgia made a threat with back-to-back singles, but a strikeout by Olivia Stunkel finished it off and gave Marian the 5-0 victory.
Six different Knights recorded a hit in the win, with Dalton picking up two RBI and Wendt having one. Wilson picked up the win in the circle for the Knights, as she tossed one strikeout and gave up one hit in her five innings pitched. Stunkel threw one strikeout in her two innings on the mound to close out the game.
GAME 2 | #9 Marian 1-0 Columbia
The pitching duel continued for Sydney Wilson in the championship against Columbia, as both pitchers were perfect through the top of the fourth inning. The Cougars recorded the first hit of the game after singling to left field. With two runners on, Wilson and the defense got out of the inning with a foul out to Caroline Roop behind the plate.
Hayley Greene single to center in the top half of the fifth inning to get the Knights’ first hit of the game, but were unable to execute as back-to-back strikeouts left Marian searching for their first run. Columbia made another threat in the bottom part of the inning after getting bases loaded. However, the Marian defense stayed poised and picked up two more outs to close out the fifth inning with a 0-0 score.
Heading into the final inning of action locked at 0-0, Marian and Columbia were in search for runs to decide the game. Abby Madere kicked things off with a single to left center before Greene made her way to first on a hit. Lily Wendt was walked on the next at bat, making the bases loaded for Marian. With a chance to score the game winning run, a sacrifice fly by Savannah Baker brought in Madere to take the 1-0 lead.
Trailing 1-0 going into the final half of the last inning, the Cougars had one last chance to tie or win the game. Wilson was not ready for her season to end as she continued her tear on the mound, forcing three straight ground outs to win 1-0 and send the Knights to the second championship game.
Wilson was perfect on the mound with her four strikeouts and no runs allowed. In Marian’s four hits, Greene led the way with two hits, while Savannah Harweger and Madere each added one. Baker had the sacrifice fly to score the winning run for the Knights.
GAME 3 | #9 Marian 8-1 Columbia
Sydney Wilson kept the ball in her hand as Marian entered the final game of the Opening Round, and kept her strong pitching going as she threw a hitless first inning, working around a hit batter. Marian was retired in order in their first crack at the dish, and in the top of the second Columbia took advantage of small ball and an error, moving runners into scoring position. Suzy Shanks broke up Wilson’s scoreless streak as a single through the middle on an 0-2 pitch drove in the Cougars first run, but a strikeout to Abbi Pringer cut the damage at one run.
The Knights started to find success with lead-off hits in both the second and third innings, with Sierra Norman doubling in the second and Caroline Roop singling in the third, but on both occasions Marian came up empty with a double play ending the second and three strikeouts shutting down the third. Wilson got back into form in the third inning as she retired the side in order, and in the fourth gave up a pair of hits, but got strong efforts from her defense to eliminate a lead-off double in a rundown while Savannah Harweger and Hayley Greene made the next two outs.
In the bottom of the fourth Marian’s offense finally clicked, as a single from Abby Madere on the first pitch of the inning kicked off the rally. Sierra Norman reached on an error on a tapper that was hit to third with the first baseman Jazlin Gottman dropping the ball, allowing Madere to reach third. Greene followed the at bat with a single to left field that tied the game at 1-1. Grace Meyer dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Norman and Greene into scoring position, and Savannah Baker again played the hero, singling to left field to score two more runs.
Marian’s lead grew to 3-1 following Baker’s hit, and stayed that way entering the bottom of the fifth inning as Wilson shrugged off two hits in the fifth inning to retire the side. The game broke wide open in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the Knights’ offense put the final dents on the scoreboard. Savannah Harweger and Anna Pritchett put up back to back singles to start the inning, but Harweger would get thrown out on the next contact on Abby Madere’s fielder’s choice. The bats kept hot despite the groundout, as Norman delivered an RBI single to make it a 4-1 lead. Greene would groundout to record the second out, but on a pop-up hit by Meyer in the next plate appearance, the Cougars’ second baseman dropped the ball, allowing two runs to score. Baker and Lily Wendt would both walk to load the bases, and after a Columbia pitching change, Mackenzie Dalton hammered a two-RBI single to left field, driving the home team’s lead to seven runs.
The Knights were unable to complete the run-rule win as Harweger lined out to right field, and played on into the sixth and seventh, with Olivia Stunkel tagging out Wilson to pitch the final two innings of the game. Stunkel started out slow in her second relief appearance of the day by throwing a four-pitch walk, but got back in a groove by getting three outs around a single to end the sixth. In the seventh, the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year closed the game quickly, getting a strikeout and two fly outs to retire the side and send Marian back to the NAIA World Series.
Marian’s offense exploded for 10 hits in their final home game of the season, with Norman breaking her slump with a 3-4 outing, hitting a pair of doubles. Dalton, Meyer, and Baker each had two RBI in the win, while Greene had a hit and an RBI.
Wilson finished her final home game in style, throwing five innings with six hits allowed, striking out three batters in her win. The senior allowed one unearned run, and faced 21 batters in her outing. The fifth-year senior earned the win in all three games Marian played on Wednesday, tossing over 200 pitches in her 17 total innings of work. In total, Wilson threw 20.2 innings in the Opening Round, allowing just one run.
Marian is now 49-7 overall, and will learn the NAIA World Series opponent and schedule later this week.
MARIAN WOMEN’S GOLF
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League announced its 2022-2023 Women’s Golf All-League honors on Tuesday, following Marian’s team championship on May 8 and 9.
The Knights picked up five All-Crossroads League honors, led by league champion, MacKenzie Dresbaugh on the First-Team with teammate Sidney Parmer. MU’s Dan Stanjevich was touted as the CL Coach of the Year.
Dresbaugh earned her first career All-CL honor, landing on the First Team. Dresbaugh was the conference individual medalist, winning the Crossroads League Championship after a four-hole playoff for the win. Dresbaugh won not only the conference title but also the Sagamore Shootout and IU East Shootout. Dresbaugh’s three wins on the season were the first three in her collegiate career.
Parmer finished as the Crossroads League runner-up as she earned her second career All-CL honor, earning her first career honor on the first team. Parmer fell to her teammate Dresbaugh in the league championship on the fourth playoff hole, and earned All-Tournament Team honors after her battle for the individual title. Parmer was the champion at the Midway Eagle Invite in April as part of her successful season.
Marian earned three All-Crossroads League Honorable Mention honors, with Ava Hedrick, Elizabeth Hedrick, and Keara Eder all landing on the honorable mention team. Each of the Knights’ three honorable mention honors scored a top-10 finish in Marian’s Crossroads League Championship, with Ava earning All-CL Tournament Team honors. The three golfers all earned a top-five finish throughout the season, and played key roles in Marian’s record setting year.
Head coach Dan Stanjevich was named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year, taking the honor for the first time in his career. Stanjevich helped guide Marian to the Crossroads League Championship for the first time since the 2016 season, while leading Marian to the NAIA Championships for the second time in his tenure as head coach. Marian set the team 54-hole record twice on the season, while also setting the 36-hole record this season.
The Knights will compete next week at the NAIA National Championships in Silvis, Ill., at TPC Deere Run. A preview for the NAIA Championships will be released later this week.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
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
SPORTS EXTRA
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Tampa Bay | 32 | 12 | .727 | – | 19 – 3 | 13 – 9 | 10 – 7 | 9 – 1 | 4 – 2 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Baltimore | 28 | 15 | .651 | 3.5 | 15 – 7 | 13 – 8 | 6 – 6 | 10 – 3 | 7 – 3 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Toronto | 25 | 18 | .581 | 6.5 | 13 – 5 | 12 – 13 | 5 – 8 | 8 – 2 | 5 – 4 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| NY Yankees | 25 | 20 | .556 | 7.5 | 16 – 10 | 9 – 10 | 8 – 8 | 7 – 6 | 6 – 4 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Boston | 24 | 20 | .545 | 8 | 15 – 11 | 9 – 9 | 7 – 7 | 7 – 2 | 5 – 2 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 24 | 20 | .545 | – | 14 – 8 | 10 – 12 | 5 – 5 | 10 – 6 | 2 – 1 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Detroit | 19 | 22 | .463 | 3.5 | 10 – 10 | 9 – 12 | 2 – 14 | 4 – 2 | 3 – 3 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Cleveland | 19 | 23 | .452 | 4 | 9 – 12 | 10 – 11 | 3 – 6 | 4 – 7 | 8 – 5 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Chi White Sox | 16 | 28 | .364 | 8 | 9 – 12 | 7 – 16 | 2 – 11 | 6 – 6 | 3 – 4 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Kansas City | 14 | 31 | .311 | 10.5 | 6 – 17 | 8 – 14 | 2 – 5 | 4 – 7 | 3 – 9 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 26 | 17 | .605 | – | 13 – 8 | 13 – 9 | 4 – 3 | 5 – 1 | 11 – 5 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Houston | 24 | 19 | .558 | 2 | 11 – 11 | 13 – 8 | 4 – 2 | 6 – 7 | 4 – 5 | 7 – 3 | W 4 |
| LA Angels | 22 | 22 | .500 | 4.5 | 10 – 9 | 12 – 13 | 4 – 9 | 3 – 3 | 9 – 7 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| Seattle | 21 | 22 | .488 | 5 | 10 – 12 | 11 – 10 | 2 – 4 | 5 – 5 | 7 – 5 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Oakland | 10 | 35 | .222 | 17 | 5 – 20 | 5 – 15 | 1 – 9 | 3 – 3 | 4 – 13 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 27 | 16 | .628 | – | 10 – 9 | 17 – 7 | 10 – 3 | 6 – 0 | 3 – 4 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Miami | 22 | 21 | .512 | 5 | 13 – 11 | 9 – 10 | 7 – 12 | 5 – 4 | 6 – 3 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| NY Mets | 21 | 23 | .477 | 6.5 | 8 – 9 | 13 – 14 | 9 – 8 | 1 – 5 | 7 – 6 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Philadelphia | 20 | 23 | .465 | 7 | 11 – 7 | 9 – 16 | 1 – 2 | 4 – 3 | 5 – 8 | 5 – 5 | L 4 |
| Washington | 18 | 25 | .419 | 9 | 8 – 14 | 10 – 11 | 5 – 7 | 4 – 3 | 5 – 5 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 24 | 19 | .558 | – | 13 – 8 | 11 – 11 | 3 – 0 | 5 – 4 | 6 – 10 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 11 | 2 – 1 | 7 – 4 | 6 – 3 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 19 | 24 | .442 | 5 | 11 – 11 | 8 – 13 | 3 – 7 | 3 – 5 | 5 – 5 | 2 – 8 | L 5 |
| Cincinnati | 19 | 24 | .442 | 5 | 12 – 9 | 7 – 15 | 7 – 9 | 3 – 6 | 2 – 4 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| St. Louis | 18 | 26 | .409 | 6.5 | 8 – 14 | 10 – 12 | 0 – 3 | 7 – 6 | 4 – 9 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 28 | 16 | .636 | – | 17 – 7 | 11 – 9 | 4 – 2 | 10 – 6 | 12 – 7 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| Arizona | 25 | 19 | .568 | 3 | 14 – 10 | 11 – 9 | 4 – 5 | 4 – 2 | 12 – 9 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| San Francisco | 20 | 23 | .465 | 7.5 | 13 – 10 | 7 – 13 | 7 – 6 | 5 – 2 | 2 – 7 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| San Diego | 20 | 24 | .455 | 8 | 11 – 13 | 9 – 11 | 5 – 5 | 4 – 6 | 9 – 9 | 2 – 8 | L 2 |
| Colorado | 19 | 25 | .432 | 9 | 10 – 12 | 9 – 13 | 6 – 8 | 8 – 7 | 3 – 6 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1875 In front of a record crowd of 10,000 fans at the Hartford Ball Club Grounds, the visiting Boston Red Stockings (16-0) beat the Dark Blues (12-0), 10-5, in a match-up of undefeated teams. Mark Twain attends the National Association contest and offers a five-dollar reward for returning his English-made brown silk umbrella pilfered at the game by a small boy when the famous writer stood up to cheer for the hometown team.
1912 As a replacement player, Allan Travers, a St. Joseph’s College pitcher, takes the mound for the Tigers, fielding an amateur team to avoid a $5,000 fine due to the team’s refusal to play the A’s in support of suspended teammate Ty Cobb. In his only major league appearance, the collegiate hurler goes the distance, giving up 24 runs, 14 earned runs, 26 hits, and seven walks, but does strike out one as Philadelphia routs Detroit at Shibe Park, 24-2.
1929 In a doubleheader played at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl, the Dodgers and Phillies teams combine to score a record fifty runs when the visitors outlast the home team, 20-16, before dropping an 8-6 decision in the nightcap. Brooklyn’s Johnny Frederick crosses the plate five times in the opener, giving him the major league mark of scoring eight runs in two consecutive games.
1929 After two consecutive slugfests, Philadelphia beats Brooklyn, 8-6, at the Baker Bowl. The Phillies and Dodgers combined to score 88 runs in a four-game series, establishing a record that will last until 2019, when the Rockies and Padres tally 92 times in gravity-friendly Coors Field.
May 16: PHI 7, BRO 4
May 17: BRO 14, PHI 13
May 18: BRO 20, PHI 16
May 18: PHI 8, BRO 6
1931 Robins’ right fielder Babe Herman hits for the cycle for the first of two times this season in the team’s 14-4 rout of the Reds at Ebbets Field. In 1933, as a member of the Cubs, the Glendale (CA) native will again collect a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game, joining Bob Meusel as the only major leaguers to have accomplished the rare feat three times since 1900.
1942 Night games in New York are banned for the duration of WW II, leaving fans in the dark about the status of the All-Star Game scheduled for the Polo Grounds on the evening of Monday, July 6. The prohibition of nighttime tilts, announced by NYC Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine, will change the starting times for 28 contests involving the Dodgers and Giants.
(Ed. Note: The first Yankee Stadium night contest will occur in 1946, seven years after the Dodgers played their first evening game at Ebbets Field. – LP)
1956 Surpassing Ripper Collins, Mickey Mantle becomes the all-time home run leader for switch hitters, belting his 136th round-tripper, a two-out homer in the top of the ninth, tying the score in the Yankees’ eventual extra-inning 8-7 victory over Chicago at Comiskey Park. ‘The Mick’ will nearly quadruple the mark, extending the record to 536 before he retires before the 1969 season.
1958 On his 25th birthday, Carroll Hardy, pinch-hitting for Roger Maris, blasts a three-run home run, giving the Indians a 7-4 walk-off victory. The 11th inning round-tripper off Chicago’s Billy Pierce is the Cleveland rookie’s first major league homer.
1960 The Indians trade southpaw Herb Score to the White Sox for Barry Latman, a right-hander who will post a 35-37 record during his four seasons with Cleveland. The southpaw, whose promising career was shattered three seasons ago after being struck by Gil McDougald’s line drive, will return to Cleveland in 1964 to begin a 34-year stint as the team’s beloved television and radio play-by-play announcer.
1969 Cesar Tovar and Rod Carew combine to set a major league record for most steals by teammates in one inning, swiping five bases against the Tigers’ battery of Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan. During the third inning, Tovar, the Twins’ leadoff hitter, steals third base and home, followed by Carew, who pilfers second and third base and home plate in the 8-2 loss at Metropolitan Stadium.
1973 Bill North’s bat sails onto the infield when he swings and misses the first pitch thrown by Royals rookie reliever Doug Bird, who will be shocked when the A’s center fielder, retrieving his bat, unexpectedly goes to the mound and begins to pummel him. The Oakland outfielder, who will be ejected, suspended for three days, and received a $100 fine for initiating the brawl, retaliated against the 23-year-old KC right-hander for an incident in a Class A game played in Waterloo (IA) three seasons earlier.
1976 In a 5-3 victory at Tiger Stadium, Carl Yastrzemski plays in his 2,293rd game wearing a Red Sox uniform, surpassing Ted Williams’ team record. The Boston legend will extend the franchise mark to 3,308 contests before retiring in 1983.
1986 In the bottom of the tenth inning at Fenway Park, the Red Sox score two runs on an unusual play to beat the Rangers, 6-5, thanks to George Wright’s errant throw. The right fielder throws the ball away, fielding Marty Barrett’s double, after becoming confused when two Boston baserunners, who will score on the error, slide into second at the same time, the batter and Steve Lyons from third base.
1988 In the ‘Year of the Balk,’ Dave Stewart breaks a major league record, committing his twelfth balk of the season. The A’s right-hander will extend the single-season mark to 16 thanks to the strict interpretation of umpires on a minor rule change.
1990 The Orioles, en route to a 13-1 victory over the Rangers, tie an American League record when the team collects eight consecutive singles in the seven-run first inning at Memorial Stadium. Baltimore consecutive one-baggers off right-hander Bobby Witt equals the mark shared by the 1951 Senators and 1981 A’s.
1990 At the Astrodome, Cubs’ second baseman Ryan Sandberg’s errorless game streak ends after 123 games and 582 chances when his errant throw to first base trying to rob Eric Anthony of an infield single allows Ken Caminiti to advance to third. The seven-time Gold Glove second baseman surpasses the marks for the position previously established by Joe Morgan (91 games) and Manny Trillo (479 errorless plays).
1992 WQAM becomes the voice of the Marlins, signing a four-year deal as the flagship radio station of the team. In Miami and southern Florida, listeners will be able to pick up the play-by-play action of the new National League expansion team at 560 am on their radio dial.
1998 Due to drastic payroll cuts reducing the World Champions’ effectiveness, two class-action lawsuits are filed against the Marlins – one for breach of contract and the other accusing the team of false advertising. Florida will finish last in the NL East with a 54-108 record (.333.), 52 games behind the division-leading Braves.
1998 With a 6-3 victory over the Orioles, the Devil Rays become only the second expansion team in major league history to sweep an away four-game series. The 1993 Colorado Rockies, who did it against the Dodgers, is the other club to accomplish this feat.
1999 After missing the team’s first 36 games, Joe Torre returns to the Yankee dugout two months after undergoing successful surgery for prostate cancer. Before the 6-3 loss to the Red Sox, the 58-year-old skipper receives a two-minute standing ovation from the Fenway Park crowd when the scoreboard welcomes him back.
1999 Diamondbacks’ outfielder Luis Gonzalez homers in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 30 games, establishing a franchise record. Expos’ outfielder Vladimir Guerrero Montreal Expos will also enjoy a consecutive stretch this season, reaching base on hit in 31 straight contests.
2000 In a 6-2 loss to the Padres, the Marlins steal ten bases, one shy of the National League record. Luis Castillo (3), Cliff Floyd (3), Preston Wilson (2), and Mark Kotsay (2), the top four batters in the Fish lineup, are responsible for the grand theft.
2000 Mark McGwire passes Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run when he goes deep in the first inning when he hits a three-run drive off Curt Schilling for No.537, placing him in front of the Yankee legendary slugger in eighth place. ‘Big Mac’ adds to his total with two more round-trippers Cardinals’ 7-2 victory over the Phillies at Veterans Stadium.
2002 At Fenway Park, Pedro Martinez becomes the 11th pitcher in American League history to record an immaculate inning when he strikes out the side on nine pitches in the first frame. The Red Sox right-hander fans Ichiro Suzuki, Mark McLemore, and Ruben Sierra to begin Boston’s eventual 4-1 victory over Seattle.
2004 At the age of 40, southpaw Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game when the Diamondbacks beat the Braves, 2-0. The ‘Big Unit’ joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning, Hideo Nomo, and Nolan Ryan as the only hurlers to throw no-hitters in both leagues and creates the most extended span between no-no’s, having first accomplished the feat against the Tigers in June of 1990.
2008 Marlins’ second baseman Luis Castillo, who has stolen seven bases in his last two games, is one theft shy of tying a National League mark. Walt Wilmont set the record of eight pilfered bags in consecutive contests playing for the Chicago Colts (Cubs) in 1894.
2008 A pitchout and a perfect throw by Brewers catcher Jason Kendall finally catches Jacoby Ellsbury attempting to steal a bag, snapping the 24-year-old rookie’s string of 25 consecutive stolen bases to start his big league career. The Red Sox outfielder is second all-time to Tim Raines, who recorded 27 straight thefts with the Expos before being caught in 1981.
2009 Jason Kendall collects his 2000th career hit when he singles in the Brewers’ 8-4 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The 34-year-old backstop becomes the 254th player, but only the eighth to be primarily a catcher to reach that milestone.
2012 Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander misses pitching his third career no-hitter when he allows a single to Josh Harrison with one out in the top of the ninth inning. The reigning MVP and Cy Young winner completes the one-hitter, beating Pittsburgh, 6-0, in front of a wildly enthusiastic Friday night crowd at Detroit’s Comerica Park.
2012 Kerry Wood ends his major league career on his terms when he strikes out the one batter he faces before walking off the mound into an embrace from his six-year-old son in front of the Wrigley Field dugout. The 35-year-old much-injured Cubs’ right-hander, an All-Star as both a starter and closer, believes today’s final strikeout to be the most significant and the most memorable moment of his 14-year career.
2021 Tiger right-hander Spencer Turnbull throws the eighth no-hitter in team history and MLB’s fifth no-hitter this season, beating the Mariners (Seattle’s second hitless game this year) at T-Mobile Park, 5-0. In his first-career complete game, the 28-year-old strikes out nine and allows two walks in his 50th major league start.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
CHARLIE JUSTICE
Born May 18, 1924, in Asheville, North Carolina, was North Carolina Tarheels halfback of 1946 through 1949, Charlie Justice. The National Football Foundation led his Edwards High School in Asheville, North Carolina, to two unbeaten seasons. He matched North Carolina all-stars against South Carolina all-stars and scored three touchdowns in the contest! After high school, he spent four years in the Navy in World War II. Charlie was a key player on the football team at Bainbridge Naval Center; therefore, after his discharge, he was offered a pro football contract. He chose instead, at age 22, to start college. He was the starting tailback for four years in the single-wing formation coached by Carl Snavely at North Carolina. North Carolina had a 32-9-2 record while Justice was wearing the North Carolina Blue. Charlie was named All-America in 1948 and 1949 and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in both seasons! Justice set a school record for total offense that lasted for 45 years. Among his achievements: 1946–As a freshman against Virginia, Justice carried the ball 17 times and gained 170 yards. 1948–He led North Carolina to a 9-1-1 record, a national No. 3 ranking, the highest in school history. He gained 766 yards rushing and 846 passing. He returned 19 punts for an average of 17.5 yards, five kickoffs for 18 yards. His punting standard, 44.1 yards, led the nation. Justice set Heel records a lot during his four years at UNC. He scored 234 points and passed or ran for 64 touchdowns. As a ball carrier, he accumulated 2,634 yards. His total offense record of 4,883 yards lasted for 45 years until quarterback Jason Stanicek broke the mark in 1994. Justice, graciously, was on hand to congratulate Stanicek. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1950 College All-Star Game, leading the college team to a 17-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. His nickname was “Choo-Choo,” and a book titled “Choo Choo.” The website GoHeels.com tells us that the great Benny Goodman and the late Johnny Long recorded the Campbell-Beebe song “All The Way Choo Choo.” It sold by the thousands. in honor of this great athlete. Charlie Justice’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1961. Justice, after college, took his game to the pro level, where he played for the Washington Redskins from 1950-54. In his book, They Made the Bell Tower Chime, Bob Quincy succinctly summed up Charlie Justice’s college career. An excerpt is repeated here: The Justice era of 1946-49 was the most exciting in Carolina’s football history. Charlie was the ringleader of a circus of thrills. He set the pace, but his backing was superb.
VINCE YOUNG
Born May 18, 1983, in Houston, Texas, was Vince Young who was the University of Texas Longhorn’s dual threat quarterback from 2003 to 2005. The FootballFoundation.org website recognizes that Young turned in one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history in 2005 while memorably leading Texas to a national championship. The Texas signal caller was a consensus First Team All-American in 2005, Young was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy while claiming the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell awards. That season he also claimed the unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-Big 12 selection led the Longhorns to a conference title and a perfect 13-0 season after winning the BCS National Championship Game against USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl. The GrandDaddy of them all game has gone down in the annals as one of the greatest games in college football history. In the Rose Bowl, Young earned MVP honors after completing 30-of-40 passes for 267 yards, rushing for 200 yards (a Rose Bowl record among quarterbacks) and delivering the game-winning eight-yard touchdown run on fourth down with 19 seconds remaining. But that game did not define Young’s collegiate career as he posted a 30-2 record as a starter for College Football Hall of Fame coach Mack Brown. Vinces’s 93.8 winning percentage was the sixth best in FBS history at the time. The 6ft-5” 233 pound QB owns multiple Longhorn records, including 1079 single-season and 3127 career rushing yards by a quarterback and 37 career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. With 6,040 passing yards and 3,127 rushing yards in his career (both marks rank sixth in Texas history), Young became just the fourth player in FBS history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in a career. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Vince Young into their legendary museum in 2019. The Tennessee Titans selected Young with the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, and he played six seasons in the league with the Titans and Philadelphia Eagles. The 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year was selected to two Pro Bowls, becoming the first rookie quarterback to play in the game.
May 18, 2003 – Munster, Indiana – The Newspaper.com Football History Headline of the Day shows the Times from Munster, Indiana posted an article titled “Johnson and Johnson were Munster’s Finest.” The piece goes on to discuss two brothers, Keith and Larry Johnson that hailed from ole Munster High were being inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame after each having a brilliant gridiron career at the University of Michigan.
Larry Johnson graduated from Munster High School in 1970 played in the North-South All Star game and caught a 60 TD pass to help his team win then went on to the Wolverines and helped them attain three Big 10 Championships accumulating a record 30-2-1.
Keith Johnson, Larry’s younger brother graduated from Munster in 1972 and went on to catch eight or nine passes in the Orange Bowl according to a quote from their Michigan Head Coach Bo Schembechler. It’s no wonder that this pair of siblings was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame!
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
3 – 7 – 16
May 18, 1897 – Early MLB star of the New York Giants, Bill Joyce established a record of 4 triples in 1 game. Joyce batted left-handed and threw right-handed and stole 43 bases in just his rookie season. The man was fast so it is no wonder he could touch some extra bases on a solid hit!
May 18, 1934 – Philadelphia Athletics star, Jimmie Foxx, Number 3 hit what would be the first Home Run in Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Foxx ripped the ball to the center field bleachers.
May 18, 1956 – The forever amazing Mickey Mantle, Number 7 hits HR from both sides of plate for a record 3rd time in his career.
May 18, 1971 – At the Stanley Cup Final in Chicago Stadium, Henri Richard, Number 16 scored twice as the Montreal Canadiens overcame the Chicago Black Hawks for a 4-3 series victory to take home the cup once more.
TV THURSDAY
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| UCONN vs Creighton | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| Florida State vs Louisville | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| Arkansas vs Vanderbilt | 7:00pm | SECN |
| West Virginia vs Texas | 7:30pm | LHN |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Championship | 11:00am | ESPN |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| LA Angels at Baltimore | 12:35pm | MLBN Bally Sports MASN/2 |
| Washington at Miami | 1:10pm | Bally Sports MASN/2 |
| Tampa Bay at NY Mets | 1:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports SNY |
| Cleveland at Chi. White Sox | 2:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports NBCS-CHI |
| NY Yankees at Toronto | 7:07pm | MLBN YES Sportsnet |
| LA Dodgers at St. Louis | 7:45pm | MLBN Bally Sports Spectrum |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| West Finals Game 2: LA Lakers at Denver | 8:30pm | ESPN |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| East Finals Game 1: Florida at Carolina | 8:00pm | TNT |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| EPL: Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion | 2:30pm | USA |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: AZ vs West Ham United | 3:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| UEFA Europa Conference League: Basel vs Fiorentina | 3:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma | 3:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| UEFA Europa League: Sevilla vs Juventus | 3:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Arsenal vs Independiente | 8:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
TV FRIDAY
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Notre Dame vs Boston College | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| West Virginia vs Texas | 7:30pm | LHN |
| Arkansas vs Vanderbilt | 8:00pm | SECN |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Championship | 11:00am | ESPN |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| Arizona at Pittsburgh | 6:35pm | Bally Sports |
| Milwaukkee at Tampa Bay | 6:40pm | Bally Sports |
| NY Yankees at Cincinnati | 6:40pm | YES Bally Sports |
| Chi. Cubs at Philadelphia | 7:05pm | MARQ NBCS-PHI |
| Detroit at Washington | 7:05pm | Bally Sports MASN/2 |
| Baltimore at Toronto | 7:07pm | Sportsnet MASN/2 |
| Cleveland at NY Mets | 7:10pm | Bally Sports SNY |
| Seattle at Atlanta | 7:20pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Colorado at Texas | 7:20pm | MLBN Bally Sports ATTSN-RM |
| Kansas City at Chi. White Sox | 8:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Oakland at Houston | 8:10pm | NBCS-CA ATTSN-SW |
| LA Dodgers at St. Louis | 8:15pm | MLBN Bally Sports Spectrum |
| Minnesota at LA Angels | 9:38pm | Bally Sports |
| Boston at San Diego | 9:40pm | NESN Bally Sports |
| Miami at San Francisco | 10:10pm | Bally Sports NBCS-BAY |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| East Finals Game 2: Miami at Boston | 8:30pm | TNT |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| West Finals Game 1: Dallas at Vegas | 8:30pm | ESPN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Bundesliga: Freiburg vs Wolfsburg | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Sassuolo vs Monza | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Cádiz vs Real Valladolid | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Olympique Lyonnais vs Monaco | 3:00pm | beIN Sports |
| Argentina Primera División: Estudiantes vs Banfield | 6:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Central Córdoba SdE vs Unión Santa Fe | 6:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Rosario Central vs Defensa y Justicia | 6:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Canadian Premier League: Forge vs Vancouver FC | 7:00pm | FOX Soccer Plus |
| Argentina Primera División: Racing Club vs Vélez Sarsfield | 8:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Argentinos Juniors vs Boca Juniors | 8:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| NY Liberty vs Washington | 7:00pm | NBATV |
| Phoenix vs LA Sparks | 7:00pm | ESPN |