THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” TUESDAY APRIL 25, 2023

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL RANKINGS

4A

1)CENTER GROVE H.S. 12-1 (260)

2)CARROLL (FORT WAYNE H.S. 12-0 (228)

3)NOBLESVILLE H.S. 11-3 (180)

4)INDPLS CATHEDRAL H.S. 9-1 (174)

5)LAKE CENTRAL H.S. 10-2 (168)

6)CARMEL H.S. 8-1 (144)

7)EVANS. NORTH H.S. 10-2 (80)

8)MOORESVILLE H.S. 10-2 (54)

9)CASTLE H.S. 11-3 (50)

10)MT. VERNON H.S. (FORTVILLE) 10-2 (48)

Receiving Votes:

Bedford N.L. H.S., Bloomington North H.S., Bloomington South H.S., Evans. Central H.S., F.W. Snider H.S., Hamilton S.E. H.S., Mishawaka H.S., Mt. Vernon H.S. (Fortville), Penn H.S, Roncalli H.S., Seymour H.S.

3A

1)ANDREAN H.S. 10-2 (216)

2)WESTERN H.S. 10-1 (188)

3)JASPER H.S. 11-1 (186)

4)GUERIN CATHOLIC H.S. 12-1 (166)

5)NEW PRAIRIE H.S. 10-2 (120)

6)WEST VIGO H.S. 9-2 (96)

7)HANOVER CENTRAL H.S. 9-1 (84)

8)CRAWFORDSVILLE H.S. 10-4 (72)

9)CHARLESTOWN H.S. 10-1 (66)

10)SILVER CREEK H.S. 9-5 (36)

Receiving Votes:

Evans. Memorial H.S., Fairfield H.S., Heritage H.S., Indpls Chatard H.S., Mishawaka Marian H.S., North Montgomery H.S., Northwestern H.S., Norwell H.S., Southridge H.S., Tri-West H.S., Yorktown H.S.,

2A

1)FOREST PARK H.S. 10-1 (192)

2)PROVIDENCE H.S. 10-2 (162)

3)MITCHELL H.S. 11-2 (148)

4)PARK TUDOR H.S. 10-0 (138)

5)ILLIANA CHRISTIAN HS 8-4 (124)

6)HAGERSTOWN H.S. 12-2 (92)

7)DELPHI H.S. 8-3 (68)

8)LAPEL H.S. 9-2 (64)

9)SOUTH CENTRAL H.S. (UNION MILLS) 8-4 (60)

10)CASCADE H.S. 8-3 (34)

Receiving Votes:

Blackford H.S., Eastern (Greentown) H.S., Indianapolis Crispus Attucks H.S., North Newton H.S., Seeger H.S., Shenandoah H.S., South Knox H.S, University High School, Wapahani H.S.,

1A

1)CLAY CITY H.S. 10-1 (172)

2)LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC H.S. 9-5 (160)

3)LOOGOOTEE H.S. 7-4 (102)

4)TECUMSEH H.S. 5-2 (98)

5)BARR-REEVE H.S. 7-3 (96)

6)DALEVILLE H.S. 3-1 (86)

7)INDPLS LUTHERAN HS 8-3 (80)

8)BORDEN H.S. 5-4 (64)

9)SHAKAMAK H.S. 6-3 (62)

9)WES-DEL H.S. 9-2 (62)

Receiving Votes:

Bloomfield H.S., Covington H.S., Greenwood Christian Academy, Morgan Twp. H.S., North Daviess H.S., Rising Sun H.S., South Decatur H.S., Trinity Lutheran H.S., Union City H.S.,

CENTRAL INDIANA BASEBALL SCORES

WINCHESTER 7 LINCOLN 4

DELTA 15 MUNCIE CENTRAL 1

HAGERSTOWN 13 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 0

COWAN 19 SETON CATHOLIC 0

YORKTOWN 12 WAPAHANI 3

BISHOP CHATARD 15  GREEWOOD CHRISTIAN 7

BLUE RIVER 10 TRI 9

WARREN CENTRAL 4 PERRY MERIDIAN 2

MADISON GRANT 13 MARION 1

CENTERVILLE 12 NEW CASTLE 2

RONCALLI 8 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 1

BATESVILLE 6 GREENSBURG 1

PARK TUDOR 10 SPEEDWAY 8

LAWRENCEBURG 2 CONNERSVILLE 1

HOMESTEAD 9 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 6

BROWNSBURG 5 TRI-WEST 3

MOUNT VERNON 10 ANDERSON 4

MOORESVILLE 11 TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 2

BREBEUF 12  INDIANAPOLIS KINGS  2

AVON 5 CARMEL 1

EAST CENTRAL 10 RUSHVILLE 0

NOBLESVILLE 8 HAMILTON HEIGHTS 4

WESTFIELD 7 CENTER GROVE 6

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/24/2023

CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

WES DEL 18 MUNCIE CENTRAL 0

SHENANDOAH 10  TRI 0

BISHOP CHATARD 11 SCECINA 0

LINCOLN 14 WINCHESTER 0

KOKOMO 8 NORTHWESTERN 7

NORTH CENTRAL 22 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 0

SHELBYVILLE 6 GREENSBURG 1

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 3 PIKE 1

NEW PALESTINE 14 NOBLESVILLE 4

CATHEDRAL 12 LAWRENCE NORTH 2

LEBANON 11 BREBEUF 9

PENDLETON HEIGHTS 11 FRANKTON 1

RONCALLI 17 CENTER GROVE 0

BEN DAVIS 19 RITTER 3

LAPEL 19 HAGERSTOWN 14

FRANKLIN 20 RONCALLI 3

TRITON CENTRAL 24 MORRISTOWN 2

GUERIN CATHOLIC 12 WARREN CENTRAL 11

HARRISON 10 ZIONSVILLE 3

MOUNT VERNON 17 DELTA 2

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:    HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/24/2023

NBA PLAYOFFS

MIAMI 119 MILWAUKEE 114

LA LAKERS 117 MEMPHIS 111 OT

BOX SCORES:  HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP

NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (1) VS. MIAMI HEAT (8)

• GAME 1: HEAT 130, BUCKS 117

• GAME 2: BUCKS 138, HEAT 122

• GAME 3: HEAT 121, BUCKS 99

• GAME 4: HEAT 119, BUCKS 114

• GAME 5: HEAT VS. BUCKS | WED., APRIL 26 | 9:30 ET (NBA TV)

• *GAME 6: BUCKS VS. HEAT | FRI., APRIL 28 | TBD

• *GAME 7: HEAT VS. BUCKS | SUN., APRIL 30 | TBD

HEAT LEAD SERIES 3-1

BOSTON CELTICS (2) VS. ATLANTA HAWKS (7)

• GAME 1: CELTICS 112, HAWKS 99

• GAME 2: CELTICS 119, HAWKS 106

• GAME 3: HAWKS 130, CELTICS 122

• GAME 4: CELTICS 129, HAWKS 121

• GAME 5: HAWKS VS. CELTICS | TUES., APRIL 25 | 7:30 ET (TNT)

• *GAME 6: CELTICS VS. HAWKS | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD

• *GAME 7: HAWKS VS. CELTICS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD

CELTICS LEAD SERIES 2-1

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (3) VS. BROOKLYN NETS (6)

• GAME 1: 76ERS 121, NETS 101

• GAME 2: 76ERS 96, NETS 84

• GAME 3: 76ERS 102, NETS 97

• GAME 4: 76ERS 96, NETS 88

76ERS WIN SERIES 4-0

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (4) VS. NEW YORK KNICKS (5)

• GAME 1: KNICKS 101, CAVALIERS 97

• GAME 2: CAVALIERS 107, KNICKS 90

• GAME 3: KNICKS 99, CAVALIERS 79

• GAME 4: KNICKS 102, CAVALIERS 93

• GAME 5: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | WED., APRIL 26 | 7 ET (NBA TV)

• *GAME 6: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | TBD

• *GAME 7: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TBD

KNICKS LEAD SERIES 3-1

WESTERN CONFERENCE

DENVER NUGGETS (1) VS. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (8)

• GAME 1: NUGGETS 109, TIMBERWOLVES 80

• GAME 2: NUGGETS 122, TIMBERWOLVES 113

• GAME 3: NUGGETS 120, TIMBERWOLVES 111

• GAME 4: TIMBERWOLVES 114, NUGGETS 108 (OT)

• GAME 5: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | TUES., APRIL 25 | 9 ET (NBA TV)

• *GAME 6: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD

• *GAME 7: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD

NUGGETS LEAD SERIES 3-0

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (2) VS. L.A. LAKERS (7)

• GAME 1: LAKERS 128, GRIZZLIES 112

• GAME 2: GRIZZLIES 103, LAKERS 93

• GAME 3: LAKERS 111, GRIZZLIES 101

• GAME 4: LAKERS 117, GRIZZLIES 111

• GAME 5: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | WED., APRIL 26 | 7:30 ET (TNT)

• *GAME 6: GRIZZLIES VS. LAKERS | FRI., APRIL 28 | TBD

• *GAME 7: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | SUN., APRIL 30 | TBD

LAKERS LEAD SERIES 3-1

SACRAMENTO KINGS (3) VS. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (6)

• GAME 1: KINGS 126, WARRIORS 123

• GAME 2: KINGS 114, WARRIORS 106

• GAME 3: WARRIORS 114, KINGS 97

• GAME 4: WARRIORS 126, KINGS 125

• GAME 5: WARRIORS VS. KINGS | WED., APRIL 26 | 10 ET (TNT)

• GAME 6: KINGS VS. WARRIORS | FRI., APRIL 28 | TBD

• *GAME 7: WARRIORS VS. KINGS | SUN., APRIL 30 | TBD

SERIES TIED 2-2

PHOENIX SUNS (4) VS. LA CLIPPERS (5)

• GAME 1: CLIPPERS 115, SUNS 110

• GAME 2: SUNS 123, CLIPPERS 109

• GAME 3: SUNS 129, CLIPPERS 124

• GAME 4: SUNS 112, CLIPPERS 100

• GAME 5: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | TUES., APRIL 25 | 10 ET (TNT)

• *GAME 6: SUNS VS. CLIPPERS | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD

• *GAME 7: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD (TNT)

SUNS LEAD SERIES 3-1

* IF NECESSARY

NHL PLAYOFFS

NEW JERSEY 3 NY RANGERS 1

TORONTO 5 TAMPA BAY 4

VAGAS 4 WINNIPEG 2

SEATTLE 3 COLORADO 2

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP

NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

BOSTON BRUINS (A1) VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS (WC2)

BRUINS LEAD SERIES, 3-1

GAME 1: BRUINS 3, PANTHERS 1

GAME 2: PANTHERS 6, BRUINS 3

GAME 3: BRUINS 4, PANTHERS 2

GAME 4: BRUINS 6, PANTHERS 2

WED., APRIL 26: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, 7 P.M. ET; ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS

*FRI., APRIL 28: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, TBD

*SUN., APRIL 30: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, TBD

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (A2) VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (A3)

MAPLE LEAFS LEAD SERIES, 3-1

GAME 1: LIGHTNING 7, MAPLE LEAFS 3

GAME 2: MAPLE LEAFS, 7, LIGHTNING 2

GAME 3: MAPLE LEAFS 4, LIGHTNING 3 (OT)

GAME 4: MAPLE LEAFS 5, LIGHTNING 4 (OT)

THU., APRIL 27: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, 7 P.M. ET; TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS

*SAT., APRIL 29: MAPLE LEAFS AT LIGHTNING, TBD

*MON., MAY 1: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, TBD

CAROLINA HURRICANES (M1) VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (WC1)

HURRICANES LEAD SERIES, 3-1

GAME 1: HURRICANES 2, ISLANDERS 1

GAME 2: HURRICANES 4, ISLANDERS 3 (OT)

GAME 3: ISLANDERS 5, HURRICANES 1

GAME 4: HURRICANES 5, ISLANDERS 2

TUE., APRIL 25: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, 7 P.M. ET; ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS

*FRI., APRIL 28: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, TBD

*SUN., APRIL 30: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, TBD

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (M2) VS. NEW YORK RANGERS (M3)

SERIES TIED 2-2

GAME 1: RANGERS 5, DEVILS 1

GAME 2: RANGERS 5, DEVILS 1

GAME 3: DEVILS 2, RANGERS 1 (OT)

GAME 4: DEVILS 3, RANGERS 1

THU., APRIL 27: RANGERS AT DEVILS, 7:30 P.M.; ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2

SAT., APRIL 29: DEVILS AT RANGERS, TBD

*MON., MAY 1: RANGERS AT DEVILS, TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE

COLORADO AVALANCHE (C1) VS. SEATTLE KRAKEN (WC1)

SERIES TIED 2-2

GAME 1: KRAKEN 3, AVALANCHE 1

GAME 2:  AVALANCHE 3, KRAKEN 2

GAME 3: AVALANCHE 6, KRAKEN 4

GAME 4: KRAKEN 3, AVALANCHE 2 (OT)

WED., APRIL 26: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, 9:30 P.M. ET; ESPN, SN, SN360, TVAS

FRI., APRIL 28: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN, TBD

*SUN., APRIL 30: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, TBD

DALLAS STARS (C2) VS. MINNESOTA WILD (C3)

SERIES TIED, 2-2

GAME 1: WILD 3, STARS 2 (2OT)

GAME 2: STARS 7, WILD 3

GAME 3: WILD 5, STARS 1

GAME 4: STARS 3, WILD 2

TUE., APRIL 25: WILD AT STARS, 8 P.M. ET; TBS, SN360, TVAS2

FRI., APRIL 28: STARS AT WILD, TBD

*SUN., APRIL 30: WILD AT STARS, TBD

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (P1) VS. WINNIPEG JETS (WC2)

GOLDEN KNIGHTS LEAD SERIES, 3-1

GAME 1: JETS 5, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 1

GAME 2: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5, JETS 2

GAME 3: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5, JETS 4 (2OT)

GAME 4: GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, JETS 2

THU., APRIL 27: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, 10 P.M. ET; ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS

*SAT., APRIL 29: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT JETS, TBD

*MON., MAY 1: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, TBD

EDMONTON OILERS (P2) VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS (P3)

SERIES TIED, 2-2

GAME 1: KINGS 4, OILERS 3 (OT)

GAME 2: OILERS 4, KINGS 2

GAME 3: KINGS 3, OILERS 2 (OT)

GAME 4: OILERS 5, KINGS 4 (OT)

TUE., APRIL 25: KINGS AT OILERS, 9:30 P.M. ET; ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS

SAT., APRIL 29: OILERS AT KINGS, TBD

*MON., MAY 1: KINGS AT OILERS, TBD

* IF NECESSARY

TBD — TO BE DETERMINED

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

COLORADO 6   CLEVELAND 0

CINCINNATI 7 TEXAS 6

DETROIT 4 MILWAUKEE 2

ARIZONA 5 KANSAS CITY 4

BALTIMORE 5 BOSTON 4

TAMPA BAY 8 HOUSTON 3

TORONTO 5 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2

MINNESOTA 6 NY YANKEES 1

OAKLAND 11 LA ANGELS 10 (10)

ATLANTA 11 MIAMI 0

SAN FRANCISCO 4 ST. LOUIS 0

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/MLB/SCOREBOARD.ASP

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

NFL NEWS

AP SOURCE: JETS AGREE ON DEAL TO ACQUIRE AARON RODGERS

(AP) — After six weeks of waiting, Aaron Rodgers is leaving behind his brilliant legacy in Green Bay and heading to the bright lights – and massive expectations – of the Big Apple.

The New York Jets agreed on a deal Monday to acquire the four-time NFL MVP from the Packers, according to a person with knowledge of the trade.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the teams have not officially announced the deal.

The Jets will receive Rodgers, the No. 15 overall pick and a fifth-rounder this year from the Packers, according to another person with knowledge of the trade. In exchange, Green Bay will get the 13th overall selection, a sixth-rounder and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that can become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of plays for New York next season.

The 39-year-old Rodgers spent a few days in February contemplating his life and playing future during an isolation retreat in Oregon – while fans and media speculated about what he would decide.

He emerged and deliberated some more before deciding on March 10 he intended to play again – and for the Jets.

And then he and the sports world waited – and waited – for the Packers and Jets to finally complete a deal.

“I’ve made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and Sirius XM on March 15.

The Jets sent a contingent that included owner Woody Johnson, coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to Rodgers’ home in Southern California in early March. A few days later, Rodgers decided he wanted to continue his playing career by joining the Jets.

Several weeks of negotiations appeared to be stalled at times, with fans – and the teams – wondering when or if the trade would be completed.

“We’re anxious,” Johnson told reporters at the league’s annual meetings on March 28. “I guess, as we look forward, we’re optimistic. But we have a plan, so we’re willing to stick with our plan. And I don’t think anybody is hyperventilating at this point.”

It took a while, but the sides were finally able to agree on compensation. And the deal puts the one-time Super Bowl champion in New York after Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2021, struggled mightily in his first two seasons.

New York was 7-10 last season, finishing on a six-game losing streak that extended the NFL’s longest active playoff drought to a franchise-record 12 straight years.

With the Jets, Rodgers reunites with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to try to jumpstart an offense that was among the NFL’s worst under coordinator Mike LaFleur, the younger brother of Matt, Rodgers’ coach in Green Bay the past four years. Rodgers joins some promising young playmakers on offense, such as wide receiver Garrett Wilson, the AP offensive rookie of the year, and running back Breece Hall.

“There’s a lot of reasons why the Jets are attractive,” Rodgers said during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “But there’s one coach that has meant as much to me as any coach I’ve ever had. And he happens to be the coordinator there.”

Saleh acknowledged a few times this offseason that the Jets were looking for a veteran quarterback to add to a team that features a top-five defense. And Johnson said he was “absolutely” on board with paying an established signal caller – “the missing piece,” he called it – if Douglas could get him.

They ended up getting one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks.

Rodgers said shortly after the season ended that he was making up his mind on whether he wanted to return to the Packers for a 19th season, retire or request a trade. Meanwhile, the Jets explored a few quarterback options, including meeting with free agent Derek Carr at their facility and then again at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

But after Carr agreed to terms to sign with New Orleans, it became even more apparent that New York would be all in on Rodgers – as long as he wanted to play there.

It’s reminiscent of the stunning trade the Jets made in 2008, when they acquired Brett Favre – who also turned 39 a few months later – from the Packers. And, coincidentally, clearing the way for Rodgers to start in Green Bay.

Rodgers was the league MVP in 2020 and 2021, but didn’t perform as well last season while playing with a broken right thumb and dealing with the absence of star wideout Davante Adams, who was traded to Las Vegas. He had his lowest passer rating as a starter (91.1) and threw 12 interceptions, his highest total since 2008. The Packers went 8-9 and missed the playoffs to end a string of three straight NFC North titles.

Rodgers led the Packers to their last Super Bowl title in the 2010 season. Rodgers never got the Packers back to the Super Bowl, but he helped make them annual contenders. The Packers have lost in the NFC championship game four of the last nine seasons.

“I’ve got nothing but love and appreciation for what Aaron has done for so many in our organization,” Matt LaFleur said last month during the NFL meetings in Phoenix.

Rodgers’ departure marks a sea of change for the Packers after they’ve had about three decades of Hall of Fame-level quarterback production in Favre and Rodgers. Next in line is Jordan Love, a 2020 first-round pick who has made only one career start.

Rodgers acknowledged the move caught him by surprise. He skipped the Packers’ 2021 mandatory minicamp in a standoff with team management before reporting to camp and producing a second straight MVP season. (He also won the award for 2011 and 2014.) But the sides had patched things up afterward.

When he was asked last June at the Packers’ mandatory minicamp whether he expected to finish his career in Green Bay, Rodgers replied: “Yes. Definitely.”

Then came a 2022 season that didn’t go according to plan.

Rodgers now will be tasked with leading a franchise that hasn’t been in the Super Bowl since Joe Namath led the franchise to a victory in its only appearance in January 1969.

And quarterback issues have often been among the key culprits in the struggles since. That has especially been the case during the Jets’ current playoff drought.

Saleh said the Jets remain committed to developing Wilson, the second overall pick in 2021. But the 23-year-old will do so as a backup to Rodgers, who was Wilson’s idol while growing up in Utah.

Wilson joked the day after the season ended that he’d welcome a veteran starter coming in to claim his job and said he plans to “make that dude’s life hell in practice every day.”

Little did he know then “that dude” would be the quarterback he tried to emulate as a youngster – who’ll now be in New York trying bring the Jets to another long-awaited Super Bowl.

NFL DRAFT BACK TO BEING ALL ABOUT QBS AT THE TOP

Quarterbacks are back on top in the NFL draft.

A year after the first 19 picks were non-QBs and Kenny Pickett was the only signal-caller selected in the first round, this draft class is loaded with potential franchise players.

Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud have been the center of attention since before last year’s draft even took place. They could become the ninth pair of QBs selected 1-2 in the Super Bowl era.

Anthony Richardson and Will Levis should make it four QBs in the top 15, which has happened only five times previously. If they all go in the top 10, it’ll be the second time ever.

Then there’s Hendon Hooker, who may end up being a late first-round pick despite his age and knee injury.

There’s no consensus at No. 1 this year like there was in 2021 when everyone knew Trevor Lawrence was going to Jacksonville but momentum has been building toward Young going first to Carolina. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama is an overwhelming favorite to go No. 1, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Panthers have been on the clock since they made a blockbuster trade with Chicago in March, leaping from No. 9 to have their choice of QBs.

“You go get the guy that you want,” Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said at the combine. “If you have conviction on a guy, you go get him. It’s pretty simple that way. If you don’t know and you’re going to give all these resources to go up and get it, you’re hurting your team in the long run. You better be right. You better have conviction if you do move up. But when you do that, you’re all-in.”

Young has all the tools. He excelled in a pro-style offense, can make the necessary throws, has strong pocket awareness and the ability to create off-schedule plays. The biggest concern surrounding Young is his size. He measured at 5-foot-9, 204 pounds at the combine.

No quarterback who weighed under 207 pounds at the combine has been drafted in the first round. But Young is too talented to slip beyond the Panthers or Houston Texans at No. 2.

“If you just looked at it analytically, how many guys at that size have (become) superstars as undersized quarterbacks?” Panthers coach Frank Reich said. “And there are some, like Drew Brees … and it all goes back to that recipe. How much are we going to weigh that? How important is that to us as an organization? And that’s the process that we go through. But, everything is a consideration. … It’s also a consideration (with) his playmaking ability, his accuracy, his leadership, his instincts. It’s the same thing with C.J., Levis, Richardson, all of those guys. You look at every single one of those things, and it’s a sliding scale on how you evaluate them.”

Stroud was a finalist for the Heisman the past two seasons at Ohio State. He has the prototypical size at 6-foot-3, 214 pounds and is a precision passer who makes smart decisions. He didn’t do too much outside the pocket but showed superior playmaking ability in a College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Georgia.

“The old scouting adage is if you can do it once, you can do it. So you know he does have that ability.” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “He is the purest thrower of the bunch. Just accurate. If you value decision-making, accuracy, as pretty much everybody does, C.J. Stroud is really, really solid in that.”

Levis has the size, 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, that teams desire and experience playing in a pro-style offense at Kentucky. He has a strong arm and he’s athletic but also showed a propensity for making poor decisions.

“He has the traits to do so many things that Young and Stroud can’t, but evaluators are wondering if he will be able to figure out the mechanics,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said.

Levis certainly doesn’t lack confidence.

“I want to be the greatest of all time. I think you’re crazy if you don’t think that way,” he said.

Richardson is the least experienced of the four, having started just one season at Florida. But many scouts feel he has the most potential of all the QBs in this class.

Richardson has elite dual-threat talent but needs time to develop. He could be the second or third quarterback selected.

“I know he hasn’t played a ton, but teams are starting to look at some of these quarterbacks as lottery tickets, and this one has the biggest payout,” Jeremiah said.

Hooker, the 25-year-old who played five seasons at Tennessee and Virginia Tech, is coming off surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee. Still, plenty of mock drafts expect him to come off the board later in the first round.

“I plan to be a sponge talking to vets and coaches, on and off the field, how to be a pro,” Hooker said.

“That’s the first thing I want to do. And then impart my character and the person that I am and build a trust within the organization.”

With teams investing so much money on QBs — even the Giants’ Daniel Jones is among the 10 who have an average annual salary of $40 million — finding the right one in the draft is imperative.

NFL DRAFT GUIDE: HOW TO WATCH, WHO WILL GO NO. 1

The NFL never really stops, so the offseason continues with the draft starting Thursday night.

The Carolina Panthers have the No. 1 overall pick and, as usual, a lot of the hype surrounds the quarterbacks. Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson are among the coveted prospects.

Here’s more to know ahead of the NFL draft:

WHEN IS THE NFL DRAFT?

The draft is a three-day extravaganza in Kansas City, Missouri, starting Thursday night.

The first round begins at 8 p.m. Eastern. The second and third rounds are on Friday starting at 7 p.m. The fourth through seventh rounds are on Saturday starting at 12 p.m.

The draft can be viewed on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

MOCK DRAFT

Everyone is pretty much asking the same questions about the NFL draft. See how AP’s experts on NFL and college football answer them in AP’s NFL mock draft.

WHO HAS THE TOP PICKS?

The Panthers have the No. 1 pick in the draft after making a trade with the Chicago Bears.

After that, the Houston Texans select at No. 2, while the Arizona Cardinals are No. 3. The Indianapolis Colts (No. 4) and Seattle Seahawks (No. 5) round out the top 5.

The Panthers are expected to take a quarterback with the top selection. The candidates include Young, Stroud, Levis and Richardson.

QUIET THURSDAY

Not every team has a draft pick in the first round. The Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers will sit the first night out unless they make a trade.

Four of the five teams are out of the first round because of trades. The one exception is the Dolphins. The NFL punished the franchise by taking away its 2023 first-round and 2024 third-round pick after a probe found the team tampered with quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton.

BIG DRAFT FOR TEs, RBs?

The most loaded position in this draft might just be tight end. The record for tight ends drafted in the first round is three, most recently done in 2017. There is a chance that gets broken and more tight ends go in the first round than wideouts.

Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, Georgia’s Darnell Washington and Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave all have their fans and could be among those selected Thursday night.

The draft could also be a semi-renaissance for the running back spot. Texas’ Bijan Robinson is one of the most coveted prospects at his position in the past decade. Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Texas A&M’s Devon Achane, UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet and Tulane’s Tyjae Spears are also talented prospects.

NBA NEWS

BUTLER SCORES 56, HEAT STUN BUCKS 119-114 FOR 3-1 LEAD

MIAMI (AP) Jimmy Butler had the game of his life, and the Miami Heat had a comeback for the ages.

Butler scored 56 points – tying the fourth-best scoring performance ever in an NBA playoff game – and the Heat roared back from 14 points down in the final quarter to stun the Milwaukee Bucks 119-114 on Monday night to put the NBA’s top overall seed on the brink of early elimination.

The 56 points also became Butler’s career high, as well as a franchise playoff record. And the 14-point fourth-quarter comeback became Miami’s biggest of the season, at the absolute biggest time.

“We knew what we were capable of, even if nobody outside of this building, outside of this roster and outside of this organization believed in us,” Butler said. “That’s fine. We just want to continue to do what we know is possible.”

It is a statistically improbable story: The No. 8 seed now leads the No. 1 seed 3-1, something that has only happened four other times since the NBA went to the 16-team playoff format in 1984.

But Butler has willed them there. He was 19 for 28 from the field, 15 of 18 from the foul line and added nine rebounds.

“We deserved to win that game,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said, “because he played incredible.”

Brook Lopez scored 36 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a two-game absence with a bruised back and had a triple-double – 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.

The Bucks – who now need to win three straight, starting with Game 5 at Milwaukee on Wednesday – led almost the whole way, until the Heat roared back in the final minutes. Miami was 8 for 9 from the floor in the final six minutes, Milwaukee was 4 for 13, and the Heat outscored the Bucks 30-13 in that game-ending stretch.

“We didn’t make enough plays on either end,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “And they did.”

Butler had 21 of his points in the fourth, and the Heat still trailed 101-89 after a layup by Lopez with 6:09 left.

That’s when a 13-0 run, capped by a Butler dunk off a Bucks turnover, put Miami up for the first time all night with 3:17 left – 102-101.

The lead changed hands four more times, and Butler’s 3-pointer with 1:20 left put Miami ahead for good. He added a step-back jumper on Miami’s next possession, punched the air in celebration, and the Heat knew they would soon be leaving with a 3-1 lead.

“For 40 minutes of this game, it was frustrating. … It just shows you that when you have the right grit and perseverance, you can win,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And then it always helps to have a guy like him.”

The only players to score more in a playoff game: Michael Jordan had 63 in 1986, Elgin Baylor had 61 in 1962, Donovan Mitchell had 57 in 2020. Butler became the fourth with 56, joining Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Charles Barkley.

“He obviously played great,” Lopez said. “He’s been great all series long. He’s been aggressive. He’s been knocking down shots, shooting the 3 extremely well. There hasn’t been a thing he hasn’t been doing. It’s a tough draw, but we have to keep getting better, keep making life tough for him, one game at a time.”

Adebayo scored 15, Caleb Martin had 12 and Gabe Vincent scored 10 for the Heat.

Antetokounmpo missed Games 2 and 3 of the series – and most of Game 1 – with a bruised lower back. He worked out Sunday, went through shootaround with the Bucks on Monday, got cleared to play and looked good as new.

But Butler was better than ever.

He set the tone early – with the highest-scoring quarter of his career. He had 22 of Miami’s 28 first-quarter points, including 20 in a row over a span of 5:45 late in the period.

And in the fourth, he had 21 more – leading a massive comeback, one that put a team that won an NBA-best 58 games this season squarely on the ropes in Round 1.

“The series is still going,” Spoelstra said. “And we have great respect for the championship DNA that group has.”

TIP-INS

Bucks: Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton each scored 14 for the Bucks. … Milwaukee now has made 138 3-pointers in eight games against Miami this season, including playoffs. No team has ever made more vs. the Heat in a season; Boston made 126 in 10 games last season. … All three of Antetokounmpo’s playoff triple-doubles have come on the road – two at Miami, the other at Boston.

Heat: Butler is averaging 16.5 points in first quarters in the series, with at least 13 points to open all four games. … It was the 99th win of Spoelstra’s playoff career.

OLADIPO TRIBUTE

The game was Miami’s first since Victor Oladipo’s season-ending torn left patellar tendon injury. Heat players arrived at the arena wearing Oladipo T-shirts. “He said, ‘Don’t shed any tears for me. I’m going to get through all of this,’” Spoelstra said.

FANDUEL SAYS

Milwaukee closed as a 7.5-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Heat hadn’t been more than a 2.5-point underdog in any home game this season, and weren’t such a big underdog in their arena since Feb. 27, 2019 against Golden State – 177 games ago.

LEBRON LEADS LAKERS PAST GRIZZ 117-111 IN OT FOR 3-1 LEAD

LOS ANGELES (AP) LeBron James made the tying layup with 0.8 seconds left in regulation before scoring four of his 22 points in overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers surged to a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series with a 117-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

The 38-year-old James also grabbed a career playoff-high 20 rebounds and added seven assists and two blocked shots while committing just one turnover in his 270th playoff game, extending his own NBA record. He became the first Lakers player to put up 20 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game since Shaquille O’Neal in 2004.

“He just took over down the stretch,” Anthony Davis said of James. “Got us a bucket to get to overtime. … All our guys, it was a good team effort. This team is not going to go away.”

Austin Reaves scored 23 points and Davis had five of his 12 in overtime for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who have won two straight home games to move to the brink of their first playoff series victory outside the Florida bubble since 2012.

Los Angeles surged back from a seven-point deficit with five minutes left in regulation with a rally that abruptly began when D’Angelo Russell hit three consecutive 3-pointers, and the Lakers never trailed in OT.

“I’m so proud of our guys, the way we fought,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “We found a way.”

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Memphis.

Desmond Bane scored 36 points and hit a tiebreaking layup with 6.7 seconds left in regulation for the second-seeded Grizzlies, who will have to rally from a 3-1 series deficit and win a Game 7 for the first time in franchise history to advance.

Ja Morant scored 19 points with his injured right hand, but Davis blocked his jumper at the regulation buzzer. The Grizzlies then missed six of their first eight shots in overtime while committing two key turnovers.

Dillon Brooks, who dismissed James as “old” after Game 2, had 11 points for Memphis after getting ejected from Game 3 for striking James in the groin.

James coolly scored the basket that forced overtime over heavy defensive pressure, and he hit a huge layup while getting fouled to put the Lakers up by five with 29.1 seconds to play in OT. Dennis Schröder and Austin Reaves buried two free throws apiece to seal the Lakers’ 12th win in 15 games dating to the regular season.

The Lakers trailed for much of the second half, and Davis didn’t look sharp for much of Game 4 while struggling with an apparent hip injury that required a heating pad on the bench. But Davis blocked four shots, and the Lakers excelled whenever the big man was protecting the rim.

Morant’s 45-point performance in Game 3 wasn’t enough to dig the Grizzlies out of an early 29-point hole in his first game back from an injury absence with a sore right hand. He then reacted with obvious pain after he jammed the hand into the ground again during the second half of Game 4, but kept playing and even dunked on Rui Hachimura an instant before the third-quarter buzzer.

The Grizzlies fell behind by an NBA record-tying 26 points after a historically bad first quarter in Game 3, but they dramatically improved their start in Game 4. The Lakers still jumped out to a 15-point lead in the first half before Memphis got back in it with a big surge to close the first half.

TIP-INS

Grizzlies: Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe watched the game from courtside. Sharpe, a Fox Sports commentator and a huge LeBron fan, got into a shouting match with several Grizzlies and Morant’s father during their visit to face the Lakers in January, requiring security to intervene. There was no apparent drama this time out. … Jaren Jackson Jr. kneed Schröder very near the groin while setting a screen in the fourth quarter, but assessed only a common foul after video review.

Lakers: The celebrity-studded sellout crowd included Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who watched from a luxury box. Edward Norton, Adam Sandler, USC coach Lincoln Riley and Diddy also attended. … Jarred Vanderbilt scored 15 points and even hit his first 3-pointer in 20 days during the first quarter. His impressive defense has been more valuable than his balky offensive game for the Lakers, who quickly put him in the starting lineup after his arrival at the trade deadline. 

AP SOURCE: FOX DOUBTFUL FOR GAME 5 WITH BROKEN FINGER

(AP) — Sacramento star guard De’Aaron Fox broke the index finger on his shooting hand and is doubtful to play in Game 5 of the Kings’ first-round series against the Golden State Warriors.

A person familiar with the injury said that Fox injured the finger on his left hand late in a Game 4 loss to the Warriors on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t publicly release details.

Fox remained in the game after the injury and even made a key 3-pointer in the closing minute before Sacramento lost 126-125. Fox passed out of a double team on the final possession and the Kings lost when Harrison Barnes missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The series is tied at two games apiece headed into Game 5 in Sacramento on Wednesday night.

Fox has emerged as a star in his first trip to the postseason, averaging 31.5 points, seven assists and six rebounds through six games.

His 38 points in a Game 1 win were tied for the second most for a player in his postseason debut and his 126 points so far are tied for the sixth most for any player in his first four career playoff games.

Fox had 38 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the Game 4 loss.

Fox was announced last week as the inaugural winner of the NBA’s clutch player of the year award. He led the league in clutch-game scoring this season with 194 points in 39 such games; clutch games are defined as those where the margin between teams is five points or less at any point in the final five minutes.

That was the most clutch points scored in a season since LeBron James had 197 in the 2017-18 season.

AP SOURCE: ROCKETS HIRE EX-CELTICS COACH UDOKA AS NEW COACH

HOUSTON (AP) Ime Udoka has been hired as the new coach of the Houston Rockets, a source familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.

Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season, then was suspended for this season after the disclosure of an inappropriate relationship with a female Celtics employee.

The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team had not officially announced the move.

He replaces Stephen Silas, who was fired after three seasons.

The Rockets had the worst record in the previous two seasons and finished tied with the Spurs for the second-worst record this season, earning another lottery pick in this year’s draft.

The 45-year-old Udoka led the Celtics to a 51-31 record in his one season in Boston. The Celtics finished the regular season on a 26-6 run and beat Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Miami in the playoffs before falling to Golden State in six games in the NBA Finals.

Udoka wasn’t drafted and played professionally in Europe ahead of a seven-year NBA career that included short stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Knicks and Trail Blazers before he spent three of his last four years with the Spurs.

He then joined coach Gregg Popovich’s staff as an assistant, working with San Antonio from 2012-19. Udoka then spent one season each as an assistant with the 76ers and Nets before being hired to replace Brad Stevens in Boston.

Udoka was a candidate to replace Nick Nurse in Toronto before being hired by the Rockets over candidates that included Nurse, Sam Cassell and Frank Vogel.

Udoka takes over a team that made the playoffs in eight straight seasons before the trade of James Harden in January 2021 led to a complete rebuild. General manager Rafael Stone said this month that he plans to pursue some veteran free agents this offseason to add to Houston’s young talent as the Rockets try to turn things around.

The Rockets hope to build their team around Jalen Green, the third pick in the 2021 draft and Jabari Smith, taken second in 2022. And they’ll get to add another top player this year as one of three teams with the best odds to win the draft lottery and get the No. 1 pick at 14%.

Terms of Udoka’s deal were not immediately available.

HAWKS G MURRAY SUSPENDED FOR GAME 5 VS CELTICS

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks guard Dejounte Murray has been suspended for Game 5 of the playoff series against the Boston Celtics with Atlanta facing the end of its season.

The NBA announced Monday that Murray will have to sit out one game without pay for making inappropriate contact with an official, as well as verbal abuse.

The incident occurred after the Hawks’ 129-121 loss in Game 4, which pushed Boston to a 3-1 lead in the series. The suspension was handed out by Joe Dumars, the league’s head of basketball operations and chief disciplinarian.

After the horn sounded to end the game, Murray was captured on video bumping official Gediminas Petraitis with his chest while walking off the court. The player then turned to yell something at the referee before he was pulled away and directed toward the locker room.

The Celtics can advance to the second round with a victory at home Tuesday night.

Murray scored 23 points in Game 4, but it was his worst outing of the series. The Hawks were outscored by 16 points while he was on the court.

Murray is averaging 25.3 points in the series, leaving a huge hole for the Hawk to fill as they try to extend the season on the road.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NBA DRAFT INCLUDES EMONI BATES AFTER 2 SEASONS IN COLLEGE

(AP) — Emoni Bates is entering the NBA draft, banking on teams being intrigued with his potential as a scorer after seeing flashes of his talent in two seasons of college basketball.

Bates made the announcement Monday on social media.

“What I been dreaming for my whole life,” he posted on Instagram.

The 6-foot-10 wing averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 30 games at Eastern Michigan last season, making 40.5% of his shots overall and 33% of 3-point attempts.

“I’m excited for Emoni and his future,” Eagles coach Stan Heath told The Associated Press. “He is a talented young player who works extremely hard and is passionate to be successful.”

After graduating from high school in three years and being regarded as a basketball prodigy, Bates went to Memphis for one season and averaged 9.7 points in 18 games during an injury-shortened season. He transferred to play for the school in his hometown of Ypsilanti, Michigan.

“I know he will continue to improve and mature as he continues the journey,” Heath said. “There is no question his best basketball is ahead and I support him on his decision.”

Bates will spend the next couple of months working out for NBA teams and answering their questions about his life on and off the court.

Last September, he was charged with two felonies – carrying a concealed weapon and “altering ID marks” – after a traffic stop and was suspended by Eastern Michigan as a student and basketball player. His attorney said the vehicle and the gun didn’t belong to Bates.

Bates was sentenced in December to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge, a conviction that will be expunged from his record if he completes probation successfully. He was reinstated to the school and basketball team in October after prosecutors agreed to drop felony charges against him.

Bates bounced back as a basketball player and at times during his sophomore season, showed some of the skills that made him the first sophomore high school basketball player to win the Gatorade national player of the year award and landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

He scored 29 straight points for Eastern Michigan in the first half of a loss last season at Toledo, where he finished with career highs in points (43) and 3-pointers (nine) after making 15 of 23 shots.

In 2019 as a high school freshman, the slender and skilled guard led Ypsilanti Lincoln to a state title and was named Michigan’s Division 1 Player of the Year by The Associated Press. His sophomore season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic and he attended Ypsi Prep Academy as a junior, his final year of high school.

Bates initially committed to playing for Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He later de-committed and signed with Memphis and coach Penny Hardaway.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: BRAVES’ SPENCER STRIDER FLIRTS WITH NO-NO VS. MARLINS

Spencer Strider struck out a season-high 13 batters in eight scoreless innings and Sam Hilliard hit a pair of home runs to help the Atlanta Braves end their four-game losing streak with an 11-0 win over the visiting Miami Marlins on Monday.

Strider retired the first 18 batters he faced. The perfect-game bid ended in the seventh when Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached on an error, rolling a routine grounder through the legs of first baseman Matt Olson. Jean Segura snapped the no-hitter with a line-drive single to left with one out in the eighth.

Strider (3-0) allowed two hits in his longest stint of the season and did not walk a batter. He has pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings and has allowed three hits during that span. Joe Jimenez pitched a scoreless ninth inning to finish the game.

Edward Cabrera (1-2), who allowed a season-high four runs on four hits, took the loss. He yielded two homers and four walks with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Rays 8, Astros 3

Wander Franco went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI as Tampa Bay continued to reach milestones by rallying past the Houston in St. Petersburg, Fla., for its 14th straight home win to start the season.

The Rays used a four-run third inning to break a tie with the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers and claim the longest home winning streak to start a campaign since 1901. The all-time mark is a 21-0 home start by the 1880 Chicago White Stockings, the precursor to the Cubs.

Rookie Taj Bradley (3-0) won in his third career start, allowing three runs on four hits in five innings. He fanned six. Jose Urquidy (1-2) surrendered six runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Rockies 6, Guardians 0

Jurickson Profar homered and drove in three runs as Colorado snapped a three-game losing skid with a win at Cleveland.

Mike Moustakas had three hits and Ezequiel Tovar had two RBIs for the Rockies, who had lost 11 of their previous 12 games. Austin Gomber (1-4) allowed three hits over five shutout innings for his first win since July 12, 2022.

The Guardians were limited to four hits and lost for the sixth time in their past eight games. Steven Kwan had three of the hits.

Orioles 5, Red Sox 4

Baltimore overcame a four-run deficit and extended its winning streak to seven games by beating visiting Boston in the opener of a three-game series.

It was a 4-4 game until Austin Hays drove in Jorge Mateo with a single in the fifth inning. Rafael Devers hit his American League-leading ninth home run of the season for Boston, which received a solo home run from Triston Casas and three hits from Masataka Yoshida.

Baltimore starter Dean Kremer (2-0) allowed four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first career save.

Reds 7, Rangers 6

TJ Friedl hit a walk-off single as Cincinnati ended its six-game losing streak with a win over visiting Texas.

Spencer Steer went 2-for-4 with a two-run triple and two runs, while Friedl went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run and India went 1-for-3 with three runs for the Reds. Alexis Diaz (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the win to culminate a stellar performance by the Reds’ bullpen, which allowed just one hit over the final five innings.

Josh Jung went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs and Ezequiel Duran went 3-for-4 with a double and a run for Texas, which lost for just the second time in eight games.

Blue Jays 5, White Sox 2

Cavan Biggio hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the fourth inning and Toronto defeated visiting Chicago in the opener of a three-game series.

It was the fifth loss in a row for the White Sox while the Blue Jays have won two straight. Toronto’s Chris Bassitt (3-2) allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings before exiting because of lower back tightness. Three relievers completed the Blue Jays’ three-hitter, with Jordan Romano earning his eighth save by tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Chicago right-hander Lance Lynn (0-3) allowed four runs in five innings.

Tigers 4, Brewers 2

Nick Maton hit a three-run homer and visiting Detroit snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating Milwaukee.

Javier Baez reached base three times and scored a run for Detroit in the opener of a three-game interleague series. Matthew Boyd (1-1) gave up two runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out eight and walked one. Alex Lange fanned two in a perfect ninth inning for his second save.

William Contreras and Mike Brosseau hit solo homers for the Brewers. Colin Rea (0-1) allowed four runs in five innings.

Twins 6, Yankees 1

Two ex-New York players came through for Minnesota as Sonny Gray pitched seven scoreless innings and Joey Gallo hit his sixth home run of the season in the Twins’ win at Minneapolis.

Gray (3-0), who posted a 4.51 ERA in 41 games with the Yankees in the final two months of 2017 and all of 2018, held the Yankees to three hits and two walks while striking out eight. He ended the night with a major-league-best 0.62 ERA.

Gallo socked his third homer since returning from a right intercostal strain that prevented him from playing in the teams’ four-game series April 13-16 in New York. The Yankees lost for the third time in four games and were held to three runs or fewer for the ninth time in 11 games.

A’s 11, Angels 10 (10 innings)

Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar hit back-to-back homers in both the first and third innings, but it was a two-run double by Ryan Noda in the 10th that snapped a tie and helped lift Oakland past Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.

After the A’s scored three times in the top of the 10th, the Angels got a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning from Brandon Drury, his second of the game. However, Jeurys Familia was able to post his second save by getting Mike Trout to hit into a force play with the potential tying and winning runs on base.

Adam Oller (1-0) threw two scoreless innings for the win.

Giants 4, Cardinals 0

Alex Cobb threw the second shutout of his 12-year career and San Francisco opened a four-game home series against St. Louis with a victory.

J.D. Davis capped a four-run seventh inning with a three-run home run. Activated off the injured list before the game to make his Giants debut, Mitch Haniger contributed a sacrifice fly to the seventh-inning uprising. Cobb (1-1) allowed six hits and one walk while striking out four in just his fifth career complete game.

Cardinals starter Jordan Montgomery (2-3) took a shutout into the seventh inning and was saddled with the loss because he was charged an unearned run. He gave up five hits and one walk in his six-plus innings, striking out six.

Diamondbacks 5, Royals 4

Geraldo Perdomo and Pavin Smith each collected two hits and Arizona scored the go-ahead run on an eighth-inning error in a win over Kansas City in Phoenix.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Christian Walker walked and Gabriel Moreno singled, moving Walker to third against Aroldis Chapman (0-1). Nick Ahmed followed with a ground ball to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, whose errant throw to home plate allowed Walker to score.

Kansas City had rallied to tie the game at 4 in the top of the eighth against Andrew Chafin (2-0). Arizona starter Tommy Henry made his first appearance of the season, and he allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings.

MANFRED: ‘SORRY’ FOR OAKLAND FANS; A’S CAN COMPETE IN VEGAS

NEW YORK (AP) Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he feels “sorry for the fans in Oakland” about the Athletics’ plans to relocate to Las Vegas but denies claims by Oakland’s mayor that the franchise used negotiations with the city as leverage.

Manfred discussed the plans Monday during a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors, adding that he believes the last-place A’s can field a more competitive team in Nevada.

The franchise announced last week it has signed a binding agreement to purchase land for a new retractable roof ballpark close to the Las Vegas Strip after being unable to construct a new venue in the Bay Area. The A’s had been trying to escape the run-down Oakland Coliseum for years, exploring options in Fremont and San Jose before shifting focus to Oakland’s waterfront.

After the A’s announced the land purchase, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said in a statement that she was disappointed the A’s didn’t negotiate with the city as a “true partner.”

“It is clear to me that the A’s have no intention of staying in Oakland and have simply been using this process to try to extract a better deal out of Las Vegas,” she said.

Manfred refuted that, saying owner John Fisher negotiated exclusively with Oakland from 2014-21 before beginning to look elsewhere.

“I feel sorry for the fans in Oakland. I really do,” he said. “But for the city of Oakland to point fingers at John Fisher, it’s not fair.

“We have shown an unbelievable commitment to the fans in Oakland by exhausting every possible opportunity to try to get something done in Oakland,” he added. “Unfortunately, the government doesn’t seem to have the will to get it done.”

The A’s will work with Nevada and Clark County on a public-private partnership to fund the new stadium with a seating capacity of 30,000 to 35,000. The team hopes to break ground by next year and move to their new home by 2027.

The timeline for Oakland’s move remains uncertain, Manfred said. The A’s lease at the Coliseum expires after the 2024 season, and there’s been discussion of the A’s temporarily playing at the home of their Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators. Manfred said he did believe it was feasible schedule-wise to have the A’s and their top minor league team share a ballpark.

A year after finishing last in the American League, the A’s have the worst record in baseball at 4-18. They also opened the season with the sport’s lowest payroll at $58 million.

Fueled in part by Billy Beane’s Moneyball strategies, Oakland has made the postseason in 11 of the past 24 seasons despite modest payrolls. The A’s have also finished last in the AL West four of the past eight seasons, raising concerns in Las Vegas that fans may be inheriting a cellar dweller.

Manfred believes the relocation could improve the on-field product, pointing to what the front office has previously accomplished despite lesser resources than other clubs.

“Their attendance has never been outstanding, let’s put it that way,” he said.

“To me, it ought to be all positive on the competitive front,” he added. “You got really smart baseball operations people. You got owners that want to win, and I think Las Vegas will present a real revenue enhancing opportunity. So I think you’re going to have a good product.”

Manfred has previously said that expansion to 32 teams will be a serious consideration once the A’s and Tampa Bay Rays resolve their long-running stadium woes. He said Monday that he is hopeful about the Rays finding a resolution that keeps them in the Tampa area and reiterated that expansion would then be up for discussion.

Several cities have already begun planning for potential bids to add teams, including Nashville, Charlotte, Montreal, Portland and Salt Lake City. Manfred acknowledged that “Nashville is on everybody’s list.” He also said that while he’s eager to grow the game in Mexico, but he’s “never been close to the idea of Mexico as an expansion opportunity.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SANDERS SEES NUMEROUS COLORADO PLAYERS ENTER TRANSFER PORTAL

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders saw a number of players stampede to the transfer portal, including a holdover wide receiver who was the standout in Colorado’s sold-out spring game over the weekend.

Wideout Montana Lemonious-Craig turned in an impressive performance Saturday at Folsom Field for the Buffaloes, which was highlighted by his 98-yard touchdown catch. A day later, Lemonious-Craig was among a migration of players departing the program that Coach Prime was brought in to rebuild on the heels of a 1-11 season.

By Monday, others who announced on social media they will enter the portal include receivers Jordyn Tyson and Chase Sowell, outside linebacker Shakaun Bowser, defensive backs Tyrin Taylor and Jason Oliver, running back Deion Smith and offensive lineman Alex Harkey.

Since his arrival, Sanders has been overhauling the Buffaloes roster through the portal. He brought with him from Jackson State his quarterback son, Shedeur, and receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. His additions were recently ranked No. 1 in the transfer-portal class by 247 Sports.

Sanders pledged to keep looking, too.

He adamantly talked Saturday about players who elected to depart right before the spring game and players who may leave in the aftermath of spring practice.

“I didn’t kick them out. They walked out,” Sanders said. “Anytime someone quits a few days before the spring game, that should tell you a lot. God bless them, though. The thing about it is I have no disdain or whatever. If they called me to speak on their behalf for a coach, I would do so. I’m not going to lie, but I would do so. So, God bless them.

“We don’t look behind us, man. We look ahead.”

On Sunday, Lemonious-Craig posted a statement on social media expressing his “heartfelt appreciation and gratitude” toward the school. He posted Monday on social media a list of schools that have reached out to him.

Lemonious-Craig finished with 23 receptions for 359 yards and three TDs last season for the Buffaloes. His biggest catch was the winning touchdown pass in overtime from J.T. Shrout in Colorado’s lone win last season, a 20-13 victory over California.

Tyson also announced he entered the portal. He was the most dynamic receiver for the Buffaloes last season before suffering a knee injury, finishing with 22 catches for 470 yards and four touchdowns. He was presented the team’s Darian Hagan award for most dynamic offensive player.

Tyson said in his announcement on social media: “I believe that this is the best choice for me at this time in my career and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

Sowell caught two passes for 23 yards last season. On Sowell’s announcement, Coach Prime posted, “ Great young man! ”

BIG 10 BASEBALL

Player of the Week
Eddie Hacopian, Maryland
So. – 1B – Potomac, Md. – Winston Churchill

• Compiled a .550 batting average, four home runs and 11 RBI last week as Maryland posted a 4-1 record
• Homered in three-straight games and extended his RBI streak to 10 games
• Amassed a 1.250 slugging percentage and 1.879 OPS while scoring nine runs
• Receives his first Big Ten weekly award
• Last Maryland Player of the Week selection: Matt Shaw (April 3, 2023)

Pitcher of the Week
Ethan Phillips, Indiana
Fr. – RHP – Dunedin, Fla. – Calvary Christian

• Recorded two wins in relief, posting a 0.00 ERA over 8.1 innings and holding opponents to a .040 batting average
• Took the mound against No. 10 Louisville trailing 1-0 and proceeded to retire the first seven batters; held the Cardinals to one hit over 4.2 innings in IU’s 7-3 win on April 18
• Struck out five batters and allowed no hits in 3.2 innings of work versus Ohio
• Collects his first Pitcher of the Week award
• Last Indiana Pitcher of the Week: Ty Bothwell (May 18, 2022)

Freshman of the Week
Tyler Cerny, Indiana
Fr. – 2B – Greenwood, Ind. – Center Grove

• Helped Indiana to a 5-0 week, hitting .438 (7-for-16) with three home runs and nine RBI
• Drove in six runs and left the yard twice in a 17-2 win over Ohio on April 22
• Five of his eight hits went for extra bases resulting in a 1.056 slugging percentage
• Earns first Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Devin Taylor (April 17, 2023)

BIG 10 SOFTBALL

Player of the Week 
Lexie Black, Penn State
Sr. – 1B – Omaha, Neb. – Millard West – Major: Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
• Registered a .500 batting average, 1.400 slugging percentage and .583 on-base percentage last week in helping Penn State win three of four games
• Finished the week with three home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored
• Had three RBI in wins over Bucknell (April 18) and Maryland (April 21), hitting a three-run home run against Bucknell and a pair of home runs (accounting for all three PSU runs) against Maryland
• 2022 Academic All-Big Ten honoree
• Earns her first Big Ten Player of the Week award 
• Last Penn State Player of the Week: Ally Kurland (April 4, 2022)
 
Pitcher of the Week
Autumn Pease, Minnesota 
5th-Yr. – RHP – Murrieta, Calif. – Murrieta Mesa – Major: Kinesiology 
• Went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA, two complete-game shutouts, 24 strikeouts and only three walks in 16.0 innings last week, pacing the Golden Gophers to a sweep of Big Ten foe Iowa
• Tossed a four-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in the series opener on April 21
• Came back the next day to scatter seven hits and fan 12 batters in another complete-game win
• Closed the weekend series with a victory in relief on Sunday, allowing just one hit over the final two frames in a 2-1 nine-inning triumph
• Two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2021, 2022) 
• Collects her third career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award and second this season
• Last Minnesota Pitcher of the Week: Autumn Pease (March 13, 2023) 
 
Freshman of the Week 
Taryn Kern, Indiana 
Fr. – 2B – San Jose, Calif. – Archbishop Mitty – Major: Undeclared 
• Batted .500 with a 1.250 slugging percentage and .833 on-base percentage in last weekend’s series sweep at Rutgers
• Tallied one home run, four RBI and five runs scored, while also drawing five walks
• Drilled her NCAA-leading 19th home run of the season, a two-run blast, in Sunday’s series finale — her 19 home runs are only five shy of the Big Ten single-season record (24 by Illinois’ Angelena Mexicano in 2008)
• Captures her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award, tying for fourth-most in conference history (she is also a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week selection this season)
• Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Avery Parker (April 3, 2023) 

MAC BASEBALL

MAC Baseball Co-Players of the Week

Ryan Peltier, Ball State, 3B        

Graduate Student, Vandalia, Ohio (Chaminade Julienne)            

Ryan Peltier led Ball State five home runs and posted a team-high 12 RBIs. He recorded a .368 batting average and finished the week with seven runs scored and one triple. In the weekend series against NIU, he hit five home runs, a triple, and a single. He also drew one walk and was a perfect 1-for-1 on stolen base attempts. In Sunday’s 15-5 victory, he hit three home runs and became the 38th play to hit three home runs in a single game. Defensively, he produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with three putouts and five assists.

Ryland Zaborowski, Miami, 1B

Redshirt Sophomore, Gilbert, Ariz. (Basha)        

Ryland Zaborowski homered in all four Miami games this week to lead the RedHawks’ offense. He hit a grand slam Tuesday against Ohio State and capped a doubleheader sweep of Kent State Saturday with a walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the 10th. For the week, Zaborowski posted a slugging percentage of 1.235 with five extra-base hits.

MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Keegan Batka, Central Michigan, RHP   

Junior, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Kellogg CC/Grand Rapids Christian)             

Central Michigan junior Keegan Batka did not allow a run over 10 innings in two starts last week, capped by an eight-inning dominating performance in a 3-0 win at Akron on Sunday. Batka struck out a career-high 10 against the Zips and allowed just four hits while walking three. He set the final nine hitters consecutively, highlighting his day by striking out the side in the eighth inning. He surrendered just one hit while starting and going two innings on a staff day in a midweek game against Madonna.

HCAC MEN’S TENNIS: 2023 HCAC MEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

In 2023, Hanover College secured the No. 1 seed, following a perfect 6-0 mark in conference play. Transylvania University snagged the No. 2 seed, with a 5-1 mark in league play. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology locked up the No. 3 seed following a 4-2 mark, while Franklin College picked up the No. 4 seed, and the right to host the opening round, following a 3-3 finish on the year. Securing the final two slots in the championship tournament were the No. 5 seed Anderson University (2-4) and the No. 6 seed Manchester University (1-5).

The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will host the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds in the opening rounds, with the winning teams advancing to the semifinal rounds against the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. No. 3 Rose-Hulman will host No. 6 Manchester on Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. The No. 4 seed Franklin will host the No. 5 seed Anderson on Wednesday, April 26 at 5 p.m.

The winners of the both the men’s quarterfinal rounds will advance to face the No. 1 and 2 seeds on Saturday, April 29 at Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville, Ky. The Championship contest will be held on Sunday, April 30 between the remaining teams at Top Seed Tennis Club.

For more information on HCAC men’s tennis, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC’s home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the “HCAC DIII” Facebook page.

HCAC BASEBALL

Athletes of the Week:  

Hitting Athlete of the Week:  

Johnathan LaGuire (Lafayette, Ind.) Franklin College | Senior- LaGuire Turned in another huge week at the plate with five home runs, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored and a .556 (10-fr-18) batting average as Franklin went 3-1 on the week. LaGuire went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored as part of Franklin’s 13-3 upset of #9 Denison on Thursday. LaGuire went 5-for-6 with two home runs, six knocked in and four runs scored as part of a 17-8 win over Rose-Hulman in the weekend series opener, LaGuire finished the series with the Engineers with 11 RBI, five long balls and eight runs scored. 

Pitching Athlete of the Week: 

Andrew Collinsworth (Westerville, Ohio.) Bluffton University | Sophomore- Collinsworth powered the Beavers to a 4-2 victory over MSJ on Saturday, striking out 10 Lions and retiring his final 12 batters in an 8-inning effort. He finished the week with a 1.00 ERA, 11 strikeouts and a 1-0 mark over 9 innings. Collinsworth held the opposition to a miniscule .172 batting average. 
 

Notable Performances:  

• Justin Maurer (Springfield, Ohio.) Bluffton University | Sophomore- Maurer led the Beavers to a 2-1 mark in the HCAC this week, including a Saturday sweep of MSJ. He hit .417 (5-of-12) with a homer and double. Maurer slugged .750 with 4 runs scored an 3 RBI. He also had a sacrifice fly and one walk. 
• Ian Bullis (Batavia, Ohio.) Earlham College | First Year- Bullis led the Quakers at the plate this weekend against Defiance. The freshman posted a .583 batting average with seven hits, three doubles, and five RBI. 
• Andy Krajecki (Hampshire, Ill.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Senior- Krajecki led the Rose-Hulman offense with a .500 batting average and a .700 slugging percentage last week. Krajecki was 10-for-20 at the plate with 4 doubles, 5 runs scored, 7 RBIs, 1 stolen base and 2 walks in 4 games. 
• Trent Youngblood (Louisville, Ky.) Transylvania University | Junior- n his first series back from injury, Youngblood went 6-10 with three doubles, four RBI, three runs scored, and three walks in the three-game series win against Hanover.  
• Joel Kennedy (Mooreland, Ind.) Manchester University | First Year- Kennedy finished the week with a .476 batting average after the Spartans went 2-3 on the week, including a win against Anderson and a win against Bluffton to complete a three-game series sweep of the Beavers. Kennedy finished with five runs, eight RBI, and four extra base hits, including a home run. On the season, Kennedy is leading MU with a .402 batting average and a .701 slugging percentage.  
• Ethan Mason (Cincinnatti, Ohio.) Mount St. Joseph University | First Year- Mason was solid at the plate this week for the Lions. Mason finished the week 6-12 (.500) at the plate with a pair of doubles and walks. Mason also tallied 4 RBIs while scoring 1 run himself.  
• Trey Dorton (Westfield, Ind.) Anderson University | First Year- Dorton went 8-for-14 with a homer, a double and 7 RBI’s last week. He contributed a .571 batting average, .571 on-base percentage and .857 slugging percentage as Anderson went 2-1 on the week. 
• Hunter Bosta (Ney, Ohio.) Defiance College | Senior- Bostater led Defiance over their weekend series vs. Earlham with three hits (3-for-13) and four RBIs of the team’s 11 total runs scored in the series. The senior is also riding a team-best six-game hitting streak since April 12. 
• Alex Christie (Greenwood, Ind.) Hanover College | Junior- Christie posted a strong showing at the dish as part of the team’s three game series at Transylvania. The junior went 5-for-11 with two RBI and three walks. He added an extra base hit and posted a .600 on-base percentage.  
• Jackson Young (Greenwood, Ind.) Franklin College | Senior- Young was stellar over nine innings on Saturday against Rose-Hulman, scattering seven hits and giving up two earned runs while matching his career high with 11 strikeouts in a no-decision…set a career-long outing in the game as Franklin went on to win 4-3 in 10 innings.  
• Marcus Goodpaster (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hanover College | Junior- Goodpaster collected the Panthers lone win of the week at Transylvania. The junior pitched a complete game allowing just three runs while scattering five hits. He picked up 11 strikeouts and surrendered just two walks.  
• Dillon Fischer (Cincinnati, Ohio.) Earlham College | Junior- Fischer tossed a complete game for the win in the opening contest of the weekend series with Defiance. Fischer scattered eight hits with three earned runs and only allowed two walks on the day. He also recorded seven strikeouts and held opponents to a .247 average.  
• Michael Yager (Park Ridge, Ill.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Junior- Yager allowed just 3 hits with 10 strikeouts in a 9-inning no decision at Franklin on Saturday. Yager surrendered just 3 hits and 3 runs in a 9-inning performance. 
• Connor Arnol (Lexington, Ky.) Transylvania University | Sophomore- Arnold went six innings striking out six and scattering five hits in the 10-4 win over Hanover. 
• Jared Holley (Wabash, Ind.) Manchester University | Junior- During Manchester’s 10-7 win against Anderson, Holley earned his second win of the season as he held the Ravens to just one hit in four innings of relief on the mound. Holley allowed no walks with three strikeouts.  
• Landen Southern (Lafayette, Ind.) Anderson University | Sophomore- Southern threw 8 innings, struck out 11 batters, issued 3 walks and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in Anderson’s 8-4 win against Manchester. 

HCAC SOFTBALL

Athletes of the Week:  

Hitting Athlete of the Week: 

Elizabeth Ivers (Shelbyville, Ind.) Mount St. Joseph University | Senior- Ivers was on fire at the plate this week for the Lions. Ivers finished the week batting 7-14 (.500) from the plate while smashing 3 Home Runs and 1 double. Ivers also scored 5 runs on the week while tallying a total of 10 RBIs across 4 games.  
 

Pitching Athlete of the Week: 

Casey Kemp (Blanchester, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Junior- Kemp was dominant in the circle this week for The Mount. Kemp finished the week with 9 innings pitched allowing just 1 hit and 0 runs. Kemp earned a pair of wins along the way while striking out 10 batters and allowing just 1 walk.  
 
 

Notable Performances:  

• Riley Hammonds (Russia, Ohio) Bluffton University | First Year- Hammonds went 6-of-10 for a pert .600 batting average as Bluffton went 3-1 in Heartland Conference action. She smacked a double and home run in game two at Anderson on Wednesday. Hammonds finished the week with 6 RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage. 
• Stella Wulker (Cincinatti, Ohio.) Transylvania University | Junior- Wulker hit .462 with a double and a homerun this weekend in four HCAC games as the Pioneers swept Manchester and split with Franklin. She recorded 7RBI and two runs scored as well. 
• Sabrina Leonard (Filmore, Ind.) Manchester University | First Year- Leonard hit .400 as the Spartans finished the week 2-2. During Manchester’s sweep of Defiance, Leonard went 3-5 at the plate with two runs scored, one stolen base, and a walk. On the season, Leonard has a .368 batting average, a .575 slugging percentage, and a ..477 on base percentage.  
• Nicole Lang (Fishers, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Insitute of Technology | Senior- Lang set Rose-Hulman’s single-season home run record with the 8th round tripper of the season to highlight the Fightin’ Engineers Senior Day effort against Bluffton. 
• Brooke Silcox (Tipp City, Ohio.) Defiance College | Junior- Silcox finished the week with a .500 batting average and had a hit in each of the 4 games last week. in her 14 at bats, she did not strike out and she drove in the game-winning run to cap the come from behind walk-off win over Hanover.  
• Dani Steward (Shelbyville, Ind.) Hanover College | Sophomore- Steward led the Panthers to a 1-1 week as they split with Defiance. The sophomore was a key contributor on the weekend going 1-for-6 at the dish with three RBI. She added one extra base hit and posted a .375 on-base percentage.  
• Molly Buck (Fortville, Ind.) Anderson University | Sophomore- Buck went 5-for-13 with a double, a homer and three RBI’s. She finished the week with a .385 batting average, a .385 on-base percentage and a .692 slugging percentage. 
• Erin Norman (Pleasant Hill, Ohio.) Bluffton University | Senior- Norman tossed two complete games, going 2-0 against Heartland Conference competition. She finished the week with a microscopic 0.50 ERA in 14 innings of work. Norman tossed a 2-hit shutout in Bluffton’s 8-0 win at Rose-Hulman on Saturday. She struck out five batters and walked just three with a .241 opponent batting average 
• Stephanni Kleber (Seymour, Ind.) Franklin College | Sophomore- Kleber turned in an absolute gem on Sunday against Transylvania, tossing a complete game while allowing four hits and just one run as Franklin handed the Pioneers their first conference loss of the year. 
• Sophie Moshos (Brazil, Ind.) Transylvania University | First Year- Moshos went 2-1 on the weekend with a 7-0 win over Manchester and a split doubleheader against Franklin. She recorded 14 strikeouts over the three games and is now 9-6 on the year. 
• Julianne Gosnell (Amboy, Ind.) Manchester University | Sophomore- Gosnell threw 13.0 innings for the Spartans this week, as Manchester went 2-2 with a sweep against Defiance. During game two against the Yellow Jackets, Gosnell allowed just one unearned run on three hits. On the week, Gosnell had three strikeouts with just two walks. 
• Ashley Pinkham (Leawood, Kan.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Senior- Pinkham tossed a complete game for Rose-Hulman on Senior Day with just 3 earned runs allowed and 3 strikeouts in a 5-3 loss to Bluffton. 
• Anika Craft (Radnor, Ohio.) Defiance College | Sophomore- Craft finished the week with a 1-1 record, allowed only two earned runs and struck out a total of 13 batters in the two games she started.  
• Courtney Chookie (Warsaw, Ind.) Senior- Chookie pitched a great game two for the Panthers at Defiance going five and a third with four strikeouts. The senior allowed just one run and scattered five hits. She finished the contest with a 1.31 ERA.  

RIVER STATES CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS PICKED FOR APRIL 17-23

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – River States Conference Player of the Week awards have been selected for this past week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance, the Official Student-Athlete Accident, Health, Property and Casualty Insurance Endorsed Broker for the River States Conference.

Thomas takes RSC Baseball Player of the Week honors

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — A.J. Thomas from University of Rio Grande (Ohio) was named River States Conference Baseball Player of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

Thomas, a junior outfielder from Pickerington, Ohio, hit .471 for the week to lead the RedStorm to a 4-1 record and a weekend sweep in conference. Thomas was 8 for 17 on the week with four home runs and 12 RBIs. He took over the RSC lead in homers and broke the school record for most in a single season now with 16 on the year.

Thomas went 3 for 3 with two homers and three RBIs in the second game versus WVU Tech. The day before, he was 2 for 4 to start the series. Thomas was a combined 3 for 7 with two homers and eight RBIs in a doubleheader sweep at Shawnee State to begin the week.

Schafer named RSC Baseball Pitcher of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Luke Shafer from Indiana University Southeast earned River States Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

Schafer, a junior right-hander from Leawood, Kan., opened the series victory over Midway (Ky.) with a great outing. He pitched 8.0 scoreless innings giving up just three hits. Schafer fanned seven and walked one to power the Grenadiers to a 6-4 victory and on their way to a weekend win. 

Nedley named RSC Softball Player of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Morgan Nedley from Carlow (Pa.) University is the River States Conference Softball Player of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

The senior from Harrison City, Pa., hit an amazing .750 over four games going 9 for 12 with four extra-base hits on the week. Nedledy doubled three times, homered, scored four runs and drove in nine to lead the Celtics to a 3-1 record in RSC games. 

Nedley was 7 for 7 in a doubleheader sweep of Brescia. She opened up 4 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs. She kept going at 3 for 3 with a double and three RBIs in the second game. Nedley homered and drove in two to salvage a split versus Ohio Christian.

Ludwig gets RSC Softball Pitcher of the Week for third time

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Madison Ludwig from Midway (Ky.) University was selected River States Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

Ludwig won the award for the third time this season by winning three of her four outings in conference play on the week. She pitched 26.0 innings in those conference games with 25 strikeouts, six walks and a 1.62 ERA. A big game was a 10-0 shutout versus Rio Grande. In 5.0 scoreless innings, she allowed just four hits. 

Ludwig pitched 6.0 innings despite a 4-3 loss in the the second game versus Rio Grande. She won both ends of the doubleheader versus WVU Tech pitching 7.0 innings with 13 strikeouts in a 4-2 win then going 8.0 innings on four hits for a 6-4 win in the nightcap. 

Kottkamp secures RSC Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Kale Kottkamp from Indiana University Kokomo earned River States Conference Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

A junior from West Lafayette, Ind., Kottkamp won the javelin at two different meets to get the honor. He placed first at the Little State meet with a toss of 54.96 meters, which was just under the NAIA standard of 55.00. Kottkamp then won at Mount St. Joseph’s throwing 54.57 meters. 

Nocton named RSC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Cameron Nocton from Indiana University East was named River States Conference Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23.

Nocton, a freshman from Centerville, Ind., qualified for NAIA nationals in the race walk to earn the award. Nocton hit the NAIA B standard with a time of 24 minutes, 41.74 seconds in the 5000-meter race. That placed first at the Little State meet and broke the school record. Nocton leads the RSC in the event and ranks fifth in the nation. 

Pfefferkorn notches RSC Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Makala Pfefferkorn from Indiana University Kokomo was selected River States Conference Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

Pfefferkorn, a sophomore from Kokomo, Ind., earned the weekly honor for the third time this outdoor season. She did so with a couple of event wins at Mount St. Joseph’s and an NAIA national standard in the long jump. Pfefferkorn went 5.85 meters in the long to qualify for nationals under the NAIA A standard and set a school record. She also won the triple jump with a leap of 11.47 meters. 

McGuire races to RSC Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Hope McGuire from St. Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.) College picked up River States Conference Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance April 17-23. 

A sophomore from Evansville, Ind., McGuire set a school record in the 100 meters and was a part of three events rank No. 1 in the RSC. All of that was at the Friday Night Twilight, where she ran a school-record time of 12.60 in the 100 meters for first place. She teamed up for the 4×100 relay that placed second at 49.34 seconds and also the 4×400 that earned runner-up at 4:11.51. 

Olivero earns fourth RSC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Agustina Olivero from Midway (Ky.) University is the River States Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. It’s her fourth RSC weekly honor this season. 

Olivero finished off a perfect 5-0 record in singles with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at the No. 1 spot versus IU East. In the same match, she was a part of a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles. That result gave the Eagles the 5-2 team win and clinched the No. 2 spot in the conference championship. Olivero was 4-1 this year in RSC doubles matches. 

Faundez nets RSC Men’s Tennis Player of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Francisco Faundez from Indiana University East earned River States Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

The junior from Santiago, Chile, won a pair of matchups at the top of the lineup for the Red Wolves. In the only match of the week, Faundez won at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles in the RSC meeting versus Midway (Ky.). He registered victories of 7-6, 6-2 in singles and 6-4 in doubles despite a team loss to the Eagles. 

Jones gets RSC Women’s Golfer of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Brandi Jones from Indiana University Kokomo is the River States Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23.

Jones, a grad student from Peru, Ind., finished tied for third at the Battle at Stonehenge. She shot 82 to place one shot behind the leaders, who advanced to a playoff. She was one of two IUK women’s golfers in the tournament, which was held at Stonehenge Golf Club in Winona Lake, Ind.

Mason earns RSC Men’s Golfer of the Week

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Hayes Mason from Midway (Ky.) University earned River States Conference Men’s Golfer of the Week presented by Brown & Brown Insurance for April 17-23. 

Mason, a native of Campbellsville, Ky., won medalist honors at the RSC Men’s Golf Championship last week to secure the weekly honor. He shot 71 in the final round to come from behind to win in a playoff. That led the Eagles to their third conference championship in a row and clinched a spot for the team at the NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship. 

TOP INDIANA RELEASES

INDIANA BASEBALL

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A pair of winning streaks are on the line Tuesday (April 25) at the First Merchants Ball Park Complex as the Indiana baseball program travels to take on Ball State in a 3 p.m. first pitch.

Indiana (30-11) is riding a seven-game winning streak into the matchup with the Cardinals, while Ball State (26-13) has won three straight games after sweeping Northern Illinois at home over the weekend.

Quick Hitter

Indiana and Ball State will meet for the second time this season and 63rd time in program history. IU won a 16-13 decision earlier this season and will head to Muncie, Indiana, for the first time since 2015.

The Hoosiers have won 22 of 23 home games in 2023. Its 15-straight to open the season marks the longest home winning streak in Bart Kaufman Field history and the second-longest streak in program history.

Freshman Devin Taylor began his 30-game reached base streak in his first career start at Texas (2/25), which is the longest 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.

Fellow freshman Tyler Cerny (freshman) and Ethan Phillips (pitcher) each earned B1G “of the week” honors after their roles in a five-win week from April 17-23.

Sophomore Luke Sinnard struck out 12 Iowa batters over six scoreless innings for his second career double-digit strikeout game of the season.

Senior Phillip Glasser enters the week with a 41-game reached base and has 22 multi-hit games in that span. The 41-game reached base streak is the second-longest by a Hoosier since at least 2005.

Glasser is also among the top-50 active hitters in a bevy of categories, including No. 5 with 254 career hits.

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

Ball State is 26-13 overall on the season and 13-5 in Mid-American Conference play after a series sweep of Northern Illinois over the weekend.

The Cardinals have rode the wave over the last month, with 14 wins in 15 games from March 11-April 7, followed by six straight losses before the weekend sweep over NIU.

Ryan Peltier was named MAC Co-Player of the Week after a five-home run, 12-RBI week last week. He hit .368 and finished the week with seven runs scored and one triple.

Peltier leads the team with a .395 average, 53 runs scored, 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. Decker Scheffler sits second on the squad with .376 average and 32 RBIs.

As an offense, the Cardinals are No. 1 in the MAC with a .500 slugging percentage and rank among the top-60 nationally in home runs (57th; 56) and triples (23rd; 14).

The pitching staff ranks second in the MAC and No. 36 overall in hits allowed per nine innings (8.23). They are also second in the conference and No. 18 in Division I with 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Inside the Series

Indiana is 36-26 all-time against Ball State entering the 63rd all-time meeting between the two programs and second in 2023.

Tuesday’s meeting will mark the 30th all-time between the two programs in Bloomington, with IU leading 17-12 in the previous 29 meetings.

Indiana has posted 10 straight wins in the series dating back to 2014 and won 13 of the last 14 meetings going all the way back to 2010.

Indiana holds the slimmest of margins in the 27 previous meetings in Muncie, Indiana, at 14-13.

Of the 62 previous meetings, the two teams have played 18 one-run games and just 10 of them have been decided by double figures.

Over half of the 62 all-time meetings have been decided by three-or-fewer runs (37 games).

The current 10-game winning streak for IU is the longest streak in the series, while Ball State has won five straight games twice (1976-80 & 1998-2009).

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Weekly awards keep cycling in for the Indiana baseball program as a pair of freshmen won weekly awards with Tyler Cerny earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Ethan Phillips garnering Big Ten Pitcher of the Week.

With Cerny’s first weekly award, Indiana adds to its Big Ten-best 33 Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, while Phillips earns IU’s 32nd Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award in program history. Cerny joins three-time winner Devin Taylor as Hoosiers to earn B1G weekly freshman honors, while Phillips is the first IU pitcher to bring home B1G weekly honors on the mound in 2023.

Cerny hit .444 over five games with an OPS of 1.601 to help Indiana win all five games on the week and become the first Big Ten team to 30 wins on the season. Of his eight hits, five went for extra bases to account for a 1.056 slugging percentage. He also walked three times and reached once via hit-by-pitch to bolster a .545 on-base clip.

He reached base at least twice and scored at least one run in each of his five starts at second base, with two multi-hit outings and three multi-RBI contests.

The right-handed hitter opened the week with a single, walk and two runs scored against No. 10 Louisville. He also stole one base in the game. Both hits went for extra bases at Cincinnati with a double, home run and three RBIs on the afternoon. In the middle game of the series with Ohio, Cerny his first career multi-home run game as part of a career-best six-RBI afternoon. He logged three hits and scored three runs in the game. His series finale with the Bobcats featured a pair of RBIs with a double, a walk and one run scored.

Phillips posted two victories on the mound in relief and did not allow an earned run over 8 1/3 innings of work. He struck out nine batters and allowed one hit with just four walks over his two outings and stranded two of three inherited runners. He allowed multiple base runners in just one of his 8 1/3 innings and only one of his base runners reached third base on the week.

The right-hander earned the win over No. 10 Louisville with 4 2/3 innings of relief work. He entered trailing 1-0 with a runner on second base and just one out and retired the first seven batters he faced. In all, Phillips allowed just one single and walked three batters with one unearned run surrendered.

Against Ohio in the series finale, Phillips entered in a tie game with runners on first and third and stranded one of two runners to get out of the jam. He did not allow a base runner of his own to reach second base over 3 2/3 innings of relief work to earn the victory.

Indiana sits atop the Big Ten with a 9-3 record and is 30-11 overall entering the week. A trip to Ball State on Tuesday (April 25) will be followed by a three-game series with Maryland at Bart Kaufman Field. The Terrapins enter with the second-best record in conference play at 8-4 and are 25-15 overall on the season.

INDIANA SOFTBALL

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana freshman Taryn Kern earned her fourth Big Ten honor after she was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Monday.

Kern hit .500 on the weekend in the series sweep over Rutgers, boasting a 1.250 slugging percentage and a 1.583 OPS. She totaled two hits, five walks and three hit by pitch for five runs scored.

The rookie continues to lead the Big Ten in seven offensive categories: slugging percentage (.983), OBS (.599), OPS (1.582), RBI (57), home runs (19), walks (38), and hit by pitch (18). She is also ranked second in runs scored (54) and third in batting average (.420) in the Big Ten.

Her consistent offensive production has put her on base in 41 consecutive games. She has also totaled nine multi-RBI games this season.

The San Jose, Calif., native hit her 19th career home run to lead the NCAA and Big Ten in long balls. She has also recorded 57 RBI for the second highest total in a single season.

UP NEXT

The Hoosiers head to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a weekend series against the Wolverines on April 28-30.

INDIANA FOOTBALL

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the second-straight season, the Indiana football program will host a contest on a Friday. The Hoosiers will welcome Indiana State to Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 8. Kick time and television designations will be announced at a later date this spring.

The Hoosiers hosted Illinois on Friday night to open the 2022 campaign in a 23-20 come-from-behind victory at The Rock. Indiana is 3-2 all-time in Friday contests, with the other two wins during the 2005 (Central Michigan) and 1987 (at Minnesota) seasons.

The full 2023 schedule is below (home games in bold):

Sep 2       Ohio State

Sep 8       Indiana State (Friday)

Sep 16     vs. Louisville (Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis)

Sep 23     Akron

Sep 30     at Maryland

Oct 14     at Michigan

Oct 21     Rutgers

Oct 28     at Penn State

Nov 4      Wisconsin                                         

Nov 11    at Illinois

Nov 18    Michigan State

Nov 25    at Purdue

Season tickets are on sale now through the Indiana Ticket Office or online via IUHoosiers.com/Tickets. The ticket office, located inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, is opened from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or available via phone at (812)855-4006.

PURDUE FOOTBALL

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A celebration awaits for Purdue University on Wednesday, April 26, as the institution’s annual event – Purdue Day of Giving – arrives at its 10th anniversary. Throughout the past nine years, the Boilermaker community has given back in record-breaking numbers to create a stronger and more affordable Purdue.

This year, Purdue Athletics will be highlighting three top fundraising priorities: Tiller Tunnel, John Purdue Club scholarship and academic support, and Varsity P for athletics alumni.

To honor the legacy of legendary coach Joe Tiller, Drew (’01) and Brittany Brees (’00) have personally committed matching dollars to thank and recognize those who support future enhancements to Ross-Ade Stadium by contributing to the Tiller Tunnel naming initiative on Purdue Day of Giving. Tiller, the winningest coach in the history of Purdue Football, left an incredible legacy on the program and Boilermakers everywhere. The result was 10 bowl games, including the 2001 Rose Bowl, an average of more than seven wins per season and a Big Ten Conference championship in 2000. Tiller coached 53 Purdue players who went on to play in the National Football League, six All-Americans and two Academic All-Americans.

“Coach Tiller was an important person in my life and to so many other guys who played for him. He did so much more than teach us how to win,” said Brees. “He taught us life lessons and how to be great leaders and men. We hope to inspire others to join us in donating to Tiller Tunnel to honor a man who did so much for so many Boilermakers.”

Tiller introduced the spread offense to Purdue, forcing defenses to cover the field from sideline to sideline. It was a radical change from the smash-mouth Big Ten style and, in the basketball-crazed state of Indiana, was dubbed affectionately “basketball on grass.” Along the way, Tiller became the winningest coach in school history, winding up his career with an 87-62 record, including 53-43 in conference games and 10-2 against Indiana. The Boilermakers were nationally ranked for 80 weeks under Tiller, tied with Jack Mollenkopf for the most under any head coach. The charismatic Tiller endeared himself to Boilermaker fans everywhere with his sense of humor and humility. In 2013, he was inducted into the Leroy Keyes Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

“Every day, I look out my window to see the daily progress of the Ross-Ade Stadium renovations, especially the tunnel,” said Purdue Football head coach Ryan Walters. “Running out of the Tiller Tunnel will serve as one final reminder to give it our all for each other and for Purdue.”

On Wednesday, April 26, there will be a one-time opportunity to have your gift matched by the Brees Family and qualify for naming recognition at the entrance to Tiller Tunnel, which will be located just outside of the Devos Family Locker Room and travel approximately 100 yards into Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue Football alumni who join in supporting this effort will also receive additional special naming recognition.

This project will consist of three giving levels at $5,000, $25,000, and $100,000+, which will be publicly recognized on the wall at the entrance to Tiller Tunnel. Thanks to the Brees family, Purdue Day of Giving will provide a unique opportunity to give half those recognition amounts and still receive full recognition. For example, if you give $2,500 on Purdue Day of Giving to the Tiller Tunnel initiative specifically, you will qualify for naming recognition at the $5,000 level. Additionally, pledges of $25,000 or more, payable over five years, will also be eligible for this match. To commit to a pledge, please call your Boilermaker Athletics Representative or 765.494.2582. Please note, John Purdue Club annual membership benefits do not apply to gifts toward Tiller Tunnel.

In addition to the Tiller Tunnel effort, there will be the opportunity to renew or join as a John Purdue Club member, supporting athletic scholarships along with cost of attendance for Boilermaker student-athletes. Those who join or renew will gain membership access for the upcoming year with annual benefits, including priority access to tickets and parking. The membership deadline for the upcoming year is April 30.

Opportunities to make a contribution toward an annual John Purdue Club membership will also be highlighted through Varsity P. Varsity P is the philanthropic arm of the John Purdue Club for athletics alumni. This includes former Boilermaker varsity student-athletes, managers, athletic trainers, coaches, practice players, and spirit squad members. Athletics alumni who make a gift and select their former sport will count toward internal Sport Giving Challenges, helping teams earn additional bonus funds.

The 24-hour collaborative experience brings more than 70 campus units together, including Purdue Athletics’ 18 sport programs, numerous coaches, and department personnel. Through hourly challenges and interactive leaderboards, participants in Purdue Day of Giving are motivated to support their favorite campus, college, school, program, or unit to help them get to the top of the leaderboards.

PURDUE BASEBALL

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Valparaiso (16-16, 7-8 MVC) at Purdue (19-20, 8-7 Big Ten)

Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. ET / Watch B1G+

Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana

Trading Cards Set 3 Giveaway; $3 Deals on Tickets, Beers, Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Nachos

Probable Starting Pitchers: TBA for Purdue vs. Kaleb Krier (Jr, RHP)

Miami University (13-29, 9-12 MAC) at Purdue

Wednesday, April 26 at 6 p.m. ET / Watch B1G+

Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana

$3 Deals on Tickets, Beers, Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Nachos

SERIES HISTORY

All-Time vs. Valparaiso: Purdue leads 69-20

All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 41-9

2022: Purdue 6, Valpo 5 – 10 Innings (April 26 in West Lafayette)

First Meeting: Purdue 11, Valpo 9 (April 1949 in West Lafayette)

All-Time vs. Miami: Purdue leads 20-12

All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 14-2

Last Meeting: Miami 5, Purdue 3 (April 2008 in Oxford)

Last Meeting in West Lafayette: Purdue 12, Miami 2 (March 2003)

First Meeting: Purdue 6, Miami 4 (May 1946 in West Lafayette)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – As Purdue baseball hosts Valparaiso and Miami (Ohio) for another set of consecutive midweek dates, the opening of a season-long nine-game homestand at Alexander Field also marks the beginning of a stretch in which the Boilermakers will play 15 of their final 16 regular-season games in the state of Indiana.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday vs. Valpo and Wednesday vs. Miami. The Boilermakers have been averaging an attendance figure of 1,400 per home game since the calendar flipped to April. The $3 midweek deals on tickets, hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and beers have remained a popular promotion this season.

Senior Mike Bolton Jr. enters the week with 70 career stolen bases. He matched Dave Scheitlin’s all-time team record Sunday at Maryland, a benchmark that has stood since 1991. Now Bolton has a chance to break the record at Alexander, where he has registered 25 of his 70 steals. He has 24 steals this season and is also in position to make a run at Jeff Allison’s single-season record (33).

Purdue has not played the Redhawks since 2008 and not hosted MU since 2003. Miami joins Evansville and South Dakota State among the first-time visitors to Alexander Field this season. The four-game series vs. SDSU next weekend marks the end of the nine-game homestand, which is scheduled to conclude with the Boilermakers’ first Monday home game since May 2010.

Purdue’s schedule features a homestand of at least nine games for the fourth time in the last seven years dating back to 2017. Last season’s longest homestand was seven games. The Boilermakers enjoyed strong showings on their nine-game homestands in both 2018 (9-0) and 2019 (6-3).

Purdue defeated Valparaiso in walk-off fashion during the seven-game homestand last season. The Boilermakers overcame deficits of 2-0 and 5-3 in the 10-inning victory.

Purdue is 5-1 vs. Mid-American Conference opponents this season but 0-6 vs. Missouri Valley Conference foes. The Boilermakers’ midweek finale is set for Wednesday, May 10 at UIC (MVC) as the return trip of that in-season home-and-home. It’s also Purdue’s only remaining game on the regular-season schedule slated to be played outside the state of Indiana.

Valparaiso and Miami are both coming off weekend series victories at home. The Beacons took two of three vs. UIC and the Redhawks tripped up first-place Kent State to create a four-team logjam at 13-5 atop the MAC standings.

The Boilermakers are at 8-7 in Big Ten play after five conference weekends, all of which have featured the series winner taking two of three. No sweeps for or against over five straight Big Ten weekends has not happened for Purdue since 2014.

APRIL RECORDS

• Purdue: 8-7

• Valparaiso: 8-6

• Miami: 7-9

ACTIVE STREAKS

• Connor Caskenette – 17-game on-base streak; 10-game hit streak; 9-game hit streak at Alexander

• Jake Parr – 13-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak at Alexander

• Paul Toetz – 11-game on-base streak; 9-game hit streak; 7-game on-base streak at Alexander

• Couper Cornblum – 6-game hit streak; 5-game RBI streak

PURDUE LEADERS LAST WEEK

• Paul Toetz – 11-for-19 (.579/.619/.789), 4 2B, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 7 R; 4 straight multi-hit games

• Couper Cornblum – 8-for-21 (.381/.458/.524), 3 2B, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 4 R, 4 SB, 0 K; Hit safely & drove in a run in all 5 games

• CJ Valdez – 5-for-14 (.357/.471/.429), 2B, 5 RI, 2 BB, HBP, R; Hit safely in all 3 games at Maryland

• Jake Parr – 6-for-17 (.353/.450/.412), 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HBP, 7 R, Scored a run in all 5 games

• Jo Stevens – 6-for-20 (.300/.300/.350), 2B, 5 RBI, 4 R; 14 def. assists, 0 errors; RBI in all 3 games at Maryland

• Mike Bolton Jr. – 3-for-16 (.188/.458/.375), HR, 3 RBI, 7 BB, HBP, 7 R, 6 SB; stole a base & scored a run in 4 straight

• CJ Backer – 2 App, Win, 6 2/3 IP, H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 0.48 B/Avg; Retired 20 of 25 batters faced

• Jackson Dannelley – 3 App, 2 Saves, 5 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 7 K, .118 B/Avg; Retired 15 of 19 batters faced

BUTLER BASEBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Eastern Illinois will meet for the fourth time this season on Tuesday afternoon at Bulldog Park. BU hosted the Panthers on April 1 before playing a doubleheader at Coaches Stadium the following day. The ‘Dawgs lost game one, but would win the series with two wins on April 2.

Probable Pitchers

RHP Shane Kilfoyle vs. RHP Jackson Nichols

Scouting Eastern Illinois

The Panthers are 22-15 overall after going 1-2 at Southern Indiana last weekend in OVC action. Last Tuesday, EIU went to Illinois to pick up a 1-0 win in extra innings (12). Winning during the week is a common theme for Eastern Illinois as they head to Indianapolis having won 10-of-11 games this season played between Monday and Wednesday. Their only loss came on March 28 at Bradley on a Tuesday (8-5). Head Coach Jason Anderson played at Illinois from 1998-2000. He was the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as a senior and would be drafted in the 10th Round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. Anderson is in his eighth season as head coach at EIU. The 2023 team is led by Ryan Ignoffo and Lincoln Riley. Ignoffo is a .301 hitter with a team-best nine home runs. He has 36 RBI over 37 starts and leads the team in stolen bases (19) and runs scored (37). Riley is second on the team with 39 hits. He is batting .275 with four doubles, a triple and two homers on the year.

Butler vs. Eastern Illinois

The Panthers beat Butler 12-0 in eight innings earlier this season, but the Bulldogs fired back with two wins over EIU the next day. Butler won 6-5 in 14 innings and claimed a 2-0 win in seven innings. Evan Parks delivered the game-winning RBI in game two and Xavier Carter would homer to lead BU to victory in the finale. Carter came up with six hits in 10 at-bats vs. EIU and Carter Dorighi also batted above .300 in the series. Aaron Barokas and Cole Graverson were credited with wins on the mound for BU. Barokas threw 4.2 innings out of the bullpen to get his win and Graverson went five full to earn his win. Neither arm allowed a run and the duo would combine for eight strikeouts.

BIG EAST Standings

Xavier 7-2, 25-15

UConn 6-3, 29-11

Creighton 6-3, 18-14

Seton Hall 5-4, 20-18

Georgetown 6-6, 23-18

Villanova 5-7, 10-28

St. John’s 2-7, 18-18

Butler 2-7, 9-30

Upcoming BIG EAST Schedule

Creighton at Butler

UConn at Villanova

Seton Hall at Xavier

St. John’s at Georgetown

BIG EAST Series Win

Butler won the first two games at Seton Hall to win their first BIG EAST series of the year. The Bulldogs ended the 2022 season by taking two of three vs. Seton Hall.

Last Week

Scott Jones hit .471 last week with a home run and four RBI. He was one of Bulldogs to hit over .300 during the five-game stretch. Kollyn All hit .400 with a double and a triple. Joey Urban led BU with three doubles and five RBI. Jake DeFries and Garret Gray also played well by supplying the ‘Dawgs with four RBI each. On the mound, wins went to Cole Graverson and Dawson Taylor.

Bulldog Bits

– Kollyn All has six hits, five runs, and three RBI over Butler’s last four games

– Xavier Carter recorded 13 hits during February and March (23 games) and has 20 in April (14 games)

– Scott Jones went 4-for-4 vs. the Pirates on Saturday with an RBI and two runs scored

– Jake DeFries had four hits, two RBI and two runs scored in the Seton Hall series

– Ryan O’Halloran had a season-high three RBI in the Saturday win over Seton Hall

– Garret Gray hit the first triple of his collegiate career Saturday in New Jersey

– Cole Graverson struck out three and only allowed one hit in two appearances at SHU (2.1 IP)

– Clay Holzworth didn’t allow a run over 2.2 innings of work over the weekend

– Dawson Taylor hasn’t allowed a run over his last two outings

– Cade Thune shined in his last midweek start, striking out four in 2.1 vs. NKU

– Joey Urban has nine RBI over his last eight games

– Cory Bosecker has thrown 90+ pitches in each of his last three starts (90+ pitches)

– Butler leads the BIG EAST Conference and ranks 13th in the NCAA in triples with 16

– Jones leads the BIG EAST with four triples… DeFries and Urban are right behind him with three each

– Billy Wurch ranks second in the BIG EAST in sacrifice bunts (6)

Streaks

Jake DeFries, Kollyn All and Scott Jones are all on four-game hitting streaks for BU. Joey Urban has reached base safely in 10-straight games!

Up Next

Butler will host a three-game series vs. Creighton this weekend. Game one on Friday will stream on FloSports.com as a BIG EAST Digital Network production at 3 PM. Saturday’s game will feature a 2 PM start and the finale on Sunday will start at 1 PM.

BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue transfer Lilly Stoddard will continue her collegiate career at Butler as a member of the 2023-24 women’s basketball team. The 6-4 forward from Crown Point spent her freshman season with the Boilermakers after winning the 2021 IHSAA Class 4A State Championship for the Bulldogs.

“We are excited to add Lilly to our post core for the next three years,” Head Coach Austin Parkinson stated. “Lilly can immediately help us in two areas we needed to improve and that is shot blocking and rebounding. Her length and speed can be very good for us on the defensive end. I also think she has tremendous upside on the offensive end as well and will be fun to see her develop in our offense in the coming years.”

Stoddard played in six games at Purdue during her freshman campaign. She showed up on campus as a four-star recruit ranked No. 87 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. The Indiana All-Star averaged 11.5 points per game as a senior and always impacted games with her defense and rebounding. The 2021 McDonald’s All-American nominee nearly averaged a double-double as a junior by scoring 10.7 points and adding 9.1 rebounds per contest.

“I chose Butler because of the staff and culture,” Stoddard said. “I know I will maximize my potential through both academics and athletics. Butler is known for its basketball history which is something I wanted to be a part of.”

IUPUI WOMEN’S GOLF

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – Junior Kevin Tillery shot 2-under 70 to match the lowest round by any player on Monday (Apr. 24) as the Jaguars shot a team score of 298 on day two of the Horizon League Men’s Golf Championships at El Campeon at Mission Inn Resort. Tillery had an eagle and four birdies as part of his round and moved into a tie for 11th among the 50-player field.

IUPUI remains locked in a tie for fifth-place among the 10-team field at 602 (304-298).

Tillery started his round with an eagle on No. 10 and played his opening nine to 5-under 32. He made birdie on No. 1 to get to 6-under, but gave back four shots over his final eight holes to close at 70.

Taylor Gardner shot 1-over 73 and played his final 16 holes to 1-under after starting his round with back-to-back bogeys. He ended with a birdie on No. 9 after nearly putting his drive on the green on the 353 yard par-4. Sophomore Sam McWilliams shot 3-over 75 with four birdies on the day. He was even at the turn and 1-under after making birdie on No. 1, but struggled to score down the stretch.

Sophomore Colten Girgis shot 8-over 80 and Morgan Tournemire, who replaced Preston Nanthavong in the lineup for round two, finished the round at 86.

For the week, Tillery is tied for second among the field in par 5 scoring at 5-under while Gardner is tied for second in par 4 scoring at 1-over. Tillery, Gardner and McWilliams are tied for the team high with six birdies while Girgis has a team-high 23 pars after two rounds.

Purdue Fort Wayne leads the field at 4-over 580 and top seeded Wright State is second at 581. PFW’s Kasey Lilly is the individual leader at 3-under 141 while three others are tied for second at 143.

The Jaguars will tee off at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday (Apr. 25) and be paired with Northern Kentucky and Cleveland State for the final round.

BALL STATE SOFTBALL

» THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE SOFTBALL: Ball State opens the final week of its regular season Tuesday at 3 p.m. when it welcomes Miami for the first of three games in a pivotal midweek series … The Cardinals and RedHawks will also play a Wednesday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. which will be broadcast live on ESPN+ … From there, Ball State travels to Akron for another key league series with a Saturday doubleheader (1 p.m.) and a Sunday single game (Noon).

» A QUICK LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Ball State enters Tuesday’s contest versus Miami with a 24-21 (14-9 MAC) record and on a season-best seven game winning streak after sweeping Bowling Green over the weekend … The Cardinals won both ends of an April 22 doubleheader by scores of 8-0 (5) and 8-4, before topping the Falcons 8-1 Sunday … Senior Amaia Daniel leads the Ball State offense and ranks 35th nationally with her .419 batting average and is currently on an 11-game hitting streak … In the circle, sophomore Angelina Russo leads the Ball State pitching staff with her 2.77 ERA and .217 batting average against over 106.0 innings of work.

» THE OVERALL RECORD: Ball State enters the week with a 1145-1137-4 (.502) overall record dating back to the 1975 season … The Cardinals have tallied 30-or-more wins in 16 seasons, most recently a 37-18 mark under current head coach Lacy Schurr in 2021 … Of the 16 seasons with 30-or-more wins, 11 have come in the past 15 seasons.

» ABOUT MIAMI:

– The RedHawks enter the series with a 27-16 overall record and are tied atop the league standings with a 14-6 MAC ledger … Miami, which is 9-8 in road games this season, swept Akron last weekend by scores of 3-0 and 9-3 on Saturday and 11-0 (5) Sunday.

– Miami boasts the league’s best offense with a .310 average … Karli Spaid leads the squad with a .358 mark, along with team highs of 41 runs scored, 49 hits, 16 home runs, and 43 RBI … Holly Blaska is not far behind with a .342 average, while seven regulars are batting at least .302.

– Brianna Pratt is Miami’s top arm in the circle, owning a 20-10 record and a 3.26 ERA over 178.0 innings of work … Pratt has struck out a league-high 155 batters this season, including 95 in MAC play.

– While Ball State holds a 58-52 edge in the all-time series, Miami has won six straight, including all three meetings in Oxford last season … The Cardinals hold a 30-24 lead in games played in Muncie, despite dropping both ends of an April 27, 2021, doubleheader by scores of 16-1 (5) and 11-5 … Ball State’s last win in the series was a 4-2 victory April 20, 2021, in Oxford.

BALL STATE NEWS & NOTES:

» WHERE WE STAND: Ball State enters the week ranked fourth in the MAC standings with its .609 (14-9) league winning percentage … The top four teams earn a berth in the 2023 MAC Tournament which will be hosted by the No. 1 overall seed … Miami, Ohio, and Central Michigan are currently tied for the top spot at .700 (14-6), while Akron at .565 (13-10) and Northern Illinois at .526 (10-9) are right behind Ball State.

» CHASING 200: Senior shortstop Amaia Daniel enters the Miami series with 197 career hits and is three shy of becoming just the ninth player in program history to reach 200 career hits … Over 206 career games, Daniel has tallied 137 singles, 39 doubles, three triples, and 18 home runs … She is also looking to become the eighth-fastest player in program history to reach 200 career hits, with the fastest being Jennifer Gilbert (2011-14) who did it in 153 games.

» MORE ON DANIEL: Amaia Daniel, who has reached base safely in 38 of the 42 games she has played this season, enters the week on an 11-game hitting streak which ties her career long … That has helped her climb to 15th in program history with a .333 career batting average … Just the 16th Cardinal to record 100 career RBI, currently ranking 12th on BSU’s career charts at 117, Daniel is eighth all-time with a .430 on base percentage … She is also tied for ninth in career doubles (39), 11th in runs scored (122), and 16th in home runs (18) … On defense, she has helped turn 46 career double plays, which is the second-most in program history.

» SPEAKING OF DOUBLE PLAYS: Ball State’s defense has registered 20 double plays over its first 45 games of the season and currently ranks second in the MAC and 26th nationally with a 0.44 double plays-per-game average … Junior infielder Samantha-Jo Mata has had a hand in 13 double plays, while Amaia Daniel at shortstop has factored in 11.

» GONE WITH THE WYNN: Senior infielder Haley Wynn opened the year with a bang, smashing a solo home run to center field for Ball State’s first hit of the 2023 season in the team’s 5-3 victory over Samford (Feb. 17) … Since then, she has added seven more home runs and is second on the team with eight on the year … Of those seven additional home runs, four came in back-to-back two home run games starting with a three-run blast and solo homer in the 15-9 victory over Kent State (March 17) and followed by a pair of solo shots in the 8-4 victory over Central Michigan (March 25).

» MORE ON WYNN: Haley Wynn enters the Miami series as one of the most prolific batters in program history ranking 11th on Ball State’s career charts with a .338 career average, including her .394 mark this season … She is also 13th all-time in both slugging percentage (.532) and on base percentage (.414) … In addition, her 128 career runs scored are ninth in program history, while her 0.91 runs per game average this season is second in the MAC and 58th nationally.

» ON THE BASE PATHS: Ball State has done a tremendous job on the base paths this season, stealing 70 bases which ties as the 13th-best single season mark in program history … In fact, the Cardinals currently rank second in the MAC and 50th nationally with a 1.58 steals-per-game average … Junior outfielder Remington Ross leads the way, going a perfect 21-for-21 in stolen base attempts … With the mark, Ross remains first in program history with a .977 (43-for-44) stolen base percentage … In addition, her 43 career stolen bases are tied for 10th in program history.

» NEAR PERFECTION: Sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo, who threw the first perfect game in program history versus Western Michigan last season, added to her lore in the 10-1 (5) victory over Lindenwood (Feb. 19), collecting just the 18th recorded no-hitter for the Cardinals dating back to the 1980 season … The 2022 MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year and a MAC All-Freshman Team selection, Russo retired 15 of the 17 batters she faced against the Lions with a walk and an error being the lone blemishes … She also struck out three batters in the contest.

» ANOTHER NO-NO: Ball State registered the 19th recorded no-hitter in the April 16 win over Buffalo as sophomore Angelina Russo and freshman Bridie Murphy combined to hold the Bulls hitless in the 11-3 (6) victory … Russo threw the first 4.0 innings, allowing no hits and striking out five batters … Murphy followed by retiring six of the seven batters she faced, including a pair of strikeouts … Murphy’s lone base runner came on a two-run error … The effort marked just the fourth combined no-hitter in program history … The last combined no-hitter was thrown May 5, 2019, when Aeshia Miles (3.0) and Darcie Huber (2.0) combined for a 10-0 (5) win versus Oakland.

» THE MURPHY FACTOR: Bridie Murphy has been nearly flawless in her last four pitching appearances, owning a 0.00 ERA and a .059 average against over 10.1 innings of work … She has stuck out 12 batters over the span, while allowing just two hits and two walks … In addition, she has tallied one win and one save over the four outings.

» DOUBLING UP: The Cardinals rank second in the MAC and 23rd nationally with a 1.53 doubles-per-game average … Senior catcher/infielder Jazmyne Armendariz is tied for second in the MAC with 12 doubles, while redshirt sophomore utility player McKenna Mulholland is tied for fourth with 11 … BSU has 69 doubles on the year, which ties as the 11th-most in a season in program history, with at least one double in 35 games, including a season-high six versus Sacred Heart (March 10).

BALL STATE BASEBALL

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team is back at home on Tuesday as Indiana makes the trip to Muncie. First pitch between the Cardinals and Hoosiers is slated for 3 p.m. 

The Cardinals are coming off a 3-0 series sweep against NIU. Ball State enters Tuesday with a 26-13 record, while Indiana enters with a 30-11 mark.

Ryan Peltier was named MAC Players of the Week after he led Ball State five home runs and posted a team-high 12 RBIs. He recorded a .368 batting average and finished the week with seven runs scored and one triple. In the weekend series against NIU, he hit five home runs, a triple, and a single. He also drew one walk and was a perfect 1-for-1 on stolen base attempts. In Sunday’s 15-5 victory, he hit three home runs and became the 38th play to hit three home runs in a single game. Defensively, he produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with three putouts and five assists.

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 .395 batting average, which is tied for 41st in the NCAA and second in the MAC. He has pelted a team-best 12 homers and has a team-high 43 RBIs. He has a slugging percentage of .739, which is tied for 44th in the country and second in the MAC. Peltier has scored 53 runs, which is tied for eighth in the NCAA and is first the MAC. He leads the team in doubles with 14 and he has added two triples. His 14 doubles are tied for 71st in the NCAA and are tied for fourth in the conference.

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 2.89 ERA. His ERA is tied for the 62nd best in the country and is first in the MAC. His 63 strikeouts are tied for 88th in the NCAA and eighth in the MAC. He has a 3-2 record and has thrown 56 innings. Opponents are hitting just .235 against him.

Scouting the Cardinals

Decker Scheffler is second on the squad with .376 batting average, which is tied for 94th in the NCAA and is fourth in the MAC. He has 32 RBIs, 29 runs scored, nine doubles, four homers, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 71st in the country and tied for second in the conference. Scheffler is tied for 96th as the toughest player to strikeout in the NCAA and is third in the MAC. Adam Tellier is third on the team with a .314 average. He has 39 runs scored, 25 RBIs, 19 walks, 20 RBIs, 10 doubles, four home runs, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 71st in the NCAA and are tied for second in the MAC. Nick Gregory might only be hitting .262, but he leads the team with 36 walks. His 36 walks are tied for 31st in the NCAA and are second in the MAC. He has scored 34 runs and driven in 16 runs. Blake Bevis is second on the team with nine home runs and is hitting .279 for the year.

Ty Weatherly has 44 strikeouts on the season and is third on the staff. He has a 7.28 ERA in 38 1/3 innings of work and a 1-1 record. Logan Schulfer is fourth on the team with 42 strikeouts. He as a 2-2 record with a 6.44 ERA. Ty Johnson is fifth on the team with 40 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings of work. He has a 3-2 record with a 3.86 ERA. Tanner Knapp has 36 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. He is 2-2 on the season with a 6.13 ERA. Sam Klein has 28 strikeouts, after he struck out 10 in just 3 2/3 innings of work in his last appearance. He is 4-1 on the season with a 3.60 ERA. Jacob Hartlaub is the remaining pitcher with more that 20 strikeouts, with 25. He has a 3-2 record with a 6.45 ERA.

Ball State vs. Indiana: The Series

The Cardinals and Hoosiers will meet for the 62nd time on Tuesday. Indiana holds a 35-26 record against Ball State. IU has won the last nine meetings, including a 16-13 win in Bloomington earlier this season. BSU is 13-15 versus IU at home. 

Scouting the Hoosiers

Brock Tibbitts leads IU with a .386 batting average, 50 RBIs, and is tied for the team lead with three triples. He is tied for 71st in the NCAA in triples. He has scored 38 runs and has 12 doubles and six homers. Phillip Glasser is second on the team with a .376 average. He paces the team with 46 runs scored and doubles with 16. He has 34 RBIs, four home runs, and one triple. Devin Taylor is third on the squad with a .360 average. He has a team-high 11 home runs. He has 40 RBIs, 38 runs scored, eight doubles, and two triples. Josh Pyne is hitting .311 with 33 runs scored, 32 RBIs, 10 doubles, and two home runs. Tyler Cerny rounds out the .300 hitters with a .301 average. He is tied for a team-best three triples and is tied for 71st in the NCAA. He has 38 runs scored, 32 RBIs, six homer, and six doubles.

CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference announced its weekly Player and Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday. Ryan Peltier earned a Player of the Week accolade after a monster weekend at the plate. 

Ryan Peltier led Ball State five home runs and posted a team-high 12 RBIs. He recorded a .368 batting average and finished the week with seven runs scored and one triple. In the weekend series against NIU, he hit five home runs, a triple, and a single. He also drew one walk and was a perfect 1-for-1 on stolen base attempts. In Sunday’s 15-5 victory, he hit three home runs and became the 38th play to hit three home runs in a single game. Defensively, he produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with three putouts and five assists.

“Ryan Peltier let his star shine this weekend hitting 5 home runs and a triple to carry our team,” said Head Coach Rich Maloney. “It was a special weekend for a special player.”

Ball State remains at home for a midweek rematch with in-state foe Indiana on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

MAC Baseball Co-Players of the Week

Ryan Peltier, Ball State, 3B       

Ryland Zaborowski, Miami, 1B

MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Keegan Batka, Central Michigan, RHP  

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Fighting Irish women’s lacrosse team is set for ACC tournament play, opening postseason action against No. 11 Virginia in the conference quarterfinals.

First draw is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina and will air on ACC Network.

GAME 16 DETAILS

Location: Charlotte, N.C.| American Legion Memorial Stadium

Schedule: April 26 — 1:30 p.m. ET

TV: ACCN

Live Stats: UND.com

Twitter Updates: @NDWomensLax

Game Day Landing Page

For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame

Tournament Central: Bracket | Info

FOR STARTERS

Over the course of their last four games, the Irish have outscored their opponents 79-26, including a program best road performance of 26 goals at Butler April 10 where they defeated the Bulldogs 26-3.

In their regular season finale, the Irish defeated the Louisville Cardinals, 15-9, inside Arlotta Stadium. Eight women highlighted the box score Thursday night, including Jackie Wolak with a team-best seven points off three goals and four assists.

Kelly Denes surpassed 200 career draw controls Thursday before setting a new single-season best of 103 draws, eclipsing her previous best of 100 in 2022. Her 10 draw controls against the Cardinals led the team while her role in the circle led the team to a 24-4 advantage Thursday.

With her second goal of the day against RMU last week, Kasey Choma recorded her 200th career point. She went on to post four goals in the contest.

With an assist on Choma’s 200th point mark, Jackie Wolak tied her classmate with her 200th point for the Irish as well.

Notre Dame’s 37 points in the win at Butler matched a program record, previously set earlier this season against Central Michigan.

Their 26 goals against Butler was a season-high for the Irish, topping that previously set of 24 in February.

The 23-goal victory was also the largest margin of victory for the Irish this year and their three goals against was second fewest in 2023.

The Irish head into the postseason at No. 7 nationally, their highest ranking of the season.

Live stats will be available for the contest as well as a the game being aired on the ACCN.

The attacking trio of  Choma, Ahern, and Wolak have combined for 216 of the 371  Irish points.

Choma now has a team-high 12 hat tricks on the season. Ahern is close behind with 10 while also registering her second sock trick of the year with six goals at Pitt.

THE NOTRE DAME – VIRGINIA SERIES

Wednesday’s matchup will mark the 13th time the two programs meet. All-time the Irish own an 8-4 record against the Cavaliers.

Previously this season, the Irish fell to the Cavaliers, 16-13, with Jackie Wolak recording a career-best eight points, including her first career sock trick.

Kelly Denes and MK Doherty combined for 10 draw control wins against Virginia earlier this season, with both juniors recording five a piece.

Lilly Callahan made nine stops in the contest.

IN THE POLLS

Notre Dame is ranked No. 7 in this week’s ILWomen/IWLCA poll.

Five other ACC programs are currently ranked in the top-25 according to the  IL Women/IWLCA Preseason Poll, including #2 Syracuse, #4 Boston College, #6 North Carolina, #11 Virginia,  and #17 Clemson.

NEARING THE MARK

With her first save against BC, Lilly Callahan eclipsed the 100 career save mark. She now boasts 138 stops in 30 games played, with a .507 save percentage.

Hannah Dorney, a recent ACC co-Defensive Player of the Week, hit 100 career ground balls when the Irish hosted BC last weekend. She now has 111 career pick ups.

Ahern’s five goals against UNC brought her career tally to 140. She followed it up with four points against the Eagles, including a hat trick which gave her 202 career points. After consecutive sock and hat tricks on the road to Pennsylvania late in the season, Ahern now has 157 goals, 67 assists and 224 career points in her four years at ND.

BALANCED ATTACK

The Irish returned 3 of the 4 top scorers from the 2022 season in Kasey Choma, Madison Ahern, Jackie Wolak.

The top scorers were assisted by Kelly Denes who won 100 draw controls and tallied 14 goals of her own. This season Denes boasts 103 draw controls and currently sits at 207 career draws.

Choma, Ahern, and Wolak lead the Irish in points combining for 216 points.

Ahern and Choma currently tie for fifth in the ACC for goals per game (3.25) and 20th nationally.

Wolak is ranked in the top five in the ACC for points per game (5.06) and assists per game (2.50). Her assists per game is also eighth-best nationally while her points per game average ranks ninth.

Denes is ranked third in the ACC for draw controls per game tallying 6.44 and is 17th in the country.

Seventeen different players have scored at least one goal this season with 16 having found the back of the net multiple times.

THREE-HEADED MONSTER

The attacking trio of Choma, Ahern, and Wolak are combining for 216 points.

Ahern and Choma lead the Irish with 52  goals apiece, while Wolak has 41 goals and 40 assists for a team-best 81 points.

Choma  now has tallied a team-high 12 hat tricks in the 2023 season and Wolak has tallied nine.

Wolak’s game against Virginia saw her set career-high performances in goals (six) and points (eight).

Choma and Ahern were recently named Tewaaraton nominees for their regular season performance.

Choma, Ahern and Wolak combined for 17 points in the win over Brown (03/27/23).

They combined for 11 of the team’s 21 goals against the Bears.

The trio combined for 12 of the team’s 17 total points at Virginia to close out March’s conference slate.

Wolak ranks in the top five in the ACC and top-10 nationally for assists per game (2.50).

Choma tallied a new career high in goals (8) and tied her career high in points (8) in the Virginia Tech game.

SMOTHERING DEFENSE

The Irish held the nation’s top scoring offense to just nine goals, which is more than 12 below Clemson’s season average when they played the Tigers in February.

Notre Dame is the first team this season to hold the Tiger attack under a double-digit goal total in a game.

Mary Kelly Doherty ranks in the top-10 among ACC foes in caused turnovers per game.

The Irish have held 11 of their 16 opponents to single digits.

In early April, Hannah Dorney was named ACC co-Defensive Player of the Week for her transition play against UNC and Brown.

Emma Schettig won ACC Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Notre Dame defense hold Duke to just six goals.

Notre Dame has caused havoc on defense, averaging 9.38 caused turnovers per game, a mark that ranks 23rd in the nation and second in the ACC.

The Irish defense held Virginia Tech to its lowest goal total of the season and tied for its lowest in program history.

CALLAHAN IN THE CREASE

Callahan made her first double-digit save performance of her career, finishing with 15 saves against Northwestern. This also established a new career high in saves for her.

She ranks in the top five in the country in goals-against average (8.03) and top-15 in save percentage (.492). Her GAA is fifth nationally and leads all ACC goalkeepers.

Callahan earned her first career win in her first career start while holding the San Diego State attack to just two goals .

The two goals Callahan allowed marked the lowest scoring output in SDSU program history, which dates back to the 2012 season.

In 45 minutes played Monday against Butler, Callahan held the opposition scoreless, stopping all seven shots faced.

DOMINATING THE DRAW

The Irish have won the draw control battle in 13 of their 16 games this season.

Notre Dame currently ranks No. 2 in the country in draw control percentage (.644) and  in the top three for draw controls per game 18.00 while leading the ACC in both categories.

Kelly Denes leads the Irish in draws per game (6.44) and is the primary player used at the draw for the Irish. She ranks in the top-20 nationally for draw controls per game and third in the conference.

The Irish draw control unit held the nations leader on the draw circle to only four draw controls in their matchup against Duke.

The Irish currently have won the draw control battle on the season by a margin of 288-159.

LEADERSHIP GROUP

On Dec. 20, the Irish named three team captains for the 2023 campaign: Hannah Dorney, Kasey Choma, and Madison Ahern. Dorney is serving as a team captain for the second consecutive season.

ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS

Two Irish were named Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans including Kasey Choma (First Team), Madison Ahern (HM).

Ahern and Choma were also named Preseason All-Americans on February 3. Choma was named to the second team and Ahern to the third team.

Kasey Choma was named to the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American squad, and was also ranked among the top 20 lacrosse players recognized as the game’s biggest difference makers checking in at #19.

Choma and Ahern claimed silver for the USA Super Sixes team at the 2022 World Games.

TEWAARATON NOMINEES

Kasey Choma and Madison Ahern were named two of 25 Tewaaraton nominees, Thursday, April 20, ahead of the final regular season finale.

The duo were each named to the initial watch list for the 2023 Tewaaraton Award, the Tewaaraton Foundation announced on February 10.

Choma has been named to the watch list for the third consecutive season and this is Ahern’s second consecutive watchlist.

ALL STAR STAFF

Head Coach Christine Halfpenny announced the addition of Associate Head Coaches Adam Sear and Lauren Benner.

Sear comes to Notre Dame from the University of Michigan. He spent five seasons with the Wolverines.  He will assist in coordinating the offensive effort for the Irish.

Benner joins the Irish after spending a season with Loyola. She will serve as the defensive coordinator and work extensively with the goalie unit.

The Irish also welcome back Bridget Deehan as a volunteer assistant. Deehan graduated from Notre Dame as a two-time All-American goalkeeper.

NEWCOMERS

The Irish welcome a 7-member freshman class as part of the 35-player roster, which includes two attackers, three midfielders, two goaltenders .

Emma Murphy was named No. 5 in the IL Women Top 100 Freshman Power Rankings and Jaclyn Marszal was tabbed No. 42 in the IL Women Top 100 Freshman Power Rankings.

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Indiana State swept the Missouri Valley Baseball weekly awards as announced by the conference office as Seth Gergely (Player) and Connor Fenlong (Pitcher) were honored on Monday afternoon for their performances over the past week.

The Sycamore duo led ISU to a 3-0 week with a midweek wins No. 4 Vanderbilt and clinched the series win over Southern Illinois with a pair of victories on Saturday and Sunday.

Gergely claims Player of the Week honors for the second time in 2023 after posting a .727 batting average with eight hits over 11 at-bats. For the week, Gergely reached base 12 times over his 16 plate appearances, including five times against Vanderbilt in the midweek 10-2 win over the Commodores.

Gergely went 2-for-3 against Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field with a pair of RBI singles, while drawing two walks and getting hit by a pitch in Tuesday’s midweek win. Back in conference play over the weekend, the Tallmadge, Ohio native recorded a pair of three-hit games, including a two-run home run in the series opener to highlight ISU’s offense.

For the week, Gergely scored three runs and drove in six RBI while posting a 1.000 slugging percentage and an .800 on-base percentage.

Fenlong claims Pitcher of the Week recognition for the first time in 2023 after going the distance in a dominant complete game, one-hit shutout of Southern Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The redshirt senior surrendered just a leadoff infield single in the first inning and did not allow a runner on base after the second on his way to posting his first collegiate shutout.

Fenlong retired the final 15 batters he faced and allowed just four fair balls out of the infield over an 89-pitch outing that resulted in Indiana State’s third shutout of the season.

Fenlong’s one-hit complete game shutout was ISU’s first since Colin Rea posted a similar one-hit CG shutout back in 2011 against Rockhurst. The right-hander limited a Saluki offense that had posted a team .289 batting average on the season to just an infield single and a second inning walk in his team-leading fifth win of the season. He finished the game with four strikeouts (three looking).

INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball will continue MVC play with a short trip down to Evansville on Tuesday, April 25 for the final game of the three-game season series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET with the game being streamed live on ESPN+.

The Sycamores (23-23, 11-9 MVC) are coming off a home series with Murray State where the Racers took two out of three over the weekend. The Purple Aces (21-25, 7-13 MVC) were swept in a road series by UIC last weekend.

Indiana State and Evansville split two games played in Terre Haute earlier this season with the Sycamores winning 3-2 on April 4 via an Isabella Henning walk-off home run. Evansville blanked ISU a week later on April 11, winning 2-0 to even the series.

Scouting the Aces

Jenna Nink leads the Purple Aces offense with a .282 average, collecting 31 hits including six doubles, three triples, five home runs and a team-high 22 runs batted in. Jess Willsey is batting .272 with 37 hits and is tied for the team-lead with six home runs. Marah Wood leads the offense with 38 hits, batting .262 with eight doubles, two triples and three home runs.

In the circle for Evansville, Megan Brenton has a team-best 1.48 ERA in 61.2 innings and has struck out 63 hitters which also is tops on the pitching staff. Sydney Weatherford has a 2.73 ERA in 82 innings, recording two complete games in 15 starts. Mikayla Jolly has made a team-high 19 starts, owning a 3.36 ERA in 75 innings. Jolly threw five shutout innings against the Sycamores on April 11.

Sycamore Stats & Notes

Isabella Henning leads ISU with a .394 average and 54 hits which includes a team-high 12 doubles and five home runs. Henning also leads the offense with 32 runs scored and is second on the team with 26 RBIs.

Entering Tuesday on a seven-game hitting streak, Kennedy Shade is batting .350 on the season with 43 hits. Shade drove in five runs including a three-run home run in ISU’s 11-9 comeback win at Butler on April 19.

Annie Tokarek leads the Indiana State offense with 29 runs batted in and is working on a five-game hitting streak.

Danielle Henning has hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games, currently batting .286 on the season. She has recorded multi-hit games in five of the Sycamores last six contests. Henning’s 24 runs scored are second-most on the team.

Lexi Benko has logged 116 innings in the circle this season, leading the team with a 2.41 ERA. She threw a 12-inning complete game shutout against Murray State on April 21 while striking out nine hitters.

Cassi Newbanks has a 2.86 ERA on the year, throwing 63.2 innings. Newbanks recorded 4.1 scoreless innings of relief on April 23 against Murray State, striking out a pair.

Lauren Sackett recorded her team-best sixth complete game on April 22 against Murray State, striking out eight to get to 100 total on the season. She has a 2.99 ERA on the season in 77.1 innings.

In 40 innings of work, Hailey Griffin has a 3.85 ERA and has compiled a 3-2 record in her 18 appearances.

INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football wraps up the 2023 practice slate on Saturday, April 29, as the Sycamores close out the spring Blue & White game at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 1 p.m.

The Sycamores have partnered with Down Syndrome Indiana as a part of the annual festivities with the Buddy Walk®. Registration for the event scheduled to start outside Memorial Stadium at 9 a.m. ISU football will join in the family-friendly event open to all children and adults with Down syndrome, their families, friends, and local supporters. The Sycamores and participants will start the walk at 10:20 a.m. prior to the start of ISU’s spring game set for 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

“We’re looking forward to a great event with such a fantastic organization in Down Syndrome Indiana,” head coach Curt Mallory said. “It’s always great to get our guys involved within the community and we encourage everyone to come out and participate in this event this weekend.”

Sycamore football has been on the field preparing for the 2023 Spring Game since practice officially began on March 27. ISU has made it through the practice slate, including a pair of early scrimmages, as they continue to build toward the summer offseason.

2023 ISU football season ticket renewals and new season tickets are now on sale online for the upcoming season. Tickets will also be on sale at Memorial Stadium during the Spring Game. Click Here for more information

Since 1995, the Buddy Walk® has been the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome in the United States. It is also the world’s most widely recognized public awareness program for the Down syndrome community. The Buddy Walk® attracts thousands of participants from coast to coast each year.

A day of inspiration and celebration, the walk brings together the Down syndrome community all while raising funds to support the mission of Down Syndrome Indiana. Down Syndrome Indiana is a one-stop-shop for information and resources on Down syndrome.

The programs it offers are intended to promote the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in their greater community, as well as to offer support and information to families, caregivers, educators, employers and the professionals who serve individuals with Down syndrome.

If you are unable to attend the Buddy Walk®, you can still register and join us virtually by helping fundraise! Or, you can simply make a charitable donation to help support the Down Syndrome Indiana by clicking on the Donate To This Event button at the top of the page.

For additional assistance, please email Dixie@dsindiana.org or call 812-899-0641.

2023 Spring Game Schedule – Saturday, April 29

9 a.m. – Buddy Walk Registration

10 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

10:20 a.m. – Buddy Walk at Memorial Stadium

12:30 p.m. – Walk Concludes

1 p.m. – Spring Game

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S GOLF

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf team will carry a one-shot lead into the final round of the Horizon League Golf Championship. The Mastodons shot 290 for the second day in a row for a two-day total of 580 after Monday’s round (April 24).

Kasey Lilly’s 69-72-141 puts him in sole possession of first and a two-stroke lead with 18 holes to play. There are three players that shot 143 through the first two rounds: Wright State’s Tyler Goecke and Mikkel Mathiesen and Oakland’s Colin Sikkenga. Lilly’s second round started about as well as one can ask for with an eagle on the first hole. He then rattled off six pars and a birdie before bogeying his ninth. He was 2-under on the back nine. He quickly reset on the front with a birdie on hole one, then had five pars in his next six holes. He finished the day even, one of three Mastodons to do so.

Hunter Mefford moved up one shot on the leaderboard on Monday, also turning in an even 72. His 73-72-145 puts him in fifth place with 18 to play. Mefford was bogey-free for his first 10 holes, which included bookended birdies on holes 10 and one. After a bogey on two, he parred three more then birdied six.

Nick Holder and Jadden Ousley are tied for seventh through 36 holes, both at 147. Holder shot 73-74-147 and was 2-under on the back nine on Monday. After a bogey on 12, he had a six-hole stretch without a bogey. This included three pars and three birdies, which came on 14, 16 and 17. On the front, Holder had four pars in a row from four to seven. Ousley is at 75-72-147 after his even second round. He started his day with a 3-under 10-hole sequence of birdie, par, par, par, birdie, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie. He had three more pars before a stretch of three bogeys brought him back to even.

Burke Pitz rounded out the lineup with an 81-79-160. He started the day with eight pars in a row. After a bogey on 18 and a birdie to start the front, he had five more pars to finish his round.

Lilly is looking to become the second Mastodon in program history, and first since Zach Schroeder in 2018, to win a league championship. In his last two appearances at the Horizon League Championship, Lilly finished runner-up and 13th. As a team, the Mastodons are seeking their first league championship.

The Mastodons will tee off in the third and final round of the Horizon League Championship starting at 8:20 a.m. on Tuesday (April 25).

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S GOLF

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf team is in sixth place through 36 holes at the Horizon League Championship. The Mastodons shot 325 as a team on Monday (April 24).

Laura Caetano is leading the way with a 77-79-156 to put her in a tie for 11th. She had just one bogey in her first 15 holes, with the rest being pars. Anna Olafsdottir is one shot back of Caetano with her 76-81-157, which puts her in a tie for 13th. Olafsdottir started with three pars in a row, then finished with eight more pars before the end of the round.

Arny Dagsdottir was another few shots back of Olafsdottir with a 79-82-161. She is in 21st. Dagsdottir rattled off five pars in a row to start the day, then finished with five in her last seven holes.

Natalie Papa had her score taken on Monday as she turned in a 92-83-175. Her 83 saw her card five pars in her first six holes and drop a birdie on hole 16. Papa is in 36th with 18 to play. Luiza Caetano shot 83-84-167, to tie for 30th after 36. Starting on hole four, she had a stretch of par, par, birdie. The birdie came on the 145-yard par-3 sixth. She had another three-hole stretch of bogey-free golf with three pars in a row on 13, 14 and 15.

As a team, the Mastodons shot 315, 325-640. They are in sixth place ahead of Northern Kentucky and Detroit Mercy.

The Mastodons will have tee times for the third and final round of the Horizon League Championship starting at 8:20 a.m. on Tuesday (April 25).

EVANSVILLE MEN’S GOLF

COAL VALLEY, Ill. – Completing the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Golf Championship with a 4-under 67, Carson Parker paced the University of Evansville men’s golf team at Oakwood Country Club.

Parker’s score was just three off the all-time program record and marked a 9-stroke improvement from Sunday’s round.  With his effort, Parker jumped into a tie for 19th place with a 143.  Joining Parker with a 143 is Nicholas Gushrowski.  After leading the Purple Aces in round one with a 69, Gushrowski carded a 3-over 74 to tie Parker.

Michael Ikejiaini matched his opened day score, posting another round of 74.  He is tied with teammate Isaac Rohlder for the 33rd spot.  Rohleder lowered his score by two strokes in the second 18 holes, posting a 73.  He is tied with Ikejiani with one round to play.  Daniil Romashkin scored a 78 on Monday and enters the last day with a 154, tied for 48th.

Evansville remains in the 8th position with a team score of 582.  The Aces are eight behind Murray State, who is 7th with a 574 and sit five shots in front of 9th-place Missouri State.  Illinois State enters the third round with a 9-stroke lead over Valparaiso and a 13-shot advantage over Northern Iowa.  The Redbirds scored a 276 in both rounds.

Anthony Delisanti of Valpo leads the individuals.  Following a 66 on Sunday, Delisanti posted a 7-under 64 in the second round.  His 130 is four in front of the second position.

Tuesday will mark the final 18 holes of the tournament.

EVANSVILLE BASEBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville is not necessarily known as a home run-friendly ballpark.  That will be put to the test on Tuesday night, though, as two of the nation’s top home run teams will do battle, with the University of Evansville baseball team hosting Lipscomb at 6 p.m.

Evansville will enter this week’s action ranked 70th in the country in home runs with 53.  The Purple Aces have launched at least one home run in nine-straight games, which ranks as the third-best streak in the last decade at Evansville, behind only an 11-game and 10-game streak set last season by UE.  Lipscomb, meanwhile, ranks 20th in the country in home runs, as the Bisons have bashed 70 home runs this year, including seven over the weekend in a series victory over Bellarmine.

Individually, Evansville is led in home runs by graduate outfielder/pitcher Eric Roberts, who currently leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 14 home runs.  Junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse launched two home runs over the weekend, and he currently sits second on the team with eight home runs.  Fougerousse has been on fire at the plate, hitting safely in nine of his last 10 games after returning from a finger injury, and he hit an even .500 last week to raise his batting average to .283.  The Purple Aces currently stand at 23-16 overall entering Tuesday night’s action.

Meanwhile, Lipscomb’s lineup features four players with double-digit home run totals, led by redshirt sophomore catcher Austin Kelly, who is hitting a team-best .326 with a team-best 15 home runs.  Sophomore infielder Trace Willhoite (12 HRs), junior outfielder Alex Vergara (11 HRs) and sophomore infielder Caleb Ketchup (11 HRs) also have double-digit home run totals so far this year.  The Bisons will bring a 21-19 overall record into Tuesday night’s contest, but Lipscomb is the reigning ASUN West Division champions, and are currently tied with FGCU for the top spot in the ASUN standings with a 13-5 conference record.  Lipscomb also owns a series win over Notre Dame, and a mid-week win at nationally-ranked Louisville this year.

All-time, Evansville leads the series over Lipscomb, 12-6, dating back to a 10-0 UE win in 2005.  Tuesday’s game will mark Lipscomb’s first trip to Evansville in 11 years, as the Bisons have not visited Evansville since a 5-0 UE victory at Braun Stadium on March 28, 2012.  The first-ever game for UE head coach Wes Carroll as a member of the Purple Aces’ coaching staff came at Lipscomb on February 9, 2007, when Carroll served as an assistant coach for UE in a 10-0 victory in Nashville.

Tuesday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.

EVANSVILLE SOFTBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In its third and final meeting of the 2023 season, the University of Evansville softball team welcomes Indiana State to Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium on Tuesday at 5 p.m.  ESPN+ will have the live broadcast.

Last Time Out

– UIC completed the weekend sweep over the Purple Aces with a 7-6 win in nine innings on Sunday afternoon

– In a back-and-forth contest, the Flames took the early 3-0 lead before UE responded with three in the top of the fourth

– Jenna Nink hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 7th to give the Aces their first lead of the day but UIC countered with two in the bottom of the frame to tie it back up

– Evansville stranded the bases loaded in the 8th but scored the go-ahead run in the 9th, however, the Flames took advantage of two UE errors to pick up the 7-6 win

Third Meeting

– Two contests have been played between the squads in Terre Haute with the Sycamores picking up a 3-2 win on April 4 before the Purple Aces earned a 2-0 shut out on April 11

– Game one in Terre Haute saw the squads fight to a 1-1 tie through seven innings before Jess Willsey gave the Aces a 2-1 edge with a solo shot in the top of the 9th; in the bottom half of the frame, a 2-run homer gave ISU the 3-2 walk-off win

– The second meeting was another low scoring contest with the game being scoreless after five

– Alexa Davis hit a 2-run double in the of the 6th that would prove to be the game winner as Mikayla Jolly and Erin Kleffman combined for the 5-hit shutout

Back on Track

– Following the completion of the series at Murray State, Jess Willsey was hitless in nine trips to the plate while her season average dropped to .254

– In the four games last week, Willsey has turned things around, accumulating six hits in 14 at-bats, which translates into a .429 average

– Willsey tied for the team lead with her sixth home run of the year, which came on Sunday at UIC

– One of Evansville’s biggest wins of 2023 saw Willsey take over with her performance at the plate

– In game two against Southern Illinois, Willsey was a perfect 3-3 with four RBI in a 4-0 win for the Aces; the win came less than a day after SIU opened the series with a 17-1 victory

Top Streak

– Marah Wood is starting to get on track offensively and carries a UE season-high 8-game hit streak into Tuesday’s meeting against Indiana State

– Following an 0-3 game in the finale versus Southern Illinois, Wood’s average stood at .220, but the recent streak has pushed her average up 42 points to .262

– Wood is batting .444 during the 8-game streak, picking up 12 hits in her last 27 at-bats while adding four multi-hit games

– In the April 1 opener against Belmont, she went 3-4 with two RBI and two doubles while adding a walk, run and steal

– She followed that up with her second home run of the season and two more RBI in the second game of the series

Providing the Power

– Jenna Nink registered five hits in 12 at-bats in the series at UIC and currently holds the team lead in multiple categories

– Nink paces the squad in batting average (.282), slugging (.527), RBI (22) and on-base percentage (.402)

– She added two home runs in the series to push her season tally to five, which is the second-highest total for the Aces; her 2-run homer in the 7th inning on Sunday temporarily gave Evansville a 5-3 lead

– In the April 8 victory over Southern Illinois, Nink scored three of UE’s four runs while reaching base with two walks and a hit

– In the series against Belmont, Nink recorded two solo home runs

VALPO SOFTBALL

Valparaiso (8-33, 4-16 MVC)

April 25 – at UIC (4-39, 3-17 MVC) – 5 p.m.

April 28 – at UNI (30-11, 19-1 MVC) – 5 p.m. | April 29 – at UNI – 2 p.m. | April 30 – at UNI – noon

Next Up in Valpo Softball: The Valpo softball team takes to the road for the final time in the regular season this week, with four games over the course of six days. The Beacons begin the week by closing out the season series with UIC on Tuesday in Chicago before trekking to Cedar Falls, Iowa for a three-game series with MVC-leading UNI this weekend.

Previously: Valpo clinched the season series victory over UIC at the Valpo Softball Complex on Wednesday with a 4-0 win over the Flames. The Beacons went on to drop the three-game series against Drake over the weekend.

Looking Ahead: The regular season comes to an end next weekend, as Valpo hosts Indiana State for a three-game series May 5-7. The program will hold its Senior Day prior to the Saturday game.

Following Valpo Softball: All four games will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN. The UIC game and the Friday/Sunday games on UNI will be carried on ESPN+, while the Saturday contest against the Panthers will be on ESPN3. All four games will have live stats available as well.

Head Coach Meaggan Pettipiece: Meaggan Pettipiece was hired in September 2022 as head coach of the Valpo softball program. Pettipiece brings over a decade of experience as a collegiate head coach, most recently the last three seasons at the Division I level at Akron. Prior to her time at Akron, Pettipiece spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Kent State and was head coach at Northwood for 10 years. Pettipiece, who owns 258 career coaching victories, was an All-American on the diamond and helped California University of Pennsylvania to a D-II national title in 1998 collegiately before playing internationally for Team Canada, including at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Series Notes: UIC – Valpo renews acquaintances with the most common opponent in program history Tuesday, as the two programs meet for the 89th time. UIC holds a 66-22 advantage in the all-time series, but it’s the Beacons who have won the last three, including both meetings this season – 2-1 in Chicago April 4 on the back of a two-run homer from Lauren Kehlenbrink, and 4-0 in Valpo April 19, the program’s largest shutout win in series history.

UNI – Valpo is just 1-17 all-time against the Panthers, including a 1-11 mark since joining the Valley. Last season, UNI swept the three-game series in Valpo by scores of 9-1, 5-0 and 3-1.

Scouting the Opposition: UIC – The Flames enter Wednesday’s game with a 4-39 overall record, but now stand at 3-17 in MVC play after sweeping Evansville last weekend. Carlee Jo Clark leads the Flames offensively, slashing .256/.323/.390, while in the circle, Christina Toniolo has pitched over half the innings this season and owns a 4.05 ERA with 77 strikeouts.

Drake – The Panthers enter the week at 30-11 overall and are atop the Valley standings at 19-1, with a midweek contest at Drake before the weekend series. The prolific UNI offense ranks among the national best, averaging nearly seven runs/game. Mya Dodge is hitting .432 with 13 homers, 40 runs scored and 55 RBIs, while Alexis Pupillo hits .423 with 14 homers, 42 runs scored and 44 RBIs. In the circle, Samantha Heyer has seen the majority of work and is 19-4 with a 1.85 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 140 innings.

Looking For a Sweep: When Valpo takes the field Tuesday against UIC, it will be looking for a three-game sweep of the season series against the Flames – albeit split up over three different dates. Valpo has just one three-game series sweep since joining the MVC – that came back in the program’s first year in the Valley, 2018, when Valpo took all three victories against Bradley.

Hersch Stays Hot: Fifth-year shortstop Taylor Herschbach is enjoying one of the best stretches of her time at Valpo as her collegiate career starts to wind down. Herschbach picked up at least one hit in all four games last week, extending her on-base streak to 10 consecutive games. Not only is that a new career best for Herschbach, it is also the longest stretch by any Valpo player this year and one game shy of being the longest by a Valpo player over the last four seasons. In that stretch, Herschbach is hitting .346 (9-26) with three doubles, two triples, six runs scored, six walks and a hit batter.

Production From the Middle: Herschbach wasn’t the only Beacon swinging a hot bat over last week’s four games, as the middle of the order delivered numerous hits over the course of the week. Freshman third baseman Kim Rodas hit .500 (5-10) with two doubles, two runs scored, two RBIs and a walk last week, while junior outfielder Regi Hecker hit .400 (4-10) with three runs scored, an RBI and a walk.

Another Shutout: Coming of one of the best trios of pitching performances in program history the previous week, Easton Seib and Caitlyn Kowalski teamed up to blank UIC last Wednesday in a 4-0 win over the Flames, the largest shutout win by Valpo over UIC in program history and just the program’s third shutout of UIC since 1990. It was the Beacons’ fourth shutout in a six-game stretch, their first time doing that since Feb. 24-March 5, 2019. It was also Valpo’s third shutout in a stretch of four conference games, the program’s first time posting a stretch like that since April 5-6, 2014.

Seib Cracks the Record Book: When senior pitcher Easton Seib stepped into the pitcher’s circle with the ball in hand last Friday against Drake, she moved into the program’s record book, cracking the top-10 in program history for career pitching appearances. Seib enters this week with 94 career pitching appearances, 10th in program history and six shy of ninth ‑ this despite the fact that one of her four seasons was the truncated 2020 campaign.

The Pitching Roundup: 4/11 at Northern Illinois – Easton Seib one-hitter (first of her career, sixth inning infield single)

4/14 at Bradley – Easton Seib one-hitter (second of her career, third inning infield single)

– First pitcher in program history to throw one-hitters or better in back-to-back starts

– First Valpo pitcher since Emily Richardson in 2018 to throw multiple one-hitters or better in the same season

4/15 at Bradley – Caitlyn Kowalski no-hitter (First of her career)

– 12th no-hitter in program history

– First no-hitter by a Valpo pitcher since March 2019; first seven inning no-hitter since Feb. 2018

– First no-hitter in program history in a 1-0 game

More Pitching Beacon Bits: – First time since 2018 Valpo has had at least three one-hitters or better in the same season

– Shortest span between three such games in program history (previous shortest span was 28 days in 2007)

– Second time in program history team threw a one-hitter and no-hitter in consecutive games (March 2002 vs. Philadelphia and St. Thomas Aquinas)

U OF I BASEBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis junior right fielder Caleb Vaughn has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) weekly award winner in baseball, it was announced by the league office Monday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Caleb Vaughn, Indianapolis

Jr. | OF | Indianapolis, Ind.

Major: Business

Team Results: 8-14 L at Kentucky Wesleyan (4/18) | 6-3 W at Purdue Northwest (4/19) | 15-2 W (7 inn.) at Southwest Baptist (4/21) | 12-2 W (7), 3-4 L (7) at Southwest Baptist (4/22) | 7-4 W at Southwest Baptist (4/23)

Batted .579 (11-for-19) with a .680 on-base percentage in six games

Ripped two home runs, two doubles, and one triple for a 1.105 slugging percentage

Drove in 10 runs and scored seven

Highlighted by 3-for-4 performance in first game against SBU, recording two homers, one double, and three RBIs

Earns first career Player of the Week Award

Last Greyhounds’ Player of the Week: Drew Donaldson (2/20/23)

U OF I SOFTBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis senior catcher Lexy Rees has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Softball Player of the Week, it was announced by the league office Monday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Lexy Rees, #6 Indianapolis

Jr. | C | Greenwood, Ind.

Major: Psychology

Team Result: 3-2, 4-3 W vs. Drury (4/22) | 9-0 (5 inn.), 4-2 W vs. Southwest Baptist (4/23)

Batted .455 (5-for-11) with a .727 slugging and .538 on-base percentage in 4-0 week

Tallied team-high six runs and five RBI with eight total bases

Scored at least one run in all four games

Went 2-for-3 in both games against Drury, including a solo homer in sixth inning of second game to score UIndy’s fourth run

Drove in three runs in first game against SBU and stole a base in the second

Earns second career Player of the Week award (4/24/23, 5/2/22)

Last Greyhounds’ Player of the Week: Emily O’Connor (4/3/23)

U OF I MEN’S LAX

BALTIMORE, Md. – The UIndy men’s lacrosse team came in at No. 4 in the latest USILA rankings, the organization released on Monday.

The Greyhounds had their six-game winning streak halted this past Saturday with a in-region loss at now-No. 2 Wingate, 14-9. The Bulldogs, as a result, leapfrogged to No. 2 in the national poll.

The ranking marks the 31st consecutive week UIndy has been in the USILA top 10 and fourth straight week the team has been in the top five. Le Moyne remains atop the poll, while fellow south-region member Rollins is now third.

MARIAN MEN’S TRACK

JACKSON, Mich. – Christian Rios has been named the Crossroads League Field Athlete of the Week after a dominant performance at the Indiana Little State Championships this past week, as announced by the conference earlier today.

Rios became the Crossroads League’s top overall thrower at the 118th Little State Championships, as the sophomore is the only thrower in the league to rank in the top-10 in each of the core throwing events. Rios won the discus with a Marian record, finished runner-up behind his teammates in the hammer, and placed third in shot put, hitting the A standard in each of the three events, including his first A in shot put.

Marian will be back in action this weekend at Indiana State as they compete in the Sycamore Open on Saturday.

MARIAN WOMEN’S TRACK

JACKSON, Mich. – After headlining Marian’s dominant performance at the Indiana Little State Championships, the Marian women’s track and field duo were honored on Monday as Arriana Benjamin and Erin Oleksak were named the Crossroads League Track and Field Athletes of the Week. This is the third time Oleksak has earned the award for the spring season, while this is the first honor for Benjamin this spring.

Benjamin hit A standards in the shout put, hammer, and discus for Marian at the Little State Championships. The senior broke the MU records in the discus and hammer and topped the field in the shot put.

Oleksak scored wins in the 200-meters, 100-meter hurdles and 4×400-meter relay for Marian at the Little State Championships. Oleksak also automatically qualified for NAIA Nationals in the 100-hurdles and 4×400-relay. In addition, to Oleksak’s dominance on the track, the senior hit the B standard of 5.71m in the long jump, while also finishing third in high jump after clearing 1.65m.

Marian will return to action this weekend at the Indiana State Sycamore Open on Saturday.

MARIAN WOMEN’S TENNIS

JACKSON, Mich. – For the first time in her collegiate career Joelle Leihbacher has been named the Crossroads League Tennis Player of the Week, as announced by the conference earlier today. Leihbacher’s honor is the third CL Tennis Player of the Week honor by the women’s tennis team.

Leihbacher helped Marian past RV Northwester Ohio by a 4-3 margin with a win at No. 6 singles. The 6-0, 6-1 singles victory was the decisive point in the contest.

WABASH TRACK

Wabash College track and field sophomore runner Brayden Curnutt earned the North Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Outdoor Track Distance / Mid-Distance Athlete of the Week for his performance at Friday’s Rose-Hulman Twilight Invitational.

Curnutt posted two individual victories at the Rose-Hulman Twilight Invitational Friday evening in Terre Haute, Indiana. He won the 1500-meter run with a career-best time of 3:55.97, the fastest time of the season by a North Coast Athletic Conference men’s runner. He added a victory in the 3,000-meter run with a personal-best time of 8:31.67.

TAYLOR BASEBALL

JACKSON, Mich. – For the second week in a row a Taylor baseball player has been named a Crossroads League athlete of the week, as TJ Bass was dubbed the league’s Player of the Week on Monday, one week after Nick Crabtree was crowned the league’s Pitcher of the Week.

Bass powered the Trojans to a 3-1 week that came in the wake of being named the nation’s No. 21 team last Wednesday. Throughout TU’s four-game set with Marian, Bass hit a cool .500 in 14 total at-bats, including three home runs and a pair of doubles. By week’s end, Bass totaled seven RBI and five runs scored, consistently energizing Taylor’s run production against the Knights.

After going 2-4 with a home run in game one of the series, TU’s senior sensation went on to record a hit in each of the final three games, including two more long balls on day-two of the four-game set.

While bouncing from catcher to left and even centerfield, Bass was especially relentless at the dish in the second doubleheader that secured TU’s seventh series-win of the 2023 Crossroads League season. Bass drove in three runs apiece in games three and four of the series, contributing half of the Trojan run production by himself.

The award marks the third CL Player-of-the-Week nod of Bass’s career, which has been an illustrious one to say the least. Bass has already set individual-career Taylor program records in at-bats, home runs, runs-batted-in, walks, and total bases, while currently sitting 11 hits and 13 doubles away from establishing two more program records.

Bass will now look to build on his most-recent award and carry the No. 21 Trojans (34-12, 27-5 CL) to their eighth CL series win of the season and TU’s first regular-season conference championship since 2016. In this way, the stage is set for Taylor to take on Goshen (9-33, 5-25) on the road this Thursday, April 27, at 1:00 pm.

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

MLB STANDINGS

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
xy-Boston	57	25	.695	—	32-9	25-16	11-5	34-18	8-2	3 W
x-Philadelphia	54	28	.659	3.0	29-12	25-16	10-6	34-18	5-5	2 W
x-New York	47	35	.573	10.0	23-18	24-17	8-8	32-20	5-5	2 L
x-Brooklyn	45	37	.549	12.0	23-18	22-19	7-9	30-22	6-4	1 L
Toronto	41	41	.500	16.0	27-14	14-27	4-12	26-26	6-4	1 W
Central Divison
	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
xyz-Milwaukee	58	24	.707	—	32-9	26-15	11-5	35-17	6-4	2 L
x-Cleveland	51	31	.622	7.0	31-10	20-21	13-3	34-18	7-3	1 L
Chicago	40	42	.488	18.0	22-19	18-23	7-9	27-25	6-4	2 W
Indiana	35	47	.427	23.0	20-21	15-26	7-9	24-28	3-7	1 W
Detroit	17	65	.207	41.0	9-32	8-33	2-14	8-44	1-9	1 L
Southeast Division
	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
xy-Miami	44	38	.537	—	27-14	17-24	10-6	24-28	6-4	1 W
x-Atlanta	41	41	.500	3.0	24-17	17-24	8-8	26-26	5-5	2 L
Washington	35	47	.427	9.0	19-22	16-25	8-8	21-31	3-7	1 L
Orlando	34	48	.415	10.0	20-21	14-27	7-9	20-32	5-5	4 L
Charlotte	27	55	.329	17.0	13-28	14-27	7-9	15-37	5-5	1 W
Western Conference
Northwest Division
	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
xyz-Denver	53	29	.646	—	34-7	19-22	10-6	34-18	5-5	1 W
x-Minnesota	42	40	.512	11.0	22-19	20-21	8-8	29-23	7-3	3 W
Oklahoma City	40	42	.488	13.0	24-17	16-25	9-7	25-27	4-6	2 W
Utah	37	45	.451	16.0	23-18	14-27	6-10	24-28	2-8	1 L
Portland	33	49	.402	20.0	17-24	16-25	7-9	23-29	1-9	4 L
Pacific Division
	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
xy-Sacramento	48	34	.585	—	23-18	25-16	9-7	32-20	5-5	3 L
x-Phoenix	45	37	.549	3.0	28-13	17-24	9-7	30-22	7-3	2 L
x-LA Clippers	44	38	.537	4.0	23-18	21-20	9-7	27-25	6-4	3 W
x-Golden State	44	38	.537	4.0	33-8	11-30	7-9	30-22	8-2	3 W
x-LA Lakers	43	39	.524	5.0	23-18	20-21	6-10	27-25	8-2	2 W
Southwest Division
	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	Div	Conf	Last 10	Streak
xy-Memphis	51	31	.622	—	35-6	16-25	13-3	30-22	6-4	1 L
New Orleans	42	40	.512	9.0	27-14	15-26	11-5	29-23	7-3	1 L
Dallas	38	44	.463	13.0	23-18	15-26	9-7	28-24	2-8	2 L
Houston	22	60	.268	29.0	14-27	8-33	4-12	12-40	4-6	3 W
San Antonio	22	60	.268	29.0	14-27	8-33	3-13	10-42	3-7	1 W

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1876      The Chicago White Stockings make their National League debut with a 4-0 victory over the Grays at the Louisville Baseball Park. The franchise, which will also be known as the Colts and Orphans before becoming the Cubs in 1903, will finish in first place in the circuit’s inaugural season.

1901      On Opening Day at Bennett Park in Detroit, the Tigers tally ten times in the bottom of the ninth to beat Milwaukee, 14-13. The contest is the American League’s first game in Detroit.

1904      At American League Park, the Senators remain winless since the start of the season when they lose their eighth consecutive game, bowing to New York 4-1. Highlander right-hander Jack Chesbro picks up the first of his record 41 victories he’ll record this season.

1933      Yankees rookie hurler Russ Van Atta goes 4-for-4 and shuts out the Senators, 16-0, in his major league debut. The 26-year-old southpaw will finish his rookie season with a 12-4 record, batting .283 in 67 plate appearances.

1933      At Griffith Stadium, the benches clear when Yankee outfielder Ben Chapman viciously spikes Buddy Myer and then responds to the Senators infielder’s retaliation by punching and hurling anti-semitic remarks at the injured Jewish second baseman. The ugly 20-minute brawl, which spreads into the stands and includes over 300 fans getting into the action, will result in suspensions and fines for the players involved.

1933      Philadelphia’s 25-year-old shortstop Dick Bartell becomes the first major leaguer to stroke four consecutive doubles in a nine-inning game. Rowdy Richard’s quartet of two-baggers helps the Phillies defeat the Braves at the Baker Bowl, 7-1.

1937      Giants southpaw Cliff Melton becomes the first rookie to fan at least ten batters in his major league debut, finishing with 13 strikeouts in a complete-game loss to the Braves at the Polo Grounds. The 25-year-old from Brevard, NC, who loses the 3-1 contest due to New York’s weak defense in the ninth inning, will hold the rookie record for K’s in his debut until Dodger freshman Karl Spooner whiffs 15 batters in his first major league start in 1954.

1948      Larry Doby ties a major league record by striking out five times in one game. The Indians’ right fielder’s performance doesn’t hurt the Tribe when the team beats Detroit at Briggs Stadium, 7-4.

1958      In front of 60,635 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Dodgers beat the Cardinals, 5-2, setting a National League record for the largest crowd to attend a regular-season night game. The mark will last until 917 more patrons appear next season on Opening Night to watch their team defeat the Redbirds again.

1963      In the second year of their existence, the Mets win a game on a Thursday for the first time in franchise history when they beat Chicago at Wrigley Field, 3-2. During their inaugural season, the expansion team failed to register a victory in the 15 games played on the fifth day of the week.

1967      Jim Lefebvre commits three errors in the fourth frame, paving the way for the Braves’ 7-1 victory at Dodger Stadium. The Los Angeles third baseman commits another in the top of the ninth inning when he boots Hank Aaron’s grounder.

1970      Earl Wilson nearly scores after he strikes out when Minnesota catcher Paul Ratliff, after trapping the third strike, inadvertently rolls the ball to the mound instead of tagging the batter or throwing to first. With the Twins heading towards the dugout, the Detroit hurler runs around the bases, heading home when outfielder Brant Alyea retrieves the ball, throwing it to shortstop Leo Cardenas covering the plate to complete a unique 7-6-7 run-down play.

1972      After getting off to a 4-7 start, the Padres fire Preston Gomez and replace the only manager the team has known since their inception in 1969 with 41-year-old third base coach Don Zimmer. The Cuban-born skipper averaged over 103 losses per season during his three-year tenure with the expansion team.

1975      Dodger starter Andy Messersmith strokes three doubles at Candlestick Park. The trio of two-baggers contributes to the team’s 6-5 victory over the Giants, with the right-hander scoring two runs and driving in another en route to his victory.

1976      During the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium, Rick Monday becomes a national hero when he takes away an American flag about to be set on fire by the two trespassers (a father and son) in the outfield. The Cubs’ 30-year-old fly chaser, who served six years in the Marine Reserves, will be presented the flag a month later in a pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field by L.A. executive Al Campanis as a gesture of patriotic thanks.

1977      George Foster has seven RBIs, scores five runs times, banging out four hits (two home runs, a double, and a single) in the Reds’ 23-9 rout of the Braves. Cincinnati ties a National League record by scoring a dozen runs in an inning.

1978      After the Cardinals get off to a slow start, the team fires manager Vern Rapp and replaces him with fan-favorite Ken Boyer. The former Redbirds’ third baseman will pilot the club to a fifth-place finish, compiling a 62-81 record during his tenure in the dugout this season.

1978      The Phillies replace their Revolutionary Era twin mascots, Philadelphia Phil and Philadelphia Phillis, with the Phillie Phanatic, who debuts at Veterans Stadium in a game against the Cubs. According to his official biography, the large, furry, green bipedal flightless bird with an extendable tongue, a native of the Galápagos Islands, is the team’s biggest fan.

1981      Hoping to give his pitchers an edge, Maury Wills gets the Kingdome’s ground crew to enlarge the batter box, making it a foot closer to the mound. Before the game, A’s skipper Billy Martin shares his suspicions with the umpire Bill Kunkel, resulting in the American League suspending the exposed Mariners manager for two games for “doctoring the batter’s box.”

1984      In a 2-1 victory over Montreal at Olympic Stadium, Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden becomes the first teenager to strike out ten batters in a major league game since Bert Blyleven accomplished the feat with the Twins in 1970. The 19-year-old rookie will lead the National League with 276 strikeouts this season.

1986      Although Craig Lefferts, a usually reliable relief pitcher, gives up the lead in the 12th inning, he saves the day when he drives an 0-2 curveball over the fence, giving the Padres a 9-8 walk-off victory over the Giants at Jack Murphy Stadium. The 28-year-old weak-hitting southpaw, not expected to play due to a 102-degree fever before the game, becomes the first hurler to end a game with a home run since 1969 when Orioles right-hander Jim Hardin went deep off Royals’ reliever Moe Drabowsky.

1987      Billy Bean becomes the tenth rookie to collect four hits in his major league debut. Detroit’s left fielder compiles two singles and a pair of doubles, batting leadoff in the team’s 13-2 rout of Kansas City at Tiger Stadium.

1989      With former players on hand, including Billy Herman, Andy Pafko, and Billy Williams, the Cubs celebrate the 75th anniversary of Wrigley Field with a 4-0 victory over L.A. at the Friendly Confines. The ‘ceremonial’ first pitch of the game, a spitball, is thrown by 97-year-old Bob Wright, who appeared in two games for Chicago in 1915 when the team played their home games at West Side Park.

1995      At Miami’s Joe Robbie Stadium, the 257-day baseball strike ends when the Dodgers beat the Marlins, 8-7, with outfielder Raul Mondesi providing much of the offense with two home runs and four RBIs.The work stoppage caused last season to end early, forcing the cancellation of the World Series and delaying the opening of this campaign.

1997      In a 13-8 Mariners victory over the Blue Jays at the SkyDome, center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr. hits three home runs, two off Roger Clemens and another off Mike Timlin. The barrage helps Junior break the record for the most round-trippers hit in April with 13.

1997      The Indians establish a team record, hitting eight home runs in one game when Matt Williams (3), David Justice (2), Manny Ramirez, Sandy Alomar, and Chad Curtis go deep in an 11-4 rout of the Brewers at County Stadium. With the additional three homers slammed by Milwaukee, the teams combine to tie a major league mark for round-trippers in a nine-inning night game, with 11.

1998      The Iron Man’s streak continues when Cal Ripken plays in his 2,500th consecutive game, an 8-2 Orioles victory over Oakland at Camden Yards. During the milestone contest, the Baltimore third baseman goes two-for-five, knocking in three runs.

1999      The fifth monument unveiled in Yankee Stadium history pays tribute to Joe DiMaggio, who died last month at 84. “Joltin’ Joe” becomes the fifth Bronx Bomber to be honored in this fashion, joining Miller Huggins (1931), Lou Gehrig (1942), Babe Ruth (1949), and Mickey Mantle (1996).

1999      On the day the team pays tribute to Joe DiMaggio, life-long Yankee fan Paul Simon, standing in centerfield, performs his 1968 classic Mrs. Robinson,/I>. The singer-songwriter’s iconic lyrics, “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you,” bring cheers from the Bronx ballpark’s enthusiastic sellout crowd.

2000      Supporting the work stoppage by Cuban-Americans over the Elian Gonzalez controversy, Marlins Alex Fernandez, Vladimir Nunez, Michael Tejera, and Mike Lowell, Rays’ Jose Canseco, and Mets’ Rey Ordonez and Cookie Rojas do not participate in today’s games. The protest over an immigration ruling stems from the federal district court’s decision that the five-year-old boy must be returned to his father in Cuba, taking him away from his maternal relatives living in Miami.

2001      Rickey Henderson breaks the career walks record established by Babe Ruth in 1935 when he receives his 2,063rd base on balls. The 42-year-old Padres outfielder takes his historic stroll leading off the ninth inning on a free pass issued by Philadelphia’s Jose Mesa in the team’s 5-3 loss at Qualcomm Stadium.

2007      In a sixteen strikeout performance against the Diamondbacks in a 3-2 Padres loss at Chase Field, Jake Peavy comes within one check-swing from tying Tom Seaver’s major league record of ten consecutive strikeouts. The right-hander loses his bid to equal the mark when Eric Byrnes walks after apparently swinging on a 3-2 pitch, a questionable call made by the first base umpire Jeff Kellogg.

2012      David Wright becomes the Mets’ all-time RBI leader with 735 runs batted in when he hits a two-run home run in the team’s 5-1 victory over the Marlins at Citi Field. The 29-year-old third baseman passes Darryl Strawberry’s franchise mark with his sixth-inning blast off Mark Buehrle.

2015      A Honus Wagner T206 baseball card, rated as a three on a scale from one to 10, is auctioned for $1.32 million in online bidding to an anonymous buyer. Robert Edward Auctions of New Jersey announced the same card, sold by an unnamed owner, fetched $791,000 at auction in 2008.

2015      For the first time, a team takes the field with three Canadian position players in the starting lineup. Outfielders Michael Saunders (Victoria) and Dalton Pompey (Mississauga), along with catcher Russell Martin (East York), collectively go 1-for-9 in the Blue Jays’ 4-2 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.

2017      Chris Coghlan avoids being tagged at home plate when he goes airborne, soaring over Cardinal catcher Yadier Molina to score in the Blue Jays’ 6-5 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings. The improbable run, driven in by Kevin Pillar’s triple, gives the team a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning of the Busch Stadium contest.2017      On a frigid night at Coors Field, Trea Turner completes the third cycle in Nationals history with a bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning in the team’s 15-12 victory over the Rockies. The 23-year-old former NC State baseball standout joins Christian Guzman (2008) and Brad Wilkerson (2005), who have also accomplished the feat after the franchise moved to Washington, D.C.