“THE SCOREBOARD”
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
HAMILTON SE 17 PORTLAND 1
HALLS 7 HAMILTON SE 6
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 9 WEST VIGO 5
SCECINA 2 WARREN CENTRAL 0
NOBLESVILLE 5 EAGLEVILLE 1
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
ALL GAMES PPD
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GREENWOOD 2 MOORESVILLE 1
NORTH PUTNAM 2 IRVINGTON PREP 0
HARRISON 2 IRVINGTON PREP 0
IRVINGTON PREP 2 DEKALB 0
MONROVIA 2 COLUMBUS EAST 1
MONROVIA 2 WHITELAND 0
MONROVIA 2 DECATUR CENTRAL 0
MONROVIA 2 BROWNSBURG 1
COLUMBUS EAST 2 WHITELAND 0
BROWSBURG 2 MOORESVILLE 0
GREENWOOD 2 WHITELAND 1
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 2 COLUMBUS EAST 0
CENTRAL INDIANA BOYS LAX SCORES
CULVER ACADEMIES 13 CENTER GROVE 4
RONCALLI 18 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 7
CENTRAL INDIANA GIRLS LAX SCORES
CENTER GROVE 16 EVANSVILLE MEORIAL 6
EVANSVILLE BOSSE 6 PERRY MERIDIAN 5
EVANSVILLE BOSSE 7 SOUTHPORT 5
NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TV SCHEDULE/RESULTS
FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE
FLORIDA 79 AUBURN 73
HOUSTON 70 DUKE 67
MONDAY, APRIL 7 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN SAN ANTONIO)
8:50 P.M. ON CBS
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SUNDAY, APRIL 6 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN TAMPA, FLA.)
3 P.M. ON ABC
INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
VIRGINIA TECH 6 NOTRE DAME 1
BUTLER AT XAVIER PPD
MICHIGAN STATE AT INDIANA PPD
MILWAUKEE AT PURDUE FT. WAYNE CANCELLED
BELMONT 1 INDIANA STATE 0
WASHINGTON 5 PURDUE 4
EVANSVILLE 7 ILLINOIS CHICAGO 6
ILLINOIS STATE 18 VALPO 3
INDIANA COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
NOTRE DAME 12 PITTSBURGH 4
PURDUE 4 MINNESOTA 0
GREEN BAY 10 IU INDY 4
IU INDY 6 GREEN BAY 4
BALL STATE 12 KENT STATE 6
VALPO 1 BRADLEY 0
VALPO 8 BRADLEY 4
INDIANA STATE AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS CANCELLED
COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYOFFS
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA MEN’S LAX SCORES
SYRACUSE 14 NOTRE DAME 9
INDIANA WOMEN’S LAX SCORES
STANFORD 8 NOTRE DAME 7
NBA SCOREBOARD
NEW YORK 121 ATLANTA 105
MEMPHIS 109 DETROIT 103
MINNESOTA 114 PHILADELPHIA 109
MILWAUKEE 121 MIAMI 115 0T
LA CLIPPERS 135 DALLAS 104
NHL SCOREBOARD
OTTAWA 3 FLORIDA 0
NEW JERSEY 4 NY RANGERS 0
PITTSBURGH 5 DALLAS 3
VANCOUVER 6 ANAHEIM 2
LOS ANGELES 3 EDMONTON 0
ST. LOUIS 5 COLORADO 4
MONTRÉAL 3 PHILADELPHIA 2
TORONTO 5 COLUMBUS 0
BUFFALO 3 TAMPA BAY 2
UTAH 4 WINNIPEG 1
BOSTON 5 CAROLINA 1
VEGAS 3 CALVARY 2 OT
SEATTLE 5 SAN JOSE 1
MLB SCOREBOARD
CHICAGO CUBS 7 SAN DIEGO 1
DETROIT 7 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2
MINNESOTA 6 HOUSTON 1
LA DODGERS 3 PHILADELPHIA 1
WASHINGTON 4 ARIZONA 3
NY YANKEES 10 PITTSBURGH 4
BALTIMORE 8 KANSAS CITY 1
TEXAS 6 TAMPA BAY 4
CINCINNATI 11 MILWAUKEE 7
NY METS 3 TORONTO 2
MIAMI 4 ATLANTA 0
LAS VEGAS 7 COLORADO 4
SAN FRANCISCO 4 SEATTLE 1
LA ANGELS 10 CLEVELAND 4
ST. LOUIS AT BOSTON POSTPONED
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
IOWA AT INDIANAPOLIS PPD
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCOREBOARD
CHARLOTTE 2 NASHVILLE 1
SALT LAKE 2 LA GALAXY 0
PHILADELPHIA 0 ORLANDO CITY 0
NY RED BULLS 2 CHICAGO 1
COLUMBUS 2 MONTRÉAL 1
CINCINNATI 1 NEW ENGLAND 0
DALLAS 1 ATLANTA 1
AUSTIN 0 PORTLAND 0
KANSAS CITY 2 ST. LOUIS 0
HOUSTON 1 LOS ANGELES 0
VANCOUVER 2 COLORADO 0
SAN DIEGO 3 SEATTLE 0
UFL SCOREBOARD
DC 17 MEMPHIS 12
WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL VOLLEYBALL
COLUMBUS 3 INDY 1
OMAHA 3 ORLANDO 1
GRAND RAPIDS 3 VEGAS 0
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
HOUSTON SHOCKS DUKE WITH LATE RALLY, REACHES TITLE GAME
LJ Cryer ignited a 14-point comeback in the final 8:02, J’Wan Roberts made the go-ahead free throws and Houston stunned Duke 70-67 in a memorable Final Four clash between No. 1 seeds on Saturday in San Antonio.
Cryer shot 6-of-9 from 3-point range and led the Cougars with 26 points, while Roberts had 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Emanuel Sharp made massive plays down the stretch and finished with 16 points for Houston (35-4), which will face Florida in the national championship game on Monday.
Cooper Flagg had 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks for Duke (35-4) but was whistled for a foul with 19 seconds left that allowed Houston to move in front after the Blue Devils led most of the game.
Houston outrebounded Duke 42-31 to make up for 37.7 percent shooting from the floor. Duke made just 39.4 percent of its shots after hitting at least 50 percent in each of its first four NCAA Tournament games.
Duke appeared safe when Houston’s Joseph Tugler made contact with the ball when the Blue Devils were attempting an inbound with 1:14 to go. Duke received one technical foul shot and possession.
Kon Knueppel (16 points) made the foul shot for a 67-61 lead, but Houston got a stop on Tugler’s block and Sharp made a major 3-pointer to cut it to 67-64.
James’ inbound pass was stolen by Mylik Wilson, and Houston clawed within one on Tugler’s putback dunk with 25 seconds left. The Cougars then fouled Duke, Tyrese Proctor missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Roberts drew a foul from Flagg on the rebound.
Roberts’ free throws gave Houston its first lead since 6-5. Flagg’s midrange floater with eight seconds left hit the front of the rim and Houston got the rebound. Cryer hit two free throws for the final margin.
Flagg hit a jumper at the 10:31 mark of the second half and Proctor added one free throw for a 59-45 lead, but the Blue Devils missed their next six field-goal attempts.
Cryer had a six-point possession thanks to a flagrant-1 foul call on Mason Gillis under the basket when Cryer made a three. Houston got one foul shot and possession, and Cryer hit a jumper to cut it to 59-51 with 7:43 to play.
Houston pulled within 59-55 before Proctor hit two free throws to end a 4:33 Duke scoring drought. Then, Maliq Brown kicked the ball to Flagg in the right corner for a 3-pointer with 3:03 left.
GATORS HOLD OFF TIGERS FOR 1ST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE SINCE 2007
All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. poured in a career-high 34 points to lead Florida to a 79-73 victory over SEC rival Auburn on Saturday night in San Antonio and guide the Gators to their first NCAA championship game since 2007.
The Gators led by just one with 2:30 to go, but Clayton scored seven points the rest of the way to set up Florida against either Duke (35-3) or Houston (34-4) for the 2025 NCAA title.
“I’ve just got a bunch of guys around me that trust me,” Clayton said during the postgame broadcast on CBS.
“I’m just used to seeing him put the ball in the basket, I guess,” added Florida coach Todd Golden. “He’s done what he’s done all year for us. In big moments, stepped up and hit huge shots.”
Alijah Martin added 17 points for the Gators (35-4), who emerged triumphant in a riveting Final Four semifinal that featured 10 ties and 15 lead changes. Florida erased an eight-point halftime lead by forcing 12 second-half turnovers and limiting Auburn to 27 points.
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 18 points and All-American forward Johni Broome shrugged off an early tweaking of his injured right elbow to produce 15 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks for the Tigers (32-6), the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed who sought their first trip to the NCAA title game.
Florida extended its winning streak to 11 games by repeating its 90-81 victory Feb. 8 at Auburn, but it wasn’t as easy as the teams’ first meeting.
Auburn opened a 49-40 lead early in the second half, but the Gators strung together 11 straight points — a Will Richard 3-point play, a Clayton 3-pointer, a Martin 3-pointer and a Clayton driving layup — to claim a 51-49 edge with 15:30 to play.
Auburn’s defense clamped down and held Florida scoreless for nearly four minutes to regain a 55-51 lead. That included two Denver Jones free throws after he took a Rueben Chinyelu elbow to the right ear that was upgraded to a flagrant 1.
Auburn managed just 12 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half, but Baker-Mazara swished a 3-pointer with 7:31 left to give the Tigers a 61-60 lead and trigger a physical, spine-tingling finish.
Martin threw down a ferocious dunk over Baker-Mazara in transition to build a 66-63 lead for Florida with 5:27 remaining, but Baker-Mazara answered with a pair of free throws. Clayton drilled a 3-pointer, so Jones responded with a triple of his own to make it 69-68 Gators with 4:01 to play.
While Auburn never caught up, Florida didn’t clinch it until Clayton sank two free throws with nine seconds left.
The Tigers and Gators started the game as if it was a sprint to 100 points as both teams came out running and trying to exchange big blows. Auburn went to Broome for a post-up on the game’s first possession. Florida responded with Clayton flushing a 3-pointer.
The lead changed hands six times in the first five-plus minutes — capped by Baker-Mazara’s 3-pointer that gave the Tigers a 16-14 lead at the 14:48 mark.
During the furious early stretch, Broome winced and clutched his ailing right elbow with 16:32 on the clock while trying to defend Chinyelu’s aggressive post move. While he appeared to favor it thereafter, it didn’t affect his performance.
After the first media timeout, the defenses stiffened and the tempo slowed as the teams combined for just 20 points over the next eight minutes. Broome racked up two blocks and a steal during this stretch.
Auburn claimed the first half’s biggest lead — 40-31 with 2:31 to go — when Broome posted up on back-to-back possessions and worked for layups. The Tigers took a 46-38 lead into the break thanks to a 26-14 edge in the paint. That included a team-high 12 points from Broome.
“You can’t get bullied in this game,” Broome told CBS at halftime. “It’s a big-boy game. They’re a physical team. We’re a physical team. You’ve got to hit first.”
DUKE’S COOPER FLAGG BECOMES RARE FRESHMAN TO WIN WOODEN AWARD
Duke star Cooper Flagg was named winner of the Wooden Award on Saturday, joining a strong cast of freshmen to be named the nation’s top player.
The 18-year-old Flagg joins Texas’ Kevin Durant (2007), Kentucky’s Anthony Davis (2012) and Duke’s Zion Williamson (2019) as the only freshmen to win the coveted honor.
Flagg emerged as the favorite for the award over the second half of the season. He’s averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists entering Saturday night’s Final Four contest against Houston.
The other finalists were Auburn’s Johni Broome, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., Alabama’s Mark Sears and Purdue’s Braden Smith.
Among Flagg’s other accolades are being named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year as well as being a consensus first-team All-American.
Flagg is expected to be the No. 1 choice in the NBA draft if he chooses to enter his name.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
USC STAR JUJU WATKINS WINS WOODEN AWARD
Southern California star guard JuJu Watkins became only the third underclassman to win the Wooden Award, presented to the most outstanding player in women’s basketball, on Saturday.
Watkins, who is also the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year and Associated Press Player of the Year, won the Wooden Award over UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, UConn’s Paige Bueckers and Texas’ Madison Booker.
“This season was a real growth year for me,” Watkins told ESPN. “I was able to learn so much, just IQ-wise, just growing. Playing with Kiki Iriafen and so many great players around me, it forced me to level up and become a better player and teammate.”
The other underclassmen to win the Wooden Award were Bueckers, who was a freshman when she won in 2022, and UConn’s Maya Moore, who in 2009 won the award as a sophomore.
Watkins, who ranks ninth on USC’s all-time scoring list with 1,709 points, enjoyed a remarkable season before tearing her ACL in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In 33 games this season, she averaged 23.9 points – fourth in the country – along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks in 33.8 minutes per game.
In USC’s best season since 1983-84, the 6-foot-2 guard led the Trojans to a 31-4 record (17-1 in Big Ten conference) and their regular-season conference championship in 31 years. After losing Watkins, USC reached the Elite Eight for the second straight campaign.
As for Watkins’ recovery from the ACL injury, Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb told ESPN she doesn’t know if the star guard will try to come back or redshirt next season.
“I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason,” Watkins said. “I think in my first week (of recovery), I was in complete shock. It’s the first time I’ve dealt with this type of adversity, so I’m really just getting prepared for what’s to come, and ready to just get to work and get to work in rehab so I’m back on the floor with my teammates.”
NCAA NOTEBOOK: TITLE GAME ABOUT MORE THAN PAIGE BUECKERS’ LEGACY
All-American guard Paige Bueckers will leave UConn having already made a considerable mark on college basketball’s most decorated program.
Sunday’s national championship game in Tampa, Fla., against defending champion South Carolina is Bueckers’ final opportunity to add her signature to the program’s unprecedented legacy.
UConn (36-3) won the last of its 11 national championships in 2016. The nine years that have elapsed make this the program’s longest title drought since it won its first in 1995.
Bueckers holds assorted Huskies records, two of the most noteworthy being achieved during this NCAA Tournament run. Her 40 points in UConn’s Sweet 16 win over Oklahoma are the most any Husky has ever scored in an NCAA Tournament game. In the next game against Southern California, Bueckers passed Napheesa Collier to become UConn’s third all-time leading scorer.
Having already earned National Player of the Year honors in 2021, with another potentially capping her third unanimous first-team All-American campaign in 2025, Bueckers’ trophy case is stocked with all of the game’s top honors.
That is, except the one most synonymous with UConn basketball.
“We’re not worried about the past,” Bueckers said following the Huskies’ 85-51 rout of UCLA in Friday’s national semifinal. “Every single day you walk into the gym, you’re trying to live up to the standard of playing UConn basketball, but you’re not comparing yourself to other teams or to players before.”
The 2024-25 Huskies are indeed their own team, with differences from past UConn teams – including the 2021-22 squad with Bueckers that saw South Carolina in the national championship game the last time UConn reached the final round.
The Gamecocks (35-3) dominated in that encounter three years ago, holding Bueckers to 14 points in a 64-49 win. The championship was South Carolina’s second under coach Dawn Staley, and a defeat of the Huskies on Sunday would give the Gamecocks three championships in four seasons.
South Carolina can also become the first repeat champion since that 2016 UConn team capped a run of four straight championships.
When asked Saturday about Bueckers’ impact on the growth of women’s basketball, Staley said she was going to “tread lightly with this.”
After heaping effusive praise on Bueckers, Staley noted the coverage of the UConn star overshadowing South Carolina’s own impressive legacy.
“I can’t not address it because it’s happening,” she said. “It happened to us last year. Everything was about (former Iowa star) Caitlin Clark and her legacy and her ability to win a national championship. Yet we were coming into this thing undefeated, doing something that’s unprecedented at the time, because it’s hard. It’s hard. We find ourselves back here in a similar situation.”
Clark, as college basketball’s all-time leading scorer, commanded the spotlight when Iowa faced South Carolina in last season’s championship game. She scored 30 points, but the Gamecocks won 87-75.
Four of South Carolina’s five starters from that game are back, including Te-Hina Paopao. She scored 14 points in the 2024 national championship game, the same total she notched leading the Gamecocks’ 74-57 romp against Texas in Friday’s national semifinal.
–“The Conductor” driving South Carolina to history
Staley credited assembling the corps of South Carolina upperclassmen who have an opportunity to claim their third national championship in four seasons to the efforts of Raven Johnson.
Johnson – the versatile wing who had six rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and a steal against Texas – was what Staley described as “the conductor in putting that (2021 recruiting) class together.”
“She would ask me who we were recruiting,” Staley said. “She would be the first one to say, ‘Hey, you about to get a birdy.’”
The “birdies” were a collection of signees ranked No. 1 in the 2021 signing class. The group features Johnson along with Sania Feagin and Bree Hall, both key players in South Carolina’s return to the title game.
Feagin delivered a 12-point, eight-rebound performance in the 54-50 Elite Eight win over Duke, while both she and Hall are crucial to the Gamecocks’ 57.4-point-per-game defense.
–Containing UConn’s perimeter scorers
Bueckers’ scoring punch, which produced a three-game run of 31-plus-point performances during this NCAA Tournament, keys UConn’s 81.7-point-per-game offense.
However, the Huskies are still dangerous when Azzi Fudd can pick up the scoring slack. UCLA experienced it in the national semifinal, when Fudd scored 19 first-half points, and South Carolina experienced it in February when Fudd’s 28 points led UConn to an 87-58 win over the Gamecocks.
When asked how South Carolina will adjust its perimeter defensive strategy to address both Bueckers and Fudd, Hall said, “I’m not going to tell you what we’re going to do. That was a trick question.”
–Fudd’s long journey
In the three seasons since Fudd started for UConn in its national championship game loss to South Carolina, the guard has endured a series of lows. Injuries limited her to just 17 combined appearances over the subsequent two seasons.
Fudd has played in 33 games in 2024-25, scored in double figures in four of the Huskies’ five NCAA Tournament games and scored eight critical fourth-quarter points to hold off Southern California in the Elite Eight.
“Azzi has done a remarkable job of overcoming trials in her life,” Bueckers said on Saturday. “However that looks, injury, illness, whatever it is, we know nothing beats Azzi. She has an incredible work ethic, and we think anything in life, anything life throws at her, she’s going to overcome it and work through it and work her butt off to get over it.”
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, BUCKS TOP HEAT IN OT
Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 36 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his second straight triple-double and 10th of the season as the Milwaukee Bucks secured a 121-115 road win over the Miami Heat in overtime on Saturday.
Kevin Porter Jr. had 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists off the bench for the Bucks, who won their third straight. Brook Lopez, who had 17 points, sank a layup with 38.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 111.
Both Kyle Anderson of Miami and Antetokounmpo missed midrange jumpers, sending the game to overtime, where the Bucks outscored the Heat 10-4. Milwaukee won its fourth in a row over Miami and completed the season series sweep. It is the first time the Bucks have swept the series in 10 seasons.
Bam Adebayo paced Miami with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Alec Burks chipped in with 24 points as the Heat lost their second straight game after winning six in a row.
Knicks 121, Hawks 105
Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and 11 rebounds, OG Anunoby added 14 points and New York cruised to the road win over Atlanta.
All five Knicks starters scored in double figures, including Josh Hart, who finished with 16 points, 11 assists and nine boards. Mikal Bridges had 20 points and Delon Wright scored 10 for New York, which won its fourth in five games.
Trae Young had 16 points and nine assists for the Hawks, while both Terance Mann and Caris LeVert scored 14 off the bench. Atlanta dropped its fifth in six games, dropping to seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Grizzlies 109, Pistons 103
Desmond Bane scored nine of his game-high 38 points in the final 2:50 to lift visiting Memphis past Detroit.
Jaren Jackson Jr. added 27 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, which won its ninth straight game against the Pistons. Grizzlies big man Zach Edey finished with a career-high 21 boards and a team-high six assists. Scotty Pippen Jr. finished with 15 points.
Cade Cunningham, who returned after missing the past six games with a bruised left calf, led the Pistons with 25 points and nine rebounds. Ausar Thompson had 18 points and 11 boards and Isaiah Stewart finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Timberwolves 114, 76ers 109
Anthony Edwards scored 37 points, including a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch, to help Minnesotae earn a road win over Philadelphia for its fifth consecutive victory.
Minnesota avoided a costly stumble against a 76ers side coming in on a 10-game skid. The Timberwolves put the game away when Edwards hit a wild 3-point fling with 7.4 seconds remaining and the Timberwolves clinging to a two-point lead. Rudy Gobert finished with 23 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks.
Minnesota is 3-0 on its five-game road swing and remains in contention for a guaranteed playoff berth in the tight Western Conference race. The Timberwolves got all they could handle from Philadelphia, who were led by Quentin Grimes (28 points) and Guerschon Yabusele (19 points).
Clippers 135, Mavericks 104
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard each scored 29 points as Los Angeles finished off a convincing victory over Dallas at Inglewood, Calif.
Ivica Zubac added 25 points with 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who improved to 11-2 since March 12. Harden added 14 assists as the Clippers won both games of a back-to-back against the Mavericks. Los Angeles pulled even with both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies while sitting a half-game behind the fifth-place Golden State Warriors.
Anthony Davis scored 27 points with nine rebounds after not playing Friday against the Clippers because of injury maintenance on a nagging abdominal injury. Dallas is ninth in the West and just percentage points ahead of the 10th-place Sacramento Kings, who hold the final play-in spot in the conference.
MLB NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: GIANTS SINK MARINERS FOR 6TH STRAIGHT WIN
Robbie Ray overcame five walks to hold the Seattle Mariners to just one run over six innings, Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman combined for four doubles and four runs, and the San Francisco Giants won their sixth in a row Saturday night with a 4-1 home win.
Pitching against the team that signed him to a five-year, $115 million free-agent deal in December 2021, Ray (2-0) surrendered a solo home run to Dylan Moore in the fifth. Ray, though, held Seattle to just three other hits — all singles — in one of his best outings since joining the Giants in a trade last season.
Ray left with a 4-1 lead, having struck out two, after just his third six-inning outing since he was a 12-game winner for Seattle in 2022. Lee and Chapman did the heavy lifting for the San Francisco offense, lacing back-to-back doubles in both the fourth and sixth innings. Ryan Walker worked a one-hit ninth for his third save of the season.
Mariners starter Bryce Miller (0-2) was pulled with one out in the sixth inning and was charged with all four San Francisco runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out four. Moore added a single for a two-hit night and Victor Robles had two singles for the Mariners, who have dropped four of five.
Mets 3, Blue Jays 2
Jesse Winker belted a game-tying two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth inning and Francisco Lindor delivered a sacrifice fly an inning later to drive in the winning run of New York’s home win over Toronto.
Winker sent a shot into right field that carried over the head of Toronto outfielder George Springer, who crashed face-first into the wall. That allowed both Lindor and Juan Soto to score. Springer exited with lower back spasms. Bo Bichette had three hits, including a double, and drove in a run for the Blue Jays, while Vladimir Guerrerro Jr. and Alan Roden each collected two hits.
In the ninth, Jose Siri drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a single moved Siri to third, Lindor lofted a fly ball to center field that allowed Siri to plate the winning run. Winker was 3-for-4 for New York and Lindor doubled.
Twins 6, Astros 1
One inning was enough for Minnesota, as the host Twins erupted for six runs in the fourth en route to the win over Houston.
Jose Miranda blasted a three-run homer as part of that frame, while Matt Wallner belted a run-scoring double for Minnesota, which has won three of its past four. Christian Vazquez also had a double.
Jose Altuve went 3-for-5 with a home run for the Astros, who have lost four of five, and Jeremy Pena had two hits.
Tigers 7, White Sox 2
Kerry Carpenter homered for the third time in two days to lead Detroit to a home win over Chicago.
Spencer Torkelson also had a home run for the Tigers, who picked up their fourth win in five games. Riley Greene recorded two hits to go with a run scored and an RBI.
Andrew Vaughn smacked a run-scoring double for the White Sox, who dropped their fourth straight, and Korey Lee finished with three hits.
Cubs 7, Padres 1
Carson Kelly homered and drove in four runs to lead Chicago to a win over visiting San Diego.
Kelly had two hits in the game and Dansby Swanson also went deep for the Cubs, while Matthew Boyd held the Padres scoreless for six innings to extend his run to 11 straight innings without allowing a run to open the season.
Luis Arraez and Elias Diaz each went 2-for-3 and Fernando Tatis Jr. drove in the lone run for San Diego, which has lost two straight since opening the season with seven straight wins.
Dodgers 3, Phillies 1
Los Angeles got back to its winning ways thanks to the long ball and holding host Philadelphia to just four hits.
Enrique Hernandez hit a two-run home run and Michael Conforto had a sixth-inning solo shot as the Dodgers avenged their first loss of the season. Roki Sasaki allowed just three hits, two walks and an earned run over four-plus innings while striking out four. Anthony Banda pitched a scoreless fifth inning for his third win in as many decisions. Tanner Scott threw a three-pitch ninth for his third save.
Kyle Schwarber had a hit and scored on Alec Bohm’s RBI groundout for the Phillies. Aaron Nola (0-2) allowed three earned runs, seven hits and a walk over six innings while striking out two.
Nationals 4, Diamondbacks 3
Alex Call recorded two RBI singles, including one as part of a three-run first inning, to lead Washington to a home win over Arizona.
Mitchell Parker went six innings, allowing just one run on two hits, and James Wood had a two-run double for Washington, which snapped a four-game skid.
Tim Tawa singled and drove in a run in his MLB debut for the Diamondbacks, who had won four of their previous five. Alek Thomas, meanwhile, had two hits and drove in a run.
Orioles 8, Royals 1
Three players finished with two RBIs apiece and Tomoyuki Sugano took a shutout into the sixth inning as Baltimore picked up the road win against Kansas City.
Gary Sanchez, Tyler O’Neill and Jackson Holliday each drove in two runs for the Orioles, which ended a three-game losing streak. Holliday went 3-for-4, while O’Neill doubled and tripled. Sugano, making his second MLB appearance, allowed just one run and struck out four.
Bobby Witt Jr. homered for the Royals’ lone run, his first long ball of the season.
Rangers 6, Rays 4
A two-out, two-run homer by Wyatt Langford made the difference as Texas escaped with a home win over Tampa Bay.
Marcus Semien set the tone early for the Rangers, blasting a leadoff home run that sparked a four-run first inning, including a three-run blast by Jake Burger. After the Rays evened things up in the sixth, Langford delivered a go-ahead home run to earn Texas its fourth straight win.
Jonathan Arando had a double, a single and two RBIs for Tampa Bay, while Kameron Misner also doubled and singled. Brandon Lowe homered for the Rays.
Yankees 10, Pirates 4
Trent Grisham went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs as New York continued its hot offensive start in a win over host Pittsburgh. The Yankees won their third in a row.
Grisham’s home runs brought the Yankees’ total for the season to 25, the most ever by a major league team through its first eight games. After New York starter Marcus Stroman labored through the fourth inning, allowing four runs, the Yankees’ lineup responded in the fifth with six runs, highlighted by Grisham’s second homer, a three-run blast off Pirates starter Bailey Falter (0-1) to put New York ahead for good.
Falter surrendered seven runs on seven hits and one walk over four innings and struck out five. Pittsburgh scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of command issues from Stroman. It was the most runs the Pirates have scored in an inning this season.
Marlins 4, Braves 0
Cal Quantrill pitched five shutout innings and Matt Mervis hit a pair of home runs to help visiting Miami beat Atlanta to even their three-game series at a game apiece.
Quantrill (1-1) allowed four hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out four to earn his first career victory over the Braves in three tries. Mervis was 3-for-5 with his first two home runs of the season and drove in three runs.
The Atlanta bats, which had a season-high 16 hits and 10 runs on Friday, went quiet on Saturday. The Braves totaled only seven hits and were shut out for the third time this season.
Athletics 7, Rockies 4
Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers homered in a three-run seventh inning to help the Athletics come back to beat Colorado in Denver.
Tyler Soderstrom had two hits, an RBI and a run scored, Lawrence Butler went 3-for-4 with a run scored in the leadoff spot, and Jacob Wilson had a two-run double as part of a three-run sixth after hitting into a triple play earlier in the game.
A’s left-hander JP Sears (1-1) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking two. Rockies right-hander German Marquez (0-1) was spotted a three-run lead but couldn’t hold it, partly because he matched his career high with six walks. Sean Bouchard and Ryan McMahon homered for the Rockies, who have lost six straight.
Reds 11, Brewers 7
TJ Friedl and Jose Trevino each had a two-run homer as visiting Cincinnati snapped a four-game skid with a victory over Milwaukee.
The Reds, who had scored a total of two runs in their previous four games, tagged Elvin Rodriguez (0-2) for four homers in four innings to go in front 7-0. Blake Dunn and Christian Encarnacion-Strand also went deep for Cincinnati, while Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run single.
Reds starter Brady Singer (2-0) allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits in five innings while striking out seven. Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick went 4-for-5 with an RBI single and scored twice and Oliver Dunn had three hits, including a two-run double.
Angels 10, Guardians 4
Logan O’Hoppe had three hits, including a two-run home run, Mike Trout homered for a third straight game, and Los Angeles slugged its way to a victory over Cleveland in Anaheim, Calif.
Luis Rengifo and Jorge Soler also homered for the Angels, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Jack Kochanowicz (1-0) threw five innings of four-hit ball. He gave up three runs (two earned), struck out four and walked three.
Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee (1-1) was pelted for seven runs on eight hits over four-plus innings. He stuck out four and walked one. Carlos Santana tallied two hits and two RBIs, including a solo home run for the Guardians, who lost their fourth game in five tries.
Cardinals-Red Sox, ppd.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the Red Sox in Boston was postponed due to an extended period of rain in the area, both teams announced.
The game has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader Sunday instead. The originally scheduled evening contest will still occur, but an additional game will happen in the early afternoon (1:35 p.m. local time).
Tickets for Saturday’s game will provide admission to the rescheduled game Sunday.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: BLUES SET CLUB MARK WITH 12TH STRAIGHT WIN
Robert Thomas had a goal and three assists as the St. Louis Blues edged the visiting Colorado Avalanche 5-4 on Saturday night for their team-record 12th straight victory.
Zack Bolduc scored twice for the Blues, who improved to 19-2-2 in their last 23 games. Jake Neighbours and Pavel Buchnevich also scored, Cam Fowler had three assists and Jordan Binnington made 35 saves.
St. Louis holds the top spot in the Western Conference wild-card chase, four points ahead of the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota has a game in hand on St. Louis.
Ross Colton, Miles Wood, Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Malinski scored for the Avalanche, who suffered just their second regulation loss in their last nine games (6-2-1). Mackenzie Blackwood made 17 saves.
Golden Knights 3, Flames 2 (OT)
Reilly Smith’s second goal of the night was the overtime winner to lift visiting Vegas over Calgary.
Pavel Dorofeyev also scored for the Golden Knights, who snapped a two-game skid and have a three-point lead on the Los Angeles Kings for first place in the Pacific Division. Vegas clinched a playoff spot as well. Goaltender Akira Schmid made 21 saves in his first start of the season, and Shea Theodore collected three assists.
Joel Hanley and Matt Coronato scored for the Flames, who erased a two-goal deficit to gain a valuable point. Goalie Dustin Wolf stopped 31 shots in another strong performance. The Flames are four points back of the Minnesota Wild for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot with six games remaining. Calgary has one game in hand on the Wild.
Kings 3, Oilers 0
Host Los Angeles Kings increased its chances of securing home-ice advantage in the playoffs after blanking undermanned Edmonton.
Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season as the Kings moved four points ahead of the Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is within three points of the first-place Vegas Golden Knights, who defeated the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.
Kevin Fiala, Andrei Kuzmenko and Trevor Lewis scored for Los Angeles, while Calvin Pickard stopped 26 shots for the Oilers, who were without superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Devils 4, Rangers 0
Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt scored on special teams 87 seconds apart in the second period as New Jersey beat New York in Newark, N.J.
Meier’s power-play goal and Bratt’s short-handed marker gave the Devils their third win over the Rangers in four matchups this season. Meier added his second goal of the contest with 4:59 remaining to effectively seal matters for the Devils. Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves, including four on New York’s first power play in the second period shortly before New Jersey went ahead.
New York was denied its first three-game winning streak since Nov. 14-19. The Rangers failed to win three straight for the eighth time since mid-November, and their path to the postseason has become murkier, as they trail the Montreal Canadiens by four points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Penguins 5, Stars 3
Sidney Crosby posted his 14th career hat trick as Pittsburgh rallied with a four-goal third period to defeat Dallas on the road.
Crosby’s second goal of the game evened things up 2-2 just 20 seconds into the third. After the Stars’ Evgenii Dadonov netted a score less than three minutes later, Bryan Rust and Blake Lizotte scored to push the Penguins in front. Crosby tallied an empty-netter soon after to ice the win.
Dadonov finished with a hat trick of his own, the second of his career. His first also came against Pittsburgh in 2018.
Sabres 3, Lightning 2 (SO)
Tage Thompson scored his 40th goal and James Reimer made 22 saves and stopped both shootout attempts to lead host Buffalo past Tampa Bay for its third straight win.
Jason Zucker also scored for Buffalo, which extended its home win streak to five games. Jack Quinn and Alex Tuch each scored in the shootout to give the Sabres their sixth win in the last seven games.
Brayden Point and Gage Goncalves scored for Tampa Bay, which increased its second-place lead in the Atlantic Division to two points over the Florida Panthers. Ex-Sabre Jonas Johansson made 36 saves for the Lightning, who clinched a playoff spot for the eighth consecutive season earlier Saturday when the New York Rangers lost 4-0 to the New Jersey Devils.
Senators 3, Panthers 0
Anton Forsberg made 40 saves for his third shutout of the season and eighth of his career as host Ottawa defeated Florida.
Defenseman Jake Sanderson had a goal and an assist and Drake Batherson and Matthew Highmore also scored for the Senators, who won their second straight and lead the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Ottawa led 2-0 after the first period and is 32-6 when they score the first goal.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 shots for the Panthers, who have lost four in a row (0-3-1) and are two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division. Florida’s Aleksander Barkov missed his second game and also won’t play Sunday at the Detroit Red Wings. Panthers coach Paul Maurice remains fourth all-time among coaches with 913 wins. He is one shy of tying Barry Trotz for third place.
Canucks 6, Ducks 2
Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist as Vancouver scored five straight goals to erase an early deficit to visiting Anaheim.
Elias N. Pettersson scored his first NHL goal, Filip Hronek, Conor Garland, Dakota Joshua and Max Sasson also scored, Quinn Hughes had two assists and Thatcher Demko made 30 saves for the Canucks, who ended a three-game skid (0-2-1). Vancouver is six points back of the second Western Conference wild-card spot.
Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras scored and Lukas Dostal made 20 saves for the Ducks, who have dropped three of four.
Bruins 5, Hurricanes 1
David Pastrnak recorded a hat trick and season-high five points as Boston ended its 10-game losing streak with an emphatic win over visiting Carolina.
Pastrnak had points in each period, reaching the 40-goal and 90-point plateaus on the night. Pastrnak, Geekie (one goal, three assists) and linemate Elias Lindholm (one goal, one assist) combined for 11 of Boston’s 13 points.
Jeremy Swayman made 14 of his 39 stops in the middle frame to help the Bruins to their first win since March 11. Carolina broke Swayman’s shutout bid when Justin Robidas scored his first NHL goal with 54.2 seconds left in the third. Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots for the Hurricanes.
Maple Leafs 5, Blue Jackets 0
Nicholas Robertson and William Nylander each scored twice, Anthony Stolarz earned his 10th career shutout and Toronto Maple defeated visiting Columbus.
Stolarz made 27 saves to earn his second shutout of the season as the Maple Leafs tightened their grip on first place in the Atlantic Division. They lead the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning by four points. Auston Matthews also scored for Toronto, and Morgan Rielly added two assists.
Elvis Merzlikins stopped 22 shots for Columbus. The Blue Jackets trail the Montreal Canadiens by six points for the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.
Canadiens 3, Flyers 2
Nick Suzuki scored and added an assist as Montreal erased a third-period deficit to edge the visiting Philadelphia.
The victory, coupled with the New York Rangers’ loss earlier Saturday, gave the Canadiens a four-point advantage toward the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. Brendan Gallagher and Lane Hutson also scored for Montreal, and Sam Montembeault made 21 saves.
Ryan Poehling had a goal and an assist and Tyson Foerster also scored for Philadelphia, which had its three-game win streak snapped. Samuel Ersson stopped 23 shots.
Utah 4, Jets 1
Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton and Kevin Stenlund each had a goal and an assist as the Utah Hockey Club defeated visiting Winnipeg.
Nick Bjugstad also scored for Utah, while Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, and Olli Maatta provided assists. Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka made 32 saves.
In the net for Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots.
Kraken 5, Sharks 1
Jared McCann scored two goals and added an assist as Seattle defeated host San Jose.
Andre Burakovsky had a goal and an assist and Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz also tallied for the Kraken, who have won their past two games by a combined score of 10-1. Goaltender Joey Daccord made 23 saves.
Rookie Will Smith scored for the Sharks, who are winless in their past five games (0-4-1) and remained last in the NHL’s overall standings. Alexandar Georgiev allowed four goals on 11 shots before being pulled at 11:36 of the second period. Georgi Romanov stopped 10 of 11 shots the rest of the way.
GOLF NEWS
ANGEL YIN, ARIYA JUTANUGARN MAKE SEMIS AT MATCH PLAY
Angel Yin maintained her steady play, knocking out Japan’s Mao Saigo and Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul on Saturday to advance to the semifinals at the T-Mobile Match Play on Friday in North Las Vegas, Nev.
“I mean, this golf course anything can happen,” Yin said about the challenge of playing at Shadow Creek Golf Course. “You’re just so scared at this point because some of the putts can get really, really fast.”
Yin, ranked No. 10, is the highest-ranked player left standing after a wild Saturday that whittled a top 16 down to a final four. Thitikul, ranked second, was Yin’s latest victim, getting knocked out 4 and 2. Prior to that, Yin defeated Saigo 3 and 2.
“I mean, definitely feels good to beat (Thitikul),” Yin said.
Meanwhile, Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand continued her remarkable run after emerging from Group 1 with a head-to-head win over world No. 1 Nelly Korda, dispatching South Korea’s Narin An 1 up and Sweden’s Maja Stark 4 and 2 to secure her spot in the semis.
“Today is a good day, but I feel so, so tired,” Jutanugarn said. “In the afternoon, it’s kind of like, just make sure I have enough energy to finish 18 holes, so I didn’t focus about anything much. Make sure I drink lots of water, eat good and, you know, save my energy.”
Also advancing to Sunday’s action was Lauren Coughlin, who knocked out South Korea’s Sei Young Kim 2 up, then took down Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou 1 up.
“Really I’m just trying to stay in my one match tomorrow morning and see what happens,” Coughlin said. “Hopefully I’ll have a chance to win it all, but my main focus will be tomorrow morning.”
One last quarterfinal match will need to be completed Sunday, as France’s Celine Boutier and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, who are tied through 17 holes, had their match suspended due to darkness.
In the round of 16, Sagstrom downed Spain’s Carlota Ciganda in 19 holes, while Boutier defeated South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai.
The 64-player field was divided into 16 four-player groups competing in three days of round-robin matches. A win earned one point, a tie earned a half-point and a loss was worth zero points. The winner of each group moved on to the 16-player, single-elimination bracket which continues with the semifinals and finals on Sunday.
ANGEL CABRERA GRABS 2-SHOT LEAD AT HALL OF FAME INVITATIONAL
Angel Cabrera fired two eagles en route to a 6-under 66 in a roller coaster of a second round of the inaugural James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in Boca Raton, Fla., on Saturday.
Cabrera, of Argentina, who was playing the back nine first, eagled a pair of par-5 holes, Nos. 16 and 1, at the Old Course at Broken Sound, but his round included five birdies and three bogeys. He is at 10-under 134 for the tournament.
The 55-year-old, who is looking for his first Champions win, began the day in a five-way tie atop the leaderboard and moved to a two-shot lead over Germany’s Alex Cejka, another first-round co-leader, who fired a 4-under 68. He had five birdies and one bogey.
Cabrera’s best Champions finish was fourth in the 2024 SAS Championship. He is trying to be the third first-time winner in 2025.
In doing that, he’d also break a winless streak that is now over 10 years (3,927 days) long. His last victory was at the 2014 Greenbrier Classic.
Cejka is hunting for his fourth tour win. His last victory came in the 2023 Senior Open, which he also claimed in 2021.
He has three Top-10 finishes in six starts this season.
Alone in third at 6-under is South Korea’s K.J. Choi, who also shot a second-round 68. Also starting on the back, Choi had two bogeys and three birdies on his first eight holes, but he played the front nine with three birdies and the rest pars.
Greg Chalmers and Miguel Angel Jimenez were tied for fourth at 5-under. Chalmers, of Australia, shot a 2-under 70 and is at 5-under for the tourney. Spaniard Jimenez, who leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings and is another of Friday’s co-leaders, managed a 1-under 71. His round included a triple-bogey 6 on No. 14.
Rounding out the top 10 in a five-way tie for sixth at 4 under are Joe Durant (70), David Bransdon (72), Retief Goosen (69), Darren Clarke (70) and Colin Montgomerie (69).
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU GRABS 2-STROKE LEAD AT LIV GOLF MIAMI
Bryson DeChambeau used a 2-under-par 70 through difficult, windy conditions to take over the pole position at LIV Golf Miami on Saturday at Trump National Doral.
“I’m up for anything,” DeChambeau said. “Whatever it brings me, I’m up for the challenge. It will be a great test tomorrow.”
DeChambeau, seeking his third LIV Golf individual title, crushed a 400-yard drive to secure a birdie on his first hole of the day. The reigning U.S. Open champion added birdies on Holes 5, 16 and 17 to counterbalance two bogeys and finish his day 5 under for the tournament, two strokes ahead of the competition.
“What a test of golf out there,” DeChambeau said. “This golf course, every single angle just produced the most testing golf shots out there that I’ve seen in a long time.”
No other Crushers GC teammates finished the day among the Top 14, though the Crushers are in a tie for third with Fireballs GC, each within three strokes of Ripper GC in the lead. 4AcesGC is second.
The Fireballs, seeking their fourth consecutive tournament title, are well represented by Sergio Garcia, who is alone in second place at 3 under after a 1-under round. His day featured birdies on Holes 1, 3 and 10, as well as bogeys on 6 and 17.
“It’s just a difficult golf course,” Garcia said. “It’s the Blue Monster. That’s just not a name; it comes with something. You have to respect it.”
Ripper GC’s Marc Leishman also shot 1 under to forge a three-way tie for third place at 2 under for the tournament. He’s tied with Patrick Reed (75) and Phil Mickelson (73).
“I started off very poorly; I was 3-over through three and lucky to be that,” Mickelson said. “I was able to hang in there, fight back and had a chance to shoot even par, which was amazing.”
Jon Rahm fired a 2-under 70 to get to 1 under for the tourney, tying him with Dean Burmester (71).
Dustin Johnson (75) is a stroke back in eighth place. Charl Schwartzel (75) and Cameron Tringale (72) are tied for ninth one stroke over par.
AUTO RACING NEWS
WILLIAM BYRON SETS BLAZING PACE TO WIN DARLINGTON POLE
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron won pole position for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) — yet another supreme performance for his NASCAR Cup Series championship-leading No. 24 team.
Byron’s lap of 170.904 mph around the iconic 1.366-mile oval set fast lap early in Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday afternoon and set up a front row that will also include Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford — Preece’s best start since winning his only career pole position at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in Spring, 2023.
It’s the 15th pole position of the 27-year old Byron’s eight-year career, his second of the season (also Phoenix in March) and second at the notoriously tough Darlington track.
“I felt good about it today, felt like we had a good plan going into practice and that we are always strong here,” said this year’s Daytona 500 winner Byron, who won at Darlington in 2023 and said it may well be his “best track.”
“Tried to find a decent balance there, worked on it and got better and finished practice pretty strong so I felt like I had some confidence going into practice. Was just nervous going early. Having an earlier draw was not ideal, but it seemed like the track temp was going up so it wasn’t the worst thing. … Proud of our team, we had a really good week of prep.”
Although Chevy and Ford split the front row. Toyotas filled out the rest of the top-five on the grid. Last week’s Martinsville winner Denny Hamlin — Darlington’s winningest active driver (four wins) — was third fastest in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. His teammate, Daytona 500 polesitter Chase Briscoe, was fourth quickest in the No. 19 JGR Toyota followed by 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace, who will roll off fifth in the No. 23 Toyota that Hamlin co-owns.
Austin Cindric will start sixth in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, followed by 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick (Toyota), Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (Chevrolet), Penske’s Ryan Blaney (Ford) and Spire Motorsports’ Michael McDowell (Chevrolet).
Although the Hendrick team is ranked first, second (Kyle Larson), third (Chase Elliott) and fifth (Alex Bowman) in the championship points, his teammates did not fare as well in Saturday’s time trials. Elliott will start 19th. Larson, who won at Darlington in 2023 will start 19th and Bowman will roll off 33rd.
“It may be tricky strategy-wise and you can get stuck back there, so (qualifying) matters maybe just a tick more than other places,” Byron said, noting of his teammates, “These cars are really finicky so hitting the balance and just hitting the lap the way you want it to be can be really difficult. So I’m not surprised because there’s a lot of parity in the Next Gen era and especially in qualifying so you can be just that little bit off.
“I feel like our team has really good notes from qualifying though and that will really help.”
Defending race winner Brad Keselowski, co-owner and driver of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s No. 6 Ford will start 20th.
NASCAR HOLDS COMPETITION MEETING WITH XFINITY SERIES DRIVERS
*NASCAR officials met with the entire field of Xfinity Series drivers early Friday morning before any track activity at Darlington Raceway – a meeting triggered by an especially aggressive showing for the series at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway short track a week ago – a race so chaotic that Chase Elliott – a former Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series champ – called it “embarrassing” for the sport.
Although aggressive moves characterized much of the second half of the race, a big wreck on the final lap started up front with then leaders — Joe Gibbs Racing’s Taylor Gray and JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith — precipitated some angry confrontations post-race. Gray (off track) and Smith (on track) were both penalized for their actions.
Veteran Austin Hill was the big beneficiary of the on-track situation between the two, driving through the melee up front to claim his second win of the year – credited with only leading that last lap. Hill shared that the meeting went well and that he expects his fellow drivers to be more mindful of the way they race going forward, calling NASCAR very “firm” in its morning message.
“I think it’s going to calm down a lot more than you think today,” Hill said of Saturday afternoon’s Sports Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington. “We’ll have to wait and see but I think we’re all going to still be aggressive and trying to win the race but it’s going to be a very respectful race.”
The series’ next trip to Martinsville in late October determines which four Playoff drivers advance to the Championship 4 with a shot to win the 2025 title.
“NASCAR made it very clear they don’t want to be in the ball-and-strike business, they don’t want to be making all these calls so they said for us to help them with that,” Hill said. “They (NASCAR) also said if they have to step in and start making calls and black-flagging people and parking people and all those things, they’ll do it. I agree with where NASCAR stands with that but I also think we in the Xfinity Series need to do a better job going forward and not putting it in NASCAR’s hands.”
KESELOWSKI OPTIMISTIC DESPITE CHALLENGING EARLY SEASON
*The last Spring weekend Brad Keselowski spent in Darlington, S.C., he left South Carolina with a big trophy. It was the first victory the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion had earned as co-team owner at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. As importantly it marked a highlight in a challenging new role as owner and driver.
Darlington, in particular, has been a recent highlight reel for Keselowski whose average finish (6.4) in the last five races in best in the field. He has plenty of reason to be optimistic about this Spring run of races — at Darlington, Bristol, Tenn., and Talladega, Ala. — venues where he is a multi-time winner.
He comes to South Carolina without a single lap led and is still looking to claim his first top-10 finish of the eight-race season. His best showing in the No. 6 RFK Ford is 11th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He’s finished 26th in the two races (at Homestead,Fla. and Martinsville, Va.) leading into Darlington.
“I feel like we’re doing all the right things and get to where we need to be, we just haven’t gotten the results,” said Keselowski, who qualified 20th for Sunday’s race, “We haven’t qualified as well as we liked to have.
“In the race we haven’t been able to put together for a number of reasons some of it in our control, a lot of it not in our control, so it’s been frustrating. But kind of have the feeling we’re getting the bad luck out of the way early in the season, that’s kind of the overwhelming sentiment and if we stay the course, it will come back to us.”
VETERANS HAVE THE DARLINGTON EDGE
*Darlington Raceway is known as the track “Too Tough to Tame” — and perhaps too that end, its long and distinguished list of winners includes a noticeable group of veterans. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with four victories, another four runner-up finishes and also bests the grid in top-fives (13), top-10s (18) and overall average finish (8.2).
NASCAR Hall of Famers such as Jimmie Johnson (three wins), Bill Elliott (five wins) Jeff Gordon (seven wins) and the late Dale Earnhardt (nine wins) were all so good at the 1.366-mile oblong oval.
“This sport is so week-to-week it’s hard to say (the track favors veterans) but you can’t argue with results,” said Hamlin, who has led laps in the last 10 consecutive Darlington races — and has led more than 100 laps five different times in his career.
“It lends itself to the best drivers and the best teams. I think it’s a great combination of, you’ve got to have everything. … the driver has to just be really good at his craft and know when to push and when not to.
“It’s going to be mentally taxing knowing you’ve got to hit your marks just perfectly,” he continued. “And just the mental side of it, with 35 other guys that aren’t there to let you win. It’s really hard to navigate that. .. it just takes its toll, it has for me on my body and mind every time I race here. As far as the veteran side of it, I think certainly it seems that those that have lots of experience on this track and more than likely the guys have been successful because they know that feel they need to be fast here and continue to replicate it.”
AN EVERYDAY EARNHARDT THROWBACK
*There is no question that NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar is a huge fan of late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt. The driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet recently purchased online a Chevrolet pick-up truck with a paint scheme identical to one of Earnhardt’s iconic No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolets. He says it’s his “daily drive” and actually drove the truck from his Charlotte-area home to Darlington for the race this weekend.
“Basically I wanted something old-school car-wise,” said Hocevar, who posted a photo of the truck parked at Darlington on his social media. “I just thought it would be fun and interesting to have. So I got it.”
ZILISCH TO MAKE 2ND CUP START
*On Thursday, Trackhouse Racing announced that 18-year-old driver Connor Zilisch will make his second NASCAR Cup Series start for the team in the sport’s longest race, the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The North Carolinian Zilisch is in his first full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series season driving the No. 88 Chevrolet as a development driver for JR Motorsports and has already won an Xfinity race this year — from the pole position — claiming the trophy at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) road course in March. He’s currently sixth in the Xfinity Series championship standings.
“It’s awesome to have the opportunity to race in one of NASCAR’s coolest events,” said Zilisch, who has shown great talent competing in endurance races – winning in his class in both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring IMSA races last year.
“The Charlotte 600 is one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. It’s going to be a physical and mental challenge because that race is so tough.”
TOP INDIANA HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
INDIANA (TIES) TRANSFER PORTAL UPDATE
Luke Almodovar, So., St. Francis, Ind./NAIA (Noblesville): 20.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 apg
Landen Babusiak, R-Fr., Stetson (Hanover Central/Bosco Institute): 1.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
Reggie Bass, Jr., Lindenwood (Tech): 12.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg
Flory Bidunga, Fr., Kansas (Kokomo): 5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Jalen Blackmon, Sr., Miami, Fla. (Marion): 6.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.4 apg
Vincent Brady II, Jr., Missouri State (Cathedral): 13.5 ppg, 38% on 3s
Jayden Brewer, Jr., FIU (Ben Davis): 14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.7 apg
Xavier Booker, So., Michigan State (Cathedral): 4.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg — COMMITTED TO UCLA
Kanon Catchings, Fr., BYU (Overtime Elite/Brownsburg): 7.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Myles Colvin, So., Purdue (Heritage Christian): 5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.5 apg
Tayshawn Comer, Jr., Evansville (Cathedral): 16.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.1 apg
Ryan Conwell, Jr., Xavier (Pike): 16.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.5 apg — COMMITTED TO LOUISVILLE
DaJohn Craig, So., Oregon (Lawrence Central): 1.9 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.5 apg — COMMITTED TO COASTAL CAROLINA
AJ Dancler, So., Le Moyne (Southport): 15.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.4 apg — COMMITTED TO COASTAL CAROLINA
Koron Davis, Jr., Lafayette (Gary Bowman): 8.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.4 apg
Micah Davis, Fr., Eastern Kentucky (Franklin): 0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.3 apg — COMMITTED TO IU INDY
Tae Davis, Jr., Notre Dame (Warren Central): 15.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg
Owen Dease, Jr., Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Evansville Reitz): 7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.3 apg
Keaton Dukes, Jr., Purdue Fort Wayne (Wawasee): 1.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg
Jaxon Edwards, Jr., St. Bonaventure (Cathedral): 3.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.5 apg — COMMITTED TO IU INDY
Michael Eley, Jr., Tulane (Veritas Prep – from Fort Wayne): 8.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.8 apg
Gus Etchison, Sr., Marian/NAIA (Hamilton Heights): 19.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, So., Illinois (McCutcheon et al.): 4.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.5 apg
Maximus Gizzi, Sr., Huntington/NAIA (New Palestine): 10.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.7 apg
Landin Hacker, Jr., Bellarmine (Center Grove): 5.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.9 apg
Cameron Haffner, Jr., Evansville (Westfield): 12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 apg — COMMITTED TO WESTERN KENTUCKY
Brit Harris, Jr., SC Upstate (Michigan City Marquette/Bosco Institute): 11.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.7 apg
Nick Hittle, Sr., Southern Indiana (Culver Academy): 4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.5 apg
Curt Hopf, Jr., Bellarmine (Barr-Reeve): 4.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.8 apg
Drew Kegerreis, Fr., IU Indy (Roncalli): Redshirted this past season.
J.R. Konieczny, Jr., Notre Dame (South Bend St. Joseph): 4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.8 apg
Jalen Jackson, Jr., Purdue Fort Wayne (FW Northrop): 19.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.1 apg — COMMITTED TO BUTLER
Shilo Jackson, Jr., Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (North Central): 5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.4 apg
Kamari Jones, Fr., Western Carolina (Lawrence Central): 3.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.3 apg
RaSheed Jones, So., Coastal Carolina (Marion): 11.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg
Jeffrey ‘JT’ Langston Jr., Fr., Southern Utah (San Gabriel Academy – from Fort Wayne): 6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.6 apg
Jordan Lomax, Fr., Purdue Fort Wayne (Brownsburg): N/A
AJ Lux, Fr., Bellarmine (Crown Point): 3.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.5 apg
David Meriwether, East Tennessee State (Lawrence North): 1.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Tytan Newton, R-So., Morgan State (Richmond): 1.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg
Mason Nicholson, R-Jr., Jacksonville State (Gary West Side): 7.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg — COMMITTED TO VANDERBILT
Okechukwu Okeke, Sr., FIU (East Chicago Central): 4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.1 apg
Nijel Pack, Gr., Miami (Lawrence Central): 14.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg
Quimari Peterson, Sr., East Tennessee State (Gary West Side): 19.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.7 apg — COMMITTED TO WASHINGTON
Kiyron Powell, Jr., Western Illinois (Evansville Bosse): 2.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.2 apg
Zach Reed, R-So., Bellarmine (Brebeuf Jesuit): 3.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg
JaQualon ‘JQ’ Roberts, So., Vanderbilt (Bloomington North): 1.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg
Ron Rutland III, Fr., IU Indy (Crispus Attucks): 2.2 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.6 apg
Tyler Schmidt, Sr., Valparaiso (Victory Christian): 10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.6 apg — COMMITTED TO TOWSON
Sheridan Sharp, So., Southern Illinois (Ben Davis): 4.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
Tyler Shirley, Sr., Florida A&M (Pebblebrook Ga., from Gary): 3.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.6 apg
Billy Smith, Jr., Bellarmine (Brebeuf Jesuit): 14.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg
Isaiah Stafford, Sr., Valparaiso (Crispus Attucks): 16.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.1 apg
Jahni Summers, So., Indiana State (Evansville Harrison): 5.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.6 apg
Tucker Tornatta, Fr., UIndy (Evansville Memorial): 7.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Cayden Vasko, So., Central Michigan (Lowell/Bosco Institute): 7.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.6 apg
Leland Walker, Jr., Florida Atlantic (North Central/Hargrave Military): 9.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.1 apg
Jalen Washington, Jr., North Carolina (Gary West Side): 5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.5 apg — COMMITTED TO VANDERBILT
Ashton Williamson, Fr., FIU (Gary 21st Century): 7.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.7 apg
Harold Woods, Jr., Northeastern (Hammond): 11.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.4 apg
INDIANA PACERS
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT NUGGETS
The Pacers (46-31) gear up for their final trip out West on Sunday as they travel to Denver to complete the season series with the Nuggets (47-31). Indiana has a strong grip on the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference as it holds a three-game lead on the fifth-place Pistons. The Pacers trail the Knicks and the third seed by 2.5 games after Friday’s results.
Denver also holds the fourth seed in the Western Conference, but is separated from both the third and fifth seeds by just a half game. After losing three straight contests, the Nuggets seek to earn a win at home on Sunday to solidify their playoff positioning.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Latest Standings, Potential Matchups, and More >>
Sunday’s matchup features a clash of brilliant playmakers – Denver’s Nikola Jokic averages 10.2 assists per game this season, and recorded what was at the time his career high in assists (19) last time the Nuggets faced off with the Pacers.
Since that game, Jokic notched a new career high as he recorded 22 assists against Phoenix in early March. He’s recorded 15+ assists 10 times this season, and gives Denver’s offense a powerful boost as he presents threats as both a passer and a scorer. He’s led the Nuggets to the NBA’s top spot in terms of assists per game this season as they record 31 nightly dimes.
Tyrese Haliburton’s own playmaking prowess has been on display for the Pacers lately. He’s recorded points/assists double-doubles in three of Indiana’s last five games, and 15 in the last 17 games. Over those 17 contests, Haliburton notched 192 assists and just 19 turnovers – a 10.1 assist to turnover ratio. His passing has Indiana in the third spot in the league’s assist rankings, recording 29.4 per game.
Both the Pacers and the Nuggets are extremely efficient – Denver is the league’s leader in field goal percentage, and Indiana occupies third place on that same list.
The Pacers will open a three-game homestand after the matchup with the Nuggets in Denver. They’ll host Washington, Cleveland, and Orlando at Gainbridge Fieldhouse before making the trip to Cleveland for the final game of the regular season.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Obi Toppin, C – Myles Turner
Nuggets: G – Peyton Watson, G – Christian Braun, F – Michael Porter Jr., F – Aaron Gordon, C – Nikola Jokic
Injury Report
Pacers: Ben Sheppard – doubtful (left great toe sprain), Isaiah Jackson – out (torn right Achilles tendon), Pascal Siakam – out (right olecranon bursitis)
Nuggets: Jamal Murray – questionable (right hamstring inflammation) DaRon Holmes II – out (right Achilles tendon repair)
Last Meeting
Feb. 24, 2025: The Denver Nuggets visited Gainbridge Fieldhouse and overpowered the Pacers behind Nikola Jokic’s career-high 19 assists, 125-116.
Indiana’s largest lead came in the first quarter, and was just two points. Myles Turner led the scoring efforts for the Pacers as he notched 23 points in the game, and Tyrese Haliburton recorded 19 points and 15 assists.
Aaron Gordon’s game-high 25 points led the Nuggets, but Michael Porter Jr. recorded a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Jokic notched a near triple-double. He scored 18 points, dished out 19 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds in the contest.
Denver outscored Indiana in the paint, 74-46. Both teams had turnover troubles as the Pacers coughed it up 18 times, but the Nuggets turned it over 20 times.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Pacers, and earned the Nuggets a bounce-back win after falling to the Lakers in their previous matchup.
Noteworthy
- Myles Turner passed Erick Dampier (1,398) for 46th place on the NBA’s all-time blocks list on Friday. His next block will be his 1,400th rejection.
- Bennedict Mathurin returned to action for the Pacers on Friday following a three-game absence due to a calf injury. He recorded 20 points off the bench as the Pacers defeated the Jazz.
- The Nuggets lead the season series, 1-0. They own a nine-game winning streak over Indiana.
- Denver is 102-90 against the Pacers all-time, and 65-29 against Indiana at home.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
FanDuel Sports Network – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
SATURDAY NIGHT’S GAME BETWEEN INDIANS AND I-CUBS CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians have announced that Saturday night’s contest against the Iowa Cubs has been canceled due to inclement weather. Friday night’s suspended contest will resume in the top of the 10th inning at 12:15 PM on Sunday with gates opening at 12 PM. Sunday’s regularly scheduled contest will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended game. Only one ticket is needed to attend both games.
The Indians trail the I-Cubs, 2-1, through three games of the rain-shortened five-game series, after earning their first win of the season in walk-off fashion on Thursday.
**Rain Check Policy
**To exchange your tickets for any future 2025 regular season game, please contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com, or contact your ticket representative. A breakdown of each ticket type exchange is listed below:
Club Tickets – Good for new Club Tickets
Loge Tickets – Good for new Club Tickets
Landing Tickets – Good for new Landing Tickets
Season Suites – Good for Box Seat Tickets
Daily Suites – Suite needs to be rescheduled with Sales Rep
Box Tickets – Good for new Box, Reserved or Lawn Tickets
Reserved Tickets – Good for Reserved or Lawn Tickets
Lawn Tickets – Good for Lawn Tickets
INDY ELEVEN
RECAP-IND 2:2 NC
Indianapolis- USL Championship Eastern Conference rivals Indy Eleven and North Carolina FC battled the rain and each other, playing a 2-2 draw at Carroll Stadium.
The Boys in Blue (1-1-2) started quickly with midfielder Oliver Brynéus getting a scoring chance off a pass from midfielder James Murphy in the third minute.
Indy Eleven took the lead in the 26th minute when defender Aedan Stanley’s corner kick from the right side was inadvertently headed in as an own goal by Raheem Somersall.
The Boys in Blue’s five first-half goals in four matches is the most in the USL Championship.
Brynéus earned another chance in the 39th minute on a breakaway, but his shot on target was saved by Jake McGuire.
Indy Eleven had an additional opportunity to add to their 1-0 lead in the second minute of first half stoppage time when Brynéus’ cross to forward Edward Kizza just missed wide. That duo opened the second half with another Brynéus’ cross to Kizza in the 46th minute that just missed.
Two minutes later, the Boys in Blue took a 2-0 edge when defender Pat Hogan played a long ball from just outside his own area deep down the right side. Forward Maalique Foster showed his speed to catch up to it just prior to it reaching the endline and center it to Kizza, who buried it with a one-touch finish for his first goal for Indy Eleven.
North Carolina countered three minutes later in the 51st when Evan Conway cut the deficit in half.
The Boys in Blue had a chance to add an insurance goal in the 89th minute when defender Logan Neidlinger played a cross to midfielder Jack Blake, whose left-footed shot from the right side was saved.
In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, North Carolina tied it on a header by Conor Donovan off a free kick from Mikey Maldonado.
The Boys in Blue travel to Hartford Athletic next Saturday for a 2 pm match on ESPN+.
The next Indy Eleven home game will be the US Open Cup Third Round match vs. Miami FC on Wed. Apr. 16 at 7:30 pm at Carroll Stadium. The next USLC home match is “Dino-Mite Family Nite” against Charleston Battery on Saturday, April 19 at 7 pm. Single-game tickets for all matches are available via Ticketmaster. Season, Flex Plan, Group, and Hospitality tickets are available here. For questions, call (317) 685-1100 during business hours or email tickets@indyeleven.com.
Indy Eleven Quotes
Coach Sean McAuley
- “We had enough chances to win the game.”
- “We were in full control that game and we couldn’t see it through.”
Oliver Brynéus
- “I’m happy that I created the chances, but I just need to score the goal next.”
- Experience playing in the USA-“I’m just happy that I can get this opportunity to play here, there’s not a lot of people that get that, especially if you’re international, so I’m happy- and I love Indianapolis so far, it’s been great.”
- “I feel great, and hopefully I can be ready for 90 next game.”
Ben Ofeimu
- “Definitely disappointing to be up 2-0–it feels like a loss. We need to sharpen up things later in the game; things like that can’t happen.”
- Effect of weather conditions-“Both teams have to play in it so, we can’t make any excuses for that one. Obviously, it’s a bit different, but no excuse with the rain.”
- “Anywhere I can help the team, I’ll play.”
- 2025 USL Championship
Indy Eleven 2:2 North Carolina FC - Sat., Apr. 5, 2025 – 7 p.m.
- Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.
- 2025 USL Championships Records
Indy Eleven: 1-1-2 (+1), 5 pts; 7th in Eastern Conference
North Carolina FC: 2-1-2 (+1), 8 pts; 6th in Eastern Conference - Attendance: 7,017
- Weather: Rain, 46 degrees
| Score | 1 | 2 | F |
| Indy Eleven | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| North Carolina FC | 0 | 2 | 2 |
- Scoring Summary
- IND – Own Goal 26’
- IND – Edward Kizza (Maalique Foster) 48’
- NC – Evan Conway (Pedro Dolabella) 51’
- NC – Conor Donovan (Mikey Maldonado) 90’+3
- Discipline Summary
- IND – James Murphy (caution) 6’
- IND – James Musa (caution) 8’
- NC – Rafa Mentzingen (caution) 13’
- NC – Raheem Somersall (caution) 45’
- NC – Paco Craig (caution) 81’
- NC – Jaden Servania (caution) 84’
- IND – Aodhan Quinn (caution) 89’
Indy Eleven line-up: Hunter Sulte, Aedan Stanley, James Musa, Pat Hogan, Ben Ofeimu, Aodhan Quinn (captain), James Murphy, Oliver Brynéus (Logan Neidlinger 81’), Jack Blake, Maalique Foster, Edward Kizza (Elvis Amoh 87’).
Indy Eleven Subs not used: Josh O’Brien, Finn McRobb, Cam Lindley,Elliot Collier,Reice Charles-Cook.
North Carolina FC line-up: Jake McGuire, Paco Craig (captain), Conor Donovan, Bryce Washington (Finn Sundstrom 42’), Jaden Servania, Rafa Mentzingen, Ahmad Al-Qaq (Oalex Anderson 65’), Raheem Somersall (Louis Perez 65’), Mikey Maldonado, Pedro Dolabella, Evan Conway (Rodrigo da Costa 87’).
North Carolina FC subs not used: Justin Malou, Collin Martin, Akira Fitzgerald, Triston Hodge, Jayson Quintanilla.
| Stat | IND | NC |
| Shots | 15 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 2 |
| Corner Kicks | 9 | 4 |
| Offsides | 6 | 1 |
| Fouls | 20 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | 4 |
INDY IGNITE
IGNITE RUN INTO BUZZSAW AT COLUMBUS
COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 5, 2025) – Competition in Pro Volleyball Federation is top-notch, top to bottom. That was evident tonight when the Columbus Fury defeated the Indy Ignite in four sets.
Columbus entered the match with the worst record in the league (5-15), while Indy came in with a 12-8 ledger that had the Ignite tied for third in the standings. The records mattered not, as the Fury defense stifled the Ignite attack and ended Indy’s four-match winning streak.
Columbus won by scores of 25-21, 25-20, 21-25 and 25-23 to register its first win over Indy in their four meetings this season. Even with the loss, the Ignite remained knotted with Orlando for third in PVF with identical 12-9 records.
“Tip the cap to Columbus, they came to play tonight,” Ignite head coach George Padjen said. “I thought they played a tough match, scrappy, had nothing to lose and it showed. Good by them.”
The opening set was tied at 11 when Columbus went on an 8-3 tear to take command. Indy dropped that set despite a stellar six kills and a block from outside hitter Caitie Baird, playing in her second Ignite match and making her first start.
The second set got away from the Ignite early, as the Fury ran out to an 11-6 advantage and then led 24-16. Indy saved four set points before Columbus put it away 25-20 for a two-set lead. The Fury defense logged seven block points in the set to spearhead the win.
“They came out and they were fighting,” Baird observed. “They were putting their bodies on the line, giving it their all. It just felt like a lot of things they were getting up and it was hard to score. Props to them for coming out and competing like they did.”
The Ignite showed they weren’t going away quietly in set three. Trailing 14-13, Indy’s 8-3 run put it in charge and led to the 25-21 victory. Baird and opposite hitter Azhani Tealer each had five kills in the set, with Tealer contributing five digs and Baird four.
The Ignite looked poised to force a fifth set when they took a 14-9 lead in set four, but the Fury fought back. A block touch that barely grazed Baird’s finger started a five-point Columbus run that turned a 20-18 deficit into a 23-20 lead. A Tealer kill staved off one match point, but Megan Lush’s 13th kill of the night stamped the last point on the 25-23 set win that clinched the match.
After being limited to three kills in the first two sets, Tealer chimed in with 13 kills in the final two sets. The PVF All-Star was frequently attacked on defense and responded with 14 digs. Baird had 15 kills and three blocks to lead the Ignite with 18 points. Setter Sydney Hilley registered another double-double with 40 assists and 19 digs.
“There were definitely some high points,” Padjen said, also pointing to the energy and digs Kylie Murr provided off the bench. “The league is so good, you’re razor thin on margins, so even in a match where you’re going to lose to somebody – Columbus is better than their record – it’s going to be one or two or three things you’re still going to do well on your side.”
Baird said the team will build off those good points and shore up the areas that need it before the next match in six days.
“Just working together as a team, getting better at the little things,” she said. “Communicating a little bit better, getting those short balls, knowing who’s taking what. Just being scrappy on defense and getting after it. I know there’s more in us so we’re just going to keep going back to practice, working it out and figuring out how we’re going to get to that point.”
Five of the Ignite’s remaining seven regular-season matches are at home, the first on April 12 against Grand Rapids on Firestorm Appreciation Night presented by Best One Tire & Service. The match starts at 7 p.m. ET but there will be a full day of action at Fishers Event Center. It begins at 3 p.m. with a scrimmage featuring teams from Purdue and Vanderbilt universities. Following at 5 p.m. will be a Fan Fest where players from Purdue, Vanderbilt and the University of Kentucky will sign autographs, not to mention tailgate games, grass volleyball, food trucks, giveaways and more at the FORUM Credit Union Plaza in front of Fishers Event Center.
INDY FUEL
FUEL WIN BIG IN OVERTIME IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD
FISHERS– The Fuel hosted the Fort Wayne Komets on Saturday night. In front of a sellout crowd of 6,601 fans, the Fuel defeated the Fort Wayne Komets 4-3 in a crucial come-from-behind, overtime win.
1ST PERIOD
While both Indiana teams are known for short tempers while playing each other, there were no penalties in the first frame as things remained calm and disciplined.
Fort Wayne struck first at 16:08 with a goal by Alex Aleardi after a turnover in front of Ben Gaudreau in net for Indy.
The Fuel outshot the Komets 8-6 in the first period despite going down 1-0.
2ND PERIOD
At 1:04, Josh Groll scored to make it 2-0 in favor of Fort Wayne.
Ethan Manderville took the game’s first penalty at 12:32 for high sticking but the Fuel killed it off.
Colin Bilek got the Fuel on the board with a goal at 18:57. Spencer Cox and Chris Cameron had the assists on that goal.
After two periods, the Fuel were outshooting the Komets 21-12 despite being down 2-1.
3RD PERIOD
Less than two minutes into the third period, Ty Farmer scored to make it 2-2. Jesse Tucker and Lucas Brenton claimed those assists.
Jack Dugan scored for Fort Wayne to give them a 3-2 lead at 4:44. Five seconds later, Tucker and Nolan Volcan dropped the gloves and each earned five minutes for fighting.
At 7:33, Nick Deakin-Poot went to the penalty box for slashing, giving the Fuel an important power play opportunity.
Colin Bilek capitalized with a goal right in front just eight seconds into the power play to make it 3-3.
Deakin-Poot went back to the box for interference at 13:40 but the Komets killed off the penalty.
It appeared the Fuel scored at 14:49 but instead, Tucker was called for goaltender interference.
Tucker also served a bench minor for too many men at 17:38. The Fuel killed it off and the game headed to overtime soon after.
The Fuel outshot the Komets 26-20 in regulation.
OVERTIME
Both teams had some big chances early in the seven-minute overtime period, but the goaltenders stood strong.
Aleardi took a holding penalty at 4:36 to put the Fuel on the power play for a big two minutes in overtime.
Cam Hausinger capitalized with a tip in right in front to claim the win for the Fuel and defeat the Komets 4-3 in overtime.
INDIANA BASEBALL
BASEBALL CENTRAL: MICHIGAN STATE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Due to inclement weather across the Midwest, the Indiana Baseball team (15-14, 6-6 B1G) is set to play a weekend series with Michigan State in a very strange format. The two teams will play the first game on Sunday (April 6) with a doubleheader set for Monday (April 7). It will be IU’s fifth doubleheader of the season and the third and fourth Monday games of the year.
The Hoosiers have had chances to win each of their last two games (vs. USC, vs. No. 18 Louisville) but let late leads slip away in both games. A depleted bullpen hurt IU’s chances against the Trojans while five defensive errors cost it a big opportunity against the Cardinals. In each game, IU’s offense failed to score after the fourth inning.
With extra rest for all its players, IU is hoping to get things back on track against Michigan State this weekend. It’s the first visit from the Spartans to Bart Kaufman Field since 2015. The two teams last played in the final weekend of the regular season in 2023.
Veteran southpaw Ryan Kraft has turned into a steady presence on IU’s pitching staff – regaining some of the form that saw him earn All-Conference honors in 2023. In seven appearances (two starts) in the month of March, Kraft worked a 4.66 earned run average across 19.1 innings.
He’s started the first game of the last two Big Ten weekends and has thrived in that role. The senior needs just four more outings to move into the top-5 in program history in appearances.
Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley went hitless on Tuesday but is coming off a prolific month of March. In 18 games, he hit .406 (28-69) with six home runs and 22 RBIs. He has bolstered his case to be Big Ten Freshman of the Year and will look to follow up with similar success in April.
This weekend’s series will officially take IU to the midway point in league play. A series victory will keep the Hoosiers above .500 in Big Ten play and keep them in the hunt for a top-four seed in the conference tournament this May. As it stands, the Hoosiers are just a game out of a coveted top-four position.
Gameday Info
vs. Michigan State (Sunday, April 6th – 1:00 PM ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/3TGJSEx
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/42gcEA3
vs. Michigan State (Monday, April 7th – 12:00 PM ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/3TGJSEx
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/42fDsAu
vs. Michigan State (Monday, April 7th – 4:00 PM ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/3TGJSEx
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/3G92olF
Probable Starters
Michigan State
• Sunday: TBD
• Monday – 1: TBD
• Monday – 2: TBD
Leading Off
RECORD WATCH: Junior outfielder Devin Taylor is closing in on Hoosier history over the next couple of weeks. He needs two home runs to break the program’s all-time home run record. He also needs nine hits to become the 25th player in IU history to reach 200 base knocks.
Taylor’s fellow junior teammate, Tyler Cerny (173), isn’t far behind him in the chase for 200. Cerny and Taylor could be the first pair of teammates from the same recruiting class to reach 200+ career hits since Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis (2012-14). Josh Pyne and Brock Tibbitts fell just short last year with Tibbitts finishing on 199 career base knocks.
HANLEY HITS: Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley is the early runaway favorite to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He leads all Big Ten freshmen with 45 base hits and a .385 batting average. He had seven hits over the weekend in three games against USC.
Hanley’s one of three IU players (Dickerson, Taylor) with at least 13 multi-hit games. He’s been so good that he actually has more three-hit contests (7) than two-hit outings (6).
VETERAN SOUTHPAWS: IU relievers Ryan Kraft and Grant Holderfield have shaken off tough seasons last year and responded in a brilliant way for the Hoosier pitching staff. Each player has thrown 10+ innings in the last 10 games and has an ERA under 4.10 in that stretch.
Kraft and Holderfield were two of four pitchers to appear in seven games in the month of March. Kraft held a steady 4.66 ERA while Holderfield slowly improved over the month. The longtime friends have turned into the most reliable left-handed arms in IU’s bullpen.
FRESHMEN ARE HERE: IU has quickly gone to its young crop of freshmen in the field to fill some holes to due to injury. Four different true freshmen offensive players have appeared in at least 20 games this year. First year bats have combined for 99 hits at the plate.
In IU’s midweek loss to No. 18 Louisville, four of IU’s nine offensive starters were true freshmen. Caleb Koskie and Cole Decker made appearances off the bench, meaning six of the 13 offensive players that featured in the game were first-year players.
BIG TEN HALFWAY: This is IU’s fifth conference series of the year, meaning its reached the halfway point of the Big Ten season. IU is just 1-3 in conference weekends this year and will look to turn that around with Michigan State, Illinois and Maryland next on the docket.
IU’s record in conference is 6-6 through the first 12 games. It was 7-5 through 12 games last year before winning 8-of-12 conference games down the stretch.
GOLDEN SPIKES: Outfielders Devin Taylor and Korbyn Dickerson made the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award. It was the first time since 2014 (Schwarber, Travis) that the Hoosiers had two different guys on the in-season update for the most prestigious individual award.
Scouting the Opponent
Michigan State
• The Spartans come to town on the heels of dropping a home series with Illinois last weekend. Illinois won both sides of a Friday doubleheader before Michigan State salvaged the Saturday finale. Michigan State played the local minor league team, the Lansing Lugnuts, in a 1-0 exhibition win on Tuesday.
• Sophomore infielder Ryan McKay leads Michigan State offensively with a .364 batting average and 36 hits. He’s one of the toughest outs in the Big Ten and has 26 walks and 30 runs scored to his name. He was high school teammates with IU sophomore infielder Jasen Oliver at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep in Michigan.
• On the mound, it starts and ends with junior southpaw Joseph Dzierwa. The 6-8 lefty is 5-0 with a 1.27 earned run average in 42.2 innings of work. He’s allowed just six earned runs this season and has 54 strikeouts to 13 walks. The Spartans bullpen has struggled of late but the team still holds a 4.97 earned run average on the year.
Inside the Series
Michigan State
• These will be meetings 206, 207 and 208 in the history of this long series between IU and Michigan State. It’s been nearly two years since they last played – a regular season finale in 2023.
• Ironic enough, it’s been even longer since the two sides played in Bloomington. The last time Michigan State played at Bart Kaufman Field was in 2015. That was the first year of the Chris Lemonis tenure for the Hoosiers. IU was scheduled to play host to Michigan State in 2020 but that series never happened because of COVID-19.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
THE BEST POINT GUARD IN THE COUNTRY: SMITH WINS COUSY AWARD
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue junior point guard Braden Smith’s numbers speak for themselves and today he was rewarded with one of his biggest honors to date, being named the recipient of the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top point guard by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Smith becomes Purdue’s first winner of the Cousy Award in school history and is the third Boilermaker to win one of five position awards handed out (Cousy, West, Erving, Malone, Abdul-Jabbar).
Purdue players have now won four all-time positional awards as Smith joins West Award winner Carsen Edwards (2018) and Abdul-Jabbar Award winner Zach Edey (2023, 2024). The four total accolades are the second most in the country behind Villanova’s five (two Cousy, three Erving).
In addition, Purdue joins Gonzaga, Duke and Kentucky as the only school to have three different players win their respective positional trophy. Villanova (5), Purdue (4), Duke (4) and Gonzaga (4) are the only schools to win four combined awards.
Other recipients of the position awards include Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier (West), Duke’s Cooper Flagg (Erving), Auburn’s Johni Broome (Malone) and Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (Abdul-Jabbar).
Smith has previously been named a first-team All American by the four entities that make up consensus honors – The Sporting News, The Associated Press, the USBWA and the NABC, as well as one of four finalists for the Naismith Award and Wooden Award.
The Boilermakers finished with a 24-12 overall record and reached the Sweet 16. Next year’s Boilermaker squad is expected to be ranked high when the “way-too-early” top-25 polls come out next week.
Cousy Award Winner – Braden Smith, Junior, Guard
Winner of the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s top point guard.
A finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Awards, Smith is the top point guard in the country.
Consensus first-team All-American, being named to the first team by the Sporting News, the Associated Press, the USBWA, the NABC as well as a Naismith Trophy finalist.
Named the Big Ten Player of the Year after being selected as the preseason Player of the Year.
Averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, but saw his averages increase to 17.4 points, 8.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds during Big Ten play.
Set the Big Ten record for assists in conference play only with 175, smashing the previous record set by Michigan State’s Cassius Winston (157) by 18 assists – almost a full assist per game.
Is the second player in NCAA history to record at least 550 points, 300 assists and 150 rebounds in a season (Murray State’s Ja Morant – 2018-19). Is the only player to add at least 75 steals to the list.
With 15 assists against Houston in the Sweet 16 last Friday, Smith is the only player in NCAA Tournament history to have two games of at least 15 assists. Both came in the Sweet 16 (2024 – Gonzaga; 2025 – Houston).
Became the second player in Big Ten history, joining Michigan State’s Magic Johnson, to register 450 points, 250 assists, 125 rebounds and 60 steals in a season. Smith has reached those numbers in each of the last two seasons.
Became the school’s career assists leader, now with 758 assists in just 110 career games. Smith already ranks fourth on the Big Ten’s career assists list, despite playing three seasons.
Became the first player since California’s Jason Kidd (1993-94) to average at least 15.0 points, 8.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, and only the third player in NCAA history (Kidd, Loyola Marymount’s Terrell Lowery – 1990-91).
Smith’s 758 assists (and counting) are the third most for a player in NCAA history by the end of his junior season (Duke’s Bobby Hurley; Oakland’s Kay Felder). He is the only player in NCAA history with 1,300 points, 700 assists and 500 rebounds in his first three seasons.
Recorded four 20-point, 10-assist games this season. Prior to this year, Purdue had two 20-point, 10-assist games in school history – the last one coming in the 1987-88 season.
His nine point-assist double-doubles are the third most for a high-major player in the last 20 seasons (14 – Oklahoma’s Trae Young, 2018; 10 – Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell, 2023).
Smith has posted two games of 30 or more points this season (34 vs. Toledo; 31 vs. Iowa).
Has 13 games of 10 or more assists this season, and 23 games of 10 or more assists for his career. His 23 career games of 10 or more assists are the most in Big Ten history. The 23, 10-assist games are the second most by a player in his junior season or younger in the last 20 years (Kay Felder – 32; Braden Smith – 23; Kendall Marshall – 23; Ja Morant – 23).
Enters his senior season needing just 125 points and 242 assists to become the first player in NCAA history with 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 rebounds for his career. He needs 318 assists to tie Bobby Hurley for the NCAA all-time assists record with 1,076.
PURDUE SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL TAKES DAY 2 AGAINST MINNESOTA, 4-0
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue (20-16, 4-7 Big Ten) shut out Minnesota (13-23, 2-10 Big Ten) in the Saturday edition of the weekend series, taking a 4-0 win.
The Boilermakers were deliberate at the plate with six hits and only one strikeout. Pitcher Madi Elish struck out two batters and allowed only two hits and no runs. Purdue also executed two double plays in the dirt.
BOILER BITS v. Minnesota
Offensive Highlights:
Sage Scarmardo: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 H, 1 SB
Khloe Banks: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 H
Alivia Meeks: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 H
Moriah Polar: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 HBP, 1 BB
Pitching Breakdown:
Madi Elish (8-5): 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 23 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Boilers started the game off strong with three back-to-back outs in the field, then took over at the plate. Moriah Polar walked, but was the only runner on-base in the inning.
In the second frame, Purdue stopped the Gophers with a double play on a catch by Jordyn Ramos in centerfield, who threw out the runner at first base. At the bottom of the inning, Maura Condon stole second and third on a wild pitch, then put Purdue on the scoreboard with a grounder to shortstop from Alivia Meeks. The third inning saw hits from Khloe Banks and Condon, but the runners were left on base.
Minnesota got a hit in the fourth inning, but the Boilermakers stopped them in their tracks with another double play from Ashlynn Campbell, Meeks and Julia Gossett. The momentum continued when the Boilers went to bat, extending the lead with two runs on four hits from Sage Scarmardo, Meeks, Campbell and Banks. Polar also registered an RBI with a hit-by-pitch. The fifth inning brought a set of back-to-back three-up, three-down frames, keeping Purdue in the lead.
The Boilermakers held firm defensively in the sixth inning with three straight outs to the infield, but went down in order at the plate. One Minnesota batter was left on base in the seventh inning with no runs, giving Purdue the win in the second game of the series.
UP NEXT:
The series with Minnesota will close out Sunday (April 6) at 2:30 p.m. ET. The game will be live on B1G+.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
IRISH COME UP SHORT AGAINST HOKIES
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team fell in a 6-1 final against Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in game two of the three-game series.
The Irish defense clamped down on the Hokies in the first and second innings. Virginia Tech put a pair of runners on base with two outs in the top of the first before DJ Helwig induced a fly out to center field to end the inning. Brady Gumpf then made a diving catch in right field with two outs in the second to end the inning.
Virginia Tech plated three runs in the top of the the third inning on a pair of hits, a hit batter, and a walk. The Irish tried to get things going in the bottom of the third. Jared Zimbardo laced a two-out single through the left side, and Parker Brzustewicz added a single to center field to put a pair on base. The Irish, however, were unable to keep the two-out rally going in the inning and came up empty-handed.
Dylan Heine came in and struck out the first batter he faced in the top of the fourth. With runners on the corners and two outs gone in the same inning, the defense came up with the big play to keep the Hokies from adding to their lead. The runner on first broke to second while the runner at third tried to slide into home before an out could be made, but the Carson Tinney to Connor Hincks to Parker Brzustewicz caught stealing sequence successfully got the Virginia Tech runner out between first and second before the other Hokie runner touched the plate.
Heine kept the visitors off the scoreboard again in the top of the fifth. In the bottom half of the inning, Nick DeMarco punched a single through the left side to get on base, and an error by the Virginia Tech second baseman put DeMarco on third while Jayce Lee reached first base. Jared Zimbardo then drove in DeMarco with a hard hit infield single to make it a 3-1 game.
The Irish put a runner on base in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, but the home side was unable to chip further away at the deficit. The Hokies plated three runs in the top of the ninth, and the rally down the stretch was unable to come to fruition for the Irish in the 6-1 final.
DJ Helwig suffered the loss on the mound for the Irish after going two-and-two-thirds on the bump. Sammy Cooper recorded a strikeout, and Dylan Heine went 2.2 scoreless on the mound with a pair of strikeouts. Oisin Lee closed out the final 3.1 innings and struck out three.
Jared Zimbardo went 3-for-5 with an RBI in the contest. Parker Brzustewicz, Carson Tinney, Connor Hincks, and Nick DeMarco each collected a hit, and DeMarco scored a run.
The series rubber match between the Hokies and the Irish is set to begin at noon on Sunday. Admission is free for all home regular season Notre Dame baseball games. Young fans will have the opportunity to run the bases after Sunday’s contest.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S LAX
#5 IRISH FALL TO #7 SYRACUSE ON THE ROAD
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish suffered a 14-9 defeat on the road against No. 7 Syracuse in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday.
Chris Kavanagh paced the Irish attack with four points off two goals and two assists while Devon McLane scored two goals and Jake Taylor and Matt Jeffery each added a goal and assist.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish came out of the gates firing, scoring three goals in the opening four minutes to open up an early 3-0 advantage. Jeffery got the Irish scoring started and then McLane added two of his own to build the early lead.
Syracuse regrouped and cut the Notre Dame lead to one at 3-2 by the end of the first frame.
The Orange carried it’s momentum into the second quarter, outscoring the Irish 6-0 to take an 8-3 lead into the halftime break.
After a Syracuse goal pushed it’s lead to six at 9-3, the Irish responded with three straight between the end of the third and beginning of the fourth to cut the lead in half at 9-6.
The two sides each scored once over the next two minutes of action before Syracuse pushed the lead back to six at 13-7 just under seven minutes left in regulation.
Jake Taylor and Max Busenkell each found the back of the net in the closing stages of the game but the Irish fell by a score of 14-9 on the road.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame returns to Arlotta Stadium for an ACC matchup against Virginia at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 12. The game will air on ESPNU and admission to the game is free.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
NOTRE DAME RUN-RULES PITT ON STRIKEOUT CANCER GAME
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Softball team secured its second straight series Saturday afternoon after run-ruling Pittsburgh 12-4 in six innings. With the win, the Irish are now 18-20-1 on the season and 6-8 in ACC play.
Anna Holloway had a career day, notching her first ever four hit game as well as driving a career-best 6 RBI. That’s the most RBI in a game by an Irish player this season. With the career day, Holloway is now hitting .306 on the season.
Brianne Weiss was dynamite for Notre Dame in the circle. After relieving Micaela Kastor to start the third inning, Weiss went 4.0 innings, only allowing one hit and didn’t surrender a single Panther run. The freshman struck out seven and earned her second win of the season.
Christina Willemssen hit her first career home run, taking an 0-1 pitch out to right field in the bottom of the third for Notre Dame’s seventh run on the day. The right fielder also walked three times for Notre Dame.
The Irish now have 10 different players who have hit home runs this season and five have recorded their first career round trippers.
Caroline O’Brien, Addison Amaral and Rachel Allen all extended their hitting streaks to six games during today’s game.
O’Brien went 3/3 and walked twice, as her and Amaral both scored three runs apiece. O’Brien delivered the walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth to hit the mercy rule.
The Irish scored four runs in the first inning to take a 4-2 lead after the opening frame. Pitt tied it back up in the top of the second, but the Irish would score eight unanswered after that to secure the series.
Notre Dame held it’s annual Strikeout Cancer game, as Christina, Braxston and Addy from Fighting Irish Fight for Life all threw the ceremonial first pitches. The Irish wore orange accessories, the color associated with leukemia.
Notre Dame will go for the series sweep tomorrow at noon at Melissa Cook Stadium. Admission is free and the game will be broadcast on ACCNX. Following the game, the Home Run Derby will take place. Fans wanting to take place in the derby can sign up through this link:
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Softball team secured its second straight series Saturday afternoon after run-ruling Pittsburgh 12-4 in six innings. With the win, the Irish are now 18-20-1 on the season and 6-8 in ACC play.
Anna Holloway had a career day, notching her first ever four hit game as well as driving a career-best 6 RBI. That’s the most RBI in a game by an Irish player this season. With the career day, Holloway is now hitting .306 on the season.
Brianne Weiss was dynamite for Notre Dame in the circle. After relieving Micaela Kastor to start the third inning, Weiss went 4.0 innings, only allowing one hit and didn’t surrender a single Panther run. The freshman struck out seven and earned her second win of the season.
Christina Willemssen hit her first career home run, taking an 0-1 pitch out to right field in the bottom of the third for Notre Dame’s seventh run on the day. The right fielder also walked three times for Notre Dame.
The Irish now have 10 different players who have hit home runs this season and five have recorded their first career round trippers.
Caroline O’Brien, Addison Amaral and Rachel Allen all extended their hitting streaks to six games during today’s game.
O’Brien went 3/3 and walked twice, as her and Amaral both scored three runs apiece. O’Brien delivered the walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth to hit the mercy rule.
The Irish scored four runs in the first inning to take a 4-2 lead after the opening frame. Pitt tied it back up in the top of the second, but the Irish would score eight unanswered after that to secure the series.
Notre Dame held its annual Strikeout Cancer game, as Christina, Braxston and Addy from Fighting Irish Fight for Life all threw the ceremonial first pitches. The Irish wore orange accessories, the color associated with leukemia.
Notre Dame will go for the series sweep tomorrow at noon at Melissa Cook Stadium. Admission is free and the game will be broadcast on ACCNX. Following the game, the Home Run Derby will take place.
BUTLER BASEBALL
LATE HOME RUN PUSHES XAVIER PAST BUTLER
Connor Misch hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Xavier a 5-4 victory on Saturday afternoon. The clutch at-bat came on a one-two count with two outs in the inning. With the win, Xavier moves to 17-14. Butler is now 10-20 on the year.
Game two of the series got going with Tommy Townsend hitting a home run in the top of the fourth to put BU on top 2-0. Xavier got one back in the bottom half of the inning and a sac fly in the sixth made the score 2-2.
Jack Moroknek put the Bulldogs on top in the seventh with a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield. The timely hit made the game 4-2, but the three-run homer in the eighth determined the outcome.
Butler did make some noise in the ninth. Will Burgess pinch hit for Ian Choi and doubled to center representing the game-tying run. He advanced to third after a sac bunt from AJ Solomon but was stranded at third.
BU used four pitchers in game two of the series. Andrew Hendrickx got the start and helped BU get the first eight outs of the game. He struck out four and walked four.
Alex Thomas and Brett Sherrard were next in line for innings. Thomas faced 13 batters and limited Xavier to just two hits, resulting in one run. Sherrard threw two innings and held Xavier to one run. The loss went to Nate Rosser (1-1).
Butler and Xavier will close out the series tomorrow. Game time has been moved up to 11 a.m.
IU INDY SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL SPLITS SATURDAY DOUBLEHEADER
GREEN BAY – The IU Indianapolis softball team split its Saturday doubleheader on the road at Green Bay, taking the opener 6-4 in extra innings before falling 10-4 in game two. The Jaguars used timely hitting and late-inning resilience to win game one, but couldn’t contain a late offensive surge by the Phoenix in the second matchup. Molly Kable starred at the plate across both contests, going a combined 6-for-9 with six RBI and four runs scored.
IU Indy opened its Saturday doubleheader with a dramatic 6-4 extra-inning victory over Green Bay.
The Jaguars got on the board early, capitalizing on a Green Bay miscue in the first inning. Morgan Gilbert scored on a double steal attempt, giving IU Indy a 1-0 lead. In the third, Kable came through with her first RBI of the day, driving in Kendal Calvert to make it 2-0.
Green Bay responded in the bottom half of the third inning, scoring three runs behind a two-run double and an RBI single to take a 3-2 lead.
Trailing by one in the seventh, the Jaguars clawed back. Calvert tied the game after singling and eventually scoring on a throwing error. Moments later, Kennedy Cowan drove in the go-ahead run with a fielder’s choice, putting IU Indy ahead 4-3.
Green Bay answered once again in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game at 4-4 and sending it to extras.
In the top of the eighth, IU Indy sealed the win behind Kable’s bat. The junior delivered a two-run single to right field, plating Calvert and Paige McPhearson.
Kable finished the game with three hits and three RBIs, leading the charge offensively. The Jaguars’ defense held strong in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.
Callie Dickerson took the win for the Jags after relieving Clara Phariss. Dickerson threw a scoreless 1.2 innings, giving up just one hit with one strikeout.
After a thrilling extra-inning win in game one, IU Indy couldn’t hold off a late offensive surge from Green Bay in game two, falling 10-4 in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The Phoenix struck first in the second inning with an RBI double, but the Jaguars quickly answered. Alexa Holman’s RBI single up the middle in the third tied things up at 1-1. IU Indy grabbed the lead an inning later when Kable continued her strong day at the plate with a two-run single, scoring Gilbert and McPhearson to make it 3-1.
However, Green Bay responded in the fifth, pushing across three runs. The Phoenix broke the game open in the sixth with a six-run outburst. They racked up six hits in the frame, stretching the lead to 10-3.
IU Indy managed to scratch across one more run in the seventh inning, again off the bat of Kable, who doubled in her third RBI of the game and sixth of the day, scoring Gilbert for the final 10-4 margin.
Kable continued to shine offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBI while Gilbert added two runs scored in the losing effort.
Lily Roush took the loss in game two, giving up three runs on five hits in 4.1 innings.
With the split, IU Indy moves to 12-21 overall with a 6-6 mark in Horizon League play. The Jags will next travel to Northern Kentucky for a three-game series on Tuesday, April 8.
BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
MVB DROPS IN FOUR TO PURDUE FORT WAYNE
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Ball State men’s volleyball fell 1-3 (19-25, 15-25, 25-16, 15-25) to Purdue Fort Wayne Saturday night on the road in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Mastodons (11-12, 2-10 MIVA) immediately set the tone, opening set one with a 4-1 lead. It was all Purdue Fort Wayne from there as the home team paced the Cardinals (17-11, 9-6 MIVA) through a 16-7 advantage. Ball State was able to put to together four-straight with hopes of building some momentum, but the Mastodons shut it down quickly with the help of an Axel Melendez Watts ace. Remaining in control, Purdue Fort Wayne secured set one on a 25-19 kill.
Coming out in set two, Ball State played a much closer game, going point for point with the Mastodons through an 8-8 tie. Purdue Fort Wayne put up two to follow, taking the lead and never looking back. At 25-15, the Mastodons shut down the Cardinals for the set two point.
Set three looked like it was going to start in a similar fashion to the first after Purdue Fort Wayne jumped ahead 4-1. However, despite their position, the Cardinals were able battle back and even the playing field at eight. Ball State kept its foot on the gas, taking the lead at 11-9. The offense stayed hot, adding eight kills in the second half of the frame to hold off the Mastodons at 25-16.
Despite the team’s run in set three, Ball State was unable to stop the Mastodon’s attempts entering the fourth frame. Purdue Fort Wayne completed the upset with a 25-15 final set.
Patrick Rogers put down 15 kills on the night, the most from the Cardinals offense.
Leading in digs was Wil Basilio with nine.
Ball State will look ahead to next week for the team’s final regular season match against Loyola Chicago. The match will take place at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, Apr. 12 in Chicago, Illinois.
BALL STATE SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL COMPLETES SERIES SWEEP AT KENT STATE
KENT, Ohio – – Sophomore shortstop Maia Pietrzak picked the perfect time to register her first triple of the season, driving in the first two runs of a six-run eighth inning to help guide the Ball State softball team to a 12-6 (8) victory at Kent State.
It was a great ending for the Cardinals (24-10; 9-4 Mid-American Conference) which picked up its fourth MAC series victory of the season as it heads into a pivotal showdown with league-leading Miami at the Ball State Softball Stadium next weekend.
Pietrzak opened the scoring in the game for Ball State, smashing a leadoff double to center field and coming on home redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons’ first of three RBI hits in the game.
While the Golden Flashes (7-28; 0-11 MAC) evened the score in the bottom of the first, the Cardinals used a pair of third-inning bases-loaded walks by senior left fielder Kara Gunter and junior right fielder Ashlee Lovett to take a 3-1 edge.
Timmons would double Ball State’s advantage in the top of the fourth, smashing a two-run double to center field. However, Kent State countered with three in the bottom of the inning to pull back within one.
While Timmons added another RBI on a single to right field in the top of the sixth, making the score 6-4, Kent State posted single runs of its own in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh to send the game to extra inning.
That is where Pietrzak came up clutch, following singles by redshirt junior pinch hitter Aislinn Morris and redshirt junior pinch hitter Hayley Urban with her two-run triple to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.
The Cardinals were not done there, however, as Pietrzak scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to three. Gunter then drove in two more with a double down the right field line, while senior first baseman Kaitlyn Gibson capped the scoring with an RBI single to left field.
That turned the ball over to junior Ella Whitney in the circle, who retired the Golden Flashes in order in the bottom of the eighth to pick up her league-leading 15th pitching win of the season. Overall, Whitney pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one run, while striking out one.
Freshman Breanna Severino started the game in the circle for Ball State, pitching the first 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits and five run (four earned), while also striking out one.
NOTES:
– Pietrzak finished the game a home run shy of the cycle, with a first-inning double, a fourth-inning walk, a sixth-inning single and an eighth-inning triple … The helped her finish the game with four runs scored and a pair of RBIs.
– Timmons upped her streak of reaching base safely to 60 games, going 3-for-3 on the day with her three RBI hits … Overall, she collected four RBIs on the day and scored a pair of runs, while also drawing two walks, one of which was intentional walk.
– Ball State’s batters where hit by two more pitches on the day, raising its single season program record to 63
– With 12 more runs Saturday, the Cardinals raised its season total to 271 over the first 34 games of the season … That gives Ball State an average of 7.97 runs per game … The 271 runs are the 11th-most in a season in program history, with the program record being 368 set by the 2012 squad.
– Ball State recorded its 16th errorless game of the season Saturday, raising its season fielding percentage back to .970.
UP NEXT:
The Cardinals return to action March 11-12 when it hosts Miami at the Ball State Softball Stadium. The teams are scheduled to play a 3 p.m. game Friday and a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
SYCAMORES FALL IN 1-0 PITCHING DUEL ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont strung together a pair of singles, before Ty Allen connected on the go-ahead RBI ground out in the bottom of the eighth inning as Indiana State fell in the second game of the weekend series to the Bruins at E.S. Rose Park, 1-0.
The Sycamores (15-15, 5-3) and Bruins (12-20, 3-5) were locked in a pitcher’s duel from the start as Indiana State’s Ty Brooks and Belmont’s Joe Ruzicka shut down the opposition’s offense over the majority of the game.
Indiana State put runners in scoring position early but were unable to push across the early run in the contest. Nomar Garcia reached on an infield single in the top of the first inning and stolen both second and third base but was stranded as Ruzicka retired the final Sycamore on strikes to close out the opening frame.
The Sycamores threatened again in the second as Jackson Taylor drew a walk and advanced to second, but Ruzicka retired Sean McGurk on a grounder to second to keep it a 0-0 game early.
Belmont threatened in the bottom of the second as Jake Maddox connected on a soft line drive that landed fair down the left field line for a one-out double. However, Brooks bounced back to strike out Kaden Galason and the Sycamores caught Maddox out attempt to advance to third on the play to keep it 0-0.
Brooks and Ruzicka traded perfect innings through the third and fourth frames and continued to swap zeroes through the seventh as both pitchers kept the opposing teams off the scoreboard.
Brooks was relieved in the bottom of the seventh inning after surrendering a one-out single to Blake Barton. Gavin Morris (4-3) relieved the Sycamore right-hander and struck out Maddox before surrendering back-to-back walks to Gardner Lawrence and Michael Lareau to load the bases. Morris worked the full-count against Nolan Sergeant before getting the Belmont pinch-hitter to ground out back up the middle to Garcia to keep the game scoreless.
After the Sycamores were retired in the top of the eighth by Belmont reliever Ethan Harden (1-2), Pete Daniel and Charlie Davis opened up the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with none out. Allen followed with a grounder to Garcia at short allowing Daniel to cross the plate and give the Bruins the 1-0 lead.
Harden kept Indiana State off the board in the ninth to close out the contest for his first win of the season.
Garcia recorded two of Indiana State’s three hits in the contest and added a pair of stolen bases in the loss. Carlos Pena kept his on-base streak alive with a single in the eighth inning.
Brooks went 6.1 innings on the mound as the Milford, Ind. native surrendered just three hits and two walks while striking out six in taking the no-decision. Morris worked the final 1.2 innings allowing two hits and a run while striking out one in taking the loss.
Maddox had two of Belmont’s five hits in the win, including the lone extra-base hit in the contest with a double in the second inning.
Ruzicka worked 7.0 innings allowing two hits and three walks while striking out nine in the no-decision. Harden went the final 2.0 innings to claim the win, allowing just Pena’s single while striking out two.
How They Scored
Ty Allen followed back-to-back singles from Pete Daniel and Charlie Davis with an RBI ground out in the bottom of the eighth inning to push across the lone run in Saturday’s game.
News & Notes
Carlos Pena ran his on-base streak to 24 consecutive games after reaching on a single in the top of the eighth inning. He finished the game 1-for-3.
Indiana State moves to 10-1 all-time against Belmont with Saturday’s loss to the Bruins.
Saturday marked the end of the Missouri Valley’s longest active winning streaks in game twos of the weekend series as Indiana State fell in the second game of a conference weekend for the first time since May 14, 2022, when the Sycamores fell to Southern Illinois on the road. Indiana State had won their last 21 consecutive game twos in MVC play before seeing the streak end.
Ty Brooks posted career-highs in innings pitched (6.1) and strikeouts (6) in Saturday’s contest.
Up Next
Indiana State and Belmont close out the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at E.S. Rose Park with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET. The game is set to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
‘DONS BEAT NO. 15 BALL STATE ON SENIOR NIGHT
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball program honored three seniors, KJ Glab, Axel Melendez Watts and Caleb Lipscomb, on Saturday night (April 5) prior to beating No. 15 Ball State in four sets (25-19, 25-15, 16-25, 25-15).
The Mastodons came out of the gates on fire, opening up with a 6-1 run. The ‘Dons extended on their lead, this time with a 9-3 run to take a 16-7 lead. The Cardinals shook off the early-set struggles with their own run of four consecutive points. Purdue Fort Wayne maintained their lead to take the first set 25-19. The Mastodons tallied four aces in the set, two from Andrej Polomac, and one a piece from Axel Melendez Watts and JP Candrian.
Purdue Fort Wayne and the Cardinals traded points to start the second, being tied at 7-7. The ‘Dons pulled away thanks to a 10-2 surge, including three consecutive blocks from Casey Lyons. The Mastodons continued to lay it on Ball State, pulling away with a 4-0 run to hold a 22-12 lead. After holding the Cardinals to a match-low -.160 hitting percentage, Purdue Fort Wayne took the set 25-15.
The ‘Dons continued on their momentum, starting the set out with a 6-2 lead. Ball State’s Patrick Rodgers added in four kills in the Cardinals 6-1 response to take the lead at 9-8.Ball State slowly pulled away and eventually closed the set with a commanding 5-0 run. Rodgers finished the set with eight kills to lead the Cardinals to a 25-16 third set.
The Mastodons jumped out to yet another early run in the fourth set, scoring four unanswered points with two Logan Muir service aces for a 7-4 lead. After battling through the set, the ‘Dons closed the match on a 6-0 run. Purdue Fort Wayne hit their match-high .483 hitting percentage in the final frame.
Muir led the match with 19 kills and three aces. Polomac hit a match-high four aces, to go along with 32 assists. Andrew Mayer tallied 12 digs in the match.
Purdue Fort Wayne rises to 11-12, 4-10 in MIVA play. Ball State falls to 17-11, 9-6 in the MIVA. The ‘Dons will travel to No. 11 McKendree for back-to-back matches on April 11 and 12.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
TWO-RUN SINGLE IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH SECURES 7-6 ACES WIN AT UIC
CHICAGO – In the second game of three this weekend at the home of the UIC Flames, the University of Evansville baseball team fended off UIC to earn a close 7-6 win.
The Purple Aces scored in the first inning on Saturday but had to come back from two separate ties to pick up their fifth win of conference play. Catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) was again the ninth inning hero for UE with the RBI single to score the winning run. It was Flaherty’s second RBI single of the game to help him lead Evansville with three RBIs.
“What an awesome college baseball game!” said Head Coach Wes Carroll following the win. “We found a way to win when we put ourselves in some challenging spots. Reed and Byberg competed on the mound, and we got a big double play from our defense. We had some great at-bats, and I’m fired up that Longmeier has developed into a dangerous hitter. We have a big opportunity tomorrow to get another road series win with Hansmann on the mound.”
The Aces took the lead early at Curtis Granderson Stadium on Saturday as outfielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) began the game with a triple to left center. Rumsey scored UE’s first run on an error by the catcher as left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) stole second and took third on the throw. A single from Flaherty brought Longmeier home for a 2-0 Evansville lead after only half an inning.
The Flames were able to cut the Aces’ lead in half with two singles in four at-bats in the bottom of the first. UE put two runners in scoring position in the second on a walk and a single for first baseman Kevin McCormick (Orland Park, Ill. / St. Laurence HS). But three straight outs after McCormick’s single ended the top of the second.
After a strikeout to begin the bottom of the inning, UIC had back-to-back doubles to have its first tie of the afternoon. Evansville again got two runners on in the top of the third but didn’t bring one home. In the bottom of the third, the Aces turned a double play after letting a single go in the infield to keep it a 2-2 draw after a third of the game.
UE had its best offensive inning in the top of the fourth as McCormick led off with a walk. After the walk, third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) singled to center field, putting McCormick in scoring position at third. Rumsey’s second time up to bat resulted in an RBI as he hit a sacrifice fly to right for McCormick, giving Evansville a 3-2 lead.
The Aces were then able to extend their lead as Longmeier hit his third home run of the year to score himself and Howard. UE kept the 5-2 lead through one batter in the bottom of the fourth as the Flames connected on a solo shot to left. It was a quick fifth and sixth innings as neither team got a runner past third. Evansville threatened in the top of the fifth with runners at the corners. But with two outs on the board already, a fielder’s choice ended the Aces’ opportunity to score a sixth run.
UIC’s offense got back into the game in the bottom of the seventh. Two walks and a single had the bases loaded for the Flames, with two outs on the board. In two pitcher,s UIC’s shortstop put a ball into the infield that was mishandled by UE’s second baseman. The error cost Evansville two runs as the Flames tied the game for the second time at 5-5.
The Aces offense didn’t get anything going in the eighth as UIC threatened again in the bottom of the inning. The Flames’ first three batters reached base to load them with no outs on the board. UE was able to turn a 6-2-3 double play to get outs at home and first on the fourth at-bat to keep a run from scoring. Relief pitcher Owen Byberg (Barrie, Ontario / Frontier CC) intentionally walked the next UIC batter and pitched the next into a groundout at first to get out of the eighth with no damage.
Evansville had the start it wanted to the top of the ninth with the top of the order due up. Rumsey put a lead off single into center while Longmeier followed up with a double to put both runners into scoring position. Flaherty then connected on his second hit of the day with a long single to center field. The single going to the outfield gave Rumsey and Longmeier enough time to score, making it a 7-5 Aces lead.
UE got one more single in the top of the ninth from second baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) but didn’t bring a third run home. With a two-run lead, Evansville headed to the final frame of the game only needing three outs to even the series. The Aces gave up a lead off double to the Flames but got the next two batters out on a round out and a short flyout.
But UIC was able to score a run on an RBI single to center for a one-run game. With two outs on the board, UE’s defense settled in and drew the final out from the infield. Evansville evened the series at 1-1 with the 7-6 win over the Flames and improved to 11-19 on the season.
Byberg earned the win for the Aces, pitching three innings while giving up four hits, one earned run, and four walks. Starter Kevin Reed (Martinsville, Ind. / Martinsville HS) had another good performance on the mound for UE, with six innings of work. Reed struck out five UIC batters while only walking two with six hits. Four Evansville batters had two hits on the day from Rumsey, Longmeier, Flaherty, and McGinnis.
The Aces will go for their third series win of conference play on Sunday afternoon in a rubber match. First pitch from Chicago is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
VALPO SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL TAKES TWO AT BRADLEY, EXTENDS WIN STREAK TO FIVE
The Valpo softball team extended its winning streak in Valley play to five straight games Saturday in Peoria, Ill., taking the opener 1-0 behind a one-hit effort in the circle from Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) and Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) before using a keen eye at the plate and timely hitting to earn an 8-4 win in the nightcap. The five-game winning streak is the program’s longest in conference play since 2018.
How It Happened – Game One
Valpo scored what proved to be the game’s lone run in the top of the second, 60 feet at a time. Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) reached on a fielder’s choice, moved up to second on a single by Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead), advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball by Bradley’s catcher.
The only hit off the Beacons’ pitching in the opener was a one-out double in the bottom of the second. A walk followed to put two runners on for the Braves, but Metz induced back-to-back popups back to the circle to keep Bradley off the board.
No runner reached third base the rest of the way for either team. Bradley did put its first two runners on base via the walk in the seventh, but in between, Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) threw out the leadoff batter trying to steal.
How It Happened – Game Two
The Beacons matched the first game’s run production in the top of the first inning of the nightcap. Vrastil worked a nine-pitch walk to lead off the game, and after moving up to second on a grounder and stealing third on a delayed steal, scored on a line-drive sacrifice fly from Lopez.
Already holding the lead, Valpo looked to bust the game open in the top of the second. Vrastil stepped to the plate with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out and knocked a single back up the middle to score both runs. Later in the frame, the freshman scored on an 0-2 single from Lopez, and Krug followed by drawing a bases-loaded walk to push the Beacons’ lead to 5-0.
Bradley connected on a pair of homers in the bottom of the second to score three and cut the Valpo lead to 5-3.
It was again Vrastil coming up big in the fifth, knocking a two-out single down the left-field line to score Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) — who had walked earlier in the inning — and make it a 6-3 game.
Bradley threatened to rally to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out on an error, a double and a hit by pitch. But an RBI groundout plated the Braves’ only run of the frame, as a liner and a strikeout kept Valpo in front, 6-4.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, and Valpo returned the favor in the top of the seventh by loading the bases with nobody out on a single sandwiched by a pair of walks. Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) drove in one run with a groundout, and after a walk loaded the bases again, Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) chopped a single on the infield for the game’s final run. Lopez closed the game with a 1-2-3 inning in the circle.
Inside the Games
With Saturday’s wins, Valpo has won five games in a row for the second time this season — prior to this year, the program had just one five-game winning streak in the last six years.
All five of those wins have come in MVC play, giving the Beacons their longest Valley winning streak since winning six straight late in the 2018 campaign.
This is also the first time since that aforementioned 2018 streak that Valpo has won consecutive MVC series, as the Beacons secured the series win over UIC with Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep and clinched this weekend’s series with Saturday’s sweep.
Valpo has won its last four road games overall and its last five MVC road contests — both streaks the longest since the 2017 squad won six consecutive Horizon League games.
The last time before this week that Valpo won four consecutive games, all of which were true road games, was April 2012.
The story of the opener was the one-hit effort in the circle from Metz and Lopez. Metz delivered four innings of one-hit ball in her start and then turned the ball over to Lopez, who earned the save with three hitless shutout innings.
The one hit allowed by Valpo pitching was its best single-game effort since the Beacons’ last trip to Bradley in 2023, when Caitlyn Kowalski threw a no-hitter.
Meanwhile, in the nightcap, the Beacons showcased their collective discerning eye at the plate for the second time this week. Valpo drew 11 walks, matching their total in Tuesday’s nightcap at UIC which is tied for second-most in a single game in program history.
Rodas drew three of those free passes, her second career three-walk game and matching Valpo’s season single-game high.
Vrastil dominated at the top of the order in the nightcap, going 2-for-3 — her 16th multi-hit game of the season — with two walks, a stolen base, two runs scored and three RBIs. After tallying just four RBIs in the season’s first 30 games, the freshman has five RBIs in the last three contests.
Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) reached twice via a hit and a walk in the nightcap after drawing a walk in the opener, extending her on-base streak to 14 straight games.
The decisions in the circle for Valpo mirrored the opener in the nightcap. Metz entered in relief in this contest and threw three innings of one-run ball, earning the win to improve to 6-1 this season. Lopez then tossed the final three innings and only gave up one unearned run while striking out three for her second save of the day and fourth of the season.
Next Up
Valpo (17-16, 6-6 MVC) looks for the series sweep of Bradley Sunday afternoon at noon.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
April 6
1971 — Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run on Opening Day, marking the start of a historic streak. Mays will hit home runs in each of the Giants’ first four games.
1972 — For the first time in history, the major leagues failed to open on schedule because of a player strike, which started on April 1. The traditional season opener between Houston and Cincinnati was canceled and a total of 86 games were lost before the strike was settled.
1973 — Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first major league designated hitter. With the bases loaded in the first inning, he was walked by pitcher Luis Tiant, but the Red Sox won 15-5.
1973 — At the Oakland Coliseum, Tony Oliva became the first designated hitter to homer. The Twins DH hit a two-run shot in the first inning off of Catfish Hunter to Minnesota to an 8-3 win.
1974 — Due to renovations at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees’ home opener took place at Shea Stadium. It was their first home game outside Yankee Stadium since 1922.
1977 — The Seattle Mariners played their first regular-season game and lost 7-0 to the California Angels at the Kingdome.
1982 — A freak storm that brought subfreezing temperatures and dumped heavy snow from the Northeast to the Midwest forced the postponement of American League openers in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and Milwaukee, and National League openers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
1989 — The consecutive scoreless innings streak of Los Angeles Dodgers ace Orel Hershiser comes to an end at 59.
1992 — The Baltimore Orioles play the first game in Oriole Park at Camden Yards history.
1996 — Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers becomes the first pitcher born in South Korea to win a major league game.
2001 — On Opening Day at Veterans Stadium, Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning’s number 14 jersey is retired.
2002 — Highly-touted Japanese pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii makes his major league debut and pitches 5 1/3 scoreless innings‚ striking out 10‚ in Los Angeles’s 9 – 2 win over the Rockies.
2005 — Brad Wilkerson hit for the cycle to lead Washington over Philadelphia 7-3.
2009 — Tony Clark and Felipe Lopez each homered from both sides of the plate to lead Arizona to a 9-8 victory over Colorado.
2009 — Emilio Bonifacio hit the majors’ first inside-the-park homer on opening day since 1968, swiped three bases and had four hits in Florida’s 12-6 victory over Washington.
2009 — Alfonso Soriano hit his 50th career leadoff home run as Chicago beat Houston 4-2.
2012 — Adam Dunn tied a major league record with his eighth opening-day home run. He led off the sixth inning for the Chicago White Sox when he pulled a ball into the second deck of seats in right field off Texas starter Colby Lewis. Frank Robinson and Ken Griffey Jr. are the other major leaguers who have eight homers in openers.
2014 — Texas P Yu Darvish becomes the fastest starting pitcher to reach 500 strikeouts.
2016 — Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda homered in the second at-bat of his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers and beat the Padres 7-0, making San Diego the first team in major league history to be shut out in its first three games. The Padres were outscored 25-0 in the opening three games by their biggest rivals and set MLB marks for futility.
2016 — Rookie Trevor Story made baseball history by hitting a home run in each of his first three major league games and Colorado beat Arizona 4-3. Story also became the first player in baseball history to hit a home run for each of his first four hits. Story’s two-run homer off Patrick Corbin in the first inning gave him four for the season.
2021 — A few days after withdrawing the organization of the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta, Ga., Major League Baseball identifies Denver, CO’s Coors Field as the game’s new site.
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April 7
1925 — Babe Ruth collapsed in a railroad station in Asheville, N.C. He would be hospitalized in New York and operated on 10 days later for an ulcer.
1964 — Shea Stadium in New York opened for the first regular season game. The Mets lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3.
1969 — The Yankees spoiled the managerial debut of Ted Williams by defeating the Senators 8-4 in the opener at Washington’s RFK Stadium. President Nixon and a crowd of 45,000 attended.
1969 — Dodgers relief pitcher Bill Singer was credited with the first official save. Los Angeles beat Cincinnati, 3-2. The game started with Cincinnati’s Pete Rose hitting Don Drysdale’s first pitch for a home run. Drysdale threw his next pitch to Bobby Tolan and Tolan hit it for a home run. After the first two pitches, Drysdale settled down and threw a shutout.
1970 — Three weeks after moving from Seattle to Milwaukee, the former Pilots played their first game as the Brewers and lost 12-0 to the visiting California Angels.
1973 — Cleveland set an attendance record for day games and opening-day games by attracting 74,420 fans. The Indians beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-1.
1977 — The expansion Toronto Blue Jays began their major league odyssey with a 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium. Al Woods, pinch hitting for Steve Bowling in the fifth inning, became the 11th pinch hitter with a home run in his first at-bat.
1979 — Ken Forsch of the Houston Astros pitched a no-hitter against Atlanta to duplicate the no-hitter tossed by his brother Bob of the Cardinals against the Phillies on April 16, 1978. They are the first brothers to pitch no-hitters.
1984 — Detroit’s Jack Morris pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox despite giving up six walks. It was the first Tigers no-hitter since Jim Bunning’s in 1958.
1987 — Atlanta’s Rick Mahler pitched his third opening day shutout tying an NL record.
1988 — Cincinnati Reds rookie third baseman Chris Sabo ties a major league record with eleven assists in one game.
1998 — On the same day that Major League Baseball returned to Wisconsin 28 years earlier, National League baseball returns to Milwaukee for the first time in 32 years.
2000 — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays retire uniform number 12 in honor of Wade Boggs. Although the former Red Sox and Yankees third baseman only spent two seasons with Tampa Bay, he hit the franchise’s first home run and became the 23rd member of the 3,000-Hit Club as a member of the team.
2003 — Seven months before a November deadline, the Boston Red Sox exercise their 2004 contract option on Pedro Martinez, making him the highest-paid pitcher for a season in major league history.
2012 — J.D. Martinez homered and drove in three runs and Houston beat 49-year-old Jamie Moyer and Colorado 7-3. Moyer became the oldest player to appear in a game since 1980, when 54-year-old Minnie Minoso played in a game for the White Sox. Moyer became the second-oldest pitcher to start a major-league game and was the oldest starting pitcher ever on a team’s opening-day roster.
2013 — Will Middlebrooks hit three home runs and the Boston Red Sox roughed up Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, routing the Toronto Blue Jays 13-0.
2013 — Matt Cain became the first Giants pitcher to allow nine runs in an inning since 1902 when Matt Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals tagged him in a 14-3 romp over San Francisco.
2022 — Opening Day of the 2022 season is finally here, having been delayed by a week by the 2021-2022 lockout.
April 8
1934 — The Philadelphia Athletics and the Philadelphia Phillies played the first legal Sunday baseball game in Philadelphia. The exhibition game was made possible when the state made Sunday baseball a local option and the city approved it in a referendum ballot.
1963 — Pete Rose has first at-bat with the Cincinnati Reds.
1969 — Four expansion teams make their debuts. The Kansas City Royals, Seattle Pilots, Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres all win their inaugural games.
1974 — In the opener in Atlanta, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s career record by hitting his 715th home run off Los Angeles left-hander Al Downing in the fourth inning. The Braves beat the Dodgers 7-4 before a crowd of nearly 54,000.
1975 — Frank Robinson became the first black manager in major league history by making his debut as player-manager of the Cleveland Indians. He hit a home run in his first at-bat — as a designated hitter — to help beat the New York Yankees, 5-3.
1977 — The Seattle Mariners record their first win by defeating the California Angels, 7-6, at the Kingdome.
1986 — Jim Presley of the Seattle Mariners hit home runs in the ninth and 10th innings for a come-from-behind 8-4 opening day victory over the California Angels.
1986 — Facing Nolan Ryan of the Astros, Giants rookie Will Clark hits a home run in his first major league at-bat.
1987 — Pitchers Phil Niekro and Steve Carlton of the Cleveland Indians teamed up to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 14-3. Niekro recorded his 312th victory and Carlton pitched four shutout innings in relief. It was the first time in modern history that two 300-game winners pitched for the same team in the same game.
1989 — One-handed pitcher Jim Abbott makes his major league debut for the California Angels.
1991 — Major league umpires strike on Opening Day, and amateur umpires are used as replacements.
1993 — Carlos Baerga of the Cleveland Indians became the first player in major league history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning. The homers came in the seventh inning of a 15-5 rout of the New York Yankees.
1994 — Kurt Mercker of the Atlanta Braves pitched the season’s first no-hitter, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-0. It was the first complete game of Mercker’s career.
1995 — Free agents signed include outfielder Larry Walker and pitcher Bill Swift by the Rockies, and pitcher Orel Hershiser by the Indians.
2002 — Craig Biggio hit for the cycle and had four RBIs in Houston’s 8-4 win over Colorado.
2003 — At Yankee Stadium’s home opener, Hideki Matsui hits his first major league home run, a grand slam.
2008 — Chase Utley ties a major league record by being hit by pitch three times in a game.
2011 — Slugger Manny Ramirez, who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in the off-season, announces his retirement after a failure to conform with Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
2016 — Trevor Story became the first major leaguer to homer in each of his first four games, connecting two more times for the Colorado Rockies in a 13-6 loss to the San Diego Padres. Story, who has six home runs since making his debut on opening day, got three hits and drove in four runs while playing for the first time at Coors Field.
2018 — Shohei Ohtani retired the Oakland Athletics’ first 19 batters and yielded one hit over seven shutout innings in his home pitching debut, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-1 victory. Marcus Semien’s clean one-out single to left broke up Ohtani’s bid for a perfect game. Ohtani (2-0) struck out the side twice and finished with 12 strikeouts in all. He won his pitching debut in Oakland last weekend with six strong innings, then homered in three consecutive games in Anaheim between starts in his attempt to become the first regular two-way player in decades.
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April 9
1913 — Ebbets Field opened in Brooklyn and Philadelphia defeated the Dodgers 1-0 before a crowd of 10,000. The stadium, which cost $750,000 to build, was named after Charles Ebbets, the club’s principal owner.
1947 — Dodgers manager Leo Durocher was suspended for one year by commissioner Happy Chandler for “the accumulation of unpleasant incidents” detrimental to baseball.
1959 — The Baltimore Orioles, playing against the Washington Senators, became the first team in history to execute a triple play on opening day. The Senators won the game, 9-2.
1965 — The Houston Astrodome opened with an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and Astros. President Johnson attended and Gov. John Connally threw out the first ball. Mickey Mantle hit the first home run, but the Astros won 2-1 in 12 innings.
1969 — Billy Williams of Chicago hit four consecutive doubles to lead the Cubs to an 11-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
1974 — San Diego Padres owner Ray Kroc criticized his club over the public address system during the eighth inning of a 9-5 loss to the Houston Astros! “Ladies and gentlemen, I suffer with you,” Kroc told the crowd of 39,083 for the home opener. Kroc added, “I’ve never seen such stupid baseball playing in my life.”
1981 — Fernando Valenzuela made his first major league start a stunning success by pitching a 2-0, five-hit triumph over the Houston Astros in Los Angeles. He would go on to win his first eight games.
1985 — Chicago’s Tom Seaver made his 15th opening day start to break Christy Mathewson’s record. Seaver pitched 6 2-3 innings and was credited with the victory as the White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2.
1987 — Gary Carter drives in his 1,000th career run.
1989 — Rickey Henderson of the New York Yankees gets his his 800th career stolen base.
1993 — The Colorado Rockies beat the Montreal Expos 11-4 for their first win and set a National League record for attendance in their home debut. The crowd of 80,227 broke the record of 78,672 set on April 18, 1958, by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1994 — Recently-retired NBA legend Michael Jordan makes his professional baseball debut by going hitless for AA Birmingham.
2000 — In a 13-7 win over Kansas City, Minnesota’s Ron Coomer, Jacque Jones and Matt LeCroy hit consecutive home runs. The Royals’ Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye and Mike Sweeney repeated the feat, marking the first time in major league history that both teams hit three consecutive home runs in the same game.
2006 — Cory Sullivan tied a major league record by hitting two triples during a seven-run fifth inning, helping Colorado rout San Diego 10-4.
2012 — Prize Japanese signee Yu Darvish, making his major league debut for the Texas Rangers.
2021 — It took a record 8,206 games, but someone has finally pitched a no-hitter for the San Diego Padres: off-season acquisition Joe Musgrove defeats the Rangers, 3 – 0.
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April 10
1913 — President Wilson threw out the first ball as the Senators edged the New York Yankees 2-1 in Washington’s home opener. Walter Johnson allowed an unearned run in the first inning. He did not yield another run for 56 consecutive innings.
1947 — Jackie Robinson became the first black player of the 20th century to sign a major league contract. Robinson agreed a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1959 — Chicago’s Nellie Fox, who went 5-for-7, hit a 14th-inning opening day home run off Don Mossi to beat Detroit, 9-7. The White Sox second baseman did not homer in 623 at-bats the previous season.
1962 — The Houston Colt .45s, in the first major league game played in Texas, beat the Chicago Cubs 11-2 before 25,000. Roman Mejias led Houston’s offense with two three-run homers.
1969 — Tommy Agee of the New York Mets hit a home run into the upper deck in Shea Stadium’s left field. It was the longest home run to reach the seats in the history of the stadium.
1971 — The Phillies opened their new $49.5 million Veterans Stadium by beating Montreal 4-1. Philadelphia’s Don Money hit the first home run.
1973 — The first game at Royals Stadium is played. John Mayberry hit a home run in Kansas City’s 12-1 rout of Texas. A crowd of 39,476 attended the game at the state-of-the-art ballpark, which features water fountains beyond the outfield fence.
1976 — Don Money had a ninth-inning grand slam taken away. Money’s slam gave the Milwaukee Brewers an apparent 10-9 win over the New York Yankees. The umpires, however, rule that New York first baseman Chris Chambliss had called time out before the pitch. Money returned to the plate and flied out to right and the Brewers suffered a 9-7 loss.
1981 — In his first game for the Chicago White Sox, Carlton Fisk belts a three-run home run.
1982 — Under icy conditions, the Cleveland Indians opened the season at Municipal Stadium with an 8-3 loss to the Texas Rangers before 62,443 fans. Five hundred tons of snow had to be removed from the field; the game-time temperature was 38 degrees, with a wind chill of 17.
1989 — Toronto’s Dave Stieb threw a one-hitter for an 8-0 win against the New York Yankees. It was the third one-hitter in Stieb’s last four starts. Stieb, who closed last year with consecutive one-hitters, struck out five, walked four, and gave up a solid single to Jamie Quirk with one out in the fifth inning.
1989 — Ken Griffey, Jr. hits his first major league home run at the Kingdome in Seattle’s 6-5 win over the White Sox. Griffey’s father, Ken Sr., is an outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds, making the two the first father-son duo to play in the major leagues at the same time.
1990 — Boston’s Wade Boggs tied a major league record for a nine-inning game by drawing three intentional walks.
1994 — Former NBA star Michael Jordan singles twice, collecting his first hits in his professional baseball career while playing for the Birmingham Barons of the Class-AA Southern League.
2000 — Cincinnati’s Ken Griffey Jr. became the youngest player to hit 400 career home runs when he connected in the Reds’ 7-5 loss to Colorado. At 30 years, 141 days, Griffey beat the previous mark set by Jimmie Foxx, who was 30 years, 248 days old.
2006 — David Ortiz agrees to a four-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox.
2012 — The Miami Marlins announce that they are suspending manager Ozzie Guillen for five games for making remarks supportive of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
2013 — The Boston Red Sox’s record streak of sell-outs at Fenway Park ends after 820 games as the attendance for today’s game against the Orioles is 30,862
2015 — Mark Buehrle wins the 200th game of his career.
2016 — Rookie Trevor Story capped his amazing first week in the majors by hitting his seventh home run, helping the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 6-3. Story’s homer was one of five solo shots by the Rockies and has driven in 12 runs through six games.
2017 — Wil Myers hit a leadoff triple in the eighth inning to complete the first cycle of his career and send San Diego past Colorado 5-3.
2020 — With no baseball being played because of the coronavirus pandemic, MLB sets up a virtual league, with one player from each of the 30 teams playing a three-inning game on the video game platform MLB: The Show.
2024 — On National Siblings Day, brothers Josh and Bo Naylor both homer in the 4th inning of the Guardians’ game against the White Sox. It is only the tenth recorded instance of brothers homering in the same inning, the previous time having been accomplished by the same pair the previous July. The two long balls help to erase a five-run deficit, and in the 10th inning, Josh drives in the game-tying run with a double, before Bo hits a single with the bases loaded to end the game with a 7 – 6 win for Cleveland.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
April 6
1896 — The first modern Olympic Games begin in Athens, Greece. James B. Connelly wins the first event — the hop, step and jump.
1936 — Horton Smith edges Harry Cooper by one stroke to win the Masters.
1941 — Craig Wood beats Byron Nelson by three strokes to win the Masters.
1947 — Jimmy Demaret wins the Masters for the second time with two-stroke victory over Byron Nelson and Frank Stranahan.
1952 — Sam Snead wins his second Masters, beating Jack Burke Jr. by four shots.
1958 — 22nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Arnold Palmer wins the first of his 4 Masters titles.
1973 — Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees becomes the first major league designated hitter, in an opening-day game against Boston.
1973 — Roberto Clemente Day, Pittsburgh Pirates retire his #21.
1979 — Baltimore manager Earl Weaver wins his 1,000th game.
1980 — Gordie Howe completes a record 26th NHL season.
1982 — Largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Minnesota 52,279.
1987 — Sugar Ray Leonard returns to the ring after a three-year layoff to upset Marvelous Marvin Hagler in a 12-round split decision for the middleweight title, becoming boxing’s 10th triple champion.
1991 — Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona suspended for 15 months by Italian League for testing positive for cocaine use.
1992 — Duke becomes the first team in 19 years to repeat as NCAA champion with a 71-51 victory over Michigan’s Fab Five freshmen, the youngest team to vie for the title.
2004 — Led by Diana Taurasi, UConn beats Tennessee 70-61 for its third straight women’s title. This is the first time one school sweeps the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball crown in the same year.
2008 — Lorena Ochoa continues her dominance of women’s golf with a five-shot victory in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
2008 — Keith Tkachuk scores his 500th career goal and adds an assist to help the St. Louis Blues beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 in the season finale.
2009 — Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson help send North Carolina to a national championship, ending Michigan State’s inspirational run with a 89-72 rout. The Tar Heels take a 55-34 at halftime, breaking a 42-year-old title-game record for biggest lead at the break and setting the mark for most points at the half.
2010 — New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur gets his 600th career win with his second straight shutout in a 3-0 win over Atlanta. The shutout is Brodeur’s league-leading ninth of the season and the 110th of his career.
2010 — Maya Moore scores 23 points to help Connecticut rally from a horrible first half to beat Stanford 53-47 for its second straight undefeated championship season and its seventh national title. UConn (39-0) won its 78th straight, extending its women’s NCAA record for consecutive victories.
2013 — Rick Adelman becomes the eighth coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games when the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Detroit Pistons 107-101.
2015 — Duke’s star freshmen — Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, Jahlil Okafor — turn a nine-point deficit into an eight-point lead with 1:22 left to grit out a 68-63 victory over Wisconsin for the Blue Devils’ fifth national title.
2017 — Charley Hoffman finishes with the largest first-round lead at Augusta National in 62 years. Hoffman shoots a 7-under 65 in the wind for a four-shot edge over William McGirt. That’s the largest lead since the 1955 Masters, when Jack Burke Jr. opened with 67 and was four shots ahead of Julius Boros and Mike Souchak.
2019 — Tampa Bay Lightning beats Boston Bruins, 6-3 in the season finale for their 62nd regular season win, tying the NHL record held by Detroit Red Wings.
April 7
1940 — Jimmy Demaret wins the Masters by four strokes over Lloyd Mangrum. Mangrum opens with a 64, a course record by two strokes that stands for 46 years.
1946 — Herman Keiser edges Ben Hogan by one stroke to win the Masters.
1951 — Ben Hogan takes the Masters by two strokes over Robert Riegel.
1956 — Joe Graboski scores 29 points and Paul Arizin 26 as the Philadelphia Warriors beat the Fort Wayne Pistons 99-88 to win the NBA championship in five games.
1963 — Jack Nicklaus becomes the youngest Masters winner at 23, beating Tony Lema by a stroke.
1969 — Ted Williams begins managing the Washington Senators.
1985 — New Jersey’s Herschel Walker rushes for a USFL-record 233 yards in leading the Generals to a 31-25 victory over the Houston Gamblers. Walker breaks his own USFL record for the longest run from scrimmage by going 89 yards on his second carry.
1995 — Baseball exhibition season begins late due to strike.
1996 — Dave Andreychuk scores a goal for his 1,000th career point, and the New Jersey Devils top the New York Rangers 4-2.
1998 — Al MacInnis has a goal and an assist in St. Louis’ 5-3 loss at Detroit to become the sixth NHL defenseman to reach 1,000 points.
2000 — 1st regular season MLB game at Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park) in Houston.
2003 — Syracuse wins the NCAA title with an 81-78 victory over Kansas.
2007 — Michigan State beats Boston College 3-1 for its first NCAA hockey title in 21 years.
2008 — Mario Chalmers hits a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and Kansas goes on to defeat Memphis 75-68 for the NCAA title.
2009 — Tina Charles scores 25 points and grabs 19 rebounds and Connecticut routs Louisville 76-54 to capture its sixth women’s basketball title. UConn (39-0) wins every one of its 39 games by double digits, a first in college basketball.
2010 — Don Nelson sets the NBA career record for victories by a coach in the Golden State Warriors’ 116-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nelson’s 1,333 wins surpass Lenny Wilkens’ total.
2014 — Shabazz Napier scores 22 points and Connecticut wins its second NCAA men’s title in four years, beating the freshmen-led Kentucky 60-54 in the championship game.
2015 — UConn’s women down Notre Dame 63-53 for their 10th NCAA championship. Coach Geno Auriemma ties UCLA’s John Wooden for the most titles in college basketball.
2016 — Ernie Els, winner of four major titles, opens with a 10 on the par-4 first hole at the Masters. After his first two shots, Els seven-putts from 2 feet. His sextuple bogey is the worst score on the first hole at the Masters, beating the old mark by two strokes.
2016 — The Golden State Warriors become the second team to win 70 games in a season by beating the San Antonio Spurs 112-101.
2018 — Vegas Golden Knights end regular season with most victories of any expansion team.
2019 — 38th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Baylor beats Notre Dame, 82-81.
2019 — Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki play final NBA games.
2019 — Magic Johnson quits as President of Basketball Operations of the LA Lakers.
April 8
1935 — Gene Sarazen gets a double eagle on the 15th hole to erase Craig Wood’s three-stroke lead, then goes on to win the Masters.
1941 — In his 4th title defense in 9 weeks Joe Louis beats Tony Musto by TKO in the 9th round.
1943 — The Detroit Red Wings beat the Boston Bruins 2-0 to win the Stanley Cup with a four-game sweep.
1956 — Jack Burke, Jr. comes back from eight strokes behind to beat Ken Venturi by one and win the Masters.
1966 — American Football League votes in 36 year old Al Davis as commissioner after Joe Foss resigns. Appointment lasts 3 months when AFL merges with NFL.
1968 — Major League Baseball decides to postpone Opening Day because of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
1969 — MLB expansion teams Royals, Expos, Padres & Pilots win their 1st games
1971 — The first legal off-track betting (OTB) system in the United States opens in New York City.
1974 — In the home opener in Atlanta, Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s career record by hitting his 715th home run, connecting off Al Downing of Los Angeles in the fourth inning.
1975 — Frank Robinson, the first black manager in the majors, debuts as player-manager for the Cleveland Indians. Robinson hits a home run in his first at-bat — as a designated hitter — to help beat the New York Yankees 5-3.
1989 — Alex English scores 26 points to become the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in eight straight seasons, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 110-106.
1989 — 1-handed pitcher Jim Abbott makes MLB debut.
1990 — Nick Faldo becomes the second player to win consecutive Masters, beating Ray Floyd on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Faldo joins Jack Nicklaus as the only repeat winner.
1991 — Major league umpires & baseball reach a 4-year agreement after strike.
1995 — Oliver McCall beats Larry Holmes in 12 for heavyweight boxing title.
2001 — Tiger Woods claims the greatest feat in modern golf by winning the Masters, giving him a clean sweep of the four professional majors in a span of 294 days. Woods, with his winning score of 16-under 272, sweeps the majors with a combined score of 65-under.
2003 — 22nd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Tennessee, 73-68.
2007 — Zach Johnson hits three clutch birdies on the back nine of Augusta National, to close with a 69 for a two-shot victory over Tiger Woods at the Masters.
2008 — Candace Parker, playing with an injured left shoulder, scores 17 points and grabs nine rebounds to help Tennessee capture its eighth women’s NCAA championship with a 64-48 victory over Stanford.
2012 — 76th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Bubba Watson wins on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
2013 — Luke Hancock makes all five of his 3-pointers and leads Louisville to its first NCAA men’s basketball championship since 1986 with a 82-76 victory over Michigan. Coach Rick Pitino adds this title to the one he won at Kentucky in 1996 and became the first coach to win a championship at two schools.
2014 — 33rd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Notre Dame, 79-58.
2017 — Damian Lillard scores a franchise-record 59 points and matches his career high with nine 3-pointers to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 101-86.
2018 — 82nd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Patrick Reed wins his first major title.
2019 — 81st NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Virginia beats Texas Tech, 85-77 OT.
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April 9
1912 — 1st exhibition baseball game at Fenway Park.
1946 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 6-3 to win the Stanley Cup in five games.
1947 — Leo Durocher, manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is suspended for one year by Commissioner A.B. “Happy” Chandler for “conduct detrimental to baseball.” Durocher is linked to gambling interests.
1950 — Jimmy Demaret wins his third Masters, by two strokes over Jim Ferrier.
1959 — 13th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics sweep Minnesota Lakers in 4 games.
1960 — The Boston Celtics beat the St. Louis Hawks 122-103 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals for their third NBA title in the last four years. Frank Ramsey leads the Celtics with 24 points and Bill Russell scores 22 points and grabs 35 rebounds.
1962 — Arnold Palmer wins a three-way playoff, beating Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald in the Masters.
1966 — Anaheim Stadium for California Angels opens.
1972 — 36th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Nicklaus leads wire-to-wire to win the 4th of his 6 Masters titles.
1978 — Gary Player shoots a final-round 64 to win his third Masters, edging Hubert Green, Rod Funseth and defending champion Tom Watson by a shot.
1978 — Denver’s David Thompson, battling San Antonio’s George Gervin for the NBA season scoring title, scores 73 points against the Detroit Pistons. It’s the third-highest output ever in an NBA game. Gervin, not to be outdone, later scores 63 against the New Orleans Jazz. It’s just enough to give Gervin the scoring crown, 27.22 points per game to Thompson’s 27.15, the tightest one-two finish ever.
1981 — LA Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela’s 1st start.
1987 — For 3rd time, Wayne Gretzky, scores 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists) in a Stanley Cup game and passes Jean Béliveau as all time playoff scoring champ.
1989 — Britain’s Nick Faldo makes a 25-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Masters. Runner-up Scott Hoch missed a 2-foot putt for par on the first hole of the playoff that would have given him the title.
1995 — 59th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Crenshaw wins his 2nd Masters title.
1997 — Major League Soccer announces Miami & Chicago as expansion teams.
2000 — Fiji native Vijay Singh meets every challenge to win the Masters, closing with a 3-under 69 for a three-stroke victory over Ernie Els.2001 — Australia sets a record for the most one-sided international win in FIFA history, beating Tonga 22-0 in an Oceania Group One qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup.
2005 — The United States beats Canada 3-1 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless regulation and 20-minute overtime to win the Women’s World Hockey Championship. The win ends the defending champions’ run of eight straight titles.
2006 — 70th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Phil Mickelson wins his 2nd green jacket.
2013 — 32nd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Louisville, 93-60.
2016 — Manny Pacquiao returns from the biggest loss of his career with a bang, knocking down Timothy Bradley twice on his way to a unanimous 12-round decision in their welterweight showdown in Las Vegas.
2017 — Sergio Garcia overcomes a two-shot deficit with six holes to play and beats Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff at the Masters for his first major after nearly two decades of heartache. No one ever played more majors as a pro — 70 — before winning a major for the first time.
2017 — Russell Westbrook breaks Oscar Robertson’s 56-year-old record with his 42nd triple-double of the season, then he breaks the Denver Nuggets’ hearts with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a 106-105 victory. Westbrook has 50 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in breaking Robertson’s record of 41 triple-doubles that stood since the 1961-62 season. With his triple-double in the books, Westbrook scores his team’s final 15 points, including a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounds after a timeout with 2.9 seconds left.
2021 — San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove no-hits the Texas Rangers.
_____
April 10
1934 — The Chicago Black Hawks edge the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 in overtime to win the Stanley Cup in 4 of the best-of-5 series. Charlie Gardiner gets the shutout and Mush March scores the winning goal at 30:05 of overtime. It’s the final NHL game for Gardiner, who dies of a brain hemorrhage two months later.
1947 — Jackie Robinson becomes first black player of the 20th century to sign an MLB contract.
1949 — Sam Snead wins the Masters, beating Lloyd Mangrum and Johnny Bulla by three strokes.
1953 — NBA Championship Finals, Minneapolis Auditorium, Minnesota, MN: Minneapolis Lakers beat NY Knicks, 91-84 for a 4-1 series victory; Lakers’ 5th title in 6 years.
1955 — Cary Middlecoff beats Ben Hogan by seven strokes to win the Masters.
1955 — 9th NBA Championship: Syracuse Nats beat Fort Wayne Pistons, 4 games to 3.
1956 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 to win the Stanley Cup in five games.
1960 — 24th U.S. Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: 1958 champion Arnold Palmer birdies the final 2 holes to win by 1 stroke over runner-up Ken Venturi.
1961 — South Africa’s Gary Player becomes the first foreign player to win the Masters, edging Arnold Palmer and Charley Coe by one stroke.
1977 — Tom Watson pulls away in the final four holes to beat Jack Nicklaus by two strokes in the Masters.
1983 — Baltimore’s Eddie Murray hits his 1,000 career hit.
1988 — Scotland’s Sandy Lyle sinks a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a one-shot victory in the Masters, becoming the first British player to win the tournament.
1990 — Dave Taylor, Tomas Sandstrom and Tony Granato score three goals apiece as the Los Angeles Kings pound the Calgary Flames 12-4, marking the first time in NHL playoff history that three hat tricks are recorded in one game.
1991 — LA King Wayne Gretzky scores NHL record 93rd playoff goal.
1993 — Manon Rheaume, pro hockey’s only female goaltender, allows six goals in her first International Hockey League start for the Atlanta Knights, an 8-6 loss to Cincinnati.
1994 — Jose Maria Olazabal wins the Masters by two strokes over Tom Lehman. It’s the sixth time in seven years a non-American has prevailed.
1996 — Norm Duke sets a Professional Bowlers Association record with three consecutive 300s. Duke, who finished the first round with consecutive 300s, opens the second round with his third perfect game of the day.
2005 — Tiger Woods wins the Masters with a spectacular finish of birdies and bogeys. Woods turns back a surprising challenge Chris DiMarco with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to capture his fourth green jacket.
2010 — The Boston Bruins clinch a playoff berth after scoring three short-handed goals in 64 seconds on the same penalty during a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s the first time in NHL history that a team accomplishes the feat as Daniel Paille, Blake Wheeler and Steve Begin score the goals in the second period to make it 3-0.
2011 — 75th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Charl Schwartzel of South Africa birdies the final 4 holes to win his first major title, 2 strokes ahead of Australian pair Adam Scott and Jason Day.
2016 — Danny Willett wins the Masters after a stunning collapse by Jordan Spieth. Willett shoots a closing 67 for a 5-under 283 is assured his first major title when Spieth bogies the 17th hole. Spieth, nine holes away from another wire-to-wire victory, throws it away with a collapse around Amen Corner that is shocking even by Augusta National standards. Spieth was five shots ahead on the 10th tee and three shots behind when he walked to the 13th tee.
2016 — Chicago’s Patrick Kane wins the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer. He is the first American-born player in NHL history to capture the Ross since it has been awarded, dating back to 1947-48. Kane wins the scoring title with 106 points, which includes 46 goals and 60 assists, both of which were career highs.
2022 — 86th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: World #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler wins first career major title; beats Irishman Rory McIlroy by 3 strokes.
TV SPORTS SUNDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| NY Yankees at Pittsburgh | 1:35pm | YES ATTSN-PIT |
| Arizona at Washington | 1:35pm | DBacks.TV MASN2 |
| LA Dodgers at Philadelphia | 1:35pm | SNLA NBCS-PHI |
| Miami at Atlanta | 1:35pm | FanDuel Sports FL FanDuel Sports South |
| Chi. White Sox at Detriot | 1:40pm | CHSN FanDuel Sports DET |
| Toronto at NY Mets | 1:40pm | Sportsnet SNY |
| Cincinnati at Milwaukee | 2:10pm | FanDuel Sports Ohio FanDuel Sports WI |
| Baltimore at Kansas City | 2:10pm | MASN FanDuel Sports KC |
| San Diego at Chi.Cubs | 2:20pm | Padres.TV MARQ |
| Tampa Bay at Texas | 2:35pm | RSN FanDuel Sports FL |
| Athletics at Colorado | 3:10pm | NBCS-CA Rockies.TV |
| Seattle at San Francicso | 4:05pm | ROOT NBCS-BAY |
| Cleveland at LA Angels | 4:07pm | CleGuardians.TV FanDuel Sports West |
| St. Louis at Boston | 7:10pm | ESPN |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets | 1:00pm | NBATV CHSN FanDuel Sports CHA |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder | 3:30pm | NBATV FanDuel Sports OKC Spectrum |
| Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets | 3:30pm | Sportsnet YES |
| Sacramento Kings vs Cleveland Cavaliers | 6:00pm | NBATV FanDuel Sports Ohio NBCS-CA |
| Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks | 6:00pm | FanDuel Sports ATL KJZZ |
| San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers | 6:00pm | FanDuel Sports SW Rip City |
| Washington Wizards vs Boston Celtics | 6:00pm | MNMT NBCS-BOS |
| Phoenix Suns vs New York Knicks | 7:00pm | AFSN MSG |
| Indiana Pacers vs Denver Nuggets | 8:00pm | AFSN ALT |
| Milwaukee Bucks vs New Orleans Pelicans | 8:30pm | FanDuel Sports WI GCSN |
| Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors | 8:30pm | NBATV SCHN NBCS-BAY |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders | 12:30pm | TNT MAX |
| Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild | 3:00pm | TNT MAX |
| Columbus Blue Jackets vs Ottawa Senators | 5:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports Ohio Sportsnet |
| Florida Panthers vs Detroit Red Wings | 5:30pm | TNT MAX |
| Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres | 6:00pm | ESPN+ NESN MSG-BUF |
| Pittsburgh Penguins vs Chicago Blackhawks | 6:00pm | ESPN+ ATTSN-PIT CHSN |
| Montreal Canadiens vs Nashville Predators | 7:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports South Sportsnet |
| Vegas Golden Knights vs Calgary Flames | 10:00pm | ESPN |
| NCAA BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Vanderbilt at Florida | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Texas A&M at Tennessee | 2:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Virginia at N.C. State | 2:00pm | ACCN |
| Arizona at Arizona St. | 8:00pm | ESPN2 |
| NCAA SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Auburn at Kentucky | 12:00pm | ESPNU |
| Texas at Missouri | 1:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Syracuse at Georgia Tech | 1:00pm | ACCN |
| Mississippi at South Carolina | 3:00pm | SECN |
| Alabama at LSU | 5:00pm | ESPNU |
| Texas A&M at Georgia | 5:00pm | SECN |
| North Carolina at Duke | 6:00pm | ESPN2 |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Formula One: Japanese Grand Prix | 1:00am | ESPN |
| NASCAR Cup: Goodyear 400 | 3:00pm | FS1 |
| UFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Houston at Arlington | 12:00pm | ESPN |
| San Antonio at St. Louis | 6:30pm | FS1 |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Tour: Texas Open | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| LIV | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Texas Open | 2:30pm | NBC |
| LPGA Tour: T-Mobile Match Play | 6:30pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Serie A: Lecce vs Venezia | 6:30am | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Las Palmas vs Real Sociedad | 8:00am | ESPN+ |
| EPL: Brentford vs Chelsea | 9:00am | USA Peacock |
| EPL: Fulham vs Liverpool | 9:00am | Peacock |
| EPL: Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton | 9:00am | Peacock |
| Serie A: Empoli vs Cagliari | 9:00am | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Torino vs Hellas Verona | 9:00am | Paramount+ |
| Ligue 1: Lens vs Saint-Étienne | 9:00am | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| Bundesliga: St. Pauli vs Borussia M’gladbach | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Sevilla vs Atlético Madrid | 10:15am | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Reims vs Strasbourg | 11:15am | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| Ligue 1: Montpellier vs Le Havre | 11:15am | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| Ligue 1: Rennes vs Auxerre | 11:15am | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| EPL: Manchester United vs Manchester City | 11:30am | NBC Peacock |
| Bundesliga: Union Berlin vs Wolfsburg | 11:30am | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Atalanta vs Lazio | 12:00pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Real Valladolid vs Getafe | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Valencia vs Mallorca | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Roma vs Juventus | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Ligue 1: Olympique Marseille vs Toulouse | 2:45pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| La Liga: Villarreal vs Athletic Club | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| MLS: New York City vs Minnesota United | 3:00pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: SJ Earthquakes vs DC United | 5:00pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Inter Miami vs Toronto FC | 7:00pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Toluca vs Santos Laguna | 8:00pm | VIX |