“THE SCOREBOARD”
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED BASEBALL SCORES
UNIVERSITY 10 CEC 7
ZIONSVILLE 6 AVON 5
CENTER GROVE 5 ZIONSVILLE 2
HOMESTEAD 4 CENTER GROVE 3
AVON 4 HOMESTEAD 3
SOUTHPORT 12 BEECH GROVE 1
NEW PALESTINE 6 PERRY MERIDIAN 4
CATHEDRAL 5 BISHOP CHATARD 1
YORKTOWN 4 DELTA 3
WESTFIELD 6 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 3
GUERIN CATHOLIC 8 WARREN CENTRAL 2
SETON CATHOLIC 17 PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 0
CARMEL 13 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 3
COLUMBUS EAST 12 DECATUR CENTRAL 2
NOBLESVILLE 16 HARDIN VALLEY 9
FISHERS 4 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 3
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED SOFTBALL SCORES
NEW PALESTINE 10 TRITON CENTRAL 0
NOBLESVILLE 4 WESTERN BOONE 3
BROWNSBURG 16 INDIAN CREEK 3
PLAINFIELD 8 CASCADE 0
CENTRAL INDIANA BOYS VOLLEYBALL SCORES
MONROVIA 3 PLAINFIELD 0
CENTER GROVE 3 WARREN CENTRAL 0
LUTHERAN 3 CHRISTEL HOUSE 0
MOORESVILLE 3 WHITELAND 2
WESTFIELD 3 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 0
HAMILTON SE 3 BROWNSBURG 0
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TV SCHEDULE/RESULTS
FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, APRIL 5 (FINAL FOUR IN SAN ANTONIO)
(1) FLORIDA VS. (1) AUBURN, 6:09 P.M | CBS
(1) DUKE VS. (1) HOUSTON, 8:49 P.M. | CBS
MONDAY, APRIL 7 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN SAN ANTONIO)
8:50 P.M. ON CBS
NIT SCORES
CHATTANOOGA 85 UC IRVINE 84 OT
WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT TV SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, APRIL 4 (FINAL FOUR IN TAMPA, FLA.)
(1) SOUTH CAROLINA VS. (1) TEXAS, 7 P.M. ON ESPN
(1) UCLA VS. (2) UCONN, 9:30 P.M. ON ESPN
SUNDAY, APRIL 6 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN TAMPA, FLA.)
3 P.M. ON ABC
WNIT
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYOFFS
NO GAME SCHEDULED
INDIANA COLLEGE MEN’S LAX
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA COLLEGE WOMEN’S LAX
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
NBA SCOREBOARD
ORLANDO 109 WASHINGTON 97
MILWAUKEE 126 PHILADELPHIA 113
MINNESOTA 105 BROOKLYN 90
MEMPHIS 110 MIAMI 108
PORTLAND 112 TORONTO 103
GOLDEN STATE 123 LA LAKERS 116
NHL SCOREBOARD
MONTRÉAL 4 BOSTON 1
OTTAWA 2 TAMPA BAY 1
COLORADO 7 COLUMBUS 3
DALLAS 5 NASHVILLE 1
ST. LOUIS 5 PITTSBURGH 4 OT
LOS ANGELES 4 UTAH 2
CALGARY 4 ANAHEIM 1
WINNIPEG 4 VEGAS 0
EDMONTON 3 SAN JOSE 2
MLB SCOREBOARD
PHILADELPHIA 3 COLORADO 1
BOSTON 8 BALTIMORE 4
NY YANKEES 9 ARIZONA 7
HOUSTON 5 MINNESOTA 2
MILWAUKEE 1 CINCINNATI 0
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
IOWA 6 INDIANAPOLIS 1
INDIANAPOLIS 7 IOWA 6
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
UFL SCOREBOARD
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
FLAGG AND FRIENDS: FINAL FOUR LOADED WITH NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS
A quartet of No. 1 seeds converge on San Antonio this weekend as a Cinderella-free March bracket funnels into a star-studded Final Four.
NBA Draft destinies can be forged in the fire of the Big Dance just as pro teams post their final records.
With Big Boards as volatile as the stock market, Duke, Houston, Auburn and Florida all feature up-and-comers eager to stake their claim for NBA legitimacy in pursuit of tournament glory.
Kemba Walker (UConn) turned the 2011 NCAA Tournament into his personal “One Shining Moment” highlight reel and emerged as a champion and top 10 draft pick (ninth overall, Charlotte).
Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova) leapfrogged much of the field in 2018, eliciting first-round interest off the back of his 31-point offensive onslaught in the National Championship game. He went 17th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks.
And while there are suitors aligned to capture the rights to the No. 1 overall pick — essentially a ticket to Cooper Flagg — the 2025 Final Four could serve as a stage for several prospects who are a standout performance away from rising up the ranks and elevating their standing in the collective NBA consciousness.
Cooper Flagg (6-9, Forward, Freshman, Duke)
The surefire top pick that has NBA bottom-dwellers salivating, Flagg’s March showing has been nothing but reassuring. A rangy combo forward with sharp playmaking instincts as well as a multi-positional ball hawk defensively, “capture the Flagg” is in full swing as front offices continue to pray to the lottery Gods.
Khaman Maluach (7-2, Center, Freshman, Duke)
A 17-year old Olympian with South Sudan in 2024, Maluach is a physically imposing rim presence reminiscent of his Blue Devil predecessor Mark Williams. The value proposition is clear as day — a vertical spacer out of screen and rolls and a backline eraser defensively. Maluach appears a shoo-in for the top 10, but a rim protection clinic in the Final Four could see him flirting with the top 5.
Kon Knueppel (6-7, Guard, Freshman, Duke)
Look no further than Knueppel’s 3-point percentage (41) and 91.2 percent free-throw percentage as the baseline for what teams will love about him in the NBA. Knueppel is a tailor-made off-guard who flourishes stationary as a catch-and-shoot option and can also thrive as a movement shooter off of flare screens and other secondary actions. Knueppel is a capable straight-line driver where the circumstances demand and can seamlessly coexist with high touch time creators while opening up the middle of the floor. He competes defensively despite exhibiting subpar footspeed for his position. With shooting at a premium, Knueppel has mid-lottery written all over him.
Walter Clayton Jr. (6-2, Guard, Senior, Florida)
Perhaps the biggest riser of the 2025 NCAA Tournament thus far, Clayton Jr. has vaulted himself into a new realm of conversation.
His shiftiness off the bounce and shot-making capacity at all three levels has certainly turned heads and drawn Devin Booker comps.
His 30-point eruption to put away Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, punctuated by an off-balance 3-point dagger with a minute remaining, served as the perfect exclamation point and upramped attention on his pro prospects.
Clayton Jr.’s draft profile depends on the eye of the beholder. At 22 years old, his age could be viewed as a demerit or an advantage. Plenty of organizations will covet a more seasoned rookie with more to offer in the immediate term. Walter should receive first-round consideration after entering March a late second-round afterthought.
Johni Broome (6-10, Forward, Senior, Auburn)
A fifth year college player, Broome is riding momentum after a combined 47 points and 30 rebounds in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. While his availability for the Final Four is impacted by a shoulder injury, he currently projects around the fringes of the late first or early second round. Broome turns 23 in July. Accordingly, he will be critiqued for being closer to a finished product than a fledgling star. Despite an iffy 3-point stroke, Broome has flaunted his craft and footwork down-low as a potential off-the-bench 4 or 5 who can knock down an open shot or work with his back to the basket. His defensive execution and tools measure up, but finding a spot in the first round might be a stretch.
Honorable Mentions: Alex Condon (Florida), Milos Uzan (Houston), Tyrese Proctor (Duke), Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn)
COACHES PUT FRIENDSHIP ASIDE AS AUBURN, FLORIDA MEET IN FINAL FOUR
When Bruce Pearl was hired in 2014 to rebuild Auburn’s program, he lured Todd Golden away from Columbia to serve as his director of basketball operations.
After Golden spent his first year focused on Auburn’s advanced analytics and metrics and a lot of other duties, Pearl promoted him to assistant coach. Though the Tigers suffered through two losing seasons when they worked together, it was enough to put Golden on the fast track.
He was hired as San Francisco’s associate head coach in 2016, promoted to head coach in 2019 and jumped to Florida in 2022. Though Pearl and Golden haven’t worked together in nine years, they’re as close as ever — and they’re each one win away from their first NCAA championship game appearance.
Alas, when Florida (34-4) takes on Auburn (32-5) in Saturday’s first Final Four semifinal in San Antonio, Texas, only the pupil or the mentor will advance to Monday night against either Duke or Houston. While the Tigers earned the No. 1 overall seed from the NCAA Tournament committee, the Gators are regarded as a slight favorite by the oddsmakers.
“It is (awkward) because the relationship is that close,” Pearl said on “The Paul Finebaum Show.” “But if we have to play each other, let’s do it for a championship, you know? I’m so proud of Todd and so happy for him.”
“Bruce and I texted a little bit on Saturday night, Sunday morning,” Golden said. “And then I FaceTimed with Steven (Bruce’s son and an Auburn assistant) Sunday night after they won. We were just kind of giggling, man. It’s pretty incredible, you know?
“Come a long way from the 2014-15 season at Auburn, where we were playing in the only game on the men’s side on the first day of the SEC tournament. It was us against Mississippi State at the bottom of the league. Fast-forward 10, 11 years and now both of us have our teams in the Final Four.”
Then Golden smiled.
“We don’t necessarily enjoy playing each other. It’s not something that excites us. But at the same time, when you’re doing it in the Final Four, it’s a little different.”
When Golden joined the SEC in 2022, he quickly was reminded what a force Pearl and the Tigers are. Both went all-out to reel in a big transfer from Morehead State named Johni Broome.
Broome, of course, selected Auburn and has developed into a first-team All-American and National Player of the Year candidate. Though he’ll be at less than 100 percent Saturday due to an elbow injury suffered in Sunday’s regional final win over Michigan State, Broome enters the Final Four averaging 18.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
“At the time, I probably had just a misunderstanding of kind of what I thought of myself as a head coach,” Golden said. “Comparing Bruce to myself, you know, Bruce was a lot more accomplished at the time.”
But don’t weep too much for Golden. He still managed to reel in a nice recruiting class that included Belmont transfer Will Richard, a three-year Florida starter who averages 13.3 points per game. The following offseason, Golden attracted Iona transfer guard Walter Clayton Jr. (team-high 18.1 ppg), who merely has developed into a first-team all-American, too.
Auburn didn’t need to watch film of Florida’s 84-79 win over Texas Tech in the West Regional final to learn what type of havoc Clayton and the Gators can wreak. The Tigers lived that movie on Feb. 8 when then-No. 6 Florida visited then-No. 1 Auburn for the schools’ only regular-season meeting.
Similar to the way Clayton poured in 13 points in the final 5:24 to turn a 10-point deficit against Texas Tech into Florida’s first Final Four appearance since 2014, Clayton went berserk for 13 points in 3:40 midway through their Feb. 8 clash, which Florida won 90-81.
The Tigers looked almost unbeatable at that juncture of the season. They were 21-1, had won 14 straight by an average of 19.4 per game and owned No. 1 in the national polls for the last month.
Once Feb. 8 was in the books, Pearl believed more in Florida.
“Paul, I’ve been saying for the last two months that I’ve thought that Florida was the best team in the country,” Pearl told Finebaum.
Golden demurs — to a point.
“Both teams have probably changed quite a bit since Feb. 8,” he said. “But I do think our first game gives us some confidence going into Saturday’s tilt that, you know, we’ve played well against this team before. We understand they’re going to have some tricks up their sleeve and some things they want to do differently this time around, and we’re going to have to adjust as well.”
FLORIDA VS. AUBURN GAME NOTES
GATORS NOTES:
THE TIP-OFF • Florida plays in its sixth Final Four and its first since 2014, earning the trip in UF’s third season under Todd Golden, who becomes the third coach to lead the Gators to the Final Four. • The Gators and Tigers square off for a second time this season, as Florida defeated #1 Auburn on the road on Feb. 8, 90-81. Walter Clayton Jr. played all 40 minutes and led five Gators in double figures with 19 points. • Florida advanced to the Final Four with a breathtaking rally vs. #9 Texas Tech, coming back from nine points down with an 18-4 run over the final three minutes. Thomas Haugh hit a pair of 3-pointers to cut Florida’s deficit to three before Walter Clayton Jr. hit a pair on 3s to tie and take the lead. The Gators’ trio of seniors each took a 2-for-2 trip to the line over the final minute to seal the victory. • First-team All-American and West Regional Most Outstanding Player Walter Clayton Jr.’s 1,301 points over his two seasons at UF trail only the legendary Neal Walk’s scoring output over a two-season span (1,312; 1967-69). His 204 3-pointers trail only Lee Humphrey (226, 2005-07) for most by a Gator over two seasons. Clayton has made a 3-pointer in a Florida-record 60 consecutive appearances. 2024-25 HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE • Florida imposed its will on the glass in the Sweet 16 vs. #11 Maryland, posting a 42-20 rebounding advantage as 15 offensive boards led to a 21-9 edge in second-chance points. UF also enjoyed a 29-3 bench scoring advantage with both Thomas Haugh and Denzel Aberdeen going for double fi gures. • UF’s second-round win vs. UConn was powered by its senior backcourt trio. Walter Clayton Jr. scored 13 of his 23 in the final eight minutes, while Will Richard scored 13 of his 15 in the second half. Alijah Martin powered the Gators in the first half, when he scored 14 of his 18 points. • Florida raced to a 51-19 lead vs. Norfolk State and cruised to a 26-point win, paced by Walter Clayton Jr.’s 23 points. The Gators made 27 of their 33 free throw attempts, and 21 offensive rebounds led to 24 points. • The Gators captured the 2025 SEC Tournament championship, the team’s fifth and its first since 2014. Walter Clayton Jr. averaged 20.7 points and 4.7 assists and hit 13 of 26 3-point attempts to take home MVP honors. Will Richard earned All-Tournament Team honors with 16.7 points per game. • Florida set an SEC Tournament record with 104 points in the semifinal win vs. #5 Alabama. Six Gators scored in double figures, led by Clayton’s 22 with six 3-pointers. • UF earned a 99-94 road win at #7 Alabama, marking the first time in program history the Gators posted two top-10 road wins in a single season. Todd Golden’s three such wins are the most all-time by any UF coach. Alex Condon had a career night in the win at Alabama with 27 points, 10 rebounds. . • Florida earned its first all-time road win at a #1 team at Auburn, as Walter Clayton Jr.’s 19 points led five Gators in double figures. Alex Condon had 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Thomas Haugh scored 16 off the bench. The Gators became the fifth team all-time to post wins vs. two different #1 teams in a season. • Florida earned its third all-time win vs. #1 and first in a regular season game with a 73-43 rout of top-ranked Tennessee. The Gators allowed just 12 fi eld goals, the fewest by a #1 team in the shot clock era. Alijah Martin led Florida with 18 points, Denzel Aberdeen added 16, and Alex Condon posted a double-double (12/12).
FLORIDA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT • All-Time Record: 49-20 • Final Four Appearances: 6 (1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2025) • National Championship Appearances: 3 (2000, 2006, 2007) • National Championships: 2 (2006, 2007) • Florida makes its second NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Todd Golden, holding a 1-seed for the third time in program history (2007, 2014). • On the four previous occasions that Florida entered the NCAA Tournament off an SEC Tournament title, the Gators twice won the national championship (2006, 2007), once advanced to the national semifinals (2014) and once lost in the second round (2005). • Florida and Auburn meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Gators have faced another SEC team in the NCAA Tournament just once previously, coming up short vs. South Carolina in the 2017 Elite Eight at Madison Square Garden. • This will be the fifth NCAA Tournament the Gators have traveled to Texas. UF played in Dallas for opening-weekend action in 1989 and 2018. Florida’s 2013 Elite Eight run was fully in Texas, opening in Austin before moving to Arlington for the South Regional. UF’s most recent Final Four appearance in 2014 was also at Arlington.
TOP-10 SHOWDOWNS • Prior to this season, the Gators had played 22 all-time games between top-10 opponents, going 6-16. Saturday will be the Gators’ ninth such matchup this season, fourth of the postseason. • Florida’s six wins in top-10 matchups this season match the six in previous program history, going 6-2 in such games in 2024-25. • The Gators have played consecutive top-10 matchups on four occasions, three of which have occurred this season: three straight in the 2007 Elite Eight, Final Four and national championship games; two in a row to open 2025 SEC play; the 2025 SEC Tournament semifinals and championship game; and the 2025 Elite Eight and Final Four.
COMPLETE GAME NOTES: https://floridagators.com/documents/2025/4/1/2025.04.05_vsAuburn_NCAATournament.pdf
AUBURN NOTES:
» No. 1 overall seed, South Regional and SEC regular-season champion Auburn (32-5) meets West Regional and SEC Tournament champion Florida (34-4) in the first-ever Final Four matchup between two SEC teams in the national semifinal game of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship held on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. » The winner will face either East Regional champion Duke (35-3) or Midwest Regional champion Houston (34- 4) in the national championship game on Monday night at 7:50 p.m. (CT) on CBS. » Auburn is making its second Final Four appearance in program history and first trip since the team’s magical run in 2019. The Tigers join Arkansas, Florida and Kentucky as the only SEC schools to make multiple Final Fours in conference history. » This season marks the fifth time two SEC teams have advanced to the Final Four and the first since 2014 when Florida played eventual national champion UConn and Kentucky beat Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. » The Tigers enter the Final Four with a program-record 32 victories on the season, which is tied for the 13thmost victories in a single season in SEC history. The only other SEC programs that have won at least 32 games in a season are Arkansas, Florida and Kentucky. » AU is making its 14th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth under head coach Bruce Pearl (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025). It is 23-13 all-time (.639) in NCAA Tournament play. » Saturday’s Final Four matchup against Florida is the second time Auburn has played an SEC opponent in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers defeated Kentucky 77-71 in overtime in the 2019 Elite Eight to advance to the program’s only previous Final Four. » Auburn won the NCAA South Regional with a 70-64 victory over No. 2 seed Michigan State in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four for the second time in program history. » Auburn was a coveted No. 1 seed once before in 1999 (defeated No. 16 Winthrop and No. 9 Oklahoma State; lost to No. 4 Ohio State in the Sweet 16) and is the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in program history. The Tigers join Florida, Kentucky and LSU as the only schools that have earned multiple No. 1 seeds as a member of the SEC since 1979 when the selection committee started seeding every team. » Head Coach Bruce Pearl was named SEC Coach of the Year after leading Auburn to the SEC regular season title in a historic year for the league. It was the Tigers’ fifth SEC Championship (3 regular season and 2 tournament) in the last eight seasons. Pearl set a program record with his eighth NCAA Tournament win against Alabama State. » Auburn was ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 Poll for eight-straight weeks from Jan. 13 to March 3 and are one of only two SEC teams to ever be ranked No. 1 for at least six-straight weeks in the AP Poll, joining Kentucky. Auburn is currently ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll.
AUBURN’S BODY OF WORK » The Tigers secured the No. 1 overall tournament seed by compiling a 28-5 record, winning the SEC regular season by traversing a historic-gauntlet of league games with a 15-3 mark and playing the nation’s toughest schedule, according to Team Rankings, ahead of Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee and Houston in the Top 5. They also played the toughest non-conference slate in program history against the likes of NCAA teams in Duke, Houston, Iowa State, Memphis, North Carolina and Purdue (5-1). » Auburn’s body work included 24 games against 19 opponents in this year’s tournament field (19-5) as part of a NCAA-and SEC-record 14 teams to earn a bid into the 2025 edition of March Madness. The Tigers also went 16-5 against Quad 1 opponents prior to the NCAA Tournament and hoisted the 2024 Maui Invitational trophy in a loaded tournament field. They were also ranked No. 1 for eight-straight weeks in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and went 8-2 in road games (8-1 in league play). » All of the Tigers’ five losses this season were to teams in the NCAA Tournament, including four Sweet 16 participants, and four of those ranked higher than No. 10 in the country at the time of the meeting. PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST » Auburn is just the second-ever NCAA Final Four team to play all three teams left (Houston, Duke and Florida) in the field during the regular season next to Florida in 2013-14, according to NCAA Stats research. » The Tigers played the Cougars on a neutral-site in November, Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge in December and Florida at home in SEC play. » During that campaign, Florida lost at Wisconsin (59-53) in November, lost at UConn (65-64) in December, beat Kentucky twice at Rupp Arena (69-59) and at home (84-65), before falling to UConn in the national semifinals (63-53). A LOOK INSIDE THE SERIES » Auburn leads 92-84 in the all-time series with Florida. However, the Gators won the only regular-season meeting between the two schools, 90-81, at Neville Arena on Feb. 8. » The Tigers and Gators have split the last six meetings in the series. Auburn is looking to beat Florida in a postseason game, after falling to the Gators in the teams’ lone regularseason game for the second-straight year. » Last season, Auburn beat Florida in the SEC Championship Game, 86-67, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, to claim the program’s third-ever SEC Tournament title after the Gators defeated the Tigers, 81-65, in Gainesville, Fla. » Saturday’s contest marks the second time Auburn has faced an SEC team in the NCAA Tournament. The fifth-seeded Tigers previously upset second-seeded Kentucky, 77-71, in an overtime thriller in the 2019 Elite Eight in Kansas City, Mo. » In neutral-site games, Auburn leads UF, 5-4, with all nine of those previous contests occurring in the SEC Tournament. » Bruce Pearl is 13-14 lifetime versus Florida in his head coaching career, including 5-9 at Auburn. Meanwhile, Florida head coach Todd Golden is 2-2 against Auburn, with all four meetings during his three seasons in Gainesville. » Should Auburn advance to the title game, the Tigers are 0-5 in the all-time series with Duke and 2-7 in the all-time series versus Houston. » Auburn and Duke met this season (L, 78-84) at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 4. Coach Pearl is 0-2 versus Duke as Auburn previously dropped a 78-72 decision to the then top-ranked Blue Devils in the 2018 Maui Invitational. » Against Houston, then No. 11-ranked Auburn beat the fourth-ranked Cougars, 74-69, at the Toyota Center on Nov. 9 in Houston, Texas. The two teams have played once before in the NCAA Tournament with the top-seeded Cougars claiming an 81-65 win over the ninth seed Tigers in the second round of the 2023 Midwest Regional in Birmingham, Ala. – Coach Pearl’s first career game against Houston.
COMPLETE NOTES: https://auburntigers.com/documents/914d8278-906e-4a50-a677-46b8fb34b1af.pdf
VIRGINIA G ISAAC MCKNEELY COMMITS TO LOUISVILLE
Isaac McKneely, Virginia’s leading scorer in 2024-25, announced Thursday he is transferring to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Louisville.
“Committed to the Ville,” the rising senior guard posted on X along with a photo of himself in a Cardinals uniform.
McKneely shot an ACC-best 42.1 percent from 3-point range this past season, averaging 14.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 32 games (all starts) for the Cavaliers under interim coach Ron Sanchez.
Over three seasons in Charlottesville, McKneely averaged 11.1 points and shot 42.2 percent from behind the arc in 98 games (66 starts).
After finishing 15-17 this season, Virginia hired former VCU coach Ryan Odom as its first full-time head coach since Tony Bennett’s abrupt retirement in October.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
USC STAR JUJU WATKINS IS THE AP PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND JUST THE FOURTH SOPHOMORE TO EARN THAT HONOR
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — JuJu Watkins, the sensational sophomore who led Southern California to its best season in nearly 40 years, was honored Thursday as The Associated Press women’s college basketball Player of the Year.
Watkins, whose Trojans won the Big Ten regular-season title for its first conference crown in 31 years, received 29 votes from the 31-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo got the other two. Both were first-team AP All-Americans.
“I think what’s so significant about this award is that this was a year that didn’t have an absence of talent and stars, and JuJu found a way to elevate herself and her team,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
Watkins became just the fourth player to win the award in her sophomore year, joining Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2007) and UConn stars Maya Moore (2009) and Breanna Stewart (2014). The AP first started giving out the award in 1995 and Watkins is the first Trojans player to win it.
“She makes a lot of things that aren’t easy look easy,” Gottlieb said. “It’s one thing to say she’s a generational talent, but another to actually do it and put yourself up with names like Stewie, Maya and Courtney Paris.”
Watkins is already in the top 10 on USC’s all-time scoring list, ranking sixth in just two years. She was averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists before her season was cut short in the NCAA Tournament with an ACL injury suffered in the second round against Mississippi State.
Watkins raised her game against the best opponents. In the six games against teams in AP top 10, she averaged 26.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting 35.4% from behind the 3-point line.
“She performed her best at the biggest moments,” Gottlieb said. “I thought she really throughout the course of the year learned how to dominate and empower the others.”
Watkins is already one of the top draws in the sport with endorsement deals to match and seeing her in person has become a hotter ticket.
The Trojans’ average home attendance rose to 5,932 this season from last year’s 4,421. Celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Kevin Hart, Jason Sudeikis, Michael B. Jordan and Sanaa Lathan, who starred in “Love & Basketball,” one of Watkins’ favorite movies, have shown up. The year before she arrived attendance averaged 1,037.
“It’s hard to miss Snoop Dogg in his custom JuJu jacket,” Gottlieb said. “This happened organically and authentically. She decided to stay home and cares about her city and has the magnetism to attract people. It’s the way she carries herself. She’s confident, but very humble and true to her community. It’s amazing to see her impact.”
UCLA’S CORI CLOSE IS THE AP COACH OF THE YEAR AFTER A HISTORIC SEASON FOR THE TOP-SEEDED BRUINS
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Cori Close, who led UCLA to its first women’s Final Four during one of the best seasons in school history, was named The Associated Press Coach of the Year on Thursday.
The Bruins earned the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll for the first time ever, holding the spot for 14 weeks as they piled up win after win on their way to grabbing the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m thankful to be surrounded by the players and staff I have,” Close said. “It’s a really nice thing. It does give me an opportunity to say thank you to all the people who have poured into me all the years. Never be here without village of people who mentored me, who have come alongside me in difficult times.”
She received 16 votes from the 31-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. Mark Campbell of TCU finished second with five votes. Vic Schaefer, who guided Texas to its first Final Four since 2003, got three votes and Kentucky’s Kenny Brooks received two.
11 PLAYERS WHO WILL DETERMINE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
As the 2025 Women’s Basketball Tournament prepares for its Final Four, it’s clear that the remaining teams have been college basketball’s elite teams all season.
The sport’s most decorated program in UConn, hard-nosed Texas, breakout Final Four first-timer UCLA and defending national champion South Carolina converge in Tampa with a combined 138 wins between them this season.
As the teams look to notch two more wins in order to capture the national championship, the following 11 players are poised to determine which of these dominant squads will leave Florida with the title.
–Paige Bueckers, UConn, and Lauren Betts, UCLA
Beginning with the two most obvious candidates, Paige Bueckers and Lauren Betts have been two of college basketball’s most outstanding players all season.
In Bueckers’ case, she arrived on the scene as one of the most highly touted recruits in women’s basketball — one reason that UConn coach Geno Auriemma said following the team’s Elite Eight win over Southern California that no other Huskies player had faced as much scrutiny in their career than her.
However, Bueckers immediately lived up to the hype with AP Player of the Year honors in 2021 and has only grown as a player despite injuries.
As excellent as Bueckers has been, she has taken her game to another level in this NCAA Tournament. She carries a three-game streak of scoring at least 31 points into the Final Four, including matching her career high with 34 in the second round against South Dakota State, only to break it the next game with 40 against Oklahoma.
Bueckers’ outburst against the Sooners also set a program record for the most points in the NCAA Tournament. Given the star power to come through Storrs over the last few decades, that’s quite a record.
Betts matched Bueckers with consecutive 30-plus-point games in the second round and Sweet 16, doing so while shooting a combined 29 of 33 from the floor. She also posted double-doubles against both Richmond and Ole Miss.
Betts averages almost a double-double for the season with 20.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, but perhaps the most telling stat underscoring her importance to UCLA’s championship run is her 2.6 assists per game. Betts’ ability to pass out of the post in the face of double- and triple-teams often makes opponents pay for keying in on her.
–Sarah Strong, UConn
National Freshman of the Year Sarah Strong faces her most daunting challenge of a remarkable debut season. Strong comes into the Final Four averaging 16.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, following her 22-point, 17-rebound effort in the Elite Eight.
Strong’s ability to work the glass in particular is critical — as is keeping Betts off the boards. Strong’s presence in the interior remains pivotal beyond the UCLA matchup, with potential matchups against Texas or South Carolina, two teams with dominant inside presences.
And indeed, Strong’s 16 points and 13 rebounds were vital to a UConn rout of South Carolina in February.
–Azzi Fudd, UConn
Scoreless through three quarters in the Elite Eight, Fudd sank a pair of 3-pointers to fuel a fourth-quarter run that helped put away Southern California. That stretch offered a snapshot of the veteran guard’s X-factor as UConn’s potential third weapon behind Bueckers and Strong.
Her 28 points against South Carolina provide another glimpse at Fudd’s importance against top-tier competition.
–Kiki Rice, UCLA
The versatile Rice sets the tone for the Bruins’ entire offensive identity with her court vision and uncanny distribution.
Rice averages 5.1 assists per game, though she comes into the Final Four on a streak of five straight games in which she’s tallied at least seven assists. She’s also a dangerous scoring threat at 12.9 points per game, with a 3-point shooting average north of 36 percent.
–Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA
Her clutch 3-pointer effectively put away LSU in UCLA’s Elite Eight win, putting an exclamation point on an 18-point effort. The shot also contributed to a stretch in which Jaquez has hit multiple 3-pointers in four of the Bruins’ last seven games.
Having that option is invaluable for UCLA in spreading the floor to take pressure off of Betts.
–Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
The freshman phenom stepped into some long shadows when she filled the interior role once occupied by South Carolina stars Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso. Boston and Cardoso were both central to national championship runs.
While Edwards’ 12.7 points per game lead the Gamecocks for the season, she heads to Tampa on a bit of a slump, with just 15 combined points over South Carolina’s last three games.
Coach Dawn Staley has built a winning program not reliant on an individual star to carry the load, a fact made plainly evident in South Carolina’s hard-fought wins over Indiana, Maryland, and Duke. The increasing stakes of the Final Four and the strength of the field’s frontcourts call on Edwards to step up.
–Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
A team’s management of the paint and boards may be the most significant factor in winning the 2025 national championship. To that end, Kitts has been sensational on South Carolina’s run to a fifth straight Final Four.
Kitts posted double-doubles against both Indiana and Maryland and came one rebound shy of another when South Carolina last saw semifinal opponent Texas in the SEC Championship.
–Raven Johnson, South Carolina
Despite having less of a scoring role for the Gamecocks this season, Johnson could be a huge part of their push for a repeat.
Her versatility is invaluable, particularly Johnson’s tenacious defense. She is adept at forcing pressure on the ball to create turnovers and is athletic enough to protect the rim as a shot-blocker, with three blocks over the last two contests.
–Taylor Jones, Texas
The veteran post player joined Texas from Oregon State and immediately made as much of an impact for the Longhorns as she had with the Beavers. Jones may have delivered her most impactful effort yet in the Elite Eight, helping shut down standout TCU center Sedona Prince.
As the Longhorns face South Carolina for the fourth time this season, Jones’ defensive presence against the talented Gamecocks frontcourt takes center stage. She had four steals when Texas knocked off South Carolina in February and needs similar showings in the semifinals and potential matchups with UCLA or UConn.
–Madison Booker, Texas
The biggest stage calls for the biggest stars to shine. Texas has flourished this season through a combination of salty defensive effort and offensive depth, with players like Kyla Oldacre and Rori Harmon capable of stepping up to score big as needed.
However, there’s no question Booker is the star of this Texas lineup. Headed to a likely second All-America selection in as many years, Booker rides a streak of nine straight and 19 of 20 games scoring in double figures.
Her consistency is the cornerstone of a Texas offense that complements a 55.7-point per game defense with a 78.4-point per game offense.
BASEBALL NEWS
DEMAND FOR VIRAL ‘TORPEDO’ BASEBALL BATS HAS SENT A PENNSYLVANIA FACTORY INTO OVERDRIVE
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (AP) — A 70-year-old man who plays in an area senior hardball league popped into Victus Sports this week because he needed bats for the new season. Plus he just had to take some cuts with baseball’s latest fad and see for himself if there really was some wizardry in the wallop off a torpedo bat.
Ed Costantini, of Newtown Square, picked up the custom-designed VOLPE11-TPD Pro Reserve Maple, and took his hacks just like MLB stars and Victus customers Anthony Volpe or Bryson Stott would inside the company’s batting cage and tracked the ball’s path on the virtual Citizens Bank Park on the computer screens.
Most big leaguers use that often indistinguishable “feel” as a qualifier as to how they select a bat.
Costantini had a similar process and thought the hype surrounding the torpedo since it exploded into the baseball consciousness over the weekend was a “hoax.” But after dozens of swings in the cage, where he said the balance was better, the ball sounded more crisp off the bat, the left-handed hitter ordered on the spot four custom-crafted torpedo bats at $150 a pop.
“The litmus test that I used was, I could see where the marks of the ball were,” Costantini said. “The swings were hitting the thickness of the torpedo as opposed to the end of the bat.”
More than just All-Stars want a crack at the torpedo — a striking design in which wood is moved lower down the barrel after the label and shapes the end a little like a bowling pin — and Costantini’s purchase highlighted the surge of interest in baseball’s shiny new toy outside the majors.
Think of home runs in baseball, and the fan’s mind races to the mammoth distances a ball can fly when slugged right on the nose, or a history-making chase that captivates a nation.
Of lesser interest, the ol’ reliable wood bat itself.
That was, of course, until Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger hit back-to-back homers for the New York Yankees last Saturday to open a nine-homer barrage. Victus Sports, known as much for their vibrant bats painted as pencils or the Phillie Phanatic dressed as a King’s Guard, had three employees at the game and they started a text thread where they hinted to those back home that, perhaps more than home runs were taking off.
Business was about to boom, too.
Yankees crowed about the torpedo-shape concept that had baseball buzzing — and pitchers grumbling. The scuttlebutt and headlines stoked their super curious peers, most with an eye out for any legal, offensive edge, into asking Victus and other bat manufacturers about the possibility of taking a swing with the most famous style of bat since Roy Hobbs grabbed a “Wonderboy.”
Torpedo bats are driving an unprecedented surge in lumber curiosity
Victus spent most of the last 14 years trying to help shape the future of baseball. The company’s founders just never imagined that shape would resemble a bowling pin.
“It was the most talked about thing about bats that we ever experienced,” Victus co-founder Jared Smith said.
Victus isn’t the only company producing the bulgy bats, but they were among the first to list them for sale online after the Yankees’ made them the talk of the sports world. The torpedo bat took the league by storm in only 24 hours, and days later, the calls and orders, and test drives — from big leaguers to rec leaguers — are humming inside the company’s base, in a northwest suburb of Philadelphia.
“The amount of steam that it’s caught, this quickly, that’s certainly surprising,” Smith said. “If the Yankees hitting nine home runs in a game doesn’t happen, this doesn’t happen.”
Victus was stamped this season as the official bat of Major League Baseball and business was already good: Phillies slugger Bryce Harper is among the stars who stick their bats on highlight reels.
But that torpedo-looking hunk of lumber? It generated about as much interest last season in baseball as a .200 hitter. Victus made its first torpedoes around 2024 spring training when the Yankees reached out about crafting samples for their players. Victus, as dialed-in as anyone in the bat game, only made about a dozen last season, and about a dozen more birch or maple bats this spring.
This week alone, try hundreds of torpedoes.
“Every two minutes, another one comes out of the machine,” Smith said.
Who knew there would be a baseball bat craze?
On a good day, Victus makes 600-700 bats, but the influx of pro orders — the company estimates at least half of every starting lineup uses Victus or Marucci bats — has sent production into overdrive. The creation of a typical bat is usually a two-day process, but one can be turned around without a finish in about 20 minutes. Victus crafted rush-order bats Monday morning for a few interested Phillies and dashed to Citizens Bank Park for delivery moments before first pitch. All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm singled with one.
Stott tested bats at the Marucci hit lab down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, churning through styles until the company found the right fit.
“They connect all these wires to you, and you swing 1,000 bats,” Stott said. “And they kind of tell you where you’re hitting the ball mostly.”
Rookie of the year?
Here’s the surprising part of the torpedo bat: For all its early hype, the bat is no rookie in the game.
The lethal lumber has been used by some sluggers in baseball for at least a year or two only, well, no one really noticed. Giancarlo Stanton and Francisco Lindor used torpedoes last season. Other players experimented with it and no one — not the bulk of other players or journalists or fans — ever really picked up on the newfangled advance in hitting innovation.
Smith said only “a few baseball junkies” inquired about the bats.
“I think it’s just one of those things that until you’re looking for it, you might not see it,” Smith said. “Now when you look at pictures, you’re like, oh yeah, it’s a torpedo.”
Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees front-office staffer who now works for the Miami Marlins, was credited as the one who developed the torpedo barrel to bring more mass to a bat’s sweet spot.
A member of Victus’ parent company, Marucci Sports, worked with Leanhardt in a Louisiana branch of their hit lab last year to get the bat off the ground and into the hands of big leaguers.
“I think getting past the shape being different was the hardest barrier,” Smith said. “Then the team goes out and hits those home runs like they did and everyone is willing to try it.”
Before last weekend, Victus had no plans to mass produce the bat, making it only available to professionals.
Now, Smith said, “I think it’s our job to kind of educate the public in what’s out there.”
The odd shape off the bat — like making a sausage, the meat is simply pushed down the casing — has little to no effect at Victus on the dynamics of making a baseball bat. The cost is the same as a standard bat, too, with a sticker price starting at around $200. Only the slogan is punched up: Get your hands on the most-talked about bat in the game.
The bat kings deliver their biggest hit yet
Victus was created by Smith and Ryan Engroff in a Blackwood, New Jersey, garage in 2012 and exploded in popularity over the last decade thanks in the large part to its bat art. Bruce Tatum, an in-house artist known as “The Bat King,” calls his memorable designs such as the No. 2 pencil and crayon bats notably used in the Little League Classic “swingable art.” The Victus walls look straight out of an art gallery, only instead of classic paintings, rows and rows of colorful bats emblazoned with everything from Harper’s face to Gritty’s eyes are on display.
“Normally people are here to talk about the Bat King,” Smith said, laughing.
He was busy, sketching ideas for next year’s bats for the baseball All-Star game in Philadelphia.
“Bruce’s cheesesteak bat, I’m just telling you, is going to be the talk of the town,” Smith said. “I guarantee it.”
Victus has over 300 employees and 60 alone inside their King of Prussia headquarters. The company has outgrown its base and is busting at the seams, and when a bat suddenly goes viral, “all our seams are exposed.”
The folks at Victus — who previously have experimented with axe handle and puck knobs — have no fear the bat will become the baseball equal to the NFL’s tush push, a fresh wrinkle that some might try to legislate out of the game.
MLB has relatively uncomplicated bat rules, stating under 3.02: “The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.” It goes on to state there may be a cupped indentation up to 1 1/4 inches in depth, 2 inches wide and with at least a 1-inch diameter, and experimental models must be approved by MLB.
The torpedo is 100% legal.
Year after year, Victus’ bat business has picked up. Jonny Gomes used a Victus bat when he went deep in the 2013 World Series and Harper stamped the company as a major player when he played for Washington and swung a “We The People” bat and tossed it in the air to win the 2018 Home Run Derby.
“Our product kept getting better and it got to the point where he probably felt like we had the best bat, and we felt like we had the best bat,” Smith said.
Does it work?
There’s not enough data yet to truly know how much oomph — or hits and homers — a torpedo bat may help some hitters. Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz picked one up for the first time Monday and had a single, double and two home runs for a career-high seven RBIs.
Not all hitters are believers —- or at least feel like they need to tinker with their lumber.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who hit an AL-record 62 homers in 2022 and 58 last year en route to his second AL MVP award, declined to try the new bat, asking, “Why try to change something?” Phillies All-Star shortstop Trea Turner said the hoopla was “blown out of proportion.”
“You’ve still got to hit the ball,” Turner said.
Turner, though, said he was open to trying the torpedo.
Arizona pitcher Zac Gallen grew up a Mark McGwire fan and compared the fad to the bloated barrel used by the retired St. Louis Cardinals’ slugger’s old Nerf bat.
“The concept seems so simple. For it to take this long is wild,” Gallen said.
No matter. The bat is here today and not going anywhere — except perhaps flying off the shelves.
“For bats to be the hot topic out in the zeitgeist is cool,” Smith said. “It’s kind of like our time to shine, in a way.”
MLB ROUNDUP: AARON JUDGE’S MILESTONE HR LIFTS YANKEES OVER D-BACKS
Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the first inning for his 500th career extra-base hit as the host New York Yankees raced out to a big lead and earned a 9-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night.
Judge homered in his 999th career game, becoming the third-fastest player in team history to reach 500 extra-base hits behind Lou Gehrig (874 games) and Joe DiMaggio (853 games). Judge added an RBI single in New York’s three-run fourth and finished his first homestand of the season with five homers and 15 RBIs.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a two-run homer and Trent Grisham contributed three hits and drove in three. Grisham hit a two-run homer and an RBI single. Carlos Carrasco (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. The veteran right-hander struck out five and walked two for his first win since June 21.
Geraldo Perdomo hit Arizona’s second grand slam of the series when he connected off Ryan Yarbrough in the seventh. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit an RBI single and Alek Thomas had a pair of run-scoring groundouts in the first four innings for Arizona. Merrill Kelly (0-1) was tagged for a career-high nine runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Red Sox 8, Orioles 4
Alex Bregman, Kristian Campbell and Triston Casas each slugged a two-run home run, and Boston strung together back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
Bregman, who added a run-scoring double in the ninth, finished with three hits. Cedric Mullins homered for the Orioles, who dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Zack Kelly (1-0), the first of four relievers, was the winning pitcher with one inning of relief for the Red Sox. Boston starter Tanner Houck went four innings, giving up three runs on five hits with six strikeouts.
Phillies 3, Rockies 1
Taijuan Walker logged six scoreless innings as Philadelphia completed a three-game sweep of visiting Colorado.
Coming off a season in which he had a 7.10 ERA, Walker (1-0) allowed only three hits and a walk while striking out four in his 2025 debut. Kyle Schwarber homered, and J.T. Realmuto recorded three hits for Philadelphia, which has won five of its first six games.
Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (0-1) allowed just an unearned run, scattering 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. Colorado has lost five of six to kick off the campaign, scoring a total of 11 runs in the process.
Brewers 1, Reds 0
Nestor Cortes bounced back from a historically bad start with six innings of one-hit ball, combining with three relievers to pace Milwaukee to a shutout victory over Cincinnati in the opener of a four-game series.
It was the third consecutive 1-0 loss for the Reds, while the Brewers have won three straight after opening with four losses. Reds starter Nick Lodolo (1-1) retired the first nine hitters before the Brewers got on the board with an unearned run in the fourth.
Cortes (1-1) struck out six and walked two in an 86-pitch outing. Elvis Peguero and Bryan Hudson each followed with a scoreless inning and Joel Payamps finished with a perfect ninth for his first save.
Astros 5, Twins 2
Brendan Rodgers went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and Houston held on for the win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Christian Walker and Jeremy Pena each homered for Houston, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Victor Caratini finished 2-for-4 with a double. Right-hander Hunter Brown (1-1) limited the Twins to two runs on five hits in six innings. He walked none, struck out eight and threw 61 of 91 pitches for strikes.
Carlos Correa and Trevor Larnach drove in one run apiece for Minnesota, which dropped its home opener. Byron Buxton went 2-for-4. Right-hander Joe Ryan (0-1) gave up four runs on five hits, including two homers, in five innings. He walked none and struck out six.
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: STEPHEN CURRY (37), WARRIORS TOP LAKERS
Stephen Curry scored 37 points and Brandin Podziemski added 28 with a career-high eight 3-pointers as visiting the Golden State Warriors gained a game on the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference playoff race with a 123-116 win on Thursday night.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 18 points for the Warriors, while Jimmy Butler III had seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. Golden State is 20-4 since Butler joined the team in a February trade from the Miami Heat, and the Warriors now sit one game behind the fourth-place Lakers in the West.
LeBron James scored 33 points and Austin Reaves added 31 with a career-high nine 3-pointers for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura scored 24 points and Luka Doncic added 19.
Curry and James exchanged 3-pointers as the Lakers remained within striking distance at 114-107 with 1:51 left before Podziemski dealt the decisive blow on a 3-pointer with 1:32 left for a 117-107 lead.
Bucks 126, 76ers 113
Giannis Antetokounmpo put forth a monster triple-double with 35 points, a career-high 20 assists and 17 rebounds to lead visiting Milwaukee over slumping Philadelphia.
It was the first 30-15-15 game in Antetokounmpo’s career and, according to the Bucks, the first 35-20-17 game in NBA history as he helped Milwaukee win its second in a row. Six other Bucks scored in double figures, led by 17 from Brook Lopez.
Adem Bona scored 28 points on 13-for-15 shooting for Philadelphia, which lost its 10th consecutive game. Quentin Grimes added 24 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 22.
Grizzlies 110, Heat 108
Ja Morant hit a step-back jumper in the lane over 7-footer Kel’el Ware at the buzzer as visiting Memphis ended Miami’s six-game winning streak.
The Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing streak behind Morant, who finished with 30 points, including 27 in the second half. Desmond Bane contributed 17 points and nine rebounds and Scotty Pippen Jr. came off the bench to contribute 17 points and seven assists. Zach Edey grabbed 13 rebounds.
Tyler Herro led the Heat with 35 points and nine rebounds, Bam Adebayo added 26 points and seven boards and Ware finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Timberwolves 105, Nets 90
Anthony Edwards survived an injury scare and scored 28 points as Minnesota cruised to a win at Brooklyn.
Edwards returned from an ankle injury in the second half, when he scored 13 points as the Timberwolves won their fourth game in a row. Rudy Gobert tallied 21 points and 18 rebounds and Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 13 points.
Nic Claxton shot 9-for-10 and scored a team-high 18 points for the lottery-bound Nets, who had their two-game winning streak snapped as they fell to 4-17 since Feb. 24. Dariq Whitehead added 17 points.
Magic 109, Wizards 97
Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds while leading Orlando to a win over host Washington.
Banchero made 11 of 24 attempts from the field, 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and dished out eight assists. Franz Wagner was also crucial to Orlando’s effort, finishing with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 13 points and five assists and Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 10 points and seven rebounds as the Magic earned their sixth win in eight games.
Wizards rookie Bub Carrington surpassed his previous career high of 23 points by nine, finishing with 32 on an efficient 12-for-18 from the field and 7-for-10 from long distance. Carrington also logged team highs of nine rebounds and seven assists as Washington took its ninth loss in 11 games. Marcus Smart added 12 points for Washington, while 2024 No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr finished with 10 points on just 4-of-16 shooting.
Trail Blazers 112, Raptors 103
Shaedon Sharpe, a native of London, Ontario, matched his career best with 36 points as visiting Portland defeated Toronto.
Deni Avdija added 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who earned their second win in a row. Dalano Banton matched his season best with 23 points.
RJ Barrett scored 18 points for the Raptors, who have dropped two straight. Ochai Agbaji added 15 points.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: BLUES MATCH TEAM RECORD WITH 11TH STRAIGHT WIN
Robert Thomas’ power-play goal 2:12 into overtime helped the host St. Louis Blues tie a franchise record with their 11th straight victory, 5-4 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Thomas added an assist for the Blues. Jake Neighbours collected two goals, and Jordan Kyrou scored a goal and assisted on the game-winner. Joel Hofer made 24 saves to earn his fifth straight victory.
Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Rutger McGroarty all tallied a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who have lost four of their last five (1-2-2).
Connor Dewar also scored for Pittsburgh, which got the tying goal from McGroarty (his first in the NHL) with 25 seconds left in regulation. Sidney Crosby notched his 55th assist of the season to earn a point for the 11th straight game. Tristan Jarry stopped 14 shots.
Flames 4, Ducks 1
Blake Coleman scored a pair of special-teams goals to lead host Calgary to an important victory over Anaheim.
Nazem Kadri and Kevin Rooney also scored for the Flames, who helped their playoff hopes. Calgary’s Yegor Sharangovich collected a pair of assists, and Dustin Wolf made 26 saves. The Flames are five points behind the Wild for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. Calgary has seven games remaining, and Minnesota has six games to go.
Olen Zellweger tallied for the Ducks, who were officially eliminated from postseason contention. John Gibson left the game after two periods due to a lower-body injury, having stopped 23 of 26 shots he faced. Lukas Dostal turned aside 7 of 8 shots in relief.
Oilers 3, Sharks 2
Jeff Skinner scored the deciding goal and added an assist as Edmonton beat host San Jose.
Connor Brown and Viktor Arvidsson also tallied for the Oilers, who won their third straight game. Defenseman Evan Bouchard had two assists, and Calvin Pickard made 27 saves. NHL goal-scoring leader Leon Draisaitl left in the middle of the second period with an undisclosed injury.
Jack Thompson and Tyler Toffoli produced the goals for the Sharks, who lost their fourth game in a row (0-3-1). Mario Ferraro had two assists, and Georgi Romanov stopped 35 shots in an emergency start.
Stars 5, Predators 1
Dallas scored four times in the third period to extend its winning streak to seven games with a victory against visiting Nashville.
Mason Marchment had a goal and an assist, and Jason Robertson, Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen each had two assists for the Stars. Jake Oettinger made 28 saves. Dallas captain Jamie Benn sat out due to a lower-body injury, ending his consecutive-games streak at 371.
Steven Stamkos scored, and Justus Annunen stopped 22 shots for the Predators, who have lost five straight.
Canadiens 4, Bruins 1
Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki each registered a goal and an assist as Montreal beat Boston.
Montreal never looked back after taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Christian Dvorak and Cole Caufield in the second period. Sam Montembeault made eight of his 18 saves in the third period for the Canadiens, who are on a three-game winning streak and earned just their second victory in their past 17 games against the Bruins.
Elias Lindholm scored and Jeremy Swayman stopped 28 shots for Boston, which is winless in its past 10 games (0-9-1).
Avalanche 7, Blue Jackets 3
Colorado got goals from seven players as it clinched a playoff berth with a dominating win at Columbus.
Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews, Cale Makar and Charlie Coyle each scored a goal and added two assists for the Avalanche, who have points in 16 of their last 18 (14-2-2). Miles Wood added a goal and an assist, while Brock Nelson and Parker Kelly also scored for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves.
Sean Monahan, Zach Aston-Reese and Boone Jenner scored for the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins allowed seven goals on 28 shots, and Daniil Tarasov stopped four shots in relief.
Jets 4, Golden Knights 0
Backup goaltender Eric Comrie turned away 26 shots for his second shutout of the season and Winnipeg tied a team record with its 52nd victory, blanking Vegas in Las Vegas.
Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, Colin Miller and Cole Perfetti scored goals and Nino Niederreiter added two assists for Winnipeg. It marked the third time that the Jets, who lead the NHL in points, have won 52 games in a season — joining the 2017-18 and 2023-24 teams. Comrie posted the fourth shutout of his career.
Adin Hill, pulled after two periods for Akira Schmid, recorded 16 saves for the Golden Knights.
Kings 4, Utah Hockey Club 2
Kevin Fiala and Trevor Moore scored 44 seconds apart in the third period to help visiting Los Angeles to a win against Utah in Salt Lake City.
Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist, Adrian Kempe also scored and Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves for Los Angeles, which has won three in a row to help hold off the Edmonton Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division.
Jack McBain had a goal and an assist, Lawson Crouse also scored and Karel Vejmelka stopped 15 shots in his 19th consecutive start for Utah, which had won two in a row.
Senators 2, Lightning 1
Defenseman Jake Sanderson hit double figures in goals for the second straight season, and Ottawa bolstered its playoff chances by ousting visiting Tampa Bay.
Ottawa holds the No. 1 wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and maintained a five-point lead over the No. 2 Montreal Canadiens. The Senators earned a 2-2-0 split in the season series with Tampa Bay. Sanderson tallied on the power play to score for the third time in four games, while Shane Pinto snapped the net for the 17th time. Ridly Greig posted two assists as the club improved to 10-4-1 in the past 15 games.
Defenseman Artem Zub skated in his 300th game, but the Senators were again without the services of dynamic captain Brady Tkachuk, who missed his second game with an upper-body injury. Brandon Hagel notched his 34th marker for Tampa Bay, which lost for the first time in five games.
NFL NEWS
PATRIOTS TRADE QB MILTON TO COWBOYS, GIVING DALLAS A NEW BACKUP BEHIND DAK PRESCOTT
DALLAS (AP) — The New England Patriots have agreed to trade quarterback Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys.
Milton confirmed the trade via a social media post on Wednesday.
ESPN, which first reported the deal, said that the Cowboys will receive Milton, along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
The acquisition of the 25-year-old Milton, who the Patriots drafted in the sixth round in 2024, gives the Cowboys a young backup behind starting quarterback Dak Prescott after Cooper Rush signed with Baltimore in free agency. Rush started eight games for the Cowboys last season while Prescott was injured.
Milton spent his rookie season on New England’s practice squad, playing behind rookie Drake Maye and backup Jacoby Brissett before playing the majority of the Patriots’ season finale win over Buffalo. Milton was impressive in his lone action of the season, rushing for a touchdown and throwing for another.
His status on the Patriots’ roster going forward became less certain after New England signed quarterback Josh Dobbs to a two-year free agent deal last month.
GOLF NEWS
MASTERS ’25: 10 PLAYERS LIKELY TO CONTEND FOR A GREEN JACKET
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A capsule look at 10 top contenders for the Masters on April 10-13. Players listed in order of the AP’s predicted finish:
Rory McIlroy
Age: 36.
Country: Northern Ireland.
World ranking: 2.
Worldwide victories: 39.
Majors: U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014).
Masters appearances: 16.
Best finish: Runner-up in 2022.
Masters memory: Losing a four-shot lead in 2011 with an 80 in the final round.
Tap-ins: McIlroy has never looked better going into the Masters, with victories at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship. This is his 11th straight year coming to Augusta National knowing that only a green jacket is keeping him from the career Grand Slam.
Collin Morikawa
Age: 28.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 4.
Worldwide victories: 8.
Majors: PGA Championship (2020), British Open (2021).
Masters appearances: 5.
Best finish: Tie for third in 2024.
Masters memory: One shot behind as he was making the turn in 2024, he took two shots to get out of a bunker left of the ninth green and took double bogey.
Tap-ins: Morikawa played in the final group of two majors last year and already has played in the final group twice this year. Winning the Masters would give him the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
Scottie Scheffler
Age: 28.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 1.
Worldwide victories: 16.
Majors: Masters (2022, 2024).
Masters appearances: 5.
Best finish: Won in 2022 and 2024.
Masters memory: Dominating in 2022 to the point that he four-putted the 18th hole and still won by three shots.
Tap-ins: A victory would allow him to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as back-to-back Masters champions.
Ludvig Aberg
Age: 25.
Country: Sweden.
World ranking: 5.
Worldwide victories: 3.
Majors: None.
Masters appearances: 1.
Best finish: Runner-up in 2024.
Masters memory: Hitting in the water on No. 11 for double bogey when he was one shot behind in the final round.
Tap-ins: Aberg beat one of the strongest fields of the year at Torrey Pines. Last year he became the third player in the last five years to be runner-up in his Masters debut.
Jon Rahm
Age: 30.
Country: Spain.
World ranking: 75.
Worldwide victories: 21.
Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021).
Masters appearances: 8.
Best finish: Won in 2023.
Masters memory: Winning the Masters in 2023 on the birthday of the late Seve Ballesteros.
Tap-ins: Rahm did not seriously contend in any of the three majors he played last year.
Xander Schauffele
Age: 31.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 3.
Worldwide victories: 10.
Majors: PGA Championship (2024), British Open (2024).
Masters appearances: 7.
Best finished: Tie for second in 2021.
Masters memory: Hitting 8-iron into the water on the 16th in 2021 when he had a chance to put pressure on Hideki Matsuyama.
Tap-ins: He missed nearly two months with a rib injury. A year ago he was without a major. A victory would put him one leg away from the career Grand Slam.
Justin Thomas
Age: 31.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 9.
Worldwide victories: 15.
Majors: PGA Championship (2017, 2022).
Masters appearances: 9.
Best finish: Tie for fourth in 2020.
Masters memory: Three shots out of the lead in the second round in 2023, he shot 42 on the back nine and missed the cut.
Tap-ins: He already has four top 10s in eight starts this year. But he hasn’t won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
Bryson DeChambeau
Age: 31.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 19.
Worldwide victories: 12.
Majors: U.S. Open (2020, 2024).
Masters appearances: 8.
Best finish: Tie for sixth in 2024.
Masters memory: Saying in 2020 that Augusta National was a par 67 for him. His best score was a 69 in a tie for 34th.
Tap-ins: The U.S. Open champion shared the 18-hole lead at the Masters a year ago and then failed to break par the rest of the tournament.
Jordan Spieth
Age: 31.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 66.
Worldwide victories: 16.
Majors: Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), British Open (2017).
Masters appearances: 11.
Best finish: Won in 2015.
Masters memory: Never letting anyone within three shots of him over the last 54 holes when he went wire-to-wire to win in 2015.
Tap-ins: He had surgery on his left wrist last summer. Augusta National is the best measure of his game. He has a win, two runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes.
Joaquin Niemann
Age: 26.
Country: Chile.
World ranking: 84.
Worldwide victories: 8.
Majors: None.
Masters appearances: 6.
Best finish: Tie for 16th in 2023.
Masters memory: One round away from turning pro, he shot 63 to win the Latin American Amateur in 2018 and earn his first trip to the Masters.
Tap-ins: He is the only LIV player to get a special exemption to the Masters in the last two years.
MASTERS ’25: FACTS AND FIGURES FOR THE 89TH EDITION OF THE MASTERS
Facts and figures for the Masters:
Tournament: The 89th Masters Tournament.
Dates: April 10-13.
Site: Augusta National Golf Club.
Length: 7,555 yards.
Par: 36-36—72.
Purse: To be determined ($20 million in 2024).
Field: 96 players (five amateurs), with one spot open for Texas Open winner.
Cut: Top 50 and ties.
Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler.
Last year: Scottie Scheffler won the Masters for the second time in three years by pulling away late with a 4-under 68 for a four-shot victory. Ludvig Aberg, making his Masters debut, Collin Morikawa and Max Homa each had a chance. Morikawa took two shots to get out of a bunker on No. 9, Aberg hit into the water on No. 11 and Homa made double bogey from the bushes behind the 12th green.
Tiger tales: Tiger Woods had surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon on his left foot on March 11 and will miss the Masters for the first time since his car crash in 2021.
Grand Slam: Rory McIlroy for the first time in his career has two wins on the season leading to the Masters as he tries to get the final leg of the career Grand Slam.
The odds (BetMGM Sportsbook): Scottie Scheffler (+450), Rory McIlroy (+650), Collin Morikawa (+1400), Ludvig Aberg and Jon Rahm (+1600), Bryson DeChambeau (+1800), Xander Schauffele (+2000).
Key statistic: Rory McIlroy is playing in his 17th Masters. Sergio Garcia (19) is the only player who had that many appearances before finally winning.
Noteworthy: The field has players from 26 countries and territories, the most ever for the Masters.
Quoteworthy: “It’s like a different place than the world just outside the gates. And you pull in, and everything else just kind of melts away.” — Scottie Scheffler on driving through the gates of Augusta National.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday, noon to 2 p.m. (Paramount+), 2-7 p.m. (CBS).
Interactive: https://www.masters.com/en_US/index.html. Live video channels from the 4th, 5th and 6th holes, Amen Corner, the 15th hole, 16th hole and a featured group. Estimated times — Hole Nos. 4,5 and 6 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the weekend; Amen Corner (Nos. 11, 12 and 13) from 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 11:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend; Nos. 15 and 16 from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the weekend; and featured group from 9:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from 10:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the weekend. The Masters iPad application will display the video channels and a live digital simulcast of CBS Sports’ weekend coverage.
MASTERS ’25: A HOLE-BY-HOLE LOOK AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A hole-by-hole look at Augusta National, site of the 89th Masters to be played April 10-13, with famous shots played at each, the average score and where each hole ranks in difficulty over the years:
No. 1, 445 yards, par 4 (Tea Olive)
This slight dogleg right plays uphill and has a deep bunker requiring a 317-yard carry off the tee. The bunker has a tongue in the left side, so anything that enters the front of the bunker might be blocked by the lip. A bunker is left of the green, which falls off sharply at the back and to the right.
Masters memory: Charl Schwartzel used a 6-iron to pitch a low-running shot from the right mounds across the green and holed the shot for birdie to begin the final round of his 2011 victory.
Average score: 4.237
Rank: 6
No. 2, 585 yards, par 5 (Pink Dogwood)
The dogleg left can be reached in two with a good drive. A fairway bunker on the right comes into play. A drive kept down the left side shortens the hole but leaves a downhill lie to a green guarded by two deep bunkers in the front.
Masters memory: Louis Oosthuizen hit a 4-iron from 253 yards in the final round of 2012 that landed on the front of the green and rolled some 90 feet into the cup for the first albatross at this hole in Masters history.
Average score: 4.773
Rank: 18
No. 3, 350 yards, par 4 (Flowering Peach)
One of the best short par 4s in golf, this hole hasn’t been changed since 1982. Big hitters can drive near the green, and more are trying. But there are difficult short-game shots surrounding the L-shaped green that slopes sharply from right to left. Some players still hit iron off the tee to stay short of four bunkers on the left side.
Masters memory: Scottie Scheffler’s three-shot lead was down to one in the final round of 2022 when he drove left and came up short. He chipped in for birdie and restored his lead to three shots when Cameron Smith made bogey.
Average score: 4.073
Rank: 14
No. 4, 240 yards, par 3 (Flowering Crab Apple)
This usually is long iron or maybe fairway metal for shorter hitters. A deep bunker protects the right side of the green, with another bunker to the left. The green slopes to the front. This hole features the only palm tree on the course.
Masters memory: Phil Mickelson was one shot out of the lead in the final round in 2012 when his tee shot hit the grandstand and went into the woods. Lefty played two right-handed shots to get it out, hit his fourth into the bunker and got up-and-down for a triple bogey. He finished two shots behind.
Average score: 3.283
Rank: 3
No. 5, 495 yards, par 4 (Magnolia)
The Masters tee was moved back 40 yards in 2019. It now requires a 313-yard carry over the bunkers on the left of this uphill, slight dogleg to the left. The green slopes severely from back to front, and a small bunker catches anything long. If an approach is long and misses the bunker, it could roll down the slope and into the Magnolia trees. The back left green has been softened to allow for a pin position.
Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus made two eagles in the 1995 Masters, with a 5-iron from 180 yards in the first round and with a 7-iron from 163 yards in the third round.
Average score: 4.266
Rank: 5
No. 6, 180 yards, par 3 (Juniper)
An elevated tee to a large green with three tiers, with significant slopes marking the three levels. Getting close to the hole is a challenge. The easiest pin might be front left. The hole has not been changed since 1975.
Masters memory: Billy Joe Patton, trying to become the first amateur to win the Masters, made a hole-in-one with a 5-iron from 190 yards in the final round in 1954. He missed the playoff between Ben Hogan and Sam Snead by one shot.
Average score: 3.136
Rank: 12
No. 7, 450 yards, par 4 (Pampas)
This hole literally has come a long way, from 320 yards to 450 yards. The tee shot is through a chute of Georgia pines, played to the left-center of the fairway into a slight slope. The green is surrounded by five bunkers, the most around any green.
Masters memory: Byron Nelson drove the green in the 1937 Masters for a two-putt birdie when it played at 320 yards. That inspired Augusta National to alter the hole, moving the green back 20 yards and to the right to make it an elevated green with three bunkers in the front and two in the back.
Average score: 4.157
Rank: 10
No. 8, 570 yards, par 5 (Yellow Jasmine)
An accurate drive is important to avoid the fairway bunker on the right side. The hole is uphill and features trouble left of the green. There are no bunkers around the green, just severe mounding.
Masters memory: Tom Kite and Seve Ballesteros were paired together in the final round in 1986, both in contention. Kite hit a sand wedge from 80 yards that bounced twice and dropped in for his first eagle to get within two shots of the lead. Ballesteros, not the least bit bothered, played a pitch-and-run from 40 yards short of the green and matched his eagle to take the lead.
Average score: 4.816
Rank: 15
No. 9, 460 yards, par 4 (Carolina Cherry)
The tee shot should be aimed down the right side for a good angle into the green, which features two large bunkers to the left. Any approach that is short could spin some 25 yards back into the fairway.
Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus hit 9-iron into 12 feet in 1986 and was ready to putt when he heard back-to-back cheers from behind him on the eighth green. “Why don’t we try to make some noise ourselves?” he said to the gallery. He made the birdie putt, and so began his charge to his sixth green jacket.
Average score: 4.136
Rank: 13
No. 10, 495 yards, par 4 (Camellia)
A long hole that can play shorter if the drive catches the slope in the fairway. It is difficult to save par from the bunker right of the green. The putting surface slopes from right to left.
Masters memory: Bubba Watson was deep in the trees to the right of the fairway, 155 yards away, when he played a 40-yard hook with a wedge that landed about 10 feet beneath the hole. He two-putted for par to win the 2012 Masters.
Average score: 4.298
Rank: 2
No. 11, 510 yards, par 4 (White Dogwood)
Amen Corner starts here. A big tee shot — and a straight one — is required to get to the crest of the hill. A pond guards the green to the left and a bunker is to the back right. The safe shot is to bail out short and to the right, but it leaves a difficult pitch.
Masters memory: Larry Mize was in a sudden-death playoff with Greg Norman in 1987 when he missed the green to the right. Mize’s 140-foot chip was gaining steam when it dropped in for birdie, giving him the green jacket and dealing another blow to Norman’s hopes of winning the Masters.
Average score: 4.304
Rank: 1
No. 12, 155 yards, par 3 (Golden Bell)
This is among the most famous par 3s in golf and the shortest hole at Augusta National. Club selection can range from a 6-iron to a 9-iron, but it’s difficult to gauge the wind. Rae’s Creek is in front of the shallow green, with two bunkers behind it and one in front.
Masters memory: Jordan Spieth hit two balls into Rae’s Creek and made a quadruple-bogey 7. He started the back nine Sunday in 2016 with a five-shot lead. Walking to the 13th tee, he was three shots behind.
Average score: 3.269
Rank: 4
No. 13, 545 yards, par 5 (Azalea)
The tee was moved back 35 yards in 2023. It still requires an accurate tee shot to the center of the fairway to set up players to go for the green, but they have a mid-iron at best. A tributary to Rae’s Creek winds in front of the green, and four bunkers are behind the putting surface. From tee to green, there are about 1,600 azaleas.
Masters memory: With a two-shot lead in the final round in 2010, Phil Mickelson was in the pine straw behind a pair of trees. He hit 6-iron through a small gap in the pines and over the creek to about 4 feet. He missed the eagle putt but kept his lead and went on to win.
Average score: 4.774
Rank: 17
No. 14, 440 yards, par 4 (Chinese Fir)
This is the only hole on the course without a bunker. Even if the drive avoids trees on both sides of the fairway, the green has severe contours that feed the ball to the right.
Masters memory: Phil Mickelson holed out for eagle during an eagle-eagle-birdie stretch on Saturday in 2010 that helped him get into the final group. He won his third green jacket the next day.
Average score: 4.165
Rank: 8
No. 15, 550 yards, par 5 (Firethorn)
A cluster of pines is starting to mature on the right side of the fairway, making it critical to be straight off the tee. The green can be reached in two with a good drive, but a pond guards the front and there is a bunker to the right. Even for those laying up, the third shot requires a precise wedge from a severe downhill lie.
Masters memory: Gene Sarazen was three shots behind when he hit the “shot heard ’round the world” in 1935. His 4-wood from 235 yards went into the hole for an albatross. He tied Craig Wood and defeated him the next day in a playoff.
Average score: 4.779
Rank: 16
No. 16, 170 yards, par 3 (Redbud)
The hole is played entirely over water and eventually bends to the left. Two bunkers guard the right side, and the green slopes significantly from right to left. The Sunday pin typically is back and on the lower shelf, and pars from the top shelf that day are rare.
Masters memory: Tiger Woods had a one-shot lead over Chris DiMarco when he missed the green long in 2005. He chipped away from the hole up the slope, watched it make a U-turn at the top and roll back toward the hole, pausing for a full second before dropping for birdie.
Average score: 3.138
Rank: 11
No. 17, 440 yards, par 4 (Nandina)
The Eisenhower Tree to the left of the fairway about 210 yards from the tee could not be saved from an ice storm in February 2014. That has made the tee shot much easier, especially for those with a lower, left-to-right ball flight. The green is protected by two bunkers in the front.
Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus made his final birdie in 1986 with a 12-foot putt that sent him to a 30 on the back nine and a 65, giving him a one-shot win and his sixth Masters.
Average score: 4.163
Rank: 9
No. 18, 465 yards, par 4 (Holly)
Now among the most demanding finishing holes in golf, this uphill dogleg right is protected off the tee by two deep bunkers at the left elbow — the only bunkers in play off the tee on the back nine (except for par 3s). Trees get in the way of a drive that strays to the right. Bunkers grab any shot to the left and right.
Masters memory: Sandy Lyle was tied for the lead with Mark Calcavecchia in 1988 when he hit 1-iron in the first of two bunkers down the left side of the fairway. Not thinking he could get on the green, Lyle hit 7-iron over the tall lip and behind the flag, and it rolled back to 10 feet. He holed the putt for birdie to win.
Average score: 4.232
Rank: 7
SAM RYDER FIRES 63 TO GRAB VALERO TEXAS OPEN LEAD
Sam Ryder birdied six of his final seven holes to shoot a bogey-free, 9-under-par 63 and take the first-round lead at the Valero Texas Open on Thursday at TPC San Antonio.
Ryder was tied for the lead with Keith Mitchell (64) when he stepped to the tee at the par-5, 613-yard 18th hole. He stopped his third shot about a foot from the hole and tapped in for the go-ahead birdie.
Ryder, 35, has never won on the PGA Tour and holds the No. 154 ranking in the world. If he wins the tournament, he will earn an invitation to the Masters next week.
Mitchell is alone in second, while Brian Harman is third after a 6-under 66. Jordan Spieth is tied with Carson Young at 5-under 67.
Spieth, a Texas native, won this event in 2021 and is looking for his first win on tour in almost three years.
Other notable players like Spieth who are tuning up for next week’s major include Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (4-under 68), Sam Burns and Tony Finau (3-under 69) and Patrick Cantlay, Keegan Bradley and Swede Ludvig Aberg (1-under 71).
Rickie Fowler (3-over 75), Max Homa (4-over 76), Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (76) and South Korea’s Tom Kim (5-over 77) are in danger of missing Friday’s 36-hole cut.
ARIYA JUTANUGARN MAINTAINS GROUP LEAD OVER NELLY KORDA AT MATCH PLAY
World No. 1 Nelly Korda avoided a second straight collapse, but Ariya Jutanugarn maintained her advantage in Group 1 play Thursday at the T-Mobile Match Play in North Las Vegas, Nev.
Korda built a lead and held on to finish 1 up on Jennifer Kupcho, who fell to 0-2 in the event. That marked an improvement from Wednesday for Korda, when the defending champion settled for halving her match after losing a late lead to Brittany Altomare.
“Golf doesn’t necessarily bring out (head-to-head competitiveness) unless you’re in a playoff or whatnot,” Korda said. “(It) just makes you a little bit more aggressive of a player.”
Jutanugarn, of Thailand, won 2 and 1 against Altomare to continue to lead Group 1, though she will face Korda in the final leg of the round robin Friday. A win there would give either player the group.
The 64-player field is divided into 16 four-player groups competing in three days of round-robin matches. A win earns one point, a tie earns a half-point and a loss is zero points. The winner of each group moves on to a 16-player, single-elimination bracket beginning Saturday. In the event of a tie for first place in a group, a playoff will determine which player advances. The quarterfinals will be played on Saturday, with the semifinals and final on Sunday.
Overall, 12 golfers are 2-0 through two days of play at Shadow Creek Golf Course, putting each in a strong position to win her group and advance to the 16-person field Saturday.
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul defeated Mexico’s Gaby Lopes 2 and 1 to get to 2-0 in Group 2. South Korea’s Sei Young Kim upended Japan’s Yuna Nishimura 4 and 2 to advance to 2-0 in Group 4.
Group 5 features Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou leading the way at 2-0 after her 4-and-2 victory over Japan’s Ayaka Furue.
The only group with a pair of 2-0 golfers is Group 9, as South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim and Sweden’s Maja Stark are still perfect and face off Friday.
Other 2-0 golfers after two days include Japan’s Mao Saigo in Group 7 (the only debut golfer at 2-0), Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson in Group 8 (having played only playing 27 holes — the fewest in the field), France’s Celine Boutier in Group 11, South Korea’s A Lim Kim in Group 12, Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom in Group 14 and South Korea’s Narin An in Group 16.
Group 3 and 13 each have a four-way tie for first place at 1-1-0, while England’s Charley Hull and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai co-lead in Group 6 at 1-0-1.
“I love this format and it’s been a lot of fun,” New Zealand’s Lydia Ko said after winning her Thursday match 6 and 5 over Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels to get into that four-way tie in Group 3. “Yesterday I came off the day not feeling like defeated. I still had a great time.”
Angel Yin (1-0-1) leads Group 10, and Russia’s Nataliya Guseva (1-0-1) is on top in Group 15.
TOP INDIANA HEADLINES
INDIANA PACERS
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS JAZZ
The Pacers (45-31) will try to sweep a three-game homestand on Friday, when they welcome the Utah Jazz (16-61) to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Blue & Gold are coming off wins over the Kings on Monday and the Hornets on Wednesday. Indiana has won 10 of its past 11 home games currently has the second-best home record in the Eastern Conference at 26-10 on the season.
That’s a big reason why the Pacers are hoping to secure a top-four seed and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs in the coming days. Indiana’s magic number to secure a top four seed is down to four after Wednesday’s victory.
“Having that top-four seed we think is really beneficial for us just because we feel really comfortable playing at home,” star guard Tyrese Haliburton said Wednesday. “We feel like in last year’s playoffs, the success we had at home, the second half of the season, how much success we’ve had at home…We really want a top-four seed, so we’re trying to take care of business there. That’s what’s really important.”
The Jazz haven’t done much winning lately. Utah enters Friday’s contest having dropped seven straight and 17 of its last 18 contests and now owns the worst record in the NBA this season. The Jazz’s lone win in March was a home victory over the Wizards (owners of the worst record in the Eastern Conference) on March 19.
Leading scorers Lauri Markkanen and John Collins have both been sidelined for the majority of that stretch, with Markkanen playing in just six games and Collins being available for just four since the All-Star break. Sixth man Jordan Clarkson appeared in just five games in March before being shut down for the season with plantar fasciitis.
In their absence, the Jazz are giving more minutes to young players like 2024 draft picks Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski. Collier recorded a 22-point, 10-assist double-double in Wednesday’s loss in Houston, while Filipowski has three double-doubles in his last six games.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Thomas Bryant
Jazz: G – Isaiah Collier, G – Collin Sexton, F – Brice Sensabaugh, F – Kyle Filipowski, C – Walker Kessler
Injury Report
Pacers: Tony Bradley – questionable (illness), Bennedict Mathurin – questionable (sore left calf), Isaiah Jackson – out (torn right Achilles tendon)
Jazz: TBA
Last Meeting
Feb. 3, 2025: The Pacers rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Jazz 112-111 in Utah. Indiana trailed 102-94 with five minutes to play, but surged ahead with a 9-0 run. The two teams traded the lead five times over the final 3:09, with Tyrese Haliburton’s 3-pointer with 59.6 seconds remaining putting the Pacers in front for good.
Pascal Siakam had a game-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the win. Haliburton added 18 points, while Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin each scored 13 off the bench.
John Collins had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, while Jordan Clarkson scored 21 points off the bench. Keyonte George flirted with a triple-double off the bench, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists.
Noteworthy
With a win on Friday, the Pacers would sweep the season series with the Jazz for the second time in the last four seasons.
Haliburton passed Hall of Famer Roger Brown for seventh place on the franchise’s all-time assists list on Wednesday. Haliburton now has 2,218 assists and counting as a Pacer.
Myles Turner needs six blocks to pass Erick Dampier (1,398 career blocks) for 46th place in NBA history and seven blocks to reach 1,400 career blocks.
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 (sideline reporter/host)
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANS DROP NIGHTCAP IN SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians stranded the game-tying runner on second base in the fifth inning en route to a 6-1 loss in Game 2 of a split doubleheader on Thursday at Victory Field. Indy won the opener via walk-off in eight innings, 7-6.
Following a one-out double by Christian Franklin in the fifth inning, Owen Caissie launched a triple into the right-field corner to plate the first run of the game in favor of Iowa (3-2). Caissie then came home on a Jonathon Long single to extend the lead, 2-0.
The Indians (1-3) broke up a shutout bid when, following a one-out walk to Bryce Johnson, Nick Yorke roped his third double of the day to tighten the deficit to one run. The I-Cubs took the run back in the sixth inning before putting up another three in the seventh.
Prospects Cade Horton and Braxton Ashcraft (L, 0-2) dueled to start the game, with both teams held scoreless until the fifth. The Indians (1-3) were held to one hit – a double by Matt Gorski – at the hands of Horton, who went 3.1 innings with four walks and six strikeouts.
Gavin Hollowell (W, 1-0) stranded Indy’s two doubles in scoring position in the fourth and fifth.
The six-game series continues on Friday night at Victory Field with a 6:35 PM ET first pitch. LHP Jordan Wicks (0-0, -.–) will take the mound for Iowa while Indianapolis has yet to name a starter.
INDY FUEL
INDY FUEL PIT STOP: WEEK 24
- INDY FUEL WEEK TWENTY RESULTS 2-2-0-0
- INDY FUEL OVERALL RECORD 29-29-4-4 (4th in Central Division)
GAME 61 – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 AT ADIRONDACK – 3-2 SOW
The Fuel met the Thunder in Glens Falls, New York last Wednesday night. The Fuel led 1-0 after the first period but the Thunder responded with a tying goal in the second. Both teams scored in the third and the game was sent to a shootout. Jarrett Lee shot last for the Fuel and was able to secure the win.
GAME 62 – FRIDAY, MARCH 28 AT ADIRONDACK – 3-0 L
The Fuel returned to Cool Insuring Arena in New York the following Friday and weren’t able to keep the winning streak alive. Despite out-shooting the Thunder 30-22, the Fuel were unable to get the puck behind the net.
GAME 63 – SATURDAY, MARCH 29 AT ADIRONDACK – 1-0 L
The Fuel finished their weekend against Adirondack with a loss. The Fuel fought hard but was unable to respond to an early goal in the first period.
GAME 64 – TUESDAY, APRIL 1 VS. TOLEDO – 3-2 SOW
The Fuel hosted the Toledo Walleye on Tuesday night in an effort to gain two points in the Central division standings and they did just that. After taking the Walleye to overtime, the Fuel won 3-2 in a four-round shootout.
ROSTER MOVES
- Lauri Sertti (D) signed SPC 03/22
- Owen Robinson (F) signed SPC 03/26
- Dakota Seaman (F) & Kale Howarth (F) released 04/01
- Michael Marchesan (F) claimed off waivers from Atlanta
- Kyle Maksimovich recalled to Rockford 04/02
OIL DROPS
- Kyle Maksimovich scored the lone two goals in regulation in the 3-2 shootout win in Adirondack.
- Jarrett Lee, Kevin Lynch, and Cam Hausinger all had shootout goals in the last week, which helped the Fuel to back-to-back shootout victories.
- Goaltender Ben Gaudreau had 27 saves and was 3 for 4 in the shootout win on Tuesday.
TEAM NOTES
- The Fuel still lead the league in road penalty killing with a 92% success rate.
- When scoring first, the Fuel are 20-5-3-3, which they did on Wednesday in Adirondack.
- The third period is the team’s best at +3 in goal differential.
- Due to scoring two home power play goals Tuesday, the team is now 17th in the league on the power play at home and 20th overall.
INDY FUEL WEEK 23 SCHEDULE
- GAME 64 – FRIDAY, APRIL 4 AT FORT WAYNE
- GAME 65 – SATURDAY, APRIL 5 VS FORT WAYNE
- GAME 66- WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 VS BLOOMINGTON
BROADCAST
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UPCOMING FAN EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS
Get ready for lots of fun at Fishers Event Center this season! Check out some of our upcoming promotions and special fan experiences!
- Saturday, April 5- Celebrate Made in America Night with the Indy Fuel. Presented by IBEW Local 481 and IN Army National Guard, come celebrate America with a hockey game and post-game autographs from select Fuel players!
- Wednesday, April 9 – It’s Hockey Happy Hour! Enjoy watching the Fuel with $5 16 oz Domestic and $6 Craft Beers along with post-game autographs with a few players.
- Saturday, April 11 – The Fuel wants to celebrate you! Join us for our last regular season home game of the season for our Fan Appreciation Night presented by Community Health Network and Bassett Services.
INDY ELEVEN
INDY ELEVEN TO HOST MIAMI FC IN U.S. OPEN CUP
CHICAGO (April 3, 2025) – Pairings, hosting scenarios, and broadcast details for the 16 contests comprising the Third
Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup have been announced on the heels of a draw conducted by U.S. Soccer
earlier today. The Third Round of U.S. Soccer’s national championship is set to take place April 15-16, with all matches
streaming live on Paramount+.
In all Third Round contests, 16 clubs from the Division II USL Championship will enter the tournament against a Second Round victor. That latter group includes 15 professional teams spanning the USL Championship (4), USL League One (9), and MLS NEXT Pro (2), in addition to El Farolito, which for a second year in a row is the last club standing from the amateur Open Division.
CBS Sports will provide live match coverage of the Open Cup across its linear and digital platforms, with every match
from the Third Round onward to the Oct. 1 Final streaming live on Paramount+ and select matches simulcasting on CBS
Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Third Round Pairings – 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Home teams listed first; visit the schedule section of ussoccer.com/us-open-cup for full details including venues and links
to broadcasts once available.
Tuesday, April 15
Columbus Crew 2 (NP) v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) | 6:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Louisville City FC (USLC) v. Loudoun United FC (USLC) | 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network
Charlotte Independence (USLL1) v. North Carolina FC (USLC) | 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Portland Hearts of Pine (USLL1) v. Rhode Island FC (USLC) | 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network
Charleston Battery (USLC) v. South Georgia Tormenta FC (USLL1) | 7:30 pm ET | Paramount+
Union Omaha (USLL1) v. San Antonio FC (USLC) | 8:00 pm ET | Paramount+
AV ALTA FC (USLL1) v. Orange County SC (USLC) | 10:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network
Tacoma Defiance (NP) v. Oakland Roots SC (USLC) | 10:30 pm ET | Paramount+
Wednesday, April 16
Detroit City FC (USLC) v. Westchester SC (USLL1) | 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+
FC Naples (USLL1) v. Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) | 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network
Indy Eleven (USLC) v. Miami FC (USLC) | 7:30 pm ET | Paramount+
FC Tulsa (USLC) v. Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) | 8:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) v. One Knoxville SC (USLL1) | 9:00 pm ET | Paramount+
New Mexico United (USLC) v. El Paso Locomotive (USLC) | 9:30 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network
Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) v. El Farolito (NPSL) | 10:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network
Las Vegas Lights (USLC) v. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USLL1) | 10:30 pm ET | Paramount+
Third Round Participants by League/Division
USL Championship (Div. II) (20): Charleston Battery, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Detroit City FC, El Paso
Locomotive FC, FC Tulsa, Indy Eleven, Las Vegas Lights FC, Loudoun United FC, Louisville City FC, Miami FC, New Mexico United, North Carolina FC, Oakland Roots SC, Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rhode Island FC, San Antonio FC, Sacramento Republic FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies
USL League One (Div. III) (9): AV ALTA FC, Charlotte Independence, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, FC Naples, One
Knoxville SC, Portland Hearts of Pine, South Georgia Tormenta FC, Union Omaha, Westchester SC
MLS NEXT Pro (Div. III) (2): Columbus Crew 2, Tacoma Defiance
Open Division (1): El Farolito (NPSL)
After the Second Round was completed, the teams in the Third Round were pooled geographically into groups of four,
with each team entering the tournament drawn against a team advancing from the Second Round. Further, the eight
seeded USL Championship teams (4 East, 4 West) entering in the Third Round were pre-designated as hosts, while the
eight lowest-seeded USL Championship teams entering were pre-designated as away teams.
Teams that did not apply to host were placed automatically into away slots, and instances where a logical geographic fit
did not exist were resolved by random selection. Groups were formed to avoid league schedule conflicts and allow two
rest days between league and Cup matches. If three or more teams/pairings were from the same proximity, pairings for
these teams were made by random selection. Any teams who are precluded from playing each other until the Final were
not paired.
About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Now in its 110th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned U.S. Soccer’s national champion since 1914. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and is open to professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
The 2025 U.S. Open Cup winner will earn a berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and have its name engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy – one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports – now on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas. The 2025 tournament features a total purse worth $1 million that includes a $600,000 award for the champion.
Los Angeles Football Club of MLS is the defending Champion. The 109th edition of the tournament concluded on September 25, 2024, with LAFC beating four-time Champions Sporting Kansas City 3-1 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles to become Open Cup Champions for the first time.
The official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is ussoccer.com/us-open-cup. Fans can also follow the competition
on X/Twitter and Instagram @OpenCup and Facebook @OfficialOpenCup.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (INDIANA TIES) TRANSFER PORTAL
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
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
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
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
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
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 BASEBALL
TAYLOR, DICKERSON MAKE GOLDEN SPIKES MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
CARY, N.C. – Halfway through the 2025 season, the Indiana Baseball team has two of the top-45 amateur baseball players in the country. Outfielders Devin Taylor and Korbyn Dickerson were listed on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball on Thursday (April 3) afternoon. The award is handed out annually to the best player in college baseball.
Taylor was on the original preseason list and is now joined by his outfielder counterpart, Dickerson. The two have combined for 23 home runs, 87 hits, 72 runs, 12 doubles and 79 RBIs through the first 29 games of the season. Both players have started all 29 games and have hit back-to-back in the order since the second weekend of the year.
After playing two seasons at Louisville, Dickerson made the jump into the transfer portal and landed in IU’s program with head coach Jeff Mercer. He’s completely taken off this season, turning into one of the leading candidates for Big Ten Player of the Year. Dickerson has the joint Big Ten lead in home runs (13) this season and is also top three in the conference in hits (45), RBIs (46) and runs scored (37).
Taylor – an All-American last season – is on pace to earn All-American honors again in 2025. He’s recorded his third-straight season with 10 home runs and is two blasts away from breaking the program record. He’s been a hit man at the plate with 42 base knocks. He also has the joint lead in the conference with 28 walks.
IU last had players on the Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List in 2014 when Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis both made the in-season update. Schwarber was picked in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft while Travis went on to be named Big Ten Player of the Year in the same season.
The award will name semifinalists on May 18th following the end of the regular season. They will cut down to a group of finalists before naming the winner of the award during the 2025 Men’s College World Series.
PURDUE WOMEN’S GOLF
NATASHA KIEL TABBED BIG TEN WOMEN’S GOLFER OF THE WEEK
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Fresh off leading Purdue Women’s Golf to a victory at the Coach Mo Classic, senior Natasha Kiel has been named a Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week, the league office announced Thursday afternoon. Kiel, earning medalist honors at the Coach Mo Classic for her third individual win of the season, shared the honors with Ohio State’s Kary Hollenbaugh and Northwestern’s Dianna Lee, who both won their respective tournaments this week as well.
Kiel became the second Boilermaker to collect the weekly accolade this season, joining Jasmine Kahler, who was the conference’s golfer of the week after her performance at the Briar’s Creek Invitational (March 9-11). The pair of Boilermakers gave Purdue multiple Big Ten Golfers of the Week in a single season for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
Along with helping the team capture its second win of the year, Kiel secured medalist honors for the third time this season. She finished 3-under through 54 holes at St. John’s Golf and Country Club, one stroke ahead of Western Kentucky’s Sydney Hackett. The senior led the field in par-3 scoring (-3) and par-4 scoring (-1), the only golfer in the 90-player field to play the par 4s under par throughout the tournament. Kiel’s 11 birdies over three rounds ranked second in the field to go along with her opening round hole-in-one that proved to be the difference.
Rising to No. 47 in the national rankings after her performance, Kiel became just the fourth Boilermaker in program history to win three times in a single season, joining Maria Hernandez (6; 2008-09), Paula Reto (4; 2012-13) and Aurora Kan (3; 2013-14). The New Hope, Pennsylvania, native started the season with a victory at the Boilermaker Classic before sharing medalist honors at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational to end the fall.
Kiel has been Purdue’s leader on the course all season long, pacing the team in stroke average (73.15), rounds of par-or-better (11), birdies (79) and rounds in the 60s (5).
Just days away, Kiel and the Boilermakers welcome 15 other teams to the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (April 6-7). Purdue hosts its third tournament of the season, the Boilermaker Spring Classic, in the final prep before the Big Ten Championships. The tournament begins Sunday morning with a 9 a.m. ET shotgun start.
PURDUE TRACK
BOILERMAKERS PREPARE FOR PEPSI FLORIDA RELAYS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Outdoor Track & Field heads back on the road to the Pepsi Florida Relays April 4-5. The Boilermakers’ sprints, jumps and throws will participate in the meet.
Men’s Notes
• Antoine Spencer opened the season with a wind-aided 10.13 in the 100m. When including wind-aided times, Spencer ranks fifth in the NCAA so far this season. He is set to make his outdoor 200m season debut.
• Grant Gogel began the outdoor season with a personal best 5.16m (16-11.00) in the pole vault to finish ninth at the USF Alumni Invitational.
• Leo Maxwell opened his season eighth at the USF Alumni Invitational in the hammer throw (60.30m / 197-10). He came into the season eighth in school history (64.12m / 210-04).
• Cameron Miller is scheduled to make his outdoor debut after he finished the indoor season third at nationals in the 200m. Miller is the outdoor 200m school record holder (20.25). He is scheduled to run the 100m at the Pepsi Florida Relays and would be the first open 100m of his collegiate career.
• The men’s 4x400m relay is scheduled for its first appearances of the outdoor season. The quartet of Brett Otterbacher, Miller, Connor Czajkowski and Nickens Lemba set the record last season in 3:03.72 to qualify for nationals. Miller, Czajkowski, Otterbacher and Spencer set the indoor school record on March 1 (3:04.95) and qualified for indoor nationals.
Women’s Notes
• Britannie Johnson is set for her second outdoor meet as a Boilermaker after she entered the record books twice in her debut. She had the No. 7 shot put (15.29m / 50-02.00) and No. 10 discus (51.12m / 167-08) marks in school history.
• Briannia Johnson entered the record book at No. 9 in the discus after she threw 51.79m (169-11). Her mark finished third at the USF Alumni Invitational.
• Nia Wilson started her season with the No. 7 100m time in school history (11.53). She finished fifth overall and was the top non-wind-aided time at the USF Alumni Invitational.
• Blessing Ogundiran opened her outdoor collegiate career in a wind-aided 11.39 in the 100m. She finished second at the USF Alumni Invitational.
• Zoe Sullivan, fresh off a Second Team All-American indoor campaign, is set to make her outdoor season debut this weekend. She ranks fifth in Purdue history in the 100m hurdles (13.37).
Next Up
Purdue sends its women’s heptathlon and men’s decathlon to the Bryan Clay Multis in Azusa, Calif. April 10-11.
PURDUE SOFTBALL
POLAR EARNS SOFTBALL AMERICA HONORS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Moriah Polar has been the named Softball America’s No. 16 outfielder in the nation heading into the month of April.
Polar has continued to make headlines during the 2025 season due to her continued stellar performances. She currently leads the Big Ten in batting average and hits, while ranking 6th and 5th in the nation, respectively. For stolen bases, Polar ranks 10th nationally, and is second in the Big Ten.
Polar showed out in Purdue’s most recent game, going 4-for-4 and helping the Boilers to take down. No. 20 Nebraska in the final game of the three-game series.
On the other side of the ball, Polar holds a .986 fielding percentage with 67 putouts, two assists, and just one error over the Boilermakers 34 games so far.
Polar and the Boilermakers take on Minnesota this weekend from Apr. 4-6 for their Big Ten home opener in West Lafayette.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SMITH, KAUFMAN-RENN TABBED TO CBS SPORTS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Consensus first-team All-American Braden Smith and first-team All-Big Ten performer Trey Kaufman-Renn were named to the CBS Sports All-America teams, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Smith is joined by Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Auburn’s Johni Broome, Texas Tech’s J.T. Toppin and Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., on the first team, while Kaufman-Renn was joined by Villanova’s Eric Dixon, Houston’s L.J. Cryer, St. John’s R.J. Luis and Tennessee’s Zakai Ziegler.
Purdue was the only team with two players mentioned on the three teams. Of the 15 players listed, only six could return in the 2025-26 season (Flagg, Smith, Toppin, P.J. Haggerty, Luis, Kaufman-Renn), although Flagg is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.
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. Kaufman-Renn was an honorable mention by the Associated Press.
The CBS Sports All-America team is not one of the four entities used for All-America status, therefore Kaufman-Renn is not officially an All-American.
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.
CBS Sports First-Team All-American – Braden Smith, Junior, Guard
A finalist for the Wooden Award, Smith is considered 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 22 career games of 10 or more assists are the most in Big Ten history. The 22, 10-assist games are the fourth most by a player in his junior season or younger in the last 20 years (Kay Felder – 32; 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.
CBS Sports Third-Team All-American – Trey Kaufman-Renn, Junior, Forward
Kaufman-Renn picks up his first “unofficial” All-American honor, being named third-team All-American by CBS Sports.
Named a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten honoree after averaging 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 59.5 percent from the field.
Became the 29th player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and shoot 59 percent from the field.
Was just the third Big Ten player in league history to reach those marks (1998 – Evan Eschmeyer, Northwestern; 2024 – Zach Edey, Purdue).
Was one of two players nationally in 2024-25 to average at least 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and shoot 59.0 percent from the field (South Dakota State’s Oscar Cluff).
Led the country in field goals made (292), becoming the second straight Boilermaker to lead the country in field goals made (336 – Zach Edey, 2024).
Scored in double-figures in 35 of 36 games and surpassed 20 points 19 times, including a pair of 30-point games against Wisconsin and USC.
Had 14 of his 19, 20-point games in the last 18 games of the season.
Ended his year ranked 10th in points in a season by a Purdue player with 723.
His 13.7 point scoring increase from last season to this season was the second-highest in the country and highest in school history.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
IRISH TO HOST PITT FOR 15TH ANNUAL STRIKEOUT CANCER WEEKEND
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – When the Notre Dame softball team hits the field tomorrow against Pittsburgh, they’ll be doing so in the 15th Annual Strikeout Cancer Weekend.
Since 2011, the Notre Dame softball team has hosted a Strikeout Cancer weekend, raising funds to assist local families with a child battling cancer. The team hosts a trivia night, silent auction, a home run derby and other promotions to raise funds to support the children and families affected.
The Irish come into the weekend have only lost one of their past five games. Notre Dame took the series last weekend against 22nd-ranked Virginia before tying Northwestern on the road on Tuesday, 10-10. Notre Dame is 16-20-1 overall and 4-8 in conference play this year.
Addison Amaral has continued to shine for the Irish. The sophomore shortstop leads the team in batting average (.388), hits (40), runs (19), doubles (8), home runs (5), runs batted in (29), on base percentage (.504), walks (22) and slugging (.612). She was named the 13th-best shortstop in the country heading into the month of April by Softball America on Wednesday. She’s hitting .417 at Melissa Cook Stadium this season.
In the circle, the Irish pitching staff is second in the ACC with 225 strikeouts. Micalea Kastor has 80, which is tied for 6th in the conference, while Kami Kamzik (60) and Brianne Weiss (52) are in the top-18 of the ACC. In her last 12 appearances, Weiss has a 3.04 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched. Three different pitchers have recorded a save this season – Shannon Becker, Kamzik, Weiss.
Game one of the series is now set for 4 p.m. tomorrow after getting moved up two hours due to potential weather in the area. Former head coach Deanna Gumpf will be honored tomorrow evening and will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
Game two will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday while the series finale on Sunday is set for a noon first pitch. All three games can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S LAX
GAME 8 PREVIEW: #7 SYRACUSE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 5 Notre Dame hits the road for another ranked ACC matchup, as it takes on No. 7 Syracuse in the JMA Wireless Dome at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 5. The game will air on ACCN.
GAME DETAILS
Location: Syracuse, New York | JMA Wireless Dome
Schedule: April 5 — 2 p.m. ET
TV: ACCN
Live Stats: FightingIrish.com
Twitter Updates: @NDlacrosse
For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame
THE SYRACUSE SERIES
• Saturday will be the 22nd meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Syracuse.
• With last season’s win, the Irish now lead the all-time series with a record of 11-10.
• Notre Dame has won 10 of the last 12 meetings between the two programs, including seven straight.
• The Irish and Orange have played six times over the last four seasons, with Notre Dame scoring at least 18 goals in five of the six meetings and 14 in all six.
• Notre Dame has won each of their last three trips to the dome by at least seven goals.
• The Irish used a balanced attack in last year’s win over the Orange, as 10 different players combined to score 14 goals in a 14-12 victory at Arlotta.
KAVANAGH LEADS THE ATTACK
• Chris Kavanagh picked up right where he left off to open the 2025 season, posting a career-high nine points (4G, 5A) to finish just one point shy of the program record held by his brother Pat.
• The senior leads the Irish in points this season with 35 off 20 goals and 15 assists.
• Kavanagh turned in the greatest statistical offensive season in Notre Dame history last year, setting the program record for points in a season with 81.
• The attackman totaled 44 goals and 37 assists during the 2024 season.
• Chris joined his brothers Matt (42G, 33A – 2015) and Pat (31G, 49A – 2024) as the only players in program history to record 30+ goals and assists in the same season.
• The Rockville Centre native earned NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player honors after a prolific four-game stretch in the tournament in 2024, recording 22 points off 14 goals and 8 assists.
• The attackman put an exclamation mark on his season with a 5-goal performance in the national title win over Maryland, tying the program record for goals in an NCAA tournament game.
• Kavanagh set the program record for points in an NCAA Tournament game against Georgetown in the quarterfinals, totaling eight points off five goals and three assists. The five goals tied the program record for most goals scored in an NCAA Tourney game.
• The senior has 211 points off 132 goals and 80 assists and currently ranks fourth in program history.
• Kavanagh not only paced Notre Dame’s offense in 2023 but his 46 goals ranked third all-time in program history for a single season, just three behind Randy Colley’s record of 49 goals set in 1995.
• The Rockville Centre, New York, native has scored a goal in 29 straight games and has recorded a point in 51 of 52 games in his career. Kavanagh has posted multiple points in 47 of 52 games in his career.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
• Despite losing two starting defensemen and standout goalie Liam Entenmann, Notre Dame has allowed only two of the seven teams it has faced this season to reach double-digit goals in a game and none have scored more than 11 goals in a game.
• Notre Dame is allowing just 8.43 goals per game this season, ranking ninth in the country.
• The Irish finished 2024 allowing just 8.94 goals per game, leading the country, despite playing six games against opponents that ranked in the top 15 in goals scored per game.
• Notre Dame held opponents to 10 or fewer goals in 12 of 17 games during the 2024 campaign, including seven of the last eight on the way to the title.
• The Irish limited the opposition to 12 or fewer goals in 16 of 17 outings last season.
• Preseason All-Americans Ben Ramsey, Will Donovan and Shawn Lyght each return to the defensive unit along with the addition of Greg Campisi from Harvard.
TAYLOR MADE
• Graduate student Jake Taylor is one of the great finishers in lacrosse, totaling 120 goals in his Fighting Irish career.
• The attackman scored seven goals in the season opener to become the 11th player in program history to reach the 100-goal milestone.
• In the 2025 ACC opener against Duke, Taylor scored five goals and added two assists to earn Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week and ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
• Taylor has 18 hat tricks in his Fighting Irish career and has recorded four hat tricks this season.
• The grad student is shooting 53.8 percent on the season, ranking third in the country.
• The Denver native finished the 2024 season with 41 goals on 83 shots, giving him a shooting percentage of .494 which ranked fourth in the country.
• Taylor scored one of the biggest goals in program history, sending the 2023 NCAA semifinal into overtime with a twister against Virignia in the final minute of regulation.
GREATEST SHOW ON TURF
• The Irish attack has been borderline unstoppable over the last couple of seasons, leading the country in goals per game in 2024 with an average of 15.65.
• The Blue and Gold has scored 109 goals through seven games this season, averaging 15.57 per game, the third best mark in the country.
• Notre Dame ranks second in the nation in points per game (24.86), second in shot percentage (.363) and third in assists per game (9.29).
• The Irish scored 24 goals in the season opener and recorded 19 assists to total 43 points, finishing just three points shy of the program record for points in a game.
• Notre Dame’s attack has really started to gel over the last two games, combining to score 36 goals in back-to-back wins over teams currently ranked in the top 15 in the major polls.
STRONG STARTS
• The Irish have dominated the opening 15 minutes of play throughout the season, outscoring opponents 34-14 over seven games.
• The 20-goal scoring margin is the largest for ND in any quarter during the 2025 campaign.
• Nineteen of the 34 goals have come from a trio of Irish player, as Jake Taylor leads the way with seven goals and Chris Kavanagh and Will Angrick have each added six in the opening frames.
DOMINATING THE DOT
• Senior FOGO Will Lynch has won 81-of-127 faceoffs this season for a win percentage of .638 along with 52 ground balls.
• Lynch is currently ranked sixth in the country for faceoff winning percentage and eighth in ground balls per game (7.43).
• The senior enters Saturday with 322 career ground balls, the most by any player in program history. Lynch set the record in the win over Georgetown, passing Billy Ahmuty (280 GBs – 1991-94) for the top spot.
• Lynch is coming off his best season in his Fighting Irish career, winning 61.2 percent of his faceoff attempts to lead the ACC and rank fourth in the country.
• The FOGO won 202-of 330 attempts and scooped up a team-high 113 ground balls.
• Over the four NCAA Tournament games Lynch was even better than his season average, winning 63-of-97 (64.9%).
• Lynch added a career-high four goals last season, including one in the ACC Tournament and one in the NCAA Tournament.
• Lynch was named to the All-ACC Team and to the ACC All-Tournament Team.
• The standout won over 50 percent of faceoffs in 12-of-16 games last season.
FAMILY STYLE
• Everyone is eating in the Irish attack this season, as 17 different players have recorded multiple points on the season.
• Eight Irish players have racked up double-digit points through seven games.
• The Irish have racked up 55 assists on the 95 goals with Chris Kavanagh leading the way with 11.
• In the win over Marquette, all three starting attackmen and all three starting midfielders finished with mulitple goals.
• Notre Dame’s midfield has accounted for 42 of 95 goals this season.
ANGRICK’S BREAKOUT SEASON
• Playing the best lacrosse of his career, senior Will Angrick already has set a career high for points in a season with 16.
• His 10 goals are a career high and his six assists are tied for his career high in a season.
• Angrick has recorded multiple points in five of seven games during the 2025 campaign, as has 2+ goals in four outings.
• The senior leads the Irish midfield in scoring with 10 goals.
LYGHTS OUT
• It didn’t take long for Shawn Lyght to make a name for himself in the college lacrosse world, as he cemented himself as one of the top cover defenseman in the country during his 2024 freshman season.
• Lyght consistently drew the No. 1 option for the opposing attack throughout the season.
• The defenseman held Connor Shellenberger to just one goal between the two matchups, both resulting in wins and he limited Joey Spallina to just one point in their only matchup of the year.
• The sophomore opened the 2025 season against Cleveland State holding his main defensive assignment to zero points.
• Lyght was the only sophmore to earn first team All-America status in the Inside Lacrosse preseason honors.
FROM THE GRIDIRON TO THE LACROSSE FIELD
• Three Notre Dame lacrosse players on the 2025 squad also suited up for the football team in the fall, as Jordan Faison, Tyler Buchner and Matt Jeffery are both dual-sport athletes.
• Faison finished the season with 30 receptions for 356 yards and a TD, including a seven-catch, 89-yard performance in the first round of the College Football Playoff win against IU.
• Buchner was used in trick plays on special teams, picking up a first down on a fake FG against GT and completing a 23-yard pass on a fake punt against USC.
• Jeffery played in three games on special teams during his freshman season, seeing the field against Purdue, Stanford and Navy.
• All three have seen action during the 2025 lacrosse season, as Buchner has played in five games at SSDM and Faison and Jeffery made their debuts in the win at Georgetown.
BUTLER SOFTBALL
BUTLER SOFTBALL TRAVELS TO UCONN FOR KEY BIG EAST SERIES
BIG EAST Series: UConn
DATE: Friday-Sunday, April 4-6
LOCATION: Storrs, Conn. / Burrill Field
LIVE STATS: butlersports.com
LIVE VIDEO: FloSports
The Butler softball team travels to UConn this weekend for a three-game series between teams currently sitting second and third in the BIG EAST standings. The original schedule has been altered due to weather concerns. Two games will now be played on Friday, beginning at 3 p.m., and the third game will be played on Sunday with first pitch at 12:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs (20-12, 9-3 BIG EAST) are coming off a series sweep of Georgetown and a midweek loss to Indiana State. The Huskies (19-12, 7-2 BIG EAST) most recently defeated Boston College after going 2-1 in a conference series at Creighton.
Bulldog Bits
(through games 3/30/25)
Cate Lehner leads the BIG EAST (10th nationally) with 25 stolen bases. She is third in the conference (51st) with 46 hits and with a .407 batting average.
Makena Alexander is fifth in the BIG EAST with 8 home runs.
Ella White is second in the BIG EAST (30th nationally) with 0.81 walks per game. She is third in the conference with a .500 on base percentage.
Gwen Baker is fourth in the BIG EAST (82nd nationally) with 9 wins.
(as of 3-30-25) Butler leads all BIG EAST teams in batting average (.309), stolen bases (59), and runners caught stealing (9).
vs. Georgetown
With one run scored in game two, Ella White now has 116 career runs scored. This breaks the program record as she now sits atop Butler’s All-Time list for career runs scored.
Sydney Carter used a triple and a double to drive in 3 of Butler’s 6 total runs in the game 1 and game 3 come-from-behind wins.
Cate Lehner’s two stolen bases in game two give her 25 this season and 68 in her career. She is now second on Butler’s All-Time list for career stolen bases. (Jenna Foreman – 107)
Katie Petran earned a save in game 2 and a complete-game victory in game 3.
After picking up a save and a complete-game victory in the series vs. Georgetown, Katie Petran was recognized on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
SCOUTING UCONN (19-12, 7-2 BIG EAST)
Series- UConn leads, 13-2
2024 (Indianapolis): UConn 9, Butler 0 | UConn 10, Butler 8 | Butler 2, UConn 1
2023 (Storrs, Conn.): UConn 2, Butler 1 | UConn 9, Butler 1 (6 in.) | UConn 3, Butler 2
2022 (BIG EAST): UConn 4, Butler 1
2022 (Indianapolis): Butler 6, UConn 2 | UConn 5, Butler 0 | UConn 3, Butler 0
BIG EAST Series – Villanova: L, 2-10 (6 in.) | W, 6-3 | W, 9-8 // Seton Hall: W, 7-0 | W, 6-2 | W, 17-9 (6 in.) //
Creighton: L, 6-7 | W, 22-18 | W, 8-0 (5 in.)
Additional wins include: Middle Tennessee, Mercer, Boston College, North Florida, and Bowling Green
Additional losses include: #7 Tennessee (3), Ohio State, Wisconsin, Ohio
UConn vs. (opponents) Butler
runs: 196-165 158
hits: 267-223 257
RBI: 187-150 142
SB: 47-23 61
ERA: 4.90-5.11 3.42
Batting Leaders:
#11 Kaitlyn Breslin (.375) 11HR, 31RBI
#17 Grace Jenkins (.373) 38H, 11-2B, 9HR, 39RBI
#10 Rosie Garcia (.373) 7-2B, 19RBI
#14 Lexi Hastings (.360) 41H, 18SB
Pitching Leaders:
#00 Payton Kinney (6-2) 2.04 ERA, 44K
#7 Hope Jenkins (5-2) 4.80 ERA, 47K
#24 Sydnee Koosh (6-7) 6.16 ERA, 31K
BUTLER BASEBALL
DAWGS SET TO TAKE ON XAVIER IN FIRST CONFERENCE PLAY SERIES OF THE SEASON
This weekend the Butler baseball team will make the short trip to Cincinnati Ohio to take on Xavier in their first conference series of the season. The Bulldogs and Musketeers will clash in a three game series starting Friday morning.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, April 4: Doubleheader starting at 10AM
Saturday, April 5: 10AM
Sunday, April 6: Scheduled off day.
With possible rain in the forecast the teams will play a doubleheader on Friday and a game on Saturday. If a game or games are rained out on either day, the teams will use Sunday to finish the series.
Scouting Xavier
The Musketeers are 15-14 on the season and 6-1 on their home field. Last weekend, they took two of three against Uconn, which was their first conference series of the season.
Graduate student Nolan Tucker leads the team in batting average, slugging and ops. He is hitting .327 on the year, slugging .538, and has an ops of .960. In their last game Tuesday afternoon against Wright State, Tucker went 2-4 with a homer. That was his 3rd bomb of the season. Junior Isaac Wachsmann leads the team in home runs with 6. Wachsmann also has driven in 19 runs on the season, which is tied for second most on the team.
Junior pitcher Ben Weber will come into the series against the Dawgs with a 3.63 ERA and a record of 3-2. Last Saturday against Uconn Weber threw 5.1 innings and picked up the win. Sophomore Ryan Piech has made 7 starts for Xavier so far this season and has turned in a 2-1 record with a 5.06 ERA. Piech’s last outing was last Friday against Uconn where he pitched 5 innings giving up only 1 run. He also struck out 7 batters in that appearance, bringing his strikeout total on the season to 36, which leads the team.
About Butler
The Bulldogs are now 10-18 on the season and 7-17 away from Bulldog Park. After taking 3 of 4 from Northern Illinois over the weekend the Dawgs dropped their only midweek game of the week against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday afternoon.
In the game against Eastern, Jack Moroknek picked up two more hits and another RBI on the season, bringing his RBI total to 37 on the season which leads the team. Moroknek’s average now sits at .443. Senior AJ Solomon continued to stay the course Tuesday afternoon, he was 1 for 2 with a run scored and 3 walks. Tuesday’s game brought Solomons average to .365 and his on base percentage to .500.
Ryan Drumm Stays Hot
After hitting .409 last week with two home runs and 11 runs scored and receiving BIG EAST weekly honor roll honors, Ryan Drumm picked up another hit and another run scored in Tuesday’s matchup against Eastern. Drumm has his average up to .303 and has scored 28 runs which is second most on the team.
Best in the BIG EAST
As the Dawgs enter BIG EAST play, Butler leads the conference in batting average (.313), doubles (55), home runs (43), and slugging percentage (.535).
Bulldog Bites
AJ Solomon has reached base safely in 16-straight games
Solomon has scored at least 1 run in the past 5 games
Jack Moroknek has 18 multi-hit games this year and 9 games with multiple RBI’s
So far on the season as a team the Dawgs are hitting .312 and slugging .527
The Dawgs have had 10+ hits in their last 5 games
Nate Rosser pitched a 7-inning 116 pitches thrown complete game last weekend against Northern Illinois
Rosser is 1-0 on the season and is pitching to a 3.43 ERA
Jack Bello has 17 multi-hit games on the season
Tommy Townsend had his 8th multi-hit game on the season Tuesday against Eastern Illinois
Bello has 6 home runs on the year, which is tied for second on the team with Townsend
With a hit in the Tuesday game vs Eastern Illinois Ryan Drumm extended his hitting streak to 10 games
Marcus Goodpaster leads the Dawgs in Strikeouts with 22
Through 28 games Butler has 7 hitters hitting over .300 on the season
Last season the Dawgs were 5-16 in conference play
Jack Moroknek was named a PerfectGameUSA Midseason Second Team All-American earlier in the week
As of April 1st Moroknek is 3rd in the country in slugging percentage (.899)
BIG EAST STANDINGS
Xavier 15-14, 2-1
Uconn 12-15, 2-1
Creighton 17-7
Villanova 15-12
St John’s 12-13
Seton Hall 12-17
Georgetown 10-18
Butler 10-18
Up Next
Butler will travel to Evansville for a Tuesday mid-week matchup on April 8th. Then next weekend the Dawgs will host the Villanova Wildcats.
IU INDY SOFTBALL
IU INDY TRAVELS NORTH TO FACE THE PHOENIX
GREEN BAY, Wisc. – The IU Indy softball team heads into week four of conference play with a three-game series (April 4-5) at Green Bay. IU Indy sits fifth in the Horizon League standings after three weeks of play.
The Jaguars are coming off a 1-2 weekend against Robert Morris. IU Indy was able to take game one before falling in the last two games of the series.
Kendal Calvert led the way for the IU Indy once again on the hitting side. Calvert collected four hits over the three-game span. Molly Kable and Kennedy Cowan followed her with three hits each. Cowan had a standout performance in game one as she collected three hits in five at bats, scoring one run. Callie Dickerson is also a key mention for game one as she tallied up two hits with two RBI.
Lily Roush (3-6) earned her third win on the year in game one. Roush threw a complete game tossing all 10 innings, striking out six and allowing six runs on nine hits.
IU Indy will begin play against the Phoenix on Friday, April 4 at 3:00 PM ET.
The Jags will then face Green Bay on Saturday, April 5 to wrap up the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM ET.
BALL STATE TRACK
TRACK AND FIELD PREPARES FOR CHERRY BLOSSOM INVITATIONAL
MUNCIE, Ind. – This Friday (Apr. 4), Ball State track and field will head to Athens, Ohio for Ohio University’s Cherry Blossom Invitational. The meet will start at 11 a.m. ET with the hammer throw.
Last Time Out:
In the team’s last competition, the Cardinals had multiple top finishers and personal bests. The jumpers had three strong performances, beginning with Kenli Nettles third-place personal best finish in the long jump. In the triple jump, Brenna Lehrke recorded 11.61 meters for second place. Rounding out the jump events, Malina Miller won the high jump after hitting a season best mark at 1.72 meters.
On the track, the 4×100-meter relay team of Moriah Johnson, Alana Springer, Jenna Oriani and Kylee Marshall opened with a first-place finish, crossing the finish line with a time of 45.58.
Springer continued her success, winning the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.80 and taking third in the 100-meter dash in 11.66. Close behind in the 200 was Oriani, who finished second with a time of 24.29.
Emma Potter also finished the day with a victory, winning the 400-meter dash with a personal best time of 54.91.
Up Next:
Next weekend the Cardinals will host the 2025 We Fly Challenge at the Briner Sports Complex track on campus. Events will start on Friday (Apr. 11) at 9:30 a.m. with field events. Senior day will be on Saturday (Apr. 12), with recognition starting at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Ball State Individual Entries at Cherry Blossom Invitational:
Friday
Field Events
11:00 a.m. Hammer Throw
*Shot Put to follow
1:00 p.m. Long Jump
2:00 p.m. High Jump
3:00 p.m. Discus
*Javelin to follow
5:00 p.m. Triple Jump
Track Events
12:00 p.m. 100m Hurdles Preliminaries
12:30 p.m. 100m Preliminaries
1:30 p.m. 4x100m Relay
2:20 p.m. 400m
2:50 p.m. 100m Hurdles Finals
3:00 p.m. 100m Finals
3:15 p.m. 800m
4:10 p.m. 200m
5:00 p.m. 5k
5:45 p.m. 4x400m Relay
BALL STATE BASEBALL
BASEBALL STARTING SERIES AT EMU WITH 11 AM DOUBLEHEADER FRIDAY
Series Finale Set for 2 PM on Saturday
The Ball State baseball team is set to begin a three-game series at Eastern Michigan with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Friday.
The Cardinals (20-10, 7-2 Mid-American Conference) and Eagles (13-12, 8-4 MAC) are scheduled to conclude the set at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Game times were adjusted due to projected inclement weather later on in the weekend.
Links to the video streams and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page.
Ball State is coming off a 14-1 run-rule win over Bellarmine on Tuesday afternoon in seven innings after taking two of three at Akron last weekend for the third straight series win to begin MAC play.
Eastern Michigan most recently fell 13-2 to Michigan on Tuesday, but the Eagles took the final two games of a series at Ohio over the weekend to pick up their eighth conference win of the year. Head coach Robbie Britt is one win away from equaling his MAC wins from his first season in 2024 already, as the Eagles went 9-21 in conference play last year.
Ball State and Eastern have both played series with Akron and Western Michigan, who the Eagles swept and took two of three games from, respectively.
The Eagles lead the league and rank No. 27 nationally in both batting average (.313) and being hit by a pitch (55), while their scoring offense (9.0 runs per game, No. 28 in NCAA Division I) and on base percentage (.420) are both second among MAC teams.
Senior outfielder Logan Hugo paces EMU in OPS (1.116), doubles (11, No. 2 in the MAC) and homers (seven), while junior infielder Devan Zirwas is the team leader in batting average (.378), runs scored (26) and RBI (32) so far this year. Senior right-handed pitcher Tyler Kapa’s 11.7 strikeout per nine innings pitched is tops in the conference.
After the trip to Ypsilanti, the next game for the Cardinals is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Indiana.
DUAL ACES: The duo of Keegan Johnson and Jacob Hartlaub have solidified their status as two of the top starting pitchers in the Mid-American Conference as they stand at or near the top of the MAC leaderboards in multiple categories.
Johnson is second in the league in ERA (2.95), WHIP (1.13) and fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.13) while Hartlaub is second in strikeouts (40) and third in ERA (3.20) among qualifiers so far this year. Johnson’s five wins are the most in the league and tied for eighth nationally, while Hartlaub’s four winning decisions slot him at 3rd in the MAC.
GREGO HITTING HIS STRIDE: Junior Dylan Grego was named the MAC Co-Player of the Week on Monday after having multiple hits, including a home run, and at least three RBI in each game of the series last weekend at Akron.
The everyday shortstop is the league leader with 45 hits while batting .388 with an 1.103 OPS through 30 games.
PICKING UP THE POWER: Ball State is the conference leader with 43 home runs which ranks No. 29 nationally.
Blake Bevis leads the team with eight home runs as Grego and Alex Richter follow in second at seven each.
CLEAN FIELDING AND TURNING TWO: The Cardinals enter the weekend ranking fifth in the country with a .986 fielding percentage.
Ball State has committed 14 errors in 1,041 opportunities this year through the first 30 games. Ball State is sixth nationally in double plays turned at 28.
BIG DEBUT FOR BRAYDEN: True freshman Brayden Huebner made a splash in his collegiate debut, tripling home a run in the second inning and finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday afternoon’s 14-1 win over Bellarmine.
The infielder played second base in his first action with the Cardinals. Huebner is now tied with John Colligan for hits by a Ball State freshman this season.
RICHTER REACHES BASE: Senior Alex Richter has been hit by a pitch 15 times this year, which leads the MAC and ranks No. 8 in NCAA Division I.
The third baseman is third in the conference with 23 walks and reaches base at a .452 clip.
SITTING DOWN THE KNIGHTS: The Ball State pitching staff surrendered just one run for the third time this season when the Cardinals limited Bellarmine to the single tally and only two hits in Tuesday’s win.
Evan Shapiro struck out four in back-to-back perfect innings to be credited with the win, while Garrett Harker, Will Jacobson and Brendan Garza followed that up with shutout frames to close out the midweek win.
CLOSE SERIES BETWEEN THE CARDINALS AND EAGLES: Eastern Michigan took two of three games last March in Muncie to get within a game of the Cardinals in the all-time series between the MAC foes.
Ball State leads the head-to-head history 86-85-1 against the Eagles. The Cardinals swept a three-game set the last time the two programs met in Ypsilanti (2023).
BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WELCOMES ANISS TAGAYI TO 2025-26 ROSTER
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State women’s basketball head coach Brady Sallee has announced the addition of Aniss Tagayi to the Cardinals’ 2025-26 roster.
“Aniss is such a big addition to this program,” Sallee said. “She is an elite athlete that excels in the open floor offensively and can change the game on the defensive end. Her experience at the highest level of basketball in Europe will have her ready to compete right away ! She is a perfect fit for our program and can’t wait to see her in a Cardinal uniform.”
Tagayi, a native of Montpellier, Hérault, France, has represented her country on the French national team. Tagayi became the U18F European Champion recently, defeating Spain 80-70 in the Euro final.
In 2023-24, Tagayi completed a highly decorated season as a U18 Women’s French Cup Finalist, U20 French Champion and the 2024 U18 Women’s European Champion. She currently plays with Montpellier playing in the National Women’s 1st division.
Tagayi started playing basketball at the FOP (Fronton Olympique Piscénois) at the age of 10 in the U11F category, then elevated in BLMA (Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration) and has had a successful European career since her arrival.
Tagayi will join early signee Brooke Winchester (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community High School) this fall at Ball State.
INDIANA STATE TRACK
JOE WALKER INVITATIONAL ON DECK FOR SYCAMORE TRACK AND FIELD
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State takes part in its first road meet of the 2025 outdoor season Friday and Saturday, as the Sycamores travel south for the Joe Walker Invitational in Oxford, Mississippi.
Friday’s first events for the Sycamores will take place at 1 p.m., while Saturday’s proceedings for the Blue and White kick off at noon.
Action from both days at Prefontaine Stadium will be streamed on SEC Network +, which is available through the ESPN app and WatchESPN for those with the SEC Network in their TV package.
Who’s In The Field?
Joining Indiana State and meet host Ole Miss in this weekend’s Joe Walker Invitational Field are Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Christian Brothers, Illinois State, Jacksonville State, Marian (Ind.), Memphis, Mississippi College, New Orleans, North Alabama, Ouachita Baptist, Samford, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Truett-McConnell, UT Martin, Vanderbilt, and Western Kentucky.
Last Time Out
Indiana State opened its 2025 outdoor season on a high note Saturday, earning 16 first-place finishes at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational at the Gibson Track and Field Complex.
Lillian Gibbs reset her own school record in the javelin, while Noah Bolt (discus and hammer throw), Brittney Burak (10,000m), Kamilla Gibson (3000m steeplechase), Hadley Gradolf (10,000m) and Ivan Weaver (400m) all hit program top-10 marks in the Trees’ home-opening outdoor meet. Janiya Bowman (100m) and Casey Hood Jr. (200m) also set all-conditions program top-10 marks.
Indiana State placed first as a team on both the men’s and women’s side. The Sycamores racked up 233 points on the men’s side, finishing 44.5 points ahead of second-place Marian (Ind.). Indiana State also earned 208 points on the women’s side, 99.5 more than second-place Ball State.
Going The Distance
Indiana State competed in the 10,000m run in the outdoor season-opening Pacesetter Sports Invitational, and the Sycamores didn’t disappoint in the event. Brittney Burak (35:32.69) and Hadley Gradolf (36:31.71) both ran times which rank in the top 10 in program history in the event, with Burak sitting second all-time and Gradolf currently 10th in school history.
Burak, Gradolf, Robyn Schemel and Cami Farmer make up an Indiana State 10,000m group which ranks No. 6 in the nation in this week’s USTFCCCA #EventSquad rankings, with all four making their event debut last week.
Not to be outdone, the Sycamores also went 1-2-3 in the men’s 10,000m run, led by Layton Hall with a career-best time of 31:43.21. Hall shaved more than 10 seconds off his previous best in the event, which he ran at Augustana (Ill.) in 2023. Parker Mimbela (32:11.22) and Ian Gadberry (32:39.08) rounded out the top three on the men’s side.
Grip It And Rip It
Indiana State’s throwers started their season on a high note, with three different Sycamore program top-10 marks set during the opening weekend of the 2025 outdoor campaign. Noah Bolt was responsible for two of those marks as he moved up to fifth in program history in the discus (56.00m/183-8) and sixth in the hammer throw (61.10m/200-5).
Lillian Gibbs also broke her own school record in the javelin at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational with her mark of 45.82m (150-4), breaking her previous best of 45.32m (148-8) which was set at Illinois last season.
Bolt (discus), Gibbs (javelin), Olivia Marshall (shot put) and Wyatt Puff (shot put) all earned first-place finishes in throws events at the season opener. In addition, Bolt (discus and hammer), Gibbs (javelin) and Puff (shot put) all currently occupy NCAA East Qualifying spots in their events.
Hurdle Crew Coming Through
Indiana State has a storied tradition when it comes to the hurdles, and this season’s start proved no different. Rachel Mehringer, the Sycamores’ program record holder in the 60m and 100m hurdles, opened her outdoor season with a commanding 13.54 in the 100m hurdles, finishing nearly a half-second ahead of everyone else in the field.
The Sycamores also had the top four 110m hurdles times on the men’s side, with defending conference champion Collin Forrest leading the way at 14.24. David Carnell (14.55) and Parker Doyle (14.57) rounded out the top three for the Trees, while Graham West also added an all-conditions career-best time of 14.73 in the event.
Mehringer and Forrest both rank in the top 40 in NCAA East Qualifying, with Mehringer’s time also ranking in the top 40 nationally this season.
Career-Best Weekend
Indiana State sophomore Janiya Bowman could not have asked for a better start to her 2025 outdoor season, setting career-best marks in both the long jump and 100m. Bowman’s wind-legal long jump mark of 5.95m (19-6.25) ranks within the top 15 in program history. She also ran a 100m time of 11.51, the fifth-fastest all-conditions time in the event in program history.
Bowman currently occupies NCAA East Qualifying spots in both events, as she ranks 18th in the 100m and 33rd in the long jump. In addition to her accolades to start the 2025 season, she also ranks in the top 10 in program history in the 200m (23.93, set at the 2024 MVC Outdoor Championships).
Back To The ‘Sip
Indiana State is no stranger to Oxford, as this season marks the eighth straight that the Sycamores have competed in an outdoor meet at Ole Miss. That stretch doesn’t include the canceled 2020 outdoor season, in which the Sycamores were also schedule to travel to Ole Miss.
Will Staggs broke the outdoor school record in the pole vault last season at the Ole Miss Classic, the first of three times that he broke the program record in the event last season. Elias Foor set program top-10 marks in the discus and hammer throw last season in Oxford to begin his All-America campaign, while Logan Pietrzak and Jaden Smith also added first-place finishes in the steeplechase and triple jump, respectively.
Foor (men’s field) and Pietrzak (men’s track) both earned MVC Athlete of the Week honors for their performances at Prefontaine Stadium
Honoring A Legend
The Indiana State University Athletic Department has announced the Gibson Track & Field Complex will now honor John McNichols by naming the John McNichols Memorial Track after the legendary Sycamore Hall of Famer. The Sycamores made the announcement in October following the passage of a vote by the Indiana State Board of Trustees.
McNichols, who led the Sycamore cross country/track and field programs from 1983 until his death in 2016, guided the Blue and White to 38 MVC Championship titles while winning 23 MVC Coach of the Year honors. He coached 15 NCAA Track National Champions, 112 All-Americans, 173 NCAA Track National Qualifiers and 13 NCAA Cross Country National qualifiers. He oversaw the design, development and construction of the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course which has hosted 13 NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships.
The John McNichols Memorial Track will officially be dedicated April 17-19 at the Gibson Invitational, which will also serve as Alumni Weekend for Indiana State.
Up Next
Indiana State continues its southern swing at the Crimson Tide Invitational April 11-12 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
INDIANA STATE CONTINUES MISSOURI VALLEY PLAY WITH WEEKEND SERIES AT BELMONT
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana state is back on the road this weekend as the Sycamores head to Nashville, Tenn. and E.S. Rose Park for a three-game weekend series at Belmont over April 4-6. All three games are projected to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
The weekend series marks just the second time in program history Indiana State heads to Nashville to take on Belmont with the Bruins joining the league back in 2023. The Sycamores swept the previous series at E.S. Rose Park back in the 2023 season over the April 14-16 weekend as a part of the team’s 14-game winning streak.
The Sycamores (14-14, 4-2) enter the weekend series sitting tied for third in the Missouri Valley Conference standings after winning weekend series against Valparaiso and at UIC. Indiana State is tied with Evansville and Illinois State, while trailing leaders Missouri State (5-1) and Southern Illinois (5-1) by one game.
Recapping the Midweek
Indiana State utilized timely hitting, patience at the plate, and strong relief outings from Jack Armstrong and Colby Morse to take Tuesday night’s midweek contest at SIUE, 12-5.
The Sycamores seized control of the contest early as Indiana State had runners on base often over the opening frames. Jeremy Martinez, Jackson Taylor, and Keegan Garis all drove in runs over the first three innings, before the Indiana State hitters started to work the count against the SIUE pitching staff.
Indiana State drew five bases-loaded walks over the course of the contest on their way to drawing 14 walks against the Cougars’ pitching staff. Eli Gipson drew a season-high four walks in the contest, while four additional Sycamores had multiple walks in the game as Indiana State steadily built a commanding lead in the game.
Emil Estrella drew his first collegiate start on the mound and went 2.0 innings allowing one hit and one run, while walking three and strikeout out two. He turned the ball over to Jack Armstrong (2-0) in the bottom of the third inning and the junior right-hander delivered another standout performance on the mound.
Pena, Weston Fulk, Garis, and Garcia all had multi-hit games on Tuesday night as the Sycamores connected on 11 hits in the win. Fulk added a pair of doubles, while four different Indiana State players recorded a stolen base.
Conference Play
Jackson Taylor leads the Indiana State offensive efforts over the first two conference weekend as the redshirt junior infielder is hitting at a .409 clip with a team-high nine hits, two doubles, and three stolen bases. Keegan Garis (.364), Carlos Pena (.364), and Jeremy Martinez (.353) are also hitting above the .300 mark in conference competition boosting a Sycamore offense hitting .286 overall from the plate in the MVC.
The Sycamores’ power bats have come alive in conference competition with 23 of the team’s 57 hits going for extra bases over the six games. Garis has been the major proponent of the power swing with a team-high four home runs and 12 RBIs, while Carter Beck has added a pair of home runs, two doubles, and eight RBIs. Elip Gipson has also been effective with eight RBIs in conference play while also playing solid defense. Nomar Garcia is the team leader with eight runs scored.
The Indiana State pitching staff remains one of the best in the Missouri Valley this year as the Sycamores sit second in conference play in ERA (4.50), while leading the Valley in opponent batting average (.237). The Sycamores are third in the conference in strikeouts (51).
Gavin Morris (2-0, 0.00 ERA) and Breyllin Suriel (0-1, 0.79 ERA) are among the conference ERA, opponent batting average, and strikeout leaders through the first two weekends of the season. The duo are 1-2 in opponent batting average with Morris at .103 and Suriel at .125, while Suriel leads the MVC in strikeouts with 16. Carson Seeman (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has also kept the opposition scoreless in conference play over two appearances on the mound.
Ty Brooks (1-0, 3.38 ERA) and Max McEwen (0-1, 8.64 ERA) have been in the weekend rotation over the first two weeks with Brooks siting second on the team in innings pitched (10.2), while McEwen is second in strikeouts (11).
Season Overall
Carlos Pena (.346) continues to pace the Sycamore offense at the plate as the senior infielder/outfielder leads the Sycamores in hits (36) and doubles (9), while sitting among the team leaders in RBIs (26), runs (21), and slugging percentage (.596). Jackson Taylor (.333) has seen his average climb above the .300 mark over the last few weeks, while Keegan Garis (.330) is also hitting above the .300 mark with a team-high nine home runs, 28 runs scored, and a .681 slugging percentage.
Eli Gipson (.284) and Carter Beck (.274) have been atop the lineup consistently throughout the course of the 2025 season. Beck is the team leader with 28 RBIs while sitting second on the team with 31 hits, while Gipson has posted a .417 on-base percentage while lining up at both shortstop and third base.
The Indiana State pitching staff has combined to post a 5.68 team ERA on the season over 239.1 innings played. Seventeen different arms have taken the mound combining for a 192:120 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .263 opponent batting average.
Jack Armstrong (2-0, 3.78 ERA) has been among the team leaders on the mound this season, while Aaron Moss (1-0, 6.19 ERA), Carson Seeman (0-0, 5.71 ERA), Colby Morse (2-1, 4.97 ERA), and Gavin Morris (4-2, 4.44 ERA) have all made multiple appearances and could be in play on the mound in the weekend.
Scouting Belmont
Belmont enters the week with a 10-19 record and 2-4 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play prior to their Wednesday contest against Trevecca Nazarene. The Bruins have dropped six of their last eight games including series to Illinois State and Missouri State, while picking up the wins in the middle games of both weekend series.
Belmont was picked tied for eighth overall in the Missouri Valley preseason coaches poll with the Bruins recording 38 total points to finish in a tie with Bradley. The Bruins did not have a player recognized on the preseason MVC All-Conference team.
Pete Daniel is one of three Belmont players hitting above the .300 mark on the season with a team-high .376 batting average. The Bruins’ infielder paces Belmont with a team-high 41 hits and 10 doubles, while adding 11 stolen bases on the year. Ty Allen (.324) and Landon Godsey (.302) are also hitting above .300 on the season with Allen connecting on seven home runs with 30 RBIs. Mike Sprockett (.273) is the team’s power bat with nine home runs on the season.
Joe Ruzicka (2-1, 5.34 ERA), Jake Timbes (1-3, 6.46 ERA), and Zach Hernandez (0-2, 7.82 ERA) have been among the team’s primary starters over the season with Ruzicka pacing the way in innings pitched (30.1), while sitting second in strikeouts (26). The Bruins have posted a team 7.63 ERA over 236.0 innings with a 249:158 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Belmont is also allowing opponents to hit .286 from the plate.
Series History
Indiana State leads the all-time series against Belmont with a 9-0 record over the Bruins dating back to the inaugural contest in the 2014 season. The Sycamores have swept each of the weekend series against Belmont over the last two seasons, while adding a win in the 2023 MVC Baseball Championships.
The Sycamores claimed the weekend series in Nashville back in the 2023 season by scores of 2-1, 10-2, and 5-3 in the first MVC matchups between the two programs. The Sycamores are 5-0 all-time against the Bruins in Nashville.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S GOLF
MASTODON MEN’S GOLF HEADS TO BLOOMINGTON FOR HOOSIER COLLEGIATE
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf will visit Bloomington, Indiana for the Hoosier Collegiate this weekend (April 5-6).
Event: Hoosier Collegiate
Host: Indiana
When: April 5-6
Where: Bloomington, Ind.
Course: The Pfau Course
Format: Play 5, take 4
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,355 yards
Live Results: Link
Meet the Field
Butler, Chattanooga, DePaul, Evansville, Indiana, IU Indy, Michigan, Murray State, Northwestern (individuals only), Purdue Fort Wayne, Southern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Valparaiso, VCU.
About the Course
The Pfau Course is located on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Designed by highly-acclaimed architect Steve Smyers and two-time major winner and Hoosier native Fuzzy Zoeller, the course offers a unique, world-class layout that is set in the natural beauty of southern Indiana. Featuring a state-of-the-art comprehensive short game practice area and two driving range areas, The Pfau Course offers the finest practice facilities in the area to develop your game. We look forward to welcoming you.
Mastodon Lineup
Nick Holder, Brock Reschly, Nick Bellush, AJ Agnew and Cody Coleman will compete for the team score.
Simply The Best!
Purdue Fort Wayne had four golfers shoot their career-best score at the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational. Brock Reschly and Codey Coleman both had rounds of 67, while Julian Dugan had a 71 and Jarred Bowser turned in a 74.
Preseason Poll Fun
The Mastodons were picked third in the Horizon League Preseason Poll for the 2024-25 season. The ‘Dons finished first (2022-23) and second (2023-24) at the last two Horizon League Championships.
High Expectations
Purdue Fort Wayne is coming off its best season in program history in terms of scoring average, which saw the Mastodons average a four-player score of 290.1, over three strokes better than the previous record from 2022-23.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons took sixth at the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational on April 1.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will play its final tournament before gearing up for the Horizon League Championship. The Mastodons will visit Columbus, Ohio to play in the Buckeye Classic on April 11-12.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE TRACK
‘DONS SPLIT TO SPARTAN INVITE AND VERTKLASSE MEETING
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne track & field program will tackle both the VertKlasse Meeting (April 4-5), hosted by High Point, and Michigan State’s Spartan Invite (April 4).
VertKlasse Meeting
When: April 4-5
Where: High Point, N.C.
Schedule: Link
Information: Link
Watch: Friday | Saturday
Women’s Entrees:
Lillian Hurd, Harmony Johnson, Louiza Kruiswijk, Amelie Mach, Kaylee Rogaczewski, Sanayah Ruffin, Marissa Van De Weg, Jordan Yanders and Aniya Young.
Men’s Entrees:
Damien Keys, Ezra Lewellen, Jonas Morris, Noah Morris and Jaylin Springer.
Spartan Invite
When: April 4
Where: East Lansing, Mich.
Schedule: Link
Information: Link
Live Results: Link
Women’s Entrees:
Kynzlei Bassett, Francesca Carlo, Emery Carrico. Makenna Dommer, Ava Genovese, Aubrey Haas, McKayla Henry, Ella Jenkins, Faith Norris, Jaliyah Page, Ali Sparks, Haley Sponaugle, Amanda Williams and Ellie Zagel.
Men’s Entrees:
Caden Bird, Josiah Bird, Hunter Crew, Sam Dunnett, Ambrose English, Colin Gasson, Colten Gasson, Boden Genovese, Troy Golden, Austin Hall, Tyler Hess, Zyler Johnson, Owen Kaufman, Brevin Miller, Jack Mills, Nathan Mills, Nicholas Mills, Jarred Neff, Harrison Niswander and Andrew Roman.
Last Time Out for the Women
The ‘Dons took on both the WashU Distance Carnival (March 27-28) and Indiana State’s Pacesetter Sports Invitational (March 29). Louiza Kruiswijk broke the school’s long jump record at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational with the Horizon League’s furthest mark of 5.97 meters. Marissa Van De Weg won the 400 meters at Indiana State with a personal record time of 1:01.59, holding the fastest time in the league. Ava Genovese ran a personal record mark of 4:36.84 in the 1500 meters at WashU, the quickest mark in the HL.
Last Time Out for the Men
The Mastodons competed at the WashU Distance Carnival (March 27-28) and Pacesetter Sports Invitational (March 29), hosted by Indiana State. Jarred Neff ran the Horizon League’s quickest 3000 meter steeplechase on the season at WashU (9:37.08). Hunter Crew and Brevin Miller both threw league-leading marks at Indiana State. Miller threw a personal-record 53.07 meters in javelin. Crew tossed 50.46 meters in the hammer throw.
Broken Record Tracker (Outdoor)
– Hammer Throw: Ali Sparks (54.47 meters)
– Discus: Josiah Bird (47.78 meters)
– Long Jump: Louiza Kruiswijk (5.97 meters)
Up Next
Purdue Fort Wayne will travel to Indiana Wesleyan on April 11-12 for the Little State Championships.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
‘DONS HOST RANKED MIVA OPPONENTS WITH SENIOR DAY SATURDAY
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball will play host to Lewis on Thursday (April 3) and Ball State on Saturday (April 5) for the Mastodons senior day.
Game Day Information
Who: Lewis Flyers | Ball State Cardinals
When: Thursday, April 3 – 7 PM | Saturday, April 5 – 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind.| Arnie Ball Court
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+ (Thursday) | ESPN+ (Saturday)
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | MIVA
Know Your Foe
• Lewis has a 19-7 record up to this point and rounded out non-conference play at 7-2, beating No. 8 Penn State and losing to No. 2 Long Beach State. The Flyers have gone 9-4 in MIVA play and are currently on a three match win streak, beating Ohio State and Queens twice. Libero Nico Paula is fourth in the nation in digs per set with 2.61. Max Roquet and Oguzhan Oguz lead Lewis in hitting this year, both hitting over 3.20 kills per set and .300 hitting percentage per set. Senior Tyler Morgan is the Flyers’ setter, averaging 9.49 assists per set.
• Ball State has a 17-9 record and finished non-conference play 7-3, all three losses coming against ranked opponents: Stanford and BYU twice. Ball State is 9-4 in MIVA play, only losing to Lewis, McKendree and Loyola Chicago. Raje Alleyne and Patrick Rogers are the team’s leading hitters, both hitting over 3.00 kills per set and .275 hitting percentage per set.
Series History
• Lewis holds the series history at 46-27 over the Mastodons. The ‘Dons own a 17-16 home record against the Flyers. Lewis won the last meeting in five-sets, Axel Melendez Watts led the team with 17 kills on a .359 percentage and seven digs.
• Ball State leads the series history 84-33 over the Mastodons. The Cardinals have won the last 10 meetings. Ball State took the last matchup in five sets, Logan Muir led the ‘Dons with 17 kills and eight digs.
An Axel-lent Week
Senior Axel Melendez Watts received his first MIVA Offensive Player of the Year selection of his career (April 1) after a four-set victory over Quincy. The senior led the MIVA in points per set during the week, averaging 4.88. The Puerto Rico native also contributed 4.00 kills per set, the league’s third-most on the week, on a .355 hitting percentage.
Century Club
Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Donny Gleason collected his 100th career win as a head coach following the win against Quincy (March 21).
Locked and Logan
Logan Muir has the second-most kills per set (4.05) and points per set (4.90) in the MIVA. He also sits third highest in services aces per set (0.46).
Mastodon Starters
Both Casey Lyons and Andrew Mayer have started every match for Purdue Fort Wayne this season.
He Can Do It
JP Candrian earned his first MIVA Player of the Week award, earning Defensive Player of the Week (Jan. 28). Candrian led the Mastodons to a 2-0 week, beating both LIU (Jan. 23) and Lees-McRae (Jan. 25) on the Arnie Ball Court. The freshman averaged 2.67 digs during the stretch, collecting 16 in the five-set victory over LIU. The Florida native added 0.67 blocks per set to his weekly totals.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons beat Quincy (March 29) in four sets. Senior Axel Melendez Watts led the match with 16 kills and nine digs. Andrej Polomac assisted on 39 kills in the match and eight digs.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will cap off the regular season with two matches at the MIVA leader McKendree (April 11-12).
VALPO BASEBALL
BEACON BASEBALL SET FOR FIRST HOME MVC SERIES OF 2025
Valparaiso (7-17, 2-4 MVC)
vs. Illinois State (12-15, 4-2 MVC)
Friday, April 4, 3 p.m. CT – RHP Connor Lockwood
Saturday, April 5, 1 p.m. CT – RHP Harry Deliyannis
Sunday, April 6, 1 p.m. CT – RHP Spencer Boynton
Emory G. Bauer Field (500) | Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Baseball: After playing its first two Missouri Valley Conference series on the road against the defending MVC regular-season champions and the defending MVC Tournament champions, the Valparaiso University baseball team will play its first conference home games of the year this weekend. Illinois State will be in town for a three-game series. Stay tuned for any weather-related schedule developments.
Last Time Out: The Beacons bounced back from giving up three runs in the top of the first with three of their own in the bottom of the inning. Valpo scored four in the second and held on for an 8-6 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday. Spencer Warfield had two of the team’s four hits and both extra-base knocks, recording a double and home run. Lucas Foley settled in and worked five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out two. Nick Baffa fired two shutout innings before Ryan Kruse nailed down the save. The game ended on a sprawling catch by Kevin Denty in right field.
Following the Beacons: Tuesday’s game will air on ESPN+ with Todd Ickow (play-by-play) Leo Staudacher (analyst, Friday) and Brian Jennings (analyst, Saturday/Sunday) on the call. For links to live video and stats, visit ValpoAthletics.com. For in-game updates, follow @ValpoBaseball on X.
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (209-349) is in his 12th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he coached his 500th game on March 17, 2024 at Campbell. On April 19 vs. Missouri State, he became the third head coach in program history to secure his 200th win. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
A Look Back at 2024: Valpo finished 14-38 overall and 6-21 in Missouri Valley Conference play last season and hopes to return to the MVC Tournament field in 2025. Kaleb Hannahs earned Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season, while Kyle Schmack finished one home run shy of tying the program’s career and single-season records. The team launched 71 home runs, the second most in program history and most since 2001. Alex Ryan made an incredible leaping catch that was featured at No. 4 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays, robbing a grand slam as part of a 20-0 victory at UIC on April 28. The 2024 campaign also saw Valpo post a fielding percentage of .970 that ranked fourth in program history. The season also saw head coach Brian Schmack reach the 200-win threshold.
Series Notes: Valpo is 16-30-1 all-time against Illinois State and will look to snap a five-game head-to-head skid that dates back to a 7-6 victory on May 18, 2023. The Redbirds swept last season’s series in Bloomington-Normal and have won the series each of the last two seasons. Valpo is 9-11 against Illinois State since joining The Valley.
In the Other Dugout – Illinois State
Coming off an 8-2 midweek loss at Illinois.
Took two of three from Murray State last weekend and won a series at Belmont to start conference play.
Picked to finish fourth of 10 in the MVC preseason poll.
Under the direction of Steve Holm, which makes this one of the rare college baseball games where both head coaches played in the big leagues. Baseball America did a story ranking college coaches by their pro careers in 2020, and Holm ranked ninth with Schmack 11th. At the time of the article, they were two of just 16 Division-I head baseball coaches nationally who played in the big leagues.
Notes Wrapping Up April 1: Valpo 8, Milwaukee 6
This marked the team’s first game played at Emory G. Bauer Field this season. The Beacons did play two home games at UIC’s Curtis Granderson Stadium on the last day of February. In a bit of an oddity, Valpo had the latest Emory G. Bauer Field opener since 2021 while also having the earliest home opener in program history this season. The Beacons played at home on the final day of February and first day of April, but did not play at home in the month of March.
Valpo prevailed despite being outhit 11-4. The four hits marked Valpo’s fewest in a victory since April 5, 2014. Amazingly enough, Valpo had four or fewer hits and won in both games of a doubleheader that day vs. Wright State, winning the opener 3-1 with three hits and the nightcap 2-0 with four hits.
Lucas Foley had his longest outing of the season and the longest since his collegiate debut, when he went seven innings and struck out 11 on Feb. 17, 2024 at Alabama State.
Foley picked up his second career win and first this season. Kruse recorded his first collegiate save. Baffa’s two shutout innings marked his first stint of two innings or more in his young career.
The home team continued to have success in the head-to-head series as the home squad has won seven straight Milwaukee/Valpo matchups.
Spencer Warfield accounted for two of the team’s four hits and drove in three. He had both of the team’s extra-base knocks including his fourth career home run and second of the season. Half of Warfield’s 18 hits this season have gone for extra bases.
Liam Patton reached base safely for the 18th straight game.
Six of Valpo’s eight wins have come when scoring eight runs or more. The Beacons are 0-13 when scoring four runs or fewer and 1-15 when scoring seven runs or fewer.
Among League Leaders
Ryan Maka ranks ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference in batting average at .356 and tied for fifth in on-base percentage at .472.
Spencer Warfield’s two triples are tied for fourth in the MVC.
Liam Patton and Connor Giusti have been hit by a pitch seven times apiece, tied for fifth in the league.
Connor Lockwood leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 43 strikeouts and is the league-leader with 45 1/3 innings pitched. He ranks fifth in fewest walks allowed with 10.
Adam Guazzo’s two saves rank tied for sixth in the league.
Harry Deliyannis has three wins, tied for fifth in the league.
Notes Wrapping Up Evansville (March 28-30): L 7-3, W 11-6, L 5-4
Connor Giusti homered twice in the series, lifting his season total to five, his Valpo career total to 12 and his overall career total to 22.
Aidan Thaxton tripled for the first of his career on Friday.
Spencer Warfield tripled on Friday, the second of his career with both coming this season.
Valpo had two triples total in the first 20 games of the season and had two in Friday’s series opener.
Connor Lockwood allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out four and walking three in six innings in the series opener.
Alexander Morrison pitched the final 1 1/3 innings out of the Valpo bullpen, retiring all four men he faced on Friday.
Kade Reinertson’s home run on Saturday was the fourth of his career and his second this season.
Case Sullivan’s home run on Saturday was his second of the season.
On Saturday, starting pitcher Harry Deliyannis’ final line featured eight innings while scattering nine hits, allowing four runs (two earned), striking out six and walking none.
This marked the third straight outing in which Deliyannis recorded five or more strikeouts. The eight innings exceeded his previous longest start of the season, which was six innings last week at Indiana State. This represented his first walk-free performance of the year.
Over the last three weekends, Valpo has wins over the defending Big Ten regular-season champs, the defending MVC regular-season champs and the defending MVC Tournament champs.
Six of Valpo’s nine hits went for extra bases in Saturday’s victory.
Patrick Ilitch had two doubles on Saturday after entering the game with two career doubles, both in 2023. He became the second Beacon with a two-double game this season, joining Sullivan on Feb. 23 at Memphis.
Saturday marked the fifth time this season that Valpo posted a double-figure run total.
The Beacons have already exceeded their conference road win total from last season.
The 11 runs were the most scored by Valpo in a head-to-head matchup with Evansville since a 15-7 victory in the 1980 Heartland Collegiate Conference Tournament.
Spencer Boynton received no decision on Sunday despite a quality outing, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks over six innings.
Kevin Denty tied his season high with three hits on Sunday, recording two doubles and a single. He is up to seven doubles on the season.
Amburgey had one total double in 15 games this season before doubling twice on Sunday.
Reinertson reached base three times including twice being hit by a pitch on Sunday.
Sunday was Valpo’s third one-run game of the season, all losses (at Memphis, at Indiana State).
Valpo dropped two of three but the Beacons have captured one win in six straight weekend series including the last four against two Big Ten opponents (including the defending Big Ten regular-season champions), the defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champs and the defending MVC Tournament champs.
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 4
1974 — The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in 11 innings before a crowd of 52,000 at Riverfront Stadium. In his first at-bat, Hank Aaron hit a three-run homer off Jack Billingham. It was his 714th, tying Babe Ruth’s career record. The Braves had considered keeping Aaron on the bench for the season-opening series in Cincinnati so that he could attempt to tie the record four days later in Atlanta. But Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered the Braves to put Aaron into the lineup for at least two of the three games.
1988 — George Bell became the first player to hit three home runs on opening day, leading the Toronto Blue Jays past the Kansas City Royals 5-3. Bell, bitter throughout spring training with his move to designated hitter, homered three times in that role off Bret Saberhagen.
1993 — At Camden Yards, Bill Clinton becomes the first U.S. President to throw the first pitch of the season from the pitcher’s mound.
1994 — Chicago’s Karl Rhodes hit three solo home runs off Dwight Gooden in a 12-8 loss to the New York Mets on opening day at Wrigley Field. Rhodes became the second player to homer three times in an opener.
1994 — The Cleveland Indians open new stadium, Jacobs Field, with a 4 – 3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
1998 — Mark McGwire tied Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games of the season. McGwire launched a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.
1999 — America’s pastime opened in Mexico for the first time. The Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in baseball’s first season opener outside the United States and Canada.
2001 — Hideo Nomo became the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore. Nomo, who threw the first no-hitter in Colorado’s Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996, for Los Angeles, walked three and struck out 11 in the first no-hitter in the 10-year history of Camden Yards. Nomo joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers with no-hitters in both leagues.
2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs became the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati. He became the fifth player to reach 500 homers before his 35th birthday. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Jimmie Foxx were the others.
2005 — Dmitri Young became the third player to hit three homers on opening day, and Jeremy Bonderman won as the youngest opening day starter in the major leagues since 1986 to lead Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 11-2.
2011 — Nelson Cruz of Texas became the third player in major league history to homer in the first four games of a season and the Rangers beat Seattle 6-4. Cruz joined Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998) as the only players to go deep in each of their first four games of a season.
2012 — The Miami Marlins open a new name and a new ballpark, Marlins Park, but lose to the St. Louis Cardinals.
2016 — Colorado Rockies SS Trevor Story becomes the first player to hit two homers in his debut on Opening Day.
2018 — MLB experiments with a new medium as today’s game between the Phillies and Mets is broadcast live exclusively on “Facebook Watch”.
2021 — For the first time since his debut in Major League Baseball in 2018, Shohei Ohtani is in the batting order in a game in which he is also the starting pitcher.
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April 5
1913 — Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field hosted its first game, an exhibition. Before a crowd of 25,000, the Dodgers beat the Giants, 3-2. Casey Stengel hit a an inside-the-park homer for Brooklyn.
1971 — In their last opening day, the Senators, behind pitcher Dick Bosman, beat the Oakland A’s 8-0 before 45,000 fans at RFK Stadium.
1972 — For the first time in Major League Baseball history, the regular season fails to open due to the player strike which started on April 1st. 86 games will be lost before the labor dispute is settled.
1979 — Baltimore manager Earl Weaver got his 1,000th career victory when the Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox.
1983 — The San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 16-13 in the highest-scoring opening day game in 50 years. Winning pitcher Tim Lollar also drove in three runs.
1993 — The expansion Florida Marlins won their first game, 6-3 over the Los Angeles Dodgers, at Joe Robbie Stadium. The new Colorado Rockies lost to the Mets 3-0 in New York.
1998 — Andy Benes pitched seven strong innings and Matt Williams had three hits and an RBI in to lead Arizona to its first victory, a 3-2 win over San Francisco. The Diamondbacks (1-5) had the second longest, season-opening losing streak for an expansion team in its first season.
2003 — Kansas City became the first major league team to start 5-0 after a 100-loss season.
2004 — Carlos Beltran of Kansas City and Shannon Stewart of Minnesota combined to set a record. For the first time in modern history, two players hit game-winning home runs on the same day. The Royals beat the Chicago White Sox, 9-7, while the Twins overcame the Cleveland Indians, 7-4, in 11 innings. The Royals also were the first team since 1901 to recover from a ninth-inning deficit of four runs on opening day.
2004 — Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz announces the team will retain Bobby Cox as the team’s manager through the 2005 season.
2005 — The Washington Nationals, formerly known as the Montreal Expos, lost their inaugural season opener Philadelphia 8-4.
2006 — Ivan Rodriguez went 5-for-5 with a single, homer, three doubles and five RBIs, leading Detroit to a 14-3 rout over Kansas City.
2010 — Garrett Jones homered in his first two at-bats, pinch-hitter Ryan Church doubled home three runs in Pittsburgh’s 11-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2012 — J.P. Arencibia’s three-run homer in the 16th inning sent the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians in the longest opening-day game in major league history. The marathon eclipsed the previous longest openers — 15 innings between Cleveland and Detroit in 1960 and 15 innings between Philadelphia and Washington in 1926.
2013 — Chris Davis extended his torrid start with a grand slam and five RBIs, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Minnesota 9-5 in their home opener. Davis became the fourth player in major league history to homer in his first four games of the season. In the four games, Davis was 9 for 15 (.600) with four homers and 16 RBIs. Davis’ 16 RBIs in his team’s first four games broke the old big league record of 12 and he became the first player to hit a home and drive in three runs in each of the first four games to start a season.
2015 — The Los Angeles Dodgers set a baseball record with a $270 million opening-day payroll, including nearly $44 million going to players no longer on the team. Major League Baseball’s average salary on opening day also set a mark at $4.2 million.
2021 — 38,238 paying spectators make their way to Globe Life Field for the Rangers’ home opener, a 6 – 2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, it is the first time fans are allowed to a regular season game since the ballpark opened a year ago, and the first sporting event to be held without attendance restrictions anywhere in the U.S. since the start of the health crisis.
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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 4
1921 — The NHL champion Ottawa Senators beat the Pacific Coast Hockey Association champion Vancouver Millionaires 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup 3 games to 2.
1937 — Byron Nelson shoots a 283 to win the Masters by two strokes over Ralph Guldahl.
1938 — Henry Picard beats Ralph Guldahl and Harry Cooper by two strokes to capture the Masters.
1959 — France beats Wales, 11-3 at Stade Colombes to win the Five Nations Rugby Championship outright for the first time.
1974 — Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s home-run record by hitting his 714th.
1983 — Lorenzo Charles scores on a dunk after Derek Whittenburg’s 35-foot desperation shot falls short to give North Carolina State a 54-52 triumph over Houston in the NCAA championship.
1985 — Tulane University cancels its basketball season.
1986 — Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky breaks his own NHL single-season points record with three assists to increase his total to 214. He scored 212 points in 1981-82.
1987 — New York’s Denis Potvin, the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history, scores his 1,000th point.
1988 — Danny Manning scores 31 points and grabs 18 rebounds as Kansas wins its second NCAA championship with an 83-79 victory over Oklahoma.
1989 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar plays final NBA game.
1989 — NY Yankee Tommy John ties record of playing 26 seasons.
1993 — Sheryl Swoopes shatters the women’s championship game record by scoring 47 points to lead Texas Tech to an 84-82 victory over Ohio State.
1993 — Mario Andretti, at 53, wins the Valvoline 200 in Phoenix to become the oldest driver to win an Indy car race and the first driver to win a race in four different decades.
1994 — Arkansas wins its first men’s national championship with a 76-72 victory over Duke, depriving the Blue Devils of a third title in four years.
1997 — Anaheim Ducks clinch their 1st-ever playoff berth.
1997 — Braves officially open Turner Field.
1998 — Mark McGwire ties Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games. McGwire launches a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego
2001 — Hideo Nomo becomes the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore.
2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs becomes the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati.
2004 — Carolina’s Brad Fast beat Florida goalie Roberto Luongo with a wrist shot to tie the game at 6-6 late in the third period. It’s the final tie game in NHL history.
2005 — North Carolina defeats Illinois to win the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship. Sean May has 26 points and the Tar Heels don’t allow a basket over the final 2 1/2 minutes to defeat Illinois 75-70.
2006 — 25th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Maryland beats Duke, 78-75 OT.
2011 — Kemba Walker scores 16 points and Alex Oriakhi has 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead Connecticut to a 53-41 win over Butler in the men’s NCAA championship game. g 2015 — The United States defends their women’s world hockey championship with a 7-5 win over Canada.
2016 — Kris Jenkins hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Villanova to the national title with a 77-74 victory over North Carolina — one of the wildest finishes in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Jenkins’ shot comes moments after Marcus Paige hit a double-clutch 3 from beyond the arc to tie the game at 74 with 4.7 seconds left.
2021 — 39th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Stanford Cardinal defeat Arizona Wildcats, 54–53.
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.
_____
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.
April 5
1915 — Jess Willard beats Jack Johnson in the 26th round to win the world heavyweight boxing title in Havana.
1927 — Johnny Weissmuller breaks his own 200-meter freestyle record by seven seconds in 2:08. He also lowers his own record in the 100-yard freestyle to 51 seconds, a record that stood for 17 years.
1952 — Henry Wittenberg wins the 191-pound AAU wrestling title for the eighth time. Wittenberg won over 350 bouts in 13 years, including a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics.
1959 — Art Wall birdies five of the last six holes to cap a final-round 66 and edge Fred Hawkins by one stroke to win the Masters.
1967 — ’76er Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA record with 41 rebounds in single game.
1970 — New York beats Detroit 9-5 to take fourth place and the final playoff berth in the NHL’s East Division. The Rangers are the first team to advance to the playoffs on the basis of goals scored when they finish tied with Montreal.
1972 — Major League Baseball for the first time fails to open because of a player strike, which started April 1 and would be settled April 13.
1973 — NFL adopts jersey numbering system.
1984 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hits a sky hook with 8:53 left in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 129-115 victory over the Utah Jazz to become the NBA’s top career scorer. Wilt Chamberlain, with 31,419 points, held the record since his retirement in 1973.
1987 — Wayne Gretzky wins 7th straight NHL scoring title.
1989 — LA Dodgers Orel Hershiser’s consecutive scoreless streak of 59 innings ends.
1990 — John Stockton reaches 1000-assist mark for NBA record 3 years in a row.
1992 — 11th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Stanford beats Western Kentucky, 78-62.
1993 — Donald Williams scores 25 points to lead North Carolina to a 77-71 win over Michigan in the NCAA championship.
1993 — MLB expansion teams Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies make their MLB debuts.
1997 — Bruce Baumgartner wins a record eighth World Cup wrestling gold medal, beating David Musolbes 2-1 in overtime at 275 1/2 pounds as the United States routs Russia 25-7.
2004 — Led by 24 points from Emeka Okafor and 21 from Ben Gordon, the Connecticut Huskies outclass Georgia Tech 82-73 to win the men’s national championship.
2005 — 24th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Baylor beats Michigan State, 84-62.
2005 — The Washington Nationals lose their inaugural season opener, 8-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies; first team to represent the nation’s capital since the Washington Senators left after the 1971 season.
2008 — The Boston Celtics sets an NBA record for biggest single-season turnaround with a 101-78 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. The Celtics improve to 61-15, 37 more wins than last season.
2008 — Memphis beats UCLA 78-63 in the NCAA semifinals to go to 38-1 and become the winningest team in a season. Kansas’ Brandon Rush scores 25 points, and the Jayhawks defeat North Carolina 84-66 in the second semifinal.
2009 — Brittany Lincicome sinks a 6-foot eagle putt on No. 18 to win the Kraft Nabisco Championship for her first major title.
2010 — Duke wins its fourth NCAA basketball championship, holding off Butler 61-59 and surviving Gordon Hayward’s last-second desperation shot that hits the rim.
2011 — 30th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Texas A&M beats Notre Dame, 76-70.
2016 — UConn wins an unprecedented fourth straight women’s national championship, capping another perfect season by routing Syracuse 82-51. Geno Auriemma passes UCLA’s John Wooden with his 11th national title and a sixth undefeated season.
2019 — OKC G Russell Westbrook becomes first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for the third consecutive season.
2021 — 82nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Baylor Bears become second consecutive first-time NCAA champions with 86–70 over previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs.
2023 — 84th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas: UConn defeat the San Diego State Aztecs, 76–59 for Huskies’ 5th national title; MOP: Adama Sanogo (UConn).
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.
TV SPORTS FRIDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Chi. White Sox at Detriot | 1:10pm | CHSN FanDuel Sports DET |
| St. Louis at Boston | 2:10pm | FanDuel Sports MW NESN |
| San Diego at Chi.Cubs | 2:20pm | Padres.TV MARQ |
| Toronto at NY Mets | 3:10pm | Sportsnet SNY |
| Athletics at Colorado | 4:10pm | NBCS-CA Rockies.TV |
| NY Yankees at Pittsburgh | 4:12pm | YES ATTSN-PIT |
| Seattle at San Francicso | 4:35pm | ROOT NBCS-BAY |
| Arizona at Washington | 6:45pm | DBacks.TV MASN2 |
| LA Dodgers at Philadelphia | 6:45pm | Apple TV+ |
| Miami at Atlanta | 7:15pm | FanDuel Sports FL FanDuel Sports South |
| Baltimore at Kansas City | 7:40pm | MASN FanDuel Sports KC |
| Tampa Bay at Texas | 8:05pm | Apple TV+ |
| Cincinnati at Milwaukee | 8:10pm | FanDuel Sports Ohio FanDuel Sports WI |
| Cleveland at LA Angels | 9:38pm | CleGuardians.TV FanDuel Sports West |
| NBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Sacramento Kings vs Charlotte Hornets | 7:00pm | FanDuel Sports CHA NBCS-CA |
| Utah Jazz vs Indiana Pacers | 7:00pm | KJZZ FanDuel Sports IND |
| Phoenix Suns vs Boston Celtics | 7:30pm | NBATV AFSN NBCS-CA |
| Detroit Pistons vs Toronto Raptors | 7:30pm | Sportsnet FanDuel Sports DET |
| Portland Trail Blazers vs Chicago Bulls | 8:00pm | Rip City CHSN |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets | 8:00pm | FanDuel Sports OKC SCHN |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs San Antonio Spurs | 8:00pm | KENS FanDuel Sports Ohio |
| Denver Nuggets vs Golden State Warriors | 10:00pm | NBATV ALT NBCS-BAY |
| New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers | 10:30pm | GCSN Spectrum |
| Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers | 10:30pm | KFAA FanDuel Sports SoCal |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Carolina Hurricanes vs Detroit Red Wings | 7:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports South FanDuel Sports DET |
| Chicago Blackhawks vs Washington Capitals | 7:00pm | ESPN+ CHSN MNMT |
| Minnesota Wild vs New York Islanders | 7:30pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports North MSGSN |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Texas A&M at Tennessee | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| Wake Forest at Florida St. | 8:00pm | ACCN |
| Missouri at Arkansas | 8:00pm | SECN |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Virginia Tech at N.C. State | 6:00pm | ACCN |
| Mississippi St. at Tennessee | 6:00pm | SECN |
| UFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Birmingham at Michigan | 8:00pm | FOX |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Tour: Texas Open | 4:00pm | GOLF |
| LPGA Tour: T-Mobile Match Play | 7:00pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Bundesliga: Augsburg vs Bayern München | 2:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Genoa vs Udinese | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Ligue 1: Querétaro vs León | 2:45pm | Fanatiz USA beIN SPORTS |
| La Liga: Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Liga MX: Tijuana vs Necaxa | 11:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Puebla vs Tigres UANL | 11:05pm | VIX |
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Chi. White Sox at Detroit | 1:10pm | CHSN FanDuel Sports DET |
| San Diego at Chi.Cubs | 2:20pm | Padres.TV MARQ |
| NY Yankees at Pittsburgh | 4:05pm | YES ATTSN-PIT |
| Arizona at Washington | 4:05pm | DBacks.TV MASN2 |
| LA Dodgers at Philadelphia | 4:05pm | FS1 SNLA NBCS-PHI |
| St. Louis at Boston | 4:10pm | FanDuel Sports MW NESN |
| Baltimore at Kansas City | 4:10pm | MASN FanDuel Sports KC |
| Tampa Bay at Texas | 7:05pm | RSN FanDuel Sports FL |
| Cincinnati at Milwaukee | 7:10pm | FS1 FanDuel Sports Ohio FanDuel Sports WI |
| Toronto at NY Mets | 7:10pm | Sportsnet SNY |
| Miami at Atlanta | 7:15pm | FanDuel Sports FL FanDuel Sports South |
| Athletics at Colorado | 8:10pm | NBCS-CA Rockies.TV |
| Seattle at San Francicso | 9:05pm | ROOT NBCS-BAY |
| Cleveland at LA Angels | 9:38pm | CleGuardians.TV FanDuel Sports West |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks | 3:00pm | MSG FanDuel Sports ATL |
| Memphis Grizzlies vs Detroit Pistons | 7:00pm | NBATV FanDuel Sports MEM FanDuel Sports DET |
| Minnesota Timberwolves vs Philadelphia 76ers | 7:00pm | NBCS-PHI FanDuel Sports North |
| Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat | 8:00pm | FanDuel Sports WI FanDuel Sports Sun |
| Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers | 10:30pm | KFAA FanDuel Sports SoCal |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils | 12:30pm | ABC ESPN+ |
| Florida Panthers vs Ottawa Senators | 2:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet Scripps |
| Pittsburgh Penguins vs Dallas Stars | 3:00pm | ABC ESPN+ |
| Anaheim Ducks vs Vancouver Canucks | 4:00pm | ESPN+ Victory+ Sportsnet |
| Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings | 4:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports West Sportsnet |
| Carolina Hurricanes vs Boston Bruins | 7:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports South NESN |
| Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres | 7:00pm | ESPN+ MSG-BUF FanDuel Sports Sun |
| Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs | 7:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet FanDuel Sports Ohio |
| Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens | 7:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet NBCS-PHI |
| Colorado Avalanche vs St. Louis Blues | 7:00pm | ESPN+ ALT FanDuel Sports MW |
| Winnipeg Jets vs Utah Hockey Club | 7:00pm | ESPN+ Utah16 Sportsnet |
| Seattle Kraken vs San Jose Sharks | 10:00pm | ESPN+ KONG NBCS-CA |
| Vegas Golden Knights vs Calgary Flames | 10:00pm | ESPN+ Scripps Victory+ |
| MEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Final Four: (1) Florida vs (1) Auburn | 6:09pm | CBS Paramount+ |
| Final Four: (1) Houston vs (1) Duke | 8:49pm | CBS Paramount+ |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| S.C.-Upstate at High Point/td> | 6:30pm | ESPNU |
| Alabama at Auburn | 8:00pm | SECN |
| COLLEGE LACROSSE | TIME ET | TV |
| Ohio State at Johns Hopkins | 2:00pm | ESPNU |
| Notre Dame at Syracuse | 2:00pm | ACCN |
| Virginia at North Carolina | 4:00pm | ACCN |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Mississippi at South Carolina | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Auburn at Kentucky | 2:00pm | SECN |
| Mississippi St. at Tennessee | 4:00pm | SECN |
| Texas A&M at Georgia | 4:00pm | ESPNU |
| Arkansas at Florida | 5:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Syracuse at Georgia Tech | 6:00pm | ACCN |
| Texas at Missouri | 6:00pm | SECN |
| Alabama at LSU | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Xfinity: Help a Hero 200 | 3:30pm | CW |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Tour: Texas Open | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| LIV | 2:00pm | FOX |
| PGA Tour: Texas Open | 3:00pm | NBC |
| LPGA Tour: T-Mobile Match Play | 6:00pm | GOLF |
| MMA | TIME ET | TV |
| UFC: Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy | 9:00pm | ESPN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| EPL: Everton vs Arsenal | 7:30am | USA Peacock |
| La Liga: Girona vs Deportivo Alavés | 8:00am | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Monza vs Como | 9:00am | Paramount+ |
| Bundesliga: Bochum vs Stuttgart | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Mainz 05 vs Holstein Kiel | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Heidenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| EPL: Ipswich Town vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | 10:00am | USA Peacock |
| EPL: Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion | 10:00am | Peacock |
| EPL: West Ham United vs AFC Bournemouth | 10:00am | Peacock |
| La Liga: Real Madrid vs Valencia | 10:15am | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: PSG vs Angers SCO | 11:00am | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| Serie A: Parma vs Internazionale | 12:00pm | CBS Paramount+ |
| EPL: Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest | 12:30pm | USA Peacock |
| La Liga: Mallorca vs Celta de Vigo | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs Eintracht Frankfurt | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Brest vs Monaco | 1:00pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| MLS: Charlotte vs Nashville SC | 2:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Serie A: Milan vs Fiorentina | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Betis | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Olympique Lyonnais vs Lille | 3:05pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| MLS: Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy | 4:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Women’s Friendly: USA vs Brazil | 5:00pm | Peacock Telemundo |
| Liga MX: Atlas vs Juárez | 7:00pm | FS2 fuboTV |
| Liga MX: Pachuca vs América | 7:00pm | VIX |
| MLS: Atlanta United vs Dallas | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Cincinnati vs New England | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Columbus Crew vs CF Montréal | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: New York RB vs Chicago Fire | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Austin vs Portland Timbers | 7:45pm | FOX MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Houston Dynamo vs Los Angeles FC | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Sporting KC vs St. Louis City | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Atlético San Luis vs Mazatlán | 9:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Monterrey vs Guadalajara | 9:05pm | VIX |
| MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Colorado Rapids | 9:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: San Diego vs Seattle Sounders FC | 10:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Cruz Azul vs Pumas UNAM | 11:10pm | VIX |