NBA PLAYOFFS
LA LAKERS 128 MEMPHIS 112
MIAMI 130 MILWAUKEE 117
LA CLIPPERS 115 PHOENIX 110
DENVER 109 MINNESOTA 80
NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (1) VS. MIAMI HEAT (8)
GAME 2: HEAT VS. BUCKS | WED., APRIL 19 | 9 ET (NBA TV)
GAME 3: BUCKS VS. HEAT | SAT., APRIL 22 | 7:30 ET (ESPN)
GAME 4: BUCKS VS. HEAT | MON., APRIL 24 | TBD
*GAME 5: HEAT VS. BUCKS | WED., APRIL 26 | TBD
*GAME 6: BUCKS VS. HEAT | FRI, APRIL 28 | TBD
*GAME 7: HEAT VS. BUCKS | SUN., APRIL 20 | TBD
BOSTON CELTICS (2) VS. ATLANTA HAWKS (7)
GAME 2: HAWKS VS. CELTICS | TUES., APRIL 18 | 7 ET (NBA TV)
GAME 3: CELTICS VS. HAWKS | FRI., APRIL 21 | 7 ET (ESPN)
GAME 4: CELTICS VS. HAWKS | SUN, APRIL 23 | 7 ET (TNT)
*GAME 5: HAWKS VS. CELTICS | TUES., APRIL 25 | TBD
*GAME 6: CELTICS VS. HAWKS | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD
*GAME 7: HAWKS VS. CELTICS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (3) VS. BROOKLYN NETS (6)
GAME 1: PHILADELPHIA 121 BROOKLYN 101
GAME 2: NETS VS. 76ERS | MON., APRIL 17 | 7:30 ET (TNT)
GAME 3: 76ERS VS. NETS | THURS., APRIL 20 | 7:30 ET (TNT)
GAME 4: 76ERS VS. NETS | SAT., APRIL 22 | 1 ET (TNT)
*GAME 5: NETS VS. 76ERS | MON., APRIL 24 | TBD
*GAME 6: 76ERS VS. NETS | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD
*GAME 7: NETS VS. 76ERS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (4) VS. NEW YORK KNICKS (5)
GAME 2: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TUES., APRIL 18 | 7:30 ET (TNT)
GAME 3: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | FRI., APRIL 21 | 8:30 ET (ABC)
GAME 4: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | SUN., APRIL 23 | 1 ET (ABC)
*GAME 5: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TBD
*GAME 6: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | TBD
*GAME 7: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE
DENVER NUGGETS (1) VS. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (8)
GAME 2: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | WED., APRIL 19 | 10 ET (TNT)
GAME 3: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES | FRI., APRIL 21 | 9:30 ET (ESPN)
GAME 4: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES | SUN., APRIL 23 | 9:30 ET (TNT)
*GAME 5: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | TUES., APRIL 25 | TBD
*GAME 6: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD
*GAME 7: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (2) VS. L.A. LAKERS (7)
GAME 2: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | WED., APRIL 19 | 7:30 ET (TNT)
GAME 3: GRIZZLIES VS. LAKERS | SAT., APRIL 22 | 10 ET (ESPN)
GAME 4: GRIZZLIES VS. LAKERS | MON. APRIL 24 | TBD
*GAME 5: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | WED., APRIL 26 | TBD
*GAME 6: GRIZZLIES VS. LAKERS | FRI., APRIL 28 | TBD
*GAME 7: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | SUN., APRIL 30 | TBD
SACRAMENTO KINGS (3) VS. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (6)
GAME 2: WARRIORS VS. KINGS | MON., APRIL 17 | 10 ET (TNT)
GAME 3: KINGS VS. WARRIORS | THURS., APRIL 20 | 10 ET (TNT)
GAME 4: KINGS VS. WARRIORS | SUN., APRIL 23 | 3.30 ET (ABC)
*GAME 5: WARRIORS VS. KINGS | WED., APRIL 26 | TBD
*GAME 6: KINGS VS. WARRIORS | FRI., APRIL 28 | TBD
*GAME 7: WARRIORS VS. KINGS | SUN., APRIL 30 | TBD
PHOENIX SUNS (4) VS. LA CLIPPERS (5)
GAME 2: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | TUES., APRIL 18 | 10 ET (TNT)
GAME 3: SUNS VS. CLIPPERS | THURS., APRIL 20 | 10:30 ET (NBA TV)
GAME 4: SUNS VS. CLIPPERS | SAT., APRIL 22 | 3:30 ET (TNT)
*GAME 5: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | TUES., APRIL 25 | TBD
*GAME 6: SUNS VS. CLIPPERS | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD
*GAME 7: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD (TNT)
* IF NECESSARY
NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
BOSTON BRUINS (A1) VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS (WC2)
MON., APRIL 17: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, 7:30 P.M. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS
WED., APRIL 19: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, 7:30 P.M. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS
FRI., APRIL 21: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, 7:30 P.M. ET, TNT, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS
SUN., APRIL 23: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, 3:30 P.M. ET, TNT, SN1, TVAS
WED., APRIL 26: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, TBA
FRI., APRIL 28: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, TBA
SUN., APRIL 30: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, TBA
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (A2) VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (A3)
TUE., APRIL 18: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, 7:30 P.M. ET, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS, ESPN
THU., APRIL 20: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, 7 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN
SAT., APRIL 22: MAPLE LEAFS AT LIGHTNING, 7 P.M. ET, TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS
MON., APRIL 24: MAPLE LEAFS AT LIGHTNING, 7:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC
THUR., APRIL 27: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, TBA
SAT., APRIL 29: MAPLE LEAFS AT LIGHTNING, TBA
MON., MAY 1: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, TBA
CAROLINA HURRICANES (M1) VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (WC1)
MON., APRIL 17: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, 7 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2
WED., APRIL 19: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, 7 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS22
FRI., APRIL 21: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, 7 P.M. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS
SUN., APRIL 23: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, 1 P.M. ET, TNT, SN360, TVAS
TUE., APRIL 25: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, TBA
FRI., APRIL 28: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, TBA
SUN., APRIL 30: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, TBA
NEW JERSEY DEVILS (M2) VS. NEW YORK RANGERS (M3)
TUE., APRIL 18: RANGERS AT DEVILS, 7 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS2
THU., APRIL 20: RANGERS AT DEVILS, 7:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS
SAT., APRIL 22: DEVILS AT RANGERS, 8 P.M. ET, ABC, ESPN+, SN1, CITY, TVAS
MON., APRIL 24: DEVILS AT RANGERS, 7 P.M. ET, ESPN, SN360, TVAS
THUR., APRIL 27: RANGERS AT DEVILS, TBA
SAT., APRIL 29: DEVILS AT RANGERS, TBA
MON., MAY 1: RANGERS AT DEVILS, TBA
WESTERN CONFERENCE
COLORADO AVALANCHE (C1) VS. SEATTLE KRAKEN (WC1)
TUE., APRIL 18: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, 10 P.M. ET, ESPN, SN360, TVAS
THU., APRIL 20: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN, SN360, FX, TVAS
SAT., APRIL 22: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN. 10 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS
MON., APRIL 24: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN, 10 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS
WED., APRIL 26: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, TBA
FRI., APRIL 28: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN, TBA
SUN., APRIL 30: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, TBA
DALLAS STARS (C2) VS. MINNESOTA WILD (C3)
MON., APRIL 17: WILD AT STARS, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2
WED., APRIL 19: WILD AT STARS, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS
FRI., APRIL 21: STARS AT WILD, 9:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS
SUN., APRIL 23: STARS AT WILD, 6:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS
TUE., APRIL 25: WILD AT STARS, TBA
FRI., APRIL 28: STARS AT WILD, TBA
SUN., APRIL 30: WILD AT STARS, TBA
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (P1) VS. WINNIPEG JETS (WC2)
TUE., APRIL 18: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SNW, TVAS2
THU., APRIL 20 JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, 10 P.M. ET, TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS
SAT., APRIL 22: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT JETS, 4 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS
MON., APRIL 24: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT JETS, 9:30 P.M. ET, SNW, TVAS, ESPN
THU., APRIL 27: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, TBA
SAT., APRIL 29: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT JETS, TBA
MON., MAY 1: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, TBA
EDMONTON OILERS (P2) VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS (P3)
MON., APRIL 17: KINGS AT OILERS, 10 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN
WED., APRIL 19: KINGS AT OILERS, 10 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN
FRI., APRIL 21: OILERS AT KINGS, 10 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT
SUN., APRIL 23: OILERS AT KINGS, 9 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS
TUE., APRIL 25: KINGS AT OILERS, TBA
SAT., APRIL 29: OILERS AT KINGS, TBA
MON., MAY 1: KINGS AT OILERS, TBA
* IF NECESSARY
TBD – TO BE DETERMINED
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
SAN FRANCISCO AT DETROIT POSTPONED
WASHINGTON 7 CLEVELAND 6
ATLANTA 5 KANSAS CITY 4
NY METS 4 OAKLAND 3 (10)
SEATTLE 1 COLORADO 0
BOSTON 2 LA ANGELS 1
NY YANKEES 2 MINNESOTA 0
TAMPA BAY 8 TORONTO 1
BALTIMORE 8 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4
TEXAS 9 HOUSTON 1
PHILADELPHIA 14 CINCINNATI 3
ARIZONA 5 MIAMI 0
ST. LOUIS 5 PITTSBURGH 4 (10)
CHICAGO CUBS 3 LA DODGERS 2
MILWAUKEE 1 SAN DIEGO 0
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
INDIANAPOLIS 7 ST. PAUL 0
SOUTH BEND 10 BELOIT 2
FORT WAYNE 9 LAKE COUNTY 1
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCOREBOARD
LAFC 3 LA 2
TOP NATIONAL NEWS
HEAT RIP BUCKS 130-117 IN GAME 1; GIANNIS, HERRO INJURED
MILWAUKEE (AP) The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t have their best player around for the full game. The Miami Heat did.
That pretty much made the difference Sunday as the top-seeded Bucks saw their path toward a championship face an early obstacle.
Jimmy Butler had 35 points and 11 assists, and the Heat capitalized on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury to beat the Bucks 130-117 on Sunday in an Eastern Conference playoff opener Sunday. Butler’s dazzling performance enabled the Heat to withstand the exit of Tyler Herro, who broke his right hand while diving for a loose ball just before halftime.
“He’s just a brilliant competitor,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He does it on both ends of the court. He has an innate feel for what’s necessary during the course of a game. We needed obviously some offensive punch, some triggers, something to settle us all down, particularly when we found out Tyler was out. Jimmy was able to do it in a lot of different ways.”
Now the Bucks wait to learn how long Antetokounmpo might be out because of a lower back bruise.
Antetokounmpo was driving to the basket with 4:13 left in the first quarter when he got fouled by Kevin Love and landed hard on his backside. The two-time MVP got up slowly, stayed in the game to take his free throws and then headed to the locker room about 2 1/2 minutes later after picking up his second foul.
Although he returned to the game with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter, Antetokounmpo went to the locker room again with 8:33 left in the half and was ruled out for the rest of the game shortly afterward.
“There was an X-ray that was clear here,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We’ll monitor him and see how he does, see how he wakes up, how he feels the rest of tonight and tomorrow.”
The early departures of Antetokounmpo and Herro gave this game an unusual feel and forced both teams to adjust on the fly.
Nobody adapted better than Butler, who shot 15 of 27, leading the way as the Heat set a franchise scoring record for a playoff game and shot 59.5% from the floor.
“I just control what I can control in the end, play basketball the right way, no matter who’s out there on the floor on my team or the opposing team,” Butler said. “Stay aggressive. Make sure my guys get their shots. Defend as I’m supposed to defend and do whatever it takes to get my team the win.”
The Heat also capitalized on a dramatic advantage from beyond the arc. The Heat were 15 of 25 and the Bucks 11 of 45 from 3-point range.
Bam Adebayo had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Heat.
Khris Middleton scored 33 points and Bobby Portis had 21 for the Bucks.
Miami seized control of the game early as the Bucks appeared disjointed after a long layoff. None of the Bucks’ starters had played since at least April 5, when they won at Chicago to clinch the NBA’s best regular-season record and top playoff seed.
The Heat allowed the Bucks to take the lead once – at 4-2.
“They played well,” said Milwaukee guard Jrue Holiday, who had 16 points and 16 assists but shot 6 of 18. “They looked like they had a rhythm, attacking the basket, got to the free-throw line a lot. There’s a lot of things we need to do, kind of like starting off better.”
The Bucks kept trying to make a run, but Butler made sure the Heat answered every time.
“He’s arguably the best closer in the game,” said Love, who had 18 points and eight rebounds. “It’s unbelievable what he’s able to do out there. He’s our leader. He sets the tone for us. I’m taking him pretty much over anybody in the league when it comes down to closing out a game.”
TIP-INS
Heat: Ranked just 27th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (.344) in the regular season. … Had a 62-46 edge in points in the paint. … Were 17-24 in away games, including a 9-17 mark against East teams. … Herro scored 12 points before his injury.
Bucks: Shot 73.9% (34 of 46) on 2-point attempts. … This is the third time in five seasons the Bucks have been the NBA’s top overall playoff seed. The other two times, they lost to Toronto in the 2019 East finals and fell to Miami in the 2020 East semifinals. Milwaukee was the third seed in the East in 2021 when it won the NBA title. … The Bucks are making their seventh consecutive playoff appearance, the second-longest active streak to Boston’s nine. The franchise record for consecutive postseason berths is 12 from 1980-91.
UP NEXT
Game 2 is Wednesday at Milwaukee.
HACHIMURA’S BIG 2ND HALF LEADS LA PAST MEMPHIS IN GAME 1
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers made an early statement in the wide-open Western Conference playoffs.
Hachimura scored a playoff career-best 29 points, including 21 in the second half, and James added 21 points and 11 rebounds as the seventh-seeded Lakers beat the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 128-112 on Sunday in the opening game of their series.
Memphis had the NBA’s best home record at 35-6 but no longer has home-court advantage against LA. Game 2 is Wednesday at FedExForum, and the Grizzlies have major concerns about star Ja Morant, who aggravated a right hand injury.
“We didn’t execute the priorities of the game plan,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Get back. Execute half-court defense and get rebounds.”
Austin Reaves added 23 points, including nine straight in the closing minutes as the Lakers pulled away. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell, who scored only two points in the Lakers’ play-in win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, finished with 19 points.
Hachimura missed only one of his nine shots in the second half, including making all five of his 3-point attempts.
“The second half, we were in a good rhythm,” Hachimura said. “We were sharing the ball and all the shots just came to me.”
Reaves added: “Rui was huge (Sunday). His skillset is crazy. For us to get him with all the talent we have, it just brings another aspect to our team.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 31 points, while Desmond Bane scored 22. Morant had 18 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with the hand injury. The Grizzlies’ leading scorer’s availability for Game 2 is uncertain.
“I’m in a good bit of pain,” Morant said. “My main focus was to be out there for my guys. Another incident where, you know, that’s pretty much in jeopardy.”
It was Hachimura from Japan who provided Los Angeles some breathing room in the third quarter, connecting on all four of his 3-point attempts. Hachimura’s only previous playoff experience was in 2021 with Washington, which lost a first-round series to Philadelphia. The Lakers acquired him from the Wizards in a midseason trade.
“He’s multifaceted,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of Hachiumura. “He’s strong. He has great hands. He can get out and run, go up top. Very, very athletic and can really put the ball in the hole as you saw today. Just encouraging him to be assertive, aggressive.”
Los Angeles had to get through the play-in tournament this year after missing the playoffs in 2022. The Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns a year earlier.
Memphis finished with 51 wins, its second straight 50-victory season.
After the Grizzlies used a second-quarter burst to take a 65-59 lead into the break, the teams swapped leads through much of the second half, and Memphis still held a 101-100 advantage with 8:36 left.
But Hachimura made a 13-foot jumper, and Reaves nailed a 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring. Then, as Memphis got close again with about three minutes left, Reaves went on his individual scoring spree, and the Lakers closed out the game with the final 15 points.
“It’s one game,” Bane said. “It’s the first of four games for a reason. You want to win every game, but most of the time that doesn’t happen.
“We obviously wanted to start it off with a win, but whey won, and we get another opportunity on Wednesday.”
TIP-INS
Lakers: This is the first time Los Angeles has faced Memphis in the postseason. … Davis left the court late in the second quarter with an injury to his right arm. He returned to start the second half. … The first Los Angeles turnover came with 8:41 left in the second quarter. Its second came a minute later. … James passed Robert Horry for 24th on the Los Angeles all-time playoff scoring list in the second quarter.
Grizzlies: C Steven Adams (right knee PCL sprain) and C/F Brandon Clarke (left Achilles tendon tear) were out and are expected to miss the playoffs. … Morant played with his right hand wrapped from what Jenkins described as a contusion in his pregame availability. Morant hurt the hand again in the fourth quarter when he landed awkwardly. … Memphis has now lost the first home game in each of its last three postseason series.
LEONARD SCORES 38 TO LEAD CLIPPERS PAST DURANT, SUNS 115-110
PHOENIX (AP) Kawhi Leonard had a great shooting night while Russell Westbrook had a horrible one.
Both players nonetheless had a huge impact for the Los Angeles Clippers in their 115-110 win over the Phoenix Suns in the teams’ Western Conference playoff series opener on Sunday.
Leonard poured in 38 points, including two late 3-pointers, while Westbrook was a menace everywhere except the scoring column. The veteran guard shot just 3 of 19 from the field, but finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals.
“My whole career, I pride myself every season on doing everything,” Westbrook said. “Whatever is needed of me to win the game, I’ll do it.”
That’s exactly what happened in the final 30 seconds. Westbrook made a pair of free throws with 17.7 seconds left for a three-point lead, then blocked Devin Booker’s layup attempt at the other end and swatted the ball off Booker to give the Clippers the ball with 10.1 seconds remaining.
Eric Gordon added 19 points and hit a late 3 that kept the Clippers ahead.
Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Suns, who lost for the first time with him on the floor. Phoenix acquired the two-time NBA Finals MVP from Brooklyn in February, and injuries limited him to eight games – all Suns wins.
Devin Booker added 26 points for Phoenix, which will try to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole at home on Tuesday.
The Suns trailed 109-103 with 1:33 remaining but scored the next five points. The Clippers grabbed multiple offensive rebounds on the ensuing possession before Westbrook made his critical free throws.
“Making winning plays, getting deflections on balls, offensive rebounding, getting us into our sets – that is playoff basketball,” Leonard said. “You might not have the best night shooting, but you’ve got to impact the game some type of way and he did that tonight.”
Los Angeles led for much of the game until midway through the third quarter. Torrey Craig made back-to-back buckets, including one on a powerful fast-break dunk, to push Phoenix ahead 70-68, part of a 15-0 run that concluded with a 77-68 Suns lead.
The Clippers, led by Leonard’s 12 points in the third, recovered to tie the game at 81-all heading into the fourth.
“They’re going to make a run at home, we understood that,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We built a lead, they made a run, and now we’ve got to keep our composure and be ready to fight back. I thought everyone who played tonight was great.”
Leonard – a two-time Finals MVP playing his first playoff game since June 14, 2021 – did much of his damage from the mid-range, but moved behind the 3-point arc in the game’s late moments. He hit a 3 with 2:36 left and another at the 2-minute mark, finishing 13 of 24 shooting from the field.
The Clippers were missing one of their best players in eight-time All-Star Paul George. He sprained his right knee last month and it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play in this series.
Gordon scored 12 points as the Clippers jumped to a 30-18 lead after one quarter. The Suns shot just 31.8% from the field in the first quarter and Durant was held scoreless.
“We definitely would like to have better starts but sometimes that happens,” Durant said. “It is all about how you bounce back from it.”
Durant missed his first five shots from the field before finally connecting on a mid-range jumper early in the second quarter. That seemed to shake the nerves and the 34-year-old poured in 17 points before the break, helping cut the Clippers’ lead to 59-54.
The Suns had their six-game winning streak in playoff Game 1s snapped.
“We understand it is not going to be easy,” Booker said. “It gets harder from here. Thinking back to my first (playoffs), every loss is the worst thing ever and every win you are going to win the rest of them. That’s just how the playoffs go.”
TIP-INS
Clippers: George hasn’t played since March 21. … Ivica Zubac had 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first half.
Suns: G Cam Payne (low back soreness) was not available. He was hurt in the next-to-last game of the regular season. … Were playing their first home playoff game since a 33-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of last year’s Western Conference semifinals.
MURRAY LEADS NUGGETS PAST WOLVES 109-80 IN NBA PLAYOFFS
Jamal Murray scored 24 points and dished out eight assists in his first playoff game since the 2020 NBA bubble and the top-seeded Denver Nuggets routed the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-80 Sunday night.
Nikola Jokic added 13 points, 14 rebounds and a half dozen assists in 28 minutes and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 points as Denver snapped a five-game skid in playoff openers.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 18 points. Karl-Anthony Towns, who was rounding into form this month after missing 52 games with a bad calf, missed 10 of his first 12 shots and finished with 11 points.
The Timberwolves hadn’t been held to so few points since Nov. 19, 2016.
Jokic said during the Nuggets’ week off that he was eager to see how they’d do do with Murray and Porter back in the lineup with him after injuries and surgeries waylaid Denver’s Big Three each of the last two postseasons.
The answer was emphatic: the trio combined for 55 points, 33 rebounds and 16 assists – with just two combined turnovers – as all five of Denver’s starters scored in double figures as did reserve Bruce Brown, who chipped in 14.
The Nuggets were the only one of four home teams to win Sunday as the Bucks, Grizzlies and Suns all surrendered homecourt advantage to lower seeds in the first round.
The opener marked Murray’s first playoff appearance since his breakout performance in the 2020 NBA bubble, when he twice put up 50 points on the Jazz in helping the Nuggets reach the Western Conference Finals where they lost to LeBron James and the Lakers. Murray tore his left ACL eight months later and missed the Nuggets’ last two playoff runs.
“It is kind of wild to think it’s been that long,” Denver coach Michael Malone said before tip-off. “I’m just so happy for him, proud of him. It has not been an easy journey for him, but I think this year, we’ve seen Jamal have moments where that’s the Jamal Murray that we all love and remember.
“I think he’s just really excited to get back out there, play, and remind people of what he’s capable of. We know how important he is to us. I’m just very, very thankful that, we as a team, are healthy going into the postseason.”
That includes Porter, who sat out a year ago following back surgery.
The Timberwolves were without starting forward Jaden McDaniels, their best perimeter defender, who broke his right hand punching a wall in Minnesota’s final regular season game.
SPICY NUGGETS
Malone said before tip-off he expected some chippiness in the series: “I don’t mind spicy. This is the playoffs. This isn’t like regular season games.”
He got just that in the third quarter when rookie Christian Braun got into a tussle with Kyle Anderson after Anderson’s flagrant foul. As teammates rushed into the fray, Murray pointed to the scoreboard, which read: Nuggets 83, Timberwolves 58.
HIGH PRAISE It’s no surprise Timberwolves basketball boss Tim Connelly spoke so glowingly about the Nuggets, whose nucleus he helped assemble before being lured away by the T-Wolves 11 months ago.
“Michael Malone is a fantastic head coach. The staff is full of future head coaches,” Connelly said at the morning shootaround. “Obviously, Nikola, best player in the world. … From A-to-Z, a first-class organization, great ownership.”
Connelly shared intel on Jokic and his teammates with Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, who said, “his background on this – very, very helpful.”
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Minnesota surrendered the first eight points of the game and the first nine points after halftime. The Wolves fought back to take a 17-16 lead in the first quarter but there was no similar comeback in the third.
Nuggets: Denver outscored Minnesota 32-14 in the third quarter to build an 87-58 lead. … Jokic was sent back into the game with the Nuggets ahead by 30 with 7:46 left in the fourth and picked up a flagrant foul, his fifth, at the 6:50 mark when he elbowed Anthony Edwards in the face. He fouled out 13 seconds later.
UP NEXT
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Denver.
MLB ROUNDUP: PHILLIES SCORE 9 IN FIRST, BASH 23 HITS TO ROUT REDS
Trea Turner went 3-for-3 with two walks, three runs and an RBI and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies sent 13 batters to the plate in a nine-run, eight-hit first inning to highlight a 14-3 rout of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
Each Philadelphia batter in the starting lineup recorded a hit, an RBI and a run in the romp. J.T. Realmuto homered for the Phillies, who banged out a season-high 23 hits. Brandon Marsh posted four hits and Jake Cave drove in four runs for Philadelphia, which earned a series split.
Bryson Stott, who went 3-for-7, belted the second pitch from starter Luis Cessa (0-2) for a leadoff home run. Stott’s first homer of the season extended his hitting streak to 16 games to begin the season, matching the longest in franchise history. Cessa gave up 11 runs and 14 hits, both career highs, in three-plus frames.
Spencer Steer, Luke Maile and Nick Senzel each had two hits for the Reds as Cincinnati endured its worst defeat of 2023 just one day after handing Philadelphia its season-worst 13-0 loss on Saturday.
Yankees 2, Twins 0
Gerrit Cole struck out 10 and pitched a two-hitter to win his fourth consecutive start as host New York beat Minnesota to salvage a split of its four-game series.
Cole (4-0) did not allow a hit until Donovan Solano singled to left with two outs in the fifth on the right-hander’s 66th pitch.
DJ LeMahieu hit an RBI single and homered off Minnesota’s Pablo Lopez (1-1) to drive in all of the game’s runs. Lopez allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings.
Red Sox 2, Angels 1
Justin Turner’s two-run home run in the third inning was all Boston needed to post a third straight win over visiting Los Angeles.
Turner drove in Alex Verdugo with the homer. Both were 2-for-4 as Boston finished with seven hits. Garrett Whitlock (1-1) became the first Red Sox pitcher to post a quality start or go beyond five innings this season, working seven frames of three-hit, one-run ball with five strikeouts.
The Angels recorded only four hits, with just one — a second-inning double by Anthony Rendon — going for extra bases. Reid Detmers (0-1) was a tough-luck loser, striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings while allowing two runs and six hits.
Mets 4, Athletics 3 (10 innings)
Pete Alonso tied the game with a ninth-inning home run, Eduardo Escobar dashed home on a wild pitch for the go-ahead run in the 10th and visiting New York spoiled Oakland’s 50th anniversary celebration of its 1973 World Series championship.
After a diving catch by center fielder Brandon Nimmo prevented the A’s from winning in regulation, the Mets took advantage of the extra-inning runner at second to score without a hit.
Sam Moll (0-2), who started the inning, took the loss. Jimmy Yacabonis (1-0) won in his Mets debut with a scoreless ninth. Seeking a fourth straight win, the Mets were two outs from a 3-2 loss before Alonso belted his eighth home run of the season in the ninth off A’s closer Dany Jimenez.
Nationals 7, Guardians 6
Joey Meneses delivered a two-out single in the eighth inning to cap a comeback as Washington ended a four-game losing streak by defeating visiting Cleveland.
Jeimer Candelario went 4-for-5 with a home run, Luis Garcia smacked a two-run home run and Lane Thomas doubled twice for the Nationals. Mason Thompson (1-1) was the winning pitcher with an inning of shutout relief before Kyle Finnegan worked the ninth for his third save.
Cleveland’s Steven Kwan drove in two runs and Josh Bell roped a run-scoring double against one of his former teams. Kwan, Bell, Mike Zunino and Myles Straw all had two hits.
Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 0
Zac Gallen pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Corbin Carroll drilled a two-run homer off reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara as Arizona defeated host Miami.
Gallen (2-1) allowed just two hits, striking out seven and walking none. Carroll went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs for the Diamondbacks, including his 414-foot homer to center field.
Alcantara (1-2) allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned) in six innings for the Marlins. He struck out nine and walked none, but he was hurt by a couple of drops — including his own mishandle while covering first base — as Miami had its four-game win streak snapped.
Rays 8, Blue Jays 1
Christian Bethancourt hit a three-run home run, Josh Lowe added three RBIs and visiting Tampa Bay defeated Toronto.
Shane McClanahan (4-0) pitched six strong innings as the Rays salvaged the finale of a three-game series. Yandy Diaz reached base four times. He was hit by a pitch, walked, doubled and singled.
Alek Manoah (1-1) allowed seven runs, nine hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays. He had five strikeouts and hit a batter. Toronto scored its lone run in the bottom of the first on George Springer’s walk and singles by Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Braves 5, Royals 4
Vaughn Grissom singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning to give Atlanta a win over host Kansas City and extend its winning streak to six games.
Ozzie Albies began the rally with a one-out double off the fence and scored when Grissom lined an opposite-field single to right field off reliever Scott Barlow (0-2), giving the Braves a sweep of the three-game series.
The Royals dropped to 1-9 at Kauffman Stadium, their worst start at home since starting the 2018 season 1-12.
Cubs 3, Dodgers 2
Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger pushed visiting Chicago ahead with back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning in a win over Los Angeles in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Drew Smyly (1-1) allowed one run on four hits over 5 2/3 innings for the Cubs. Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr. and Michael Fulmer followed before Brad Boxberger worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his first save. Dansby Swanson had three hits for Chicago, which has won seven of its last 10.
Dodgers starter Julio Urias (3-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six. Chris Taylor homered and Mookie Betts had three hits and an RBI for Los Angeles, which has lost six of its last nine.
Orioles 8, White Sox 4
Cedric Mullins had three hits and four RBIs and three relievers combined on four innings of shutout ball to boost visiting Baltimore to victory against Chicago.
The Orioles rebounded from a loss Saturday to keep the White Sox from capturing their first series victory of the season. Austin Hays, Gunnar Henderson and Jorge Mateo each had two hits for Baltimore, which has won five of seven.
Gavin Sheets led the Chicago attack with two hits and three RBIs. Sheets drilled a three-run shot to open the scoring in the opening frame and Jake Burger added a solo shot two batters later, homering for the third time in as many games in the series.
Cardinals 5, Pirates 4 (10 innings)
Tommy Edman delivered the game-winning RBI single as St. Louis edged visiting Pittsburgh to gain a split in the four-game series.
Canaan Smith-Njigba’s run-scoring groundout put the Pirates up 4-3 in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the inning, Willson Contreras drew a walk and Nolan Gorman hit an RBI ground-rule double to set up Edman’s heroics.
Edman was one of four Cardinals with two hits each, including Nolan Gorman, who smacked a pair of doubles and drove in a run. Lars Nootbaar walked three times and drilled a two-run shot for St. Louis. Jack Suwinski had two hits and scored a run for the Pirates.
Mariners 1, Rockies 0
Luis Castillo took a perfect game into the seventh inning as Seattle completed a three-game interleague series sweep with a victory over visiting Colorado.
Castillo (2-0), who had an 0-3 record with an 11.30 ERA in three previous starts against the Rockies, retired the first 18 batters he faced before Jurickson Profar led off the seventh with a bloop single into left-center field.
Castillo allowed two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine over seven innings. It was the third time in four starts this season the right-hander didn’t allow a run. Paul Sewald struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Brewers 1, Padres 0
Wade Miley outdueled Yu Darvish with a pitching disengagement violation leading to the game’s only run as visiting Milwaukee scored a victory over San Diego to win the four-game series.
Garrett Mitchell scored the decisive run in the second inning after reaching on a bunt single up the first base line. Mitchell was on first when Darvish twice stepped off the rubber to draw a balk under the new pitching disengagement rule. Mitchell then stole third and scored on Brian Anderson’s sacrifice fly to left.
Both Miley and Darvish pitched seven innings and allowed only four hits. Miley (2-1) didn’t issue a walk and struck out eight while throwing 89 pitches to earn the win. Darvish (0-2) issued two walks and had 12 strikeouts in a 100-pitch outing. It was the 50th double-digit strikeout game of his career.
Rangers 9, Astros 1
Nathaniel Lowe keyed a six-run seventh inning with a leadoff double and Marcus Semien capped the uprising with a grand slam as Texas claimed the rubber match of its three-game series with host Houston.
Semien struck the critical blow by lining an 0-2 splitter from Astros reliever Hector Neris into the left field seats for his seventh career grand slam. Lowe ignited the rally by extending his hitting streak to a career-high-tying 11 games with his double off Astros starter Framber Valdez (1-2).
For the second time in as many starts, Texas left-hander Andrew Heaney did not surrender an earned run. The Rangers had dropped 10 consecutive series in Houston since completing a three-game sweep July 27-29, 2018.
YANKS’ STANTON GOES ON 10-DAY IL WITH LEFT HAMSTRING STRAIN
NEW YORK (AP) New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain on Sunday.
Stanton hit a two-run double off the left field wall in the seventh inning on Saturday, and called for a pinch runner. He’ll have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
“Let’s see what the MRI says,” manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. “He’s moving around OK after the game but he definitely like it was before even getting the MRI that was an IL stint. We’ll see what we got.”
Stanton is batting .269 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 13 games this season while splitting time between the outfield and designated hitter.
Since 2011 Stanton has been on the injured list in all but the 2014, 2017 and 2018 season, and this is the fifth straight season with some type of injury.
Last year, he missed more than a month because of tendinitis in his left Achilles; the Yankees were 11-17 during that time. Earlier in the 2022 season, Stanton missed nine games with right ankle inflammation. In 2021, Stanton played 139 games, his highest total since 2018, but also missed time with a left quadriceps strain.
“Obviously he’s got an awesome build and physique,” Boone said when asked why Stanton gets hurt so frequently. “He works very hard to try and avoid these things but unfortunately is something that’s happened with him. So I don’t know. “
The four-time All-Star has a career .264 batting average with 382 homers and 928 RBIs.
Infield prospect Oswald Peraza was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill Stanton’s spot. Peraza is hitting .289 in nine games this season; he lost the spring training shortstop competition with Anthony Volpe.
Peraza made his major league debut last year and batted .306 with a homer and two RBIs in 18 games. He started 11 games at shortstop, three at second base and was New York’s starting shortstop in Game 2 of the ALCS in Houston.
OHIO STATE COORDINATOR HARTLINE INJURED IN ATV ACCIDENT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline has been hospitalized Sunday after an ATV accident on his property.
According to a statement from OSU’s athletic department, Hartline and an unidentified friend were transported to Riverside Hospital with “non-life threatening injuries.” The statement said Hartline hopes to be released from the hospital later in the evening.
Hartline confirmed the crash on Twitter.
“I appreciate everyone’s support,” Hartline wrote. “I crashed my side by side on my property and have been taken to the hospital for further evaluation. I am doing well.”
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is usually made for one rider to go off-roading. A utility task vehicle (UTV) is a larger type of ATV designed to haul heavier loads and allow additional passengers.
There was no immediate word on Hartline’s injuries or condition.
On Saturday, he took part in Ohio State’s spring game.
The 36-year-old Hartline played for the Buckeyes and for seven seasons in the NFL with Miami and Cleveland.
Hartline has been on the Buckeyes’ staff since 2017 coaching wide receivers. He’s been one of the nation’s top recruiters, landing several prominent players including including Garrett Wilson, the AFC Rookie of the Year with the New York Jets and current Ohio State All-American Marvin Harrison Jr.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day promoted Hartline to coordinator in January after Kevin Wilson left to coach Tulsa.
FITZPATRICK WINS RBC HERITAGE OVER SPIETH ON 3RD EXTRA HOLE
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Matt Fitzpatrick’s earliest memories of Harbour Town were as a spectator wondering if Tiger Woods would play the RBC Heritage.
He was always disappointed, since Woods only played once at Hilton Head, in 1999, when Fitzpatrick was 4 years old.
“I remember saying to my dad, ”Is Tiger (Woods) going to be here?” he recalled.
Now, Fitzpatrick’s got a sweeter memory at the Pete Dye layout he played as a child on vacations.
Fitzpatrick defeated defending champion Jordan Spieth on the third playoff hole on Sunday, stuffing his approach in close on the par-4 18th to secure his first victory since the U.S. Open last June.
“I think I can retire now,” joked the 28-year-old Englishman, who uses a Harbour Town-style lighthouse headcover. “This is one I really wanted.”
Fitzpatrick hit 9-iron to within 1 foot on the closing lighthouse hole to set up the winning birdie.
Fitzpatrick had to sweat out a couple of prime chances by Spieth on the first two extra holes. Spieth raised his putter in triumph before watching his 12-foot birdie putt catch the right edge and spin out the first time the pair played the 18th. Then Spieth’s 9-foot birdie attempt ran out of steam on the right edge at the 17th hole.
“I felt every putt he hit was going to go in,” Fitzpatrick said.
Spieth still doesn’t understand how the that first playoff putt didn’t drop.
“I think if I hit the same putt 10 times, it does in eight,” Spieth said. “It should go left at the very end there on the grain. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
There was no doubt about the final hole as Fitzpatrick, from 187 yards out, hit the front of the green and watched the ball settle next to the hole. Spieth’s attempt from 26 feet away rolled past and Fitzpatrick tapped in for the victory.
Fitzpatrick felt the shot was true from the moment he struck it. He wasn’t sure how close it came, but got an idea when his spotted his family cheering wildly.
“I knew it was good because my mom and my girlfriend were jumping up and down,” he said.
Fitzpatrick won $3.6 million from the elevated purse of $20 million in the sixth designated event of the year on the PGA Tour, topping a field that included seven of the world’s top 10 players.
Fitzpatrick trailed Spieth by two with five holes to play, but made birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to tie for the lead at 17-under.
The third-round leader by one shot, Fitzpatrick closed with a 3-under 68 and matched Spieth at 17-under 267. Spieth had his second straight 66.
Patrick Cantlay, grouped with Fitzpatrick and Spieth, was third after a 68 left him at 16-under. Cantlay lost this title in a playoff to Spieth a year ago.
“Another close call here,” Cantlay said.
Xander Schauffele was another stroke behind after a 66. Sahith Theegala shot 65 and Hayden Buckley a 67 to tie for fifth at 14-under.
Scottie Scheffler, No. 2 in the world, shot 70 and was tied for 11th at 12-under. Masters champion Jon Rahm ended with a 68 and was tied for 15th before taking a well-earned week off.
Fitzpatrick carried a one-shot lead into the final round, but watched as Spieth made four birdies in the opening six holes to share the lead.
Fitzpatrick played a stretch of nine holes in 1 over as Spieth looked ready to pull away. But Spieth made bogey on the par-3 14th while Fitzpatrick answered with consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th.
The pair remained tied until Fitzpatrick’s remarkable approach on the winning hole.
Cantlay, so close a year ago, lost his chance at victory with consecutive bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes. He missed from inside 2 feet for the first, then saw his chip off the green on the next hole end up wedged next to a wood pylon at the edge of the water.
Cantlay was able to pop it up and complete the most improbable bogey he’s had in a while.
Masters champion Rahm set his sights on donning the plaid jacket given winners here to go with the green one he brought from Augusta National. But a 1-over 72 Thursday set him back and he never challenged the lead despite shooting in the 60s the final three rounds.
Rahm played his final 33 holes in 2-under and closed with birdie on the last, his approach settling inside 2 feet.
The crowd cheered and chanted as he applauded them back with a big smile. Rahm will return in two weeks to defend his Mexico Championship title.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect this,” Rahm said of the fans. “I did not expect this in my wildest dreams, the see the kids, the adults and everybody have that reaction just to see me is really very special.”
AUSTRALIAN GRACE KIM WINS LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP IN PLAYOFF
HONOLULU (AP) Australian rookie Grace Kim won the LOTTE Championship on Saturday at breezy Hoakalei Country Club for her first LPGA Tour title, beating Yu Liu and Yu Jin Sung with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.
While Liu and Sung scrambled after hitting their second shots to the left of the green on the par-5 18th, the 22-year-old Kim went over the water to the right, then chipped to 8 feet to set up her birdie.
“I definitely wanted to have a good go at it knowing that the green wasn’t the best, I guess, angle in from where we were,” Kim said. “I would have to admit that I wasn’t planning to go that aggressive. I did push it right. So just letting you guys know. Yeah, I guess, yeah, I got lucky.”
Liu made a par and Sung had a bogey, hitting her third over the green and past Kim’s second.
“I really didn’t have high expectations,” Kim said. “Just really tried to play my game. Didn’t try to force anything. Just trying to I guess go with the flow. I’m still speechless that it’s kind of done already and I got the job done.”
Playing alongside Sung in the final threesome, Kim shot a 4-under 68, rebounding from a bogey on the par-4 14th to birdie the last two holes. She got up and down from the front-left bunker on 18 in regulation, making a 7-footer.
“I think after bogeying 14, I just tried to give it my all.” Kim said. “I tried my best and it came out to be a good result. Birdie on 17, of course, was a great momentum forward, so definitely gave it an aggressive go on 18, and birdied it twice, which is good.”
Sung finished with a 69, getting up and down from the front right bunker on 18 with a 9-footer. The 22-year-old South Korean played on a sponsor exemption after winning the LOTTE Open last year on the Korean LPGA.
“Very interesting and good experience for my golf life,” Sung said. “Very good experience.”
Liu began the round five strokes behind Sung in a tie for 15th, then shot a 64 – the best score in the two years at Hoakalei – to post at 12-under 276. The 27-year-old from China finished about an hour before the final group.
“It was a bit unexpected to be honest,” the former Duke player said. “I felt pretty over-achieved today.”
Linnea Strom, the Swede playing in the second-to-last group, missed a 10-foot birdie try on 18 to finish a stroke back with Peiyun Chien. Strom shot a 69, with a double bogey on the 14th. Chien, from Taiwan, closed with a 67.
“Hit a good putt. Just misread it a little bit,” Strom said.
Thailand’s Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, tied for the lead after each of the first two rounds, had a 70 to tie for sixth at 9 under. The 20-year-old Vongtaveelap made her second LPGA Tour start. In February, she won her first two events as pro on the Thai LPGA Tour, then was second behind Lilia Vu in the LPGA Thailand.
Lauren Hartlage (70) and Georgia Hall (71) also were 9 under.
Brooke Henderson, at No. 7 the highest-ranked player in the field, had a 71 to tie for 11th at 7 under. She’s the only multiple winner in event history, taking the 2018 and 2019 titles at Ko Olina.
The Chevron Championship, the first women’s major championship of the year, is next week in Texas.
Kim got an unexpected trip to Houston.
“I actually didn’t register until Superstition week because I thought I had no chance of getting into Chevron,” Kim said. “Hearing other people saying that they could get a chance, I was like, `Oh, yeah, you know what? I’ll just enter.′ Just topped it off today. Very excited.”
LARSON PULLS AWAY FROM LOGANO TO WIN AT MARTINSVILLE
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) Kyle Larson never thought he would tame the half-mile, paperclip-shaped track at Martinsville Speedway.
And then came Sunday.
Larson passed Joey Logano with 29 laps to go and went on to win his second Cup Series race of the season on a day when NASCAR welcomed back Chase Elliott.
It was the 21st career Cup Series win for Larson and 15th in the last three seasons for the 2021 Cup champion.
Larson has struggled mightily at Martinsville in the past.
In his previous 17 races here, he had only three top-five finishes and never finished better than third.
“I never, ever would have thought I would have won here,” Larson said. “This place has been so tough on me and just does not suit my driving style at all. … I just can’t believe it.”
Because of his lack of past success at the track, Larson joked that he doesn’t have room picked out for where to keep the 6-foot tall grandfather clock awarded to the winner.
Larson said the clock immediately becomes one of his most prized possessions, because it serves as a reminder of how hard he has worked to win at a track where he never felt comfortable.
“I’ve left here just mad. I’ve hated this place, and I’ve wished it would flood,” Larson said with a laugh. “I wished a lot of bad things on this place.”
Logano, who was forced to begin the race in the back of the field after his crew found a leak in his water tank prior to the start, finished second, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe.
Logano was thrilled with his result, knowing he didn’t have the car to hold off Larson late in the race on a restart.
“We got lapped twice and at one point I would have been happy to finish on the lead lap,” Logano said with a laugh.
His luck changed when he stayed out on the track when he caught a timely yellow caution flag, helping him suddenly land in the top five and in contention to win.
“There are days when you are mad about second place, but today is not one of those,” Logano said.
Elliott, voted NASCAR’s most popular driver the last five years, finished 10th in his first race since breaking his leg in a snowboarding accident that forced him to miss six weeks.
He ran in the mid-20s for most of the race before closing strong.
“It was warm and I have been sitting on a couch for six weeks, so that probably hurt me more than anything,” Elliott said. “But we struggled really bad, honestly. Every run but the last one. We finally got it going at the end and made some passes.”
Because he’s so far behind in the points race, Elliott likely needs a victory to get into the playoffs. He qualified 24th for Sunday’s race.
PREECE’S FAST START
Polesitter Ryan Preece dominated early, leading the first 136 laps before a costly speeding penalty on pit row sent him to the back of the field. He never challenged again.
After winning his first career Cup Series pole on Saturday, Preece added another first to resume when earned his first stage win. The 32-year-old Preece had led just 29 laps in his entire Cup racing career prior to Sunday.
“It was really tough,” Preece said. “I shouldn’t have been in that position. But on the bright side we know what we are capable of. We’ve just got to keep digging.”
TOUGH LUCK
Kevin Harvick, the winner of the second stage, was running near the front for most of the day until his right front tire went down due to a broken rim with 53 laps to go. Harvick had been seeking his 61st career Cup Series victory and first since last August.
NO HAIL MELON
The last time Ross Chastain was at Martinsville, he pulled off the “Hail Melon” move by slingshotting his way around the outside wall in turns three and four to vault past Denny Hamlin and secure a spot in NASCAR’s “final four” round of the playoffs.
There was no video-game move this time around as NASCAR outlawed the move and Chastain wasn’t much of a factor on Sunday, finishing 13th.
SUSPENSION COMING
Two of Anthony Alfredo’s crew members can expect two-race suspensions this week after the No. 78 Chevrolet lost a tire on the front stretch during the race with about 98 laps remaining.
UP NEXT
NASCAR heads to Talladega next weekend for the first of two races at the 2.66-mile course. Chastain won the spring race there last season and Elliott captured the fall race.
KYLE KIRKWOOD WINS LONG BEACH FOR 1ST CAREER INDYCAR VICTORY
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) As Kyle Kirkwood crossed the finish line for his first career IndyCar win, his new race strategist urged him to soak up the sights and sounds of victory.
It nearly brought the 24-year-old to tears.
“A first win, it’s a big deal for any driver. I guarantee even Mario Andretti, all the wins he’s had, he still remembers the first one,” said Bryan Herta, who was moved to Kirkwood’s strategist one race ago.
“This is just as important milestone because it’s one thing to be a guy who people think can win in IndyCar. It’s something else to be somebody who has won in IndyCar.”
Kirkwood held off teammate Romain Grosjean on the downtown streets of Long Beach to give Andretti Autosport a 1-2 finish Sunday at the most prestigious street course race in the United States. Coincidentally, team owner Michael Andretti scored his first career win at Long Beach in 1986 and Mario Andretti won three IndyCar races at Long Beach and in 1977 became the only American driver to win a Formula One race on American soil when the grand prix was an F1 event.
“This is such a special race, I grew up watching it, and to win here is such a dream come true. The next best race to win, outside of this one, is Indianapolis,” Kirkwood said. “And the feeling I got, it was like trying to hold tears back in the car, which is something I never really felt before.”
The Jupiter, Florida, native on Saturday won the first pole of his career and then parlayed it into his first career victory in a breakthrough for Andretti Autosport. The team showed at last month’s season-opener that it had clearly made massive offseason strides, but all four Andretti drivers were crashed out of the race.
Then at Texas two weeks ago, three of the four Andretti drivers crashed with Kirkwood’s car damaged in a pit lane incident with Alexander Rossi.
It was maddening for Michael Andretti, who had such hope for a turnaround after the organization managed only two wins.
“That’s what we needed, that’s the medicine we needed,” Andretti said. “It was very frustrating but we knew we had fast cars and we just kept our heads down and knew if we just kept going, we’d get the results.”
Kirkwood was challenged mid-race by defending Long Beach winner Josef Newgarden, but reclaimed the lead when the Team Penske driver pitted for new tires. Kirkwood stayed out for a handful more laps and was able to make his stop for tires and get back on track before Newgarden could reclaim the lead.
Newgarden, the winner two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway, dropped to sixth and Kirkwood’s primary challengers over the closing laps were Grosjean and Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing.
But neither got close enough to make an attempt at the pass for the win, and Kirkwood celebrated his first win with Andretti. Grosjean at the end of the race actually seemed to be protecting Kirkwood’s lead from Ericsson.
Kirkwood was part of Andretti’s development system but the team didn’t have an open IndyCar seat for him when it came time to promote him last season. Kirkwood instead spent the year driving for A.J. Foyt Racing and returned to Andretti this season as the replacement for Alexander Rossi.
Michael Andretti has so much faith in the 24-year-old that he made a personnel change two weeks ago to move Bryan Herta to Kirkwood’s timing stand as strategist. Herta had spent the last two seasons as the strategist for his son, Colton.
“Great drivers, they make it easy,” said Herta. “I really don’t want to take credit for any of this.”
Grosjean finished second and was followed by Ericsson, Colton Herta, and Alex Palou of Ganassi as Honda drivers swept the top-five. The race is sponsored by Acura, a division of Honda, and Kirkwood was presented the winner’s trophy by the CEO of American Honda Motor Company.
Will Power of Team Penske was the highest-finishing Chevrolet at sixth. Newgarden faded to ninth.
ILOTT’S LONG WEEKEND
Callum Ilott arrived in Long Beach ranked seventh in the IndyCar standings and one of only six drivers to notch top-10 finishes in the first two races.
His success ended early.
Ilott crashed ahead of Saturday qualifying when he drove over curbing that had not been on the track during Friday’s practice. IndyCar did not inform teams that the curbing had been installed overnight and Ilott felt the series should pay Juncos Hollinger Racing for the crash damage.
Come Sunday, Ilott had to pit with a blown tire early in the race and dropped a lap off the pace. He finished 19th.
Agustin Canapino, meanwhile, led the first lap of his IndyCar career but the rookie from Argentina was later knocked out of the race for his first DNF of the season in a disappointing day for JHR.
CASTRONEVES CRASH
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves crashed on the opening lap and was barely able to pull away in time to remain on the lead lap. The Brazilian drove his wounded car back to the pits without its front wing and Meyer Shank Racing worked furiously to get Castroneves back on track.
It was the second time through three races this season that Castroneves crashed on the opening lap. He and teammate Simon Pagenaud were both knocked out of the season-opener in a multi-car crash in the third turn.
Castroneves finished 21st.
UP NEXT
IndyCar races April 30 at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. Pato O’Ward is the defending race winner. IndyCar also has two days of testing scheduled at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week.
JACKSONVILLE STATE COMMIT PHILSTAVIOUS DOWDELL KILLED IN DADEVILLE SHOOTING
Jacksonville State commit Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell was one of four people shot and killed Saturday night and more than two dozen were injured during a birthday party in Dadeville, Ala.
Dowdell was identified as one of the dead by his grandmother as well as a pastor who doubles as chaplain of the Dadeville High football team. Dowdell was slated to be a wide receiver at Jacksonville State.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night,” Gamecocks coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement. “He was a great young man with a bright future. My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family through this difficult time.”
Authorities are investigating the incident and haven’t publicly identified the gunman. According to the Montgomery Advertiser, 28 people were injured and some are hospitalized in critical condition.
The birthday party was for Dowdell’s younger sister Alexis, who was turning 16, according to Ben Hayes, the pastor at Dadeville First Baptist Church. It was held at a downtown dance studio and gunfire erupted at approximately 10:30 p.m. CT in Dadeville, a town of 3,000 located about 45 miles northeast of Montgomery.
The grandmother, Annette Allen, told the Advertiser, “He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face.”
Dowdell also was a sprinter for the Dadeville High track and field squad.
Dowdell’s mother has two gunshot wounds and is recovering.
“What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure,” Dadeville police chief Jonathan L. Floyd said at a press conference. “I just ask for your patience. It’s going to be a long process, but I do earnestly solicit your prayers.”
President Joe Biden expressed remorse over the country’s latest mass shooting, saying “What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear?”
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
NUÑEZ GRAND SLAM, DOMINANT PITCHING DEFEAT SAINTS
INDIANAPOLIS – Malcom Nuñez crushed a grand slam to straightaway center field and the Indianapolis Indians pitching staff racked up 17 strikeouts en route to a series-closing victory over the St. Paul Saints on Sunday afternoon, 7-0.
Indianapolis (7-8) pitchers have now struck out 33 batters through their last two games, following up a 16-strikeout game on Saturday night with one better. The team’s 17 strikeouts on Sunday were the most since punching out 18 on April 27, 2019 at Charlotte.
Each team tallied just two hits through three scoreless innings before the Indians were lifted to a lead by Tyler Heineman’s first home run since 2019 in the fourth. A leadoff single by Travis Swaggerty opened the inning before a walk to Nuñez and wild pitch set up a pair in scoring position with two outs. Heineman worked a full count before cranking a curveball off Cole Sands (L, 0-1) down the right-field line to plate three.
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the seventh. Three consecutive two-out walks loaded the bases before Nuñez stepped to the plate and recorded his first extra-base hit of the season with a towering home run over the center field wall. The blast was his third career grand slam and first since June 28, 2022 with Double-A Springfield vs. Wichita.
Meanwhile, Indians pitching was making quick work of the Saints (8-6) offense. Hunter Stratton opened the game with five strikeouts through 2.0 shutout innings before Osvaldo Bido (W, 1-0) took over in the third. Through 5.0 frames, Bido racked up nine strikeouts to finish one shy of his career high. Angel Perdomo fanned one in the eighth inning and Carmen Mlodzinski closed the game with two punchouts in the ninth.
The victory was also Indianapolis’ first nine-inning shutout since Aug. 12, 2022 at Memphis. Indy’s first shutout of the 2023 season came on April 6 (2) at Louisville where they allowed just two hits over 7.0 scoreless frames.
The Indians are set to begin a six-game series against the Memphis Redbirds on Tuesday in a 7:45 PM ET first pitch at AutoZone Park. Neither team has named a starting pitcher for the opening contest.
FUEL DEFEAT K-WINGS IN FIRST SHOOTOUT OF SEASON
KALAMAZOO – The Fuel finished their regular season in Kalamazoo hoping to keep some momentum before heading into the first round of the playoffs against Toledo next weekend. They did just that, making a two goal comeback and going to their first shootout of the season.
1ST PERIOD
It was the K-Wings who struck first at 3:09 with a goal by Collin Saccoman to put Kalamazoo up 1-0 at even strength. At 11:44, the K-Wings took a 2-0 lead with a rebound goal from Aiden Spellacy.
Just five seconds later Kalamazoo’s Brad Morrison took a slashing call that the K-Wings killed off before the period ended. At the end of the first frame, Kalamazoo was outshooting Indy 13-12.
2ND PERIOD
Matt Watson opened the scoring in the second period with a goal to make it 2-1 with the help of Andrew Bellant and former K-Wing Darby Llewellyn. This is Watson’s second goal of the season, both coming against Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo’s Raymond Brice took a holding call at 7:25 quickly followed by a hooking call on Bellant. Both penalties were killed off by their respective teams.
At 16:33, Justin Taylor and Koletrane Wilson took offsetting roughing penalties. With eight seconds left on those, Indy’s Zach Vinnell took a tripping penalty that was ultimately killed off along with the roughing calls.
The period ended without another goal and Indy surpassing Kalamazoo in shots 26-20 in the game.
3RD PERIOD
At 3:07 of the third period, Bellant took his second penalty of the game. This time it was a roughing call. Just two minutes after that penalty was killed off, the Fuel took a too many men penalty that Kyle Maksimovich served.
At 13:14, Bellant headed to the box for a third time for cross-checking. Just nine seconds into that penalty, Kalamazoo’s Justin Taylor was called for hooking.
Just three seconds after time expired on that hooking call, Colin Bilek scored for Indy to tie the game at two each. Vinnell claimed the assist on that goal.
Time expired on regulation without another goal but Saccoman did take a hooking penalty at the 20 minute mark that would carry over into overtime.
OVERTIME
Kalamazoo was able to kill off the hooking penalty despite playing shorthanded a full two minutes to start the overtime period. Despite some good chances for both sides, time expired on the seven minute overtime period and the Fuel headed to their first shootout of the season in their last regular season game.
The four round shootout resulted in a 3-2 win for the Fuel after goals by Chad Yetman, Alex Wideman and Colin Bilek on Kalamazoo goaltender Hunter Vorva.
With this win, the Fuel finish their best regular season in franchise history with 91 points and a 43-24-5-0 record in third place in the Central division.
LOWEST ROUND OF THE DAY SECURES TOP-5 FINISH FOR PURDUE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Purdue Women’s Golf proved it can compete with anyone in the Big Ten. Facing 12 conference foes, the Boilermakers carded the lowest round of the day at the Lady Buckeye Invitational to finish strong and carry some momentum into next week’s Big Ten Championship.
Purdue fired a 293 (+5), moving two spots up the leaderboard to secure their fourth Top-5 performance in six spring tournaments. The Boilermakers finished fifth, ahead of Michigan and Kent State, two teams ranked higher than them in Golfstat’s national rankings.
Momo Sugiyama led the Boilermakers in the final round, shooting a 71 (-1) that featured 15 pars to go along with a pair of birdies and only one bogey. Posting one of only three under-par rounds on Sunday, as the field averaged 76.69 on the par-72 Scarlet Course, the sophomore vaulted 23 spots up the leaderboard.
Junior Ashley Kozlowski finished 1-under par for the tournament, guiding Purdue throughout the weekend. Placing ninth on the individual leaderboard, she recorded her second Top-10 performance of the season. Kozlowski’s 215 (69-72-74) bested her previous 54-hole season low by six strokes, playing her best golf at the right time of the year. As someone who usually dominates the par 5s, having made four eagles this season, Kozlowski excelled on the Scarlet Course’s par 3s. She ended the tournament 2-under on the short holes, helping the Boilermakers rank second in par-3 scoring (+8) as a team.
Another Boilermaker playing her best golf heading into postseason, Kan Bunnabodee shot a season-low 217 (72-69-76) to finish tied for 14th at 1-over, another season best. The 2021 First Team All-Big Ten golfer made 14 birdies through 54 holes, leading the 87-player field.
Keeping with the trend of Purdue golfers having their A-game, Jocelyn Bruch had her best tournament as a Boilermaker. The redshirt-sophomore tied for 18th for her first career Top-20 finish, carding two rounds of par-or-better this weekend. She began the event with a 71 (-1) before carding an even-par 72 on Sunday to help the Boilermakers post the lowest final round.
With the regular season in the books, Purdue travels to Pittsburgh next week for the Big Ten Championship (April 21-23). The tournament returns to Fox Chapel Golf Club for the second straight year.
BOILERMAKERS
T9. Ashley Kozlowski: 69-72-74—215 (-1)
T14. Kan Bunnabodee: 72-69-76—217 (+1)
T18. Jocelyn Bruch: 71-76-72—219 (+3)
T37. Momo Sugiyama: 76-77-71—224 (+8)
T54. Danielle du Toit: 76-76-77—229 (+13)
T68. Jade Gu: 73-80-80—233 (+17)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. #25 Ohio State: 277-281-296—854 (-10)
2. Michigan State: 279-286-298—863 (-1)
3. Penn State: 278-289-297—864 (E)
4. Maryland: 287-285-295—867 (+3)
5. Purdue: 285-293-293—871 (+7)
6. Michigan: 291-286-295—872 (+8)
7. Minnesota: 283-294-302—879 (+15)
8. Kent State: 288-298-298—884 (+20)
9. Illinois: 291-296-304—891 (+27)
10. Wisconsin: 293-293-308—894 (+30)
11. Iowa: 300-292-304—896 (+32)
12. Nebraska: 293-300-307—900 (+36)
13. Indiana: 294-305-304—903 (+39)
14. Rutgers: 304-308-DNF—DNF
UCONN COMES FROM BEHIND, SWEEPS @BUTLERSOFTBALL
STORRS, Conn. – The Butler softball team led through five innings on Sunday but dropped game three of the series with UConn by the final score of 3-2. The Huskies (28-11, 15-3 BIG EAST) scored two runs on a sixth-inning single to take the lead for good and solidify their spot at the top of the BIG EAST Conference standings. The Bulldogs (15-27, 9-6 BIG EAST) are now fourth, also trailing Seton Hall (12-3) and Villanova (10-5).
How It Happened
Butler took an early lead in the first inning when Paige Dorsett doubled and Monique Hoosen homered over the left field wall, putting the Bulldogs up, 2-0.
UConn scored one in the third, but Butler’s 2-1 lead held through five full innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Huskies advanced runners to second and third with one out. Savannah Ring connected on a single to right field, giving UConn its first lead of the game. The 3-2 margin held through the Bulldogs’ final at bat.
Mackenzie Griman (7-13) started for Butler in the circle and took the loss. In 5.2 innings, she allowed three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five. Sydney Cammon entered in relief in the bottom of the sixth to retire the only batter she faced.
Bulldog Bits
Monique Hoosen’s home run was her 11th of the season and the 24th of her career.
Hoosen’s 11 dingers this season tie her for second on Butler’s all-time single season list, and she is now third all-time with 24 career home runs.
Paige Dorsett’s double was her seventh of the season and the ninth of her career.
Up Next
Butler travels to Purdue on Tuesday, Apr. 18, and will then host Indiana State the following day, Wednesday, Apr. 19.
WOMEN’S GOLF CAPTURES LADY JAGUAR INVITATIONAL TITLE
CARMEL, Ind. – The IUPUI women’s golf team carded a final round 314 on Sunday (Apr. 16) and staved off the competition to capture this weekend’s Lady Jaguar Invitational at Plum Creek Golf Course. Junior Annaliese Fox finished in a four-way tie atop the leaderboard at 4-over 148 (73-75) to lead the way and graduate student Kara Blair also earned a top-10 finish at 6-over 150 (73-77), placing sixth overall.
Sophomore Nerea Lancho closed tied for seventh among the 74-player field at 7-over 151 (73-78) while playing as an individual. After a picturesque Saturday round, teams played through intermittent rain, cold temperatures and strong winds on a less than ideal Sunday.
IUPUI built a six-shot lead on day one and did enough to earn the program’s first tournament win since March 2021. Fox notched a final round 75 and Blair shot 77 to lead the way.
Freshman Reagan Sohn shot 8-over 80 and juniors Shelby Busker and Madeleine Pape closed at 82 to round out the lineup. Lancho was the team’s top individual entry for a second straight day, posting a second round 78 and Ally Stuckey shot 79.
Fox made an early birdie to get to 1-under and was 2-over at the turn. She stayed steady and made birdie on No. 17 to take a temporary one-shot lead. However, a bogey on No. 18 put her in the four-player playoff. Blair was similarly in line for a shot at the win, but made double bogey on No. 16 to end her round at 5-over 77.
Sohn had an eagle on No. 12 and an early birdie as part of her round of 80 while Pape played her final nine to 2-over after a rocky front nine.
IUPUI led the field in par 3 and par 5 scoring and had two of the tournament’s three total eagles. The Jags were second overall with 100 pars and tied for second with 18 birdies. Fox tied for the tournament lead with six birdies and Lancho had a team-high 26 pars with Blair making 25.
The Jaguars will now turn attention to the Horizon League Championships to be played on Apr. 23-25 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
MEN’S TENNIS ENDS MAC REGULAR SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE WITH 4-3 WIN OVER BUFFALO
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s tennis team (14-9, 6-5 MAC) played their hearts out today winning a 4-3 hard fought battle over Buffalo (9-8, 5-5 MAC) Sunday afternoon at the Northwest YMCA.
The Cardinals have secured their spot in next week’s 2023 MAC Tournament which will be held on the campus of Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Ball State has won the tournament in Kalamazoo three times, in 1991, 2005 and 2011.
“We had our backs to the wall two weeks ago at Northern Illinois and if we had lost that match, we would have been eliminated from the MAC Tournament,” Ball State head men’s tennis coach Bill Richards said. “After losing the doubles point today, the guys really stepped up and showed a lot of character. We have won our last three matches to finish third. I am proud of the guys for not getting down and not getting discouraged when things were going bad. It is good to be going into the tournament with some good momentum with getting these two wins this weekend.”
After losing the doubles point to Buffalo, Ball State slowly began to make its comeback in singles play.
The Cardinals’ No. 2 singles player Vince Orlando knotted the match 1-1 with after winning in straight sets by a score of 6-2 over Buffalo’s Simon Wibler. After that, Eli Herran followed suite defeating Buffalo’s Theodoris Mitsakos, 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 4 slot.
With Ball State up 2-1, the Bulls tied the match back up at 2-2 after taking court No. 3 from the Cardinals.
Broc Fletcher’s impressive three-set thriller over Yu-Shiang Huang (2-6, 6-4, 6-1) at No. 6 singles game BSU back the advantage against Buffalo.
With two courts remaining both in extra sets, Sajin Smith clinched match point for Ball State over Daniels Sanders, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at the No. 5 slot.
SOFTBALL CELEBRATES SENIOR DAY BY COMPLETING SERIES SWEEP OF BUFFALO
MUNCIE, Ind. – – The Ball State softball team celebrated senior Amaia Daniel in style on a cold, blustery afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex, completing a series sweep of Buffalo with an 11-3 (6) victory Sunday.
After a nearly one-and-a-half-hour rain delay, the Cardinals (21-21; 11-9 Mid-American Conference) turned in a dominating effort on both offense and defense to pick up its fourth consecutive victory.
Once again, sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo set the tone early, striking out two of the first three batters she faced. That effort helped the Cardinals finish with just the 19th recorded no-hitter in program history, as Russo and freshman Bridie Murphy combined to hold the Bulls (10-28; 4-10 MAC) hitless for the game.
Russo threw the first 4.0 innings, allowing no hits and striking out five batters. She did issue five walks, however, while allowing three runs, only one of which was earned. Murphy followed a brilliant performance Saturday afternoon with another strong effort, retiring six of the seven batters she faced with a pair of strikeouts. The lone base runner came on a two-run error.
On the offensive side, senior third baseman Haley Wynn got the ball rolling with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first and scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly from redshirt senior catcher Jazmyne Armendariz.
Ball State would then explode for five runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to capture the victory. The big hit in the second was a two-run blast from redshirt sophomore first baseman McKayla Timmons to open the scoring.
The sixth inning saw the Cardinals capitalize on a passed ball on an inning-opening strikeout to score five unearned runs. Daniel provided the biggest hit of the frame with a two-run triple to center field. Daniel would lead the Ball State offense with three hits in the contest, also tallying a single in the fourth and a double in the fifth to fall a home run shy of the cycle.
HIGHLIGHTS
Russo turned in a pair of strong outing versus the Bulls over the weekend, allowing just two hits over 8.2 innings of work while striking out 10 batters … She surrendered just four runs, only two of which were earned, to lower her team-leading ERA to 2.89.
Murphy was nearly perfect in the circle over her two appearances versus the Bulls this weekend, retiring 15 of the 16 batters she faced, with an error being the only blemish … She finished the weekend with a 0.00 ERA over 5.0 innings and registered seven strikeouts.
Today’s no-hitter was just the fourth combined no-hitter in program history … The last combined no-hitter was thrown May 5, 2019, when Aeshia Miles (3.0) and Darcie Huber (2.0) combined for a 10-0 (5) win versus Oakland.
Including today’s effort, Russo has factored in three of the 19 no-hitters in program history … She threw the first recorded perfect game for the Cardinals on April 20, 2022, in a 5-0 win over Western Michigan and threw a complete game no-hitter versus Lindenwood on Feb. 19, 2023 in a 10-1 (5) victory.
Timmons provided the fireworks for BSU, smashing her a team-leading tenth home run of the season in the fourth inning … The two-run blast was her eighth two-run home run of the year.
Junior center fielder Remington Ross added to her highlight reel, taking away an extra base hit with a diving catch in right center field.
Freshman pinch hitter Grace Spencer collected her first career hit with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth.
With three hits on the day, Daniel extended her current hitting streak to 11 games which ties as the longest hitting streak of her career.
SCORING SUMMARY – Ball State 11 – Buffalo 3
B1 | Ball State jumped in front with an Armendariz sacrifice fly to shallow left center scoring Wynn from third. (1-0)
B4 | Timmons launched a two-run home run to right-center field to extend the Ball State lead. (3-0)
B4 | A single to right from junior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews scores Timmons from second. (4-0)
B4 | Redshirt freshman McKenna Mulholland doubles down the left field line to bring home Ross and Mathews. (6-0)
T5 | Abbey Nagel grounds out to first base scoring Mykaela Martin from third. (6-1)
T5 | The Bulls score two on a miscue by the Ball State defense. (6-3)
B6 | Spencer’s first career hit drives in sophomore pinch hitter Kaitlyn Gibson. (7-3)
B6 | Daniel triples to center field to drive in Spencer and Wynn. (9-3)
B6 | Armendariz singles to left center for her second RBI of the game. (10-3)
B6 | A wild pitch allows Armendariz to walk it off via run rule. (11-3)
UP NEXT
The Ball State softball team will be back in action Friday afternoon at Bowling Green with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Meserve Field.
IRISH FALL TO CLEMSON IN FINAL GAME OF THE SERIES
CLEMSON, SC – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell to the Clemson Tigers in the final game of the series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday, April 16. The 6-4 loss drops the Irish to 18-15 on the year and 8-10 in the ACC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish offense struck first as Zack Prajzner recorded his first hit of the day with a single up the middle. Brooks Coetzee followed as he found the gap and sent it to left center field and scored Prajzner. Coetzee’s RBI double gave the Irish the 1-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the first.
The Tigers tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom frame, but Notre Dame would restore the lead in the second as Estevan Moreno ripped it through the left side for a base hit. Moreno stole second and as TJ Williams recorded a single to third base, Moreno advanced and was able to score on a Tiger fielding error to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Clemson finished the bottom of the second with two doubles and a base hit to take their first lead of the game 3-2.
Blake Hely started on the mound for the Irish and after recording his fourth and fifth strikeout of the day in the fourth, he was relieved by Radek Birkholz in the bottom of the fifth. Hely pitched 4.0 innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
A scoreless third and fourth inning for both the Irish and the Tigers kept it within one as they were back up to the plate in the fifth frame. After a groundout to open the inning, the Irish would have bases loaded after three straight HBPs. With Carter Putz on third, Brooks Coetzee on second, and Vinny Martinez on first, Casey Kmet scored Putz on sac bunt to the pitcher to tie it up again 3-3.
The Tigers responded with another run in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead at 4-3.
Williams tallied his second hit of the day in the sixth with a double down the left field line. The Irish and Tigers each recorded a scoreless sixth to keep it at 4-3 heading into the seventh.
Putz would lead off in the seventh and reach via a walk, followed by a Coetzee single to third base to advance Putz into scoring position. Nick Juaire would put both of the Irish runners into scoring position on a sac bunt to the pitcher. Notre Dame tied it up as Putz scored on a wild pitch and made it a 4-4 ballgame.
Clemson would respond with two more runs as they recorded a base hit and two doubles in the bottom frame to take the lead 6-4 heading into the eighth. Will Mercer relieved Birkholz in the seventh, who pitched 2.2 innings, recorded three strikeouts, and allowed three runs on four hits.
Danny Neri would lead off with a single down the right field line, but was followed with a swinging strikeout and a double play to close the top of the eighth.
The Irish held the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the eighth to keep it at 6-4 with one last offensive opportunity. Prajzner recorded his third hit of the day as he led off the ninth with a double to left center, but was followed with three straight outs to close the final game of the series.
UP NEXT
The Irish will host Valparaiso for the second time this season on Tuesday, April 18 and will face the Western Michigan Broncos on Wednesday, April 19 at Frank Eck Stadium.
Notre Dame will get back into ACC play starting on Friday, April 21 as the Irish host No. 7 Virginia for a three-game series at home.
IRISH CLOSE OUT ROAD TRIP WITH BIG WIN
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Irish women’s lacrosse team closed out their 2023 regular season road slate with a statement victory over Robert Morris, 21-6, Sunday afternoon.
Finding goals from 11 individuals in the win, Notre Dame saw four women record hat tricks as the team improved to 11-4 on the season.
For the third consecutive game, Lilly Callahan made seven saves in the crease and picked up her 11th win of the season, allowing just six goals against and holding the opposition to single-digits for the 10th time in 2023.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish jumped out to a 4-0 lead less than three minutes into play with goals coming off the sticks of four individuals Sunday afternoon. Kristen Shanahan got the scoring started for the Irish against the Colonials before Hannah Dorney, Jane McAvoy and Kasey Choma extended the Irish lead.
RMU got one back just under five minutes into the first quarter as Callahan made the initial save but the rebounding ball bounced across the line for the 4-1 score.
The Irish would continue to roll in the opening 15 minutes, adding four goals to their total to take an 8-4 lead into the second set of 15 minutes.
MK Doherty’s natural hat trick, along with Choma’s fourth of the day, gave the Irish the 4-0 period to extend their lead to 12-4 heading into the final half of nonconference regular season play.
Ahern scored twice in the third quarter to record her ninth hat trick of the year and lift the Irish to the 14-5 lead. Moments after Ahern’s third goal of the day, Shanahan net her second of the day and fifth multi-goal game of the season.
The Irish carried the 15-5 lead into the final frame before MK Doherty added to the Irish tally just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter with her fourth of the day.
Kelly Denes scored her first of the day, off the free position, to make it 17-5, Irish, before Shanahan’s free position goal added to the tally and tied her career high with her second hat trick in the last week.
Ava Kristynik and Franny O’Brien continued the Irish scoring late in the fourth quarter as the underclassmen gave ND the 20-6 lead with just over four minutes to play in regulation.
With 27 seconds left in the fourth, Jaclyn Marszal rounded out the scoring with her second collegiate goal, giving the Irish the 21-6 final over the Colonials Sunday afternoon.
STAT OF THE GAME
Kasey Choma and Jackie Wolak combined for their 200th career points with Choma’s hat trick tally in the first quarter. Adding an assist to the goal, Wolak notched her 200th career point, boasting 111 goals and 89 assists over her Irish tenure.
Choma’s team-leading 48th goal of the season was her 200th career point, now owning 174 goals and 26 assists for the Blue and Gold.
ND NOTES
With four goals against the Colonials, MK Doherty set a new career-best and now boasts 22 goals on the year. Kasey Choma also tallied four goals in the contest, tying Doherty for a game-high.
Doherty, Choma, Ahern and Shanahan all registered hat tricks in the win, as Shanahan tied her career-best three-goals, previously set last week at Butler
The Irish allowed less than 10 goals for the 10th time this season as they improved to 11-4 on the year.
With nine draw controls in the contest, Doherty led all Irish while Denes had one fewer with eight. The duo, along with Ali McHugh, Choma, Grace Wiegand and Anna Kenney gave Notre Dame the 24-6 edge in the draw circle.
ND caused four turnovers on the day against RMU and recorded 21 ground balls to the Colonials’ 10 in the win.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame returns home to celebrate its senior class Thursday in the regular season finale. The Irish are set to host the Louisville Cardinals April 20 at 7 p.m. inside Arlotta Stadium.
Prior the first draw, the Irish will recognize the senior class for all their contributions to the program during their careers. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the pregame ceremony.
BAKER LEADS SYCAMORES IN FIRST ROUND OF MVC CHAMPIONSHIP
WATERLOO, Ill. – Freshman Eliza Baker turned in the low round for the Sycamores on the first day of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Sunday evening, and Indiana State sits in ninth place after the first day of action.
The Sycamores posted a 330 in the first round, just one stroke behind eighth place Drake and five strokes behind Illinois State and Murray State which are both tied for fifth place.
Baker birdied hole one to get off to a strong start in her MVC Championship debut, and she scored a first-round 80 to be tied for 15th place in the 60-player field.
“This was one of the toughest days weather-wise in a while,” said head coach Greg Towne. “It was a good opportunity to do simple things well and be better than everyone else, but it’s a hard lesson to learn so hopefully our young players can file this one in there somewhere. There’s lots of golf left and the poor conditions created a huge logjam that our athletes are capable of handling. We’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
Senior Chelsea Morrow was close behind with a first-round 82 to be tied for 24th. Kristen Hobbs and Molly Lee each sit tied for 33rd after shooting an 84 in the first round, and the Sycamores were rounded out on the first day by freshman Briana LeMaire who shot an 87 to be tied for 45th.
The MVC Championship is being played at the par-72, 6,176-yard layout at Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Ill. The second round begins Monday, April 17, at 9:30 a.m. CT.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, April 16 — 9:30 am CT – Round 1 (18 holes, all teams tee off No. 1)
Monday, April 17 – 9:30 am CT – Round 2 (18 holes, all teams tee off No. 1)
Tuesday, April 18 – 8:30 am CT – Round 3 (18 holes, split tees)
SYCAMORES COMPLETE WEEKEND SWEEP OF BELMONT; MOVE TO 11-1 IN MISSOURI VALLEY PLAY
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jorge Pereira’s pinch-hit two-run single capped a three-run eighth inning for Indiana State and Jared Spencer shut the door on Belmont in the ninth inning as the Sycamores completed the series sweep over the Bruins on Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park, 5-3.
Indiana State (22-12, 11-1 MVC) ran the winning streak to 10 consecutive games with Sunday’s win and swept their third MVC series of 2023 after taking all three games from Belmont (19-18, 5-7 MVC) in Nashville. The Sycamores’ double-digit winning streak is the program’s longest since the 2014 season when ISU won 12 consecutive contests from February 15 – March 10.
Leading 2-1 heading into the top of the eighth inning in a tight contest, the Sycamores loaded the bases with none out. Keegan Watson was hit by a pitch to open the inning, while Parker Stinson drew a walk and Josue Urdaneta singled to put three on with the top of the Sycamore lineup due up. After a strikeout, Randal Diaz’s bat clipped the Belmont catcher’s glove for a catcher’s interference call bringing home Watson to make it a 3-1 game.
Jorge Pereira entered as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded and the freshman worked a 1-2 count off Belmont reliever Ethan Harden. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Pereira turned on the offering and sent a sharp single back up the middle scoring Stinson and Urdaneta and giving ISU the 5-1 lead with six outs to play.
Cameron Holycross pitched an effective 1.2 innings of relief getting the inning-ending strikeout in the bottom of the seventh inning and going 1-2-3 in the eighth. However, the Sycamore right-hander was tagged by Jeff Clarke’s two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth as Belmont attempted to mount a comeback.
Jared Spencer (S, 5) entered the game following the home run and surrendered a single before retiring the final two batters of the game to close out his second save of the weekend.
Lane Miller (3-0) went 6.1 innings in his fourth start of the season. The redshirt senior right-hander allowed three hits and an unearned run while walking four and striking out five to continue his storybook season.
Urdaneta paced the Sycamores with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate with two runs scored, while Diaz doubled twice in the win.
Jordan Zuger (2-4) took the loss for Belmont after allowing six hits and two runs over 4.0 innings in the start. Will Pryor was effective in relief going 3.0 innings and allowed an unearned run while striking out five.
How They Scored
Indiana State jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Mike Sears doubled off the wall in center field scoring Randal Diaz with two outs in the frame.
Brody Heaton evened the game for the Bruins in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single as Belmont took advantage of an ISU error to tie it up at 1-1.
Diaz pushed ISU’s second run across in the top of the fifth inning as the sophomore shortstop connected on an RBI double to left field scoring Josue Urdaneta to make it a 2-1 game.
A catcher’s interference call pushed ISU’s first run of the eighth inning across the plate and Jorge Pereira followed with a two-run pinch-hit single scoring Parker Stinson and Josue Urdaneta to give ISU a 5-1 lead.
Jeff Clarke connected on a two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to cut the ISU lead down to 5-3 before Spencer entered to close out the contest.
News & Notes
Indiana State’s winning streak hit 10 games on Sunday afternoon marking the Sycamores’ first double-digit winning streak since Coach Mitch Hannahs’ first season at the helm in 2014. ISU won 12 in a row from February 15 – March 10, 2014, with wins over Connecticut, Ohio State (twice), Lipscomb, Belmont, MTSU, New Orleans (three), and Western Illinois (three).
The Sycamores continued one of the best starts to conference play in program history as the 11-1 mark trails only the 12-1 start ISU accomplished back in the 1998 season.
Indiana State has won their first four MVC series for the third time in program history and first since 2012 when the Sycamores won their first six conference weekends.
Luis Hernandez’s on-base streak ended at 26 games after a 0-for-4 performance at the plate on Sunday afternoon. The 26-game streak goes down as the third-longest single season streak in the Hannahs coaching era.
Adam Pottinger ran his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games following his 1-for-4 day at the plate with a walk.
Josue Urdaneta posted his first three-hit game of 2023 on Sunday afternoon. The Sycamore second baseman leads ISU with 13 multi-hit games this season.
Lane Miller went into the seventh inning marking the first time this season all three ISU starting pitchers have gone at least six innings in a start in the same weekend.
The Indiana State pitching staff posted its second consecutive sub-2.00 ERA weekend as the Sycamores allowed just four earned runs and posted a 1.33 ERA over the 27.0 innings against Belmont. ISU posted a 1.93 ERA the previous weekend in the sweep over Illinois State.
The Sycamore pitchers also posted a 27:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio allowing Belmont to hit just .221 from the plate.
Up Next
Indiana State remains in Nashville as the Sycamore take on No. 4 Vanderbilt on Tuesday, April 18, at Hawkins Field with first pitch set for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live on SECN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
SYCAMORES RACK UP 10 HITS IN SERIES-CLINCHING WIN SUNDAY AT BELMONT
NASHVILLE – Indiana State softball defeated Belmont 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park to clinch a series victory over the Bruins
The Sycamores (21-21, 10-7) collected 10 hits in the contest while Belmont (22-17, 8-8) had six on the afternoon.
The Action
Both starters in Sunday’s contest, Maya Johnson and Lexi Benko, worked scoreless first and second innings as just two baserunners reached safely in the frames.
Leading off the top of the third, Kaylee Barrett singled to left for the Sycamores first baserunner of the game. Abi Chipps then reached on an infield single to have runners on first and second. After Olivia Patton reached on a fielder’s choice, Danielle Henning delivered with a RBI double to right field to put Indiana State up 1-0. Belmont was able to strand Henning and Patton on base and escape with limited damage. Lexi Benko navigated around a bunt single and a walk in the bottom of the third to keep the Bruins off of the scoreboard.
In the top of the fourth, Kennedy Shade sent the first pitch of the inning over the wall in centerfield to put ISU up 2-0. Cassie Thomerson then reached on a hit-by-pitch and moved to second on a TeAnn Bringle sacrifice bunt. Kaylee Barrett drew a walk followed by an Abi Chipps lineout for the second out of the frame. Thomerson and Barrett got to second and third on a double steal and would then be joined by Olivia Patton who walked to load the bases. Danielle Henning made it a 3-0 game with an infield single, driving in Thomerson. Next up was Isabella Henning who cleared the bases with a double to left center, scoring Danielle, Patton and Barrett to extend the lead to 6-0. Benko struck out a pair of hitters in the bottom half for another scoreless frame.
After a Belmont pitching change to start the fifth, TeAnn Bringle put the 10th hit on the board for the Sycamores with a double to left field but that would be all for ISU in the inning. Belmont would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth, getting a run on a RBI single up the middle. Benko recorded her fourth strikeout to end the frame.
Annie Tokarek would get the Sycamores a run back in the sixth, hitting a RBI single to right field to score Chipps which made it 7-1. The Bruins would make it a 7-3 game in the bottom half, scoring two runs on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout.
Cassi Newbanks would come on for ISU in the bottom of the seventh, setting Belmont down in order to give the Sycamores a 7-3 win and clinch the series victory. Lexi Benko improves to 10-6 on the season with the win.
Eight different Sycamores collected a hit in the win, including two each from TeAnn Bringle and Danielle Henning. Shade’s home run in the fourth inning was her third of the season.
Up Next
The Sycamores head to Indianapolis on Wednesday, April 19 for a midweek matchup at Butler at 4 p.m. ET.
PURDUE FORT WAYNE BEATS HL FOES DETROIT MERCY AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY
CARMEL, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf team beat a pair of Horizon League foes in the Lady Jaguar Invitational this weekend.
The Mastodons shot 319-327-646 to finish in ninth place on Sunday (April 16), ahead of Detroit Mercy and Northern Kentucky.
Anna Olafsdottir, Purdue Fort Wayne’s No. 1, shot a team-best 80-79-159 to finish in a tie for 25th. She opened her day with a par and birdie, then had a stretch of nine holes with eight pars from hole 6-14. She finished the round with two more pars, turning in a 38 (+2) on the back nine.
Laura Caetano was one shot back of Olafsdottir with an 81-79-160 to tie for 30th. She started her round with a birdie on the 320-yard first hole, then turned in another on the 367-yard fifth. Caetano finished the day with those two birdies and eight pars.
Natalie Papa had one of the better rounds of her freshman campaign, turning in a 79-82-161 to tie for 33rd. She also birdied the opening hole joining Caetano as the only Mastodons to do it in round two. She also birdied holes 15 and 17, a 323-yard par-4 and 489-yard par-5.
Taylor Norman and Arny Dagsdottir tied for 46th after the 36-hole tournament, both turning in 166. Norman played as an individual with her 81-85-166. Dagsdottir had seven pars with six on the front nine in Sunday’s round to card 79-87-166.
Luiza Caetano rounded out those competing for the team score with an 81-88-169. She had a pair of birdies on holes three and 16 to go with three pars.
Host IUPUI won the even with a 611 team score. The Mastodons will now turn their attention to the Horizon League Championship, which begins on April 23.
FIRST ROUND COMPLETE AT MVC WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
WATERLOO, Ill. – Kate Petrova and Allison Enchelmayer paced the University of Evansville women’s golf team in Sunday’s opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
Petrova recorded an 80 to lead the Purple Aces at Annbriar Golf Course. Her score came in at eight over par and has her tied for 15th place. One behind her was Allison Enchelmayer. With an 81, she is tied for 22nd place.
Alyssa McMinn carded an 82 on Sunday and is tied for the 24th position while Mallory Russell and Magdalena Borisova followed. Russell posted an 85 while Borisova checked in with an 86 in the opening 18 holes.
Evansville is in 7th place with a team score of 328. The Aces are three behind a 5th-place tie between Illinois State and Murray State.
With a 315, Missouri State paces the team standings. Northern Iowa is five behind in second with Belmont sitting in third with a 322. Belmont’s Ryan Bender is atop the individual leaderboard with a 3-over 75. She is two ahead of a tie for second place.
Round two is set for Monday with the final 18 holes slated for Tuesday.
SALUKIS WALK OFF WITH 3-2 WIN OVER UE
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois right-fielder Nathan Bandy came through with a two-out, walk-off RBI single to the right-center field gap in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon, as the home-standing Salukis edged the visiting University of Evansville baseball team, 3-2, at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
“This is a tough series loss, as we were in the driver’s seat after our performance on Friday night,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “We just didn’t earn it offensively today. We need to turn the page, and get ready to attack this week coming up.”
Bandy’s walk-off single capped a back-and-forth affair between the two schools on ESPNU. The two teams traded home runs in the first two innings, as SIU outfielder Pier-Olivier Boucher and UE junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse both hit home runs to left field to start the scoring for their respective teams.
Both teams would put two men on in the third inning, but SIU starter Tanner Lewis and UE starter Donovan Schultz were able to escape the jams. From there, pitching would dominate both sides until SIU was able to score a run in the bottom of the sixth inning against UE reliever Michael Parks (2-1) on back-to-back singles by shortstop Kaeber Rog and second baseman Steven Loden and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Matt Schark.
Evansville would answer right back, though, as junior catcher Brendan Hord and Fougerousse led off the top of the seventh inning with back-to-back singles against SIU reliever Paul Bonzagni (6-2). After a walk loaded the bases with no-one out, graduate outfielder Eric Roberts crushed a ball to right that Bandy was able to track down on the warning track in right field for a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 2-2. Then, Bandy robbed fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug of a base hit with a sliding catch in the right-center field gap, and Bonzagni got an infield ground out to keep the score tied at 2-2.
Evansville would produce two-out base runners in the eighth and ninth innings, but came up empty offensively. Schark would then lead off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double against Parks. UE junior closer Nate Hardman then came on to get back-to-back outs, but Bandy spoiled an 0-1 pitch with a single to right-center field to score Schark with the game-winning run and give the Salukis a series victory over UE.
Fougerousse went 2-for-4 with his sixth home run of the year to lead Evansville offensively. Schark, meanwhile, went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Bonzagni earned the win with 3.0 innings of one-run, three-hit relief for SIU. Parks, meanwhile, suffered the tough-luck loss despite tossing 4.0 innings of two-run, four-hit relief in which he got eight ground-ball outs.
With the victory, Southern Illinois improves to 22-14 overall and 10-2 in the MVC, while the Salukis earned their 12th-straight Missouri Valley Conference series victory. Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 20-15 overall and 6-6 in the MVC. The Purple Aces will return home to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium on Tuesday night to host Western Kentucky University in a 6 p.m. contest.
SOFTBALL DROPS SERIES FINALE AT MURRAY STATE
MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State plated two runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings to win Sunday’s series finale against the University of Evansville softball team at Racer Field.
Ailey Schick got the scoring started with an RBI triple in the second inning before two more RBI knocked in the fourth extended the lead to 4-0. Scoring on a walk and wild pitch in the sixth, the Racers made it a 6-0 game.
Marah Wood led the third inning off with the Purple Aces’ first hit of the afternoon – a double to left center. Alexa Davis drew a 1-out walk before the Racers escaped damage and recorded the final two outs.
Trailing by six entering the top of the seventh, the Aces were able to manufacture two runs. Zoe Frossard doubled to bring in Hannah Hood, who reached on a leadoff error. Kaylee Lawson brought in Frossard on a ground out, but the late rally came up short with MSU clinching the series with a 6-1 win.
Sydney Weatherford made the start for UE and allowed four runs, three earned, in four innings. Erin Kleffman went the final two frames and allowed two earned runs. As a team, the Aces picked up two hits on the day.
On Tuesday, UE will be back home to face SIU Edwardsville in a 6 p.m. game.
EAGLES FALL IN FINAL ROAD TRIP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Tennis dropped two matches this weekend in Nashville, Tennessee as they fell to Tennessee State University, 5-2, on Saturday and Belmont University, 7-0, on Sunday. The Screaming Eagles fall to 5-14 (1-6 Horizon League) while the Tigers go to 10-12 (6-2 Horizon) and the Bruins improve to 18-5 (9-0 Horizon).
USI vs Tennessee State
Doubles:
After the Tigers took the number two doubles to open the match, the Eagles bounced right back and earned a win in one doubles, as freshman Omar ElSamahy (Cairo, Egypt) and senior Lucas Sakamaki (Louisville, Kentucky) took down their opponent 7-5. Tennessee State would take the number three doubles match to secure the point.
Singles:
The Tigers stayed hot as they took the number three, four, and six singles matches to claim the match victory early. USI would not back down as ElSamahy would earn a win by default in number two singles while senior Yahor Bahdanovich (Minsk, Belarus) would earn a victory of his opponent in number five singles, 1-6 6-3 7-5.
USI vs Belmont
Doubles:
Belmont would take both the number two and three doubles matches to claim the point while the number one doubles would go unfinished.
Singles:
The Bruins would stay hot and take all six singles matches in straight sets to earn a match victory.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI returns home for their final two matches of the regular season as they play host to Lindenwood University on April 22 at 1 pm and Eastern Illinois University on April 23 at noon. The Eagles will celebrate Senior Day when they host Eastern Illinois. Both matches will be played at the USI Tennis Courts.
The USI match with Tennessee Tech University that was previously postponed will not be made up and will go as a no contest for both teams.
EAGLES HOMER LATE TO TOP SKYHAWKS, 7-5
MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana junior catcher Parker Stroh (Grand Fork, North Dakota) and senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) homered in the eighth and ninth innings to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 7-5 victory over the University of Tennessee at Martin Sunday afternoon in Martin, Tennessee. USI watched its record go to 10-25 overall and 3-9 in the OVC, while UTM goes to 11-26, 6-6 OVC, this spring.
USI jumped out to a 1-0 lead for the fourth-straight game when Stroh singled up the middle to drive in junior leftfielder Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky). The lead would hold until UTM tied the game with a single tally in the third.
The Eagles got back into the driver’s seat with two runs in the fourth and the fifth to lead 5-1. McNew drove in junior designated hitter Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) with USI’s second run when he reached on an error before scoring himself on a sacrifice fly by Stroh to make the score 3-1.
USI upped the lead to a game-high four runs, 5-1, on RBI-singles by Ebest and McLarty in the fifth. The Skyhawks responded with four runs to tie the game 5-5, posting a single tally in the bottom of the fifth and a trio of tallies in the sixth.
Stroh, who finished the game two-for-three with three RBIs, would strike again in the top of the eighth to push USI back into the lead, 6-5, with a solo shot to right field. The homer was Stroh’s first of the season.
After UTM stranded the tying run on third in the eighth, McNew, who had two RBIs in the game, increased the lead to the final score of 7-5 in the top of the ninth with USI’s second solo shot of the game. The round-tripper was McNew’s second of the season and the 22nd of his career.
USI junior right-hander Carter Stamm (Jasper, Indiana) (2-1) picked up the win in relief after getting the Eagles out of the first and third jam in the seventh. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) posted his first save of the season and the fourth of his career after throwing two scoreless frames to secure the victory.
The Eagles got a strong outing from junior left-hander Blake Ciuffetelli (Newburgh, Indiana) to start the game, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out four in 4.1 innings of work.
The middle innings were anchored by sophomore right-hander Adam Weihe (Louisville, Kentucky). Wiehe, who relieved Ciuffetelli in the fifth, allowed three unearned runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI comes home to start a five game homestand at the USI Baseball Field Wednesday when it hosts Oakland City University for a 6 p.m. contest. Following the USI-OCU match-up, the Eagles host a three-game OVC series with Eastern Illinois University April 21-23 prior to concluding the homestand with a 6 p.m. contest with McKendree University April 25.
The series between USI and OCU tilts toward the Eagles, who hold a decisive 88-12 series margin. USI also has won seven of the last 10 despite losing last year’s game, 6-4, at the USI Baseball Field.
OCU is 27-14 after completing a three-game sweep of Alice Lloyd College Sunday, 9-7. The Mighty Oaks, who have won four in a row and five of their last six, play at Lindsey Wilson College on Tuesday before coming to play USI.
FAY TIED FOR SECOND AFTER ONE ROUND AT MVC CHAMPIONSHIP
Valparaiso University women’s golf sophomore Anna Fay (Ada, Mich. / Forest Hills) is in the mix for conference medalist honors through one round at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, which began on Sunday at the par-72, 6176-yard Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Ill. The event will continue with one round each of the next two days.
How It Happened
Fay is one of six players locked in a tie for second in the 60-player tournament after carding a 77 (+5) in Sunday’s opening round.
Fay is two strokes behind Belmont’s Ryan Bender in the battle for medalist honors.
The second-best Beacon was Madison Keil (LaGrange, Ind. / Lakeland)¸ who finished the day at t-37 after posting an 85.
Keil is followed on the team leaderboard by freshman Taylor Skibinski (Michigan City, Ind. / Michigan City), whose 18-hole score of 87 puts her at t-45.
As a team, Valpo sits in 11th place, holding a six-stroke lead on UIC with a 342. Missouri State sits atop the team leaderboard at 315.
Inside the Round
Valpo’s best scoring came on par-5 holes, where the team averaged a 5.60 (+12).
Valpo produced four birdies, three of which came from Fay. She tied for the tournament lead in birdies produced during the opening round.
Fay birdied a par-5 hole (Hole 5) and a pair of par 4s (Hole 1, Hole 12).
Fay averaged a 4.20 on par-4 holes, tied for the best par-4 scoring average in the tournament.
Thoughts from Head Coach Jill McCoy
“The conditions today were extremely difficult. Anna played amazing. She played really solid golf and was very consistent and in control all day. Maddie started to turn her round around. I’m looking forward to warmer weather tomorrow and continuing to improve our scores.”
Up Next
The second round of the event will take place on Monday with tee times beginning at 9:30 a.m. A link to live scoring via GolfStat will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.
MEN’S GOLF FINISHES AS TEAM RUNNER-UP, DELISANTI AS INDIVIDUAL RUNNER-UP AT PENN STATE
The Valparaiso University men’s golf team closed out a stellar weekend on Sunday by playing the final round of the Rutherford Intercollegiate, hosted by Penn State on the par-71, 7171-yard Blue Course in State College, Pa. Valpo finished as the team runner-up in a 12-team field – just one stroke behind tournament champion Penn State – while Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield) tied for first in a 75-player field before finishing as the runner-up based on a playoff.
How It Happened
Delisanti stroked a 70 (-1) on Sunday, finishing the 54-hole event with a score of 207 (-6). He shared the top spot with Rhode Island’s Bryson Richards, who eventually took medalist honors after a playoff tiebreak.
Valpo boasted two of the top three golfers in the event, as Caleb VanArragon (Blain, Minn. / Blaine) turned in a 72 (+1) on Sunday to finish at 208 (-5), one stroke behind the tie for the top spot.
The best score by a Beacon in the Sunday round came from Owen Sander (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel), who turned in a 69 (-2) while golfing as an individual. He finished the event at 215, climbing 16 spots on the player leaderboard on Sunday to finish 14th.
The fourth member of the program in the top 20 was Yianni Kostouros (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point [Ball State]), who posted a 73 (+2) on the final day of the event to finish at 217 (t-18).
Valpo finished a single stroke behind host Penn State for the team title, earning the team runner-up distinction. The Beacons carded a Round-3 team score of 288 (+4) to finish the event at 850 (-2). They were three strokes ahead of third-place Georgetown.
Inside the Round
Delisanti earned his fourth top-2 finish of the season and his first of the spring. This was the sixth top-2 finish in his collegiate career, four of which were individual titles.
This was Delisanti’s fifth top-10 finish of the season and the 12th of his collegiate career as only a sophomore.
VanArragon had his ninth top-10 finish of the season and the 28th of his career. He has placed in the top 10 in 12 of his last 13 events dating back to last season and nine of his 10 tournaments this season.
The 69 by Sander represented the best score of the freshman’s young collegiate career.
Delisanti’s 207 tied for the fourth-best 54-hole tournament score in program history. His own 202 from the Zach Johnson Invitational this past fall is the program record.
VanArragon’s 208 is tied for sixth in program history.
In relation to par, Delisanti’s 54-hole score of six under is tied for eighth, while VanArragon’s score of five under is tied for 10th.
There have been 15 instances of a Valpo golfer finishing a tournament at five under or better in modern program history (since the program’s 2009 relaunch), and nine of those 15 are either Delisanti or VanArragon.
The team’s 54-hole score of 850 ranks third in program history, behind only the 2014 Golfweek Program Challenge (842) and the 2022 Valpo Fall Invitational (848).
In relation to par, the team’s 54-hole score of two under ranks fifth in program lore and second among tournaments that did not occur on Valpo’s home course.
Valpo finished second in the field in par-4 scoring at 4.04.
The team tied for the most pars in the tournament (172) and had the fourth most birdies (41).
VanArragon led the tournament in par-4 scoring at 3.88
Delisanti and Sander had 12 birdies apiece, tied for third in the tournament field.
This was the 46th Rutherford Intercollegiate, one of the longest-running Division-I golf tournaments in the country.
Valpo nearly snapped a long winning streak as this marked the eighth consecutive year that Penn State won its home tournament. The Nittany Lions have won 30 team titles in the 46-year history of the event.
Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring
“It was a tough loss for us today, but we picked up some valuable tournament experience. When you consider 15 rounds of golf over two days with five different players, a tournament loss by one shot is a tough one to take on the chin. The effort by the guys was tremendous, and they played hard all the way until the end. A loss like this makes us even tougher and hungrier for a victory.”
“The area that we played very poorly today and could have made up a lot of shots on the entire field was on the Par 3s. We played those at 13 over, which is not going to get it done in the final round of a tournament. Penn State played them 12 over, so we surprisingly didn’t lose much ground to them on those holes. The difference in the final round with Penn State was the last five holes. With the four scores that counted, they played those last five holes even par, and we played them at seven over. It wasn’t one player or one hole – just too many bogeys. We couldn’t get some nice birdie opportunities to fall, either.”
“I’m super proud of these guys for playing solid on a golf course that we had never seen before and playing very competitively with an excellent Big Ten program on their home course. There’s nothing easy about winning these tournaments. To be right in the mix until the very end and playing in pressure is something these guys desire and don’t shy away from. After two consecutive Big Ten tournaments, we know exactly what we need to work on this week as we prepare for the MVC Championship.”
Up Next
Valpo will begin the MVC Championship on Sunday, April 23 at Oakwood CC in Coal Valley, Ill. A link to live scoring via GolfStat will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.
HOUNDS IN CONTENTION AT GLVC CHAMPIONSHIPS
SMITHVILLE, Mo.—Battling cold and windy conditions, the UIndy men’s golf team positioned itself in a three-way tie for third after 18 holes of the 2023 GLVC Championships. The Greyhounds combined for a team score of 309 to share third with Missouri S&T and Drury, six back of second-place McKendree.
Held at the at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo., the tournament’s schedule originally called for 36 holes Sunday, but high winds pushed the second round to Monday morning. The Hounds will tee off from hole one tomorrow starting at 9 a.m. ET. Third-round action is set to start at 2 p.m. ET Monday afternoon.
The top four teams after 54 holes of stroke play will advance the medal/match play semifinals on Tuesday.
Junior Bryce Robertson finds himself in the top 10 individually, with his three-over 75 on Sunday was good for a share of eighth. Jacob Nickell (+5), Ethan Stanley (+6), and Owen Kruschwitz (+7) are all in the top 20, while Cam Carroll (+8) is currently T-31.
Missouri-St. Louis (295) tops the team leaderboard, while Missouri S&T’s Carl Miltun (-2) is the individual leader.
SOFTBALL ROLLS PAST CARDINALS IN SUNDAY SWEEP
INDIANAPOLIS—The sixth-ranked UIndy softball team earned two more conference wins Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader at William Jewell College, 5-1 and 3-0. The victories further tightened the Greyhounds’ grip on first place in the GLVC standings.
GAME 1 | UIndy 5, WJC 1
Emily O’Connor and Lexy Rees got the scoring starting with back-to-back RBI doubles in the third inning. That was all starting pitcher Kenzee Smith (24-3) needed as she allowed just one run in the complete-game win, striking out eight while scattering four hits and five walks.
The Hounds tacked one two insurance runs in the fifth inning on a Shelby Cook sac fly and a Sydnee Perry double.
Rees finished with two hits, while Jocelyn Calvin and O’Connor each scored twice and combined for three walks.
GAME 2 | UIndy 3, WJC 0
Jayden Casebolt (9-1) got the starting nod in game two and delivered a gem. She finished her day with four Ks in 6 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win.
After Casebolt allowed a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the seventh, Alexa Huth came on the get the final out. She induced a groundout by the lone batter she faced, completing the shutout while netting her first career save.
Offensively, the Greyhounds pushed across an unearned run in the third inning on a Cardinal fielding error. They later added single runs in the sixth and seventh frames, coming on a Piper Belden sac fly and an O’Connor single, respectively.
UIndy’s first three hitters—Calvin, Megan Nichols and O’Connor—each had two base hits, while Cook finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Maddy Stout earned her 14th HBP of the year, good for second in the GLVC.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds host the Lake Erie Storm for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 19 starting at 3 p.m. ET.
SOFTBALL ROLLS PAST CARDINALS IN SUNDAY SWEEP
INDIANAPOLIS—The sixth-ranked UIndy softball team earned two more conference wins Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader at William Jewell College, 5-1 and 3-0. The victories further tightened the Greyhounds’ grip on first place in the GLVC standings.
GAME 1 | UIndy 5, WJC 1
Emily O’Connor and Lexy Rees got the scoring starting with back-to-back RBI doubles in the third inning. That was all starting pitcher Kenzee Smith (24-3) needed as she allowed just one run in the complete-game win, striking out eight while scattering four hits and five walks.
The Hounds tacked one two insurance runs in the fifth inning on a Shelby Cook sac fly and a Sydnee Perry double.
Rees finished with two hits, while Jocelyn Calvin and O’Connor each scored twice and combined for three walks.
GAME 2 | UIndy 3, WJC 0
Jayden Casebolt (9-1) got the starting nod in game two and delivered a gem. She finished her day with four Ks in 6 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win.
After Casebolt allowed a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the seventh, Alexa Huth came on the get the final out. She induced a groundout by the lone batter she faced, completing the shutout while netting her first career save.
Offensively, the Greyhounds pushed across an unearned run in the third inning on a Cardinal fielding error. They later added single runs in the sixth and seventh frames, coming on a Piper Belden sac fly and an O’Connor single, respectively.
UIndy’s first three hitters—Calvin, Megan Nichols and O’Connor—each had two base hits, while Cook finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Maddy Stout earned her 14th HBP of the year, good for second in the GLVC.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds host the Lake Erie Storm for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 19 starting at 3 p.m. ET.
MARIAN PLACES 5TH AT IUPUI’S LADY JAGUAR INVITATIONAL
Carmel, Ind. – The Marian women’s golf team completed their 2022-23 regular season on Sunday afternoon, finishing the final round in the IUPUI Lady Jaguar Invitational. Playing against 10 other NCAA DI hailing from the Horzion League and the MAC, Marian finished fifth in the field of 11 teams, defeating Green Bay, Ball State, Western Illinois, Purdue Fort Wayne, Detroit Mercy, and Northern Kentucky. IUPUI won the tournament, followed by Cleveland State, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan.
The Knights took advantage of Saturday’s tremendous weather, scoring a 304 as a team to sit in third place after the opening day. Sidney Parmer held a spot in the top 10 through 18 holes as she scored a 74, with Elizabeth Hedrick on her heels shooting a 75 through 18. Keara Eder shot a 77 and Ava Hedrick scored a 78 in the opening round, with MacKendzie Dresbaugh shooting an 80 on Saturday.
The weather took a turn on Sunday with wind, rain, and cloud cover making playing conditions difficult as the Knights shot a 323 to end the tournament with a 627 score. Elizabeth Hedrick was the least phased on Marian’s team by the weather, as she carded a 78 in the final round, ending the tournament with a 153. Hedrick’s total placed her 12th overall in the field, leading the Knights efforts. Eder scored an 80 on Sunday to end with a 157 final score, placing 22nd overall in the field. Parmer would tie for 25 after shooting an 85 on Sunday, totaling a 159 final score.
Ava Hedrick completed Marian’s team score with her 33rd place finish, shooting an 83 on Sunday to finish with a 161 score. Dresbaugh scored an 82 on Sunday as she carded Marian’s third best score in the round, finishing with a 162 total as she tied for 38th.
Ella Woods also played in the field competing as an individual, placing 72nd in her first event of the spring season. Woods shot an 89+91=180.
Elizabeth Hedrick finished fourth in the tournament with a +4 score on par-four holes, while on par-five holes Eder ended the tournament one-under. Eder led the Knights with six birdies and Hedrick had five, while Parmer led the team with 21 made pars.
With the regular season completed, Marian will next play in the Crossroads League Championships, hosted at Chariot’s Run GC in Laconia. The CL Tournament will be held on May 8 and 9.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
MLB STANDINGS
| AMERICAN LEAGUE | |||||||||||
| EAST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| TAMPA BAY | 14 | 2 | .875 | – | 10 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 5 – 2 | 3 – 0 | 3 – 0 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| NY YANKEES | 10 | 6 | .625 | 4 | 6 – 4 | 4 – 2 | 2 – 1 | 4 – 3 | 0 – 0 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| TORONTO | 10 | 6 | .625 | 4 | 4 – 2 | 6 – 4 | 2 – 1 | 5 – 2 | 2 – 1 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| BALTIMORE | 9 | 7 | .563 | 5 | 4 – 3 | 5 – 4 | 2 – 4 | 2 – 1 | 5 – 2 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| BOSTON | 8 | 8 | .500 | 6 | 5 – 4 | 3 – 4 | 2 – 5 | 3 – 0 | 3 – 0 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| CENTRAL | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| MINNESOTA | 10 | 6 | .625 | – | 4 – 2 | 6 – 4 | 2 – 2 | 5 – 1 | 2 – 1 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| CLEVELAND | 9 | 7 | .563 | 1 | 2 – 4 | 7 – 3 | 1 – 2 | 0 – 0 | 6 – 4 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| CHI WHITE SOX | 6 | 10 | .375 | 4 | 2 – 4 | 4 – 6 | 1 – 2 | 1 – 2 | 2 – 2 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| DETROIT | 5 | 9 | .357 | 4 | 2 – 3 | 3 – 6 | 1 – 8 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 4 – 6 | W 3 |
| KANSAS CITY | 4 | 12 | .250 | 6 | 1 – 9 | 3 – 3 | 1 – 3 | 0 – 3 | 1 – 2 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| WEST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| TEXAS | 9 | 6 | .600 | – | 6 – 3 | 3 – 3 | 1 – 2 | 2 – 1 | 2 – 1 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| SEATTLE | 8 | 8 | .500 | 1.5 | 5 – 5 | 3 – 3 | 0 – 0 | 3 – 4 | 1 – 2 | 6 – 4 | W 4 |
| LA ANGELS | 7 | 8 | .467 | 2 | 3 – 3 | 4 – 5 | 1 – 5 | 0 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| HOUSTON | 7 | 9 | .438 | 2.5 | 4 – 6 | 3 – 3 | 0 – 0 | 4 – 6 | 1 – 2 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| OAKLAND | 3 | 13 | .188 | 6.5 | 2 – 7 | 1 – 6 | 1 – 6 | 1 – 2 | 1 – 2 | 1 – 9 | L 4 |
| NATIONAL LEAGUE | |||||||||||
| EAST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| ATLANTA | 12 | 4 | .750 | – | 4 – 3 | 8 – 1 | 2 – 1 | 6 – 0 | 1 – 3 | 7 – 3 | W 6 |
| NY METS | 10 | 6 | .625 | 2 | 4 – 2 | 6 – 4 | 5 – 2 | 0 – 3 | 2 – 1 | 7 – 3 | W 4 |
| MIAMI | 8 | 8 | .500 | 4 | 5 – 5 | 3 – 3 | 4 – 6 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 1 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| PHILADELPHIA | 6 | 10 | .375 | 6 | 3 – 3 | 3 – 7 | 1 – 2 | 4 – 3 | 0 – 0 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| WASHINGTON | 5 | 11 | .313 | 7 | 2 – 7 | 3 – 4 | 1 – 2 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 2 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| CENTRAL | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| MILWAUKEE | 11 | 5 | .688 | – | 5 – 1 | 6 – 4 | 3 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 4 – 3 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| CHI CUBS | 8 | 6 | .571 | 2 | 5 – 4 | 3 – 2 | 0 – 0 | 2 – 3 | 2 – 1 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| PITTSBURGH | 9 | 7 | .563 | 2 | 3 – 3 | 6 – 4 | 0 – 0 | 3 – 4 | 0 – 0 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| ST. LOUIS | 7 | 9 | .438 | 4 | 4 – 6 | 3 – 3 | 0 – 3 | 3 – 4 | 2 – 1 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| CINCINNATI | 6 | 9 | .400 | 4.5 | 5 – 4 | 1 – 5 | 3 – 7 | 3 – 2 | 0 – 0 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| WEST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| ARIZONA | 9 | 7 | .563 | – | 5 – 2 | 4 – 5 | 1 – 2 | 2 – 1 | 6 – 4 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| LA DODGERS | 8 | 8 | .500 | 1 | 5 – 4 | 3 – 4 | 0 – 0 | 1 – 2 | 7 – 6 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| SAN DIEGO | 8 | 9 | .471 | 1.5 | 4 – 6 | 4 – 3 | 4 – 3 | 1 – 3 | 3 – 3 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| SAN FRANCISCO | 5 | 9 | .357 | 3 | 2 – 4 | 3 – 5 | 0 – 0 | 0 – 0 | 1 – 2 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| COLORADO | 5 | 11 | .313 | 4 | 3 – 4 | 2 – 7 | 2 – 2 | 1 – 2 | 2 – 4 | 3 – 7 | L 5 |
TV MONDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| LA ANGELS AT BOSTON | 11:10AM | MLBN NESN BALLY SPORTS |
| CLEVELAND AT DETROIT | 6:40PM | MLBN BALLY SPORTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO AT MIAMI | 6:40PM | NBCS-BAY BALLY SPORTS |
| TAMPA BAY AT CINCINNATI | 6:40PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| PHILADELPHIA AT CHI. WHITE SOX | 7:10PM | MLBN NBCS-PHI NBCS-CHI |
| TEXAS AT KANSAS CITY | 7:40PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| ARIZONA AT ST. LOUIS | 7:45PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| TORONTO AT HOUSTON | 8:10PM | ATTSN-SW SPORTSNET |
| PITTSBURGH AT COLORADO | 8:40PM | ATTSN-PIT ATTSN-RM |
| CHI. CUBS AT OAKLAND | 9:40PM | MARQ NBCS-CA |
| MILWAUKEE AT SEATTLE | 9:40PM | BALLY SPORTS ROOT SPORTS |
| ATLANTA AT SAN DIEGO | 9:40PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| NY METS AT LA DODGERS | 10:10PM | SNY SPECTRUM |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| EAST QUARTERFINALS GAME 2: BROOKYLN AT PHILADELPHIA | 7:30PM | TNT |
| WEST QUARTERFINALS GAME 2: GOLDEN STATE AT SACRAMENTO | 10:00PM | TNT |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| GAME 1: NY ISLANDERS AT CAROLINA | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| GAME 1: FLORIDA AT BOSTON | 7:30PM | ESPN |
| GAME 1: MINNESOTA AT DALLAS | 9:30PM | ESPN2 |
| GAME 1: LOS ANGELES AT EDMONTON | 10:00PM | ESPN |
| ROAD RUNNING | TIME ET | TV |
| BOSTON MARATHON | 8:30AM | ESPN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| SERIE A: FIORENTINA VS ATALANTA | 2:45PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: LEEDS UNITED VS LIVERPOOL | 3:00PM | USA |
| LA LIGA: CELTA DE VIGO VS MALLORCA | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: PLATENSE VS COLÓN | 3:30PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: BANFIELD VS CENTRAL CÓRDOBA SDE | 6:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: SARMIENTO VS ARSENAL | 6:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: ATLÉTICO TUCUMÁN VS ROSARIO CENTRAL | 8:30PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: GODOY CRUZ VS LANÚS | 8:30PM | PARAMOUNT+ |