“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA BOYS STATE FINALS
SESSION 1
PUBLIC GATES OPEN AT 9:30 AM ET
10:30 AM ET | CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
CLINTON PRAIRIE (26-2) VS. ORLEANS (24-4)
Class 1A State Championship Preview by Mike Beas: https://www.ihsaa.org/media/news/class-1a-state-championship-preview-4
APPROX. 12:45 PM ET | CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
MANCHESTER (25-2) VS. UNIVERSITY (20-9)
Class 2A State Championship Preview by Lewis Bagley: https://www.ihsaa.org/media/news/class-2a-state-championship-preview-4
FIELDHOUSE CLEARED
SESSION 2
PUBLIC GATES OPEN AT 5 PM ET
6 PM ET | CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH (26-3) VS. INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS (22-6)
Class 3A State Championship Preview by Mike Beas: https://www.ihsaa.org/media/news/class-3a-state-championship-preview-4
APPROX. 8:15 PM ET | CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
FISHERS (30-0) VS. JEFFERSONVILLE (23-5)
Class 4A State Championship Preview by Rich Torres: https://www.ihsaa.org/media/news/class-4a-state-championship-preview-4
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TV SCHEDULE/RESULTS
FRIDAY
MICHIGAN STATE 73 OLE MISS 70
TENNESSEE 78 KENTUCKY 65
AUBURN 78 MICHIGAN 65
HOUSTON 62 PURDUE 60
ELETE EIGHT – SATURDAY
FLORIDA VS. TEXAS TECH 6:09
DUKE VS. ALABAMA 8:49
NIT SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT TV SCHEDULE
SWEET 16 SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
DUKE 47 NORTH CAROLINA 38
SOUTH CAROLINA 71 MARYLAND 67
LSU 80 NC STATE 73
UCLA 76 OLE MISS 62
SATURDAY, MARCH 29 (SWEET 16)
(2) TCU VS. (3) NOTRE DAME | 1 P.M. ON ABC
(1) TEXAS VS. (5) TENNESSEE | 3:30 P.M. ON ABC
(2) UCONN VS. (3) OKLAHOMA | 5:30 P.M. ON ESPN
(1) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VS. (5) KANSAS STATE | 8 P.M. ON ESPN
WNIT
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 87 BUTLER 61
CLEVELAND STATE 55 DUQUESNE 52
INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
NOTRE DAME 16 FLORIDA STATE 9
UCLA 8 PURDUE 5
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 17 BUTLER 10
USC 10 INDIANA 5
INDIANA 13 USC 6
PURDUE FT. WAYNE 14 OAKLAND 13
BALL STATE 11 AKRON 2
INDIANA STATE 16 ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 5
EVANSVILLE 7 VALPO 3
LITTLE ROCK 2 SOUTHERN INDIANA1
INDIANA COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD
NOTRE DAME 4 VIRGINIA 3
BUTLER 6 GEORGETOWN 2
BUTLER 3 GEORGETOWN 2
IU INDY 7 ROBERT MORRIS 6
PURDUE FT. WAYNE 10 DETROIT MERCY 5
BALL STATE BOWLING GREEN CANCELLED
EVANSVILLE 7 VALPO 5
EVANSVILLE 6 VALPO 4
INDIANA STATE 6 DRAKE 5 (8)
DRAKE 2 DRAKE 1
SOUTHERN INDIANA 3 TENNESSEE TECH 0
SOUTHERN INDIANA 5 TENNESSEE TECH 1
COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYOFFS
BOSTON COLLEGE 3 BENTLEY 1
UCONN 1 QUINNIPIAC 1
DENVER 5 PROVIDENCE 1
PENN STATE 5 MAINE 1
INDIANA COLLEGE MEN’S LAX
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA COLLEGE WOMEN’S LAX
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
NBA SCOREBOARD
DETROIT 133 CLEVELAND 122
LA CLIPPERS 132 BROOKLYN 100
TORONTO 108 CHARLOTTE 97
NEW YORK 116 MILWAUKEE 107
GOLDEN STATE 111 NEW ORLEANS 95
MINNESOTA 124 PHOENIX 109
DENVER 129 UTAH 93
NHL SCOREBOARD
FLORIDA 2 UTAH 1 OT
CAROLINA 4 MONTRÉAL 1
COLUMBUS 7 VANCOUVER 6
WINNIPEG 4 NEW JERSEY 0
VEGAS 5 CHICAGO 3
ANAHEIM 5 NY RANGERS 4 OT
MLB SCOREBOARD
TAMPA BAY 3 COLORADO 2
TORONTO 8 BALTIMORE 2
PITTSBURGH 4 MIAMI 3
TEXAS 4 BOSTON 1
NY METS 3 HOUSTON 1
LAS VEGAS 7 SEATTLE 0
SAN DIEGO 4 ATLANTA 3
ARIZONA 8 CHICAGO CUBS 1
LA DODGERS 8 DETROIT 5 (10)
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ST. PAUL 11 INDIANAPOLIS 0
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NCAA TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP: NO. 1 HOUSTON SLIPS PAST NO. 4 PURDUE
Milos Uzan dropped in a game-winning layup and No. 1 Houston grabbed the final Elite Eight spot in a 62-60 thriller over No. 4 Purdue in the late-night Midwest Region semifinal on Friday in Indianapolis.
With the game tied at 60, Houston began its final possession with 2.8 seconds left and the ball out of bounds to the right of the basket. Uzan inbounded to Joseph Tugler in the lane and stepped in to catch a return pass and lay it in with the clock reading 0.9.
Braden Smith caught Purdue’s subsequent inbounds pass, moving from left to right on the Boilermakers’ side of halfcourt, but a final heave fell short. Houston won despite blowing a 10-point lead in the last eight minutes.
Uzan had 22 points and six assists for the Cougars (33-4), and Emanuel Sharp scored 17 points. Houston will play second-seeded Tennessee on Sunday afternoon in the regional final. Fletcher Loyer paced the Boilermakers (24-12) with 16 points.
No. 2 Tennessee 78, No. 3. Kentucky 65
Zakai Zeigler and the Volunteers booked a spot in the Elite Eight with a win over the Wildcats in the Midwest Region in Indianapolis, avenging a pair of regular-season losses to their Southeastern Conference rivals.
Chaz Lanier scored 17 points and Jordan Gainey added 16 for Tennessee (30-7), which will face No. 1 Houston on Sunday with a Final Four berth on the line.
Lamont Butler led Kentucky (24-12) with 18 points and hit four of the Wildcats’ six 3-pointers.
South Region
No. 1 Auburn 78, No. 5 Michigan 65
Johni Broome recorded a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Tigers past the Wolverines in the regional semifinal in Atlanta.
Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford added 20 points apiece for Auburn (31-5), which rallied from a nine-point, second-half deficit en route to the program’s third Elite Eight. The Tigers will face No. 2 seed Michigan State on Sunday for a spot in the Final Four.
Danny Wolf scored 20 points to lead Michigan (27-10), while Vladislav Goldin chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds and Nimari Burnett also had 10 points, paired with seven boards.
No. 2 Michigan State 73, No. 6 Ole Miss 70
Freshman Jase Richardson scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Spartans to a win over the Rebels in the other semifinal in Atlanta.
Coen Carr added 15 points and Jaden Akins scored 13 for Michigan State (30-6), which is headed to the program’s 15th Elite Eight. The Spartans rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit and earned the right to face top-overall seed Auburn on Sunday for a chance to reach the Final Four.
Sean Pedulla scored 24 points to lead Ole Miss (24-12), and Matthew Murrell added 13. Malik Dia chipped in with 11 points for the Rebels, who were playing in just their second Sweet 16.
3S PLEASE, AND WIDE-OPEN OFFENSE ON DISPLAY WHEN DUKE PLAYS ALABAMA WITH FINAL FOUR TRIP AT STAKE
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — When Alabama faces Duke for a trip to the Final Four on Saturday, hoops fans will witness what some say is the future of college basketball, what others call a byproduct of nobody putting up a good enough fight on defense, or some combination of both.
The meeting pitting Associated Press All-Americans Cooper Flagg (Duke) against Mark Sears (‘Bama) is also a showdown between teams that each hit the 100-point mark — a semi-rarity in college games that run eight minutes shorter than the pros — in the contests that vaulted them into the East Region final.
Second-seeded Alabama set March Madness records by attempting 51 3-pointers and making 25 in a 113-88 win over BYU. Had the Crimson Tide not taken any of their scant 15 shots from inside the arc, they still would have scored enough to win.
Top-seeded Duke, not as prolific a 3-point shooting team as Alabama but every bit as deadly with Flagg doing the scoring and passing, shot 60% from the floor and made 11 of 19 shots from 3 (57.9%). The Blue Devils beat Arizona 100-93.
What conclusions to draw?
“At the end of the day,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said, “it’s math.”
As Alabama illustrated with precision on Thursday, a team that shoots 33% from 3 can run a more free-flowing offense with a better chance of open shots and will score as many points as one that grinds its way for 2s and makes 50% on the same number of attempts.
This move to the 3-pointer is, in some minds, what’s currently ruining the NBA: “It’s just, who can run faster, who can hit more 3s, it’s no substance. I think it’s very boring,” Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors said during the All-Star break.
That style of play has infiltrated the college game, and figures to only grow as teams like Duke and Alabama keep scoring, and winning.
With Sears leading the way — his 10 3-pointers Thursday were one short of the tournament record — the Crimson Tide play that game as well as anyone.
They average a nation-leading 91.4 points a game. Coach Nate Oats, a former math teacher who understands the numbers, said his team will adjust if needed.
“When people ask me, ‘How many 3s do you want to get up?’ Well, it depends on how you want to guard us,” Oats said. “If you’re going to guard us and not let us in the paint, let’s get 51 up. … If you want to completely run us off the (3-point) line, we’ll try to go score 70, 75 points in the paint.”
Duke shoots 3s, too, and also has some of the sport’s best players
Duke also shoots its share of 3s, though its roll through the tournament could be seen as much as a product of what happens, quite simply, when a team has all the best players. There are six Blue Devils who look like NBA draft picks.
The best of them is Flagg, who is 6-foot-9 and is, according to coaching legend Jim Boeheim and others, starting to look like a modern-day and better version of Larry Bird.
The 18-year-old had 30 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three blocks against Arizona on Thursday. The actual performance — who saw the no-look pass to Sion James in the corner for 3, or the one where Flagg bobbled the ball but gathered and flipped it up to Khaman Maluach for an alley-oop? — looked even better than the numbers themselves.
“We’re going to have to do our best,” Oats said. “But he’s also one of those guys that — I mean, you’re not going to hold him down to 10 points.”
A matter of pace as well as 3s
Duke has attempted 45.4% of its shots from 3 this year, compared to 46.2% for Alabama. The reason the Tide feel so much more prolific from behind the arc is because they lead the nation in possessions this season, while Duke, which plays slower, sits at 274th.
Fast or slow, both teams are following an unmistakable trend.
Six years ago, NCAA champion Virginia played deliberately but still attempted 39.5% of its shots from 3. When Duke won it all in 2015, none of the Final Four teams (including Kentucky, which came into that undefeated) took more than 39.8% of their shots from 3.
So, that’s the future of college hoops. And the present.
The team that heads to San Antonio will probably be the one that figures out how to stop all those 3s, or at least slow them down, or, if none of that works, simply make more of them.
“I just think it’s about the math,” Scheyer said. “I still think it’s an exciting game, and I’m sure the game will evolve somehow. I’m not sure why that is right now, but I don’t think it can change anytime soon.”
DRAKE HIRES SOUTH DAKOTA STATE’S ERIC HENDERSON TO REPLACE BEN MCCOLLUM, WHO LEFT FOR IOWA
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Eric Henderson, who led South Dakota State to two NCAA Tournament appearances in six seasons, has been hired as Drake’s head coach, the school announced Friday.
The 46-year-old Henderson replaces Ben McCollum, who left for Iowa on Monday after leading the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships and a first-round win over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament.
“My family and I are elated to join Drake Nation,” Henderson said. “Early on in this process it became evident that values and vision aligned with the incredible path President (Marty) Martin and (athletic director) Brian Hardin have already established. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity they have given me and my family to walk that path with them. The excitement for Drake basketball is at an all-time high, and I’m looking forward to building relationships and representing such a committed university and fan base.”
Henderson is a native of Coggon, Iowa, about 140 miles northeast of Drake’s campus in Des Moines. He played at Wayne State in Nebraska under current Creighton coach Greg McDermott and worked as a coach at the high school and college levels before he was hired as a South Dakota State assistant in 2014.
He was hired as the Jackrabbits’ coach in 2019, after current Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger left for UNLV, and was 129-60 overall and 76-20 in Summit League play. Henderson’s squads never finished worse than third in the Summit League and won at least a share of the regular-season title four times. His 2022 and 2024 teams lost first-round games in the NCAA Tournament.
“Eric quickly established himself in a talented pool of candidates as the best person to lead our men’s basketball program,” Hardin said. “He elevated South Dakota State to not only the premier program in the Summit League but also one of the best programs at our level in the country.”
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S NCAA ROUNDUP: LAUREN BETTS LIFTS NO. 1 UCLA TO ELITE EIGHT
Lauren Betts shot 15-for-16 from the floor on the way to 31 points as top-seeded UCLA pulled away from No. 5 Ole Miss in the second half of a 76-62 win in Spokane 1 Region play in Spokane, Wash., on Friday.
Betts delivered her second consecutive 30-point-plus performance of the NCAA Tournament, doing so while matching the career high for made field goals she set in November against Colgate.
Behind Betts’ dominant performance on the inside, UCLA (33-2) outscored Ole Miss (22-11) in the paint 48-34. Betts also grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked three shots. Kiki Rice finished with 13 points and dished a game-high seven assists for the Bruins, who advance to face No. 3 LSU in the regional final on Sunday.
Tameiya Sadler led Ole Miss with 14 points, while Kennedy Todd-Williams and KK Deans each scored 13. Todd-Williams and Christeen Iwuala each grabbed nine rebounds.
No. 3 LSU 80, No. 2 NC State 73
Aneesah Morrow scored 30 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the Tigers rallied past the Wolfpack in the semifinals of the Spokane 1 Region of the Women’s NCAA Tournament in Spokane, Wash.
The Tigers scored the game’s final 10 points in the last two minutes. Sa’Myah Smith finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Mikaylah Williams added 19 points for the Tigers (31-5). LSU will play No. 1 seed UCLA in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
Zoe Brooks scored 21, Zamareya Jones had 13 and Aziaha James 12 to lead the Wolfpack (28-7), whose last points came on a Brooks layup that produced a 73-70 lead.
No. 1 South Carolina 71, No. 4 Maryland 67
MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 23 points off the bench and the defending champion Gamecocks prevailed against the Terrapins in the Birmingham Region 2 semifinal of the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
Chloe Kitts added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the top-seeded Gamecocks (33-3), who will meet second-seeded Duke in Sunday’s regional final in Birmingham, Ala. The Gamecocks defeated Duke 81-70 at home on Dec. 5 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Kaylene Smikle led Maryland (25-8) with 17 points, while Allie Kubek and Sarah Te-Biasu both had 12 points and Shyanne Sellers posted 10 points. Smikle and Kubek fouled out as the Terrapins were forced to commit infractions in the final minute.
No. 2 Duke 47, No. 3 North Carolina 38
Oluchi Okananwa had 12 points and 12 rebounds off the bench and the Blue Devils used a stifling defense to subdue the Tar Heels in the Sweet 16 of the Women’s NCAA Tournament in the Birmingham 2 Region.
Ashlon Jackson scored 10 points for Duke, which won despite shooting 31 percent from the field and going 5-for-24 on 3-pointers. The Blue Devils (29-7), who’ve won nine in a row, will meet No. 1 seed South Carolina in Sunday’s regional final.
North Carolina (29-8) shot 28.3 percent for the game and 3-for-11 on 3-pointers. The Tar Heels, who committed 15 turnovers, also suffered at the free-throw line, going 5-for-10. Alyssa Ustby’s nine points and 10 rebounds and Indya Nivar’s eight points paced North Carolina.
UCONN’S PAIGE BUECKERS CONFIRMS ENTRY INTO WNBA DRAFT
UConn star Paige Bueckers confirmed Friday she will enter the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Some had speculated she might delay entering the draft until next year, believing she didn’t want to play for the Dallas Wings, who hold the No. 1 pick. She is projected to be taken first.
However, Bueckers, 23, told ESPN that she will put her name in the draft. She has one year of college eligibility remaining.
She has unfinished business with UConn first, however.
The Huskies (33-3) are the No. 2 seed in the Spokane 4 Region of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. The Huskies will face No. 3-seed Oklahoma in Sweet 16 action on Saturday.
On the season, the 6-foot guard leads the Huskies in scoring (19.2 points per game) and assists (4.8), adding 4.4 rebounds per game. She is shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range and 90.2 percent from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES FIRE TAYLOR JENKINS, FRANCHISE’S WINNINGEST COACH
The Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins, their winningest coach, on Friday with the team struggling down the stretch and at risk of losing home-court advantage for the postseason.
Still sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings, the Grizzlies decided to dump Jenkins anyway without immediately announcing an interim coach.
Jenkins led the Grizzlies for six seasons. He was let go with the team on the verge of playing three home games in a four-day span starting Saturday — first the Lakers, then Boston on Monday, then Golden State on Tuesday.
That starts a stretch where eight of Memphis’ final nine opponents are either playoff clubs or contending for a play-in spot. But it’s still possible, at least mathematically, that Memphis could get back to No. 2 in the West, and it’s highly unlikely that the Grizzlies will fall into the play-in tournament range.
Still, Memphis decided it was time for a change.
“This was a difficult decision, given the consistent and tangible development of our players and overall success under Taylor’s leadership,” Zach Kleiman, the Grizzlies’ president and general manager of basketball operations, said in a statement.
The Grizzlies will not be practicing Friday and announced no media availability.
Jenkins was the fifth longest-tenured coach with his current club in the league, behind only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Denver’s Michael Malone — all of them having won NBA titles.
Results against the league’s best teams so far this season weren’t a good sign for Jenkins.
The Grizzlies were 0-4 against Oklahoma City, losing those games by 24, 13, 17 and 21 points. They’re 3-6 so far this season against Houston, Denver and the Lakers, the next three teams ahead of them in the West.
And that’s been a trend all season for Memphis. The Grizzlies were really good against the sub-.500 teams, but struggled mightily against the winning clubs.
Against the 13 other teams that currently are over .500, the Grizzlies are 11-20 this season and getting outscored by 77 points. Against the 16 clubs at .500 or worse, the Grizzlies are 33-9, outscoring those opponents by 462 points.
Jenkins, with a career record of 250-214, passed Lionel Hollins for most wins in franchise history Nov. 20 with a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. He also coached the most games in Grizzlies’ history, with the franchise launching in 1995.
He took Memphis to the postseason three times during his tenure but only got to the second round once.
In the 2021-22 season, the team won 56 games for the Grizzlies’ most in a season under Jenkins. The Grizzlies captured the Southwest Division and were a No. 2 seed in the West. They ousted the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round, but lost to Golden State in the second with star Ja Morant dealing with an injury.
Jenkins replaced J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired after failing to make the playoffs in the 2018-19 season. He had served as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks, both working for coach Mike Budenholzer.
He also served a stint in the San Antonio Spurs organization, eventually becoming head coach of the Spurs G League team in Austin.
Jenkins’ arrival in Memphis coincided with the Grizzlies drafting Morant with the No. 2 overall pick in 2019. Memphis made the postseason three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023. Then the Grizzlies went through a season plagued with injuries to major players.
Morant played only nine games because of a 25-game league suspension and a right shoulder injury that ended his season. Fellow guard Desmond Bane missed considerable time with a left ankle sprain, and frontline reserve Brandon Clarke managed only six games because of a left Achilles tendon tear.
That left Jenkins to manage the season with forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and a bunch of makeshift lineups, eventually finishing 27-55.
This season, Jenkins turned over his coaching staff and brought in a new offense based on spacing. Despite being plagued with turnovers, Memphis spent a large part of the season second in the West. Other teams surged as the Grizzlies’ rough patch dropped them to fifth place.
Again, Jenkins spent another season piecing together lineups around Morant limited to 43 games with various illnesses, soreness, contusions and sprains. Morant missed Thursday night’s game, his sixth straight, with a strained hamstring.
HORNETS GUARD LAMELO BALL WILL MISS THE REST OF THE SEASON AS HE UNDERGOES TWO PROCEDURES
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball won’t play again this season and will have arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle as well as a minor procedure on his right wrist.
The team said Friday that Ball is expected to return to full basketball activity within four to six weeks and is expected to make a full recovery.
Ball was the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft and averaged a career-high 25.2 points, 7.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds in his fifth season.
He is the franchise’s all-time leader in triple-doubles (10) and ranks fifth in franchise history in both 3-pointers (705) and assists (1,710).
NBA ROUNDUP: PISTONS KNOCK OFF CAVS, CLINCH WINNING SEASON
Tim Hardaway Jr. had a season-high 32 points and the host Detroit Pistons clinched their first winning season in nine years by defeating the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 133-122 on Friday night.
The last time Detroit (42-32) posted a winning season was 2015-16 when it finished 44-38. The Pistons also snapped a 12-game losing streak against the Cavaliers. Detroit had not beaten Cleveland since Feb. 24, 2022.
Malik Beasley supplied 19 points, while Ausar Thompson had 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. Dennis Schroder contributed 17 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell carried the Cavaliers with 38 points. Darius Garland had 21. Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham missed his third straight game due to a left calf contusion.
Clippers 132, Nets 100
Kawhi Leonard finished with 31 points, including 19 in the second quarter, as Los Angeles rolled to its seventh win in eight games with the victory over Brooklyn in New York.
Leonard, who also had six rebounds and four steals, scored 25 points in the first half, while Ivica Zubac added 21 points and 12 boards. James Harden had 17 points and six assists for the Clippers, who shot 55 percent from the field and outscored the Nets 79-42 in the second and third quarters.
Keon Johnson led Brooklyn with 13 points, while Cameron Johnson contributed 11. Brooklyn’s other three starters — Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxton and D’Angelo Russell — were held to a combined 17.
Raptors 108, Hornets 97
Jakob Poeltl scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead host Toronto past Charlotte for its third consecutive win.
Poeltl’s efficient 12-of-14 effort from the field pushed him to his 22nd double-double of the season. Immanuel Quickley scored 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting and had nine assists, while Scottie Barnes added 18 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Mark Williams led the Hornets with 18 points and 12 rebounds on a perfect 9-of-9 from the field. DaQuan Jeffries scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting as Charlotte took its fourth straight loss.
Knicks 116, Bucks 107
OG Anunoby had 31 points, Mikal Bridges added 26 and New York held on for a road win over Milwaukee.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won three of the last four, and Josh Hart chipped in 13 points, 14 boards and eight assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points and nine rebounds, while Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins each scored 20 points. Milwaukee has dropped three straight and four of its last six.
Nuggets 129, Jazz 93
Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 14 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. scored 20 points as host Denver routed Utah.
Russell Westbrook had 17 points and Christian Braun contributed 16 for the Nuggets, who have won three of their past four games.
Collin Sexton scored 20 points to lead the Jazz, who have lost five in a row and 15 of 16. Kyle Filipowski finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Keyonte George also scored 18 points.
Timberwolves 124, Suns 109
Julius Randle had 25 points, six rebounds and eight assists, and Minnesota pulled away for a win over Phoenix in Minneapolis.
Rudy Gobert notched 17 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which completed a four-game sweep of the Suns during the regular season. Anthony Edwards finished with 20 points, and Jaden McDaniels scored 16.
Kevin Durant scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Phoenix. Collin Gillespie had 22 points and 10 assists, and Royce O’Neale finished with 21 points off the bench.
Warriors 111, Pelicans 95
Stephen Curry overcame a slow start in his return from injury to score 23 points as visiting Golden State defeated New Orleans to snap a two-game skid.
Curry, who missed two games because of a pelvic contusion, scored just three points in the first quarter. But the Warriors gradually took control. Jimmy Butler III added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State.
Bruce Brown scored 18 points and Yves Missi had 12 points and 10 boards for New Orleans, which was outscored 28-13 in the fourth quarter.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
DEION SANDERS’ CONTRACT AT COLORADO EXTENDED THROUGH THE 2029 SEASON
Deion Sanders brought back the glitter — and the wins — to a downtrodden program in just two seasons.
For that, the Colorado Buffaloes rewarded the charismatic coach with a contract extension through the 2029 season, making him the highest-paid football coach in the Big 12 Conference and among the most lucratively paid across the country.
His five-year, $54 million extension includes $10 million in each of the first two seasons, $11 million in the next two and $12 million in Year 5. The deal was reached with three years remaining on Sanders’ existing five-year, $29.5 million deal he signed when he was brought in from Jackson State.
“Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and in doing so, has restored CU football to our rightful place as a national power,” athletic director Rick George said in a statement. “This extension not only recognizes Coach’s incredible accomplishments transforming our program on and off the field, it keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the years to come.”
Sanders and the Buffaloes are coming off a 9-4 season in which they earned a spot in the Alamo Bowl.
The Buffaloes have big cleats to fill, though. They’re losing Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and Sanders’ sons, Shedeur — a projected high pick in the upcoming NFL draft — and Shilo. Next season will mark the first time in many years that Deion Sanders won’t be coaching one of his kids.
Sanders and his high-profile staff have assembled another talented recruiting class — from high school recruits to transfer portal additions. The headliners of the class are Liberty transfer quarterback Kaidon Salter, Alabama transfer defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis and Julian “JuJu” Lewis, a five-star high school quarterback who arrived on campus early to get a head start. Either Salter or Lewis figures to step in and take over for Shedeur Sanders as Colorado attempts to make back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2004 and 2005.
With Sanders’ decision to stay put, the Buffaloes avoid all sorts of mass exodus — from the new fans and celebrities he’s attracted to all the media attention the Buffaloes have received. In addition, the high-level recruits who were lured to town by the presence of Sanders figure to be staying, too.
Should Sanders take another job — in the NFL or another NCAA team — his buyout is $12 million if he terminates the deal on or before December 31, 2025; $10 million in 2026, $6 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028 and $3 million in 2029.
Among his incentives are $150,000 if the Buffaloes win nine games in the regular season and $100,000 for each additional victory in the regular season.
He also receives $150,000 if the team plays in the Big 12 title game and $150,000 if Colorado is invited to a non-college football playoff bowl. It’s $400,000 should the team win the conference championship or appear in the first round of the College Football Playoff. A first-round win earns him another $50,000. From there, it’s $100,000 for the semifinals; $200,000 for the championship game and $250,000 if the Buffaloes win the national championship.
His selection as the Big 12 Coach of the Year would earn him $75,000 and the national award $150,000.
He’s certainly helped raise the profile of Colorado since taking over:
— 22 of Colorado’s 24 games have been selected to be on network television or the flagship ESPN.
— The two highest average home attendance seasons have been 2023 (53,180 fans) and last season (52,514).
— Colorado was sixth in viewership during the 2024 regular season, trailing only Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas and Michigan.
— The football team generated $31.2 million in ticket sales in Sanders’ first season in Boulder (a 4-8 record), according to the annual University of Colorado athletics NCAA financial reports. The program had $13 million in ticket sales the year before his arrival.
— Colorado has seen its applications to attend the school increase 20% from a year ago.
— Home football games have meant a combined $93.9 million in direct economic impact for Boulder and $146.5 million in regional economic impact, according to the school.
“To be honest, I don’t think that anybody fully was prepared for just how much national and international attention Coach Prime would generate for our community and the economic benefits that it would also engender,” John Tayer, the president and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, recently said in an interview. “There’s just a great deal of enthusiastic energy.”
The success has carried over into the classroom as well. The football team had a GPA of 3.011 for the fall semester. It’s the first time the football program has been over 3.0, the school announced.
“We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be,” Sanders said in a statement. “It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base.
“Lastly, anybody got at least a five bedroom home with acreage for sale?”
NFL NEWS
RAVENS EXTEND COACH JOHN HARBAUGH BY 3 YEARS TAKING HIM THROUGH THE 2028 SEASON
OWING MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens extended coach John Harbaugh’s contract by three years, taking him through the 2028 season.
The 62-year-old Harbaugh is the Ravens’ all-time winningest coach with a 172-104 record over 17 seasons, not including going 13-11 in the playoffs. He is the second-longest tenured active coach behind Mike Tomlin, who has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers coach for 18 years.
Baltimore has made the playoffs 12 times under Harbaugh, who coached the Ravens to the Super Bowl title in the 2012 season.
Harbaugh was entering the final year of his contract.
LB KRISTIAN WELCH SIGNS UP FOR 2ND STINT IN GREEN BAY AFTER PREVIOUSLY PLAYING FOR PACKERS IN 2023
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Linebacker Kristian Welch is rejoining the Green Bay Packers, a team he previously played for in 2023.
The Packers announced the signing of Welch on Friday.
The 26-year-old Welch played six games with the Denver Broncos and nine games with the Baltimore Ravens last season. He made one start for each of those teams and had a fumble recovery for the Ravens.
He had joined the Packers’ practice squad in 2023, eventually got elevated to the active roster and ended up playing in 12 regular-season games and two playoff contests. Welch didn’t play a defensive snap that year but was on the field for nearly half of the Packers’ special-teams plays and made six tackles.
Welch has played in 72 career regular-season games, making 13 tackles on defense and 27 more on special teams. The former undrafted free agent from Iowa played for Baltimore from 2020-22 before joining the Packers the first time.
The Packers also announced Friday that they’re hiring Kevin Manara as general counsel. Manara had worked as the Arizona Cardinals’ general counsel since July 2023 and previously was senior vice president and general counsel for the Las Vegas Raiders.
FORMER TEXAS STANDOUT, NFL NO. 1 OVERALL PICK KENNETH SIMS HAS DIED AT 65
Kenneth Sims, a standout at Texas who became the No. 1 overall draft pick in the NFL draft in 1982, has died. He was 65.
The University of Texas said Sims died on March 21 at his home.
Sims’ death came after a brief illness, according to the National Football Foundation, but no further information was provided. He became a National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Famer in 2021.
A Kosse, Texas, native, Sims shined as a defensive tackle for Texas from 1978 to 1981 and was an AP All-American selection in 1980 and 1981. He was an unanimous All-American pick in 1981, the same season that the Longhorns finished 10-1-1, beat Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and finished ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll.
Over his final two college seasons Sims totaled 241 tackles, 21 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
His efforts helped him become the first Longhorns player to receive the Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s best collegiate lineman, in 1981.
Sims was selected with the top pick in the 1982 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He was selected to the 1982 all-rookie team and spent his entire career in New England, but had trouble duplicating the production he had at the collegiate level.
JETS SIGN VETERAN JOSH REYNOLDS TO ADD DEPTH TO THEIR GROUP OF WIDE RECEIVERS
The New York Jets signed veteran Josh Reynolds to a one-year deal Thursday, adding depth to their wide receivers group.
The 30-year-old Reynolds, who spent last season with Denver and Jacksonville, is reunited with Jets coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand with whom he worked during three seasons in Detroit.
Reynolds joins a Jets wide receivers room that includes Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Irvin Charles and Tyler Johnson, who was also signed as a free agent this offseason. New York released wide receiver Davante Adams, who later signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Reynolds could end up replacing Lazard, who could be traded or released.
Reynolds has 233 career catches for 3,127 yards and 20 touchdowns in 116 regular-season games, including 55 starts, over eight NFL seasons.
He signed last offseason with Denver — where current Jets general manager Darren Mougey was the assistant GM — and played in five games before being placed on injured reserve with a broken finger.
Reynolds was shot in the left arm and the back of the head on Oct. 18 after he left a strip club in Glendale, Colorado, at about 2:45 a.m. Reynolds said he and two other men were followed into and then out of the club before shots were fired into their SUV.
NEWLY SIGNED RUSSELL WILSON SAYS HE EXPECTS TO BE THE GIANTS’ STARTING QB THIS UPCOMING SEASON
Russell Wilson has bounced around the NFL the past few years, a one-time Super Bowl winner suddenly without a consistent home while facing doubts and critics about his play.
The 36-year-old quarterback is now officially at his latest stop after signing his one-year contract with the New York Giants on Wednesday, a day after agreeing to terms on the deal with what is his third team in as many years and fourth in five years.
But with the Giants, Wilson has his sights set on one thing.
“I expect to be the starter and to be able to come here and rock and roll every day,” Wilson said during a Zoom call Wednesday. “I think this team’s really looking for somebody to lead them in every way — in terms of the process, in the offseason, during the season, our habits and our thought process and how we create a great winning culture.
“How do we continue to establish that and to really build on things that we do well and the things that we continue to need to do?”
A person with knowledge of the contract told The Associated Press it’s worth up to $21 million with $10.5 million guaranteed. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce financial terms.
Wilson joins a quarterback room that includes veteran Jameis Winston, who signed a two-year contract last week, and Tommy DeVito, an exclusive rights free agent who was re-signed on March 8. New York also has the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft next month and could still target a quarterback.
“The great part about professional sports is constant change, constant movement,” Wilson said. “If we draft a quarterback, we’ll make sure he does everything he can to be ready to go and be prepared with his mentality.
“But for me, I’m focused on winning — what I can do as a quarterback of the New York Giants to help us win and do everything we can to lead?”
Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, helped Pittsburgh make the playoffs last season and threw for 2,482 yards with 16 touchdown passes and five interceptions and a 96.5 passer rating. But the Steelers lost five in a row at the end of the season after starting 6-1 with him.
The Steelers allowed Wilson to become a free agent, as they did with Justin Fields — who signed with the Jets. While there was a chance Wilson could be back in Pittsburgh, the Steelers also met last week with Aaron Rodgers — who remains a possibility to sign there if he wants to play a 21st NFL season.
Meanwhile, Wilson met with the Giants and felt the fit was right.
“First of all, Aaron Rodgers is a tremendous football player,” Wilson said. “He’s done some amazing things in this league. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been able to do some great things, too. What I’m focused on right now is what we can do here. That’s been my focus since I signed.
“Also, too, along the way is finding a place that will continue to believe in you.”
Wilson called Pittsburgh “a special, special place” for him, and praised his former Steelers teammates, including T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.
“But coming here and being in New York is an exciting place to play,” Wilson said. “It’s a place that wants to win and knows how to win is and has won before. For me, it’s bringing everything I know, all the experiences and touchdowns, all the wins, and also all the love and passion for the game to the locker room. That’s what I’m really excited for.
“It’s going to be a special, special thing and we’ve got to go work for it every day and go do it.”
Wilson spent part of his night across the Hudson River at Madison Square Garden, where he watched the New York Knicks lose to the Los Angeles Clippers. Wilson, seated next to actor Matthew Modine, was shown on the video board to cheers, signed a football and then tossed it into the stands to fans.
Wilson played two disappointing seasons in Denver following 10 years in Seattle, which he helped win a Super Bowl in February 2014 at MetLife Stadium — Wilson’s new home stadium.
“I have some amazing memories here,” he said. “Some of my most fond memories of this game that I poured my heart and soul into every day happened right here in this stadium right across the street in MetLife Stadium. I’m excited to create some more memories with some amazing teammates for this amazing fan base.”
Wilson mentioned at least a dozen of his new Giants teammates during his 20-minute chat with reporters. Among those players was young wide receiver Malik Nabers, who spoke to Wilson before the quarterback signed.
“This guy, when he touches the ball, he may score every single time,” Wilson said, adding that Nabers is a “freak of an athlete.”
He also praised embattled coach Brian Daboll, saying “he’s been around greatness and knows what it looks like and sounds like,” while pointing out his five Super Bowl rings as an assistant.
“What I really like about Dabs is just his mentality, his attack mentality,” Wilson said. “We haven’t been able to talk a whole bunch of ball yet, but I’ve been able to see a bunch over the years and understand who he is.
“I think that’s the exciting part about what we can do and all the guys we have around us.”
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: BLUE JACKETS OVERTAKE CANUCKS FOR SO WIN
Boone Jenner had two goals and an assist and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied from a three-goal deficit to post a 7-6 shootout win against the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Friday.
Kent Johnson scored the only goal in the three-round shootout. Jenner has four goals in his past three games for the Blue Jackets, who have won two straight after losing six in a row. Dante Fabbro had a goal and two assists, while Kirill Marchenko, Mathieu Olivier and Denton Mateychuk each had a goal and an assist. Columbus’ Elvis Merzlikins made 31 saves.
Aatu Raty scored twice for the Canucks, who had won two straight. Brock Boeser notched a goal and an assist, while Linus Karlsson and Tyler Myers also scored. Pius Suter and Kiefer Sherwood each had three assists and Kevin Lankinen made 32 saves.
The Blue Jackets tied it at 5-all with 3:14 left in the third period when Marchenko’s shot deflected in off Jenner on a power play. Then with 2:52 remaining, Olivier scored from the slot to put Columbus ahead 6-5, but Ratu scored from the top of the crease off a Dakota Joshua pass with 2:29 left.
Panthers 2, Utah Hockey Club 1 (OT)
Sam Bennett netted the only two goals for Florida, including the game-winner with 42 seconds left in overtime, to defeat Utah in Sunrise, Fla.
Bennett notched the winner off an assist from Brad Marchand, scoring off a backhand shot from the bottom of the left circle. Marchand made his Panthers debut after being acquired from the Boston Bruins in early March and missing time due to an upper-body injury.
Sergei Bobrovsky had 13 saves for Florida, which won its second straight. Sean Durzi scored for Utah, which dropped its third consecutive game, while Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.
Hurricanes 4, Canadiens 1
Jackson Blake snapped a scoring drought with a goal and two assists as Carolina defeated Montreal at Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes’ Taylor Hall and Sebastian Aho scored in a 2 1/2-minute span of the second period. Andrei Svechnikov scored into an empty net. Seth Jarvis and Blake each recorded assists on both of the team’s second-period goals. Frederik Andersen made 14 saves to secure a victory in his sixth consecutive outing.
Josh Anderson had the game’s first goal, but Montreal managed only seven shots on goal through the first two periods. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves in the Canadiens’ fifth straight loss.
Jets 4, Devils 0
Alex Iafallo scored twice to help Winnipeg to a win against visiting New Jersey.
Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist and Kyle Connor had two assists for the Jets, who passed the idle Washington Capitals for top spot in the NHL. Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves.
Jake Allen turned aside 15 shots for the Devils, who were missing Luke Hughes, held out with a lower-body injury for precautionary reasons. New Jersey has lost five of its past seven games (2-4-1).
Golden Knights 5, Blackhawks 3
Pavel Dorofeyev scored the go-ahead goal on a power play with 3:11 left and Victor Olofsson had two goals to boost visiting Vegas to a win against Chicago.
William Karlsson earned three assists and Mark Stone had a goal and assist as the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights stretched their winning streak to five games. Brett Howden also scored and Adin Hill stopped 18 shots for Vegas.
Chicago remained afloat behind Ryan Donato’s first career hat trick. Ilya Mikheyev had two assists and Spencer Knight made 17 saves as the Blackhawks took their ninth loss in 10 games (1-8-1).
Ducks 5, Rangers 4 (OT)
Leo Carlsson scored once in a career-best four-point game and Mason McTavish netted the winner 59 seconds into overtime to give host Anaheim a comeback victory over New York.
Cutter Gauthier and Olen Zellweger each had a goal and an assist and Alex Killorn also scored for the Ducks, who recorded a pair of late goals in regulation to send the game into overtime. Lukas Dostal made 26 saves.
Adam Fox, J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere each collected a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who have won just once in the past six outings (1-4-1). Mika Zibanejad also scored, and Igor Shesterkin stopped 28 shots.
NASCAR NEWS
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AIMS FOR MORE SUCCESS AT MARTINSVILLE
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — A year after William Byron capped the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports’ first NASCAR Cup Series victory with a win of his own at Martinsville Speedway, the winningest organization in NASCAR history will look to keep the good times rolling on Sunday in the Cook Out 400.
Following Kyle Larson’s win at Homestead-Miami Speedway last Sunday, HMS is nearing the 41st anniversary of Geoff Bodine’s 1984 Martinsville win that kept the doors open and led to Rick Hendrick’s team becoming the greatest in NASCAR history.
All four of Hendrick’s drivers — Larson, Byron, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman — have at least one Martinsville victory on their respective resumes, with Byron winning twice at the Paperclip in the last six Martinsville races.
It’s far from a foregone conclusion that a Hendrick Chevy will come across the line first on Sunday, however. The biggest threat to the four-car HMS stable may very well be 2023 Cup Series champion and two-time Martinsville winner Ryan Blaney, who has won the last two fall races at the half-mile oval.
Team Penske’s Blaney boasts a career average finish of 8.3 at Martinsville, and hasn’t finished worse than 11th since 2018. After an engine failure forced Blaney — who led 124 laps and won Stage 1 in the Straight Talk Wireless 400 — behind the wall late in the race at Homestead, he’d like nothing more than to enact revenge at a track that statistically is one of his best. His Penske teammate Joey Logano — a winner at Martinsville in the fall of 2018 — also can’t be counted out.
Nor can the Penske-affiliated Wood Brothers with driver Josh Berry, who earned his first NASCAR win in the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville in the spring of 2021.
While Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske have both put together legendary Martinsville resumes, Joe Gibbs Racing can never be counted out. Denny Hamlin has the most Martinsville wins (five) of all active Cup Series drivers, while Christopher Bell won at Martinsville in the fall of 2022.
Three-time Martinsville winner Martin Truex Jr. is no longer behind the wheel of Gibbs’ No. 19, but Chase Briscoe appears to be a suitable replacement. In the six Martinsville races with NASCAR’s Next-Gen car, Briscoe hasn’t finished worse than 15th in a stretch that includes five top-10 finishes and four top-five results. Briscoe led 109 laps at Martinsville in the spring of 2023.
Through six races in the 2025 season, the Cup Series has seen a relatively low level of parity. Four drivers — Berry, Byron, Larson and three-time winner Bell — have found victory lane this season, and 10 of the drivers currently inside the top-16 in the standings race out of the Gibbs, Hendrick or Penske shop.
Historically, Martinsville doesn’t pander to parity, either. It’s a track where champions and legends are often those standing in victory lane, and a track where one mistake can quickly become multiple. Cool brakes and cooler heads prevail at Martinsville, and underdog stories don’t usually play out into the latter stages of races.
In that aspect, Martinsville could be compared to the two tracks it’s sandwiched between in the early portion of the 2025 schedule — the preceding race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the succeeding race at Darlington Raceway, two tracks that also see veterans and champions rise to the occasion.
When the pay window opens at Martinsville on Sunday afternoon, don’t be surprised if the cast of characters up front is comprised of drivers that currently reside in the top-10 in the standings or those that have a champion’s patch sewn onto their firesuit. Martinsville is one of the toughest tracks on the circuit for a reason, and it’s a venue that has earned its reputation as one where only the greatest earn a coveted grandfather clock.
STUBBS: CONTROLLED AGGRESSION KEY AS MARTINSVILLE PUTS BEST TO TEST
The NASCAR Cup Series will see the pack tightly bunched and organized Sunday when the seventh race of the 2025 season takes to the track at the famed “Paperclip” that is Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Martinsville has been on the NASCAR schedule since the first season of competition in 1948. The half-mile oval, known for its long straightaways and tight corners, is famous for pushing man and machine to their absolute limit over the course of an afternoon.
A few drivers have made Martinsville their playground over the years. Richard Petty is atop Martinsville’s all-time wins list with 15 victories, while those below him also are known as true Martinsville masters.
Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson each won nine grandfather clocks, given to the drivers that can keep time the best on the Cup Series’ shortest track. Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace won at Martinsville 11 and seven times, respectively. Denny Hamlin is the active wins leader at Martinsville with five victories.
Martinsville lends itself to those who toe the line between aggression and foolishness. It’s a track where drivers have to keep both themselves and their car cool, as tempers and brake issues have been the focal point on a number of occasions.
The tight confines favor only the best drivers in the sport — you won’t find fluke winners at Martinsville under normal circumstances. Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell — four of the best drivers currently competing in the Cup Series — are the four most recent Martinsville winners.
Simply put, Martinsville is a track that favors the best.
Ahead of the Cook Out 400, here are the drivers to watch during Sunday’s race:
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford, Team Penske
It’s not a stretch to call Martinsville Blaney’s best track. In 18 starts, Blaney has 12 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 8.3. He hasn’t finished worse than 11th at the half-mile short track since October of 2018, and in the six races run at Martinsville with the Next-Gen car, Blaney hasn’t finished worse than seventh. He’s also won the last two fall races at Martinsville, and he’ll be hungry for a win after a dominant performance at Homestead was negated by a blown engine.
William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Byron is the defending winner of the Martinsville spring race and also won at Martinsville in the spring of 2022. He has eight top-10 finishes in 14 Martinsville starts, and has quickly turned into a consistent favorite whenever the Cup Series pays a visit to the asphalt straightaways and concrete turns. Byron has been one of the best drivers to start the 2025 season, and a win at Martinsville on Sunday would be a nice compliment to his season-opening win in the Daytona 500.
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
Hamlin hasn’t won at Martinsville since 2015, but he didn’t win five races at his home track by accident. In 38 Martinsville starts, Hamlin has 20 top-five finishes and 26 top-10 efforts. The last time the Cup Series visited Martinsville, Hamlin started 37th and finished fifth in one of his best drives in recent memory. He hasn’t won at Martinsville in a decade, but he has an excellent shot to break his 10-year Martinsville drought on Sunday.
Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
For the first time in his young Cup Series career, Berry can’t be called an underdog. After collecting his first career win at Las Vegas on Mar. 16, Berry enters Martinsville looking to add to his impressive short-track resume. His two Cup Series starts at the track yielded finishes of 25th and 16th, but he does have three top-five finishes at Martinsville in Xfinity Series competition. In his first Xfinity Series start at Martinsville, Berry collected the first win of his NASCAR career, which effectively turned him into a star overnight. Four years later, Berry returns looking for the second win of his Cup Series career, while trying to establish himself as a weekly contender.
GOLF NEWS
BERNHARD LANGER SHOOTS HIS AGE, TIED FOR LEAD AT GALLERI CLASSIC
Germany’s Bernhard Langer shot his age once again and grabbed a share of the lead at the Galleri Classic after Friday’s first round in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Langer and Australia’s Cameron Percy fired 5-under-par 67s at Mission Hills Country Club. They hold a one-shot lead over the trio of Jason Caron, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Australian Richard Green.
Langer, 67, has already shot or broken his age three times this season. Friday’s round, a bogey-free loop with five birdies, was his 27th time achieving the feat on the PGA Tour Champions.
“I hope to inspire other people,” Langer said. “Some say, ‘Oh, I’m too old, I can’t get any better anymore.’ I still think in your 50s you can still improve, maybe even into your 60s depending on what level you’re playing at because golf is very technical. Obviously I’m a lot shorter now and I can’t keep up with the young guys, but it’s very technical, it’s very mental and a lot of it is short game where you don’t need strength, you just need great touch.”
Langer and the rest of the field dealt with the challenge of strong, swirling winds.
“Hit some decent shots and didn’t have to scramble too much,” Langer said. “Had a nice bunker shot on 17, hit the flag; that might have gone a few feet by otherwise. Had a good chance on 18 to go 6 under and didn’t make it. Very solid day.”
While Langer has won a record 47 times on the PGA Tour Champions, Percy is in the hunt for his first title. He made most of his career in Australia and had one win on the Web.com Tour (now known as the Korn Ferry Tour).
Percy was 6 under through 15 holes before consecutive bogeys pushed him back toward the pack. He rallied with a seventh and final birdie at the par-5 18th.
“It’s really hard. You’ve got to pick your shot, and if it goes through the wind you’re in all sorts of trouble,” the 50-year-old said. “Luckily for me, I drove it well and I was hitting fairways so that made a huge difference.”
Steve Allan of Australia, Stephen Ames of Canada and Felipe Aguilar of Chile are tied for sixth at 3-under 69.
LILIA VU SHOOTS 64, MOVES TO FRONT AT FORD CHAMPIONSHIP
Lilia Vu birdied three of her first four holes on Friday and grabbed a two-shot lead at the midpoint of the Ford Championship in Chandler, Ariz.
Vu matched the best score of the day, an 8-under-par 64 at Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail Course, to move to 14-under 130.
Four players are tied for second at 12 under: world No. 1 and defending champion Nelly Korda, who shot a 65 on Friday; first-round leader Charley Hull of England (second-round 69); Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68); and Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul (64).
Japan’s Ayaka Furue (68) and South Koreans Sei Young Kim (69) and Ina Yoon (69) share sixth place at 10 under. Eight players are at 9 under, tied for ninth.
Vu didn’t expect the hot start to what proved to be a bogey-free round. She wound up hitting 10 of the 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation.
“I know I was a little stressed on the range and my caddie could kind of tell, and so he told me, we’re just going to stick to or start lines today and then I’ll handle everything. So I trusted him in that sense,” Vu said.
“I think that really helped me going into the round, and just focused on the shot in front of me and getting from point A to point B. That really kind of helped me. So, yeah, somehow just happened to play well. Felt like everything was grooving in the right spot.”
Thitikul began the day with an even better run than Vu. Starting on the back nine, she went birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie. The eagle came on the par-5 12th hole. She added four birdies and one bogey (at the page-4 fourth hole) the rest of the way.
“I didn’t have like a good confidence before coming here with my putter much, but like I think for this (second) round I putted really well,” Thitiul said. “… I think this is kind of a short course where we can play (to a) low score.”
Korda was 5 under at the turn after playing the back nine first. She added three more birdies and her lone bogey.
“Slowed a little down on the back nine, but the wind picked up a little,” Korda said. “It was starting to play a little bit firmer. So in the mornings the greens are definitely a little bit more receptive so you can be bit more aggressive. Then once the … heat kind of starts to play a factor, you have to be a little bit more timid.”
TENNIS NEWS
NOVAK DJOKOVIC REACHES MIAMI FINAL, WILL AIM FOR 100TH CAREER TITLE
Fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic committed just five unforced errors while cruising to a 6-2, 6-3 victory over 14th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria on Friday afternoon to reach the Miami Open final for the eighth time.
Djokovic converted 4 of 6 break points to go with an 87 percent accuracy on his first serves during the semifinal clash while beating Dimitrov for the 13th time in 14 career meetings.
Djokovic will be gunning for his 100th career tournament title on Sunday. He will face either third-seed Taylor Fritz or Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, who meet in a semifinal match later Friday.
Djokovic is 10-0 all-time versus Fritz and he beat Mensik in their lone meeting.
The 37-year-old Djokovic missed just six serves during the entire 70-minute match against the 33-year-old Dimitrov.
“I surprised myself with the 87 percent first serves in these tricky conditions,” Djokovic said. “Very windy, not consistent at all. Not easy to toss the ball.”
The Serbian hasn’t won a title since the Paris Olympics last summer. But he has turned back the clock in Miami with five consecutive straight-set victories.
“After the Olympics, which was my 99th title, I knew that every tournament I play, I am going for 100,” Djokovic said. “I wasn’t able to achieve that — until hopefully Sunday. I am going to go all in. I haven’t dropped a set. I’m playing really good tennis, as good as I’ve played in a long time.”
Djokovic will be looking to join Roger Federer (103) and leader Jimmy Connors (109) in the men’s 100-singles titles club.
Djokovic also will be seeking his seventh Miami title. He is tied with Andre Agassi for the most crowns but has not won one since 2016.
Djokovic’s eighth final will also match Agassi for the most.
Djokovic sailed Friday despite having just 10 winners on a day in which soccer legend Lionel Messi was in the stands.
Dimitrov was plagued by 32 unforced errors to go with 14 winners. His first-serve percentage was 53.
After a split of the first four games, Djokovic won the final four games of the first set. In the second set, Djokovic won the first three games and four of the first five. Dimitrov made a mini-run by winning two of the next three games before Djokovic closed out the match.
TOP INDIANA HEADLINES
INDIANA PACERS
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT THUNDER
The Pacers travel to Oklahoma City next for a Saturday night matchup with the NBA’s hottest team. The Thunder (61-12) are winners of eight straight, and set a franchise record with their 61st win of the season on Thursday.
Indiana is no stranger to record-breaking performances, however. The Pacers (43-30) set two new franchise records on Thursday, as well as six new season-highs as they routed the Washington Wizards, 162-109.
The Blue and Gold notched its eighth win in the last 10 contests – bested by the Thunder by just one victory. Oklahoma City is 9-1 in its last 10. Indiana and Oklahoma City lead the league in points scored over that same span, each club notching over 122 points per game.
Saturday’s matchup projects to be a high-caliber clash between Eastern and Western Conference foes. Both the Pacers and the Thunder rank in the top 10 for each offensive and defensive rating since the All-Star break, and possess a net rating of sixth or higher in that same span of games.
Dynamic guards lead each team – Tyrese Haliburton’s post All-Star break tear has been the catalyst for a stretch of strong Pacers wins while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to have an MVP-caliber season for the Thunder.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads Oklahoma City in scoring following the All-Star break as he notches just shy of 33 points per game. Haliburton’s averages of 21.2 points and 12.3 assists per contest in that same timeframe are high marks for Indiana.
The Pacers and Thunder will clash at 8:00 PM ET on Saturday as Oklahoma City chases a 70-win season and Indiana pursues New York for the third seed in the Eastern Conference Standings.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Thunder: G – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G – Isaiah Joe, F – Luguentz Dort, F – Jalen Williams, F – Chet Holmgren
Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson – out (torn right Achilles tendon), Bennedict Mathurin – out (sore left calf)
Thunder: Alex Caruso – questionable (lower back spasm), Jaylin Williams – questionable (left hip tightness), Ousmane Dieng – out (left calf strain), Alex Ducas – out (right quad strain), Ajay Mitchell – out (right great toe surgery), Nikola Topic – out (left knee surgery),Aaron Wiggins – out (left Achilles tendinitis)
Last Meeting
Dec. 26, 2024: Indiana lost a back-and-forth contest against the Thunder as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied his career-high of 45 points.
The Pacers led by as many as 15 points in the game, and were ahead by four points with under two minutes remaining. Oklahoma City produced an 8-0 run to close the game, and defeated Indiana, 120-114.
Andrew Nembhard led the charge for the Pacers as he notched 23 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Pascal Siakam recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Myles Turner grabbed 11 boards himself. Turner also recorded five blocked shots in the game.
The loss snapped the Pacers’ five-game winning streak, and marked the ninth straight victory for the Thunder.
Noteworthy
The Pacers set two new franchise records against the Wizards on Thursday. Indiana’s 162 points are an NBA franchise high and 27 made 3-point field goals are an overall franchise record.
Additionally, Indiana set six new season highs in the same game. New season-highs in assists (48), field goal percentage (64.1 percent), bench points (85), first quarter points (45), third quarter points (42), and margin of victory (53 points) were recorded.
Tyrese Haliburton’s points/assists double-double streak ended on Thursday against the Wizards. He recorded 12 straight points/assists double-doubles before tallying 29 points and six assists in just 25 minutes against Washington.
Indiana needs two more wins or two losses by the seventh-place Eastern Conference team (Atlanta) to secure a top-six seed in the NBA playoffs.
Andrew Nembhard was Olympic teammates with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort this summer as they competed for Team Canada.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)
INDY FUEL
FUEL SHUT OUT BY ADIRONDACK ON FRIDAY NIGHT
GLENS FALLS- Despite high energy coming off of the shootout win on Wednesday, the Fuel could not find the back of the net in their second game against Adirondack this week. With 74 total penalty minutes between both teams, Adirondack scored in every period and Brodeur gets his fourth professional shutout.
1ST PERIOD
The period started with a quick shot in front of Ben Gaudreau, but he was able to make the save. The Thunder put consistent pressure on Gaudreau for the first couple of minutes.
The period consisted of a couple of deflections and numerous icings.
Nathan Burke had two great shots, but Brodeur made the save, along with Lee and Farmer putting pressure on the Thunder towards the end of the period.
Grant Loven had his ninth goal of the season at 19:35 left in the period. Conroy and Less assisted the goal.
There were no penalties in the period but Indy outshot Adirondack 12-8, despite the 1-0 score.
2ND PERIOD
Fuel got off to a hot start, trying to find the equalizer with some shots on the board early in the second. However, that was thwarted by a Thunder goal.
Greg Smith nets his sixth of the season from Busby and Fox to make it a 2-0 game.
The Fuel got a fire under them and had great opportunities, yet it was squashed by a Lucas Brenton tripping penalty at 17:07.
The penalty was killed off and the period was over. Indy outshot Adirondack 10-6 in the period and 22-14 overall through two.
3RD PERIOD
The fireworks started in the third period as things got chaotic fast.
The Thunder’s Ebrahim took a delay of game penalty at 3:19, where the Fuel got some action on the net but none in.
Ethan Manderville took a cross-checking minor at 7:40, which was successfully killed off.
Adirondack’s Wheeler got a high stick minor drawn by Maksimovich at 10:47.
Conroy got a boarding penalty at 11:17, giving the Fuel a 5-on-3 opportunity. The Fuel were not able to capitalize on it.
The next goal was not a Fuel one but another Adirondack goal by Gervais, assisted by Loven and Busby.
After that, mass chaos.
Tucker and Wheeler each took a double minor for roughing at 15:56.
Jordan Martin took a boarding penalty. The Thunder’s Conroy took a double minor roughing call and then a 10-minute misconduct for continuing the altercation.
Then Farmer and Gulka took matching fighting majors at 16:07.
Right before the puck dropped, Bilek and Gervais dropped the gloves and earned fighting majors and 10-minute misconduct calls for fighting prior to the drop of the puck.
Ultimately the Fuel lost 3-0 to Adirondack despite outshooting them 30-22.
The Fuel face the Thunder again tomorrow night before heading back home to host the Toledo Walleye on Tuesday.
INDY ELEVEN
#INDVCOS PREVIEW
- #INDvCOS Preview
- Indy Eleven vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Sat., Mar. 29, 2025 – 7 p.m. ET - Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis
- Follow Live
- Stream: ESPN+
- In-game updates: IndyEleven
- Stats: #INDvCOL MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2025 USL Championships Records
Indy Eleven: 1-0-1 (+2), 4 pts; #6 in Eastern Conference
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: 0-1-2 (-2), 2 pts; #11 in Western Conference
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to USL Championship action Saturday with the home opener against 2024 league champion Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC.
SERIES
Saturday marks the fourth all-time meeting between the sides with the teams deadlocked at 1-1-1.
Series Tied 1-1-1 | GF 5, GA 5
- Recent Meetings
April 20, 2024 D 1-1 Away - May 20, 2023 W 1-0 Home
- June 18, 2022 L 4-3 Away
2024 AT COLORADO SPRINGS
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Saturday, April 20, 2024) – Indy Eleven went on the road to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and picked up a 1-1 draw.
Colorado Springs set the tone early in the match with Ronaldo Dumas finding the back of the net in the third minute for the early lead.
The momentum shifted during a 15-minute stretch in the first half that saw five yellow cards. Indy registered nearly 70% of possession during that period and capped it off with a 31st-minute tally from Augi Williams. The play started with a Jack Blake ball into Aedan Stanley, who found Williams for a header inside the six for his third helper of 2024.
The teams went into the locker room tied 1-1, with Indy holding the possession battle at 56% and the Switchbacks taking advantage in shots (10-5) and shots on frame (3-2).
Indy played a dominant second half against a 10-man Colorado Springs squad following Wahab Ackwei’s 58th-minute red card for violent conduct but was unable to find the match winner.
The home team saw its last shot of the match in the 53rd minute, while Indy managed eight shots, with two on frame, and held 64% of the possession in the second half.
Blake led the visitors with four shots, while Williams added three. In his first start of the season, Hunter Sulte registered a pair of saves off three shots faced.
- Scoring Summary
- COS – Ronaldo Damus 3’
- IND – Augi Williams (Aedan Stanley) 31’
- Discipline Summary
- IND – Callum Chapman-Page (caution) 14’
- IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 14’
- COS – Aidan Rocha (caution) 15’
- IND – Douglas Martinez (caution) 18’
- COS – Juan Tejada (caution) 20’
- COS – Yosuke Hanya (caution) 45’
- COS – Wahab Ackwei (ejection) 58’
- COS – Maalique Foster (caution) 70’
- IND – Ben Ofeimu (caution) 87’
| IND | COS | |
| 2 | Games | 3 |
| 4 | Goals | 5 |
| 2 | Assists | 1 |
| 11 | SOT | 9 |
| 2 | Goals Conceded | 6 |
| 9 | Shots Faced | 12 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
RENDON EARNS USLC “TEAM OF THE WEEK” HONORS
Indy Eleven midfielder Bruno Rendon has been named to the USL Championship “Team of the Week” for Week 3 of the regular season after he scored his first USLC goal in a 1-1 draw at Lexington SC on Saturday.
The 2024 USL League One “Defender of the Year” brought down a headed clearance attempt with his right foot, taking it to his left foot, where he delivered a blast to the top left corner to give the Boys in Blue a 1-0 lead in the 60th minute.
In the match, Rendon led the team in tackles won (4) and crosses attempted (3), and he tied for the team best in shots (3), completed passes in the final third (9), and recoveries (6) while playing the full 90 minutes and winning nine of 11 duels.
On the season, Rendon leads the Boys in Blue in tackles won (7), he is second in aerial duels won (4), and third in duels won (12).
The 24-year-old Rendon scored 15 total goals last season for the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC under coach ÉamonZayed, the Indy Eleven franchise scoring leader with 26 goals and 61 points. Rendon scored nine goals in the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup in 2024 to lead his team to the championship.
This is the second consecutive week that Indy Eleven is represented on the “Team of the Week”, with Jack Blake and Pat Hogan earning selection last week.
USL CHAMPIONSHIP HONORS
- Jack Blake
- USL Championship Team of the Week (Week 2 – 3/18)
- Pat Hogan
- USL Championship Team of the Week (Week 2 – 3/18)
- Bruno Rendon
- USL Championship Team of the Week (Week 3 – 3/25)
LAST TIME OUT
Lexington, Ky.- Midfielder Bruno Rendon scored his first career USL Championship goal in the 60th minute to lead the visiting Indy Eleven in a 1-1 draw at Lexington SC on Saturday night.
The 2024 USL League One “Defender of the Year” brought down a headed clearance attempt with his right foot, taking it to his left foot, where he delivered a blast to the top left corner to give the Boys in Blue a 1-0 lead. The 24-year-old Rendon scored 15 total goals last season for the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC under coach Eamon Zayed, the Indy Eleven franchise scoring leader with 26 goals and 61 points. Rendon scored nine goals in the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup to lead his team to the championship.
Boys in Blue goalkeeper Hunter Sulte made three saves in the match, including a left-handed save just in front of the line in the 78th minute.
Indy Eleven started quickly with forward Edward Kizza and midfielders Maalique Foster combining with Rendon to earn a corner in the 2nd minute, setting up a shot on target by midfielder James Murphy.
Boys in Blue center backs Pat Hogan and James Musa recorded important clearances in a five-minute stretch to keep the match scoreless.
Kizza started a scoring opportunity in the 28th minute with a steal, touching the ball quickly to midfielder Jack Blake, who was fouled for a free kick. Blake’s set piece from outside the area just missed wide left.
Rendon earned a scoring chance in the 36th, but his shot missed to the left.
In the second half, Rendon and Kizza combined for a threat in the 51st minute, prior to Rendon’s goal in the 60th made it 1-0. The Boys in Blue had two opportunities after that, with Foster making a steal and setting up Blake for a shot on target in the 69th and Rendon having a chance inside the right corner of the box, but his shot missed high.
After Lexington tied it in the 79th minute, midfielder Oliver Brynéus earned a chance in the 85th minute. In the 87th, defender Aedan Stanley played a cross to Rendon for a chance.
- 2025 USL Championship
- Indy Eleven 1:1 Lexington SC
- Sat., Mar. 22, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
- Lexington SC Stadium | Lexington, Ky.
- Scoring Summary
- IND – Bruno Rendon 60’
- LEX – Marcus Epps (Braudílio Rodrigues) 79’
- Discipline Summary
- IND – Edward Kizza (caution) 24’
- LEX – Jack Beer (caution) 28’
- LEX – Sofiane Djeffal (caution) 36’
- IND – James Musa (caution) 45’+1
- LEX – Kendall Burks (caution) 62’
- LEX – Kieran Sargeant (caution) 90’+5
Indy Eleven line-up: Hunter Sulte, Aedan Stanley, James Musa, Pat Hogan, Hayden White (Ben Ofeimu 64’), Aodhan Quinn (captain), James Murphy, Maalique Foster (Oliver Brynéus 70’), Jack Blake (Cam Lindley 82’), Bruno Rendon, Edward Kizza (Elvis Amoh 82’).
Indy Eleven Subs not used: Josh O’Brien, Finn McRobb, Reice Charles-Cook.
USL CHAMPIONSHIP REGULAR SEASON GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS
6. Aodhan Quinn (IND) – 105 (55 goals & 50 assists)*
AODHAN QUINN USLC ALL-TIME RANKINGS
- Minutes | 21,949 | 3rd
- Assists | 50 | 5th
- Games Started | 250 | 4th
- Appearances | 264 | T6th
2025 ROSTER
- Goalkeepers (3): Reice Charles-Cook, ^Ryan Hunsucker, Hunter Sulte
- Defenders (9): Pat Hogan, ^Maverick McCoy, Finn McRobb, James Musa, Josh O’Brien, Ben Ofeimu, Bruno Rendon, Aedan Stanley, Hayden White
- Midfielders (7): Jack Blake, Oliver Brynéus, Cam Lindley, James Murphy, Logan Neidlinger, Aodhan Quinn, Brem Soumaoro
- Forwards (5): Elvis Amoh, Elliot Collier, Maalique Foster, Edward Kizza, Romario Williams
- ^USL Academy Contract
COACH SEAN McAULEY
Head coach Sean McAuley earned the USLC “Coach of the Month” honor last May and he was a nominee for USLC Midseason “Coach of the Year” after leading his team to a 12-match unbeaten streak in a two-month span from April-June.
The Sheffield, England, native led Indy Eleven to the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals with four straight wins, including a 2-1 victory at MLS-side Atlanta United.
McAuley got his first career USL Championship win on March 16, 2024, a 2-1 road victory at Memphis 901 FC.
McAuley is in his second season in Indy after previously serving as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020.
In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with the Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for the Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others.
USLC: 15-11-10 | USOC: 4-1-0 | OVERALL: 19-13-10 (.571)
Team Leaders
- Stat Player Number
- Goals Blake, Hogan, Quinn, Rendon 1
- Game-Winning Goals Aodhan Quinn 1
- Assists Blake, Kizza 1
- Shots Jack Blake 6
- Shots on Target Jack Blake 5
- Chances Created Jack Blake 4
- Fouls Won Jack Blake 7
- Duels Won Jack Blake 13
- Aerial Duels Won Pat Hogan 10
- Clearances Pat Hogan 22
- Interceptions Logan Neidlinger 4
- Tackles Won Bruno Rendon 7
- Passes Aedan Stanley 70
- Minutes Hogan, Murphy, Musa, Stanley, Sulte 180
TEAM STATS
- Single-Match Highs
- Shots: 11 | Mar. 15 at MIA
- SOT: 8 | Mar. 15 at MIA
- Possession: 40.7% | Mar. 15 at MIA
- Corners: 6 | Mar. 15 at MIA
Single-Match Lows
- Shots: 8 | Mar. 22 at LEX
- SOT: 3 | Mar. 22 at LEX
- Possession: 32.9% | Mar. 22 at LEX
- Corners: 1 | Mar. 22 at LEX
Opponent Highs
- Shots: 14 | Mar. 22 at LEX
- SOT: 4 | Mar. 15 at MIA, Mar. 22 at LEX
- Possession: 67.1% | Mar. 22 at LEX
- Corners: 5 | Mar. 15 at MIA, Mar. 22 at LEX
Opponent Lows
- Shots: 7 | Mar. 15 at MIA
- SOT: 4 | Mar. 15 at MIA, Mar. 22 at LEX
- Possession: 59.3% | Mar. 15 at MIA
- Corners: 5 | Mar. 15 at MIA, Mar. 22 at LEX
USL CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 RANKINGS
Individual
- Category Player Rank Total
- Goals Jack Blake T13 1
- Pat Hogan T13 1
- Aodhan Quinn T13 1
- Bruno Rendon T13 1
- Assists Jack Blake T6 1
- Edward Kizza T6 1
- Shots Jack Blake T5 6
- Bruno Rendon T25 4
- Saves Hunter Sulte T11 4
- Chances Created Jack Blake T22 4
- Clearances Pat Hogan T4 22
- Crosses Bruno Rendon 5
Team
- Category Rank Total
- Conversion Rate 9 24%
- Goals T13 4
- Shots T21 18
USLC Regular-Season Player Milestones
- 20,000 Minutes
- Aodhan Quinn – 21,949
- 15,000 Minutes
- James Musa – 16,826
- 10,000 Minutes
- Cam Lindley – 12,457
- Jack Blake – 12,190
Aedan Stanley – 11,525 - James Murphy – 9,854
- Ben Ofeimu – 9,658
- Romario Williams – 9,642
- 250 Appearances
Aodhan Quinn – 264 - 200 Appearances
- James Musa – 204
- 150 Appearances
Jack Blake – 172
Cam Lindley – 164 - Romario Williams – 151
- 100 Appearances
- Aedan Stanley – 132
- Ben Ofeimu – 129
Elliot Collier 111 - 200 Games Started
- Aodhan Quinn – 250
- 150 Games Started
- James Musa – 192
- 100 Games Started
- Cam Lindley – 143
- Jack Blake – 142
- Aedan Stanley – 128
- Romario Williams – 115
- 60 Goals
- Romario Williams – 60 (19th in USLC history)
- 50 Goals
- Aodhan Quinn – 55 (24th in USLC history)
- 30 Goals
- Jack Blake – 32
50 Assists - Aodhan Quinn – 50
30 Assists - Cam Lindley (28)
- 100 Goals/Assists
- Aodhan Quinn – 105 (55 goals, 50 assists)
- 10 Penalties Converted (attempted)
- Aodhan Quinn – 25 (28)
- Jack Blake – 11 (13)
FISHERS FREIGHT FOOTBALL
FISHERS FREIGHT KICK OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME AGAINST WRANGLERS
FISHERS- The Fishers Freight will head to Northern Arizona to take on the Wranglers for their first ever game after joining the IFL this season. They will return home to play their home opener next week on Friday, April 4 at the Fishers Event Center.
INAUGURAL GAME
The Freight will make history on the road with their first game in franchise history on Saturday night. Quarterback and Indiana native, Jiya Wright will lead the Freight in their first season after playing five games with the Sioux Falls Storm in the 2024 season, scoring 17 touchdowns, passing for 532 yards, and rushing for 316.
SCOUTING REPORT
Northern Arizona begins their fifth season in the IFL this year. They are looking to bounce back from a 7-9-0 season last year and return to their 2022 form where they won the IFL Championship over Quad City 47-45. They have an all-time record of 33-33. The Wranglers have seven returners from the 2024 season including wie receivers David Elder and Des Stoudemire.
ABOUT THE FISHERS FREIGHT:
The Fishers Freight are a professional indoor football team based in the Indianapolis metropolitan area that competes in the Indoor Football League. The Freight are now playing at the new Fishers Event Center.
INDIANA BASEBALL
HANLEY’S HOT BAT HELPS HOOSIERS SPLIT DOUBLE DIP
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – On a day that saw 54 combined hits, the Indiana Baseball team (15-12, 6-5 B1G) settled for a doubleheader split with visiting USC on Friday (March 28) at Bart Kaufman Field. USC pulled away in the opener for a 10-5 win before IU jumped out in a big way to win the nightcap 13-6.
Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley, freshman shortstop Cooper Malamazian and junior second baseman Tyler Cerny combined for 15 hits across the two games. Hanley had three-hit efforts in both ends of the doubleheader while Cerny exploded for the fourth four-hit effort of his career in game two.
IU asked its veteran pitchers to eat a lot of innings in Friday’s affairs. Graduate student right-handed pitcher Cole Gilley (W, 5-1) picked up his second win of the week with five innings in the evening victory. He allowed five runs but recorded 10 strikeouts and relinquished just one walk. Redshirt junior southpaw Grant Holderfield had his best outing of the season with 2.2 innings of action and five punchouts. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Pete Haas recorded the final four outs.
Even with three freshmen in the infield, IU’s defense was spectacular across 18 innings. Malamazian and Cerny combined on a slick double play in the first game while freshman third baseman Will Moore made everything look routine at the hot corner.
Hanley is swinging an exceptionally hot bat right now and has taken over the team lead with 44 hits this season. In his last five games, the Mason, Ohio native has 12 hits, four home runs and 10 RBIs. His batting average has peaked over .400 on the season and he has become a threat in the middle of IU’s order.
IU’s third rubber match of the season is set for tomorrow afternoon (Noon) at Bart Kaufman Field. IU has lost both rubber matches this year and need one victory to win its fifth-straight Big Ten home series. The Hoosiers have won the final game of a home conference weekend on four-straight occasions.
Game 1: USC 10, Indiana 5
Recap – Game 1
The Indiana Baseball team (14-12, 5-5 B1G) struck early on Friday afternoon but couldn’t find the big hit late in a 10-5 setback to USC. The Trojans smashed 16 base hits across nine innings and put up crooked numbers in three different frames.
Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley hit a two-run home run to open the scoring as part of a three-hit game for the young cleanup man. Junior second baseman Tyler Cerny scored on a balk to open up a 3-0 advantage for the home team.
USC took the momentum back in the fourth inning when it exploded for three-straight home runs. Brayden Dowd and Jack Basseer hit no-doubt blasts, sandwiched by a wind-aided home run for Adrian Lopez. Freshman shortstop Cooper Malamazian handed IU a brief one-run lead in the sixth inning but that was all she wrote for IU.
With veteran reliever Gavin Seebold in his second time around the order, USC worked seven runs in the final three innings. IU got the first two outs in the ninth without allowing a baserunner but couldn’t find the 27th out of the game before the Trojans added three insurance runs.
Sophomore outfielder Andrew Wiggins hit a solo home run to lead off the ninth inning but USC reliever Brodie Purcell sat down the next three Hoosiers in order. It was the second time in the last week that IU had a one-run lead in the sixth and saw it slip away late (L, 4-7 – Saturday, March 22nd at UCLA)
Game 2: Indiana 13, USC 6
Recap – Game 2
As has been the case for the last handful of years, the Hoosiers quickly put the first game to bed and responded with an emphatic victory. The Indiana Baseball team (15-12, 6-5 B1G) scored six runs in the second inning to take the lead for good and cruise to a 13-6 win over USC.
Graduate student pitcher Cole Gilley (W, 5-1) was hit around but limited the damage with 10 strikeouts and just walk. With two runners on and two outs in the fifth, Gilley threw a breaking ball that was swung on and missed for his final out of the day. Redshirt juniors Grant Holderfield and Pete Haas allowed just one run while recording the last 12 outs.
IU’s offense exploded for four multi-run innings including two runs each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley, freshman shortstop Cooper Malamazian and junior second baseman Tyler Cerny combined for 10 base hits. Cerny matched a career high with four knocks while Hanley worked his second three-hit day of the afternoon. All three had at least two RBIs.
It was IU’s second time this week and fifth time this season with at least 15 base hits. The Hoosiers have homered in 10-straight games. In those last 10 games, Hanley has his six home runs and recorded 16 base hits. Hanley and Malamazian, along with fellow first-year players Will Moore and Hogan Denny, are all hitting at least .343 during that timeframe. They’ve exploded for 43 hits in IU’s 7-3 stretch.
The Friday evening win allows the Hoosiers the chance to go for a series win against USC on Saturday (March 29) afternoon. The Trojans ended the evening at No. 51 in the RPI – giving IU another important RPI opportunity in late March.
Inside the Box Score – Game 1
• IU’s pitching staff allowed a season-high 16 hits.
• The Hoosiers recorded at least 10 hits at the plate for the 16th time this year.
• IU finished just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
• Freshmen combined for six of IU’s 10 base hits.
Inside the Box Score – Game 2
• Cole Gilley recorded 10 of IU’s 16 strikeouts on the mound.
• Four players had multi-hit efforts for the Hoosiers.
• Tyler Cerny recorded his fourth career four-hit day.
• IU’s second inning saw it score six of its 13 runs.
Notes to Know – Both Games
• The Hoosiers won in the second game of a Big Ten regular season doubleheader for the third time this year. Dating all the way back to 2022, IU has won the back end of a regular season conference doubleheader on eight-consecutive occasions. It’s last loss in the scenario was on May 15, 2022 against Minnesota.
• Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley is on a tear at the plate. He’s hitting .571 (12-21) over the last five games with four home runs, seven runs scored and 10 RBIs. On the season, he leads the team in batting average (.404) and total hits (44). He’s also closing in on becoming the fifth IU freshman in the last four years with 10 home runs in a season.
• Redshirt senior pitcher Cole Gilley picked up his second win of the week and the fifth of his season after a five-inning effort in the nightcap win over USC. He also recorded 10 strikeouts, his second double-digit strikeout effort of the year. He’s the first IU pitcher with at least 10 strikeouts on multiple occasions in the same year since Connor Foley did so twice last season (10 – vs. Illinois, 10 – at Maryland).
• Junior infielder Tyler Cerny hit the 25th home run of his career in Friday’s nightcap. He moves into 22nd on IU’s all-time home run list in program history. The veteran is also up to 172 hits in his three-year IU career. He needs just 28 more to reach 200 during his time in Bloomington.
Up Next
The Hoosiers will go for the series win on Saturday (March 29) afternoon. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. on B1G+ and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
PURDUE DROPS HEARTBREAKER TO #1 SEED HOUSTON IN SWEET SIXTEEN
[1 seed] Houston 62, [4 seed] Purdue 60 (Postgame Notes)
No. 4 seed Purdue saw its season end with a 24-12 record in a 62-60 loss to top-seeded Houston on Friday night in Indianapolis.
The loss prevents Purdue from making its second straight Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
Since the 2016-17 season, Purdue is now 16-8 in eight NCAA Tournament appearances, the sixth-most NCAA Tournament wins in the country during that span.
Purdue is now 0-9 all-time against No. 1 seeds.
Purdue lost for the first time this year when holding its opponent under 70 points, finishing the year with a 14-1 record. Purdue had won 35 straight games when holding foes under 70 points.
Caleb Furst played in his 141st career game on Friday, tying a school record.
Braden Smith scored seven points with 15 assists and three rebounds. He finished the year with 567 points, 313 assists and 162 rebounds. He joins Murray State’s Ja Morant (2018-19) as the only players in NCAA history with 550 points, 300 assists and 150 rebounds in a season.
Smith becomes the first player in NCAA Tournament history to have two games of 15 or more assists in a career. He also had 15 in the 2024 Sweet 16 contest against Gonzaga.
Purdue had 11 field goals in the second half. Smith had an assist on every field goal that Purdue made in the second half.
Smith now has 1,375 points, 758 assists and 535 rebounds in his career, in 110 career games. Smith’s 758 assists through his junior season are the third most by a player in NCAA history (Bobby Hurley – 814; Kay Felder – 788).
Smith has 23 career games of 10 or more assists, tied for the second most by a player in the last 20 seasons in his first three seasons.
Smith set a school record with 1,333 minutes played, surpassing his record set a year ago with 1,327 minutes played.
Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 14 points and finished his season ranked 10th in points by a Purdue player in a season with 723.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Houston spent time this week practicing an inbound play that coach Kelvin Sampson thought his team might need against Purdue.
Milos Uzan, the third option, ran it to perfection.
He tossed the ball to Joseph Tugler, who threw a bounce pass right back to Uzan, and the 6-foot-4 guard soared to the rim for an uncontested layup with 0.9 seconds left, giving the top-seeded Cougars a 62-60 victory — and a matchup with second-seeded Tennessee in Sunday’s Elite Eight.
“Great execution at a time we needed that,” said Sampson, who is a win away from making his third Final Four and his second with Houston in five years. “You never know when you’re going to need it.”
The Cougars (33-4) made only one other basket over the final eight minutes, wasted a 10-point lead and then missed two more shots in the final 5 seconds. A replay review with 2.2 seconds left confirmed Houston would keep the ball when it rolled out of bounds after the second miss.
Uzan took over from there.
“I was trying to hit (L.J. Cryer) and then JoJo just made a great read,” Uzan said. “He was able to draw two (defenders) and he just made a great play to hit me back.”
Houston advanced to the Elite Eight for the third time in five years after falling in the Sweet 16 as a top seed in the previous two editions of March Madness. It will take the nation’s longest winning streak, 16 games, into Sunday’s Midwest Region final.
The Cougars joined the other three No. 1 seeds in this year’s Elite Eight and did it at Lucas Oil Stadium, where their 2021 tourney run ended with a loss in the Final Four to eventual national champion Baylor.
They haven’t lost since Feb. 1.
Uzan scored 22 points and Emanuel Sharp had 17 as Houston survived an off night from leading scorer Cryer, who finished with five points on 2-of-13 shooting.
Houston still had to sweat out a half-court heave at the buzzer, but Braden Smith’s shot was well off the mark.
Fletcher Loyer scored 16 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 14 and Smith, the Big Ten player of the year, added seven points and 15 assists for fourth-seeded Purdue (24-12). Smith assisted on all 11 second-half baskets for last year’s national runner-up, which played in front of a friendly crowd about an hour’s drive from its campus in West Lafayette.
“I thought we fought really hard and we dug down defensively to get those stops to come back,” Smith said. “We did everything we could and we just had a little miscommunication at the end and they converted. Props to them.”
Houston appeared on the verge of disaster when Kaufman-Renn scored on a dunk and then blocked Cryer’s shot with 1:17 to go, leading to Camden Heide’s 3 that tied the score at 60 with 35 seconds left.
Sampson called timeout to set up the final play, but Uzan missed a turnaround jumper and Tugler’s tip-in rolled off the rim and out of bounds. The Cougars got one more chance after the replay review.
Sharp’s scoring flurry early in the second half finally gave Houston some separation after a back-and-forth first half. His 3-pointer at the 16:14 mark made it 40-32. After Purdue trimmed the deficit to four, Uzan made two 3s to give Houston a 10-point lead in a tough, physical game that set up a rare dramatic finish in this year’s tourney.
Takeaways
Purdue: Coach Matt Painter’s Boilermakers stumbled into March Madness with six losses in their final nine games but proved themselves a worthy competitor by fighting their way into the Sweet 16 and nearly taking down a No. 1 seed.
Houston: The Cougars lead the nation in 3-point percentage and scoring defense, an enviable combination.
PURDUE BASEBALL
BOILERS DROP BACK & FORTH BATTLE VS UCLA; 1ST PITCH SATURDAY NOW 1 PM
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Albert Choi hit a game-opening home run on a night when Purdue Baseball racked up 13 hits, but the game turned on a two-out, three-run homer in the fifth inning as UCLA went on take the series opener 8-5 Friday at Alexander Field.
Game 2 of the series Saturday has been moved up to a 1 p.m. ET first pitch. It will not be a doubleheader Saturday.
The Bruins (20-5, 8-2 Big Ten) scored their first five runs on homers – none bigger than Roman Martin’s three-run blast with two outs in the top of the fifth. But it was a two-out, two-run single from AJ Salgado in the top of the eighth inning that proved to be one of the biggest hits of the night. Salgado delivered with the bases loaded and Purdue closer Avery Cook on the mound.
The clutch single loomed even larger when the Boilermakers (20-5, 3-4 Big Ten) put runners on second and third to bring the tying run to the plate with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Purdue stranded two runners on base in three of the final four innings.
Brandon Rogers, Ty Gill and Lukas Cook all enjoyed three-hit nights for the Boilermakers. Rogers delivered a two-run single in his first at-bat. Gill plated Rogers with run-scoring hits in the fourth and sixth innings, with Gill’s RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth making it a one-run game.
Keenan Spence doubled off the top of the center field wall in front of Rogers’ two-run single in the second inning. Spence also finished with multiple hits, teaming with Rogers and Gill to make the 7-8-9 portion of the Purdue lineup a combined 8-for-12 with three extra-base hits, four RBI and three runs scored.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Albert Choi: 25-game on-base (as a Boilermaker)
• Keenan Spence: 8-game on-base, 7-game hit; 12-game on-base, 8-game hit in Big Ten play (since 2024)
• Logan Sutter: 7-game on-base, 7-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Aaron Manias: 7-game on-base; 7-game on-base in Big Ten play
The Boilermakers’ 13 hits were a season high in a Big Ten game but, UCLA primarily made them earn their way on base. The Bruins used six pitchers and they teamed up for 15 strikeouts vs. just two free passes – one walk and one hit by pitch – a season low total drawn by the Purdue lineup.
Lukas Cook singled to open the ninth inning and Logan Sutter’s opposite-field double led to the Bruins going back to the bullpen for closer Justin Lee. Lee won a full-count battle for a strikeout and then induced a game-ending popout. Those outs punctuated four innings of one-run relief from the UCLA bullpen.
Choi’s first home run as a Boilermaker was Purdue’s third game-opening long ball in less than a year’s time. All-Big Ten outfielder Mike Bolton Jr. hit a leadoff home run in consecutive weekends in April of last season, which at the time were the program’s first since May 2017.
All five runs Purdue starter Carter Doorn surrendered came via the home run. He was one strike away from getting through five innings of two-run ball on a very hitter-friendly evening at Alexander, but Martin won the full-count battle with two men aboard, giving the visitors their first lead of the night. They did not relinquish it.
Avery Cook was charged with a run for the first time this season, ending his consecutive scoreless innings streak at 15 dating back to the end of the 2024 campaign. Brandon Anderson was kept off base Friday for the first time as a Boilermaker, ending his on-base streak at 23 consecutive games.
The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
PURDUE WOMEN’S TENNIS
BOILERMAKERS FALL SHORT IN SEATTLE
SEATTLE – The No. 56 women’s tennis team fell in its west coast opener at No. 20 Washington, 1-4, Friday evening. With the result, the Boilermakers move to a 9-4 record (3-3 Big Ten) while Huskies, a team ranked third in the Big Ten standings, improve to 10-1 (5-1 Big Ten).
Freshman Ece Gencer notched her ninth win of 2025 with a 6-0, 6-2 win against Sophie Luescher at the No. 5 position. Not only was Gencer the first to finish singles play and tied the dual, 1-1 with the win, it was her second straight singles win. The Istanbul, Turkey native owns a 9-2 record this season, including 3-1 in league play.
Carmen Gallardo Guevara got off to a strong start in singles play. At the No. 1 court, Gallardo Guevara took the opening set, 6-4, against the No. 86 nationally-ranked Reece Carter. While the match went unfinished, the court was tied 6-4, 1-6 when Washington clinched the team’s win.
Up next, Purdue travels to Euguene, Oregon, for a Sunday showdown against the Oregon Ducks. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
Doubles
Alexia Jacobs / Reece Carter (UW) def. Tara Milic / Carmen Gallardo Guevara (PUR): 6-3
Sophie Luescher / Erika Matsuda (UW) def. Fatima Gutierrez / Kathryn Wilson (PUR): 6-2
Ashlie Wilson / Ida Clement (PUR) vs. Carina Syrtveit / McKenna Koenig (UW): 3-4 (Unfinished)
Singles
Carmen Gallardo Guevara (PUR) vs. #86 Reece Carter (UW): 6-0, 1-6 (Unfinished)
Erika Matsuda (UW) def. Ida Clement (PUR): 6-2, 6-2
Alexia Jacobs (UW) def. Ida Clement (PUR): 6-2, 6-2
McKenna Koenig (UW) def. Juana Larranaga (PUR): 6-1, 6-2
Ece Gencer (PUR) def. Sophie Luescher (UW): 6-0, 6-2
Kathryn Wilson (PUR) vs. Carina Syrtveit (UW): 4-6, 5-3 (Unfinished)
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER
FIVE IRISH SELECTED TO TEAM USA CAMPS
CHICAGO, ILL. – Five Notre Dame Women’s Soccer players got called up to two different U.S. Women’s National Teams, the organization announced today. Izzy Engle, Abby Mills and Grace Restovich were all selected to the U-19 WNT camp roster while Sonoma Kasica and Morgan Roy got called up to the U-20 WNT camp roster.
The U-19 WNT camp will take place from March 31- April 8 for a concurrent training camp in Fayetteville, Ga., the future home of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. Last month, the trio of Engle, Mills and Restovich competed at the L’Albir U-19 Women’s International Tournament representing the U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team.
Kasica and Roy will participate at the U-20 WNT training camp from March 31-April 7 at the Kansas City Current’s University of Kansas Health System Training Center in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2023, Kasica helped the USA to bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile.
The U-19 WNT camp roster features 21 college players and three National Women’s Soccer League professionals while the U-20 WNT camp roster features 22 college players and two professionals.
NOTRE DAME TRACK
O’BRIEN GARNERS THIRD ACC FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR HONOR
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jadin O’Brien picked up her third Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honor as announced by the league office on Friday.
O’Brien earned her third consecutive ACC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honor after capturing both the ACC and NCAA championships in the pentathlon. She set back-t0-back personal, Notre Dame, and ACC records with her performances at the two championships. Her efforts at both events also set facility records.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
BIG BATS BOLSTER IRISH IN WIN OVER NO. 4 SEMINOLES
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Irish bats exploded for seven home runs as the Notre Dame baseball team defeated No. 4 Florida State by a 16-9 final score on Friday night.
Florida State got on the scoreboard first with one run in the second, third, and fourth innings for a 3-0 advantage. The bottom half of the fourth saw the Irish break into the scoring column with a solo home run by Carson Tinney to energize the home side.
The Seminoles used a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it a 4-1 score. Jayce Lee led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, and Jared Zimbardo reached on an error by the shortstop to put a pair of runners on base. Two batters later, Bino Watters hit a double down the left field line to drive in Lee for a 4-2 score.
Jack Radel collected his fifth strikeout of the game before inducing a line-drive out in the top of the sixth. Ricky Reeth came on in relief two batters later and shut the door on the scoring chance with a strikeout.
Notre Dame put five runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Brady Gumpf drew a lead-off walk before Jayce Lee belted his first collegiate home run to knot the game at 4-4. Jared Zimbardo doubled off the left field fence, and Bino Watters drew a two-out walk to put a pair of runners on base. Estevan Moreno then made his 100th career hit a memorable one as the junior shortstop smashed a three-run home to left field for a 7-4 Irish lead.
The Seminoles countered with three runs in the top half of the seventh to draw even at 7-7. A solo home run by Brady Gumpf in the bottom of the seventh quickly gave the lead back to the home side. Florida State responded with a run in the top of the eighth, but the momentum quickly shifted back to Notre Dame.
Jared Zimbardo led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to dead center field to spark what turned out to be an eight-run inning. Brzustewicz hit a single, Watters drew another walk, and Moreno reached on an error to load the bases. Carson Tinney then drove a bases-clearing double to the right-center wall to make it 12-8. Connor Hincks belted a double down the left field line, and Nick DeMarco added a three-run home run to left-center field for a 15-8 lead for the Irish. DM Jefferson then came up and added a solo homer of his own to put the home side ahead 16-8. Jared Zimbardo posted his second hit of the inning – a double – before Watters walked for the second time in the inning, but the Irish were unable to add to the lead while controlling all of the momentum heading into the ninth.
The Seminoles plated a run in the top of the final stanza, but Chase Van Ameyde closed out the game and the win with three consecutive strikeouts for the 16-9 Notre Dame victory.
Van Ameyde earned the pitching victory on the mound with four strikeouts over the final 1.1 innings of play. Jack Radel started the contest and went 5.2 innings with five strikeouts in a no-decision outing. Ricky Reeth added 2.0 innings of work with four strikeouts for the Irish.
The Irish posted seven home runs as a team in the victory.
Jared Zimbardo went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, two doubles, two runs, a walk, an RBI, and was hit by a pitch. Estevan Moreno reached 100 career hits with a two-hit performance, which included a home run, a double, three RBI, and two runs. Carson Tinney was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, four RBI, and two runs. Jayce Lee added a 2-for-4 showing with a home run, two RBI, and two runs. Nick DeMarco, Brady Gumpf, and DM Jefferson each added a home run in the win. DeMarco drove in three runs, and Gumpf scored twice. Bino Watters drew four walks and posted a hit, and Connor Hincks had a double. Every starter for the Irish had at least one hit in the contest.
Notre Dame (14-9, 2-8 ACC) will host Florida State for a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one is scheduled for noon, and game two will begin approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one. The Run the Bases event schedule for Sunday for young fans will take place after game two (weather permitting).
BUTLER SOFTBALL
BUTLER SOFTBALL BATTLES FOR TWO WINS OVER GEORGETOWN
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler softball team trailed by two runs in both games of a doubleheader with Georgetown but rallied in each one to take the first two games of a three-game BIG EAST series. The Hoyas (8-17, 0-11 BIG EAST) led game one, 2-0, after four innings, but the Bulldogs (19-11, 8-3 BIG EAST) scored three in the fifth for the 3-2 win. In game two, Georgetown scored a pair in the first inning, but the Butler pitching staff shut the Hoyas down moving forward and relied on the Bulldogs’ offense for a 6-2 victory.
Game 1: Butler 3, Georgetown 2 (7 innings)
Georgetown scored a run in the third inning and another in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, Olivia Moxley singled and then scored on a Sydney Carter triple to left field. After Leigh Vande Hei singled and stole second, a Hailey Conger single to center field pushed Carter and Vande Hei across, giving Butler its first lead of the game.
The Hoyas were unable to put any runners in scoring position in the final two innings.
Gwen Baker (9-3) started in the circle for Butler and picked up the win. In 6.0 innings, she allowed two runs on four hits and four walks with one strikeout. Rylyn Dyer took care of the seventh inning, retiring all three batters she faced. She was awarded a save.
Game 2: Butler 6, Georgetown 2 (7 innings)
Georgetown used three singles to score a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The 2-0 lead held through two complete.
In the bottom of the third, Cate Lehner singled and stole second. Ella White then reached on a error, which also allowed Lehner to score.
In the fifth, Butler loaded the bases. A high fly ball from Paige Dorsett was misplayed by the right fielder, and one run scored, tying the game at two. Makena Alexander then drew a walk, pushing one more across. The Bulldogs were up, 3-2.
One inning later, Sydney Carter walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. A Lehner single, down the right field line, allowed Carter to score. Two batters later, White singled in Lehner. The final run of the game came when Dorsett doubled to left center, pushing White across.
Rylyn Dyer (6-3) started in the circle for the Bulldogs and was awarded the win. In 5.0 innings, she allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two Hoyas. Katie Petran (2.0 IP, 1K) entered one batter into the sixth inning, finished the game, and picked up the save.
Bulldog Bits
Sydney Carter’s triple in game one was her first of the season and the second of her career.
Paige Dorsett’s double in game two was her seventh this season and the 29th of her career.
Cate Lehner’s two stolen bases in game two give her 25 this season and 68 in her career. She is now second on Butler’s All-Time list for career stolen bases. (Jenna Foreman – 107)
Leigh Vande Hei’s stolen base in game one was her eighth this season and the 14th of her career.
Gwen Baker’s game-one win was her ninth this season.
Rylyn Dyer’s game-two win was her sixth this season and the 12th of her career. Her game-one save was her third this season and the fifth of her career.
Katie Petran’s game-two save was her second this season and the fifth of her career.
Up Next
Butler and Georgetown will play the third and final game of the series on Saturday, March 29. First pitch has been moved to 11 a.m. due to impending weather.
BUTLER BASEBALL
NORTHERN ILLINOIS WINS GAME ONE AT BUTLER 17-10
Game one of the four game series between Northern Illinois and Butler went to the Huskies on Friday afternoon with the visitors claiming a 17-10 victory. Butler led 6-0 after two full but gave up four in the fifth and five more in the ninth to take the loss.
Each team had 14 hits to post double figure runs in the non-conference matchup. Butler was led by Jack Bello and his 4-for-5 game that included a double and three RBI’s. Tommy Townsend hit a home run to end the game with four RBI’s and David Ayers would impact the offense with two.
Northern Illinois hit four home runs with JP Gauthier delivering two. He and Gregorio combined for eight RBI and led the Huskies to victory.
The win went to Adam Brouwer while the loss fell to Alex Kanipe. NIU’s Danny Cihocki was also credited with a save by throwing three-plus out of the pen.
Butler started Corbin Snyder, and he struck out three over 3.1 innings. All four runs against Snyder were unearned. Alex Thomas recorded the next four outs and the NIU comeback came to life with Kanipe on the mound. Christian Finnigan was also hit hard, giving up six runs off four hits.
The Bulldogs and Huskies will play a doubleheader tomorrow with first pitch moved up to 11 a.m. Game one will be a seven-inning contest followed by a full nine innings in the nightcap.
BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLER FALLS TO PURDUE FORT WAYNE IN WNIT SUPER 16
Butler’s season came to an end on Friday night after an 87-61 setback to Purdue Fort Wayne at the Gates Sports Center. Kilyn McGuff led the Bulldogs with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists. The Bulldogs exit the WNIT with a 16-18 overall record while Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 27-8
McGuff was one of four Bulldogs to score in double figures. Sydney Jaynes ended her outstanding BU career with 14 points, Lily Zeinstra added 12 and Jocelyn Land was in the box score with 11.
PFW shot 60 percent from the field and 52 percent from 3-point range in the outcome. They outrebounded Butler 34-23 and were led to victory by a 25- point game from Amellia Bromenschenkel.
Hot shooting gave Butler a 14-7 lead at the first media timeout. BU opened the game making three of their first four 3-point attempts with a different player supplying the team with each triple. The seven-point lead grew to 20-7 with Butler’s six-point run after the stoppage.
The ‘Dons battled back to get within six of Butler at the end of the quarter and would quickly pull within two of BU at 23-21 in the opening stages of the second.
PFW tied the game at 23-23 and would take a one-point lead after a ‘Don free throw at the midway point. The final five minutes of the first half favored the home team allowing PFW to outscore Butler 25-15 in the second quarter giving them a 42-38 advantage at halftime.
Kilyn McGuff and Lily Zeinstra scored 22 of Butler’s 38 first half points. The ‘Dawgs shot 50 percent from the field and hit five of their 15 3-point attempts. PFW got a lift from Bromenschenkel and her 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The Mastodons also matched Butler with five made 3-pointers over the first 20 minutes.
PFW pushed their lead to double digits after the third quarter media timeout. They won the frame 25-10 to take a 67-48 lead into the fourth. Action slowed down in the fourth with the Mastodons using the full shot clock on each trip. They stayed in control the rest of the way to make their first-ever appearance to the WNIT Great 8.
IU INDY SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL CLAIMS WALKOFF WIN OVER COLONIALS, 7-6
INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy Jaguars secured a hard-fought victory over Robert Morris in extra innings on Friday, March 28, rallying late to take the win in the bottom of the 10th at home, 7-6.
The Jaguars struck first in the opening inning when Morgan Gilbert crossed home plate on a wild pitch. Robert Morris responded in the third inning with a grand slam, putting the Colonials up 4-1.
IU Indy steadily clawed their way back into the game. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the third inning plated another run for the Jaguars, cutting the deficit to 4-2. In the fifth, Alexa Holman tripled to right center, driving in a run, and Paige McPhearson followed with an RBI double to tie the game at four.
IU Indy then took the lead in the sixth inning as Molly Kable scored on another wild pitch.
Robert Morris pushed the game to extra innings after capitalizing on an IU Indy throwing error in the seventh inning to tie it at 5-5. The Colonials briefly reclaimed the lead in the 10th on an RBI single.
However, the Jaguars responded in dramatic fashion. Callie Dickerson delivered a clutch two-run double to left center, scoring Kennedy Cowan and Kendal Calvert, sealing the 7-6 walk-off win.
IU Indy’s Lily Roush (W, 3-6) went the distance, tossing all 10 innings while allowing nine hits, six runs (five earned), and striking out six.
With the win, IU Indy improved to 10-18 (4-3 HL), while Robert Morris fell to 12-10 (5-2).
The Colonials and Jaguars will return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader. Both games have been moved up with the first game set for 11:00 AM.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
CARDINALS TAKE 11-2 DECISION IN SERIES OPENER AT AKRON; NOW PLAYING DOUBLEHEADER AT 11 AM SATURDAY
AKRON, Ohio – The Ball State baseball team scored the final 10 runs of the game in Friday morning’s 11-2 win over Akron at Skeeles Field.
The Cardinals (18-9, 6-1 Mid-American Conference) scored first on a Blake Bevis sacrifice fly that plated Alex Richter in the first frame. Akron (6-19, 0-10 MAC) hit a two-run home run in the second before the visitors took control of the game.
Ball State put together a four-run rally in the third, scoring runs on a walk by Nick Husovsky, RBI singles from Bevis and Brett Griffiths and another on a grounder off the bat of Korbin Griffin to claim a 5-2 edge.
Richter drilled a homer to right and Dylan Grego had an RBI single in the fourth to extend the advantage to 7-2 before Grego and Husovsky went back-to-back in the sixth, with Grego’s blast being a three-run shot, to provide the final offense on an overcast and occasionally rainy day in Northeast Ohio.
Keegan Johnson (5-0) struck out four in five innings of two-run ball to keep his 2025 record perfect, while John Chambers went three shutout frames to follow that up. Brendan Garza finished the game with a scoreless ninth, as the Zips were limited to five hits on the day.
Grego went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored to improve on his league-leading hits total. Richter crossed home plate four times, and Garrett Arnold had a 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored performance.
“Our boys played a solid game in all facets, but the defense was special,” Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said.
Akron’s Dawson Tourney (0-2) gave up five runs in three frames to suffer the loss.
The Cardinals and Zips are scheduled to wrap up the series with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S TENNIS
SHORT-HANDED WOMEN’S TENNIS FALLS TO BUFFALO
MUNCIE, Ind. — With just five players available for the match’s duration, Ball State women’s tennis fell to Buffalo 4-3 Friday afternoon inside the Ball State Tennis Facility. The Cardinals dropped to 8-6 (2-2 MAC), while the Bulls advanced to 15-4 (2-2 MAC) by earning the win in the Mid-American Conference battle.
The red and white opened the afternoon of action with a commanding performance in doubles play. Ball State secured wins at No. 2 and 3 doubles by 6-1 and 6-2 margins, respectively, to race off to an early 1-0 lead.
Though the Cardinals managed to fill out a doubles lineup that led to a point in their favor, injuries forced the red and white to send out just five players in singles—leading to a forfeit and automatic point for Buffalo at No. 6 singles.
Despite Ball State’s early hole, the squad came out with a strong push in singles play. Buffalo earned the first contested singles point at the No. 1 spot to advance its lead to 2-1, but the Cardinals rallied to collect wins on court three, where Isabel Tanjuatco earned a straight-set victory, and court four, where Alana Bristow secured a win in two sets.
After the Bulls earned a win at the No. 2 singles position, the contest was knotted at three points apiece, with court five still playing host to action. Ball State’s Ella Hazelbaker and Buffalo’s Blanca Berges split the opening pair of frames, advancing the contest into a third set that would ultimately decide the match. Berges emerged victoriously in the decisive stanza, giving the Bulls the edge in the 4-3 decision.
Next up for the Cardinals is a trip to DeKalb, Ill., to close out their weekend slate. Ball State and Northern Illinois are set to square off Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT) in the MACtion battle.
Doubles
No. 1: Alana Bristow/Chloe Brown (Ball State) vs. Esmee Andresen/Maria Glowacka (Buffalo), 4-3 (unfinished)
No. 2: Sarah Shabaz/Isabel Tanjuatco (Ball State) def. Deanne Choo/Jagmeet Kaur (Buffalo), 6-1
No. 3: Ella Hazelbaker/Elena Malykh (Ball State) vs. Liv Roestel/Blanca Berges (Buffalo), 6-2
Singles
No. 1: Esmee Andresen (Buffalo) def. Elena Malykh (Ball State), 6-3, 6-2
No. 2: Maria Glowacka (Buffalo) def. Jemima Williams-Phillips (Ball State), 7-5, 6-0
No. 3: Isabel Tanjuatco (Ball State) def. Jagmeet Kaur (Buffalo), 6-3, 6-1
No. 4: Alana Bristow (Ball State) def. Julia Laspro (Buffalo), 6-3, 6-4
No. 5: Blanca Berges (Buffalo) def. Ella Hazelbaker (Ball State), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
No. 6: Forfeit (Buffalo point)
BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
MVB FALLS THE QUINCY IN FIVE
MUNCIE, Ind. – Men’s volleyball fell to Quincy at home Friday night in a five-set battle.
Ball State played a strong first set, leading the Hawks (7-13, 1-9 MIVA) from the first point. At a .565 hitting percentage, the Cardinals (16-8, 8-3 MIVA) took the opening frame 25-13 under the direction of Rajé Alleyne and Tinaishe Ndavazocheva, each tabbing four kills.
Things were not as smooth sailing for the Cardinals in the second set with the Hawks matching Ball State point for point through 5-5. The Cardinals were able to build up a 12-8 advantage with the help of a couple kills and Quincy service errors, but the Hawks adjusted to get right back into the match. Down 11-13, Quincy took off on a seven-point run to get ahead 17-13 and take its first lead of the night. Momentum stayed with the Hawks through the remainder of the set and the visitors evened the score on a 25-20 kill.
It was another close start to open the third frame, as the two teams sat even through 10 apiece. Ball State was able to start pulling ahead after kills from Ndavazocehva and Vanis Buckholz pushed them to a 14-11 lead and forced the Hawks to call a timeout. The Cardinals took off from there, closing the frame at 25-16. Helping Ball State to its lead was Alleyne who added six kills in the set.
The Hawks answered right back in the fourth, battling Ball State at every point. Despite trailing 7-3 to start, Quincy was able to push past the Cardinals, ultimately winning the set at 25-21 and forcing a fifth round of play.
Hitting .471, their best of the night, the Hawks completed the upset in the final frame, shutting down the Cardinals at 15-8.
Ndavazocheva was the Cardinals’ top offensive player for the night, recording a total of 17 kills and three aces.
At the net, Braydon Savitski-Lynde led with four blocks.
Ball State will return to Worthen tomorrow (Mar. 29) night to host No. 10 McKendree for senior and alumni night. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
GARIS POWERS SYCAMORES TO 16-5 WIN OVER UIC IN WEEKEND SERIES OPENER
CHICAGO, Ill. – Keegan Garis homered three times and drove in nine RBIs as Indiana State powered its way past UIC on Friday night at Curtis Granderson Stadium, 16-5.
Garis homered in the third (two-run), fifth (solo), and seventh (three-run), while adding a pair of RBI singles and a walk in a career performance. The Indiana State (12-13, 3-1) outfielder became the first Sycamore to achieve a three-homer game since 2017, while his nine RBIs also marked the most since 2017. Garis came up to the plate one final time in the top of the eighth inning with the bases loaded and a chance at history, and the senior outfielder connected on a two-run single to left field to provide the final 16-5 scoring margin in the run-rule shortened, eight-inning game.
Indiana State took the early 4-0 lead through the top of the third as Jorge Cartagena and Eli Gipson drove in early RBIs, while Garis homered for the first time with a two-run shot to left field in support of Sycamore starter Max McEwen.
McEwen cruised through the first two innings in the mound with five early strikeouts, before running into trouble in the bottom of the third. UIC (5-19, 1-3) rallied back to take the 5-4 lead in the bottom of the third following Terrick Thompson-Allen’s three-run double to left field, while James Harris connected on the go-ahead RBI double putting the Flames up by one.
Garis answered with a solo home run in the top of the fifth to tie the game up at 5-5, before the Sycamore offense took over against the UIC bullpen. Gipson, Pena, Garis, and Beck combined to drive in 11 runs with Garis providing the big at-bats with RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings, while adding a three-run home run in the top of the seventh to cap the Friday afternoon win.
Gavin Morris (4-2) went 4.2 innings in a relief outing on the mound as the senior right-hander allowed just two hits while striking out five in the win. Morris entered with two on, one out in the fourth and promptly retired the Flames on a double-play ball to get out of the jam. He shut down the Flames’ offense the rest of the way, including a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to close out the win.
Garis went 5-for-5 with nine RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Sycamore offense, while Gipson added a three-hit, three-RBI game. Carlos Pena, Carter Beck, and Taylor Jackson also recorded multi-hit games in the win.
McEwen went the first 3.1 innings on the mound allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out five in the start.
Luke Nowak and Thompson-Allen both recorded multi-hit games for UIC in the loss.
Michael Vitellaro (0-1) took the loss allowing two hits and three runs over a 1.0-inning relief stint. Dillon Schueler took the start on the mound, while seven different UIC pitchers saw action overall on Friday afternoon.
How They Scored
Indiana State took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Jorge Cartagena connected on a sacrifice fly scoring Eli Gipson to put the Sycamores ahead early.
Gipson added to the Indiana State lead in the top of the second inning as the junior infielder connected on an RBI single to left scoring Nomar Garcia to make it a 2-0 game.
Keegan Garis connected on a two-run home run in the top of the third inning bringing home Carlos Pena to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
UIC rallied back in the bottom of the third inning as Thomas Curry singled home Luke Nowak to cut the deficit down to 4-1.
The Flames tied the game at 4-4 on Terrick Thompson-Allen’s three-run RBI double to left field clearing the bases in the third inning.
UIC closed out the frame on James Harris’ RBI double to the wall in center field scoring Thompson-Allen to give the Flames the 5-4 lead following the third inning.
Garis homered for the second time with a solo shot to right field in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game up at 5-5.
The Sycamores rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth. Gipson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded scoring Jackson Taylor, while Carlos Pena drew a walk scoring Jeremy Martinez. Garis singled home Garcia to cap the inning and make it an 8-5 Sycamore lead.
Carter Beck added two more runs in the top of the seventh as the sophomore outfielder connected on a sacrifice fly to the wall in right field, deep enough for both Taylor and Martinez to score and make it a 10-5 lead.
Gipson followed with an RBI single to left scoring Garcia to make it 11-5 in the seventh.
Two batters later, Garis connected on a three-run home run to left center to cap the six-run seventh inning bringing home Pena and Gipson to make it a 14-5 ballgame.
Garis put the capper on the game in the top of the eighth as the senior outfielder connected on a two-run single to left field scoring Garcia and Beck to provide the final scoring margin.
News & Notes
Keegan Garis became the first Sycamore to hit three home runs in the same game in the 2025 season and just the fifth overall in program history to accomplish the feat.
Garis’ three-homer game marked the Sycamores’ first since Dane Tofteland connected on three home runs on April 18, 2017, against Northern Illinois.
Garis finished with a personal-best nine RBIs in the game marking the most RBIs by a Sycamore batters since Tofteland drove in 11 runs in the same game against Northern Illinois.
Garis’ five-hit game marked a career-high as he became the first Sycamore to record five hits in a single game since Luis Hernandez achieved the feat last year against Xavier on March 15, 2024.
Carlos Pena went 2-for-3 from the plate with a trio of walks in running his on-base streak to a career-high 19 consecutive games.
Garis ran his on-base streak to 15 consecutive games after his 5-for-5 performance.
Nomar Garcia scored a career-high four runs in the win.
Gavin Morris became the first Sycamore to post four wins on the mound in the 2025 season.
Up Next
Indiana State and UIC continue the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium as the Sycamores and Flames lineup for game two. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET with the game to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL
SYCAMORE SOFTBALL SPLITS FRIDAY DH AT DRAKE; RUBBER GAME SET FOR NOON SATURDAY
DES MOINES, Iowa – Indiana State softball split their Friday doubleheader with the Drke Bulldogs, winning 6-5 in eight innings in game one and falling 2-1 in the second game.
Game 1: Indiana State 6, Drake 5 (8 innings)
The Bulldogs led off the bottom of the first with a single, but after two outs the runner scored on a double to deep center. The Sycamores turned around and put two on base in the second inning with a walk from Brailey Mills and a single up the middle by Peyton Simmons. The two would be left stranded followed by Hailey Griffin retiring the side in order, leaving the Bulldogs ahead 1-0.
Madison Poulson and Morgan Goodrich led off the innings with singles for Sophie Esposito to sacrifice bunt them both into scoring position. Livi Colip sent a grounder up the middle to score Poulson, and Hannah Welch forced a fielder’s choice driving in Goodrich. Indiana State went up 2-1 after two-and-a-half innings.
Simmons walked to lead off the fourth and Lauren Marsicek found the outfield grass for a single. Poulson recorded her second hit of the game, a ball up the middle that skated by the center fielder to score both Simmons and Marsicek. The Sycamores entered the bottom of the fourth ahead 4-1.
A drake home run in the bottom of the fifth brought the Bulldogs back within a run, 4-3. Solid defense ended the inning, saving the Sycamore lead – Griffin bounced back with a three-pitch looking strikeout the next batter after the homer, then Goodrich tracked down a hard-hit ball down the line with a running catch to end the inning.
With Thatcher (running for Luci Kapelka), Goodrich on third base, and two outs, Esposito beat out an infield single to the hole between short and third to score Goodrich, increasing the Sycamore lead to 5-3.
Drake brought it back within a run, 5-4, with another homer causing a pitching change, as Cassi Newbanks entered the circle.
A leadoff pinch-hit home run tied the game at 5-5, but Newbanks got out of the inning sending the game into extras.
Kapelka sent a shot over the centerfield wall to lead off the top of the eighth, giving Indiana State the 6-5 with her second homer of the year.
Newbanks fanned her first batter of the eighth, and the next two reached safely before Newbanks struck out her second of the inning sending Indiana State to the 6-5 victory.
Griffin went 5.2 innings with six hits, four runs (all earned), five punch outs, and a walk. Newbanks earned the win (4-4) tossing 2.1 innings with a pair of hits, an earned run, and three strikeouts.
Goodrich tallied three hits for her fourth multi-hit game of the season. Poulson and Marsicek each recorded a pair of hits, and Kapelka hit her fourth career home run.
Game 2: Indiana State 6, Drake 5 (8 innings)
After a scoreless top of the first by the Sycamores, the Bulldogs threatened getting the bases loaded with one out. Lauren Sackett got out of the jam striking out the final two batters of the inning.
The second inning defensively for Indiana State was oddly similar to the first. Drake got runners on first and second with one out, but Sackett and her defense held the Bulldogs at bay to keep the game knotted at zero through two.
Pitching and defense held the game scoreless all the way through the fifth inning. Peyton Simmons reached safely with a single up the middle, joining Sophie Esposito as the only Sycamores recording a hit through the first five innings. For the Sycamores, Sackett fanned nine through five with three hits compared to the opposition with four punch outs.
The game was finally broken open by Drake in the bottom of the sixth from a throwing error by the Sycamores. Later in the inning, a hard-hit ball between the first and second basemen allowed a second Bulldog to score. Sackett recorded her 10th strikeout of the game as Drake took a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning.
The Sycamores fought back in their half of the seventh. Brailey Mills singled to open the frame, with Simmons singling through the left side just after. Hannah Welch sent a rope up the middle, scoring Mills from second and moving Simmons to third.
The next batter hit a grounder to shortstop, who made a perfect throw to the plate to keep the Sycamores at one run. Drake forced the next Sycamore batter to ground out back to the pitcher, halting the chance of a Sycamore comeback. Drake secured the 2-1 victory.
Sackett (1-9) punched out 10, one shy of tying her career high, in 6.0 innings giving up five hits with two runs (both unearned). Her ERA lowered to 2.71 on the season. Simmons finished with a two-hit game, with Esposito, Mills, and Welch recording the only other hits.
Up Next
Indiana State and Drake return tomorrow for the rubber game, currently scheduled for noon ET from Iowa.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
MASTODONS HOST QUINCY
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball team hosts the second meeting between the Mastodons and Quincy Hawks on Saturday (March 29).
Game Day Information
Who: Quincy Hawks
When: Friday, March 29 – 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind.| Arnie Ball Court
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | MIVA
Know Your Foe
Quincy started the season 7-13 overall, 1-9 in MIVA play. The Hawks’ lone conference win came at Queens in their first MIVA contest this season. Middle blocker Relja Milosavljevic rests at second in the nation in blocks per set with 1.25. Aleksandar Sosa leads Quincy in kills per set (3.51). Armaan Dosanjh is the Hawks’ primary setter, averaging 9.21 assists per set.
Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne holds a 57-8 series lead over Quincy, winning the last nine straight matches. In the last meeting (March 21), Logan Muir finished with 26 kill and seven solo blocks.
Century Club
Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Donny Gleason collected his 100th career win as a head coach following the win against Quincy (March 21).
Locked and Logan
Logan Muir has the second-most kills per set (4.08) and points per set (4.92) in the MIVA. He also sits third highest in services aces per set (0.44).
Mastodon Starters
Both Casey Lyons and Andrew Mayer have started every match for Purdue Fort Wayne this season.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne collected a five-set victory at Quincy on March 21, then fell at Lindenwood in four sets (March 22).
Coming Up
The ‘Dons host their last pair of home matches, the first against No. 15 Lewis (April 3) and the Mastodons’ senior night will be on April 5 against No. 14 Ball State.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
FEELING GREAT! MASTODON WBB BLOWS OUT BUTLER TO MOVE ON TO WNIT GREAT 8
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team will host more basketball! The Mastodons beat Butler 87-61 in the Women’s National Invitational Super 16 on Friday night (March 28) to advance to the Great 8 for the first time in program history.
The Mastodons will welcome a familiar foe to the Gates Sports Center on Monday night (March 31) at 7 p.m. when Cleveland State comes to town. The Mastodons won two of the three meetings against Cleveland State earlier this season, including the semifinal of the Horizon League Championship, which the ‘Dons won 83-65.
The ‘Dons added another win to the best season in Purdue Fort Wayne history, moving to 27-8. Amellia Bromenschenkel won her DI-era-program-record 74th game as a Mastodon with a team-high 25 points.
Butler, who only had seven available players, came out firing and jumped out to a 23-10 lead. From there though, the Mastodons rattled off a 13-0 run to tie it up. After Bromenschenkel hit a 3-pointer with 5:04 left in the second quarter, the Mastodons never trailed again. The ‘Dons outscored Butler 60-33 the rest of the way.
The Mastodons were incredible offensively down the stretch, missing just one of their final 15 shots of the game. They were 7-of-8 for 87.5 percent in the fourth quarter. They finished at a red-hot 60 percent (33-of-55) from the floor, their best for a game since 2017. The ‘Dons were also at 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from 3-point range.
Bromenschenkel was great all night. She finished 11-of-15 from the floor and 3-for-4 from 3-point range for 25 points and added six rebounds. Audra Emmerson finished with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting with four 3-pointers. Both Bromenschenkel and Emmerson registered season-high scoring marks. Jordan Reid added 10 points.
This is the second game in a row decided by an exact score of 87-61.
Kilyn McGuff had a team-high 18 points for the shorthanded Bulldogs.
Butler wraps up 2024-25 with a 16-18 record. Purdue Fort Wayne will put its 27-8 record on the line when Cleveland State visits on Monday (March 31) at 7 p.m.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
SAILORS’ WALK-OFF GIVES PURDUE FORT WAYNE 14-13 WIN
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Brooks Sailors gave the Purdue Fort Wayne baseball team a 14-13 victory over Oakland with a walk-off double on Friday (March 28) afternoon.
The Mastodons trailed Oakland by a run entering the ninth. Kevin Hall started the bottom of the ninth poking a single through the left side. Camden Karczewski was trying to bunt Hall over, but did one better by pushing a bunt by the Oakland pitcher between first and second. Sailors came to the plate two batters later with one out and hit a ball to the right center field gap. Sailors raced to second base, watching Hall and Karczewski speed around the bases for the victory. Sailors then received the requisite congratulations from his teammates behind the second base bag.
Before Sailors’ dramatics, it was a home run derby. With the wind blowing out at the Indiana Tech baseball field, the game saw eight home runs hit. Matthew McGann hit three home runs for Oakland. Boston Halloran’s home run for Oakland broke a dormitory window just beyond the left field wall.
Sailors, Jackson Micheels and Nick Hockemeyer each hit a home run for the ‘Dons. Hockemeyer’s three-run blast came in an eight-run second inning. It was Hockemeyer’s first home run as a Mastodon.
Freshman Aidan Pearson (2-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Purdue Fort Wayne (4-20, 3-4 Horizon League). Pearson made sure an Oakland threat in the ninth only resulted in a single run to setup Sailors’ heroics.
Purdue Fort Wayne got three-hit games from both Sailors and Hall. Dillon Fischer struck out five Golden Grizzlies hitters in 4.1 innings to get a no decision. Sailors finished with four RBIs in the game. The Mastodons had a total of 18 hits with all nine starters earning a hit.
Ryan Donley took the loss for Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies fall to 7-21 (2-5 Horizon League).
The two teams will continue the series on Saturday (March 29). The game was originally planned to be played again at Indiana Tech, but it will now be a doubleheader starting at 10:30 a.m. at Mastodon Field.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL
SCREAMING EAGLES CLINCH SERIES WIN WITH DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP FRIDAY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball kicked off the start of a six-game homestand Friday with a doubleheader sweep to clinch a series win against Tennessee Tech University, winning 5-1 and 3-0 from USI Softball Field.
Southern Indiana (8-17, 5-5 OVC), who had been on the road for the previous six games in the last couple of weeks, came out with a bang in the bottom of the first inning in Friday’s first game. After a pair of free passes, senior infielder Whitley Hunter barreled up a three-run home run to left field to put the Screaming Eagles up early, 3-0. It was Hunter’s first career home run in a USI uniform.
USI tacked onto its lead in the bottom of the fourth. After three consecutive singles to load the bases, sophomore infielder Sydney Long shot a pitch back up the middle to drive in a pair of runs and push the Screaming Eagles’ advantage up to 5-0.
Tennessee Tech (10-22, 4-7 OVC) tallied an unearned run in the sixth, but senior pitcher Josie Newman sealed the deal with her 11th complete game this season.
Newman (5-10) struck out six and gave up only two hits and the unearned run. Offensively, USI totaled nine hits in game one with freshman first baseman Lilly Brown recording two hits and sophomore outfielder Kate Satkoski going 3-3 at the plate.
For the Golden Eagles, sophomore starting pitcher Emily York (4-6) was dealt the loss after surrendering all five runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Senior pitcher Payton Wagner tossed the last 2.2 innings.
The second game of the twin bill started out in a pitcher’s duel between Tennessee Tech’s freshman pitcher Lainey Fitzgerald and USI’s freshman pitcher Kylie Witthaus. There were only four combined singles allowed through the first three and a half innings.
USI ended the scoreless battle in the home half of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton delivered a two-out RBI single to give the Screaming Eagles a 1-0 lead. Stapleton registered two hits in the game.
After Witthaus kept the shutout intact in the fifth and sixth innings, Southern Indiana added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth with a run on an RBI triple by Satkoski who later came home to score on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 lead for USI.
Witthaus finished the game to improve to 3-6 on the season, notched her fifth complete game this season, and also pitched her first career shutout and first of the season for USI. Witthaus struck out four and allowed only four hits in the outing.
Tennessee Tech’s Fitzgerald also went the distance, dropping to 3-6 after surrendering three runs with eight strikeouts in six innings of work.
Southern Indiana will aim to collect a series sweep on Saturday in the series finale. First pitch for Saturday’s game at USI Softball Field has been moved up to 9:30 a.m. due to rain in the afternoon forecast.
Saturday’s game can be heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
March 29
1973 — The “Alert Orange Baseball” is used for the first time in major league history. The unique baseball, an invention of Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley, is used in an exhibition game between Oakland and the Cleveland Indians. Finley contends the ball, painted the color of a construction worker’s hat, will be easier for both players and fans to see. But pitchers complain that the ball is slippery and hard to grip, while batters are unable to pick up the spin of the ball without seeing the seams. Although Finley pushes for the use of colored baseballs during the regular season, the idea will never come to fruition.
1975 — Pitcher Mel Stottlemyre, suffering from a torn rotator cuff, is given his unconditional release by the New York Yankees. He compiled a 164-139 record and a 2.97 ERA as well as 40 shutouts in an eleven-season major league career with the Yankees.
1983 — While some clubs are concerned about low attendance at the start of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers become the first team in major league history to cut off season ticket sales before the start of the season. The Dodgers, with 27,000 season tickets already sold, implement the cutoff so that group sales won’t be impeded and fans will be able to buy tickets for individual games.
2000 — In Japan, the Chicago Cubs open the major league season at the Tokyo Dome by defeating the New York Mets, 5 – 3, in the first major league opening day ever played outside of the United States, Canada or Mexico. Jon Lieber gets the victory and Mike Hampton takes the loss. Shane Andrews, Mark Grace and Mike Piazza hit home runs in the game.
2002 — Rickey Henderson is added to the Boston Red SoxOpening Dayroster as his contract is purchased from Triple-A Pawtucket. Henderson, who joined the exclusive 3000 hit club on the final day of last season, will begin his 24th year in the majors appearing with his eighth different club.
2005 — First baseman Andres Galarraga announces his retirement. A five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner in a 19-year major league career, Galarraga was a .288 hitter with 399 home runs and 1,425 RBI in 2,257 games played.
2006 — Outfielder Marquis Grissom announces his retirement after a 17-year major league career that saw him play with six teams. A two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, he finished with 429 stolen bases, including a career-high 78 in 1992. Grissom leaves as one of seven players with 2,000 hits, 200 home runs and 400 stolen bases.
2008 — The Dodgers celebrate the 50th anniversary of their move to Los Angeles, CA by playing an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox in their original home, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A crowd of 115,300 is present, the largest ever assembled at a baseball game anywhere. The previous record of 93,103 had been set in the Dodgers’ second season in L.A., for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees in honor of paralyzed catcher Roy Campanella on May 7, 1959.
2012 — The A’s secure a split of their season-opening series with the Mariners with a 4 – 1 win at the Tokyo Dome. Among the A’s three homers is the first one in the major leagues by CubandefectorYoenis Cespedes; Josh Reddick and Jonny Gomes, both also acquired over the winter, hit the other two, while Justin Smoak hits a solo shot for Seattle’s only run. Bartolo Colon earns the win with eight solid innings of work.
2023 — Major League Baseball strikes a tentative deal with minor league baseball players that will more than double their salaries on average. They will still be paid peanuts compared to major leaguers, but now will at least approach a living wage.
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March 30
1966 — The Koufax-Drysdale holdout ended. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the signings. Sandy Koufax got $120,000 and Don Drysdale $105,000, making them the highest paid teammates in history.
1978 — The Boston Red Sox acquire pitcher Dennis Eckersley and catcher Fred Kendall from the Cleveland Indians for pitchers Rick Wise and Mike Paxton, catcher Bo Diaz and infielder Ted Cox.
1992 — The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox made a trade. The Cubs sent outfielder George Bell to the White Sox for outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson.
2001 — Pitcher Dwight Gooden announces his retirement. The four-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner posted a 194-112 record with a 3.51 ERA and 2293 strikeouts in 16 seasons.
2004 — The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays opened the season in Japan with Tampa Bay posting an 8-3 victory behind the pitching of Victor Zambrano and the hitting of Tino Martinez. Martinez had three hits including the 300th homer of his career.
2008 — Nationals Park opens for action with the host Nationals beating the Braves, 3 – 2.
2019 — In a very rare occurrence, position players take the mound for both teams in the Dodgers’ 18 – 5 win over the Diamondbacks.
2023 — For the first time ever, all 30 teams are active on Opening Day as no rainouts affect the schedule.
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March 31
1961 — The Pacific Coast League’s proposal to use a designated hitter for the pitcher was rejected by the Professional Baseball Rules Committee by a vote of 8-1.
1968 — Seattle, the American League’s second new team, announced its nickname — the Pilots.
1994 — The Chicago White Sox assign NBA superstar Michael Jordan to the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League.
1995 — Major league baseball players end their strike when Federal judge Sonia Sotomayor of U.S. District Court in Manhattan rules against the owners in the labor dispute.
1996 — The Seattle Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 in 12 innings in major league baseball’s season opener, the first major league game played in March.
1998 — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks looked like expansion teams in their first games. The Devil Rays fell behind 11-0 in an 11-6 loss to Detroit at Tropicana Field, and the Diamondbacks dropped a 9-2 decision to the Colorado Rockies at Bank One Ballpark. Milwaukee dropped a 2-1 decision at Atlanta in the Brewers’ first game since becoming the only team to switch leagues this century.
2001 — The Pittsburgh Pirates move into PNC Park, losing to the New York Mets, 4 – 3, in an exhibition game.
2003 — The Cincinnati Reds played their first regular season game at the Great American Ballpark. The Pittsburgh Pirates spoiled the day with a 10-1 win.
2008 — The Chicago Cubs unveil a statue of Ernie Banks outside of Wrigley Field.
2009 — The Detroit Tigers cut DH Gary Sheffield, who is one home run shy of 500 for his career.
2013 — The Houston Astros, coming off consecutive 100-loss seasons, made an impressive debut in the American League, trouncing the Texas Rangers 8-2 in the major league opener. Having switched from the National League to the AL in the offseason, the Astros earned their first opening day victory since 2006 and the 4,000th regular-season win in franchise history.
April 1
1931 — Pitcher Virne Mitchell, 17, signed with the Chattanooga club of Tennessee, becoming the first woman to play for an otherwise all-male baseball team.
1942 — Major league owners decide not to allow furloughed players in the military to play.
1969 — The Seattle Pilots trade minor league OF Lou Piniella to the Kansas City Royals. Piniella will go on to win American League Rookie of the Year.
1970 — An investment group headed by Bud Selig bought the Seattle pilots for $10.8 million.
1972 — The first collective players strike in major league history began. The strike lasted 12 days and canceled 86 games.
1988 — For the first time since 1956, the Special Veterans Committee does not elect anyone to the Hall of Fame.
1989 — A. Bartlett Giamatti took over as baseball commissioner.
1996 — Longtime umpire John McSherry collapses and dies from a heart attack on Opening Day at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium, in the 1st inning of a game between the Reds and Expos. The game is cancelled.
2001 — The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 8-1 when the major league baseball season opened in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2008 — The New York Yankees set a major league record by winning their 11th straight home opener.
2013 — Bryce Harper homered in his first two at-bats, Stephen Strasburg retired 19 batters in a row and the defending NL East champion Washington Nationals opened the season with a 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. Harper, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, hit solo shots over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field off Ricky Nolasco in the first and fourth innings.
2013 — Clayton Kershaw launched his first career home run to break a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, then finished off a four-hitter that led the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Francisco Giants 4-0 on opening day. Kershaw became the first pitcher in the majors to homer on opening day since Joe Magrane of St. Louis in 1988. He was the first pitcher to throw a shutout and hit a home run in an opener since Bob Lemon for Cleveland in 1953.
2018 — Three days after starting at DH on Opening Day in his major league debut, Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani makes his debut on the mound, pitching 6 innings in leading the Angels to a 7 – 4 win over the Athletics.
2024 — Ronel Blanco of the Astros throws the earliest no-hitter in major league history in terms of calendar date as he defeats the Blue Jays, 10 – 0. He walks the first batter of the game, George Springer, but retires the next 26 batters in a row before walking Springer again with two outs in the 9th. He then gets Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground out to second to end the game, which is also the first career win for Houston manager Joe Espada.
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April 2
1931 — Virne Beatrice “Jackie” Mitchell, the first woman in professional baseball, pitched against the New York Yankees in an exhibition game in Chattanooga. Babe Ruth waved wildly at the first two pitches and took a third strike. Lou Gehrig timed his swing to miss three straight pitches. Tony Lazzeri, after trying to bunt, walked and Mitchell left the game.
1952 — Hall of Fame outfielder Monte Irvin of the New York Giants broke his ankle in an exhibition game. Irvin played just 46 games that season.
1976 — The Oakland Athletics trade two key members from their recent World Series championship teams, sending OF Reggie Jackson and P Ken Holtzman to the Baltimore Orioles.
1984 — The New York Mets lost to the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 for their first opening-day defeat in 10 years.
1995 — The longest strike in major league history comes to an end. Having the first 23 days of this major league season canceled and 252 games of the last season lost, the owners accept the players’ March 31st unconditional offer to return to work. The players’ decision to return to work is made after a US District Court issued an injunction restoring terms and conditions of the expired agreement. Teams will play 144-game schedules. The strike had begun on August 12, 1994.
1996 — St. Francis of Illinois pummeled Robert Morris 71-1, with Robert Morris coach Gerald McNamara ending the after four innings.
1997 — For the first time, the salary of one player — Albert Belle — exceeded the payroll of an entire team — the Pittsburgh Pirates. Belle, the game’s highest-paid player for 1997 at $10 million, made $928,333 more than the whole Pirates payroll of $9,071,667.
1998 — By hitting a home run at Bank One Ballpark, Ellis Burks sets a major league record by having homered in 33 different stadiums.
2001 — For the first time in major league history, a Japanese position player participates in a regular season game. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, hitless in his first three at-bats, singles in the 7th inning to ignite a two-run rally, and bunts for another single in the 8th in his debut at Safeco Field. He will go on the be both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP this year.
2001 — Roger Clemens became the AL strikeout king, getting five to pass Walter Johnson as the Yankees beat Kansas City 7-3 in their season opener. Clemens fanned Joe Randa for his 3,509th career strikeout.
2003 — Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit 300 home runs, connecting for a three-run drive in the Texas Rangers’ 11-5 loss to the Anaheim Angels. Rodriguez at 27 years, 249 days old, surpassed Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (27 years, 328 days).
2003 — The Detroit Tigers became the first team to have four pitchers make their major league debuts in the same game — Jeremy Bonderman, Wilfredo Ledezma, Chris Spurling and Matt Roney. The Tigers lost 8-1 to the Minnesota Twins.
2007 — Tampa Bay’s Elijah Dukes homered in his first big league at-bat in a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees.
2008 — Kevin Youkilis plays his 194th consecutive error-free game at first base, breaking Steve Garvey’s 23-year-old major league record.
2010 — The Minnesota Twins open their new ballpark, Target Field, with an 8 – 4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game.
2011 — Ichiro Suzuki breaks the franchise hit record for the Seattle Mariners in the Mariners’ 6 – 2 win over Oakland. Ten years to the day after his first major league hit, Ichiro collects safety number 2,248, passing Edgar Martinez, with an infield single that drives in the winning run in the 9th.
2011 — Ian Kinsler of Texas became the first major leaguer with leadoff homers in each of his team’s first two games. Kinsler hit the first of four homers by the Rangers in a 12-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
2012 — Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a $127.5 million, six-year contract, the largest deal for a right-handed pitcher in baseball history.
2017 — Madison Bumgarner hit two homers but the Arizona Diamondbacks scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off new San Francisco closer Mark Melancon to beat the Giants 6-5 in a wild season opener. Bumgarner retired his first 16 batters and became the first pitcher to hit two home runs on opening day. He struck out 11 with no walks in seven innings.
2019 — Returning to Washington, D.C. for the first time since signing a record free agent contract with the Phillies in the spring, Bryce Harper is back. He collects 3 hits, including a 458-foot two-run homer to lead the Phillies to an 8 – 2 win over the Nationals.
2021 — Commissioner Rob Manfred announces that the 2021 All-Star Game will not be staged in Atlanta, GA, as planned, but will be moved to another location to be determined, in response to the state of Georgia’s adoption of rules aimed at restricting the voting rights of African-Americans. This follows only two days after President Joe Biden stated he supported such a move, given the discriminatory nature of Georgia’s law.
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April 3
1923 — In Chicago, Ill., two Black Sox sue the White Sox. Swede Risberg and Happy Felsch seek $400,000 in damages and $6,750 in back salary for conspiracy and injury to their reputation in the aftermath of the scandalous 1919 World Series court case. Their suit will be unsuccessful.
1966 — The New York Mets sign University of Southern California star P Tom Seaver to his first contract.
1974 — The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in 11 innings before a crowd of 52,000 at Riverfront Stadium. In his first at-bat, Hank Aaron hit a three-run homer off Jack Billingham. It was his 714th, tying Babe Ruth’s career record. The Braves had considered keeping Aaron on the bench for the season-opening series in Cincinnati so that he could attempt to tie the record four days later in Atlanta. But commissioner Bowie Kuhn would not allow it and ordered the Braves to put Aaron into the lineup for at least two of the three games.
1985 — A major league owners’ proposal is agreed to by the Players Association. The American and National leagues playoff formats are changed to best-of-sevens.
1987 — The Chicago Cubs trade starting pitcher Dennis Eckersley to the Oakland Athletics for three minor leaguers. Eckersley will emerge as the game’s dominant closer, saving 291 games over the next eight seasons.
1988 — George Bell became the first player to hit three home runs on opening day, leading the Toronto Blue Jays past the Kansas City Royals 5-3. Bell, bitter throughout spring training with his move to designated hitter, homered three times in that role off Bret Saberhagen.
1989 — Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners makes his major league debut.
1994 — Chicago’s Karl Rhodes hit three solo home runs off Dwight Gooden in a 12-8 loss to the New York Mets on opening day at Wrigley Field. Rhodes became the second player to homer three times in an opener.
1998 — Mark McGwire tied Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games of the season. McGwire launched a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.
1999 — America’s pastime opened in Mexico for the first time. The Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in baseball’s first season opener away from the United States and Canada.
2000 — A new major league record for Opening Day is set with five players having multiple home run games.
2001 — Hideo Nomo became the fourth pitcher in major-league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore. Nomo, who threw the first no-hitter in Colorado’s Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996, for Los Angeles, walked three and struck out 11 in the first no-hitter in the 10-year history of Camden Yards. Nomo joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers with no-hitters in both leagues.
2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs became the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati. He became the fifth player to reach 500 homers before his 35th birthday. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Jimmie Foxx were the others.
2005 — Dmitri Young became the third player to hit three homers on opening day, and Jeremy Bonderman won as the youngest opening day starter in the major-leagues since 1986 to lead Detroit over the Royals 11-2.
2005 — In his first outing for the New York Yankees, Randy Johnson allows a run and five hits in six innings as New York open the major league season with a 9 – 2 win.
2006 — Seattle Mariners rookie Kenji Johjima, the first catcher from Japan to start a major league game, hits a home run for his first hit.
2015 — MLB suspends P Ervin Santana, who signed the largest free agent contract in Twins history this off-season, for 80 games for testing positive to the anabolic steroid stanozolol.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
March 29
1929 — The Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers to complete a two-game sweep.
1940 — Joe Louis knocks out Johnny Paychek in the second round at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain the world heavyweight title.
1941 — Wisconsin, led by Gene Englund’s 13 points, wins the NCAA basketball championship with a 39-34 victory over Washington State.
1952 — George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers scores an NBA playoff record 47 points in an 88-78 loss in Game 1 of the Western Division Finals against Rochester.
1960 — Boston’s Bill Russell pulls down an NBA Finals record 40 rebounds, as the Celtics lose to St. Louis 113-103 to even the series at 1-1. Bob Petit has 35 points and 22 rebounds for the Hawks.
1962 — Elgin Baylor (45) and Jerry West (41) of the Los Angeles Lakers become the first teammates to both score 40 or more points in an NBA Playoff game. It isn’t enough as the Lakers lose to Detroit, 118-117, in Game 4 of the Western Division finals.
1966 — Muhammad Ali defeats George Chuvalo in 15 rounds for the heavyweight boxing title.
1976 — Indiana beats Michigan, 86-68. First time 2 teams from the same conference (Big Ten) play in title game.
1982 — Michael Jordan’s jump shot with 16 seconds remaining gives North Carolina a 63-62 victory over Georgetown for the NCAA men’s basketball championship.
1984 — The NFL Colts leave the city of Baltimore in the early hours of the morning, headed for Indianapolis.
1985 — Wayne Gretzky breaks own NHL season record with 126th assist.
1990 — Houston’s Akeem Olajuwon is the third player in NBA history to achieve a quadruple double during a 120-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. He scores 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocked shots and 10 assists.
1992 — Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi becomes the first American woman to win consecutive world figure skating championships since Peggy Fleming in 1968.
1994 — Jimmy Johnson quits as Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
1996 — The Vancouver Grizzlies break the NBA record for consecutive losses in a season with their 21st in a 105-91 loss to the Utah Jazz. The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers and the 1993-94 Dallas Mavericks lost 20 straight.
1996 — Cleveland Browns choose new name for their relocated team – Baltimore Ravens.
1999 — UConn beats Duke 77-74 in the Men’s NCAA National Title game. Huskies’ first National Championship.
2003 — Michelle Kwan becomes the third American to win five World Figure Skating Championships. Kwan, a seven-time U.S. champion, ties Dick Button and Carol Heiss for most world crowns by an American.
2008 — Curlin rolls to a record-setting 7 3/4-length victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race. Curlin is the fourth horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic and then take the World Cup the following year.
2015 — Seventh-seeded Michigan State caps an improbable Final Four run with 76-70 overtime victory over Louisville. Duke beats Gonzaga 66-52 to send coach Mike Krzyzewski to a 12th Final Four, matching coaching record by John Wooden.
2015 — Belmont breaks three NCAA Division I records and tied a fourth during a 20-run sixth inning in a 34-10 victory over UT Martin.
2016 — The United States fail to qualify for consecutive Olympic men’s soccer tournaments for the first time in a half century. Roger Martinez scores twice, Americans Luis Gil and Matt Miazga are ejected and Colombia’s under-23 team defeats the U.S. 2-1 to earn the last berth in the Rio de Janeiro Games with a 3-2 aggregate win in the two-leg, total-goals series.
2017 — Russell Westbrook has 57 points — the most in a triple-double in NBA history — 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-106 overtime win over the Orlando Magic.
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March 30
1940 — Indiana routs Kansas 60-42 for the NCAA basketball championship.
1943 — Ken Sailors scores 16 points to lead Wyoming to a 56-43 victory over Georgetown in the NCAA basketball championship.
1976 — Paul Silas of the Boston Celtics joins Bill Russell and Bill Bridges as the third player in NBA history to collect 10,000 career rebounds before scoring 10,000 career points.
1979 — Robert Parish of Golden State becomes the first Warrior in 10 years (since Nate Thurmond) to get at least 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game. Parish scores 30 points and grabs 32 rebounds in a 114-98 win over the New York Knicks.
1980 — San Antonio’s Larry Kenon scores 51 points and George Gervin adds 37 to lead the Spurs to a 144-124 win over Detroit in the final game of the regular season. Gervin wins the scoring title with a 33.1 points per game and becomes the fifth player to win at least three consecutive scoring titles, joining George Mikan, Neil Johnston, Wilt Chamberlain and Bob McAdoo.
1981 — Sophomore guard Isiah Thomas scores 23 points to lead Indiana to a 63-50 victory over North Carolina to win the NCAA basketball title.
1987 — Keith Smart’s 16-foot jump shot gives Indiana a 74-73 victory over Syracuse for the NCAA men’s basketball championship.
1990 — Jack Nicklaus makes his debut on the Senior PGA Tour with a 71 (-1) in the first round of The Tradition at Desert Mountain; wins event by 4 strokes over Gary Player.
1995 — Maine beats Michigan 4-3 in triple overtime, the longest hockey game in NCAA tournament history, to advance to the NCAA title game.
2001 — Michael Phelps becomes the youngest American swimmer to set a world record, winning the 200-meter butterfly in the USA Swimming Championships in 1 minute, 54.92 seconds. Phelps, 15, breaks the record of 1:55.18 set by Olympic gold medalist Tom Malchow in June.
2007 — American Ryan Lochte pulls off a stunning upset in the 200-meter backstroke, beating the supposedly invincible Aaron Peirsol with a world-record time of 1:54.32. Lochte erases Peirsol’s old mark of 1:54.44 to give Peirsol his first international loss in the 200 since the Sydney Olympics seven years ago.
2007 — Kobe Bryant scores 53 points for his eighth 50-point performance of the season as the Los Angeles Lakers lost to Houston 107-104 in overtime.
2008 — The Boston Celtics hold Miami to an NBA-record low 17 field goals, coasting to an 88-62 victory. The previous record for fewest field goals in a game came against Miami in April 1999, when Chicago managed only 18.
2013 — Syracuse shuts down Marquette with a 55-39 win in the East regional final and reached the Final Four for the first time in a decade. The Golden Eagles’ 39 points are a record low for a team in an NCAA tournament regional final since the shot clock was introduced in 1986. The 94 combined points was also a record low for a regional final.
2014 — Aaron Harrison makes a 3-pointer from about 24 feet with 2.3 seconds left to lift Kentucky to a 75-72 win over Michigan and the program’s 16th trip to the Final Four. Eighth-seeded Kentucky is the first all-freshman starting lineup to make the Final Four since the Fab Five at Michigan in 1992.
2014 — Shabazz Napier scores 17 of his 25 points in the second half, and UConn beats Michigan State 60-54 to return to the Final Four a year after the Huskies were barred from the NCAA tournament. The Huskies rally from a nine-point second-half deficit to become the first No. 7 seed to reach the Final Four since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
2020 — International Olympic Committee announces postponed 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be held July 23-August 8 in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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March 31
1923 — The Ottawa Senators of the NHL completes a two-game sweep of the WCHL’s Edmonton Eskimos with a 1-0 victory to win the Stanley Cup for the third time in four years. Harry “Punch” Broadbent scores the goal.
1931 — Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne and seven others die in a plane crash in a wheat field near Bazaar, Kansas. During his 13 years at Notre Dame, the 43-year-old coach, led the “Fighting Irish” to 105 victories, 12 losses, five ties and three national championships.
1968 — The American League’s new franchise in Seattle chooses Pilots as its nickname.
1973 — The Philadelphia Flyers tie an NHL record for most goals in one period, scoring eight goals in the second period of a 10-2 win over the New York Islanders.
1973 — Ken Norton scores a stunning upset by winning a 12-round split decision over Muhammad Ali to win the NABF heavyweight title. Norton, a 5-1 underdog, breaks Ali’s jaw in the first round.
1975 — UCLA beats Kentucky 92-85 for its 10th NCAA basketball title under head coach John Wooden. Wooden finishes with a 620-147 career record after announcing his retirement two days earlier.
1976 — Cleveland Cavaliers beat Jazz to clinch club’s first ever NBA playoff berth.
1980 — Larry Holmes scores a TKO in the eighth round over Leroy Jones to retain his WBC heavyweight title in Las Vegas.
1980 — Mike Weaver knocks out John Tate in the 15th round to win the WBA heavyweight title in Knoxville, Tenn.
1982 — NBA and NBAPA reach 4-year agreement on return for minimum & maximum payrolls, the first of its kind in team sports.
1984 — Mike Bossy becomes first player in NHL history to record 7 straight 50 goal seasons.
1985 — Old Dominion beats Georgia in the 4th NCAAW National Championship.
1986 — Freshman center Pervis Ellison hits two free throws with 27 seconds left to seal Louisville’s 72-69 victory over Duke in the NCAA basketball championship.
1990 — 20-year old C Joe Sakic becomes the youngest player in NHL history to score 100 points in a season
1991 — Tennessee edges Virginia 70-67 in overtime for its third NCAA women’s basketball title. It’s the first overtime in the NCAA’s 10-year history.
1991 — Amy Alcott wins the Dinah Shore golf tournament with a record eight-shot victory over Dottie Mochrie.
1994 — Chicago White Sox assigns former NBA superstar Michael Jordan to the Birmingham Barons of Class AA Southern League.
1995 — Major league baseball players end their strike.
1997 — Martina Hingis becomes the youngest No. 1 player in tennis history. The 16-year-old Swiss sensation, who claimed her fifth title of 1997 at the Lipton Championships on March 29, supplants Steffi Graf in the WTA Tour rankings.
1998 — Expansion clubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks both suffer losses in their MLB debuts.
2002 — UConn women’s basketball team beat Oklahoma, 82-70; Huskies conclude perfect season (39-0).
2002 — Andre Agassi wins his 700th career match and captures his second straight Key Biscayne Title.
2005 — Tarence Kinsey hits a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left to lift South Carolina to a 60-57 victory over Saint Joseph’s for the NIT championship.
2012 — Ray Whitney passes 1,000 career points with a goal and assist in Phoenix’s 4-0 victory over Anaheim.
2013 — In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the NCAA women’s tournament, sixth-seeded Louisville stuns defending national champion Baylor in the regional semifinals, 82-81. It’s the end of a remarkable college career for Baylor’s Brittney Griner, a record-setting 6-foot-8 post player who ended up as the second-highest scoring player in NCAA history.
2013 — Pete Weber ties Earl Anthony by winning his 10th major Professional Bowlers Association title with a 224-179 win over Australian Jason Belmonte in the Tournament of Champions.
2017 — UConn’s record 111-game winning streak comes to a startling end when Mississippi State pulls off perhaps the biggest upset in women’s basketball history, shocking the Huskies 66-64 on Morgan William’s overtime buzzer beater in the national semifinals.
2018 — Anthony Joshua beats Joseph Parker by unanimous decision to become a three-belt world heavyweight boxing champion. Joshua adds Parker’s WBO belt to his WBA and IBF titles, and moves within one belt of becoming the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
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April 1
1930 — American golfer Bobby Jones starts his Grand Slam season by winning the Southeastern Open.
1938 — Joe Louis knocks out Harry Thomas in the fifth round in Chicago to retain his world heavyweight title.
1940 — Governor Herbert Lehman of New York signs the Dunnigal bill, which legalizes pari-mutuel wagering and outlaws bookmakers at the state’s racetracks.
1954 — Detroit Red Wings right wing Gordie Howe scores 2 goals and an assist, and sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for fastest goal from the start of a game (:09).
1972 — The first collective player’s strike in major league history begins at 12:01 a.m. The strike lasts 12 days and cancels 86 games.
1973 — Boston’s John Havlicek connects on 24 field goals and finishes with 54 points the Celtics defeat Atlanta, 134-109, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
1978 — NY Islanders RW Mike Bossy becomes first NHL rookie to score 50 goals in a season.
1981 — Edmonton C Wayne Gretzky has an assist (his 103rd) to break Bobby Orr’s 10-year mark for most assists in a single NHL season.
1984 — Southern Cal beats Tennessee 72-61 for the NCAA women’s basketball title.
1985 — Villanova shocks Georgetown with a 66-64 victory to win the NCAA basketball title. The Wildcats, led by Dwayne McClain’s 17 points, shot 79 percent from the field, making 22 of 28 shots, and added 22 of 27 free throws.
1989 — Jim McAllister of Glassboro State hits four home runs and drives in nine runs in four at-bats in a 21-5 five-inning rout of Delaware State.
1990 — Betsy King holds on for a two-stroke victory over Kathy Postlewait to win the LPGA Dinah Shore tournament.
1991 — Duke ends years of frustration with a 72-65 victory over Kansas for its first national title in five championship game appearances and nine trips to the Final Four.
1992 — A week before the Stanley Cup playoffs are set to begin, the NHL players strike for the first time in the league’s 75-year history. The strike lasts 10 days.
1996 — Kentucky wins its first national title in 18 years with a 76-67 victory over Syracuse.
1999 — Detroit Pistons G Joe Dumars becomes 10th player in NBA history to play 1,000 games with the same team.
1999 — Philadelphia 76ers head coach Larry Brown wins his 900th pro game.
2000 — Michelle Kwan wins her third World Figure Skating title by pushing through all seven triple jumps. The triple toe-triple toe lifts Kwan above Russians Irina Slutskaya and last year’s champion, Maria Butyrskaya.
2001 — 20th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Notre Dame beats Purdue, 68-66.
2002 — With Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter leading the way, Maryland wins its first national championship with a 64-52 victory over Indiana.
2007 — Morgan Pressel becomes the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history with a game well beyond her 18 years, closing with a 3-under 69 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Pressel plays her final 25 holes over Mission Hills without a bogey as Suzann Pettersen blew a four-shot lead with four holes to play.
2007 — American super swimmer Michael Phelps smashes his own world record in the 400m individual medley (4:06.22) to win his record 7th gold medal at the World Championships.
2011 — Jarome Iginla scores his second goal of the game with 5:03 left to reach 1,000 points and help Calgary rally to beat St. Louis 3-2.
2016 — Golden State Warriors consecutive home winning streak ends at 54 games.
2018 — Arike Ogunbowale hits a 3-pointer with a tenth of a second left to give Notre Dame a 61-58 win over Mississippi State and its first women’s national championship since 2001. Notre Dame, trailing 30-17 at halftime, pulls off the biggest comeback in title game history, rallying from a 15-point deficit in the third quarter and a five-point deficit in the final 1:58.
2020 — All England Lawn Tennis Club cancels Wimbledon for the first time since World War II because of the COVID-19 pandemic; entire grass-court season abandoned.
April 2
1939 — Ralph Guldahl beats Sam Snead by one stroke to capture the Masters golf tournament.
1969 — Toronto center Forbes Kennedy sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for most penalties in one game with 8.
1978 — Czech tennis star Martina Navratilova wins her first WTA Tour Championship.
1980 — Wayne Gretzky becomes the youngest player to reach 50 goals at 19 years and 2 months of age.
1983 — New York Islander Mike Bossy becomes the first player to score 60 or more goals in three consecutive seasons.
1984 — Georgetown, led by junior center Patrick Ewing and freshman forward Reggie Williams, beats Houston 84-75 to win the NCAA championship in Seattle. Houston becomes the second team to lose in two consecutive finals.
1985 — Edmonton C Wayne Gretzky sets an NHL record with his 34th career hat trick.
1986 — The 3-point field goal, at 19 feet, 9 inches, is adopted by the NCAA.
1989 — 8th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Tennessee beats Auburn, 76-60.
1990 — UNLV pounds Duke 103-73 to win its first NCAA championship and extend the Blue Devils’ streak to eight Final Four appearances without a title. The Runnin’ Rebels become the first team to score more than 100 points in a championship game and the 30-point margin is the largest ever.
1995 — Connecticut caps an unbeaten season by defeating Tennessee 70-64 for the NCAA women’s championship. The Huskies, 35-0, become the winningest basketball team for one season in Division I.
2000 — Connecticut wins its second women’s national championship with a 71-52 victory over Tennessee. The top-ranked Huskies beat No. 2 Tennessee for the second time in three meetings this season.
2001 — New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens becomes American League all-time strikeout leader.
2001 — Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has 2 hits and becomes first Japanese position player to play in a regular season MLB game.
2001 — 63rd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Duke beats Arizona, 82-72.
2003 — At 27 years, 249 days Texas Rangers infielder Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest MLB player to hit 300 home runs.
2005 — Bubba Stewart becomes first African-American to win a major motor sports event when he takes out the Monster Energy AMA Supercross C’ship event in Irving, Texas.
2007 — The Florida Gators keep their stranglehold on the college basketball world with an 84-75 victory over Ohio State for their second straight national championship. The Gators are the first team to repeat since Duke in 1991-92.
2010 — Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant signs a three-year contract extension with the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers worth $87 million.
2011 — The Detroit Red Wings clinch their 20th straight playoff berth with a 4-3 victory over Nashville. The Red Wings extend the longest active playoff streak among North America’s four major professional sports and extend their NHL record with 11 straight seasons with 100 points.
2012 — Doron Lamb scores 22 points as Kentucky wins its eighth men’s national championship, holding off Kansas for a 67-59 victory.
2013 — Shoni Schimmel scores 24 points and giant-slaying Louisville claims another big upset, beating second-seeded Tennessee 86-78 and earning the school’s second trip to the Women’s Final Four.
2014 — The Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 107-102 to give the Lakers their 50th loss of the season. The last time the Lakers had 50 or more losses was 1974-75 (30-52).
2016 — Villanova advances to the national championship game with the biggest margin of victory in Final Four history, overwhelming Oklahoma in a resounding 95-51 victory. The margin topped 34-point Final Four wins by Cincinnati over Oregon State in 1962 and Michigan State over Penn in 1979.
2017 — 36th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: South Carolina defeats Mississippi State, 67-55.
2018 — Pernilla Lindberg makes a 30-foot birdie putt on the eighth extra hole to win the ANA Inspiration for her first professional victory. Lindberg finishes off Inbee Park on the par-4 10th, the fourth playoff hole at Mission Hills.
2018 — Villanova wins its second men’s national championship in three years after a 79-62 victory over Michigan. Donte DiVincenzo comes off the bench to score 31 points for the Wildcats. Villanova wins all six games by double digits over this tournament run, joining Michigan State (2000), Duke (2001) and North Carolina (2009) in that company.
2019 — OKC guard Russell Westbrook becomes 2nd player in NBA history to have 20+ points, rebounds and assists in a game; records 20-20-21 in 119-103 win over LA Lakers.
2023 — Caitlin Clark scores 41 points in the Final Four for Iowa against South Carolina.
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April 3
1923 — “Black Sox” sue White Sox (unsuccessfully) for back salary.
1930 — The Montreal Canadiens win the NHL Stanley Cup with a two-game sweep of the Boston Bruins.
1933 — Ken Doraty’s overtime goal gives the Toronto Maple Leafs and 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins in semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The goal comes at one hour, 44 minutes and 46 seconds of the overtime beyond the one-hour regulation game.
1966 — P Tom Seaver signs with the NY Mets.
1975 — Bobby Fischer stripped of world chess title for refusing to defend it, title awarded to Russian Anatoly Karpov.
1977 — Jean Ratelle of the Boston Bruins scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 7-4 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1982 — Buffalo’s Gil Perrault scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
1983 — 2nd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: USC beats Louisiana Tech, 69-67.
1987 — Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley to Oakland A’s.
1988 — Louisiana Tech wins the NCAA women’s basketball championship with a 56-54 come-from-behind victory over Auburn.
1988 — Amy Alcott shoots a 1-under 71 to win the Dinah Shore by two shots over Colleen Walker.
1988 — Mario Lemieux wins NHL scoring title, stopping Gretzky’s 7 year streak.
1989 — Michigan beats Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime to win the NCAA basketball championship. Rumeal Robinson hits two free throws with three seconds left for the Wolverines. It’s the first time that a first-year coach, Steve Fisher, wins the national title.
1991 — Bo Jackson signs 1-year contract with Chicago White Sox.
1993 — For the first time in its 157-year history, the Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a false start. Esha Ness crosses the line first, but most of the jockeys are unaware a false start is called and the majority of the 39-horse field continue the 4½-mile race around the Aintree course even though nine stay behind at the start line.
1994 — Charlotte Smith’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gives North Carolina a 60-59 victory over Louisiana Tech in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game.
1995 — UCLA wins its first national basketball championship in 20 years and record 11th NCAA title, keeping Arkansas from repeating with an 89-78 victory.
1996 — St Francis Fighting Saints scores college baseball run record with 71.
2000 — 62nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Michigan State beats Florida, 89-76.
2004 — St. Louis clinches its 25th consecutive NHL playoff berth, the longest in major league sports, with a 4-1 win over Nashville.
2006 — Joakim Noah dominates UCLA with 16 points, nine rebounds and a record seven blocks to key a 73-57 blowout for Florida’s first national title in men’s basketball.
2006 — Steve Yzerman scores his final NHL goal (#692).
2007 — After a nine-year title drought, Tennessee and coach Pat Summitt are NCAA champions. The Lady Vols capture an elusive seventh national title, beating Rutgers 59-46.
2010 — Bernard Hopkins wins a brutal unanimous decision over Roy Jones Jr. in their long-delayed rematch, emphatically avenging his loss in the famed champions’ first fight nearly 17 years earlier.
2012 — Brittney Griner scores 26 points and grabs 13 rebounds to help Baylor finish off an undefeated season with an 80-61 win over Notre Dame in the women’s national championship game. Baylor becomes the first team in NCAA history to win 40 games.
2017 — Justin Jackson delivers the go-ahead three-point play and North Carolina scores the last eight points for a 71-65 win over Gonzaga and an NCAA title that heartbreakingly eluded the Tar Heels last year. It’s an ugly game, filled with 44 fouls and 52 free throws. Carolina was down 2 with 1:40 left when Jackson took a pass under the bucket from Theo Pinson, made a layup and got fouled. The free throw made it 66-65, and after a Gonzaga miss on the other end, Isaiah Hicks made a shot to help North Carolina start pulling away to the school’s sixth title.
2019 — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is ejected after an NBA record low 63 seconds in the Spurs 113-85 loss in Denver; receives 2 technical fouls in a verbal confrontation with a referee.
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April 4
1921 — The NHL champion Ottawa Senators beat the Pacific Coast Hockey Association champion Vancouver Millionaires 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup 3 games to 2.
1937 — Byron Nelson shoots a 283 to win the Masters by two strokes over Ralph Guldahl.
1938 — Henry Picard beats Ralph Guldahl and Harry Cooper by two strokes to capture the Masters.
1959 — France beats Wales, 11-3 at Stade Colombes to win the Five Nations Rugby Championship outright for the first time.
1974 — Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s home-run record by hitting his 714th.
1983 — Lorenzo Charles scores on a dunk after Derek Whittenburg’s 35-foot desperation shot falls short to give North Carolina State a 54-52 triumph over Houston in the NCAA championship.
1985 — Tulane University cancels its basketball season.
1986 — Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky breaks his own NHL single-season points record with three assists to increase his total to 214. He scored 212 points in 1981-82.
1987 — New York’s Denis Potvin, the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history, scores his 1,000th point.
1988 — Danny Manning scores 31 points and grabs 18 rebounds as Kansas wins its second NCAA championship with an 83-79 victory over Oklahoma.
1989 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar plays final NBA game.
1989 — NY Yankee Tommy John ties record of playing 26 seasons.
1993 — Sheryl Swoopes shatters the women’s championship game record by scoring 47 points to lead Texas Tech to an 84-82 victory over Ohio State.
1993 — Mario Andretti, at 53, wins the Valvoline 200 in Phoenix to become the oldest driver to win an Indy car race and the first driver to win a race in four different decades.
1994 — Arkansas wins its first men’s national championship with a 76-72 victory over Duke, depriving the Blue Devils of a third title in four years.
1997 — Anaheim Ducks clinch their 1st-ever playoff berth.
1997 — Braves officially open Turner Field.
1998 — Mark McGwire ties Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games. McGwire launches a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego
2001 — Hideo Nomo becomes the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore.
2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs becomes the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati.
2004 — Carolina’s Brad Fast beat Florida goalie Roberto Luongo with a wrist shot to tie the game at 6-6 late in the third period. It’s the final tie game in NHL history.
2005 — North Carolina defeats Illinois to win the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship. Sean May has 26 points and the Tar Heels don’t allow a basket over the final 2 1/2 minutes to defeat Illinois 75-70.
2006 — 25th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Maryland beats Duke, 78-75 OT.
2011 — Kemba Walker scores 16 points and Alex Oriakhi has 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead Connecticut to a 53-41 win over Butler in the men’s NCAA championship game. g 2015 — The United States defends their women’s world hockey championship with a 7-5 win over Canada.
2016 — Kris Jenkins hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Villanova to the national title with a 77-74 victory over North Carolina — one of the wildest finishes in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Jenkins’ shot comes moments after Marcus Paige hit a double-clutch 3 from beyond the arc to tie the game at 74 with 4.7 seconds left.
2021 — 39th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Stanford Cardinal defeat Arizona Wildcats, 54–53.
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Milwaukee at NY Yankees | 1:05pm | YES FanDuel Sports WI |
| LA Angels at Chi. White Sox | 2:10pm | FanDuel Sports West NBCS-CHI |
| Minnesota at St. Louis | 2:15pm | FS1 Twins.TV FanDuel Sports MW |
| Baltimore at Toronto | 3:07pm | MASN2 Sportsnet |
| Philadelphia at Washington | 4:05pm | NBCS-PHI MASN |
| Pittsburgh at Miami | 4:10pm | ATTSN-PIT FanDuel Sports FL |
| San Francisco at Cincinnati | 4:10pm | NBCS-BAY FanDuel Sports Ohio |
| Cleveland at Kansas City | 4:10pm | CleGuardians.TV FanDuel Sports SW |
| Boston at Texas | 7:05pm | NESN RSN |
| NY Mets at Houston | 7:15pm | FOX |
| Atlanta at San Diego | 7:15pm | FOX |
| Chi. Cubs at Arizona | 8:10pm | DBacks.TV MARQ |
| Detroit at LA Dodgers | 9:10pm | SNLA FanDuel Sports DET |
| Athletics at Seattle | 9:40pm | NBCS-CA ROOT |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Sacramento Kings vs Orlando Magic | 5:00pm | NBCS-CA FanDuel Sports FL |
| Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards | 7:00pm | YES MNMT |
| Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers | 7:30pm | NBCS-PHI FanDuel Sports Sun |
| Boston Celtics vs San Antonio Spurs | 8:00pm | NBATV NBCS-BOS FanDuel Sports SW |
| Dallas Mavericks vs Chicago Bulls | 8:00pm | KFAA CHSN |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs Memphis Grizzlies | 8:00pm | Spectrum FanDuel Sports MEM |
| Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder | 8:00pm | FanDuel Sports IND FanDuel Sports OKC |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers | 1:00pm | ESPN+ MSG-BUF NBCS-PHI |
| New York Islanders vs Tampa Bay Lightning | 2:00pm | ESPN+ MSGSN FanDuel Sports Sun |
| St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche | 4:30pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports MW ALT |
| New Jersey Devils vs Minnesota Wild | 6:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports North MSGSN |
| Vegas Golden Knights vs Nashville Predators | 6:30pm | ESPN+ Scripps FanDuel Sports South |
| Columbus Blue Jackets vs Ottawa Senators | 7:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet FanDuel Sports Ohio |
| Toronto Maple Leafs vs Los Angeles Kings | 7:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet FanDuel Sports West |
| Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings | 8:00pm | ABC ESPN+ |
| Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers | 10:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet |
| Ottawa Senators vs New Jersey Devils | 10:30pm | ESPN+ MSG Sportsnet |
| Dallas Stars vs Seattle Kraken | 10:30pm | ESPN+ KONG Victory+ |
| MEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| NCAA Elite Eight | 6:30pm | TBS truTV MAX |
| NCAA Elite Eight | 9:00pm | TBS truTV MAX |
| COLLEGE HOCKEY | TIME ET | TV |
| NCAA Tournament | 4:00pm | ESPNU |
| NCAA Tournament | 6:30pm | ESPNU |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Stanford at Virginia | 1:00pm | ESPN |
| Oklahoma at Alabama | 1:00pm | SECN |
| Auburn at Georgia | 4:00pm | SECN |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Tennessee at Oklahoma | 2:00pm | ESPN |
| Stanford at Virginia Tech | 4:00pm | ACCN |
| California at Clemson | 6:00pm | ACCN |
| South Carolina at LSU | 7:00pm | SECN |
| BOXING | TIME ET | TV |
| Welterweights: Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan | 10:00pm | ESPN |
| MMA | TIME ET | TV |
| UFC: Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Xfinity: Marine Corps 250 | 5:00pm | CW |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Tour: Houston Open | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Houston Open | 3:00pm | NBC |
| FIGURE SKATING | TIME ET | TV |
| World Championships | 3:00pm | USA |
| World Championships | 8:00pm | NBC |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| FA Cup: Fulham vs Crystal Palace | 8:15am | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Real Sociedad vs Real Valladolid | 9:00am | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Como vs Empoli | 10:00am | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Venezia vs Bologna | 10:00am | Paramount+ |
| Bundesliga: Borussia M’gladbach vs RB Leipzig | 10:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs Heidenheim | 10:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Hoffenheim vs Augsburg | 10:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Bayern München vs St. Pauli | 10:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Holstein Kiel vs Werder Bremen | 10:30am | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid | 11:15am | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Reims vs Olympique Marseille | 12:00pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| NWSL: Orlando Pride vs San Diego Wave | 12:00pm | ESPN ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Juventus vs Genoa | 1:00pm | Paramount+ |
| FA Cup: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Nottingham Forest | 1:15pm | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Deportivo Alavés vs Rayo Vallecano | 1:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Stuttgart | 1:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Saint-Étienne vs PSG | 2:00pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| MLS: New England vs New York RB | 2:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Toronto FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps | 2:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Serie A: Lecce vs Roma | 3:45pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Real Madrid vs Leganés | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Monaco vs Nice | 4:05pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| MLS: Colorado Rapids vs Charlotte | 4:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Juárez vs Puebla | 6:00pm | FS2 fuboTV |
| Liga MX: Toluca vs Pachuca | 6:00pm | VIX |
| NWSL: Kansas City Current vs Utah Royals | 6:30pm | Tubi ION |
| MLS: Atlanta United vs New York City | 6:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: DC United vs Columbus Crew | 6:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Inter Miami vs Philadelphia Union | 6:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Chicago Fire vs CF Montréal | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Dallas vs Sporting KC | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Minnesota United vs Real Salt Lake | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Nashville SC vs Cincinnati | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: América vs Tigres UANL | 9:05pm | Peacock Telemundo fuboTV |
| NWSL: Colorado Rapids vs Portland Timbers | 9:30pm | Tubi ION |
| NWSL: Portland Thorns vs North Carolina Courage | 10:00pm | Tubi ION |
| MLS: LA Galaxy vs Orlando City SC | 10:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: San Diego vs Los Angeles FC | 10:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: SJ Earthquakes vs Seattle Sounders FC | 10:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Guadalajara vs Cruz Azul | 11:05pm | Peacock Telemundo fuboTV |
| Liga MX: Monterrey vs Tijuana | 11:10pm | VIX |