THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SUNDAY APRIL 16, 2023

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

CENTRAL INDIANA SCORES

FRANKLIN 10 COLUMBUS EAST 3

KNIGHTSTOWN 9 EASTERN HANCOCK 4

EASTERN HANCOCK 6 KNIGHTSTOWN 3

FISHERS 10 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 1

GREENFIELD CENTRAL 18 FISHERS 17

MOORESVILLE 12 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 8

NORTH CENTRAL 15 RUSHVILLE 4

BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 12 SETON CATHOLIC 0

BREBEUF 4 SPEEDWAY 2

INDY TECH 14 INDY GENESIS 8

INDY TECH 10 PURDUE POLY 2

MONROE CENTRAL 4 HAGERSTOWN 2

HAGERSTOWN 12 MONROE CENTRAL 2

BEN DAVIS 8 LEBANON 5

RONCALLI 9 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 5

SHELBYVILLE 7 INDIAN CREEK 4

NORTHEASTERN 3 WAPAHANI 2

WAPAHANI 5 NORTHEASTERN 4

HARRISON 12 MT. VERNON 12

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 5 KOKOMO 1

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 7 KOKOMO 6

CATHEDRAL 3 HOMESTEAD 1

CATHEDRAL 10 HOMESTEAD 0

CONNERSVILLE 15 LAKE CENTRAL 5

JAY COUNTY 15 CENTERVILLE 5

AVON 6 LOGANSPORT 2

TRI-WEST 13 WHITELAND 9

NEW CASTLE 9 RICHMOND 4

RICHMOND 8 MUNCIE CENTRAL 1

CARMEL 11 NOBLESVILLE 10

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 6 TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 4

HERTIAGE CHRISTIAN 14 TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 2

PENDLETON HEIGHTS 5 ANDERSON 0

CENTER GROVE 9 JEFFERSONVILLE 4

NEW PALESTINE 10 GUERIN CATHOLIC 0

COMPLETE SATURDAY SCORES: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/baseball/scores/?date=4/15/2023

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

CENTRAL INDIANA SCOREBOARD

WESTFIELD 4 KANKAKEE VALLEY 3

NEW CASTLE 8 SOUTHPORT 4

SOUTHPORT 12 NBEW CASTLE 4

EASTERN HANCOCK 10 TRI 0

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 15 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 5

HAGERSTOWN 9 RICHMOND 0

HAGERSTOWN 7 CENTERVILLE 5

JAY COUNTY 11 RICHMOND 1

DALEVILLE 8 PIKE 4

MORRISTOWN 12 OLDENBURG ACADEMY 5

NORTH CENTRAL 8 FT. WAYNE CONCORDIA 1

NORTH CENTRAL 7 LUTHERAN 5

MT. VERNON 7 COLUMBUS EAST 1

LUTHERAN 10 BISHOP CHATARD 0

BISHOP CHATARD 14 FT. WAYNE CONCORDIA 11

LAWRENCE NORTH 18 NOBLESVILLE 8

GREENWOOD 15 SCECINA 1

MADISON GRANT 10 ANDERSON 0

SHELBYVILLE 8 YORKTOWN 7

MOORESVILLE 5 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 2

HAMILTON HEIGHTS 11 EASTBROOK 0

BEECH GROVE 19 CRAWFORDSVILLE 0

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 4 HARRISON 1

GREENSBURG 13 BATESVILLE 1

ZIONSVILLE 10 GUERIN CATHOLIC 1

AVON 4 CASCADE 0

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 11 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 0

COLUMBUS 10 EAST 10 MT. VERNON 5

CENTERVILLE 10 JAY COUNTY 8

FRANKLIN CENTRAL 5 LAKE CENTRAL 3

CONNERSVILLE 5 SOUTH DEARBORN 3

COMPLETE SATURDAY SCOREBOARD: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/softball/scores/?date=4/15/2023

COLLEGE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD

VILLANOVA 10 BUTLER 2

VILLANOVA 18 BUTLER 15

INDIANA 6 ILLINOIS 4

INDIANA 16 ILLINOIS 3

PURDUE 9 PENN STATE 8

PURDUE 4 PENN STATE 3

MILWAUKEE 15 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 8

MILWAUKEE 7 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 6

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 13 BALL STATE 5

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 9 BALL STATE 6

VALPARAISO 12 BRADLEY 8

VALPARAISO 10 BRADLEY 0

INDIANA STATE 10 BELMONT 2

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 6 EVANSVILLE 3

COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD

NEBRASKA 8 INDIANA 6

NEBRASKA 4 INDIANA 2

BALL STATE 6 BUFFALO 2

BALL STATE 4 BUFFALO 1

BELMONT 2 INDIANA STATE 1

VALPARAISO 1 BRADLEY 0

BRADLEY 3 VALPARAISO 2

MURRAY STATE 5 EVANSVILLE 4

NOTRE DAME 11 VIRGINIA TECH 3

NOTRE DAME 6 WEST VIRGINIA STATE 1

WEST VIRGINIA STATE 2 NOTRE DAME 0

MICHIGAN 5 PURDUE 0

PURDUE 3 MICHIGAN 2

ROBERT MORRIS 7 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 2

UCONN 9 BUTLER 1

NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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

GAME 1: HEAT VS. BUCKS | SUN., APRIL 16 | 5:30 ET (TNT)

GAME 2: HEAT VS. BUCKS | WED., APRIL 19 | 9 ET (NBA TV)

GAME 3: BUCKS VS. HEAT | SAT., APRIL 22 | 7:30 ET (ESPN)

GAME 4: BUCKS VS. HEAT | MON., APRIL 24 | TBD

*GAME 5: HEAT VS. BUCKS | WED., APRIL 26 | TBD

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

*GAME 7: HEAT VS. BUCKS | SUN., APRIL 20 | TBD

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

GAME 1: BOSTON 112 ATLANTA 99

GAME 2: HAWKS VS. CELTICS | TUES., APRIL 18 | 7 ET (NBA TV)

GAME 3: CELTICS VS. HAWKS | FRI., APRIL 21 | 7 ET (ESPN)

GAME 4: CELTICS VS. HAWKS | SUN, APRIL 23 | 7 ET (TNT)

*GAME 5: HAWKS VS. CELTICS | TUES., APRIL 25 | TBD

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

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

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

GAME 1: PHILADELPHIA 121 BROOKLYN 101

GAME 2: NETS VS. 76ERS | MON., APRIL 17 | 7:30 ET (TNT)

GAME 3: 76ERS VS. NETS | THURS., APRIL 20 | 7:30 ET (TNT)

GAME 4: 76ERS VS. NETS | SAT., APRIL 22 | 1 ET (TNT)

*GAME 5: NETS VS. 76ERS | MON., APRIL 24 | TBD

*GAME 6: 76ERS VS. NETS | THURS., APRIL 27 | TBD

*GAME 7: NETS VS. 76ERS | SAT., APRIL 29 | TBD

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

GAME 1: NEW YORK 101 CLEVELAND 97

GAME 2: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TUES., APRIL 18 | 7:30 ET (TNT)

GAME 3: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | FRI., APRIL 21 | 8:30 ET (ABC)

GAME 4: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | SUN., APRIL 23 | 1 ET (ABC)

*GAME 5: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TBD

*GAME 6: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | TBD

*GAME 7: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE

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

GAME 1: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | SUN., APRIL 16 | 10.30 ET (TNT)

GAME 2: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | WED., APRIL 19 | 10 ET (TNT)

GAME 3: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES | FRI., APRIL 21 | 9:30 ET (ESPN)

GAME 4: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES | SUN., APRIL 23 | 9:30 ET (TNT)

*GAME 5: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS | TUES., APRIL 25 | TBD

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

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

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

GAME 1: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | SUN., APRIL 16 | 3 ET (ABC)

GAME 2: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | WED., APRIL 19 | 7:30 ET (TNT)

GAME 3: GRIZZLIES VS. LAKERS | SAT., APRIL 22 | 10 ET (ESPN)

GAME 4: GRIZZLIES VS. LAKERS | MON. APRIL 24 | TBD

*GAME 5: LAKERS VS. GRIZZLIES | WED., APRIL 26 | TBD

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

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

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

GAME 1: SACRAMENTO 126 GOLDEN STATE 123

GAME 2: WARRIORS VS. KINGS | MON., APRIL 17 | 10 ET (TNT)

GAME 3: KINGS VS. WARRIORS | THURS., APRIL 20 | 10 ET (TNT)

GAME 4: KINGS VS. WARRIORS | SUN., APRIL 23 | 3.30 ET (ABC)

*GAME 5: WARRIORS VS. KINGS | WED., APRIL 26 | TBD

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

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

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

GAME 1: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | SUN., APRIL 16 | 8 ET (TNT)

GAME 2: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | TUES., APRIL 18 | 10 ET (TNT)

GAME 3: SUNS VS. CLIPPERS | THURS., APRIL 20 | 10:30 ET (NBA TV)

GAME 4: SUNS VS. CLIPPERS | SAT., APRIL 22 | 3:30 ET (TNT)

*GAME 5: CLIPPERS VS. SUNS | TUES., APRIL 25 | TBD

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

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

* IF NECESSARY

NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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

MON., APRIL 17: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, 7:30 P.M. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS

WED., APRIL 19: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, 7:30 P.M. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS

FRI., APRIL 21: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, 7:30 P.M. ET, TNT, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS

SUN., APRIL 23: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, 3:30 P.M. ET, TNT, SN1, TVAS

WED., APRIL 26: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, TBA

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

TUE., APRIL 18: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, 7:30 P.M. ET, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS, ESPN

THU., APRIL 20: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, 7 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN

SAT., APRIL 22: MAPLE LEAFS AT LIGHTNING, 7 P.M. ET, TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS

MON., APRIL 24: MAPLE LEAFS AT LIGHTNING, 7:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC

THUR., APRIL 27: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, TBA

SAT., APRIL 29: MAPLE LEAFS AT LIGHTNING, TBA

MON., MAY 1: LIGHTNING AT MAPLE LEAFS, TBA

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

MON., APRIL 17: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, 7 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2

WED., APRIL 19: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, 7 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS22

FRI., APRIL 21: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, 7 P.M. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS

SUN., APRIL 23: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, 1 P.M. ET, TNT, SN360, TVAS

TUE., APRIL 25: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, TBA

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

TUE., APRIL 18: RANGERS AT DEVILS, 7 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS2

THU., APRIL 20: RANGERS AT DEVILS, 7:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS

SAT., APRIL 22: DEVILS AT RANGERS, 8 P.M. ET, ABC, ESPN+, SN1, CITY, TVAS

MON., APRIL 24: DEVILS AT RANGERS, 7 P.M. ET, ESPN, SN360, TVAS

THUR., APRIL 27: RANGERS AT DEVILS, TBA

SAT., APRIL 29: DEVILS AT RANGERS, TBA

MON., MAY 1: RANGERS AT DEVILS, TBA

WESTERN CONFERENCE

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

TUE., APRIL 18: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, 10 P.M. ET, ESPN, SN360, TVAS

THU., APRIL 20: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN, SN360, FX, TVAS

SAT., APRIL 22: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN. 10 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS

MON., APRIL 24: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN, 10 P.M. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS

WED., APRIL 26: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, TBA

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

MON., APRIL 17: WILD AT STARS, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2

WED., APRIL 19: WILD AT STARS, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS

FRI., APRIL 21: STARS AT WILD, 9:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS

SUN., APRIL 23: STARS AT WILD, 6:30 P.M. ET, TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS

TUE., APRIL 25: WILD AT STARS, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: STARS AT WILD, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: WILD AT STARS, TBA

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

TUE., APRIL 18: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, 9:30 P.M. ET, ESPN2, SNW, TVAS2

THU., APRIL 20 JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, 10 P.M. ET, TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS

SAT., APRIL 22: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT JETS, 4 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS

MON., APRIL 24: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT JETS, 9:30 P.M. ET, SNW, TVAS, ESPN

THU., APRIL 27: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, TBA

SAT., APRIL 29: GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT JETS, TBA

MON., MAY 1: JETS AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS, TBA

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

MON., APRIL 17: KINGS AT OILERS, 10 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN

WED., APRIL 19: KINGS AT OILERS, 10 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN

FRI., APRIL 21: OILERS AT KINGS, 10 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT

SUN., APRIL 23: OILERS AT KINGS, 9 P.M. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS

TUE., APRIL 25: KINGS AT OILERS, TBA

SAT., APRIL 29: OILERS AT KINGS, TBA

MON., MAY 1: KINGS AT OILERS, TBA

* IF NECESSARY

TBD – TO BE DETERMINED

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD

DETROIT 7 SAN FRANCISCO 6 (11)

CLEVELAND 6 WASHINGTON 4

NY METS 3 OAKLAND 2

ATLANTA 9 KANSAS CITY 3

SEATTLE 9 COLORADO 2

NY YANKEES 6 MINNESOTA 1

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 7 BALTIMORE 6 (10)

TORONTO 5 TAMPA BAY 2

BOSTON 9 LA ANGELS 7

HOUSTON 8 TEXAS 2

PITTSBURGH 6 ST. LOUIS 3 (10)

CINCINNATI 13 PHILADELPHIA 0

SAN DIEGO 10 MILWAUKEE 3

MIAMI 3 ARIZONA 2

LA DODGERS 2 CHICAGO CUBS 1

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INDIANAPOLIS 9 ST. PAUL 2

SOUTH BEND 9 BELOIT 1

FORT WAYNE 12 LAKE COUNTY 11

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

CHARLOTTE 2 COLORADO 2

COLUMBUS 1 NEW ENGLAND 1

DC 1 MONTRÉAL 0

NEW YORK CITY 2 NASHVILLE 1

TORONTO 2 ATLANTA 2

NEW YORK 1 HOUSTON 1

AUSTIN 0 VANCOUVER 0

CHICAGO 2 PHILADELPHIA 2

DALLAS 2 SALT LAKE 1

ORLANDO 2 MINNESOTA 1

PORTLAND 4 SEATTLE 1

SAN JOSE 3 KANSAS CITY 0

ST. LOUIS 5 CINCINNATI 1

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

NBA PLAYOFFS

HARDEN SCORES 23 AS 76ERS CRUISE PAST NETS 121-101 IN GAME 1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) James Harden feels more at home in Philly this postseason go-around than he did a year when he was still finding his footing after a trade. It helps that The Beard knows his role alongside Joel Embiid, has his health, – and his signature step-back is back on point from beyond the arc.

“He’s confident in how we play now,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Last year, even when he was playing, it was, am I doing the right thing here?”

Harden had all the right moves against the Nets.

Harden hit seven 3-pointers and had 23 points and 13 assists, NBA MVP finalist Embiid scored 26 points and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed back Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory on Saturday.

Tobias Harris added 21 points and the 76ers hit a postseason team-record 21 3s in the opener of this Eastern Conference playoff series. The Sixers are trying to win their first NBA championship since 1983 and advance past the second round for the first time since 2001.

The No. 3-seeded 76ers host Game 2 on Monday.

Bridges scored 30 points and helped the Nets at least hang around in the first half.

But Brooklyn’s starless roster was no match for Embiid, Harden and a playoff-tested roster expected to make a deep run in the postseason. The Sixers had a sellout crowd of 20,913 in a frenzy from the opening tip, then blew the game open in the fourth.

Philly got it done even without a vintage effort from Embiid.

Embiid made only 7 of 15 shots (and all 11 free throws) and was flustered at times against double-teams that followed him all over the court. Embiid was smacked in the face on a missed dunk that sent him crashing to the court in an attempt to draw a flagrant foul. Embiid got heated when he had his arm locked up by Royce O’Neale and the two briefly tussled.

The off-night from the floor wasn’t good enough for Nets coach Jacque Vaughn.

“Hopefully, they’ll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella the next game,” Vaughn said.

No worries for the Sixers, though. Harden, who topped the league in assists this season, picked up the slack and stuck it to the Nets with his step-back 3s.

“I couldn’t make a layup,” the 33-year-old Harden said with a laugh. “But that’s the least of my worries. My legs, my body feels just powerful, feels strong.”

Harden’s ineffectiveness around the rim in the first half — he was 1 of 8 on 2s — was offset by his 5-of-7 shooting on 3s. He buried two 3s late against his former team in the second quarter that stretched the lead to double digits.

“He looked great from 3,” Embiid said.

Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, could not impose his will against Brooklyn as he had this season to become an MVP finalist. He only took seven shots in the first half.

Unlike the regular season, when the Sixers were crushed by the non-Embiid minutes, the reserves came through. De’Anthony Melton, Jalen McDaniels and Georges Niang all hit 3s — the 76ers made 13 of 21 in the half — to keep them in control of Game 1.

Bridges kept Game 1 from becoming an early rout in a homecoming effort.

Bridges attended Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, then played three seasons at Villanova. Bridges helped the Wildcats win two national championship — the 2016 and 2018 national championship banners hang in the Wells Fargo Center rafters. Bridges seemed he would stay in the area when he was drafted by the 76ers with the No. 10 pick in the 2018 draft.

Then came a pair of embarrassments in rapid succession: Bridges celebrated on draft night with his mom, who worked at the time for the 76ers. The feel-good reunion lasted about 15 minutes and Bridges was traded to Phoenix for Zhaire Smith. Bridges is now a bona fide NBA star while Smith flamed out after only 13 career NBA games.

Philly fans can only imagine Bridges in this lineup.

He made 10 of 16 shots for 23 points in the first half and kept the Nets, who opened the season with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and championship aspirations, within nine at halftime.

“It feels good to make some shots,” Bridges said. “But I’d rather miss shots and win. It’s whatever.”

TIP-INS

Nets: Took 70 shots compared to 89 for the 76ers. … Lost second-chance points 21-3.

76ers: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni rang the ceremonial bell. … Backup C Paul Reed scored 11 points. … The previous high for 3s in a playoff game was 18, which had been done twice.

FAMILY AFFAIR

Brooklyn’s Seth Curry scored 10 points in his family reunion against his father-in-law, Rivers.

Rivers said coaching against Curry, who played under his father-in-law with the 76ers before he was traded last season, was “awkward.”

“Talking to my daughter this morning, I just thought she was cold,” Rivers said, laughing. “I didn’t appreciate the conversation.”

BROWN SCORES 29, CELTICS HOLD OFF LATE RALLY BY HAWKS 112-99

BOSTON (AP) After an opener that went from rout to flirting with catastrophe, the Boston Celtics got both a win and an early reminder of how lulls could spell doom in the playoffs.

Jaylen Brown had 29 points and 12 rebounds, and the Celtics capitalized on a woeful shooting performance by the Atlanta Hawks to hold on for 112-99 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round matchup on Saturday.

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points, 21 in the first half. Derrick White finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which hosts Game 2 on Tuesday.

“We expect to get their best shot,” Brown said. “We let them get a little more comfortable in the second half, so I expect the next game for them to be a little more prepared. So we’ve got to be a little more prepared as well.”

It was Brown’s first game since missing the final two of the regular season with a cut on a finger on his shooting hand. He played with tape and wrap.

He played through pain, hitting on 12 of 23 field goal attempts, but had six turnovers. He said it as hard to grip the ball and his hand “split open” at one point. It will be examined Sunday.

The No. 2-seeded Celtics led by as many as 32 points, pouncing on an Atlanta team that missed its first 10 3-point attempts and shot 5 of 29 from beyond the arc for the game.

Atlanta used a 32-12 run to cut the deficit to 96-84 on a three-point play by Bogdan Bogdanovic early in the fourth.

The Celtics got the lead back up to 107-87. It was 110-97 with less than two minutes to play when Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter got free on fast break. But his layup attempt was blocked by Marcus Smart.

“Human nature plays a part. But we don’t want things like that to haunt us,” Tatum said.

Smart, last season’s NBA Defensive Player of Year, finished with three steals and two blocks.

Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Trae Young added 16 points.

“You can’t be down that much and expect to come back and win,” Young said. “But we still fought. We were being aggressive in that second half.”

Despite Atlanta’s late push, the Celtics sizzled from all points on the floor, connecting on 13 3 pointers.

After dropping in his third 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half, Tatum spread his arms out wide as he backed down the court to an ovation from the TD Garden crowd.

A big part of Boston’s game plan coming in was neutralizing Young and Murray, Atlanta’s top two scorers. The Celtics did that and a lot more in the first three quarters.

Young missed his first six shots beyond the arc and was 5 of 18 from the field. Murray was 10 of 25 from the floor.

In a move to match Atlanta’s speed, Boston went small, starting White instead of big man Robert Williams in a lineup alongside Al Horford, Tatum, Brown and Smart.

It seemed to neutralize the Hawks’ attack.

Young had an especially rough start. He had a pass the first possession of the game stolen by Brown and had his first field goal attempt blocked by White on the way to missing his first six shots.

Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said before the game a point of emphasis would be not to turn down open 3s or be deterred by misses.

That wish was tested as Hawks shot 9 of 25 from the field in the opening period and 0 for 9 from beyond the arc as the Celtics took to a 29-19 lead.

Despite the late drop-off, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he’s not worried about the late-game malaise carrying over.

“I’m not concerned at all,” he said. “This team has played great for the entire season. That’s going to happen. It’s actually good that we went through it. We had to feel that and it’s important that we learn from it.”

TIP-INS

Hawks: Outscored the Celtics 31-20 in the third quarter. … Young’s 28-footer early in the second quarter was Atlanta’s first made 3 of the game. Atlanta shot 1 of 16 from 3 in the first half.

Celtics: Outscored Hawks 45-25 in second quarter. …Tatum had 13 first-quarter points. … The seats inside TD Garden were draped with T-shirts that read “Unfinished Business,” a reference to Boston’s run last season that came up short in its NBA Finals’ loss to Golden State. The “I” and “S” in unfinished were both highlighted, with the “S” fashioned to look like an “8,” a nod to the 18th championship being sought by the franchise.

BRUNSON, RANDLE PUSH KNICKS PAST CAVALIERS 101-97 IN GAME 1

CLEVELAND (AP) Julius Randle joked about being out of shape and Josh Hart walked into the postgame news conference wearing a T-shirt with a photo of teammate Jalen Brunson on the front.

The Knicks could finally relax.

Finally at full strength, and following a worrisome few weeks, New York’s season looks much brighter.

Brunson shook off foul trouble and scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half, Randle returned from an ankle injury to add 19 – and a critical final rebound – and the Knicks welcomed Cleveland back to the NBA playoffs by holding off the Cavaliers 101-97 on Saturday night in Game 1.

Brunson was limited to nine minutes in the first half, but hit several big shots down the stretch as the Knicks turned back Cleveland’s late rally led by All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 38 points.

With the Knicks clinging to a 99-97 lead, Brunson missed a pullup with nine seconds left and Randle bailed out New York with his 10th rebound – and the team’s 17th offensive board – that led to Quentin Grimes making two free throws to seal the win.

“You can’t say enough about the monster rebound Julius made at the end,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That rebound was huge. Huge.”

Randle hadn’t played since March 29 because of a sprained left ankle, and said he was thankful he had enough energy for one last jump.

“You see me breathing out there today?” said Randle, who played 34 minutes. “I was tired as hell. But it was just about winning at that point.”

Randle was reminded that the Knicks had a similar play in Game 1 against Atlanta in 2021 but didn’t come up with the ball.

“Funny how things turn, right,” he said.

Game 2 is Tuesday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Mitchell scored 14 points in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough for the young Cavs, who disappointed a raucous, towel-waving Cleveland crowd that hadn’t seen a playoff game since the 2018 NBA Finals.

It’s been a long road back for Cleveland, which wasn’t as hurt by its inexperience as lack of production from the bench.

“First off, this isn’t the end of the world. We got to go get one right back,” Mitchell said. “There’s no room to sit here and feel sorry or feel upset and get down. It’s one game. We will respond.”

Hart added 17 points – and hit a big 3-pointer down the stretch – and 10 rebounds in his playoff debut for New York, whose reserves outscored the Cavs 37-14.

Darius Garland scored 17 points and Jarrett Allen had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Cleveland. Evan Mobley had eight points of 4-of-13 shooting.

Randle missed New York’s final five games after rolling his ankle on March 29, and the injury threatened to thwart New York’s playoff hopes. However, he improved this week despite not taking much contact in practice and looked like himself from the outset.

His presence lifted the Knicks.

“Seeing No. 30 out there was just a great sight,” said Obi Toppin, who scored nine points in the third quarter.

Brunson picked up his second foul with 7:52 left in the first quarter, and Thibodeau had no choice but to replace the guard, who scored a career-high 48 points against the Cavs on March 31 – the first game Randle missed.

Brunson’s foul trouble had Hart concerned he made a poor fashion choice.

“I told him I was going to wear it at some point,” Hart said. “Then he gets into foul trouble the day I wear it, so I’m going to go burn it and never wear it again.”

The Cavs didn’t take advantage with Brunson out as New York reeled off 10 straight points and led 30-24 after one.

Brunson was back on the bench with his third foul midway through the second. Again, Cleveland failed to capitalize and the Knicks led 50-45 at half.

SCARY MOMENT

Mitchell landed hard on his lower back after vaulting off a courtside table and landing several rows into the stands while saving a loose ball in the second quarter.

He winced in pain while behind helped up and returning to the floor. Mitchell then thanked fans who cushioned his fall during a subsequent timeout.

“I jumped at them intentionally, but they moved,” said Mitchell, who sustained a small cut on his arm. “I don’t blame them. I probably would have done the same thing. It’s all love.”

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

The Knicks have dominated the Cavs in the postseason, winning all three previous playoff series.

New York swept a three-game series in 1978 at the Coliseum in Richfield, won 3-1 in 1995 at Gund Arena and swept a best-of-5 series in 1996.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Impossible to miss while wearing New York’s bright orange, super fan Spike Lee sat courtside. … Recorded seven offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter.

Cavaliers: Mitchell is the fourth Cleveland to score at least 38 in a playoff game, joining LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Brad Daugherty. … Cleveland hosted its 81st playoff game in the building, which was previously known as Gund Arena and Quicken Loans Arena. … Four teams have winning postseason records in the arena – the Knicks (5-0), the Spurs (2-0), the Warriors (6-4) and Cavs (57-24). … Browns star Myles Garrett and coach Kevin Stefanski sat near Cleveland’s bench along with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

FOX LEADS KINGS PAST WARRIORS 126-123 IN PLAYOFF RETURN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) De’Aaron Fox finished off a dazzling playoff debut that was years in the making and had one more task to do.

With the home crowd counting down following an exhilarating return to the postseason, Fox pressed the button and lit the ceremonial beam, letting out 17 seasons of frustration for Sacramento.

“Sacramento showed out tonight,” Fox said. “But doing this for the fans, just knowing the way that they support this team through thick and thin – really thin. It’s just a testament to the way they are.”

Fox was the biggest reason why, scoring 38 points to tie for the second highest playoff debut in NBA history to lead the Kings to a 126-123 victory over the defending-champion Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.

Fox scored 29 points in the second half after taking time to adjust to the playoff physicality and hit the 3-pointer that gave Sacramento the lead for good late in the fourth quarter.

Fox took until his sixth season to reach the postseason stage but announced himself as a star as only Luka Doncic scored more points in a playoff debut with 42 against Dallas three years ago.

“You need guys like that on your side because they know everything that we’re throwing at them,” coach Mike Brown said. “There’s no secrets. You have to have guys on your team that can go make plays and Foxy went and made plays tonight.”

The first playoff meeting between the Northern California neighbors lived up to the hype and delighted the raucous crowd that had been waiting for a playoff game since 2006.

The inexperienced Kings closed the game strong against a Warriors team that won four titles in the previous eight seasons.

After Stephen Curry hit a corner 3-pointer to give Golden State a 114-112 lead with about four minutes left, the Kings responded with seven in a row starting with a 3-pointer from Fox.

The Warriors didn’t go away and cut the deficit to one on a layup by Curry in the final minute. But Andrew Wiggins missed a corner 3 for the lead in the closing seconds of his first game in more than two months.

“That last one felt amazing,” Wiggins said of the last shot. “Only up from here. … I’m here to compete and I believe in myself.”

Malik Monk made two free throws to make it 126-123 with 2.9 seconds left. Curry missed a runner from 3 at the buzzer, giving the Kings their first playoff win since April 30, 2006, against San Antonio.

“That first game is kind of a feeling out process,” Curry said. “We responded. That’s what we are capable of doing. It was a high energy game from start to finish.”

Monk finished with 32 points off the bench and Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Curry led the Warriors with 30 points, Klay Thompson added 21 and Wiggins and Poole scored 18 apiece.

It was a festive environment in success-starved Sacramento where fans gathered outside the arena hours before the start of the Kings first playoff game following an NBA record 16-year drought.

The arena was deafening starting in pregame warmups with some fans even bringing back the cow bells that were so common during their playoff runs two decades ago.

“It was incredible all night,” forward Harrison Barnes said. “When guys ran out for layup lines with how loud it got in there and I think everyone got chills.”

The excitement appeared to take a toll on the inexperienced Kings, who struggled shooting the ball early. Sacramento shot just 39.2% in the first half and trailed Golden State 61-55 at the half.

The Warriors built the lead to 10 points in the third quarter before Sacramento ended the quarter on a 15-4 run fueled by 10 points from Trey Lyles to take a 91-90 lead into the fourth.

WIGGINS’ RETURN

Wiggins showed few signs of rust in his first game in more than two months after leaving the team to deal with an undisclosed family matter.

Wiggins came off the bench after starting his first 657 games in the NBA and made an immediate impact. He had his first shot attempt blocked but hustled back for a block of his own on the defensive end.

The only thing missing from his game was the outside shot as he was 1 for 8 from 3.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Golden State opened a series on the road for the fourth time in 25 playoff series under Steve Kerr. The Warriors won Game 1 and the series in the 2018 Western Conference Finals against Houston and the second round against Memphis last season. Golden State lost the opener of the 2019 Finals and the series to Toronto.

Kings: Sacramento starters missed their first 15 attempts from 3-point range before Fox hit one late in the third quarter,

UP NEXT

Game 2 is Monday night in Sacramento. The Warriors haven’t fallen behind 2-0 in a playoff series since the second round against Utah in 2007.

NFL NEWS-DRAFT 2023, THE TOP INTERIOR LINEMEN

The 2023 NFL Draft is loaded with talented interior blockers possessing the capacity to play guard or center. The versatility will enable teams to peg the majority of the top prospects as swing players with the potential to fill multiple spots in the lineup. Torrence is the crown jewel of the class as a massive (6-5, 330 pounds) interior blocker with heavy hands and explosive power. The Louisiana/Florida product flashes dominant ability as a people mover in the ground game, while displaying enough quickness and skill to handle top interior rushers in pass protection. Schmitz is an athletic center with the movement skills to pull, climb and reach defenders at the line of scrimmage or on the second level. In addition, the Minnesota pivot plays with the edginess that most offensive coaches covet in front-line players. Avila is a rock-solid pass protector with the strength, power, balance and body control to anchor against elite interior rushers. The TCU product plays with quick hands and active feet to stop defenders in their tracks. Though Avila could play with more aggression in the run game, the talented technician plays winning football at the point of attack. Wypler is a polished technician with the movement skills to excel on pulls or climb-blocks in space. The Ohio State standout is Day 1 ready, with a toolbox that could make him an immediate difference-maker as a rookie. Tippmann is an athletic pivot with outstanding instincts and awareness. The Wisconsin product is a high-IQ player with the tools and intangibles to develop into a solid starter early in his career.

O’CYRUS TORRENCE FLORIDA

The massive Torrence earned all-district and all-state honors at St. Helena Central High School in Louisiana and signed with the University of Louisiana to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He immediately stepped into the starting lineup in Lafayette, beginning 13 of 14 contests at left guard in 2019. Torrence was a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection as a sophomore, when he started all 11 games at right guard. He ascended to first-team All-SBC accolades as a junior, starting 12 games at right guard and missing two due to injury. Torrence followed his Louisiana head coach, Billy Napier, to Florida for the 2022 season, where he garnered first-team Associated Press All-American honors as well as first-team All-SEC notice for his play in 11 starts at right guard. He opted out of the Las Vegas Bowl, thus finishing his career without giving up a sack.

Overview

Broad guard prospect whose physical limitations are balanced by his feel for the job and ability to use his size in his favor. Torrence is not a natural bender. He is forced to engulf and push rather than leverage and drive as a run blocker, but he’s solid at neutralizing the man across from him. He uses his hands well to jab and maintain feel for the rush, but quick interior rushers with well-developed counters could be too much for his limited foot quickness to handle without help. He projects as a future starter for downhill offenses who covet size over athleticism.

Strengths

• Very broad across the chest and waist.
• Wide build creates impediment for interior pass rushers.
• Uses independent hands for added balance in pass pro.
• Quick to read twists and search for adjusted assignments.
• Penalty-free throughout the 2022 season, per PFF.
• Adequate contact pop with ability to neutralize opponent’s power.
• Size helps to generate movement as a drive blocker.
• Held his own in matchups against Georgia’s Jalen Carter.
• Above average strain to sustain his blocks.

Weaknesses

• Somewhat indecisive when faced with pressure looks.
• Struggles to effectively mirror athletic rushers.
• Overextension in pass sets opens him to counters.
• Unable to bend and create proper leverage into contact.
• Heavy-legged lunger on the second level.
• Very average production on double-team blocks.

JOHN MICHAEL SCHMITZ MINNESOTA

Minnesota brought in Schmitz as a three-star recruit and top-10 center prospect nationally out of Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Illinois. He played in 13 games as a reserve his redshirt freshman campaign, then started four of 13 games played at center the following year. Schmitz started six games in 2020, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from league coaches for his efforts. He was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference pick in 2021 as a 13-game starter for the Gophers. Schmitz returned for a sixth season in 2022, garnering first-team Associated Press All-American and all-conference honors for his play in 12 starts. He opted out of the team’s bowl game. Schmitz was a second-team Academic All-American selection in 2022.

Overview

Schmitz is a highly consistent zone-scheme center with decent size. He is well-schooled in all phases of the run game. He consistently uses the proper footwork and angles to find early positioning and has the tenacity to finish blocks at a high rate. He has plus football intelligence and makes the calls for his offense. His drive power is average and he can be hit-or-miss getting to second-level targets. Schmitz lacks length and his edges will get a little leaky in pass protection from time to time, but his overall technique and teamwork in the run game should create a plug-and-play opportunity in the pros.

Strengths

• Makes all the calls up front.
• Lateral quickness for reach blocks in outside zone.
• Patient to find lateral positioning before engaging the block.
• Captures defender’s edge with firm outside hand.
• Plays with outstanding teamwork inside his scheme.
• Consistent as a block finisher.
• Maintains proper balance to pass and receive twists.
• Able to unlock hips and ankles to drop a sudden anchor.

Weaknesses

• Below average adjustments to moving targets.
• Can improve his timing when working up to his second block.
• Arm length is below average.
• Gets overextended with aggressive pass-setting slides.
• Allows his edges to become too leaky when his edge is attacked.

STEVE AVILA TCU

Avila (pronounced Ah-VEE-la) was a four-star recruit from South Grand Prairie High School in Arlington, Texas, just a 30-minute drive from TCU in Fort Worth. He played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 before earning honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades for his play as a sophomore in nine starts (six at center, two at right tackle, one at right guard). Avila was a second-team all-conference pick in 2021, starting 11 games at center. He moved to left guard in 2022 with the addition of SMU transfer Alan Ali and garnered second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-Big 12 honors as a 15-game starter for the playoff-bound Horned Frogs. He didn’t allow a single sack in 515 pass-blocking snaps in his final season at TCU.

Overview

Three-year starter who offers versatility, power and athleticism. Playing at a lighter weight should not be a problem if teams want that from him. His girth makes him resistant to opposing power, and he’s light enough on his feet for pass protection duties and run blocks that extend beyond the box. He’s not a consistently nasty finisher and below average hand work has a clear impact on his ability to sustain blocks. Avila is likely to start right away as a Day 2 draft pick and should have a solid NFL career as either a guard or center.

Strengths

• Team captain.
• Full season of starting experience at both center and left guard.
• Frame is dense and capable of absorbing contact.
• Plays with good flexion and body control for a man his size.
• Able to snap hips into initial block fits.
• Seal blocks create sturdy wall for A-gap run tunnels.
• Pass sets tend to be balanced and firm throughout the rep.
• Lateral slides to mirror and defend his edges.

Weaknesses

• Occasional delays in recognizing twist setups.
• Needs to steady his hands and improve his punch accuracy in pass pro.
• Could use better rhythm and control with settle steps into first strike.
• Has a tendency to play too tall at the point of attack.
• More of a banger than a sustainer on the second level.
• Inconsistent hand usage prevents steering and cinching up blocks.

LUKE WYPLER OHIO STATE

Wypler was an all-state tackle at St. Joseph Regional High School in New Jersey, then moved inside at Ohio State. He enrolled a semester early in 2020 and played in one game his redshirt season. Wypler took over the starting center job for all 13 contests in 2021 after expected starter Harry Miller stepped away for mental health reasons. Wypler was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection as a 13-game starter in the pivot in 2022. 

Overview

Two-year starter at center for an explosive Ohio State offense. Wypler is undersized but highly athletic. His initial quickness gets him to the best angles, whether he’s cutting off linebackers or reaching and sealing outside zone blocks. He’s capable of pulling and leading the action in space, and is best suited for a move-based running attack. His lack of size and length will show up when working downhill, where struggles to sustain. He’s aware in pass protection but big bull rushers are a cause for concern. Wypler is a good technician and capable of becoming an average starter in the right scheme.

Strengths

• Communicates calls and alerts to his fellow offensive linemen.
• Snap-to-step quickness for A-gap blocks.
• Athletic pulling around the edge and finding his work.
• Acceleration to reach and seal his zone targets.
• Climbs to linebackers at winning angles.
• Keeps feet moving in space to sustain the block.
• Punches with inside hands.
• Maintains proper base width through rush mirror.

Weaknesses

• Arms are short by NFL standards.
• Had issues snapping the ball at the correct time in 2021, which resulted in penalties.
• Will lose control of the base block due to lack of length.
• Has trouble dealing with power players over him.
• Can be driven back into quarterback by bull rush.
• Could struggle finding redirection of A-gap blitzers.

JOE TIPPMANN WISCONSIN

Wisconsin grabbed the Indiana Mr. Football Offensive Lineman out of Bishop Dwenger High School. He played in two games as a redshirt freshman in 2020 before taking the reins of the offense in 2021, starting 11 of 12 games played at center to garner honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference recognition. Big Ten coaches voted him honorable mention again in 2022, as he started 12 games in the pivot before opting out of the team’s bowl game.

Overview

Two-year starter with the weight room strength and athleticism for work in a variety of run schemes. Tippmann is taller than your average center, but he can bend enough to neutralize at the point of attack. He’s a fluid move blocker who can make wide pulls, climbing cut-offs and adjustments to moving targets in space. He’s recognized for his football intelligence in the pivot and is an effective communicator. He needs to play with better posture and tighter hands to stay mirrored in protection and to improve his body control through engagement. Tippmann’s size, strength, smarts and athleticism should help him become a starter in the NFL.

Strengths

• Proportional thickness with strength to neutralize.
• High football IQ with ability to make calls and adjustments.
• Unlocks hips and rolls them into blocks.
• Plus athlete who can zone block, pull or climb with relative ease.
• Fluid with reactive athleticism to adjust to targets in space.
• Flexible lower body allows him to cast solid protection anchor.
• Keeps head on a swivel to spy and protect both A-gaps.
• Dumps blitzers on the ground with upper body power.

Weaknesses

• Off-balance when playing too far forward off the snap.
• Must make concerted effort to keep pad level low.
• Average balance and body control through sustain phase.
• Leads with helmet/pads, leaving frame open to defenders’ hands.
• Lacks leverage to generate drive movement at the point.
• Needs to play with flatter back and inside hands.
• Leaning slows lateral transitions to mirror incoming twists.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS

MLB ROUNDUP: RAYS DROP SECOND STRAIGHT TO JAYS AFTER 13-0 START

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi struck out nine over six innings, and Toronto defeated visiting Tampa Bay 5-2 Saturday.

The Rays entered the series having won their first 13 games of the season, tying a modern baseball record for best start (since 1900). Toronto has now won the first two games of the three-game set and sits three games back in the divisional race. Kikuchi (2-0) allowed one run, four hits and one walk.

Taylor Walls hit a solo homer for Tampa Bay, and Wander Franco had three hits.

Josh Lowe and Manuel Margot led off the ninth with singles against Jordan Romano. Brandon Lowe blooped a one-out single to load the bases. Romano got the final two outs on a strikeout and a comebacker to earn his sixth save of the season.

Yankees 6, Twins 1

Domingo German was checked out three times by umpires for possible sticky substances, retired the first 16 hitters he faced and pitched 6 1/3 outstanding innings as New York beat visiting Minnesota in an event-filled game.

At the end of the third, German (1-1) had his hands examined and umpires checked his glove. German was examined before throwing a pitch in the fourth and was allowed to continue. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was ejected by crew chief James Hoye following an animated discussion with umpires.

German, who struck out 10 of the first 15 hitters, also was checked out coming off the mound after the sixth. German allowed one run on three hits and set a career high by striking out 11 batters, five days after walking five and getting no strikeouts in Cleveland. Jose Miranda had an RBI double to bring home Minnesota’s only run.

Padres 10, Brewers 3

Jake Cronenworth hit a pair of two-run homers and finished with six RBIs as San Diego defeated visiting Milwaukee to end a three-game losing streak.

Cronenworth’s first homer off Brewers starter Freddy Peralta broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth. Cronenworth’s second homer, a 410-foot line drive to center off Hoby Milner, capped a three-run seventh. It was the first multi-homer game of Cronenworth’s career.

Steven Wilson (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Seth Lugo to earn his first win of the season. Lugo gave up three runs on eight hits and a walk, with five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Peralta (2-1) took the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings.

Tigers 7, Giants 6 (11 innings)

Pinch hitter Miguel Cabrera bounced an RBI single through a drawn-in infield, giving host Detroit a victory over San Francisco.

Automatic runner Spencer Torkelson moved to third on a wild pitch before Cabrera’s single off Taylor Rogers (0-2). Javy Baez had two hits, two RBIs and a run for Detroit, which rallied from a five-run deficit to win its third straight game. Kerry Carpenter added a solo homer and winning pitcher Chasen Shreve (1-1) pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

J.D. Davis homered and drove in three runs and Blake Sabol added a two-run homer for the Giants.

White Sox 7, Orioles 6 (10 innings)

Yasmani Grandal drove in a run with a 10th-inning double and pinch runner Seby Zavala scored on Oscar Colas’ game-winning single as Chicago edged visiting Baltimore.

Jake Burger homered and drove in three runs for the White Sox, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Grandal had three hits, and Andrew Vaughn, Andrew Benintendi, Elvis Andrus and Burger all had two hits for Chicago.

Adley Rutschman’s fielder’s choice grounder in the top of the 10th inning gave the Orioles a brief lead.

Pirates 6, Cardinals 3 (10 innings)

Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning as Pittsburgh defeated host St. Louis.

Rodolfo Castro went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Pirates, who have won eight of their last 12 games. Ke’Bryan Hayes and Connor Joe each went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Cardinals starter Steven Matz allowed two runs on three hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings. Jordan Hicks (0-1), the fourth Cardinals pitcher, allowed three runs (two earned) to take the loss.

Guardians 6, Nationals 4

Third baseman Jose Ramirez broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth inning with a massive homer and visiting Cleveland beat Washington in the second game of a three-game series.

The game was delayed 1 hour, 40 minutes by thunderstorms and showers in Washington, but the Nationals came out swinging in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs off Cleveland right-hander Zach Plesac (1-0) as the weather cleared up.

The Guardians tied the game in the top of the fourth and grabbed the lead in the fifth when Ramirez blasted his first homer of the year — a towering 420-foot shot over the right field bullpens into the second deck.

Mets 3, Athletics 2

Pete Alonso and Mark Canha hit home runs, Brandon Nimmo broke a seventh-inning tie with an RBI double and visiting New York made it two straight wins over Oakland.

After A’s starter Shintaro Fujinami (0-3) had taken a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, it took the Mets just four pitches to tie the game when Canha smacked his second homer of the season. Fujinami then issued his second walk of the game to Daniel Vogelbach, before Trevor May came on to record two outs just after pinch runner Tim Locastro stole second. Nimmo then lashed a double down the right field line, easily plating the eventual game-winning run that extended New York’s winning streak to three games.

The A’s did all their scoring in the second. A single by Ramon Laureano and a double by Aledmys Diaz set the stage for an RBI infield out by Conner Capel and a two-out, run-scoring single by Esteury Ruiz.

Braves 9, Royals 3

Sean Murphy and Ozzie Albies both had three hits and drove in four runs as visiting Atlanta extended its winning streak to five games with a victory over Kansas City.

Murphy was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, two runs and was hit by a pitch. Albies was 3-for-5 and helped put the game away with a two-out single that drove in two runs in the eighth inning. The winning pitcher was Bryce Elder (2-0), who pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs. It was his fourth straight multi-hit game. The losing pitcher was Kris Bubic (0-2), who gave up five runs on 10 hits with one walk and three strikeouts over five innings.

Red Sox 9, Angels 7

Yu Chang went 2-for-4 with a home run and the game-winning single as host Boston beat Los Angeles.

After Enrique Hernandez hit a leadoff single and two catcher’s interference calls loaded the bases to begin the eighth inning, Chang flipped the score Boston’s way with a two-run knock through the left side. Angels reliever Ryan Tepera (1-1) walked Rob Refsnyder to force in an insurance run as Boston earned its second straight win to begin the series.

Refsnyder and Rafael Devers, who homered in the first inning, had two RBIs apiece. Ryan Brasier (1-0) earned the win after a scoreless eighth inning. Kenley Jansen recorded his second save in as many days. Gio Urshela hit a first-inning grand slam and had five RBIs to lead the Angels. Mike Trout was 3-for-4 with two doubles, including the 300th of his career.

Reds 13, Phillies 0

Wil Myers homered twice, drove in five runs and played spectacular defense in support of six shutout innings from Graham Ashcraft as Cincinnati blanked visiting Philadelphia.

Myers crushed a Matt Strahm (1-1) fastball 406 feet off the facade in left field for a 1-0 Cincinnati lead in the second inning. With runners on second and third in the third, Myers hit the first pitch from reliever Andrew Bellatti to the seats in left center for a three-run homer and a 4-0 Reds advantage. Myers added an RBI double off reliever McKinley Moore in the fifth and a single off position pitcher Josh Harrison in the eighth.

On the mound, Ashcraft (2-0) was in complete control. After allowing the first two batters to reach in the first, Ashcraft settled down to retire the next three batters. He allowed four hits, struck out four and walked four. In two home starts, Ashcraft has allowed just one run on eight hits over 13 innings.

Marlins 3, Diamondbacks 2

Luis Arraez, who leads the majors in batting average, came off the bench to deliver the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning, powering host Miami to a win over Arizona.

The Marlins, who have won four straight games, also got a solo homer from Garrett Hampson. Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless ninth inning to give Miami its second straight series win after beating the Phillies twice earlier this week. It was Scott’s first save this season after getting 20 a year ago.

Neither starting pitcher earned a decision. Miami’s Braxton Garrett allowed four hits, one walk and one run in 5 2/3 innings. Garrett lowered his ERA from 4.70 to 3.38. Arizona’s Ryne Nelson allowed five hits, no walks and one run in six frames. He lowered his ERA from 4.91 to 3.71.

Astros 8, Rangers 2

Starter Hunter Brown matched his career high by working seven innings, and host Houston batted around in the seventh inning of its win over Texas.

Brown (2-0) limited the Rangers to two unearned runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts. He faced the minimum over his last three innings after recording inning-ending strikeouts of Josh Jung and Leody Taveras in the third and fourth. Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia recorded RBI singles in the second, but Brown limited the damage with strikeouts of Nathaniel Lowe and Jung, the latter with the bases full.

The Astros broke it open with their five-run seventh, starting that rally against Rangers right-hander Ian Kennedy. Seven consecutive batters reached with one out, starting with Jake Meyers, who singled. Yordan Alvarez walked with the bases loaded to plate Meyers and Jose Abreu followed with a chopper that Rangers shortstop Josh H. Smith failed to glove. Mauricio Dubon and Alex Bregman scored to extend the Houston lead to 6-2 and, two batters later, Jeremy Pena roped a two-run double to left off Josh Sborz.

Mariners 9, Rockies 2

Julio Rodriguez hit a three-run triple and had four RBIs as Seattle won its third straight game, defeating visiting Colorado.

Eugenio Suarez added a solo homer and George Kirby (1-1) made a quality start. The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings, with no walks and three strikeouts.

The Rockies lost their fourth game in a row. Colorado starter Ryan Feltner (0-2) cruised through the first three innings but couldn’t make it out of the fourth.

Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

David Peralta delivered a two-run, pinch-hit single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Los Angeles a dramatic victory over visiting Chicago.

Peralta grounded the first pitch he saw from Michael Fulmer (0-1) through the right side of the infield and just past the diving attempt of Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner. James Outman easily scored from third base and Miguel Vargas beat the throw from Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki to score from second.

Vargas had two of Los Angeles’ five hits. Shelby Miller (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth as the Dodgers won for just the third time in eight games. Chicago took a 1-0 lead into the ninth thanks to Patrick Wisdom’s homer and Cody Bellinger, who robbed Jason Heyward of a two-run homer in the second inning.

NHL NEWS

BLUE JACKETS FIRE COACH BRAD LARSEN AFTER 2 SEASONS

(AP) — Brad Larsen has been fired as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets after two seasons without a playoff appearance, a move general manager Jarmo Kekalainen called “absolutely a necessary change that we needed to make.”

Kekalainen did not elaborate on why he thought Larsen wasn’t the right person to lead the team from behind the bench. He informed Larsen and players of his decision Saturday morning and was not interested in explaining exactly when he made it.

“We need a change,” Kekalainen said. “That became clear that we need a change.”

The Blue Jackets finished last in the Eastern Conference and 31st out of 32 NHL teams. While they were ravaged by injuries throughout the season after beginning it with expectations to contend, the call was made nevertheless to move on from Larsen, who had been under contract through next season.

Columbus lost 102 of 164 games since Larsen succeeded John Tortorella as coach. Goaltending coach Manny Legace also will not be back after five seasons on the job.

“I’m not going to dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the coaches that got let go today, out of respect to them,” Kekalainen said. “But it was a lot of things that factored in that made us come to this conclusion, and it was absolutely necessary to make these moves.”

Larsen, 45, was a Blue Jackets assistant for seven years under Tortorella and predecessor Brad Richards before getting promoted.

When Blue Jackets President John Davidson and Kekalainen chose Larsen in 2021 over more experienced coaches, including Gerard Gallant and Rick Tocchet, they cited his communication skills and thought his institutional knowledge of the organization made him the best fit. Kekalainen said Larsen had earned the promotion and that he was “going to be a fresh, new voice.”

Larsen at the time said some patience would be needed.

“I’m going to learn more now,” he said at his introductory news conference. “I’m going to make mistakes – I promise you – but that’s part of the process.”

That process in Columbus will continue without Larsen. It may include Connor Bedard, the prospective No. 1 pick in the draft who is considered the most talented generational player since Connor McDavid entered the league in 2015. The Blue Jackets have the second-highest chance, 13.5%, of landing Bedard.

Winning the lottery could change the course of the franchise that came into existence in 2000 and has not gotten past the second round of the playoffs. Kekalainen said he was not going to rush into anything in the interview process and would see how the rest of the NHL landscape looks before hiring a coach.

Larsen became the third head coach since the NHL’s regular season ended to lose his job. Dallas Eakins will not return to the Anaheim Ducks after four consecutive losing seasons, and Peter Laviolette won’t be back for a fourth season with the Washington Capitals, who missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

Kekalainen won’t necessarily wait until after the lottery is drawn on May 8 to make a hire based on the outcome, even though it could affect immediate expectations.

“I don’t know if that would be the deciding factor,” Kekalainen said. “If the decision’s not made by then, it’s something that factors into what kind of team we have here next year. All those things go into the process of evaluating the next head coach and who it should be.”

PLAYOFF POWER RANKINGS: BRUINS THE FAVORITE, BUT WHO ELSE CAN MAKE A RUN?

You bet the Stanley Cup playoffs will be a thrill a minute this spring.

Now that the chase for hockey’s holy grail kicks off, there are a few slam dunk calls to make, but plenty of intrigue will arrive over the next couple of months until a championship is won.

Who will be the last team standing is no sure thing, but here is our ranking of the 16 remaining clubs in the battle for the crown.

16. Seattle Kraken. An incredible season for the second-year franchise earned the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot, but the reward is facing the defending champion Colorado Avalanche. Seattle’s goaltending — both net minders have sub-.900 save percentages — will not withstand Colorado’s attack.

15. Florida Panthers. Last year’s regular season champs claimed the final playoff spot this season and are up against the juggernaut Boston Bruins to start. Both teams finished in the top five in scoring, but while Boston was tops, by far, in goals against with 174, the Panthers surrendered 272.

14. Winnipeg Jets. Of all the goalies who played 20 or more games, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck was tied for fourth best with a .920 save percentage. His ability gives the Jets a chance against the Vegas Golden Knights.

13. Tampa Bay Lightning. The Cup champs of 2020 and ‘21 and finalists last season won only four of their final 12 regular-season games. They posted shutouts in three of those wins but surrendered 41 goals in the other games.

12. Los Angeles Kings. Not only do the Kings have injury concerns in Gabriel Vilardi, Kevin Fiala and Alexander Edler, but their special teams might be the difference against the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton’s league-best power play (32.4 percent) may have a field day against a Kings penalty kill ranked 24th (75.8 percent).

11. New York Islanders. Starting with the game Mathew Barzal was injured, early in the Feb. 18 clash with the Boston Bruins, the Islanders have been a miserable 6-for-57 on the power play. His return will be a huge boost and will help Bo Horvat be more productive.

10. Minnesota Wild. Kirill Kaprizov returned for a couple of games after missing 13 due to injury, which bodes well. Minnesota’s best hope for a run is for the likes of Matt Boldy, Frederick Gaudreau and Marcus Johansson to keep producing.

9. Carolina Hurricanes. The Metropolitan Division champs will be without Andrei Svechnikov regardless of how far they go, and that may not be a long journey. Without Svechnikov, the Hurricanes posted a 9-8-1 record and their power play sputtered at 5-for-46.

8. Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas has no clear-cut No. 1 goalie but likely will start with Laurent Brossoit, the backup in Winnipeg for three seasons. He posted a 7-0-3 record this season and took the reins down the stretch.

7. New Jersey Devils. Breakout seasons were all the rage for the Devils, who snapped a four-year playoff drought, led by Jack Hughes setting a franchise record with 99 points. Now to see how all their young, and lightning fast, stars fare against a more experienced Rangers squad.

6. Toronto Maple Leafs. Do the Maple Leafs win a playoff series for the first time since 2004? Doing it against the Lightning would put an exclamation on it. Toronto has lost eight consecutive series and has a shocking 0-10 mark in its last 10 potential clinching games.

5. Dallas Stars. Dallas is more than just its top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, who combined for 111 goals and 261 points. The Stars are the only team to finish in the top seven in goals for, goals against, power play and penalty kill.

4. New York Rangers. New York has a big-time attack with three potent lines, a much-improved power play since the addition of Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko and dynamic defenseman Adam Fox. The key down the stretch, though, was the play of goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who posted a 12-3-1 record with a 1.98 goals-against average and .934 save percentage since Feb. 26.

3. Edmonton Oilers. We all know about Edmonton’s vaunted offense, led by Connor McDavid (64 goals, 153 points) and Leon Draisaitl (52 goals, 128 points). But don’t look past the fact that after acquiring Mattias Ekholm at the trade deadline, the Oilers posted an 18-2-1 record thanks to a more solidified defense.

2. Colorado Avalanche. Last year’s defending champs are still dealing with injury issues but put down the hammer by finishing the season with a 16-2-1 record. Their fate may rest on how defenseman Cale Makar returns from injury.

1. Boston Bruins. With 65 wins and 135 points, the Bruins had a season for the ages. There are some slight injury concerns for starting goalie Linus Ullmark and top center Patrice Bergeron, but the Bruins closed out the season by winning 15 of 16 games, including their final eight outings.

MEN’S GOLF

MATT FITZPATRICK VAULTS INTO RBC HERITAGE LEAD AFTER SIZZLING 63

Matt Fitzpatrick of England fired a career-low 63 to jump 17 spots into the lead after three rounds of the RBC Heritage on Saturday at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Fitzpatrick turned in a clean card, highlighted by a hole-out for eagle on No. 3, to sit at 14-under par with a one-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round, which is going to start earlier based on an inclement weather forecast.

The final round will feature threesomes off No. 1 tee beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Fitzpatrick holed out from the waste area from 149 yards on the par-4 third hole following a birdie on No. 2.

“It’s obviously a great start to the round,” Fitzpatrick said. “It puts you in great position, 3-under through 3. For me, that’s ideally the start you need on a Saturday, isn’t it? It just gets you off to a good start. I think this is a golf course that’s shown that there are low scores around here this week, and to do that for myself is a big positive.”

Fitzpatrick’s previous career-best round was 64 (five times). He’s gunning for his second PGA Tour victory, but he’s got a lot of company near the top.

Patrick Cantlay (third-round 66) sits solo second at 13 under and defending champion Jordan Spieth (66) trails just two shots behind. Scottie Scheffler (69) and second-round leader Jimmy Walker (72) lead five players who are just three shots back at 11 under.

Another seven players are clustered in a tie for ninth at 10 under.

Fitzpatrick’s round included a crucial up and down par save on the 17th.

“It was just dead there. There was no shot,” he said. “I played away from the flag, gave myself the best chance possible straight over the hill, and managed to take it. Obviously it’s important for the par save for the round, but just for me personally, I hate — I’d like to have a bogey-free round, so it’s always a little bit — it’s extra nice to have that.”

Cantlay also posted a clean round, posting five birdies to stalk Fitzpatrick.

“I think the course does a good job of — if you’re playing in position you can be aggressive to certain hole locations, but if you get out of position you really need to take your medicine,” Cantlay said. “This golf course gives you a lot of chances if you play from the fairway.”

Cantlay finished runner-up in a playoff to Spieth at the RBC last year.

Fitzpatrick’s lone victory on the PGA TOUR is the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

WOMEN’S GOLF

GRACE KIM WINS IN 3-WAY PLAYOFF AT LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP

Grace Kim of Australia birdied the first playoff hole on Saturday to win the Lotte Championship in a three-way sudden death in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

Kim outlasted Yu Liu (par) and third-round leader Yu Jin Sung (bogey) on the par-5 18th hole, the first playoff hole, to claim her first victory on the LPGA Tour. She earned $300,000 with the win.

“Just kind of speechless right now,” Kim said.

Liu of China shot a blistering 8-under-par 64 in the fourth and final round to barge into the playoff. Kim fired a final-round 4-under 68 and Sung of South Korea shot 69. The trio finished at 12-under 276 after 72 holes.

Peiyun Chien (final-round 67) and Linnea Strom (69) finished tied for fourth at 11 under. Lauren Hartlage (70), Natthakritta Vongtaveelap (70) and Georgia Hall (71) finished tied for sixth at 9 under.

Kim finished her fourth round with six birdies — including 17 and 18 — against two bogeys to secure her spot in the playoff.

“I think just the birdie on 17 was definitely the big momentum changer,” Kim said. “Yeah, I will let you know that my second shot on that playoff hole, that wasn’t intentional. I kind of got lucky there.”

Kim hit her second shot over the water to the right of the green on the playoff hole, while Liu and Sung both had missed the green to the left.

“So, yeah, I guess it was a good day after all,” Kim said.

But it was Liu who posted the day’s monster round early on, carding eight birdies — four on either nine — without a bogey to vault to the top of the leaderboard. She shot 72-71 in her previous two rounds.

“Honestly I knew I was five shots back,” Liu said. “I knew if I put in a really good round I may have a chance, so that was just my mentality. Honestly out there on the course I wasn’t really thinking any score-wise. Just focus on one shot at a time. Definitely paid off.”

Sung posted four birdies against one bogey for her final-round 69.

NASCAR NEWS

PREECE WINS POLE AT MARTINSVILLE; ELLIOTT STARTS 24TH

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) Ryan Preece put his No. 41 Ford on the pole for Sunday’s Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, capping a strong day of qualifying for Stewart-Haas Racing.

All four SHR cars qualified in the top seven on Saturday.

Daniel Suarez and Preece’s teammate, Aric Almirola, were tied for the best qualifying lap before Preece took the half-mile track last among the top-10 drivers in the final round and zipped around the paperclip-shaped course in 94.78 mph, besting the effort of 94.298 shared by Suarez and Almirola.

Because Saurez’s team has the edge in car owner points over Almirola, he’ll start second ahead of Almirola in third.

Chase Briscoe, also of SHR, qualified fourth, followed by Martin Truex Jr. Tyler Reddick will start sixth and SHR’s Kevin Harvick seventh, with William Byron, Bubba Wallace and Chris Buescher rounding out the top 10.

Qualifying didn’t go all that well for fan favorite Chase Elliott, who is returning from a six-week absence after suffering a broken leg in a snowboarding accident in Colorado. He will start 24th after brushing the wall on his second lap of qualifying.

Preece has not started higher than eighth place this season and has not finished better than 10th. He said he feels as if he and his SHR teammates have a strong chance to win Sunday.

“You guys see it, how important track position is nowadays, and whether you have control of the race or track position, you can’t give it up because it is so, so difficult to pass,” Preece said. “So from a company standpoint, it certainly makes us all very optimistic about Sunday. We can be smart and all have good days. And I think it shows that our short track program is really good.”

Added Briscoe: “A really good start to the weekend for the company as a whole to have all four cars in the top 10 is something that we haven’t been able to say in a really long time. We know the short tracks are where we need to capitalize, and I think this is a great way to start the weekend.”

The 32-year-old Preece won his first Modified race at Martinsville, so he feels comfortable here.

“It is a place that suits my style,” Preece said.

The only other time Preece started on the pole was in 2020, at the Toyota 500 at Darlington Raceway. But that was because of a field inversion based on the previous week’s results.

Elliott’s return to racing didn’t get off to a great start. He hasn’t raced since finishing second at Fontana on Feb. 26.

“It actually felt pretty good,” Elliott said. “I had an abysmal qualifying lap, but I can’t blame my leg on that one. I had a pretty good last and then messed up.”

He then quipped, “Judging off of practice, starting in the back is going to be a lot of fun.”

NASCAR points leader Christopher Bell, who won last week’s short track race at Bristol Motor Speedway, will start 22nd.

INDYCAR NEWS

KIRKWOOD PICKS UP 1ST INDYCAR POLE WITH LONG BEACH RUN

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) Kyle Kirkwood won the first pole of his IndyCar career on Saturday with a flying fast lap around the downtown streets of Long Beach – giving the series three different pole winners through the first three races of the season.

The Andretti Autosport crew erupted in celebration when Kirkwood, a 24-year-old from Jupiter, Florida, returned to his pit stall. He was immediately congratulated by teammate Romain Grosjean and team owner Michael Andretti.

Kirkwood, in his second season of IndyCar, will lead the field to green Sunday in the most prestigious street course race in the United States.

“I am just ecstatic at the moment,” Kirkwood said. “I couldn’t be happier with this, the third weekend with the team.”

Kirkwood was part of the Andretti development system but after winning the Lights championship in 2021 had to leave the organization because it didn’t have an IndyCar seat for him to be promoted. So he spent last year with AJ Foyt Racing until Andretti could bring him back this season as the replacement for Alexander Rossi.

“He’s the real deal, I can tell you,” Andretti said. “He’s been a pleasure on the team, we really enjoy him.”

Andretti two weeks ago made a strategist change for Kirkwood and Colton Herta, swapping team leaders ahead of the race at Texas Motor Speedway. Kirkwood was given Bryan Herta, Colton’s father, who has guided two different drivers to Indianapolis 500 wins.

“Right now it’s working out really well,” Andretti said. “Bryan being on his radio will be a lot more beneficial for Kyle and the organization. He’s great for a young driver and he helped Colton when he started out. We just felt it was better for the team.”

Marcus Ericsson, winner of the season-opening race, qualified second for Chip Ganassi Racing and was followed by Grosjean. Ganassi drivers Alex Palou and Scott Dixon qualified fourth and fifth as Honda drivers took the top five spots.

Pato O’Ward, the IndyCar points leader after back-to-back runner-up finishes to start the season, qualified sixth and was the only Chevrolet to advance into the “Fast Six” round. O’Ward had dominated every session until the final round of qualifying, when he seemed to lock his tires and fell out of pole-winning contention.

No Team Penske cars advanced into the Fast Six round of qualifying. Will Power was eliminated in the first round, Scott McLaughlin was eliminated in the second round and defending race winner Josef Newgarden was bounced in the final minute of the third round.

Newgarden will start eighth on Sunday.

Also knocked out of the third session was Colton Herta, who won at Long Beach in 2021 and dominated the weekend last year until he crashed out of the race.

CURBING CRASHES

Callum Ilott demanded IndyCar pay for damages to his No. 77 Chevrolet after he crashed in practice Saturday because a piece of curbing that had been added to the track overnight.

The curbing was not present in Friday’s opening 75-minute IndyCar practice because it had been damaged in an earlier session with sports cars on track. The curbing was reinstalled overnight, but teams apparently were not informed of the alteration.

“I was doing the same line as (Friday). I don’t understand what happened, but I took off when I hit the curb,” Ilott said. “And if they didn’t tell us (about a change), then they can pay for the damage, because that’s a joke. It sets everyone on the back foot.

“I’m sorry to everyone on the team, but again, I was just doing the same thing as (Friday). If they changed something and didn’t tell us, what can I do about that?”

Ilott took to Twitter to demand an explanation from IndyCar and the race promoters for the track alteration that also caused Rinus VeeKay to crash.

“Preferably before the session next time. Saves everyone from broken wrists and tens of thousands in damage,” Ilott said in the tweet he later deleted.

The curbing was present during Thursday’s track walk – when teams and drivers walk the course examine it – and was part of the course for last year’s race. Because the curbing had been there for all teams to see on Thursday, IndyCar did not feel it was necessary to notify teams about the overnight change.

However, teams were informed about new paint around the pit exit and Turn 1 to better delineate the boundary lines.

BUMPING IS BACK

There will be bumping in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, with a 34th entry confirmed for driver RC Enerson.

Enerson, who failed to qualify for his first Indy 500 two years ago, will race with current Indy NXT team Abel Motorsports.

Only 33 cars make the Indy 500 field, so the Enerson effort ensures at least one car will be bumped in qualifying. It’s not clear if Abel Motorsports will be prepared to participate in next week’s two-day open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Abel currently runs two cars in Indy NXT and the attempt to qualify for the Indy 500 could be a sign that the team is starting the process of moving up to the top open-wheel racing series in the United States.

TOP INDIANA RELEASES/NEWS

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS BASEBALL

Quinn Priester pitched into the fifth inning and struck out nine, Nick Gonzales tied his career high with four hits – three for extra bases – and Endy Rodríguez and Miguel Andújar both cranked home runs to carry the Indianapolis Indians to a 9-2 win over the St. Paul Saints on Saturday night at Victory Field. The triumph marked the 1,000th regular season win all time at the Vic.

Trailing 1-0 midway through the second inning, the Indians (6-8) scored in five consecutive frames to back Priester, who racked up nine punchouts – the third-highest mark of his four-year career.

Indianapolis plated three runs in the second off Simeon Woods Richardson (L, 0-2) to grab its first lead of the homestand. Andújar and Ryan Vilade scored on a two-out double by Chavez Young, who then stole third and touched home on a three-bagger by Gonzales.

Rodríguez opened the bottom of the third with a towering home run to right, his second of the season. St. Paul (8-5) tallied its final run in the fourth off Priester, but Cal Mitchell dumped a run-scoring single into left field to score Gonzales and chase Woods Richardson in the bottom half, pushing Indy’s advantage back to three.

The Indians then added a pair of two-run frames, highlighted by Andújar’s two-run homer in the sixth to cap the scoring.

John O’Reilly, Daniel Zamora, Cody Bolton and Yerry De Los Santos held the Saints scoreless after Priester departed at 86 pitches (56 strikes). Zamora (W, 2-1) struck out three over 1.1 innings of work.

Indy recorded 17 hits, its most in a game at Victory Field since Aug. 7, 2018, when Kevin Newman and Jacob Stallings both hit for the cycle in a 12-5 win over Lehigh Valley. The pitching staff also notched a season-high 16 strikeouts, tying the Indians’ 2022 high of 16 set on Aug. 5 vs. Louisville.

Young drove in three runs from the bottom of Indy’s lineup, and Vilade finished with three knocks after being reinstated from the development list prior to the game.

Indianapolis and St. Paul conclude their six-game series on Sunday at 1:35 PM ET at Victory Field. RHP Osvaldo Bido (0-0, 1.29) gets the nod for the Indians against Saints RHP Jose De León (0-0, 6.14).

INDY ELEVEN SOCCER

IRVINE, Calif. (Saturday, April 15, 2023) – Indy Eleven searched for its second straight road win tonight at Orange County SC, but a penalty kick conversion at the half hour mark by reigning USL Championship Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski lifted the home side to a 1-0 victory at Championship Soccer Stadium on Saturday evening. Despite outshooting OCSC 13-8 and holding 39-8 and 11-2 edges in crosses and corner kicks, respectively, Indy failed to capitalize on its considerable time in the attacking third and was held scoreless for a third straight regular season contest.

It didn’t take long for Orange County to have a legit look at an opener, as just 20 seconds after kickoff Thomas Amang found his way into the top of the area and unleashed a shot from 15 yards that just soared over the Indy goal. Indy’s high press nearly paid dividends in the 7th minute through Douglas Martinez’s forced turnover and quick shot that pressed Orange County goalkeeper Cody Cropper into action for the first time. Indy forward Harrison Robledo, making his first start in league play for the Eleven, found a clean look from 20 yards in the 17th minute, the chance taking a deflection wide.

Just before the half hour mark Orange County earned a penalty when Bryce Jamison went to ground under the slightest of contact by Indy’s Aodhan Quinn, setting up a spot kick that defending USL Championship Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski finished low and right to put the home side up, 1-0. Minutes later Alex Villanueva had a look similar to Amang’s first minute blast to quickly double the lead, but the last look of note for either side for the rest of the half also rose over frame.

The Eleven came firing out of the gates to start the second half, as Jack Blake’s 47th minute shot pressed Cropper into a stop, and defender Adrian Diz Pe’s header from less than 10 yards missed just high shortly after. Indy defender Robby Dambrot began to assert himself into the match with the first of several successful dribbles into OCSC area in the 55th minute, which started a slew of chances off crosses and set pieces that would go for naught for the visitors. It was Oettl being forced to step up in the 58th minute, when he steered wide Alex Villanueva’s acrobatic header from close range.

The insertion of forwards Jonas Fjeldberg and Solomon Asante for Robledo and Douglas Martinez in the 65th minute only further swung possession and the volume of changes towards the direction of the Eleven, as just two minutes later Fjeldberg saw his near post shot smack into the chest of Cropper, while Dambrot’s follow on the rebound would have found goal if not for a deflection.  Minutes later Dambrot finished off a nifty 50-yard run with a short square pass for Sebastian Guenzatti that the Indy attacker couldn’t redirect on frame.

Dambrot again was in the middle of the action – and the middle of the area – in the 80th minute, when he settled a looping ball with his first touch and poked a shot from eight yards with his second that missed just wide left. That proved to be Indy’s best quality look of regulation and four minutes of stoppage time as Orange County proved adept at killing time on counter attacks and drawing fouls, allowing the home side to collect the full points.

Indiana’s Team will return home next Saturday, April 22, when Monterey Bay F.C. will make its first visit to the Circle City for a 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Community Heroes Night at “The Mike.” Single-game tickets for all home games at IUPUI Carroll Stadium along with 17-game Season Ticket Memberships, specially-priced group tickets, and an increased portfolio of hospitality options are available for purchase now via indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)

USL Championship Regular Season

Orange County SC  1 : 0  Indy Eleven

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Championship Soccer Stadium – Irvine, Calif.

Indy Eleven: 1W-2L-2D, 5 pts.

Orange County SC: 1W-2L-3D, 6 pts

Scoring Summary:

OC – Milan Iloski (penalty kick) 30’

Discipline Summary:

IND – Adrian Diz Pe (caution) 23’

IND – Jack Blake (caution) 36’

OC – Bryce Jamison (caution) 56’

OC – Kyle Scott (caution) 73’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-3-3): Yannik Oettl; Younes Boudadi (Bryam Rebellon 75’), Jesus Vazquez, Adrian Diz Pe, Robby Dambrot; Aodhan Quinn, Cam Lindley, Jack Blake (Juan Tejada 79’); Sebastian Guenzatti (captain), Harrison Robledo (Solomon Asante 65’), Douglas Martinez (Jonas Fjeldberg 65’)

Indy subs: Tim Trilk (GK), Mechack Jerome, Gustavo Rissi

Orange County SC line-up (4-4-2): Cody Cropper; Ryan Doghman, Andrew Fox, Markus Nakkim (captain), Brent Richards; Milan Iloski, Ashish Chattha, Kyle Scott (Morten Bjorshol 74’), Bryce Jamison (Emil Nielsen 80’); Alex Villanueva (Brian Iloski 86’), Thomas Amang (Oluwakorede Osundina 80’)

Orange County subs: Mark Hyan (GK), Dillon Powers, Nicolas Ruiz

INDIANA BASEBALL

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Don’t tell the Indiana baseball team that one of the toughest things to do is sweep a doubleheader. The Hoosiers grabbed both games of the twinbill on Saturday (April 15) at Illinois to win its fourth-straight Big Ten series to open conference play in 2023.

In the first game, Indiana (25-11, 9-3 B1G) won a seesaw contest, 6-4, over Illinois (15-17, 4-8 B1G), before a decisive 16-3 victory in the nightcap. The doubleheader sweep is the third in three tries this season for IU in conference play and marked the fourth straight Big Ten series win for the Hoosiers.

In game one, each team scored four runs over the first three innings, with Indiana getting two in the first and two in the third. Illinois got two in the second inning and two in the third to knot the game at four heading to the fourth. The Hoosiers scored one in the fourth and one in the sixth to earn the win.

A scorching start to the series for sophomore Brock Tibbitts continued with a 4-for-5 day at the plate. He drove in four RBIs, a double and a home run. Sophomore Josh Pyne hit a home run and drove in two RBIs, while four other Indiana hitters posted multi-hit games. Seniors Hunter Jessee and Peter Serruto both collected three-hit games. Senior Phillip Glasser and freshman Devin Taylor both posted two-hit games.

Sophomore Ryan Kraft (4-1) scattered six hits over six scoreless innings of relief work to earn the victory. He struck out three and walked two in the outing and didn’t allow a base runner to reach third base. Sophomore starting pitcher Luke Sinnard threw three innings and allowed four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Game two saw Indiana jump out to an early lead with a five-run third inning. Illinois scored one in the bottom of the third, before IU scored nine straight to take control of the game, 14-1. Illinois put up one in the sixth and one in the seventh inning, before IU finished the scoring with two runs in the ninth.

Six Hoosier hitters posted multi-hit games, led by a 4-for-5 day at the plate for freshman Tyler Cerny. He scored three runs and hit his third home run of the season, all in Big Ten play. Taylor hit his eighth home run of the season and plated four RBIs in the second game, while Glasser had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Redshirt junior Bobby Whalen had two hits, sophomore Carter Mathison added two hits and Pyne chipped in two in the nightcap.

Junior Brooks Ey (1-0) got the win with six innings of work in the start. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out two batters. Ey did not walk a batter in the game in his first start for the Hoosiers.

Game One Scoring Recap

Top First

Bobby Whalen doubled with one out and came in to score on a Devin Taylor triple. Brock Tibbitts followed with an RBI single.

Indiana 2, at Illinois 0

Bottom Second

Ryan Moerman singled to start the inning and Jacob Schroeder homered to tie the game.

Indiana 2, at Illinois 2

Top Third

A one-out single from Tibbitts got the inning started and, after the second out was recorded, Josh Pyne hit a two-run home run to left field.

Indiana 4, at Illinois 2

Bottom Third

After the first two batters reached, a double play put two outs on the board with a runner on third. After a passed ball scored the first run of the inning, a walk and a single followed to put runners on the corner. A wild pitch scored the equalizer.

Indiana 4, at Illinois 4

Top Fourth

Phillip Glasser singled and move to second when Whalen was hit by a pitch. Tibbitts doubled with one out to drive in one RBI.

Indiana 5, at Illinois 4

Top Sixth

Tibbitts hit a one-out solo home run.

Indiana 6, at Illinois 4

Game Two Scoring Recap

Top Third

The first three batters reached base before Illinois got a force out at home plate for the first out. Devin Taylor followed with a grand slam. After a hit-by-pitch and single put two more runners on base, Josh Pyne added the fifth run of the inning with an RBI single.

Indiana 5, at Illinois 0

Bottom Third

Branden Comia doubled to right center field and moved to third on a Brody Hardin base hit. A double play ball pushed the run across.

Indiana 5, at Illinois 1

Top Fourth

A one-out double by Phillip Glasser got the inning going and Bobby Whalen brought him around with a base hit up the middle.

Indiana 6, at Illinois 1

Top Fifth

After the first batter was retired, seven straight batters reached safely and the Hoosiers got seven runs on six hits and benefitted from one Illinois error. Peter Serruto’s double scored the first run and Glasser hit a three-run home run. Carter Mathison pushed one run across and Pyne drove in a pair of RBIs with a base hit. All seven runs scored with one out.

Indiana 13, at Illinois 1

Top Sixth

Tyler Cerny hit a solo home run to lead off the inning.

Indiana 14, at Illinois 1

Bottom Sixth

Cal Hejza singled to start the inning and moved to third on a Danny Doligale base hit. For the second time in the game, IU turned a double play that allowed a run to score.

Indiana 14, at Illinois 2

Bottom Seventh

Drake Westcott hit a solo home run to start the inning.

Indiana 14, at Illinois 3

Top Ninth

Whalen walked and Taylor doubled to put two runners on base. A wild pitch scored the first run of the inning and Mathison plated the second run with a base hit.

Indiana 16, at Illinois 3

Up Next

Seven of the next nine games will be played on Bart Kaufman Field and that begins with a midweek tussle with Louisville on Tuesday, April 18. The game will air on ESPNU and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network

INDIANA SOFTBALL

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 24 Indiana (31-15, 9-5 B1G) dropped the final two games in the series against Nebraska (30-13, 10-4 B1G), 8-6, 4-2, at Andy Mohr Field on Saturday.

INDIANA 6, NEBRASKA 8

KEY MOMENTS

•  Nebraska picked up where they left off scoring four runs in the top of the first.

• Freshman Taryn Kern kicked off things for the Hoosiers with a leadoff home run for two RBI.

• Indiana took the lead in the third scoring three runs. Kern hit a sac fly to right field before sophomore Taylor Minnick hit a two-run home run deep out in center field, 5-4.

• The Huskers scored four runs in the top of the fifth to regain an 8-5 lead.

• In the sixth, sophomore Brianna Copeland hit another leadoff homer for the Hoosiers to cut the lead.

• Senior Cora Bassett earned a free pass in the top of the seventh, but Nebraska sealed the win on a double play.

INDIANA 2, NEBRASKA 4

KEY MOMENTS

•  In the top of the first, the Huskers scored two runs on three hits for the lead.

• Sophomore Sarah Stone earned an RBI with a single down the left field line to score Kern.

• Nebraska scored another on a home run in the third, 3-1.

• The defenses continued to exchange innings before the Huskers gained momentum in the top of the seventh with another long ball to push the lead, 4-1.

• Stone stepped up to bat with two runners on base in the bottom of the inning and doubled down the left field line for an RBI to cut the lead, 4-2.

NOTABLES

• The Hoosiers tallied seven hits for six RBI in game one.

• IU recorded 12 hits and earned eight free passes on the day.

• Team 50 hit three long balls bringing their season total to 60.

UP NEXT

The Hoosiers head to Rutgers for another Big Ten series against the Scarlet Knights next weekend.

PURDUE MEN’S GOLF

#BoilerNotes

Purdue won its first tournament of the season and the ninth victory under head coach Rob Bradley. The win was Purdue’s first since the Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate in October 2021.

Purdue won the Boilermaker Invitational for the first time since 2011.

Purdue’s 822 was a tournament record and the 30-under par ranked second in tournament history. The Boilermakers’ 268 in the final round was the second-best, 18-hole score in tournament history (behind Oklahoma’s 266 today).

Purdue’s 822 was the second-best, 54-hole score was the second-lowest score in school history, as was the 30-under par score (in relation to par). The final-round 268 was the second-best, 18-hole score in school history.

Herman Sekne’s final-round 64 was the third-best, 18-hole individual score in tournament history. His tournament total of 202 was the second-best score in tournament history.

Sekne’s 64 was the third-best, 18-hole score in Purdue history. His 202 was the fourth-best, 54-hole score in Purdue history. Sekne now has five tournaments of 205 or better. Only Cole Bradley (3) and Adam Schenk (2) have more than one tournament of 205 or better.

Sekne has set a school record for rounds in the 60s with 12, coming in just 24 rounds.

Sekne’s three medalist honors make him one-of-five golfers in school history to win three tournaments (William Sjaichudin, Lee Williamson, Lenny Hartlage, Jay Smith).

 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men’s golf capped off a dramatic comeback late in the day on Saturday, edging No. 11-ranked Oklahoma by one shot to win its first Boilermaker Invitational since 2011.

Purdue trailed the Sooners by four shots with just 17 total holes to play, but recorded six birdies and 11 pars to rally for its first tournament victory of the year. The Boilermakers withstood several late Oklahoma birdie chances and the Sooners suffered a key late bogey that tilted momentum and gave Purdue a one-shot victory with a 30-under par 822 (281-273-268). Oklahoma was second at 29-under par (280-277-266), while Kent State was third at 16-under par (282-278-276).

“I’m just really proud of the guys. It was obviously a great week for us,” said Purdue head coach Rob Bradley. “Anytime you can take down a great team like Oklahoma when they played a great final round, says a lot about our team. We had a lot of really big, clutch individual performances up-and-down the lineup, and it was great to see them get rewarded.”

The Boilermakers used huge performances from Herman Sekne and Nick Dentino down the stretch to get the win. Dentino, who shot a 29 on the front nine, ended his round with birdies on his final four holes (1 through 4), including a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 3, and a 35-foot birdie putt from the collar on the fringe up against the rough on No. 4, to catapult him into the top 10 and help secure the team title.

Dentino finished tied for eighth at 5-under par 208 (69-74-65). His final-round 65 was a career-best score.

Sekne, meanwhile, posted a bogey-free 64 in the final round making birdie on each of his final two holes to rally to tie for individual medalist honors. Sekne has now won three tournaments in his career, one-of-five players to win at least three tournaments in Purdue history. Just one time previously in school history has a golfer posted all three rounds in the 60s – Sekne has now done it twice in the last three events.

Entering the Big Ten Championships in two weeks, Sekne owns a 70.29 stroke average on the season with six top-10 finishes in his eight events.

“We knew Oklahoma had a little tougher finish coming in than we did, but they got out to a pretty good lead with a few holes left, so it obviously concerned us a little bit,” said Bradley. “Nick and Herman coming up big down the stretch was the difference-maker. I felt we went out and took it and made the plays we needed to.”

Peyton Snoeberger had visions of his first individual title midway through the final round, actually grabbing a two-shot lead with seven holes to play. But a bogey on 17 and a double-bogey on 18 dropped him off the pace. He finished strong with pars on his last five holes to finish tied for fourth, his highest career finish, at 7-under par 206 (70-66-70). Snoeberger now has 13 rounds of even-par or better.

Nels Surtani also capped off a strong week with a 15th-place finish at 2-under par 211 (73-69-69). Surtani also owns 13 even- or under-par rounds and now has four top-20 finishes in nine events, the second most on the team.

Andrew Farraye finished tied for 30th at 4-over par 217 (73-69-75).

Playing as individuals, Kentaro Nanayama had a strong tournament, finishing tied for 10th at 4-under par 209 (71-72-66). Andrew White was tied for 42nd at 6-under par 219 (75-74-70), Kent Hsiao was tied for 47th at 7-over par 220 (76-69-75) and Luke Prall was 66th at 15-over par 228 (78-74-76).

Purdue will now tune up for the Big Ten Championships, taking place in two weeks at Galloway National Golf Club outside Atlantic City, New Jersey, on April 28 – 30.

“We’ve started to play pretty well and outside of the first round at Calusa, things are starting to click pretty good for us,” Bradley added. “We still have a lot of work to do and things to work on for the next 12 days or so, but this should give us some confidence.”

PURDUE BASEBALL

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Jake Parr powered the offense with a 5-for-6 day as one of three Boilermakers to homer and starting pitchers Jonathan Blackwell and Kyle Iwinski teamed up for 12 scoreless innings as Purdue baseball swept Saturday’s doubleheader with Penn State to win its third straight Big Ten series.

The Boilermakers (16-18, 7-5 B1G) hung on for a pair of one-run wins, 9-8 and 5-4. Aaron Suval closed out both victories, accounting for seven outs over the two games. He became the first Boilermaker with two saves in one day since Ross Learnard on the final day of the 2018 regular season. Learnard eclipsed Purdue’s single-season saves record that day.

Connor Caskenette and Parr both hit a three-run homer in the game 1 victory. CJ Valdez went deep in his first at-bat of the day and finished the twinbill with four hits and four RBI.

Iwinski conceded just an unearned run over eight innings of six-hit ball. He accounted for the longest outing of the season by a Boilermaker and did not issue a walk for the fourth time in his six starts. In his first two starts at Alexander Field, Iwinski has surrendered just one earned run over 14 2/3 innings.

Blackwell worked at least five innings for the ninth consecutive start to begin his first season at Purdue. He pitched into the seventh for the third time over the last four weekends and departed with the Boilermakers leading 9-3.

Purdue swept a doubleheader for the second time this season and sixth time since the start of the 2022 campaign. However, Saturday marked the program’s first-ever doubleheader sweep against a Big Ten rival at Alexander Field (since 2013).

THE LAST TIME PURDUE…

• Swept a Big Ten doubleheader: Defeated Michigan State and Illinois in Champaign (April 2021)

• Swept a traditional Big Ten doubleheader: March 2018 at Penn State

• Swept a Big Ten doubleheader at home: 11 years ago to the day – April 15, 2012 vs. Illinois at Lambert Field

• Rallied to win a three-game Big Ten series after losing the first game: April 2017 at Ohio State

• Rallied to win a Big Ten series at home after losing the first game: April 2009 vs. Iowa (also via a doubleheader sweep)

• Won three straight Big Ten series: April-May 2018 at Maryland, vs. Rutgers, vs. Northwestern

• Won a pair of one-run games on the same day: February 2022 vs. Princeton in Holly Springs, N.C.

• Won consecutive one-run games in Big Ten play: March 2019 vs. Penn State

• Won a pair of one-run Big Ten games on the same day: May 2005 vs. Iowa

MORE SATURDAY NOTABLES

• Jake Parr is now riding a career-best eight-game hit streak, with seven of the games coming in Big Ten play. He has six extra-base hits and seven RBI during the streak. Saturday he hit his first career home run at Alexander Field. The senior is batting a team-best .438 in Big Ten play.

• Connor Caskenette is riding a 13-game on-base streak, 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play and eight-game hit streak at Alexander Field.

• Caskenette recorded all five of his RBI in the series in the first inning. He plated Mike Bolton Jr. with a two-out RBI single in games 1 and 3. Bolton was also aboard when Caskenette hit his three-run homer in game 2.

• CJ Valdez broke out of an extended slum, recording his first extra-base hit and RBI since going 3-for-5 with a double, home run and two RBI in the March 10 series opener at Ole Miss.

• Bolton stole three bases Saturday and now has 64 for his Purdue career, just six shy of the program record that has stood since 1991.

• Jake Jarvis was hit by a pitch three times in game 1, coming around to score all three times.

GAME 1: PURDUE 9, PENN STATE 8

Seven of the game’s 17 runs were scored in the first inning. The Nittany Lions (19-13, 2-7 B1G) scored three times with two outs to open the game. The Boilermakers answered quickly via the home runs from Caskenette and Valdez in the bottom half of the frame.

Blackwell retired 17 of 19 batters from the final out of the first inning through the first out of the seventh inning, rolling through four 1-2-3 frames during that stretch. The lefty struck out six and has fanned at least six in five of his nine starts.

Consecutive one-out singles from the bottom of the lineup ignited a rally for Penn State in the top seventh. After an infield hit loaded the bases, Purdue went to the bullpen. Jay Harry hit the first pitch he saw to the wall in right field for a three-run double.

Suval gave the Boilermakers a four-out save, needing just one pitch to retire a Penn State pinch hitter with the tying run at second base in the eighth inning. He worked around a one-out double from Harry the following frame, striking out the batters before and after Harry while navigating his way through the top of the lineup.

Paul Toetz’s double off the wall in center field led to a run in the third inning when Evan Albrecht successfully executed a squeeze bunt for the second weekend in a row.

Parr’s three-run homer over the left field bullpen in the fourth inning put Purdue up 8-3.

GAME 2: PURDUE 4, PENN STATE 3

The Boilermakers scored in each of the first three innings and led 4-1 until the ninth.

The Nittany Lions opened the final frame with three consecutive hits, putting the tying run on first base. Suval regrouped with a strikeout and a comebacker. After a walk, Suval struck out PSU leadoff man and Big Ten stolen base leader Kyle Hannon for the second time on the day to close out the series win.

Iwinski did not enjoy a true 1-2-3 inning until the top of the eighth, the same frame he faced the top third of the PSU lineup for the fourth time. But he did not allow more than one base runner in a frame until the Lions’ 3-4 hitters singled back-to-back with two outs in the top of the sixth.

Caskenette and Parr were aboard with one out in the third inning when Valdez worked the count full and delivered a two-run single up the middle.

UP NEXT

Purdue continues its six-game homestand this week with $3 midweek matchups vs. Ball State (Tuesday) and Butler (Wednesday). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET both nights.

PURDUE SOFTBALL

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After tying up the series, 1-1 to start the day behind a 5-3 victory, the Purdue softball team fell in the series decider, 0-5.

The day was highlighted by a complete game victory by Madi Elish, her fourth of the season, as she improved to 7-2 overall.

Alex Echazarreta led the game with two RBI, thanks to an RBI double scoring the game-tying run by Tyrina Jones, followed by a sac fly for the game-winner.

Alivia Meeks scored Purdue’s first run on a passed ball in the first inning, while Tyrina Jones notched the equalizer in the third. The game-winner came in the fourth inning and was recorded by Kiara Dillon.

Purdue left 11 runners stranded as they notched five hits and five walks in the first game.

Game 2’s loss was credited to Alex Echazarreta (5-11), as the game-winner came in the third inning, followed by four runs in the fifth.

BUTLER MEN’S GOLF

Damon Dickey’s school-record round highlighted the second and final day for Butler at the Boilermaker Invitational, which was hosted by Purdue.

Dickey shot a seven-under 64 in Saturday’s morning round, which matched the best round of the 54-hole event by anyone in the field. Two other competitors carded 64s in Saturday’s afternoon round.

Dickey used seven birdies on the 7,275-yard Ackerman-Allen Golf Course to post a new Butler record for a par-71 course. Dickey bettered the mark of teammate Will Horne, who shot 65 in the final round of the Tom Tontimonia Invitational in Cleveland in October.

Dickey’s 64 was sandwiched between rounds of 75 and 73 as his total of one-under 212 placed him in a tie for 17th.

Purdue’s Herman Wibe Sekne and Oklahoma’s Jase Summy tied for medalist honors at 202 (-11). Wibe Sekne led the host Boilermakers to the team title as Purdue posted a total of 822 (-30) to take the win by one stroke over Oklahoma. The Sooners nearly overtook Purdue with their final round of 266 (-18).

Butler, which was tied for tenth after the first round Friday, moved up to eighth on Saturday. The Bulldogs finished the event at 869 (+17). Led by Dickey’s 64, Butler shot a round of four-under 280 Saturday morning in the second round.

Raymond Sullivan’s Saturday morning scorecard included an eagle and six birdies as he registered a two-under 69 in the second round. He finished the event in a tie for 47th at 220 (+7).

Connor McNeely shot a one-under 70 in Saturday’s final round to finish at 219 (+6) and in a tie for 42nd.

Will Horne (222) and Daniel Tanaka (233) finished in 55th and 72nd, respectively.

The Bulldogs have one more tune-up prior to the 2023 BIG EAST Championships. The Bulldogs will travel to Columbus, Ohio to compete at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate Friday through Sunday. Ohio State is the host of the 54-hole event.  

BUTLER BASEBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – Villanova collected two wins at Bulldog Park on Saturday to improve to 9-25 on the season. The Wildcats won game one 10-2 and stormed back to win the nightcap 18-15. With today’s results, the Bulldogs move to 7-27 on the year.

Game one got off to a fast start with Jack O’Reilly delivering a two-run home run for the visitors in the first inning. The Bulldogs didn’t blink and got the two runs back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a Xavier Carter triple that scored Scott Jones and an RBI single from Jake DeFries.

The Butler bats were not able to do any more damage the rest of the way and Villanova would add at least one run in the fourth through ninth innings to come up with the 10-2 victory. Devin Rivera was credited with the win (2-4) while Cory Bosecker took the loss.

Game two was wild from start to finish. Butler had 18 hits in the finale, yet still lost 18-15. Villanova scored six runs in the sixth, four more in the seventh, two in the eighth and won the game with five in the ninth.

Craig Larsen was 4-for-5 from the plate with three RBIs and four runs scored. O’Reilly was also impressive with three hits and three runs scored in game two.

Joey Urban, Xavier Carter and Keegan Connors all had doubles in the final game of the series for Butler. Scott Jones was also hot from the plate with a pair of triples to record four RBI.

Game three of the series looked to be under control as Butler opened up a 9-1 edge in the fifth. The turning point came soon after with Michael Whooley hitting a grand slam for Nova in the sixth. Craig Larson also had a huge at-bat to give Nova a go-ahead home run in the eighth.

Butler was able to tie the game at 13-13 in the bottom of the eighth off a Carter RBI single, but a John Whooley triple in the ninth would push Nova over the top.

The Bulldogs will be off on Monday and then host the Northern Kentucky Norse at 4 PM on Tuesday.

BUTLER SOFTBALL

STORRS, Conn. – The Butler softball team dropped game two of the BIG EAST series with UConn by a score of 9-1 in six innings. The Bulldogs (15-26, 9-5 BIG EAST) stranded nine runners a day after stranding ten in the opening game of the series. The Huskies (27-11, 14-3 BIG EAST) broke open the game with a five-run fifth inning.

How It Happened

UConn loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning and scored two runs off a single to center field.

The following inning, Butler loaded the bases with two outs. Kieli Ryan drew a walk that pushed in Ella White, but the Huskies forced a pop-up that ended the threat. UConn’s responded with one of its own in the bottom half and built the lead to 3-1 heading into the fourth.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Huskies added to their lead and forced a Bulldogs’ pitching change. After five complete, UConn led, 8-1.

The Huskies scored one in their half of the sixth to end the game early.

Sydney Cammon (4-6) started in the circle for Butler and took the loss. In 4.0 innings, she allowed five runs on six hits and three walks. Rylyn Dyer (1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, BB, K) provided relief in the bottom of the fifth and finished the game.

Bulldog Bits

Cate Lehner’s stolen base was her 13th of the season.

Up Next

Butler will complete the three-game series with UConn tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 16. Next week, the Bulldogs travel to Purdue on Tuesday, Apr. 18, and then host Indiana State the following day, Wednesday, Apr. 19.

IUPUI WOMEN’S TRACK

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – IUPUI freshman Modupe Awosanya continued her assault on the program’s record book on Saturday (Apr. 15) as she set new school records in both the long jump and 100m dash on the final day of the Gibson Invitational, hosted by Indiana State. She also competed with the Jaguars’ 4×100 relay team and went under the program’s 200m record in a wind aided effort.

It was her long jump effort that highlighted an incredible day as she jumped an incredible 6.22m (20′ 5”) on her first jump of the day, breezing past her previous best mark in the process. In doing so, she set a new facility record at ISU’s Gibson Track & Field Complex and currently ranks No. 23 in the East Region as she looks to earn an invite to NCAA Regionals.

In the 100m dash, she broke the school record with a time of 12.11 in the prelims and then ran 11.92 for an encore.

“I’m proud of my performance in all of my events. One thing I had to keep in check was my mentality,” Awosanya said. “I tend to focus on my competitors, rather than myself and compare. But once I decided not to criticize myself, I overcame the obstacles within me and let my abilities and training speak for themselves.”

Fellow freshman Reese McCuan also left with a new school record, doing so in the triple jump with a best effort of 11.19m (36′ 8.5”) on her second jump of the day.

Another freshman, Madelynn Denny, had three personal bests, doing so in the long jump (4.52m), shot put (8.34m) and 100m dash (12.94). Classmate Jada-Marie Davis set a new personal best in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.43 seconds, shedding nearly a full second from her prior best. She also broke her own personal record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:05.70, taking four seconds off her prior best.

Hannah Sale paced IUPUI’s four entries in the 1,500m event with a time of 4:57.87 and freshman Julie Smith ran a time of 4:58.28. In the 800m event, Sophia Taylor placed sixth against a strong field with a time of 2:18.69 and Ellie Cates was just behind her at 2:18.98.

Awosanya ran a blistering 200m time of 24.26 late in the meet, but did so with a strong tailwind behind her. Junior Madison Fry made her debut in the 3,000m steeplechase and showed well with an inaugural time of 11:32.94.

In the relays, the IUPUI 4×100 quartet of Olivia Martinez, Awosanya, Denny and Lillian Sebastian spun a time of 48.03. The 4×400 group of McCuan, Laci Spore, Taylor and Wini Barnett ran a time of 4:04.77.

IUPUI will return to action next weekend when it competes in the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington, Ind.

IUPUI WOMEN’S GOLF

CARMEL, Ind. – The IUPUI women’s golf team shot a solid round of 297 at Plum Creek Golf Course and lead the 11-team field at their own Lady Jaguar Invitational heading into Sunday’s finale. Both Kara Blair and Annaliese Fox are tied for fifth among the 74-player field after shooting 1-over 73 on Saturday, as did sophomore Nerea Lancho, who’s playing as an individual. Junior Madeleine Pape is tied for tenth overall at 2-over 74.

IUPUI holds a six-shot lead over second-place Eastern Michigan while Marian University is third at 304. Horizon League foes Green Bay and Cleveland State are tied for fourth at 308. EMU’s Natai Apichonlati is the individual leader at 2-under 70 while three others shot even par 72 on Saturday.

The Jaguars started well and picked up steam late in posting a strong opening round score. Pape made eagle on her second hole of the day and both Fox and Reagan Sohn made birdies on the same hole. Pape led the team on the front nine at even par 36 while Fox and Shelby Busker each shot 38.

On the back nine, Blair was flawless, playing her final 11 holes to 2-under with birdies on Nos. 12 and 17. Fox played the back nine to 1-under and made birdie on two of her final five holes of the day. Busker made back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 as part of her 5-over 77 and Pape closed with seven pars and two bogeys on her final nine.

Sohn rounded out the Jaguars’ lineup with an opening round 80 with a pair of birdies. Lancho was the team’s top individual at 73, making 13 pars in her round.

IUPUI led the field in par-3, par-4 and tied for the lead in par-5 scoring, while also tying atop the field with 55 pars. The team’s 11 birdies trailed just Eastern Michigan and Cleveland State’s 12 each.

Blair had a team-high 14 pars and both Busker and Fox registered three birdies each. Pape was one of just two players to have an eagle in her round.

Sunday’s final round is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. at Plum Creek with live scoring available at Golfstat.com.

IUPUI SOFTBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI softball team fell in the series finale to Youngstown State on Saturday, 6-1. Kasie Keyes knocked an RBI double to score a run for the Jags.

After IUPUI swept the Penguins in a doubleheader on Friday, Youngstown State came out aggressive at the plate on Saturday with one run on three hits in the first inning to take the lead, 1-0.

The Penguins extended their lead in the third inning with two runs on one hit, 3-0 then scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-0 lead.

The Jags refused to be shut out with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Keyes doubled down the left field line to score Victoria Sivert. Youngstown State’s starter Sophie Howell held the Jags to just one run to seal the win for the Penguins, 6-1.

Madison Bryant took the loss in the circle to IUPUI giving up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Kendal Calvert went 2-for-4 while Kennedy Cowan, Rachael Gregory, Sivert, Jenkins, Keyes and Speth all recorded one hit. 

IUPUI is now even in conference with an 8-8 record and will next host non-conference foe, Dayton for a doubleheader on Wednesday.

BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

MUNCIE, Ind. – The top-seeded Ball State men’s volleyball team (19-8) prevailed once again Saturday night in Worthen Arena as they earned a 3-0 sweep over the eight-seeded Quincy Hawks (8-19) in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament quarterfinals.

It marks the third-straight season that Ball State will advance to the semifinal round which will be played Wednesday, April 19, at 7 pm ET in Worthen Arena against fourth-seeded Lewis or fifth-seeded Purdue Fort Wayne.

Just a year ago the same scenario happened for the Cardinals against the Hawks in the quarterfinal round but this time the sets were a bit closer from start to finish. Despit Ball State winning in three sets, the match faced 19 ties total along with six lead changes.

Set one would be the closest of all three frames. Ball State began to pull away late in the set after a 17-17 tie the Cardinals’ Vanis Buckholz served three-straight points to give BSU the 20-17 edge over Quincy.

After that, Ball State remained in control to take the opening set by a score of 25-20 which came off a kill from Felix Egharevba off the assist from David Flores.

The second and third sets mimicked one another with Ball State taking control towards the middle of both frames.

In set two, Bryce Behrendt was able to put the Cardinals ahead after some strong serves and Tinaishe Ndavazocheva did the same in set three allowing Ball State to control the tempo of the match the remainder of the contest. The Cardinals went on to win set two (25-19) and set three (25-15).

Tonight’s win was an all-around team performance that saw All-MIVA First Team selection Ndavazocheva lead all players with 13 kills while Dyer Ball also reached double-digit kills with 10. All-MIVA Second Team honoree Flores dished out 33 assists.

As a team, the Cardinals had one of their better hitting performances with 44 kills off 72 attacks for a .500 hitting percentage.

BALL STATE SOFTBALL

MUNCIE, Ind. – – On a picturesque Saturday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex, the Ball State softball team used some strong pitching to sweep a Mid-American Conference doubleheader versus visiting Buffalo.

In the day’s opening game, it was sophomore Angelina Russo and redshirt sophomore Emma Eubank who would combine to carry the Cardinals (20-21; 10-9 MAC) to the 4-1 victory.

Russo earned her eighth win of the season after allowing just two hits and one run over the first 4.2 innings. Eubank would follow with her first save of the year, holding the Bulls (10-27; 4-9 MAC) to just two hits over the final 2.1 innings.

On offense, the Cardinals used situational hitting to jump in front in the bottom of the first. Redshirt senior catcher Jazmyne Armendariz and redshirt sophomore first baseman McKayla Timmons each had an RBI groundout to set the tone.

After a Buffalo run in the top of the fifth, the Cardinals countered with single runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to give the game its final score.

In the nightcap, it was the pitching of junior transfer Francys King and freshman Bridie Murphy which set the tone. King limited Buffalo to four hits and two runs over the first 4.0 innings, while Murphy retired all nine Bulls she faced over the final three, including five strikeouts. The effort gave King her second win of the season, and Murphy was credited with her first career save.

On the offensive side, the Cardinals were jumpstarted by a three-run second inning which started with a solo shot from Timmons on the first pitch of the frame. Senior third baseman Haley Wynn added a two-out, two-run single later in the frame to give BSU the three-run edge.

While Buffalo countered with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the third, Ball State added single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth to win the game 6-2.

HIGHLIGHTS

Russo added to her impressive season, lowering her team-leading ERA to 2.94 after allowing just one run over 4.2 innings of work to earn the win in the opener.

Timmons provided Ball State’s lone longball of the day, giving her a team-leading nine on the season. The solo blast to center in the second inning of the nightcap opened the scoring and was the 13th home run of her career.

Junior center fielder Remington Ross ended the day with three stolen bases, raising her season tally to 18. In fact, Ross is a perfect 18-for-18 on the year and is now 40-for-41 over her two-year Ball State career.

Wynn was credited with four RBIs over the two games, driving in one the first game and three in game two.

Ball State picked up its 19th double play of the season with a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play to end the second inning of the first game.

With two hits and the opener and another in the nightcap, fifth-year senior shortstop Amaia Daniel extended her current hitting streak to a team-leading 10 games.

SCORING SUMMARY – GAME 1: Ball State 4 – Buffalo 1

B1 | An Armendariz ground out to second base allows Wynn to score from third. (1-0)

B1 | After Daniel stole third, Timmons hits an RBI groundout to shortstop to extend the Cardinals lead to two. (2-0)

T5 | A double to left center by Madison Fernimen cuts the Ball State lead in half. (2-1)

B5 | After opening the inning with a leadoff triple, sophomore right fielder Katie Van Der Mark eventually comes home to score on a sacrifice fly by Wynn. (3-1)

B6 | A pair of wild pitches from Buffalo pitcher Alexis Lucyshyn helps freshman pinch runner Ashlee Lovett come around to score. (4-1)

SCORING SUMMARY – GAME 2: Ball State 6 – Buffalo 2

B2 | Timmons launches a solo home run to center field to give Ball State the lead. (1-0)

B2 | A bases loaded single up the middle from Wynn scores junior first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata and Van Der Mark to add two more for Ball State. (3-0)

T3 | Solo home run by Abbey Nagel cuts into the Ball State lead. (3-1)

T3 | Mia Mitchell sends a solo home run over the fence in left center to bring Buffalo within one. (3-2)

B4 | Following a stolen base by Ross and a sacrifice bunt by redshirt freshman McKenna Mulholland, Wynn doubles to center to give BSU a two-run lead. (4-2)

B5 | A bloop double to right field scores Mulholland from first to add to the Cardinals lead. (5-2)

B6 | Daniel lines a single up the middle to drive in Ross from third for her second run of the game. (6-2)

UP NEXT

The Ball State softball team will be back in action Sunday afternoon in the series finale versus Buffalo with first pitch scheduled for noon. The contest will also serve as senior day for Amaia Daniel.

BALL STATE BASEBALL

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Ball State baseball team returned to action for a doubleheader against Central Michigan on Saturday. Logan Flood launched a home run, but the Cardinals were swept.

Ball State fell to 23-12 on the season and 10-5 on MAC play, while Central Michigan improved to 21-13 overall and 10-5 in conference action.

Game One – CMU 13, BSU 5

The Chippewas scored first with a run in the bottom of the first on one hit.

Casey Turturici recorded a one-out walk. Nick Gregory drove in a run on an RBI double to left center as Turturici scored. The Cardinals tied it in the top of the second.

Central Michigan added two more runs in the bottom of the second and took a 3-1 lead. CMU extended its lead to 8-1 with five runs in the bottom of the third.

Decker Scheffler led off the top of the fourth with a single up the middle. Logan Flood doubled down the left field line to score Scheffler from first. The Cardinals cut the deficit to 8-2.

Flood drew a four-pitch walk with two outs in the top of the eighth. CJ Horn and Matthew Rivera both followed with walks to load the bases for Ball State. Nick Gregory cleared the bases with a double to right center. BSU cut the deficit to 8-5 after 7.5 innings.

The Chippewas extended their lead to 13-5 in the bottom of the eighth with five runs on no hits. CMU held on for the 13-5 victory.

Logan Schulfer got the start for the Cardinals and went 1 1/3 innings. He got the loss and fell to 2-2. He struck out one batter and surrendered three runs, two earned, on two hits. Casey Bargo added 1 2/3 innings of relief and struck out four. He gave up five earned runs on six hits. Ty Weatherly added 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. He surrendered two earned runs on three hits. Brady Owens gave up three earned runs on four walks. Graham Kelham closed out the game for the Cardinals with 2/3 off an inning and one strikeout.

Garrett Navarra got the win and improved to 3-2 for CMU. He struck out five batters and gave up two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Ryan Palmblad went 2 1/3 innings of relief. He gave up three earned runs with one strikeout. Ryan Insco closed out the game with a scoreless inning.

Game Two – CMU 9, BSU 6

Gregory led off the game with a five-pitch walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Peltier singled to right field and gave the Cardinals runners on the corners with one out. Scheffler notched a sac fly to center as Gregory tagged up and scored. Flood belted a two-run homer over the left field wall. Ball State took an early 3-0 lead.

The Chippewas cut the Cardinal lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth. CMU added six runs in the bottom of the sixth on four hits. Central Michigan added a run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch. CMU took an 8-3 lead after seven innings.

Blake Bevis was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the eighth. Hunter Dobbins followed with a four-pitch walk. Justin Conant singled to right field and loaded the bases for BSU. Gregory produced an RBI single to right field as Bevis scored. Peltier singled to left field and drove in Dobbins and Conant. The Cardinals cut the deficit down to two, 8-6, after the top of the eighth.

The Chippewas added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and made it 9-6.

Ty Johnson got the start on the mound for Ball State and threw three innings of no-hit baseball. He struck out three batters and walked one. Sam Klein went 2 2/3 innings of relief and struck out two. He gave up seven earned runs on five hits with six walks. Ryan Brown added 1 1/3 innings of work with three strikeouts. He gave up one earned run on one hit. Tanner Knapp went an innings with one strikeout. He a gave up one earned run on two walks.

Keegan Batka got the start for CMU and went 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two batters and gave up three earned runs on six hits. Evan Waters picked up the win in 4 2/3 innings of relief. He improved to 3-0. He surrendered two earned runs with three strikeouts. Christian Mitchelle closed out the game with two innings in relief. He struck out two batters and surrendered one earned run.

Ball State returns to action for a non-conference matchup at Purdue. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18.

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

CLEMSON, SC – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell 5-1 on Saturday, April 15 to the Clemson Tigers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Tied at 1-1 in the series, the Irish are now 18-14 on the season and 8-9 in the ACC.

After winning 10-4 on Friday, the Irish will now look to take the series win tomorrow at 1:00 PM in the final game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Brooks Coetzee scored the first run of the day for the Irish to tie it up at 1-1 in the top of the second inning. Coetzee reached after being hit by the pitch for the 23rd time this season, stole second, advanced to third and scored on a Tiger error. A three-run frame for Clemson closed the second as the Irish trailed 4-1 heading into the third.

The Tigers tacked on one more run in the bottom of the third to extend their lead 5-1. Neither the Irish or the Tigers would be able to score the remainder of the next six innings as the Tigers would take the second game of the series 5-1.

Jack Penney led the Irish with two hits on the day, along with Carter Putz, DM Jefferson, and Estevan Moreno who each tallied one hit a piece. 

Jack Findlay made his fifth start of the year for the Irish, throwing 2.1 innings, striking out two batters before he was relieved by Justin Moore in the third. Moore finished the day pitching 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on four hits. He was relieved by Matt Bedford, who pitched 2.1 innings and gave up zero runs and zero hits. Carter Bosch came in to close as he struck out two batters across just 1.0 inning pitched.

NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team split the Saturday doubleheader with the #14/17 Virginia Tech Hokies at Melissa Cook Stadium. The Fighting Irish dropped game one 8-7 before rallying to earn an 11-3 five inning victory in the nightcap. With the win Friday night, the Irish take the series from the nationally ranked Hokies. Its the first time the Irish have taken a series against a ranked opponent since taking the series against these same Hokies in 2021. The Irish improve to 27-11-1 on the season and 9-8-1 in conference play. Virginia Tech falls to 32-13 overall, and 12-6 in conference play.

Shannon Becker started in the circle in game one. The sophomore threw an inning, allowing four hits, four earned runs and struck one out. Micaela Kastor came on in relief. The freshman threw 6.0 innings allowing five hits, four earned runs and struck out one as she suffered the loss.

At the plate, Notre Dame went for 14 hits. Karina Gaskins and Macie Eck led the charge, each recording three hits. Gaskins drove in four and scored twice. Eck added a run scored. Joley Mitchell and Leea Hanks both finished with a pair of hits, Mitchell scored once and drove in a run. Carlli Kloss, Lexi Orozco, Anna Holloway and Mickey Winchell each recorded a hit in the loss.

Payton Tidd started the nightcap in the circle. The graduate student threw a complete 5.0 inning game, allowing six hits, three earned runs to go with a strikeout.

The Irish offense was led by a 3-for-4 effort from Mitchell in the nightcap. The senior drove in four and scored twice, adding two doubles. Orozco, Miranda Johnson and Winchell each had two hits. Orozco hit her 12th home run of the season, and Johnson hit her first. Winchell was on base in every at bat, finishing with two hits and a walk, scoring three runs.

How It Happened – Game One

Virginia Tech didn’t waste any time, showing why the lead the nation in team home runs. With one out, back-to-back homers put the Hokies up 2-0. A single put a runner on for another home run to extend the Virginia Tech lead to 4-0 after the top of the first.

Gaskins had an answer in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run.

The Irish offense kept the pressure on in the second, scoring five runs. Eck, Holloway, Winchell, Mitchell, Gaskins, Orozco and Hanks each had hits in the inning as Notre Dame took the 6-4 lead.

The Hokies used the long ball again in the third inning, with a solo home run to cut the lead to 6-5.

Notre Dame regained its two-run cushion with a solo run in the fourth inning. Kloss doubled to left center, and came around when Gaskins drove a single off the wall in right center to put Notre Dame up 7-5.

Virginia Tech regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three times. A lead-off single and back-to-back doubles tied the game at seven. A ground ball moved the runner to third and a sacrifice fly to left field gave the Hokies the 8-7 lead.

The Irish threatened in the seventh, getting the lead-off hitter aboard, but couldn’t find the hit it needed to extend the game.

How It Happened – Game Two

Notre Dame struck first in the first frame. A double from Mitchell put a runner in scoring position for Hanks who singled up the middle to bring her in and put Notre Dame up 1-0.

Virginia Tech rallied for a pair of runs in the second inning. A single and a double put two runners on. The Tech catcher then singled to center field to bring in two and take the lead at 2-1.

The Irish battled back for a run in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Winchell legged out an infield single and scored when Kloss hammered a double to the wall in center.

Orozco gave the Irish the lead in the third, hitting a solo home run to left center to put the Irish up 3-2.

Notre Dame rallied for two more in the fourth inning. Johnson led off the inning with a solo homer. Winchell kept the rally going with a single to right and came home when Mitchell drove a single the other way to extend the lead to 5-2.

Virginia Tech tightened it up with a single run in the fifth before the Irish put the game away in the fifth.

In the bottom of the frame, the Irish scored six runs to finish the game out early. Mitchell had a bases-clearing double in the frame, and Orozco finished the game off with a single up the middle for the sixth run of the inning, and 11th of the game. 

Up Next

The Irish are back on the field next Friday as they head to Boston College for the final regular season games away from Melissa Cook Stadium this season.

NOTRE DAME TRACK

LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Irish captured another successful outdoor weekend with seven event titles at the Jim Freeman Louisville Invitational.

On the first day of competition the Fighting Irish throws squad competed. The javelin squad led the Irish with taking both the men’s and women’s titles. In the women’s competition Sarah David took first with a throw of 39.88 meters. On the men’s side, John Keenan took first with a toss of 66.86 meters. Lucas MacDonald took fourth in the competition with a mark of 49.63 meters.

Nolan Blachowski was the lone Irish in the men’s pole vault where he hit a mark of 4.90 meters. In the women’s pole vault Olivia Fabry represented the Irish with a mark of 3.45 meters.

The hammer throw was also featured on the day with Blake Kusky taking third with a throw of 58.88 meters. Teammates Matthew Teague and Michael Shoaf also threw for marks of 56.38 meters and 54.02 meters, respectively. Emma Albano took fifth in the women’s hammer throw with a throw of 54.68 meters.

On day two of the meet more of the Irish took to the track. Shae Douglas ran in the 100 meter dash for a time of 12.03. In the 100 meter hurdles, Alaina Brady and Caroline Lewis took fourth and sixth place respectively with times of 13.78 and 14.33.

The men’s 400 meter run featured four Irish, Joey Dobrydney, Luke Phillips, John Oleksak, and Matthew Cornelius. Dobrydney took third place with a time of 47.96. Teammates Phillips, Oleksak, and Cornelius took eighth, ninth, and tenth place with times of 49.51, 49.58, and 50.93. In the women’s race, Eve Balseiro led the Irish with a first place finish of 54.42. Remy Finn took second crossing the finish line at 59.19. Katherine Smith rounded out the Irish finishes crossing the finish line at 1:01.74.

The Irish dominated the women’s 1500 meter run as they took first through fifth place. Anna Sophia Keller led the women taking first place with a time of 4:19.98 followed by Siona Chisholm (4:20.91), Sophia Novak (4:21.49), Molly Grant (4:27.56), and Paige Grant (4:27.74). Teammates Caroline Lehman finished at 4:32.13, Aimee Hayde at 4:45.24, and Claire Coffey at 4:48.44.

There was much of the same story in the men’s 1500 meter race as Nick Miller took first place and led the Irish with a time of 3:46.16. Jackson Storey took second place crossing the finish line at 3:48.77, and Jake Renfree finished at 3:57.22.

Daelen Ackley led the Irish in the men’s 800 meter race with a time of 1:52.41. Julian Kingery followed with a time of 1:52.41. The women’s 800 meter race saw Catherine Coffey take a time of 2:17.87.

Michael Shoaf took first place in the men’s shot put with a throw of 18.88 meters. Teammates Zach Petko and Blake Kusky hit marks of 15.75 meters and 13.02 meters, respectively. In the women’s shot put Alesis Juntunen led the Irish with a throw of 14.07 meters. Emma Albano and Ava Butterbaugh threw for 13.10 meters and 12.81 meters.

Reese Sanders took the title in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 54.42. Teammate Remy Finn and Katherine Smith finished at 56.19 and 1:01.74, respectively.

 Nick Mota headlined the men’s 3000 meter race with a time of 8:33.76.On the women’s side, Isalina Colsman crossed the finish line at 10:42.96 and Charlotte Bednar finished with a time of 10:54.15.

The discus throw featured multiple Irish in the men’s competition. Henry Boudreau led the Irish with a toss of 48.23 meters. Zach Petko threw for 47.29 meters, while Blake Kusky finished with a toss of 39.60 meters. In the women’s competition, Ava Butterbaugh hit a mark of 41.97 meters.

Sarah Flight led the Irish in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters. Teammates Madison Schmidt and Arianna Martinez followed with marks of 1.65 meters each.

To finish off the weekend, the women’s 4×400 meter relay was dominated by the Irish with a first place time of 3:43.47. The squad capturing the event title was Molly Bennet, Remy Finn, Reese Sanders, and Eve Balseiro. A second Irish squad of Molly Grant, Catherine Coffey, Aimee Hayde, and Paige Grant captured fourth place with a time of 4:00.90.

The Irish will return to the track on April 21 for the Wake Forest Invitational.

INDIANA STATE TRACK

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State track and field took advantage of ideal weather at the Gibson Invitational sponsored by the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau, taking home the top spots on both the men’s and women’s side at the Gibson Track and Field Complex.

Competing in a field consisting of nearly 1,000 athletes, the largest meet ever hosted by Indiana State, the Sycamores finished with 140 points on the men’s side and 123 points on the women’s side. Indiana State’s men’s team finished 28.5 points ahead of second-place Southern Illinois, while the women’s team finished 17 points ahead of Illinois State.

Over the course of the three-day meet, Indiana State racked up six event wins, which came from the sprints, distance and jumps groups. Seven Sycamores set top-10 program marks over the weekend, with at least one athlete from every event group climbing the charts in program history.

Indiana State also recognized its 2023 senior class at the meet, with Cassidy Bagby, Kelsey Bowlds, Mitchell Cline, Faith Frye, Hannah Hendrick, Iyanla Hunter, Kevin Krutsch, Sierra Long, Emmanuel Odubanjo, Ayana Parchman, Brandon Peck, Claire Pittman, Riley Tuerff, Brittney Walker and Jhivon Wilson honored for their accomplishments in the Blue and White. Athletes who returned this season for a fifth year of eligibility – Daryl Black, JaVaughn Moore, Trevor Thompson, Wyatt Wyman and Frankie Young III – were previously recognized.

Event Winners

Terrance O’Bannon – 100m (10.35, meet record, third-fastest time in program history)

Jason Dworak – 1500m (3:50.47, 10th in program history)

Morgan Dyer – 5000m (17:56.63)

Trevor Thompson – high jump (2.11m/6-11.00)

William Staggs – pole vault (5.21m/17-01.00, third in program history)

Ryann Porter – triple jump (12.84m/42-01.50)

Top-Three Finishes

Iyanla Hunter – 400m (second, 56.00)

Jackson Krieg – 1500m (second, 3:50.89)

Ethan Breen – 3000m steeplechase (second, 9:16.13)

Nyla Jones, Michelle McDonald, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith, Alysha Bradford – 4x100m relay (second, 46.25)

Alysha Bradford, Maria Biskopstoe, Sierra Long, Iyanla Hunter – 4x400m relay (second, 3:58.09)

Kevin Krutsch – high jump (second, 2.08m/6-09.75)

Brooklyn Giertz – pole vault (second, 3.90m/12-09.50)

Claire Pittman – long jump (second, 5.89m/19-04.00)

Noah Bolt – hammer throw (second, 60.73m/199-03, fifth in program history)

Elias Foor – javelin (second, 53.79m/176-06), hammer throw (third, 60.55m/198-08, sixth in program history)

Ali Ilupeju – triple jump (third, 13.91m/45-07.75)

Wyatt Puff – shot put (third, 17.57m/57-07.75)

Other Notable Results

Ryann Porter – 100m hurdles (13.99, seventh in program history)

Hannah Redlin – discus (48.67m/159-08, ninth in program history)

Kamille Gaskin-Griffith – heptathlon (4589, seventh in program history)

Sprints/Hurdles

Indiana State’s men’s short sprinters were part of a photo finish in the 100m, with the nine finalists separated by just two-tenths of a second. Terrance O’Bannon came out on top with a meet-record time of 10.35, finishing slightly ahead of teammates Noah Malone (10.41), Isiah Thomas (10.49) and Daunte Majors (10.54). In the women’s 100m, Nyla Jones clocked a season-best time of 11.79 in the prelims and followed that with an 11.99 in the finals.

Ryann Porter moved her way up the record books in the 100m hurdles, with her career-best time of 13.99 ranking seventh in program history. Porter, Taylor Jackson (14.25) and Riley Tuerff (14.34) all ran wind-legal season-best times. Tuerff also added a top-five finish in the 400m hurdles at 1:02.84. Indiana State’s men’s hurdlers also had strong performances, as Luigi Rivas ran a season-best time of 14.29 in the 110m hurdles prelims and Daryl Black also ran a season-best of 14.56.

Indiana State’s women’s 4x100m relay of Jones, Michelle McDonald, Kamille Gaskin-Griffith and Alysha Bradford ran a season-best time of 46.25, while the women’s 4x400m relay team of Bradford, Maria Biskopstoe, Sierra Long and Iyanla Hunter placed second at 3:58.09. The men’s 4x400m relay team of Wyatt Wyman, Napoleon Hernandez, Mitchell Cline and Cameron Stevens came in at 3:17.04.

Stevens (21.74) and Jones (25.04) had the top men’s and women’s 200m times, respectively, while Stevens also had the top men’s 400m time for the Trees at 49.38. Hunter ran a time of 56.00 to lead the Sycamores in the women’s 400m.

Distance

Two of Indiana State’s six event wins came from the distance crew, with Jason Dworak also climbing into the top 10 in program history in the 1500m. Dworak ran a time of 3:50.47, narrowly beating out teammate Jackson Krieg (3:50.89). Kyra Young set a PR in the women’s 1500m at 4:51.26.

Morgan Dyer also picked up an event win for the Blue and White, running a career-best time of 17:56.63 to win the 5000m. Sara Skaff shaved more than a minute off her season-opening 5000m time, crossing the line in 18:23.19 to place in the top five. On the men’s side, Emerson Fayman ran a time of 15:39.36.

Indiana State also had strong performances in the steeplechase, with Ethan Breen running a time of 9:16.13 on the men’s side and Cassidy Bagby running a career-best 11:22.13. The Sycamores also got a top-10 performance in the men’s 800m from Nicholas Burns (1:55.73).

Jumps/Pole Vault

Indiana State picked up three of its event wins from the jumps group, with the Sycamores getting season-best performances from each of their winners.

William Staggs set an outdoor PR for the second straight week in the pole vault, clearing 5.21m (17-01.00) to move into the top three in program history. The Sycamores also got a second-place finish on the women’s side from Brooklyn Giertz, who cleared 3.90m (12-09.50).

The Sycamores went 1-2 at the top of the men’s high jump, with Trevor Thompson clearing 2.11m (6-11.00) and Kevin Krutsch clearing 2.08m (6-09.75). Kelsey Bowlds was the lone Sycamore in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.55m (5-01.00).

Indiana State also earned an event win from a familiar face, as Porter had a season-best mark of 12.84m (42-01.50) in the triple jump. On the men’s side, Ali Ilupeju had a mark of 13.91m (45-07.75) to place third. The Trees also got a second-place finish in the women’s long jump from Claire Pittman, who had her best-ever wind-legal jump at 5.89m (19-04.00). Mitch Conard had the top mark in the men’s long jump at 6.97m (22-10.50).

Throws

A trio of Sycamore throwers set top-10 program marks at their home complex, with two of those coming in the same event. Noah Bolt (60.73m/199-03) and Elias Foor (60.55m/198-08) moved up to fifth and sixth, respectively, in program history in the hammer throw.

Foor also had season-best marks of 53.79m (176-06) in the javelin, 52.84m (173-04) in the discus and 16.68m (54-08.75) in the shot put. Wyatt Puff led the way for the Trees in the men’s shot put, earning a top-three finish with his mark of 17.57m (57-07.75). Bolt had the top mark for the Blue and White in the men’s discus at 53.14m (174-04).

Hannah Redlin also moved her way up the record books in the discus, with her top attempt of 48.67m (159-08) moving her up to ninth in program history in the event. Josie Hapack also had a personal-best mark of 47.16m (154-09).

Niesha Anderson had the best mark for the Sycamores in the women’s shot put (14.09m/46-02.75) and hammer throw (49.55m/162-07), while Giertz had the best mark in the javelin at 40.14m (131-08).

Multis

Indiana State’s heptathletes opened the meet with a bang, as Kamille Gaskin-Griffith recorded her best-ever heptathlon at 4589 points. Gaskin-Griffith had strong marks in the 100m hurdles (14.47), 200m (24.64) and javelin (35.21m/115-06).

Eva Grace Quinlan also placed in the top 10 of the 32-athlete field with 4388 points. Quinlan’s marks in the 200m (25.59) and high jump (1.54m/5-00.50) were both in the top 10 in the field. Chloe Rolen had top-10 marks in the high jump (1.48m/4-10.25) and shot put (10.32m/33-10.25), and finished with 4243 points.

Up Next

Indiana State heads back to SEC territory, as most of the Sycamores will compete in the Crimson Tide Invitational April 21-22 at Alabama. A select contingent will remain in the Hoosier State to compete at the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington.

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Connor Fenlong went into the ninth inning and the Sycamores tallied a season-best 17 hits as Indiana State secured the series win over Belmont on Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park with a 10-2 win.

The Sycamores (21-12, 10-1 MVC) ran their winning streak to nine consecutive games with the victory as ISU took the lead in the top of the first inning on Randal Diaz’s solo home run and did not let up. Keegan Watson also homered for ISU as all nine Sycamores in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit in Saturday’s win.

The game was never in doubt from the get-go as ISU scored one in the first, two in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth, and one in the sixth to jump out to an 8-0 lead. Belmont’s (19-17, 5-6 MVC) defense also struggled in the field as the Bruins made four errors in the contest in the loss.

Fenlong (4-2) went into the ninth inning for the second time this season as the redshirt senior utilized 99 pitches in his fourth win of the season. The Gouvernour, N.Y. native surrendered six hits and two solo home runs, while walking three and striking out four in his third quality start of the season.

The Sycamore offense made sure their Saturday starter had plenty of run support as ISU connected on a season-high 17 hits including five doubles and a pair of home runs. Mike Sears tied his season-high with three hits in the contest leading seven Sycamores who posted multi-hit games in the contest. Luis Hernandez, Sears, Grant Magill, Watson, and Henry Brown all doubled in the win.

Simon Gregersen closed out the game entering the contest in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Sycamore reliever struck out the final two hitters in helping ISU secure the win.

Brody Heaton and Mason Landers both homered for Belmont in the loss.

Dominic Baratta (3-3) took the loss on the mound after going the first four innings allowing 10 hits and six runs (five earned), while striking out five. Simon Tesh, Caleb Guisewite, Jake Timbes, and Cade Granzow went the final five innings for the Bruins.

How They Scored

Randal Diaz connected on a one-out solo home run in the top of the first inning off Belmont starter Dominic Baratta to give the Sycamores an early 1-0 lead on Saturday afternoon.

Diaz added ISU’s second run of the game with an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Henry Brown, while Mike Sears connected on an RBI double to left field scoring Seth Gergely as Indiana State went ahead 3-0 in the top of the third.

Seth Gergely brought home Keegan Watson with a two-out single up the middle in the top of the fourth inning to make it a 4-0 ISU lead.

Watson worked a full count before connecting on a three-run home run to right field scoring Mike Sears and Grant Magill in the top of the fifth inning to put ISU ahead 7-0.

The Sycamore lead hit 8-0 in the top of the sixth as Mike Sears singled home Luis Hernandez with one out in the inning.

Brody Heaton put Belmont on the board in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff solo home run to left center cutting the score to 8-1.

Grant Magill connected on a double down the left field line scoring Adam Pottinger and the Sycamore catcher made it all the way around the bases on the play as an errant Belmont throw skipped away from the defense to make it a 10-1 ballgame.

Belmont plated the final run in the bottom of the ninth on Mason Landers’ leadoff solo home run to left centerfield to put the final margin at 10-2.

News & Notes

Indiana State’s nine game winning streak equals their longest stretch without a loss since the 2019 season when the Sycamores won nine in a row from March 2-17, 2019, with victories over Austin Peay (twice), Mercer (three), Purdue (one), and The Citadel (three).

ISU’s last double-digit win streak came back in Coach Hannahs’ first season at the helm in 2014 when the Sycamores won 12 in a row from February 15 – March 10 with wins over Connecticut, Ohio State (twice), Lipscomb, Belmont, MTSU, New Orleans (three), and Western Illinois (three).

The Sycamores continued one of the best starts to conference play in program history as the 10-1 mark trails only the 12-1 start ISU accomplished back in the 1998 season.

Luis Hernandez extended his on-base streak to a career-best 26 consecutive games following his sixth-inning double.

Hernandez’s streak is the third-longest single season streak in the Mitch Hannahs coaching era trailing just Romero Harris (31, 2018) and Andy DeJesus (29, 2015).

Hernandez also boasts ISU’s longest current hitting streak at eight consecutive games.

Adam Pottinger has reached base safely in his last nine contests following his 2-for-5 day at the plate.

Indiana State’s 17 hits on Saturday were a season-high in 2023 surpassing the 16 hits ISU totaled in the first game of the April 2 doubleheader at UIC.

The 17 hits were the most by ISU since the Sycamores tallied 17 hits last season on May 15, 2022 at Southern Illinois.

Mike Sears recorded his second three-hit game of the season and fourth of his career after going 3-for-4 on Saturday afternoon.

Connor Fenlong’s 8.0-inning outing was the second longest of his collegiate career trailing only behind his 8.2-inning effort at Memphis on March 12, 2023.

ISU’s starting pitchers have gone at least eight innings in seven different games this season (Matt Jachec – 3, Fenlong – 2, Lane Miller – 2).

Grant Magill picked up his first stolen base of 2023 and the seventh of his collegiate career. It was his first steal since swiping on last season on May 13 at Southern Illinois.

Josue Urdaneta added his fourth steal on the year.

Henry Brown posted his first collegiate extra-base hit on Saturday afternoon as the Sycamore redshirt freshman doubled to lead off the top of the third inning.

Up Next

Indiana State closes out the weekend series at Belmont on Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL

NASHVILLE – Indiana State softball dropped game two of their weekend series at Belmont, falling 2-1 to the Bruins on Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park.

The Sycamores (20-21, 9-7) finished with six hits in the contest while Belmont (22-16, 8-7) also had six on the afternoon

The Action

Indiana State jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run on a pair of hits in the opening frame. Danielle  Henning singled up the middle and would later come around to score on a double to right field by Kennedy Shade. Lauren Sackett started in the circle for ISU and tossed a scoreless bottom of the first.

Kaylee Barrett had an infield single in the top half of the second but that was all for the Sycamore offense in the frame. Sackett picked up two more strikeouts to keep the 1-0 lead intact.

In the third inning, Danielle Henning added her second hit of the game with a single to right field but Belmont would turn a double play to retire the side. Sackett worked another scoreless frame in the bottom half.

After the Sycamores went down in order to begin the fourth, the Bruins would chase Sackett after 3.1 innings. Hailey Griffin entered and gave up a single to put two runners on but would retire the next two batters with a strikeout and a pop up to escape the jam with no damage.

Olivia Patton singled and picked up a stolen base in the top of the fifth but would be stranded on second as the Sycamores couldn’t push another run across. Belmont then took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half. A solo shot to left center and a single up the middle put the Bruins up 2-1 after five frames.

In the top of the sixth, Isabella Henning led of the frame with a single and would move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Annie Tokarek. Belmont would retire Shade and Thomerson to remain in the lead. Cassi Newbanks, who had enterted in relief in the fifth, worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the frame with a strikeout and two groundouts.

Belmont closed out the Sycamores in the top of the seventh, bringing up a rubber match to end the series on Sunday afternoon.

Up Next

The series finale will begin on Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ET at E.S. Rose Park.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball season came to a close on Saturday (April 15) when the No. 5 seeded Mastodons fell to No. 4 seed Lewis in four sets (25-15, 25-18, 16-25, 38-36).

After dropping the first two sets, the Mastodons looked like a different team in sets three and four. Mark Frazier’s service put the ‘Dons up 5-0 early in set three. Frazier had two aces in this stretch. Combined with the opening 5-0 run, it was a 6-0 stretch behind the serve of Zach Solomon that put the ‘Dons up 21-10 and in full control of the set. The ‘Dons coasted to win the set from there.

The fourth set was everything one would hope for in a win or go home tournament setting. The Mastodons and Flyers had 17 ties scores and four lead changes in the fourth set alone. Jon Diedrich was spectacular in the last set of his fourth season with the Mastodons, registering 12 kills on 20 attempts. Frazier had eight digs and two blocks including a massive solo block to put the ‘Dons up 27-26. The Flyers were up 35-34 when it looked as though the match was over, but head coach Ryan Perrotte challenged a touch at the net and was successful. The ‘Dons won the next two points to offer up set point, but Lewis won the next three to win the match.

Diedrich finished with a match-high 19 kills while hitting .375. Frazier had a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs while adding four aces. Solomon had 33 assists after moving from the right-side pin to setter duties at the beginning of set three. He added five kills, five digs and an ace. Noah Melendez finished his career with an eight-dig performance. Carlos Mercado had nine kills on 11 swings for an .818 hitting percentage off the bench.

Purdue Fort Wayne’s season comes to a close at 16-13.

Lewis improves to 17-12 and will move on to play at No. 1 Ball State on Wednesday (April 19) in the MIVA semifinal.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE TRACK

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A pair of Purdue Fort Wayne men’s track and field records fell on Saturday (April 15) at Indiana State’s Gibson Invitational.

The 4×100 relay squad of Braxton Trittipo, Brent Donaldson, John Jackman and Luke Beehler set a school record with a time of 42.11. Beehler broke his own school record in the long jump with a mark of 6.98 meters.

Donaldson was seventh in the 400 hurdles (55.67). Trittipo finished with a time of 48.64 for ninth in the 400 meters.

Purdue Fort Wayne finished 13th with 10 points.

The ‘Dons are at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Classic next week.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Four school records fell on Saturday (April 15) for the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s track and field team at Indiana State’s Gibson Invitational.

The Mastodons broke the school record in the 4×100 relay to earn third place. Jesseca Hudson-Turpin, Katie Clark, Jordan Yanders and Jai Reed combined for a time of 46.67 for the mark. They broke a record which stood since 2018.

Hudson-Turpin set two individual school records on Saturday. Hudson-Turpin was third in the 400 hurdles (1:02.19) for a new school record. She broke Kaylin Taylor’s record that has stood since 2014. Hudson-Turpin earned second in the 100 hurdles (13.67) to break her own school record. Jordan Yanders was sixth (14.23) in the 100 hurdles.

Reed earned seventh in the 100 meters (12.04), breaking her own school record.

Clark won the 400 meters (55.74) and earned sixth in the 200 (24.83).

In the 800 meters, Makaila Groves grabbed eighth with a time of 2:18.40.

In the field events, Miranda Haney was fifth in the high jump (1.60 meters). Ali Sparks took eighth in the shot put (13.07 meters).

The ‘Dons finished sixth as a team with 46.5 points. They topped the only other Horizon League team in the meet (IUPUI).

Purdue Fort Wayne is at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Classic next week.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon baseball dropped a pair to Milwaukee on Saturday (April 14).

Game One – Milwaukee 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 6

The ‘Dons trailed 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh when things tightened. Jarrett Bickel, Braedon Blackford and Caileb Johnson each doubled in the frame. Blackford, Cade Nelis and Johnson each knocked in a run. It made the score 6-4. Milwaukee added a two-out run in the ninth to go up 7-4 and it proved to be the difference.

The bottom of the ninth saw Blackford hit his league-leading 11th home run of the season. It was a two-run shot with two outs that scored Nelis and made the score 7-6. Johnson followed with a walk as did pinch hitter Luke Miles. But the ‘Dons would strand the potential tying and winning runs on base to end the game.

Jacob Myer took the loss. He is now 0-4 after going 4.0 innings. Brody Fine allowed just three hits and two runs in 5.0 innings out of the pen.

Blackford had three hits in the game and four total RBIs. Nelis and Johnson also had two hits.

Luke Hansel got the win for Milwaukee. He is 5-1 after going 6.2 innings. Nate DeYoung survived the ninth to get his seventh save of the year. Marcus Cline had two hits for the Panthers.

Game Two – Milwaukee 15, Purdue Fort Wayne 8

Johnson had a fifth-inning opposite field home run for his sixth dinger of the season. The ‘Dons scored four runs in the fifth and four more in the eighth. Nelis and Blackford each had two hits and a walk.

Eliot Turnquist went the required 5.0 innings for the win. He is now 3-2. Owen Willard took the loss for the ‘Dons. He is 0-3. Kyle Maurer had a scoreless inning of relief for the ‘Dons.

Milwaukee opened the game up with a six-run third inning. Jake Novak and Aaron Chapman each hit a home run for the Panthers.

The ‘Dons fall to 9-28 (6-9 Horizon League). Milwaukee improves to 16-16 (7-7 Horizon League).

EVANSVILLE BASEBALL

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The visiting University of Evansville baseball team out-hit the Southern Illinois Salukis, 10-7, on Saturday, but SIU used a pair of three-run innings to even the Missouri Valley Conference series between the two schools with a 6-3 win at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.  The series rubbermatch will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. and can be seen live nationally on ESPNU.

“Today was a great college baseball game that just didn’t go our way,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “We hit the ball hard today, but we seemed to hit it right at them in some key situations.  They also had the big three-run home run that we just couldn’t overcome.

“It’s a big game tomorrow with the series on the line.”

Despite traffic for both sides in every half-inning except for one through the first three innings, the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when SIU would manufacture its first three-run frame.  A lead-off double by catcher Cole Christman opened the frame, and after a walk, SIU second baseman Steven Loden laced an RBI single to center field to plate the game’s first run.

The Salukis would quickly load the bases with no one out in the inning, but after a pair of fly outs, it looked like UE starter Tyler Denu (2-2) would escape the jam.  A hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch, though, plated two more runs for SIU and gave the Salukis a 3-0 lead.

Evansville would immediately respond in the top of the fifth inning, plating two runs on RBI doubles by graduate outfielder Eric Roberts and junior shortstop Simon Scherry to trim the SIU lead to 3-2.  The momentum for UE would be short-lived though, as after a lead-off hit-by-pitch and a one-out single, Loden launched a three-run home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the SIU lead to 6-2.

Evansville would put two men on base in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but SIU relievers Scott Harper and Paul Bonzagni were able to tip-toe around the trouble to keep the lead at four runs.  Roberts would launch his MVC-leading 14th home run of the year to right field leading off the top of the ninth inning, but that would be the only run UE could muster in the ninth.

Roberts went 3-for-5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle, while driving in two runs.  Scherry also had a two-hit day for UE, as seven of the nine Evansville starters collected base hits.  Loden went 2-for-4 with his 11th home run of the year and four RBI to lead SIU.

The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday, with a pair of left-handers expected to get the start.  Evansville is expected to send junior LHP Donovan Schultz (4-2, 3.68 ERA) to the mound, and he is expected to be opposed by SIU LHP Tanner Lewis (2-1, 5.10 ERA).  The game can be seen live on ESPNU and heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.

EVANSVILLE SOFTBALL

MURRAY, Ky. – Scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Murray State overcame a 3-1 deficit before bringing in the winning run to defeat the University of Evansville softball team by a 5-4 score on Saturday at Racer Field.

It was the Racers who scored the opening run of the day in the second inning on a wild pitch.  Evansville stormed right back in the top of the third as a 2-run home run by Marah Wood put her team in front.  Sydney Kalonihea led off with a single to set up Wood’s 2-run shot with one out.

Hannah Hood added some insurance with an RBI triple in the top half of the sixth.  Her hit brought in Jess Willsey to pad the lead at 3-1.  Helped by a 2-run double from Ailey Schyck, Murray State retook a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth with a total of three runs crossing the plate.

Down to their last opportunity, the Purple Aces manufactured a run to send the game into extra innings.  Once again, it was Kalonihea making a difference with a leadoff hit.  She led off with a double and advanced to third on a ground out.  That brought up Wood, who hit a sacrifice fly to knot the score at 4-4.

A lightning delay held the game up in the bottom of the seventh before play resumed.  With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Racers knotted the weekend series with a pair of hits.  With a runner on second, Lily Fischer doubled to right field to bring the game-winner.

Wood completed the day with a 2-for-2 showing with a home run, three RBI and a run.  Kalonihea was 2-4 and scored twice while Hood added two hits.  Mikayla Jolly made the start for UE.  In four innings off work, she gave up one run on four hits.  Erin Kleffman tossed 1 1/3 innings with two runs scoring while Megan Brenton threw the final 3 1/3 innings with two runs scoring.

Sunday’s series finale is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch at Racer Field.

SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball battled vigorously in 10 innings Saturday against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, but the Screaming Eagles fell, 4-3, as the visiting Cougars clinched a series win.

With Saturday’s results, USI had its record go to 16-19 overall and 9-8 in Ohio Valley Conference play. SIUE improved to 17-22 overall and 4-9 in the OVC.

Saturday’s game was reminiscent of the close, hard-fought games in Friday’s doubleheader between the two schools that were renewing an old rivalry with the first series meeting since 2008.

The Cougars struck first in the top of the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a fielder’s choice. The Screaming Eagles answered in the next inning to tie the game. Junior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) started the third-inning offense for USI with a leadoff triple. Two batters later, junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) singled up the middle to bring Bedrick home.

Over the next two innings, USI starting pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) and SIUE freshman starter Rylie Pindel became stingy in the circle. Each pitcher had their defense on its toes, pitching to contact.

In the sixth inning, the two sides exchanged two-run innings. SIUE grabbed a 3-1 advantage at first, but Southern Indiana answered right back in the home half of the sixth to tie the game, 3-3. Following an extra-base hit by junior first baseman Lexi Fair (Greenwood, Indiana), senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) made it a one-run game with an RBI triple. Martinez soon scored the tying run in the next at-bat by senior infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana), who singled down the line. Rager’s RBI hit ended the day for SIUE’s Pindel, who did not factor in the final decision after going 5.2 innings with three runs allowed off seven hits.

The contest remained knotted at three through seven innings, forcing extra innings and staying tied through nine innings. In the top of the 10th inning, SIUE had a single and a wild pitch that allowed the go-ahead runner to reach third base. A successful sacrifice scored the go-ahead runner, giving SIUE the 4-3 lead. For USI in the bottom of the 10th inning, the Screaming Eagles were able to get a potential tying runner to second base before SIUE stranded the runner and closed out the game for the series win.

Southern Indiana was led at the plate by Bedrick and Rager, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Martinez tallied a hit, a run, and an RBI.

In the pitching circle, SIUE junior pitcher Sydney Baalman evened her season record at 8-8 with the win, giving up just one hit and no runs in 4.1 innings in relief of Pindel. On the other side for USI, Newman suffered a tough loss, dropping to 13-8 on the season. Newman pitched all 10 innings, a career long, allowing four runs with seven strikeouts.

The Screaming Eagles will return to action on the road next weekend for a three-game set against Tennessee State University from Nashville, Tennessee. The series is scheduled to start with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. with the series finale slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games can be seen with an ESPN+ subscription and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage links are on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.

SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL

MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not overcome a four-run third in falling to the University of Tennessee at Martin, 7-3, Saturday afternoon in Martin, Tennessee. USI watched its record go to 9-25 overall and 2-9 in the OVC, while UTM goes to 11-25, 6-5 OVC, this spring.

USI got on the board first with a tally in the second inning when junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) scored on a ground out by sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela). The Screaming Eagles held the lead until the bottom of the third when UTM posted four runs to lead, 4-1.

The Skyhawks increased the lead to 5-1 with another tally in the fourth before the Eagles could respond in the sixth. USI cut the deficit to 5-2 with a RBI-single by junior rightfielder Drew Taylor (Jeffersonville, Indiana).

After UTM got the tally back in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-2 advantage, USI cut into the deficit for the second-straight inning when Van Grieken scored on a sacrifice foul out by junior second baseman Nolan Cook (Evansville, Indiana) to make the score 6-3. That would be a close as the Eagles would come in the final frames as the Skyhawks added one more in the eighth for the 7-3 final.

On the mound, freshman left-hander Will Kiesel (Wadesville, Indiana) suffered the loss for the Eagles. Kiesel allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out one in three innings of work.

Up Next for the Eagles: 

The three-game series with USI and UTM concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.

Following Sunday’s game, USI comes home to start a five game homestand at the USI Baseball Field Tuesday when it hosts Oakland City University for a 6 p.m. contest. Following the USI-OCU match-up, the Eagles host a three-game OVC series with Eastern Illinois University April 21-23 prior to concluding the homestand with a 6 p.m. contest with McKendree University April 25.

VALPO SOFTBALL

It was a special day for Valpo softball pitcher Caitlyn Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) Saturday afternoon in Peoria, Ill., as the junior authored the 12th known no-hitter in program history as the Beacons blanked Bradley in the opening game of a twinbill, 1-0, to clinch the series victory. The Braves edged Valpo, 3-2, in the nightcap to keep Valpo from sweeping the series.

How It Happened – Game One

Just as in Friday’s series opener, Valpo claimed the lead before sending its pitcher to the circle. Fifth-year Taylor Herschbach (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the first and moved over to third on a single the other way by senior Lauren Kehlenbrink (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South). Kehlenbrink got herself in a rundown on a stolen base attempt, allowing Herschbach to come home with what turned out to be the game’s lone run.

Handed a lead to work with, Kowalski and the defense took care of the rest. The Braves drew leadoff walks in each of the first two innings, but both times, Valpo prevented the runner from getting past second base.

The Beacons had a shot to add to their lead in the second with runners on the corners and one out before back-to-back strikeouts ended the frame.

A one-out walk for Bradley in the bottom of the third only served to set up a double play for the Valpo defense, as it caught the Braves runner having left early upon appeal on a flyout.

The Braves drew another free pass to lead off the fourth, but Kowalski set down the next three in a row to start off a string of 12 outs in a row to close out the game.

Valpo looked for insurance in the top of the seventh, putting a pair of runners with one out on a hit by pitch by junior Emily Crompton (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) and a walk by freshman Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon). The pair moved up 60 feet apiece to give the Beacons two in scoring position with two out, but a pop-up sent the game to the bottom of the seventh.

Kowalski took to the circle for the bottom of the seventh with no hits against her through the first six frames. She induced an easy grounder to short for the first out and followed by freezing the next hitter to move within one out of the no-no. On her 93rd pitch of the afternoon, with a 2-2 count against the Bradley hitter, Kowalski got a swing and miss to cap off the no-hitter and set off a celebration with her teammates.

How It Happened – Game Two

For the first time in the three-game series, Valpo was held off the board in the top of the first as both teams went down in order.

Junior Regi Hecker (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South) led off the second with a single to left and stole second, but was stranded there. Bradley got its first runner off Easton Seib (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) with a two-out walk, but a pop-up kept the game scoreless into the third.

Bradley recorded its first hits of the day in the bottom of the third, stringing together a hit batter and two singles to plate the game’s opening run.

Valpo responded immediately in the top of the fourth, keyed by a leadoff triple from Herschbach. On a potential squeeze, Herschbach strayed far enough off third for a rundown to ensue, but the Bradley catcher threw the ball away down the line, allowing Herschbach to score the tying run.

Later in the inning, Crompton beat out an infield single and pinch-runner Kaiah Fenters (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) took advantage of a pair of Bradley errors on a grounder from the next batter to come all the way around to score, giving Valpo a 2-1 lead.

The Braves answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead for good on a single, a double and a triple.

Valpo put the potential tying tally on second with one out in the fifth, and to second with one out and third with two out in the seventh, but was not able to push it across.

No-Hitter Nuggets

Kowalski’s no-hitter was the 12th known no-no in Valpo softball history.

It was the first no-hitter of Kowalski’s collegiate career.

The no-hitter was Valpo’s first since Kelsie Packard earned a five-inning no-hitter against Wagner in March 2019. That game was actually split over two separate dates, as Packard tossed the first three innings on March 1 and the final two on March 3.

It was the first seven-inning no-hitter by a Valpo pitcher since Emily Richardson blanked North Carolina Central on Feb. 18, 2018.

Saturday’s effort surpassed Kowalski’s previous best at Valpo, which actually came in her first collegiate appearance — a one-hitter against Western Illinois on Feb. 13, 2021. Kowalski lost the no-hitter with two outs in the sixth inning that day.

Kowalski’s no-hitter followed Seib’s one-hit effort on Friday, marking the second known time in program history Valpo has paired a no-no and a one-hitter in consecutive games. Tana Barnes one-hit Philadelphia on March 11, 2002, and the next day, Amanda Gilbertson tossed a no-hitter against St. Thomas Aquinas.

Inside the Games

Valpo took the 2-1 series victory from Bradley, its first MVC series win of the season.

It is the first time Valpo has won a Valley series on the road since winning two of three at Illinois State May 5-6, 2018.

Kehlenbrink registered her second consecutive multi-hit game in the opener, giving her a team-high seven such games this season.

Crompton reached base in all three of her plate appearances in the day’s first game, registering a single, a walk and a hit by pitch.

Rodas reached base twice as well, with a single and a walk.

Kowalski struck out six batters in the no-hit effort. She came back in the nightcap to throw two innings of relief, surrendering one hit and striking out two.

Seib took the loss in the nightcap, giving up three runs in four innings of work.

Herschbach reached base twice in the series finale, picking up a triple and a walk.

Next Up

Valpo (7-30, 3-13) continues Valley play on Wednesday as the Beacons host UIC for a single game. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.

VALPO BASEBALL

It’s hard to know where to begin with this one, but Jake Skrine (Longmont, Colo. / Mead [Indiana]) is as good of a place as any.

The Valparaiso University baseball catcher batted .636 with three home runs, nine RBIs and caught a pair of runners trying to steal to lead the way in this weekend’s three-game road sweep of Bradley. Valpo outlasted the Braves 12-8 in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader at Dozer Park in Peoria before dominating the nightcap 10-0, invoking the 10-run rule after seven innings to complete a memorable day for Valpo baseball. Bobby Nowak (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central [Kankakee]) twirled a three-hit shutout in Game 2 to help Valpo to its first road league series sweep and its largest margin of victory in conference play since joining The Valley.

How It Happened – Game 1

The top of the first started with three free bases for the Beacons thanks to an error, a hit batter and a walk. Skrine ripped a single off the right-field wall to plate the game’s first run. That was followed by a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest), a sacrifice fly by Spencer Warfield (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) and a run-scoring double for Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) to make it 4-0.

That spelled the end of the day for the Bradley starting pitcher, but Valpo was still not done in the opening inning. A two-out hit by Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) plated a pair to make it a half a dozen in the opening frame.

After Nathan Chasey (Ames, Iowa / Gilbert [Indiana Hills CC]) used a double play and a strikeout to face the minimum in the bottom of the first, Skrine picked up his second RBI of the day with a missile of a home run, his second long ball of the series. That made it 7-0.

The lead reached eight in the fourth when Skrine notched his third RBI in as many plate appearances, this time on a one-out single that expanded the gap to 8-0.

Chasey notched all three outs via the strikeout in a scoreless second, then induced a twin killing to face the minimum in the third. Bradley made its way onto the scoreboard in the fourth thanks to a double followed by a home run to make it 8-2.

Bradley continued to cut into the lead by pushing across two more in the fifth to make it 8-4.

The Beacons responded with two in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Brady Renfro grounded out to score one and Skrine lifted a sac fly for his fourth RBI of the game. Both runners who crossed the dish had reached via walks. Those tallies expanded the lead to 10-4.

A two-run homer by Bradley in the bottom of the sixth made it a 10-6 game. Josh Cottrill (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) entered in relief of Chasey in the seventh and put up a zero by inducing an inning-ending double play.

The top of the eighth started with a solo shot to left by Ryan to make it 11-6, and later in the inning Skrine continued to pile up the RBIs with a run-scoring single to left to make it 12-6.

A two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth cut the lead to four, then Cottrill posted a zero in the final frame to preserve the triumph.

Inside the Game – Game 1

Skrine had a huge game, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs and a pair of runs scored. He drove in a run in all five of his plate appearances.

The four-hit game was the first by a Beacon since Nolan Tucker on Feb. 26 of this season at UT Martin.

Skrine’s five-RBI game marked the first by a Valpo player since Riley Dent batted in six on May 1, 2021 vs. Illinois State.

Skrine’s home run was his fourth of the season. 

Ryan collected two hits and drove in three. His home run was the third of his career and second this season.

Chasey earned the win, his first of the season and the third of his collegiate career. He allowed six runs on six hits while walking four and striking out eight in six innings.

Cottrill allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out one in three innings. He garnered the save due to the three-inning save rule, the first of his career.

Valpo produced 12 runs, its second-highest run total of the season and highest since 17 on Feb. 26 at UT Martin.

How It Happened – Game 2

Valpo loaded the bases in the opening inning, but Bradley escaped with back-to-back strikeouts.

The Beacons struck first in the second by manufacturing a run with a walk, single, sac bunt and sac fly by Nolan Tucker (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central).

Valpo loaded the bases with one out in the third, but once again left them loaded with nothing across.

The Beacons stranded the bases full for the third time in the first four innings in the fourth, but not before they eked out a run on a Tucker RBI single.

The sixth inning started modestly with two outs and nobody on base, but after a walk to Renfro extended the inning, Skrine continued to look like Babe Ruth in this series by drilling yet another no-doubt home run to balloon the lead to 4-0.

Thurston spanked a double to drive in the third run of the sixth inning, but a Bradley relay throw cut down another runner trying to score on the play to end the inning with Valpo in front 5-0.

Valpo continued to pour it on in the top of the seventh. A Tucker double plated one, another scored on a passed ball and a third on a ground ball to first. The final blow came off the bat of Maka, who cranked a two-run homer to left to make it 10-0.

All of the offense came in the visiting half of each inning in Saturday’s second game. Nowak sent down seven straight spanning the first through third innings, then a leadoff single was quickly erased by a double play in the fourth. Another double play negated a walk in the fifth, and then the righty faced only four batters in each of the final two innings.

Inside the Game – Game 2

Skrine homered for the third straight game, increasing his season total to five.

Skrine was 6-for-7 with two home runs, four runs scored and seven RBIs in the doubleheader.

Maka delivered his fourth home run of the season and the ninth of his collegiate career.

Nowak pitched the first shutout by a Valpo hurler since March 12, 2021, the Colin Fields no-hitter at Middle Tennessee. He improved his record to 4-0 thanks to the three-hitter while walking three and striking out six.

The last Valpo player to throw a three-hitter was Dalton Lundeen on May 1, 2015 vs. Milwaukee. The only member of the program to allow three hits or fewer in a complete game since then was Fields during the no-hitter.

Nowak’s effort was Valpo’s first complete game since Trent Turzenski on Feb. 25, 2022 at Alabama A&M.

This marked Valpo’s first shutout of the season and first since March 25, 2022 vs. St. Bonaventure, a game decided by the identical score of 10-0.

Valpo swept a conference series for the first time since taking all three from Southern Illinois on May 10-12, 2019 at Emory G. Bauer Field.

Valpo picked up its first road sweep of a league series since joining the Missouri Valley Conference. Valpo’s last sweep of a road conference series of three games or more was March 18-20, 2016 at Northern Kentucky.

The 10-0 triumph marked Valpo’s most lopsided league victory since joining the Missouri Valley Conference. This was the first time the Beacons invoked the 10-run rule since joining the league.

Valpo outhit Bradley 12-3 with four Beacons enjoying multi-hit outputs. Maka led the way with a three-hit game.

The Valpo defense turned six double plays on the day – three in each game.

Up Next

Valpo (14-14, 5-7 MVC) will visit Notre Dame on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra with links to live video and stats available on ValpoAthletics.com.

VALPO MEN’S GOLF

The Valparaiso University men’s golf team turned in a glowing performance on the first day of Penn State’s Rutherford Intercollegiate, hosted at the par-71, 7171-yard Penn State Blue Course on Saturday. Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) had one of the best single-round scores in program history and owns the top spot in the race for medalist honors with 18 holes to go. His teammate Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield) is second in the 75-player field. Valpo’s team score in Round 2 threatened a program record as part of a tremendous day on the links, which ended with Valpo owning the top spot in the 12-team event.

How It Happened

After a 71 (E) in Round 1, VanArragon carded a 65 (-6) in a stellar second round to finish the day at 136 (-6). He holds a narrow one-stroke lead over his teammate for the top spot on the player leaderboard.

Delisanti also had a great day, starting with a 67 (-4) in Round 1. He followed that up with a 70 in Round 2 to complete the day at 137 (-5).

Yianni Kostouros (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point [Ball State]) and Sam Booth (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) also made key improvements from Round 1 to Round 2. Kostouros trimmed six strokes off his Round-1 score with a 69 (-2) in Round 2, while Booth bettered his opening-round score by eight strokes by finishing the day with a 70 (+1). Kostouros sits at t-21 with a 36-hole score of 144.

As a team, Valpo climbed three spots in the second round, building up a five-stroke lead on the second-place tie between Georgetown and host Penn State. After a 288 in Round 1, the Beacons needed just 274 strokes in Round 2 (-10) to finish the day at 562 (-6).

Inside the Rounds

VanArragon’s 65 in Round 2 was the best 18-hole score of his illustrious, four-year career with the Brown & Gold. His previous personal best was 66.

VanArragon’s 18-hole round tied for the second best in program history, behind only Delisanti’s 64 at this fall’s Zach Johnson Invitational. VanArragon joins Jared Magoline, Nick Seitz, Peter Webb and Drew Alexander as other Valpo golfers who have carded a 65.

In relation to par, VanArragon’s score of six under is tied for fourth in program history with four others. He matched his personal best for 18-hole score in relation to par that was set on Sept. 4, 2022 at the Island Resort Intercollegiate. 

Valpo’s second-round team score of 274 was the second best in program history and best in nearly a decade. The only better team showing in program history was 273 at the Golfweek Program Challenge on Sept. 7, 2014.

In relation to par, Valpo’s -10 in the second Round tied for the second best in program history. Saturday’s score tied with the third round of the Valpo Fall Invitational on Sept. 20 of this season and is behind only -15 in the first round of the Golfweek Program Challenge on Sept. 7, 2014.

Valpo was second in the tournament field in par-3 scoring at 3.18 and third in par-4 scoring at 4.05.

Delisanti led the field in par-3 scoring at 2.75, while VanArragon’s par-4 average of 3.82 led the event in that category.

Delisanti drained nine birdies, the second most in the field. Valpo had 26 on the day as a team.

A pair of Beacons recorded eagles as Booth and Kostouros both turned the trick on the par-5 ninth hole in Round 2.

Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring

“These 36-hole days are long and there’s a lot of golf being played by each one of our guys. We had our challenges in the morning round, playing almost all of it in a steady rain. We have been fortunate this season with not playing in much rain at all, so our guys had to adjust to those conditions, playing in rain gear and keeping everything as dry as possible. Anthony played exceptionally steady for us, with six birdies and only two bogeys for one of his best rounds of the year. Caleb had a remarkably consistent round, with 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey. We only had eleven birdies as a team, but the guys were grinding through the weather and we kept the first-round team leaders in view.”

“In the second round, we increased our birdie production to 15 birdies and we added two Par-5 eagles. We shot five under on the front nine and picked up some shots on the field from our first-round deficit. We were able to get a lot of quality pars and some key birdies on the back nine to keep adding to our lead. We shot another -5 on the back nine to finish the long day very strong.  Sam had two birdies and no bogeys, while Caleb had three birdies and no bogeys on the back nine. Both Anthony and Yianni shot even on the back nine.”

“We needed a strong second round today, and the guys really played hard to finish strong. This was the best second round that we have had all year, and it’s a tribute to the guys with their preparation and conditioning. We’re going to turn around and play another 18 tomorrow, so the guys are excited to get back out on the course and enjoy competing against a number of really good teams here at Penn State.”

Up Next

Valpo will golf the final 18 holes of the event on Sunday. A link to live scoring is available on ValpoAthletics.com.

U OF I WOMEN’S TENNIS

LEBANON, Ill. – The UIndy women’s tennis team wrapped up their regular season with a dominant effort against the McKendree Bearcats, winning 7-0. The Hounds finish the regular season 14-5 with a perfect 5-0 mark in GLVC action.

INS AND OUTS

Doubles saw the only time the Bearcats win a match, taking victory at the No. 2 slot. Anna Novikova and Sofia Sharonova got the job done out of the top spot, winning 6-1. Aimee Reynoso and Lea Cakarevic, making up a new duo, were solid in the three spot, taking a 6-3 dub.

Doubles wins moved into singles dominance. Cakarevic out of the No. 3 spot went 6-0, 6-2 with Sharonova also grabbing a zero in her 6-3, 6-0 match. Maria Fiacan, Reynoso and Novikova rounded out the straight sets dubs for the Hounds, with Margarita Andreiuk being the only Hound pushed to three. Her three sets victory was sweep, however, winning her final set 6-0.

UP NEXT

Tournament time is on the horizon for the Hounds, hosting the GLVC Championship in Indianapolis starting on Friday!

U OF I MEN’S TENNIS

LEBANON, Ill. – The University of Indianapolis men’s tennis team worked a 7-0 sweep against the McKendree Bearcats, marking their fifth straight GLVC matchup, making them a perfect 5-0 in conference action, not having given up a point to GLVC foes.

INS AND OUTS

It was another simple affair for the Hounds, with all three doubles matches going towards UIndy. No. 1 Tom Zeuch and Edgar Destouet were back to their dominant ways, winning 6-2. Erwan Momo Andre and Matthieu Derache picked up a quick 6-1 dub, while Nikolaj Talimaa and Louis Picaud went 6-3.

Singles saw much of the same, with the Bearcats forcing three sets at No. 1 and No. 3 singles. Zeuch was effortless out of the two spot, winning in back-to-back 6-1 sets. Thomas Mathis as well saw quick work on his day, winning 6-1, 6-2.

Both Destouet and Louis Picaud saw some fight in their matches, with both men coming out on top in three sets.

UP NEXT

It is postseason time for the Hounds, battling the GLVC Championship Tournament starting on April 21, set to host this year.

U OF I SOFTBALL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The UIndy softball team (39-4, 12-1 GLVC) tallied its third-straight shutout victory on Saturday afternoon as the squad took down the Rockhurst Hawks by a final of 5-0 at Loyola Park Softball Field. Notably, Greyhound ace Kenzee Smith dominated play in the circle while freshman infielder Shelby Cook accounted for all five runs in the road win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Smith (23-3) allowed Rockhurst to collect just one hit from the dish, which came as a third-inning single to right center field. Outside of that, the two-time All-American tallied double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season after sitting down 10 batters.

Meanwhile for Cook, the Murphysboro, Ill., native kicked off the scoring for the Hounds in the second inning on a three-run dinger to right center field. Then in the fourth, she went yard once again on a two-run shot down the right field line that eventually capped off the scoring in the game.

Due to inclement weather, action was called off in the top half of the seventh with the Hounds sitting in the driver’s seat. Megan Nichols, Emily O’Connor, and Sydnee Perry each had one hit in the game for UIndy.

UP NEXT

The Greyhounds will stay in KC and prepare for a doubleheader tomorrow against William Jewell. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET.

U OF I BASEBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis baseball team lost the first and won the second of their Saturday doubleheader, with the Greyhounds earning a series split with the Cardinals. It was a repeat of the Friday doubleheader schedule, with the Cardinals taking game one 13-6, but the Hounds battled back forcing a split, sounding off a pair of homers to take game two 13-9.

The highlights of game two came via E.J. White who earned his first career win as a Greyhound, shutting out the high-powered offense of the Cardinals in game two over five innings. White’s outing featured four punchouts, and no walks, allowing just three hits and one earned run.

Jared Bujdos offensively was the powerhouse of the second contest, crushing his fifth home run of the year while also nabbing four RBIs in the second contest. Brady Ware had a dinger in the second contest as well, tying Bujdos in the bomb category with five.

GAME 1 | JEWELL 13, UINDY 6

Game one saw a first inning run by the Hounds, with Zack Williams getting the Hounds going early. A three spot in the second by the Cardinals put the Hounds on their heels, with the Cardinals adding on another in the third via the long ball. A Williams double and then a Nick Lukac triple scored three with Bujdos roping a ball down the third base line for the final run of the inning.

Those runs were the only scoring threat the Hounds had, plating only one more in the contest in the sixth. Nine more runs came across for Jewell with two more balls being sent out.

GAME 2 | UINDY 13, JEWELL 9

Game four saw a clean opening frame for the first time in this series. The scoring drought did not remain however, with the Cardinals dropping a ball into shallow left field for the first score of the game. Brandon DeWitt and Drew Donaldson combined to take the lead right back in the bottom half of second, with Donaldson cracking his 12th double of the season, a team leading mark.

Keeping the pedal to the metal, the UIndy squad added four more in the third and the fourth, fighting off a big six spot by the visitors in the top of the fourth. The fourth is where the two big two-RBI bombs occurred from Ware and Bujdos.

Three more Greyhound runs came across in the fifth, one by a Lukac single and another two by sloppy Cardinal defense. The game quieted down from that point on, aside from excellent defensive efforts by DeWitt, robbing a home run, and Bujdos making a diving snag in left field.

White went one-two-three in the six through the eighth, with there being minor trouble in the top of the ninth due to a pair of Greyhound errors.

UP NEXT

The Hounds have a pair of road trip early next week, first on Tuesday where they travel to Kentucky Wesleyan, with a trip to Hammond, Ind. for a battle with Purdue Northwest the next day.

MARIAN SOFTBALL

GOSHEN, Ind. – It was an offensive clinic from both teams, but it was the Marian softball team taking two from Goshen on Saturday afternoon. The season sweep of the Maple Leafs improve the Knights record to 33-3 overall and 22-2 in Crossroads League play.

Game 1 | Marian 12-11 Goshen

Goshen came out on the attack to open the day racking up five runs on six hits to take the early 5-0 lead after the first inning. Marian had a slow start to their offense, as they went three up, three down in the first three innings.

The Maple Leafs’ bats started to cool down in the third inning as they registered no hits and left a runner on after Abigail McPherson came in to pitch for Olivia Stunkel.

The Knights made up for the sluggish start, pounding in five runs in the top half of the fourth inning to tie the game up at 5-5. Savannah Harweger finally broke the silence with a shot down the left field line for a triple, before Anna Pritchett had the RBI single to score Marian’s first run. The visitors would score again after Pritchett executed on the throwing error by the hosts, while Grace Meyer’s came up big with the three-run homer to tie the game.

McPherson started to find her groove as she went one-two-three with the Maple Leafs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Marian grabbed their first lead in the top of the fifth inning with Sierra Norman’s two-run bomb. However, Goshen answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead at 9-7.

Norman continued her wreckage in the next inning as she proceeded to drive in three more runs with her double. Greene stepped up next for the Knights, hitting the RBI single to bring Caitlyn Phillips home, who came in to pinch run, giving Marian the 11-9 advantage. Goshen responded by adding another score to trail by one after six complete.

With the one-run lead going into the final inning, the Knights managed to tack on the insurance run after Savannah Baker hit a homerun to center field. After subbing in for McPherson in the fifth inning, Jaylah Guilliam put away the first batter by forcing the fly out, while Stunkel came back in to finish things off and guide Marian to the 12-11 victory.

In Marian’s 14 hits, Norman led the charge with a homerun, double, and five RBI in three hits. Five different Knights registered two hits, with Meyer and Baker each recording a homerun, and Harweger logging a triple. Guilliam picked up the win in circle for the Knights. She pitched 1.2 innings, striking out one, and giving up two runs. Stunkel struck out three in her 1.2 innings pitched, while McPherson pitched 3.2 innings.

Game 2 | Marian 7-6 Goshen

Unlike last game, the Knights put together some hits in the early going before their efforts were rewarded in the top half of the third inning when Greene doubled down the left field line to score two. Meyer added another run with her double to center to give the Knights the 3-0 lead. The Maple Leafs answered with a one-run homer, but it was Marian tacking on another run after Phillips stole home.

Goshen got within two after adding two more runs in the bottom half of the fifth, but an RBI by Pritchett padded their lead to 5-2. In the top of the final inning, Meyer’s RBI double and Caroline Roop’s sacrifice bunt gave the Knights the four-run lead going into the bottom half of the inning. Goshen made a threat in the bottom of the seventh as they cut their deficit to 7-6 after a three-run homer to left field, but Sydney Wilson stayed calm as she put away the final out.

Harweger led with three hits in Marian’s 11, while Greene, Meyer, and Phillips all added two. Meyer also picked up two doubles and two RBI, with Greene having two RBI as well. Wilson was the winning pitcher, as she threw all seven innings, striking out one batter.

The Knights return home on Tuesday when they host Bethel at 3 p.m.

MARIAN BASEBALL

Mishawaka, Ind. – The Marian baseball team snapped back into the win column late Saturday afternoon, winning the series finale against the Bethel Pilots as they halted a seven-game losing skid. Marian dropped the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader 7-3, before roaring back in game two with an 8-3 win as they improve to 14-22 overall and 8-16 in Crossroads League play.

Game 1 | Marian 3-7 Bethel

The Knights jumped on the board in their first opportunity of the game Saturday as JJ Rivera tattooed an 0-1 pitch to deep right field to provide a quick 1-0 lead, however the Pilots were able to match in the home half of the first as a single and shifty work on the base path by Jeremy Wiersema brought in a run against Taylor Soper. After the first inning excitement, the contest turned into a pitcher’s duel between Soper and Ty Mickiewicz, as both starters retired the side in order in the second inning.

A double play aided the Pilots in the third on the defensive side, and in the home half an error surrounded by singles and a sacrifice bunt brought in the go ahead run for Bethel. Soper was able to strand two runners in the third to hold the score at 2-1, and in the fourth left a one-out single on the base path with back to back groundouts. The southpaw would strand another two runners in the fifth inning as a pair of strikeouts highlighted his frame, and in the sixth the game drew back to a draw as Rivera cranked his second solo shot of the game.

Rivera’s third home run of the season tied the game 2-2, and in the bottom of the sixth Soper once again left two Pilots stranded on base to keep the score balanced. Marian had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the seventh as Rylan Huntley and Max Steffen roped back to back base hits, with Steffen’s double putting runners at second and third. The Knights were unable to score as a groundout and strikeout ended the frame, and in the bottom of the seventh Soper allowed two hits and walk, with Wiersema scoring the go-ahead run for Bethel.

The Knights were retired in order in the eighth as they looked to climb out of their 3-2 hole, and in the bottom of the inning Bethel was able to charge in front as Jace Stoops entered to pitch out of the bullpen. Stoops started strong with a strikeout, but a single and walk coupled with a wild pitch set up a Wiersema sacrfice fly. The righty was one-out away from ending the inning, but a walk prolonged the frame, giving Dominic Deisler an at-bat, as the Bethel catcher hit a towering three-run homerun to extend the home lead to five runs.

Marian would make it interesting as they were able to load the bases with hits from Huntley and Steffen and an error that Dion Wintjes reached on, but only one run would cross the plate as the Knights fell 7-3. Soper threw the longest outing in his Marian career as he threw seven innings, striking out seven batters while allowing eight his and three runs. Marian had eight hits as a team in the win with Rivera going 2-4 to lead the way, hitting a pair of solo home runs. Huntley and Steffen also finished 2-4, and Caden Mason had a sacrifice fly RBI in the game.

Game 2 | Marian 8-3 Bethel

For the second consecutive game the Knights managed to score in the first inning, as JJ Rivera stayed hot at the plate by recording a two-out double to score Rylan Huntley, who reached on a one-out single. The Knights would chalk another run in the second inning as Josh Lamb led-off the frame with a single, with his courtesy runner Johnny Roeder scoring on a passed ball after reaching third on a Caden Mason single.

The early runs were great support behind Chris Adams, as the Knights game two starter started a strong outing. Adams retired the side in order to open the game, and in the second left a double stranded as he recorded an inning-ending strikeout. The redshirt-freshman pitched out of a jam in the third inning as he stranded a two-out walk and single with a flyout to Mason in centerfield, and in the top of the fourth gained a cushion as Trey Heidlage blasted a three-run homerun, scoring both Wintjes and Roeder to give Marian a 5-0 lead.

Adams would yield his first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as Bethel had a home run of their own with Alex Stout hitting a solo-homerun, but the pitcher ended the inning strong with a groundout and strikeout. Marian would scratch out another run in the top of the fifth as Lamb recorded an RBI single, giving Marian a 6-1 advantage. Dawson Estep would add to the Knights lead in the sixth with a solo home run, as his second homer of the season gave Adams a 7-1 lead.

The Marian pitcher continued to sit down Pilot batters as he notched a strikeout in a scoreless fifth, and in the sixth powered through to strand a pair of runners and keep the six-run lead in tact. Marian was able to add another run in the top of the seventh to increase the lead to seven runs as Jackson Hogg scored on a wild pitch, which would be more than enough support for the pitchers. Adams attempted to complete the game in the bottom of the seventh, but after allowing a single and hitting a batter, his day would end. Jayson Cottrell inherited the two runners left by his teammate, and after allowing two Pilots to reach base that allowed two runs to score, the southpaw was able to end the game with a three-pitch strikeout.

Marian’s 8-3 win was highlighted by Adams on the mound, who allowed five hits in six completed innings and six total hits on the day, with the three Bethel runs charged to the starter. Adams struckout four on the day, and Cottrell picked up a strikeout in his relief inning facing five batters.

The offense combined for 12 hits in the win, with Rivera and Lamb each going 3-4 with an RBI. Heidlage and Estep’s home runs were their only hits of the game, as the duo combined for four RBI.

Marian will look to close a season-sweep of Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Monday afternoon, as they finish their season series against the Cougars that was halted after rain washed the initial April 1 date. First pitch of Monday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.

MARIAN TRACK

Terre Haute, Ind. – The Marian women’s track and field team had a busy weekend with the squad going to two separate meets. The Knights hit three NAIA standards at Indiana State’s Gibson Invitational, with Gina Butz, Giorgia Mameli, and the 4×100 meter relay team all recording a standard.

In the 100m dash, Giorgia Mameli placed fifth, hitting the NAIA ‘B’ standard with a time of 11.96. Makayla Melvin also competed in the 100 meter, finishing in 12.43. DeJae Hudson was the Knight’s sole competitor in the 100m hurdles, running a 12.69. Mameli was back at it again in the 200m reaching a NAIA ‘B’ standard and completing the race in 24.70, putting her in fifth place.

The 4x100m team consisted of Hanna Reuter, Jai-Lyn Norwood, Melvin, and Mameli. The four women combined for an eighth-place finish, hitting the NAIA ‘A’ standard with a time of 47.32.

Taylor Thomas led the Knights in the 800 meter with her 14th place finish after clocking a time of 2:22.43, while Nora Steele finished in 2:25.69. The 5000m saw Ali Ray placing third with a time of 18:17.63.

Sophomore Gina Butz highlighted the field events by hitting a NAIA ‘B’ standard in high jump, jumping1.65m and placing fourth. The Knights had three competitors in long jump with Norwood finishing fourth and jumping 5.63m, Hudson jumping 5.14m, and Hanna Reuter jumping 4.98m. Both Naomi Walters and Shirmara Anderson both competed in the triple jump, reaching 11.34m and 10.90m respectively.

Also on the weekend, Marian competed at Ball State’s We Fly Challenge. The performers for the Knights in Muncie were:

100m – Aya Dunn (13.17), Holli Reuter (13.31), Sarah Strodtbeck (14.12)

200m – Holli Reuter (27.66), Emma Bock (27.67), Aya Dunn (27.70), Sarah Strodtbeck (30.81)

100m Hurdles – Emma Bock (18.22)

400m Hurdles – Arissa Boyd (10th, 1:18.27)

800m – Kylee Lewellen (2:29.97), Luci Woodrum (2:41.98)

1500m – Liz Loichinger (13th, 5:03.89), Luci Woodrum (5:29.45)

3000m Steeplechase – Sabrina Siems (6th, 13:07.74), Emma Beimfohr (7th, 13:17.11), Katie Woods (8th, 14:27.85)

5000m – Mari Hudson (13th, 20:48.86)

Hammer – Keeley Hughes (14th, 42.11), Allie Miller (17th, 41.80), Nhaydia Watson (37.30)

Discus – Allie Miller (30.25m), Nhaydia Watson (29.14m), Landry Munoz (28.15m), Keeley Hughes (27.46m)

Shot Put – Nhaydia Watson (10.46m), Landry Munoz (9.88m)

Long Jump – Holli Reuter (11th, 4.98m)

The Knights will travel to Indiana Wesleyan next weekend for the Little State on Friday and Saturday.

Terre Haute, Ind. – The Marian men’s track and field team had a successful weekend at Indiana State, competing in the Sycamores’ Gibson Invitational. Marian finished sixth in the meet, with 10 men combining to earn nine NAIA standards on the weekend. Armani Glass and Isaiah Tipping helped highlight the group, with Tipping climbing to fourth in the NAIA in the hammer as he broke the school record while earning a standard in discus, while Glass hit an NAIA A standard in the long jump.

Marian took three sprinters to compete in the 100m, with Manny Manneh leading the efforts with his 10.84 time. Will Osafo clocked a 10.86 time in the 100m, and Armani Glass clocked an 11.20 time. In the 200m, Otto De St Jeor scored an NAIA B standard, as he ran a 21.36 time, coming short of the A standard by 0.01 seconds with his seventh place race. Connor Maple would run a 21.75 time in the 200m, and Michael Hunter clocked a time of 22.15. Matthew Riehle would finish 23rd in the 400m with a competitive 50.20 time, while Eli Givens finished four places behind his teammate in the overall standings with a 50.54 time.

The 800m was led by Drew Thornton, as the Marian senior ran a 1:54.22 time, finishing third overall. Howard Hendricks clocked a 1:55.33 time to finish fifth in the 800m, and Owen Pittman finished 19th in the race with a 2:00.45 time. Hendricks would also finish 13th in the 1500m and Pittman placed 17th in the 1500m, and Clark Chustz led the Marian efforts in the 5000m with a 15:19 time on Friday night. Blake Hipkiss finished two spots behind Chustz in the 5000m to place seventh, clocking a 15:23 time. Sam Stage turned in a time of 16:12 in the 5000m on Friday.

Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez led the hurdling effort at Indiana State for Marian with his third place finish in the 3000m steeplechase, hitting the NAIA A standard with a time of 9:21.04. Nick Frank earned an eighth place finish in the steeplechase with his 10:01 time, and Gus Martinez finished 22nd in the 110m hurdles and 15th in the 400m hurdles.

Marian earned another NAIA standard in the 4x100m relay, as the group of Manneh, Osafo, Olivier Lifrange, and Maple hit a time of 41.35 to beat the NAIA A time by 0.05 seconds.

Shifting to field events, Isaiah Tipping and Christian Rios led the Knights efforts, as both hit NAIA A standards while moving up in the NAIA leaderboards. Tipping won the hammer throw as he set a new Marian school record with a 62.09m distance, moving to fourth in the NAIA this season with his A standard. Tipping also finished with a distance of 48.18m in the discus to earn a B standard, placing 11th. Rios led the discus with his fifth place finish, moving into the top-five in the NAIA as his A standard effort of 52.93m set a season PR. Rios also earned a B standard with his 54.51m throw in the hammer as he finished ninth, while he also finished 12th in the shot put with a 15.16m throw.

Brenden Endres made a name for himself in the NAIA pole vault rankings, hitting the NAIA B standard in his third outdoor meet of his career, clearing 4.76m in a fifth place tie to join Keagan La Belle as national qualifiers. La Belle finished 12th with a 4.31m height. and in the high jump, Jordan Pohl finished 10th clearing 1.90m.

Armani Glass led the horizontal jumpers on the weekend with his NAIA A standard in the long jump, clearing the distance needed by two centimeters with a top jump of 7.27m to finish second in the event. Eli Felton finished with a distance of 6.28m in the long jump with Pohl hitting 6.09m on this top jump, and in the triple jump Chase Maxey would finish fifth on a top jump of 13.60m. Felton hit 13.58m to finish sixth in the triple jump.

Jacob Netral closed the Marian weekend with a 15th place effort in the hammer, earning a no-mark both the shot put and discus.

Also on the weekend, Marian competed at Ball State’s We Fly Challenge. The performers for the Knights in Muncie were:

100m – Myles Sisco (9), Kanye Wright (12), Nic Novotny (22), Brendan Oleksak (28), Gregory Hueston (32)

200m – Wright (5), Sisco (9),  Novotny (16), Will Arnold (27)

400m – Arnold (21)

800m – Andrew McDade (3), Kenneth Hammell (11), Adrian DuValle (14), Thomas Richards (15), Mason Piatt (17)

1500m – Adam Heitz (18), Ben Moster (20), Mitchell Hayward (26)

5000m – Aaron Broderick (5), Robert Lohman (7), Heitz (10), Drew Holok (12), Hayward (17)

110m HH – AJ Wrenn (18), Hueston (19)

400m HH – Hueston (12), Wrenn (13)

High Jump – Van Lian (9), Wrenn (NH)

Triple Jump – Lian (3), Oleksak (4), Qujuan Cannon (NM)

Shot Put – Kevaughn Dawn (9), Steely Munoz (14), Marco Keys (NM)

Discus – Sam Runholt (9), Keys (12), Steely Munoz (15)

Hammer – Keys (12)

Javelin – Runholt (5)

Marian will run next weekend at Little State, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan.

MARIAN WLAX

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian women’s lacrosse team put up a fight in their toughest game to date on the schedule, but ran out of gas in the fourth quarter against No. 3 Lawrence Tech, falling to the Blue Devils 15-11 in the regular season finale. Marian closes the regular season with a 12-4 record, going 7-2 in WHAC play.

The Knights settled into the game after committing an early pair of turnovers, forcing one of their own while getting a save in the cage by Katherine Hirsch to set up an offensive strike. After missing on their first shot attempt of the game, Grace Martin was able to bury her second attempt as Madeline Dumke found the fellow senior to beat the play clock and give Marian a 1-0 lead. Marian continued to play strong defense and set up offensive chances, getting their second goal of the game with 5:59 remaining in the opening quarter as Anna Moore sliced a shot past the keeper.

The lead would be short-lived as Lawrence Tech replied with two goals scored 57 seconds apart from one another, as Bella Louwerse and Morgan Waligora were able to tie the game. Marian was able to get one more crack at the cage, and with 60 seconds remaining in the first quarter Ashlynn Gray sliced a score past the keeper to give Marian a 3-2 lead to end first 15 minutes of play.

Six minutes into the second quarter the Knights pushed their lead back to a pair as Ella Grace Giedd got involved on offense, scoring her first goal of the evening to provide a 4-2 edge on the scoreboard. The Blue Devils quickly answered with a Gabi Mitchell goal, and eventually took their first lead of the night as Mitchell completed a hat trick with 5:34 to play before half. Louwerese would score with 3:25 remaining as Lawrence Tech pushed their lead to two, but on the ensuing draw the ball squirmed to Grace Martin, who was able to set up Ruby Mason for the half’s final score.

Despite just nine shots to Lawrence Tech’s 21, Marian was able to enter the half trailing 6-5.

Lawrence Tech attacked on offense early in the third quarter as they were able to grow their lead to three with the clocked dipping below the 10 mintue mark, as a pair of goals including one man-down grew the visiting cause to three. Marian stayed in the game, and rallied behind Ella Grace Giedd, as the freshman scored back to back goals after causing a turnover to get Marian back within one goal. The Blue Devils called a timeout and were able to extend their margin to a pair once more as Bella Burke made it a 9-7 game, but another rally cry from Giedd along with a goal from Emily Blackburn tied the game at nine with 2:51 left in the quarter.

The back and forth trend tipped in favor of Lawrence Tech in the waning moments of the third quarter with Mitchell slicing a goal past Hirsch to take a 10-9 lead, but the Knights had one final push, attacking the cage in the final 30 seconds. The Knights defense blocked a free-position shot, and with 15.9 seconds remaining Grace Martin was drilled on the sideline, drawing a yellow card. After the restart, the senior connected with Taleah Nool, who scored a tying goal to send the game into the fourth quarter tied 10-10.

Marian’s energy fell off after five strong minutes to start the fourth quarter, as their rally efforts exhausted the team. Lawrence Tech scored four unanswered goals in a five minute window, sealing the game with 4:26 remaining. Ashlynn Gray would score her second goal after winning a draw control, but the Blue Devils were able to play keep away while adding an extra goal, ending the contest with a 15-11 Marian loss.

Giedd led the Knights in goals as she pushed four past the keepers of Lawrence Tech, while Gray scored twice and added one assist. Martin netted three points in the loss with her goal and two assists. Katelynn Gray led Marian in caused turnovers and ground balls with four each.

Hirsch played strong in goal against the touted offense of Lawrence Tech, holding her opponent under their season average by three goals, while making 10 saves.

Marian will begin the WHAC Tournament on Tuesday night, as they host Bethel University. Marian earned the three-seed in the upcoming tournament, hosting a conference tournament game for the first time in program history. The start time for the game has yet to be determined, but will be announced soon.

SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

MLB STANDINGS

American League
East
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Tampa Bay	13	2	.867	–	10 – 0	3 – 2	4 – 2	3 – 0	3 – 0	8 – 2	L 2
Toronto	10	5	.667	3	4 – 1	6 – 4	2 – 0	5 – 2	2 – 1	8 – 2	W 2
NY Yankees	9	6	.600	4	5 – 4	4 – 2	2 – 1	3 – 3	0 – 0	6 – 4	W 1
Baltimore	8	7	.533	5	4 – 3	4 – 4	2 – 4	1 – 1	5 – 2	5 – 5	L 1
Boston	7	8	.467	6	4 – 4	3 – 4	2 – 5	3 – 0	2 – 0	5 – 5	W 2
Central
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Minnesota	10	5	.667	–	4 – 2	6 – 3	2 – 1	5 – 1	2 – 1	6 – 4	L 1
Cleveland	9	6	.600	1	2 – 4	7 – 2	1 – 2	0 – 0	6 – 4	5 – 5	W 2
Chi White Sox	6	9	.400	4	2 – 3	4 – 6	1 – 1	1 – 2	2 – 2	4 – 6	W 1
Detroit	5	9	.357	4.5	2 – 3	3 – 6	1 – 8	0 – 0	2 – 1	4 – 6	W 3
Kansas City	4	11	.267	6	1 – 8	3 – 3	1 – 3	0 – 3	1 – 2	3 – 7	L 2
West
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Texas	8	6	.571	–	6 – 3	2 – 3	1 – 2	2 – 1	1 – 1	5 – 5	L 1
LA Angels	7	7	.500	1	3 – 3	4 – 4	1 – 4	0 – 0	4 – 2	4 – 6	L 2
Houston	7	8	.467	1.5	4 – 5	3 – 3	0 – 0	4 – 6	1 – 1	5 – 5	W 1
Seattle	7	8	.467	1.5	4 – 5	3 – 3	0 – 0	3 – 4	1 – 2	6 – 4	W 3
Oakland	3	12	.200	5.5	2 – 6	1 – 6	1 – 6	1 – 2	1 – 2	1 – 9	L 3

National League
East
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Atlanta	11	4	.733	–	4 – 3	7 – 1	2 – 1	6 – 0	1 – 3	7 – 3	W 5
NY Mets	9	6	.600	2	4 – 2	5 – 4	5 – 2	0 – 3	2 – 1	6 – 4	W 3
Miami	8	7	.533	3	5 – 4	3 – 3	4 – 6	0 – 0	2 – 0	7 – 3	W 4
Philadelphia	5	10	.333	6	3 – 3	2 – 7	1 – 2	3 – 3	0 – 0	4 – 6	L 1
Washington	4	11	.267	7	1 – 7	3 – 4	1 – 2	0 – 0	2 – 2	3 – 7	L 4
Central
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Milwaukee	10	5	.667	–	5 – 1	5 – 4	3 – 0	4 – 2	3 – 3	6 – 4	L 1
Pittsburgh	9	6	.600	1	3 – 3	6 – 3	0 – 0	3 – 3	0 – 0	6 – 4	W 1
Chi Cubs	7	6	.538	2	5 – 4	2 – 2	0 – 0	2 – 3	1 – 1	6 – 4	L 1
Cincinnati	6	8	.429	3.5	5 – 3	1 – 5	3 – 6	3 – 2	0 – 0	3 – 7	W 1
St. Louis	6	9	.400	4	3 – 6	3 – 3	0 – 3	2 – 4	2 – 1	4 – 6	L 1
West
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Arizona	8	7	.533	–	5 – 2	3 – 5	0 – 2	2 – 1	6 – 4	6 – 4	L 2
LA Dodgers	8	7	.533	–	5 – 3	3 – 4	0 – 0	1 – 1	7 – 6	5 – 5	W 1
San Diego	8	8	.500	0.5	4 – 5	4 – 3	4 – 3	1 – 2	3 – 3	5 – 5	W 1
San Francisco	5	9	.357	2.5	2 – 4	3 – 5	0 – 0	0 – 0	1 – 2	3 – 7	L 3
Colorado	5	10	.333	3	3 – 4	2 – 6	2 – 2	1 – 2	2 – 4	3 – 7	L 4

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1895      The name Detroit Creams, inspired by owner George Vanderbeck who boasted the Western League team would be the “cream of the league,” lasts only a season. The club becomes known as the Tigers after Detroit Cost-free Press editor Philip Reid headlines a story, Strouthers’ Tigers Showed Up Very Nicely.

1928      Braves’ pitcher Charlie Robertson has his glove removed from the game by umpire Charley Moran after the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) complain the ball is acting strangely. The Boston hurler still manages to win, 3-2.

1929      In a 5-4 Opening Day victory over Detroit at League Park, Indians’ rookie center fielder Earl Averill homers on a 0-2 pitch off Detroit’s hurler Earl Whitehill, becoming the first American Leaguer to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The ‘Earl of Snohomish’ will also be the first future Hall of Famer to accomplish the feat.

1929      On Opening Day, the Indians become the first team to permanently wear numbers on their jerseys when they edge Detroit at League Park, 5-4. The Tribe beat the Yankees in becoming the first team to regularly don digits when rain postpones the earlier-scheduled Bronx Bombers’ contest against Boston in New York.

1935      With the band playing Jingle Bells at Boston’s Braves Field on a snowy day with near-freezing temperatures, Babe Ruth makes his National league debut, hitting a homer and a single off Giants’ legend Carl Hubbell. The Braves beat New York, 4-2, but the team will win only 37 more games this season.

1938      The Cardinals deal a declining Dizzy Dean to Chicago for RHP Curt Davis, LHP Clyde Shoun, outfielder Tuck Stainback, and $185,000. During his four years in the Windy City, the future Hall of Fame right-hander will compile a 16-8 record for the Cubs.

1940      On a chilly day, the White Sox team batting average does not change when Indian fireballer Bob Feller hurls an Opening Day no-hitter, beating Chicago at Comiskey Park, 1-0. Each Pale Hose batter starts and ends the game with a .000 BA.

1940      On Opening Day at Griffith Stadium, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s errant ceremonial first pitch smashes a Washington Post camera. After the Chief Executive tosses his wild throw, Red Sox hurler Lefty Grove shows more control, blanking the Senators, 1-0.

1946      Before the Senators’ 6-3 loss to the Red Sox at Griffith Stadium, Harry Truman becomes the first President to throw the ceremonial first pitch left-handed. On Opening Day in 1950, the southpaw Commander-in-Chief will make two tosses, one left-handed and one right-handed.

1946      On Opening Day, Mel Ott hits his 511th and final home run of his career in the Giants’ 8-4 victory over Philadelphia at the Polo Grounds, a ballpark in which he has hit 63% of his round-trippers. The 37-year-old player-manager, who has two hundred more homers than any other National Leaguer, will retire third on the all-time list, trailing only Babe Ruth (714) and Jimmie Foxx (534).

1946 “An Apology to Braves Fans – The management will reimburse any of its patrons for any expense to which they might have been put for necessary cleansing of clothing as a result of paint damage.”  

As a result of the newly painted grandstand seats not yet wholly dried, about 5,000 fans attending Boston’s home opener against the Dodgers left Braves Field with green paint covering much of their clothing. The team takes out newspaper ads to apologize to the affected patrons, agreeing to reimburse any expense caused by the mishap, an offer costing the team $6,000, after generating nearly 13,000 claims, including some from as far away as California and Nebraska.

1948      The future superstation WGN-TV televises a baseball game for the first time. With Jack Brickhouse doing the play-by-play, the White Sox beat the Cubs 4-1 in the first game of the Windy City Classic played at Wrigley Field.

1953      In a Forbes Field contest in which Pittsburgh will prevail, 14-12, the Phillies score nine times, and the Pirates tally six runs in the fifth inning, tying the National League record when 15 batters cross home plate during the frame. Philadelphia’s second baseman Connie Ryan establishes a new team record with six hits, four singles, and two doubles in six at-bats.

1954      The Tigers refuse to play a game against Detroit scheduled for Good Friday, a somber Holy Day observed by many Christian fans. The contest will be made up on August 19, setting up a rare Thursday afternoon doubleheader, one of ten twin bills the Tribe will play at Cleveland Stadium this season.

1957      🇧🇸 Andre Rodgers becomes the first Bahamian to play in the major leagues, grounding into a 6-4 force play in the top of the second inning of the Giants’ 9-2 loss at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. The 22-year-old shortstop’s roommate and fellow Caribbean, Valmy Thomas, entering the game in the sixth to replace catcher Wes Westrum, also becomes the first native of the Virgin Islands to play in a big-league game.

1957      Before the Phillies’ home opener, the team dedicates a statue of eight-foot statue of Connie Mack as part of the Opening Day ceremonies. The ‘Tall Tactician,’ which depicts the A’s long-time owner and manager with one foot in the dugout and one foot on the top step of it, waving his trademark scorecard to position his players, was created by well-known sculptor Harry Rosin.

1959      Dave Philley, who established a big-league mark by getting his eighth straight pinch-hit on the campaign’s final day last year, extends the remarkable streak when he doubles off Lew Burdette in his first pinch-hitting appearance this season. Although Rusty Staub of the Mets will tie his single-season mark in 1983, the Phillies’ premier pinch-hitter will remain the leader for consecutive hits coming off the bench with nine, albeit over two years.

1962      Philadelphia’s Cal McLish and Bob Gibson of the Cardinals fail to finish an inning when each starter allows six runs to score in the first frame. Tossing 8.1 innings of shutout ball, Ernie Broglio gets credit for the win when the Redbirds beat the Phillies in the Connie Mack Stadium contest, 12-6.

1963      In the County Stadium home opener, Eddie Mathews hits his 400th career home run off Phillies’ right-hander Jack Hamilton, propelling the Braves to their fifth consecutive win after starting the season with two losses. The Milwaukee third baseman’s two-run shot puts him seventh on the all-time home run list, behind only Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Mel Ott, Lou Gehrig, and Stan Musial.

1964      Water from the Gowanus Canal found near the Dodgers’ old home Ebbets Field, and water from the Harlem River, located close to the Polo Grounds, once the Giants and the Mets’ home ballpark, is blessed and used to christened Shea Stadium. The ballpark’s namesake, Bill Shea, credited with bringing the National League back to New York, pours the water from two bottles, blessing the Flushing Meadow structure on the eve of its debut.

1966      On the second day of the season, Jack Fischer gives up just five hits in his complete-game effort, beating Atlanta at Shea Stadium, 3-1. The win represents the Mets’ earliest victory in franchise history.

1972      On the second day of the season, 22-year-old Burt Hooton, making his fourth career start, no-hits the Phillies at Wrigley Field, 4-0. The Cubs right-hander, who pitched 21.1 innings for the team last season, becomes the 12th rookie to throw a no-hitter.

1972      On the second day of the season at the Astrodome, Dave Kingman completes a cycle with a seventh-inning three-run homer in the Giants’ 10–6 victory over Houston. The 23-year-old sophomore made his debut at third base yesterday, a position he will play at times for San Francisco but will be best remembered as an outfielder/first baseman during his 16-year career with seven teams.

1975      After making the second of two poor starts for the Dodgers, Juan Marichal, who signed with the team as a free agent, appears in his final major league game. The 37-year-old ‘Dominican Dandy’ finishes his 16-year Hall of Fame career with more complete games (244) than the total of his victories (243).

1978      Cardinal Bob Forsch no-hits the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0. Less than a year later, Bob’s brother Ken of the Houston Astros will pitch a no-hitter against Atlanta, making the siblings the first brothers to throw no-hitters in the big leagues.

1983      Padres’ first baseman Steve Garvey appears in his 1,118th straight game, breaking the National League record established by Hall of Fame outfielder Billy Williams playing for the Cubs in 1970. In his return to Dodger Stadium, the former LA infielder for 13 seasons sees his consecutive game streak end at 1,207, the third-longest span in major league history, when he suffers a dislocated thumb as a result of a collision at home plate in July.

1984      In his first three at-bats, A’s Dave Kingman hits three home runs, including a grand slam, driving in eight runs against the Mariners in a 9-6 victory. ‘Sky King’ will compile five three-round-tripper games during his 16-year career, second only to Johnny Mize, who accomplished the feat six times from 1938 to 1950 while with the Cardinals and Yankees.

1988      The Braves establish a National League record for losses at the start of a season by losing their tenth consecutive game. With a 7-4 defeat to the Dodgers, Atlanta surpasses the mark previously owned by four teams, including the infamous 1919 Braves and the 1962 Mets.

1988      Although better known for his contributions as a Dodger, the Padres retire the uniform #6 worn by Steve Garvey, who signed a $6.6 million five-year deal as a free agent in December 1982. The All-Star first baseman, the first to be so honored by the franchise, enjoyed five solid seasons, batting .275, and hit the most dramatic home run in Friar’s history, an elimination-staving walk-off homer in Game 4 of the NLCS for the eventual National League champs.

1989      Blue Jay third baseman Kelly Gruber becomes the first player to hit for the cycle in franchise history when he singles in the eighth inning of the team’s 15-8 win against Kansas City. The 27-year-old All-Star infielder’s Toronto teammates buy him a tricycle to recognize the Exhibition Stadium accomplishment.

1994      At Mile High Stadium, a Colorado National Guard contingent escorts a ‘dinosaur egg,’ ‘uncovered’ during the excavation for Coors Field that hatches, revealing a purple triceratops named Dinger, the Rockies’ new mascot. The inspiration for using a three-horned dinosaur as the team’s good luck charm results from discovering actual dinosaur fossils throughout the new ballpark’s construction site, including a seven-foot-long triceratops skull that weighed half a ton.

1997      The Cubs set the record for the worst start in National League history when they extend their losing streak to 12 games with a 4-0 loss to Colorado at Wrigley Field. Chicago surpasses the previous Senior Circuit mark of 0-11, established in 1884 by the Detroit Wolverines.

1999      Jim Leyland becomes the 45th manager to win 1,000 games when his Rockies beat San Diego, 6-4. The Colorado skipper won 851 games during his 11-year tenure with the Pirates, 146 victories, and a World Championship for the Marlins during his two seasons with Florida.

2000      Indian starter Chuck Finley, who was already the only pitcher to strike out four batters in one inning twice, does it for the third time. The southpaw whiffs Tom Evans, Royce Clayton, Chad Curtis (who takes first on a passed ball), and Rafael Palmeiro in the third inning, goes the distance in the complete-game victory when Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome hit back-to-back homers in the Tribe’s 2-1 walk-off win over the Rangers.

2006      Thanks to the outstanding pitching of Brett Myers, and the Phillies bullpen, Philadelphia beats the Rockies, 1-0. The Colorado defeat marks the first time the team has lost a 1-0 decision during their decade of playing at Coors Field.

2009      Grady Sizemore’s grand slam spoils the debut of the new Yankee Stadium, an eventual Cleveland 10-2 rout over the Bronx Bombers. The Indians outfielder’s decisive blast off Damaso Marte is the keynote hit of the Tribe’s nine-run seventh inning, a frame that started with the score tied at 1-1.

2011      Johnny Damon’s walk-off single accounts for the winning run in the Rays’ 4-3 victory over Minnesota at Tropicana Field. The 37-year-old designated hitter’s accomplishment marks the first time a batter has collected five consecutive game-winning RBIs in nine years.

2011      Owasso High School senior Dylan Bundy, who will finish the academic season with an 11-0 record, a 0.20 ERA, and 158 strikeouts/5 walks in 71 innings pitched, throws a fastball that clocked at 100 mph. The Orioles will select the 18-year-old Oklahoman as their first-round pick (4th overall) in the June MLB Amateur Draft.

2013      In tribute to the victims of yesterday’s Boston Marathon bombings, the fans at Yankee Stadium sing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, the anthem of their American League East rivals. On an outside video board before the contest against the Diamondbacks, the words “United We Stand” are displayed with Bronx Bombers and Red Sox side-by-side.

2015      Giancarlo Stanton becomes the Marlins’ all-time home run leader when he goes deep off Dillon Gee in the first inning of the team’s 7-5 loss to New York at Citi Field. The 25-year-old right fielder’s two-run blast, his 155th round-tripper for Miami, surpasses the franchise mark established in 2010 by Dan Uggla.

BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

ROGER CONNOR

When 19th century baseball star Roger Connor passed away in 1931 at the age of 74, the first line of his obituary called him “The Babe Ruth of the ‘80s.” But Connor was much more than just a slugger.

Connor spent 18 seasons in the big leagues, breaking in with the Troy Trojans in 1880 before finding a longtime home with the New York Giants. The broad shouldered first baseman with the distinctive handlebar moustache would eventually become the National Pastime’s first power hitter as well as one of the most popular players of his time. When he retired in 1897, his 138 career home runs were more than anybody had ever hit until Ruth surpassed him in 1921.

“He is as fine a specimen of physical development as any in the profession, being a few inches over six feet in height, weighing over two hundred pounds, without an ounce of superfluous flesh, and being admirably proportioned,” read a profile in The New York Clipper. “Not withstanding his great size, he is endowed with more than the average amount of activity, and evidently possesses extraordinary powers of endurance.

“Connor’s honorable and straightforward conduct and affable and courteous demeanor towards all with whom he is brought into contact have won him deserved popularity both on and off the ball field.”

An offensive marvel, the lefty-swinging Connor would hit more than 10 home runs in a season seven times, a 19th century record, and on 11 occasions topped a .300 batting average.

One of Connor’s more memorable feats occurred on Sept. 11, 1886. Playing at the old Polo Grounds in New York City, at 110th Street and Fifth Avenue, he hit a ball that landed on 112th Street on the other side of the right field wall. So impressed were members of the New York Stock Exchange that they passed around a black top hat and took up a collection that eventually led to a $500 gold watch being presented to Connor a few games later.

According to The New York Times, “He met it squarely and it soared up with the speed of a carrier pigeon. All eyes were turned on the tiny sphere as it soared over the head of Charlie Buffinton in right field.”

“Dear Old Roger,” as the fans called him, was later quoted as saying, “I used to nail the horsehide over the fence into the tall grass and that would tickle some of the old New York stockbrokers.”

Blessed with not only power but with speed, Connor was known as an intelligent base runner who would end his career with more than 200 stolen bases and triples.

Sportswriter Sam Crane once penned: “With his weight catapulting him, with speed and force, he slid feet first and, as he landed, could bob up, like a jack-in-the-box.”

Connor passed away on Jan. 4, 1931. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976.

ANDY COOPER

A baseball player who spent the entirety of his playing career in the shadows of the American and National leagues due to the color of his skin, Andy Cooper made a name for himself in the Negro Leagues due to his mound mastery.

Negro Leagues historian Dick Clark once said of Cooper: “In my estimation, the greatest black pitcher ever to pitch for Detroit – that’s for the Stars or the Tigers.”

Born in Waco, Tex. in 1897, the thickly built Cooper, all 6-foot-2 and roughly 220 pounds of him, spent the majority of his Negro Leagues career as a durable and consistent left-handed hurler with the Detroit Stars and Kansas City Monarchs over a two-decade career that spanned the 1920s and ‘30s.

Included among Cooper’s many accolades and accomplishments during his playing days was a 43-inning stretch with the Stars in which he didn’t issue a base on balls, winning twice as many games as he lost with both the Stars and Monarchs, helping lead Kansas City to the Negro National League pennant in 1929 and pitching 17 innings in a 1937 playoff game against the Chicago American Giants.

According to a scouting report prepared by famed Negro Leagues player and manager Buck O’Neil, Cooper had a live arm with a total command of all of his pitches, which included a running fastball, tight curveball and biting screwball.

“Andy never possessed the fine assortment of curves held in the supple arms of other pitchers. However, he did have what so many pitchers lack – sterling control,” wrote Russ J. Cowans in 1941 in The Chicago Defender, one of the top African-American newspapers of the day. “Cooper could almost put the ball any place he wanted it to go.

“In addition, Cooper had a keen knowledge of batters. He knew the weakness of every batter in the league and would pitch to that weakness when he was on the mound.”

A top starting pitcher early in his career who became a valuable reliever in his final years on the diamond, Cooper was also an accomplished manager – leading the Monarchs to three pennants between 1937 and 1940.

“Cooper was a smart manager and a great, great teacher,” said Monarchs pitcher and fellow Hall of Famer Hilton Smith.

Cooper passed away on June 3, 1941. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.

BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW

1944 AMERICAN LEAGUE

Off the field…

After months of preparation, a military coalition of forty-five Allied divisions consisting of over three million soldiers began landing on Normandy Beach in France during one of the largest amphibious assaults ever conducted. Christened as “D-Day”, June 6^th became the major turning point in the war against Nazi Germany. After three weeks of intense fighting, Allied troops captured all of the Normandy peninsula and port of Cherbourg. By the end of August, Paris was liberated, and the Allied forces continued on toward Germany.

German forces conducted a surprise attack known as “The Battle of the Bulge” against U.S. forces in Belgium. The Germans made rapid progress, but were unable to capture the city of Bastogne thanks to the extraordinary efforts of American GI’s who were “dug in” and completely encircled. Although a coalition of U.S. and British infantry divisions were able to counterattack forcing the Germans to withdraw, they suffered massive casualties totaled at over 35,000.

In the Pacific Campaign, American forces landed on the island of Iwo Jima, seven-hundred fifty miles south of Tokyo in an effort to gain a strategic foothold on the enemy’s Navy and establish airbases for future bombing campaigns. The invasion resulted in some of the fiercest fighting ever witnessed in WWII as Japanese soldiers, who fought to the death, heavily opposed the landings. U.S. Marines managed to take the beachhead and eventually pushed inland to overwhelm the defenders in a few days.

In the American League…

Converted from a pitcher, outfielder Johnny Lindell of the New York Yankees tied a Major League record on August 17^th after hitting four consecutive doubles against the Cleveland Indians during a 10-3 effort at Yankee Stadium.

Hal Trosky, a comeback player with the Chicago White Sox, stole home in the 16^th inning (to break a 2-2 tie) for a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Athletics on May 6^th. The feat was not duplicated for twenty years until Willie Davis of the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off the “same caper” in 1964.

Despite running a close race for first in the American League, the St. Louis Browns recorded the worst A.L. attendance on September 29^th with an embarrassing total of only 6,172 fans witnessing their sweep of a double header against the New York Yankees. The following day, attendance doubled to 12,982 as Dennis Galehouse pitched the entire game, winning 2-0 for his ninth victory of the year. Two days later, the Browns were tied with the Detroit Tigers and boasted their first sellout in over twenty years as 37,815 packed Sportsman’s Park to watch their “forgotten” team clinch the pennant on the final day of the season.

In the National League…

On May 9^th, the New York Giants purchased one of the tallest players ever to play professional baseball, a six foot nine pitcher named Johnny Gee from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite a mediocre record of 5-8, he went on to split his limited season with a 2-4 record.

Red Barrett of the Boston Braves tossed a fifty-eight pitch shutout over the Cincinnati Reds on August 10^th for a 2-0 victory and a Major League record for fewest pitches in a nine-inning game. The outing itself set a record as the shortest night game ever at one hour and fifteen minutes.

One of baseball’s worst franchises the Philadelphia Phillies attempted to induce public support by announcing a fan based contest to rename the team. Mrs. Elizabeth Crooks who was given a $100 war bond and a season ticket submitted the winning entry of “Blue Jays”. Her entry, which would later end up on another team’s uniform, was chosen over a number of monikers ranging from the Daisies to the Stinkers. The new name was used as the unofficial team title for 1944-45 but abandoned in 1946, though the team was still referred to in newspaper accounts as the “Blue Jays” occasionally through 1949.

Around the League…

Representatives from the top offices in both leagues met in New York City to discuss several new postwar policies and their effects on Major League Baseball. All parties agreed that all military deployments would count as playing time and any player who had served on active duty would be guaranteed thirty days of trial at pay and restrictions of their release or assignment.

Anticipating a positive change for race relations in the United States, the St. Louis Browns announced that they were officially dropping their “segregation policy” restricting African Americans to the bleachers while allowing them to purchase any ticket for any seat in the house.

The final survivor of baseball’s original National Association (1871-75) John McKelvey died at the tender age of ninety-six. Retired for many years and living in Rochester, New York, McKelvey was the oldest member of Major League Baseball.

On October 4^th, the first all St. Louis World Series (dubbed the Streetcar Series) opened with the Browns beating the Cardinals 2-1. A Fall Classic of many firsts including no-days off, it was also the first Series in which all games were played west of the Mississippi River.

FOOTBALL HISTORY

THE HALL OF FAME

CHARLES W. BIDWILL, SR.

Much has been said about many of the early pioneers of the game of professional football, whose dedication and determination against overwhelming odds kept the sport alive during the difficult years. The Arizona Cardinals owe their success and longevity to such a man. He was Charles Bidwill, Sr., who owned the team for 14 seasons from 1933 until 1946, when the franchise was located in Chicago. Even though the club never enjoyed even one financially successful year, Bidwill’s faith in pro football remained always strong and solid. This could be considered a capsule summary of Bidwill’s major contribution to the National Football League, but it is really only part of the story.

In spite of Bidwill’s enthusiasm for the game, the Cardinals were not a successful club during the 1930s and early 1940s and were always completely overshadowed by the cross-town rival Chicago Bears. In 1944, it was even prudent for the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers to merge for a year to ease the financial strain and manpower crisis created by World War II.

Still, Bidwill stayed the course. The end of the war brought another problem to the struggling owner. It came in the form of the All-America Football Conference and another rival team in Chicago, the Rockets. But it was Bidwill who delivered the AAFC one of its most stunning defeats when he signed everybody’s All-America, Charley Trippi of Georgia, to a then unprecedented $100,000 contract. Trippi was the final link in “Blue Shirt Charley’s” so-called “Dream Backfield” of Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg, and Trippi. This quartette would lead the Cardinals to their finest achievements – an NFL championship in 1947 and a division title in 1948. Unfortunately and unfairly, Bidwill died in April 1947, before he had a chance to witness the fruits of his labors and savor his team’s greatest triumphs.

April 16, 2019 – Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history. According to an April 17, 2019 newspaper article in The Olympian from Olympia, Washington, Wilson signed a 4-year $140m extension including a record $65 Million signing bonus. $107 million of the contract was guaranteed! The columnist Greg Bell of the newstribune.com wrote that the quarterback’s agent, Mark Rodgers confirmed the contract’s figures. The amazing thing is that the Seahawks and Wilson’s reps were up into the wee hours of the night working on the deal as it was finalized at 12:44 AM on April 16, 2019 and the team called for a 1:30PM press conference to formally announce it. The deal works out to approximately a cool $35 million per year nearly doubling his previous annual salary of approximately $17 Million.

If you want to be able to be able to read through some old articles like The Olympian has, you need to check out Newspapers.com. At Newspapers.com, you can get access to over 640 million pages’ worth of news from the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland and more dating back from 1798 to yesterday. Get a free one week subscription to Newspapers.com by visiting SportsHistoryNetwork.com/newspapers . With a paid subscription, you’ll also be helping to support the production of this and other Sports History Network shows.

April 16, 2022 – The new USFL debuted their inaugural season with a game played in Birmingham, Alabama. There was supposed to be 3 additional games played the next day, Easter Sunday April 17, 2022 but severe weather delayed the start pushing the fourth and final game to Monday April 18. All regular season games were to take place in Birmingham with the playoffs and Title game scheduled for Tom Benson Stadium next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR APRIL 16

April 16, 1928 – The legendary defensive back of the LA Rams and the Detroit Lions Dick Night Train Lane was born. Night Train Lane was named first- or second-team All-NFL every year from 1954 through 1963. Named to seven Pro Bowls, Night Train intercepted 68 passes for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns during his Hall of Fame career. At the 1974 ceremonies in Canton the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Night Train Lane. We have more on this legend by simply clicking his name.

April 16, 1970 – Spokane, Washington – The top-notch Washington Husky defensive tackle from 1989 to 1991, Steve Emtman arrived into the world. This player was extremely focussed on his job at linebacker and ran with a high motor. Steve was extremely stout against the run and could rush the passers with the best of them according to the Football Foundation.org. Emtman served a red shirt season and then in his first year on the field he served in a reserve capacity spelling teammate on the D-line. When he finally started the next year his stellar play earned him second team All-American honors as well as the co-defensive players of the year in the Pac-10 conference. Steve won both the Lombardi and Outland trophies in his junior season and placed fourth in the Heisman voting. In his final collegiate game he was named the co-MVP of the Rose Bowl as the Huskies claimed a share of the national championship by completing an undefeated season easily beating Michigan 34-14. In that game Washington shut down Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard and limited the Michigan ground game to 74 yards. Emtman’s final career numbers read 14 sacks, and 134 tackles with 36 for loss. Steve was a three-time All-Conference player and a unanimous All-America selection. The National Football Foundation selected Steve Emtman for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Steve was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round but was only able to play six seasons due to injury.

April 16, 1972 – Cuyahoga Fall, Ohio – Quarterback Jim Ballard of Wilmington and Mount Union was born. Jim’s college career spanned from 1990 through 1993 and per the National Football Foundation he broke numerous records in Division III. The Mount Union Squad he led won the 1993 national Championship at the DIII level and Ballard earned first team All-America honors in that season just like he did the season prior in 1992. Ballard broke 17 Division III records and threw for over 12,000 yards and over 150 touchdowns. Jim Ballard received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Jim played in the CFL, NFL Europe and the Arena Football League during his 10- year professional career and led the Scottish Claymores to an NFL Europe World Bowl title in 1996. Ballard was inducted into the Scottish Claymores Hall of Fame in 2001. At last look Jim served as the commissioner of the Continental Indoor Football League in North Canton, Ohio.

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

3 – 4 – 1 – 19

April 16, 1929 – The New York Yankees became the first MLB team to permanently feature numbers on backs of uniforms. There was a methodology to the digits too, as the numbers corresponded to position in batting order. Yes you guessed it Babe Ruth batted 3rd with his Number 3, and Number 4 was Lou Gehrig. In a little know bit of trivia the lead off hitter that day was Number 1 Earl Combes. The Yankee uniforms have never displayed the manufacturers logo or the player name anywhere on them making the pinstripes of New York one of the most iconic and traditional uniforms out there.

April 16, 1935 – Speaking of George Herman Ruth, the 40-year-old future Baseball Hall of Fame hitter debuted in the National League with a HR and single in the Boston Braves 4-2 win over the New York Giants, in Boston.

April 16, 1940 – Cleveland Indians legendary pitcher Bob Feller, accomplished something no one else has ever done before. On this particular day Feller, Number 19 pitched the only Opening Day No-Hitter in MLB history. It was the Indians over the Chicago White Sox, 1-0 at Comiskey Park.

April 16, 1967 – Number 13, Wilt Chamberlain grabbed an NBA Finals record 26 rebounds in one half as Philadelphia defeated San Francisco 126-95 in Game 2. Also, both teams combined for 169 rebounds, tying an NBA Playoffs record.

April 16, 1972 – The St. Louis Blues defeated the Minnesota North Stars 2-1 in game seven of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals. Kevin O’Shea, Number 21 assisted by his brother Number 22, Danny O’Shea scored at 10:07 of overtime to propel the Blues into the finals. Kevin O’Shea played in only four games during the regular season for the Blues in 1971-72, with no goals or assists.

April 16, 1992 – St. Louis Blues Hockey Hall of Fame Right Wing, Number 16, Brett Hull became the second player with three straight 70 goal seasons. Hull scores his 70th goal in a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota North Stars, joining Number 99, Wayne Gretzky, who accomplished the feat twice.

TV SUNDAY

BOWLING	TIME ET	TV
PBA: World Series of Bowling	12:00pm	FOX
COLLEGE BASEBALL	TIME ET	TV
Evansville vs SIU Carbondale	2:00pm	ESPNU
COLLEGE SOFTBALL	TIME ET	TV
Duke vs Boston College	12:00pm	ACCN
Tennessee vs Kentucky	2:00pm	ESPN2
Rutgers vs Penn State	2:00pm	BTN
Alabama vs Miss. State	2:00pm	SECN
LSU vs Auburn	4:00pm	ESPN2
Ole Miss vs Missouri	4:00pm	SECN
Clemson vs NC State	4:00pm	ACCN
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA Tour: RBC Heritage	1:00pm	GOLF
PGA Tour: RBC Heritage	3:00pm	CBS
MLB REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
San Francisco at Detroit	1:10pm	MLBN NBCS-BAY Bally Sports
Minnesota at NY Yankees	1:35pm	YES Bally Sports
Cleveland at Washington	1:35pm	MASN/2 Bally Sports
LA Angels at Boston	1:35pm	NESN Bally Sports
Tampa Bay at Toronto	1:37pm	MLBN Sportsnet Bally Sports
Arizona at Miami	1:40pm	Bally Sports
Philadelphia at Cincinnati	1:40pm	NBCS-PHI Bally Sports
Baltimore at Chi. White Sox	2:10pm	NBCS-CHI MASN/2
Atlanta at Kansas City	2:10pm	Bally Sports
Pittsburgh at St. Louis	2:15pm	ATTSN-PIT Bally Sports
NY Mets at Oakland	4:07pm	SNY NBCS-CA
Milwaukee at San Diego	4:10pm	Bally Sports
Colorado at Seattle	4:10pm	ATTSN-RM Root Sports
Chi. Cubs at LA Dodgers	4:10pm	MLBN MARQ Spectrum
Texas at Houston	7:00pm	ESPN ATTSN-SW Bally Sports
MOTORSPORTS	TIME ET	TV
IndyCar: Grand Prix of Long Beach	3:00pm	NBC
NASCAR Cup: NOCO 400	3:00pm	FS1
NBA PLAYOFFS CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS	TIME ET	TV
West Quarterfinals Game 1: LA Lakers at Memphis	3:00pm	ABC
East Quarterfinals Game 1: Miami at Milwuakee	5:30pm	TNT
West Quarterfinals Game 1: LA Clippers at Phoenix	8:00pm	TNT
West Quarterfinals Game 1: Minnesota at Denver	10:30pm	TNT
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
Serie A: Lecce vs Sampdoria	6:30am	Paramount+
Scottish Premiership: Kilmarnock vs Celtic	7:30am	Paramount+
Belgium Pro League: Genk vs Anderlecht	7:30am	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Lille vs Montpellier	7:00am	beIN Sports
La Liga: Girona vs Elche	8:00am	ESPN+
Serie A: Torino vs Salernitana	9:00am	Paramount+
English Premier League: West Ham United vs Arsenal	9:00am	USA
Ligue 1: Brest vs Nice	9:00am	beIN Sports
Ligue 1: Strasbourg vs Ajaccio	9:00am	beIN Sports
Ligue 1: Clermont vs Angers SCO	9:00am	beIN Sports
Ligue 1: Auxerre vs Nantes	9:00am	beIN Sports
Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs Freiburg	9:30am	ESPN+
La Liga: Getafe vs Barcelona	10:15am	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Monaco vs Lorient	11:05am	beIN Sports
Bundesliga: Union Berlin vs Bochum	11:30am	ESPN+
English Premier League: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United	11:30am	USA
Serie A: Sassuolo vs Juventus	12:00pm	Paramount+
La Liga: Atlético Madrid vs Almería	12:30pm	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen	11:30pm	ESPN+
Liga MX: Pumas UNAM vs Toluca	2:00pm	Univision
Serie A: Roma vs Udinese	2:45pm	Paramount+
Ligue 1: Olympique Marseille vs Troyes	2:45pm	beIN Sports
La Liga: Valencia vs Sevilla	3:00pm	ESPN+
Brasileirão: Flamengo vs Coritiba	3:00pm	Paramount+
Brasileirão: Corinthians vs Cruzeiro	3:00pm	Paramount+
Argentina Primera División: Newell’s Old Boys vs River Plate	3:30pm	Paramount+
MLS: LA Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC	4:30pm	FOX
Brasileirão: Grêmio vs Santos	5:30pm	Paramount+
Argentina Primera División: Independiente vs Racing Club	6:00pm	Paramount+
Liga MX: Querétaro vs Tigres UANL	7:00pm	Univision
Argentina Primera División: Talleres Córdoba vs San Lorenzo	8:30pm	Paramount+
Liga MX: Monterrey vs Santos Laguna	9:05pm	Univision
USFL	TIME ET	TV
Michigan vs Memphis	12:00pm	NBC
Pittsburgh vs New Orleans	6:30pm	FS1
XFL	TIME ET	TV
Arlington at D.C.	12:00pm	ESPN
Seattle at St. Louis	3:00pm	ESPN