THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” TUESDAY APRIL 1, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED BASEBALL SCORES

CENTER GROVE 1 NOBLESVILLE 0

UNIVERSITY 12 WAYNE COUNTY 2

CATHEDRAL 8 HARRISBURG 2

CATHEDRAL 18 MARION 0

FRANKLIN 4 RONCALLI 3

LAPEL 3 NEW CASTLE 2

FRANKLIN CENTRAL 14 WARREN CENTRAL 3

BISHOP CHATARD 12 LUTHERAN 5

MUNCIE BURRIS 13 PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 0

NEW PALESTINE 15 AVON 1

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PRE-SEASON POLLS

4A

1 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN

2 PENN

3 LAKE CENTRAL

4 CENTER GROVE

5 CASTLE

6 AVON

7 BROWNSBURG

8 FW CARROLL

9 ZIONSVILLE

10 CROWN POINT

3A

1 GIBSON SOUTHERN

2 WESTERN

3 SILVER CREEK

4 LEO

5 NEW PALESTINE

6 RONCALLI

7 SB ST. JOSEPH/CATHEDRAL

9 CASCADE/YORKTOWN

2A

1 LAPEL

2 ANDREAN

3 EASTERN HANCOCK

4 BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL

5 SOUTH ADAMS

6 TECUMSEH

7 HEBRON

8 SULLIVAN

9 EASTSIDE

10 ROSSVILLE

1A

1 RISING SUN

2 LUTHERAN

3 CLAY CITY

4 FREMONT

5 RIVERTON PARKE

6 TRI

7 SOUTHWOOD

8 BARR-REEVE

9 MORGAN TOWNSHIP

10 WESTVILLE

CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED SOFTBALL SCORES

SHELBYVILLE 20 MONROVIA 1

LAPEL 7 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 5

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TV SCHEDULE/RESULTS

FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 (FINAL FOUR IN SAN ANTONIO)

(1) FLORIDA VS. (1) AUBURN, 6:09 P.M | CBS

(1) DUKE VS. (1) HOUSTON, 8:49 P.M. | CBS

MONDAY, APRIL 7 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN SAN ANTONIO)

8:50 P.M. ON CBS

NIT SCORES

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT TV SCHEDULE

MONDAY

TEXAS 58 TCU 47

UCONN 78 USC 64

FRIDAY, APRIL 4 (FINAL FOUR IN TAMPA, FLA.)

(1) SOUTH CAROLINA VS. (1) TEXAS, 7 P.M. ON ESPN

(1) UCLA VS. (2) UCONN, 9:30 P.M. ON ESPN

SUNDAY, APRIL 6 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN TAMPA, FLA.)

3 P.M. ON ABC

WNIT

CLEVELAND STATE 76 PURDUE FT. WAYNE 65

ILLINOIS STATE 78 LOUISIANA TECH 70

TROY 97 NORTH DAKOTA STATE 88 OT

D1BASEBALL.COM POLLS

1. TENNESSEE
2. ARKANSAS
3. GEORGIA
4. FLORIDA STATE
5. TEXAS
6. CLEMSON
7. LSU
8. ALABAMA
9. OLE MISS
10. OKLAHOMA
11. OREGON STATE
12. UC IRVINE
13. SOUTHERN MISS
14. UCLA
15. OREGON
16. AUBURN
17. DALLAS BAPTIST
18. LOUISVILLE
19. NORTH CAROLINA
20. TROY
21. COASTAL CAROLINA
22. KANSAS STATE
23. VANDERBILT
24. ARIZONA STATE
25. GEORGIA TECH

USA TODAY BASEBALL COACHES POLL

THE USA TODAY SPORTS TOP 25 BASEBALL POLL, WITH TEAM’S RECORDS THROUGH SUNDAY IN PARENTHESES, TOTAL POINTS BASED ON 25 FOR FIRST PLACE THROUGH ONE POINT FOR 25TH, RANKING IN LAST WEEK’S POLL AND FIRST-PLACE VOTES RECEIVED.

RANK	SCHOOL (RECORD)	POINTS	LAST WEEK’S RANK	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	TENNESSEE (26-2)	749	1	29
2	ARKANSAS (26-3)	708	2	0
3	GEORGIA (28-2)	684	3	1
4	FLORIDA ST. (23-4)	635	4	0
5	TEXAS (23-3)	621	7	0
6	LSU (26-3)	609	6	0
7	CLEMSON (26-5)	572	5	0
8	ALABAMA (25-4)	537	11	0
9	OKLAHOMA (22-5)	461	9	0
10	MISSISSIPPI (21-6)	447	15	0
11	OREGON ST. (20-6)	446	8	0
12	OREGON (20-7)	335	10	0
13	UC IRVINE (21-5)	334	21	0
14	NORTH CAROLINA (21-7)	318	18	0
15	UCLA (22-5)	289	NR	0
16	SOUTHERN MISS. (20-8)	272	16	0
17	AUBURN (20-8)	265	12	0
18	LOUISVILLE (20-7)	229	19	0
19	DALLAS BAPTIST (18-9)	213	17	0
20	VANDERBILT (20-8)	180	13	0
21	TROY (21-8)	129	24	0
22	GEORGIA TECH (22-6)	128	25	0
23	WAKE FOREST (20-9)	126	14	0
24	COASTAL CAROLINA (20-8)	73	NR	0
25	WEST VIRGINIA (22-4)	71	NR	0

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: ARIZONA (20-7) 70; KANSAS ST. (19-8) 48; ARIZONA ST. (19-9) 43; KANSAS (23-6) 36; VIRGINIA TECH (20-8) 29; FLORIDA (19-11) 22; STANFORD (16-9) 16; DUKE (19-10) 10; CAL POLY (18-8) 9; KENTUCKY (17-9) 9; W. KENTUCKY (25-3) 8; VIRGINIA (15-11) 7; HAWAII (20-6) 3; NC STATE (18-10) 3; UTSA (23-7) 3; UC SANTA BARBARA (17-9) 2; IOWA (17-9) 1.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

INDIANA COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD

INDIANA 13 OHIO STATE 7

PURDUE 6 NEBRASKA 2

D1SOFTBALL.COM RANKINGS

1. TEXAS
2. OKLAHOMA
3. FLORIDA
4. LSU
5. FLORIDA STATE
6. TEXAS A&M
7. ARIZONA
8. OREGON
9. UCLA
10. SOUTH CAROLINA
11. TENNESSEE
12. VIRGINIA TECH
13. OKLAHOMA STATE
14. ARKANSAS
15. STANFORD
16. TEXAS TECH
17. MISSISSIPPI STATE
18. DUKE
19. GEORGIA
20. LIBERTY
21. OHIO STATE
22. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
23. CLEMSON
24. OLE MISS
25. ARIZONA STATE

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: VIRGINIA, NEBRASKA, CAL, BYU

COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYOFFS

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

INDIANA COLLEGE MEN’S LAX

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

INDIANA COLLEGE WOMEN’S LAX

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

NBA SCOREBOARD

INDIANA 111 SACRAMENTO 109

MIAMI 120 WASHINGTON 94

LA CLIPPERS 96 ORLANDO 87

CHARLOTTE 110 UTAH 106

BOSTON 117 MEMPHIS 103

OKLAHOMA CITY 145 CHICAGO 117

BROOKLYN 113 DALLAS 109

LA LAKERS 104 HOUSTON 98

NHL SCOREBOARD

PHILADELPHIA 2 NASHVILLE 1

NEW JERSEY 3 MINNESOTA 2

CALGARY 3 COLORADO 2

DALLAS 3 SEATTLE 1

MLB SCOREBOARD

KANSAS CITY 11 MILWAUKEE 1

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 9 MINNESOTA 0

BALTIMORE 8 BOSTON 5

PHILADELPHIA 6 COLORADO 1

NY METS 10 MIAMI 4

CINCINNATI 14 TEXAS 3

TAMPA BAY 6 PITTSBURGH 1

TORONTO 5 WASHINGTON 2

LA ANGELS 5 ST. LOUIS 4 (10)

SAN FRANCISCO 7 HOUSTON 2

SAN DIEGO 7 CLEVELAND 2

DETROIT 9 SEATTLE 6

CHICAGO CUBS 18 LAS VEGAS 3

LA DODGERS 6 ATLANTA 1

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

UFL SCOREBOARD

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

FLAGG, BROOME, CLAYTON ARE AMONG THE FINAL FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH IN A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN NO. 1 SEEDS

Looking for an inspiring underdog or a glass slipper lying around in San Antonio? This year’s version of the Final Four is not for you.

Fittingly for an NCAA Tournament in which big schools from big conferences took record numbers of spots in the first week, then hogged them all for the Sweet 16, the last week will bring a collection of all four teams seeded No. 1 to the sport’s biggest stage to play for the title.

When Florida meets Auburn in an all-Southeastern Conference clash and Duke faces Houston in a meeting between the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences, it will mark only the second time since seeding began in 1979 that all four No. 1s have made it to the final weekend.

The last time it happened, in 2008, one of the teams was Memphis, which hailed from Conference USA.

This time around, there are no mid-majors or small majors. Only the best teams from the best conferences — except the Big Ten, which will hasn’t had a team win it all since 2000 — who also have the nation’s best players.

Here’s a look at the best player on each team (for Auburn, Duke and Florida, they are AP All-Americans ), along with another who might make an impact in San Antonio once the games start Saturday.

Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn

Broome hit his elbow hard in the second half of the Tigers’ 70-64 win over Michigan State. He left the court, but then came back, saying team doctors told him there was nothing wrong. He averages 18 points and nearly 11 rebounds and had 20-10 games in both wins this week. Clearly, his health will be a storyline.

If NBA scouts only look at backup guard Pettiford’s tournament, where he has averaged 17.2 points and sparked Auburn on a huge run in the Sweet 16 win against Michigan, they’d pick him in the first round. If they look at his overall body of work, they might say he still needs work. Either way, he could be a difference-maker over two games.

Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach, Duke

There are times — see the 30-point, seven-rebound, six-assist skills clinic against BYU — when Flagg just looks like he’s toying with everyone. There are other times — see Saturday’s win over Alabama — when he looks human. Which is more than enough, considering all the talent surrounding him.

Maluach is 7-foot-2 and has a standing reach of 9-8. If any opponent overplays him, they can expect a lob for an alley-oop dunk. He shot 12 for 15 over Sweet 16 weekend, and pretty much all the shots were from 4 feet or closer.

Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard, Florida

Clayton made the tying and go-ahead 3s in Florida’s ferocious comeback against Texas Tech. He finished with 30 points and his coach, Todd Golden, said, “There’s not another player in America you would rather have right now than Walter Clayton with the ball in his hands in a big-time moment.”

During one two-game stretch in February, Richard had two points in one contest and 21 the next. During another, he scored zero, then 30. Fill in the blanks here, but he could be a big factor for the Gators either way.

Joseph Tugler and L.J. Cryer, Houston

Fittingly for the team with the nation’s best defense, a player who only averages 5.5 points could be the most valuable for the Cougars. Tugler is on everyone’s all-defense list, and for Houston to have any chance at stopping Flagg, it’ll have to figure out ways to use Tugler to do it.

Cryer is Houston’s leading scorer at 15.2 points a game. If the Cougars end up as national champs, it will have to be because he played the two best games of his life.

ALL ABOUT THE D: FINAL FOUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN ON DEFENSE ALL SEASON

Tennessee has one of the nation’s best defenses, a bruising crew who leave opponents black and blue.

Houston gave the Vols a lesson in defensive dominance in the Elite Eight.

Swarming and switching, the Cougars had the Vols feeling like they were stuck in an escape room with no exit during a 69-50 thumping on Sunday.

“They do what they do,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “That’s why they’re where they are, that’s the standard of their program.”

This year’s Final Four, in San Antonio next weekend, will be the second since seeding began in 1979 to have all four No. 1 seeds, joining the 2008 bracket.

All four teams can really D it up, proving the cliche true.

How much does defense matter? Of the last 10 national champions, only Baylor (22nd) in 2021 ranked outside the top 11 in defensive efficiency.

Houston is No. 1 in the KenPom defensive efficiency ratings, Duke is fourth, Auburn eighth and Florida 10th.

Duke gets a lot of attention for its offense and for good reason. With players like All-American Cooper Flagg, sharpshooter Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor on the floor, the Blue Devils are going to score.

But what has made Duke such a dominant team this year has been the D to go with that O.

The Blue Devils have superb on-ball defenders, players who can switch with ease and a back-line eraser in 7-foot-2 Khaman Maluach.

Alabama learned just how good this Duke team is defensively in an 85-65 Elite Eight thumping.

The Blue Devils stuck a stick in the spokes of the nation’s highest-scoring team, holding the Crimson Tide more than 25 points below their season average and to 8-for-32 shooting from 3, two days after Alabama set the NCAA record with 25 from the arc against BYU in the Sweet 16.

“They’ve got length all over the place,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “When they’ve got a rim protector, it’s hard to get rim shoots.”

Florida has a similar makeup to the Blue Devils.

The Gators have a star player in All-American Walter Clayton Jr. and multiple big men who can score inside. Florida’s length and depth also gives it an advantage on defense.

The Gators’ four players at least 6-9 in their rotation, including agile 6-11 forward Alex Condon, creating a nearly-impenetrable wall in front of the basket. Combined with Clayton and the rest of Florida’s ball-hawking guards, the Gators rallied from nine points down with three minutes left to beat Texas Tech 84-79 in the Elite Eight.

“We’re strength in numbers, similar to the Warriors used to say back in the day,” Golden said. “That’s our team as well. Having those four bigs out there playing consistent minutes is really important to us.”

Auburn’s roster is full of bouncy, rangy players who switch with ease and extend opposing offenses well beyond the 3-point arc. Dylan Cardwell, all 6-11, 255 pounds of him, is the anchor inside, blocking shots and bullying anyone who dares venturing into the lane.

And while All-American Johni Broome isn’t exactly an above-the-rim player, had has great defensive instincts and quick hands.

Put it all together, the Tigers’ defense is just as good as their formidable offense, holding their four NCAA Tournament opponents to an average of 65 points per game.

“When we drove, we see four or five guys coming at you. so you’ve got to try to make a play,” said Michigan State guard Jase Richardson, who had 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting against Auburn. “They rotated really fast. They rotated well. They were defending really well and it was tough for us.”

It’s going to tough on every team in San Antonio, adding some black and blue to chalk on the Riverwalk.

SEC TO RAKE IN RECORD $70M FROM NCAA TOURNAMENT

The Southeastern Conference will earn a whopping $70 million payout from the NCAA Tournament after sending a record 14 of its 16 schools to the Big Dance.

Two of those programs, No. 1 seeds Auburn and Florida, are still alive and will meet in the Final Four on Saturday in San Antonio.

The NCAA pays conferences one “unit” — worth roughly $2 million each by Sportico’s calculations — for every game their members play in the tournament. The SEC will play 35 games before Monday’s final, earning 35 units to get to the $70 million estimate.

That shatters the previous record of 25 units the Atlantic Coast Conference won in 2016.

The Big Ten earned 21 units ($42 million) during this year’s tournament and the Big 12 finished third with 20 units ($20 million). The Big East and ACC were next with nine units each ($18 million).

“In the SEC, we believe the financial results follow the underlying work, and we remain laser focused on our work,” SEC associate commissioner of men’s basketball, Garth Glissman, told Front Office Sports.

Earnings are distributed to conferences over a six-year basis.

No. 1 seeds Duke and Houston meet in the other national semifinal on Saturday, with the winners playing for the national championship on Monday night.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

PAIGE BUECKERS (31 POINTS) STEERS UCONN PAST USC, INTO FINAL 4

Paige Bueckers scored 31 points and No. 2 seed UConn held off short-handed No. 1 seed Southern California 78-64 on Monday to win the Spokane (Wash.) Region 4 and advance to its 24th Final Four.

The Huskies (35-3) took the lead on a 9-0 run in the first quarter and never looked back, remaining in front of USC the rest of the way.

The Trojans (31-4), playing without injured national Player of the Year candidate JuJu Watkins, threatened at different times throughout the contest. Rayah Marshall stepped up in Watkins’ absence to score 23 points and grab 15 rebounds.

Freshman Sarah Strong hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range en route to 22 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for UConn, which advances to face UCLA in the Final Four on Friday in Tampa.

The Huskies’ Kaitlyn Chen added 15 points, six in the fourth quarter. Azzi Fudd emerged after a slow start to play a huge role down the stretch, scoring all eight of her points in the final period.

USC’s Talia von Oelhoffen scored all 10 of her points in the second half, and Kiki Iriafen also had 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting. The Trojans could not overcome 32.8 percent shooting from the floor — or UConn’s timely responses to Trojans runs.

Fudd missed her first nine field-goal attempts, but she broke through at an opportune time.

USC went on a 21-7 run in the third quarter to cut a 19-point deficit down to five entering the final period. However, Fudd opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, and she made another trey to cap an 11-2 run that put the Huskies up 62-48 with 6:54 to go.

UConn pushed the lead back to 15 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Bueckers passed Napheesa Collier to become the third-leading scorer in UConn history. Monday was the third straight game in which Bueckers logged 31-plus points. She also dished six assists against the Trojans.

USC’s Avery Howell, who scored nine points, shot 2-for-5 from 3-point distance. The rest of the Trojans went a combined 1-for-8 from beyond the arc.

TEXAS PUSHES PAST TCU TO ADVANCE TO FINAL FOUR

Madison Booker led all scorers with 18 points and Texas used a major run spanning the third and fourth quarters to hold off TCU 58-47 in the Birmingham Region 3 final and advance to the program’s first Final Four since 2003 on Monday.

The top-seeded Longhorns (35-3) will face SEC rival South Carolina for the fourth time. They split the two-game regular-season series before South Carolina defeated Texas in the SEC championship game.

Texas set the defensive tone early, holding TCU without a field goal for the opening 5:33. The No. 2 seed Horned Frogs battled back, however, forcing a tie in the third quarter.

Texas responded with a 13-4 run over the period’s final five minutes for a 42-33 advantage. After TCU pulled within six points, a 7-1 surge provided the Longhorns all the breathing room they needed down the stretch. Texas did not allow a field goal for 5:14 during its decisive stretch early in the fourth.

Booker grabbed six rebounds, while Rori Harmon finished with 13 points and a game-high five assists for Texas.

TCU star Haily Van Lith overcame a slow start to finish with 17 points and eight boards. She was the Horned Frogs’ only double-figure scorer.

Texas limited Van Lith to 3-of-15 shooting, however, and successfully neutralized Sedona Prince in the lane. The Horned Frogs’ second-leading scorer on the season, Prince finished with just four points before fouling out on Monday.

TCU (34-4) ended its best season in program history shooting just 12-of-45 from the floor (26.7 percent), including 4-of-20 from 3-point range. Texas also forced the Horned Frogs into 21 turnovers while committing just eight on the other end.

The Longhorns converted those 21 takeaways into 17 points. Booker, Harmon and Kyla Oldacre helped key the turnover-generation with two steals apiece.

Texas outshot TCU from the floor, going 24-of-61 (39.3 percent), but the Horned Frogs’ ability to get to the free-throw line kept them within striking distance. TCU went 19-of-21 at the charity stripe, with Van Lith scoring 10 of her points at the line.

REPORT: NOTRE DAME G OLIVIA MILES TO ENTER TRANSFER PORTAL

Despite being projected as the No. 2 pick in next month’s WNBA draft, star Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles will enter the transfer portal and remain in college, ESPN reported on Monday night.

Miles, 22, sat out the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury and gained an extra year of eligibility as a medical redshirt, then returned this season and helped the Irish reach the Sweet 16 before they fell 76-62 to TCU on Saturday.

The senior started all 34 games and set career highs in points per game (15.4) and field-goal percentage (.483), while improving her 3-point shooting percentage from 22.8 percent to a career-best 40.6 percent. Miles also contributed 5.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest.

Miles seemed to be wavering on whether she would return to college or enter the WNBA draft, saying after the loss to the Horned Frogs that forgoing the chance to be a lottery pick was “a lot to give up” while also saying the thought of joining the WNBA this summer would be tough.

“It just changes every day,” Miles said of contemplating her decision after Notre Dame’s Sweet 16 loss on Saturday. “I love college. I think I’ve outgrown it a little bit, though, so that makes my decision tougher to stay. It’s comfortable, a place where you have security.”

Across four seasons at Notre Dame, Miles averaged 14.2 points, 6.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 101 games (95 starts).

NBA NEWS

NBA ROUNDUP: DOWN 16 IN 3RD, PACERS OVERTAKE KINGS

Aaron Nesmith scored a team-high 24 points, helping the Indiana Pacers rally to a 111-109 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday in Indianapolis.

Obi Toppin added 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Indiana (44-31), which won its seventh game in nine tries, and did so after trailing by 16 in the third quarter. Tyrese Haliburton chipped in 18 points and 11 assists. Indiana is fourth in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of the idle Detroit Pistons.

Sacramento (36-39) was paced by DeMar DeRozan’s 31 points and eight assists and Domantas Sabonis’s 25-point, 16-rebound output. Zach LaVine scored 20 for the Kings, who have lost six of their last seven and are 10th in the Western Conference, one game up on the idle Phoenix Suns for the final play-in tournament spot.

With the Kings leading 98-95, Haliburton scored five straight, including a stepback triple with 1:17 left, returning the lead to Indiana for the first time since the second quarter. After forcing a Sacramento shot clock violation, Pascal Siakam’s 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining gave Indiana a 103-98 lead. Nesmith iced the game with a pair of free throws with less than five seconds left.

Thunder 145, Bulls 117

Isaiah Joe led the way with a season-high-tying 31 points as Oklahoma City beat visiting Chicago for its 10th win in a row.

The Thunder are 28-1 against Eastern Conference opponents this season, setting a record for most out-of-conference wins in NBA history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. He added 12 assists in just 27 minutes of action as he sat out the fourth quarter with the outcome well in hand.

The Bulls took their second consecutive loss and fell to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. The game was the first in Oklahoma City for Josh Giddey since being traded to the Bulls in exchange for Caruso in the offseason. Giddey received a large ovation and finished 6 of 15 for 15 points, with 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Celtics 117, Grizzlies 103

Al Horford came off the bench to score 26 points and grab eight rebounds as visiting Boston extended its winning streak to nine games by beating Memphis.

Horford made six 3-pointers in the win, which gave Boston (56-19) six victories during its six-game road trip. The Celtics have won eight in a row on the road overall and are 32-7 record in road games this season. Jayson Tatum added 25 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Boston’s Derrick White finished with 14 points and made three 3-pointers, the second of which set a franchise record for most made 3-pointers in a season (246).

Ja Morant scored a team-high 26 points for the Grizzlies, who received 20 points and 15 rebounds from Jaren Jackson Jr. Santi Aldama tossed in 21 points. Memphis (44-31) has lost six of its last seven games. The Grizzlies are 0-2 since they fired head coach Taylor Jenkins and named Tuomas Iisalo interim head coach.

Nets 113, Mavericks 109

Keon Johnson scored 24 points as visiting Brooklyn stunned streaking Dallas in a back-and-forth thriller.

DeAngelo Russell added 18 points for the Nets, who secured consecutive wins for the first time since winning three straight from Feb. 7-12.

Daniel Gafford led the Mavericks in scoring with 17 points in his return from a knee injury sustained on Feb. 10. Dallas’ Klay Thompson and Spencer Dinwiddie each missed 3-point attempts that would have put their team on top in the last seven seconds.

Clippers 96, Magic 87

Ivica Zubac finished with 18 points and 20 rebounds, Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard each added 21 points, and Los Angeles delivered one of its best defensive performances of the season en route to a win at Orlando.

The 87 points were the second-fewest the Clippers (43-32) allowed this season, and they held the Magic to 30-of-76 shooting (39.5 percent) from the floor. Los Angeles capped a 3-1 road trip.

Orlando’s Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 26 points despite shooting 1-for-8 from 3-point range. Franz Wagner added 21 points for the Magic, who had won four of the previous give games.

Lakers 104, Rockets 98

Bench players Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith each drained six 3-pointers while scoring 20 points, sparking Los Angeles to a victory over visiting Houston.

Vincent matched his season high for treys and Finney-Smith established a season best for 3-pointers. Luka Doncic added 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, who won their second straight game and their third in the past four. LeBron James chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds.

Amen Thompson scored 20 points and Dillon Brooks added 16 for the second-place Rockets, who lead the third-place Denver Nuggets by 1 1/2 games and the fourth-place Lakers by 2 1/2 games in the Western Conference race.

Heat 120, Wizards 94

Bam Adebayo scored 28 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out five assists to lead the Miami Heat over the Washington Wizards.

The Heat won their fifth game in a row as they try to improve their standing for the upcoming Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Miami’s Tyler Herro contributed 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, although he went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, and totaled five rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

The last-place Wizards dropped their third in a row. Jordan Poole led the Wizards with a game-high 35 points on 10-for-17 shooting, including 7-for-13 success from 3-point range.

Hornets 110, Jazz 106

Miles Bridges posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead host Charlotte over Utah and snap a five-game losing streak in the process.

Hornets center Mark Williams chipped in an 18-point, 13-rebound effort and four other players scored in double figures for Charlotte.

Keyonte George had 20 points for the Jazz, who lost for the 16th time in 17 games and hit the 60-loss mark for the first time in team history. With 17 points, seven dimes and three steals, rookie Isaiah Collier broke John Stockton’s franchise rookie assists record.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS

MLB ROUNDUP: CARSON KELLY (CYCLE), CUBS SPOIL A’S HOME OPENEr

Michael Busch christened Sutter Health Park as a major league stadium with a first-inning home run, Carson Kelly hit for the cycle, and the Chicago Cubs spoiled the Athletics’ debut at their new home in West Sacramento, Calif., with an 18-3 shellacking on Monday.

Kelly drove in five runs, Busch four, and Dansby Swanson and Kyle Tucker (both of whom also homered) three apiece for the Cubs. Chicago banged out 21 hits, including 11 for extra-bases. Kelly became just the 17th catcher in major league history to hit for the cycle – and the first since J.T. Realmuto in June of 2023.

Making his first start of the season, Ben Brown (1-1) benefitted from the big-time offensive support to get the win, limiting the A’s to three runs and six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five. Nico Hoerner (3-for-4), Suzuki (2-for-5) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (2-for-5) also collected multiple hits for the Cubs.

Jacob Wilson, playing one day after his 23rd birthday, belted his first major league home run for the A’s, a solo shot in the third. Brent Rooker and Miguel Andujar each had a pair of singles for the A’s, who collected 10 hits. Starter Joey Estes (0-1) was charged with six runs on nine hits and four walks with two strikeouts in four-plus innings.

Reds 14, Rangers 3

Elly De La Cruz hit two tape-measure home runs, doubled, singled and drove in a career-high seven runs to lead Cincinnati Reds to a rout of visiting Texas.

De La Cruz matched Javier Valentin on July 17, 2005 for the most runs driven in by a switch-hitter in a single game in club history. Matt McLain added his third homer of the season and drove in three runs for the Reds, who scored three runs in each of the first two innings to coast to the win.

Making his Cincinnati debut, right-hander Brady Singer (1-0) fired seven shutout innings of one-hit ball. He walked two and struck out eight. Texas starter Kumar Rocker (0-1) was charged with six runs and seven hits over three innings, striking out three, walking two and giving up two home runs.

White Sox 9, Twins 0

Martin Perez threw six no-hit innings, and Andrew Vaughn, Andrew Benintendi, and Michael A. Taylor each homered to lead Chicago to a victory over visiting Minnesota.

Perez (1-0) retired the first 11 batters he faced before walking Ryan Jeffers with two outs in the fourth. He gave way to rookie right-hander Mike Vasil in the top of the seventh after striking out nine, walking three, and hitting a batter. Perez threw 93 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Chris Paddack (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing nine earned runs, tying a career-high, on six hits over 3 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out two.

Padres 7, Guardians 2

Gavin Sheets drove in four runs and Kyle Hart earned his first major league win as San Diego opened the season 5-0 for the first time in franchise history with a victory over visiting Cleveland.

Making his first major league appearance in five years, Hart (1-0) lasted five innings, allowing five hits and two runs with a walk and four strikeouts. Luis L. Ortiz (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. His biggest problem was Sheets, who touched him for two-run doubles in a four-run second and a three-run fifth.

Hart’s only mistakes were a pair of fat pitches over the middle early in the game. Jose Ramirez drilled one into the left field seats in the first for his first homer of the season, and Austin Hedges jacked a solo shot in the third for his first homer.

Dodgers 6, Braves 1

Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run home run in the first inning, Tyler Glasnow went five scoreless and Los Angeles remained perfect on the season with a home victory over sluggish Atlanta.

Hernandez had two hits and three runs scored while taking over the third spot in the order from Freddie Freeman, who aggravated his surgically repaired right ankle while slipping in the shower and had the day off against his former team. Enrique Hernandez also hit a home run for Los Angeles.

Michael Conforto and Will Smith added RBI hits for Los Angeles, which improved to 6-0 on the season. The Braves not only dropped their fifth consecutive game to start the season, but they saw their scoreless streak reach 29 innings before breaking through in the eighth inning on a home run from Michael Harris II.

Royals 11, Brewers 1

In his first start in nearly two years, Kris Bubic (1-0) gave up three hits and struck out eight batters over six scoreless innings as Kansas City spoiled Milwaukee’s home opener.

Jonathan India was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, Salvador Perez was 2-for-4 with a solo homer, and the Royals scored six runs in the seventh inning to grab a 10-0 lead. Maikal Garcia was 1-for-3 with a two-run shot in the second.

With the winless Brewers’ rotation already depleted by injuries, Elvin Rodriguez (0-1) made a spot start in his debut for Milwaukee on his 27th birthday. He allowed four runs on six hits in four innings. Jackson Chourio had an RBI double in the seventh to plate the lone run for the Brewers.

Orioles 8, Red Sox 5

Cedric Mullins smashed a two-run double during Baltimore’s four-run first inning and drove in two more runs later in the game as the Orioles won their home opener by defeating Boston.

Tyler O’Neill, who played for Boston last season, racked up four hits and scored two runs in his first home game with the Orioles. Mullins, Ramon Urias, Ryan Mountcastle and Jackson Holliday all added two hits in Baltimore’s 15-hit attack. Serathony Dominguez (1-0), who was the second reliever for Baltimore, was the winning pitcher.

Jarren Duran drove in three runs and joined Romy Gonzalez, who doubled in a run in the ninth, and Rob Refsnyder with two hits for the Red Sox. Sean Newcomb (0-1), making his debut for the Red Sox, was tagged for four runs on eight hits and two walks in four innings.

Phillies 6, Rockies 1

Edmundo Sosa hit a go-ahead, two-run double with two outs in the seventh inning and Kyle Schwarber followed with a two-run homer as Philadelphia celebrated its home opener with a win over Colorado.

Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos added back-to-back homers in the eighth inning for the Phillies, who recorded seven of their 11 hits in the seventh and eighth innings. Kepler finished with three hits and Sosa doubled twice.

Hunter Goodman homered and Brenton Doyle had three hits from the leadoff spot for Colorado, which has lost three of its first four games this season.

Tigers 9, Mariners 6

Riley Greene homered in a six-run first inning as Detroit defeated host Seattle for its first victory of the season.

Dillon Dingler, Trey Sweeney and Javier Baez, the bottom three batters in Detroit’s lineup, each went 3-for-5 to contribute to an 18-hit attack. Tyler Holton (1-0) got the victory in relief. Brant Hurter was charged with two runs in three innings but got his first big-league save.

Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (0-1) allowed six runs on seven hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Seattle’s Randy Arozarena, Luke Raley and Cal Raleigh homered.

Mets 10, Marlins 4

Pete Alonso hit a grand slam to power a seven-run fifth inning for New York, which rolled to a 10-4 win over host Miami in the opener of a three-game series.

Alonso’s homer was one of four by the Mets, who collected 11 hits. Starling Marte went deep in the third inning and Luis Torrens hit a two-run shot to cap the fifth-inning outburst before Brandon Nimmo closed out the Mets’ scoring with a two-run homer in the sixth.

Mets starter David Peterson (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits, including solo homers by Otto Lopez (3-for-5, two RBIs) and Eric Wagaman (2-for-5, two RBIs). He gave up three walks while striking out nine. Cal Quantrill (0-1) gave up six runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts over four-plus innings in his Miami debut.

Rays 6, Pirates 1

Jake Mangum went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two stolen bases in his second big-league game, propelling host Tampa Bay past Pittsburgh.

The Southeastern Conference’s all-time hits leader while playing at Mississippi State, Mangum set numerous career firsts — first hit, double, run, RBI and stolen base. In Tampa Bay’s 10-hit attack, Jonathan Aranda was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and a walk as the Rays won for the third time in four games.

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen (1-0) was dominant in his first start of the season, facing only 17 batters in five shutout innings. The right-hander allowed two hits and no walks while striking out four. Adam Frazier had an RBI single as one of Pittsburgh’s four hits. Endy Rodriguez doubled and scored, but Pittsburgh took its fourth loss in five games.

Giants 7, Astros 2

Jordan Hicks twirled six shutout innings, Wilmer Flores socked his third home run and visiting San Francisco defeated Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Hicks (1-0), a Houston native, retired 14 consecutive batters during one stretch. He allowed one hit, issued two walks and recorded six strikeouts. Before Flores deposited a 2-1 slider from reliever Luis Contreras into the left field seats with two outs in the sixth for a three-run shot, the Giants utilized their speed to carve out a 2-0 lead off Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco (0-1).

Isaac Paredes ended the Giants’ shutout bid with a two-run double off Spencer Bivens in the eighth. Matt Chapman got those runs back for the Giants with a two-run single in the ninth.

Angels 5, Cardinals 4 (10 innings)

Mike Trout hit two sacrifice flies as visiting Los Angeles rallied past St. Louis in 10 innings.

Kyren Paris went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and an RBI for the Angels, who erased 2-0 and 3-1 deficits. Starter Tyler Anderson allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four. Reid Detmers, Ryan Zeferjahn, Garrett McDaniels and Brock Burke (1-0) combined for four shutout innings. Rookie Ryan Johnson notched his first career save.

Lars Nootbaar was 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs for the Cardinals, who suffered their first loss after starting 3-0. Brendan Donovan also hit a homer. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three. JoJo Romero, the sixth Cardinals pitcher, took the loss.

Blue Jays 5, Nationals 2

Bowden Francis did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, Andres Gimenez homered and Toronto defeated visiting Washington.

Gimenez was on base four times in the opener of a three-game series, adding a walk, a hit by pitch and a double. Francis (1-0) finished six innings, allowing two runs, two hits and three walks while striking out four.

CJ Abrams and James Wood hit solo homers for the Nationals, both in the sixth inning as Washington halved a 4-0 deficit.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

COLLEGE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: BEAT GOES ON FOR GEORGIA OFFENSE WITH ZABOROWSKI AND BURNETT LEADING WAY

Ryland Zaborowski and Robbie Burnett have eased the minds of Georgia fans worried offensive production would drop off with the departures of Charlie Condon and Corey Collins.

Zaborowski and Burnett lead a high-scoring Bulldogs team that’s out to a program-record 28-2 start. Their weekend home sweep of Auburn extended their win streak to eight games, longest in the nation.

Georgia, which took three at Florida on March 21-23, for the first time since 2008 swept back-to-back Southeastern Conference opponents that were ranked in the top 10 at the time. The Bulldogs are tied with Tennessee for first in the SEC at 8-1.

Zaborowski, who transferred from Miami (Ohio), leads the nation with 14 homers and a 1.120 slugging percentage and is second with 48 RBIs and fifth with a .442 batting average. He’s just behind the torrid pace set last year by Condon, who finished with 37 homers and was taken No. 3 overall by Colorado in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Burnett, who transferred from UNC Ashville, is second with 13 homers, and he has a .363 batting average to go with 27 walks and .570 on-base percentage. Those numbers are on track to match those of Collins, who was a sixth-round pick by the Mets.

Georgia leads the nation with 79 homers and is third in scoring at 10.4 runs per game. Last year, the Bulldogs were second to Tennessee in homers, with 151, and scored 9.1 runs per game while going 43-17 and finishing one win away from the College World Series.

Jayhawks flying high

Kansas (23-6) swept Oklahoma State for the first time since 2009. The Jayhawks’ 6-3 start in Big 12 play is their best ever. The Big 12’s first season was 1997.

The Jayhawks have hit 61 homers, just 14 short of the program record of 75 in 2006 and 2023. Reliever Gavin Brasosky has not allowed a run in his eight appearances this season (10 1/3 innings).

Buckeyes raise eyebrows

Ohio State delivered one of the weekend’s most surprising results, winning two of three against a top-10 Oregon team that was making its first road trip as a Big Ten member.

The Buckeyes (8-16) had lost their first seven games in conference play before they swept the Ducks 11-10 and 8-6 on Saturday. Ohio State erased a pair of four-run deficits to win the opener, and Tyler Pettorini’s three-run homer highlighted the nightcap.

The Ducks (20-7, 8-4) had won Big Ten series against Southern California, Minnesota and Rutgers before visiting Columbus, where Justin Haire is in his first season.

Comeback Cavs

Atlantic Coast Conference favorite Virginia hopes to carry over the momentum from its home sweep of Stanford. The Cavaliers entered the series just 12-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play. A week ago they were swept at home by Duke.

The Cavaliers were down to their final our in the bottom of the 10th inning Saturday when James Nunnallee scored from first base on Aidan Teel’s double to right, producing a 9-8 win that was their third comeback victory of the series and 10th of the season.

Cleanup spot

Arkansas won a series at Vanderbilt for the first time since 2010. Cam Kozeal, who transferred from Vanderbilt, homered three times against his former team. … Oregon State set a school record with eight home runs in a 16-5 win at Nebraska on Saturday. That was the Beavers’ only win in the three-game series. … Notre Dame homered seven times Friday in a 16-9 home win over Florida State. It was the Seminoles’ most lopsided loss since they were beaten 16-4 in the ACC Tournament championship game last year. The Seminoles won the next two against Notre Dame. … Arizona State’s sweep at Utah marked the Sun Devils’ third straight Big 12 series win and fourth in a row in a road series since last year.

NFL NEWS

STEELERS COACH MIKE TOMLIN IS TALKING TO AARON RODGERS, BUT HE’S COMFORTABLE STARTING MASON RUDOLPH

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Mike Tomlin is staying in touch with Aaron Rodgers and is comfortable with Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“That’s why we brought him back,” Tomlin said Monday at the league’s annual meetings. “I’m comfortable with that. And we’ve been there before.”

Rudolph was 3-1 for the Steelers in 2023 with the loss coming in a wild-card game against Buffalo. Pittsburgh has a new offensive coordinator since Rudolph last played for the team. The offense had mixed results under Arthur Smith last season.

“Mason is not a kid. He’s been around, been in multiple systems and situations,” Tomlin said.

Meanwhile, is Tomlin communicating with Rodgers by calling, texting or FaceTiming the four-time NFL MVP?

“All of the above,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin, who spoke to Pittsburgh reporters a day earlier, addressed a large group of media members surrounding his table during a 30-minute availability for all AFC coaches.

“He’s a free agent,” Tomlin said of Rodgers. “As you guys know, he came to visit last Friday. We had a really productive day. He’s been in this thing a long time. I’ve been in this thing a long time. But it’s no substitute for, you know, intimacy and spending time together and getting to know one another in a non-competitive environment. And so that was really good. But I don’t have any new updates in terms of where the process is. We’ll see where it leads us.”

PACKERS GM BRIAN GUTEKUNST SAYS ELGTON JENKINS WILL MOVE FROM GUARD TO CENTER NEXT SEASON

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst says two-time Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins is expected to move over to center to make room for Aaron Banks on the offensive line.

“He’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center,” Gutekunst told reporters Monday during the NFL owners meetings.

Banks, a guard who started 43 games for the San Francisco 49ers over the past three seasons, signed with the Packers in free agency.

Green Bay has a hole to fill at center after 2021 second-round pick Josh Myers joined the New York Jets last month. Myers started 56 games for the Packers over the past four seasons, including 16 last year.

The Packers have long praised Jenkins for his versatility. While he primarily has played left guard during his seven seasons with the Packers, Jenkins also has started eight games at left tackle, six at right tackle and four at center. He made 26 starts at center during his college career at Mississippi State.

“We’ve talked about it a lot, how versatility plays into our offensive line, having guys that can move into different spots,” Gutekunst said. “Elgton is one of those guys who can play all five spots.”

Jenkins started all 17 games — 16 at left guard, one at center — for the Packers last season. The 2019 second-round pick has made.

THE TUSH PUSH IS THE HOTTEST TOPIC AT THE NFL LEAGUE MEETINGS

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The “tush push” is the hottest topic at the NFL’s annual meetings this week.

Team owners, coaches and general managers have gathered at a posh resort to discuss several potential rule changes, including the Green Bay Packers’ proposal to eliminate a play that’s become a short-yardage staple for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

The Packers cited player safety and pace of play as reasons for banning the tush push. NFL executive Troy Vincent said last month there have been zero injuries reported as a result of the play.

Any rule change must be approved by 24 out of 32 team owners.

Tampa Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles made it clear last month he wouldn’t support a ban.

“It’s a rugby element, but at the same time, when a team gets something that they’re good at, you gotta learn how to stop,” Bowles said. “I don’t think the first thing you can do is try to take it out of the ball game because that takes away the creativity of everybody trying to do everything else. So you gotta learn how to stop it. Until we learn how to stop it, they’re gonna continue. It it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

A vote on Green Bay’s proposal is expected Tuesday.

Other changes include making the dynamic kickoff rule permanent and overhauling the playoff format.

The NFL competition committee has recommended sticking with the kickoff rule that was redesigned last year and tweaking it to move touchbacks to the 35-yard line in hopes of generating even more returns.

The Detroit Lions proposed that playoff seeding should be based on record instead of automatically placing division winners in the top four spots.

The committee also proposed an expansion of instant replay to allow replay assist to consult on-field officials to overrule objective calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles or tripping if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Replay would also be able to overturn a roughing the kicker or running into the kicker penalty if video replay showed the defender made contact with the ball.

JETS GM SAYS FIELDS IS THE STARTING QB AND ‘WE BELIEVE IN JUSTIN’

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Justin Fields is the New York Jets’ QB1 right now — and they hope for the foreseeable future.

While speaking to reporters Sunday at the NFL’s league meetings, new general manager Darren Mougey left no doubt as to who’s atop the Jets’ depth chart.

“We believe Justin is the starter,” Mougey said. “We believe in Justin. We believe we can win with Justin, so we’re excited about Justin.”

The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract — including $30 million in guarantees — on March 10. The 26-year-old quarterback is making starter-type money, so Mougey’s declaration wasn’t a major surprise. But it at least cements his status at the moment ahead of veteran Tyrod Taylor — who Mougey said would be “right on his heels” — and youngsters Adrian Martinez and Jordan Travis in New York’s quarterbacks room.

“Justin is a young, talented quarterback with a unique athletic skill set that adds another dimension to the game,” Mougey said. “There was that and then diving into the person, knowing him, his leadership – he was a good fit.”

Fields spent last season with Pittsburgh after playing his first three NFL seasons with Chicago, which drafted him in the first round — the 11th overall pick — in 2021 out of Ohio State. The Jets had the No. 2 overall pick that year and selected quarterback Zach Wilson, who also failed to live up to expectations and was traded to Denver last year.

Fields went 4-2 with five touchdown passes and five TD runs with just one interception as the Steelers’ starter last season before being replaced by Russell Wilson.

The Jets released Aaron Rodgers earlier this month, cutting ties with the 41-year-old four-time MVP. But New York thinks Fields could have a similar career trajectory as Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, who both struggled early in their careers but thrived in later NFL stops.

“He probably had some of the best quarterback play of his career,” Mougey said of Fields. “We’re going to do everything we can to support him when he gets here.”

Fields has passed for 7,780 yards and 45 touchdowns with 31 interceptions in 50 games, including 44 starts in four seasons. He has rushed for 2,509 yards and 19 scores.

COLLEGE BASEBALL NEWS

MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK 7 BASEBALL WEEKLY AWARDS

MAC Baseball Co-Player of the Week
Ty Batusich, Miami
Senior, Joliet, Ill. (Joliet West)

Ty Batusich drove in 12 runs in four games for the RedHawks this week, helping Miami to sweep Western Michigan over the weekend. Batusich’s seven hits included a three-run homer Friday that started Miami’s comeback in what later became an 11-5 victory. Over 15 at-bats, Batusich never struck out, came in to score eight times, and racked up 16 total bases. Additionally, he walked three times and took two HBPs.

MAC Baseball Co-Player of the Week
Dylan Grego, Ball State
Junior, Kansas City, Mo.

Grego had multiple hits, including a home run, and 3+ RBI in each game of a series at Akron over the weekend. The junior went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, four RBI and two runs scored in Ball State’s 11-2 win over the Zips in Friday’s series opener. Grego followed that up with another 3-for-4 effort including a double, home run and three RBI in Saturday’s 5-2 win, which featured an RBI double in the first inning for the day’s initial offense and a two-run blast in the sixth inning to give the Cardinals a 4-0 lead. The everyday shortstop added a double, a homer and three more runs batted in for the nightcap of Saturday’s twinbill. Overall, Grego went 8-for-12 with two doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and four runs scored in just two days to lead Ball State to its third straight MAC series triumph to begin the year.

MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Connar Penrod, Bowling Green
Senior, Wauseon, Ohio (Wauseon)

Connar Penrod recorded a save in each game of BGSU’s three-game weekend sweep over Central Michigan. Penrod began the weekend by logging the save in both games of Friday’s doubleheader before adding another on Sunday, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings on his way to his three saves. Penrod now has eight saves this season, already tied for the program record for saves in a single season. As a team, BGSU now has 12 saves this year, which also ties the program record for a season. Penrod’s effort helped the Falcons register the first sweep at Central Michigan in program history.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

STANFORD HIRES FRANK REICH AS INTERIM FOOTBALL COACH

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford hired former NFL head coach Frank Reich as the interim football coach on Monday following the firing of Troy Taylor.

Football program general manager Andrew Luck made the decision last week to fire Taylor after a report became public that Taylor had been investigated twice for allegedly mistreating staffers.

Luck opted to hire his old coach on the Indianapolis Colts for the job for this season. Reich coached six years in the NFL for Indianapolis and Carolina, including the 2018 season when Luck was his starting quarterback.

“I have experienced first-hand the incredible impact Frank has demonstrated as a leader and have full confidence he is the perfect steward for this season of Stanford football,” Luck said in a statement. “Frank is a teacher, a winner and a coach of the highest caliber. Frank’s values align seamlessly with our vision for this program and I firmly believe in his ability to maximize the on-field potential of our student-athletes while serving as a role model in all aspects of their personal growth.”

Stanford is trying to rebuild its struggling football program after four straight seasons with a 3-9 record, including the last two with Taylor in charge.

NHL NEWS

NHL ROUNDUP: STARS TOP KRAKEN, EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 6

Casey DeSmith made 35 saves to help the visiting Dallas Stars win their sixth game in a row, a 3-1 decision against the Seattle Kraken on Monday night.

DeSmith, the No. 2 goalie for Dallas behind Jake Oettinger, stretched his point streak to nine games (8-0-1).

Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston and Mikael Granlund scored for the Stars (49-21-4, 102 points), who moved within four points of the first-place Jets in the Central Division with eight games remaining for both. The Stars’ Esa Lindell and Mason Marchment recorded two assists apiece.

Kaapo Kakko scored and Philipp Grubauer made 28 saves for the Kraken (31-38-6, 68 points), who have lost five of six (1-4-1).

Flyers 2, Predators 1

Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny had two assists each, Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals, and Philadelphia defeated Nashville for its third straight win.

Ivan Fedotov made 28 saves in the victory to snap a six-game personal losing streak.

The Predators’ Zachary L’Heureux scored his side’s lone goal, with assists coming from Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei. Justus Annunen stopped 16 shots but dropped his fifth straight start.

Devils 3, Wild 2 (SO)

Nico Hischier scored his fourth goal in two games and New Jersey defeated Minnesota in a shootout at Newark, N.J., to sweep a home-and-home set.

Luke Hughes had a goal and an assist for the Devils, and Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves. Paul Cotter and Jesper Bratt scored for New Jersey in the shootout.

Vinnie Hinostroza and Matt Boldy scored for the Wild, and Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 shots. Mats Zuccarello and Boldy were unsuccessful on shootout attempts for Minnesota.

Flames 3, Avalanche 2 (SO)

Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka scored 32 seconds apart in the third period, Yegor Sharangovich had the only goal in the shootout and Calgary rallied to beat Colorado in Denver.

Lomberg and Klapka added an assist each and Dan Vladar made 28 saves through overtime and another in the shootout for Calgary, which is five points back of the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot.

Cale Makar and Logan O’Connor each netted a goal, Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to stretch his home point streak to 25 games and Scott Wedgewood turned away 25 shots for Colorado. The Avalanche have dropped two straight.

NASCAR NEWS

STEVE PHELPS NAMED NASCAR’S FIRST COMMISSIONER

Steve Phelps was named NASCAR’s first commissioner on Monday with a mission focused on “strategic growth and international expansion.”

Phelps, 62, had been serving as president of NASCAR since 2018. In the newly created role, he will oversee all aspects of the sport that include the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and all 15 NASCAR-owned or operated tracks.

Steve O’Donnell was promoted from chief operating officer to succeed Phelps as president. O’Donnell is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of all three NASCAR national series (Cup Series, Xfinity and Trucks) and all commercial, media and track operations as well as four international series and multiple properties.

“We are thrilled to name Steve Phelps as NASCAR’s first Commissioner,” said NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France. “His leadership, professionalism and well-earned respect from across the sports industry speak to his unique value for the sport. With more than 50 years of expertise between them, both Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell bring tremendous expertise, stability and a commitment to the bold racing innovations that will continue to serve fans, teams and stakeholders for many years to come.”

Phelps originally joined NASCAR in 2005.

“I’m honored to take this next step in helping to guide NASCAR, the sport I’ve loved since my father took me to my first race at 5 years old, continue to grow and welcome new fans, competitors and partners that together create some of the most extraordinary moments in sports,” Phelps said. “I cannot thank the France family enough for their unwavering commitment to our fans, their steady leadership and, most importantly, their stewardship of stock-car racing since its inception nearly eight decades ago. This sport is truly one of the great American business stories and I’m privileged to continue as part of that legacy — and especially its bright future.”

O’Donnell becomes the sixth president in the sport’s 77-year history.

“In my 30 years in NASCAR, I’ve been most inspired by the passion of race fans at tracks across the country. It has been a privilege to help bring our sport to those fans through incredible new venues and innovative engaging content that showcase the best racing in our storied history,” O’Donnell said. “I believe we’re the best in the world at creating ‘Bucket List’ events that merge sports and entertainment with tailgating, camping and the most immersive fan experience in sports. I’m honored to continue that mission and build upon the collaboration and innovation with our teams and partners to deliver the best racing to sports fans everywhere.”

MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR SPENCER PENROSE AWARD

Ten coaches who have enjoyed on-ice success during the 2024-25 season have been named finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the CCM/AHCA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Selected by the nation’s 64 NCAA Division I head coaches, the winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 8.

The nominees represent any coach who won or shared Coach of the Year honors in his conference this past season, as well as coaches whose teams have advanced to the 2025 NCAA Frozen Four. One coach has done both this season: Pat Ferschweiler of Western Michigan University. None of this year’s finalists are past recipients of this award.

The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first 10 NCAA championship hockey tournaments. The award will be presented on Sunday, May 4, at the 2025 AHCA Convention at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, FL.

The CCM AHCA COACH of the YEAR AWARDS are sponsored by CCM HOCKEY and chosen by members of the AMERICAN HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION. CCM is the legendary hockey brand dedicated to the endless pursuit of performance by delivering game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide.

2024-25 AHCA Men’s Ice Hockey Spencer Penrose Award Finalists

(CCM/AHCA Division I Coach of the Year)

David Carle, Denver, NCAA Semifinalist

Mike Cavanaugh, UConn, Hockey East Coach of the Year

Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan, NCHC Coach of the Year, NCAA Semifinalist

Guy Gadowsky, Penn State, NCAA Semifinalist

JF Houle, Clarkson, ECAC Coach of the Year

Jay Pandolfo, Boston University, NCAA Semifinalist

Bill Riga, Holy Cross, AHA Coach of the Year

Brett Riley, Long Island University, Independent Coach of the Year

Steve Rohlik, Ohio State, Big Ten Coach of the Year

Luke Strand, Minnesota State University, CCHA Coach of the Year

TOP INDIANA HEADLINES

INDIANA PACERS

GAME REWIND: PACERS 111, KINGS 109

Indiana looked to grab a win against the Western Conference’s 10th-place team as it hosted the Kings on Monday. Sacramento scrambled to qualify for the Play-In Tournament while Indiana played to keep home court advantage in the playoffs. Behind late 3-pointers by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, the Pacers (44-31) defeated the Kings (36-39), 111-109.

With Myles Turner (illness) and Bennedict Mathurin (left calf) sidelined, the Pacers needed a hot start against a hungry Kings team.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Thomas Bryant and Andrew Nembhard got the scoring rolling and Indiana jumped out to an 8-2 lead three minutes into the opening quarter.

The Pacers built that out to a 16-6 lead before Domantas Sabonis threw down a dunk over Tony Bradley, and Keegan Murray slammed another down on a fastbreak the following possession. Malik Monk eyed the rim with similar intentions out of an Indiana timeout, but Bradley rejected it.

Sacramento put together a 22-9 run throughout the latter half of the first quarter as Indiana committed six turnovers in the frame. The Kings led going into the second quarter, 28-27, behind Sabonis’ 12 points and six rebounds. Haliburton notched five points and five assists in the first period, but committed an uncharacteristic three turnovers.

Zach LaVine found a groove for the Kings early in the second quarter. He’d already notched 10 points in the period by the 8:11 mark after going scoreless in the opening quarter. LaVine recorded 14 points in the first half for Sacramento, and Sabonis recorded 14 points and eight rebounds.

Jarace Walker’s first half play for Indiana was a bright spot – he recorded nine points off Indiana’s bench and was disruptive on the defensive end. He led the Pacers in scoring at the break, while Haliburton’s eight assists were a game-high. 

“He’s been ready to go all year long,” Carlisle said of Walker. “He’s showing you right now, you know, why he was such a high pick for us.”

The Pacers committed nine turnovers through the first half, and trailed at the break, 60-54.

Despite shooting 51 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range, the Blue and Gold faced a six-point deficit coming out of halftime.

That deficit grew to nine points as LaVine connected on a deep 3-pointer early in the third quarter, then ballooned to a 12-point hole following a long-range shot by Murray. Sacramento’s lead grew to as many as 16 points before the third quarter came to a close, led by Sabonis’ nine points in the period.

Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin provided much-needed sparks to Indiana’s third quarter offense. Toppin connected on three 3-point shots and scored 11 points in the frame while Nesmith slashed his way to nine points on 50 percent shooting. He made a free throw to convert a three-point play, and cut the Sacramento lead to just five points with under a minute to play in the third.

With one frame left to play, Indiana trailed the Kings 86-81.

Walker continued an impressive outing as he opened fourth quarter scoring with a 3-pointer to bring the Pacers within two points of the lead. DeRozan followed with five more Kings points, forcing an Indiana timeout just three minutes into the fourth quarter.

The Pacers trailed by six points with six minutes to go in the fourth following a DeRozan trip to the free throw line. Haliburton converted a contested layup to cut the deficit to three before LaVine drew a foul against Nembhard as he drove to the basket.

Rick Carlisle challenged the ruling on the floor, and it was overturned to an offensive foul against LaVine.

Haliburton floated in a shot from the middle of the lane to trim the lead to one point, and Indiana earned a stop on the defensive end to create an opportunity to recapture the lead. The Pacers missed two go-ahead 3-point shots, and trailed the Kings 96-95 with three minutes to play.

After two minutes of back-and-forth scoring, Haliburton danced around the arc before draining the go-ahead 3-pointer over LaVine. Indiana then forced a shot clock violation to take possession of the ball, up by two points, and with 52 seconds left on the game clock.

Shooting just 3-for-14 over the course of the game, Siakam caught the ball from Haliburton at the top of the key and drilled a 3-pointer to push the Pacers’ lead to five points with 35 seconds to go.

“At the end of the game, Tyrese and Pascal, those guys hit the two biggest shots of the game,” coach Rick Carlisle said.

Another Indiana defensive stand forced Sacramento to begin fouling to extend the game, and the Blue and Gold closed the game at the free throw line. Indiana defeated Sacramento, 111-109, and swept the season series with the Kings, 2-0.

Nesmith led the charge for Indiana as he recorded 24 points, six rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. DeRozan’s 31 points led the Kings in scoring, while Sabonis recorded 25 points and 16 rebounds.

Three Pacers recorded a team-high seven rebounds – Thomas Bryant, Nembhard, and Toppin. Haliburton notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists, but recorded five turnovers for the first time since January.

Indiana grabbed the victory and remains the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 2-game lead on the Pistons. The Blue and Gold will be back in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday for an Eastern Conference clash with the Charlotte Hornets.

Inside the Numbers

Tyrese Haliburton recorded five turnovers in a game for the first time since January.

The Pacers made all 13 of their free throws. Aaron Nesmith made 9 free throws, and six in the fourth quarter. 

Both teams shot 46.7 percent from the field, but the Pacers connected on 34 percent of their 3-pointers while Sacramento made 44 percent.

The Kings won the rebounding battle, 45-40.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

SERIES PREVIEW: IOWA CUBS VS. INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS, APRIL 1-6

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians begin their first homestand of the 2025 season on Tuesday, April 1, against the Iowa Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The six-game set continues through Sunday, April 6, and is the first of two visits to Victory Field by the Iowa Cubs this season (also: Sept. 9-14). Below is a preview of both teams, notable promotions and more.

Iowa Cubs (1-1, T-8th, -1.5 GB)

2024: 68-82, 19th
International League Championships: N/A
Manager: Marty Pevey, 12th season (749-820, .477)
Top Prospects by MLB Pipeline: RHP Cade Horton (No. 2), OF Owen Caissie (3), C/1B Moises Ballesteros (4), UTIL James Triantos (5), OF Kevin Alcántara (6), UTIL Jonathon Long (13), RHP Jack Neely (16), INF Ben Cowles (22), OF Christian Franklin (25)

The I-Cubs, led by nine of the Cubs’ top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, went 1-1 against the Omaha Storm Chasers, Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, over the weekend. They join the Indians in coming off a postponement, with Sunday’s rubber match postponed due to inclement weather. Iowa emerged victorious in the season opener last Friday behind two-hit performances by catcher Moises Ballesteros, shortstop Ben Cowles – who also launched a two-run homer – and third baseman Dixon Machado. Starter Connor Noland fanned six over 4.0 innings of one-run ball, and Brooks Kriske earned the win with 2.0 perfect innings from the ‘pen.

Indianapolis Indians (0-1, 19th, -3.0 GB)

2024: 77-70, 6th
International League Championships: 1963, 2000
Manager: Chris Truby, 1st season (0-1, .000)
Top Prospects by MLB Pipeline: RHP Bubba Chandler (No. 1), UTIL Nick Yorke (5), RHP Braxton Ashcraft (6), RHP Mike Burrows (15), INF Tsung-Che Cheng (17), OF/1B Billy Cook (18)

The Indians opened their season on Friday at CHS Field, home of the Minnesota Twins-affiliated St. Paul Saints, before being rained out each of the last two games. Friday’s opener featured a shutout by the Saints pitching staff, with Billy Cook’s ninth-inning double coming as just one of four hits by Indians batters in the contest. Each of the two postponed games will be made up as part of doubleheaders on Wednesday, April 23 and Friday, April 25 when the Indians return to St. Paul.

RHPs Mike Burrows and Bubba Chandler were scheduled to start the two postponed games in St. Paul over the weekend and will now take the mound to begin the six-gamer vs. Iowa. During the 2024 season, the Indians stunned the I-Cubs with their first six-game sweep since MiLB transitioned to its weekly schedule in 2021. It was also Indy’s first sweep over Iowa in 14 seasons of the head-to-head rivalry (since 1988), with the two teams meeting as part of the American Association from 1988-96 and again when Iowa joined the International League in 2021.

Probable Starters

April 1, 6:35 PM: RHP Chris Flexen vs. RHP Mike Burrows
April 2, 6:35 PM: RHP Caleb Kilian vs. RHP Bubba Chandler
April 3, 6:35 PM: RHP Cade Horton vs. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (0-1, 8.10)
April 4, 7:05 PM: LHP Jordan Wicks (0-0, 3.86) vs. TBD
April 5, 6:35 PM: TBD vs. TBD
April 6, 1:35 PM: RHP Chris Flexen vs. RHP Mike Burrows

What’s on the Menu

The first Hot Dog of the Homestand presented by Eisenberg is the Chicago Dog, a dog topped with yellow mustard, pickle relish, dill pickle spear, diced onions, tomato slices, sport peppers and celery salt on an everything bun. Fans can find the Chicago Dog at the Links and Drinks carts located behind Sections 105 and 120.

When the Indians score five runs at home, you score five nuggets from Chick-fil-A®! Redeem the offer by the end of the following day or on Monday for Saturday and Sunday wins.

Can’t-Miss Promotions

On Opening Night, the Indians and FOX59 are continuing the 60 Degree Weather Guarantee. If the temperature is below 60 degrees at first pitch, all fans with an Opening Night ticket will receive an undated ticket voucher redeemable to another April home game of their choice. Opening Night also features the Tuesday Dollar Menu presented by Eisenberg, when fans can load up on concession classics including hot dogs, popcorn, potato chips, popcorn, Cracker Jack® and churros all for a buck.

On Saturday, the first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a Tour Schedule T-Shirt presented by AAA Insurance featuring the Indians 2025 slate of games on the back. Sunday is all about the kids, with Sunday Characters with Princesses and Kids Eat Free presented by Meijer and Prairie Farms.

Notable First Pitches

April 1: Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, FOX59 Chief Meteorologist Brian Wilkes
April 3: Indy Ignite Opposite Hitter Azhani Tealer

Single-game tickets are available for purchase, and group and premium reservations may also be made. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.

INDY FUEL

FUEL HOST WALLEYE ON TUESDAY NIGHT

INDIANAPOLIS- The Fuel will host the Toledo Walleye on Tuesday night. This will be just the third meeting between these divisional opponents, as the Fuel look to claim the fourth place spot in the Central division standings. The Walleye currently sit atop the standings, having already clinched the playoffs.

LAST TIME OUT

The last time these two teams met was December 28, 2024 when the Walleye visited the Fuel and took home a 4-1 win. League scoring leader Brandon Hawkins had a two-goal night while Tyler Spezia had two assists. Ryan Orgel had the lone goal for the Fuel, who is no longer on the team. Things got chippy between these two teams in this game as they typically do. There were a total of 54 penalty minutes, including ten roughing minors, fighting majors, and misconduct calls.

GONE FISHING

Both the Walleye and the Fort Wayne Komets have secured their spot in the playoffs, Iowa sits in third place in the Central division with a nice cushion ahead of the real race for the fourth and final spot between the Fuel, the Kalamazoo Wings, and the Bloomington Bison. The Fuel and the Wings have a game in hand on the Bison, though all three teams are separated by five points or less in the race to take on the Walleye in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

INDIANA SWIMMING AND DIVING

CSCAA ANNOUNCES 2025 DIVISION I MEN’S AWARDS AND ALL-AMERICA TEAM

The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced its NCAA Men’s Division I award winners and All-Americans for the 2024-25 season.

The awards were determined by a vote of CSCAA-member Division I head swimming coaches and head diving coaches. All-Americans are selected on the basis of their finish at the NCAA Championships and a team’s current membership with the CSCAA. Only student-athletes who competed in their championship finals are eligible for All-America Honors. NCAA relays & individuals must score in the top eight to earn first-team honors while those who finish ninth through sixteenth earn second-team honors.

Swim Coach of the Year Award

Texas’ Bob Bowman has been named the 2024-2025 CSCAA Men’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. He previously earned the honor while coaching at Arizona State. Under Bowman’s leadership, the Texas men’s team set three new NCAA records and captured the national title with an impressive medal haul—seven gold, five silver, and one bronze.

Dive Coach of the Year Award

Indiana’s Drew Johansen has been named the CSCAA Men’s Diving Coach of the Year for the 2024-2025 season. Under his leadership, Indiana divers won every diving event, securing the top two spots on the three-meter, and scoring multiple athletes in each event. This marks Johansen’s third consecutive and fourth year overall receiving this honor.

Swimmer of the Year Award

Texas’ Hubert Kos has been named the 2024-2025 CSCAA Men’s Swimmer of the Year. Kos claimed titles in the 200 IM, 100 backstroke, and 200 backstroke, setting new NCAA records in both backstroke events. This marks his first time receiving the honor.

Diver of the Year Award

Indiana’s Carson Tyler has been named the 2024-2025 CSCAA Men’s Diver of the Year. Tyler led the competition with victories in both the 3-meter and platform events, earning his second consecutive Diver of the Year honor.

All-American Honors

243 athletes from 39 institutions earned First or Second Team All-America honors. Cal and Indiana lead the way with 16 men named to the First or Second Team All-America roster.

Indiana:

• Barr, Luke – 100 Breaststroke (2nd Team), 200 IM (2nd Team), 200 Medley Relay
• Benzing, Brian -100 Breaststroke (2nd Team), 200 Medley Relay
• Brooks, Finn – 50 Freestyle (2nd Team), 100 Breaststroke, 100 Butterfly (2nd Team), 200 Freestyle Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
• Corbeau, Caspar – 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke
• Frankel, Tomer – 100 Butterfly (2nd Team), 800 Freestyle Relay, 400 Medley Relay
• Henninger, Quentin – 1 M Diving, 3 M Diving, Platform Diving
• King, Matthew – 50 Freestyle (2nd Team), 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
• Lee, Mikkel – 200 Freestyle Relay,
• Matheny, Josh – 100 Breaststroke (2nd Team), 200 Breaststroke (2nd Team)
• McDonald, Owen -100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 200 IM, 400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay, 400 Medley Relay
• Miroslaw, Rafael – 200 Freestyle (2nd Team), 400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay
• Sarkany, Zalan – 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle
• Smiley, Dylan – 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay,
• Tyler, Carson – 1 M Diving (2nd Team), 3 M Diving, Platform Diving
• Van Westering, Kai – 100 Backstroke (2nd Team), 200 Backstroke, (2nd Team), 800 Freestyle Relay
• Weinrich, Maxwell – 3 M Diving, Platform Diving (2nd Team)
• Yep, Jassen – 100 Breaststroke (2nd Team), 200 Breaststroke

INDIANA SOFTBALL

COPELAND LEADS INDIANA TO DOMINANT 13-7 WIN AT NO. 18 OHIO STATE

COLUMBUS, Ohio ––– Indiana flipped the momentum from Saturday as the Hoosier bats were on fire and Brianna Copeland had a career day for a 13-7 win at No. 18 Ohio State on Monday night.

Copeland tied two program records and set her own career high in the win. She tied the program record for home runs (40), tied the single-game record for home runs in a game (3), and set a career high for strikeouts in a game (13).

The Hoosiers jumped out to a 12-4 lead through four innings and didn’t look back. Ohio State scored three in the bottom of the fifth, but never seriously threatened to make it close.

With the win, Indiana’s season record improves to 23-10 and 3-3 in Big Ten play.

INDIANA 13, OHIO STATE 7

KEY MOMENTS

• On a cold night, Indiana started the game with some hot bats. In the first at bat of the game, Brianna Copeland crushed a ball over the left field to put Indiana up 1-0 right away.

• The Hoosiers added two more runs in the first on a sacrifice fly from Avery Parker to score Taylor Minnick and then Melina Wilkison got home on an error two at bats later to make it 3-0 Hoosiers out of the gate.

• Ohio State got on the board with a Kami Korktokrax home run in the bottom of the first to bring it to 3-1.

• Avery Parker doubles to left field in the top of the second and made it home on an error along with Copeland to extend the lead to 5-1.

• Josie Bird hit a 2-run home run in the top of the third to bring the lead to 7-3.

• Copeland hit her second home run of the day on a solo shot to right center field. In the same inning, Kinsey Mitchell hit a bases-clearing double to score three runs and put the game away at 12-4 in the top of the fourth.

• To tie both the program’s career home run record and the single-game record for home runs in a game, Copeland crushed a homer to center field in the top of the seventh and bring the score to 13-7.

NOTABLES

• With her third home run, Brianna Copeland has tied with Tory Yamaguchi for the program record of 40 career home runs.

• Copeland tied her own record and a program record three home runs in a single game. She last hit three home runs in a game against Kent State (March 30) in 2022.

• She is the only player to have achieved the feat twice as Emily Bergeson (2008) and Moni Armendarez (1996) both achieved three home runs in a game once.

• Copeland threw a career-high 13 strikeouts in the win and in a complete game pitched.

• Bird has hit a home run in back-to-back games.

• Indiana outhit Ohio State, 16-7.

UP NEXT

Indiana will be back at home next weekend for a series against Maryland from Saturday through Monday (April 5-7).

INDIANA BASEBALL

BASEBALL CENTRAL: LOUISVILLE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The month of April – and 17 scheduled games – begins for the Indiana Baseball team (15-13, 6-6 B1G) on Tuesday (April 1st) with a big test against No. 18 Louisville at Bart Kaufman Field. The Big Ten Network will carry the game on national television with Connor Onion and Scott Pose on the call.

IU finds itself in a similar spot through the halfway point of this season as it did last season. The Hoosiers ended the final game of March in both 2024 and 2025 with the opposing team hitting a go-ahead ninth-inning home run to win the series finale. The Hoosiers dug themselves out of a hole last year and have all the means necessary to make a run again in 2025.

Senior southpaw Ryan Kraft will open the game on the mound for the Hoosiers in a game that could see a multitude of arms. IU used seven arms last week in a midweek win over Bellarmine while Louisville used eight in a loss at Cincinnati last Tuesday. The Hoosiers are in search of some young pitchers to make a big jump in April and will call on a handful of them to pitch on Tuesday evening.

Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, first baseman Jake Hanley, has been on a tear over the past week. He’s hitting .476 (10-21) over the last five games with three home runs, two doubles, eight runs scored and nine RBIs. Hanley is the third IU player (Malamazian, Denny) to win Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors this year.

Junior outfielder Devin Taylor is inching closer to program history in his final go-around in an IU uniform. He has 46 career home runs in his three years in Bloomington. He needs one more to tie the all-time record at 47 and two more to grab it for himself. Three IU alumni are currently tied at 47 home runs – the last to do it was former big leaguer Alex Dickerson.

The midweek contest with Louisville will roll right into a Big Ten home series with Michigan State. The Spartans haven’t been to Bloomington since the 2015 season. That series is set to begin on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. pending potential weather in the area.

Gameday Info

vs. #18 Louisville (Tuesday, April 1st – 6:00 PM ET)

Live Video: t.ly/pGlkQ

Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio

Live Stats: t.ly/1WwPy

Probable Starters

Louisville

• Tuesday – LHP Ryan Kraft, Sr. (0-1, 5.57 ERA)

Leading Off

RECORD WATCH: Junior outfielder Devin Taylor is closing in on Hoosier history over the next couple of weeks. He needs two home runs to break the program’s all-time home run record. He also needs nine hits to become the 25th player in IU history to reach 200 base knocks.

Taylor’s fellow junior teammate, Tyler Cerny (173), isn’t far behind him in the chase for 200. Cerny and Taylor could be the first pair of teammates from the same recruiting class to reach 200+ career hits since Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis (2012-14). Josh Pyne and Brock Tibbitts fell just short last year with Tibbitts finishing on 199 career base knocks.

HANLEY HITS: Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley is the early runaway favorite to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He leads all Big Ten players with 45 base hits and is fifth among qualified hitters with a .398 batting average. He had seven hits over the weekend in three games against USC.

In the NCAA, Hanley is second in hits and seventh among all freshmen in batting average. He and LSU’s Derek Curiel have been the top two freshmen among all power four schools this year in most statistical categories.

FRESHMAN RETURNS: IU has gotten great return from its offensive freshmen this season. Three different IU freshmen have combined to win a Big Ten Freshman of the Week award this year. It’s the 4th time in program history that IU has had at least three different players win a FOTW award in the same year.

2011 – Downing, DeMuth, DeNato

2012 – Sujka, Schwarber, Travis, Hart

2017 – Matheny, Krueger, Saalfrank

2025 – Malamazian, Denny, Hanley

FAMILIAR FACE: Redshirt sophomore outfielder Korbyn Dickerson will take on his former team when IU plays Louisville on Tuesday. His transfer to Bloomington has helped him rocket into a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year. He is top three in the Big Ten in hits (44), home runs (13), RBIs (46) and runs (36).

NEED A BREAKOUT: It’s make-or-break time for the Hoosiers on the mound. Down a couple arms through injury, IU needs a couple people to step up and take on a new load. Freshmen Henry Brummel and Brayton Thomas or sophomores Ryan Rushing and Seth Benes have the talent to take that role.

START OFF APRIL: Last year, IU began April with a thrashing of top-25 Indiana State at home. That kickstarted a 10-4-1 record in the month and a climb right back into the postseason picture. With No. 18 Louisville in town, there’s no better time for a big win at Bart Kaufman Field.

Scouting the Opponent

Louisville

• The Cardinals finished off a weekend series victory over ACC newcomers California. Louisville won 11-10 Friday on a walk-off hit before finishing off the series with a 13-6 win in the rubber match. Louisville is 3-4 in its last seven games. That includes a 12-2 loss to Cincinnati last midweek.

• Junior utilityman Jake Munroe hasn’t missed a beat in his first season at the NCAA level. After two years of junior college, Munroe leads the Cardinals with a .398 batting average in 27 games. He also has five home runs and 28 RBIs. The Cardinals have slugged 34 home runs – 10 of those coming off the bat of first baseman Tague Davis.

• Louisville ran out eight pitchers in last midweek’s loss to Cincinnati. Each player got one inning. It will likely be a similar model on Tuesday in Bloomington as both teams try and find young arms to pitch leverage innings. The Cardinals used at least four pitchers in all three games against Cal. They called on seven pitchers on Sunday.

• At home this season, Louisville is 17-3. However, it is just 3-4 away from Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville lost its last trip to Bloomington in 2023. The Cardinals have conceded at least eight runs on three occasions in midweek baseball games this year.

Inside the Series

Louisville

• This will be the 56th all-time meeting between the two teams separated by just a couple hours. The first game with Louisville came in 1937. A rainout canceled last year’s game at Jim Patterson Stadium. IU won the previous meeting in 2023.

• IU and Louisville played every year from 2007 to 2019. Due to COVID-19, the series took a brief two-year hiatus. It was picked back up in 2022 and 2023 before weather caused a cancelation in 2024.

PURDUE WOMEN’S GOLF

ACES BY BROWN AND KIEL HELP PURDUE BUILD 8-SHOT LEAD IN FLORIDA

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Freshman Samantha Brown and senior Natasha Kiel each recorded a hole-in-one on the first day of the Coach Mo Classic, helping Purdue Women’s Golf jump out to an 8-shot lead after 36 holes of play. Kiel fired under-par rounds of 68 (-4) and 71 (-1) at St. John’s Golf and Country Club to sit atop the individual leaderboard heading into Tuesday’s final round.

The Boilermakers (+1) find themselves eight strokes clear of Charleston (+9), while Daytona State (+22) and Charlotte (+24) round out the top quarter of the leaderboard. Purdue’s opening round 285 (-3) was the only under-par round of the day. Along with the pair of aces by Brown and Kiel, the Boilermakers made 28 birdies on Monday to lead the field. Purdue also paced the 16-team field in par-3 scoring (-2) and par-4 scoring (+13), playing the par 3s 11 strokes better than the closest competitor.

Kiel made nine birdies herself, more than any other golfer in the 90-player field. She played the par 3s 2-under, and the senior was a field-best 2-under on the par 4s as well. The New Hope, Pennsylvania, native’s opening round 68 (-4) was her fifth round in the 60s this year, just one off the single-season school record. Her day was highlighted by her hole-in-one at the 179-yard 17th hole when her knockdown 5-iron found the bottom of the cup. The ace was Kiel’s second hole-in-one in tournament play this season, along with her other coming at the Boilermaker Classic. At 5-under through 36 holes, Kiel holds a two-shot cushion as she searches for her third individual win of her senior campaign.

Momo Sugiyama carded matching even-par rounds of 72 to sit in a tie for fifth. The Australian made five birdies to counter five bogeys throughout her day. Sugiyama played the par 4s 2-under par to join Kiel in leading the field in par-4 scoring. Her 26 pars also paced the field, as she remained level par after two rounds.

Brown’s ace helped her shave two strokes off her second round, shooting a 73 (+1) after opening with a 75 (+3). Using a 6-iron at the 166-yard 13th, the freshman became the second Boilermaker to make a hole-in-one on Monday alongside Kiel. Brown added three birdies in the first round, and at 4-over, she sits tied for eighth on the individual leaderboard.

Making her return to the Purdue lineup, senior Jocelyn Bruch got off to a strong start with an opening round 70 (-2). One big number hurt Bruch’s second round score, but she made eight birdies throughout the day to crack the Top 10 heading into Tuesday’s final round. Bruch played the par 3s better than anyone on Monday, going 3-under on the short holes.

The Boilermakers have 18 holes to hold onto their lead as they look to collect their second tournament title of the 2024-25 season. Tuesday’s final round begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. ET.

For updates throughout the final round, follow Purdue Women’s Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.

BOILERMAKERS

1. Natasha Kiel: 68-71—139 (-5)

T5. Momo Sugiyama: 72-72—144 (E)

T8. Samantha Brown: 75-73—148 (+4)

T10. Jocelyn Bruch: 70-79—149 (+5)

T39. Jasmine Kahler: 78-76—154 (+10)

*T10. Lauren Timpf: 76-73—149 (+5)

*T18. Michaela Headlee: 70-80—150 (+6)

*Competing as an individual

TEAM LEADERBOARD

1. Purdue: 285-292—577 (+1)

2. Charleston: 295-290—585 (+9)

3. Dayton State: 301-297—598 (+22)

4. Charlotte: 298-302—600 (+24)

5. Western Kentucky: 300-302—602 (+26)

6. Florida Gulf Coast: 299-304—603 (+27)

7. FIU: 298-308—606 (+30)

8. Minnesota: 302-305—607 (+31)

9. St. Thomas: 308-304—612 (+36)

10. Furman: 305-308—613 (+37)

11. Lipscomb: 309-305—614 (+38)

12. UTSA: 306-311—617 (+41)

13. North Florida: 307-313—620 (+44)

14. Toledo: 308-319—627 (+51)

15. Belmont: 306-324—630 (+54)

16. Southern Illinois: 320-321—641 (+65)

PURDUE SOFTBALL

PURDUE DEFEATS NO. 20 NEBRASKA 6-2

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Boilers (18-16, 3-7 Big Ten) took down No. 20 Nebraska to the tune of 12 hits (26-9, 6-2 Big Ten) and six runs. Purdue defeated the Huskers to earn their first ranked win since defeating No. 21 Northwestern in 2024.

Julia Gossett pitched three scoreless innings in relief, while Moriah Polar went 4-for-4.

BOILER BITS (at #20 Nebraska)

Offensive Highlights:

Moriah Polar: 4-for-4, 2B

Jordyn Ramos: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2B

Delaney Reefe: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2B

Julia Gossett: 2-for-3, RBI

Maura Condon: 2-for-4

Pitching Breakdown:

Madi Elish: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 21 BF

Julia Gossett (W, 5-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Boilers made some noise in the top of the first after Polar beat out an infield single, and  Delaney Reefe and Gossett worked back-to-back walks. Purdue was unable to cash in a run and finished the inning with a pop up to center. Nebraska then took the lead in the bottom of the first, with a solo shot over the right field wall.

In the top of the third, the Boilers put a runner on third, after Khloe Banks reached on a catcher’s interference, and a sac-bunt from Polar, and a ground out from Sage Scarmardo moved her over. The Huskers ended the damage earning a strikeout.

The Boilers continued to battle, loading the bases in the fourth inning, beginning with Jordyn Ramos taking her third hit by pitch of the weekend. Maura Condon earned herself an infield single before Kyndall Bailey’s pinch hit at-bat got her on with another hit by pitch. With two outs, Banks fouled out to left field to end the threat.

The Huskers loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, But Elish worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a fly out to keep it a one-run ball game.

Purdue continued to be relentless as they plated three runs in the top of the fifth, taking the lead for the first time in the game. Polar led off the inning with a single up the middle, followed by a walk to Scarmardo. Reefe advanced the runners on a sac-bunt, allowing Gossett’s single to bring Polar around to even the score. The momentum continued as Ramos drove in two runs on a single through the right side, giving Purdue the lead.

Purdue did not take its foot off the gas, adding on three more runs in the top of the sixth. Polar doubled to start the inning, before Scarmardo reached on an error. Both runners scored on a two-RBI double from Reefe. Gossett continued the inning with a single before Ramos added to her RBIs on the day with a double to left center.

Gossett came to the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning, and shut down the Huskers, not giving up a single run over three innings pitched, and securing the win for the Boilers.

UP NEXT

The Boilers will host Minnesota for a three-game series at Bittinger Stadium from Apr. 4-6. The series is the Big Ten home opener for Purdue in the 2025 season.

PURDUE BASEBALL

BOILERMAKERS HOST NIU FOR FINALE OF SEASON-LONG HOMESTAND

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Northern Illinois (9-17) at Purdue (20-7)

Tuesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. ET / Stream B1G+

Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana

$3 Deals on GA Tickets, Hot Dogs, Beers, Popcorn & Nachos

Military Appreciation Night

SERIES HISTORY

All-Time: Purdue leads 8-1

All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 6-0

Purdue Under Greg Goff vs. NIU: Purdue leads 2-0 (Since 2020)

2024: Purdue 11, NIU 1 (March 12 in West Lafayette)

First Meetings: Purdue swept a doubleheader 2-0 & 10-5 (March 1999 in West Lafayette)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The finale of Purdue Baseball’s season-long 12-game homestand Tuesday coincides with the start of the second half of the season as Northern Illinois visits Alexander Field for the fourth year in a row.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET. The game was moved up from Wednesday at 6 p.m. due to storms in the forecast. It’s Military Appreciation night at Alexander and the $3 midweek specials (presented by Indiana Packers) on general admission tickets, hot dogs, beers, popcorn and nachos will be available.

The Boilermakers have won eight straight games in midweek play dating back to April 16 of last season. Those victories have come against Ball State, Evansville, DePauw, UIC, Indiana State, Butler, Milwaukee and Valparaiso. It’s the program’s longest midweek win streak since posting 17 consecutive such victories from March 2011 through the end of the 2012 campaign.

All four of Purdue’s games this week are against the Huskies – NIU is up first and then a three-game series against the Washington this weekend. When the Boilermakers played NIU last season it was game No. 5 of a 13-game homestand, with each of the first nine games being against teams with a different breed of dog for a mascot (Great Danes, Huskies, Bulldogs).

Purdue is currently 6-5 during its season-long homestand and the cumulative scoring has been very even at 85-84 in favor of Purdue even though there’s only been one game – Saturday’s 13-12 loss to UCLA – decided by two runs or fewer among the 11.

Lukas Cook enjoyed a remarkable weekend at the plate vs. UCLA, his all-fields and base-hit approach paying off to the tune of a 10-for-14 series (with 10 singles). He’s believed to be the first Boilermaker to enjoy a 10-hit showing in a three-game weekend series in the BBCOR bat era (2011-present). Cook’s .714 batting average for the weekend – the best by a Boilermaker (minimum 8 at-bats) since Evan Albrecht (9-for-12, .750) in March 2023 vs. Akron – raised his season clip to .463, which is tops in the Big Ten by .050 points entering the week. He’s also tied for seventh nationally entering the week.

Logan Sutter (.409) and Cook both enter the month of April batting over .400. In the BBCOR bat era, Albrecht (.409 in 2022) and Kevin Plawecki (.402 in 2011) were previously the only Boilermakers to carry .400 averages into April.

Purdue went 12-3 in April last season. This year the Boilermakers are scheduled to play nine of their 17 April games on the road. Five of the eight home games will be midweek contests as Rutgers it the only team scheduled to visit Alexander for a weekend series in April.

NIU is a respectable 8-11 in true road games this season. The Huskies lost three of four at common-opponent Butler over the weekend.

ACTIVE STREAKS

• Purdue has won 8 consecutive midweek games (since April 16, 2024)

• Aaron Manias: 9-game on-base

• Lukas Cook: 6-game on-base

• Brandon Rogers: 5-game hit

LEADERS LAST WEEK

• Lukas Cook: 11-for-18, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 3 R, Sac Fly – Hit safely in all 4 games

• Brandon Rogers: 8-for-14, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, HBP, 6 R, Sac Bunt, 2 SB – Hit safely & scored a run in all 4 games

• Ty Gill: 6-for-13, 3B, 3 RBI, BB, 3 R, Sac Fly, Sac Bunt, 3 SB

• Keenan Spence: 5-for-16, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, Sac Fly

• Logan Sutter: 4-for-15, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, R

• Michael Vallone: 2 App, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K, .211 B/Avg

• Austin Klug: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K

HOMESTAND LEADERS

• Lukas Cook: 22-for-45 (.489/.528/.622), 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 2 HBP, 13 R, 3 SB

• Brandon Rogers: 15-for-34 (.441/.513/.618), 3 2B, HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 3 HBP, 12 R, 8 SB

• Ty Gill: 9-for-30 (.300/.361/.367), 3B, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 6 BB, 5 SB

• Brandon Anderson: 11-for-37 (.297/.480/.568), 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB, 6 HBP, 13 R

• Keenan Spence: 11-for-37 (.297/.378/.432), 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, HBP, SB

• Logan Sutter: 9-for-36 (.250/.375/.583), 3 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 8 BB, HBP, 7 R

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

PAIR OF MIDWEEK CONTESTS OPEN APRIL FOR IRISH

Notre Dame vs. Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan – Game Notes (PDF)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team turns the calendar to April and welcomes Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan to Frank Eck Stadium for midweek contests on April 1 and April 2.

Date	Time (ET)	Opponent	Location	Probable Starters	TV
Apr. 1	5:00 PM	Western Michigan	Jake Kline Field – Frank Eck Stadium	RHP Kellan Klosterman vs. RHP Zach Vriesenga	ACCNX
Apr. 2	5:00 PM	Eastern Michigan	Jake Kline Field – Frank Eck Stadium	TBA vs. TBA	ACCNX

THE MATCHUPS

• Notre Dame comes into the midweek stretch 14-11 overall with two victories over top-ten ranked opponents thus far this season.
• Western Michigan holds a 6-19 overall record entering Tuesday’s contest.
• Eastern Michigan stands at 13-11 entering the week. The Eagles have a Tuesday contest against Michigan as they host the Wolverines in Ypsilanti.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Irish took the opening game of the series by a 16-9 score over No. 4 Florida State on Friday before falling in both ends of a doubleheader on Sunday.
• Notre Dame set a new Frank Eck Stadium record with seven home runs in the Friday night battle. Estevan Moreno used a homer to collect his 100th career hit while Jared Zimbardo went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer.
• Jayce Lee posted his second home run of the weekend, and Rory Fox allowed just one hit in six innings of work in a tight 4-2 loss on Sunday morning.
• The Irish outscored the Seminoles over the final six and a half innings of play but came up short in a comeback effort in a 17-9 final in the rubber match.

2025 CAPTAINS

The 2025 Irish baseball team will look to four captains to help guide the way this spring. John P. and Catherine Murphy Head Baseball Coach Shawn Stiffler announced graduate students OF Brady Gumpf and RHP Jackson Dennies, senior RHP Radek Birkholz, and junior INF Estevan Moreno as team captains for the season.

TOP TALENT

The Irish have four players listed in the D1baseball.com Preseason rankings by position.

• Junior Estevan Moreno was 24th on the Top 50 shortstops list.
• Sophomore Carson Tinney was tabbed 47th on the Top 50 catchers listing.
• Graduate student Jared Zimbardo was 40th on the Top 100 outfielders report.
• Junior Rory Fox was 106th on the Top 150 starting pitchers list.

NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL

IRISH HIT THE ROAD TO TAKE ON NORTHWESTERN

Game Notes

---

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Following a nine-game homestand, the Notre Dame softball team heads back out on the road to face Northwestern in a non-conference midweek matchup in Evanston, Illinois. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.

The Irish are coming off a 3-1 week, including a pair of ranked wins over No. 22 Virginia this past weekend. It was the first series win for Notre Dame over a ranked team since 2023.

Micaela Kastor was brilliant last week, pitching to the tune of a 1.54 ERA over 13.2 innings. She tossed 4.0 innings of hitless softball in the win Saturday and 4.1 scoreless innings in the win Friday, both in relief. 

Addison Amaral hit her fifth home run yesterday, a shot out to right field. The Irish shortstop has a team-best five homers and 27 RBI on the season. She has also scored 17 times.

Notre Dame will look to find more success then they’ve had historically in Evanston. The Irish are just 1-6 on the road at Northwestern and haven’t beat the Wildcats since 2022.

BUTLER FOOTBALL

COLIN JOHNSON RETURNS TO BUTLER AS ASSISTANT HEAD COACH

Butler Football Head Coach Kevin Lynch added Colin Johnson to the Bulldog coaching staff this week as the program’s assistant head coach. Johnson served as the run game coordinator, offensive line coach and interim head coach at Ball State last season. He returns to Indianapolis as Butler’s assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and running backs coach in 2025.

Before joining the Cardinals in 2019, Johnson spent the 2018 campaign at Butler where he helped three offensive linemen earn all-conference accolades. That trend continued at Ball State with seven Cardinals earning All-MAC honors with Johnson overseeing the offensive line.

In 2022, Ball State boasted its second-highest rushing average in the past 40 years, reaching 219.4 yards per game. In 2020, Ball State brought home their first conference championship in 24 years and in 2019, All-MAC First Team selection Danny Pinter was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the NFL draft, where he completed his rookie season.

Johnson was an offensive lineman at Ball State from 1999-02. He started at center for three seasons and was the team captain in 2002. He returned to Muncie in 2019 as an assistant coach.

Johnson’s coaching role while with the Cardinals was instrumental in securing the club’s Mid-American Conference championship in 2020. That season ended with Ball State winning the 2020 Arizona Bowl over San Jose State 34-13.

Johnson’s other collegiate coaching stops include DePauw, The College of Wooster and Indiana, plus another stint at Butler. He spent five seasons at DePauw from 2013-17 under former Ball State head coach Bill Lynch. Johnson’s primary role was with the offensive line, and he helped eight players earn all-league accolades. He worked with the offensive line at Wooster in 2012 and defensive tackles at Butler in 2011.

Johnson worked at Indiana as a special teams quality control coach and an offensive graduate assistant from 2008-10. While at Indiana, he worked with NFL draft selections Rodger Saffold and James Brewer.

His coaching career started on Indianapolis-area high school staffs at Warren Central and Zionsville after serving as an intern on the Ball State staff in 2003. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Ball State in 2003.

BUTLER MEN’S GOLF

HORNE AND BULLDOGS HOLD 36-HOLE LEADS AT BENBOW SPRING INVITATIONAL

Butler’s Will Horne holds the top spot on the leaderboard after the opening 36 holes of the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational. Horne’s work Monday also spearheaded Butler into the top spot in the team standings.

The event is scheduled for a final 18 holes Tuesday at Highland Country Club in Indianapolis. A shotgun start is set for 9 a.m.

Horne, at five-under 135, holds a one-shot lead over Charlie Kulwin of Loyola Chicago and Nolan Shilling of Youngstown State. Horne opened with an even-par 70 Monday before utilizing five birdies to card a 65 in the afternoon round.

The Bulldogs followed Horne’s lead in the afternoon, combining for a team score of seven-under 273. That combined with an opening-round 281 has Butler at 554 (-6); that is nine shots better than BIG EAST rival DePaul, who enters the final round in second at 563 (+3). There are 13 teams in the field.

Horne is one of four Bulldogs among the Top 20 in the standings; he is joined by Derek Tabor, who is tied for fourth, as well as Logan Sutto and Leo Zurovac, who are tied for 14th.

THE BULLDOGS:

1) Will Horne, 70-65—135 (-5)

T4) Derek Tabor, 70-68—138 (-2)

T14) Logan Sutto, 69-72—141 (+1)

T14) Leo Zurovac, 73-68—141 (+1)

T25) Luke Kruger (playing as an individual), 74-69—143 (+3)

T63) Johnny Creamean, 72-76—148 (+8)

T94) Henry Quinn (playing as an individual), 76-79—155 (+15)

Live Scoring is available with a link posted on the ButlerSports.com schedule page. 

The tournament is named in honor of the late Don Benbow, who was inducted into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame for his contributions as a standout football student-athlete, golf and football coach, and his time at Butler as an athletics administrator.

BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL

BROOKS SCORES 22 AS BUTLER TOPS UTAH IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN

Pierre Brooks II capped his 22-point performance with a go-ahead driving lay-in with three seconds remaining to give Butler an 86-84 win over Utah in the opening game of the inaugural College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.

With Monday’s win, Butler advances to a Wednesday quarterfinal match-up against either George Washington or Boise State.

KEY STRETCH: The game featured six lead changes and two ties over the final four minutes. The final tie came at 84-84 following a Gabe Madsen three-pointer with 1:17 to play. The teams traded empty possessions leading to the game-winner from Brooks.

OF NOTE:

Butler trailed by as many as 11 in the second half, but used a 10-0 run to tie the score at 62-62 with 10:17 remaining. That run extended to 19-5 as Butler took its largest lead at 73-67 (6:13 to play).

Butler made a season-best 13 three-pointers, including four from Brooks.

Brooks was one of four Bulldogs in double figures, joined by Finley Bizjack (16), Kolby King (12) and Screen (10).

Brooks had a team-high nine rebounds and Screen added eight. Butler had a 40-37 rebounding advantage.

Utah led 46-42 at halftime; it marked the first time this season that Butler overcame a halftime deficit (now 1-13).

Butler is now 10-0 this season when scoring 80 or more points.

Butler shot 48 percent from the field, while Utah shot 46 percent.

Keanu Dawes led the Utes with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bulldogs played without leading scorer Jahmyl Telfort, who will not play in the College Basketball Crown.

Monday featured the first Butler career start for freshman Evan Haywood.

BUTLER WOMEN’S LAX

BUTLER PREPARES TO HOST UCONN ON TUESDAY AND UC DAVIS ON SUNDAY

The Butler women’s lacrosse team will have a busy week ahead as they get set to host UConn on Tuesday, Apr. 1 and UC Davis on Sunday, Apr. 6.

Bulldog Bits

The Bulldogs fell in their first road game of the season against Villanova last weekend

Elise Latham extended her streak of scoring at least one goal in every game this season to nine in a row

Latham earned her third hat trick of the season against the Wildcats last Saturday after scoring three goals on four shots

Emma Palmer netted her fifth goal of the season on Saturday against Villanova

She ranks second on the team with 10 points (5 G and 5 A)

Alyssa Lentz currently leads the Big East and ranks 16th in the country with an average of 10.12 saves per game

She added 10 saves in her last game against the Wildcats

Patricia Lynn recorded at least one draw control in a match for the 10th game in a row

She currently ranks third on Butler’s all-time list with 93 career draw controls

Scouting UConn

The Huskies lead Butler with an all-time record of 7-0. The Bulldogs fell in the last matchup 21-11 with Sophia Knoblock netting four goals.

UConn began the season strong with a win over No. 24 Drexel and close losses to No. 24 Harvard (OT) and No. 18 James Madison. Rayea Davis is the team’s top offensive weapon ranking fifth in the Big East with 2.91 goals per game. On the defensive side, Abby Beran has played tough defense ranking second in the conference with 1.73 caused turnovers per game.

Scouting UC Davis

The Aggies enter the game with records of 3-7 overall and 0-1 in conference. Despite the struggles, the team has wins over Oregon and San Diego State this season and a tough loss to Villanova 10-9 in overtime. UC Davis won the only meeting between the two teams last season 11-8 in Davis, Calif. Grace Gebhardt holds a team-high 27 goals this season with Alannah Scott just behind with 23 goals.

Up Next

Butler will hit the road to continue conference play with a game in Washington D.C. against Georgetown on Apr. 12 at 11 AM.

BUTLER BASEBALL

BUTLER BASEBALL RETURNS TO ACTION AT EASTERN ILLINOIS

The month of April will get underway with Eastern Illinois hosting Butler at Coaches Stadium. The non-conference matchup will get going at 4 p.m. EST, 3 p.m. CST.

GameDay

Date: April 1

Time: 4 PM EST

Location: Charleston, Ill.

Field: Coaches Stadium

Live Stats: EIUPanthers.com (Sidearm)

Watch: ESPN+

Scouting Eastern Illinois

Eastern Illinois is 11-14 this year with a 4-2 record in the OVC. They traveled to Morehead State this past weekend to win two of three against the Eagles. EIU scored 19 runs in their game one win and after a one-run loss on Saturday, they fired back to win 14-10 in the getaway game.

Jake Ferguson and Chris Worcester are the top two hitters in the Panther lineup. Ferguson has the highest average at .385, but Worcester is the hit leader with 34. BU arms will also need be cautious with Ethan Rossi and Mike O’Conor up to bat. Each player has four home runs this year.

About Butler

The Bulldogs have won three-in-a-row and are now 10-17 on the season. They broke into the win column last week with a 10-7 win at Miami Ohio then won three of four vs. Northern Illinois at Bulldog Park.

BU hit .312 as a team last week going 4-2 with some impressive individual performances. Ryan Drumm hit .409 with a triple and two home runs. AJ Solomon had 10 hits in 20 at-bats while supplying the team with two doubles and three RBI’s.

On the mound, Nate Rosser threw a complete game to earn a win over Northern Illinois. Marcus Goodpaster also put on a show with eight strikeouts and just one walk against the Huskies. BU was happy to get Andrew Hendrickx back on the mound in a relief role. Hendrickx grabbed a win last week along with Tate Foxson and Christian Finnigan.

Drumm Makes BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll

Ryan Drumm hit .409 last week, registering a triple and two home runs. For the week, Drumm scored 11 runs, recorded seven RBI and stole two bags.

Monster Numbers from Moroknek

Jack Moroknek ranks second in the nation in total bases (98), third in home runs (13), fourth in slugging percentage (.899), and is ninth in total hits (49). Moroknek leads the BIG EAST in batting average (.450), runs (37), RBI’s (36), slugging percentage (.889).

Best in the BIG EAST

Butler leads the conference in batting average (.313), doubles (55), home runs (43), runs (207), on-base percentage (.403), and slugging percentage (.535).

Bulldog Bits

– Jack Moroknek has 17 multi-hit games this year and nine games with multiple RBI’s

– Ryan Drumm is on a nine-game hitting streak

– AJ Solomon has reached base safely in 15-straight games

– Rosser, Foxson and Hendrickx were responsible for Butler’s last three wins

– Butler recorded seven home runs and 10 doubles in the NIU series

– 15 hits vs. NIU on Sunday was Butler’s highest total since Feb. 22 vs. Norfolk State

– BU had 10+ hits in every game vs. the Huskies over the weekend

– 14 RBI’s on Sunday tied their season-high total

– David Ayers hit his fourth home run of the season over the weekend

– Danny Barbero had two doubles in the fourth game vs. NIU

– Jack Bello had a walk-off for Butler over the weekend to cap off a doubleheader

– Bello had nine RBI’s in the weekend series with three doubles and a homer

– Tre Benjamin threw two important innings vs. NIU to help BU win on Sunday

– Harry Carr came up with his first triple of the season on Saturday

– Ryan Drumm tied his season-high total with four RBI’s in the Sunday win

– Tate Foxson made two appearances in the NIU series

– Marcus Goodpaster set a new season-high strikeout total with eight vs NIU

– Moroknek had seven RBI’s over the weekend

– Nate Rosser’s first start of the season resulted in a win

– Rosser used 116 pitches to go the distance in a seven-inning game

– AJ Solomon scored a run in every game vs. NIU

– Tommy Townsend is up to six home runs after hitting three in his last four games

BIG EAST Standings

Xavier 14-14, 2-1

UConn 11-15, 1-2

Creighton 16-7

Villanova 15-11

St. John’s 11-12

Seton Hall 10-17

Georgetown 10-18

Butler 10-17

Up Next

Butler will open BIG EAST play this weekend with a three-game series at Xavier. Game one is set for Friday at 3 p.m.

BUTLER SOFTBALL

BUTLER SOFTBALL HOSTS INDIANA STATE FOR MIDWEEK CONTEST

DATE:                                 Tuesday, April 1

LOCATION:                        Indianapolis, Ind.  / Butler Softball Field

LIVE STATS:                      butlersports.com

LIVE VIDEO:                      N/A

The Butler softball team hosts Indiana State for a midweek contest on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (20-11, 9-3 BIG EAST) are coming off a series sweep of Georgetown. The Sycamores (10-22, 5-3 The Valley) most recently went 1-2 in a weekend series with Drake.

Bulldog Bits                                                                                       

       (through games 3/30/25)

Cate Lehner leads the BIG EAST (10th nationally) with 25 stolen bases. She is third in the conference (51st) with 46 hits and with a .407 batting average.

Makena Alexander is fifth in the BIG EAST with 8 home runs.

Ella White is second in the BIG EAST (30th nationally) with 0.81 walks per game. She is third in the conference with a .500 on base percentage.

Gwen Baker is fourth in the BIG EAST (82nd nationally) with 9 wins.

(as of 3-30-25) Butler leads all BIG EAST teams in batting average (.309), stolen bases (59), and runners caught stealing (9).

         vs. Georgetown

With one run scored in game two, Ella White now has 116 career runs scored. This breaks the program record as she now sits atop Butler’s All-Time list for career runs scored.

Sydney Carter used a triple and a double to drive in 3 of Butler’s 6 total runs in the game 1 and game 3 come-from-behind wins.

Cate Lehner’s two stolen bases in game two give her 25 this season and 68 in her career. She is now second on Butler’s All-Time list for career stolen bases. (Jenna Foreman – 107)

Katie Petran’s picked up a save in game 2 and a complete-game victory in game 3.

After picking up a save and a complete-game victory in the series vs. Georgetown, Katie Petran was recognized on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

SCOUTING INDIANA STATE (10-22, 5-3 The Valley)

Series- Indiana State leads, 36-19

The Bulldogs and Sycamores have played 13 games since 2015, with Indiana State winning nine.

In 2024, the Sycamores won, 14-0, in five innings in Terre Haute.

Butler most recent win (3-0) was in 2021 in Indianapolis.

Wins for the Sycamores include: Illinois State, IU Indy, Murray State, Delaware State, and UT Martin.

Losses include: Illinois, Ball State, Drake, Purdue Fort Wayne, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, and Boston College.

Indiana State vs. (opponents)         Butler

runs:       113-139                                      156

hits:         208-218                                     255

RBI:         90-127                                       140

SB:           24-39                                          59

ERA:       3.66-2.73                                  3.53

Batting Leaders:

#16 Lauren Marsicek (.300) 24H, 8-2B, 8RBI

#25 Madison Poulsen (.289) 26H, 5SB

#9 Hannah Welch (.240) 23H, 2HR, 12RBI

Pitching Leaders:

#71 Hailey Griffin (5-5) 2.41 ERA, 72K

#13 Lauren Sackett (1-10) 2.70 ERA, 70K

#20 Cassi Newbanks (4-4) 6.07 ERA, 17K

IU INDY MEN’S GOLF

BALANCED JAGUARS TIED FOR THIRD AT BENBOW BUTLER SPRING INVITATIONAL

INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indianapolis men’s golf team used a pair of balanced rounds to sit tied for third among the 13 teams competing at this week’s Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational after Monday’s (Mar. 31) first two rounds. The Jaguars carded rounds of 282 and 286, leaving them tied for third among the 13-team field at 568 ahead of Tuesday’s finale.

Both Brady Schier and Noah Kirsch are tied for 14th overall at 1-over 141 after 36 holes.

In the morning round, Morgan Tournemire led the way at 2-under 68 while Schier and Sam McWilliams each shot 1-over 71. Tournemire was 4-under through eight holes to start the day before finishing at 2-under. Schier opened his day with back-to-back birdies and was under par for most of the round before making bogey on two of his final three holes.

Kirsch rounded out the scoring group at 2-over 72 and sophomore Titus Boswell shot 6-over 76. Harry Ward led the team’s two individual entries in round one with a 3-over 73 and Greg Miller shot 5-over 75 with four birdies.

In round two, Kirsch led the way at 1-under 69 and Schier shot even par 70. McWilliams carded 3-over 73 and both Tournemire and Boswell shot 4-over 74. Ward also shot 4-over 74 from his individual spot while Miller carded a second straight round of 75.

Miller and Schier had a team-high seven birdies in two rounds while Kirsch had a team-high 25 pars.

Host Butler leads the team scoring at 554 while Butler’s Will Horne is atop the leaderboard at 5-under 135. Tuesday’s final round is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.

BALL STATE BASEBALL

BASEBALL BEGINS APRIL BATTLING BELLARMINE AT SHEBEK STADIUM

The Ball State baseball team is set to host Bellarmine at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Shebek Stadium in what is scheduled to be the first of only four games in Muncie for the Cardinals in the month of April.

Links to a free single-camera broadcast and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page.

Ball State (19-10, 7-2 Mid-American Conference) secured its third straight MAC series win by taking the first two games of a set at Akron over the weekend. Junior Dylan Grego was named MAC Co-Player of the Week on Monday after amassing an 8-for-12 weekend with two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and four runs scored.

Bellarmine (6-21, 2-7 Atlantic Sun Conference) has lost four straight games, most recently being swept at home by Austin Peay on Friday (doubleheader) and Saturday. The Knights are in their first season under head coach Ben Reel and were picked to finish 11th in the 12-team ASUN preseason poll.

Senior first baseman Casey Sorg was a preseason All-ASUN pick after being voted First Team All-Conference in 2024. Redshirt junior Eli Watson leads the Knights in batting average (.347) and RBI (23).

Bellarmine is second in the ASUN in scoring at 7.1 runs per game, while its pitching staff has an ERA of 11.03 to enter Tuesday’s game at 10th in the league. Redshirt freshman infielder Landon Akers is the team leader in total bases (61), as his 41 hits are fourth in the league and No. 67 in NCAA Division I.

Up next for Ball State is a three-game series at Eastern Michigan scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Friday.

BALL STATE SOFTBALL

SOFTBALL HOSTS NORTHERN ILLINOIS IN TUESDAY #MACTION

» THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE SOFTBALL: Another busy week for the Ball State softball team starts Tuesday, when it welcomes Northern Illinois to the Ball State Softball Stadium for a 1 p.m. doubleheader … The Cardinals will then travel to Kent, Ohio, for a three-game weekend series versus Kent State … The teams are currently scheduled to play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a Noon single game Sunday.

» TUESDAY’S PROMOTIONS: Tuesday’s twinbill versus Northern Illinois will serve as Faculty / Staff Appreciation Day with members of the team honoring members of the Ball State community who have made an impact in the collegiate lives.

» THE OVERALL RECORD: Ball State enters the week with a 1198-1179-4 (.504) overall record dating back to 1975 … The Cardinals have tallied 30-or-more wins in 16 seasons, most recently a 37-18 mark in 2021 … Of the 16 seasons with 30-or-more wins, 11 have come in the past 17 years.

» QUOTING COACH PEÑA: “Our goal this season is to have fun competing. If we can compete every single pitch, and have fun doing it, I believe we are going to have a really good season. It’s truly about getting better every weekend and not putting so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect.”

» AGAINST THE HUSKIES: While Northern Illinois holds a 53-40 edge in the all-time series, Ball State has won eight of the last 11 meetings … Last season, the teams split an April 30 doubleheader in DeKalb, with NIU winning the opener 9-2 and BSU taking the nightcap by a score of 11-7 … While the Huskies also hold a 20-14 edge in games played in Muncie, the Cardinals won two of the three meetings at the Ball State Softball Stadium in 2023 … Ball State win the first game of a March 28 doubleheader by a score of 2-1, while NIU took the recap 14-10 … BSU went on to win the series with a 5-1 victory March 29.

BALL STATE NEWS & NOTES:

» MAC PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS: Ball State was picked to finish fourth among 11 teams in the Mid-American Conference’s annual preseason poll … The Cardinals, who finished sixth in the league last season with a 12-13 MAC record, are looking for a third consecutive  MAC Softball Championship berth, with the league’s top six teams advancing to Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, for the three-day event which runs May 7-10 … BSU also picked up one of the 11 votes to win the MAC Tournament title.

» WATCH OUT FOR TIMMONS: McKayla Timmons was named a player to watch this season, ranking 36th on the Softball America Top 100 Preseason list and as the No. 8 ranked utility/designated player in the country by D1Softball.com … Most recently, Softball America named her the nation’s seventh-best catcher in both its March and April position rankings while D1Softball.com named her the nation’s fifth-best catcher in its player power rankings … Timmons enters the week ranked first on Ball State’s career list in on base percentage (.514), second in slugging percentage (.796), second in home runs (53), third in batting average (.384), third in RBI (161) and seventh in runs scored (141) … She also owns the program record for being hit by a pitch at 40.

» EARNING THE ACCOLADES: So far, McKayla Timmons has earned the accolades, ranking first in the MAC and 13th nationally with a .479 batting average … Timmons, who is currently on a 55-game streak of reaching base safely, has blasted 12 home runs so far this season including at least one home run in nine of the last 16 games … In addition to her solid batting average, she leads all NCAA Division I players in on base percentage (.675), ranks fourth in the nation in slugging percentage (1.099) and is 35th in runs scored (38) and 68th in RBIs (36).

» FREE PASSES: McKayla Timmons received a big boost to her on base percentage in the weekend series versus Toledo, reaching base in all 14 of her plate appearances over the three games … She started the series with a two-run home run Friday and was walked in each of her next eight plate appearances … The Rockets gave her one more opportunity to swing in the series finale and she blasted the ball to the wall in right center for a first inning single … She then drew four more walks, bringing her weekend total to 12 … The 12 walks versus Toledo, along with three more last week at Indiana State and Bowling Green, helped her climb to first in the nation with a 1.10 walks-per-game average … She is also tied for seventh in the nation at 32 total walks.

» SHINING BEHIND THE PLATE TOO: In addition to pacing the offense, McKayla Timmons has proven to be one of the nation’s top threats behind the plate and finished the 2024 season ranked as one of the nation’s best catchers by Softball America … She was fifth on SA’s final catchers list and 47th among the nation’s top 100 players … The effort was aided by Timmons throwing out 11 of the 37 runners attempting to steal a base on her last season … She has already caught seven runners trying to steal this season, while surrendering just 10 stolen bases.

» ON THE BASES: Ball State has proven to be one of the nations’ craftiest teams on the base paths, ranking first in the MAC and 28th nationally with a 1.93 stolen bases per game average … The Cardinals have successfully stolen 56 of the 63 bases it has attempted to steal, led by a MAC-best 14 stolen bases from McKayla Timmons … Overall, 13 different Cardinals have stolen at least one base, with redshirt junior second baseman McKenna Mulholland ranking second on the squad and third in the MAC with 11 … Conversely, Ball State has limited opposing squads to just 12 stolen bases in 19 attempts this season … Only 11 teams in the country have limited teams to less stolen bases, with the next best MAC school being Miami at 16.

» ON THE OFFENSIVE FRONT: Ball State has been putting on an offensive clinic so far this season, ranking 13th nationally by averaging 7.79 runs per game … The Cardinals have earned seven run-rule victories so far this season and have scored 10-or-more runs in nine games … Overall, Ball State is out-scoring opponents 226 to 124 this season and owns an 18-4 record when scoring at least five runs … In fact, Ball State’s 226 runs scored are already the 15th-most in a season in program history, with the record being the 368 runs scored by the 2012 squad.

» THE WHITNEY EFFECT: Ella Whitney, who played her first two seasons of collegiate softball at FIU, its tied for the MAC lead and ranks 29th nationally with her 12 pitching victories … Over 91.1 innings of work, the two-time MAC Pitcher of the Week honoree has compiled a 2.22 ERA which ranks 95th in the country … Whitney has also limited opposing batters to a .228 average against which ranks fourth in the league.

» MORE ON WHITNEY: A two-way player for the Cardinals, Ella Whitney is also a big offensive threat, boasting a .337 average and ranking second on the team in both home runs (5) and RBIs (32) … She recorded Ball State’s first triple of the season and leads the squad with six doubles … Whitney also enters the week ranked second on the squad with a 16-game streak of reaching base safely.

» SHUTTING ‘EM OUT: Freshman Breanna Severino picked up her first collegiate complete game shutout in BSU’s 7-0 victory at Butler (March 18) … She limited the Bulldogs to just seven hits over her 7.0 innings of work in the game … She also struck out one batter and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth.

» LONG BALL NUMBERS: The Cardinals currently rank second in the MAC with 36 home runs, trailing only Miami’s 49 … Timmons leads the way and is second among all league players and 29th nationally with her 12 home runs … Overall, 10 different Ball State players have blasted at least one home run this season … On the opposite spectrum, Ball State’s pitching staff ranks first in the MAC and tied for 26th nationally by allowing just 12 home runs … Toledo and Ohio are tied for second in the league with 19 home runs allowed.

» SOME OF THE NATION’S TOUGHEST: Senior outfielder Kara Gunter and sophomore shortstop Maia Pietrzak and enter the weekend as two of the nation’s toughest batters to strike out … Gunter is fourth in the MAC and 37th nationally at one strikeout per every 29.3 at bats, while Pietrzak is sixth in the MAC and 05th nationally at one strikeout per every 19.4 at bats.

» D-FENSE: Ball State enters the week ranked third in the MAC and 70th nationally with a .968 fielding percentage … The Cardinals have committed just 27 errors in its first 29 games, including 13 games without an error … The current program record for best fielding percentage in a season is .974 for the 2010 squad which committed just 40 errors.

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

INDIANA STATE REMAINS ON THE ROAD WITH MIDWEEK CONTEST AT SIUE

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State remains on the road this week as the Sycamores head to SIUE for a Tuesday evening contest at Roy E. Lee Field. First pitch between the two teams is set for 7 p.m. ET with the game to be carried live on 105.5 The Legend.

Tuesday’s game marks the first time Indiana State and SIUE will take the field against each other since the 2015 season and the 12th time overall in their respective program histories. The Sycamores hold the 7-4 all-time mark, but SIUE has the 3-2 advantage all-time in Edwardsville including a 9-8 win in the Sycamores’ last road trip to the Cougars.

Indiana State (13-14) enters the midweek contest coming off their second consecutive MVC series win of the 2025 season after taking two of three games at UIC this past weekend at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium. The pair of wins moved the Sycamores to 4-2 in conference play and in a three-way tie for third-place in the conference standings with Evansville and Illinois State.

Recapping the Weekend

The Sycamores brought the big bats to play in Friday’s opener at UIC with Keegan Garis’ bat speaking the loudest in the 16-5 run-rule shortened win over the Flames. The redshirt senior tied the Indiana State single-game mark with three home runs, while driving in nine RBIs in a 5-for-5 effort from the plate to power the Sycamores to the opening win against UIC.

Saturday’s first game featured four additional home runs with Carter Beck, Miguel Cantu, Jeremy Martinez, and Carlos Pena all going deep as Indiana State secured the series win with the 13-7 victory. Breyllin Suriel struck out a season-high nine batters in the series finale, but late Sycamore errors marred the pitchers’ duel as UIC rallied back to take the 4-2 win to wrap up the weekend in Chicago.

Martinez’s bat was on fire over the weekend as the freshman catcher hit a team-high .556 including his second home run of the 2025 season. Garis (.462) added three home runs and 10 RBIs on his way to posting a 1.154 slugging percentage over the weekend, while Jackson Taylor (.417) added five hits and four runs scored against the Flames.

Pena (.364), Nomar Garcia (.333), Beck (.308), and Cantu (.300) all hit above the .300 mark on the weekend as Indiana State connected at a .346 clip as a team over the series. Indiana State combined for 12 extra-base hits, while posting a team .471 on-base percentage and .596 slugging percentage against the Flames.

Gavin Morris (0.00 ERA) and Ty Brooks (4.76 ERA) picked up Indiana State’s wins on the mound against the Flames leading a Sycamore pitching staff that posted a 4.68 team ERA over 25.0 innings. The Sycamores recorded a 26:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio while limiting UIC to a .242 batting average at the plate.

Season Overall

Carlos Pena (.347) continues to pace the Sycamore offense at the plate as the senior infielder/outfielder leads the Sycamores in hits (34) and doubles (9), while sitting among the team leaders in RBIs (23), runs (20), and slugging percentage (.612). Jackson Taylor (.328) has seen his average climb above the .300 mark over the last few weeks, while Keegan Garis (.319) is also hitting above the .300 mark with a team-high nine home runs and 27 runs scored.

Eli Gipson (.288) and Carter Beck (.280) have been atop the lineup consistently throughout the course of the 2025 season. Beck is the team leader with 28 RBIs while sitting second on the team with 30 hits, while Gipson has posted a .398 on-base percentage while lining up at both shortstop and third base.

The Indiana State pitching staff has combined to post a 5.70 team ERA on the season over 230.1 innings played. Seventeen different arms have taken the mound combining for a 181:115 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .265 opponent batting average.

Jack Armstrong (1-0, 3.29 ERA) has been among the team leaders on the mound this season, while Aaron Moss (1-0, 5.40 ERA), Carson Seeman (0-0, 5.71 ERA), Colby Morse (2-1, 5.64 ERA), and Gavin Morris (4-2, 4.44 ERA) have all made multiple appearances and could be in play on the mound in the midweek.

Scouting SIUE

SIUE enters the midweek contest with a 12-14 overall record including a 5-1 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Cougars are coming off a weekend series win over Tennessee Tech as SIUE took the first two games of the series, 5-1 and 18-12, before falling in the finale, 12-11.

The Cougars were selected sixth overall in the Ohio Valley’s preseason coaches poll with SIUE receiving 89 total points and one first-place vote in the standings. The Cougars’ Ryan Niedzwiedz was named to the OVC’s preseason Player to Watch list.

Lane Crowden (.328) leads four SIUE players hitting above the .300 mark on the season with a team-high nine doubles on the year. Chase Bloomer (.324) has a team-high 17 extra-base hits, including eight home runs and 23 RBIs, while Daniel Gierer (.321) is the team leader with 14 stolen bases. Mack Mitchell (.314) rounds out the group above .300 with a team-high nine home runs while adding nine stolen bases on the year. SIUE is hitting .264 overall as a team on the season.

Sixteen different SIUE pitchers have taken the mound over the course of the season with the Cougars posting a team 7.27 ERA over 216.2 innings. SIU has posted a 238:144 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .279 opponent batting average.

The Cougars are 3-3 against the Missouri Valley this season with midweek wins over Evansville (Mar. 12, W – 12-11) and Illinois State (Mar. 18, W – 14-12 (11)), while falling in a three-game series to Missouri State over the March 14-16 weekend and in the rematch against the Redbirds (Mar. 26, L – 9-3).

Series History

Indiana State and SIUE have lined up against each other 11 times over their respective program histories with the first matchup coming back in the 2008 season. The Sycamores took the inaugural contest back on April 8, 2008, in Terre Haute with the 19-4 win over the Cougars.

Since then, the series has gone back and forth with the Sycamores winning three of the last five dating back to the 2012 season. Overall, SIU has a 3-2 edge on games played in Edwardsville, including the 2013 contest between the two teams with a 9-8 win over the Sycamores.

Against the Ohio Valley

Indiana State is 171-115 all-time against the current iteration of the Ohio Valley Conference, including posting a 2-2 mark earlier this season at SEMO over the March 7-9 weekend. SEMO and SIUE are the lone Ohio Valley teams on the Sycamores’ schedule in the 2025 season.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BEST SEASON IN MASTODON HISTORY ENDS IN WNIT GREAT 8

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The best season in Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball program history came to an close on Tuesday evening (March 31) as Cleveland State defeated the Mastodons 76-65 the Great 8 of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

A crowd of 1,053 filled the Gates Sports Center, the Mastodons’ second game in a row with over 1,000 fans.

The Mastodons finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 27-9 record, the best season of any level in program history. The Mastodons finished 15-2 at home, only taking losses to this Cleveland State team.

Lauren Ross finished her final season of college basketball as the national leader in 3-point percentage (47.6 percent) and free throw percentage (94.8).

Ross put the ‘Dons up 16-14 with a bit over four minutes left in the first quarter with a 3-pointer. Cleveland State followed with a 10-2 run to take a 24-18 lead. The Vikings took their largest lead of the first half at 37-26 on a Destiny Leo basket inside with 4:57 left in the second quarter. The Vikings’ offense slowed down after that. The ‘Dons kept them off the board the rest of the quarter and went to the break down just 37-33. Amellia Bromenschenkel had nine points in the first half.

An Audra Emmerson floater tied the game at 37 before a Bromenschenkel 3-pointer gave the ‘Dons the lead back at 40-39 with 7:36 on the clock in the second. However, it was the Mastodons’ only lead of the second half as Cleveland State scored the next 14 points. Down 16 points with 44 seconds left, the ‘Dons closed the quarter with six points in a row including a floater by Sydney Freeman at the buzzer. Entering the final quarter down 57-47, the Mastodons cut the deficit to 67-61 with 3:25 remaining on a Jazzlyn Linbo jumper. The ‘Dons got no closer.

Ross led the ‘Dons with 14 points while Freeman (13), Bromenschenkel (13) and Linbo (12) also reached double-digits.

Leo scored 22 for Cleveland State and Mickayla Perdue finished at 21. They helped the Vikings shoot 51.9 percent (28-of-54).

Cleveland State improves to 27-9 and will play at Buffalo in the Fab 4.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL

BASEBALL WELCOMES CENTRAL MICHIGAN ON TUESDAY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodons put their three-game win streak on the line on Tuesday (April 1) when Central Michigan comes to Mastodon Field.

Game Day Information
Who: Central Michigan (10-18) at Purdue Fort Wayne (6-20)
When: Tuesday, April 1 | 3 PM
Live Stats: Link
Series History: Central Michigan leads 3-1. The two teams haven’t played since 2006. The only meeting in Fort Wayne was an 11-6 Mastodon win on March 29, 2006.

Know Your Foe: Central Michigan has lost three straight games, falling in all three to Bowling Green over the weekend. Their last non-league game was a 26-1 win over Grace Christian. Aaron Piasecki leads the team in hitting at .312. They own a team ERA of 6.75.

‘Dons & Ends

– Brooks Sailors (21) and Justin Osterhouse (14) own current double-digit on-base streaks.

– Justin Osterhouse has a team-best nine multi-hit games.

– Justin Osterhouse has a hit in 12 of his last 13 games, this includes seven multi-hit games this span.

– Jackson Micheels and Justin Osterhouse are the only two Mastodons to start every game this season.

– Brooks Sailors is third in the league in walks (21).

– Zane Danielson’s 3.92 ERA is second in the league, he is third in opposing batting average (.227). He is first in innings pitched (39.0).

– Dillon Fischer is fourth in the league in innings pitched (35.2).

– Over the last 10 games, Kevin hall is hitting .419 (13-of-31) with five walks and eight runs.

– In seven starts this season, Zane Danielson has allowed more than four earned runs only once, which was five at LSU.

– Freshman Aidan Pearson has allowed only two total earned runs in his last five outings (7.0 innings), while recording six strikeouts and two walks.

– Trent Murphy has allowed one or zero earned runs in 7-of-10 appearances this year.

On That 20-16 Win: The Mastodons defeated Youngstown State 20-16 on March 23 in game two of a doubleheader. The 20 runs tied for 6th in Division I era program history for runs in a game. The ‘Dons tied for 1st in the Division I era program history for walks in a game with 13. The 12 walks in game one of the doubleheader to start the day tied for second for most walks in a game.

Fischer Honor: Dillon Fischer was picked as a top 100 pitcher from the fourth weekend of the season by DI Baseball. Fischer allowed no runs in 6.1 innings at Tennessee Tech.

Nice to Meet You: This season isn’t the first time Kevin Hall and Nick Hockemeyer are teammates. They spent the summer of 2024 playing for the Elizabethton River Riders of the Appalachian League. Hall had a .453 OBP in 26 games for the River Riders. Hockemeyer hit .296 in 18 games.

Blood Lines: Mastodon head coach Doug Schreiber coached Trent Murphy’s father, Ron, when Schreiber was an assistant at Ball State.

Up Next: The Mastodons host Milwaukee this week in league play.

EVANSVILLE BASEBALL

ACES BASEBALL ENDS HOMESTAND WITH SEMO ON TUESDAY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The University of Evansville baseball team will wrap up a five-game home stand on Tuesday night at German American Bank Field.
 The Purple Aces earned another conference series win over the weekend as they hosted the Valparaiso Beacons for three games. UE took two of the three games with wins on Friday night and Sunday afternoon for a 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference record. Evansville’s two wins over the weekend evened its home record to .500 as the program has only played six home games through 27 total in 2025.

The Aces end a five-game home stand on Tuesday evening against Southeast Missouri. UE played a game at SEMO three weeks ago for the first game of a home-and-home series. Evansville struggled in Cape Girardeau losing the game to the Redhawks 17-6 in seven innings. But the Aces are looking to even the series with SEMO in Evansville with a win. Currently the Redhawks lead by a game in the River City but UE won the most recent meeting at German American Bank Field last year by a run.

Since the teams first meeting three weeks ago SEMO has had eight wins and only four losses. The Redhawks are currently on a five game winning streak after sweeping Western Illinois in conference play while taking a midweek against Middle Tennessee and the final game of a three game series against UT Martin. SEMO has mostly been led by their pitching staff as the Redhawks lead the country in walks allowed per nine innings by only averaging just under three walks in a full game.

UE had success hitting the long ball over the weekend against Valparaiso. Evansville had a home run in all three games facing the Beacons pitchers while also having only the second game this season with multiple home runs on Sunday. Right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) and catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) had the Aces two home runs on Sunday. Flaherty’s home run was his first of the season to win the game for UE in the bottom of the ninth.

Sophomore left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) has been succeeded at the plate in conference action. Longmeier has a .545 MVC batting average connecting on 12 of his 22 at-bats in six games. The sophomore leads Evansville in conference games at the plate in both batting average and doubles with six two-base hits. And with a second home run hit on the season over the weekend, Longmeier is slugging .955 against Valley opponents.

EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S GOLF

RUSSELL LEADS WOMEN’S GOLF AFTER OPENING ROUND

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – With the first round complete at the Golfweek Stifel Women Spring Challenge, the University of Evansville women’s golf team is in 7^th place at True Blue Golf Club.

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Opening Round Results

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Leading the way for the Purple Aces was Mallory Russell.  Completing the round with an even score of 71, she is tied for 7^th place on the individual leaderboard.  Kate Petrova posted a 1-over 72 in the opening 18 holes and ranks in a tie for 10^th place.
 
Elizabeth Mercer was third on the team and tied for 27^th overall with a 4-over 75.  Trinity Dubbs carded a 79 in the first round to rank in a tie for 53^rd while Louise Standtke wrapped up the day with an 81. 
 
As a team, the Aces are in 7^th place out of 16 teams with a score of 297.  UE is just two strokes outside of the top five.  Coastal Carolina leads the team standings with a 286 while Morehead State is two behind with a 288.  Sara Sarrion of CCU and Tavia Burgess of MSU are tied for the individual lead with rounds at 4-under 67.
 
Round two is set for Tuesday with the final 18 holes slated for Wednesday.

SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL

USI RESUMES RIVALRY WITH NKU TUESDAY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball continues a seven-game homestand this weekend when it hosts the Northern Kentucky State University Tuesday at the USI Baseball Field. The first pitch is slated for 5 p.m.

The USI-NKU game is an “812 Taco Tuesday Game” for the Screaming Eagles. Tickets are $8 Tuesday, while popcorn is $1 and tacos are $2. The promotion is sponsored by Sodexo.

The Screaming Eagle complete their seven-game homestand this weekend when it hosts Morehead State University for a three-game set. The series, which is Alumni Weekend, begins Friday at 6 p.m.; continues Saturday at 3 p.m. for USI Faculty Appreciation Day; and concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.

USI Alumni tickets are $5 each day, while the USI faculty receive free admission Saturday.

With the ever-changing weather in April, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com, X, and Facebook.

Links to follow the Eagles all season can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com and the USI Baseball Schedule.   

USI Baseball Notes:

USI wins back-to-back OVC series. The USI Screaming Eagles has opened OVC slate with back-to-back series wins after taking two of three from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. USI was led versus the Trojans by junior shortstop Clayton Slack, who batted .600 (6-10) with two runs scored, three RBIs, and a double. Sophomore infielder Parker Martin posted a team-high four RBIs in the series.

USI last week. USI was 2-2 last week and was led by junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens, who batted .471 with five RBIs, while junior shortstop Clayton Slack followed with a .462 mark and drove in three runs. Junior outfielder Hunter Miller batted .714 (5-7) in limited action, including a five-for-five performance versus Little Rock last Saturday.

Overall Eagle leader at the plate. USI junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens is the top hitter at USI and the OVC with a .453 batting average (43-95). The OVC batting average leader also leads USi in home runs (4) and RBIs (22); and second in doubles (11). 

Kitchens’ 16-game hitting streak. USI junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens has a team-high 16-game hitting streak, the most since the 21-game streak by Logan Brown in 2018. In the streak, Kitchens is hitting .522 (35-67) with a team-high eight doubles, three home runs, and 15 RBIs. He also has a .806 slugging percentage and a .534 on-base percentage.

Kimball dominates on the mound. Junior right-hander Blake Kimball dominated Little Rock on the mound Saturday, throwing eight scoreless innings and striking out a season-high five. The eight-shutout innings were the most by an Eagles hurler since Sam Barnett threw a nine-inning shutout of McKendree University in 2019. 

Kimball leads USI and in top five of OVC. Junior right-hander Blake Kimball leads the Eagles with a 3.51 ERA in seven games and 41 appearances in 2025. The 3.51 ERA ranks fourth in the OVC.

USI pitching improves over last five games. USI pitching has seen a distinct improvement over the last five games. The Eagle pitchers have a combined 3.07 ERA over the last five games, compared to the season ERA of 6.82.

USI in the OVC. USI ranks second in the OVC with a .307 team batting average. On the bump, the Eagles are sixth in the league with a 6.82 ERA. In the first six games of league action, USI is second in batting (.308) and pitching (4.42). 

Eagles in the OVC. Junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens and junior first baseman Kannon Coakley are one-two in the OVC in batting average, boosting a .453 and .398 average, respectively. Junior shortstop Clayton Slack is sixth in OVC-only games with a .455 mark (10-22).

USI hosts NKU. USI hosts Northern Kentucky University for the first time since 2011 next week. NKU, which will enter the weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday, has a 15-11 record. USI leads the all-time series with NKU, 48-45, after losing all four of a GLVC series in Highland Heights, Kentucky, in 2012. The last time NKU was at the USI Baseball Field, the Eagles took three of four from the Norse. 

USI finishes homestand with Morehead State series. USI is slated to finish its seven-game homestand with a three-game set versus Morehead State University this weekend. MSU, which visits Ohio University Tuesday before coming to Evansville, is 9-16 overall and 1-5 in the OVC. The MSU Eagles lead the all-time series with USI, 6-1, after taking three of four last spring. MSU took two of three in the regular season series in Morehead, Kentucky, before eliminating USI from the OVC Tournament last May in Marion, Illinois.

VALPO MEN’S GOLF

DELISANTI TIED FOR SECOND THROUGH ONE ROUND IN MYRTLE BEACH

Valparaiso University men’s golf senior Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield) finds himself in a familiar position near the top of the leaderboard through Monday’s opening round at the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge, held at the par-72, 6970-yard True Blue Golf Course in Pawleys Island, S.C.

How It Happened

Delisanti turned in a 65 (-7) in Round 1, eagling the par-5 ninth hole while going par or better on 17 of 18 holes including six birdies. He is one stroke behind Jacksonville State’s Ryley Heath for the tournament lead and is even with Blake Henriques tied for second in a 93-player field.

Golfing as an individual, Owen Sander (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) was the next-best Beacon with a 71 (-1). Sam Schmidt (College Station, Texas / College Station [South Nazarene]) was the third Beacon to card par or better, finishing the day tied for 43rd with a 72 (E).

As a team, the Beacons wrapped up Day 1 of the three-day event with a score of 286 (-2), tied for 11th in a 17-team field. Marshall and Jacksonville State are tied atop the team leaderboard at 276 (-12).

Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring

“Our ball-striking today was one of the best that we have had all season. As an average, we hit 78 percent of our greens in regulation and we hit 77 percent of our fairways – incredible numbers for us. The efficiency was tremendous, but we didn’t have enough approach shots within 15 feet.  The course management was excellent, but we need to hit more irons closer to the hole. We see this especially with our wedges and short irons from the fairway, and those need to be a lot closer for legitimate birdie opportunities. Another area that we need to improve significantly is our putting. We had two of our players with 37 putts for the round, while three of them were at 31 putts or better. Our 18 birdies for the round is solid, but we have the ability to be in the low to mid 20s as far as birdies for the team rounds.”

“Anthony’s ball-striking was very impressive again today. He hit 17 out of 18 greens and 11 out of 13 fairways in regulation. He was a perfect 2-for-2 in his up-and-downs with a total of 28 putts for the round. He’s playing with a lot of confidence throughout all phases of his game, but especially with his approach shots to the hole. His proximity to the hole with his irons is excellent and he narrowly missed a handful of birdie opportunities inside of 15 feet.”

Up Next

The tournament will continue on Tuesday with Round 2 in Myrtle Beach. A link to live scoring is available on ValpoAthletics.com.

VALPO SOFTBALL

SOFTBALL FACES FIVE MVC ROAD GAMES THIS WEEK

Valparaiso (13-16, 2-6 MVC)

April 1 – at UIC (4-29, 0-8 MVC) – 4:30 p.m. DH

April 4-6 – at Bradley (16-18, 6-4 MVC) – 5 p.m., 2 p.m., noon

Next Up in Valpo Softball: After two weekends of conference play at home, the Valpo softball team hits the road this week for a cluster of MVC games. The week opens with a doubleheader Tuesday evening at UIC before a three-game weekend series at Bradley.

Previously: The Beacons fell in mid-week action at DePaul on a walkoff in extra innings, and then went 1-2 in a three-game series with Evansville, dropping the first two games by finals of 7-5 and 6-4 (8) before scoring four runs in the final two innings for a 8-7 walk-off win in the series finale.

Looking Ahead: The first opponent of the week remains the same, but the site flips next week, as Valpo hosts UIC for a single game on Tuesday. The Beacons remain at home next weekend to host Illinois State for a three-game series.

Following Valpo Softball: All five games this week are scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPN+. All home games and most MVC road games will be broadcast on ESPN+, while select nonconference games will have video streams depending on the host.

Head Coach Mike Armitage: Mike Armitage (82-83) is in his first season as head coach of the Valpo softball program after being hired as head coach on June 6, 2024. Armitage came to Valpo following a successful stretch as head coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead, turning around the Dragons’ program, and brings familiarity with the Missouri Valley Conference with a stint on staff at Illinois State. Armitage spent the last three seasons as head coach at MSUM, posting the first back-to-back 30-win seasons in MSUM program history in 2023 and 2024 after inheriting a Dragons program which had not finished above .500 since 2007.

Series Notes: UIC – The most common opponent in program history, Valpo and UIC will be meeting for the 93rd and 94th times on Tuesday. The Flames hold a 70-22 advantage in the all-time series, including wins in all three matchups last year – 2-1 (9) and 4-1 at Valpo and 2-0 in Chicago.

Bradley – The Braves own a 15-9 advantage in the all-time series and are up 11-8 since Valpo joined the MVC. Last season, Bradley won two of three in the regular season series, taking 7-4 and 3-0 (10) wins in the first two games of the series before the Beacons claimed a 3-2 (10) win in the finale. The two programs then met in the first round of the MVC Tournament, with Bradley earning a 2-0 win.

Scouting the Opposition: UIC – The Flames enter Tuesday’s twinbill with a 4-29 overall record and an 0-8 mark in Valley play, most recently dropping a pair at Illinois State before having the series finale get suspended due to weather. Dee Dee Caskey paces UIC in most offensive categories, as she hits .330 with 21 runs scored and 12 RBIs. In the circle, Alyssa McIntosh has tossed nearly half the innings and owns a 5.84 ERA.

Bradley – The Braves come into the week 16-18 overall and 6-4 in MVC action, most recently taking two of three games at UNI – they will play a single game mid-week against Illinois State before this weekend’s series. Kierston McCoy is hitting a team-best .320 and also paces Bradley with 23 runs scored and 21 RBIs. Sydney Kennedy has been the workhorse in the circle, sitting at 10-9 with a 2.47 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 127.2 innings of work.

Back in the Windy City: If it seems like just yesterday that Valpo played in Chicago, that’s because it nearly was. Tuesday’s games at UIC mark the Beacons’ second voyage to the Windy City in less than a week after playing at DePaul last Wednesday. It’s the team’s third trip to the Chicago area this year, as the Beacons opened the season at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Rosemont.

Fun Memories: For the six Beacons who were on the team two seasons ago, the return to Peoria will bring back some fun memories of the team’s last trip to Bradley in 2023. That series opened with Easton Seib throwing a one-hitter – her second one-hitter in a four-day span – and Caitlyn Kowalski followed with a no-hitter the next day, the 12th known no-hitter in program history.

Walk It Off: Valpo closed its three-game series with Evansville last week with a bang, scoring four runs over the final two innings to walk off with an 8-7 win over the Purple Aces. It was the team’s first walk-off win of the season and its third in Valley play over the last two years, as the Beacons walked off Bradley and UNI last season. Prior to that Bradley game last season, it had been over four years since the program’s last walk-off win. Saturday was also Valpo’s first walk-off win with two outs since a two-out, two-run single lifted Valpo over Western Michigan on April 17, 2019.

Rally Mode Activated: Saturday’s win was notable not only for how it ended, but how the Beacons had to battle back to even get in a position to win the game, as they faced an early 5-0 deficit after surrendering five runs in the first inning. Valpo had not won a game after trailing by five or more runs since a Feb. 19, 2022 win over Lipscomb, when a 5-0 deficit after the top of the third inning turned into a 7-6 victory. Saturday was the first time Valpo surrendered five or more runs in the opening inning and won since perhaps the craziest game in program history — April 14, 2012 against Youngstown State, when YSU scored 11 first-inning runs and Valpo fought all the way back to win 13-12.

In Every Game: While the Beacons went just 1-3 last week, they had opportunities to win every game. At DePaul, they had a runner on third with one out in the seventh inning of a tie game, and then when the game went extra innings, scored one in the top of the eighth and were within one out of the win. In the opener against Evansville, Valpo had the potential tying run at the plate in the seventh inning, and in the second game of the series, had the potential winning run on base in the seventh.

Turning Two: After turning just five double plays in the season’s first 25 games, Valpo matched that total in last week’s four games. Against DePaul, it was a 5-3 grounder. In the opener against Evansville, it was a 6-3 grounder; in the second game, there was a 1-2-3 grounder and a 5-3 popped-up bunt; and in the series finale, there was a 7-6-4 fly ball where the runner left second early.

Doing It All: While pitching has been where most of Azalya Lopez’s standout performances have come this year, she had a stellar day at the plate in the second game of the Evansville series. Lopez drove in all four of Valpo’s runs in that game with a pair of two-RBI singles as she went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. The junior tied her season high with three hits, while the four RBIs tied a single-game high this year by any Valpo player. Lopez came back to earn the win in the circle in the series finale, her team-high seventh of the season – good for fifth among MVC pitchers.

Streaks Come To An End: Freshman Madison Vrastil had a pair of streaks end in the series opener against SIU as she went 0-for-4 at the plate, snapping a 13-game hitting streak and a 22-game on-base streak. The 13-game hitting streak was the longest by a Valpo player since Carly Trepanier’s 16-game hitting streak in 2017. Meanwhile, the 22-game on-base streak – which opened her collegiate career – was the longest on-base streak by a Valpo player since Sam Stewart reached in 29 consecutive contests in 2017 and is tied for the fourth-longest on-base streak by a Valpo player since 1999.  Vrastil closed the series against Evansville with back-to-back two-hit games, giving her 14 multi-hit games this year – most by a Valpo player since 2017.

Among the Best: Vrastil ranks among the MVC’s best in numerous categories. She ranks second in batting average (.406) and hits (41), tied for third in stolen bases (10), fourth in on-base percentage (.469) and 10th in OPS (.994).

Going to the Pen: Valpo has leaned on a trio of pitchers – junior Azalya Lopez, sophomore Sydney McDermott and freshman Erin Metz for the vast majority of innings in the circle and hasn’t hesitated to use multiple arms in the same game, even when things are going well. The Beacons’ pitching staff has just two complete games this season, 29 games into the campaign.

Pulling Out the Close Ones: Valpo’s walk-off win over Evansville improved the Beacons’ record this year to 7-3 in one-run contests. Valpo was just 8-11 in one-run games over the last two seasons. Notably, three of those wins came in one weekend, as all three of the Beacons’ wins at the Marshall tournament came by a single tally.

Winning Record Into Conference: The Beacons entered MVC play this season with an 11-9 overall record. It was the program’s best record at the start of conference play since 2018, when Valpo entered its first season of MVC play with a 12-8 mark.

W5: While Valpo saw a winning streak came to an end at the hands of Cleveland State to close the Scotsman Invitational, the Beacons did reel off five consecutive victories dating back to opening weekend. It was the program’s first five-game winning streak since the 2022 team won five in a row in early-season action.

A Big Sunday: It was a noteworthy day on many fronts on Sunday, Feb. 9 as the Beacons run-ruled Green Bay, 12-1, and followed with a 7-2 win over Detroit Mercy:

– Valpo won two games on the same day for the first time since March 4, 2023, when the Beacons defeated Bellarmine and Eastern Illinois.

– The Beacons’ 19 runs were the program’s highest single-day output since plating 22 runs in a doubleheader split at Northern Kentucky March 25, 2017.

– The 11-run win over the Phoenix in the opener was Valpo’s largest win since an identical 12-1 score in a victory at Stetson March 1, 2020.

– The Beacons racked up 16 hits in the win over Green Bay, their highest single-game hit total since a 16-hit effort against Holy Cross Feb. 19, 2022.

– Valpo’s win in the nightcap was its 36th win all-time against Detroit Mercy, the most in program history against a single opponent.

Four For 44: Sophomore Kayden Krug was locked in at the plate in the win over Green Bay on opening weekend, picking up base hits in four consecutive innings from the second through the fifth as she went 4-for-4 with two RBIs. It was the first four-hit game by a Valpo player since Feb. 19, 2022, when Ryan Milkowski tallied four base hits against Holy Cross. It also was the first time a Valpo player has recorded a base hit in four consecutive innings since April 2, 2010, when KC Boldt did so at Detroit.

Who’s Back: Valpo returns 13 of 21 letterwinners from its 2024 squad for the 2025 campaign. The returnees accounted for 51.7% of the team’s plate appearances and 46.3% of the Beacons’ innings pitched last season.

Who’s New: Coach Armitage brought a pair of transfers with him from MSU Moorhead – junior infielder Mack Gallagher and junior pitcher/infielder Azalya Lopez, both of whom were All-Conference honorees. In addition, the program welcomes nine freshmen this season as well.

A Large Roster: Do the math from the above two notes, and you find that this year’s Valpo softball roster is comprised of 24 players. That is the largest roster in program history, topping the previous high of 21 players. Even more notable is that only two of this year’s 24 players are seniors.

Taking Advantage of the Numbers: Coach Armitage has shown a willingness to utilize his large roster as much as possible. 20 players saw action against Butler and Cleveland State, while 19 players apiece appeared in the wins over Green Bay and Detroit Mercy opening weekend and in the second game against Loyola at Marshall.

INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES

UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/

MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

“SPORTS EXTRA”

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

April 1

1931 — Pitcher Virne Mitchell, 17, signed with the Chattanooga club of Tennessee, becoming the first woman to play for an otherwise all-male baseball team.

1942 — Major league owners decide not to allow furloughed players in the military to play.

1969 — The Seattle Pilots trade minor league OF Lou Piniella to the Kansas City Royals. Piniella will go on to win American League Rookie of the Year.

1970 — An investment group headed by Bud Selig bought the Seattle pilots for $10.8 million.

1972 — The first collective players strike in major league history began. The strike lasted 12 days and canceled 86 games.

1988 — For the first time since 1956, the Special Veterans Committee does not elect anyone to the Hall of Fame.

1989 — A. Bartlett Giamatti took over as baseball commissioner.

1996 — Longtime umpire John McSherry collapses and dies from a heart attack on Opening Day at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium, in the 1st inning of a game between the Reds and Expos. The game is cancelled.

2001 — The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 8-1 when the major league baseball season opened in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

2008 — The New York Yankees set a major league record by winning their 11th straight home opener.

2013 — Bryce Harper homered in his first two at-bats, Stephen Strasburg retired 19 batters in a row and the defending NL East champion Washington Nationals opened the season with a 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. Harper, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, hit solo shots over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field off Ricky Nolasco in the first and fourth innings.

2013 — Clayton Kershaw launched his first career home run to break a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, then finished off a four-hitter that led the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Francisco Giants 4-0 on opening day. Kershaw became the first pitcher in the majors to homer on opening day since Joe Magrane of St. Louis in 1988. He was the first pitcher to throw a shutout and hit a home run in an opener since Bob Lemon for Cleveland in 1953.

2018 — Three days after starting at DH on Opening Day in his major league debut, Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani makes his debut on the mound, pitching 6 innings in leading the Angels to a 7 – 4 win over the Athletics.

2024 — Ronel Blanco of the Astros throws the earliest no-hitter in major league history in terms of calendar date as he defeats the Blue Jays, 10 – 0. He walks the first batter of the game, George Springer, but retires the next 26 batters in a row before walking Springer again with two outs in the 9th. He then gets Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground out to second to end the game, which is also the first career win for Houston manager Joe Espada.

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April 2

1931 — Virne Beatrice “Jackie” Mitchell, the first woman in professional baseball, pitched against the New York Yankees in an exhibition game in Chattanooga. Babe Ruth waved wildly at the first two pitches and took a third strike. Lou Gehrig timed his swing to miss three straight pitches. Tony Lazzeri, after trying to bunt, walked and Mitchell left the game.

1952 — Hall of Fame outfielder Monte Irvin of the New York Giants broke his ankle in an exhibition game. Irvin played just 46 games that season.

1976 — The Oakland Athletics trade two key members from their recent World Series championship teams, sending OF Reggie Jackson and P Ken Holtzman to the Baltimore Orioles.

1984 — The New York Mets lost to the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 for their first opening-day defeat in 10 years.

1995 — The longest strike in major league history comes to an end. Having the first 23 days of this major league season canceled and 252 games of the last season lost, the owners accept the players’ March 31st unconditional offer to return to work. The players’ decision to return to work is made after a US District Court issued an injunction restoring terms and conditions of the expired agreement. Teams will play 144-game schedules. The strike had begun on August 12, 1994.

1996 — St. Francis of Illinois pummeled Robert Morris 71-1, with Robert Morris coach Gerald McNamara ending the after four innings.

1997 — For the first time, the salary of one player — Albert Belle — exceeded the payroll of an entire team — the Pittsburgh Pirates. Belle, the game’s highest-paid player for 1997 at $10 million, made $928,333 more than the whole Pirates payroll of $9,071,667.

1998 — By hitting a home run at Bank One Ballpark, Ellis Burks sets a major league record by having homered in 33 different stadiums.

2001 — For the first time in major league history, a Japanese position player participates in a regular season game. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, hitless in his first three at-bats, singles in the 7th inning to ignite a two-run rally, and bunts for another single in the 8th in his debut at Safeco Field. He will go on the be both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP this year.

2001 — Roger Clemens became the AL strikeout king, getting five to pass Walter Johnson as the Yankees beat Kansas City 7-3 in their season opener. Clemens fanned Joe Randa for his 3,509th career strikeout.

2003 — Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit 300 home runs, connecting for a three-run drive in the Texas Rangers’ 11-5 loss to the Anaheim Angels. Rodriguez at 27 years, 249 days old, surpassed Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (27 years, 328 days).

2003 — The Detroit Tigers became the first team to have four pitchers make their major league debuts in the same game — Jeremy Bonderman, Wilfredo Ledezma, Chris Spurling and Matt Roney. The Tigers lost 8-1 to the Minnesota Twins.

2007 — Tampa Bay’s Elijah Dukes homered in his first big league at-bat in a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees.

2008 — Kevin Youkilis plays his 194th consecutive error-free game at first base, breaking Steve Garvey’s 23-year-old major league record.

2010 — The Minnesota Twins open their new ballpark, Target Field, with an 8 – 4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game.

2011 — Ichiro Suzuki breaks the franchise hit record for the Seattle Mariners in the Mariners’ 6 – 2 win over Oakland. Ten years to the day after his first major league hit, Ichiro collects safety number 2,248, passing Edgar Martinez, with an infield single that drives in the winning run in the 9th.

2011 — Ian Kinsler of Texas became the first major leaguer with leadoff homers in each of his team’s first two games. Kinsler hit the first of four homers by the Rangers in a 12-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

2012 — Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a $127.5 million, six-year contract, the largest deal for a right-handed pitcher in baseball history.

2017 — Madison Bumgarner hit two homers but the Arizona Diamondbacks scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off new San Francisco closer Mark Melancon to beat the Giants 6-5 in a wild season opener. Bumgarner retired his first 16 batters and became the first pitcher to hit two home runs on opening day. He struck out 11 with no walks in seven innings.

2019 — Returning to Washington, D.C. for the first time since signing a record free agent contract with the Phillies in the spring, Bryce Harper is back. He collects 3 hits, including a 458-foot two-run homer to lead the Phillies to an 8 – 2 win over the Nationals.

2021 — Commissioner Rob Manfred announces that the 2021 All-Star Game will not be staged in Atlanta, GA, as planned, but will be moved to another location to be determined, in response to the state of Georgia’s adoption of rules aimed at restricting the voting rights of African-Americans. This follows only two days after President Joe Biden stated he supported such a move, given the discriminatory nature of Georgia’s law.

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April 3

1923 — In Chicago, Ill., two Black Sox sue the White Sox. Swede Risberg and Happy Felsch seek $400,000 in damages and $6,750 in back salary for conspiracy and injury to their reputation in the aftermath of the scandalous 1919 World Series court case. Their suit will be unsuccessful.

1966 — The New York Mets sign University of Southern California star P Tom Seaver to his first contract.

1974 — The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in 11 innings before a crowd of 52,000 at Riverfront Stadium. In his first at-bat, Hank Aaron hit a three-run homer off Jack Billingham. It was his 714th, tying Babe Ruth’s career record. The Braves had considered keeping Aaron on the bench for the season-opening series in Cincinnati so that he could attempt to tie the record four days later in Atlanta. But commissioner Bowie Kuhn would not allow it and ordered the Braves to put Aaron into the lineup for at least two of the three games.

1985 — A major league owners’ proposal is agreed to by the Players Association. The American and National leagues playoff formats are changed to best-of-sevens.

1987 — The Chicago Cubs trade starting pitcher Dennis Eckersley to the Oakland Athletics for three minor leaguers. Eckersley will emerge as the game’s dominant closer, saving 291 games over the next eight seasons.

1988 — George Bell became the first player to hit three home runs on opening day, leading the Toronto Blue Jays past the Kansas City Royals 5-3. Bell, bitter throughout spring training with his move to designated hitter, homered three times in that role off Bret Saberhagen.

1989 — Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners makes his major league debut.

1994 — Chicago’s Karl Rhodes hit three solo home runs off Dwight Gooden in a 12-8 loss to the New York Mets on opening day at Wrigley Field. Rhodes became the second player to homer three times in an opener.

1998 — Mark McGwire tied Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games of the season. McGwire launched a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.

1999 — America’s pastime opened in Mexico for the first time. The Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in baseball’s first season opener away from the United States and Canada.

2000 — A new major league record for Opening Day is set with five players having multiple home run games.

2001 — Hideo Nomo became the fourth pitcher in major-league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore. Nomo, who threw the first no-hitter in Colorado’s Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996, for Los Angeles, walked three and struck out 11 in the first no-hitter in the 10-year history of Camden Yards. Nomo joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers with no-hitters in both leagues.

2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs became the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati. He became the fifth player to reach 500 homers before his 35th birthday. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Jimmie Foxx were the others.

2005 — Dmitri Young became the third player to hit three homers on opening day, and Jeremy Bonderman won as the youngest opening day starter in the major-leagues since 1986 to lead Detroit over the Royals 11-2.

2005 — In his first outing for the New York Yankees, Randy Johnson allows a run and five hits in six innings as New York open the major league season with a 9 – 2 win.

2006 — Seattle Mariners rookie Kenji Johjima, the first catcher from Japan to start a major league game, hits a home run for his first hit.

2015 — MLB suspends P Ervin Santana, who signed the largest free agent contract in Twins history this off-season, for 80 games for testing positive to the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

April 1

1930 — American golfer Bobby Jones starts his Grand Slam season by winning the Southeastern Open.

1938 — Joe Louis knocks out Harry Thomas in the fifth round in Chicago to retain his world heavyweight title.

1940 — Governor Herbert Lehman of New York signs the Dunnigal bill, which legalizes pari-mutuel wagering and outlaws bookmakers at the state’s racetracks.

1954 — Detroit Red Wings right wing Gordie Howe scores 2 goals and an assist, and sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for fastest goal from the start of a game (:09).

1972 — The first collective player’s strike in major league history begins at 12:01 a.m. The strike lasts 12 days and cancels 86 games.

1973 — Boston’s John Havlicek connects on 24 field goals and finishes with 54 points the Celtics defeat Atlanta, 134-109, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

1978 — NY Islanders RW Mike Bossy becomes first NHL rookie to score 50 goals in a season.

1981 — Edmonton C Wayne Gretzky has an assist (his 103rd) to break Bobby Orr’s 10-year mark for most assists in a single NHL season.

1984 — Southern Cal beats Tennessee 72-61 for the NCAA women’s basketball title.

1985 — Villanova shocks Georgetown with a 66-64 victory to win the NCAA basketball title. The Wildcats, led by Dwayne McClain’s 17 points, shot 79 percent from the field, making 22 of 28 shots, and added 22 of 27 free throws.

1989 — Jim McAllister of Glassboro State hits four home runs and drives in nine runs in four at-bats in a 21-5 five-inning rout of Delaware State.

1990 — Betsy King holds on for a two-stroke victory over Kathy Postlewait to win the LPGA Dinah Shore tournament.

1991 — Duke ends years of frustration with a 72-65 victory over Kansas for its first national title in five championship game appearances and nine trips to the Final Four.

1992 — A week before the Stanley Cup playoffs are set to begin, the NHL players strike for the first time in the league’s 75-year history. The strike lasts 10 days.

1996 — Kentucky wins its first national title in 18 years with a 76-67 victory over Syracuse.

1999 — Detroit Pistons G Joe Dumars becomes 10th player in NBA history to play 1,000 games with the same team.

1999 — Philadelphia 76ers head coach Larry Brown wins his 900th pro game.

2000 — Michelle Kwan wins her third World Figure Skating title by pushing through all seven triple jumps. The triple toe-triple toe lifts Kwan above Russians Irina Slutskaya and last year’s champion, Maria Butyrskaya.

2001 — 20th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Notre Dame beats Purdue, 68-66.

2002 — With Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter leading the way, Maryland wins its first national championship with a 64-52 victory over Indiana.

2007 — Morgan Pressel becomes the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history with a game well beyond her 18 years, closing with a 3-under 69 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Pressel plays her final 25 holes over Mission Hills without a bogey as Suzann Pettersen blew a four-shot lead with four holes to play.

2007 — American super swimmer Michael Phelps smashes his own world record in the 400m individual medley (4:06.22) to win his record 7th gold medal at the World Championships.

2011 — Jarome Iginla scores his second goal of the game with 5:03 left to reach 1,000 points and help Calgary rally to beat St. Louis 3-2.

2016 — Golden State Warriors consecutive home winning streak ends at 54 games.

2018 — Arike Ogunbowale hits a 3-pointer with a tenth of a second left to give Notre Dame a 61-58 win over Mississippi State and its first women’s national championship since 2001. Notre Dame, trailing 30-17 at halftime, pulls off the biggest comeback in title game history, rallying from a 15-point deficit in the third quarter and a five-point deficit in the final 1:58.

2020 — All England Lawn Tennis Club cancels Wimbledon for the first time since World War II because of the COVID-19 pandemic; entire grass-court season abandoned.

April 2

1939 — Ralph Guldahl beats Sam Snead by one stroke to capture the Masters golf tournament.

1969 — Toronto center Forbes Kennedy sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for most penalties in one game with 8.

1978 — Czech tennis star Martina Navratilova wins her first WTA Tour Championship.

1980 — Wayne Gretzky becomes the youngest player to reach 50 goals at 19 years and 2 months of age.

1983 — New York Islander Mike Bossy becomes the first player to score 60 or more goals in three consecutive seasons.

1984 — Georgetown, led by junior center Patrick Ewing and freshman forward Reggie Williams, beats Houston 84-75 to win the NCAA championship in Seattle. Houston becomes the second team to lose in two consecutive finals.

1985 — Edmonton C Wayne Gretzky sets an NHL record with his 34th career hat trick.

1986 — The 3-point field goal, at 19 feet, 9 inches, is adopted by the NCAA.

1989 — 8th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Tennessee beats Auburn, 76-60.

1990 — UNLV pounds Duke 103-73 to win its first NCAA championship and extend the Blue Devils’ streak to eight Final Four appearances without a title. The Runnin’ Rebels become the first team to score more than 100 points in a championship game and the 30-point margin is the largest ever.

1995 — Connecticut caps an unbeaten season by defeating Tennessee 70-64 for the NCAA women’s championship. The Huskies, 35-0, become the winningest basketball team for one season in Division I.

2000 — Connecticut wins its second women’s national championship with a 71-52 victory over Tennessee. The top-ranked Huskies beat No. 2 Tennessee for the second time in three meetings this season.

2001 — New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens becomes American League all-time strikeout leader.

2001 — Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has 2 hits and becomes first Japanese position player to play in a regular season MLB game.

2001 — 63rd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Duke beats Arizona, 82-72.

2003 — At 27 years, 249 days Texas Rangers infielder Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest MLB player to hit 300 home runs.

2005 — Bubba Stewart becomes first African-American to win a major motor sports event when he takes out the Monster Energy AMA Supercross C’ship event in Irving, Texas.

2007 — The Florida Gators keep their stranglehold on the college basketball world with an 84-75 victory over Ohio State for their second straight national championship. The Gators are the first team to repeat since Duke in 1991-92.

2010 — Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant signs a three-year contract extension with the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers worth $87 million.

2011 — The Detroit Red Wings clinch their 20th straight playoff berth with a 4-3 victory over Nashville. The Red Wings extend the longest active playoff streak among North America’s four major professional sports and extend their NHL record with 11 straight seasons with 100 points.

2012 — Doron Lamb scores 22 points as Kentucky wins its eighth men’s national championship, holding off Kansas for a 67-59 victory.

2013 — Shoni Schimmel scores 24 points and giant-slaying Louisville claims another big upset, beating second-seeded Tennessee 86-78 and earning the school’s second trip to the Women’s Final Four.

2014 — The Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 107-102 to give the Lakers their 50th loss of the season. The last time the Lakers had 50 or more losses was 1974-75 (30-52).

2016 — Villanova advances to the national championship game with the biggest margin of victory in Final Four history, overwhelming Oklahoma in a resounding 95-51 victory. The margin topped 34-point Final Four wins by Cincinnati over Oregon State in 1962 and Michigan State over Penn in 1979.

2017 — 36th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: South Carolina defeats Mississippi State, 67-55.

2018 — Pernilla Lindberg makes a 30-foot birdie putt on the eighth extra hole to win the ANA Inspiration for her first professional victory. Lindberg finishes off Inbee Park on the par-4 10th, the fourth playoff hole at Mission Hills.

2018 — Villanova wins its second men’s national championship in three years after a 79-62 victory over Michigan. Donte DiVincenzo comes off the bench to score 31 points for the Wildcats. Villanova wins all six games by double digits over this tournament run, joining Michigan State (2000), Duke (2001) and North Carolina (2009) in that company.

2019 — OKC guard Russell Westbrook becomes 2nd player in NBA history to have 20+ points, rebounds and assists in a game; records 20-20-21 in 119-103 win over LA Lakers.

2023 — Caitlin Clark scores 41 points in the Final Four for Iowa against South Carolina.

_____

April 3

1923 — “Black Sox” sue White Sox (unsuccessfully) for back salary.

1930 — The Montreal Canadiens win the NHL Stanley Cup with a two-game sweep of the Boston Bruins.

1933 — Ken Doraty’s overtime goal gives the Toronto Maple Leafs and 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins in semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The goal comes at one hour, 44 minutes and 46 seconds of the overtime beyond the one-hour regulation game.

1966 — P Tom Seaver signs with the NY Mets.

1975 — Bobby Fischer stripped of world chess title for refusing to defend it, title awarded to Russian Anatoly Karpov.

1977 — Jean Ratelle of the Boston Bruins scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 7-4 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

1982 — Buffalo’s Gil Perrault scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

1983 — 2nd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: USC beats Louisiana Tech, 69-67.

1987 — Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley to Oakland A’s.

1988 — Louisiana Tech wins the NCAA women’s basketball championship with a 56-54 come-from-behind victory over Auburn.

1988 — Amy Alcott shoots a 1-under 71 to win the Dinah Shore by two shots over Colleen Walker.

1988 — Mario Lemieux wins NHL scoring title, stopping Gretzky’s 7 year streak.

1989 — Michigan beats Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime to win the NCAA basketball championship. Rumeal Robinson hits two free throws with three seconds left for the Wolverines. It’s the first time that a first-year coach, Steve Fisher, wins the national title.

1991 — Bo Jackson signs 1-year contract with Chicago White Sox.

1993 — For the first time in its 157-year history, the Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a false start. Esha Ness crosses the line first, but most of the jockeys are unaware a false start is called and the majority of the 39-horse field continue the 4½-mile race around the Aintree course even though nine stay behind at the start line.

1994 — Charlotte Smith’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gives North Carolina a 60-59 victory over Louisiana Tech in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game.

1995 — UCLA wins its first national basketball championship in 20 years and record 11th NCAA title, keeping Arkansas from repeating with an 89-78 victory.

1996 — St Francis Fighting Saints scores college baseball run record with 71.

2000 — 62nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Michigan State beats Florida, 89-76.

2004 — St. Louis clinches its 25th consecutive NHL playoff berth, the longest in major league sports, with a 4-1 win over Nashville.

2006 — Joakim Noah dominates UCLA with 16 points, nine rebounds and a record seven blocks to key a 73-57 blowout for Florida’s first national title in men’s basketball.

2006 — Steve Yzerman scores his final NHL goal (#692).

2007 — After a nine-year title drought, Tennessee and coach Pat Summitt are NCAA champions. The Lady Vols capture an elusive seventh national title, beating Rutgers 59-46.

2010 — Bernard Hopkins wins a brutal unanimous decision over Roy Jones Jr. in their long-delayed rematch, emphatically avenging his loss in the famed champions’ first fight nearly 17 years earlier.

2012 — Brittney Griner scores 26 points and grabs 13 rebounds to help Baylor finish off an undefeated season with an 80-61 win over Notre Dame in the women’s national championship game. Baylor becomes the first team in NCAA history to win 40 games.

2017 — Justin Jackson delivers the go-ahead three-point play and North Carolina scores the last eight points for a 71-65 win over Gonzaga and an NCAA title that heartbreakingly eluded the Tar Heels last year. It’s an ugly game, filled with 44 fouls and 52 free throws. Carolina was down 2 with 1:40 left when Jackson took a pass under the bucket from Theo Pinson, made a layup and got fouled. The free throw made it 66-65, and after a Gonzaga miss on the other end, Isaiah Hicks made a shot to help North Carolina start pulling away to the school’s sixth title.

2019 — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is ejected after an NBA record low 63 seconds in the Spurs 113-85 loss in Denver; receives 2 technical fouls in a verbal confrontation with a referee.

_____

April 4

1921 — The NHL champion Ottawa Senators beat the Pacific Coast Hockey Association champion Vancouver Millionaires 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup 3 games to 2.

1937 — Byron Nelson shoots a 283 to win the Masters by two strokes over Ralph Guldahl.

1938 — Henry Picard beats Ralph Guldahl and Harry Cooper by two strokes to capture the Masters.

1959 — France beats Wales, 11-3 at Stade Colombes to win the Five Nations Rugby Championship outright for the first time.

1974 — Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s home-run record by hitting his 714th.

1983 — Lorenzo Charles scores on a dunk after Derek Whittenburg’s 35-foot desperation shot falls short to give North Carolina State a 54-52 triumph over Houston in the NCAA championship.

1985 — Tulane University cancels its basketball season.

1986 — Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky breaks his own NHL single-season points record with three assists to increase his total to 214. He scored 212 points in 1981-82.

1987 — New York’s Denis Potvin, the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history, scores his 1,000th point.

1988 — Danny Manning scores 31 points and grabs 18 rebounds as Kansas wins its second NCAA championship with an 83-79 victory over Oklahoma.

1989 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar plays final NBA game.

1989 — NY Yankee Tommy John ties record of playing 26 seasons.

1993 — Sheryl Swoopes shatters the women’s championship game record by scoring 47 points to lead Texas Tech to an 84-82 victory over Ohio State.

1993 — Mario Andretti, at 53, wins the Valvoline 200 in Phoenix to become the oldest driver to win an Indy car race and the first driver to win a race in four different decades.

1994 — Arkansas wins its first men’s national championship with a 76-72 victory over Duke, depriving the Blue Devils of a third title in four years.

1997 — Anaheim Ducks clinch their 1st-ever playoff berth.

1997 — Braves officially open Turner Field.

1998 — Mark McGwire ties Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games. McGwire launches a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego

2001 — Hideo Nomo becomes the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore.

2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs becomes the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati.

2004 — Carolina’s Brad Fast beat Florida goalie Roberto Luongo with a wrist shot to tie the game at 6-6 late in the third period. It’s the final tie game in NHL history.

2005 — North Carolina defeats Illinois to win the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship. Sean May has 26 points and the Tar Heels don’t allow a basket over the final 2 1/2 minutes to defeat Illinois 75-70.

2006 — 25th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Maryland beats Duke, 78-75 OT.

2011 — Kemba Walker scores 16 points and Alex Oriakhi has 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead Connecticut to a 53-41 win over Butler in the men’s NCAA championship game. g 2015 — The United States defends their women’s world hockey championship with a 7-5 win over Canada.

2016 — Kris Jenkins hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Villanova to the national title with a 77-74 victory over North Carolina — one of the wildest finishes in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Jenkins’ shot comes moments after Marcus Paige hit a double-clutch 3 from beyond the arc to tie the game at 74 with 4.7 seconds left.

2021 — 39th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Stanford Cardinal defeat Arizona Wildcats, 54–53.

TV SPORTS TUESDAY

MLB REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Texas at Cincinnati	6:40pm	FanDuel Sports Ohio RSN
NY Mets at Miami	6:40pm	FanDuel Sports FL SNY
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay	7:05pm	FanDuel Sports Sun ATTSN-PIT
Arizona at NY Yankees	7:05pm	TBS Diamondbacks.TV YES
Washington at Toronto	7:07pm	MASN2 Sportsnet
Kansas City at Milwaukee	7:40pm	FanDuel Sports WI FanDuel Sports KC
Minnesota at Chi. White Sox	7:40pm	Twins.TV CHSN
Boston at Baltimore	1:10pm	MASN NESN
LA Angels at St. Louis	7:45pm	FanDuel Sports West FanDuel Sports MW
San Francisco at Houston	8:10pm	SCHN NBCS-BAY
Cleveland at San Diego	9:40pm	Padres.TV CleGuardians.TV
Detroit at Seattle	9:40pm	FanDuel Sports DET ROOT
Chi. Cubs at Athletics	10:05pm	MARQ NBCS-CA
Atlanta at LA Dodgers	10:10pm	FanDuel Sports South SNLA
NBA REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Phoenix Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks	7:30pm	TNT truTV MAX
Portland Trail Blazers vs Atlanta Hawks	7:30pm	RipCity Fanduel Sports ATL
Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks	7:30pm	NBCS-PHI MSG
Orlando Magic vs San Antonio Spurs	8:00pm	Fanduel Sports FL Fanduel Sports SW
Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls	8:00pm	Sportsnet CHSN
Golden State Warriors vs Memphis Grizzlies	8:00pm	Fanduel Sports MEM NBCS-BAY
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets	10:00pm	TNT truTV MAX
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators	7:00pm	ESPN+ Sportsnet MSG-BUF
Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens	7:00pm	ESPN+ Scripps Sportsnet
Nashville Predators vs Columbus Blue Jackets	7:00pm	ESPN+ FanDuel Sports South FanDuel Sports Ohio
Washington Capitals vs Boston Bruins	7:00pm	ESPN+ MNMT NESN
Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Islanders	7:30pm	ESPN+ Hulu
Detroit Red Wings vs St. Louis Blues	8:00pm	ESPN+ FanDuel Sports MW FanDuel Sports DET
Calgary Flames vs Utah Hockey Club	9:00pm	ESPN+ Sportsnet Utah16
Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights	10:00pm	ESPN+ Scripps Sportsnet
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks	10:00pm	ESPN+ NBCS-CA Victory+
Winnipeg Jets vs Los Angeles Kings	10:00pm	ESPN+ Sportsnet FanDuel Sports West
MEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL	TIME ET	TV
NIT Semifinal: North Texas vs UC Irvine	7:00pm	ESPN
NIT Semifinal: Chattanooga vs Loyola Chicago	9:30pm	ESPN2
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
Copa del Rey: Arminia Bielefeld vs Bayer Leverkusen	2:45pm	ESPN+ fuboTV
EPL: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United	2:45pm	USA Peacock
EPL: Arsenal vs Fulham	2:45pm	Peacock
EPL: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United	3:00pm	Peacock
Coppa Italia: Empoli vs Bologna	3:00pm	Paramount+
Copa del Rey: Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad	3:30pm	ESPN+
CONCACAF Champions Cup: América vs Cruz Azul	9:15pm	VIX tubi
CONCACAF Champions Cup: LA Galaxy vs Tigres UANL	11:15pm	VIX tubi