THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” WEDNESDAY APRIL 19, 2023

CENTRAL INDIANA BASEBALL SCORES

HAGERSTOWN 15 TRI 3

MUNCIE BURRIS 16 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 2

SHENANDOAH 9 MONROE CENTRAL 1

KNIGHTSTOWN 7 NORTHEASTERN 4

PURDUE POLY 12 EMINENCE 2

RICHMOND 13 ANDERSON 2

GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 13 OLDENBURG ACADEMY 3

BLUE RIVER 15 EASTERN HANCOCK 2

GUERIN CATHOLIC 6 BREBEUF 4

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 15 SCECINA 5

BEECH GROVE 5 RITTER 4

INDIANAPOLIS KINGS 13 INDY GENESIS 4

NEW CASTLE 3 DELTA 2

RONCALLI 9 BISHOP CHATARD 8

WARREN CENTRAL 11 PIKE 0

DECATUR CENTRAL 6 GREENWOOD 4

NORTH CENTRAL 11 LAWRENCE NORTH 3

SPEEDWAY 4 TRITON CENTRAL 3

BEN DAVIS 5 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 2

WHITELAND 16 FRANKLIN 5

SETON CATHOLIC 16 ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY 6

AVON 4 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 0

SHELBYVILLE 13 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 4

YORKTOWN 8 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 7

ZIONSVILLE 6 LAFAYETTE JEFF 5

CONNERSVILLE 12 UNION COUNTY 1

MARTINSVILLE 3 PLAINFIELD 2

MOUNT VERNON 5  NEW PALESTINE 2

CENTER GROVE 4 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE  3

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:  HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/18/2023

CENTRAL INDIANA SOFTBALL SCORES

CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 20 NEW CASTLE 5

COWAN 19 RANDOPLH SOUTHERN 1

HERON 31 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 29

SHENANDOAH 14 MONROE CENTRAL 1

WAPAHANI 17 ANDERSON 10

BEECH GROVE 18 MONROVIA 2

FRANKTON 12 MOUNT VERNON 9

FRANKLIN 10 WHITELAND 0

HAMILTON HEIGHTS 18 TIPTON 5

UNION CITY 22 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 3

CATHEDRAL 14 KOKOMO 11

NORTH CENTRAL 18 CARMEL 8

BREBEUF 14    PURDUE POLY 3

PENDLETON HEIGHTS 17 DELTA 4

BISHOP CHATARD  14  COVENANT CHRISTIAN 3

NEW PALESTINE 12 YORKTOWN 6

MOORESVILLE 24 PERRY  MERIDIAN 1

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 13 GUERIN CATHOLIC  1

ZIONSVILLE 6 BROWNSBURG 2

NOBLESVILLE 8 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 3

DECATUR CENTRAL 13 GREENWOOD 10

CENTER GROVE 8 LAWRENCE NORTH 4

MARTINSVILLE 2 PLAINFIELD 1

FISHERS 2 WESTFIELD 0

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 5

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/18/2023

NBA PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD

BOSTON 119 ATLANTA 106

CLEVELAND 107 NEW YORK 90

PHOENIX 123 LA CLIPPERS 109

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP

NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*GAME 5: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TBD

*GAME 6: CAVALIERS VS. KNICKS | TBD

*GAME 7: KNICKS VS. CAVALIERS | TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* IF NECESSARY

NHL PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD

NY RANGERS 5 NEW JERSEY 1

TAMPA BAY 7 TORONTO 3

WINNIPEG 5 VEGAS 1

SEATTLE 3 COLORADO 1

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP

NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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

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

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

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

WED., APRIL 26: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: BRUINS AT PANTHERS, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: PANTHERS AT BRUINS, TBA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TUE., APRIL 25: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: HURRICANES AT ISLANDERS, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: ISLANDERS AT HURRICANES, TBA

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

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

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

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

THUR., APRIL 27: RANGERS AT DEVILS, TBA

SAT., APRIL 29: DEVILS AT RANGERS, TBA

MON., MAY 1: RANGERS AT DEVILS, TBA

WESTERN CONFERENCE

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

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

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

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

WED., APRIL 26: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: AVALANCHE AT KRAKEN, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: KRAKEN AT AVALANCHE, TBA

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

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

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

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

TUE., APRIL 25: WILD AT STARS, TBA

FRI., APRIL 28: STARS AT WILD, TBA

SUN., APRIL 30: WILD AT STARS, TBA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TUE., APRIL 25: KINGS AT OILERS, TBA

SAT., APRIL 29: OILERS AT KINGS, TBA

MON., MAY 1: KINGS AT OILERS, TBA

* IF NECESSARY

TBD – TO BE DETERMINED

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD

PHILADELPHIA 7 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3 PHILADELPHIA 0

TAMPA BAY 10 CINCINNATI 0

BALTIMORE 1 WASHINGTON 0

CHICAGO CUBS 4 OAKLAND 0

MILWAUKEE 6 SEATTLE 5

DETROIT 4 CLEVELAND 3

DETROIT 1 CLEVELAND 0

LA ANGELS 5 NY YANKEES 2

BOSTON 5 MINNESOTA 4

TEXAS 12 KANSAS CITY 2

TORONTO 4 HOUSTON 2

MIAMI 4 SAN FRANCISCO 2

ARIZONA 8 ST. LOUIS 7

PITTSBURGH 5 COLORADO 3

ATLANTA 8 SAN DIEGO 1

LA DODGERS 5 NY METS 0

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/MLB/SCOREBOARD.ASP

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES

MEMPHIS 5 INDIANAPOLIS 4

GREAT LAKES 6 SOUTH BEND 3

PEORIA 8 FORT WAYNE 5

COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES

INDIANA STATE 10 #4 VANDERBILT 2

INDIANA 7 #12 LOUISVILLE 3

NOTRE DAME 7 VALPO 3

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 8 BUTLER 3

PURDUE 3 BALL STATE 2

EVANSVILLE 10 WESTERN KENTUCKY 8

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://D1BASEBALL.COM/SCORES/?DATE=20230418

TOP NATIONAL NEWS

NBA PLAYOFFS

CELTICS BEAT HAWKS 119-106 FOR 2-0 SERIES LEAD

BOSTON (AP) Jayson Tatum knew what was coming and waited for his moment.

His team leading by 10 with less than three minutes to play, he hawked Atlanta’s Trae Young as he dribbled on the right wing and tried to lead Tatum into a screen.

But the Celtics All-Star brushed it off and stretched to swat Young;’s attempt at a step-back 3-pointer. The loose ball was scooped up by Derrick White and tossed ahead to a streaking Tatum for an one-handed dunk.

The play ended a clinching late run and was the final basket of the night for Tatum and Boston beat Atlanta 119-106 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

While Tatum had the exclamation point and finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds, he said the night belonged to White. The defensive-minded guard contributed all over the court, pouring 26 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

““We’re so much more of a dynamic team when D-White is asserting himself and being aggressive and not being passive.” Tatum said. These last two games (White) being aggressive, making the right play, attacking the rim and not necessarily waiting makes us that much more of a better team.”

Jaylen Brown added 18 points. Boston outscored Atlanta 64-40 in the paint. Game 3 is Friday night in Atlanta.

“(Tatum and Brown) get a lot of attention. It just opens up the court for myself,” White said. “When the opportunity is there I just have to attack and do what I do.”

Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 29 points. Young had 24, but shot 9 of 22 from the field and 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. He also had five turnovers, bringing his total to 11 for the series.

“I can be better,” Young said. “I didn’t shoot the ball really well. I had some turnovers where I was just driving and it just left my hands. But I’m going to be better at home.”

Down by 20, the Hawks cut it to single digits late in the third quarter.

With Atlanta trailing 74-57, Young went to the bench and sat out the final 7:07 of the period, briefly visiting the locker room.

His teammates picked it up without him, outscoring the Celtics 24-16 to pull within nine – at 90-81 – entering the fourth.

Young returned to begin the final period and scored four straight points with just over five minutes to play to make it 104-95.

But the Celtics responded with a 15-2 run – bookended by a 3-pointer and Tatum’s dunk – to get it back up to 119-97 with 2:16 left.

While the Hawks brought a better shooting touch on Tuesday, the Celtics took their overall energy up a notch, repeatedly beating Atlanta down the court in transition and outhustling Hawks to loose balls.

One glaring example was in the second quarter when Brown pried the ball free as De’Andre Hunter drove by.

Malcolm Brogdon corralled it and tossed it ahead a sprinting Brown, who had split between Young and Dejounte Murray as they got caught ball watching.

“We’ve been a group that’s hung our hat on defense all year,” Brown said. “We play both sides of the ball and we do it at a high level. Sometimes it goes unnoticed. … But when it comes down to it, the playoffs, that’s where our defense matters the most.”

SHORT LIST

White became just the second guard in Celtics history to have 25 or more points and three or more blocks in a playoff game, joining Reggie Lewis.

TIP-INS

Hawks: After taking 22-11 lead in the first quarter, the Hawks were outscored 29-10 over the next 10 minutes of game action, committing six turnovers and shooting 4 of 16 from the field.

Celtics: Led 61-49 at the half. … Willliams’ missed putback at the 5:01 mark of the second quarter was his first miss of the series. He had been 10 for 10 to the point. … Outscored the Hawks 18-6 in the paint in the first quarter.

GARLAND SCORES 32, CAVS BEAT KNICKS 107-90 TO EVEN SERIES

CLEVELAND (AP) Darius Garland couldn’t change what happened in a disappointing playoff debut.

On Tuesday night, Garland made sure he didn’t repeat it.

Setting the tone with his aggressiveness from the start, Garland scored 26 of his 32 points in the first half and the Cavaliers evened their Eastern Conference playoff series against New York at one game apiece with a 107-90 victory.

“That’s the All-Star we know, and it was good to see,” said Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell, one of many who urged Garland to be more assertive. “He came out with a purpose. There was just a different look in his eye.”

Garland scored 15 points in the second quarter, when Cleveland tightened down defensively and dominated New York, forcing nine turnovers on the way to opening a 20-point halftime lead. The Cavs pushed their lead to 29 in the fourth.

For two days, Garland had beaten himself up for his performance in Game 1, when he didn’t attempt a shot in the fourth quarter and finished with one assist in 43 minutes. During film sessions, his teammates pointed out moments when he needed to shoot. Everywhere he went, he heard the same message.

“Everybody in the building told me to go be aggressive, go shoot the ball,” he said. “I watched the film from the first game and seeing some opportunities where I can go get mine and go be aggressive and that’s what I just tried to do today.”

Cleveland’s blowout ended with a hard foul and some questions about why New York’s starters were still on the floor.

With the Knicks down by 23, Julius Randle went in for a breakaway dunk and was hit by Cavs center Jarrett Allen and New York’s All-Star forward fell awkwardly out of bounds. Randle was upset by the contact and exchanged words with several Cavs players and coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

“I thought it was a little unnecessary,” Randle said. “I understand that in the playoffs, you don’t give up on plays. But typically, you run across the body. Not like that.”

Allen was called for flagrant foul, which Bickerstaff felt was undeserved.

“They kept playing hard. They kept running through passing lanes. Why would one team play hard and not the other,” he said. “There was nothing dirty about the play. It wasn’t a flagrant foul. He contested a shot at the rim. It’s that simple.”

Caris LeVert scored 24 points off the bench and Mitchell added 17 and a career playoff-high 13 assists for the Cavs, who were much more physical than in Game 1 and went toe to toe with the Knicks.

Randle scored 22 points and Jalen Brunson added 20 for New York, which got the split it needed in rowdy Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to head home for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

“You know what to expect,” Randle said. “It’s the Garden. It’s the Garden.”

The Cavs matched the Knicks’ physicality from the outset, winning the 50/50 balls that went to New York in the opener. And if handling Cleveland’s new-found toughness wasn’t enough of a challenge, the Knicks bashed each other.

During one sequence in the second quarter as the Cavs were beginning to pull away, Randle turned to run up the floor and accidentally smacked Brunson in the face, causing his teammate to recoil in pain.

Garland inflicted his own damage.

The 23-year-old was uncharacteristically timid in Game 1 and heard about it from fans and teammates. Following practice Monday, he had a deep conversation with Mitchell, who urged him to be let loose.

Garland got the message.

He drained a pair of 3-pointers during a 13-4 run in the second quarter and then showed no fear when he drove to the basket and tried to dunk over 7-foot Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, who got away with goaltending while fouling Cleveland’s guard.

“I’ve never seen him try to dunk on anyone, let alone a seven-footer,” Mitchell said.

The Cavs bench erupted at seeing Garland’s bravado, and Mitchell slapped his hands before urging the sellout crowd to recognize him. The moment seemed to rattle the Knicks as New York’s Josh Hart was called for a technical foul.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Didn’t score a field goal in the first 5:13 of the second quarter. … Randle had two extended conversations in the second with referee Tony Brothers. … Hart was ineffective on the balky ankle. He scored just 5 points after getting 17 in Game 1.

Cavaliers: Scored 19 points off turnovers in the second quarter, and 27 in the first half. Cleveland is the first team to do that since Denver in 2009. … F Danny Green made his first appearance in the series, scoring 3 points in 20 minutes. His 315 career playoff 3-pointers are ninth most in NBA history. … F Isaac Okoro picked up two early fouls and played just three minutes. … Garland’s 26 points in the first half were three shy of the club playoff record for a half held by LeBron James (2018). … Cleveland snapped a five-game playoff losing streak.

UP NEXT

The Knicks host their first playoff game since June 2, 2021, on Friday. New York is 3-1 at home in the playoffs against Cleveland.

BOOKER SCORES 38 POINTS, SUNS BEAT CLIPPERS TO EVEN SERIES

PHOENIX (AP) Kevin Durant is the shiny new toy for the Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker is still the team’s heart and soul.

Booker – the three-time All-Star who has spent all eight of his NBA seasons in Phoenix – scored 38 points, Durant added 25 and the Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 123-109 on Tuesday night in Game 2 to tie the Western Conference first-round series.

“He’s an all-around player,” Durant said about Booker. “He can do everything at an elite level on a basketball court.”

The Suns needed a gritty effort after a disappointing loss in Game 1. Their shots weren’t falling for much of the first half and they fell into a 13-point hole midway through the second quarter.

But led by Booker, they never panicked.

The 26-year-old drilled a 3 just before the halftime buzzer to tie it and scored 18 points in the third quarter on 7-of-8 shooting, helping the Suns push to a 92-87 advantage entering the fourth. The defense also improved after the Clippers got several easy baskets in the second quarter.

“People talk about adjustments all the time and we make them,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “But sometimes basketball is just being able to sit down and guard the ball, keep your man from getting to the basket and contesting the shot.”

Phoenix never trailed in the final quarter, slowly pulling away. It was their first playoff win with Durant on the floor. The team was 8-0 during the regular season with the 13-time All-Star following his trade from the Brooklyn Nets in February.

The series moves to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday night.

Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 31 points after he scored 38 in Game 1. Russell Westbrook added 28 points on 9-of-16 shooting.

“We know it is going to be a tough series,” Westbrook said. “They came back and took care of business tonight.”

Booker had a stellar shooting night, connecting on 14 of 22 shots, including 4 of 7 on 3s. He added nine assists. Deandre Ayton added 14 points – on 7-of-10 shooting- and 13 rebounds. Torrey Craig hit 5 of 8 3s and had 17 points, and Chris Paul had 16 points and eight assists.

“We tried to blitz. We tried to fire. We did a lot of different things,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “They played great.”

PAUL VS. FOSTER

Paul’s archnemesis was carrying a whistle Tuesday, not dribbling a basketball.

The point guard had his personal 13-game playoff losing streak snapped when referee Scott Foster is on the floor. The long-running feud has lasted years with Paul criticizing Foster multiple times.

“I didn’t notice,” Paul said. “I think we’re all about, in this run, minimizing distractions. That is what it is, I’m sure it’ll still be a thing.”

SWITCHING DEFENSES

Several Suns players credited the Clippers coaches and players for their unpredictable defensive sets, which they said was part of the reason for the team’s slow start.

“They switched their defense up like every possession,” Durant said. “They might double, they might triple, they might go zone, they might go full court press. So they’re trying to throw us off with their coverages. I think we did a good job of (eventually) figuring it out. Just playing simple.”

TIP-INS

Clippers: Eight-time All-Star Paul George (sprained knee) hasn’t played since March 21. … L.A.’s bench outscored Phoenix’s 30-13. … Leonard shot 11 of 20 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.

Suns: G Cam Payne (low back soreness) hasn’t played yet in the series. Said coach Monty Williams “He’s just not ready. He’s done a lot more on the floor, but there’s certain movements he can’t do yet without pain.” … Hosted a 76th consecutive sellout, combining regular season and playoff games.

WARRIORS’ GREEN SUSPENDED FOR STEPPING ON KINGS’ SABONIS

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Golden State forward Draymond Green has been suspended for one game without pay for stepping on the chest of Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis and will miss Game 3 of the Warriors’ first-round playoff series Thursday night.

The NBA made the announcement late Tuesday, two days before the series shifts to the defending champions’ home court at Chase Center. The NBA made the announcement of a decision by executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars.

“The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the release said.

Golden State trailed the best-of-seven series 2-0, the first time during the Stephen Curry era the Warriors have been down by two games in their last 28 playoff series.

In the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 114-106 Game 2 win Monday night, Green stomped on the chest of Sabonis after Curry grabbed a defensive rebound.

With the Warriors pushing the ball up court and Sabonis on the ground, Green took a hard step on Sabonis, who stayed down for several minutes as officials reviewed the play.

Sabonis was called for a technical foul for grabbing Green’s leg and Green was given a flagrant-2 foul that led to an automatic ejection.

“My leg got grabbed,” said Green, referring to a play in Game 1 with Malik Monk. “Second time in two nights. Referees just watch it. I have to land my foot somewhere. I’m not the most flexible person, so it’s not stretching that far.”

The Kings said Sabonis underwent tests that determined he had a bruised sternum and is questionable for Game 3.

Credited as the Warriors’ emotional leader, Green has long walked a fine line of pushing the limits with officials – and has even expressed he now feels they’re out to get him.

The 33-year-old Green has been called for six flagrant fouls and 27 technical fouls in 147 career playoff games. He was ejected from a playoff game against Memphis last season.

In 2016, Green was suspended for a crucial Game 5 loss to LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals after accumulating too many flagrant fouls in the playoffs that season. The Warriors wound up losing in seven.

Coach Steve Kerr and general manager Bob Myers have long supported Green’s fiery nature that leads to technical fouls. Myers even sat with Green next door to Oracle Arena at the Oakland Coliseum when Green was suspended for that 2016 game.

In November 2018, Green was suspended by the Warriors for conduct detrimental to the team. Green had secured a rebound in an overtime loss to the Clippers and with Kevin Durant calling for the ball Green instead dribbled the length of the court into traffic and lost control as the Warriors failed to get a shot off. Durant was shown on camera visibly upset. The two got into it afterward, according to reporters on the scene.

MORANT GAME-TIME DECISION FOR GRIZZLIES IN GAME 2 VS. LAKERS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Tuesday that two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant suffered no ligament damage to his right hand in Memphis’ opening playoff loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and will be a game-time decision Wednesday night for Game 2.

Morant had an MRI on Monday that showed only bruising of the tissue between the bones as the fourth-year guard aggravated an injury from April 7 when Memphis clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference during a win at Milwaukee. Jenkins said Morant is dealing with pain and soreness.

“Symptoms are slightly improving from the other night,” Jenkins said after practice. “He’s going to be a game-time decision. He’s going to come in and get working in the morning and test it out, see how is feeling.”

Morant appeared to bend his right hand as he landed after driving to the basket against Lakers center Anthony Davis. He was called for a charge with 5:48 left, writhed in pain, then ran toward the Grizzlies’ bench letting out a yell near midcourt before sprinting to the locker room.

He returned to the bench with his hand wrapped with a black brace rather than the white tape Morant played with during the 128-112 loss to the Lakers.

During the portion of practice open to reporters, Morant did not use his right hand at all. He used his left hand to help rebound and put up a couple of shots. He finished the session with a bag of ice wrapped over his right hand.

This has been a very challenging season for Morant.

He signed a five-year, supermax contract last July after being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. It was the latest step for the No. 2 pick overall in the 2019 draft who wound up the league’s Rookie of the Year. Morant made his first All-Star game last season as the Grizzlies earned the No. 2 seed in the West.

This season, Morant landed a signature shoe deal with Nike for the Ja 1 that goes on sale to the general public Wednesday. He also debuted a deal with Powerade before news broke of a sealed lawsuit accusing him of punching a 17-year-old during a pickup basketball game at his home last July.

Morant filed his own countersuit last week accusing the now 18-year-old Joshua Holloway of slander, battery and assault.

The Grizzlies guard also wound up suspended by the NBA for eight games in March after he livestreamed video of himself holding a gun in the early morning hours of March 4 at a Denver-area strip club.

“At this point, I’m not even surprised with the way my life has been going,” Morant said when asked after the Game 1 loss about the pain in his hand. “Back-to-back.”

Morant smiled as reporters watched the end of practice, and Jenkins said the guard tested his hand earlier Tuesday dribbling and shooting but wasn’t his normal self as Morant figures out how much he can push his hand using the ball.

“We’ll see how he does tomorrow,” Jenkins said.

The Grizzlies do have some backup insurance if Morant can’t play against the Lakers. Memphis signed veteran Tyus Jones to a two-year, $29 million fully guaranteed extension last summer for insurance and to give Jenkins the chance to put both Morant and Jones on the court together at times.

Jaren Jackson Jr., named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday night, said Jones is a smart player and knows where everyone is supposed to be on the floor. Both Jones and Morant are pass-first guards.

“Obviously Ja is super bouncy and athletic, so it’s a little bit different,” Jackson said. “But, you know, they’re both amazing.”

Last season, the Grizzlies lost their opener to Minnesota and responded by winning the first-round series in six games. Morant played in each of those games. When he bruised his knee in Game 3 of Memphis’ Western Conference semifinals, Morant didn’t return.

The Grizzlies won once without Morant before losing the series to eventual NBA champ Golden State in six games.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

MLB ROUNDUP: CLAYTON KERSHAW BLANKS METS, GETS 200TH WIN

Clayton Kershaw picked up his 200th career win and moved into 22nd on the all-time strikeout list as the host Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 5-0 victory Tuesday to end the New York Mets’ five-game winning streak.

J.D. Martinez hit two home runs in his first multi-homer game with the Dodgers and the 19th of his career. He drove in four runs.

In addition to his milestone win, Kershaw (3-1) also improved to 11-0 in 17 career regular-season starts against the Mets. He has gone 1-1 against New York in the postseason. The left-hander gave up three hits in seven innings with no walks and nine strikeouts to give him 2,833 in his career.

Mets starter Tylor Megill (3-1) gave up three runs on seven hits over five innings. The native of nearby Los Alamitos, Calif., gave up four walks with four strikeouts as he made his Dodger Stadium debut.

BREWERS 6, MARINERS 5 (11 INNINGS)

Willy Adames doubled, homered and drove in three runs, including the go-ahead tally in the 11th inning, as Milwaukee defeated host Seattle.

Christian Yelich also homered for Milwaukee, which won its third game in a row.

Cal Raleigh hit a two-run double and Teoscar Hernandez and Ty France each hit sacrifice flies for Seattle — the latter tying the game in the 10th inning.

BLUE JAYS 4, ASTROS 2

Chris Bassitt carried a shutout into the seventh inning while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Matt Chapman bashed home runs as visiting Toronto beat Houston.

Bassitt (2-2) allowed three hits and walked one batter while notching five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Chapman added two more extra-base hits to his robust start. After entering Tuesday tied for the major league lead with 12 extra-base hits, Chapman went 2-for-4 with his fifth home run and ninth double.

Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker drove in Houston’s runs.

RANGERS 12, ROYALS 2

Marcus Semien’s three-run homer headlined a five-run sixth inning, which powered visiting Texas in a rout of Kansas City.

Semien finished 2-for-3 and drew a pair of walks. Adolis Garcia also hit a three-run homer, and Ezequiel Duran and Travis Jankowski each had two hits and an RBI.

MJ Melendez and Kyle Isbel drove in the Royals’ runs.

PHILLIES 7, WHITE SOX 4 (GAME 1)

Josh Harrison homered and drove in four runs, lifting Philadelphia Phillies to a win over host Chicago in the opener of a doubleheader.

Nick Castellanos had three hits to fuel Philadelphia’s 14-hit attack. Bryson Stott stroked a leadoff single to start the game, extending his hitting streak to a Phillies modern-day club record 17 games to start a season.

With two out in the third, Harrison extended the lead to 5-0 with a bases-loaded, two-run single. Philadelphia chased Lance Lynn (0-2) with one out in the sixth; he allowed five runs on 10 hits, fanning seven. With six straight hits to start the third, Chicago cut the advantage to 5-4 against Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler (1-1).

WHITE SOX 3, PHILLIES 0 (GAME 2)

Lucas Giolito and three relievers combined on a one-hit shutout and Jake Burger hit a three-run home run to help host Chicago defeat Philadelphia to earn a doubleheader split.

Giolito started the game with six strong innings before yielding to Kendall Graveman, Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez. Bummer allowed Philadelphia’s lone hit of the night, Brandon Marsh’s double leading off the eighth. Lopez recorded the final four outs, including three by strikeout, to notch his third save.

Giolito hit Garrett Stubbs with a pitch to open the sixth but recovered to finish the inning without surrendering a hit. Giolito scattered one walk and seven strikeouts while throwing 102 pitches. Phillies left-hander Bailey Falter (0-3) recovered to retire 16 of the next 17 men he faced after allowing Burger’s home run.

TIGERS 4, GUARDIANS 3 (GAME 1)

Kerry Carpenter blasted a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, lifting host Detroit over Cleveland in the first game of a doubleheader.

Carpenter had three hits and two RBIs to help the Tigers win their fourth straight game — and the third in a row to come on a walk-off hit. Javy Baez also drove in two runs, Eric Haase had four hits and scored a run and Riley Greene added three hits and a run.

Oscar Gonzalez hit a two-run homer and Josh Bell delivered a run-scoring double for the Guardians. James Karinchak (0-3) gave up Carpenter’s game-winner.

TIGERS 1, GUARDIANS 0 (GAME 2)

Eduardo Rodriguez tossed eight scoreless innings in his longest outing since 2017 and streaking Detroit completed a doubleheader sweep over visiting Cleveland.

Rodriguez (1-2) allowed just four hits and didn’t walk a batter while striking out 10. Jason Foley got the last three outs to notch his first career save, and Riley Greene supplied the lone run of the contest with a sixth-inning homer as the Tigers extended their winning streak to five games.

Making his second major league start, the Guardians’ Peyton Battenfield (0-1) held Detroit to three hits in six innings while recording five strikeouts.

MARLINS 4, GIANTS 2

Jazz Chisholm Jr. lofted a go-ahead, three-run homer in the fourth inning, leading host Miami to a win over San Francisco.

Chisholm, in his first year as an outfielder for the Marlins, also made an impressive running catch in center field, robbing Mike Yastrzemski of extra bases in the eighth inning. Miami won for the sixth time in seven games while San Francisco took its fifth consecutive loss.

Yastrzemski belted a two-run homer for the Giants, who are in the midst of their worst skid since they dropped five straight last Sept. 6-9.

RED SOX 5, TWINS 4 (10 INNINGS)

Alex Verdugo’s RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning capped a three-run rally and gave Boston a victory over visiting Minnesota.

The Red Sox trailed 4-2 until Reese McGuire hit a two-run single with no outs in the 10th. After Jarren Duran singled to load the bases, the Twins turned a double play before Verdugo’s third hit of the game scored McGuire with the winning run.

Chris Sale started for the Red Sox and struck out 11 in six innings. He allowed a run on three hits and walked two. Minnesota starting pitcher Sonny Gray limited the Red Sox to one run on seven hits in five innings. Jovani Moran (0-1) took the loss, Minnesota’s third in a row.

BRAVES 8, PADRES 1

Right-hander Spencer Strider took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Sean Murphy, Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson homered as visiting Atlanta defeated San Diego to stretch its winning streak to eight games.

Strider allowed one hit — a one-out, sixth-inning single to center by Juan Soto in the sixth past diving second baseman Albies. Strider also gave up three walks and struck out nine over six innings to improve to 2-0. His nine strikeouts in eight straight starts dating back to last season tied a Braves record set by John Smoltz in 1997.

Albies and Olson each hit a three-run homer off Padres relievers late in the game after Murphy had a hand in both Atlanta runs off Padres starter Blake Snell, who took the loss to fall to 0-3.

DIAMONDBACKS 8, CARDINALS 7

Gabriel Moreno hit a three-run homer and scored twice as visiting Arizona held off St. Louis.

Nick Ahmed hit a two-run double for the Diamondbacks, who have won three straight games and eight of their last 11. Arizona starter Drey Jameson allowed two runs on three hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings. Kyle Nelson (3-0), the first of six relievers, earned the victory and Miguel Castro earned his first save.

Cardinals starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (2-2) allowed seven runs on 10 hits in four innings. Willson Contreras hit two homers and drove in three runs for the Cardinals, who lost for the fourth time in their last six games.

RAYS 10, REDS 0

Taylor Walls homered from each side of the plate, tripled and drove in four runs while rookie right-hander Taj Bradley threw 5 1/3 shutout innings to lead visiting Tampa Bay to a rout of Cincinnati.

Bradley (2-0), the top-rated prospect in the Tampa Bay organization, was the beneficiary of another explosive offensive night in his second major league start. With his mother watching behind the Rays’ dugout, Bradley limited the Reds to three hits and struck out nine.

The Rays belted four more home runs to give them 41 through their first 18 games, one shy of the major-league-record pace of the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals at the same point. Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo (2-1) had the roughest outing of his young career. The lefty allowed career highs in hits (12), runs (eight) and home runs (three) while hitting three batters over just 4 2/3 innings.

ANGELS 5, YANKEES 2

Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the first inning and visiting Los Angeles recorded a victory over New York.

After Taylor Ward opened the game with a double, Ohtani hit his fourth homer of the season. He lifted a 2-0 pitch from Clarke Schmidt (0-1) into the Yankees bullpen in right-center field for a 391-foot drive. Anthony Rendon also drove in two runs for Los Angeles, hitting an RBI single and a sacrifice fly that scored Ohtani.

Ohtani’s big night helped the Angels survive a shaky start from Jose Suarez. Suarez lasted 3 1/3 innings and issued a career-high six walks but only allowed two runs on three hits. He entered the game having issued just one walk over his first two starts this season. Andrew Wantz (1-0) picked up the win.

PIRATES 5, ROCKIES 3

Jack Suwinski hit a pair of homers and drove in three runs to power Pittsburgh past Colorado in Denver.

The Pirates won a second straight game for the first time since April 7, breaking a string of 11 games in which they had alternated wins and losses. Vince Velasquez (2-2) pitched six innings of three-run ball for the win, and David Bednar handled the ninth for his fifth save.

The Rockies jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Kris Bryant hit his second homer in as many days. Jose Urena (0-3) gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

ORIOLES 1, NATIONALS 0

Austin Hays drove in the game’s lone run and Dean Kremer pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings to lead visiting Baltimore to a victory over Washington.

Hays’ run-scoring single in the fourth gave the Orioles all they would need to win for the fourth time in their past five games, especially with the way Kremer (1-0) pitched to open the two-game series. The right-hander allowed just four hits to go along with six strikeouts and no walks.

Nationals starter Josiah Gray (0-4) allowed a run on four hits with three strikeouts and four walks in five-plus innings.

CUBS 4, ATHLETICS 0

Marcus Stroman threw six innings of shutout ball, Patrick Wisdom doubled in the middle of a four-run eighth inning and Chicago won in a pitchers’ duel with host Oakland in an interleague game.

Cody Bellinger and Nick Madrigal had RBI singles in the eighth-inning uprising, which began after Stroman and A’s left-hander Ken Waldichuk had done most of the heavy lifting in a scoreless tie. Trevor May (2-3), the Athletics’ fourth pitcher, set the stage for the Cubs’ scoring by walking the first man he faced, Seiya Suzuki.

Mark Leiter Jr. (1-0), the Cubs’ second pitcher, was awarded the win after pitching a scoreless seventh. Michael Fulmer and Michael Rucker went three outs apiece to complete Chicago’s third shutout of the season. The A’s finished with just two hits, both off Stroman, who gave up a double to Capel, one other single and two walks in his six innings. He struck out five.

HUNTER GREENE SIGNS 6-YEAR, $53 MILLION EXTENSION WITH REDS

CINCINNATI (AP) Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene agree to a six-year, $53 million contract extension, the club announced Tuesday.

“The commitment we made to Hunter reflects his commitment to this organization and to our community,” Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement. “He is part of the foundation of young players who will continue to help us build a successful major league team.”

The contract is guaranteed through the 2028 season and includes a $21 million club option, with a $2 million buyout, for 2029.

Greene, 23, became the first Reds pitcher age 25 or younger to start on Opening Day since 1980.

Greene started Monday night and left after three innings after being struck on the right leg by a comebacker. X-rays were negative, and he is expected to make his next start.

In his big-league career, Greene has produced 188 strikeouts while allowing just 124 hits in 142 2/3 innings. Last season, he became the only major-league rookie since 1900 to have at least three appearances in which he threw six or more innings and had eight or more strikeouts.

The Reds selected Greene with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft.

YANKEES’ STANTON OUT 6 WEEKS WITH STRAINED HAMSTRING

NEW YORK (AP) Giancarlo Stanton is likely to be sidelined for six weeks because of a strained left hamstring, the latest in a string of injuries for the New York Yankees slugger.

Stanton has not played a full season since 2018, the first year after the Yankees acquired him from the Miami Marlins.

He was hurt Saturday while running out a two-run double in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees placed him on the injured list the following day, his seventh trip to the injured list/disabled list in five seasons with the Yankees and 11th in 14 major league seasons.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave the six-week estimate before Tuesday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.

Stanton missed 223 of 546 games in the previous four seasons (41%) because of a strained right biceps and strained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee (2019), strained left hamstring (2020), strained left quadriceps (2021), and right ankle inflammation and left Achilles tendinitis (2022).

While with the Marlins, he was out because of right knee surgery (2012), a right hamstring strain (2013), broken left hand (2015) and strained left groin (2016).

A five-time All-Star, the 33-year-old is hitting .269 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 13 games. He has a .264 career average with 382 homers and 982 RBIs.

At the time of the trade, Stanton was owed $295 million over the final decade of a $325 million, 13-year contract. As part of the trade, the Marlins are sending the Yankees $30 million in installments of $5 million each July 1 and Oct. 1 in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Boone also said center fielder Harrison Bader likely will start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment on Friday. He has been sidelined since spring training by a strained left oblique muscle.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, out since spring training with a strained left forearm, remains bothered by his back.

NHL NEWS

SHESTERKIN, KREIDER HELP RANGERS RIP DEVILS 5-1 IN GAME 1

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New York Rangers had the ton of experience coming into the playoffs against the young New Jersey Devils, and it certainly was the difference Game 1 of their first-round series, along with Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin made 27 saves, Chris Kreider scored two power-play goals and the Rangers stunned the Devils 5-1 on Tuesday night in the team’s firt postseason meeting since 2012.

“He has been our best player,” said Kreider of Shesterkin. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence.”

So were most of the Rangers on a night the Devils had a bad case of the jitters. They had six players in the lineup playing in the postseason for the first time and five others who had played a few playoff games.

“I thought we had guys that didn’t handle the puck very well early,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “Probably nerves, jitters. I think everybody in that room that hasn’t been a playoff game, now knows what it’s like to be in a playoff game, to experience that type of atmosphere.”

Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan Lindgren and Filip Chytil also scored for the Rangers. Adam Fox had four assists and Artemi Panarin had two in this seventh renewal of this river rivalry in the postseason.

The Devils, who set franchise records with 112 points and 52 wins in the regular season and beat New York three times in four games, never got their rush game going. When they did threaten, they either missed the net or Shesterkin denied them.

Their only goal came on a penalty shot by Jack Hughes with 2:46 left to play. Vitek Vanecek had 18 saves.

“We had a lot of blocked shots. Guys are buying in,” Fox said. “We did a good job.”

The Rangers also won the special teams battle. Kreider scored on two of their three power plays and the Rangers blanked the Devils on their four man advantages – holding them without even a shot on goal – though the penalty shot came in place of a power play.

Game 2 is back here on Thursday night.

“We didn’t use our chance on the power play and that definitely hurt us tonight,” said Devils captain Nico Hischier, who was hit a lot by the Rangers. “Special teams, looking back and other than that, I think we gave an effort. We weren’t lacking in effort for tonight but that’s how it goes sometimes.’

The Rangers, who finished third in the Metropolitan Division behind the Devils, set the tone in the opening 10 minutes and never looked back. They hit, they blocked shots and they were very physical around the net.

Rangers captain Jacob Trouba knocked Hischier and Hughes to the ice or into the boards any chance he got.

Tarasenko, who was acquired from St. Louis before the trade deadline, scored 4:58 into the game with a shot from between the circle on a nice pass K’Andre Miller.

Kreider scored on a tip at 9:30 with Miles Wood in the penalty box. Lindgren, who had one goal in the regular season, scored in close late in the second period and Kreider had another tip in early in the third.

After Hughes made his penalty shot, Chytil scored into an empty net.

NOTES: Fox’s four assists tied his career high in the postseason. He also had four against Pittsburgh last year. … Kreider became the Rangers all-time leader in playoff goals. He now has 36 to Rod Gilbert’s 34. His power-play goals gave him 14, surpassing Adam Graves (13) for top in Rangers’ playoff history. … Devils D Luke Hughes, Jack’s brother, was a healthy scratch. The team’s No. 1 draft pick in 2021 signed out of college and played in the final two games of the regular season. … Akira Schmid was the Devils’ backup goalie instead of veteran Mackenzie Blackwood. … The Rangers didn’t get their first shot on goal in the second period until Pananin’s shot was gloved by Vanecek with 11:08 left.

POINT SCORES 2, LIGHTNING ROUT MAPLE LEAFS IN SERIES OPENER

TORONTO (AP) The Tampa Bay Lightning forgot all about their difficult March and opened their postseason with a rout.

Brayden Point scored twice and the Lightning soundly beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3 on Tuesday night in the opening game of the teams’ first-round playoff series.

Nikita Kucherov and Corey Perry each had a goal and two assists, and Anthony Cirelli and Ross Colton finished with a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare also scored for the Lightning, who scored four goals on the power play.

“We had a tough March, tough end to the season, but it’s about playoffs,” Perry said. “That’s what we were thinking. We were trying to get our game into shape.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves in his 100th playoff start.

“We have a plan, we stuck to it,” Perry said. “It’s something that works. Everybody’s buying in.”

Ryan O’Reilly, William Nylander and Calle Jarnkrok scored for Toronto. Mitch Marner had three assists and Auston Matthews added a pair.

“It’s a hard one to explain, no doubt,” said Toronto captain John Tavares, who has gone 0-5 in playoff series since signing in 2018. “We’re disappointed.”

Ilya Samsonov allowed six goals on 29 shots before being replaced by Joseph Woll at the start the third period. The rookie netminder finished with four stops.

“This is just one game for us,” Samsonsov said. “We didn’t think this will be easy series for us.”

Toronto winger Michael Bunting was whistled for a match penalty and game misconduct for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak. The hit occurred with 4:20 remaining in the second period. Cernak, who did not have the puck, fell backward to the ice and went to the locker room.

“We were on our heels a bit early on,” said Sheldon Keefe, in his fourth post-season as Maple Leafs head coach.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Toronto.

The Lightning beat the Maple Leafs in seven games at the same stage of the playoffs last spring on the way to their third consecutive Stanley Cup appearance. Meanwhile, Toronto is desperately looking to end an ugly string of postseason failures that has seen the franchise fail to advance since 2004.

The Maple Leafs have lost seven straight series dating to 2013, including six in a row with the talented core led by Matthews, Marner and Nylander.

The battle-tested Lightning, meanwhile, won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, before falling to the Colorado Avalanche in last year’s championship round.

Tampa opened the scoring just 1:18 into the first period, quieting the raucous, towel-waving crowd when Bellemare scored on a rebound after Zach Aston-Reese couldn’t clear the puck.

The Lightning made it 2-0 six minutes later when Cirelli buried a rebound on a scramble after Toronto gave the puck away in the neutral zone.

Toronto started to push back, with Matthews showing the most fight.

But Tampa Bay took a three-goal lead with just 2.6 seconds remaining in the period on a power play, when Kucherov beat Samsonov with a one-timer to the short side.

Toronto got a goal back on a power play with O’Reilly scoring eight minutes into the second.

Samsonov made a huge stop on Perry before Nylander fired through a screen on another man advantage to make it 3-2.

Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe then levelled Michael Eyssimont, sending the Tampa center to the locker room before Point made it 4-2 on another power play moments later.

“Those (penalty calls) that are borderline, more likely than not are probably gonna go their way,” Tavares said. “They’ve been in finals three times in a row. We have to be just extremely disciplined.”

Bunting match penalty and game misconduct all but ended Toronto’s hope for a comeback.

Already minus Victor Hedman, who didn’t take a shift after the opening period, Tampa Bay managed to restore its three-goal lead when Perry jammed a puck in tight at Samsonov’s post two minutes before the intermission.

The play stood after a Toronto challenge for goaltender interference, handing the Lightning a 5-on-3 power play.

The Leafs survived that, but Point scored his second goal of the game with a tenth of a second remaining on the clock for a 6-2 margin.

Toronto was booed off the ice at the intermission buzzer before Colton stretched the lead to five goals on a breakaway seven minutes into the final period.

Jarnkrok got Toronto’s third goal.

“Gotta be a lot better,” Tavares said. “We gotta regroup here, learn from it, and have a short memory.”

SCHENN’S TIME

Drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2008 and traded away in 2012, veteran defenseman Luke Schenn suited up for his first playoff game with Toronto nearly 15 years after first joining the organization.

The 33-year-old played for six organizations in the interim – including Stanley Cup wins with Tampa in 2020 and 2021 – before the Vancouver Canucks dealt him to Toronto in late February.

“Better late than never,” Schenn said Tuesday morning. “It’s been a long time in the making.”

LOWRY SCORES 2 AS JETS BEAT GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5-1 IN GAME 1

LAS VEGAS (AP) Winnipeg set the tone early Tuesday night by dominating the neutral zone, and by the third period, the Jets had suffocated the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Jets allowed only two shots on goal in the final period, punctuating the defensive performance that was buttressed by Adam Lowry’s two goals and Blake Wheeler’s three points in Winnipeg’s 5-1 victory in Game 1 of the first-round series.

The Jets allowed only 17 shots on goal for the game, the fewest the Knights have had all season.

“A big part of our game is pressuring the puck carrier and not give them a whole lot of time to make plays,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “They’re a very good team on the rush. They look for that second wave, so I thought our forwards did a great job back-tracking and taking away those guys.”

Wheeler had a goal and two assists for the Jets, Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal an assist, Kyle Connor also scored, and Nino Niederreiter had two assists. Connor Hellebuyck made 16 saves.

William Karlsson scored for the Golden Knights, who suffered their first regulation loss in nine games. It also was the first regulation loss for Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit, who went 7-0-3 in the regular season. He stopped 26 shots.

“The thing we need to address is it’s playoff hockey,” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You needed an intensity level that was greater than the one we had. … But I’ll say this, I don’t think they were doing anything special, either. They get full value for the win, don’t get me wrong. They deserved to win and they did, but some of it was self-inflicted.”

Game 2 is Thursday night in Las Vegas.

Vegas entered the game as the top seed in the Western Conference, and the Jets were the last team in the conference to get in the playoffs. But Winnipeg is 6-2 in its past eight games and continued the momentum into Tuesday.

The Jets had 14 shots on goal in the first period, but failed to get anything past Brossoit even with back-to-back power plays at one point. Vegas, which blocked 13 shots, also survived a big scramble in the crease in which Mason Appleton could’ve poked the puck into the open net, but couldn’t get his stick on it.

Teammate Morgan Barron took a skate to his face from Brossoit on the play as the bodies piled up in pursuit of the puck. He went to the locker room and received more than 75 stitches before returning in the second period wearing a full cage on his head.

The Jets broke through with goals from Connor and Dubois 1:02 apart early in the second period to take a 2-0 lead. Both goals came from the Jets’ first line, and Bowness said he likes to have the scoring line quickly go back out there.

“I think as soon as you get off, you’ve got to be ready to go back there whether it’s 45 seconds later of five minutes later,” Dubois said. “We know we have to keep the momentum on our side.”

Karlsson put the Knights on the scoreboard with 4:11 left, but Wheeler made it a two-goal lead again 3:53 into the third period.

Lowry scored twice in the final 1:21, one on an empty-netter.

EHLERS HELD OUT

Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who has an upper-body injury, did not play. Ehlers said Saturday he would be ready and on Monday reiterated he felt “very good,” though Bowness had maintained he was day to day.

“There wasn’t necessarily a setback, but nor was the progress that we had hoped,” Bowness said. “We’re not going to put a player on the ice that isn’t close to 100% and put him in a vulnerable position where he could have a setback.”

Bowness said Ehlers will be re-evaluated before Game 2.

STONE RUSTY IN RETURN

This was Knights captain Mark Stone’s first game since injuring his back Jan. 12. He underwent surgery Jan. 31 and was cleared to play Monday.

Stone was minus-3 in 21 minutes.

“He looked rusty,” Cassidy said. “We expected that. … It’s going to take Mark some time to get going and his linemates are going to have to kind of pull through for him a little bit until he finds his timing. We knew that, so I’m not going to judge Stoney other than he’s healthy and ready to play.”

KRAKEN MAKE SUCCESSFUL PLAYOFF DEBUT, STUN AVALANCHE 3-1

DENVER (AP) Alex Wennberg had a goal and an assist, Philipp Grubauer stopped 34 shots and the Seattle Kraken made a successful playoff debut by beating the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Tuesday night.

The second-year Kraken became the 13th expansion franchise to earn a win in their first postseason game, according to NHL Stats. Eeli Tolvanen scored the first playoff goal in team history early in the first period, and Morgan Geekie sealed it with a tally in the third.

Mikko Rantanen had the lone goal for the Avalanche, who saw their streak of 10 straight first-round wins come to a halt. It was a string that included two sweeps and dated to 2020.

Alexandar Georgiev made 27 saves. He’s coming off a career-best 40-win regular season.

Game 2 is Thursday in Denver.

Grubauer was sharp all night against his former team. He frustrated Colorado’s top scorers with one big save after another, while his defense helped neutralize the Avalanche’s blazing speed.

The Kraken took a 2-1 lead into the third. They’ve been virtually automatic when leading after two periods, going 35-1-3 in the regular season. Geekie extended the advantage with a goal off the pads of Georgiev early in the third.

Colorado pulled Georgiev for an extra skater with around 1:35 left but couldn’t close the gap.

Grubauer benefitted from a little bit of good fortunate. A shot from Evan Rodrigues in the second period glanced off the top of Grubauer’s stick and caromed wide of the net. Later, Bowen Byram’s wrist shot hit Grubauer’s shoulder and then bounced off the crossbar.

By jumping out to a 1-0 lead, Seattle became the fourth team in the past 20 years to open the scoring in its first-ever playoff game. Tolvanen capitalized on a Colorado turnover to energize the Kraken and stun the crowd.

The lead lasted just over nine minutes as Rantanen tied it up on a pass from Nathan MacKinnon. Rantanen had 55 goals in the regular season, the most by an Avalanche player since the team moved to Denver before the 1995-96 season.

AROUND THE RINK

Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson was a late scratch with a lower-body injury. He was replaced by Erik Johnson. … Forward Andrew Cogliano was a scratch. … Colorado defenseman Josh Manson played in his first game since March 1. He was called for a hooking penalty and later a hold. … Kraken defenseman Will Borgen drew the franchise’s first playoff penalty when he was called for high-sticking in the second period.

HISTORIC MEETING

This marked the fifth time an NHL franchise made its postseason debut against the defending champion. It also happened with Columbus in 2009 (against Detroit), Washington in 1983 (New York Islanders), Hartford in 1980 (Montreal) and the New York Americans in 1929 (New York Rangers).

NFL NEWS

DAMAR HAMLIN CLEARED TO PLAY, 4 MONTHS AFTER CARDIAC ARREST

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Having spent the past several months meeting President Joe Biden, raising millions of dollars for his charitable foundation and promoting the benefits of CPR training, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin can focus now on the next big objective in his life: returning to football.

Wearing a red woolen cap and a Bills blue pullover, Hamlin sat at the podium on Tuesday and said his heart – the one that stopped beating some four months ago during a game in Cincinnati – was, as he put it, “still in the game.”

“This was a life-changing event, but it’s not the end of my story,” Hamlin said. “I plan on making a comeback to the NFL.”

Addressing reporters for the first time since going into cardiac arrest and having to be resuscitated on the field, Hamlin reflected on the anxious moments he’s endured, his inner drive to not let fear stand in his way and how he no longer takes a minute of his life for granted.

“The ‘wow’ moment is every day just being able to wake up and just take deep breaths and live a peaceful life, to have a family and people that are around me that love me,” said Hamlin, who has been medically cleared to play and is taking part in the start of the Bills’ voluntary workout program.

“They almost lost me. Like I died on national TV, you know what I mean?” he added. “So that right there is the biggest blessing of it all, for me to still have my people, and my people still have me.”

General manager Brandon Beane announced earlier in the day that Hamlin was medically cleared to return to football after the 25-year-old met with a third and final specialist on Friday. All three agreed Hamlin could resume playing without any fear of setbacks or complications. While the Bills had their head athletic trainer sit in on those meetings, Beane said the team is following the lead of the specialists.

“He’s such a great kid and has such a great family, and it’s exciting to go from a guy who was fighting for his life to now,” Beane said. “His story hasn’t been written. Now it’s about his comeback.”

Hamlin said the specialists agreed his heart stopped as a result of commotio cordis, which is a direct blow at a specific point in a heartbeat that causes cardiac arrest.

His next steps will be no different from any other NFL player in his bid to secure a roster spot. Hamlin will return to the field when the team’s voluntary spring practices begin next month, followed by mandatory practices in June and then training camp in late July.

His teammates were elated to see him back in the facility working out.

“D-Ham is a special person, a beautiful soul,” fellow safety Micah Hyde said. “I look up to him, especially how he’s bounced back after facing adversity. A little scary. But to see him well and in the building and move around a little bit, it gives you a little energy.”

Hamlin’s recovery is personal to many who watched in shock as Hamlin collapsed on the field on a nationally televised “Monday Night Football” game, but moreso for Beane. While the Bills returned home after the game initially was suspended and eventually canceled, Beane spent the first four days at Hamlin’s side, including when he was awakened from a medically induced coma at the University Cincinnati Medical Center.

“It was all about his health, and it’s always going to be about his health,” Beane said. “But to truly, you know, however many months later be talking about he’s fully cleared is pretty remarkable. And I’m excited for him and his family for where they are on his journey.”

Hamlin collapsed after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter of a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals. His collapse led to an outpouring of support from around the NFL and across North America, with donations made to Hamlin’s charitable organization topping more than $9 million.

The second-year player from Pittsburgh’s exurb of McKee’s Rock spent nearly 10 days recovering in hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo before being released. He eventually began visiting the Bills’ facility and attended the team’s season-ending 27-10 loss to the Bengals in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Hamlin recalled watching football on TV while lying in his hospital bed in Cincinnati when the thought of playing again first entered his mind.

“Just watching teams play, watching other safeties play, that’s where I saw and felt my love for the game,” he said. “That’s where I was just like, ‘I don’t want to be done yet.'”

Hamlin said specialists advised him that returning to football could have mental health benefits, which include enjoying the camaraderie of being among teammates.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time. That’s where I’m at in this process. Any time I try to think too forward, it gets cloudy,” he said. “I’ve got a long journey to go, but I’m committed to it each day.”

Hamlin has since made numerous appearances around the country, including meeting with Biden last month.

Biden posted a tweet on the visit that read: “Hamlin’s courage, resilience, and spirit inspired the American people. And what’s more: he turned recovery into action – and our country is better for it.”

Hamlin’s visit to Washington came as part of the player’s desire to back a bill that would increase access to defibrillators in public and private elementary and secondary schools.

During the Super Bowl festivities in Arizona in February, he received the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award. He also took part in a pregame ceremony in which the NFL honored the Bills’ and Bengals’ training and medical staffs and first responders who treated him.

AP SOURCE: RAMS WORKING TO SEND WR ROBINSON TO STEELERS

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers are working on a deal that would send wide receiver Allen Robinson to Pittsburgh.

A source with knowledge of the pending agreement tells the Associated Press on Tuesday that Los Angeles would send Robinson and its seventh-round pick (No. 251 overall) in the draft to the Steelers for one of Pittsburgh’s two seventh-round picks (No. 234).

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal is not official until Robinson passes a physical scheduled for Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Robinson caught just 33 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games for the Rams in 2022 before being lost for the season with a foot injury.

NFL Network first reported the trade. ESPN reported that Los Angeles will eat the majority of the $15.25 million in guaranteed money Robinson is scheduled to make in 2023.

The trade gives the Steelers a veteran presence in a decidedly young wide receivers room. Robinson, who turns 30 in August, joins a group that includes Diontae Johnson (26), George Pickens (22) and Calvin Austin III (24), who missed all of last season with an injury.

The move also perhaps moves Pittsburgh away from using one of its early draft choices on a receiver. The Steelers have made a habit of taking wideouts early and often. Pittsburgh has used one of its top three picks in the draft on a wide receiver in five of the past six years.

Robinson made the Pro Bowl while playing for Jacksonville in 2015, his second season in the NFL. His production, however, has steadily declined since he left the Jaguars for Chicago in 2018 and is now considered a possession receiver. He has averaged 11.7 yards per reception or less in three of his past four seasons.

Robinson signed a three-year, $46.5 million deal with the Rams in 2022 but with Los Angeles in the midst of a massive roster makeover, he was granted permission to seek a trade.

The move is a semi-homecoming for Robinson, who starred at Penn State – located in State College, Pennsylvania, three hours northeast of Pittsburgh – from 2011-13 before being taken in the second round of the 2014 draft by Jacksonville.

The move is a low-risk one for the Steelers, who are essentially taking a $5 million flyer on Robinson and hoping he can have an impact on younger players such as Pickens, who was dynamic at times during an eventful rookie season in 2022.

FORMER NFL DEFENSIVE END CHRIS SMITH DEAD AT 31

CLEVELAND (AP) Former NFL defensive end Chris Smith, who was touched by tragedy while he played for the Cleveland Browns, has died. He was 31.

Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and the Browns confirmed his passing on Tuesday. The cause of death was not immediately known.

“Rest in Peace Chris,” Rosenhaus wrote on Twitter. “Condolences to all his family, friends and loved ones. We will miss you.”

Smith played for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons this season. He previously spent eight seasons in the NFL with Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Houston.

While Smith was with the Browns in 2019, his girlfriend, Petara Cordero, was killed when she was hit by a car after she exited the vehicle he was driving. Cordero was standing on the road’s shoulder when the vehicle driven by a 47-year-old woman smashed into the passenger side of Smith’s car.

“Chris was one of the kindest players and people that I’ve ever met,” Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett said. “He was willing to give you the shirt off his back for you. It’s hard just knowing people like that can go at any time.”

Smith and Cordero had a daughter shortly before Cordero’s death.

After playing at Arkansas, Smith was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round in 2014. He finished with 11 career sacks in 72 games.

Former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield also expressed his sympathy for Smith.

“To know him was to love him,” Mayfield posted on Twitter along with a photo of Smith leading a huddle of Browns. “Heaven got a good one. We’ll never forget you and we’ll always miss you. RIP Chris.”

NFL DRAFT-DEFENSIVE TACKLES

The 2023 DT pool offers some high-end prospects with blue-chip potential. NFL teams are fully examining Carter’s character after he pleaded no contest to reckless driving and racing charges related to a fatal crash in January. A lackluster pro day only furthered concerns. Strictly assessing the film, Carter is an extra-large freak athlete with a disruptive presence. The All-American flashes a rare combination of explosive first-step quickness and heavy hands as a destructive run stopper/pocket pusher. Bresee is a versatile interior defender with the capacity to play nose tackle or three-technique in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. The former No. 1 overall recruit is an active player at the line of scrimmage with quick hands and dynamic finishing skills. Kancey is a squatty-bodied interior pass rusher with exceptional first-step quickness and athleticism. He is not an Aaron Donald clone, but his disruptive skills as an explosive, undersized DT out of Pitt predictably draw comparisons to the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Smith is an elite athlete with intriguing tools as an interior defender. He flashes disruptive potential, but needs some skill refinement to become a more consistent player at the next level. Adebawore has surged up the charts after a spectacular performance at the NFL Scouting Combine led evaluators to take a comprehensive look at his tape. The Northwestern standout is a worker bee with a knack for making plays with extra effort. Although his game has not caught up to his athleticism, Adebawore’s tools and talent make him an intriguing prospect as an interior pass rusher.

JALEN CARTER GEORGIA

***EDITOR’S NOTE: This prospect profile was published prior to Carter’s March 1 arrest on reckless driving and racing charges. He entered no contest pleas to the charges on March 16 and was sentenced to serve 12 months of probation, pay a $1,000 fine, perform 80 hours of community service and complete a state-approved defensive driving course, according to attorney Kim T. Stephens.*** Carter was one of the top recruits in the country after excelling on the football field at Apopka High School in Florida. Also, he played basketball and placed second in the state weightlifting competition’s heavyweight division with a 395-pound bench press. That strength showed up early in his career with the Bulldogs, as he started twice in 10 games as a true freshman during the 2020 season (14 tackles, three for loss, one blocked kick). Carter played alongside 2022 first-round picks Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt on the defensive line for the national champions in 2021. He was a second-team All-SEC selection that fall (37 tackles, 8.5 for loss with three sacks, two blocked kicks, two starts in 15 games). Carter led a Bulldogs defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (77.1) in 2022, garnering first-team Associated Press All-American and all-conference honors despite missing time during Georgia’s title run with knee and ankle injuries (32 tackles, seven for loss with three sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles in 13 games, nine starts).

Overview

When assessing a player’s draft grade, we take into consideration areas like traits, toughness, explosiveness, skill level, potential for growth and positional projections. Across the board, Carter checks out in a big way. However, his maturity will need to be vetted by each team as they make their evaluations. The tape shows a defender with odd- or even-front versatility and a rare blend of first-step quickness and leverage through contact. He’s capable of finding quick wins against sloppy guard play and finishes the play once he’s in the backfield. His hand usage can be violent or subtle, but the feet are always active and searching for an opening. Based upon talent, traits and projection, Carter appears ready to step into the NFL and become a productive three-down talent with Pro Bowl potential.

Strengths

• Outstanding lean muscle mass with proportional structure.
• Rockets out of stance and into premium position off the snap.
• Step-and-swim move creates upper hand to bypass guards.
• Accurate, compact hands keep him in ready position to handle business.
• Holds the point during lateral engagements to monitor both gaps.
• Widens base and rolls hips to doorjamb the double team.
• Flurries with hand combinations to disorient protection.
• Upper and lower body in harmony for edge-to-edge rush approach.
• Batters edge and opens door to pocket with forceful club move.
• Leverage makes him difficult to redirect once he finds blocker’s edge.

Weaknesses

• Could use a little more mass against NFL guards.
• Loses momentum when swapping power with true heavyweights.
• Neutralized by the size/strength of Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence in 2022.
• Tank ran out of gas in College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State.
• Could use a more diversified rush approach.
• Scouts say maturity has been an issue for him at times.

BRYAN BRESEE CLEMSON

The nation’s top recruit in the 2020 class was a two-time first-team USA Today All-American at Damascus High School in Maryland. Bresee (pronounced bruh-ZEE) started 10 of 12 appearances in 2020 (23 tackles, 6.5 for loss with four sacks, two pass breakups). He was a third-team All-ACC pick in 2021 despite only starting the Tigers’ first four games (12 tackles, three for loss with 1.5 sacks, one interception) because of a torn ACL. Bresee was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022 (15 tackles, 5.5 for loss with 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups in 10 games, seven starts). Bresee missed the Louisiana Tech game to be with his family after the death of his younger sister, Ella, who passed away from brain cancer at the age of 15. Later in the season, Bresee missed time due to a kidney infection.

Overview

Burly but athletic interior tackle who plays with a strong desire to get past the man in front of him. Bresee rarely gets caught up in long block engagements and possesses a deep anchor to battle double teams. He operates with subtle hand fighting that helps puts pressure on blockers but currently lacks the rush sophistication and shed technique to make more plays in the backfield. If he can stay healthy and gain much-needed experience, Bresee should continue to progress at his position and become a good run defender with an ability to disrupt the pocket within his first few NFL seasons.

Strengths

• Broad but athletic build.
• Plays instinctive football in tight quarters.
• Processes blocking scheme and attacks with smart hands.
• Takes long, loose strides to defeat reach blocks laterally.
• Can withstand double teams and keep the gap snug.
• Plays past blocker with his eyes and focus.
• Maintains his run fits against move blocks.
• Moving target as interior rusher.
• Stutter-steps and strikes with altered pace.
• Pocket-pusher when he gets the jump.

Weaknesses

• College production does not jump off the page.
• Will slip block and lose gap leverage at times.
• Range as a tackle-maker is average.
• Rush approach is linear and unsophisticated.
• Unable to flip hips and get skinny around the edge.
• Suffered ACL tear in September 2021 and had shoulder surgery in January 2022.

CALIJAH KANCEY PITTSBURGH

The first-team All-Florida pick from Miami Northwestern High School redshirted his first year with the Panthers, playing in one game with no statistics. He played in all 11 games of the 2020 season, starting the final four contests (27 tackles, seven for loss with 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups). Kancey garnered third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-ACC honors as a sophomore with a team-high 13 tackles for loss (with seven sacks among 35 total tackles) in 14 starts. He was a first-team AP All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior, as well as a finalist for the Nagurski and Outland Trophies after leading the Panthers with 14.5 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks in 11 starts (31 total stops). Kancey missed the final two games of the year with a shoulder injury. 

Overview

Undersized, one-gapping defensive tackle who is explosive and productive. He’s a strong and determined player, but Kancey is still going to be a hit-or-miss run defender due to his lack of mass and length. While he will get pushed around at times, his first-step quickness and short memory allow him to make tackles in the backfield. He’s a nightmare for offenses as a pass rusher. His twitchy feet can slide and reset points of attack. His leverage and motor are often too much for guards to handle alone. Kancey might be most effective as a rotational run defender and full-time, sub-package rusher, but his size will not define him in the NFL.

Strengths

• Posted 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in two years as a full-time starter.
• Combination of first-step burst and contact balance stands out.
• Captures easy wins against leaning interior blockers.
• Excellent change-of-direction quickness and reactive athleticism.
• Terror in the pocket as a pass rusher.
• Laser-sharp focus on fastest possible way into the pocket.
• Slide speed to start at B-gap and finish rush in the opposite A-gap.
• Forward-charging attack eventually finds an edge or angle to exploit.
• Gets to quarterbacks with a top-flight closing kick.

Weaknesses

• Lacks prototypical size.
• Big guards can latch in and end the rush at times if he’s not first off the snap.
• Lack of length shows up if he can’t get to a rush edge.
• Ducks head into blockers, losing sight of run play development.
• Fails to mirror lateral steps; gets reached and sealed by athletic blockers.

MAZI SMITH MICHIGAN

Smith was a four-star, top-50 recruit and a two-time all-state pick at East Kentwood High School in Michigan before arriving in Ann Arbor. He played in two games during his redshirt season (no statistics) and then in five contests off the bench in 2020 (three tackles, one for loss). Smith started all 14 games in 2021, garnering honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference notice (37 tackles, 2.5 for loss, four pass breakups). He was a first-team All-Big Ten pick in 2022 (48 tackles, 2.5 for loss in 14 starts). In October, he was stopped by police for speeding and was arrested for possessing a concealed weapon without a valid license to carry one. Smith later told reporters he was in the process of completing the paperwork to acquire the proper permit when he was stopped by police. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to probation. Smith’s grandfather, Carl, started a Black freedom movement newspaper called “The Organizer” in the 1960s and eventually worked for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. His mother’s first cousin, Sekou Smith, was a long-time ESPN NBA writer before passing away in 2021. 

Overview

Dontari Poe might be the physical and athletic player comparison for Smith, but more consistency from Smith is needed before he finds the Pro Bowl, as Poe did twice in his career. Smith’s blend of size and quickness is rare. He can punch and control a base block with relative ease. However, he struggles to match the initial movement of move blockers, which diminishes his effectiveness. He has space-eating potential but needs to become more consistent at taking on double teams and securing his gap. Smith’s size and testing could give his draft slotting some juice but he’s more of a Day 2 talent with exciting upside than a plug-and-play starter.

Strengths

• Possesses rare combination of size and athleticism.
• Bendy and stout in his lower half.
• Power to punch and lift blocker under his pads.
• Plays with lively feet and short-area quickness.
• Able to slide, swim and seize the gap.
• Yanks and pulls guards off-balance from any direction.
• Foot quickness to be part of a twisting rush unit.

Weaknesses

• Hasn’t made many plays behind the line of scrimmage.
• Motor runs out of gas when tempo heats up.
• Slow reaction to movement gets him sealed.
• Struggled against Iowa’s zone scheme attack.
• Surprising lack of anchor consistency against double teams.
• Unlikely to see many passing downs as a pro.

ADETOMIWA ADEBAWORE NORTHWESTERN

Adetomiwa Adebawore (pronounced add-E-TOMMY-wah add-E-BAR-eh) was a first-team all-state football selection and won a state title in the shot put at North Kansas City High School. As a true freshman for the Wildcats, he played in eight games with four starts (six tackles, one sack) before starting all nine games in 2020 (17 tackles, six for loss with two sacks, two pass breakups). In 2021, Adebawore garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference accolades by leading NU with 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks among his 36 total stops in 12 games — also posting three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He led the Wildcats in 2022 with five sacks while also recording 38 total tackles, nine for loss and two forced fumbles in 12 games — again receiving honorable mention all-conference accolades.

Overview

Adebawore seems like a positional tweener, checking in a little short for the edge and a little light for the interior. However, he was able to handle himself at the point of attack at the Senior Bowl and is just a few hearty meals away from checking in at a weight that could pass for an even front three-technique. He’s a powerful man who wins with force over fluidity. He will need better play recognition in the future, but his explosive first contact and ability to play under his opponent’s pads could earn him a spot as a base end with sub-package rush ability or simply as a rotational interior defender.

Strengths

• Engages blockers with proper pad level.
• Good explosiveness in upper and lower body.
• Quick to cross-face tackles and make plays in the B-gap.
• Rapid punch-and-release move to slip past blockers.
• Rush movements are subtle but effective in getting to blocker’s edge.
• Uses leverage and hip strength to press through redirect blocks.

Weaknesses

• Lacks prototypical height and length of a defensive end.
• Too caught up in playing the block rather than discarding it.
• Below average awareness and instincts.
• Pursuit burst to the sideline is just average.
• Too many missed tackles.
• Tight hips restrict ability to slide wide and improve pass-rush angles.
• Offensive tackles with length and strong hands derail his rush plans quickly.

TOP INDIANA RELEASES

INDIANS WALKED OFF BY REDBIRDS IN SERIES OPENER, 5-4

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Redbirds launched back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Indianapolis Indians in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night at AutoZone Park, 5-4.

Trailing by one run with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Luken Baker and Oscar Mercado launched consecutive dingers off Yerry De Los Santos (L, 0-2) to cap a four-run comeback for Memphis (11-5). The Redbirds trailed 4-0 before plating three runs in the seventh inning en route to the series-opening victory.

The Indians (7-9) capitalized on an Endy Rodríguez single and walk issued to Malcolm Nuñez to begin the scoring with two outs in the third inning. Miguel Andújar drove in one with a pop-up single, and Cal Mitchell followed in the next at-bat with a two-run double to right field, extending the lead to 3-0. Indianapolis tacked on its last run of the contest in the top half of the sixth inning courtesy of a double by Aaron Shackelford.

In his first appearance against Memphis, Indy starter Luiz Ortiz allowed just four hits in 5.0 innings of shutout baseball. Memphis southpaw Matthew Liberatore struck out six while giving up four runs on eight hits. The Redbirds relievers allowed just two hits in the remaining 3.1 innings, keeping Indianapolis from tallying another run.

The Indians and Redbirds will meet again for game two of their six-game set on Wednesday afternoon at AutoZone Park with a 1:05 PM ET first pitch. RHP Kent Emanuel (0-0, 0.00) will make his season debut for Indianapolis, countering Memphis RHP Dakota Hudson (1-1, 2.87).

PHILLIPS STIFLES NO. 10 CARDINALS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sunshine splashed over Bart Kaufman Field and a national audience watched as the Indiana baseball program worked its way to a 7-3 victory over No. 10 Louisville on Tuesday (April 18) evening.

Louisville (26-10) opened the scoring with a single run in the third inning, but it was a five-run bottom of the third that set the tone for Indiana (26-11). The Hoosiers would add single runs in the fourth and sixth inning, before the Cardinals chipped away with unearned runs in both the seventh and eighth innings.

Sophomore Brock Tibbitts and freshman Devin Taylor each drove in two RBIs in the game to give them 12 and 10 multi-RBI games on the season, respectively. Tibbitts had a pair of hits, while Taylor singled and walked twice in the game. Taylor also moved his reached base streak to 26 games on the night.

Senior Peter Serruto set up the first run of the game with a sacrifice bunt that pushed two runners into scoring position, one of which was driven in by senior Phillip Glasser. The RBI single moved Glasser’s reached base streak to 37 games and opened the five-run inning. Serruto added a second sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning that led to a run, then walked and came around to score in the sixth inning.

Junior Seti Manase made the start and allowed one run on three hits over 2 1/3 innings, before he handed the ball to freshman Ethan Phillips (2-0) with a runner on second and one out. Phillips got a strikeout and a groundout to stand the inherited runner and threw the next four innings.

In all, Phillips allowed one unearned run on one hit and three walks over a career-high 4 2/3 innings of work to earn the win. He struck out four batters. Redshirt senior Craig Yoho fired the last two innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

For Louisville, Noah Smith went 2-for-3 with one run scored and Will Vierling hit a solo home run in the third inning. Patrick Forbes drove in the other RBI for the Cardinals. Evan Webster (1-2) took the loss with three runs – two earned – allowed on two hits.

Scoring Recap

Top Third

Will Vierling hit a one-out solo home run.

Louisville 1, Indiana 0

Bottom Third

Hunter Jessee started the inning with a walk and moved to second on a base hit from Tyler Cerny. Peter Serruto moved the runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt and Phillip Glasser followed with a base hit to drive in the first run. Bobby Whalen followed with an RBI base hit and Devin Taylor plated two more with a single of his own. Brock Tibbitts capped the scoring with an RBI base knock.

Indiana 5, Louisville 1

Bottom Fourth

Cerny reached on a passed ball after striking out, moved to second on a Serruto sacrifice and came around to score on an errant throw by the UL catcher after a wild pitch advanced him to third.

Indiana 6, Louisville 1

Bottom Sixth

A walk to Serruto to start the inning was followed by a wild pitch to move him to second. With two outs, Tibbitts singled up the middle to bring Serruto around to score.

Indiana 7, Louisville 1

Top Seventh

A leadoff walk came all the way around to score on a base hit the right-center field that was misplayed off the bounce.

Indiana 7, Louisville 2

Top Eighth

Noah Smith singled to start the inning and worked his way around to third on a stolen base and failed back-pick attempt at second base. Patrick Forbes singled to plate the runner from third.

Indiana 7, Louisville 3

Up Next

Indiana will hit the road for a second midweek game on Wednesday (April 19) at Cincinnati. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. and will air on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network.

EDEY DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT WITH OPTION TO RETURN TO SCHOOL

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) National player of the year Zach Edey of Purdue has declared for the NBA, but will keep open the option of returning to school next season.

The 7-foot-4 center, who led Purdue to a Big Ten regular-season title last season by averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 assists per game, has one season of college eligibility remaining. The Boilermakers also became the second No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament to lose to a No. 16 seed last month.

“My basketball career has been unorthodox to say the least, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it,” Edey wrote on Twitter. “From ranked 437 in my recruiting class to national player of the year, I can’t put into words what Purdue University, my teammates, my coaches and our fans mean to me. Though we fell short of our ultimate goal this season, I loved every minute of it.”

He added: “I will evaluate my future after going through the process and look forward to what’s next.”

Edey became the first player from Purdue to win the national player of the year award since Glenn Robinson in 1994. Robinson was the No. 1 overall pick that season.

Edey is the first player in NCAA history to finish a season with at least 750 points, 400 rebounds, 70 blocks and 50 assists in a season – since blocks became an official stat. He finished in the top 25 nationally in all four categories, was a unanimous first team All-American, the Big Ten player of the year and swept the national player of the year awards.

But where Edey fits in the draft is unclear in an evolving league that values 3-point shots and perimeter play over post players. That was one reason Edey’s former teammate, Jaden Ivey, went No. 5 overall in last year’s draft.

Most of the current projections, though, don’t have Edey being selected in the first round. Still, his upside remains high because the Canadian has played just five seasons of high-level basketball after giving up hockey and baseball.

Purdue has had at least one player selected in each of the past seven drafts, and Edey is the best hope to keep that streak intact.

In 99 career games, Edey has 1,533 points, 847 rebounds, 148 blocks and 106 assists. In 2022-23, Edey became the second player in Big Ten history to lead the league in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.

PITCHING CARRIES BASEBALL TO 3RD STRAIGHT 1-RUN WIN

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – CJ Backer struck out seven over five innings of one-hit ball and Jackson Dannelley closed the win with a seven-out save, leading Purdue baseball to a 3-2 victory vs. Ball State on Tuesday at Alexander Field.

The Boilermakers (17-18) have won their last three games all via one-run affairs. They’ve played in three straight one-run games for the first time since March 29-April 4, 2019 and won three consecutive games all by one run for the first time since May 2004 – the final two games of the regular season and their Big Ten Tournament opener.

Backer retired 15 of the 17 batters he faced in his finest outing of the season. His seven strikeouts were a personal season-best and just one K shy of both his career high and the season-best mark by a Purdue pitcher. He followed the lead of Kyle Iwinski in Saturday’s rubber game win vs. Penn State, a victory in which Iwinski conceded just an unearned run over eight innings. Iwinski and Backer have now teamed up for a streak of 12 consecutive scoreless innings by Boilermakers starting pitchers.

Paul Toetz connected for an RBI double in the fourth inning, registering his team-leading 40th RBI of the season. By date on the calendar (April 18), he became the third-fastest Boilermaker to reach the 40-RBI benchmark.

Backer (7), Dannelley (3) and Davis Pratt (2) teamed up for 12 strikeouts, Purdue’s most since racking up a season-high 15 in its final game of February. The Cardinals (23-13) scored an unearned run in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Dannelley retired seven of the eight batters he faced to earn his first save as a Boilermaker. He rolled through a 1-2-3 inning vs. Ball State’s 3-4-5 hitters in the top of the eighth inning after stranding a pair of inherited runners to close out the top of the seventh. Dannelley struck out the first two batters of the ninth.

Connor Caskenette singled to lead off the second and fourth innings, extending his on-base streak to 14 consecutive games and hit streak to seven straight. He scored on Toetz’s double. Toetz is riding a seven-game on-base streak in all games and six-game hit streak at Alexander Field.

Jake Parr also singled twice Tuesday, extending his hit streak to nine consecutive games. Parr scored on a wild pitch to give the Boilermakers a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

Jo Stevens singled twice and scored the game’s first run on a two-out infield hit from Couper Cornblum in the second inning. Stevens’ alert base running put him in position to score when the Ball State second baseman couldn’t make the play on the slow chopper hit by Cornblum. Stevens had taken second on a pitch in the dirt and moved into third on a ground out to shortstop.

The Boilermakers won for just the second time this season when scoring three runs or fewer. But both of those wins have come in the last eight games. They also won a 4-3 game Saturday vs. Penn State.

Purdue concludes its six-game homestand Wednesday vs. Butler. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. ET.

9 RUNS IN 5 INNINGS POWER PURDUE TO VICTORY

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  —  In a border battle, the Purdue softball squad notched its 20th win of the season in a 9-1 takedown of Butler in five innings of play. Seven Boilermakers accounted for the nine runs, including a perfect-3-for-3 at-bat and win in the circle by Alex Echazarreta.

The Boilermakers poured on five runs in the second inning, marking most in a single inning this year. Included in the showing was a two-run homer by Echazarreta.

Sophomore first baseman Olivia McFadden recorded one run on two hits and an RBI. Both hits came in the form of doubles, tying her career-best which was set a year ago.

The game-winning run came at the bat of Anna Lonchar in the first inning, when with two outs on the board, produced a two RBI single.

Echazarreta secured her sixth win of the season in the circle (6-11) after tossing the first four innings. The fifth year notched four strikeouts, including three in the span of four batters faced between the first and second innings.

Purdue’s nine runs tie as the second-most in a single game this season. The team’s 12 hits also are the second-most this year.

The Boilermakers head to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for a trio of games at Ohio State. Friday’s game will begin at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a 2 p.m. ET game on Saturday and a 1 p.m. ET start on Sunday. All three games will be streamed on B1G+.

ALEX JERDEN ASCENDS TO HEAD COACH OF MEN’S SWIM-DIVE

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Alex Jerden will lead Purdue Men’s Swimming & Diving as the program’s new head coach, it was announced Tuesday by Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mike Bobinski.

Jerden, who graduated from Purdue in 2009 and served on former head coach Dan Ross’ staff since the 2019-20 season, has delivered a tremendous impact on the recruiting trail for the Old Gold & Black. Jerden has tutored several Boilers to record-breaking times and Big Ten Conference medals, setting the stage for transition as he takes over for Purdue’s longtime leader in Ross, who announced his retirement last month.

“As we evaluated candidates through our search process, it became clear to us that Alex Jerden was the right person to carry on the proud tradition of Purdue Men’s Swimming & Diving,” Bobinski said. “Alex’s work as an assistant here at Purdue under Dan Ross and his other coaching experiences have prepared him well for this opportunity. We look forward to helping support Alex’s vision for success in every way possible and are excited to see what the future holds for the Boilermakers under his leadership.”

Since 2019-20, Purdue has won a swimming medal at each of the last four Big Ten Championships (five total). With a relay medal in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Boilermakers enjoyed their first three-year streak at the Big Ten meet since 2001-03.

“The opportunity to lead Purdue as head coach is the highest honor of my coaching career and the responsibility I feel to the program, to the alumni and to Purdue is a privilege and joy to have,” Jerden said. “Throughout most of my life, the coaches and mentors I’ve had and worked with in swimming have invested in me beyond measure, for which I am incredibly grateful. And so, accepting this position is an exciting amplification of the role I will have to help people as purposefully and as abundantly as I can. That I get to do this through this sport and at Purdue University with fantastic people around me is a beautiful thing.”

On an individual level, Jerden has mentored notable Boiler achievements over the last two seasons, including Brady Samuels, who set two team records, three freshman records and earlier this year became the first Purdue All-American in a backstroke event since the 2005 season. Nick Sherman claimed the silver medal in the 200 IM at the Big Ten meet this season, becoming the Boilermakers’ first medalist in the event since 2007.

Additionally, Samuels, Sherman and teammates Ethan Shaw, Idris Muhammad and Coleman Modglin all posted top-5 times in program history during the 2022-23 season. Samuels, Shaw, Muhammad and Modglin are slated to return to action for the 2023-24 season.

“I couldn’t be prouder to pass the baton of head men’s swimming & diving coach to Alex Jerden as he becomes only the fourth head coach of our program since 1939,” Ross said. “Alex is smart; he’s been exposed to and developed fast swimmers. But more importantly, he does it the right way – the Purdue Way. Honest, driven, fair but challenging – he’s a perfect fit for the future of this program.”

Before embarking on his collegiate coaching career, Jerden spent five seasons with Boilermaker Aquatics. After joining in 2019, Jerden helped grow championship participation to the highest in club history. Altogether, Jerden compiled 13 years of coaching experience ahead of when he was hired full-time at Purdue, including two seasons as a volunteer assistant with the University of Texas Men’s Team. He shared recruiting duties and worked with all training groups, including All-Americans, American record holders, and NCAA record holders under the guidance of longtime head coach Eddie Reese and assistant Wyatt Collins. While Jerden was in Austin, the Longhorns finished as national runners-up at the 2019 NCAA Championships.

“The culture that Dan Ross worked to cultivate for decades has been a huge source of inspiration and drive for me in my career, and I can’t thank Dan enough for his work and letting me be a part of it all,” Jerden said. “As is well known on this team – Rule No. 1: Love Your Teammates. If we truly believe that and do the work for each other, a lot of fun is on the horizon! I love this team and I’m brimming with excitement at the thought of all the possibilities that we might be able to realize in the coming years.

“Finally, I would really like to thank Mike Bobinski and Ed Howat for their leadership, guidance, and confidence during my time thus far at Purdue. We are very much on the same page when it comes to cultivating excellence within a program and I’m proud to have the opportunity to work alongside a first-class support staff in group pursuit of that excellence.”

Jerden lives in Lafayette with his wife, Danielle – married in December 2022 – and their two terriers.

Reaction from Current Boilermakers

“Hearing that Alex is going to be filling Dan’s shoes was extremely exciting for me. I have worked very closely with him in our backstroke and IM groups and I have an idea of how he is capable of leading the program. I don’t think we could’ve found anyone else that embodies the Boilermaker spirit better than him. His ambition is extremely contagious, he is passionate about both swimming and making Purdue student-athletes the best versions of themselves in all aspects of life. He has been integral in maintaining and even improving the team culture of love and excellence that makes Purdue Swimming great. Alex is a warrior of a coach and I cannot wait to see where he takes the program.” – Andrew Swenson, Junior Backstroke

“I believe Alex is a hardworking and dedicated individual that wants nothing but the best for Purdue Men’s Swim & Dive. I am excited to see what the future holds for both Alex and the team.” – Idris Muhammad, Sophomore Sprint Freestyle/Backstroke

“I’m excited to get to work with Alex further because he’s not only an excellent technical coach but he embodies what it means to be a Boilermaker. He’s passionate about the team becoming the best we can, and I know he has the ability to lead us to greatness.” – Dylan Buaru, Freshman Backstroke

ALI ALI ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL

Senior Ali Ali entered the transfer portal Tuesday. Ali came to Butler after playing three seasons at Akron. Ali led the Zips in scoring as a junior, earning All-Mid-American Conference second-team honors.

Former North Carolina forward Puff Johnson is scheduled to visit Butler on Wednesday.

ALL-CAA HONOREE JAHMYL TELFORT SIGNS WITH BUTLER BASKETBALL

Jahmyl Telfort, who led Northeastern and finished fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring last season, has signed a financial aid agreement and will join the Butler program.

Telfort has two seasons of eligibility remaining at Butler, beginning with the 2023-24 campaign.

“Jahmyl has been one of the best players over the last few seasons in the Colonial, which is a strong conference,” said Butler coach Thad Matta. “He has a good mix of toughness and positional size that we are confident can create good match-ups for him in the BIG EAST. We’re excited to get him to Hinkle.”

The 6-7 wing arrives at Butler after three seasons at Northeastern, where he became just the 20th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points in their first three seasons. Telfort averaged 16.4 points per game as a junior, his third consecutive year scoring in double figures. In addition to finishing fifth in the CAA in scoring, he was also sixth in field goal percentage. He started all 30 games for the Huskies during the 2022-23 season, scoring 20 or more points 11 times. The Boucherville, Quebec native earned All-CAA third-team honors and NABC All-District second team accolades.

As a sophomore, Telfort averaged 12.6 points per game during the 2021-22 season, which was 13th in the CAA. As a freshman, Telfort was named the CAA Sixth Man of the Year while also earning a spot on the CAA All-Rookie Team. He averaged 11.8 points and 3.8 rebounds during his initial campaign, being recognized as the CAA Rookie of the Week four times. He was a finalist for the 2021 Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year Award and was recognized as a Freshman All-American by CollegeInsider.com.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY RECORDS 8-3 VICTORY AT BULLDOG PARK

INDIANAPOLIS – The Northern Kentucky Norse came up with their 22nd win of the season with an 8-3 victory over Butler. The Bulldogs had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning and would end the contest with five more hits than their opponent, but three runs in the fourth followed by three more in the sixth and a final two in the ninth would lift NKU to victory.

Trouble started in the top of the fourth for BU as NKU score their first run on a bases loaded walk. A wild pitch moved the score to 2-0 and a sac fly would give the Norse a 3-0 advantage despite not finding the hit column.

The 3-0 lead grew to 6-0 in the sixth with another wild pitch and a two-RBI single down the line in left. Northern Kentucky was able to add two runs in the ninth to pad their lead to 8-0.

BU avoided the shutout with three runs in the ninth. Cade Vota scored on a wild pitch and Kyle Van Liere would ground out which led to Quentin Markle scoring. Joey Urban was also involved with a double down the line to score Dominic Milano.

Cade Thune got the start for BU and went through the order once before handing the ball off to Alex Voss. Thune struck out four in 2.1 innings and didn’t allow a hit.

Shane Kilfoyle took the loss and Zach Byron was credited with the win. NKU starter Aaron Massie did his job on Tuesday afternoon, tossing the first four innings and keeping BU off the board. The Norse would use five more arms before getting the final out.

Butler will return to action tomorrow with a night game at Purdue. First pitch on B1G+ is set for 6:30 PM.

BUTLER SOFTBALL DROPS MIDWEEK GAME AT PURDUE

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Butler softball team lost a non-conference game at Purdue on Tuesday in five innings. The Bulldogs (15-28) scored in the first inning to take a brief lead, but the Boilermakers (20-24) responded with unanswered runs in the bottom of the first, the second, and the fourth to produce a 9-1 victory.

How It Happened

Butler grabbed an early, 1-0, lead in the top of the first. Ella White drew a walk and Paige Dorsett doubled to center field, sending White across. Purdue responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning and held a 2-1 lead after one complete.

In the second, the Boilermakers added five runs on six hits and an error, and three fourth-inning singles pushed the Purdue lead to 9-1.

Sydney Cammon (4-7) started in the circle for Butler and took the loss. In 1.1 innings, she allowed seven runs on eight hits. Rylyn Dyer (2.2 IP, 2 R, BB) entered in the second and finished the game.

Bulldog Bits

Paige Dorsett’s double was her eighth of the season and the tenth of her career. It was her second in as many games.

Up Next

Butler hosts Indiana State on Wednesday, Apr. 19, and will then take an eight-day break before a BIG EAST series with Georgetown the weekend of Apr. 28-30.

SCHECK MAKES MOVE ON SECOND DAY OF BIG EAST WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – Butler freshman Kelli Scheck climbed six spots on the leaderboard during Tuesday’s second round of the 2023 BIG EAST Women’s Golf Championship Presented by JEEP at the Riverton Pointe Country Club in Hardeeville, S.C.

Following her four-over 76 Tuesday, Scheck is now tied for 14th. She is among a group that stands at 160 (+16).

The 54-hole championship is slated for a final 18 Wednesday morning.

Scores improved Tuesday as Monday’s windy conditions gave way to calmer skies.

As a team, Butler was 29 shots better in Tuesday’s round than they were in Monday’s opening 18. The Bulldogs shot 320 (+32) Tuesday following a 349 team score the day prior.

Xavier remains in the lead following a score of 303 (+15) Tuesday. The Musketeers hold a 12-stroke lead over Georgetown and Creighton (619). Creighton used a three-over round of 291 to vault from fifth into a tie for second Tuesday. Seton Hall (637; +61), St. John’s (642; +66), and Butler 669 (+93) are in the final three positions.

On the individual leaderboard, Creighton’s Katherine Lemke carded a tournament-record 67 (-5) to move into the 36-hole lead at two-over 146. She holds a two-shot lead over Xavier’s Emma McMyler. McMyler held the opening-round lead. Xavier has four players among the top seven entering Wednesday’s final round.

The BIG EAST will crown a team champion, which gains an automatic berth to the 2023 NCAA Championship.  The individual medalist also receives an NCAA Championship invitation.

The final round begins at 8 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Live scoring is available on GolfStat.com. For the first time, GameKast Live, a golf streaming service, is providing coverage. Viewers will form an account, but there will be no charge for the service this year. GKLive.TV will cover the entire 54-hole event using over 20 cameras. Live commentary from the 18th green, player and coach interviews and highlights will be provided.

The Bulldogs – Following First Round

T14. Kelli Scheck, 84-76—160 (+16)

24. Lily Celentano, 87-81—168 (+24)

25. Cybil Stillson, 87-82—169 (+25)

26. Katie Steinman, 91-81—172 (+28)

28. Alaina Bowie, 93-88—181 (+37)

Team Standings – Following First Round

1. Xavier, 304-303–607 (+31)

T2. Georgetown, 317-302–619 (+43)

T2. Creighton, 328-291—619 (+43)

4. Seton Hall, 326-311–637 (+61)

5. St. John’s, 327-315–642 (+66)

6. Butler, 349-320–669 (+93)

Individual Leaders – Following First Round

1. Katherine Lemke, Creighton, 79-67—146 (+2)

2. Emma McMyler, Xavier, 74-74—148 (+4)

3. Gabriella Gilrowski, Georgetown, 77-72—149 (+5)

4. Madison Reemsnyder, Xavier, 77-76—153 (+9)

5. Kara Carter, Xavier, 75-79—154 (+10)

CARDINALS COMEBACK BID COMES UP JUST SHORT AGAINST THE BOILERMAKERS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team returned to the diamond for a midweek matchup with in-state foe Purdue on Tuesday. Justin Conant led the Cardinals with a 2-for-3 game at the plate.

Ball State fell to 23-13 on the year, while Purdue improved to 17-18 on the season.

The Boilermakers got on the board first in the bottom of the third with a run on two hits. Purdue added two runs in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning.

Conant led off the top of the sixth with a single to the pitcher. Nick Gregory followed with a five-pitch walk. Adam Tellier reached safely on an error on a sac bunt to the pitcher and loaded the bases for the Cardinals. Ryan Peltier reached on a fielder’s choice to the third baseman as Conant was thrown out at home on the force. Decker Scheffler recorded a sac fly on a line out to the center fielder as Gregory tagged up and scored from third. BSU cut the lead to 3-1 after six.

In the top of the seventh, Jalen Martinez reached on an error by the second baseman with two outs. Conant drew a walk and moved Martinez into scoring position. Gregory was down in the count 0-2 but was unfazed and delivered an RBI single to left field as Martinez scored from second. The Cardinals cut the Boilermaker lead to 3-2, after seven innings of play.

Tanner Knapp got the start for the Cardinals and went 2 2/3 innings in the loss. He fell to 1-2 on the season. He struck out two batters and surrendered one earned run on three hits. Will Jacobson added two innings in relief with two strikeouts. He gave up two earned runs on three hits. Logan Schulfer went 2 1/3 innings in relief. He struck out three batters and scattered two hits. Blake Bevis threw one inning with one strikeout and did not give up a hit.

Conant recorded a team-high two hits. Gregory and Martinez each added a hit as well as a run. 

CJ Backer got the start for Purdue and went five innings in the win. He improved to 1-3 on the season. He struck out seven batters and gave up just one hit. Davis Pratt went 1 2/3 innings in relief. He struck out two batters and surrendered two unearned runs. Jackson Dannelley picked up his first save of the season in 2 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out three batters.

Ball State returns to the friendly confines of the Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark on Friday as Northern Illinois makes the trip to Muncie. First pitch on April 21, is slated for 3 p.m.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL FACES LEWIS WEDNESDAY AT HOME IN MIVA TOURNEY SEMIFINALS

No. 1 seed Ball State (19-8) | No. 4 seed Lewis (17-12)

(Ball State is the No. 10 team in the country

Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena

Date: April 19 at 7 pm ET

Ball State vs. Lewis in the Tournament Results (Ball State leads 7-4, 1-2 Championship, 5-2 Semifinals, 1-0 Quarterfinals)

The Last Time: The last time Ball State and Lewis faced off in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament semifinal round was in 2022. The Cardinals played the Flyers in Muncie, Ind. on April 20 winning that match by a score of 3-0. It just so happens that the last two times Ball State won the tournament title they faced Lewis in the semifinal round defeating the Flyers by a score of 3-1 in Worthen Arena on April 27,2002 and on April 20, 2022, by a score of 3-0. 

Scouting Lewis: Lewis comes to Ball State after earning a four-set win against Purdue Fort Wayne last Saturday in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals. Lewis dominated play against Ball State in the quarterfinals jumping to an early 2-0 lead against the Mastodons. The Cardinals and the Flyers split their two-match series in MIVA regular season action this year winning at Lewis and losing in Worthen Arena both by a score of 3-2. The Flyers are led by Max Roquet who has tallied 298 kills thus far and was tabbed to the All-MIVA First Team.

Scouting Ball State: The Cardinals have advanced to the semifinals of the MIVA Tournament since its induction in 1980 a total of 37 times. Ball State earned the No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament and the right to host as the top seed after defeating Purdue Fort Wayne on April 8 in a 3-0 decision to claim the Cardinals second-straight MIVA regular season title. Ball State made it to the semifinals of the MIVA Tournament after defeating the No. 8 seed Quincy on Saturday by a score of 3-0.  If Ball State moves on to the MIVA Tourney finals it will be the second-straight year that BSU has accomplished that feat. Just a year ago, the Cardinals beat Purdue Fort Wayne 3-0 in the title match in Worthen Arena.

The Road to No. 1: Ball State closed out MIVA regular season action winning six-straight to put itself back in contention for the MIVA regular season title again. What had to happen happened for the Cardinals. Ball State earned 3-0 sweeps over Loyola Chicago and Purdue Fort Wayne to earn its second-straight title while also claiming the top seed.

No. 10 Men’s Volleyball Places Four on All-MIVA First & Second Teams:  The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season champion Ball State men’s volleyball team had four players earn All-MIVA First and Second Team honors. Graduate senior outside hitter Kaleb Jenness was tabbed to the All-MIVA First Team for the fourth-straight season along with sophomore outside attacker Tinaishe Ndavazocheva who also received First Team honors as well, which is a first for Ndavazocheva. Graduate senior middle attacker Felix Egharevba was selected to the All-MIVA Second Team for his third-straight season while teammate senior setter David Flores also earned the same award for the first time in his career. Jenness, was tabbed preseason All-MIVA prior to the start of the season. Jenness currently ranks 15th in the nation in kills per set (3.72). He leads the Cardinals in kills (327), digs (138) and points (369.5). Jenness has turned in a double-digit performances 19 times this season including a season best 21-kills at Loyola Chicago (2/16) and UC San Diego (3/5). Jenness recently earned MIVA Player of the Week honors on April 11. Currently Jenness ranks second all-time in kills at Ball State with 1,185. Ndavazocheva has turned in quite the rookie season for the Cardinals. He earned MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honors and Off the Block National Honors on Feb. 7. He turned in a career high 27 kills against Lewis (2/9) and has had 19 double digit kill performances this season. Ndavazocheva currently ranks second on the team in kills (299) and in points (343.5). A force to be reckoned with on defense, Egharevba has been tabbed to the All-MIVA Second Team for the third time in his career. Egharevba leads the Cardinals with 90 blocks which includes 10 block solos and 80 block assists. He ranks 16th nationally in blocks per set (1.011). This season, Egharevba has turned in one double digit block performance with 10 against UC San Diego (3/5). Egharevba has 319 total blocks for his career at Ball State which is good for ninth all-time. For the first time in his career, Flores has earned a postseason All-MIVA honor after being named to the Second Team. Flores recently was tabbed the Off the Block Setter of the Week along with earning MIVA Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance last weekend against Loyola Chicago and Purdue Fort Wayne. Flores dished out a season best 53 assists against BYU (2/2/23) and currently ranks eighth in the nation in assists per set (10.17).

Cruz’s First Memorable Season:  The Cardinals are looking to build off a historic 2022 season which saw Donan Cruz, in his first year at the helm, lead Ball State to a 23-4 overall record and the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship. BSU was also ranked third in the final NVA/AVCA Men’s Division I-II Coaches Poll: the highest ranking in program history. Ball State was also the 2022 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season and tournament champions. Cruz was named the 2022 AVCA Coach of the Year last season.

UCONN WBB TO HOST BALL STATE ON DEC. 6

STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women’s basketball team will host Ball State on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, as the Huskies rising senior Nika Mühl will face off against her sister, the Cardinals’ Hana Mühl on the basketball court in Connecticut.

Hana Mühl is a rising sophomore guard on the Ball State women’s basketball 2023-24 roster. The sisters are natives of Zagreb, Croatia.

Ball State is 1-1 all-time vs. UConn. The teams last competed against each other on Nov 30, 2001, a 103-69 win for the Huskies.

Venue designation, television and tip time will be announced at a later date.

IRISH START WEEK WITH ANOTHER WIN AT FRANK ECK

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish take home another victory over Valparaiso as they down the Beacons 7-3 at Frank Eck Stadium on Tuesday, April 18. The Irish advance to 19-15 on the season as they start their five game homestand this week in the win column.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Beacons would take the 1-0 lead out of the gate as Valpo homered to left field in the top of the first. It wouldn’t take long for the Irish to get their offense rolling as they responded with a four-run frame in the bottom of the first to take the lead 4-1. Five Irish players recorded singles in the frame as TJ Williams, Carter Putz, Jack Penney, Vinny Martinez, and DM Jefferson each recorded their first hits of the day.

Valparaiso would tack on two more runs in the top of the second to close the gap to one at 4-3.

The Irish would hold the Beacons scoreless in the top of the third as Spivey was relieved by Sammy Cooper with runners on first and second with zero outs. Cooper allowed one hit and with bases loaded, a pair of strikeouts and a pop up to the shortstop got him out of the jam.

The Irish extended their lead in the bottom of the third as Vinny Martinez sent it 422’ out to right field, recording his fifth home run of the season. His solo homer gave the Irish the two-run advantage at 5-3.

Both Beacons and Irish went three up, three down for a scoreless fourth. In the fifth frame, Prajzner and Penney both singled as Penney’s base hit would send home Prajzner from second base and give the Irish the 6-3 lead.

Zeros were hung in the sixth and seventh until Martinez crushed the ball to deep right field for his second home run of the day to make it a 7-3 ballgame.

Ryan Lynch would close for the Irish as he took the mound to start the ninth, recording three strikeouts across just one inning as he struck out the side to close the Irish win.

Cooper is now 3-1 after taking home the win, pitching 3.0 innings and recording three strikeouts. He was relieved by Carter Bosch, who also threw 3.0 innings and tallied three strikeouts. Spivey, Cooper, Bosch, and Lynch finished with 10 strikeouts as a staff in today’s win. 

UP NEXT

The Irish are back in action at Frank Eck tomorrow for another midweek matchup as they host the Western Michigan Broncos at 6 PM on Wednesday, April 19.

WIN STREAK HITS 11; SYCAMORES TAKE DOWN NO. 4 VANDERBILT ON TUESDAY NIGHT, 10-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mike Sears’ three-run home run in the top of the fifth broken the game open and No. 22 Indiana State jumped out to a nine-run lead on their way to topping No. 4 Vanderbilt, 10-2, on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.

All nine Sycamores (23-12) hit safely in the contest as Indiana State took control over the game in the middle innings against Vanderbilt (29-8). The Sycamores scored two in the fourth, three in the fifth, and four in the sixth to pull away and added a Seth Gergely RBI single in the ninth to run ISU’s win streak to 11 consecutive games.

Brennyn Cutts (1-3) was effective in the midweek start surrendering just one hit while striking out three over 3.1 innings. The Sycamore bullpen took over the rest of the way with Jacob Pruitt, Cameron Holycross, and Jared Spencer carrying a shutout into the seventh inning before Vanderbilt pushed across two runs late in the contest in the loss.

The Sycamore win on Tuesday night marked ISU’s fourth win all-time against Vanderbilt and first since ISU topped the then-No. 1 Commodores, 8-1, back on February 21, 2015, in Port Charlotte, Fla. The victory also avenged an 8-7 extra-inning loss to Vanderbilt last season and snapped a six-game losing streak against VU.

Indiana State’s win over the No. 4-ranked Commodores is also ISU’s first win against a ranked opponent since the Sycamores took two of three at No. 20 Florida Atlantic (10-2 – May 12, 2021). ISU’s win also marked the highest-ranked opponent Indiana State has defeated since topping No. 1 Vanderbilt back in 2015.

The Sycamores and Commodores were locked in a pitcher’s duel early as Brennyn Cutts (1-3) and Vanderbilt pitchers Thomas Schultz and J.D. Thompson (2-1) traded zeroes on the scoreboard over the first three innings.

Indiana State took the lead in the top of the fourth on Parker Stinson’s bouncing single up the middle scoring Miguel Rivera. Two batters later, Seth Gergely singled home Stinson to make it a 2-0 Sycamore lead.

The Sycamore bats stayed hot adding seven runs over the next two innings with Sears’ 12th home run of the season scoring three runs in the fifth, while ISU sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth inning and scored four more runs to take a commanding 9-0 lead in the sixth. Gergely added a late RBI single in the ninth scoring Stinson for the second time to provide the final ISU tally on the scoreboard.

Cutts gave way to Jacob Pruitt in the bottom of the fourth inning. The freshman surrendered a pair of singles early, but made a pair of key defensive plays in the field to keep the shutout intact through the fifth.

Vanderbilt broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh and added a late run in the ninth, but the game was never in doubt late as Indiana State closed out the win over the Commodores.

Gergely and Stinson both had a pair of multi-hit games to highlight an 11-hit game for the Sycamores.. Gergely added two RBI and reached base five times overall (two walks, one HBP) in the game, while Stinson, Adam Pottinger, and Rivera all scored twice.

Cutts picked up his first win of the season in the starting effort. Pruitt went 1.2 innings of two-hit relief and struck out two. Holycross went 2.0 innings allowing two hits and one run while striking out one. Jared Spencer closed out the game hurling the final two innings and striking out three.

R.J. Schreck had two of Vanderbilt’s hits in the loss as the Commodore offense was limited to six singles on Tuesday night. Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Chris Maldonado had both of Vanderbilt’s RBI.

Schultz went 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out three in the no-decision. Thompson took the loss after allowing four hits and two runs over 2.0 innings on the mound, while David Horn, Jack Anderson, and Colton Regen closed out the evening at Hawkins Field.

How They Scored

Indiana State took the 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning as Parker Stinson and Seth Gergely both connected on RBI singles up middle scoring Miguel Rivera and Stinson to go up early.

Mike Sears connected on a 1-2 pitch and drove the ball over the centerfield wall for a two-out, three-run home run scoring Miguel Rivera and Adam Pottinger to put the Sycamores ahead 5-0 in the top of the fifth.

Four more Sycamore runs came across in the top of the sixth as Randal Diaz (RBI groundout), Adam Pottinger (RBI single), and Miguel Rivera (RBI double) all drove in runs to put Indiana State ahead 9-0.

Enrique Bradfield Jr. put Vanderbilt on the board with a two-out RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring Jonathan Vastine to put the score at 9-1.

Seth Gergely connected on an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning scoring Grant Magill to drive in the final ISU run and make it a 10-1 game.

Chris Maldonado connected on a pinch-hit RBI single scoring T.J. McKenzie in the bottom of the ninth to provide the final margin.

News & Notes                                                                                                                                    

Indiana State’s winning streak hit 11 games on Tuesday night continuing the Sycamores’ second double-digit winning streak in the Mitch Hannahs coaching era.

The Sycamores previously won 12 in a row in 2014 from February 15 – March 10 that season with wins over Connecticut, Ohio State (twice), Lipscomb, Belmont, MTSU, New Orleans (three), and Western Illinois (three).

ISU entered Tuesday’s game ranked for the first time in the 2023 season as the Sycamores were selected No. 22 in the Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division I poll on Monday.

The Sycamores picked up their first win over a ranked opponent in 2023 with Tuesday night’s win. Indiana State previously lost to then-No. 22 Miami (Fla.) back on February 22 (9-3).

Mike Sears connected on his team-leading 12th home run of the season in the Tuesday night win and has hit safely in six of his last seven games.

Adam Pottinger ran his on-base streak to 11 consecutive games following his 1-for-4 day at the plate with a walk. His RBI single in the sixth inning also extended his hitting streak to seven consecutive games.

All nine Sycamores in the starting lineup hit safely on Tuesday night marking the second time the team accomplished the feat in the last three games. All nine ISU starters also hit safely in Saturday’s 10-2 win at Belmont.

Indiana State has posted double-digit hits in each of its last three games (17 at Belmont – Apr. 15, 11 at Belmont – Apr. 16, 11 at Vanderbilt – Apr. 18).

Brennyn Cutts picked up his first win on the mound in 2023 and first win since April 19, 2022, against Illinois.

Cameron Holycross continues to excel out of the bullpen in 2023 as his ERA moved to 1.38 on the year.

The Indiana State pitching staff continued its dominant trend over the winning streak. Over the last 100 innings, the Sycamores have surrendered 27 earned runs equaling a team 1.89 ERA on the mound.

Miguel Rivera connected on his fifth double of the season in the sixth inning.

Adam Pottinger recorded his second stolen base of the year in the fifth inning.

Grant Magill and Seth Gergely were both hit by pitches in the game running ISU’s Missouri Valley leading total to an even 60 through the first 35 games of the year.

Up Next

Indiana State is back in Missouri Valley play this weekend as the Sycamores return home for a three-game series against Southern Illinois running from April 21-23. First pitch in Friday night’s opener is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s game is set for 2 p.m., while Sunday is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET. Friday and Saturday’s games will be streamed live on ESPN+, while Sunday’s series finale against the Salukis is set to be carried on ESPNU. All three games will also be streamed on 105.5 The Legend.

Among the weekend promotional items include a Sycamore Mini Bat Giveaway on Friday night (while supplies last). Sunday’s game is Youth Sports and Kids Club Day with all kids 8th grade and younger wearing their youth jerseys getting in for free. Parents and family get in at a discounted rate.

DIAZ NAMED TO 2023 BROOKS WALLACE AWARD WATCH LIST

LUBBOCK, Texas – Indiana State sophomore Randal Diaz was named to the 2023 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List as announced by the College Baseball Foundation on Tuesday afternoon.

The Sycamore shortstop was listed among a group of 101 of the most talented shortstops in Division I college baseball as announced by the organization.

“We are seeing some defensive-minded shortstops this year, with many of the kids without an error or very few errors as we sift through the candidates for this year’s Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award,” said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the award. “Of course, big offensive numbers are again a part of this class as is evident by the power numbers we are seeing.”

The award honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year. It is named for former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980. Wallace died of leukemia at the age of 27.

The award honors outstanding defensive play as much as it does production at the plate.

Diaz sits among the Indiana State leaders at the plate again this season. The Toa Alta, Puerto Rico native is hitting .291 from the plate and is tied for the team lead with 39 hits on the year. He currently leads the Sycamores with 18 extra-base hits including seven home runs and is second on the team with 25 RBI.

The Sycamore third baseman in 2022, Diaz made the transition seamlessly to shortstop this year with a .961 fielding percentage over 153 chances.

“With so many options to watch and keep up with NCAA baseball and the players, we’re actually watching some of the best baseball players in many, many years,” said Tom Quigley, Brooks Wallace Award co-chair. “Games are now on ESPN and local TV. Shortstop has been redefined and they are hitting with power and high average. Fielding and defense are extremely strong as well. It’s going to be tough as we narrow the choices the upcoming rounds.”

MASTODON BASEBALL HEADS TO MICHIGAN STATE ON WEDNESDAY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon baseball team plays at Michigan State on Wednesday. 
 
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (9-28) at Michigan State (23-10)
When: April 19 | 6 p.m.
Where: McLane Stadium at Kobs Field | East Lansing, Mich. 
Weather: 59, partly cloudy
Live Stats: Link
Live Video: Link
Series History: Michigan State leads 5-0. The Spartans won 7-4 last season.

Probable Starters:
Purdue Fort Wayne: RHP Brendan Reid (1-2)
Michigan State: RHP Nolan Higgins (2-1)

Scouting the Spartans: Michigan State has won six straight games including a non-league sweep of Western Illinois. Brock Vradenburg is hitting .426 and owns an OPS of 1.259. They own a 5.33 team ERA. 

Return of the SAC: Dylan Stewart is tied for the league lead with seven sacrifice bunts.  
 
Back in Black: Braedon Blackford owns a Horizon League-best 11 home runs. He is fourth in slugging (.601), fourth in runs (33) and third in RBIs (38).

Double-Digits: Braedon Blackford’s 11 home runs has him tied for fifth in program history for home runs in a season. The all-time single season record is Shaun VanDriessche’s 18 in 2010. 

Cade Gets on Base: Cade Nelis is ninth in the league with a team-best .440 on-base percentage. He is fifth in the league in walks with 25. He enters the week with a current 18-game on-base streak.

Strong Up The Middle: Cade Nelis has only three errors on the season, for a .981 fielding percentage. The starting second baseman has turned 17 double plays. 
 
Masto-Slams:  The ‘Dons hit grand slams in back-to-back games against Northern Kentucky. On March 24 Ben Higgins hit a grand slam and then in game one on March 26 Jarrett Bickel hit a game-tying grand slam in the seventh inning of a 9-5 win.
 
Record Within Striking Distance:  The 2023 season is Justin Miller’s fifth as a Mastodon. Miller owns 203 career strikeouts, the second most in program history for a career. He will look to pass Jason Horvath (2001-04) for the most in program history this season. Horvath recorded 210 strikeouts.
 
Save X4: Four different Mastodons have recorded a save this season. Brody Fine, Mac Ayres, JD Deany and Justin Miller own saves for the ‘Dons.
 
‘Dons Dig The Long Ball: Eight different Mastodons have hit a home run this season.
 
Turn It!: The Mastodons are 31st in the nation in double plays turned with 30 this season.
 
Multi-verse: 14 different Mastodons have had a multi-hit game this season. 

Hey Batter Batter (of the Week): Braedon Blackford hit .429 and slugged 1.357 with four home runs in 14 at bats over four games played in Winston-Salem, N.C. (March 3-5). He also recorded one double, seven RBIs, five runs scored, two walks and 19 total bases to earn the Horizon League Batter of the Week honor.

Hey Batter Batter (of the Week) X2: Ben Higgins was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week on April 4 for his play the prior weekend. His play was highlighted by his thee home run performance at Youngstown State on March 31). Higgins was the first Mastodon to hit three big flys in a game since 2016. 
 
D1Baseball Top 30: Braedon Blackford was named a Top 30 Hitter of the day for his two-run home run game vs. Cornell. He was ranked No. 11. He also earned the No. 12 spot on the list after his five-hit, six-RBI doubleheader against Milwaukee (April 15). JD Deany was selected as a Top 30 pitcher for his five shutout innings vs. Cornell. Ben Higgins was named the No. 3 hitter of the day by DIBaseball.com for his three dinger day against Youngstown State. 

Up Next: The ‘Dons host Wright State this weekend in Horizon League play. 

JESSECA HUDSON-TURPIN NAMED #HLTF RUNNER OF THE WEEK

INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue Fort Wayne’s Jesseca Hudson-Turpin has been named the Horizon League Women’s Runner of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (April 18).

Hudson-Turpin ran 13.67 seconds in the 100 hurdles to place second out of 29 athletes at the Gibson Invitational hosted by Indiana State. This time broke her existing school record in the event and extends her number-one league ranking to half a second. The junior from Warrensville Heights, Ohio also ran the lead leg on the 4x100m relay which set a new school record with a time of 46.67 and placed third at the meet. To finish her day Hudson-Turpin placed third in the 400 hurdles, setting her third school record of the day in a time of 1:02.19 which is third in the league.

This is Hudson-Turpin’s second career weekly honor from the Horizon League.

The Mastodons are back in action this week at Ohio State.

MASTODON SOFTBALL HOSTS DOUBLEHEADER WITH EASTERN ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team will welcome Eastern Illinois for a doubleheader on Wednesday (April 19) starting at noon.

Game Day Information
Who: Eastern Illinois Panthers
When: Wednesday, April 19 | Doubleheader at noon
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Purdue Fort Wayne Softball Field
Live Stats: Link
Watch: None

Know Your Foe
Eastern Illinois is 24-15, including a 12-2 record in the OVC. The Panthers have won their last four games, a non-conference game against Saint Louis and a three-game series at Tennessee Tech. EIU is led by Jaylen Prichard, who is batting .359 this season. Rachel Kaufman is right behind at .358 and is slugging .606. Olivia Price has been good from the circle with a 10-4 record and 1.93 ERA.

Series History
The Mastodons and Panthers have played five times and Eastern Illinois has won all five. Last year, the two teams played a doubleheader that EIU won 3-2 and 13-8. Sonia Solis had five RBIs in the doubleheader.

Lucky 7’s For Solis
On the second day of the series against Cleveland State, Sonia Solis was 7-for-7 with seven RBIs. In the entire series, she was 9-for-11 with eight RBIs. This included a grand slam.

League-Only Batters
Seven Purdue Fort Wayne players are batting over .300 in Horizon League play: Sonia Solis (.435), Taryn Jenkins (.373), Grace Hollopeter (.340), Epiphany Hang (.340), Taylor Warne (.308), Tori Countryman (.308) and Bailey Manos (.306).

Safe!
Taryn Jenkins is currently on a 21-game streak with at least one base safely reached.

Leading the League
Purdue Fort Wayne is leading the Horizon League with…
• 1.22 doubles per game
• 1.73 stolen bases per game
• 2.27 strikeout-to-walk ratio

oK Queen!
Alanah Jones is leading the Horizon League with 127 strikeouts this season. This mark is also top-50 nationally. Her 7.5 strikeouts per seven innings is just outside the top-100 nationally.

Slugger
Taryn Jenkins is in the top-75 in the country with 0.30 doubles per game, which leads the Horizon League. Her .579 slugging percentage is just outside the top-250 nationally.

Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne took one of three games in the Mastodons’ series at Robert Morris.

Next Time Up
The Mastodons will play a Horizon League series against Northern Kentucky this weekend.

BASEBALL ACES USE TWO-OUT MAGIC TO TOP HILLTOPPERS, 10-8

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team scored seven two-out runs on Tuesday night to power past the visiting Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, 10-8, at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.

“It feels great to get back into the win column,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “We had some great two-out at-bats tonight to really create a big inning in that second inning.  Then, we were able to tack on some runs late, which was key, as we had to hold on for this win.”

WKU took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning, but that’s when UE’s two-out magic set the tone for the entire night.  With two-on and two-out in the frame, fifth-year outfielder Danny Borgstrom started the two-out rally with an RBI single up the middle.  Freshman designated hitter Drew Howard then plated his first collegiate RBI with a two-out RBI single to right-center field to tie the game at 2-2.

After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, UE fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug unloaded them with a three-run triple into the right-field corner to give UE a 5-2 lead.

Sophomore catcher Evan Waggoner would add an RBI double in the third inning, and came around to score on another RBI single by Borgstrom to push the lead to 7-2.  Then, Evansville dialed up some more two-out magic in the fifth inning to plate two more two-out runs, as Howard bounced a ball that stopped on the third-base line for an infield single, and senior outfielder Mark Shallenberger belted a two-out, two-run home run deep to right field to give UE a 9-2 lead.

The lead would grow to 10-2 on an RBI single by junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse in the sixth inning, before WKU would rally back.  The Hilltoppers plated three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings to rally within two runs at 10-8.  Graduate outfielder Eric Roberts then moved to the mound in the ninth inning, and recorded his first save since 2021 with a perfect ninth inning, getting a strikeout looking to end the contest.

Fougerousse, Borgstrom and Howard all had two hits each to lead UE’s 11-hit attack, as the bottom trio in the Evansville order combined to go 6-for-12 with three runs scored and four RBI in the contest.  Hug added three RBI, while Shallenberger’s home run was his third of the year.  The victory went to UE freshman starter Max Hansmann who scattered two runs (one earned) on three base hits in a season-high 3.0 innings of work in a scheduled short-start.

With the victory, Evansville improves to 21-15 overall.  WKU, meanwhile, evens its record at 19-19.  Evansville returns to the road to conclude a stretch of seven out of eight games on the road this weekend, as the Purple Aces will travel to Murray, Kentucky to take on the Murray State Racers in a pivotal Missouri Valley Conference series standings-wise.  Murray State currently sits a game ahead of Evansville in the Valley standings in fourth place with a 7-5 conference mark (compared to UE’s 6-6 record).  The series will begin Friday night at 5 p.m. and can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and seen live on ESPN+.

KATE PETROVA IS THE MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAMPION!

WATERLOO, Ill. – In one of the most exciting finishes in Missouri Valley Conference history, University of Evansville freshman Kate Petrova won a 2-hole playoff to become the third individual in Purple Aces program history to win the conference championship.

Tuesday’s final round saw Petrova card a 4-over 76 to finish with a 231.  She finished in a 3-way tie with Kristen Giles (Drake) and Payton Carter (Murray State) atop the standings.  The three took to the 18th hole at Annbriar Golf Course where each earned a par in the first playoff.  They replayed the 18th hole where Petrova earned a birdie to clinch the championship.

Petrova becomes the third UE player to win the individual championship in seven seasons, joining Kayla Katterhenry (2017) and Sophia Rohleder (2021).  Along with her victory, Petrova was crowned as the league Newcomer of the Year while earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Evansville wrapped up the tournament in a tie for second place with Belmont.  Both squads finished with 3-round scores of 952.  Missouri State took the top spot with a 943.  This marks the second-best finish in program history, finishing only behind the championship squad of 2021.  UE has earned three consecutive top five finishes in the conference championship.

Allison Enchelmayer earned a solid to 15 finish for UE.  Her 79 in round three gave her a final total of 238.  She tied for 14th.  Magdalena Borisova tied Petrova for the Aces’ low score of the day, carding a 76.  The strong finish gave her a 242, tying her for 21st.  Mallory Russell wrapped up the championship with a 245.  Round three saw her card an 81 to finish in a tie for 30th.  Alyssa McMinn rounded out the scoring with a 255.

Today marked the third time in league history that medalist honors came down to a playoff.  The last one came in 2019.

EAGLES’ THIRD ROUND HIGHLIGHTS OVC CHAMPIONSHIP

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Golf finished the Ohio Valley Conference Golf Championship with a three-round score of 1007 (+143) to score a sixth-place finish out of seven teams and 35 competitors at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals. The Screaming Eagles scored a team-best 315 (+27) in the tournament’s final round.

USI had a slow start in the opening round, scoring 350 (+62) to fall to seventh place. Junior Katelyn Sayyalinh (Rockford, Illinois) held the lowest score of the group with an 83 (+11). Not too far behind was junior Halle Gutwein (DeMotte, Indiana) who posted an 85 (+13) to round out the lowest scores for USI.

Round two resulted in a jump for the Eagles, moving from seventh to sixth place after shooting 342 (+54). It was sophomore Baileigh Schneider (Huntingburg, Indiana) who led the charge for the team, posting an 81 (+9) for her lowest score of the championship.

The final day was the best for the Eagles as the team shot 315 (+27) to secure a sixth-place finish in their NCAA Division I conference tournament debut. Highlighting USI’s performance was junior Haylee Exline (Poseyville, Indiana) who shot one-over-par while Gutwein’s 75 (+3) also provided insurance for the Eagles and positioned herself into 17th place overall with a three-day score of 245 (+29). Also posting top-25 scores were Exline and Schneider who tied for 21st place by shooting 252 (+36) respectively.

Morehead State University was crowned as the OVC Champion after a three-day 905 (+41) performance. The Eagles’ Ruth Toennessen was honored as the individual champion after going six over par in three days. Morehead State had four of the five top spots in the tournament.

EAGLES START FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND WEDNESDAY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball begins a five-game homestand Wednesday at the USI Baseball Field when it hosts Oakland City University. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.

In addition to the USI-Oakland City match-up Wednesday, the homestand includes the Ohio Valley Conference three-game series versus Eastern Illinois University this weekend (April 21-23), and a non-conference match-up with McKendree University April 25. 

Links to follow all of the action during the homestand can be found on the Eagles’ baseball schedule at USIScreamingEagles.com.

USI Baseball Notes:

Eagles salvage one versus UTM: The USI Screaming Eagles salvaged one of three from the University of Tennessee at Martin, 7-5, Sunday. The Eagles lost the opening game, 14-3, and the second game, 7-3. Junior catcher Parker Stroh hit his first home run of the season for the eventual game-winning RBI in Sunday’s win.

Eagles out battled by Billikens to start the week: The Eagles were out battled by the Saint Louis University Billikens, 16-11, to start the week. SLU had 21 hits and capitalized on seven USI errors in its win. USI junior first baseman Tucker Ebest and senior designated hitter Daniel Lopez led the way with two RBI each.

Leading at the plate last week: Junior catcher Parker Stroh had the best week for the Eagles, hitting .500 (2-4) with a home run and three RBIs. Junior outfielder Gavin McLarty and junior first baseman Tucker Ebest followed Stroh by hitting, .444 (4-9) and .438 (7-16), respectively. Ebest also had a team-high four RBIs.

McLarty with the hot bat: Over the last seven games, junior outfielder Gavin McLarty has had the hot bat for the Eagles. He is batting .500 (8-16) with seven RBIs and a double. 

Leading hitters: Sophomore outfielder Drew Taylor leads USI this season with a .346 batting average (18-52). Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest has a team-best 30 RBIs and six home runs.

Eagles in the last 5: Junior infielder Tucker Ebest is the hottest Eagle over the last five games, hitting .526 (10-19). Ebest also drove in a team-best five RBIs.

McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher/infielder Lucas McNew is tied for fifth all-time at USI in home runs (22); sixth in RBIs (149) and tied for ninth in doubles (46).

USI vs. OCU Wednesday: USI leads the all-time series with Oakland City University, 88-12, and has won seven of the last 10 meetings, despite losing last year’s match-up, 6-4, at the USI Baseball Field.

OCU this spring: OCU is 27-14 after completing a three-game sweep of Alice Lloyd College Sunday, 9-7. The Mighty Oaks, who have won four in a row and five of their last six, play at Lindsey Wilson College on Tuesday before coming to play USI. 

WOMEN’S GOLF WRAPS UP SEASON AT MVC CHAMPIONSHIP

The Valparaiso University women’s golf team closed out the season on Tuesday with the final round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, hosted at the par-72, 6176-yard Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Ill. The Beacons had their best team score of the event in Tuesday’s third and final round.

How It Happened

Freshman Taylor Skibinski (Michigan City, Ind. / Michigan City) possessed the team’s best Round-3 score. She closed her rookie season with an 81, trimming five strokes off her Round-2 performance. She finished the event at 254, tied for 46th on the player leaderboard.

Sophomore Anna Fay (Goshen, Ind. / Concord) rounded out her season with the team’s top 54-hole score this week. Her showing culminated with an 82 in Round 3 to bring her three-day total to 241, closing out a top-20 finish in the 12-team, 60-player event.

Sophomore Madison Keil (LaGrange, Ind. / Lakeland) polished off her year with an 83 in the third and final round to complete the MVC Championship in 251 shots. She tied for 43rd on the player leaderboard.

Valpo finished with a 330 on Tuesday, six strokes better than Monday’s team score. The squad totaled 1,008 strokes over the three days, 12th among participating teams.

Missouri State won the conference title and automatic NCAA berth with a team score of 943. Evansville’s Kate Petrova won medalist honors by winning a playoff over Kristen Giles of Drake and Payton Carter of Murray State. They all finished the event at 231.

Inside the Round

Valpo had seven birdies in the tournament, led by three from Fay.

Fay performed well on par-4 holes with a 4.33 average.

Keil finished the season with a scoring average of 80.00, which ranks sixth in program history.

Through their sophomore seasons, Keil and Fay are both among the program’s all-time leaders in career scoring average. Keil’s 81.06 currently ranks first in program history, while Fay’s 81.23 ranks second. Kayla Krueger finished her career at 81.21, which is the program record among golfers who have closed out their Valpo tenure.

The Beacons finished the season with a team scoring average of 328.7. That ranks ninth in program history.

Four of the five members of the starting lineup at this week’s conference championship are either freshmen or sophomores. The team’s top three performers this season in terms of scoring average were all in their first or second season of collegiate golf. This youth movement sets the stage for a bright future for the program.

BASEBALL DROPS MIDWEEK MATCHUP AT NOTRE DAME

The Valparaiso University baseball team continued its trend of playing competitive matchups with instate power-conference foe Notre Dame, but once again the Fighting Irish came away with the victory, this time by a 7-3 score on Tuesday at Frank Eck Stadium. Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) produced two of Valpo’s five hits including a home run.

How It Happened

Schmack started the scoring with one swing of the bat in the top of the first, when he cracked a solo home run to left.

A pair of sac flies and a two-run single helped Notre Dame respond in the bottom of the frame as they tallied four runs in their first trip to the plate.

In the top of the second, Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) belted a two-out, two-run double to deep right center to quickly trim the deficit to one at 4-3.

The top of the third was the key inning in the game, as Valpo had the bases juiced with no outs and failed to score. The Beacon bats would not mount a significant threat for the rest of the day.

A solo shot in the bottom of the third doubled the Notre Dame lead. That would be the final run allowed by Valpo starting pitcher Kaleb Krier (Altoona, Iowa / Southeast Polk [DMACC]), who did not walk any batters over four frames while yielding five runs on seven hits and three strikeouts.

After two innings of one-run ball from Ryan Mintz (Lombard, Ill. / Willowbrook), Josh Spencer (Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville [Tacoma]) struck out a pair as part of a scoreless seventh. Christian Hack (Oak Forest, Ill. / Tinley Park) worked the final frame on the bump and gave up one run to account for the game’s final margin.

Inside the Game

Schmack had two hits, his 13th multi-hit game of the season.

Schmack’s home run was the 15th of his career and his sixth of the season.

Redshirt freshman Patrick Ilitch (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett [IMC]) made his collegiate debut as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.

Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) worked a walk, extending his season-long on-base streak to 29. He is one game away from Valpo’s first 30-game on-base streak since Nolan Lodden (34) in 2016.

Valpo had its four-game winning streak come to an end while Notre Dame’s head-to-head winning streak extended to 15. This was the eighth time in the last nine matchups that a game between the two instate foes has been decided by four runs or fewer.

Up Next

Valpo (14-15) will return to action this weekend by hosting UIC for a three-game series that begins on Friday at 3 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. There will be no video stream available since Valpo softball will be streamed this weekend. A link to live stats can be found on ValpoAthletics.com.

SOFTBALL CARRIES MOMENTUM INTO FOUR HOME GAMES THIS WEEK

Valparaiso (7-30, 3-13 MVC)

April 19 – UIC (1-38, 0-16 MVC) – 4 p.m.

April 21 – Drake (11-27, 4-12 MVC) – 3 p.m. | April 22 – Drake – 2 p.m. | April 23 – Drake – noon

Next Up in Valpo Softball: Coming off a series win last weekend at Bradley which featured a no-hitter from Caitlyn Kowalski, the Valpo softball team returns home for four games this week. The Beacons welcome UIC to town on Wednesday, looking to claim that season series with a win, and then take on Drake in a three-game set over the weekend.

Previously: Valpo split a midweek doubleheader at Northern Illinois before taking two of three games at Bradley over the weekend. In addition to Kowalski’s no-hitter against the Braves, Easton Seib threw one-hitters against both NIU and Bradley.

Looking Ahead: Valpo’s final four road games of the regular season await next week, as the Beacons close the season series with UIC on Tuesday before traveling to UNI for a three-game series April 28-30.

Following Valpo Softball: Wednesday’s game will not have a video stream, while Friday and Sunday will be on ESPN+ and Saturday on ESPN3. All four games will have live stats available via ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Meaggan Pettipiece: Meaggan Pettipiece was hired in September 2022 as head coach of the Valpo softball program. Pettipiece brings over a decade of experience as a collegiate head coach, most recently the last three seasons at the Division I level at Akron. Prior to her time at Akron, Pettipiece spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Kent State and was head coach at Northwood for 10 years. Pettipiece, who owns 257 career coaching victories, was an All-American on the diamond and helped California University of Pennsylvania to a D-II national title in 1998 collegiately before playing internationally for Team Canada, including at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Series Notes: UIC – Valpo renews acquaintances with the most common opponent in program history Wednesday, as the two programs meet for the 88th time. UIC holds a 66-21 advantage in the all-time series, but it was the Beacons who claimed the first matchup this season, 2-1, in Chicago. Lauren Kehlenbrink hit a two-run homer in the first inning of that game, while Easton Seib scattered six hits for the complete-game win.

Drake – Valpo is just 1-16 all-time against the Bulldogs, including an 0-11 mark since joining the Valley. Last season, Drake swept a three-game series in Des Moines by scores of 10-2, 5-4 and 5-1.

Scouting the Opposition: UIC – The Flames enter Wednesday’s game with a 1-38 overall record, including an 0-16 mark in Valley play. Carlee Jo Clark leads the Flames offensively, slashing .244/.312/.378, while in the circle, Christina Toniolo has pitched over half the innings this season and owns a 4.20 ERA with 62 strikeouts.

Drake – The Bulldogs enter this week at 11-27 overall, and just one game ahead of Valpo in the MVC standings at 4-12 in conference. Emma Dighton has connected on six home runs and leads the team with 18 runs scored and 29 RBIs. Mackenzie Hupke has pitched a team-high 101.1 innings and is 5-7 with a 2.97 ERA and 111 strikeouts.

Winning a Road Series: Valpo earned its first MVC series win of the year last weekend by taking two of three at Bradley. It is just the third series win on the road for the program since joining the Valley, and the first road series win since Valpo’s first year in the Valley in 2018, when the team won series at Missouri State and Illinois State.

No-Hitter for Kowalski: Junior pitcher Caitlyn Kowalski lived every pitcher’s dream on Saturday, tossing a no-hitter in the opening game of the doubleheader at Bradley. It was the 12th no-hitter in Valpo softball history and the first of Kowalski’s collegiate career – her previous best was a one-hitter in her first career start in February 2019 against Western Illinois. It was the first no-hitter by a Valpo pitcher since March 2019, and the first seven inning no-hitter since February 2018. It also was the first no-hitter in program history in a 1-0 game.

Pair of Gems From Seib: Kowalski’s no-hitter came on the heels of a pair of tremendous starts in a three-day stretch from senior pitcher Easton Seib. In midweek action at NIU, Seib limited the Huskies – who entered the game hitting better than .270 as a team – to just a sixth-inning infield single in a 3-0 victory. Seib followed on Friday at Bradley with another sterling effort, surrendering just a third-inning infield single in a 2-0 win over the Braves – a game which was 1-0 until the seventh inning. Seib registered a career-high 16 groundouts in the win over the Braves. Seib, whose career best entering the week was a three-hitter, became the first pitcher in program history to throw a one-hitter or better in back-to-back starts, and is the first Valpo pitcher since Emily Richardson in 2018 to throw multiple one-hitters or better in the same season.

More Pitching Beacon Bits: – First time since 2018 Valpo has had at least three one-hitters or better in the same season

– Shortest span between three such games in program history (previous shortest span was 28 days in 2007)

– Second time in program history team threw a one-hitter and no-hitter in consecutive games (March 2002 vs. Philadelphia and St. Thomas Aquinas)

Strong Stretch for Easton: Seib’s one-hitters are the highlight of what has been a strong last two weeks for the senior. She has started five of Valpo’s nine games in that stretch and made two relief appearances, tossing three complete games and two shutouts. Seib is 3-2 with a 1.73 ERA, allowing opponents to hit just .222 off of her and walking just five batters in 32.1 innings of work.

Hersch Keeps Hitting: Fifth-year infielder Taylor Herschbach has been Valpo’s top hitter this year and enjoyed a stellar week at the plate last week. Herschbach slashed .385/.529/.769 over the five games, reaching base at least once in all five contests as she went 5-for-13 with three walks, one hit by pitch, five runs scored, one double, two triples and a stolen base. Herschbach scored Valpo’s first two runs in its 3-0 mid-week win at Northern Illinois, scored the eventual game-winning run in the series opener at Bradley and scored the lone run of the middle game at Bradley to clinch the series win. On the season, she is pacing the Beacons in all three slash categories and owns team highs in hits (26), walks (17) and runs scored (14).

Clean Fielding: Another factor in Valpo claiming the series win at Bradley last weekend was the work the Beacon defense put in behind Seib and Kowalski. Valpo tallied 60 putouts and 30 assists over the three games against the Braves without committing a single error. It is the first time since April 27-May 3, 2019 that Valpo has strung together three straight errorless games, and the first time since May 5-6, 2018 at Illinois State that it has played an entire three-game conference series without committing an error.

Erasing Runners: While the Beacons were not errorless in their twinbill last Tuesday at NIU, the defense more than stepped up to erase Huskie baserunners from the basepaths. In game one, Lauren Kehlenbrink threw out two runners trying to steal, while Valpo also registered an out on a baserunner trying to advance on a potential wild pitch. Then, game two featured three runners caught stealing – two by Kehlenbrink and one by Lyna Vasquez – to tie for second-most in a single game in program history. The Beacons also turned two double plays on fly balls to erase baserunners, while left fielder Kayla Skapyak threw out a runner trying to score as well.

GREYHOUNDS FALL IN TUESDAY MATCHUP AGAINST PANTHERS

OWENSBORO, Ky. – The University of Indianapolis baseball team dropped their Tuesday contest with the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (14-23). The loss moves the Hounds to 20-15 on the season.

Brady Ware was once again the RBI leader for the Hounds, grabbing three RBIs in the contest on one hit. Brandon DeWitt had a quality day at the plate as well, nabbing two RBIs alongside a hit and a pair of free passes.

HOW IT HAPPENED

A second inning offensive surge by the Greyhounds kicked off the scoring action in the contest. Isaac Bair, getting the start behind the dish, grabbed his lone RBI on a sac fly to center. Just two at bats later, Dewy got going, crushing a ball up the middle for a two RBI single.

The scoring kept coming for the Hounds in the fourth, with Caleb Vaughn working a bases loaded walk to make it 4-0. That teed up a bases loaded single by Ware, scoring Drew Donaldson and DeWitt. Nick Lukac added the final punch to the inning, roping a ball back at the pitcher giving the Hounds a 7-0 lead.

But the Hounds couldn’t hold the Panthers scoreless from there, giving up nine runs in the bottom half of the fourth. That kept rolling throughout the rest of the contest, with three being plated in the fifth and one in the sixth and the seventh. A top-eight run by the Hounds from Ware tried to get the Hounds going but it was to no avail as the Hounds fell 14-8.

UP NEXT

The Hounds look to bounce back with an opportunity coming tomorrow as they travel to the Purdue Northwest Pride. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m. ET.

HOUNDS REMAIN STATIC IN DII COACHES POLL

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—For the fourth consecutive week, the UIndy softball team was tabbed No. 6 in the NFCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. Winners of 25 of their last 26 games, the Greyhounds are 41-4 overall and sit atop the GLVC standings at 14-1.

The Greyhounds remain the only GLVC team in the poll, while fellow Midwest Region-power Grand Valley State is right on their heels at No. 7. The rankings also had a new No. 1, as Tampa leapfrogged North Georgia for the top spot.


NFCA DII COACHES POLL

RK	TEAM (1st-place votes)	PTS	REC	PREV
1.	Tampa (12)	396	32-2	2
2.	North Georgia	387	44-4	1
3.	UT Tyler	369	43-4	3
4.	Alabama Huntsville	343	36-7	5
5.	Central Oklahoma	339	33-6	4
6.	UIndy	325	41-4	6
7.	Grand Valley State	302	30-3	7
8.	Rogers State	266	33-8	8
9.	Colorado Christian	265	45-3	12
10.	Sonoma State	262	33-8	11
11.	Saint Leo	241	36-7	13
12.	West Texas A&M	224	40-5	14
13.	Valdosta State	197	32-9	9
14.	Concordia	191	37-9	15
15.	Adelphi	178	31-6	17
16.	Lubbock Christian	170	36-11	10
17.	Wingate	147	39-10	16
18.	Mississippi College	117	33-7	19
19.	Harding	104	35-11	18
20.	Lenoir-Rhyne	88	31-9	21
21.	Oklahoma Baptist	71	37-9	22
22.	West Alabama	58	31-10	23
23.	Charleston	56	27-6	T-25
24.	Columbus State	44	36-12	24
25.	Missouri Southern	24	31-8	RV
	Wilmington	24	28-10	T-25

Others receiving votes: West Chester (5), Nova Southeastern (3), Washburn (3), Southern Arkansas (1).

GAME TWO WIN SEALS SERIES VICTORY AGAINST MT. VERNON

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian baseball team earned a Crossroads League series victory on Tuesday afternoon as they concluded their four-game set against Mt. Vernon Nazarene, taking game two of the day in a mid-week split. Mt. Vernon won the first game 4-0, and after yielding the first four runs in game two, Marian roared back to win 7-4. The Knights stand at 15-23 overall on the season, and 9-17 in conference action.

GAME 1 | Marian 0-4 Mt. Vernon

The opening game had the fastest pace in any contest for Marian this season, as Daniel Brenneman locked himself into a pitcher’s dual against Resse Willoughby. Brenneman gave in first against the Cougars as a pair of base hits, along with an error and interference on defense, helped the vistiors score two runs in the first inning, but a groundout would minimize the threat. Brenneman locked in after the rocky start, and despite loading the bases in the second, was able to pitch scoreless second and third innings to strand Cougar base runners.

The Knights pitcher continued to work quickly, retiring the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings, while in the sixth stranding a two-out walk at second base with a fly out to hold the score at 2-0.

While Brenneman was able to hold off the Cougars offense, the Knights were unable to get theirs started, going down in order in four of the first five innings of play. Josh Lamb would record Marian’s only hit of the game with a two-out single in the second inning, as Willoughby was able to pitch almost perfectly into the sixth. The Knights would threaten in the sixth inning as a dropped fly ball in center field proved as a two-base error that allowed Kameron Salazar to reach second, but no runs scored as Rylan Huntley flew out to the warning track in the deepest part of MU Ballpark to end the sixth.

In the seventh Brenneman’s scoreless streak came to an end as a lead-off walk came in two score with two outs on a Joe Poremsky RBI single, pushing the Cougars lead to 3-0. Brenneman would get out of the inning and turn the ball over to Joe Nelan in the eighth, who stranded three singles on base in his first inning of work. In the ninth inning Marian’s southpaw reliever allowed one run to cross, as a sacrifice fly scored Carter LaPata to make it a 4-0 game. Trailing going into their final at-bats, Marian saw just 12 pitches in their last three outs, flying out twice and grounding out to first as Cruz McFadden retired the Knights in order to end the game.

Lamb’s lone hit, along with Salazar’s reached base on the dropped fly were the only Knights to touch base off a batted ball. JJ Rivera drew a walk and Dion Wintjes was hit by a pitch to reach base as well. Brenneman suffered his fourth loss with the decision, allowing three hits and six walks as he struckout three batters. Brenneman allowed three runs with Nelan giving up the fourth, as Marian’s reliever allowed five hits in his two innings of work.

GAME 2 | Marian 7-4 Mt. Vernon

Unlike the pitcher’s battle that opened the day, the offenses highlighted game two Mt. Vernon attacked Jayson Cottrell in the top of the first inning, with the second-year Knights allowing four hits and three walks that helped the Cougars drive in four runs. Cottrell would strikeout the side and strand the bases loaded to end the first inning, and in the home half the offense responded with two outs as Rylan Huntley reached on a walk. A JJ Rivera double would drive in Huntley, and an RBI single from Trey Heidlage in the next at bat scored his teammate, as the Knights closed the first inning trailing 4-2.

Cottrell got stronger as his outing wore on, picking up a strikeout as a lead-off bunt single never moved past first base, and in the third stranding a lead-off base hit. Marian would tack on a run to make it a one-score game in the bottom of the second as Josh Lamb ripped a single, scoring Dawson Estep after the infielder led the base path attack with his one-out hit. Marian’s lone frame of the game they would not score in came in the third inning, as Bryce Davenport was stranded at second after hitting a single and taking the next bag on an error.

After Cottrell’s third consecutive scoreless inning in the fourth, Marian managed to tie in the bottom of the inning, with Kameron Salazar starting the inning with a single. After a walk to Lamb, Salazar was able to take advantage of an error in the Mt. Vernon defense, as Cooper Crawford misplayed a grounder off of Huntley’s bat, scoring from second to tie the game. With the game tied Ethan Davis would come on to pitch out of the bullpen, getting three ground ball outs to keep the score tied at 4-4.

Following Davis’ first inning of work, the Knights were able to take their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fifth, with Bryce Davenport scoring on a two-out double hit by Estep, pushing the score to 5-4. Davis retired the side in order in the top of the sixth as he picked up a pair of strikeouts, and in the bottom half of the inning two more runs scored with two outs, as Heidlage sent home Rivera on an RBI single, and Davenport scored his teammate after he reached third on a stolen base and wild pitch. With the score showing 7-4, coach Todd Bacon entrusted in Davis to close the game, with the freshman delivering as he tossed a perfect seventh, ending the game on a strikeout to close his first collegiate win.

Davis’ win out of the bullpen came over three hitless innings of work, as the rookie pitcher allowed one total base runner while striking out three. After his shaky first inning, Cottrell settled in striking out five over four innings, allowing six hits and four runs. At the plate Marian had 11 hits as a team, with Davenport leading the way by going 3-3 with a walk and an RBI. Heidlage, Salazar, and Estep each had two hits, and Rivera led the team with two runs scored.

The Knights will look to ride the momentum of their win into Thursday’s road doubleheader at Taylor, as Marian takes on the Trojans at 3 p.m. to begin their weekend series.

MARIAN DEFEATS BETHEL 17-9 IN WHAC TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian women’s lacrosse team started their postseason strong Tuesday night, winning their first conference tournament game as a WHAC member by defeating Bethel University 17-9 at St. Vincent Field. Marian’s win improves their season record to 13-4 overall on the season.

The Knights started swiftly as they have throughout much of the season, hammering home the first three goals of the contest. Ashlynn Gray broke the scoring opening with her goal less than two minutes in, with Ella Grace Giedd and Madison Ash following up with scores to provide the 3-0 cushion under seven minutes into play. Bethel would notch a goal minutes later as Alyssa Lundy got one past Katherine Hirsch, but Grace Martin responded with a goal to regain the three-goal lead. Another Pilot goal before the quarter’s end would see the score rest at 4-2 after the opening 15 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Marian offense took over the game scoring four goals to Bethel’s win, pushing a 8-3 lead going into halftime. Katelynn Gray scored two goals in the first four minutes of the quarter as the Knights showed a strong presence on the draw control. Marian continued to find shots after the swift scores but couldn’t get the ball to the back of the net, allowing Bethel to cut into the lead with 5:40 remaining in the half. A Bethel turnover in their defensive end would prove costly as the clock rolled under three minutes to play, with Emily Blackburn scoring off the turnover. Taleah Nool added a goal in the waning seconds, ending the half with consecutive goals scored.

The third quarter would be the highest scoring period of the game, as Marian came out strong with Ella Grace Giedd completing her hat trick with two consecutive goals. Bethel cut the Marian run with an Isabell Gerbrand score, but it wouldn’t take long for Marian to get back on the board, with Nool and Martin scoring to drive the margin to eight. With a 12-4 lead at hand, Marian slowed their pace allowing Bethel to get back into the game, as the Pilots went on a 4-1 run in a 4:30 span to get within five goals. Before the quarter ended a foul was called against the Pilots, and as the clock expired Marian got a goal from Ashlynn Gray, who snapped toward the net off an Anna Moore pass.

Gray’s last second goal gave the Knights a 14-8 lead going into the fourth quarter, where they were able to eat clock and work their offense while out-scoring Bethel 3-1 in the period. Marian scored the first three goals of the final quarter with Lizzie Piercy, Giedd, and Blackburn scoring, ending Marian’s total with 17. A late score from Bethel would put the final score at 17-9, as the Knights were able to coast the final minutes into the semifinals.

Nine different Knights scored in the quarterfinal win, with Giedd leading the way with four goals while adding one assist. Ashlynn and Katelynn Gray each scored twice and won five draw controls, with Ashlynn dishing out two assists. Martin and Nool also scored two times, and Ruby Mason had two assists. Sarah Travis led the Knights with five ground balls and four caused turnovers.

In goal Hirsch recorded the win, logging first half action as she allowed three goals and did not record a save. Grace Coyne made two saves, playing second half action.

Marian’s win advances them to the semifinals, where they will take on No. 2 seed Aquinas. The matchup in Grand Rapids will start at 5 p.m. on Thursday night.

KNIGHTS FINISH FOURTH AT ACKERMAN-ALLEN SHOOTOUT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Marian men’s golf team completed their 2022-2023 regular season on Tuesday, finishing up at the Ackerman-Allen Shootout hosted by Taylor University. Sam Slaughter led the Knights in the event, placing fifth individually through the 36 holes.

Taylor won the tournament, scoring 286 and 290 to finish with a total of 576. Parkland finished second in the field with a 587 score, while Indiana Wesleyan finished two strokes better than Marian with a score of 605. Marian shot a 309 in the first round, and improved in the second round with a 298 to total 607.

Sam Slaughter led Marian with his fifth place finish, scoring 77 in round one, before scoring a team-low 69 for a 146 total score. Slaughter was followed by Weston Ogden, who tied for 12th with a 78+71=149 to crack the top-15. Augie Mann tied for 29th after carding 79+76=155, while Patrick Guymon scored back-to-back 78’s for a 156 total to tie for 32nd.

Brandon Heffner and Nolan Potter were the final members scoring for the Knights, as each scored a 158 total. Heffner carded a 78+80 and Potter turned in a 76+82. Luke Mattingly was Marian’s final golfer, scoring an 81 in round one and a 73 in the second round to finish with a 164 total score.

Marian will return to action on May 1-2 for the Crossroads League Championship, hosted at the Chariots Run Golf club in Laconia, Ind.

MARIAN GETS SEASON SWEEP OF BETHEL WITH PAIR OF RUN-RULE WINS

INDIANAPOLIS – No. 12 Marian softball team was back at MU Softball Diamond on Tuesday for a Crossroads League twin bill against Bethel. The Knights finished off the Pilots to earn the season sweep of Bethel in a pair of run-rule wins, improving to 35-3 overall and 24-2 in league action.

Game 1 | Marian 12-3 Bethel

Marian wasted no time to get on the scoreboard after Sierra Norman started the hitting frenzy with her 2 RBI double. The Knights pounded on three more runs after Brenna Fink singled to center to score Norman, and Savannah Baker smoke the triple to score two more, giving Marian the 5-0 lead after inning one.

Olivia Stunkel and her defense left the Pilots scoreless again, as the Marian continued their offensive tear in the bottom half of the second inning. A bunt by Anna Pritchett and an error allowed Savannah Harweger to advance home, before Hayley Green notched the double to right field to give Marian their seventh run of the game.

Bethel’s offensive struggles continued in the top of third as they went three up three down, but the Knights kept the bats going in the bottom half of the inning as they recorded six hits and five runs. Marian tacked on two more with Madere 2 RBI single up the middle, before a sacrifice fly by Lily Wendt and two singles gave the Knights the 12-0 lead after three.

After a scoreless fourth inning for both sides, Bethel found a little bit of an offensive push as they registered two hits and scored two runs. However, Marian’s lead was too much to come back from as the Knights would take game one 12-3.

Marian put together 12 hits, with Harweger, Norman, and Fink all having two. Baker recorded a triple, while Norman and Greene each added a double. Harweger did more that just swing the bat today as she had three stolen bases in the win. Norman, Fink, Madere, and Baker each posted two RBI. Stunkel and Jaylah Guilliam teamed up in the circle, with Stunkel throwing two innings with four strikeouts, while Guilliam finished the Pilots off with two innings pitched.

Game 2 | Marian 9-0 Bethel

Similar to game two, the Knights scored early as they got out to the five-goal lead. Norman kicked things off with the three-run bomb, before a single from Caitlyn Phillips scored two. Sydney Wilson went through her tear, going one-two-three in the first two innings.

The Pilots still struggled to find their first hit through the first three innings, but Marian had no issues with an inside the park homerun coming from Baker that also scored Grace Meyer who tripled before to hold the 7-0 lead going into the fourth inning.

Marian padded onto their lead with two more runs in the bottom half of the fourth before Abigail McPherson closed out Bethel in the top of the fifth to give the Knights the 9-0 victory.

Pritchett, Baker, and Phillips all recorded two hits in Marian’s 11, while five other Knights each added one. Norman led the RBI category with three and added an inside the park homerun, and Phillips notched two RBI. Baker and Meyer each hit triples, with Pritchett posting the double. Wilson struck out two in her three innings pitched, while McPherson added a strikeout in her two innings pitched.

The Knights have a quick turnaround with a doubleheader at Mt. Vernon Nazarene, with the first game beginning at 3 p.m.

RHIT T&F – HOBBS EARNS 5TH HCAC TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AWARD

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology junior Jailen Hobbs earned his 5th Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Track Athlete of the Week award this season and the 11th time in his career, released by the league office on Tuesday.

Hobbs was named Track Events Most Valuable Player at the Indiana Division III Championships after winning the 100, 200 and 4-x-100 for Rose-Hulman.  Hobbs won the 100 in 10.55 seconds, the 200 in 21.55 seconds and anchored the winning 4-x-100 in 42.09.

Hobbs recorded the Indiana Division III championships 100- and 200-meter records with his strong performance.  His winning 100-meter time of 10.55 seconds also matched the DePauw University facility record.

Hobbs has previously been named HCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and has also earned three HCAC Men’s Track Sprinter of the Year awards in his Rose-Hulman career.  He also placed 13th in the 60-meter dash at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The Fightin’ Engineers return to action at the Rose-Hulman Twilight Meet on Friday April 21 at the William Welch Track and Field Complex.

LITTLE GIANTS FINISH NINTH AT EMORY GOLF INVITATIONAL

The Wabash College golf team played in its final regular-season tournament for the 2022-23 season, placing ninth out of 13 teams at the Emory University Invitational. The two-day event was played on Monday and Tuesday at the Cherokee Run Golf Club in Conyers, Georgia.

Wabash opened play Monday morning with a score of 308, followed by a round of 312 in the afternoon session. The Little Giants closed the tournament with a score of 321 over the final 18 holes.

Brayden Weiss and Lewis Dellinger shared low honors for Wabash. Both finished with three-round scores of 234 to tie for 21st place in the field of 72 golfers. Dellinger scored his career’s lowest round by carding a 74 Monday morning. He shot rounds of 79 and 81 to complete his scoring. Weiss turned in rounds of 77, 76, and 81.

Sean Bledsoe tied for 30th place with a total score of 236 strokes. He opened with a round of 77, followed by a Monday score of 79 and a final round of 80. Tim Neu tied for 50th with a score of 243 (81+78+84). Mark Poole shot the low round for Wabash on Tuesday with a score of 79. He finished the tournament tied for 59th place after shooting rounds of 80 and 89 on Monday.

Wabash will compete at the 2023 North Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championship on April 28-30 at the Westfield Country Club North Course in Westfield Center, Ohio.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | TAYLOR EARNS NO. 11 RANKING IN LATEST NAIA POLL

KANSAS CITY – The Taylor women’s golf program dipped one spot in the fifth NAIA Top-25 Poll of the spring, coming in at No. 11 in the newest ratings.

The Trojans collected 322 total points in the poll, dropping slightly from their total of 344 in the previous poll.

Taylor competed in one event since that prior poll, taking fifth place in a loaded field of 14 teams at the Roadrunner Classic in Cohutta, Georgia. TU battled with 10 other nationally ranked foes at the two-day tournament, and carded its top-three rounds of the spring season.

No. 11 Taylor (59-19) will conclude its regular season at the Ackerman-Allen Shootout on April 18, before competing for the program’s fifth Crossroads League Championship in the past six seasons on May 8 and 9.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | TU MEN’S GOLF HOLDS AT NO. 6 IN NAIA POLL

KANSAS CITY – The Taylor men’s golf team held its ranking at No. 6 in the fifth NAIA Men’s Golf Top-25 Poll of the regular season.

The Trojans climbed another 34 points in the poll, rising to 460 total points despite not competing since the previous poll was released. TU now sits just 22 points back of the first top-five ranking in program history.

Taylor has competed in nine events during the 2022-2023 season, boasting an average finish of 1.5 with five wins. The Trojans have also posted an average round of 296.4 in those outings while piling up a head-to-head record of 89-5.

No. 6 Taylor will wrap its regular season at the Ackerman-Allen Shootout on April 18, before competing for a seventh-straight Crossroads League Championship on May 1 and 2.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | CRABTREE RECOGNIZED AS NAIA NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

KANSAS CITY – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its eighth installment of national awards for the 2022-2023 baseball season on Tuesday, when Trojan freshman, Nick Crabtree, was honored as the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week.

Crabtree was singularly recognized among a pool of 20 pitchers from across the nation, now the second Trojan pitcher in as many years to receive the national award. Luke Shively earned the honor in 2022, though he was the only TU pitcher to do so since Eric Cartman received the award in 2014, so Crabtree has now become just the third Trojan to be named the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week in nearly a decade.

The national honor comes just one day after Crabtree was crowned the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Week. Crabtree’s award-winning stat line included two wins in a pair of appearances out of the pen, totaling six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit in tandem with 11 strikeouts.

TU’s freshman lefty was especially crucial in its series-opening victory over rival RV Indiana Wesleyan on Friday, April 14, completing three-straight scoreless frames after the Wildcats had scored seven runs in the previous two innings.

Crabtree has made the second-most appearances on the mound for Taylor this year with a total of 14. In his last 15-and-two-thirds-innings of work, Crabtree has allowed just three runs on seven hits. Meanwhile, TU’s stellar freshman has racked up a total in 19 strikeouts in that same stretch of play.

Taylor athletes now boast a total of four NAIA National Athlete-of-the-Week honors in 2022-2023.

Crabtree and the RV Trojans (31-11, 24-4 CL) will look to extend their eight-game winning streak when they host Marian (14-22, 8-16 CL) at Winterholter Field on Thursday, April 20, at 3:00 pm.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | RV TROJANS AND MARIAN NOW SET TO COMPETE ON THURSDAY

UPLAND, Ind. – This weekend’s home baseball series with Marian, originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, has now been rearranged to unfold on Thursday and Saturday, April 20 and 22.

RV Taylor will carry an eight-game win streak into the series opener on Thursday with the first pitch of a doubleheader set for 3:00 pm. TU and Marian will then return to Winterholter Field for two more games on Saturday, April 22, with first pitch slated for 1:00 pm.

For those unable to gather in-person, stayed tuned to TaylorTrojans.com for access to live coverage links with which to follow the Trojans from home.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | 118TH-ANNUAL INDIANA LITTLE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS PUSHED UP TO THURSDAY

UPLAND, Ind. – This weekend 118th-annual Indiana Little State Championships, originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, has been rescheduled to now unfold between Thursday and Friday, April 20 and 21.

The Taylor men’s and women’s track & field teams will participate in Marion, Indiana, beginning with the hammer throw and discus events on Thursday at 2:00 pm.

Pole vault and jumping events will then commence at 4:00 pm that same day, before running events start at 6:30 pm on Thursday evening.

Friday’s competition will then begin with the racewalk at 2:15 pm, shortly after which track events will unfold from 3:00 pm onward. Shot put and javelin will close the meet’s field events at 4:00 pm.

Stay tuned to TaylorTrojans.com for access to live coverage links with which to follow the action from home.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | NO. 6 TROJANS, JOHNSON ROLL TO TITLES AT ACKERMAN-ALLEN SHOOTOUT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The sixth-ranked Taylor men’s golf team continued its dominant 2022-2023 season, winning the Ackerman-Allen Shootout for its sixth team crown in 10 outings, while Javan Johnson recorded his fifth individual title of the year by edging teammate Noah Ross for medalist honors.

The Trojans blew out the 11-team field by ending the 36-hole tournament with an even-par score of 576. TU opened with a two-under 286 and followed with a 290 to run away from the pack. Taylor finished with an 11-shot gap over second-place Parkland and topped RV Indiana Wesleyan by 29 strokes for third and Marian by 31 shots for fourth.

Johnson led from the start, matching a career-best with a first-round tally of 66 and following with an even-par 72 to finish the event at six-under 138. Johnson’s two-round total matched his best of the season and gave him a three-shot cushion over Ross for the top spot.

Ross was just off Johnson’s pace, shooting 71 and 70 to finish three-under par at 141. The second-place effort marked the third-straight top-three result for Ross and his eighth top-three effort of the season.

Taylor’s other top-20 performances came from Kyle Kasitz in ninth at 148, Erik Fahlen in 12th at 149 and Will Schuitema in 19th at 150 after shooting a personal-best 73 in the opening round.

No. 6 Taylor (99-5) will now shift its attention toward aiming for a seventh-straight Crossroads League Championship, when it plays at the league tournament, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan on May 1 and 2 at Chariot Run Golf Club in Laconia, Indiana.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | LANGERAK TAKES TITLE AT ACKERMAN-ALLEN SHOOTOUT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Playing in its final tournament before the Crossroads League Championships, No. 11 Taylor battled to a third-place showing at the Ackerman-Allen Shootout behind an individual championship from Sabrina Langerak.

Langerak and Ellie Karst took the top-two spots on the individual leaderboard, with Margarita Garrido giving Taylor three of the event’s top-four performers, but the Trojans finished back of No. 24 Bethel (619) and No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan (624) in the team standings.

Taylor tallied scores of 310 and 317 in the 36-hole tournament, finishing in third with a score of 627 and ahead of Spring Arbor, Huntington, Mount Vernon Nazarene and Saint Francis.

Langerak fired scores of 73 and 75 to finish off her third win of the season with a final score of four-over 148. Finishing four shots off Langerak’s blistering pace was Karst, who shot 75 and 77 for a season-best second-place showing at 152.

Garrido continued her strong play in the spring season, finishing among TU’s top-three for the fourth-straight showing and taking fourth overall at 153 and Alyssa Schmidt provided Taylor with its fourth-best score in 16th at 163.

No. 11 Taylor (63-21) will now turn its focus toward the 2023 Crossroads League Championships, hosted by Huntington University at Chariot Run Golf Club in Laconia, Indiana on May 8 and 9.

HART’S BIG DAY ON THE MOUND GIVE TRAILBLAZERS SPLIT AT JOHN WOOD

QUINCY, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers closed out another Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series Tuesday afternoon at John Wood Community College and came away with the doubleheader split, winning the first game 5-2 before falling in game two of the day 14-6.

VU got off to an excellent start to the day Tuesday, with sophomore leadoff hitter Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) leading off the game with a single and later coming around to score on an RBI single by sophomore Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.).

The game turned into a low scoring pitcher’s duel with VU breaking the streak of clean innings with another run in the fourth on an RBI single by freshman Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.) to give Vincennes a 2-0 lead.

The Blazers continued to add to their lead in the sixth after four straight singles, including an RBI single by Burdette. Burdette later scored on an error on a fielder’s choice put in play by sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.).

John Wood avoided the shutout with a pair of runs in the sixth but were unable to get much momentum offensively with the VU pitching staff holding JWCC to just four hits on the day, allowing the Blazers to pick up the 5-2 victory over John Wood.

Vincennes was led on the mound by sophomore starter Xavier Hart (Jeffersonville, Ind.) who threw five-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out six batters.

Freshman Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) entered the game out of the pen and threw the final two innings, allowing just one hit and picking up the save for Vincennes.

Game two of the day did not get off to such a great start for the Trailblazers. John Wood looked to bounce back on their home field and secure the series victory with a pair of runs in the first, a run in the second and two runs in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

Vincennes was able to get on the board in the fifth after a leadoff walk by sophomore Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.) followed by a single by Ethan Burdette, his third hit of the day and a two-RBI double by Colton Evans to cut the deficit to 5-2.

John Wood was able to get those runs back in the bottom half before the Trailblazers answered back in a big way in the sixth, with six of the first seven batters in the inning reaching base, including an RBI single by freshman Trevor Newman (Fort Wayne, Ind.), a two-RBI single by Ethan Burdette and an RBI single by sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) to put VU within a run of John Wood at 7-6.

John Wood was able to answer back with a run in the bottom of the sixth, before putting the game away in the seventh with a six-run inning, including a walk-off two-run home run to give the host JWCC the 14-6 victory.

Freshman lefty Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) got the start on the mound in game two, throwing three and one-third innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out three.

Freshman Logan Medsker (Marshall, Ill.) pitched an inning and a third out of the pen, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out one, before turning the game over to freshman Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Parnin lasted two innings, allowing five runs on three hits and striking out one.

The Trailblazers will have a short turnaround before hitting the road again this weekend to face off against Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill. Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23. First pitch both days is set for 1 p.m. eastern.

SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:

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

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

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

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

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

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

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

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

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

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MLB STANDINGS

American League
East
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Tampa Bay	15	3	.833	–	10 – 0	5 – 3	5 – 2	3 – 0	3 – 0	7 – 3	W 1
Toronto	11	7	.611	4	4 – 2	7 – 5	2 – 1	5 – 2	3 – 2	6 – 4	W 1
Baltimore	10	7	.588	4.5	4 – 3	6 – 4	2 – 4	2 – 1	5 – 2	6 – 4	W 2
NY Yankees	10	7	.588	4.5	6 – 5	4 – 2	2 – 1	4 – 3	0 – 1	6 – 4	L 1
Boston	9	9	.500	6	6 – 5	3 – 4	2 – 5	4 – 0	3 – 1	5 – 5	W 1
Central
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Minnesota	10	7	.588	–	4 – 2	6 – 5	2 – 3	5 – 1	2 – 1	5 – 5	L 3
Cleveland	9	9	.500	1.5	2 – 4	7 – 5	1 – 2	0 – 2	6 – 4	4 – 6	L 3
Detroit	7	9	.438	2.5	4 – 3	3 – 6	1 – 8	2 – 0	2 – 1	5 – 5	W 5
Chi White Sox	7	11	.389	3.5	3 – 5	4 – 6	1 – 2	1 – 2	2 – 2	4 – 6	W 1
Kansas City	4	14	.222	6.5	1 – 11	3 – 3	1 – 3	0 – 3	1 – 4	2 – 8	L 5
West
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Texas	11	6	.647	–	6 – 3	5 – 3	1 – 2	4 – 1	2 – 1	7 – 3	W 3
LA Angels	9	8	.529	2	3 – 3	6 – 5	3 – 5	0 – 0	4 – 2	5 – 5	W 2
Houston	8	10	.444	3.5	5 – 7	3 – 3	1 – 1	4 – 6	1 – 2	5 – 5	L 1
Seattle	8	10	.444	3.5	5 – 7	3 – 3	0 – 0	3 – 4	1 – 2	5 – 5	L 2
Oakland	3	15	.167	8.5	2 – 9	1 – 6	1 – 6	1 – 2	1 – 2	1 – 9	L 6

National League
East
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Atlanta	14	4	.778	–	4 – 3	10 – 1	2 – 1	6 – 0	3 – 3	8 – 2	W 8
NY Mets	11	7	.611	3	4 – 2	7 – 5	5 – 2	0 – 3	3 – 2	7 – 3	L 1
Miami	10	8	.556	4	7 – 5	3 – 3	4 – 6	0 – 0	4 – 1	7 – 3	W 2
Philadelphia	7	11	.389	7	3 – 3	4 – 8	1 – 2	4 – 3	0 – 0	4 – 6	L 1
Washington	5	12	.294	8.5	2 – 8	3 – 4	1 – 2	0 – 0	2 – 2	4 – 6	L 1
Central
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Milwaukee	13	5	.722	–	5 – 1	8 – 4	3 – 0	4 – 2	4 – 3	7 – 3	W 3
Chi Cubs	10	6	.625	2	5 – 4	5 – 2	0 – 0	2 – 3	2 – 1	7 – 3	W 3
Pittsburgh	11	7	.611	2	3 – 3	8 – 4	0 – 0	3 – 4	2 – 0	6 – 4	W 2
Cincinnati	7	10	.412	5.5	6 – 5	1 – 5	3 – 7	3 – 2	0 – 0	4 – 6	L 1
St. Louis	7	11	.389	6	4 – 8	3 – 3	0 – 3	3 – 4	2 – 3	4 – 6	L 2
West
Team	W	L	Pct	GB	Home	Road	East	Central	West	Last 10	Streak
Arizona	11	7	.611	–	5 – 2	6 – 5	1 – 2	4 – 1	6 – 4	7 – 3	W 3
LA Dodgers	9	9	.500	2	6 – 5	3 – 4	1 – 1	1 – 2	7 – 6	4 – 6	W 1
San Diego	8	11	.421	3.5	4 – 8	4 – 3	4 – 5	1 – 3	3 – 3	3 – 7	L 3
San Francisco	5	11	.313	5	2 – 4	3 – 7	0 – 2	0 – 0	1 – 2	2 – 8	L 5
Colorado	5	13	.278	6	3 – 6	2 – 7	2 – 2	1 – 4	2 – 4	2 – 8	L 7

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1890      The Brooklyn Bridegrooms, who will later be known as the Dodgers, play their first National League game. The former American Association team loses to the Beaneaters, who will become known as the Braves in 1912, at Boston’s South End Grounds, 15-9.

1900      The Beaneaters score nine runs in the ninth to send the game into extra innings, but the Phillies recover to beat Boston in 10 innings, 19-17. The 36 runs crossing the plate in the South End Grounds set a major league record for most runs scored by two clubs on Opening Day.

1912      Due to a rainout on Opening Day, the Red Sox schedule a two-admission twin bill with games starting at 10:30 am and 3:15 pm to give morning fans the chance to see the end of the Boston Marathon and race watchers the opportunity to attend the afternoon contest. Although a Patriots’ Day game will not become an annual event until 1959, the pairing of the holiday and the big crowd gathered for the 26.2-mile run almost occurred a half-of-a-century sooner if inclement weather hadn’t also washed away today’s Fenway Park doubleheader.

1912      At Griffith Stadium, before the Senators’ 6-0 victory over the A’s, James S. Sherman becomes the first U.S. Vice President to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. William Howard Taft does not attend the game due to the death of Archibald Butt, a friend lost in the sinking of the Titanic.

1927      Calling the play-by-play in the Tigers’ 8-5 victory over the Indians, Edwin Tyson becomes the first person in club history to broadcast a game. The radio personality will begin the game by saying, “Good afternoon, boys and girls, this is Ty Tyson speaking to you from Navin Field,” which will become his familiar refrain on WWJ.

1938      During the first inning, both Dodgers’ Ernie Koy and Phillies’ Heinie Mueller homer in their first major league at-bats. The rookies will collectively hit 53 home runs during their nine seasons in the major leagues.

1939      At an informal press conference arranged by Universal Pictures, actress Dorothy Arnold tells wire service reporters that she and Joe DiMaggio are engaged and plan to marry sometime this summer. Upon hearing the news, the somewhat surprised Yankee center fielder clarifies that no ceremony will occur during the baseball season, but the couple will exchange vows in November.

1944      Mel Ott hits the first National League round-tripper of the season, the 464th of his career, helping the Giants defeat the Braves, 2-1. Next season, Master Melvin will become the first National Leaguer to amass 500 career home runs.

1948      Yankee starter Allie Reynolds, thinking the Senators are trying to trick him, refuses to leave second base after hitting his first and only career home run, which is unbeknownst to him because he did not see the ball clear the left-field fence. In front of an amused President Truman, New York skipper Bucky Harris finally convinces the skeptical baserunner to round the bases to continue the Opening

1948      The Pirates, wearing their black and gold color scheme for the first time, lose baseball’s traditional opener in Cincinnati, 4-1, in a game that features scuffles between opposing players, an ump, a photographer, a fan who jumps on the field, and the police. Becoming the first team to change their original colors permanently, the Bucs abandoned the familiar patriotic look of red, white, and blue, choosing to use hues that match the Flag of Pittsburgh.

1948      The Red Sox become the first team to hit three consecutive homers on Opening Day when Stan Spence, Vern Stephens, and Bobby Doerr go deep in the second frame. The long ball proves not to be enough with the A’s 5-4 victory over Boston in 11 innings.

1949      In front of 53,000 fans on Opening Day, Johnny Groth hits home runs in two of his first three at-bats at Tiger Stadium. The 22-year-old rookie’s performance enables Hal Newhowser and Detroit to beat Chicago, 5-1.

1949      On Opening Day, the Yankees unveil a monument in centerfield in memory of Babe Ruth eight months after his death. The legendary “Bambino” joins Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins, also honored posthumously with cenotaphs, the team’s highest honor.

1949      Pirates right-hander Rip Sewell establishes a National League record when he throws his third Opening Day shutout, blanking the Cubs, 1-0, at Wrigley Field. Rick Mahler (Braves, 1982, 1985,1987) and Chris Short (Phillies, 1965, 1968, 1970) will match the record of the 42-year-old veteran hurler, who also threw zeros to start the 1943 and 1947 seasons.

1956      In the first major league game ever played in New Jersey, the Dodgers begin their Jersey City home game experiment with a 10-inning 5-4 victory over the Phillies at Roosevelt Stadium. A sparse crowd of 12,214, limited by inclement weather, sees Brooklyn backstop Roy Campanella tie the score in the tenth inning with his 1000th career hit, a double down the left-field line.

1960      A record Opening Day crowd at Chicago’s Comiskey Park enthusiastically greets their American League champs and warmly welcomes Minnie Minoso to the team after his three-year exile to Cleveland. The 34-year-old outfielder doesn’t disappoint the South Side fans when, in addition to hitting a grand slam in the fourth, he blasts a ninth-inning walk-off home run, giving the White Sox a 10-9 victory over Kansas City.

1960      Roger Maris, obtained from the A’s in the offseason, goes 4-for-5 batting leadoff in his first game as a Yankee. The 25-year-old right fielder’s 11 total bases, including two home runs and a double, contribute to the Bronx Bombers’ Opening Day 8-4 victory over Boston at Fenway Park.

1961      At Comiskey Park, Bill Veeck employs eight Little People to work in the stands during the White Sox home opener against Washington. The Chicago owner’s hiring decision responds to complaints that fans sitting in the box seats couldn’t see over the vendors.

1963      Willie Mays becomes the all-time National League right-handed home run leader when he connects for his 371st career round-tripper, a fourth-inning solo shot off Chicago’s Larry Jackson in the Giants’ 5-1 victory at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco center fielder surpasses Gil Hodges, who established the mark last season.

1968      Nolan Ryan makes quick work of the Dodgers when he strikes out the side on nine pitches in the top of the third inning of the Mets’ 3-2 loss at Shea Stadium. The 21-year-old New York fireballer, who will also accomplish the feat with the Angels in 1972, strikes out 11 batters in 7.1 frames, including Claude Osteen, Wes Parker, and Zoilo Versalles, the victims of his immaculate inning.

1969      Along with Dick Ellsworth and Juan Pizarro, Ken Harrelson is traded by the Red Sox to the Indians for Joe Azcue, Vicente Romo, and Sonny Siebert. The 27-year-old ‘Hawk’ decides to retire but reluctantly returns to the game after a conversation with commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who will later say, “the loss of Ken Harrelson would be a tragedy for baseball.”

1972      The demolition of Crosley Field begins when two-year-old Pete Rose, Jr. pulls a lever that sends a wrecking ball into the side of the former home of the Reds. The left-field terrace area will become a parking lot but is still distinguishable due to its slope and proximity to York Street.

1972      Sparky Lyle becomes the first reliever to come into a game with a signature entrance song when the Yankee Stadium PA system plays Pomp and Circumstance as the closer approaches the mound. Although the southpaw secures the last out of the team’s 3-2 victory over Milwaukee, the reliever believes the Edward Elgar’s march, selected by PR man Marty Appel, adds more pressure to his closer role and asks the public relations department to put the tradition on hold.

1979      The Mets trade Tim Foli and minor league prospect Greg Field to the Pirates for second baseman Frank Taveras. Foli, appearing in 133 games, will play a significant role in the club’s world championship this season, batting .291 and providing solid defense at shortstop for the Bucs.

1979      After a 6-3 loss to the Orioles in New York, Goose Gossage sustains a sprained ligament in his left thumb due to a clubhouse brawl with Yankee teammate Cliff Johnson. The reliever will be out of action until mid-July, and Johnson, due to the altercation, will be traded to the Indians in June for southpaw Don Hood.

1987      In the 4000th game in franchise history, the Mets drop a 4-2 decision to St. Louis at Busch Stadium. The reigning World Champs, who started as an expansion team in 1962, have won exactly half of their last 1000 games, posting a 500-498-2 record during the span that began on July 19, 1980.

1987      Thanks to Rob Deer’s three-run homer to tie the score and Dale Sveum’s two-run winning shot, the Brewers rallied for five runs in the ninth inning, beating the Rangers, 6-4. The Milwaukee victory sets an American League record as they win their 12th straight game to start the season.

1996      In the eighth, the Rangers fall one run short of setting a modern major-league mark, scoring 16 runs in one inning in their 26-7 rout of the Orioles. In 1952, the Red Sox tallied 17 times in the seventh frame in a 23-3 rout of Detroit at Fenway Park.

1997      The Cubs lose their 13th consecutive game to match the longest losing streak in their 122-year history. Reliever Turk Wendell, wearing #13, is tagged with the loss when Chicago drops a 6-3 decision to the Mets at Shea Stadium.

1997      In the first major league game ever played in Hawaii, the Cardinals edge the Padres, 1-0, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The three-game set, known as Padres Paradise Series, find the hosts dropping two of three contests to the Redbirds.

1998      Equaling their largest margin of victory when keeping an opponent scoreless, the Mets rout Cincinnati at Cinergy Field, 14-0. Outfielder Bernard Gilkey crosses the plate in the first, third, fifth, seventh, and eighth inning, becoming only one of four players in franchise history to score five runs in one game.

1998      The Devil Rays, en route to finishing last in the AL East, improve their record to 10-6, beating the Angels at Anaheim, 6-0, becoming the first expansion team to be four games over .500 at any point in their inaugural season. In contrast, the 1962 Mets posted a 3-13 mark in their first 16 games.

1999      A sore back puts Oriole third baseman Cal Ripken, Jr. on the disabled list for 22 games. The injury marks the first time the Iron Man, who, in 1995, broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record by playing in 2,131 straight games, has been placed on the DL during his 19-year career.

2000      Veteran hurler Orel Hershiser ties a major league mark, equaled by 19 others, hitting four batters in one game. Astro Richard Hidalgo also ties a modern major league record when hit three times, twice by the 41-year-old Dodger starter and a third time by reliever Matt Herges.

2002      Mariners’ third baseman Jeff Cirillo ties the major league record for consecutive errorless games at the hot corner by playing his 99th contest without a miscue. John Wehner, a journeyman infielder with the Dodgers, Pirates, and Marlins, established the mark during a span of eight-plus seasons.

2004      After faking a throw to third base before throwing to first, A’s right-hander Justin Duchscherer is called for a balk by umps Paul Emmel and Mike DiMuro as the result of stepping toward home plate before beginning his pick-off move. The Oakland hurler’s mound miscue ends the 14-inning contest, giving the Mariners a 2-1 balk-off victory at Safeco Field.

2005      David Wright’s seventh-inning grand slam at Citizens Bank Park establishes a club record for home runs hit in a game. The Mets go deep seven times (Reyes-2, Diaz-2, Piazza, Wright, and Mientkiewicz) when they rout the Phillies, 16-4.

2009      Daniel Cabrera puts the ball in play when he grounds out to first and then reaches base safely for the first time in his six-year career when he walks on four straight balls thrown by Marlins’ Hayden Penn. The Diamondbacks’ right-hander had previously struck out in all of his 18 major league at-bats, including one in today’s game, setting a major-league mark for consecutive strikeouts.

2009      For the third successive day, the Marlins rally in the top of the ninth, completing a three-game sweep against the Nationals. The last team to win three consecutive times after trailing in the ninth inning were the 1998 Tigers, coming back dramatically in a trio of mid-September contests to beat Toronto and Minnesota.

2012      Jose Altuve, Brian Bogusevic, and Matt Downs hit three-baggers in Houston’s five-run first frame, marking the first time the Astros collect three triples in one inning. The triple-triple helps Houston coast to an easy 11-4 victory over the Nationals in Washington.

(Ed. Note: Matt Downs’s three-base hit is the only triple in the 254 games of his major league career.-LP)

2013      After stealing second, Jean Segura changes his mind about swiping third and returns to the bag, but thinking he’s out because Ryan Braun occupies the base, he starts to head for the dugout, scrambling back to first when realizing he is safe. Two pitches later, the bewildered Brewer baserunner tries to steal second base again, becoming the first player to have taken second base once and then out stealing the same bag in the same inning.

2013      According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Matt Harvey becomes the first pitcher in modern major league history to win his first four games while giving up less than ten hits. The 24-year-old Mets right-hander easily outduels his mound opponent, Washington’s former phenom, Stephen Strasburg, prompting the Citi Field crowd to start chanting, “Har-vee’s be-tter, “Har-vee’s be-tter.”

2019      When right-hander Adam Ottavino faces the Royals’ Terrance Gore in the seventh inning of New York’s 6-2 victory at Yankee Stadium, the matchup becomes the first zero vs. zero confrontation to take place in a big-league game. The 33-year-old reliever, whose the first Bronx Bomber to wear the uniform #0, strikes out the Kansas City outfielder, the second Royals player ever to don a cipher, and the first since George Scott wore it in 1979.

2020      Once considered one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the history of the game, Steve Dalkowski, a nine-year minor league veteran, playing mostly in the Orioles organization in the 1950s and ’60s, dies from COVID-19 at 80. After beaning a mascot, the New Britain (CT) native became the inspiration for the character of Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, a hurler with a blazing but uncontrollable fastball played by Tim Robbins in the 1988 classic baseball movie Bull Durham.

TV WEDNESDAY

COLLEGE BASEBALL	TIME ET	TV
PRAIRIE VIEW VS TEXAS A&M	7:00PM	SECN
ABILENE CHRISTIAN VS TEXAS	7:30PM	LHN
COLLEGE SOFTBALL	TIME ET	TV
SOUTH FLORIDA VS FLORIDA	6:00PM	ESPNU
CAMPBELL VS NORTH CAROLINA	7:00PM	ACCN
MLB REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
TAMPA BAY AT CINCINNATI	12:35PM	BALLY SPORTS
CLEVELAND AT DETROIT	1:10PM	BALLY SPORTS
SAN FRANCISCO AT MIAMI	1:10PM	NBCS-BAY BALLY SPORTS
ARIZONA AT ST. LOUIS	1:15PM	BALLY SPORTS
PHILADELPHIA AT CHI. WHITE SOX	2:10PM	MLBN NBCS-PHI NBCS-CHI
TEXAS AT KANSAS CITY	2:10PM	BALLY SPORTS
NY METS AT LA DODGERS	3:10PM	MLBN SNY SPECTRUM
PITTSBURGH AT COLORADO	3:10PM	ATTSN-PIT ATTSN-RM
CHI. CUBS AT OAKLAND	3:37PM	MARQ NBCS-CA
MILWAUKEE AT SEATTLE	4:10PM	BALLY SPORTS ROOT SPORTS
ATLANTA AT SAN DIEGO	4:10PM	BALLY SPORTS
LA ANGELS AT NY YANKEES	7:05PM	MLBN BALLY SPORTS YES
BALTIMORE AT WASHINGTON	7:05PM	MASN/2
MINNESOTA AT BOSTON	7:10PM	MLBN NESN BALLY SPORTS
TORONTO AT HOUSTON	8:10PM	ATTSN-SW SPORTSNET
NBA PLAYOFFS	TIME ET	TV
WEST QUARTERFINALS GAME 2: LA LAKERS AT MEMPHIS	7:30PM	TNT
EAST QUARTERFINALS GAME 2: MIAMI AT MILWAUKEE	9:00PM	NBATV
WEST QUARTERFINALS GAME 2: MINNESOTA AT DENVER	10:00PM	TNT
NHL PLAYOFFS	TIME ET	TV
GAME 2: NY ISLANDERS AT CAROLINA	7:00PM	ESPN2
GAME 2: FLORIDA AT BOSTON	7:30PM	ESPN
GAME 2: MINNESOTA AT DALLAS	9:30PM	ESPN2
GAME 2: LOS ANGELES AT EDMONTON	10:00PM	ESPN
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: INTERNAZIONALE VS BENFICA	3:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BAYERN MÜNCHEN VS MANCHESTER CITY	3:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
COPA LIBERTADORES: INTERNACIONAL VS METROPOLITANOS	6:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
COPA LIBERTADORES: NACIONAL VS MEDELLÍN	6:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
NWSL CHALLENGE CUP: ORLANDO PRIDE VS NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE	7:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
NWSL CHALLENGE CUP: HOUSTON DASH VS KANSAS CITY CURRENT	7:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
NWSL CHALLENGE CUP: NJ/NY GOTHAM FC VS WASHINGTON SPIRIT	7:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
COPA LIBERTADORES: RIVER PLATE VS SPORTING CRISTAL	8:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
FRIENDLY: USA VS MEXICO	10:00PM	TBS
COPA LIBERTADORES: BARCELONA VS BOLÍVAR	10:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
NWSL CHALLENGE CUP: ANGEL CITY VS OL REIGN	10:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
NWSL CHALLENGE CUP: SAN DIEGO WAVE VS PORTLAND THORNS	10:00PM	PARAMOUNT+