THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026

Game 1: San Antonio at Oklahoma City | Monday May 18 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 2: San Antonio at Oklahoma City | Wednesday May 20 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at San Antonio | Friday May 22 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at San Antonio | Sunday May 24 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City | Tuesday May 26 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at San Antonio | Thursday May 28 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City | Saturday May 30 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)*

* = If necessary

> 2026 NBA Finals

The 2026 NBA Finals will be begin on June 3, with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster.

June 3: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 1 on ABC, 8:30 ET
June 5: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 2 on ABC, 8:30 ET
June 8: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 3 on ABC, 8:30 ET
June 10: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 4 on ABC, 8:30 ET
June 13: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 5 on ABC, 8:30 ET*
June 16: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 6 on ABC, 8:30 ET*
June 19: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 7 on ABC, 8:30 ET*

* = If necessary

====================================

NHL PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal Canadiens (3A) vs. Buffalo Sabres (1A)

Series tied 3-3

Game 1: Buffalo 4, Montreal 2

Game 2: Montreal 5, Buffalo 1

Game 3: Montreal 6, Buffalo 2

Game 4: Buffalo 3, Montreal 2

Game 5: Montreal 6, Buffalo 3

Game 6: Buffalo 8, Montreal 3

Game 7: Montreal at Buffalo — 7:30 p.m. ET, Monday, May 18 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Complete coverage of Canadiens-Sabres series

Philadelphia Flyers (3M) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (1M)

Carolina wins series 4-0

Game 1: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 0

Game 2: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)

Game 3: Carolina 4, Philadelphia 1

Game 4: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)

Complete coverage of Flyers-Hurricanes series

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Minnesota Wild (3C) vs. Colorado Avalanche (1C)

Colorado wins series 4-1

Game 1: Colorado 9, Minnesota 6

Game 2: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2

Game 3: Minnesota 5, Colorado 1

Game 4: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2

Game 5: Colorado 4, Minnesota 3 (OT)

Complete coverage of Wild-Avalanche series

Anaheim Ducks (3P) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (1P)

Vegas wins series 4-2

Game 1: Vegas 3, Anaheim 1

Game 2: Anaheim 3, Vegas 1

Game 3: Vegas 6, Anaheim 2

Game 4: Anaheim 4, Vegas 3

Game 5: Vegas 3, Anaheim 2 (OT)

Game 6: Vegas 5, Anaheim 1

Complete coverage of Ducks-Golden Knights series

====================================

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

TORONTO 2 DETROIT 1 (10)

ST. LOUIS 4 KANSAS CITY 2

COLORADO 4 ARIZONA 2

PHILADELPHIA 6 PITTSBURGH 0

WASHINGTON 13 BALTIMORE 3

MIAMI 10 TAMPA BAY 5 (10)

CLEVELAND 7 CINCINNATI 4

HOUSTON 4 TEXAS 1

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 8 CHICAGO CUBS 3

MILWAUKEE 2 MINNESOTA 1

SAN DIEGO 7 SEATTLE 4

NY METS 6 NY YANKEES 3

BOSTON 3 ATLANTA 2

LA DODGERS 15 LA ANGELS 2

SAN FRANCISCO 6 LAS VEGAS 4

===================================

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INDIANAPOLIS AT LOUISVILLE PPD

SOUTH BEND 24 WISCONSIN 4

CEDAR RAPIDS 7 FT. WAYNE 4

===================================

WNBA

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

===================================

UFL SCORES

DEFENDERS 45 GAMBLERS 7

===================================

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

CHICAGO 2 MONTRÉAL 0

COLUMBUS 1 PHILADELPHIA 1

ATLANTA 1 ORLANDO 1

NEW YORK CITY 1 NEW YORK RED BULLS 1

NEW ENGLAND 2 MINNESOTA 1

DC UNITED 1 ST. LOUIS 1

CHARLOTTE 3 TORONTO 1

HOUSTON 1 VANCOUVER 0

KANSAS CITY 2 AUSTIN 1

LA GALAXY 2 SEATTLE 0

CINCINNATI 3 SAN DIEGO 3

SALT LAKE 2 COLORADO 1

DALLAS 3 SAN JOSE 2

===================================

MAJOR NATIONAL HEADLINES/RELEASES

NBA

PISTONS LOOK TO CLOSE OUT DONOVAN MITCHELL, CAVALIERS IN GAME 7

Donovan Mitchell and Ausar Thompson will battle for the last word in their individual rivalry when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Detroit Pistons for a win-or-go-on-vacation Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday night.

Each team has prevailed once on the opponent’s court since the clubs each won twice at home to begin the best-of-seven.

Mitchell and the Cavaliers’ 117-113 overtime triumph Wednesday at Detroit gave them a 3-2 lead and put the fourth-seeded club one win away from meeting the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

But the top-seeded Pistons turned the tables Friday in Cleveland, rolling to a 115-94 victory that has returned the presumed home-court advantage to Detroit.

“It’s going to be a madhouse in there,” Pistons star Cade Cunningham predicted on the eve of the showdown. “The crowd is going to come to play as well. They want to insert themselves in the game.”

The Pistons went 32-9 at home in the regular season, the third-best record in the NBA, before going 3-1 at Little Caesars Arena against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. That included a 116-94 home win in Game 7 to advance.

Cleveland also needed seven games to reach this series. The Cavaliers haven’t lost a Game 7 since LeBron James was 23 years old in 2008 against the Boston Celtics. Before beating the Magic, the Pistons hadn’t been in a seven-game series since, coincidentally, eliminating Cleveland in 2006.

Mitchell, the NBA’s seventh-leading scorer at 27.9 points per game during the regular season, has been held to 23 or fewer in three of the six games of the semifinal series. In Cleveland’s Game 5 win, he scored 21 points, shooting 7-for-18 overall and 1-for-8 on 3-pointers. When the Cavaliers were limited to 94 points in Game 6, he was held to 18 points while being harassed into 6-for-20 shooting overall and 2-for-6 from deep.

Thompson, a finalist for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, has gotten much of the credit for Mitchell’s troubles. The Cavaliers recognize the defensive strategy and believe they are prepared to counter it when it matters most.

“Getting him in the open court more where they can’t get their hands on him,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson responded when asked for a potential solution to Thompson’s aggressive defense. “When it’s in the halfcourt, it’s clutch, grab, hold. We got to get him in space, in the open court — kick-aheads, kick-acrosses, all that.”

Another key matchup in the series has been between starting centers Jarrett Allen and Jalen Duren.

Allen has won the statistical battle three times, totaling 43 points and 19 rebounds to Duren’s 28 points and 11 rebounds in those matchups, and the Cavaliers have won all three of those games. But when Duren has outplayed his rival — outrebounding him 33-18 — the Pistons have gone 3-0.

The team that has won the rebounding battle has taken four of the six games. With Duren contributing his second double-double of the series, the Pistons owned a 43-40 edge on the boards in Game 6.

===============================

NHL

SABRES SCORES 7 STRAIGHT GOALS, FORCE GAME 7 VS. CANADIENS

Rasmus Dahlin tied a franchise postseason record with five points (one goal, four assists) and Tage Thompson posted one goal and three assists to pace the visiting Buffalo Sabres to a 8-3 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, forcing a seventh game in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Jack Quinn tallied twice in a three-point performance, Zach Benson and Jason Zucker both collected one goal and one assist, and Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa added a goal apiece for the Sabres, who finished the game with seven unanswered goals.

“It’s unreal to win this game. Now we have a chance to advance,” Dahlin said postgame to Sportsnet. “The whole group stepped up and played an ‘A’ game. Every individual had their best game. That’s what we need.”

Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves after starter Alex Lyon was pulled when he surrendered three goals on four shots.

It’s the first time since game 3 of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals that the Sabres won a playoff game after making a performance-based goalie change.

Game 7 will be Monday in Buffalo. The winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final.

“That’s why I play hockey. That’s what I want to do. I live for this,” Dahlin said.

“There’s no panic or anything. I think we’re all excited. Just more hockey for us,” Montreal’s Lane Hutson countered. “We don’t like it easy. We like the challenge. They brought their best and we’ve got to answer the bell.”

Jake Evans collected one goal and one assist, while Arber Xhekaj and Ivan Demidov each tallied once for the Canadiens.

Goalie Jakub Dobes was tagged for six goals on 33 shots before being pulled. Jacob Fowler stopped one of two shots in relief.

With his team trailing 3-2, Benson tied the clash when he cashed in a loose puck 60 seconds into the second period.

Things got away quickly there from Montreal, which took its first loss in franchise history in a potential series-clinching home playoff game it led by multiple goals.

Quinn’s power-play marker at 10:54 of the frame, his first career playoff goal, put Buffalo ahead, and Helenius made it a 5-3 count by finishing a 2-on-1 rush at 12:59 of the period.

“We’re up a goal in the second period and in a good spot and lost control of the game there,” Montreal captain Nick Suzuki said. “We were pushing in the third and they get that power-play goal that put it out of reach.”

Quinn added his second of the game midway through the third period, Thompson netted an empty-net goal and Metsa notched his first career playoff goal with a late power-play marker — Buffalo’s fourth of the game — to round out the scoring.

“I feel like every game’s had a lot of chaos to it, so I think we’re getting used to it,” Quinn said to Sportsnet postgame. “We knew we played well in the first (period) in stretches and just had to stick with it.”

It was a wasted opportunity for the Canadiens after holding a 3-2 lead at the first intermission. Buffalo tallied first when Dahlin converted the first shot 32 seconds into the clash, but Montreal responded with a trio of goals.

Xhekaj tied the game 68 seconds later on his team’s first shot for his first of the playoffs, Demidov put Montreal ahead on the power play at 8:12 and Evans added a short-handed goal at 10:14 to make it a 3-1 lead.

But Zucker sparked the Sabres with a power-play goal of his own at 13:56 of the wild frame and swung the pendulum the other direction.

==============================

MLB

MLB ROUNDUP: PHILLIES’ CRISTOPHER SANCHEZ K’S 13 PIRATES IN CG SHUTOUT

Cristopher Sanchez struck out a career-high 13 in his second career shutout to guide the visiting Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Bryce Harper hit a mammoth three-run homer and Trea Turner went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for Philadelphia, which evened its record at 23-23 with its 14th win in 18 games since Don Mattingly took over for Rob Thomson as interim manager late last month.

Marcell Ozuna went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts for Pittsburgh, which managed only six hits and drew no walks against Sanchez (5-2). Pirates starter Bubba Chandler (1-5) allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and four walks in three innings.

Sanchez struck out two in the eighth before surpassing his career high in punchouts with a strikeout of Ozuna in the ninth. His 108th and final pitch of the day resulted in Nick Yorke’s game-ending grounder.

Blue Jays 2, Tigers 1 (10 innings)

Daulton Varsho’s one-out single in the 10th drove in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to lift Toronto to victory over host Detroit.

Yohendrick Pinango poked his first career homer for the Blue Jays while Matt Vierling homered to account for the Tigers’ run. Riley Greene extended his hitting streak to 11 games – the longest active streak in the bigs – with a ninth-inning single.

Louis Varland (2-1) threw two scoreless innings, which included escaping from a first-and-third jam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Detroit starter Casey Mize gave up just two hits over six scoreless innings in his first start since April 28. Tyler Holton (0-2) allowed the unearned run in the 10th.

Cardinals 4, Royals 2

Kyle Leahy’s strong start led host St. Louis past Kansas City. Leahy (5-3) got his third win in his last four starts, throwing six innings of one-run ball.

Alec Burleson knocked in two for the Cardinals, and Victor Scott II and Masyn Winn also added RBIs. Nathan Church went 2-for-3 with a run scored. George Soriano picked up his second save.

Royals starter Noah Cameron (2-3) pitched six innings and allowed five hits, no walks and fanned four. Jac Caglianone hit his fifth home run of the year and Vinnie Pasquantino went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 2

Mickey Moniak drove in two runs as Colorado evened its weekend series with Arizona in Denver.

Jake McCarthy, Brenton Doyle and Willi Castro added two hits apiece for the Rockies in just the third game this season at Coors Field without a home run. Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3) allowed two runs and seven hits in his five-inning stint while Antonio Senzatela picked up the save.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stole home for the Diamondbacks as he and Ketel Marte each went 2-for-4 with a run. Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1) gave up three runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Marlins 10, Rays 5 (10 innings)

Liam Hicks ripped a two-run single and Javier Sanoja added a three-run double to highlight an eight-run 10th inning that fueled Miami to a victory over Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The late offensive eruption made a winner of former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks (1-2), who saw former Marlin Nick Fortes rip an RBI single off the glove of third baseman Sanoja with two outs in the ninth to tie the game at 2.

Hunter Bigge (1-1) was charged with eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks in one inning. Tampa Bay’s Richie Palacios celebrated his 29th birthday by collecting two hits, and Chandler Simpson added an RBI single for the Rays, who saw their 11-game home win streak snapped.

Nationals 13, Orioles 3

Keibert Ruiz had three hits, including a homer, and drove in five runs, and Cade Cavalli pitched into the seventh inning as host Washington beat Baltimore.

Jacob Young and Brady House each had two hits with a homer and three RBIs, and CJ Abrams had three hits for Washington, which reached the .500 mark after losing their previous 15 games when they had a chance to do so going back to 2024. Cavalli (2-2) allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out eight without a walk in 6 1/3 innings.

Samuel Basallo and Tyler O’Neil hit back-to-back home runs for Baltimore, which has scored three runs or less in eight of its past nine games. Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (3-3) gave up four runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

White Sox 8, Cubs 3

Munetaka Murakami hit two home runs to lead a five-homer barrage and right-hander Davis Martin allowed one run and five hits over six strong innings as the host White Sox defeated the Cubs.

Murakami, in his first major league season, highlighted the power display with his first career multi-homer game. Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery each went deep for the second straight night while Andrew Benintendi contributed his first round-tripper since April 23.

Miguel Amaya had two hits for the Cubs, including a solo homer. Pete Crow-Armstrong capped the scoring with a two-run blast in the ninth.

Astros 4, Rangers 1

Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez slugged first-inning home runs to key a four-homer assault that propelled Houston to a victory over visiting Texas.

Houston prevented Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (3-3) from securing his 100th win by doing something only one other team has accomplished against deGrom in his illustrious career — hit four home runs off the two-time NL Cy Young winner. Christian Walker and Zach Cole took deGrom deep in the fourth. Altuve departed in the eighth, clutching his left side after grounding into a double play. He is set to undergo imaging Sunday morning.

Astros right-hander Kai-Wei Teng (2-3) worked five scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and issued four walks while notching seven strikeouts. Joc Pederson produced an RBI single in the seventh, but the Rangers finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 baserunners overall.

Guardians 7, Reds 4

Angel Martinez hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning off Pierce Johnson and scored three runs, lifting Cleveland Guardians to a comeback win over visiting Cincinnati.

Cleveland trailed 4-2 before scoring five times over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Erik Sabrowski (2-1) struck out Elly De La Cruz — the only batter he faced — in the seventh. Guardians starter Joey Cantillo pitched five innings, giving up four runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

Spencer Steer’s two-run double gave the Reds their initial advantage in the fifth inning. Chris Paddack, who was released by the Marlins on May 11, worked five innings in his Cincinnati debut, allowing six hits and striking out three with one walk.

Red Sox 3, Braves 2

Willson Contreras crushed a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, lifting visiting Boston to a win over Atlanta.

Contreras’ big swing made a winner out of Peyton Tolle (2-2), who tossed a career-high eight innings in the victory. The Red Sox rookie left-hander allowed just two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out three. Aroldis Chapman stranded the bases loaded in Atlanta’s ninth to record his 10th save of the season

Drake Baldwin (home run) and Jose Azocar (two doubles) both went 2-for-3 for the Braves, combining for all four of the team’s hits. Bryce Elder (4-2) was a tough-luck loser, allowing three runs on seven hits through eight innings.

Mets 6, Yankees 3

Mark Vientos had three RBIs for the host Mets, who received gritty relief work from Luke Weaver in the victory over the Yankees in the second game of the Subway Series.

Weaver, who signed with the Mets last December after two-plus seasons with the Yankees, entered with the bases loaded in the seventh and struck out Amed Rosario and Trent Grisham before getting Anthony Volpe to hit into a forceout. Austin Wells singled off Weaver to open the eighth, but Weaver got Ben Rice to hit into a double play and retired Aaron Judge on a flyout to center.

Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt had RBIs for the Yankees, who have dropped seven of 10. The Yankees prevailed 5-2 in Friday’s series opener.

Giants 6, Athletics 4

Casey Schmitt hit two homers for the second time in his career and finished with four hits and three RBIs to lead San Francisco to a victory over the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.

The four-hit outing was the fourth of Schmitt’s career and it helped the Giants halt a three-game losing streak. Willy Adames had three hits and two RBI and Rafael Devers and Drew Gilbert added two hits apiece for San Francisco, which had 14 overall, eight for extra bases. Trevor McDonald (2-0) allowed one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer and joined Darell Hernaiz in having two hits for the Athletics, who lost for the fourth time in their past six games. Luis Severino (2-5) gave up five runs and 10 hits over six innings.

Dodgers, 15, Angels 2

Shohei Ohtani drove in five runs with a late triple and double, Justin Wrobleski combined with three relievers on an eight-hitter and the Dodgers took advantage of Jose Soriano’s wildness to wallop the Angels 15-2 in the Freeway Series in Anaheim, Calif.

While the game was still competitive, Alex Call had the only hit of a five-run sixth, a two-run single, helping the Dodgers pull away and sending the Angels to their fifth straight loss. Soriano allowed just one hit in 5 1/3 innings but was charged with six runs. He walked six and struck out six.

Jo Adell’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning got the Angels on the scoreboard, but that’s all they got against Wrobleski in his six innings. The left-hander limited the Angels to two runs and seven hits, walking one and striking out five.

Brewers 2, Twins 1

Jackson Chourio doubled and hit a go-ahead solo shot for his first home run of the season, and Milwaukee edged Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Chourio had the only extra-base hits for the Brewers, but it was all they needed to win their third straight game and for eighth time in their last nine. Right-hander Logan Henderson (1-1) allowed one run on six hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out seven.

Trevor Larnach hit a solo home run for the Twins, Kody Clemens finished 2-for-4 with a double, and James Outman hit his first triple of the shander Connor Prielipp (1-2) took the hard-luck loss despite limiting Milwaukee to two runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings. The rookie from Tomah, Wis., walked two and fanned eight against the team from his home state.

Padres 7, Mariners 4

Gavin Sheets, Nick Castellanos and rookie Rodolfo Duran homered as San Diego defeated host Seattle to improve to 5-0 in the series this season.

Duran’s seventh-inning homer was his first career major league hit. He was robbed of a second two-run homer in the ninth by Julio Rodriguez. Right-hander Walker Buehler (3-2) worked five innings for the victory, allowing two runs on five hits.

J.P. Crawford homered and Cole Young knocked in two runs for the Mariners, who fell behind 5-0 in the fourth inning. Logan Gilbert (2-4) allowed seven runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

=============================

NFL

REPORT: AARON RODGERS RETURNING TO PLAY WITH STEELERS IN 2026

Aaron Rodgers has decided to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026 and is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $25 million, ESPN reported on Saturday night.

According to ESPN, he will receive about $22 million to $23 million in base salary with incentives that would push the total to $25 million.

Rodgers is expected to be in attendance on Monday at Pittsburgh’s OTA session, according to the report.

Rodgers, 42, has been in Pittsburgh recently and there has been an assumption for most of the offseason that he would eventually choose to return to the Steelers.

The fact that Pittsburgh hired Mike McCarthy as coach was viewed as a significant factor. Rodgers was McCarthy’s quarterback when the latter coached the Green Bay Packers from 2006-18. Rodgers quarterbacked the Packers to the 2010 season Super Bowl title.

The four-time MVP will be entering his 21st NFL season. He’s a 10-time Pro Bowl selection.

Rodgers was Pittsburgh’s quarterback last season and completed 65.7% of his attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Rodgers ranks fifth in NFL history with 66,274 passing yards and fourth with 527 touchdowns passes. He has thrown just 123 interceptions and his 1.4 interception rate is the best in NFL history.

Rodgers played 18 seasons with Packers and two with the New York Jets in addition to last season with the Steelers.

The other players in Pittsburgh’s quarterback room are journeyman Mason Rudolph, second-year pro Will Howard and 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar.

===============================

GOLF

LOTTIE WOAD SEIZES 3-SHOT LEAD AT QUEEN CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

England’s Lottie Woad fired a 5-under-par 65 on Saturday to secure a 3-shot lead over Amanda Doherty through three rounds of the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati.

Woad delivered four birdies on the back nine to move to 11-under 199 going into Sunday’s final round. The 22-year-old Woad and Ryann O’Toole tied for the best round of the day at Maketewah Country Club.

“Looking forward to being back in contention again,” said Woad, who hasn’t finished higher than a tie for seventh this season. “I think this year I’ve kind of been backdooring top 10s, top 15s. I haven’t really been challenging on Sunday, so looking forward to actually playing under the pressure a little bit.”

Woad began Saturday one shot behind Doherty. They both made the turn at 8 under for the tournament, but Woad posted birdies at Nos. 10, 11, 14 and 16 before notching a bogey at 17. Doherty managed just one birdie and one bogey on the back nine on a damp day meant for good scores.

“I didn’t hit it awesome,” Doherty said. “But I got it around all right.”

The 28-year-old Doherty has yet to finish better than tied for eighth in any LPGA event since joining the Tour in 2022, so she’s eager to be in the final pairing with Woad on Sunday.

“There is definitely excitement, definitely nerves,” Doherty said. “But that’s what comes with it. That’s why I’m out here, to play in the final group and feel that way.”

World No. 1 Nelly Korda will have to pull off a massive rally to win her third straight event. Korda shot 2 over on Saturday to drop to 2 under for the tournament, nine shots off the pace.

South Korea’s Haeran Ryu produced her second straight 66 to stay within four shots of the lead. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (69) dropped five shots behind Woad, but holds sole possession of fourth place.

Five golfers are locked in at 5 under through 54 holes: Rose Zhang (66), Anne Chen (66), Lindy Duncan (67), Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul (69) and Japan’s Rio Takeda (69).

If Woad holds on to her lead in this $2 million tournament, then she’ll collect the second LPGA Tour title of her nascent career. She claimed the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last July, less than two weeks after going pro.

====

MASSIVE PACK CHASING ALEX SMALLEY AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Alex Smalley has never won on the PGA Tour, never contended at a major, never even held a 54-hole lead in his first 140 starts on tour.

Well, scratch that last one. The little-known golfer from Rochester, N.Y., made seven birdies and rallied on the back nine for a 2-under-par 68 to take a two-shot lead at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on Saturday.

Nearly two dozen golfers are in striking range at the second major of the year — a PGA Championship-record 22, counting Smalley, within four shots of the lead after three rounds.

Smalley enters the final round at 6-under 204, separating late in the day from a new group of contenders at 4 under par: Spaniard Jon Rahm (67 on Saturday), Englishman Aaron Rai (67), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68), Germany’s Matti Schmid (65) and Canadian Nick Taylor (65).

Three major winners are three shots back at 3 under: Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy (66), Xander Schauffele (66) and Patrick Reed (67). Joining them is Maverick McNealy, who shared the 36-hole lead with Smalley but bogeyed two of his last four holes to stumble to a 71.

If Smalley were to lift the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday night, it would mark one of the biggest upsets in recent major golf history. Smalley, 29, is playing just his fifth major and has never finished better than T23.

“Anybody who wants to play golf for a living dreams of winning on the PGA Tour when they’re younger,” Smalley said. “I recognize that I have an opportunity to do that (Sunday). I recognize that it’s on a stage that’s a little bit larger than most other Tour events. I’m trying to downplay that as much as I possibly can just to make it seem like any other golf tournament, because essentially that’s all it really is.”

Smalley appeared to take himself out of the picture when he bogeyed three of his first four holes. He quietly worked his way back by posting birdies at Nos. 7, 9 and 10 around a bogey at No. 8.

Smalley and McNealy each birdied the short par-4 13th to return to 4 under. Then Smalley holed a 27-foot putt straight uphill at No. 15 to take the outright lead before adding another birdie at the easy par-5 16th. He became just the second player to touch 6 under this week after McNealy spent a brief time at that score Friday.

Smalley couldn’t get up and down from a bunker at the par-3 17th and missed a par putt to drop a stroke. Then came a 14-footer for birdie at the last.

“By the time that I teed off, the wind had picked up and it became very difficult to hit a fairway, hit a green, even make a 3- or 4-footer,” Smalley said. “Hit a couple wayward shots early, didn’t make it easy on myself.

“I just try to keep putting one foot in front of the other and just tried to regain my tempo and rhythm in my golf swing because, when that gets off some, I can start hitting it a little wayward. So I just tried to focus in on that. Just tried to play smart and was able to get some back on the back nine.”

The PGA of America opened up the setup at Aronimink Golf Club — the third-round scoring average was exactly 70 after it stood at 72.6 for the first two days — but that failed to open up the crammed leaderboard.

The conditions were far more scorable Saturday morning than at any point of the first two rounds. Chris Kirk, Englishman Justin Rose and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan took advantage with rounds of 65 after only one 65 was seen Thursday or Friday. That trio rose to 2 under for the championship, as did Germany’s Martin Kaymer (66), Chile’s Joaquin Niemann (66), Bud Cauley (67), Ben Griffin (67) and Aussie Cameron Smith (68).

Also in the 12-way tie at 2 under are Max Greyserman, Chris Gotterup, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Australia’s Min Woo Lee, each of whom settled for 71s after starting the day one behind the leaders.

The quintet tied for second all made mid-afternoon moves just before the wind really returned. Schmid, 28, will play with Smalley in the final pairing and has a similarly empty resume: five major starts, no victories on tour.

Other than Rahm, Taylor is the most accomplished of the group tied for second. He has five PGA Tour wins and is vying to join Mike Weir as the only Canadian men to win a major.

He was as happy with his 13 pars as he was with his five birdies Saturday.

“I made two great saves on 10 and 12, where I had to kind of wedge it out of the rough and then get up-and-down from 70 to 90 yards, which really kept the round going,” Taylor said. “Yeah, bogey-free round around here is no easy task, so I’m proud of that today.”

At one point, Rai, Rahm and Gotterup shared the lead at 5 under before late miscues took them back. Both Rahm and Rai bogeyed No. 18, and Gotterup had three bogeys on the back nine after playing his previous 27 holes in 7 under, including the only 65 on Friday.

Not to be overlooked, McIlroy followed an opening-round 74 that put him outside the top 100 with a bogey-free 67 Friday and a 66 Saturday. His irons and wedges were sharp, as none of his six third-round birdies came from longer than 12 1/2 feet.

“I think it’s just setting yourself little targets,” McIlroy said. “(Friday) I set myself a target of getting back to even-par for the tournament, didn’t quite get there, was one shy.

“Today, set myself a target of if I could get to 5 under par … again, didn’t quite get there, but I think just setting yourself these little targets, it helps you just lock in and focus on yourself and not really think about anything else that’s going on.”

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler missed several short putts on his way to a second straight round of 71. The defending champion is at 1 under, along with Brian Harman (66), Sam Burns (67), Brooks Koepka (68), Rickie Fowler (68) and others.

====

PGA IS WIDEST-OPEN MAJOR IN YEARS: ‘NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT’

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Jon Rahm studied the leaderboard on the digital screen inside the player interview tent at Aronimink Golf Club. Once before he began his first answer, then again when answering a question in Spanish.

“Can we move this? How many of them are at 3 under?” Rahm asked a PGA of America official as he inspected a wall of minus-4s and minus-3s.

Even when his press conference was done, the two-time major champion hung back, asking questions, seemingly mystified that the PGA Championship had gotten this way.

At the time, Rahm was one of five co-leaders at 4 under par, and even though Alex Smalley emerged from the chaos late Saturday afternoon to grab a two-shot lead, the intrigue remained.

Five players are two shots behind Smalley, another four are three off the pace and 12 players are tied at 2 under. That’s 21 players who’ll go to bed Saturday night correctly believing they have a real shot to come from behind and win this major championship.

“I mean, my PGA Tour career isn’t necessarily very long at this point, but I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Ludvig Aberg of Sweden (4 under).

“It’s very tight. I think there’s a lot of good players within striking distance going into (Sunday), and it’s a cool thing, I think, for the viewers. I think it’s cool to see that many guys have a chance to win a tournament.”

It’s as wide-open of a major as men’s golf has seen in recent memory. The five-way tie for second behind an outright leader at the 54-hole mark is just the fifth in major championship history. The 22 players at or within four shots of the lead is a PGA Championship record, per The Athletic.

And though Smalley will have to fend off players with majors on their resume like Northern Ireland’s Rory McIIroy, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed (all at 3 under) and Rahm, six of the top 10 (counting Smalley) — and another eight of the 12-way tie at 2 under — are all angling for their first career major wins.

At a time when McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have collected four of the past five majors, it’s a chance for some new blood.

“I was pretty busy with the conditions out there, but I saw myself on top (of the leaderboard) once, and that was good,” said Germany’s Matti Schmid (4 under), who will play in the final pairing after posting 65 and, like Smalley, has never won on the PGA Tour.

The 2-under group features three players who shot 5-under 65s early in the day when the course was at its easiest: Chris Kirk, Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and Englishman Justin Rose.

Rose said after his round that he hopes the lead doesn’t get past 6 or 7 under, and he got his wish. He also said carrying the lead into Sunday would come with a burden.

“There’s some chain reaction moments out there. If you don’t do the right thing — and if you’re a leader, you realize everyone is making a run, but if you don’t hit the right shot at the right time, it’s going to feel challenging out there,” said Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion.

McIlroy and others had posited that some of the PGA of America’s uber-difficult pin locations Thursday and Friday led to the bunched leaderboard, as nobody was taking chances, leading to a smaller variety of outcomes and scores.

A more lenient setup Saturday did little to spread players out. And that means high potential for a photo finish on Sunday evening.

“As hard as it is to play, the challenge can also be kind of fun if you do well,” Rahm said. “That’s probably the reason why the leaderboard is so bunched up and it’s going to be such a good Sunday tomorrow. So in that sense, showmanship-wise, they’ve done a great job.”

=============================

INDIANA HEADLINES/RELEASES

PREP BASEBALL INDIANA NEWS: https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/indiana

==============================

INDY 500

INDYCAR has announced an updated schedule for PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge after persistent rain forced the postponement of Day One of qualifications Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Beginning at noon ET Sunday, all 33 qualifiers will line up based on Friday’s qualifying draw and have one attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying speed and the opportunity to advance to subsequent qualifying rounds.

SEE: Qualification Order

Due to the time parameters needed Sunday for “knockout rounds,” initial qualifying runs will determine positions 13-33, with the fastest 12 qualifiers continuing directly to a Top 12 round at approximately 4:30 p.m. Under this abbreviated format – like in previous years – the order of Sunday’s Top 12 begins in reverse of qualifying speeds from the cars’ initial qualifying attempts (12, 11, 10, 9, etc). Each car will have one attempt. Those finishing seventh through 12th will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their time and speed.

The fastest six will advance to the next round of “500” qualifying and the Firestone Fast Six to determine positions one through six.

Fans will be able to salute advancing teams ahead of the Top 12 and Firestone Fast Six rounds during a mandatory cool-down period, which will include laps behind the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Pace Car. Traveling at 100 mph, the laps will allow air to flow through the air ducts to help cool the engines before the dramatic next round.

The fastest in the Firestone Fast Six will claim the coveted NTT P1 Award and pole position for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” and the accompanying $100,000 prize.

2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship points also will be awarded for those who advance to the Top 12 qualifying session. The Indy 500 pole winner will receive 12 points, the second fastest will receive 11, and points awarded will decrease by one-point increments down to the 12th fastest (one point).

All tickets and paid parking from Saturday will be honored Sunday. Suite and hospitality tickets from Saturday will grant general admission access, not access to their suite or hospitality space. Suite and hospitality parking from Saturday is not valid Sunday.

Live coverage of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 will begin with split-group practice at 9:30 a.m. ET on FS2 and FOX One, with qualifying scheduled to begin at noon also on FS2 and FOX One. The final two rounds of qualifying – Top 12 and the Firestone Fast Six – will be available beginning at 4 p.m. on FOX and FOX One. All sessions are also available via INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

===================================

INDY ELEVEN

Indy Eleven goalkeeper Eric Dick made a diving save and Jack Blake, captain Aodhan Quinn, and Josh O’Brien converted their penalty kicks to give the Boys in Blue a 3-1 shootout victory in Prinx Tires USL Cup play at Fort Wayne FC on Saturday.

Fort Wayne made its first penalty to take a 1-0 lead in PKs, but Blake responded to tie it, then Quinn made it 2-1, setting the stage for Dick’s stop. O’Brien was successful to make it 3-1, and the next Fort Wayne attempt was off target to end it.

Regulation play ended 2-2, with Quinn putting Indy Eleven on top in the 26th minute. He stole an errant pass 30 yards from the goal and knifed diagonally through the defense and got a deflection back inside the area. Quinn then chipped a left-footed shot from just outside the six that Fort Wayne goalkeeper Aurie Briscoe stopped, but the rebound came back to Quinn and he reacted quickly to bury it into the left side of the net to put his team up 1-0.

With the match even at 1-1 in the 64th minute, Blake and forward Bruno Rendon teamed up to put the Boys in Blue back on top. Forward Loïc Mesanvi started the sequence outside the corner of the area, playing it diagonally back to Blake. Blake then took one touch and played a pinpoint ball to the edge of the six, where Rendon volleyed it down just inside the far post for a 2-1 lead.

The goal is Rendon’s team-best sixth in all competitions in 2026, and he now has 11 goals in USL Cup play in three seasons–four more than anyone else in the history of the event!

Next Saturday is “Pups at the Pitch” at Carroll Stadium when Indy Eleven returns to USL Championship play vs. Lexington SC at 7 p.m.

Ticket options include the new Desnuda Tequila Deck, Family Four-Packs, and Flex Mini-Plans.

Located on the East Deck, the Desnuda Tequila Deck has an exclusive full-service bar and high-top seating providing panoramic pitch-side views for 50 people. It’s a social experience offering a wonderful place to hang out and take in the game! Desnuda Tequila Deck seats start at $59 and include one FREE cocktail and bottomless chips, salsa, and guac.

The Family Four-Pack is available for all 2026 home games and can be purchased online only. Priced at just $49, the Family Four-Pack includes four tickets, FREE parking, $20 in Concession Vouchers, and a 20% Merchandise Discount, along with access to the Fun Zone/Kids Activation Area.

Flex Mini Plans include vouchers to be redeemed for any 2026 regular season home match.

For questions, call (317) 685-1100 during business hours or email tickets@indyeleven.com.

Prinx Tires USL Cup Group 4
Indy Eleven 2(3):2(1) Fort Wayne FC
Sat., May 16, 2026 – 7:30 p.m.
Ruoff Mortgage Stadium | Fort Wayne, Ind.
Weather: Cloudy, 76 degrees
Attendance: 3,794

2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup Group 4
Indy Eleven: 0-1-1 (-1), 2 pts, #5 in Group
Fort Wayne FC: 0-1-1 (-2), 1 pt, #6 in Group

Score	1	2	F	PK
Indy Eleven	1	1	2	(3)
Fort Wayne FC	1	1	2	(1)

Scoring Summary
IND – Aodhan Quinn 26’
FW – Taig Healy 33’
IND – Bruno Rendón (Jack Blake) 64’
FW – Jack Thomas (Kabiru Gafar) 90’+1
Penalty Kicks Converted
IND – Jack Blake, Aodhan Quinn, Josh O’Brien
FW – Lilian Ricol
Discipline Summary
IND – Jack Blake (caution) 15’
IND – Logan Neidlinger (caution) 39’
FW – Ian Abbey (caution) 44’
FW – Jeremy Garay (caution) 45’+1
IND – Paco Craig (caution) 68’
FW – Jack Thomas (caution) 79’
FW – Tiago Dias (caution) 83’

Indy Eleven Line-Up: Eric Dick, Aodhan Quinn (captain), Paco Craig, Anthony Herbert, Logan Neidlinger (Makel Rasheed 78’), Jack Blake, Cam Lindley, Josh O’Brien, Edward Kizza (Noble Okello 74’), Loïc Mesanvi (Kian Williams 90’+2), Bruno Rendón (Dylan Sing (90’+2).

Indy Eleven Subs Not Used: Reice Charles-Cook, Alejandro Mitrano, Hesron Barry.

Fort Wayne FC Line-Up: Aurie Briscoe, Michael Rempel, Juan Solis, Tiago Dias (captain), Jayden Smith, Taig Healy, Javier Armas (Daniel Oyetunde 83’), Jeremy Garay (Emerson Nieto 63’), Ian Abbey (Kabiru Gafar 63’), Lilian Ricol, Clarence Awoudor (Jack Thomas 78’).

Fort Wayne FC Subs Not Used: Bernd Schipmann, Reid Sproat, Nico Burns, Anthony Hernandez, Tyson Hagaman.

===============================

INDIANA FEVER

Indiana Fever vs Seattle Storm
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 6:00 p.m. ET
Find Tickets >>

Broadcast Information
TV: Peacock/NBC Sports Network/WALV/Fever Direct – Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Debbie Antonelli (analyst), Kelsie Kasper (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.1 WIBC – John Nolan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (1-2)

Guard – Caitlin Clark
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell
Forward – Sophie Cunningham
Forward – Myisha Hines-Allen
Center – Monique Billings

Seattle Storm (1-2)

Guard – Natisha Hiedeman
Guard – Flau’jae Johnson
Forward – Jordan Horston
Forward – Stefanie Dolson
Center – Dominique Malonga

GAME PREVIEW:

The Indiana Fever continue a four-game homestand on Sunday as they host the Seattle Storm. Indiana is 1-2 after losing a close game to the Washington Mystics on Friday, and seeks to restore a .500 record with a win against the Storm.

Seattle also enters the matchup with a 1-2 record following its loss to the expansion Toronto Tempo team on Wednesday.

The Storm are young and revamped following an offseason filled with change – Sonia Raman stepped into their head coaching vacancy, and they traded for 2026 eighth overall pick Flau’jae Johnson to pair with third overall pick Awa Fam.

Second year center Dominique Malonga leads the Storm in scoring to start the season, and averages 16 points per game. She’s already recorded two 21-point games as a formidable post presence. She’ll challenge Indiana as the Fever will likely be without center Aliyah Boston, who sustained a lower leg injury in Friday’s matchup with the Mystics.

Boston is an anchor of the Fever defense, which has sputtered through the first three games of the season. Indiana has eclipsed 100 points twice, but dropped both matchups. The Fever’s sole win came against Los Angeles as Indiana allowed just 78 points.

The Storm are the second-lowest scoring team in the league through three matchups, and the Fever look to shore up their defense against a less-threatening offense as they continue the homestand on Sunday.

=================================

INDIANA BASEBALL

in the fifth inning and went on to deal four shutout innings in relief. Freshman right-handed pitcher Kellen English got the final two outs of the contest.

The win over Illinois was the third series victory against a Big Ten team at Bart Kaufman Field this year. In Mercer’s tenure in Bloomington, the Hoosiers are 25-6 in conference weekends on their home field. He also improves to 15-11 in Big Ten rubber matches as the IU skipper.

Scoring Recap

Bottom Fourth

Landen Fry opened the scoring with an RBI single that bounced off the third baseman. The big hit came from Cal Gates who smashed a grand slam to left field for his first career home run. Owen ten Oever walked later in the inning with the bases loaded.

Indiana 6, Illinois 0

Top Fifth

Back-to-back home runs from Cole Warehime and J.R. Nelson earned back a pair of runs for the visitors.

Indiana 6, Illinois 2

Bottom Sixth

Jake Hanley slugged a two-run home run to the bullpen in left field.

Indiana 8, Illinois 2

Bottom Seventh

Will Moore scored on a sacrifice bunt from T.J. Schuyler. A two-run single from Hogan Denny extended the advantage.

Indiana 11, Illinois 2

Top Hoosier Performers

#51 Haas, Pete

4.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

#2 Denny, Hogan

2-5, 2 H, 2 RBI, 2B

#3 Gates, Cal

2-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R

Notes to Know

• Head coach Jeff Mercer improved to 25-6 during his tenure in Big Ten weekends at Bart Kaufman Field. He is also 15-11 in conference rubber matches as the IU skipper. The Hoosiers have won three of the last five series against the Fighting Illini and six of the last 10. IU finishes the year with a 23-31 record and a 9-21 clip in conference action.

• Sophomore third baseman Hogan Denny had a multi-hit effort in all three games of the weekend series. He finishes the season with 23 multi-hit contests, the most by any IU player. Denny ended the year by finishing with at least eight hits in series against Northwestern (9) and Illinois (8). He led the team in 2026 in hits (74), runs scored (63) and doubles (18).

• Freshman outfielder Cal Gates became the 57th IU player to hit a home run during the Mercer era. His fourth inning grand slam became the difference in Saturday’s win. The last four grand slams hit by an IU player have all come from true freshman. Cooper Malamazian (March 25, 2025 vs. Bellarmine), Caleb Koskie (April 7, 2025 vs. Michigan State) and Owen ten Oever (April 21, 2026 at Ball State) were the three that proceeded Gates.

• Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley ended the season by starting in all 54 contests for the Hoosiers. He’s the only IU player to start every game of the year for Mercer’s team. He’s the first IU player since at least 2025 to start every game of his freshman and sophomore season. He has started 110-straight games since arriving on campus last year.

========================

INDIANA SOFTBALL

GAME 1: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ––– It was a home run that opened the scoring for the Indiana softball program and a home run that closed out an 8-0 run-rule victory over Northern Kentucky in an elimination game of the NCAA Knoxville Regional on Saturday (May 16) at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Indiana (43-15) scored in four of the five innings and Ella Trout retired Northern Kentucky (26-25) in order in three of her five innings of work to tie for the largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game in program history (Jacksonville State, 1996; Notre Dame, 1994).

Indiana now faces No. 24 Virginia in a second elimination game at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday (May 16). The winner will advance on the Championship Sunday against No. 8 Tennessee on May 17 at 2 p.m. ET.

REGIONAL GAME 2: INDIANA 8 NORTHERN KENTUCKY 0 (5 innings)

KEY MOMENTS

• The scoring got started with two outs in the bottom of the first for Indiana when Josie Bird homered to left-center field. Alex Cooper walked with one out before Bird hit her 14th home run of the season.

• A pair of RBI singles scored the first two runs of the third inning. Avery Parker started things with a double and pinch runner Peyton Drummond came around to score on Madalyn Strader’s RBI single. Ellie Goins then walked and came in to score on a Brooke Mannon base hit.

• Hannah Haberstroh walked to put two runners on base and Cassidy Kettleman – who made a pair of diving catches in the top of the third inning – singled to plate a pair of runs in the bottom half and make it 6-0 after three.

• Northern Kentucky loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth before Ella Trout got a flyout to end the threat.

• Goins drove in an RBI in the fourth inning after Parker and Bird singled to start the frame. Her RBI double to center field accounted for the seventh run IU of the game.

• Aly VanBrandt provided the decisive run in the run-rule victory on a solo home run to right field in the fifth.

NOTABLES

• The win gives Shonda Stanton at least one victory in the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasons.

• IU is now 18-24 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with a 5-11 mark since the Regional/Super Regional format started in 2005.

• All nine starters reached base in the game, with eight collecting hits.

• The 11 hits in the game pushed the season total to 516 – a program record. The hit total moved past the 509 hits from 2025 and is just the second 500-hit season in program history.

• Indiana now owns the season record for runs scored (463), hits (516), walks (233), home runs (86) and RBIs (424).

• With two home runs, Indiana extended its program-record to 86 home runs on the season. The previous mark was 81 home runs in 2023.

• Josie Bird hit a two-run home run to start the scoring in the first inning and posted her 18th multi-RBI game of the season.

• Aly VanBrandt hit her 16th home run of the season in the fifth inning to provide the final run of the run-rule win.

• Alex Cooper moved her reached base streak to 20 games to tie VanBrandt for the longest on the team in 2026.

• Ella Trout (13-6) tossed all five innings to collect the win. She retired the side in order in the second, third and fifth innings and sat down 10 of the first 11 hitters she faced. She scattered three hits, hit one batter and struck out one.

GAME 2: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ––– Much like their first meeting at the NCAA Knoxville Regional, it was a punch/counterpunch showdown between Indiana softball and Virginia in an elimination game on Saturday (May 16) night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The fifth game of the NCAA Knoxville Regional ended as the Hoosiers came up short, 9-7.

No. 24 Virginia (40-14) opened the scoring with a three-run first inning, before Indiana (43-16) answered with three of its own in the bottom half. The Cavaliers scored four in the third, before a three-run third and one in the fourth for IU knotted the game at 7-7. Virginia scored twice in the fifth to account for the final margin.

The Hoosiers produced the eighth 40-win season with the 43 wins sitting No. 7 all-time in a single season. The offense produced program records for runs scored (470), hits (523), home runs (87), RBIs (429) and walks (235). At the plate, IU also finished No. 2 on the single-season charts in doubles (105), triples (26), stolen bases (136), hit-by-pitch (77) and batting average (.346).

REGIONAL GAME 3: No. 24 VIRGINIA 9, INDIANA 7

KEY MOMENTS

• Virginia opened the scoring with an RBI double from Bella Cabral in the first inning. Reagan Hickey added to the lead with a two-run home run in the next at bat to make it 3-0 in favor of the Cavaliers.

• Indiana responded immediately with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first. Aly VanBrandt was hit-by-pitch to start the frame and came around to score on an Avery Parker fielder’s choice and UVA error. Josie Bird then hit her 15th home run of the season to center field.

• Two hits and a walk loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning for Virginia. Alex Call then sent the first pitch of her at bat out of the park for a grand slam.

• The counterpunch from IU came in the form of an RBI base hit from Ellie Goins with one out. Bird singled to start the inning and Madalyn Strader walked in front of Goins RBI base hit. Hannah Haberstroh capped the inning with a two-RBI double to right-center field.

• IU tied the game in the fourth inning, 7-7, when Cassidy Kettleman singled on a bunt to lead off the inning. After two outs and a wild pitch, Parker reached on a fielding error and Kettleman scored.

• Jaiden Griffith started UVA’s fifth inning with a base hit and Madison Greene followed with a two-run home run to cap the scoring.

NOTABLES

• IU is now 18-25 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with a 5-12 mark since the Regional/Super Regional format started in 2005 (six appearances).

• The 2026 edition ended the season record for runs scored (463), hits (516), walks (233), home runs (86) and RBIs (424).

• The Hoosiers produced the eighth 40-win season with the 43 wins sitting No. 7 all-time in a single season.

• The offense produced program records for runs scored (470), hits (523), home runs (87), RBIs (429) and walks (235).

• At the plate, IU also finished No. 2 on the single-season charts in doubles (105), triples (26), stolen bases (136), hit-by-pitch (77) and batting average (.346).

• Aly VanBrandt reached base twice with a single and hit-by-pitch. The base hit moved her season total to 78, which are No. 2 on IU’s single-season list and the most since Karleen Moore’s program-record 84 in 1985.

• With 68 runs scored, VanBrandt tied the program single-season record.

• Josie Bird homered for the second-straight game to move her season total to 15 and push her final RBI total to 66. The home run total ranks No. 6 on the IU single season list and the RBIs rank No. 4 on the single season charts.

• Bird produced her team-leading 23rd multi-hit game.

• With the home run, Bird joined Avery Parker (20) and VanBrandt (16) with 15-plus home runs on the season to mark the first time in program history three Hoosiers reached the mark in the same season.

• That trio is also the first to all reach the 60-RBI mark in the same season in program history: Parker (67), Bird (66) and VanBrandt (62).

• Hannah Haberstroh logged her seventh multi-RBI game of the season with two on the game.

• Her double was one of two extra base hits for the Hoosiers.

========================

PURDUE BASEBALL

(IOWA RELEASE)

The University of Iowa baseball team swept the Purdue Boilermakers, 15-9, on Saturday afternoon at Principal Park presented by 1-800-BETS OFF.

“We minimized the give early. Logan Runde came in and gave us a big five innings. He is exactly what we needed, somebody to slow the game down and give us some real innings. The double plays were big for us this weekend, which were great to see. On the bats, the guys were disciplined and patient and hit when they got them. That has been the peaks and valleys of our offense this year,” said head coach Rick Heller.

Purdue struck first with a run in the top of the first, but Iowa answered in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Caleb Wulf doubled to right field, scoring senior Miles Risley to even the game at 1-1.

The Hawkeyes broke things open in the fifth, taking a 6-1 lead. Senior Joey Nerat doubled to right field to bring home senior Ben Swails, before Risley launched a grand slam to left field to give Iowa the advantage. Purdue added a run in the third and two more in the fourth.

Iowa extended its lead with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Wulf added another RBI double to score Risley, and Nerat followed with a single through the left side to bring in redshirt sophomore Jaxien Frost and Swails.

In the sixth, Risley hit his second home run of the game to push the lead to 10-4. Purdue added two runs in the seventh, but Iowa responded with three of its own. Nerat doubled to center to score Swails and graduate student Matthew Delgado, before redshirt freshman Brett White scored on a wild pitch to make it 13-6.

In the bottom of the eighth, Swails hit a two-run home run. Purdue answered with three runs in the top of the ninth, but the Hawkeyes held on to secure the win.

Freshman Brady Ferguson started the game for Iowa. Freshman Brolan Frost earned the win in relief, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Senior Logan Runde pitched five innings for the Hawkeyes with three strikeouts, while graduate student Joe Husak pitched 1 2/3 innings. Senior Ganon Archer came in to close it out.

OF NOTE…

– This series marks the most hits in a weekend under Coach Heller surpassing the previous mark of 50 in four games vs. Maryland/Northwestern in 2021.

– Iowa scored a season-high 39 runs in a series, surpassing its previous mark of 31 set against Penn State and at the MLB Classic.

– Risley finished the regular season with eight home runs, with his seventh and eighth coming in the game.

– Swails hit his fifth home run of the season.

===============================

NOTRE DAME MEN’S LAX

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — For the third time in four years, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are heading to Championship Weekend of the NCAA Tournament, defeating Johns Hopkins 15-9 in the quarterfinals at James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University.

Notre Dame will take on the winner of UNC/Syracuse in Charlottesville, Virginia, at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 23 in the NCAA Championship semifinals. The game will air on ESPN2.

The victory improves Notre Dame’s record to 12-2 on the season and the Irish have now won 11 of their last 12 games in NCAA Tournament play.

Josh Yago had his best game in an Irish uniform on Saturday, finishing with a season-high seven points off four goals and three assists. The seven-point game is tied for second in program history for points in an NCAA Tournament game.

Matt Jeffery had a big performance, totaling five points off two goals and three assists, tying his career high for points in a game.

The four other starting attacking players each registered at least two points in the win, as Brock Behrman and Luke Miller each recorded three off two goals and an assist while Will Maheras scored twice and Will Angrick notched a goal and an assist.

Tyler Spano had a notable day at the dot, winning 13-of-21 faceoffs while collecting 10 ground balls.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two defenses flexed their muscles early, as the game was scoreless over the first eight minutes of play. Hopkins was the first to strike, coming with just under 7 minutes left in the quarter.

The Fighting Irish wasted no time in responding, scoring twice over the next three minutes to take their first lead of the day at 2-1. Both goals came in transition, as Christian Alacqua scored his first goal of the season followed by a score from Will Anrick.

The Blue Jays responded with two goals of their own to close out the first frame and take a 3-2 advantage into the second quarter.

Notre Dame began the second quarter with an extra-man opportunity and cashed in, as Brady Pokorny fired a low shot into the back of the net off the feed from Yago to level the score at 3-3.

Johns Hopkins retook the lead at 4-3 before back-to-back goals from Yago put the Irish back in front with the score 5-4. The two sides traded goals and the game went into the half tied at 6-6.

Notre Dame was dialed in coming out of the halftime break, scoring three straight in the opening 5 minutes to take a 10-7 lead. The Irish goals were scored by Yago, Behrman and Jeffery.

The Blue Jays pulled one back before Behrman scored his second of the day followed by Maheras’ first of the afternoon to give Notre Dame its largest lead of the game at 11-7 heading into the final 15 minutes of regulation.

Maheras tacked on another to start the scoring in the fourth quarter, coming in the opening 3 minutes to increase the Irish advantage to 12-7.

The Irish cruised from there, scoring three of the final five goals, courtesy of two from Miller and one from Yago to punch their ticket to Charlottesville.

STAT OF THE GAME

Each of Notre Dame’s last seven NCAA Tournament wins have been by at least five goals or more. The Irish have won by an average of 9.5 goals per game in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

NOTRE DAME NOTES

Notre Dame improves to 32-26 in NCAA Championships history, including a record of 27-12 over the last 15 tournament appearances.
The Irish have now won 11 of their last 12 NCAA Tournament games.
The 2026 season marks the eighth time in program history that Notre Dame has reached the NCAA Championship semifinal round.
The Irish leveled the all-time series against Johns Hopkins at 4-4 and have won each of the last three matchups, all coming in NCAA postseason play.
The victory gives the Fighting Irish a record of 32-9 against ranked opponents since the beginning of the 2023 season.
The Irish have now won 56 straight games when holding their opponent to less than 10 goals in a game, a streak that dates back to the 2019 season.
Notre Dame’s defense held the Blue Jays to just 26 shots in the contest.
Yago notched his fifth hat trick of the season and tied his season high for goals in a game with four.
Yago has recorded multiple points in 12 of 14 games this season.
Jeffery has played his best lacrosse of the season in the NCAA Tournament, recording five-point outings in both tournament games.
Spano has finished over 50 percent from the faceoff dot in six of his last seven games.

UP NEXT

The Irish advanced to the NCAA Championship Final Four at Scott Stadium on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, to take on the winner of North Carolina and Syracuse for a chance to play for the national championship. The game will be played at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 23 and it will air on ESPN2.

==================================

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Notre Dame baseball team posted the most runs in a single game in the Shawn Stiffler era, and the Irish took a 21-10 (7 innings) win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. The win secured the series victory and gave the Irish their 30th win of the 2026 season.

The Irish struck in the top of the first. Drew Berkland led off the game with a single and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A flared single the other way by Bino Watters then drove in Berkland from second for the quick 1-0 advantage. Jayce Lee then drew a two-out walk, and Dylan Passo blasted a three-run home run to right field for a 4-0 Irish lead.

In the second, Shane Miranda drew a one-out walk to flip the order over to the top for Notre Dame. Drew Berkland then posted the second homer in as many innings for the Irish as the center fielder went yard to deep left field for a 6-0 advantage. Bino Watters used a bloop double to left field, and Mark Quatrani added a double to deep center field to drive in Watters for a 7-0 lead.

DJ Helwig retired the Pitt side in order in the bottom of the second, but the Panthers broke into the scoring column in the third to make it a 7-1 game.

The Irish responded immediately in the top of the fourth. Drew Berkland hit a lead-off double, and Bino Watters continued to benefit from the wind as he hit an infield single that fell into fair territory to put two on base. Mark Quatrani laced a single to right field, and Berkland raced around from second to score on the play. Noah Coy drove in Watters with a fielder’s choice, and Jayce Lee drilled a no-doubt homer to left-center field for an 11-1 Notre Dame lead.

Pitt plated three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to make it an 11-4 game.

Notre Dame came back with the offense in the top of the fifth. Jamie Zee led off with a single, and Shane Miranda drew a full-count walk. Mark Quatrani then delivered a two-out single to left field to drive in Zee for a 12-4 Irish lead. The bottom half of the inning saw Pittsburgh post a home run for a 12-5 score through five complete.

The Irish put a nine-spot on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Jamie Zee, Drew Berkland, Mark Quatrani and Jayce Lee all hit home runs as the Irish tied the ballpark record at Charles L. Cost Field for the most home runs in a game by a team with seven. Shane Miranda added a bases-loaded hit by pitch effort to put the Irish ahead 21-5.

The Panthers countered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning as the score moved to 21-10 in favor of the Irish.

Xavier Hirsch retired the Pittsburgh side in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the 21-10 win via the 10-run rule.

Drew Berkland went 4-for-6 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and four runs scored. Jayce Lee was 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, a walk and three runs scored. Mark Quatrani added a 4-for-6 effort with a homer, a double, five RBI and a run. Dylan Passo was 2-for-3 at the dish with a home run, two walks, three RBI and three runs scored. Jamie Zee added a 3-for-4 performance with a home run, three RBI and two runs.

Bino Watters went 4-for-6 with a double, an RBI and four runs. Mason Barth had two his and a run, and Shane Miranda added a hit, an RBI and two runs with two walks.

DJ Helwig had the start on the mound and went 2.2 for the Irish. Eli Thurmond added an inning with a strikeout, and Caden Crowell went 2.0 with two strikeouts. Radek Birkholz posted one-third of an inning with a strikeout for the Irish. Xavier Hirsch closed out the game with a three-up, three-down inning and picked up the win.

The Irish (30-21, 13-17 ACC) will await the conclusion of league play on Saturday to find out their seeding and game in the ACC Tournament, which begins on Tuesday, May 19 at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina.

================================

BUTLER TRACK

STORRS, CONN.— Butler capped off the 2026 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships with four podium finishes on Saturday, the final day of the three-day event.

Joseph Pierro defended his 200-meter title from a season ago, taking the BIG EAST’s top spot in a time of 20.91 seconds.

Anna Niebrugge earned two podium finishes on the final day. She finished third in the women’s 100-meter sprint, tying her personal best with a time of 11.65 seconds. Niebrugge also finished second in the 200-meter event with a personal best time of 23.67 seconds. This time beats her previous school record time of 23.92 seconds.

Rounding out the All-BIG EAST recipients on the final day of competition was Cabott Craft. Craft earned third-place in the men’s triple jump with a length of 14.71-meters. Cabott also won the long jump Friday.

Other notable Bulldog performances included Ryan Elston with a fifth-place finish in the men’s 800-meter event with a time of 1:49.92.

The women’s 4×100-meter relay team consisting of Grace Stedge, Niebrugge, Jenna Plank, and Lauren Doerr earned fourth with a time of 47.10 seconds. The men’s 4×100-meter relay team consisting of BJ Shaw, Lairden Rogge, Troy Larrison, and Pierro took fifth with a time of 41.70 seconds.

The women’s 4×400-meter relay team consisting of Jenna Doezema, Plank, Cameron Kirtley, and Carys Glyn-Jones earned fifth with a time of 3:51.65. The men’s 4×400-meter relay team of Larrison, Pierro, Aedan Rendek, and Elston placed sixth with a time of 3:14.99.

The Bulldog men placed sixth with 82 points among the nine-team field. The Butler women (24 points) finished eighth. Connecticut claimed the BIG EAST team titles in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

The NCAA East First Round is scheduled for May 27-30 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. Early next week, the Bulldogs will learn which student-athletes are among the top 48 in the East region in their respective event to earn entry into the preliminary competition.

Men’s Results

1. Connecticut – 273.5 points

2. DePaul – 134

3. Georgetown – 97

4. Villanova – 91

5. Marquette – 89.5

6. Butler – 82

7. Providence – 54

8. Xavier – 14

9. Creighton – 12

Women’s Results

1. Connecticut – 212 points

2. DePaul – 184

3. St. John’s – 127

4. Villanova – 91

5. Providence – 78

6. Georgetown – 65

7. Marquette – 46

8. Butler – 24

9. Creighton – 19

10. Xavier – 8

Most Outstanding Track Performers

Men: Medwin Odamtten, UConn

Women: Maeve O’Neill, Providence

Most Outstanding Field Performers

Men: Joshua Mooney, UConn

Women: Jamora Alves, St. John’s

High Point Performers

Men: Joshua Mooney, UConn – 28 points

Women: Sade Miller, DePaul – 22.5 points

Coaching Staff of the Year

Men’s: Connecticut

Women’s: Connecticut

=================================

BUTLER BASEBALL

NEW YORK – The St. John’s Red Storm defeated the Butler Bulldogs 4-1 on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, Butler finishes the season 20-34 overall and 9-12 in BIG EAST play while SJU finishes the regular season at 30-24 overall and 15-6 in conference action.

BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS

Gavin Gilmore went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Charlie Schebler recorded two hits and an RBI.

Logan Baker and David Ayers each had a hit.

Brock Buckley tossed seven innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs while punching out five.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Neither side generated much offense in the first three frames, as both pitchers were dealing on the mound. In the fourth, Butler was able to put runners on second and third, forcing SJU to go to the bullpen early in the contest. The Red Storm were able to get out of the jam, keeping the score even at 0-0.

SJU struck first with an RBI single in the fourth, giving the Red Storm a 1-0 advantage. The Bulldogs were unable to generate much offense, going hitless in the fifth, sixth, and seventh frames. In the seventh, the Red Storm scored again on an RBI single. The home side took the 2-0 advantage into the final two frames of the contest.

The Dawgs were able to earn a walk in the eighth but were unable to bring the runner home as the score stood at 2-0. In the bottom of the eighth, SJU plated two runs on four hits as the home side advantage grew to four.

Butler was able to get on the board in the top of the ninth with an RBI double from Schebler. BU put another runner on, but the Red Storm picked up three-consecutive outs to secure the 4-1 victory.

=================================

BALL STATE TRACK

MUNCIE, Ind.— A delayed start to the third and final day of the 2026 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships wasn’t enough to slow down Ball State senior Alana Springer.

The senior sprinter started her afternoon with a personal record in the 100 meters of 11.44 seconds. Her strong time earned her a second-place finish in the event, but the best was still yet to come. In the 200 meters, Springer ran another personal record of 23.41, which not only earned Springer second place in the event but also the second-fastest time in Ball State program history.

While Springer was busy setting records, several of her Cardinal teammates earned individual championship titles. Malina Miller led the charge in the high jump and earned her best-ever jump of 1.77 meters to claim first place. She wasn’t the only Ball State athlete on the high jump podium. Miller was joined by freshman Nina Garner in fourth place and senior Bella Jackson in sixth place.

Laya’Lapri Ratney also claimed a MAC individual title in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.40 seconds, just 0.08 off of her personal best.

Other notable individual performances from day three included Sydney Miller’s podium finish in the discus and 2026 MAC Heptathlon Champion Kenli Nettles’s bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles.

As a team, the Cardinals entered the final day with only 13 points, but those great finishes, plus a second-place result in the 4×100-meter relay and a fifth-place time in the 4×400-meter relay added up to a staggering 63 points on the final day alone, putting Ball State firmly into fourth place out of the 13 MAC teams competing.

Full results from the meet can be found below as potential NCAA qualifiers for regional and national championships are determined in the coming weeks.

THURSDAY, MAY 14

100m Hurdles (Heptathlon)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 5th, 14.22

Kendra Keesling, Jr. – 10th, 14.95 PR

High Jump (Heptathlon)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 2nd, 1.67m

Kendra Keesling Jr. – 10th, 1.52m

Shot Put (Heptathlon)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 2nd, 12.47m PR

Kendra Keesling, Jr. – 8th, 10.35m PR

200m Dash (Heptathlon)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 1st, 24.43 PR

Kendra Keesling, Jr. – 7th, 26.29 PR

Hammer Throw

Sydney Miller, Jr. – 24th, 43.45m

Malena Higgins, Sr. – 13th, 49.54m

Javelin

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 12th, 38.43m

Maci Easton, Sr. – 13th, 37.81m

1500m (Trials)

Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. – 4th, 4:26.04 PR

Sarah Mahnensmith, Sr. – 8th, 4:27.57 PR

400m Hurdles (Trials)

Lia Patterson, So. – 4th, 1:00.57 PR

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 8th, 1:01.22

Lily Eagleston, Fr. – 16th, 1:02.63

Lindley Steele, Sr. – 21st, 1:05.19

200m (Trials)

Alana Springer, Sr. – 2nd, 23.71

Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. – 17th, 24.64

Trinity Bibbs, Fr. – 12th, 24.42

10,000m

Carly Spletzer, Sr. – 7th, 34:50.62

FRIDAY, MAY 15

Long Jump (Heptathlon)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. — 1st, 5.84m

Kendra Keesling, Jr. — 6th, 5.41m

Javelin (Heptathlon)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. — 2nd, 40.03m

Kendra Keesling, Jr. — 3rd, 37.89 PR

800m (Heptathlon)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. — 2nd, 2:23.54

Kendra Keesling, Jr. — 8th, 2:38.56 PR

Shot Put

Malena Higgins, Sr. – 10th, 13.87m

Sydney Miller, Jr. – 16th, 13.22m

Long Jump

Kylee Marshall – 11th, 5.71m

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 14th, 5.60m

100m Hurdles (Trials)

Laya’Lapri Ratney, So. – 1st, 13.69

Lauren Graham, So. – 17th, 14.70

Lia Patterson, So. – 22nd, 15.05

400m (Trials)

Paige Kirtz, Jr. – 18th, 57.11

100m (Trials)

Alana Springer, Sr. – 4th, 11.66

Kylee Marshall, So. – 11th, 11.93 PR

Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. – 22nd, 12.15

3000m Steeplechase

Emily Decker, Fr. – 10th, 10:42.44

SATURDAY, MAY 16

Discus

Sydney Miller, Jr. – 7th, 46.14m

Malena Higgins, Sr. – 11th, 42.01m

High Jump

Malina Miller, Jr. – 1st, 1.77m PR

Nina Garner, Fr. – 4th, 1.74m

Bella Jackson, Sr. – 6th, 1.66m

Lexi Hale, So. – 13th, 1.65m

Triple Jump

Anisa Barnett, Fr. – 16th, 11.81m

Brenna Lehrke, Sr. – 17th, 11.76m

4x100m Relay

Laya’Lapri Ratney, Kylee Marshall, Amina Hadziahmetovic, Alana Springer – 2nd, 45.57

1500m (Finals)

Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. – 11th, 4:31.02

100m Hurdles (Finals)

Laya’Lapri Ratney, So. – 1st, 13.40

100m (Finals)

Alana Springer, Sr. – 2nd, 11.44 PR

400m Hurdles (Finals)

Kenli Nettles, Sr. – 2nd, 59.39

Lia Patterson, So. – 9th, 1:01.23 PR

200m (Finals)

Alana Springer, Sr. – 2nd, 23.41 PR

5,000m

Emily Decker, Fr. – 17th, 17:08.87

Kaitlyn Kauppila, Fr. – 24th, 17:37.74

4x400m Relay

Lia Patterson, Paige Kirtz, Allison Valladay, Alana Springer – 5th, 3:43.66 (Season Best)

===================================

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Charlie Davis’ three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning helped visiting Belmont spoil Indiana State’s Senior Day at Bob Warn Field as the Sycamores fell to the Bruins on Saturday afternoon at Bob Warn Field, 5-2.

Indiana State looks ahead to next week’s MVC Baseball Championships held in Murray, Ky. at Johnny Reagan Field. The Sycamores earned the No. 2 overall seed courtesy of their 15-9 mark in Missouri Valley play and held the tiebreaker over Murray State (15-9) to claim the first-round bye. Indiana State will take on the winner of No. 3 Murray State/No. 6 Illinois State on Thursday, May 21, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. ET.

Indiana State (30-25, 15-9) recognized its 13-man 2026 Senior Class in a brief ceremony prior to first pitch as the Sycamores honored Zeb Brewer, Colby Morse, Breyllin Suriel, Nomar Garcia, Nick Sutherlin, Caleb Niehaus, Hunter Small, Emil Estrella, Carson Seeman, Aaron Moss, Ryan Karst, Joey Valentine, and Jack Armstrong in their final game at Bob Warn Field.

From there, the teams settled into a duel on the mound with the pitching staff on both teams continually frustrating the opposing offenses into leaving a combined 29 runners left on base in the contest.

Belmont (21-34, 11-13) took the 1-0 lead as Landon Godsey doubled before coming around to score on Cavan McMeans’ RBI grounder. The Sycamores answered in the bottom of the seventh as Caleb Niehaus reached on a throwing error, advanced to second on a balk, and then scored on Mason Roell’s RBI double down the left field line to tie the game up at 1-1.

The Bruins retook the lead in the top of the eighth as Mike Sprockett worked a bases-loaded walk against reliever Justin Hoff (1-2) allowing Brody Langlotz to score. The next inning, Belmont added insurance as Charlie Davis launched a three-run home run over the wall in left center, just over the glove of Carter Beck at the wall to make it a 5-1 contest.

The Sycamores loaded the bases with none out in the bottom of the ninth and Nick Sutherlin brought an Indiana State run across the plate after getting hit by a pitch allowing Mason Roell to score. However, Tate Marland retired the final two batters to limit the Indiana State rally and secure the series win for the Bruins.

Emil Estrella recorded a multi-hit game and added his team-leading 20th stolen base in leading four Indiana State players with steals in the game. Mason Roell added a double and was hit by two pitches.

Spencer Johnsen worked 4.1 innings allowing four hits and a run while striking out three in the start. Carson Seeman, Colby Morse, Jack Armstrong, Justin Hoff, and Breyllin Suriel all saw time on the mound in the contest.

How They Scored

Belmont took the 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning as Cavan McMeans’ grounder to short brought home Landon Godsey.

Indiana State tied the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh as Mason Roell connected on the game-tying double down the left field line scoring Caleb Niehaus.

Belmont went back up 2-1 in the top of the eighth as Mike Sprockett drew a bases loaded walk scoring Brody Langlotz.

Charlie Davis connected on the one-out, three-run home run over the wall in left center in the top of the ninth inning to put Belmont up 5-1.

The Sycamores loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with Nick Sutherlin bringing in a run after getting hit by a pitch to score Mason Roell and provide the final 5-2 scoring margin.

News & Notes

Emil Estrella’s first-inning stolen base marked his team-leading 20th stolen base of the 2026 season. It marked the first time a Sycamore recorded at least 20 steals in a single season since Ryan Strausborger recorded 41 in the 2010 season.

Carter Beck extended his on-base streak to 39 consecutive games following a one-out walk in the seventh inning. He finished the day 0-for-3 with a pair of walks. Beck reached base in 54 of the 55 games played by the Sycamores this season.

The Sycamores’ streak of seven consecutive Missouri Valley Conference series wins came to an end on Saturday afternoon as Belmont took the series from Indiana State.

Indiana State (15-9) finished one game back of UIC (16-8) for the Missouri Valley regular season title and tied with Murray State (15-9) for second in the conference standings. With Indiana State’s 2-1 series win over the Racers, the Sycamores claim the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye at next week’s MVC Baseball Championships.

Up Next

Indiana State earned a first-round bye at next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Championships held at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Ky. over March 20-23. The Sycamores will play the winner of No. 3 Murray State and No. 6 Illinois State on Thursday, March 21 with game time set for 4 p.m. ET. The games will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

===================================

EVANSVILLE BASEBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team fell in the final contest of the regular season on Saturday afternoon, falling to Murray State by a score of 12-5 at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

Evansville took an early 4-0 lead, but the Racers outscored the Aces 11-1 over the final seven innings to take the win.

Pregame, Evansville celebrated Senior Day by honoring six seniors playing their last game at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium – Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo./Northeast CC), Max Hansmann (Elmhurst, Ill./York), Drew Fieger (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Lincoln Trail CC), Drue Young (Greenwood, Ind./Ball State), Owen Byberg (Barrie, Ontario/Frontier CC), and Parker MacCauley (Paducah, Ky./Tennessee Tech).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Evansville scored first in the bottom of the second, starting with a leadoff double by Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois) and an RBI single by Cooper Rhodes (Jackson, Mo./Jackson). Ryan Seddon (Joliet, Ill./St. Laurence) was next to join the fun, ripping a single up the middle to drive in his fifth run of the weekend. Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) followed suit, delivering another single up the middle to make it 3-0. Finally, Spike Magill (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) provided an RBI groundout to put the Aces up 4-0.

However, Murray State responded in the top of the third, using three home runs to take a 6-4 lead.

The Aces got a run back in the bottom of the third, with Seddon driving in another run on a sac fly.

Following 1-2-3 innings by both offenses in the fourth, Murray State scored four runs on five hits in the fifth to go on top by a score of 10-5.

MacCauley was solid in relief for the Aces in the final four innings of the game, tossing four innings while allowing one earned run.

Murray State took advantage of an error in the seventh to add a run before hitting a solo home run in the ninth, as they took home a 12-5 win in the regular season finale.

UP NEXT

Evansville finishes the regular season with a 20-31 record and a 13-11 mark in MVC play. The Aces will be the number five seed in next week’s MVC Tournament, taking on fourth-seeded Southern Illinois on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Murray, Ky.

=====================================

SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Baseball picked up a series victory against Lindenwood following a 14-9 win Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles finished the regular season with a 27-27 record and earned an eighth-place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference following a 10-17 conference slate.

After a clean top of the first from senior pitcher Jake Porter, the Eagles struck first in the bottom of the inning. Senior outfielder Hunter Miller opened the action with a double down the left field line before moving to third on a bunt single by senior outfielder Khi Holiday. Miller scored the first run of the contest on a groundout by senior infielder Patrick McLellan. Holiday later came around to score on a single to left from senior catcher Micajah Wall, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead after one inning.

USI’s offense continued to hum in the second inning. A single from junior infielder Parker Martin and a hit-by-pitch to both Zion Stephens and Holiday set up a two-run single from McLellan, putting the Eagles ahead 4-0 heading into the third.

The Lions scratched across two runs in the top of the fourth, trimming the Eagles’ lead to 4-2 entering the bottom of the inning. However, USI answered right back. A single from Stephens and a walk by Holiday set the stage for McLellan’s fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave him four RBIs on the day.

Lindenwood once again made a push in the top of the fifth, plating one run before junior pitcher Trey O’Neil escaped a bases-loaded jam to preserve USI’s 7-3 lead. Senior outfielder Noah Foster opened the bottom half of the inning with a triple down the right field line, but the Eagles were unable to bring him home, keeping the score at 7-3 through five innings.

Junior pitcher Eben Hansen shut down the Lions in a scoreless top of the sixth before the Eagles continued their offensive explosion in the bottom half. Singles from Holiday and McLellan, along with a hit-by-pitch to Wall, loaded the bases for senior shortstop Clayton Slack, who slipped a two-run single through the left side of the infield. Wall later came around to score on a single up the middle by senior catcher Charlie Marisca, while Slack advanced to third.

Foster kept the rally going with a single through the right side, scoring Slack and extending the Eagles’ lead to 11-3 after six innings.

The Lions answered with four runs in the top of the seventh against senior pitcher Mason Bell, but graduate pitcher Nathan Anderson halted the rally to preserve an 11-7 lead. Southern Indiana responded in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases after a walk by Miller, Holiday reaching on an error, and McLellan being hit by a pitch. Wall then drove in junior outfielder Dane DeWees, who pinch ran for Miller, with a single to center field. Holiday later scored on a fielder’s choice by Slack, while McLellan crossed home on a Marisca groundout to cap the seventh-inning scoring.

Sophomore pitcher Colin Wolfe entered the game at the top of the ninth, allowing two runs on two hits before graduate pitcher Ian Anderson was tabbed to get the final out of his last home game, closing out the game with a 14-9 Eagles victory.

Porter earned his third victory of the season after tossing three scoreless innings, allowing just three hits against the Lions. The Eagles used nine pitchers in the game, combining to allow nine runs on 14 hits while recording three strikeouts.

At the plate, McLellan and Foster each collected three hits as the Eagles racked up 17 total as a team. McLellan led the way with an impressive six RBIs, including three on his fourth-inning home run, while Slack added three RBIs of his own.

UP NEXT:

The Eagles will begin postseason play Tuesday at Mountain Dew Park in Marion, Illinois, in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. USI is set to face Morehead State University in the tournament’s second game, with the first pitch scheduled for approximately 7 p.m.

USI was swept in the regular-season series against Morehead State earlier this season in Morehead, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles dropped the first two games by one run each before falling 17-13 in the series finale. With a first-round victory, USI would advance to face the tournament’s No. 3-seeded Southeast Missouri State University on Wednesday evening. The tournament’s double-elimination format begins in the third round on Thursday.

====================================

VALPO BASEBALL

The Valparaiso University baseball team finished out the 2026 season on Saturday afternoon in Carbondale, Ill., falling 13-3 in eight innings in the rubber match of the season-closing, three-game series. This marked the final day in a Valpo uniform for a 16-member senior class.

How It Happened

Valpo jumped out to an early lead before the first out of the game had been recorded, as three straight Beacons reached base from the outset including a two-run double by redshirt junior Thomas Cooper (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood).

The Salukis responded with four in the bottom of the first, two of which were unearned, to take a 4-2 lead through one.

Valpo stranded a man at third in the top of the third, then Michael Mylott led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot that narrowly cleared the left-field fence to make it 5-2 in favor of SIU. The Salukis went on to make it a five-run inning, increasing the lead to 9-2 through three.

Senior Hunter Frost (Farmington, Minn. / Farmington) put up a zero in the fourth, issuing a two-out walk but nothing else in his final collegiate outing.

Senior Christian Hack (Oak Forest, Ill. / Tinley Park) worked around a leadoff single to fire a scoreless fifth.

Senior Joe Seiber (Homer Glen, Ill. / Lockport) induced an inning-ending double play to post a scoreless sixth.

The Beacons picked up a run as Cal Schembra (Greenwood, Ind. / Center Grove) recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice bouncer in the top of the seventh to make it 9-3.

Southern Illinois tacked on a run after starting the seventh inning with a double and a single, but Spencer Boynton (Tampa, Fla. / Seffner Christian) struck out three straight to retire the side.

Southern Illinois scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to clinch the run-rule victory.

Inside the Game

The top four batters in the Valpo order combined for seven of the team’s eight hits, with Kuska, Cooper and Kegerreis lashing out two hits apiece.

Kuska and Kegerreis entered the season’s final day in a virtual tie for the team lead in batting average. Kuska took the early lead as he had hits in each of his first two plate appearances, while Kegerreis was retired the first two times through the order. However, that flipped the third and fourth times through the lineup, and Kuska was retired in his fifth at-bat while Kegerreis batted only four times to claim the team lead in batting average at .330 to Kuska’s .327.

Kegerreis recorded Valpo’s highest batting average since the 2022 campaign, when Ryan Maka hit .345.

All six relief pitchers who took the mound for the Beacons were seniors appearing in their final game.

====================================

INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES

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

MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/

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

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

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

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

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

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

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

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

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

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

=========================================================

“SPORTS EXTRA”

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1877 – Al Spalding’s baseball is officially adopted for Major League use because it is “more lively” than the early “lemon peel ball” still being used.

1893 – Phillies outfielder Billy Hamilton becomes the first player to hit both a leadoff and walk-off home run in the same game when he blasts a two-run round-tripper off Al Maul, giving the team an 11 – 9 victory over Washington at the Philadelphia Baseball Grounds. The 27-year-old future Hall of Famer’s performance will not be duplicated again until Vic Power accomplishes the rare feat for the A’s in 1957.

1898 – In Boston, the defending NL champion Beaneaters pound the visiting Brooklyn Bridegrooms 12-0 in support of a one-hitter by Ted Lewis, with Brooklyn pitcher Joe Yeager collecting that lone safety for the visitors. Boston improves to 15-9 with the win to stay 3.5 games back of the leading Reds. It will take three months for Boston to close that gap, not landing in first place until August 16th. and not clinching a repeat championship until October 7th, despite a 31-6 finish.

1903 – Cool Papa Bell is born in Starkville, Mississippi. Bell will enjoy a successful career in the Negro Leagues from 1922 to 1946. An outfielder with blazing speed and the first Mexican League Triple Crown winner, Bell will be selected to the Hall of Fame in 1974.

1905 – Waseda University of Tokyo defeats Los Angeles High School, 5 – 3, in the first game of an American tour. It is the first baseball game ever played by a Japanese team outside Japan. Waseda started a powerhouse tradition at Japan’s Big Six universities that continues to this day.

1906 – At Philadelphia’s Columbia Park, Rube Waddell’s bid for a no-hitter is broken up by a bunt single by Ty Cobb; he ends up with a two-hit 5 – 0 shutout.

1912 – Historic Fenway Park in Boston is officially dedicated, one month after hosting its first game, as the Red Sox host the Chicago White Sox. Playing in front of an overflow crowd, the Red Sox lose the game, 5 – 2.

1925 – At League Park, Tris Speaker of the Cleveland Indians collects his 3,000th hit off Tom Zachary of the Washington Senators. Zachary leads Washington to a 2 – 1 victory. George Uhle is the loser.

1939 – The first baseball game ever televised – Princeton against Columbia at Baker Field – is watched by a handful of viewers via W2XBS in New York City. Bill Stern announces the ten-inning victory of visiting Princeton, 2 – 1. Reviewing the game the next day, the New York Times reports: “it is difficult to see how this sort of thing can catch the public fancy.”

1941 – The city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania declare a legal holiday to honor the Philadelphia Athletics manager on Connie Mack Day at Shibe Park.

1945 – For the fourth time in four days, every American League game is postponed because of rain.

1956 – Due to his slow start in his sophomore season, the Cardinals trade Bill Virdon, last year’s Rookie of the Year, to the Pirates in exchange for Bobby Del Greco and Dick Littlefield. The 25-year-old outfielder will finish the season hitting .334 in 133 games for the Bucs and will play a vital role in the team’s World Championship in 1960.

1959 – Roberto Clemente hits a two-out, 9th-inning homer that clears the diagonal fence behind the centerfield bleachers at Wrigley Field, barely missing being the first ball to hit the distant centerfield scoreboard. While no exact distance is recorded, it is one of the three or four longest home runs in the ballpark’s history. Alas, it is not enough as the Pirates fall one runs short, 7 – 6, in the second game, splitting a doubleheader against the Cubs.

1961 – Roger Maris hits his first home run of the season at Yankee Stadium (and fourth overall) on his way to a major league season-record 61.

1963:

Don Nottebart of the Houston Colt .45s pitches the first no-hitter in franchise history, leading Houston past the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, 4 – 1.

A doubleheader between the Tigers and Senators in Washington is cancelled in the 2nd inning of the first game after a one-hour and twelve-minute rain delay. In the 1st inning, the Senators’ Bobo Osborne hit a grand slam off Don Mossi over the right field fence. In the top of the 2nd, Al Kaline hit a solo homer off Bennie Daniels into the Washington bullpen. Those two blasts account for all the runs in the game when the rains come to wash it all away. Like the homer he lost on June 1, 1958, this one could have given Kaline 400 for his career.

The Giants win a fog-delayed game, 4 – 3, on an 11th-inning walk-off homer by Joey Amalfitano off Roger Craig of the Mets.

1964 – In Pittsburgh’s 3 – 2 loss to Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers in the first game of a doubleheader, Roberto Clemente almost steals the show by smacking a triple, double and single. He also nails Dick Tracewski at second base with a throw to Ducky Schofield in the 2nd, keeps Ron Fairly from scoring with a great toss to the plate after a triple in the 7th, then completes his effort by getting Willie Davis, who is trying stretch a single, later in that inning. Pittsburgh then wins the second game, 8 – 3.

1968 – First baseman Rusty Staub visits Larry Dierker at the mound during a 6 – 0 loss in Los Angeles. Absent-mindedly, he spits on the ball while standing on the hill. Zoilo Versalles has a three-ball count and Staub’s miscue becomes an automatic ball four. Versalles eventually scores.

1970 – During a 7 – 6 Atlanta loss to Cincinnati in the second game of a doubleheader, Hank Aaron collects his 3,000th career hit and his 570th home run. Aaron, the ninth man to amass 3,000 hits, is the first to also have 500 home runs.

1971:

Roberto Clemente’s two-out, two-run, walk-off triple transforms a frustrating 5 – 4 loss to fifth-place Montreal into a sudden-death 6 – 5 decision, pulling Pittsburgh to within one game of the New York Mets. After failing twice in crucial spots earlier in the game, Clemente clubs Mike Marshall’s 1-1 pitch high off the wall near the 410-foot mark.

Tommy McCraw of the Washington Senators hits one of the shortest home runs in major league history. McCraw’s 140-foot pop fly falls in between three Cleveland Indians, shortstop Jack Heidemann and outfielders Vada Pinson and John Lowenstein. When the three players collide, McCraw circles the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

1973 – California Angels center fielder Bobby Valentine tries to scale a wall to prevent a Dick Green home run during a 5 – 4 loss to the Oakland Athletics. Valentine catches his spikes in the wall and fractures his leg. The injury will ruin his career.

1977 – The Chicago Cubs hit seven home runs in beating the San Diego Padres, 23 – 6, at Wrigley Field. Larry Biittner (two), Gene Clines, Steve Ontiveros, Dave Rosello, Jerry Morales and Bobby Murcer homer for the Cubs, with Biittner, Morales, and Murcer hitting consecutive shots in the 5th inning.

1978 – Lee Lacy hits a pinch home run to help the Dodgers to a 10 – 1 victory over Pittsburgh. It is Lacy’s third consecutive home run in a pinch-hitting role, setting a major league record. His previous blasts were on May 2nd and May 6th.

1979 – With the wind really blowing out at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies join in a wild ten-inning slugfest won by the Phillies, 23 – 22. Dave Kingman hits three home runs and collects six RBI for the Cubs while teammate Bill Buckner has a grand slam and seven RBI. Kingman’s third blast is a tape measure shot, touching down at almost the identical spot as his already legendary April 14, 1976 moon shot. Mike Schmidt belts two home runs for the Phils, including the game-winner in the 10th inning. Bob Boone, pitcher Randy Lerch, and Garry Maddox also homer for the Phillies and Steve Ontiveros and Jerry Martin do it for the Cubs. The eleven home runs between the two teams tie a major league game record. The contest includes 50 hits. In 2010, the MLB Network will name it the 20th greatest game of the previous 50 years.

1984 – Alan Wiggins of the San Diego Padres ties a National League record by stealing five bases in one game. Wiggins joins three others who have performed the feat: Dan McGann in 1904, Davey Lopes in 1974 and Lonnie Smith in 1982.

1985:

The Texas Rangers name Bobby Valentine as their new manager, replacing the fired Doug Rader. Under Rader, the Rangers had posted a record of 9-23, the worst in the major leagues. With Valentine at the helm, the Rangers will show some improvement, but will still finish last in the AL West.

Lonnie Smith is traded to the Royals by the Cardinals in return for fellow OF John Morris. The two teams will meet in the World Series a few months from now.

1990 – Eric Anthony becomes the first Astro to reach the Astrodome’s upper reserved seats in right field with a mammoth blast off Mike Bielecki in a 5 – 4, eleven-inning victory against Chicago; Cincinnati’s Bernie Carbo was the only previous player to do it. Ken Oberkfell’s sacrifice fly scores Ken Caminiti with the game-winner.

1992:

Catcher Gary Carter, back with the Montreal Expos, joins Bob Boone and Carlton Fisk in the exclusive 2,000 games caught club.

The Toronto Blue Jays surpass one million in attendance earlier than any team in major league history. It takes the Blue Jays 21 dates to draw 1,006,294. The previous record was shared by the 1991 Blue Jays and the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers.

1993 – Mariners third baseman Mike Blowers becomes the 13th player in major league history to hit grand slams in consecutive games. The 4th-inning bases full round-tripper off Craig Lefferts contributes to Seattle’s 16 – 9 victory over Texas at Arlington Stadium.

1995 – Luis Gonzalez goes 4-for-4 with three RBIs to pace a 7 – 2 triumph by the Astros over the Mets. Greg Swindell works seven innings for the victory. James Mouton adds a homer off Jason Jacome.

1996:

In the Mexican League, Jesús Sommers of the Poza Rica Oilers connects for his 3,000th career hit. Elmer Dessens is the victimized pitcher.

Chris Hoiles hits a walk-off grand slam off Norm Charlton as Baltimore defeats Seattle, 14 – 13

1998 – David Wells pitches the 13th perfect game in modern major league history as the Yankees beat Minnesota, 4 – 0. Wells, whose “perfecto” is the first by a Yankees pitcher since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, also sets an American League record by retiring 37 batters in a row, dating back to his start on May 12th against Kansas City. Minnesota shortstop Pat Meares flies out to right fielder Paul O’Neill to complete the perfect afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

2001:

Ike Brown dies from cancer in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 59. A popular member of the Detroit Tigers for six seasons, Brown was one of the last Negro League players still active in the majors during the 1970s, and the last to make his major league debut. The versatile Brown played every infield and outfield position but center field during his Tigers stint.

Mets free agent acquisition Steve Trachsel becomes the first pitcher in franchise history to give up four home runs in an inning, pitching himself out of the starting rotation in the process (one day later, he’ll be off the roster altogether, off to Norfolk for a three-week Triple A stint). To be fair, the Met bullpen does not exactly cover itself in glory either, with Rick White and John Franco each contributing four runs to San Diego’s 15-run total; an uncharacteristically economical Franco accomplishes all this in one third of an inning. The one Met bright spot is the performance turned in by a newcomer assigned mop-up duty in the 9th, super sub Desi Relaford, who moves over from SS to make the only mound appearance of his major league career. Sporting a tailing change-up and a fastball, which at 91 MPH is about 5 MPH faster than anything Trachsel was able to muster, Desi fans the opposing pitcher, then induces two consecutive Padres to fly out to the deepest part of the park.

2002 – Erubiel Durazo hits three home runs with a double and nine RBI to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 12 – 9 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Bank One Ballpark.

2007 – Yukio Tanaka goes 3 for 4. The veteran Nippon Ham Fighters player tops the 2,000-hit level for his career, joining the meikyukai.

2008 – With San Francisco’s 3 – 1 interleague loss to the White Sox, Barry Zito becomes the first Giants hurler in 98 years to start a season with eight consecutive losses. Jesse Burkett opened the 1890 campaign without a victory, also losing eight straight decisions.

2009:

A blunder by manager Joe Maddon in filling out the line-up card forces Tampa Bay to forgo the designated hitter and bat pitcher Andy Sonnanstine third. He hits an RBI double in the 4th on his way to a 7 – 5 win over Cleveland.

Scott Feldman pitches six scoreless innings and three relievers complete the whitewash as Texas beats Los Angeles to complete a sweep. David Murphy drives in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the 7th, then Ian Kinsler and Marlon Byrd hit RBI doubles to seal the affair. Texas has now won seven in a row, and 13 of its last 15 games.

In a 2 – 0 win by the Giants over the Mets, New York hurler Mike Pelfrey balks three times. It had been 15 years since Al Leiter was the last pitcher to have three balks in a game.

2010:

It’s another epic battle between the Yankees and Red Sox at New Yankee Stadium. The Yanks take a 5 – 0 lead in the 1st inning against Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the Sox storm back to take the lead with five home runs, two by Victor Martinez, and one each by David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, Jonathan Papelbon gives up a pair of two-run homers, to Alex Rodriguez and Marcus Thames, and the Yankees end up on top, 11 – 9.

The Dodgers extend their winning streak to eight games with a 6 – 2 victory over the Astros. Rookie John Ely allows only one run in seven innings facing the worst offense in the major leagues; he has yet to allow a walk while striking out 25 in 25 1/3 innings this season. Blake DeWitt hits two triples for the Dodgers who have moved to within two games of the NL West lead after a slow start.

2011:

Harmon Killebrew, one of the great sluggers of the 1960s with 573 career home runs, passes away from cancer at 74 in Scottsdale, AZ. The gentle and universally-liked “Killer”, who spent the bulk of his career with the Minnesota Twins, was the 1969 AL MVP and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984.

The battle for AL West supremacy ends in a knock-out. Oakland romps over Los Angeles, 14 – 0, as Gio Gonzalez pitches seven one-hit innings. Mark Ellis has three hits and four RBI for the A’s while Tyler Chatwood has the worst start of his young career, giving up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Brian McCann becomes the 11th major leaguer to hit a game-tying pinch homer and a game-winning, extra-inning homer in the same game. He provides all of the Braves’ offense in a 3 – 1 win over Houston.

2012:

Yan Gomes becomes the first Brazilian player in Major League history when he is inserted in the Blue Jays’ starting line-up at 3B in today’s game against the Yankees, taking over for Brett Lawrie who is beginning a four-game suspension. Gomes goes 2 for 3, but it is homers by Jose Bautista and J.P. Arencibia which lead the Jays to a 4 – 1 win.

Brandon Beachy throws his first career shutout for the Atlanta Braves, to improve his National League-leading ERA to 1.33. The Braves defeat the Marlins, 7 – 0.

The A’s dispose of the Rangers, 5 – 4, in a closely-fought ten-inning game. There is a controversial call in the 6th inning, when the Rangers’ Craig Gentry scores from third on a squeeze bunt by Elvis Andrus. Oakland P Brandon McCarthy argues vainly that he caught the ball on the fly, but the only result is that his manager Bob Melvin is ejected for pressing the case too much. Mitch Moreland hits a pair of homers for Texas, but Oakland keeps fighting back, and in the 10th, Kila Ka’aihue drives in Jonny Gomes with a single off Mike Adams to seal the win. Winner Ryan Cook extends his scoreless streak from the start of the season to 19 2/3 innings.

2013:

Justin Upton hits a 6th-inning grand slam to lead Atlanta to an 8 – 5 win over Los Angeles. Jason Heyward returns to the Braves’ line-up after his April 22nd appendectomy and has two hits and an RBI. Scott Van Slyke hits two homers in a losing cause for the Dodgers.

The Astros find yet a new way to lose. After blowing a 6th-inning 4 – 1 lead, they allow the Pirates to load the bases in the 9th, and with two outs, Edgar Gonzalez forces Russell Martin to hit an easy pop fly to shallow right field to apparently send the game to extra innings. But a backtracking 2B Jake Elmore crashes into RF Jimmy Paredes, who drops the ball and allows the winning run to score.

2014:

The Diamondbacks set club records with 21 hits and 13 extra-base hits in defeating the Dodgers, 18 – 7. The D-Backs score seven times in the 2nd as they chase Clayton Kershaw from the mound, but the Dodgers charge back with a five-run inning in the 6th. Paul Goldschmidt has two homers and six RBIs, including one off C Drew Butera, who makes his second pitching appearance of the week. For Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig hits a two-run homer off Chase Anderson in the 3rd inning, extending his hitting streak to 16 games, and his streak of games with an extra-base hit and an RBI to eight, a club record.

Danny Duffy pitches the best game of his career, taking a perfect game into the 7th inning before Adam Jones singles with two outs. His solid outing is necessary to make a 1st-inning Royals run stand up for a 1 – 0 win. Duffy is taken out of the game after allowing a lead-off single in the 8th, and the Orioles manage to load the bases in the 9th against Greg Holland before Nelson Cruz strikes out to end the game.

2015 – Shortly after coming within one out of being no-hit by the Braves’ Shelby Miller, the Marlins fire manager Mike Redmond and bench coach Rob Leary. Justin Bour singles with two outs in the bottom of the 9th to break up Miller’s bid, but the Marlins still lose, 6 – 0, completing a three-game sweep. Expecting to compete this season, the Fish find themselves with a disappointing 16-22 mark.

2016:

The Braves fire manager Fredi Gonzalez and replace him on an interim basis by Brian Snitker, manager of the AAA Gwinnett Braves. With a record of 9-28, the Braves are off to the worst start in team history. Snitker will stabilize the team to earn the job on a permanent basis.

Khris Davis has a three-homer game, including a grand slam as the Athletics defeat the Rangers, 8 – 5. His slam off Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson ends the game with two outs in the bottom of the 9th after a two-run homer by Ian Desmond had put Texas ahead, 5 – 4, in the top of the inning.

2018 – In a case of how the mighty have fallen, the Dodgers, coming off an appearance in the World Series and winners of five straight division titles, enter today’s game against the Marlins, who have just gone through an off-season fire sale, with an identically bad record of 16-26. Worse, the Dodgers have just lost six straight against the two worst teams in the National League, the Marlins and the Reds. They manage to stop the bleeding with a 7 – 0 win, thanks to five RBIs from Justin Turner in just his third game back after missing six weeks due to an injury sustained at the end of spring training, and eight solid innings by Kenta Maeda. While they may look like they are already out of the postseason race given how much ground they have lost, the Dodgers will turn things around to win the division again and return to the World Series.

2019:

Kris Bryant hits three homers in consecutive innings – the 7th, 8th and 9th – to lead the Cubs to a 14 – 6 win over the Nationals. He is just the 12th player to pull off the rare feat, and the second to do so in those particular innings. He goes 4 for 6 and drives in five runs in the game.

Jorge Alomá is named the Cuban Serie Nacional MVP for 2018-2019 after the shortstop led the league in average at .376 and was second in OPS (just 64 points behind a DH, Frederich Cepeda). He split the season between Artemisa and Las Tunas, the first Serie Nacional MVP to play for two teams in an award-winning campaign and the first Cuban MVP on multiple teams since Adrián Zabala in the Cuban Winter League 68 years prior. Meanwhile, César Prieto is the first Serie Nacional Rookie of the Year on multiple teams as he shattered Kendry Morales’ 18-year-old record for hits by a rookie; Prieto had spent the first half with Cienfuegos and the second half with Villa Clara.

2021 – The tug-of-war between Gerrit Cole and Corbin Burnes for the record for most consecutive strikeouts without a walk ends in Cole’s favor. Burnes had brought the record to 58 before giving up a walk in his most recent start on May 13th, but Cole still had an active streak of 56 at that point. In tonight’s game against the Rangers, the Yankees’ ace adds five more strikeouts before walking Nathaniel Lowe in the 5th to end the streak, giving him sole possession of the record with 61 Ks. However, the Rangers come out on top, 5 – 2.

2022 – The Astros tie a major league record by homering five times in the 2nd inning of their 13 – 4 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. All five long balls are hit off Nathan Eovaldi. They are the work of Yordan Alvarez; Kyle Tucker, with a two-run shot; Jeremy Peña; Michael Brantley, who connects with two men on base; and Yuli Gurriel who gives the Astros a 9-1 lead with the shot that finally ends Eovaldi’s outing. Tucker adds a second homer later in the game and Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez also go deep of Boston. The Astros are the eighth team to hit five homers in an inning, and Eovaldi is the third pitcher to give up all five.

2023 – The Astros, who have struggled so far in their defense of last year’s World Series title, win their fourth in a row, coming back from a 6 – 1 deficit against the Cubs to win, 7 – 6. Seiya Suzuki homers in his first two plate appearances of the game to give Chicago its early lead, becoming the first Japanese player to homer in three straight PAs as he had also gone deep his last time up yesterday, but Houston comes back thanks to two runs in the 8th and four in the bottom of the 9th. Jake Meyers hits a two-run homer in the 9th and Kyle Tucker ends the game with a single with the bases loaded.

2025:

With a 7 – 0 win over the Brewers behind the pitching of Pedro Lopez, the Twins win their 13th straight game, making it the second-longest winning streak in franchise history. They also have an active streak of 33 innings without allowing a run, which is a franchise record.

Six of the Twins’ wins during the streak have come against the Orioles, whose 15-28 start costs manager Brandon Hyde his job. Hyde had been at the helm since 2018 and steered the Birds through a difficult reconstruction; after postseason appearances the last two years, the team seemed poised to be a contender once again, but everything has gone wrong this season. Coach Tony Mansolino takes over as interim manager, but the O’s lose again today, 10 – 6 to the Nationals.

Births[edit]

1852 – Sam King, infielder (d. 1922)

1857 – Billy Reid, infielder (d. 1940)

1857 – William Russell, owner (d. 1911)

1858 – Henry Oberbeck, outfielder (d. 1921)

1860 – Frank Mountain, pitcher (d. 1939)

1865 – Al Mays, pitcher (d. 1905)

1868 – Fred Woodcock, pitcher (d. 1943)

1879 – Rube Vickers, pitcher (d. 1958)

1884 – Elmer Steele, pitcher (d. 1966)

1888 – Irv Porter, outfielder (d. 1971)

1892 – Hal Carlson, pitcher (d. 1930)

1894 – Frank Woodward, pitcher (d. 1961)

1899 – Del Webb, owner (d. 1974)

1903 – Cool Papa Bell, outfielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer (d. 1991)

1905 – Bill Monroe, infielder

1906 – Al Eckert, pitcher (d. 1974)

1906 – Red Treadwell, minor league catcher and manager (d. 1948)

1908 – Ted Norbert, minor league star (d. 1991)

1908 – Leo Norris, infielder (d. 1987)

1910 – Lou Chiozza, infielder (d. 1971)

1912 – Ace Parker, infielder (d. 2013)

1916 – Takeshi Nakayama, NPB catcher (d. 1975)

1917 – Les Burge, minor league infielder and manager (d. 1996)

1923 – Goichi Kubo, NPB outfielder (d. 1988)

1927 – Jim McDonald, pitcher (d. 2004)

1932 – Chris Ballingal, AAGPBL catcher (d. 2025)

1932 – Billy Hoeft, pitcher; All-Star (d. 2010)

1932 – Ozzie Virgil, infielder (d. 2024)

1935 – Naotake Unno, NPB pitcher

1938 – John Erickson, minor league infielder (d. 2020)

1938 – Gene Scruggs, Negro League pitcher

1939 – Dick Smith, outfielder (d. 2012)

1940 – Frank Jaciuk, NPB infielder

1942 – Bob DeFelice, college coach

1942 – Sumiki Tamura, NPB pitcher

1944 – Orv Franchuk, scout

1945 – Jerry Lyscio, minor league pitcher

1945 – Mary Shane, broadcaster (d. 1987)

1946 – Dan Monzon, infielder (d. 1996)

1947 – Fujio Kitakado, NPB pitcher (d. 2008)

1948 – Carlos May, outfielder; All-Star

1948 – Satoshi Takahashi, NPB pitcher (d. 2021)

1950 – Kenji Doi, NPB catcher

1952 – Porfi Altamirano, pitcher

1952 – Mike Verdi, minor league manager

1953 – Stan Luketich, minor league coach

1957 – Don Nomura, agent

1957 – Pascual Perez, pitcher; All-Star (d. 2012)

1959 – Chikafusa Ikeda, NPB pitcher

1959 – Stan Leland, minor league pitcher

1960 – Kazuo Hayakawa, NPB outfielder

1961 – Loren Hibbs, college coach

1962 – Greg Mathews, pitcher

1963 – Tom Newell, pitcher

1964 – Rob Nelson, infielder

1966 – Jack Voigt, outfielder

1966 – Brad DuVall, minor league pitcher

1969 – Rick Huisman, pitcher

1969 – Juan C. Pérez, Cuban league pitcher

1970 – Mark Randall, minor league pitcher

1971 – Trey Forkerway, minor league infielder and manager

1971 – Earl Steinmetz, minor league pitcher

1973 – Xavier Civit, minor league pitcher

1973 – Seika Shiragi, announcer

1974 – Wiki Gonzalez, catcher

1974 – Keith Horn, minor league pitcher

1974 – Kota Soejima, NPB outfielder

1975 – Eriel Sánchez, Cuban leagues catcher and manager

1975 – Scott Seabol, infielder

1976 – Marques Esquerra, minor league player

1976 – Jose Guillen, outfielder

1977 – Roddi Liebenberg, Great Britain national team pitcher

1977 – Masashi Nara, NPB pitcher

1977 – Juan Tellechea, Spanish national team pitcher

1978 – John Foster, pitcher

1978 – Carlos Pena, infielder; All-Star

1978 – Koki Watanabe, NPB pitcher

1980 – Hiroshi Kisanuki, NPB pitcher

1981 – Adeyinka Adewusi, Elitserien infielder

1982 – Matt Cassel, drafted player

1982 – Nick Masset, pitcher

1983 – Shao-Chun Lo, CPBL infielder

1983 – Gabriel Martinez, minor league infielder

1983 – Nobuhiro Matsuda, NPB infielder

1983 – Jeremy Sowers, pitcher

1983 – Josh Sowers, minor league pitcher

1985 – Dae-sung Choi, KBO pitcher

1985 – Todd Redmond, pitcher

1985 – Hee-sang Yoon, KBO pitcher

1987 – Brian Cavazos-Galvez, minor league outfielder

1988 – Rob Herrmann, minor league catcher

1989 – Yuliecer Arias, minor league outfielder

1989 – John Cornely, pitcher

1989 – Jordan Jankowski, pitcher

1989 – Dennis O’Grady, minor league pitcher

1991 – Oscar Carlstedt, Elitserien pitcher

1992 – Ben Gamel, outfielder

1992 – Eric Jagielo, minor league infielder

1992 – Brian O’Grady, outfielder

1993 – Po-Hsien Hsieh, Chinese Taipei national team pitcher

1993 – Jin-De Jhang, minor league catcher

1993 – Gabriel Lino, minor league catcher

1994 – Tyler Beardsley, minor league pitcher

1994 – Hayato Mizowaki, NPB infielder

1995 – Gabriel Do Carmo, French Division I catcher

1996 – En-Sih Huang, CPBL pitcher

1996 – Raxon Martínez, First Division infielder

1999 – Brayan Bello, pitcher

1999 – Yuta Izuguchi, NPB infielder

2000 – TJ Rumfield, infielder

2001 – Matěj Grendža-Donský, Extraliga infielder

2001 – Leo Jiménez, infielder

2002 – Kendai Gen, NPB outfielder

2002 – Shinya Hasegawa, NPB outfielder

2002 – Holden Phelps, minor league pitcher

2003 – Ping-Yang Huang, CPBL infielder

2004 – Trương Quang Thái, Vietnamese national team infielder

Deaths[edit]

1905 – John Abadie, infielder (b. 1850)

1908 – Harry Spence, manager (b. 1853)

1915 – Happy Hogan, minor league catcher (b. 1877)

1931 – Charlie Ferguson, pitcher; umpire (b. 1875)

1933 – Bill Van Dyke, outfielder (b. 1863)

1937 – Harry Horton, minor league pitcher and manager (b. 1887)

1940 – Spike Shannon, outfielder; umpire (b. 1875)

1941 – Bill Husted, pitcher (b. 1866)

1946 – Billy Stage, umpire (b. 1868)

1949 – Bill Swarback, pitcher (b. 1867)

1954 – Roy Parker, pitcher (b. 1896)

1954 – Earl Tyree, catcher (b. 1890)

1957 – Bill Deegan, pitcher (b. 1874)

1959 – Joe Donnelly, minor league executive (b. ????)

1961 – Otto Knabe, infielder, manager (b. 1884)

1961 – Barney Slaughter, pitcher (b. 1884)

1965 – Bill Bartley, pitcher (b. 1885)

1969 – Pants Rowland, manager; umpire (b. 1878)

1971 – Robert Mitchell, catcher (b. 1900)

1972 – Gerard Fitzgerald, outfielder (b. 1927)

1975 – Sig Broskie, catcher (b. 1911)

1979 – Bill Brenner, minor league pitcher/catcher and manager (b. ????)

1979 – Henry Harris, infielder (b. 1900)

1982 – Dixie Walker, outfielder; All-Star (b. 1910)

1988 – Ed Katalinas, scout (b. 1909)

1989 – Specs Toporcer, infielder (b. 1899)

1995 – Catfish Metkovich, outfielder (b. 1920)

2001 – Ike Brown, infielder (b. 1942)

2002 – Joe Black, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1924)

2002 – Bobby Robinson, infielder (b. 1903)

2003 – Joe Spencer, infielder (b. 1919)

2004 – Buster Narum, pitcher (b. 1940)

2004 – Takahisa Suzuki, NPB outfielder (b. 1963)

2007 – Bill Wight, pitcher (b. 1922)

2009 – Frank Stanek, minor league pitcher (b. 1934)

2010 – Dottie Kamenshek, AAGPBL infielder (b. 1925)

2011 – Harmon Killebrew, infielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer (d. 1936)

2013 – Ken Olson, minor league pitcher (b. 1921)

2014 – Cees Hiele, Hoofdklasse catcher (b. ~1931)

2018 – Ray Arra, college coach (b. 1941)

2020 – Ken Retzer, catcher (b. 1934)

2021 – Lee Landers, minor league executive (b. ~1917)

==============================================

TV SPORTS TODAY

Sunday, May 17

AUTO RACING

1 p.m.

FS1 — NASCAR Cup Series: NASCAR All-Star Race, Dover Motor Speedway, Dover, Del.

COLLEGE LACROSSE (MEN’S)

Noon

ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Quarterfinal

2:30 p.m.

ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Quarterfinal

COLLEGE ROWING

9 a.m.

BTN — Big Ten Tournament: Championship, Indianapolis

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

Noon

ACCN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

ESPN2 — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

1 p.m.

ESPN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

SECN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

2 p.m.

ESPN2 — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

2:30 p.m.

ACCN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

3 p.m.

ESPN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

SECN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

4 p.m.

ESPN2 — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

5 p.m.

ESPNU — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

SECN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

5:30 p.m.

ACCN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

7 p.m.

ESPN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

ESPNU — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

SECN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

8 p.m.

ESPN2 — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

9 p.m.

ESPN — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

ESPNU — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

10 p.m.

ESPN2 — Women’s College World Series: TBD, Regional

COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD

1:30 p.m.

BTN — Big Ten Tournament: Championships, Lincoln, Neb.

GOLF

10 a.m.

ESPN — PGA Tour: PGA Championship, Final Round, Arominik Golf Club, Newton Square, Pa.

1 p.m.

CBS — PGA Tour: PGA Championship, Final Round, Arominik Golf Club, Newton Square, Pa.

3 p.m.

GOLF — LPGA Tour: Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, Final Round, Maketewah Country Club, Cincinnati

MLB BASEBALL

Noon

NBCSN — Miami at Tampa Bay (12:15 p.m.)

PEACOCK — Miami at Tampa Bay (12:15 p.m.)

4 p.m.

MLBN — San Francisco at Athletics (4:05 p.m.)

7 p.m.

NBCSN — San Diego at Seattle (7:20 p.m.)

PEACOCK — San Diego at Seattle (7:20 p.m.)

NBA BASKETBALL

TBA

TBA — Eastern Conference Semifinal: Cleveland at Detroit, Game 7 (If Necessary)

TBA — Eastern Conference Semifinal: Philadelphia at New York, Game 7 (If Necessary)

TBA — Western Conference Semifinal: Minnesota at San Antonio, Game 7 (If Necessary)

NHL HOCKEY

TBA

TNT — Western Conference Second Round: Minnesota at Colorado, Game 7 (If Necessary)

TRUTV — Western Conference Second Round: Minnesota at Colorado, Game 7 (If Necessary)

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

6 p.m.

ESPN2 — NWSL: Angel City at Portland

UFL FOOTBALL

1 p.m.

FOX — Columbus at Birmingham

WNBA BASKETBALL

1:30 p.m.

NBC — Las Vegas at Atlanta

PEACOCK — Las Vegas at Atlanta

6 p.m.

NBCSN — Seattle at Indiana PEACOCK — Seattle at Indiana

About The Author

troyderengowski61@gmail.com

See author's posts

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026

Bytroyderengowski61@gmail.com

About The Author

troyderengowski61@gmail.com

By troyderengowski61@gmail.com

Related Post

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SATURDAY MAY 16, 2026

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY MAY 15, 2026

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” THURSDAY MAY 14, 2026

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

NOTRE DAME BASEBALL NEWS

BIG 10 BASEBALL BRACKET ANNOUNCED

ALEX PALOU ON THE INDY 500 POLE

THE INDIANA SRN “SCOREBOARD” MAY 17

THE INDIANA SRN "SPORTSPAGE"