Sports
Minnesota's defense dominates Virginia Tech in Mayo Bowl
Jan 3, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Nick Kallerup (87) is tackled by Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Caleb Woodson (20) during the first quarter of the Dukes’ Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Darius Taylor rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown and threw for another score as Minnesota pulled away for a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night in Charlotte.
Max Brosmer completed 18 of 29 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Minnesota (8-5). Elijah Spencer had six catches for 81 yards and two TDs for the Golden Gophers, who won their eighth consecutive bowl game.
Collin Schlee scored the lone touchdown for Virginia Tech (6-7). William Watson III completed 8 of 12 passes for 81 yards and one interception, and Schlee connected on 2 of 6 passes for 68 yards.
Minnesota outgained Virginia Tech 403-223 in total yards. The Golden Gophers had 23 first downs, compared with nine first downs for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech opened the scoring in the final minute of the first quarter. Schlee took the snap and sprinted left for a 3-yard touchdown to cap an 80-yard drive.
Minnesota scored on a trick play to pull even at 7-7 on the following possession. Brosmer turned and pitched a toss to Taylor, but the running back turned into a passer and lobbed a pass to Spencer in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score.
Spencer caught his second touchdown pass, this time a 12-yard strike from Brosmer, to give Minnesota a 14-7 lead with 5:13 to go in the first half.
Taylor made it 21-7 with a 28-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds to go before halftime. He broke free down the left sideline for his 10th rushing score of the season.
The Hokies pulled within 21-10 as time expired at the end of the first half. John Love drilled a 60-yard field goal, which marked the second-longest kick in school history.
Dragan Kesich made a 44-yard field goal to increase Minnesota’s lead to 24-10 with 11:59 remaining in the third quarter.
Za’Quan Bryan had a fourth-quarter interception to help the Golden Gophers preserve the victory.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sean Burke stifles Padres, lifts White Sox to fifth straight win
May 2, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke (59) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Sean Burke tossed six scoreless innings Saturday night and the visiting Chicago White Sox stretched their winning streak to five with a 4-0 blanking of the San Diego Padres.
Burke (2-2) allowed only four hits and a walk while fanning eight, including Xander Bogaerts three times. Three relievers finished up, with Seranthony Dominguez getting the last two outs for his eighth save in 10 chances, as Chicago wrapped up its first series win over San Diego since 2022.
The Padres filled the bases with no outs in the ninth when Jackson Merrill beat out an infield single followed by walks to Manny Machado and Bogaerts. Grant Taylor slipped a called third strike past Gavin Sheets before Dominguez came in to retire Miguel Andujar on a shallow fly ball and strike out Luis Campusano.
Michael King (3-2) yielded seven hits and four runs over six-plus innings. King walked three and struck out five as the Padres dropped their fourth straight game.
Burke and King matched each other pitch-for-pitch through the first five innings. But the White Sox struck in the sixth when Tristan Peters drew a one-out walk and Andrew Benintendi legged out an infield single.
After Munetaka Murakami moved the runners up 90 feet with a groundout, Miguel Vargas looped a liner into short right field, scoring Peters and Benintendi for the only runs Chicago needed.
But the White Sox added on with two more runs in the seventh. Chase Meidroth singled and reached third on Sam Antonacci’s double, then scored on Edgar Quero’s single that knocked out King. Peters then capped the scoring with a safety squeeze bunt that plated Antonacci.
The Padres’ best scoring chances against Burke came in the second and fifth innings. Sheets walked and Andujar singled with one out in the second. But Burke stiffened, fanning Campusano and inducing a groundout from Jake Cronenworth.
In the fifth, Andujar led off with a single and Cronenworth singled with one out. However, Ramon Laureano flew out and Burke blew away Fernando Tatis Jr. on three pitches to quash the threat.
The Padres were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding eight runners.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sporting KC snap losing streak with draw vs. Sounders
May 2, 2026; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Dejan Joveljic (9) celebrates toward fans after scoring against the Seattle Sounders FC during the first half of the match at Children’s Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Dejan Joveljic scored his fifth goal of the season and Sporting Kansas City salvaged a 1-1 draw against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday afternoon to snap a six-match losing streak.
Joveljic’s 18th-minute tally halted a 351-minute scoreless stretch across all competitions for Sporting (1-7-2, 5 points), which has still won only twice in its last 23 MLS matches dating back to last July.
Paul Rothrock scored his fourth goal of the season early as Seattle (6-1-2, 20 points) saw its league win streak halted at three but extended its league unbeaten run to seven.
The visitors held 61% of the possession and outshot the hosts 27-11 but were punished for an uncharacteristic mistake by American World Cup hopeful Cristian Roldan.
Rothrock put the visitors in front two minutes into the match.
Alex Roldan got up the right and played an early diagonal ball from midfield toward Jesus Ferreira in the center channel.
Either Ferreira, his defender or both players deflected the ball, and Rothrock was first to the redirection on the left side of the penalty, where he guided a first-time finish across Stefan Cleveland’s body and inside the far-right post.
Joveljic leveled 16 minutes later.
As Seattle tried to play out of the back against Kansas City’s creeping pressure, Cristian Roldan badly mis-hit a backpass that appeared intended for his goalkeeper.
Joveljic reacted to reach it at the top of the penalty arc and drove a low, first-time finish through goalkeeper Andrew Thomas and over the line.
Both teams had chances to win it after halftime despite Seattle’s possession dominance.
Sounders striker Danny Musovski flashed a promising header over the goal in the 57th minute, and in the 65th, Seattle substitute Paul Arriola saw his strike from a dangerous position on the left blocked accidentally by teammate Albert Rusnak.
In the 70th minute, Cleveland recovered from his own bobble on the initial attempt to make a double save of Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and Musovski.
On the other end, Thomas thwarted Joveljic in the 82nd minute and Taylor Calheira on a difficult, spinning effort inside the box in the 85th.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves RF Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) set for MRI
May 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. left Saturday’s 9-1 win over the host Colorado Rockies with left hamstring tightness and will have an MRI, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss told reporters after the game.
Acuna grabbed at his hamstring and pulled up when attempting to run out a grounder he hit in the second inning in Denver. He limped off the field under his own power after being examined by the team’s medical staff.
The 2023 National League MVP, Acuna is hitting .252 with two homers and nine RBIs in 34 games. He led off the game with a single and scored when Drake Baldwin followed with a home run.
Acuna was replaced in right field by Eli White, who is hitting .196 with two homers and eight RBIs in 20 games.
–Field Level Media
