Sports
Utah makes Big 12 debut at No. 25 Baylor
Dec 27, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew reacts against the Arlington Baptist Patriots Patriots during the first half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Utah will play its first-ever Big 12 Conference game when it visits No. 25 Baylor on Tuesday in Waco, Texas.
Despite that — and the fact the Utes (8-3) and Bears (8-3) haven’t met since 1960 — there will be a bit of familiarity between the two programs. Utah relies on two ex-Baylor athletes in point guard Miro Little (7.8 points, 5.2 assists per game) and dual-sport standout Caleb Lohner (6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds).
Little saw action in 34 games with Baylor during the 2023-24 season, averaging 1.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists off the bench. And Lohner, who had four touchdown receptions for Utah’s football team this fall, played 69 games for the Bears’ basketball team from 2022-24. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 boards last season and set a Baylor NCAA Tournament shooting record by going 5-for-5 from the field.
Utah enters Big 12 play with four players scoring in double figures, including twin brothers Gabe Madsen (18.8) and Mason Madsen (12.5) along with Lawson Lovering (13.7) and Ezra Ausar (10.6).
The Utes, 3-0 all-time vs. Baylor, most recently lost to Iowa, 95-88 in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 21.
“I’m really excited about our team. I think we’re going to have a great year,” Utah coach Craig Smith said. “We’ve been through a lot with some injuries early, so we’ve had to keep redefining ourselves.
“I thought we really made some good strides (recently),” he added. “We’re 8-3 and in the three losses, we were probably six possessions away from being 11-0. We’ve got to find a way to win those games.”
Baylor had ups and downs in nonconference play. The Bears were throttled by No. 6 Gonzaga in the opener, 101-63, and suffered setbacks to No. 11 Tennessee (77-62) and No. 25 UConn (76-72). But they defeated No. 22 St. John’s (99-98, 2OT) and enter Big 12 play on a three-game winning streak.
Baylor coach Scott Drew likes where his team is coming off a 107-53 rout of Arlington Baptist last Friday.
“From a coaching standpoint, I think this game accomplished everything that we wanted it to,” Drew said. “(We were) able to get the rust out, able to try a bunch of different lineups, work on a couple things. And, at the same time, be able to play a lot of guys and get a chance with the long break to have a game before conference.”
Miami transfer Norchad Omier tops Baylor with 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per outing. Robert Wright III (12.9), Jeremy Roach (12.2), Jayden Nunn (12.1) and VJ Edgecombe (11.7) have also been contributors to a potent Baylor offense that averages 86.9 points.
“The good thing is, our returning players have been able to share their wisdom and knowledge about Big 12 play,” Drew said. “And one thing about portal players is they’ve played college basketball, they know how hard it is come league play.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks
Apr 18, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland at the end of their round during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Another strong finish from England’s Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.
Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
“I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15.”
Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.
Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.
“It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want,” Fitzpatrick said.
Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.
Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.
Saturday’s turnaround was rewarding.
“I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it.”
He rolled in a putt from off the green — 26 feet away — the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.
Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.
“I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position,” Scheffler said. “… As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun.”
Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday’s galleries.
“We’re in America, so I wouldn’t expect any different,” Fitzpatrick said. “Yeah, they’ve got to support their guy, and that’s totally fine.”
Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.
“Just tried to keep the pedal down,” Harman said. “It’s going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions.”
Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.
“You really have to think your way around this place,” he said. “It’s not just a bomb-and-gouge. I’m not a bomber.”
The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).
“I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late,” Novak said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Giants rally from early 4-run deficit, top Nats in 12
Apr 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos (17) hits a double against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images Matt Chapman drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Nationals 7-6 Saturday in Washington, D.C.
Chapman led off the 12th against Cionel Perez (0-2) and grounded a single to left, scoring automatic runner Luis Arraez.
Caleb Kilian (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. The automatic runner did not advance in either inning and Kilian only allowed one base runner on an intentional walk.
The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the tenth, but Ryan Walker got two strikeouts and a ground out.
Heliot Ramos had three hits including his second home run in two games as San Francisco won its third straight.
Wood hit his seventh homer of the season and scored three runs for the Nationals.
With Washington trailing 6-5 in the ninth, Jorbit Vivas doubled against Walker leading off and went to third on a fly out. After Wood was walked intentionally, Curtis Mead hit a grounder and Vivas was thrown out at home. Brady House tied the game when he blooped single to center and Wood scored before Mead was thrown out at third.
Wood led off the bottom of the first and homered to give Washington a 1-0 lead.
Jung Hoo Lee singled with one out in the second and Ramos doubled, but Lee was thrown out at home. Drew Gilbert followed with a single to right, plating Ramos with the tying run.
The Nationals loaded the bases as the first batters reached in the second. Drew Millas grounded into a force at home, but Wood was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Luis Garcia, Jr. singled in two runs and Jose Tena singled in another to make it 5-1.
An error by third baseman Vivas gave the Giants runners on first and second with one out in the third and Casey Schmitt lined a two-out double to left that scored two runs, one coming across on a fielding error by Daylen Lile.
Lee singled off Parker with one out in the sixth and Ramos followed with a shot to left to tie it.
Willy Adames singled leading off the seventh and went to second on a wild pitch. Rafael Devers lined a two-out single to left, scoring Adames to give the Giants a 6-5 lead.
Giants starter Adrian Houser gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. His Nats counterpart Cade Cavalli gave up three runs (one earned) on seven hits in four innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics win in 11th as White Sox squander 5-run lead
Apr 18, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) hits a game-tying two-run homer during the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images Nick Kurtz hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning and Max Muncy was the walk-off hero in the 11th as the Athletics overcame an early 5-0 deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 on Saturday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif.
Muncy hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to left field off Lucas Sims (0-2) to score Jacob Wilson and complete the comeback.
The White Sox had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the 11th, but Jack Perkins (2-0) pitched out of trouble to give the A’s a chance to end the game in the bottom half.
The game went to extras after Kurtz’s two-run shot off Jordan Leasure in the seventh.
Colson Montgomery, Andrew Benintendi and Munetaka Murakami hit home runs in a losing effort for Chicago. The White Sox missed countless chances to build on their lead, finishing 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
Chicago was in control after a five-run second. Montgomery’s fourth home run came on the first pitch of the inning. The barrage continued with a bloop RBI single for Reese McGuire and Benintendi’s three-run homer.
Athletics starter Luis Severino settled down after that, allowing no further damage over the remainder of his 5 1/3 innings. He finished with five runs, five hits and four walks allowed to go with three whiffs.
Jacob Wilson started the home team’s reply with a solo home run to left with one out in the second.
Lawrence Butler went station-to-station to add a run in the third. He drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on an Austin Wynns groundout and scored on Jeff McNeil’s sac fly.
White Sox starter Erick Fedde was pulled after 4 2/3 innings. He had an erratic outing with four walks, one wild pitch and three runs allowed.
Sean Newcomb relieved Fedde with two runners on base and allowed a third unanswered A’s run when Tyler Soderstrom hit an RBI single.
Muncy hit a one-out triple in the bottom of the inning and scored when Newcomb couldn’t field a slow roller by Butler cleanly, cutting the White Sox advantage to 5-4.
Chicago added some breathing space when Murakami hit his second home run in as many games to lead off the seventh, but the Athletics answered swiftly as Shea Langeliers opened the bottom of the seventh with a single and Kurtz lined a rope over the right field fence to make it 6-6.
–Field Level Media
