Sports
Women's Top 25 roundup: Paige Bueckers hurt in No. 7 UConn's win
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) makes a move on Marquette guard Halle Vice (22) during the first half of their game Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Paige Bueckers scored 15 points before leaving the game with a knee injury in the third quarter as visiting No. 7 UConn routed Big East Conference rival Villanova 83-52 on Sunday.
Bueckers dove for a loose ball along with the Wildcats’ Jasmine Bascoe, who rolled into her left leg. Bueckers, the projected No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, returned to the bench later in the game with an ice pack on her knee. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said he’s optimistic that Bueckers isn’t seriously injured.
Sarah Strong scored a game-high 21-points for UConn (13-2, 4-0), while Villanova (7-8, 1-2) was paced by Bascoe’s 12 points.
No. 2 South Carolina 95, Mississippi State 68
Tessa Johnson came off the bench for 22 points as the Gamecocks shrugged off a slow start to earn a Southeastern Conference rout of the Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss.
Chloe Kitts added 17 points and 10 rebounds for South Carolina (14-1, 2-0), which trailed 22-13 after a quarter before outscoring Mississippi State 55-23 in the middle two quarters.
Jerkaila Jordan scored a game-high 24 points for the Bulldogs (13-3, 0-2).
No. 3 Notre Dame 76, No. 17 North Carolina 66
Hannah Hidalgo scored 24 points and dished out five assists as the Fighting Irish notched an Atlantic Coast Conference win over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Olivia Miles added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Notre Dame (12-2, 3-0), while Liatu King tallied 15 rebounds to go with eight points.
North Carolina (13-3, 1-2) got 16 points and nine rebounds from Maria Gakdeng.
No. 5 Texas 90, Arkansas 56
Six players scored in double figures as the Longhorns rolled to an SEC rout of the Razorbacks in Austin, Texas.
Aaliyah Moore scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Texas (15-1, 2-0), which earned a 46-27 advantage on the boards and forced 25 turnovers.
Arkansas (7-10, 0-2) got a game-high 23 points from Izzy Higginbottom.
No. 6 LSU 73, Auburn 63
A 27-8 second quarter burst was the difference as LSU stayed unbeaten by winning the matchup of SEC Tigers in Baton Rouge, La.
Aneesah Morrow scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for LSU (17-0, 2-0), while Kailyn Gilbert added 17 on 8-of-10 shooting off the bench.
Auburn (9-6, 0-2) got 19 points off the bench from Audia Young.
No. 9 Oklahoma 87, No. 15 Tennessee 86
The Sooners built a 16-point lead after three quarters and hung on to hand the Lady Vols their first loss in an SEC thriller in Knoxville, Tenn.
Payton Verhulst scored 16 points for Oklahoma (13-2, 1-1), including two foul shots with 50 seconds left that proved to be the difference. Raegan Beers added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Jewel Spear fired in a game-high 28 for Tennessee (13-1, 1-1), which had a chance to win but saw Sara Puckett miss a 3-pointer in the last five seconds.
No. 10 Ohio State 92, Northwestern 62
The Buckeyes raced to a 77-43 lead after three quarters en route to an easy Big Ten Conference win over the Wildcats in Columbus, Ohio.
Jaloni Cambridge scored a game-high 20 points for Ohio State (14-0, 3-0), which led by 39 at one point in the fourth quarter. Cotie McMahon had 16 points as five Buckeyes scored in double figures.
Kyla Jones tallied 15 points for Northwestern (7-8, 0-4), which has lost three in a row.
No. 14 Duke 69, Pitt 31
The Blue Devils forced 29 turnovers and allowed the punchless Panthers to hit just 11 of 45 field goal attempts in posting an easy ACC victory in Durham, N.C.
Reigan Richardson scored 13 points for Duke (12-3, 3-0), reaching the 1,000-point mark for her career.
Khadija Faye tallied a game-high 17 points for Pitt (8-8, 0-3), which had just four other players score.
No. 16 Kentucky 96, Vanderbilt 78
Georgia Amoore finished with 24 points and nine assists as the Wildcats bombed in 15 3-pointers and scored 31 first-quarter points in an SEC win over the Commodores in Nashville, Tenn.
Amelia Hassett added 20 points (six 3-pointers), nine rebounds and five assists as five players scored in double figures for Kentucky (13-1, 2-0).
Vanderbilt (14-2, 1-1) got 24 points out of Mikayla Blakes.
No. 19 Alabama 68, Missouri 49
Zaay Green scored a game-high 23 points and the Crimson Tide started SEC play 2-0 for the first time in 21 seasons by drilling the Tigers in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Aaliyah Nye added 11 for Alabama (15-1, 2-0), which held Missouri to 34 percent field goal shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
Angelique Ngalakulondi and Nyah Wilson each scored nine points for Missouri (11-6, 0-2).
No. 22 North Carolina State 91, Boston College 52
The Wolfpack jumped out to a 28-9 first-quarter lead and never looked back in an easy ACC rout of the Eagles in Raleigh, N.C.
Saniya Rivers scored 23 points and added 11 rebounds for NC State (11-3, 3-0), while Zoe Brooks chipped in 11 points and 11 boards.
T’yana Todd scored 20 points to pace Boston College (10-7, 1-3).
Texas A&M 60, No. 25 Ole Miss 58
Sole Williams scored a game-high 18 points and the Aggies outscored the Rebels 20-6 in the fourth quarter to earn an SEC win in College Station, Texas.
Jada Malone shot a perfect 7-for-7 to post 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Texas A&M (8-6, 1-1).
Ole Miss (10-4, 1-1), which made only 19 of 53 shots from the field, was led by Madison Scott’s 14 points.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Guardians' Travis Bazzana strives to heat up in finale vs. A's
Apr 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) before the game between the Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana is breathing a sigh of relief after recording his first major league hit in Saturday’s game against the Athletics, snapping an 0-for-12 spell to start his career.
Bazzana will look for more production at the plate on Sunday afternoon when Cleveland vies for a sweep of its three-game series against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
The Guardians selected Bazzana with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft after his standout college career at Oregon State. While his first full season in the organization in 2025 was hampered by an oblique injury, it did not delay his fast track to the majors. The 23-year-old from Australia made his debut on Tuesday.
A .407 hitter in his final college season, Bazzana got his first major league hit when he singled off Hogan Harris in the seventh inning of Cleveland’s 14-6 win over the A’s on Saturday. Bazzana even accomplished two goals in one swing — the single also gave him his first two RBIs.
“It was a competitive at-bat, and I was confident he was going to go at me with the fastball right there — I got a good one,” Bazzana said.
With his first hit out of the way, Bazzana hopes to catch the slipstream of his teammate Chase DeLauter, who’s been on a tear at the plate. DeLauter extended his hitting streak to seven games and has reached base in 11 straight after recording a single in the second inning on Saturday.
With 8-5 and 14-6 victories secured on Friday and Saturday, the Guardians already have snapped a stretch of three straight lost series. Now they will turn to left-hander Parker Messick (3-0, 1.73 ERA) to try and complete the series sweep.
The 25-year-old out of Florida State has instantly made a name for himself since debuting in August 2025, allowing two or fewer runs in 10 of his first 13 career starts.
On April 16, Messick took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Baltimore but was removed after giving up two runs and two hits over eight innings. Sunday will mark his first-ever appearance vs. the Athletics.
Messick will oppose A’s right-hander Aaron Civale (2-1, 3.23 ERA), who spent the first four full seasons of his career in Cleveland before being traded to Tampa Bay in 2023. He then split time between the Rays, Milwaukee and both Chicago teams before joining the Athletics on a one-year deal this past offseason.
Civale, 30, is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four career starts against the Guardians. He was a late addition to the A’s roster in February but has emerged as one of their most consistent starters.
“Overall, he keeps us in games right now, and that’s a good sign,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said after Civale’s last start on Tuesday.
The A’s lost to Kansas City 4-1 in 10 innings, but Civale threw five shutout innings in a no-decision.
–Field Level Media
Sports
After late rally, Royals bid for rare road sweep of Mariners
May 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg (60) shakes hands with catcher Carter Jensen (22) following a victory against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images As Emerson Hancock was warming up Saturday, he caught himself watching some of the video tributes on the scoreboard at T-Mobile Park for Randy Johnson, whose No. 51 jersey was retired by the Seattle Mariners in a pregame ceremony.
Hancock then went out did his best impression of the “Big Unit.”
The former first-round pick struck out a career-high 14 batters over seven innings but didn’t get a decision as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 3-2 victory in 10 innings.
The Royals, who came to Seattle with a 3-12 road record, will try for a sweep of the three-game series Sunday afternoon. They’ve already clinched their first road series victory of the season.
“You know a lot of these games are going to be close when you’re playing good teams,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Today the pitching really held up and the offense came through. (Friday) it was more the opposite. When things are going well for you, you’re winning games no matter which way you have to do it.”
Hancock, whose previous best was nine strikeouts set March 29 against Cleveland in his first start of the season, allowed one run on six hits and didn’t walk a batter.
“Congrats to Randy on an incredible career,” Hancock said. “It was an honor for me to pitch on a night like this. You just want to go out and execute the best you can.”
Catcher Cal Raleigh was a late scratch for undisclosed reasons, so Hancock worked with veteran backup Mitch Garver instead.
“He and Garve had an incredible game plan, mixing hard and soft,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.
Wilson described Raleigh, coming off a record-breaking season with 60 home runs, as having “just a little soreness.” He said the catcher would undergo additional testing Sunday but refused to disclose what part of Raleigh’s body was ailing.
The Royals tied the score in the ninth inning.
Salvador Perez led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Lane Thomas, who advanced to second on a balk by Mariners closer Andres Munoz. With one out, Jac Caglianone lined a single to left-center, with the ball bouncing between the legs of outfielder Julio Rodriguez and rolling all the way to the wall, allowing Thomas to score and Caglianone to take third.
Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly in the 10th produced the winning run after ghost runner Michael Massey stole third base on a pickoff attempt by Garver.
“Not exactly how we drew it up,” Quatraro said.
The Mariners took the lead in the fifth as Leo Rivas scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. They blew a chance at a big inning when Randy Arozarena forgot the count and was picked off first base.
“It was kind of a crazy game with the balk and Randy losing track …” Wilson said. “You don’t play this game without embarrassing things happening at times.”
Sunday’s series finale is set to feature Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (2-1, 3.74 ERA) against Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (0-2, 6.35).
Bubic took a no-decision Tuesday against the Athletics in a game the Royals won 4-1 in West Sacramento, Calif. He went five innings and allowed one run on four hits, with four walks and six strikeouts. Bubic is 1-0 with a 7.27 ERA in four career starts against Seattle.
Castillo is coming off an 11-4 loss at Minnesota in which he gave up seven runs over five innings. He’s 3-2 with a 3.47 ERA in eight previous starts versus the Royals.
–Field Level Media
Sports
White Sox pursue sixth straight victory, sweep of Padres
May 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5), right is congratulated by center fielder Tristan Peters (29), left, and catcher Drew Romo (36) after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images While the Chicago White Sox’s power duo of Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery didn’t homer on Saturday night, their ability to hit the long ball has fueled the team’s longest winning streak in four years.
Chicago beat the host San Diego Padres 4-0 on Saturday night for its fifth straight victory and will go for a series sweep on Sunday afternoon.
Murakami leads the majors with 13 homers, and Montgomery is tied for 13th with nine. They’ve homered in the same game seven times in the team’s first 33 contests, the most by any teammate duo within the first 35 games of a season in MLB history.
“When you have guys in the middle of the order that are able to change the score with one swing, obviously it’s going to make a big difference,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.
Add Miguel Vargas’ six homers to the mix and you have three players teaming for 28 of the club’s 40 homers, which are good for a ninth-place tie in MLB.
Murakami, in his first season in the majors after playing in Japan, only figures to be more dangerous as he learns more about the pitchers, most of whom he’s facing for the first time.
“There’s still a lot of learning curve of the game,” he said through an interpreter.
Murakami and his teammates will try to provide plenty of run support Sunday for left-hander Anthony Kay (1-1, 6.12 ERA), who’s coming off a no-decision Monday in his team’s 8-7 home win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Kay permitted seven hits and four runs in four innings, walking two and striking out two. This will be his first career start against San Diego.
The Padres announced a change to their rotation after Saturday night’s game. Manager Craig Stammen said right-hander Griffin Canning would be activated from the injured list to make his first start of the season.
Canning, who was 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA last year for the New York Mets before suffering a season-ending ruptured Achilles, is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox.
Stammen said that the plan to start Canning on Sunday actually came to fruition earlier in the week.
“We just wanted to split Michael (King) and Randy (Vasquez) up a bit,” Stammen said.
Besides adding depth to a rotation that has battled injuries to start the season, Stammen also is looking for better, more consistent approaches from his hitters. San Diego has just nine runs in a four-game losing streak and was blanked at home Saturday for the first time this year.
“While there are some good at-bats in there, there are also some not-so-good at-bats in there,” Stammen said. “We have to figure out a way to stick nine good ones together through the entire lineup.”
The Padres are batting just .235 with a .307 on-base percentage this season, ranking 21st and 25th, respectively, in the majors. Their 29 homers are tied for 24th.
–Field Level Media
