Eastern Michigan walks off YSU

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan scored four runs in the final two innings, including a walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth, to defeat the Youngstown State baseball team, 8-7, on Tuesday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium.

With the loss the Penguins fall to 3-18 while the Eagles improve to 7-17 on the year.

Brayden Kuriger went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and two RBIs while Alex Jang was 3-for-4, and Teddy Ruffner hammered two home runs.

The Penguins jumped out to a 6-1 lead through five-and-a-half innings after scoring once in the third, twice in the fifth and three times in the top of the sixth.

Ruffner belted the first pitch he saw in the top of the third over the left-field wall for the game’s first runs.

After the Eagles knotted the game at 1-1 with bottom of the fourth, the Penguins regained a 3-1 edge in the top half of the fifth. Three straight doubles by Nathan Beckly, Garrett Cutting, and Kuriger gave the Penguins a two-run advantage.

Ruffner hit a one-out home run to left, his second of the game, and Kuriger tripled down the right-field line driving in Cutting, who was hit by a pitch, and scored on a passed ball to extend the YSU lead to 6-1.

The Eagles plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth to trim the YSU lead to 6-4, but the Penguins answered with a run in the top of the seventh. Misael Uriepero led off the frame with a single, stole second, moved to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch.

Eastern Michigan tied the game at 7-7 with three runs in the bottom of the eighth and won the game on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Youngstown State faces Pitt today at 3 p.m. before it visits Northern Kentucky for a three-game Horizon League series Friday-Sunday in Highland Heights, Ky.

Reds pitcher Lodolo to start on IL

MILWAUKEE — Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo will open the season on the injured list as he recovers from a blister on his left index finger.

Lodolo, 28, had thrown just 10 pitches in his last Cactus League start on Sunday before the blister caused his exit. He also dealt with blister issues on that finger each of the last two seasons.

“I think there’s a little bit of concern right now with the breaking ball, that he would go rip one off,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said after the Reds’ exhibition game with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. “And if we tried to reach for something that we shouldn’t and he throws an inning or two, and then we turn it into a month. … We don’t want him to miss any time, but if he misses a couple of starts, that’s a heck of a lot better than a month. So that’s what we’re going to do.”

Lodolo acknowledged disappointment about starting on the injured list, but noted that “it’s something that could work in our favor in the long run,” given the likelihood it assures he won’t risk missing extended time.

“Hopefully next week, somewhere in there, be able to throw a sim game or throw like a rehab start and continue to build up and be able to just test it without it being in a game,” Lodolo said.

Lodolo went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 29 appearances last year while striking out 156 batters in 156 2/3 innings.

Hunter Greene, a 2024 All-Star, underwent elbow surgery two weeks ago and could miss up to the first four months of the season. Greene went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings last season.

UNC parts ways with coach Davis

North Carolina and men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis have parted ways after five seasons leading the tradition-rich program.

The school announced the decision Tuesday night, saying it had made “a leadership change” to end Davis’ tenure as successor to retired Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams. That run featured multiple high points, but also wild swings of results, an inconsistency that runs contrary to the Tar Heels’ status as a tradition-rich blueblood with a hallmark of sustained top-tier success.

The program with six NCAA titles and a national-record 21 Final Fours now has just three March Madness wins in the four seasons since an unexpected run to the 2022 national title game in Davis’ debut season. The Tar Heels reached the Sweet 16 as a No. 1 seed in 2024 before being upset by Alabama, but otherwise haven’t reached the round of 32 in that span, and even missed the NCAAs entirely in 2023.

The final blow was Thursday’s overtime loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament in which the Rams rallied from 19 down for the biggest comeback in first-round history, changing the tenor of conversations about Davis’ future. And by Saturday, athletic director Bubba Cunningham said the school was evaluating “all facets” of the program.

Scheffler withdraws from Houston

HOUSTON — Scottie Scheffler withdrew from the Houston Open on Tuesday, a tournament that was always questionable for him to play because his wife is expecting their second child.

Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, has been runner-up at the Houston Open three times, including the last two years when he made it his final stop before going to the Masters.

He was replaced in the field by Matt Kuchar.

Scheffler’s wife gave birth to a son they named Bennett on May 8, 2024, one week before the PGA Championship.

Scheffler, who won the PGA Championship and the British Open last year, began 2026 with a victory in The American Express. His streak of 18 consecutive finishes in the top 10 — which started at the Houston Open last year — ended at the Genesis Invitational with a tie for 12th.

His last tournament was a tie for 22nd in The Players Championship.