Sports

Minor League Wrap

Published

6 months ago

July 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Right-hander Thomas Mangus, the Cubs’ 18th-round pick last year, was promoted to Low-A Myrtle Beach from Mesa.

Right-hander Eli Morgan started another rehab assignment with the ACL Cubs.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were banished from paradise by the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 2-1.

Chris Kachmar was the victim of non-support as he took the loss after allowing just two runs on three hits over five innings. One hit was a solo home run by Edouard Julien. Kachmar struck out five, walked one and hit one batter.

Iowa’s only run came on a home run by left fielder Owen Caissie, his 19th on the year. That ties him with teammate Carlos Pérez for second in the International League this year. Caissie went 1 for 4.

First baseman Jonathon Long was 2 for 4 with a double.

Yes, Caissie has been on a tear lately.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies burnt the Montgomery Biscuits, 4-3 on a walk-off home run by Pedro Ramirez.

Tyler Schlaffer turned in a strong start, giving up just one run on five hits over five innings. Schlaffer walked two, hit one batter and struck out four.

AJ Puckett pitched the top of the ninth and got the win when Ramirez walked it off. Puckett allowed a one-out single, but no other baserunners. He did not have a strikeout.

Ramirez’s home run came with one out and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth. It was Ramirez’s seventh home run this year. He was 1 for 5 tonight.

BJ Murray Jr. was 1 for 2 and opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning. He also walked once and was hit by a pitch. Murray scored one run.

DH Ethan Hearn went 2 for 3 with an RBI double in the bottom of the first. Hearn also walked once.

Ramirez’s walk off blast went a long way. I wish they had Statcast in Double-A.

Hearn’s double.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs skinned the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 12-3.

Brandon Birdsell was strong again in a rehab assignment, getting the win after giving up two runs on four hits over five innings. Birdsell’s only real mistake was a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Birdsell walked two and struck out three.

Third baseman Drew Bowser hit his second home run of the year with the bases empty in the sixth inning. Bowser went 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Shortstop Jefferson Rojas clubbed a solo home run in the seventh inning, his ninth. Rojas went 2 for 6. He scored twice and drove in two runs.

DH Cameron Sisneros hit the third South Bend home run of the game in the ninth inning with a man on. Sisneros has six home runs this year and three with South Bend. He went 2 for 5.

Second baseman Cristian Hernandez was 4 for 5 with a two-run double in the fifth and two steals. He scored once.

Catcher Miguel Pabon went 2 for 4 with a walk. He had two RBI and scored one run.

Center fielder Rafael Morel was 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

Hernandez’s two-run double.

Bowser’s blast.

Rojas stuck his home run just inside the foul pole.

The Sisneros home run went off the scoreboard.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans doused the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 7-3.

Yenrri Rojas started and got the win. Rojas surrendered two runs on just three hits over five innings. Rojas walked three and struck out five.

Thomas Mangus gave up a run on three walks and no hits in one inning in his Pelicans debut. He did not strike anyone out.

Right fielder Alex Lumpuy became the first Pelican in 1999 to hit for the cycle. He even did it in descending order of difficulty—triple, home run, double, single. The home run came in the third inning with the bases empty. Lumpuy was 4 for 4 with two steals, four runs scored and two RBI.

Second baseman Christian Olivo hit a two-run double in the fourth inning. He was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Here are all four Lumpuy hits.

Olivo’s double.

ACL Cubs

Losing to the Rockies, 6-1 in the sixth.

Sports

Volleyball’s M.E. Hargan Earns Academic All-America Recognition

Published

2 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

Your Sports Nation

ACADEMIC ALL AMERICA TEAMS

MOREHEAD, Ky. —

It was a storybook season for volleyball senior M.E. Hargan with a plethora of accolades on and off the court, and she’s added yet another to her trophy case. Hargan earned a spot on the prestigious Division I Academic All-America team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators. Hargan is a third-team honoree.

Only 21 student-athletes among the thousands in DI earned Academic All-America, and she is the lone representative from the Ohio Valley Conference.

“I am super honored and grateful to be recognized at this high level for all the hard work I’ve been putting in the last couple of years,” she said.

She is the seventh all-time Eagle volleyball student-athlete to be an Academic All-American and the first since Olivia Lohmeier in 2021. Others include Emma Keough (2011), Holly Evans (2010), Missy Blanford (1988), Kristen Pedersen (1982) and Tessa Fraki (1982).

Hargan was first named academic all-district and earned that honor for the third consecutive season. She also earned the highest individual scholastic award in the league, the OVC Scholar Athlete.

Hargan, from Elizabethtown, Ky., wrapped up her indoor collegiate career in November as the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was named Honorable Mention AVCA All-South Region. She has a 3.88 lifetime grade point average in veterinary science.

She led the Ohio Valley Conference with 493 kills this season (27th nationally), averaging 4.61 kills per set and ranking 15^th in the country in NCAA Division I. Her 569 points (5.32 points per set average) ranked 21st in the nation overall and 11th in per set.

One of Morehead State’s most prolific hitters, Hargan finished her career with 1,488 kills – ranking third in program history for the modern era (2008-present when rally scoring changed to 25-point sets). Her 493 kills this season were the third-highest total in the modern era in the Eagle record book. Hargan finished with three seasons in the top 10 in program history for kills.

Her 2,575 total attacks’ tally is the second-highest in the program’s modern era. She also finished with 956 career digs, ranking ninth in the records. Her 98 career service aces and 36 career block solos both rank 10^th in the program, as does her 439 career sets played.

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This Week in Wake Forest Women’s Athletics – Presented by Truist (Jan. 12-18)

Published

14 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Truist, a longstanding partner of Wake Forest University who is An Official Banking Partner of Wake Forest Athletics and the Presenting Partner of Wake Forest Women’s Athletics brings Deacon Nation this weekly update from the Demon Deacons women’s programs:

Women’s Basketball:
- After a week in California facing the Cardinal and Golden Bears, The Demon Deacons return home Thursday evening to face in-state rival NC State at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
- In their most recent outing in a close contest with Cal, Wake Forest collected 32 points inside, while allowing Cal to score just 22, a 10-point deficit.
- Across 18 games, the Deacs have totaled 558 points in the paint (31.6 per game).

Women’s Tennis:
- Wake Forest women’s tennis is set to make its season debut Saturday, January 17 at No. 16 Tennessee.
  - The Demon Deacons are seeking revenge after falling 4-3 to the Volunteers in Winston-Salem last season.
  - Tennessee is one of four preseason top-16 opponents on the schedule for the Deacs in 2026.
- The team will then make its home debut on Monday, Jan. 19, hosting ETSU. All home matches are free to attend.

Track & Field:
- The Wake Forest women’s track and field team are set to return to action with three meets during the month of January.
  - The Demon Deacons begin 2026 by competing in the Mondo College Invitational (Jan. 17) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.
  - The Deacs will then have a dual slate during the final week of the month, with one group heading to Lynchburg, Va. to compete at the Brant Tolsma Invitational (Jan. 30-31), while another group traveling to Boston for the John Thomas Terrier Classic (Jan. 31).

About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.

About Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is known for its distinctive combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 4 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 59 conference titles and are one of nine ACC schools to win 11 or more national championships. Additionally, with 1.7 million people within 30 miles of campus, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which ranks as ESPN’s seventh-best nationally from a viewership perspective.

Wake Forest’s comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school, innovative department of engineering and its nationally renowned Program for Leadership and Character, which prepares students to live with purpose, integrity and courage. Additionally, Wake Forest has campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. – providing many academic offerings to students from across the nation and around the world.

Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.

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Huskies add D1 transfer Keeley Nellis

Published

19 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

Your Sports Nation

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech volleyball has added Keeley Nellis to its roster for the upcoming 2026 season. Nellis is transferring to Tech from NCAA Division I Lamar University, where she was a member of the volleyball team for the past two seasons. The native of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, will have two years of eligibility remaining as a defensive specialist.

“We are very excited to add Keeley to our roster,” Tech volleyball coach Cindy Pindral said. “She adds a ton of experience playing at the D1 level and is a perfect fit for Michigan Tech, as she is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. She has excellent touch and is very competitive. Keeley adds a lot of depth to our defensive specialist group.”

Nellis appeared in 57 matches and 192 sets over the past two seasons for the Cardinals and totaled 579 digs, averaging 3.02 per set. As a freshman in 2024, she led the team with 421 digs and ranked second with 33 aces. She ranked fourth in the Southland Conference in digs (4.30/set) and seventh in aces (0.34/set) and was ranked seventh nationally amongst freshmen in digs. Nellis recorded 20 double-digit dig matches, including a career-high 24 against Nicholls (Nov. 7, 2024). She had nine aces against Nicholls on Sept. 6, 2024. Nellis had 158 digs in 2025, appearing in 28 matches and 93 sets. She was named to the Bluff City Showdown All-Tournament Team in 2024.

Nellis played high school at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, helping guide her team to back-to-back state titles (2021 and 2022) as one of the top defensive players in the Palmetto State. She received All-Palmetto Region honors in 2022 and followed that up with all-region recognition again in 2023. An Academic Honorable Mention All-America, Nellis was a defensive captain as a senior. She competed for Carolina Rogue Volleyball Club.

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This Week in Huskie Athletics – Jan. 13, 2026

Published

31 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

Your Sports Nation

DEKALB, Ill. – Six NIU Athletics teams will be in action this week, including home dates for men’s basketball, wrestling and women’s tennis, who will host both Missouri and Wisconsin this weekend at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Women’s basketball, gymnastics and track and field will also be in action on the road this week.

Following a weekend off, the NIU men’s basketball team returns to action with a pair of games this week. The Huskies travel to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday before hosting UMass on Saturday. Dylan Ducommon has scored in double figures in seven-straight games and is averaging 15.3 points per game during that stretch. In league play, Ducommun is averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game, tied for 10th-best in the Mid-American Conference.

Eastern Michigan brings an 8-9 overall record into Tuesday’s contest, including a 2-3 mark in league play after falling to Western Michigan, 79-62, in Kalamazoo (Jan. 10) last time out. UMass comes into the week with a 10-7 record, 1-4 in league play.

Women’s Basketball

Wednesday, Jan. 14: at Toledo, 6 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats | Live Audio

Saturday, Jan. 17: at Ohio, 12 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats | Live Audio

The NIU women’s basketball team plays a pair of road games this week. The Huskies head to Toledo on Wednesday to face the Rockets at 6 p.m. The two teams split last season’s two games with the road team winning each. NIU halted Toledo’s 20-game home court winning streak on Jan. 1, 2025 with a 59-58 win at Savage Arena. On Saturday NIU takes on Ohio the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio at 12 p.m. The Huskies are coming off a 65-48 loss to Bowling Green on Saturday. Senior forward Teresa Mbemba led the Huskies with 15 points off the bench. Mbemba is averaging 10.5 points per game in conference play and shooting 63.0 percent from the field.

Gymnastics

Saturday, Jan. 17: at Eastern Michigan, 3 p.m.

NIU gymnastics heads to Ypsilanti, Mich. this weekend for a tri-meet against Eastern Michigan and SUNY Brockport in the Golden Girls Classic on Saturday.

The Huskies fell at Kent State in their season opener on Sunday, 195.350-191.675. Freshman Avery Riiff tied for first place on beam with a 9.800 in her first-ever collegiate competition. Sophomore Drake White competed as an all-arounder, scoring a career-best 38.000.

Eastern Michigan (1-0) is coming off a 192.925-191.900 over Bowling Green while Brockport (1-2) enters the tri-meet following a 191.200-187.600 win over Ithaca College.

Wrestling

Friday, Jan. 16: vs. Central Michigan, 7 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Scoring

Returning to DeKalb, the Northern Illinois University wrestling program is set to host the Central Michigan University Chippewas in a MAC dual on Friday, January 16. Action will take place at 7 p.m. inside Victor E. Court. The Huskies and Chippewas will have their second meeting in a week as they met at the 2026 NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa on January 9. The Huskies pulled out a 20-14 win in that dual as they would take fourth at the competition.

At the NWCA National Duals, the Huskies posted wins over Harvard (22-20), Central Michigan, and Campbell (53-0). The Huskies competed against then-No. 8 South Dakota State (26-10) and Drexel (21-12) over the two-day competition. Markel Baker went 5-0 on the weekend, including a win over No. 33 Andrew Austin of Central Michigan. Devon Dawson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Goddard) went 4-0 on the weekend and had a pair of ranked wins.

Women’s Tennis

Friday, Jan. 16: vs. Wisconsin, 2 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17: vs. Missouri, 9 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17: vs. Chicago State, 6 p.m.

The dual season is underway this weekend for NIU women’s tennis as the Huskies host Wisconsin, Missouri and Chicago State at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU takes on the Badgers on Friday at 2 p.m. and will have a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning with Missouri at 9 a.m. and Chicago State at 6 p.m.

NIU competed in the Northwestern Invitational in Evanston, Ill. this past weekend against both DePaul and Northwestern. The Huskies recorded seven doubles victories and two singles wins over the three-day invite.

Wisconsin finished the 2025 regular season ranked No. 23 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament while Missouri was also nationally ranked last season.

Track and Field

Friday, Jan. 16: at Bill Bergan Open (Ames, Iowa)

The NIU track and field team returns to action for the first time in 2026 this Friday, Jan. 16, when the Huskies compete at Iowa State’s Bill Bergan Open. Field events are scheduled to begin at 11:20 a.m. while events on track are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Arianna Calloway is the defending champion in the high jump at the Bill Bergan Open.

NIU competed once in December before breaking for the Holidays as the Huskies attended Notre Dame’s Blue & Gold Invitational. Stella Oyebode won the 60 meters, Emma Curry won the 800 meters and Precious Umukoro won the triple jump at Notre Dame.

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Bauer Named CSC Third Team All-American

Published

35 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

Your Sports Nation

AUSTIN, Texas — College Sports Communicators announced their Academic All-American teams on Tuesday, with WKU’s Callie Bauer earning Third Team Academic All-American.

Bauer becomes only the third player in program history to earn CSC Academic All-American, joining Natalie Furry (2002) and Paige Briggs (2023).

To be selected, athletes must maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA and meet athletic eligibility requirements.

The 2025 Alyssa Cavanaugh CUSA Player of the Year was one of the top setters in the country, finishing the regular season ranked 22nd nationally and first in the conference in assists per set at 10.42. Her 1,073 total assists during that time ranked 48th nationally and second in CUSA. Bauer also helped the Hilltoppers to the third-best hitting percentage in the country (.312), fifth-best assists per set (13.63), and sixth-best kills per set rate (14.57) in the country.

Playing in 106 of the 108 total sets this season, Bauer finished her senior year with a total of 88 kills, 1,109 assists, 25 service aces, 225 digs, and 32 blocks. The CUSA First Team All-Conference selection also posted a total of five double doubles on the season, totaling 17 in her career. Bauer was also named CUSA tournament MVP.

In the classroom, Bauer carried a 3.88 GPA as a Business Management major.

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Reilly Named Academic All-America Team Member of the Year – University of Nebraska

Published

47 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

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Bergen Reilly was named the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division I Women’s Volleyball Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, in addition to earning first-team Academic All-America honors on Tuesday.

The junior setter is the 13th Nebraska student-athlete all-time and the fifth volleyball student-athlete to be named Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. The last Nebraska volleyball student-athlete to do so was Sarah Pavan in 2007. Drew Wiseman (men’s track and field) was the last Husker overall to earn the distinction in 2017.

Reilly’s selection increased Nebraska volleyball’s total to 45 Academic All-America awards, the most of any volleyball program in NCAA history. The University of Nebraska has produced 374 NCAA Division I Academic All-Americans across all sports.

Reilly earned first-team Academic All-America honors for the second year in a row. The junior from Sioux Falls, South Dakota has a 3.83 cumulative GPA as a business and law major.

Reilly set the Huskers to a school-record .351 hitting percentage, as the Big Red concluded their season with a 33-1 overall record and 20-0 mark in Big Ten play en route to a third straight conference title. Reilly averaged 10.47 assists per set and 2.70 digs per set. She also totaled 73 kills, 67 blocks and 19 aces.

Reilly was named a first-team AVCA All-American, AVCA Setter of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten Setter of the Year, AVCA Region Player of the Year and All-Big Ten First Team. NU’s .351 hitting percentage ranked first nationally and was the best hitting percentage by a Big Ten team since 2009 Penn State.

Reilly set Nebraska to a .400 or better hitting percentage nine times this season, a school record in the rally-scoring era. Reilly had double-doubles in all six of the Husker matches that went longer than three sets, and she had four double-doubles in sweeps.

A three-time AVCA All-American and one of four finalists for AVCA Player of the Year, Reilly ranks No. 3 in school history in career assists in the rally-scoring era with 3,723. Her career assists per set average of 10.70 ranks No. 4 among active Division I players and No. 2 in school history in the rally-scoring era.

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