In Tuesday’s MLB action, Bryce Harper powered the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds with two solo homers and a grand slam. Reds’ pitcher Graham Ashcraft made an impressive start, pitching 6 innings of four-hit, three-run baseball, walking one and striking out five in his first start of the season. The series concludes on Wednesday, with RHP Frankie Montas (1-0, 0.00 ERA) taking the mound for the Reds. Live coverage begins at 3:35 pm, with the first pitch at 4:05 pm on WTLO AM 1480/97.7 FM.
In WKU Men’s basketball news, Hank Plona has been appointed as the 17th head men’s basketball coach at Western Kentucky University. Plona, who served as an assistant at WKU last season, brings with him eight seasons of head coaching experience at South Plains Junior College, where he amassed a remarkable 225-35 record. Plona, a former collegiate player at Providence, also served as a grad assistant at Providence and was an assistant coach at Arkansas Fort-Smith and Indian Hills CC. Plona replaces Steve Lutz, who resigned as WKU head coach on Monday to take over at Oklahoma State.
Kentucky Wildcats’ Reed Sheppard has been honored as the National Association of Basketball Coaches 2023-2024 National Freshman of the Year. Sheppard, who averaged 12.4 points per game and reached double figures in 21 games last season, recorded 148 assists and 82 steals while shooting an impressive 51.1% from three-point range.
In women’s NCAA College Basketball, the Final Four matchups are set to take place in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday. South Carolina will face North Carolina State at 7:00 pm, followed by Iowa taking on UConn at 9:00 pm. The Championship game will be held on Sunday.
As for the NCAA College Basketball Men’s Final Four in Glendale, Arizona, the North Carolina State Wolfpack will square off against the Purdue Boilermakers at 6:09 pm on Saturday, followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide facing the UConn Huskies at 8:49 pm. Both games will be broadcast live on TBS. The Championship Game is scheduled for Monday at 9:20 pm.
