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GLHL
The Calumet Wolverines came from behind to edge the Portage Lake Pioneers 5-4 in the opening game of the Gibson Cup series last night at Dee Stadium. The Pioneers took a quick 2-0 lead, before Matt Yeo put the Wolverines on the board late in the first period. A Cody Sivonen goal extended Portage Lake’s lead to 3-1 in the second period, but Eric Bausano scored twice to pull Calumet into a tie. Austin Riipi’s goal late in the second gave the Wolverines their first lead of the contest. The third period was scoreless until Calumet added an empty-net insurance tally – insurance they needed, as the Pioneers found the net a final time in the closing seconds. Game two of the best-of-three series will be played tonight at 7:00 at the Colosseum. Hear the broadcast on KBear 102.3 and KBear102.com.
MTU
Michigan Tech hockey defenseman Mark Auk has signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Iowa Wild. Iowa is the primary AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. Auk played in 150 games over four seasons with the Huskies.
NMU
Northern Michigan University has released its 2018 football schedule. The Wildcats will open on the road at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois, September 1st. They’ll host the University of Texas of the Permian Basin the following week, before beginning their conference schedule at home against Grand Valley State on September 15th. The homecoming game will be played September 22nd against Ferris State, and the annual Miner’s Cup game against Michigan Tech will take place October 27th.
MLB
The Detroit Tigers opened their season with a wild 13-10, 13-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday. Detroit opened the scoring with two runs in the second, on consecutive doubles by Mikie Mahtook, Jose Iglesias and Dixon Machdo. Pittsburgh came back with three in the fourth, and added one in the sixth off Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann. Detroit reclaimed the lead with four runs in the seventh – the big blow was a two-run double by Miguel Cabrera. The Pirates responded with two in the eighth off Drew VerHagen and Daniel Stumpf, then added four in the ninth off Shane Greene and Joe Jiminez. The Tigers forced extra innings by scoring four times in the bottom of the ninth – James McCann and Machado each doubled home two runs. Detroit appeared to have won the game in the bottom of the 10th, when Nicholas Castellanos raced to home plate on a JaCoby Jones single, but a video replay showed that he was tagged out by the catcher, reversing the umpire’s original call. Gregory Polanco’s home run in the top of the 13th off Alex Wilson provided the winning margin.
The Tigers and Pirates are scheduled to play again this afternoon, although there is a better than 50 percent chance of rain in Detroit. Michael Fulmer will start against Trevor Williams. Pregame coverage begins at 12:45 on 99.3 The Lift.
The Milwaukee Brewers scored five runs in the ninth inning, and defeated the San Diego Padres 8-6 yesterday. Brewers starter and former Padre Jhoulys Chacín gave up four runs before leaving in the fourth inning. Milwaukee picked up a couple of runs in the first, and added another in the fifth. After plating two in the ninth, Ryan Braun’s three-run homer put the Brewers on top. Those teams play again tonight in San Diego. Brent Suter will pitch against Luis Perdomo.
NHL
The Detroit Red Wings entertain the Ottawa Senators this afternoon.
NBA
The Detroit Pistons visit the Knicks in New York this afternoon.
The Pistons will be without Blake Griffin for at least the next three games. Griffin suffered a bone bruise in his ankle during Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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