FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Konnor McClain scored a 9.9625 on the beam — one of five LSU gymnasts with a score of at least 9.95 in the final rotation — to help the Tigers win the first NCAA title in program history on Saturday.
LSU, which finished fourth last year, trailed Utah by 0.037 points and led third-place California by 0.113 after three rotations but senior Sierra Ballard kicked off the fourth and final rotation with a career-high 9.950 — her only routine of the day. Savannah Schoenherr followed with a 9.3875 before McClain posted the best score of the day on the beam. Kiya Johnson, Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan each scored 9.950 to help the Tigers to a program record on the beam with a with a 49.7625 and seal LSU's national championship with a total score of 198.2250.
Cal, which made its first appearance in the finals, finished second with 197.8500, 0.0500 ahead of third-place Utah. Florida, which was expected to have a rebuilding year without stars Trinity Thomas (graduation) and Kayla DiCello (training for the upcoming Paris Olympics), finished in fourth place. was fourth with 197.4375.
Bryant, who won the individual all-around title on Thursday with a score of 39.7125, and Cal's eMjae Frazier matched that total on Saturday to tie for best individual score in the team finals.
Bryant posting a team-leading 9.9375 on the floor as LSU finished with 49.6125 to take the lead after Rotation 1. The Golden Bears were 0.1375 behind, led by Frazier's 9.9500 on the beam.
Amelie Morgan, Maile O’Keefe and Grace McCallum scored at least a 9.9 on beam for Utah in Rotation 2 to move in front of Cal with 98.9125, 0.100 behind LSU.
All six Utah gymnasts scored a 9.9-plus on the floor, with Abby Paulson, Maile O'Keefe and Jaylene Gilstrap each recording a 9.925 in Rotation 3, helping the Red Rocks move past LSU into first place with 148.500, 0.037 ahead of the Tigers.
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LSU's Savannah Schoenherr holds on to the beam without hitting the floor after losing her footing during her routine as judges look on during the NCAA women's gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LSU's Haleigh Bryant competes in the floor exercise during the NCAA women's gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
California's eMjae Frazier competes on the uneven bars during the NCAA women's gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Dean Kremer pitched six shutout innings, Anthony Santander hit his third career grand slam and the Baltimore Orioles completed a three-game series sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with an 11-1 victory Sunday.
Jordan Westburg hit a two-run homer and Ryan McKenna added a solo shot for the Orioles, who have won four straight games and six of their last seven.
Kremer (3-2) retired the first 13 batters he faced until Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled with one out in the fifth. The Reds managed only one hit and a walk in Kremer's six innings. He struck out six.
“I just wanted to follow suit, like our other starters,” Kremer said. “Pitch to our strengths and really attack these guys. Our pitching staff when we put it together is really good.”
Orioles starting pitchers were dominant in the three-game series. Cole Irvin pitched six shutout innings on Friday and John Means blanked the Reds through seven Saturday.
“We pitched really well this series,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Guys see what the guy does the night before and you want to match it. Right down the line, we've been doing that so far.”
Meanwhile, the Reds' offense continues to sputter. They have scored just two runs in their last 36 innings played in Great American Ball Park. The Reds are batting a major-league worst .209 as a team.
“It's the nature of the game,” Reds outfielder Jake Fraley said. "Their guys are throwing really well. We’re going up there and trying to give it everything we’ve got. Tip your cap to those guys. They are at the top of the AL East for a reason.”
The Orioles handed Kremer an early lead with a two-out rally in the first. After Nick Lodolo (3-1) retired the first two batters, Ryan Mountcastle doubled and scored on Santander's single. Westburg followed with a two-run homer, his sixth of the season, to make it 3-0.
Adley Rutschman doubled to drive in the Orioles' fourth run in the fifth. McKenna's solo homer off Brett Suter made it 5-0 in the seventh.
“It’s a major league team who’s dangerous, so you definitely want to add on,” Hyde said. “It gives the starting pitcher confidence to get a little breathing room and go after guys.”
Santander's grand slam came in the ninth off Emilio Pagan. It was his first grand slam since Aug. 1, 2023, at Toronto.
“That's the best left-handed swing he's taken in a long time, and not just because of the result,” Hyde said. “Just how free and easy it was. Put the bat through the baseball. Really happy for him. He's been really grinding.”
It's the third series sweep this season for the Orioles, who last swept the Reds in Baltimore in 2014. It was their first series sweep in Cincinnati.
“It was a tough series," Reds manager David Bell said. "A tough little stretch for our team. It is going to turn around. We have good players. They do the right thing over and over. They do things the right way and that’s how you know it will turn around.”
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder inflammation) began a throwing program Sunday.
Reds: 3B Jeimer Candelario (bruised left shin) was scratched from the lineup after fouling a ball off his leg. ... OF TJ Friedl (right wrist fracture) made his fourth rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A Louisville. It's possible he could return for the Arizona series, which begins Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Corbin Burnes (3-1, 2.61) starts Tuesday's series opener at Washington.
Reds: Begin a three-game series against Arizona on Tuesday. Cincinnati had yet to announce a starter for the opener.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg, right, celebrates hitting a two-run homer in the dugout in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo follows through in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo catches a ball between batters in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg, right, celebrates hitting a two-run homer with Ramón Urías (29) in the dugout in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg (11) celebrates hitting a two-run homer with teammate Anthony Santander (25) as he crosses the plate in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Reds catcher Luke Maile is at right. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Baltimore Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single hit by teammate Anthony Santander in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
