Morning State Sports Roundup: Brewers win slugfest over Seattle

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PEORIA, Ariz. - The Milwaukee Brewers won a 7-6 slugfest over Seattle yesterday in a Cactus League exhibition game.

Minor league outfielder Cole Garner hit the game-winner, a solo homer in the eighth inning off Charlie Furbush which broke a 6-all tie. Hunter Morris and Khris Davis also homered for Milwaukee. Rickie Weeks had three singles and an RBI. Starter Mike Fiers struck out three Seattle batters in three-and-a-third innings. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. Fiers’ spring ERA is now 3.24, as he competes for a spot in Milwaukee’s regular season rotation. Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales homered for the Mariners, who lead the Majors with 26 blasts this spring. But Seattle couldn’t get the victory, as it ended a 10-game Cactus League winning streak. Milwaukee is now 5-6 this spring. They’ll play Arizona this afternoon.

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University of Wisconsin running back Montee Ball made up for his dismal showing at the NFL Scouting Combine with a much-improved audition at yesterday’s Badger Pro Day in Madison. Ball ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds – two-tenths-of-a-second faster than in Indianapolis last month. Ball, who broke the NCAA record for career touchdowns last fall, said he was suffering from a sinus infection at the combine – and he felt much better yesterday. A number of scouts looked on, including Green Bay Packers’ general manager Ted Thompson. Ball says he’s love to be drafted in the first round next month – but at this point, he’ll be happy being taken in any round. Center Travis Frederick also took part in the Badgers’ Pro Day along with tackle Ricky Wagner, safety Shelton Johnson, and corners Marcus Cromartie and Devin Smith.

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It’s been six years since the Green Bay Packers even considered a kicker other than Mason Crosby. But that will change on Monday, when the Packers give a try-out to free agent Michael Barnard. Crosby has been the only kicker under contract in Green Bay since he beat out Dave Rayner for the job in 2007. But the 28-year-old Crosby had his worst season in 2012 with a field goal percentage of almost 64, the lowest in the NFL. And with training camp rosters expanding to 90 players, it’s possible that Crosby will face his first training camp competition in a while. The 27-year-old Barnard has played in only one pro game since leaving Division III Fairleigh Dickinson in 2008 – and that was with the Reading Express of the Indoor Football League in 2012. Former Jacksonville kicker Mike Hollis is among those who’ve taught Barnard. Hollis calls him dedicated, passionate, and deserving of an opportunity with an NFL team.

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UW-Eau Claire advanced to the quarter-finals of the NCAA Division III men’s hockey tournament with a 4-2 home win over Saint John’s of Minnesota last night. The Blugolds came back twice after being down by a goal. Kurt Weston scored twice, and Isaiah Bennis scored the game-winner in the second period, as the Blugolds won in their first national tournament appearance since 1989. Fourth-ranked Eau Claire improved to 21-5-2 overall. No. 14 Saint John’s ended its season at 16-8-4. Eau Claire will now face two-time defending champion Saint Norbert on Saturday night on the Green Knights’ home ice in De Pere, with a berth in the national Frozen Four at stake. Eau Claire is 2-1-1 against Saint Norbert this season, but the Green Knights prevailed last weekend when they beat the Blugolds for the NCHA tournament crown.

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