Tag: breaking

Oklahoma Sooners open NCAA Tournament with 9-0 win over Cleveland State

Nicole May dominated Cleveland State with five shutout innings, nine strikeouts and no walks. Freshman Kasidi Pickering hit two home runs, Ella Parker added three RBIs, and Tiare Jennings ended the game with a walk-off home run to lead the Sooners to a 9-0 win.

In what was a pitchers duel through the first few innings turned into a rout as the Oklahoma Sooners beat the Cleveland State Vikings 9-0 to move to 1-0 in the Norman Regional.

The Sooners received. fantastic performance from senior [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], who recorded nine strikeouts in five innings of shutout ball. She allowed just three hits and didn’t surrender a walk in the win.

[autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] got the scoring started for the Sooners in the second inning with a solo home run, one of two blasts she had in her first NCAA tournament game.

May and Cleveland State starter Melissa Holzopfel battled to a 1-0 game through three innings. Holzopfel even eliminated a Sooners scoring threat in the bottom of the third, escaping a bases loaded jam by striking out [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag].

But the Sooners broke through in the fourth inning to pull away from the Vikings.

Pickering singled and pinch runner [autotag]Hannah Coor[/autotag] advanced to second on [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] sacrifice bunt. After Avery Hodge grounded back to the pitcher for the second out of the inning, the Sooners bats came to life.

[autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] singled to bring in Coor and make it 2-0. [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] followed that with a triple on a diving attempt by Cleveland State’s center fielder. That brought home Boone and put Oklahoma up 3-0. [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] continued her incredible postseason by driving in Coleman, and the Sooners had a commanding 4-0 lead heading into the fifth.

As she had all game, May was electric, getting a 1-2-3 inning to put the red hot Sooners offense back at the plate.

Pickering hit her second home run of the game and ninth of the season in the fifth to put the Sooners up 5-0. In the bottom of the sixth, Parker had a two-run double and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] hit the 93rd home run of her career to end the game in walk-off, run-rule fashion.

Jennings’ home run was the 93rd of her career and tied her for fourth in NCAA history.

Nicole May’s nine-strikeout performance was a season-high. She was electric from the circle, showing off great location and power, and mixed up her pitches well. She struck out half of the 18 Cleveland State batters she faced to move to 13-2 on the season.

Coleman, Parker, and Jennings were really good, combining to go 5-for-10 with six RBIs. Parker and fellow freshman Pickering were instrumental in the victory, showing that they’re ready for the bright lights of the NCAA tournament.

The win put the Sooners on the winning side of the Norman Regional, where they’ll face the Oregon Ducks on day two. Oregon run ruled Boston earlier in the day Friday to advance in the winners bracket.

Contact/Follow usĀ @SoonersWire on X, and like our page onĀ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

No. 1 Tennessee wins series against South Carolina

No. 1 Tennessee baseball wins series against South Carolina at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

No. 1 Tennessee (45-10, 21-8 SEC) defeated No. 23 South Carolina (33-20, 13-16 SEC), 8-3, on Friday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tennessee won its ninth consecutive weekend series.

Drew Beam (8-2) started for the Vols and pitched six innings. He recorded four strikeouts. Beam totaled 104 pitches, including 59 strikes, against 25 batters.

Tennessee recorded nine hits in the contest, including home runs by Blake Burke, Hunter Ensley and Christian Moore.

Burke hit a grand slam in the seventh inning against Parker Marlatt. The Vols have hit 11 grand slams in 2024, a Southeastern Conference single-season record.

First pitch for Saturday’s regular-season finale between the Vols and Gamecocks is slated for 1 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+).

Former Michigan State football OL Andy Hartman transferring to GVSU

Former Michigan State football OL Andy Hartman transferring to GVSU

Another Michigan State football player is on the move. Former Spartan offensive lineman Andy Hartman committed to transfer to Grand Valley State University on Friday.

Hartman, a walk-on from Grand Blanc, committed to the Spartans as a PWO back in 2021. He entered the portal back in April, and now will find a new home at GVSU.

Michigan State football Transfer Tracker: Every Incoming, Outgoing player during Spring Transfer Portal Window

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Michigan State football lands Michigan transfer LB Semaj Bridgeman

Michigan State football lands Michigan transfer LB Semaj Bridgeman

In a wild day where Michigan State football fans were in uproar as they watched former starting safety Jaden Mangham transfer to Michigan, the Spartans got a player back from their rival, with linebacker Semaj Bridgeman committing to transfer to MSU from Michigan.

Bridgeman was a former 4-star recruit out of Philadelphia who will have four years of eligibility remaining.

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Former Michigan State football S Jaden Mangham commits to Michigan

Former Michigan State football S Jaden Mangham commits to Michigan

Well, Iā€™m sure Michigan State football fans will react well to this news. On Friday, safety Jaden Mangham committed to bitter rival Michigan.

While this one stings a little, it should be noted that the Spartans landed Manghamā€™s replacement earlier today, with UCF safety Nikai Martinez coming aboard.

Contact/Follow usĀ @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on FacebookĀ to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster

 

Lady Vols defeat Dayton to open NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional

Karlyn Pickens pitches a complete shutout for Tennessee against Dayton.

No. 3 overall seed Tennessee (41-10, 19-5 SEC) defeated Dayton (33-20, 19-7 A-10), 3-0, on Friday in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Destiny Rodriguez went 1-for-3 and recorded two RBIs, while Taylor Pannell went 1-for-3 and scored one run for the Lady Vols.

Sophia Nugent also went 1-for-2 and recorded one RBI for Tennessee.

Karlyn Pickens (20-6) started and pitched a complete game for the Lady Vols. She recorded 12 strikeouts, while totaling 76 pitches (59 strikes).

Tennessee will next play on Saturday against Virginia (33-18, 15-9 ACC) in a winners bracket game. First pitch is slated for noon EDT at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Cavaliers defeated Miami University, 7-0, on Friday.

https://x.com/Vol_Softball/status/1791572138320891990

Tennessee offers 2025 South Carolina commit Brian Rowe

Tennessee football offers a scholarship to 2025 South Carolina wide receiver commit Brian Rowe.

Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2025 wide receiver prospect Brian Rowe.

“Blessed to receive an offer from Tennessee,” Rowe said.

The 6-foot, 175-pound three-star wide receiver is from Jay M. Robinson High School in Concord, North Carolina.

Rowe ranks as the No. 411 prospect in the class of 2026. He ranks as the No. 65 wide receiver and No. 11 player in North Carolina, according to 247Sports.

The Vols are the fourth Southeastern Conference school to offer Rowe a scholarship.

Rowe has received scholarship offers from Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Michigan State.

Michigan State first offered Rowe on March 19. HeĀ committed to South Carolina on April 9.

https://x.com/thatboiibeezy2/status/1790088623875911730

Falcons sign third-round pick Bralen Trice to rookie contract

#Falcons sign 3rd-round pick Bralen Trice to rookie contract. The Washington EDGE had 8 sacks, 53 hurries and 19 QB hits last season

The Atlanta Falcons have now signed six of eight players from their 2024 NFL draft class. Third-round pick Bralen Trice signed his rookie contract, the team announced on Friday afternoon.

A standout at the University of Washington, Trice finished his final season with 53 hurries, 19 QB hits and eight sacks. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound outside linebacker should play meaningful reps as a rookie in Atlanta.

“This is a powerful edge player who will never shy away from the contact trench play demands,” Pro Football Focus wrote about Trice in his 2024 draft profile. “You might have to align him a bit wider to unlock his disruption potential, but he is an NFL-caliber player and should be picked in the top 50.”

The Falcons have yet to sign first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. or fourth-round pick Brandon Dorlus. Make sure to check out the team’s updated 90-man roster and 2024 season schedule.

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Former ASU wide receiver commits to Florida via transfer portal

What many had expected finally came to fruition on Friday afternoon as Elijhah Badger joins the Florida Gators via the transfer portal.

Billy Napier and Co. scored yet another win through the college football transfer portal on Friday after earning a commitment from redshirt junior wide receiverĀ Elijhah Badger, formerly of the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Less than 24 hours prior to the announcement, Swamp247ā€™s Blake Alderman submitted a crystal ball prediction for Florida while Nick de la Torre reported that Gators Online also cast a prediction for the Orange and Blue.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pound pass-catcher originally in the 2020 cycle made an official visit to UF earlier this week and came away with a better understanding of what Florida has to offer.

Badger is now officially a member of the Orange and Blue.

Recruiting Summary

Badger is a four-star transfer portal prospectĀ according to 247Sports, ranking No. 184 overall and No. 36 at his position.

As a prep recruit in the 2020 cycle, he was also a four-star prospect according to both 247Sports andĀ On3. The former ranked him at No. 182 overall and No. 6 at the athlete position while the latter placed him at No. 121 overall and No. 23 at wide receiver.

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UC Regents approves UCLA’s $10 million per year Calimony payment

The vote got approved…

The wrinkles of the UCLA Bruins moving to the Big Ten Conference aren’t going away. Reports surfaced that UCLA will need to pay Cal $10 million per year in Calimony payments amid the Golden Bears going to the ACC.

Well, it was finalized via a vote earlier in the week, as Jon Wilner reports.

UC regents formally approve UCLA transfer of 10m to Cal for 3 years, then to be revisited. Vote is 15-1-1…The vote on Tuesday was from the Special Committee on Athletics. Item still needed approval of full board, which happened today.

The vote being approved was always the likely expectation, but it just means UCLA’s unfortunate payment to Cal amid the flurry of realignment changes for the 2024 season.

With Cal moving to the ACC with Stanford and USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington going to the Big Ten, not to mention Arizona and others off to the Big 12, the Pac-12 as we know it is all but over.