Taguchi signs on with Phillies

Outfielder So Taguchi, who hit .290 for St. Louis last season, signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Taguchi led all National League pinch hitters with a .406 (13 for 32) batting average.

Taguchi played all three outfield positions for St. Louis in 2007, starting 41 times in center field, 21 times in left field and twice in right.

As a member of the World Series champion Cardinals in 2006, Taguchi hit .400 with two home runs and four RBI in the playoffs.

College football

Pinkel rewarded with raise, extension

Gary Pinkel helped lead long-suffering Missouri into college football’s elite this year. Now he has the contract to match that lofty perch.

Missouri athletic director Mike Alden announced that Pinkel will receive a $550,000 annual raise, boosting his guaranteed compensation to $1.85 million a year.

Pinkel also gets a one-year extension through 2012. Late last season, he was given a $225,000 raise and three-year extension.

The announcement comes as No. 7 Missouri (11-2) prepares to face No. 25 Arkansas (8-4) in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 in Dallas.

College basketball

Miami extends undefeated start

Jack McClinton scored 17 points and No. 22 Miami defeated North Carolina A&T 95-64 at Coral Gables, Fla. to stretch its season-opening winning streak to 12 games.

James Dews and Raymond Hicks each finished with 16 points for the Hurricanes, who are two games shy of the school record for victories to open a season, set in 2001-02.

The Hurricanes opened the game on a 17-0 run in the first 5:07 and were never threatened.