No. 1 Gators leave CWS in a Flash
College baseball: Kent State scored four unearned runs and another on a wild pitch, then held off Florida’s comeback bid in the ninth to eliminate the top-seeded Gators from the College World Series with a 5-4 victory Monday in Omaha, Neb.
The Gators loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against shaky relievers Michael Clark and Josh Pierce.
Pierce fought back from a 3-0 count to strike out Casey Turgeon when Turgeon couldn’t check his swing and got called out on an appeal to the third-base umpire. Justin Shafer flew out to right to end the game.
The Gators, who reached the CWS finals last year, committed five errors in two games.
• Hogs snap Gamecocks’ streak: Ryne Stanek and Barrett Astin combined on a four-hitter and Arkansas beat South Carolina 2-1 at the College World Series, ending the Gamecocks’ NCAA tournament record winning streak at 22 games.
The Gamecocks (46-18) will have to beat Kent State on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of winning a third straight national title.
The Razorbacks (46-20) have two days off and need one more win to go to the best-of-3 finals.
Wambach, Morgan lead U.S. women
Soccer: Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan each scored twice to give the United States a 4-1 win over Japan at Halmstad, Sweden, in its penultimate tuneup for the Olympics.
Morgan put the U.S. ahead in the third minute and Wambach made it 2-0 in the 10th in the third rematch of 2011 World Cup finalists this year.
The Americans beat Sweden 3-1 on Saturday in a three-team set of exhibitions called the Volvo Winners Cup.
Japan plays Sweden on Wednesday.
The United States next plays June 30 against Canada in Sandy, Utah, before going to London.
• Italy advances: Italy qualified for the quarterfinals of the European Championship as Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli each scored in a 2-0 victory over Ireland at Poznan, Poland.
Italy controlled the match for long stretches but Ireland — coached by former Azzurri skipper Giovanni Trapattoni — threatened often with counterattacks.
• Spain in quarters: Jesus Navas scored a late goal to give Spain a 1-0 win over Croatia in Gdansk, Poland, and a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals.
Andres Iniesta passed to Navas inside the area after Spain broke through an offside trap, and the substitute forward kicked the ball into an empty net in the 88th minute.
Report: Bobcats hire St. John’s assistant
NBA: The Charlotte Bobcats have hired St. John’s assistant Mike Dunlap to be their new head coach, two people familiar with the decision said.
The Charlotte Observer first reported the news.
The choice comes as a bit of a surprise because Dunlap was not one of the team’s three finalists and rejoined the picture late.
Dunlap, 54, will replace Paul Silas, whose contract was not renewed after Charlotte finished with the worst winning percentage in NBA history this past season. The Bobcats were 7-59.
A former assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, Dunlap assumed all duties with the St. John’s program after head coach Steve Lavin took a leave of absence to deal with prostate cancer.
Tomlinson signs to retire Charger
Football: LaDainian Tomlinson has signed a one-day contract with the San Diego Chargers and announced his retirement after a brilliant 11-year NFL career.
Tomlinson, about to turn 33, was drafted in the first round by San Diego in 2001 and became one of the biggest stars in team history. He was with the Chargers for nine seasons before playing the last two seasons with the New York Jets.
Tomlinson was voted NFL MVP in 2006, when he set league single-season records with 31 touchdowns, including 28 rushing, and 186 points.
Tomlinson finishes his career with 13,684 yards, fifth all-time, and 145 touchdowns.
Senators want boxing oversight
Miscellany: Giving voice to the outrage over Timothy Bradley’s controversial split decision over Manny Pacquiao, two senators introduced legislation that would create a special boxing commission to oversee all matches in the United States and restore integrity to the sport.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who boxed while at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., a former middleweight boxer, are pushing the measure establishing the U.S. Boxing Commission, an entity that would carry out federal boxing law, work with the industry and local commissions and license boxers, promoters, managers and sanctioning organizations.
Speaking on the Senate floor, McCain evoked the words of former sportswriter Jimmy Cannon, who called boxing the “red light district of sports.”
• American wins first WTA title: Melanie Oudin of the United States won her first WTA tournament, defeating Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-2 in the rain-delayed, grass-court final of the Aegon Classic at Birmingham, England.
The 20-year-old came through qualifying and won eight matches to claim her first tour title at the Wimbledon warm-up event. She also earned a wild card to compete at the All England Club next week.