Riverhounds rout Memphis
Dikwa posts hat trick in 3-1 win
Albert Dikwa scored three goals as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC rolled to a 3-1 victory against Memphis 901 in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis controlled play for much of the game, but had no answer for Dikwa, who began his big night with a goal five minutes in.
Dikwa’s is the 12th hat trick in Riverhounds history and first since Russell Cicerone on Aug. 22, 2021.
“I just think he’s always working hard for the team, and today he finished well and got rewarded,” Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley said.
After opening the season with two matches on the road, the Riverhounds (1-0 -1) return to Highmark Stadium 7 p.m. Friday to open their home season against Miami.
Auto racing
Led by Joey Logano, Ford drivers claimed the top eight spots in qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta.
• Two-time defending champion Max Verstappen was fastest in all three practice sessions, but an issue with a driveshaft during qualifying opened the door for Sergio Perz to win the pole for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.
Golf
Adam Schenk birdied the 18th hole to give himself a one-shot lead on a surging Jordan Spieth heading into the final round of the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla. Schenk is at 8under and will play in the final group with Spieth.
• Marc Leishman opened with an eagle and held it together in the middle of his round for a 5-under 66, giving him a two-shot lead over Sergio Garcia going into the third and final round of LIV Golf Tucson in Marana, Ariz.
Pro basketball
Jalen Brunson scored 24 points in his return from a left foot injury to help the New York Knicks defeat the
Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets, 116-110. The Nuggets lost for the fifth time in six games.
• Markelle Fultz scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Wendell Carter Jr. had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Clippers, 113-108, in Los Angeles.
Winter sports
Swiss skier Marco Odermatt broke the 23-year-old men’s record for most World Cup points in a single season after dominating the giant slalom at the World Cup finals in Soldeu, Andorra. Odermatt won the race by a massive 2.11 seconds and gave him 2,042 points for the season, surpassing the 2,000 of Hermann Maier in the 1999-2000 season.
• Petra Vilhova won the women’s World Cup finals slalom in Soldeu, Andorra, with Mikaela Shiffrin finishing third. Shiffrin still hoised the season slalom trophy, having clinched that in February.
Tennis
Daniil Medvedev won his 19th consecutive match, defeating Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 76 (4), in one semifinal of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. Medvedev will play for the title Sunday against the winner of the other semifinal between topseeded Carlos Alcaraz or No. 11 seed Jannik Sinner.
• WorldNo. 1 Novak Djokovicwithdrew from Miami Openbecause he still can’t travelto the United States as a foreigncitizen who is not vaccinatedagainst COVID-19.
Hockey
Ohio State defender Sophie Jaques won the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top player in women’s NCAA Division I hockey. Jaques is only the second defender to win the award while helping Ohio State to a 33-5-2 record and a berth in Sunday’s NCAA national title game vs.Wisconsin.