UCLA, Washington into softball semis
UCLA and Washington, which finished second and fourth, respectively, in the Pac-12 softball standings, will be among the final four teams in the Women’s College World Series after both teams won to remain unbeaten in Oklahoma City.
Washington’s Gabbie Plain limited top-seeded Oregon to four hits and no earned runs in six innings as the Huskies (51-8) won 6-2 over the Pac-12 champion Ducks (53-9).
Later in the day, UCLA (58-5) used a five-run fourth inning — highlighted by Taylor Pack’s three-run homer— to erase a four-run deficit in a 6-5 win over Florida (56-9).
Oregon and Arizona State are among six teams that will play elimination games Saturday, while UCLA and Oregon each get a breather before each faces one of the two survivors Sunday. WNBA: Diana Taurasi hit five three-pointers and finished with 29 points to help the Phoenix Mercury snap a 13-game skid against Minnesota with a 95-85 win over the host Lynx . ... Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones and Alex Bentley scored 20 points apiece to help the visiting Sun beat the Chicago Sky 110-72 . ... Las Vegas rookie A’ja Wilson scored 26 points and Dearica Hamby scored 10 of her 14 points in the final four minutes to help the host Aces beat the Washington Mystics 85-73.
Motor sports: Ryan Blaney was tops again at the site of his lone NASCAR Cup victory, turning a lap of 176.897 mph to win the pole for Sunday’s Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.
Major League Soccer: Cristian Techera scored his fourth goal in two games and Yordy Reyna had a goal and an assist to help the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 . ... New England Revolution defender Chris Tierney will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee Wednesday in a match against Atlanta United.
NFL: Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson, who vowed he would jump in Lake Erie if his team didn’t improve last season on the 1-15 record it posted in 2016, made good on his promise. With the Browns having finished 0-16 in 2017, Jackson hit the water from the shore of Bay Village, Ohio.
“This is not something I do every day, but I made a statement, and I have to back it up,” said Jackson, whose plunge became a charity event that raised $30,000. “I came here two years ago to win, and I’m going to win here. I truly believe that. But I think when you make statements, you’ve got to stand by them.”
NHL: Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee is accused of inappropriately touching and making lewd comments toward a hotel shuttle driver Wednesday while in Buffalo for the NHL’s scouting combine. Lee was charged with second-degree harassment and faces a fine and up to 15 days in jail.