Texas A&M is into the Sweet 16 after an improbable 92-88 double-overtime win over Northern Iowa. The Aggies erased a 12-point deficit in the final 44 seconds of regulation to force overtime. The Aggies will face Oklahoma in the semifinals of the West Regional.
Bronson Koenig’s [[ KAY-nig ]] three-pointer at the buzzer gave Wisconsin a 66-63 win over Xavier in the second round of the East Regional. Koenig canned a pair of threes in the closing seconds to send the seventh-seeded Badgers to the Sweet 16.
The Sweet 16 is set after another wild day in the NCAA Tournament. Oregon, Villanova, Oklahoma, Maryland, Syracuse and Notre Dame were among yesterday’s winners. A record six ACC teams are in the Sweet 16.
Kevin Siegrist gave up a pair of runs in the eighth inning as the Cardinals lost to the Marlins 5-2 at Roger Dean Stadium. Mike Leake fanned four over five innings of five-hit, one-run ball. Matt Carpenter had two hits and an RBI for the Cards, who host the Red Sox today.
Shortstop Ruben Tejada made his Cardinals debut against the Marlins. He went 1-for-4 and also made a pair of nice defensive plays. Tejada joined the Cardinals on Saturday after being released by the Mets last week. Jhonny Peralta is recovering from thumb surgery.
Expect to see slugger Matt Holliday get some playing time at first base this summer. Manager Mike Matheny is calling that a “viable option” after Holliday has spent a lot of time taking reps at first base this spring. He’s been playing his usual left field the last few games.
Jerry Sands homered twice and plated three to power the White Sox to a 6-2 win over the A’s. Jimmy Rollins also plated a run in the Cactus League win. The Sox take on the Indians this afternoon.
Jorge Soler launched a two-run homer as the Cubs cut down the Royals, 5-2, in Cactus League play. Jon Lester allowed one earned run during his five-inning start. The Cubs are off today. They’ll face the Reds tomorrow.
The Blackhawks suffered a 3-2 shootout loss to the Wild last night at the United Center. Andrew Shaw and Richard Panik scored in the second for Chicago, who lost for the sixth time in eight games. Scott Darling made 32 saves. The ‘Hawks host the Stars tomorrow.
Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in overtime at the Auto Club 400. Johnson captured his sixth victory at Fontana and the 77th of his career. Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top-five.
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf says the team is moving on from the Adam LaRoche saga. LaRoche retired last week after he was told not to bring his 14-year-old son to the clubhouse as often. Reinsdorf says the team will no longer talk about the matter publicly.