Sports digest 4/2/02

AREA

SOUTHEAST TOPS TENN. STATE FOR OVC WIN AT HOME

Freshman pitcher Kelly Birk picked up her second straight win to lead Southeast Missouri State University's women's softball team to a 9-3 Ohio Valley Conference win over Tennessee State University at University Field.

Birk (2-6) allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out three and walking four.

The Otahkians (5-14, 2-4 OVC) scored all the runs they needed with five in the first two innings. TSU fell to 7-15 and 1-4 in the OVC.

"We came out ready to play in the first inning today," Southeast coach Lana Richmond said.

Catcher Jennifer Cobin drove home three runs in a 2-for-3 performance including a two-run homer.

Reagan Hamlin, Brooke Nett and Katie Cerneka added two hits apiece to the Otahkian's 12-hit offense.

ELSEWHERE

COLLEGES

Gonzaga basketball coach Mark Few withdrew as a candidate for the coaching job at Washington.

Few, whose 81-20 record is the best of any third-year coach in Division I men's basketball history, said he decided Gonzaga is "the best place for my family and staff."

"We have built something very special and unique at Gonzaga University," Few said in a statement released by the school. "I love my players, past and present, and appreciate their support during this process.

"I look forward to our future together."

Few has led Gonzaga to the NCAA tournament in each of his three seasons. This season, Gonzaga went 29-4 and was beaten by Wyoming in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Washington is looking for a coach to replace Bob Bender, asked to resign last week after three consecutive losing seasons.

On Sunday, Missouri coach Quin Snyder took himself out of consideration for the Washington job.

Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges has not commented publicly on her search for a coach but received permission to talk with Snyder, Few and Saint Louis' Lorenzo Romar, who played for the Huskies.

The Kansas Jayhawks will show off new uniforms when they open the season at against Iowa State on Aug. 31.

New coach Mark Mangino, who coached his first on-the-field practice with the team, wouldn't say much about the new uniforms.

"There will be a day for that, a special day to unveil the new look," Mangino said. "It's something the seniors on our football team voted for and picked."

Kansas will practice 15 times as it leads up to the annual spring scrimmage on April 26 at Memorial Stadium.

Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State have agreed to bring their grudge match to Arrowhead Stadium.

The two schools will play at Arrowhead on Oct. 17, the schools announced. Northwest had struck a deal in principle in January but had to wait until the NFL released its schedule last week to be certain that Arrowhead was available.

The Kansas City Chiefs will not be playing on Oct. 17, so the deal was completed. Ticket information will not be available until May 21.

The Oct. 17 game will be a home game for the Bearcats, who have won five straight against Pittsburg, the defending MIAA champs and sole conference representative in the 2001 NCAA playoffs.

Football

Ten days after deciding to delay his search for a new general manager, Falcons owner Arthur Blank hired Bobby Beathard as a senior adviser.

Getting Beathard to agree to a one-year contract was a saving grace for Blank, who came close to hiring Ron Wolf before the former Green Bay GM withdrew from consideration March 19.

Blank said he believes it's "highly unlikely" the 65-year-old Beathard will become the general manager.

-- From staff, wire reports