briefs
Cal softball drops 2
California University closed play at the Cactus Classic with a pair of losses to Lone Star Conference schools on Sunday afternoon, suffering a 3-2 walk-off loss to St. Mary’s of Texas before dropping a 6-1 contest against Eastern New Mexico.
Cal’s softball team fell to 1-5 overall after playing four schools from the LSC in Arizona this weekend.
Against St. Mary’s (5-10), the Vulcans held a 2-0 lead before the Rattlers scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn the walk-off victory. The Rattlers scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch, 3-2.
Against Eastern New Mexico, junior catcher Brooke Wilson went 3-for-4 with one run scored and one stolen base from the leadoff spot. Izzy Farmer added a pair of hits in the loss.
Wilson led off the bottom of the first with a double and later scored on a two-out double by Sierra Besser-Paul. The Greyhounds tied the contest in the sixth on a sacrifice fly after the inning opened with back-to-back singles. In the seventh, ENM benefited from four errors and scored five runs to take a 6-1 lead.
The Vulcans loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning before the game ended on a fielder’s choice.
Dukes down Fordham
Tavian Dunn-Martin had 15 points off the bench to lift Duquesne to a 59-54 victory over Fordham on Sunday.
Dunn-Martin made 3 of 8 shots from beyond the 3-point arc and all four of his free throws for the Dukes (19-6, 9-4 Atlantic 10 Conference). Reserve Baylee Steele scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Lamar Norman Jr. hit three 3-pointers and scored 11, while Marcus Weathers had a career-high 14 rebounds to go with nine points.
Antwon Portley came off the bench to score 16 with six rebounds to pace the Rams (7-17, 1-11), whose losing streak stretched to six games. Ty Perry added 15 points but made just 2 of 9 shots from distance. Joel Soriano had nine rebounds and eight points.
Duquesne shot 38% from the floor but just 22% from 3-point range (7 of 32). The Dukes hit 12 of 16 free throws. Fordham shot 35% overall, 29% from distance (6 of 21) and made 12 of 14 foul shots.
The Dukes improve to 2-0 against the Rams on the season. Duquesne defeated Fordham 58-56 Jan. 15.
In the NHL
A loss in the seventh game of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final could have carried over to the following season, except the Boston Bruins’ strong culture has helped them remain at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Charlie McAvoy, Charlie Coyle and Patrice Bergeron each scored, and the Bruins began a four-game trip with a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday.
- Mackenzie Blackwood made a career-high 52 saves and stopped six of seven attempts in the shootout to lead the New Jersey Devils over the scuffling Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3.
- Josh Archibald scored his second goal of the game in overtime, NHL points leader Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Sunday.
In college basketball
Winning on the road in the Big Ten has proven to be a monumental task for most every team this season. Even trailing by eight points late at Minnesota, No. 21 Iowa believed it was going to shake that trend.
Luka Garza had 24 points and the Hawkeyes closed the game by scoring the final 11 points to rally past the Gophers 58-55 Sunday.