The LSU baseball team will play Florida this afternoon in the semi-finals of the SEC Tournament. Freshman Alex Lange will start for the Tigers and Coach Paul Mainieri is hoping to get some innings out of him. LSU has won two games in the SEC Tournament, but in both contests, the Tigers’ starting pitcher failed to get past the second inning.

Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana were both eliminated from the Southland Tournament yesterday. The Demons lost to Central Arkansas 5-4 as the Bears scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch. And the top-seeded Lions lost to Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 6-5 in 10 innings. S-L-U blew a 4-0 lead and will now wait to see if they pick up an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

UL Lafayette avoids elimination in the Sun Belt Tournament after defeating Texas-Arlington 5-1. The Ragin Cajuns will now face Texas State this afternoon in a rematch of the teams’ first round game that the Bobcats won 8-7.

UConn scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to end Tulane’s run at the American Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament Championship 7-6.

In softball, Auburn rallied from five run deficit to defeat UL-Lafayette in Game one of their Super Regional series 12-11 in eight innings. The Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh on five bases loaded walks to send the game into the extra frame. Game two is today at 11AM. Game three, if necessary, will follow Game two. The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

LSU begins its super regional series today at Tiger Park against Arizona. First pitch is at 2 PM. Game two is set for 4 PM on Sunday and then game three if necessary, will be at 7 PM.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed that his assistant, Alvin Gentry, has interviewed with the Pelicans about their head coaching vacancy. Gentry does have head coaching experience, most recently in Phoenix, where he went 158-144 in five seasons.

Former New Orleans Saints first round pick Reggie Bush, says he would like to return punts again this season. Bush hasn’t returned punts regularly since his final season in New Orleans in 2010. Bush recently signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

The LSU baseball team will play either Florida or Arkansas tomorrow afternoon in the semi-finals of the SEC Tournament. Freshman Alex Lange will be the starting pitcher. Coach Paul Mainieri is hoping to get some innings out of him. LSU has won two games in the SEC Tournament, but in both contests, the Tigers starting pitcher failed to get past the second inning.

Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana were both eliminated from the Southland Tournament today. The Demons lost to Central Arkansas 5-4 as the Bears scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch. And the top-seeded Lions lost to Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 6-5 in 10 innings. S-L-U led 4-0 in the 4th inning and will now wait to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

UL Lafayette looks to avoid elimination as they face UT Arlington tonight in Troy, Alabama. The Cajuns swept the Mavericks in a three-game series during the regular season.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed that his assistant, Alvin Gentry, has interviewed with the Pelicans about their head coaching vacancy. Gentry has been a head coach before, most recently in Phoenix, where he went 158-144 in five seasons.

In softball, Game one of the super regional series between UL Lafayette and Auburn is in extra innings. The Cajuns had a five run lead going into the bottom of the seventh, but Auburn was able to tie it, even though they had just one hit. But there were a bunch of walks in the inning. UL Lafayette starting pitcher Jordan Wallace walked 13 for the game.

LSU begins its super regional series tomorrow against Arizona. First pitch is at 2 PM. Game two is set for 4 PM on Sunday and then game three if necessary will be at 7 PM.

At Louisiana College in Pineville tonight and tomorrow it’s the Louisiana High School Coaches Association Softball All Star games. Tonight’s game is at 7 PM and then tomorrow’s contest is at 1 PM.

LSU’s bullpen came through again last night as the Fighting Tigers topped Arkansas 10 to 5 to advance to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Russell Reynolds was the winning pitcher as he threw 3.1 innings of shutout baseball. Jesse Stallings, Hunter Newman and Zac Person also pitched scorless innings of relief. LSU needed to lean on the pen again last night, because starting pitcher Austin Bain was pulled in the second inning after giving up four runs. The Tigers will play again tomorrow against the winner of tonight’s game between Florida and Arkansas.

In the Sun Belt Tournament…U-L Lafayette takes on Texas-Arlington in an elimination game. In two games in the tournament, the Cajuns have scored 19 runs.

And the UL Lafayette softball team begins its best out of three super regional series against Auburn this afternoon. The Lady Cajuns are two wins away from their seventh appearance in the Women’s College World Series.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has confirmed that his assistant, Alvin Gentry, has interviewed with the Pelicans about their head coaching vacancy. Gentry has been a head coach before, most recently in Phoenix, where he went 158-144 in five seasons.

The Saints announce they’ve signed first round pick Andrus Peat to a four-year contract. The offensive tackle was selected with the 13th overall pick out of Stanford. Peat was named a first-team All-American by several news organizations last season and was an Outland Trophy semifinalist.

Also in the NFL…former Saints first round pick Reggie Bush, says he would like to return punts again this season. Bush recently signed with the San Francisco 49ers and hasn’t returned punts regularly since his final season in New Orleans in 2010.

Louisiana Tech announces changes to its 2016 non-conference football schedule as they drop Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M and add Texas Tech and UMASS.

The number one ranked LSU Tigers advance to the SEC Baseball Tournament Semifinals after a 10-5 win over Arkansas. LSU took advantage of six Razorback errors in the game. The Tigers will next face either Florida or Arkansas in the second semifinal game Saturday afternoon.

In the Sun Belt…the Ragin Cajuns stayed alive with a 12-8 win over Troy. U-L Lafayette tallied six runs in the second inning. Greg Davis blasted a two-run homer and Stefan Trosclair of Sulphur hit a three run shot. They’ll play Texas-Arlington tonight at 6:30 PM.

In the Southland Tournament…Northwestern State eliminated Nicholls State 4-3. The Demons scored all of their runs in the 5th inning and will face Central Arkansas this morning. Southeastern Louisiana eliminated McNeese State 3-2 in 12 innings. The Lions scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout. Southeastern take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at noon.

Louisiana Tech announces changes to its 2016 non-conference football schedule as they drop Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M and add Texas Tech and UMASS. UMASS will make a return trip to Ruston in 2019. The Bulldogs will round out the 2016 non-conference schedule with an FCS Opponent.

Grambling State has released its 2015 football schedule. The Tigers open the season with a game at Cal on September 5th. G-S-U will play four games on campus, hosting Bethune Cookman, Alabama A-and-M, Mississippi Valley State and Texas Southern.

The Saints announce they’ve signed first round pick Andrus Peat to a four-year contract. The offensive tackle was selected with the 13th overall pick out of Stanford. Peat was named a first-team All-American by several news organizations last season and was an Outland Trophy semifinalist.

The Pelicans Anthony Davis has been named to the All-NBA first team. The Pels also announces that Tyreke Evans has undergone successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

The LSU baseball team goes after its ninth straight SEC Tournament victory tonight as they face Arkansas. The Tigers had to rally back from two five-run deficits to beat Auburn nine to eight alst night. Austin Bain will start for LSU tonight, hopefully he’ll have a better outing than last night’s starter. Jared Poche lasted just one inning as he gave up five runs. First pitch is expected around eight P-M.

In the Sun Belt…the Ragin Cajuns staved off elimination with a 12-8 win over Troy. U-L Lafayette scored six times in the second inning. Greg Davis blasted a two-run homer and Stefan Trosclair of Sulphur had a three run shot. They’ll play again tomorrow at 6:30 PM.

In the Southland Tournament…Northwestern State eliminated Nicholls State four to three. The Demons scored all of their runs in the 5th inning. Southeastern Louisiana eliminated McNeese State 3-2 in 12 innings. The Lions scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout.

The Saints announce they’ve signed first round pick Andrus Peat to a four-year contract. The offensive tackle was selected with the 13th overall pick out of Stanford. Peat was named a first-team All-American by several news organizations last season.

Louisiana Tech announces changes to its 2016 non conference schedule as they drop Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M and add Texas Tech and UMASS. UMASS will make a return trip to Ruston in 2019. The Bulldogs will round out the 2016 nonconference schedule with an FCS Opponent.

Grambling State has released its 2015 schedule. The Tigers open the season with a game at Cal on September 5th. G-S-U will play four games on campus versus Bethune Cookman, Alabama A-and-M, Mississippi Valley State and Texas Southern.

The Pelicans Anthony Davis has been named to the All-NBA first team. And the Pels have announced that Tyreke Evans has undergone successful arthroscopic sugery on his right knee.

The number one ranked LSU baseball team overcame a rough start by left-hander pitcher Jared Poche and two five-run deficits to beat Auburn 9 to 8 last night in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers offense put together a six-run fifth to grab a one-run lead, which held for the rest of the game. It’s LSU’s eighth straight SEC Tournament victory and they’ll go at it again tonight against Arkansas.

While LSU had a thrilling victory last night, the Ragin Cajuns suffered a heart breaking loss in the Sun Belt Tournament. UL Lafayette blew a three-run lead in the ninth and lost to Texas State 8-7. There were two big errors that sparked the Bobcat rally. The Cajuns will need to beat Troy today to keep their season alive.

In the Southland….all four teams from Louisiana are in the losers bracket, including top-seeded Southeastern Louisiana. Tulane topped UCONN three to one in the American Athletic Conference yesterday and the Green Wave will face East Carolina at 6 PM tonight.

New Orleans has been invited by the NFL to bid to host the 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls. Eric Gill reports…
cut 2 (29) “…reporting”

According to the Monroe News Star…Louisiana Tech has dropped Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M from its 2016 football schedule and instead the Bulldogs will play Texas Tech and UMASS.

The Pelicans Anthony Davis has been named to the All-NBA first team. It’s the first time in his three-year career that he’s received that honor.

The top-ranked LSU Tigers gave up five runs in the first inning but battled back to take a 9-8 win over Auburn yesterday in SEC Tournament play. A six run fifth inning sealed the victory for the two time defending tourney champs. The Tigers will face Arkansas in a third round tournament matchup today at 1PM. That game can be seen on the SEC Network.

The opening day of the Southland Baseball tournament was not kind to Louisiana teams as all four lost their first round games. Top seeded Southeastern Louisiana was downed by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4-2, Northwestern State lost to Houston Baptist 4-1, Nicholls State came up short against Central Arkansas 7-6, and McNeese State was defeated by Sam Houston 5-1. Today, the Colonels face the Demons at 9AM and the Lions take on the Cowboys at noon. The winners will advance, while the losers will go home.

In the Sun Belt Tourney, UL-Lafayette fell to Texas State 8-7. A couple of Ragin’ Cajun errors in the top of the ninth inning gave the Bobcats four unearned runs and the win. The third-seeded Cajuns will look to bounce back then they face Troy this afternoon at 12:30.

Tulane got a win in their opening game of the American Baseball Championship. Sophomore Lex Kaplan blasted two home runs as the Green Wave got past UConn 3-1. Tulane will next face East Carolina tonight at 6.

New Orleans has been invited to bid to host the 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls. New Orleans lost out on hosting the 2018 Super Bowl to Minneapolis and their new stadium last year. Jay Cicero, President of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says with new stadiums proposed for Atlanta and Los Angeles, the competition will be stiff…

cut 8 (06) “those Super Bowls”

Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, and Los Angeles have also received invitations to bid on hosting the big game from the NFL.

The NBA announces that Pelicans forward Anthony Davis has been named to the league’s All-Defensive Second Team. Davis led the league in both total blocks and blocks per game this season. Davis has tallied 501 blocks in his three-year NBA career. This is the first time Davis has been named to the All-Defensive team.

New Orleans has been invited to bid to host the 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls. The Big Easy last hosted the Super Bowl in 2013. Jay Cicero, President of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says four other cities also received invitations…

cut 25 (12) “on 2020″

New Orleans lost out on hosting the 2018 Super Bowl to Minneapolis and their new stadium last year. Cicero says with new stadiums proposed for Atlanta and Los Angeles, the competition will be stiff.

Next season in the NFL, the extra point will start from the 15-yard line, instead of the two. That’s the result of a vote by NFL owners, who are looking to make the extra point a little more exciting.

The Southland Conference Baseball Tournament got underway today. Nicholls State scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but came up short losing to Central Arkansas 7-6. Northwestern State fell to Houston Baptist 4-1.

The NBA announces that Pelicans forward Anthony Davis has been named to the league’s All-Defensive Second Team. Davis led the league in both total blocks and blocks per game this season. Davis has tallied 501 blocks in his three-year NBA career. This is the first time Davis has been named to the All-Defensive team.

The Louisiana Black Bear population has reached a point in its recovery that the federal government recommends the removal of the animal from the threatened species list. It will likely take a year before the bear is delisted, as federal officials must gather public input on the recommendation. Once that process is completed, it could open the door for regulated hunting of the black bear. But state department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says that’s not happening anytime soon…

cut 15 (11) “rifle”

The Louisiana Black Bear was placed on the threatened species list in 1992.

LSU will take on Auburn this afternoon at 4:30 PM at the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. LSU has won the last two SEC Tournaments and with Paul Mainieri as the head coach, the Tigers won the SEC Tourney from 2008 through 2011. The coach says they go into this tournament with very little pressure on them, since they know they’ll be a part of the NCAA Tournament….
cut 17 (12) “…LSU”
Jared Poche will start on the mound for the Tigers today. He’s 7-and-1 with a 3.18 ERA.

At 4:00 today, UL Lafayette faces Texas State in the Sun Belt Tournament. The Cajuns will need to win this tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament.

Southeastern Louisiana is the top seed in the Southland tournament. The Lions will take on Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi at 4 PM.

Pelican fans who are hoping for former Oklahoma City Coach Scott Brooks to replace Monty Williams can quit hoping. According to a Yahoo report, Brooks is passing on interviews with the Pelicans and Nuggets and he’s leaning towards not coaching next season.

Next season in the NFL, the extra point will start from the 15-yard line, instead of the two-yard line. That’s the result of a vote by the NFL owners, who are looking to make the extra point a little more exciting. They are also giving the defense the opportunity to return a blocked extra point for two points. Two-point conversions will take place from the two-yard line.

And speaking of kicking, the Saints have released veteran kicker Shayne Graham. Graham was 19 of 22 on field goals last season, including a long of 50 yards. New Orleans has two other kickers on the roster, Zach Hocker who they signed after a tryout last weekend and Dustin Hopkins. Wide receiver Lance Lewis takes Graham’s spot on the roster. He spent last season on the 49ers practice squad.

The LSU baseball team begins play this afternoon at 4:30 in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. Coach Paul Mainieri says this week will get them ready for the NCAA Tournament…
cut 16 (20) “…all of em”
LSU has won the last two SEC Tournaments and the Tigers will take on Auburn at 4:30 this afternoon.

In the Sun Belt tournament….third-seeded U-L Lafayette will battle sixth seeded Texas State. The Southland Tournament gets underway at nine a-am this morning as third seeded Nicholls State faces sixth seeded Central Arkansas. Following that game it’s Northwestern State against Houston Baptist.

NFL Owners have voted to move the extra point to the 15-yard line, while two-point conversions will continue to remain at the two-yard line. Also, if the defense blocks the kick or if there’s a turnover on a two-point try, the defense can return it to the other end zone for two points.

Today at the NFL owners meeting, New Orleans will find out if they’ll be allowed to bid for a Super Bowl in either 2019 or 2020. Atlanta, South Florida and Tampa are also expected to receive bids.

Return specialists Michael Lewis and Tyrone Hughes have been elected to the Saints Hall of Fame. Hughes played his high school football at St. Aug, while Lewis graduated from Grace King in Metairie. Each player had one all-pro season as a kick returner in the NFL.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari says he has no interest in the New Orleans Pelicans head coaching job or any other job. Calipari has been linked to the vacancy in New Orleans, because he coached Pelican players Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans when they were in college.