
Oklahoma stuns Alabama in Game 1 with early onslaught and Bahl's pitching masterclass
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In a dominant performance on their home turf in Norman, the Sooners defeated Alabama 6-3 in Game 1 of the NCAA Norman Super Regional . With this win on May 23, Oklahoma is now just one victory away from reaching the Women's College World Series for the 18th time in program history.Alabama got off to a promising start with a solo home run from Bailey Dowling in the top of the first inning. But Oklahoma responded quickly and forcefully. The Sooners scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a three-run blast by Tiare Jennings that shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.Alabama never recovered from that early damage. The Crimson Tide managed only three hits in the entire game and struggled to keep up offensively.Oklahoma's ace Jordy Bahl was nearly untouchable. The sophomore pitcher threw a complete game, allowing just three hits and striking out 11 batters. Her control and velocity kept Alabama off balance all evening.'She was in command from the first pitch,' said Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso. 'That's the kind of intensity we need in the postseason.'Despite the early struggles, Alabama attempted a comeback in the sixth inning. They scored two runs to cut the lead to 6-3, but it wasn't enough. Bahl closed the game with a strikeout in the seventh, silencing any hopes of a Crimson Tide comeback.Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy acknowledged the uphill battle ahead. 'We have to reset fast,' he said. 'This team has shown resilience all year. We'll be ready tomorrow.'Oklahoma and Alabama will face off again in Game 2 of the best-of-three series on Saturday. A win for Oklahoma would send them back to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series. Alabama, meanwhile, will need back-to-back wins to advance.
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Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chris Gotterup pounds his way to a 61 and leads the Scottish Open
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — The hardest task for Chris Gotterup was waking up Friday. Once he got going, he never really stopped until he tied the course record with a 9-under 61 and wound up with a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Scottish Open. HT Image Gotterup rolled in three long putts and was long as ever off the tee, seizing on a spectacular day of sunshine and very little wind in the morning at The Renaissance Club. Harry Hall (64) was two shots behind, and a refreshed Ludvig Aberg (65) led a group that was three shots back. Aberg is coming off just the break he needed — a trip home to Sweden for the first time in a year, a chance to see friends and eat his mother's special sausage and get refreshed. He overcame a bogey-bogey start with eight birdies over his next 15 holes. That made him the only player from among the top five who played in the afternoon, when the wind kicked up along the Firth of Forth and the course became firm and bouncy enough to frustrate Scottie Scheffler and plenty of others. Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player, had a pair of three-putts and at one point after watching a putt bounce off line he extended his arm with his thumb up in mock celebration. It wasn't all that bad. He still shot 68 and was six shots behind. Gotterup, the Rutgers star who finished his final season at Oklahoma, was at 11-under 129. Rory McIlroy had five birdies on the back nine (he started on No. 10) and turned that into a 65 to join the group at 7-under 133. Xander Schauffele, who defends his title next week in the British Open, was five shots back after a 66. Schauffele rarely gets frustrated by anything, much less a score like 66. This was different. The weather was as ideal as it can get in these parts, not so much a full blue sky and a bright sun, but only a wee breeze. 'It was there for the taking,' Schauffele said. That's exactly what Gotterup did. He's still a little jet-lagged and struggled to deal with a 5:15 a.m. alarm when he would have rather slept in. But then he saw a 45-foot birdie putt drop on the second hole. He hit it close for a few more birdies. He made a 30-footer on the tough seventh hole. And he closed out the front nine at 29 after making birdie from 20 feet. Three more birdies over the next five holes got him to 9 under. Two more birdies — one hole was a par 5 — would have allowed him to break 60. 'That didn't cross my brain at all,' Gotterup said. 'I thought 10 (under) would be cool. I think it's still my lowest round in tournament golf. I have no complaints.' Gotterup, along with leading the tournament, is leading the way to grab one of three spots available for the British Open. It would be nice to stay an extra week — he played the last two weeks and is scheduled for a flight to California on Monday to play the PGA Tour event in Lake Tahoe — but that's not why he came over. He loves coming to Scotland, even for one week, as he did last year (and missed the cut). Plus, he happened to see the forecast and it was ideal all week. The fans have picked up on it, too, as Saturday already is a sellout and Sunday tickets are going fast. 'There's probably not too many better places to be,' Gotterup said, not making it clear if he was speaking entirely about Scotland or his spot on the leaderboard. He won the Myrtle Beach Classic last year, an opposite-field event. He looks and plays like a pure athlete, and that comes form 12 years playing lacrosse as a kid in New Jersey before he decided to invest more time in golf. 'Lacrosse helps with my speed. It's a similarish motion," he said. 'When you're shooting lacrosse, I try to rip it as hard as I can. When I grew up, I hit the ball as hard as I could. It's just how I grew up playing. Maybe if I grew up here, it would be different.' He's not aware of the rough-and-tumble Scottish game of shinty, the favorite sport of defending champion Robert MacIntyre. By the look of Gotterup, he would fit right in. MacIntyre was simply happy to make it to the weekend. The wind blew hard enough in the afternoon, and the sun baked the greens and turned them bouncy, that good scores were hard to find. The cut settled on 1-under 139. MacIntyre made a late birdie, and Justin Thomas made a 6-foot birdie on the 18th hole to make it on the number. ___ AP golf:


Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
Seahawks could target Pittsburgh QB Eli Holstein in 2026 NFL Draft amid uncertainty around Sam Darnold and Jalen Milroe
Eli Holstein could be Seattle's next QB target in 2026 (Image via: Getty Images) The Seattle Seahawks completely revamped their quarterback room in 2025, parting ways with veteran Geno Smith. In his place, they signed Sam Darnold to a three-year deal, drafted former Alabama standout Jalen Milroe in the third round, and also brought back Drew Lock via free agency, indicating a full reset at the most important position. Why Eli Holstein could be on Seattle's Radar in 2026 Despite the current trio, speculation about the Seahawks drafting another quarterback in 2026 is gaining traction. According to Pro Football Network's Max Dorsey, Seattle may use a third-round pick on Pittsburgh's Eli Holstein, a promising but unproven signal-caller who transferred from Alabama in 2024. Holstein, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback, put up decent numbers in his first season with Pittsburgh—throwing for 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 61.9% of his passes. He also showcased some mobility with three rushing scores. Though not yet a top-tier prospect, Holstein's size, arm strength, and ability to play within the pocket make him an intriguing Day 2 option for the 2026 NFL Draft. "Being Compared To Dan Marino..." Pitt Freshman QB Eli Holstein Is On Pace For A HISTORIC Season 👀 The Seahawks are clearly building a quarterback pipeline. Darnold is the present, but not necessarily the long-term answer. Milroe, while physically gifted, remains raw and inconsistent. If he flashes potential in his rookie season but fails to fully lock down the job, Seattle could find themselves looking for another developmental option next April. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 해외 대란 "특허성분" 바르자마자 주름/기미 안보인다!? 콜라겐 300배 "이것" 피부 재생 특허원료 Undo Holstein fits that mold—young, coachable, and with upside to eventually challenge for the starting role. Selecting another quarterback just a year after drafting Milroe could raise eyebrows. Teams typically give rookie quarterbacks more than one season to prove themselves, especially those taken in the top three rounds. If Milroe shows real growth, it's unlikely Seattle burns another Day 2 pick at the same position. Seattle has shown a willingness to stack talent at quarterback. With the NFL's increasing reliance on depth at the position and uncertainty around Darnold's long-term value, keeping options open makes strategic sense. Also Read: Joe Burrow opens up about how his childhood fashion was inspired by mom Robin in Netflix's Quarterback teaser In the end, Eli Holstein's development at Pittsburgh in 2025 will be key. If he puts together a breakout campaign, don't be surprised if his name starts buzzing in Seattle's draft war room come 2026. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.


Time of India
04-07-2025
- Time of India
'I didn't want to stop working': Nick Saban finds unexpected joy away from football Kristen Saban shares rare photo
'I didn't want to stop working': Nick Saban finds unexpected joy away from football Kristen Saban shares rare photo (Image via x) Nick Saban is, arguably, the most recognizable coach in college football history. With the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2007–2023, he coached for almost fifty years and claimed six national in January 2024, where he shocked many fans by announcing his retirement. Since then,there has been speculation over what he has been up to. While some know about his new role in sports media, a new update from his daughter Kristen Saban has revealed something unexpected about how he's spending his free time. What surprising hobby did Kristen Saban reveal about her father Nick Saban Kristen Saban recently shared something new about her dad on her Instagram story. She posted a photo of Nick Saban looking at boats and smiling. Along with the photo, she wrote that boating is one of the things he enjoys since retiring. For supporters, seeing Nick Saban in a more casual, less serious setting was wonderful. Seventy-two-year-old Nick Saban appears prepared to unwind with activities other than football and is spending more time with his family. The photograph was shot perhaps mid-2024, following his retirement. It does look like Saban is not only working in a media role but is attempting to relax and enjoy a pastime that he did not have the time to pursue while coaching. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Kristen Saban did not disclose the location of the photo, but there was a picture of her dad near a dock so it could have been Florida or the Gulf Coast where the family vacations. Also Read: Nick Saban Wins Sports Emmy For ESPN Debut, Proves He's As Elite Off The Field As On It How is Nick Saban staying active after retirement from Alabama football Nick Saban retired in January 2024 after 17 seasons with Alabama. After stepping away from the game, he joined ESPN's College GameDay crew for the 2024 season. In June 2024, he appeared on the podcast Pure Athlete and shared how important it was to have a plan after retiring. 'I didn't want to stop working,' Nick Saban said during the episode. 'I love coaching. But I also wanted to try new things. ESPN gave me a chance to stay close to football.' He also noted his interest in business, like working with Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Although Nick Saban might not be on the sidelines, he is hardly slowing down. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.