NW Sports from the AP

Date: 03/29/2013 05:30 AM

NW–1st SportsMinute/310
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The 12th-seeded Oregon Ducks (28-8) have reached the regional semifinals for the first time since 2007, and their reward is a date with Louisville. The Cardinals (31-5) looked every bit the overall top seed in their first two games, routing North Carolina A&T and Colorado State by an average of 28.5 points while forcing 47 turnovers. Oregon and Louisville will play Friday night.

MESA, Ariz. (AP) – Kelly Shoppach hit a two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning, spoiling the Chicago Cubs’ final game at HoHoKam Stadium by leading the Seattle Mariners to a 6-4 victory on Thursday. Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run home run in the third innings off Mariners’ No. 2 starter Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma was scheduled to throw 80 pitches but came out after four innings because of a dry skin patch on his fingertips. He said through an interpreter that it happens every spring and it was nothing to be worried about.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Ken Bone will return as men’s basketball coach at Washington State next season. Bone said yesterday that he had a meeting with athletic director Bill Moos on Wednesday and was told he will return to lead the Cougars for a fifth season. Bone had been on the hot seat after the Cougars finished 13-19, and just 4-14 in the Pac-12. It was Bone’s first losing season with the team.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Drake has hired Gonzaga assistant Ray Giacoletti (JACK’-oh-let-ee) as its new basketball coach. Giacoletti has worked under coach Mark Few for the past six seasons. Giacoletti is perhaps best known for his three-year tenure at Utah. The Utes went 54-40 under Giacoletti, who previously spent four seasons as the head coach at Eastern Washington.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.