Sports: Tigers Win with 8-Run 8th Inning

Miguel Cabrera had two hits to raise his spring average to .571 as the Tigers beat the Braves 10-7 in Lakeland, scoring 8 runs in the 8^th inning. Jordan Zimmerman started and pitched well, but Anibal Sanchez was hammered, giving up three runs, four hits and a walk in one inning. . The Tigers play the Yankees in Tampa today.

(Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

March 6: First game of World Baseball Classic

March 20-22: WBC Finals at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

April 1: Final Grapefruit League game vs. Marlins at Jupiter, Fla., 12:05 p.m.

April 3: Opening Day at the. Chicago White Sox.

WMU Linebacker Spillane Leaving Kalamazoo

WMU junior linebacker Robert Spillane is leaving the Broncos for parts unknown. A tweet on the team’s twitter page confirmed that Spillane will be giving up his scholarship at Western and leaving the school. Spillane is eligible to transfer to another program, but would have to sit out a year unless granted an exemption by the NCAA. Spillane was the Bronco’s leading tackler last season.

Men’s College Basketball

It’s the final week of the regular season for the Spartans and Wolverine men’s basketball teams, as both hope to win their final two games on the road and then get an invite into the NCAA tournament.

Michigan beat Purdue on Saturday and is on the road this week at Northwestern and Nebraska. The Wolverines have a day off today, before the Northwestern game. Both teams are 9-7.

The MSU Spartans are 10-6 in Big Ten play. The have won six of their last eight games, moving them into a third-place tie with Maryland. Minnesota is also 10-6, followed by Northwestern and Michigan at 9-7. Purdue and Wisconsin are first and second.

MSU travels to Illinois on Wednesday. Broadcast time is 8pm on 95.3 WBCK. State will also be on the road at Maryland on Saturday.

Kansas is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college basketball poll. Villanova remained second despite losing to Butler last week. UCLA moved up from fifth to third. Gonzaga fell to fourth after losing its first game of the season, an upset by BYU on Saturday.

North Carolina moved from eighth to fifth and was followed by Oregon, Arizona, Louisville, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Women’s Basketball

UConn remains the No. 1 team in AP women's basketball poll. Baylor, Notre Dame, Maryland and South Carolina follow UConn.

KCC 59, Glen Oaks 32.

Pistons/NBA

The Pistons host Portland tonight and head to New Orleans on Wednesday. Detroit is in 8^th place in the Conference, with 22 games to play in the regular season.

Red Wings

The Red Wings get back into action tonight after a week off. The Wings are out west to play Vancouver, in the first of a five-game road trip.

The Red Wings have signed defenseman Nick Jensen to a two-year deal, counting $812,500 against the salary cap each season. The 26 year old Jensen has three goals and eight points in 27 games this season. They drafted him eight years ago out of St. Cloud State.

Detroit is tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for last place in the Eastern Conference, making it likely the franchise will not earn a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 1990. There are 20 games left in the regular season. Detroit will have to leap frog eight teams and make up an 11 point deficit in 20 games to make it in.

Steelers Designate Bell as Franchise Player

The Pittsburgh Steelers have put the exclusive franchise tag on All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell to gain some time in working out a lifetime deal for 25-year-old star. The Steelers have until July 15 to reach an agreement with the former Spartan star on a new contract. If not, he will make the average salary of the top five running backs in the league in 2017.

Girls Basketball District

Lakeview 58, Loy Norrix 23. Emily Eldridge had 13 and 12 rebounds.

Coldwater 62, Battle Creek Central 23

Athens 54, Marshall Academy 2. Jaiden Hurst had 14.

Litchfield 57, Jackson Christian 55.

Olivet 51, Stockbridge 36. Logan Kyre with 23.

Springport 65, Delton 42.

Bronson 65, Quincy 61. Payton Hines with 15.

Boys Basketball

Leslie 52, Maple Valley 28

Battle Creek Central (16-3) @ Lakeview (6-13) on WBCK.

Harper Creek (11-8) @ Sturgis (14-4)