In brief

UF halts FSU's win streak at 16

GAINESVILLE -- C.J. Smith hit two home runs and drove in five, helping Florida defeat Florida State 9-8 on Sunday.

The loss ended FSU's 16-game winning streak.

UF (13-4) chased starter Eddie Cannon with four runs in the first and four more in the third, taking an 8-0 lead. FSU (19-2) rallied with five in the sixth, highlighted by Eddy Martinez-Esteve's three-run double.

COLLEGES: Report: McPherson may have bet on FSU to lose

Former FSU quarterback Adrian McPherson might have bet on his team to lose games, including his fourth and final start against North Carolina State, a state law enforcement official told the Orlando Sentinel.

"There is conflicting evidence as to whether (McPherson) bet for or against his own team," assistant state attorney Paul Driver told the newspaper in Friday's editions.

McPherson was benched during a 17-7 loss at North Carolina State on Nov. 23, going 8-of-20 for 80 yards.

The 19-year-old out of Bradenton was charged with gambling thousands of dollars via the Internet on pro and college games, including his team. He already faces four felonies and a misdemeanor in two other pending cases, one involving the theft, forgery and cashing of a $3,500 check. The gambling charge is a second-degree misdemeanor.

BASEBALL: Jeff Baisley had three extra-base hits including a three-run homer in the third to pace host USF to a 10-4 win over Siena.

HIT STREAK TIED: Salve Regina's Damian Costantino matched Robin Ventura's NCAA-record 58-game hitting streak with hits in both ends of a doubleheader against Wesley (Md.) College in a tournament in Cape Coral. Costantino is a 24-year-old outfielder from Warwick, R.I. Ventura set the mark for Oklahoma State in 1987. Costantino goes for the record today when the Newport, R.I., school faces Mount Union (Ohio).

HOCKEY: Merrimack goalie Joe Exter remained hospitalized and in serious condition, 48 hours after sustaining a serious head injury in a collision with a Boston College player. Exter was carried off the ice Friday after he left the crease chasing a loose puck and was hit by Eagles forward Patrick Eaves.

TENNIS: Agassi pulls out

Andre Agassi became the latest American to withdraw from the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Calif., joining reigning U.S. Open champion Pete Sampras. Agassi said he has a right shoulder injury.

HORSES: Peace Rules rolls to win

Trainer Bobby Frankel is on the Kentucky Derby trail a week earlier than he thought. Holding off Kafwain, the Frankel-trained Peace Rules won the $750,000 Louisiana Derby in New Orleans to emerge as one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby. "I thought if he finished third he'd run a good race," said Frankel, who will saddle highly regarded Empire Maker in the $1-million Florida Derby on Saturday.

BOWLING: Ocala man wins title

Walter Ray Williams Jr. bowled a 226, beating Brian Kretzer for the PBA world championship in Taylor, Mich. Williams won his 37th PBA title and earned $120,000 to increase his season winnings to $419,600, the first player to break $400,000.

PARIMUTUELS:

GREYHOUNDS: Rooftop Moby and WW Unjinx Me will represent Derby Lane on Friday in the $75,000 Hollywood World Classic Open Stakes. ... Saturday is the first of four qualifying heats for the $100,000 Distance Classic stakes at the St. Petersburg track. The final is March 29.

ET CETERA

IDITAROD: Norwegian Robert Sorlie maintained his lead in the in the Alaskan sled dog race after stopping for less than 20 minutes while the other leaders rested.

CYCLING: Lance Armstrong finished 32nd in the Tour of Murcia in Spain, a tuneup for his attempt at a fifth straight Tour de France title.

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