Sports
Luis Severino seeks better outcome vs. former team as A's host Yankees
May 16, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Luis Severino (40) stands on the field during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Luis Severino seeks a top-flight effort against his former club on Friday night when the Athletics host the New York Yankees at West Sacramento, Calif.
Severino was employed by the Yankees from 2015-23, and the right-hander has been treated rudely by his former teammates in three starts. He is 0-2 with a 10.66 ERA and has been torched for 17 runs (15 earned) and 18 hits in just 12 2/3 innings.
The best of those outings was in the Bronx on April 8 of this year, when he gave up two runs and four hits over five innings in a no-decision of a game the A’s won 3-2. He struck out seven and tied a season high with five walks.
Both his 2025 starts against the Yankees were disasters. He gave up eight runs and nine hits over four-plus innings of a 12-2 loss on May 11 in Northern California and allowed seven runs (five earned) and five hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 12-5 loss in New York on June 29.
In the latter game, Severino allowed homers to Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Chisholm is 5-for-11 with two homers and Judge is 4-for-8 with the one blast against Severino.
Severino, 32, will be well-rested for this latest battle as his start was pushed back three days. He was slated to pitch Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, but the Athletics called up prized prospect Gage Jump and then moved up Jeffrey Springs to Wednesday.
The Athletics were off Thursday after being swept in three games by the Mariners and falling out of first place in the American League West.
Severino (2-5, 4.23 ERA) will be looking to halt a four-game winless stretch when he takes the ball Friday.
Severino struck out a season-high 10 and didn’t walk anyone against the Los Angeles Angels on May 21 but had to settle for a no-decision in the Athletics’ 3-2, 10-inning win. He gave up two runs and three hits over seven innings.
Severino lost three straight outings before the stellar work against the Angels.
The Athletics took two of three in New York in April but aren’t playing solid baseball entering the rematch. They have dropped five of their past six games and were outscored 22-4 while being swept by Seattle.
“We gave away too many free runs,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “When you give away free runs and get behind a good team that has a good pitching staff, it makes it really difficult to win baseball games.”
New York arrives with a four-game winning streak, including a three-game sweep of the host Royals in which the Yankees outscored Kansas City 26-4.
New York rolled to a 15-1 victory on Tuesday and followed up with a 7-0 win behind veteran Gerrit Cole in the right-hander’s second start since returning from Tommy John surgery.
Cole struck out 10 and gave up four hits over 6 2/3 innings. Judge kept a run off the ledger by throwing out Kansas City’s Michael Massey at the plate in the third inning.
“All I was thinking was, ‘Don’t let this guy score,'” Judge told reporters. “Especially Gerrit coming back, second game, it’s a tight game. I know if we stop them from scoring there, they’re probably not going to score the rest of the game. Just trying to do my job.”
Left-hander Carlos Rodon (0-2, 4.15) makes his fourth start for the Yankees after undergoing offseason elbow surgery.
Rodon, 33, lost to the Toronto Blue Jays on May 21 when he gave up one run and three hits over five innings.
Rodon is 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA in nine career starts against the A’s. Shea Langeliers is 4-for-8 against Rodon, while Brent Rooker is 1-for-12 with five strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Randal Grichuk helps White Sox continue dominance of Twins
May 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin (65) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Randal Grichuk delivered a bases-clearing double to punctuate a four-run third and Davis Martin worked six strong innings to lift the host Chicago White Sox to a 6-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
Chicago out-hit Minnesota 8-5 to take three of four and win its fifth straight home series.
The White Sox have won nine of their past 10 games against Minnesota dating to last season.
After starting 4-1 on a 10-game road trip, the Twins were outscored 21-4 over the final two games at Rate Field.
Martin matched Cleveland’s Gavin Williams for the American League lead in victories, improving to 8-1 with his fourth win in five May starts. The right-hander contributed his fourth quality start during that span, spacing one run and two hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Tristan Peters had three hits and an RBI for the White Sox while Colson Montgomery added two hits and an RBI. Montgomery’s run-scoring single in the first inning gave Chicago an early lead after Miguel Vargas walked and stole second with two out.
More two-out success helped the White Sox put the game away in the third. Two walks and a single loaded the bases ahead of Peters’ RBI single against Twins right-hander Simeon Woods-Richardson. Grichuk put the game out of reach one batter later, hitting an opposite-field three-run double to chase the Minnesota starter.
Woods-Richardson (0-7) allowed five runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four. Five Twins combined for 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run relief.
Martin retired the first seven batters he faced before Tristan Gray’s one-out single in the third. Gray doubled and scored on Ryan Kreidler groundout in the fifth.
Victor Caratini added an RBI sacrifice fly for Minnesota in the seventh.
Twins leadoff hitter Byron Buxton reached base on a walk and single.
Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami contributed an RBI single in the fourth. He had five hits — including three home runs — and five RBIs in the series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
UCF extends coach Johnny Dawkins through 2028-29
Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCF Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins conducts a press conference during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images UCF coach Johnny Dawkins agreed to a three-year deal through the 2028-29 season, the school announced Thursday.
Dawkins, 62, guided the Knights to a second consecutive 20-win season in 2025-26 as well as appearances in the Top 25 poll and the NCAA Tournament.
“Johnny has led our men’s basketball program with outstanding poise and class,” athletic director Terry Mohajir said. “The stability and continuity he has provided have been, in my opinion, a major reason for the program’s growth. As a result, we’re excited to extend his contract. He is a strong leader and an outstanding role model for our young men. Johnny is highly deserving of this extension, and we’re excited about the future of UCF men’s basketball under his leadership.”
Dawkins reportedly had the lowest salary among Big 12 coaches last season at $2.1 million.
Dawkins has compiled a 189-132 record in 10 seasons at UCF, overseeing the Orlando-area school’s transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 Conference in 2023-24. His team also reached the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
The Knights were 21-12 last season, appearing at No. 25 in the Associated Press poll on Jan. 5. As a No. 10 seed, they lost to No. 7 seed UCLA 75-71 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
“What we accomplished this season was a testament to the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches and staff as we continue establishing ourselves in the Big 12,” Dawkins said. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about where this program is headed. UCF has become home for my family, and I’m committed to continuing to build a program that our university and fans can be proud of.”
Dawkins was 156-115 with one NCAA Tournament appearance in eight seasons at Stanford from 2008-16, leading the Cardinal to NIT championships in 2011-12 and 2014-15. His overall record is 345-247.
Dawkins was a two-time All-American point guard and the Naismith National Player of the Year during a decorated career at Duke from 1982-86. A first-round pick (10th overall) by San Antonio in 1986, he played nine NBA seasons with the Spurs (1986-89), Philadelphia 76ers (1989-94) and Detroit Pistons (1994-95).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tennessee rides Elsa Morrison HR, tames Texas bats
Tennessee Lady Volunteers catcher Elsa Morrison (22) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning during a Women’s College World Series softball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 28, 2026. Tennessee won 6-3. Freshman Elsa Morrison smashed the first pitch she saw over the center field fence for a three-run home run in the second inning and Tennessee beat defending national champion Texas 6-3 in the Women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon.
Sage Mardjetko (15-2) got the win for Tennessee in four shutout innings and muted the high-powered Texas offense. She has 16 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings this postseason.
SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart went hitless for the Longhorns in three at-bats.
Morrison doubled off the top of the wall in the sixth and was 2-for-3 despite missing her second homer by a narrow margin.
Taelyn Holley scored two runs for Tennessee, which avenged a 2-0 loss to Texas in the 2025 WCWS semifinals.
Morrison’s heroics are becoming expected. She belted a tiebreaking homer to sink Northern Kentucky in the regional opener and now has seven homers this season.
Texas cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth. After Gold Glove senior catcher and cleanup hitter Reese Atwood got Texas on the board, second baseman Leighann Goode delivered with two outs. She roped a two-run home run to center field off the Volunteers’ Karlyn Pickens, who was clocked at a record 78 mph — the equivalent of 109 mph from an MLB regulation pitching mound.
Pickens and Tennessee (48-10) advance to meet Texas Tech and starter NiJaree Canady on Friday for a spot in the semifinals. The Red Raiders won 8-0 in five innings in the WCWS opener Thursday.
The Longhorns will face Mississippi State, which managed two hits and zero runs Thursday against Texas Tech, in an elimination game.
–Field Level Media
Randal Grichuk helps White Sox continue dominance of Twins
UCF extends coach Johnny Dawkins through 2028-29
