football

Patriots expected to sign tackle Knighton, per report

Nose tackle Terrance Knighton has agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the New England Patriots, ESPN reported Thursday.

Knighton tweeted earlier in the day that he had made a decision, then later posted a picture of himself wearing a Patriots helmet.

Knighton had also been considering a return to Washington, where he spent the 2015 season and had 29 tackles in 15 games. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos.

n Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s $11.9 million 2016 contract became guaranteed when the San Francisco 49ers kept him on the roster.

n Tight end Vernon Davis tweeted that he is joining Washington, his hometown team. The 10-year veteran finished last season with the Broncos after a trade from San Francisco.

COLLEGES

SOFTBALL: The University of Southern Maine (11-3) swept Bates (0-12) in a doubleheader at Gorham, winning by scores of 13-5 and 9-1.

Mary Caron had three hits and scored three runs for USM in the opener, and Courtney Davis had two hits, two RBI and two runs.

In the second game, Taylor Lux had four hits and scored three runs for the Huskies.

n The University of New England (11-3) swept St. Joseph’s (5-7) in a doubleheader at Standish, 2-0 and 11-7.

Andrea Gosper hit a two-run homer, and Sophia Burnham, Sydnee Bessler and Melissa Sprague combined on a three-hitter in the opener for the Nor’easters (11-3).

In the second game, Amanda Vallante and Kelly Murphy hit RBI singles for UNE (11-3) in a four-run eighth.

BASEBALL: Taylor Reuillard had three hits with an RBI, Joey Murphy had two hits and two RBI, and St. Joseph’s (7-7) used a two-run sixth inning to take the lead in a 5-2 win over Husson (6-7) at Bangor.

n Pinch-hitter Matt Garcia singled home Andrew Currier for the go-ahead run in the eighth, and Colby (4-8) debuted its synthetic turf field with a 7-6 win over UM-Farmington (8-4) in a game moved up from Monday.

MEN’S HOCKEY: Michigan freshman forward Kyle Connor, Boston College junior goalie Thatcher Demko and Harvard senior forward Jimmy Vesey are the finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey’s top player.

The winner will be announced April 8.

GOLF

PGA: Charley Hoffman birdied half the holes on the Golf Club of Houston course and had just one bogey in a first-round-best 8-under 64 at the Shell Houston Open.

LPGA: Ai Miyazato birdied four of the first six holes and shot a 5-under 67 in perfect conditions to take the early lead in the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage, California.

TENNIS

MIAMI OPEN: Victoria Azarenka reached the final at Key Biscayne, Florida, by beating No. 2-seeded Angelique Kerber 6-2, 7-5. She’ll face Svetlana Kuznetsova, who erased 12 of 14 break points in a 7-5, 6-3 win over Timea Bacsinszky.

n Kei Nishikori overcame five match points and beat Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the men’s quarterfinals. He’ll play No. 24 Nick Kyrgios, who beat No. 12 Milos Raonic, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

HOCKEY

AHL: Pirates forward Shane Harper was named the team’s AHL Man of the Year for his contributions to the Portland community. Harper was cited for his involvement with local schools and his work with local children with illnesses.

– From staff and news services

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