COLLEGE: UNC hands Hokies 2nd straight loss
In Blacksburg, Va., Casey Barth kicked a 21-yard field goal on the final play and North Carolina stopped No. 14 Virginia Tech all night in a 20-17 victory. The Tar Heels (5-4, 1-3 ACC) got their first conference win after forcing a fumble by Ryan Williams at his own 24 with 2:02 left. The Hokies (5-3, 3-2) lost their second straight.
NFL: Titans to start Young on Sunday
Titans coach Jeff Fisher announced that the 0-6 Titans will start Vince Young at quarterback against the Jaguars on Sunday, benching veteran Kerry Collins. Fisher said it was an organizational decision resulting from the team’s winless start and that he won’t play musical chairs with the position.
* Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu went on injured reserve after surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle. . . . Saints fullback Heath Evans has a torn right ACL that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
MLB: Pujols: I want to stay in St. Louis
Cardinals superstar Albert Pujols said he wants to stay in St. Louis. “The fans know and the Cardinals know that I want to be a Cardinal for my whole career,” Pujols said. “I love this city. The way that this city has embraced me and my family.”
Pujols has one year left on his contract plus an option year. The two-time NL MVP said he wanted the Cardinals to concentrate on signing Matt Holliday and other free agents.
* The Orioles declined their $8 million option on Melvin Mora, allowing him to become eligible for free agency.
NHL: Penguins’ Malkin out 2-3 weeks
NHL scoring champion Evgeni Malkin will be lost to the Penguins for two to three weeks because of a strained right shoulder. The injury will end Malkin’s streak of 254 consecutive regular-season games played.
* In Atlanta, Alex Ovechkin scored twice to add to his NHL-leading total and the first-place Capitals held on to hand the Thrashers their fourth straight loss, 4-3.
ETC.: Bulls charge past Spurs
In Chicago, Derrick Rose scored 13 points and had seven assists to lead the balanced Bulls to an impressive 92-85 season-opening victory over the Spurs. Chicago pulled away in the second half despite Tim Duncan‘s 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Spurs.
* In Doha, Qatar, Serena Williams became the first player to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships after defeating Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-4 for her third straight win in the round-robin.
* Mercury star Diana Taurasi pleaded guilty to a drunken-driving charge stemming from her July arrest and spent a day in jail after a judge suspended nine days of her sentence.
* NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger was arrested in Mooresville, N.C., on a charge of drunken driving.
* In Port St. Lucie, Fla., Long Island pro Darrell Kestner of Deepdale shot a 6-under 66 to share the first-round lead with Chris Starkjohann and Mickeyh Yokoi at the Senior PGA Professional National Championship.