the NCAA Division II championship game in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Carson-Newman reached

SAN FRANCISCO -- After nearly 4 hours and more than 350 pitches in a topsy-turvy game that featured nearly as may momentum swings as big hits, Oakland closer Ryan Madson said the only games he enjoyed more in his career were when he won a championship.This game might have lacked the stakes of October baseball but not the drama.Pinch-hitter Jake Smolinski hit a go-ahead, three-run homer during Oaklands five-run eighth inning and Madson survived a dicey ninth for a six-out save that carried the Athletics to a 13-11 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.It was a whirlwind game, Madson said. That was the funnest game Ive been a part of for a long time -- maybe minus just the two clinching games in the World Series. This was No. 3 probably.The As overcame a pair of three-run deficits by scoring four runs in the sixth and five in the eighth to win their second straight game in the Bay Bridge Series.Khris Davis hit his 19th homer, and Stephen Vogt, Billy Butler and Josh Phegley each drove in two runs to help the As finish a 5-1 trip that started with three wins in four games against the Angels. This was Oaklands most successful road trip of at least four games since also going 5-1 in September 2013.But it didnt come easy even after the As scored three insurance runs in the ninth to stake Madson to a four-run lead. Back-to-back homers by Jarrett Parker and Denard Span to open the inning cut that advantage in half.But with Sean Doolittle unavailable because of soreness, Madson had to stay in. Angel Pagan then drew a walk before Madson got Brandon Belt to fly out and struck out Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford to end his 43-pitch outing and the game.That was some game, so many different swings, As manager Bob Melvin said. To get two innings out of Madson like that was Herculean.Crawford had three hits and five RBI for the Giants, including a bases-loaded triple that put San Francisco up 8-5 in the sixth.But the bullpen couldnt hold it, giving up 10 runs in 3 1/3 innings.Theyre big boys, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. They have to deal with this like all of us do. Theyre going to have their moments. Theyve really done a good job. This was one of those wild games. You have one of these games once in a while. Hopefully you come out on top but we didnt.Cory Gearrin walked the first two batters in the eighth before allowing an RBI single to Marcus Semien. Javier Lopez (0-2) entered and was saved when Span made a spectacular running catch to rob Phegley of a potential tying extra-base hit.The reprieve lasted just one batter as Smolinski followed with the drive into the left-field seats that put Oakland up 9-8.Jed Lowrie added an RBI single later in the inning and Phegley hit a two-run double in the ninth for some insurance.Zach Neal (1-1) pitched one inning for his first major league win.The Giants broke out to a 4-1 lead before the teams traded four-run frames in the sixth. Oakland went ahead when Vogt hit a two-run double off reliever George Kontos and Butler delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single after an error by third baseman Conor Gillaspie extended the inning.But Gillaspie led off the bottom half with one of his four hits and scored the tying run on Spans double. Later in the inning, Crawford made the As pay for intentionally walking Posey by hitting a three-run double that put San Francisco up 8-5.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: OF Josh Reddick returned from a DL stint for a broken left thumb and went 1 for 6. ... LHP Rich Hill is expected to return to the rotation Saturday against Pittsburgh. He has been out since injuring his groin May 29.Giants: 2B Joe Panik was scratched from the lineup with symptoms of a possible head injury. Panik was hit by a pitch June 18 by Tampa Bays Matt Moore and passed three days of tests after that. He complained of symptoms after Mondays game, leading to more tests. The Giants will decide Wednesday if Panik needs to be placed on the DL.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Sean Manaea (2-4) returns from a DL stint for a strained forearm to take the mound when the series shifts to Oakland for the final two games.Giants: Jake Peavy (4-6) looks to keep up his strong pitching of late. Peavy has a 1.91 ERA in his past six starts after beginning the year with a 1-5 record and 8.21 ERA in his first nine outings. Thomas Welsh Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Tyler Lydon Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.nuggetsprostore.com/kids-alex-english-nuggets-jersey/ . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Malik Beasley Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Denver Nuggets Jerseys . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Carson-Newman Eagles coach Ken Sparks has retired, ending a 37-season career in which he won 338 games to rank fifth on the NCAAs all-time list.Its been an unbelievable journey, Sparks said Monday during a news conference at the athletic complex that has been named after him.The only coaches with more career wins are John Gagliardi (489), Joe Paterno (409), Eddie Robinson (408) and Bobby Bowden (377). Sparks went 338-99-2 and had the most wins of any active coach.Sparks, 72, had continued coaching even after announcing in 2012 that he had cancer.Every day is a celebration, Sparks said Monday. I am at peace with this decision.On Tuesday, Carson-Newman?promoted offensive coordinator Mike Turner to succeed Sparks as head coach.?Turner is a former Carson-Newman center who graduated in 1973. He had his first stint as Carson-Newmans offensive coordinator from 1987-91 before leaving to take a high school head coaching job. Turner took over as Carson-Newmans offensive coordinator again in 1995 and had been there ever since.Before Carson-Newman entered the NCAA ranks in 1993, Sparks led the Eagles to five NAIA nationall championships -- in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989.dddddddddddd Carson-Newman was an NAIA runner-up in 1987 and lost in the NCAA Division II championship game in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Carson-Newman reached the Division II semifinals in 2009.Sparks teams won 21 South Atlantic Conference championships and earned 25 NCAA or NAIA playoff appearances.Carson-Newman went 4-7 this year, only the second losing season in Sparks career.Sparks was inducted into the inaugural NCAA Division II Hall of Fame coaches class in 2010 along with Northwest Missouri States Mel Tjeerdsma and West Alabamas Bobby Wallace. Sparks also is in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame.This is a day that none of us looked forward to as Carson-Newman football fans and supporters, but its a day we honor and a day we rejoice in, Carson-Newman athletic director Allen Morgan said. Its a day we honor Ken and the legacy he is leaving for how he has touched young mens lives in a way far greater than wins on a football field. ' ' '