Local Colleges

The Utah Valley women's softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Northern Colorado Wednesday at MSTAR Field, 10-2 and 6-3.

"It's still about learning how to battle and compete," said UVSC head coach Todd Fairboune said after the games. "They got it done and we didn't. I was proud that our girls were able to bring the tying run to the plate in the second game. We never gave up."

Heidi Stocks led the way offensively for Utah Valley, going 4-for-6 with one run scored on the day. Jessica Anderson also had two hits and three RBI, including her second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first game.

Utah Valley (12-32) will be in action again Friday in another doubleheader at home against Cal State Bakersfield, beginning at 2 p.m.

• Cougars host league-leading New Mexico: BYU welcomed MWC leader New Mexico to Miller Park for a three-game series starting tonight at 7 p.m.

The Lobos (27-19 overall, 11-4 MWC) have lost five straight non-MWC games over the past week. BYU (18-26, 6-9) is battling through an off year and is in danger of losing more games at home than any season since the opening of Larry H. Miller Field in 2001. The first game at Miller Park in 2001 was a 7-5 victory over New Mexico.

Lefty Jake Wortham (3-3, 6.72) will start tonight's game for BYU. Blake Torgerson (4-3, 7.04) will start Game 2 on Friday.

Bobby LaFromboise (4-2, 3.66) will start for UNM tonight, Jacob Norton (5-3, 6.36) on Friday and Stephen Smith (4-2, 4.55) on Saturday.

All of the BYU-UNM games will be televised live by BYUTV with Jay Monsen, Gary Sheide, Jarom Jordan and Kevin Schaefer calling the action. The games will also be broadcast live by Brent Norton over KSRR Radio (1400 AM).

• BYU volleyball signs three: Three highly regarded high school athletes have signed letters of intent to join the BYU women's volleyball program for the 2008 season.

The class includes setter Markelle Malone, a four-year all-conference honoree out of Durango High in Las Vegas, Nev.; Malia Marquardt, a decorated rightside from Vista High in Vista, Calif.; and middle blocker Nicole Warner, a first-team all-state selection at Rigby High in Rigby, Idaho.

The trio will be joining a Cougar team that finished last season ranked No. 12 nationally after a run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Malone will be a welcome addition at the setter spot after the loss of last year's starter, Amy Schlauder, while Warner complements an already talented front line for BYU consisting of All-American Rachel Dyer and Ashton Hansen and Marquardt could compete for time in the rightside position vacated by senior Erica Lott.

"We are extremely pleased with the quality of athletes that will be joining us on the court this fall," said BYU head coach Shay Goulding. "Without a doubt, this class of outstanding¬ young ladies will make significant contributions right away."

NHL Playoffs

Briere's goal gives Flyers 3-1 series lead

PHILADELPHIA -- Benching goalie Carey Price couldn't spark Montreal. Now Danny Briere and the Flyers are one win from ending the Canadiens' season.

Briere scored the winner on a rebound with 3:38 left to lift Philadelphia to a 4-2 win over the Canadiens on Wednesday night and a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Flyers, the worst team in the NHL last season, can eliminate the top-seeded Canadiens in Game 5 on Saturday night in Montreal.

The Canadiens gave Philadelphia a scare when Tomas Plekanec and Saku Koviu tied the score at 2-all on goals 37 seconds apart late in the third period.

Briere's eighth goal of the postseason was enough to send to Flyers to Montreal with a chance to win the series.

R.J. Umberger scored into an empty net in the final seconds, his second goal of the game.

• Sharks stay alive with win over Stars: At Dallas, it's back to the Shark Tank.

Milan Michalek scored San Jose's first power-play goal of the series with 16:34 left and the Sharks beat Dallas 2-1 on Wednesday night to avoid being swept in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Sharks were 0-for-4 on power plays in Game 4 before getting another chance early in the third period when Mike Modano drew a delay of game penalty for knocking a puck into the stands. Brian Campbell made a cross-ice pass to Joe Thornton, who then pushed the puck back to the front of the net, through the legs of Jonathan Cheehoo and onto Michalek's stick.

Sharks captain Patrick Marleau had tied the game with another short-handed goal, getting one after a turnover by Sergei Zubov for the second game in a row.

Game 5 is Friday night in San Jose, where the Stars won the first two games of the series. The visiting team has won 14 of the past 18 games between the Pacific Division rivals, dating to last season.

Horse Racing

Unbeaten Big Brown the 3-1 Derby favorite

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Big Brown's all in and so is the filly Eight Belles, a perfect combination for an intriguing 134th Kentucky Derby.

Unbeaten in three career starts, Florida Derby winner Big Brown was stamped the 3-1 favorite for Saturday's 1 1/4-mile Derby after drawing the far outside No. 20 post position. Eight Belles, taking on the boys for the first time, drew the No. 5 post and was 20-1 on the morning line set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

"I feel that if we run our race, and he breaks clean, I don't see a horse as of yet that can beat Big Brown," trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said Wednesday. "I just don't see it. I don't want to see it, either."

The only Derby winner to leave from the No. 20 post was Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.

"We prefer just to break on the outside," Dutrow said. "We get assured of a clean trip. If he breaks good, we figure it's to our advantage. We had a few choices and felt we took the best shot."

Colonel John, the best 3-year-old in the West, was the second betting choice at 4-1. Pyro, a one-time Derby favorite, was next at 6-1 in the full 20-horse field. Every other horse was 15-1 or higher.

Pyro leaves from the No. 9 post and Colonel John from No. 10.

Michael Matz, the trainer of 2006 Derby winner Barbaro, is back in the Derby with Visionaire, a 20-1 long shot. The colt drew the No. 8 post -- the same post Barbaro left from.

Big Brown and Eight Belles each have their own history to overcome if they are to win America's greatest race.

For the lightly raced Big Brown, it's inexperience: The last Derby winner with just three previous career starts was the filly Regret in 1915; and only two winners in the past 60 years have overcome just two 3-year-old preps, Sunny's Halo in 1983 and Street Sense last year.

For Eight Belles, it's the competition: A filly hasn't run in the Derby since 1999, and only three have won, with Winning Colors the last to do so in 1988.

Big Brown will be ridden by two-time Derby winner Kent Desormeaux; Derby rookie Gabriel Saez has the call on Eight Belles, who brings a four-race winning streak into the Run for the Roses.

The field, from the rail out: Cool Coal Man (20-1), Tale of Ekati (15-1), Anak Nakal (30-1), Court Vision (20-1), Eight Belles (20-1), Z Fortune (15-1), Big Truck (50-1), Visionaire (20-1), Pyro (6-1), Colonel John (4-1), Z Humor (30-1), Smooth Air (20-1), Bob Black Jack (20-1), Monba (15-1), Adriano (30-1), Denis of Cork (20-1), Cowboy Cal (20-1), Recapturetheglory (20-1), Gayego (15-1) and Big Brown (3-1).

MLS

RSL takes step toward Open Cup berth

SALT LAKE CITY -- Real Salt Laketook their first step to securin g a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup berth by defeating the San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Thanks to Kyle Beckerman's two goals, RSL got an early lead and never looked back in a dominant 4-0 victory.

Real now plays the Columbus Crew in the next Open Cup "play-in" match on May 27.