Two senior corners give the Iowa State defense a chance to make even more progress next season. Brian Peavy returns for his senior season after considering a jump to the NFL. He was a first team All Big-12 selection last season. He and fellow senior DeAndre Payne will be the leaders of the secondary. Peavy says the goal is to become the best secondary in the Big 12.

ISU was scheduled to hold its Spring game this Saturday, but it was cancelled due to the anticipated return of Winter weather.

(Learfield Sports)

The Iowa Hawkeyes are looking to post their punt game and punt return game in spring drills. The Hawkeyes ranked 13th in net punting last season and special teams coordinator LeVar Woods says there is competition for the punting job.

Colten Rastetter handled the majority of the punting chores last season and averaged just under 38 yards as a sophomore. Ryan Gersonde punted 13 times for an average of just over 42 yards as a freshman and Woods says he is trying to find the right style of. Woods says the two punters have contrasting styles.

Iowa is looking to find a spark in the punt return game. The Hawkeyes finished 10th in returns last year and averaged just over six yards per return. Woods says sophomore receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette has shined this spring in the return game. He caught 18 passes as a freshman. Iowa’s spring drills run through April 20th.

(Learfield Sports)

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo says he regrets his choice of words that set off St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina and triggered a benches-clearing incident. Lovullo came out of the dugout to argue with plate umpire Tim Timmons in St. Louis on Sunday, blaming the umpire for a called third strike he claimed was influenced by the All-Star catcher’s pitch framing. Lovullo used a profanity that set off Molina, and the manager was ejected.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — In his St. Louis debut, Greg Holland walked four batters in the 10th inning and forced home the go-ahead run that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 5-4 win over the Cardinals. The 32-year-old Holland, who tied for the NL lead with 41 saves for Colorado last season, was signed as a free agent on opening day. He walked two batters to begin the 10th. After a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk loaded the bases. The three-time All-Star closer then walked Orlando Arcia and was pulled.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jakob Junis carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning as the Kansas City Royals routed the Seattle Mariners 10-0. The Royals scored more runs off Marco Gonzales and the Seattle bullpen than they had in their past six games combined. Mike Moustakas homered and drove in a pair of runs to lead the offense.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State’s five-game improvement from 2016 to 2017 can be largely credited to a defense that was stingier by 10 points a game. The Cyclones are hoping to get even better this upcoming season _ and there are plenty of reasons to believe they can.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have added a veteran defensive lineman a day before kicking off their offseason program under new coach Mike Vrabel. The Titans agreed to terms on a deal with Bennie Logan. The 6-foot-2, 315-pound Logan has started 63 of his 74 games in the NFL with Philadelphia and Kansas City. He has 218 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered in his career.

AMES, Iowa – Due to poor weather conditions forecasted for the Ames area on Saturday, April 14, the 2018 Cyclone Gridiron Club Spring Football Game has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

“Coach Campbell and I mutually decided to cancel the Spring Game due to the anticipated weather for Saturday,” Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard said. “We know this will be disappointing for our fans and players. The football team will use Saturday as their final practice in a closed practice similar to this spring.”

Most of the other related activities surrounding the Spring Game are also cancelled (Cyclone Carnival, Jr. Cyclone Club Football Clinic, Cyclone Gridiron Club Tailgate).

Saturday night’s Cy’s House of Trivia will still take place. Doors open for the event in Hilton Coliseum at 5 p.m.

Iowa State opens its 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against South Dakota State in Jack Trice Stadium.

Iowa State has a seven-game home schedule in 2018, including five Big 12 contests: Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas State.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The United States men’s freestyle wrestling team defeated Azerbaijan 6-4 to win the gold medal match at the 2018 UWW World Cup on Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Kyle Snyder’s 14-3 technical superiority win at 97 kg clinched the dual for Team USA, giving the United States its first World Cup title since 2003, its eighth overall.

The United States was 4-0 in the two-day international dual meet championship, earning wins over Azerbaijan, Japan, Georgia, and India. Japan placed third at the tournament.

Team USA won 31 of 40 individual matches, and outscored its opponents 300-78 in total match points.

Complete results and standings from the UWW World Cup are available at hawkeyesports.com/ worldcupiowacity.

USA 6, AZERBAIJAN 4
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Giorgi Edisherashvili (Azerbaijan) decision over Thomas Gilman (USA), 8-7
61 kg/134 lbs. – Kendric Maple (USA) decision over Afgan Khashalov ( Azerbaijan), 6-2
65 kg/143 lbs. – Logan Stieber (USA) decision over Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 6-3
70 kg/154 lbs. – Joshgun Azimov (Azerbaijan)  decision over James Green (USA), 4-4
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) fall over Gasjimurad  Omarov (Azerbaijan), 3:15
79 kg/174 lbs. – Kyle Dake (USA) decision over Jabrayil Hasanov (Azerbaijan), 5-3
86 kg/189 lbs. – David Taylor (USA) tech fall over Aleksander Gostiev (Azerbaijan), 12-2
92 kg/202.5 lbs. – Aslanbek Alborov (Azerbaijan) decision over J’den Cox (USA), 4-4
97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyle Snyder (USA) tech fall over Roman Bakirov (Azerbaijan), 14-3
125 kg/275 lbs. – Jamaladdin Magomedov decision over Nick Gwiazdowski (USA), 4-3

Attendance Day 1: 6,388
Attendance Day 2: 6,378
Total: 12,766

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three Hawkeye home runs lifted the University of Iowa softball team to a 5-3 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday at Pearl Field. Iowa picked up the series sweep after winning both games of a doubleheader on Saturday.

The win gives Iowa its first Big Ten series victory this season and moves the Hawkeyes’ record to 18-17 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play.

Wisconsin opened the game with two runs in the first inning. The Badgers leadoff hitter doubled to left before a walk put two runners on. The pair eventually scored on a single to left by Melanie Cross.

Senior Allie Wood stepped to the plate as the leadoff hitter in the third inning for the Hawkeyes and sent a long ball over the fence in right center to put Iowa on the board.

Three at-bats later, freshman Aralee Bogar tied the game with a homer over the center field fence. The home run was the first of Bogar’s career.

“I didn’t see the ball any more, and when I realized it went over I was ecstatic,” said Bogar. “I’ve never hit one over the fence before. It was a great feeling and it was even better because I could do it for my team.”

With the game knotted at two runs in the fifth inning, Cross hit another RBI single to left to give Wisconsin the 3-2 advantage.

The bottom of the sixth began with sophomore McKenzie Schneider reaching base on a hit by pitch and advancing to second on a Bogar single. Senior Angela Schmiederer stepped to the plate as Iowa’s third batter of the inning and knocked her first home run of the season over the left field fence.

“Every time you get to round the bases and get a high five from Coach Looper is amazing,” said Schmiederer. “Jumping on home plate with all of my teammates surrounding me felt so good not only for myself but for my teammates as well.”

Sophomore pitcher Allison Doocy (11-8) collected the win. She allowed three runs on nine hits and threw six strikeouts in the contest. The Ankeny, Iowa, native tossed 18 strikeouts in two games against the Badgers this weekend.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — With snow falling in the bottom of the eighth inning, sophomore Grant Judkins hit a two-out RBI double down the left field line, sending the University of Iowa baseball 2-1 series-clinching victory over Ohio State on Sunday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.

“I was trying to put something in play and give us a chance to score,” said Judkins, whose early season has been hampered by a hamstring injury. “This is a crazy game and you just have to stay confident and locked in and be ready for when the opportunity comes.”

The victory gives the Hawkeyes their sixth straight Big Ten series win dating back to the 2017 season and moves Iowa’s record to 19-10 overall, 5-3 in league play.

The game was tied at one heading to the eighth when sophomore Kyle Crowl drew a two-out walk and sophomore Justin Jenkins followed with a single to left field.  Ohio State summoned closer Seth Kinker and Judkins went the other way, blooping a double down the left field line to give Iowa the lead.

The Hawkeyes struck first, scoring an unearned run in the second inning against starter Adam Niemeyer.  Senior Austin Guzzo was plunked to lead off the inning and Lorenzo Elion reached off a fielding error by the Buckeyes’ first baseman. Crowl delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Iowa a 1-0 lead.

The Buckeyes tied the game in the fourth on a solo home run from Noah McGowan.  It was the only run surrendered by junior starter Cole McDonald.  The right-hander went six innings, scattered three hits and had a career-high eight strikeouts.

“Cole gave us a really good start,” said UI Head Coach Rick Heller. “It has been a progression with him and today was a really good sign. He pitched in a tough situation last weekend against Illinois, similar to this weekend and I thought he was the best he has been as a Hawkeye.”

Junior reliever Zach Daniels (4-1) allowed one hit and fanned three over the final three innings. He struck out three.  Ohio State’s Kyle Michalik (0-1) suffered the loss.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Arizona manager Torey Lovullo complained about strike calls given because of pitch framing by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, setting off a benches-clearing incident in the Diamondbacks’ 4-1 win over St. Louis. Arizona opened the season with three straight series wins for the first time, and its 7-2 start matched the franchise best accomplished four previous times.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Yan Gomes hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Brandon Maurer in the ninth inning, lifting the Cleveland Indians to a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals in the coldest game in Progressive Field history. Gomes drove a 3-2 pitch barely over the 19-foot wall in left field, ending another tough day for Cleveland’s offense on a high note. Gomes was mobbed by his teammates at home plate after just the fourth hit of the day for the Indians.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The United States won wrestling’s World Cup for the first time in 15 years on Sunday, beating Azerbaijan in the final. The victory marked the second consecutive major international tournament won by the Americans, who won the team title at last year’s world championships.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have added a veteran defensive lineman a day before kicking off their offseason program under new coach Mike Vrabel. The Titans agreed to terms on a deal with Bennie Logan. The 6-foot-2, 315-pound Logan has started 63 of his 74 games in the NFL with Philadelphia and Kansas City. He has 218 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered in his career.