SPORTS digest

Megan Turner homers for Kent State in NISC

Lynchburg, Va.

Kent State first baseman and former Champion star Megan Turner homered in the Golden Flashes’ 7-2 win over George Washington (43-17) in the second round of the National Invitational Softball Championship.

Kent State (28-24) jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Turner hit a two-run home run to left-center in the bottom of the third inning. Turner finished 1 for 2 with a walk.

The Golden Flashes will play Liberty today in the third round of the tournament.

Bruins sweep ‘Canes in Eastern Conference

RALEIGH, N.C.

Tuukka Rask posted his seventh career playoff shutout, and the Boston Bruins swept the Carolina Hurricanes out of the Eastern Conference final, winning 4-0 on Thursday night to reach their third Stanley Cup Final in nine years.

Rask made 24 saves in his second straight series-clinching shutout. Patrice Bergeron scored two goals, David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists and Brad Marchand added an empty-netter. Both Bergeron and Pastrnak scored on second-period power plays.

The Bruins won their seventh straight postseason game — their longest playoff winning streak in nearly half a century — to return to the Cup final after winning it in 2011 and losing to Chicago two years later.

On its longest postseason win streak since reeling off nine straight in 1972.

Warriors rally, hold off Trail Blazers in Game 2

OAKLAND, Calif.

Stephen Curry scored 37 points, and the Golden State Warriors rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit before holding off the Portland Trail Blazers for a 114-111 win Thursday night and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

CJ McCollum missed a driving jumper with 32 seconds left and Draymond Green scored on the other end for the Warriors, giving Portland one final chance with 12.3 seconds to go. Andre Iguodala then blocked a 3-point attempt by Damian Lillard on the left wing.

Seth Curry, Steph’s little brother, put Portland ahead on a 3-pointer with 1:03 left before Kevon Looney’s dunk on the other end put Golden State back on top at 112-111.

Stephen Curry posted his third straight 30-point performance while Klay Thompson scored 13 of his 24 points in the Warriors’ 39-point third quarter.

NFL suspends Peterson for PED violation

TEMPE, Ariz.

Arizona Cardinals All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson has been suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

The NFL did not specify Thursday which illegal substance Peterson allegedly used.

Peterson can participate in all offseason workouts and preseason games. He will be eligible to return Oct. 14, before Arizona’s game against the New York Giants.

Peterson apologized to fans and his teammates at his foundation’s charity event Thursday night, saying he knew about the suspension for “months.” He did not elaborate further.

Peterson is a three-time All-Pro and he holds the franchise record with eight Pro Bowl appearances, a streak that will come to an end with his suspension. Under league rules, no player who was suspended for violation of PED policy can play in the Pro Bowl.

49ers sign rookie DB Alex Brown to deal

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

The San Francisco 49ers have signed defensive back Alex Brown to a three-year deal.

The Niners waived defensive lineman Damontre Moore on Thursday to make room on the roster.

Brown was signed after participating in the team’s rookie minicamp earlier this month as an undrafted free agent from South Carolina State.

Moore originally signed with the 49ers as a free agent in April after playing in the Alliance of American Football.

Staff/wire report