Barry Hinson says he isn’t going anywhere. Yesterday, through SMS Sports Information Director Mark Stillwell, Hinson indicated that he will remain the Bears head basketball coach. In an article from ESPN’s Any Katz, Hinson is mentioned as a possible candidate for the Baylor job, which was created when Dave Bliss resigned on Friday. Katz wrote “Other coaches have expressed interest in the position through intermediate sources like Samford’s Jimmy Tillette, Sam Houston State’s Bob Marlin, Southwest Missouri State’s Barry Hinson and Texas-Pan American’s Bob Hoffman.” Hinson says he never spoke with Katz and has no idea how the rumor was started.

Albert Pujols kept his hitting streak alive in dramatic fashion Sunday night, as the Cardinals topped the Braves 3-2 at Busch Stadium. With Atlanta holding a 2-1 lead, Eduardo Perez hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to tie the game. Perez’s two-out blast knocked Horacio Ramirez out of the game and marked John Smoltz first appearance in the series. Smoltz was quickly made the loser as Albert Pujols connected for the go-ahead run on Smoltz’s second pitch. In the ninth inning, Jason Isringhausen put the Braves down in order to earn his 11th save of the season. Pujols may have been responsible for the offensive play of the day, but Rafael Furcal had the most impressive performance. In the fifth inning, the Braves shortstop converted only the 12th unassisted triple play in the history of the Major Leagues. Woody Williams pitched seven innings and allowed two runs, but failed again to get his 15th win of the season. His last win was on July 26th against the Pirates. Cal Eldred was the winner, pitching the eighth inning and allowing a walk. The Cardinals remain two games behind the Astros in the American League Central.

The Royals scored five runs in the first inning and cruised to a 7-3 win over the Devil Rays. Raul Ibanez, Desi Relaford, and Mike DiFelice drove in runs to get Kansas City out to a 3-0 lead. Julios Matos stepped up with a two-run single to make it 5-0 Royals. In the fourth, Matos struck again with a solo home run to give Kansas City a 6-0 lead and Ibanez made it 7-0 with a single. Aubrey Huff was responsible for all three of the Devil Rays’ runs with an RBI double in the fourth inning and a two run double in the sixth. On the mound, Runelvys Hernandez lasted seven innings and allowed three runs, but improved to 7-4 on the season. Jeremy Affeldt allowed a run in the eighth and Al Levine was perfect in the ninth to close out the win. Kansas City has a half-game lead over the White Sox in the A.L. Central. The Royals open a three game series against the Yankees at Kauffman Stadium tonight.

The news surrounding the Missouri basketball program hasn’t been good lately. Between the Ricky Clemons saga and an allegation from his former girlfriend that Clemons received money, any good news is surely welcomed. They got it on Sunday. Marshall Brown, who is ranked as the eighth-best small forward in the nation by one publication, has given Mizzou a verbal commitment. Brown averaged 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game as a junior at L.B. Johnson High School in Austin Texas. He joins Kalen Grimes, who will be a senior at Hazelwood Central in St. Louis, as the other recruit to verbally commit. Both can sign official letters of intent in November.