yards to the Minnesota 25 before hooking up with Sasser for

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates have hired Jeff Branson as hitting coach and added Jeff Livesey to the major league coaching staff. Branson replaces Jay Bell, who left the organization last week to take a job with the Cincinnati Reds. Branson worked with Bell last season to implement the teams hitting program. The Pirates won 94 games to make the playoffs for the first time in 21 years but struggled offensively. Pittsburgh hit just .245 on the season and finished in the bottom half of the NL in several offensive categories. Branson played nine seasons in the majors between Cincinnati, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Dodgers before retiring in 2001. Livesey spent the last three years as Pittsburghs minor league hitting co-ordinator. . Cheap Salomon Online . Alexander was released last week by the Edmonton Eskimos, where he spent the past three seasons at safety. He had 121 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles and seven interceptions in 51 regular-season and three playoff games. Salomon Sale Uk . Dancevic won his singles match on Friday, defeating Go Soeda 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-1, to even the best-of-five series at a game apiece. World No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky in the opening match, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. http://www.cheapsalomonuk.com/ . His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. Salomon Wholesale Uk . The CFL will help tackle womens cancers by playing four special "CFL PINK" games this weekend. Salomon Outlet Uk .J. -- The NHL reduced its penalty against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for signing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010.Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Maty Mauk rebounded from two early interceptions to lead the 16th-ranked Missouri Tigers over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 33-17, in the Citrus Bowl. Mauk completed 12-of-19 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers (11-3), who recorded 11 wins for the fourth time in program history. He also carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards and a score. Marcus Murphy carried the ball 12 times for 157 yards for Missouri, which has won its last three bowl games. Russell Hansbrough rushed for 114 yards and a score on 15 carries. Bud Sasser caught seven passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Mitch Leidner completed 21-of-31 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown for the Gophers (8-5), who have dropped their last seven bowl games. Maxx Williams caught seven passes for 98 yards and a score for Minnesota, which played in a New Years Day bowl for the first time since 1962. David Cobb rushed for 81 yards on 21 carries. The game started with two Mauk interceptions and a fumble by Leidner. Minnesota put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive following Mauks second interception. Rodrick Williams Jr. capped the march with a 20-yard TD run. Missouri pulled off a successful fake punt early in the second quarter. Defensive lineman Harold Brantley took a direct snap and ran 19 yards for a fresh set of downs. But the Tigers punted for real when faced with a 4th-andd-4 from the Minnesota 39.dddddddddddd The Tigers started their next drive past midfield and Hansbrough ripped off a 21-yard run. However, Missouri settled for a 21-yard Andrew Baggett field goal. Missouri scored a touchdown five plays into its next possession. Mauk ran 20 yards to the Minnesota 25 before hooking up with Sasser for a touchdown. The Tigers recovered an onside kick to open the third quarter. Baggett made a 33-yard field goal to make it 13-7 Missouri. The Golden Gophers responded with a quick score to take the lead. Williams leaped over two defenders before diving into the end zone for a 54-yard score. But Missouri capitalized on a muffed Minnesota punt. Three plays later, Mauk ripped off an 18-yard TD run to give the Tigers a 19-14 lead. Jalen Myrick returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to the Missouri 43. However, Minnesota settled for a 38-yard Ryan Santoso field goal with 7:22 left in the third. The Tigers went ahead by nine, 26-17, on Hansbroughs 78-yard TD run with 9:22 remaining in the fourth. On the next Missouri possession, Murphy ran for 69 yards before Sasser caught a 7-yard TD pass. Game Notes Missouri leads the all-time series, 5-3-1 ... The Tigers improved to 15-16 in bowl games all-time, while the Golden Gophers fell to 5-12 in the postseason ... The Tigers, champions of the SEC Eastern Division, racked up 434 yards of total offense. ' ' '