The SIUC baseball team ends a seven-game road trip and opens its home schedule this weekend with the Saluki/Best Inns Classic at Abe Martin Field.

The tournament begins today at 11 with the Salukis (1-6) taking on Eastern Illinois University (1-2) in the round-robin tournament. Northern Illinois University battles Western Illinois University at 2:30 p.m.

WIU and EIU open play at 11 Saturday morning, followed by NIU against SIUC at 2:30. The tournament wraps up Sunday with NIU and EIU battling at 11 and SIUC taking on WIU at 2:30.

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SIUC earned its first win of the season, beating Southeast Missouri State University 9-7 Wednesday. Sophomore Dave Pohlman’s three-run homer in the third paved the way. Senior Chris Schullian improved to 1-0 with the win, while sophomore Jim Pecoraro earned his first save.

We are excited to get the opportunity to play at home, Saluki coach Dan Callahan said. Hopefully, the weather will allow us to get most, if not all, of this weekend’s tournament in.

ASA umpire training clinic March 28

The Illinois State Amateur Softball Association will conduct its annual umpire training clinic March 28 in Alton.

The clinic will have sessions dealing with rule changes, updated umpire mechanics and problem areas for experienced umpires. Umpires wanting to participate in the ASA State Tournament or Regionals in 1998 must attend this clinic.

For information, contact the Southern Illinois Umpires Association at 549-3194.

Police find Rice, make no arrests, at massage parlor

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice was found by police in a massage parlor with a history of prostitution, authorities said Thursday.

Police were serving papers to shut down the MV Spa Wednesday when Rice emerged from a bathroom. He and other customers were not detained, and no arrests were made.

It was more civil than criminal the business was abated because they did not have a proper permit, Mountain View police spokeswoman Julie Rand said. There have been cases of prostitution in the past I don’t know how recent they were.

Rice told local media he was in the establishment for only a few minutes. He said teammates had told him the hot towel wrap spa was a good place to get a deep-tissue massage.

I think they played a trick on me. I was there five minutes, Rice said. It didn’t take me long to put two and two together.

Rice said as soon as he realized the parlor was not legitimate, he excused himself to the bathroom in preparation to leave. That is when police walked in.

I was blown away, Rice said. I’m not going to turn this into a circus.

The Pro Bowl receiver, who holds many of the NFL’s passing records, suffered a severe knee injury in the first game of the 49ers season last year. He returned for one game, scoring a touchdown, but broke his kneecap in the process and missed the remainder of the season.

Bennett sentenced to two months in jail

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Cornelius Bennett was sentenced to two months in jail and three years probation Thursday for sexual misconduct.

Bennett, who played 10 seasons for the Buffalo Bills before going to Atlanta two years ago, pleaded guilty in September.

The charge stemmed from a meeting in a Buffalo hotel May 18. The woman, in her 20s, had known Bennett for a long time and accompanied him to his hotel room at his invitation.

Bennett is expected to appeal. His lawyer, James Shaw, did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press. A message left with the Falcons also was not immediately returned.

Buffalo City Court Judge Robert Russell ordered Bennett to surrender to authorities at the Erie County Holding Center March 3 to begin serving his sentence.

Bennett also was fined $500, sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay back the woman’s medical bills. The woman appeared in court before sentencing.

Atlanta coach Dan Reeves has said he would not consider disciplinary action against Bennett until he is sentenced. Bennett, who signed a four-year, $13.6 million deal with Atlanta in 1996, also could face sanctions from the NFL.

Forney leaves Fresno State voluntarily

Fresno State forward Daymond Forney, who was reinstated last week after a drug-related suspension, left the team again Wednesday, this time voluntarily.

Forney, a starter earlier this season, said the pressure of attending classes, practicing basketball and attending evening counseling sessions was too difficult.

I have decided that the best solution for me is to give up basketball for now, Forney said in a statement released by the athletic department. I need to focus my time and energy into my health and classes so that I can be a better person and basketball player in the future.

Forney explained that he must attend four to six counseling sessions each week while taking 15 academic units so he can graduate in May.

I am the first in my family to go to college, and graduating would mean the world to my family, especially my mother and aunt, he added.

Forney apologized for the embarrassment my past actions have caused the basketball program and the university. But he added that my life has been turned around because of the understanding and support that I have received from so many people.