WAYNESBURG— Butler graduate Dan Andreassi, a senior linebacker at Waynesburg College, had 18 tackles, including 12 solo stops, in the Yellowjackets' 22-21 loss to Washington &Jefferson Saturday.

Anbdreassi also forced and recovered a fumble in this battle of NCAADivision IIITop 25 teams.

DENVER — Alex Rodriguez opted out of his $252 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees in what appears to be the end of his tumultuous career with New York. Rodriguez's decision, announced by agent Scott Boras as the rival Boston Red Sox completed their World Series sweep of Colorado, makes the third baseman eligible to become a free agent.Boras said during a telephone interview that Rodriguez made his choice because he was uncertain whether Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte would return to the Yankees.

NEW YORK — While Boston College gained some cushion on third-place LSU in the Bowl Championship Series standings and Ohio State held firm to first place, Arizona State moved into position to make a big stretch run.The unbeaten Sun Devils raised their BCS average to .849 after beating California 31-20 on Saturday. Arizona State, with its most challenging games still to play, might not need teams ahead of it to lose to move up the standings. The Sun Devils play at Oregon, which is fifth in the BCS standings, on Saturday, then finish with games against USC, UCLA and Arizona.The top seven teams in the BCS standings remained the same this week, with Ohio State and Boston College still in position to play for the national title in New Orleans on Jan. 7.

PATTAYA, Thailand — Suzann Pettersen made up for all those lost strokes with three big shots on the Pattaya Old Course's 479-yard, par-5 finishing hole. After blowing the last of a seven-stroke lead with her second straight bogey, the Norwegian star hit a "grip-down" 3-wood from 225 yards to 15 feet to set up an eagle putt that beat Laura Davies by a stroke in the Honda LPGA Thailand.