MLB: O’s Markakis leads signing flurry

Nick Markakis reached a preliminary agreement on a six-year, $66 million contract with the Orioles, and Ryan Madson struck a three-year, $12 million deal with the Phillies as players and teams rushed to settle salary arbitration cases.

Four prominent closers agreed to one-year deals: Bobby Jenks of the White Sox ($5.6 million), Huston Street of the Rockies ($4.5 million), Kevin Gregg of the Cubs ($4.2 million) and Mike Gonzalez of the Braves ($3.45 million).

Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez agreed to a one-year, $3.8 million contract.

NHL: Sharks recall Lemieux

The NHL-leading Sharks recalled four-time Stanley Cup winner and former Devils forward Claude Lemieux from their minor league affiliate in Worcester, Mass., ending the 43-year-old’s 5 1/2-year absence from the league. Lemieux is likely to play tonight against Vancouver.

COLLEGE HOOPS: Pitt stops ‘Cuse

Sam Young scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half and No. 4 Pittsburgh came back from its first loss of the season to defeat No. 8 Syracuse 78-60 in Pittsburgh.

* In The Bronx, Antoine Pearson‘s 17-foot jump shot as time expired lifted Manhattan past St. Peter’s 62-60. Pearson scored 17 points for the Jaspers (10-8, 4-4 MAAC). . . . In Brooklyn, Jaytornah Wisseh scored 27 points to help LIU hold off St. Francis of Brooklyn 74-70. . . . In Hackensack, Fairleigh Dickinson beat Monmouth 64-55.

* In Chapel Hill, Renee Montgomery scored 21 points to help Connecticut’s top-ranked women rout No. 2 North Carolina, 88-58, turning one of the most anticipated games of the season into just another lopsided victory.