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ByEddiePells APNationalWriter Ifyougotthatwarm-'n-fuzzy feeling the weekend Lehigh beat Duke or the year N.C. State socked Phi Slama Jama or the time Butler almost did it, you are not alone. The science shows, again and again, that we can't resist pull- ing for the teams called the Ant- eaters (that's UC Irvine). Or for the UABs of the world to upend the UCLAs. For the time-tested crowd pleaser, the No. 12 seed, and for anyone else with the la- bel "underdog" when March Madness rolls around. About a dozen studies over the past 25 years have shown, in one way or another, that we, as sports fans, are inexorably drawn to the team with the odds stacked against it. "It's the prominent narra- tive in sports," said Nadav Gold- schmied of University of San Di- ego, who collaborated on one of the studies. This penchant runs counter to almost everything else we're wired to think. Scientific stud- ies show people want to be asso- ciated with success and that our self-esteem grows when we're part of the "in" crowd. Walk one well-dressed job candidate through the door, then follow him up with a schlub, and the studies show the majority of us favor the person who appears more attractive, almost regard- less of their credentials. But take that same dynamic NCAA TOURNAMENT MarchMadnessfans can'tresistunderdog Science shows over past 25 years that sports fans are drawn to team with odds against it CHUCKBURTON—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Lehigh's Gabe Knutson (42), B.J. Bailey (32), Jordan Hamilton (44), Holden Greiner (20), John Adams (4) and Justin Maneri (31) celebrate a er winning an NCAA tournament second-round game against Duke in 2012in Greensboro, N.C. Lehigh won 75-70. MICHAEL CONROY — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Duke's Kyle Singler (12) shoots as Butler's Shawn Vanzant (2) falls to the court during the NCAA basketball championship game in Indianapolis in 2010. Looking on are Butler's Gordon Hayward (20) and Duke's Brian Zoubek (55). By Jose M. Romero The Associated Press PEORIA,ARIZ. Erasmo Ramirez, making a bid for a spot at the back end of the Seattle rotation, pitched four shutout innings and the Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 4-0 Wednesday. Ramirez gave up one hit, walked one and struck out one. "The command was there. I just missed one pitch," he said. Jordan Pries tossed three shutout innings in relief of Ramirez. Seattle reliever Tyler Olson pitched a perfect inning and has retired 20 of the 21 bat- ters he's faced this spring. A's starter Drew Pomeranz struck out five in four innings. He gave up four hits and a walk. Pomeranz has struck out 15 and has a 2.00 ERA in three spring training starts. "I'm trying to throw in the zone, trying to throw strikes, try- ing to go deep in the game and get guys out," he said. Justin Ruggiano drove in Kyle Seager with a two-out single in the fourth inning, and the Mar- iners tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth. James Jones and Stefen Romero had RBI sin- gles. Seattle shortstop Brad Miller turned a double play in the first inning, snaring a sinking line SPRING TRAINING RamirezhelpsMarinersbeatAthletics Making a bid for Seattle rotation, he pitches 4 shutout innings in 4-0 victory over Oakland LENNY IGNELZI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz struck out five Seattle Mariners batters in four innings Wednesday. The A's lost 4-0. Staff Reports RED BLUFF The Spartans base- ball team continued its perfect start to the season Tuesday, beat- ing visiting Foothill 4-3. Sam Hendricks, Bryce Sinclair and Walker Dodero each had multi-hit games with an RBI. Dodero hit a fifth-inning home run to give Red Bluff the lead. Hendricks and Lane Pritchard each had doubles in the game. Eric Schreter pitched five in- nings and struck out eight bat- ters to earn the win. Kolby Button earned the save, pitching the final two innings. Red Bluff (8-0, 2-0) travels to Foothill at 7 p.m. Friday. CORNING 4, PARADISE 2 Isaiah Jones went the distance, striking out five, as Corning beat visiting Paradise on Tuesday. Austin Cox knocked in a pair of runs and had a double for the Cardinals. Joseph Aguirre had an RBI and Chance Nelson doubled. Corning (4-3) visits Chico for a doubleheader Friday beginning at noon. BURNEY 23, MERCY 1 Burney needed just five innings to beat visiting Mercy in the first half of a doubleheader Tuesday. Dartagnan Kingwell went 2-for-2 and drove in Mercy's lone run. BURNEY 11, MERCY 4 Mercy kept things closer in the second half of the doubleheader. Kingwell went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Richie Borges also knocked in a run. Travis Gorden had two hits and stole two bases. Borges struck out five batters in three innings of work. Mercy (0-3) visits Chester at 4 p.m. Thursday. PREP ROUNDUP Spartans remain unbeaten with win Corning beats Paradise, Cox's 2 RBIs back Jones By Barry Wilner The Associated Press NEW YORK Video replays galore. More coaches' challenges. And a "bonus field goal." All are on the agenda for next week's NFL meetings, when team owners will spend much time de- ciding whether 13 proposals to amend instant replay should pass. Among the replay proposals are Detroit suggesting reviewing all penalties called by game officials — yes, including pass interference and holding calls; all personal fouls; penalties against defense- less players; any foul that results in an automatic first down; and clock issues. New England even proposed that everything except scoring plays or turnovers be challenge- able. Washington suggested in- creasing a coach's number of chal- lenges from two to three, regard- less of whether he is successful on an early challenge. Even stadium-produced video could be used to correct officiat- ing errors if a suggestion by Ten- nessee is approved. Currently, no penalties are re- viewable. The Lions felt burned by a flag against the Dallas de- fense that was picked up in De- NFL Significant replay changes proposed by some teams Foreign tourists scrambled in panic Wednesday a er mili- tants stormed a museum in Tunisia's capital and killed 20 people, "shooting at anything that moved," a witness said. Two gunmen were slain. FOREIGN TOURISTS AttackinTunisiakills 20; 2 gunmen slain FULLSTORYONPAGEB4 Russia tightened its control over a second breakaway re- gion of Georgia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leader of South Ossetia signing a new treaty that calls for nearly full integration. BREAKAWAY REGION Putin signs treaty to annex South Ossetia FULL STORY ON PAGE B6 The Mercy Warriors baseball and so ball teams travel to Chester on Thursday for 4 p.m. games. The Los Molinos Lady Bulldogs so ball team visits University Prep at 4p.m. Thursday. BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL Mercy visits Chester; Los Molinos at U-Prep Red Bluff tennis hosts Shasta at 3:30p.m. Thursday. Corning visits Yreka. Corning's golf team is at Tucker Oaks Golf Course in Redding for a North- ern Athletic League match hosted by Anderson. SPRING SPORTS Red Bluff tennis hosts Shasta on Thursday ROUNDUP PAGE 2 UNDERDOG PAGE 2 A'S PAGE 2 NFL PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, March 19, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1