SALEM, Ore. -- Conner Mertens didnt want to pretend anymore -- especially with his teammates. So the redshirt freshman kicker at Division III Willamette announced Tuesday that hes bisexual. "It got to a point where I just got tired of it, trying to hide who I was and trying to pretend I was something I was not," he said. Mertens, 19, announced his sexual orientation to his teammates during a meeting on Monday. A story about him appeared on Outsports.com on Tuesday. Speaking on campus later in the afternoon, Mertens said he hopes his announcement helps dispel the stereotypes and stigmas associated with bisexual athletes -- and in turn let other LGBT athletes know they are not alone. "You can be real and you can be yourself," Mertens said. "That only starts when you can love yourself and let others love you. Thats kind of where I was going with this." Bearcats coach Glen Fowles said the players were overwhelmingly supportive of his decision. "Its been great to see the way our guys have rallied around," Fowles said. "For our guys, Conner is just a kicker." Team captain and junior inside linebacker Jack Nelson said: "It wasnt a big deal and we were glad he felt comfortable to tell us." While several LGBT athletes have come out, including former NBA player Jason Collins, WNBA star Brittney Griner and Major League Soccer player Robbie Rogers, its believed that Mertens is the first active college football player at any level to publicly announce his bisexuality. Willamette issued a statement supporting Mertens decision, saying the university "respects his contribution to a more humane and just world." Fowles joked about how Mertens first approached him: "He says, Coach, Im really going to utilize this open door policy." Mertens, who told his family just after Christmas, said he was humbled by the response. "It sounds corny, but I legitimately feel theres a weight off my shoulders. Its tiring to pretend your something else for 24-7, for 18 or 19 years of your life," he said. "So finally to be able to joke about it, to be honest about it, not have to put on this mask, Im finally able to take a deep breath." The Bearcats play in the Northwest Conference. The team went 7-2 overall last season and finished third in the league at 4-2. Mertens did not play his freshman season because he hurt his left knee while playing soccer. He will compete with two other kickers on the Bearcats roster. David Freitas Jersey . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. Milwaukee Brewers Store . The team announced the moves before Sundays game against Houston. Shaw was 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 43 games for the Diamondbacks. Bergesen was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Friday. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/1249y-taylo...ey-brewers.html. -- Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias says he has stress fractures in both legs and isnt sure when hell be able to play again, leaving the Tigers two weeks to fill his spot for opening day and perhaps a lot longer. Adrian Houser Jersey . - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday. Rob Deer Brewers Jersey . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne.HOUSTON -- The Chicago White Sox couldnt get anything going early on Friday night against the Houston Astros. One big swing by Adam Dunn changed that and the White Sox cruised to a 7-2 win over the Houston Astros. Dunn hit a three-run home run and Conor Gillaspie added two RBIs to lead the White Sox. The White Sox trailed by two and had managed just one hit off of Collin McHugh (2-2) through the five innings before Dunn launched his soaring homer into the second deck in right field with one out in the sixth to put Chicago on top. "That guy it just seemed like he was cruising," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He was around the zone, a good curveball and thats what really kept everybody off-balance. You just stick with it. Dunns homer ... but then after that we put some stuff together to put it away." White Sox starter Jose Quintana (2-3) allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings for his first win since April 8. Hes pitched well between wins, but Chicago has had trouble scoring in his starts. "Hes done a lot for us to keep us in games and he hasnt won any games," Ventura said. "Hes notorious for coming out with a no-decision, so it was nice for us to get some runs after that and get him a win, because hes done a lot of work for us that doesnt go in the win column all the time for him." Dunn was happy he could help Quintana get a win after he had three no-decisions and three losses since his last victory. Quintana has been plagued by no-decisions in his career and set an American League record last season with 17. "It seems like every single game that he pitches we cant offensively get it going," Dunn said. "Then when we do, its when hes out of the game. He obviously wasnt as sharp as he has been lately or even since hes been up. But getting him that win was big." Tyler Flowers had an RBI in the sixth and Gillaspie drove in two runs with a double in Chicagos three-run eighth inning. Rookie George Springer and Jason Castro each haad an RBI for the Astros.dddddddddddd Chris Carter added a double and a single to extend his hitting streak to a season-high six games. He has improved in May after hitting just .153 in April. McHugh allowed four runs on three hits, striking out seven in 5 1-3 innings for his second straight loss after starting the season 2-0. "Coming in, from the get-go, I knew my stuff was good, but my command was spotty at best," McHugh said. "And it came back to bite me in that inning." Dunn, who was 0 for 11 before his home run, added a double in the ninth inning. "Hes got power with anybody in the league," Ventura said. "If he gets it its going to go. Its good. Hes walking and hitting balls hard so its a good night for him." Jonathan Villar and Jose Altuve hit consecutive singles to start Houstons fifth inning and Villar advanced to third on an error by Dayan Viciedo on Altuves hit. Villar scored on a groundout by Springer to put the Astros up 1-0. Castros two-out single made it 2-0. Matt Dominguez singled to put runners at first and second, but Quintana retired Jesus Guzman on a liner to centre to limit the damage. Alejandro De Aza singled to start the third inning for Chicagos first hit and Moises Sierra walked with one out. McHugh then retired nine of the next 10 batters, with the only baserunner coming on a walk by Flowers with two outs in the fifth. Gillaspie walked with one out in the sixth before McHugh plunked Jose Abreu. Dunns sixth homer of the season and the 446th of his career came next to give Chicago the lead. After the homer by Dunn, Viciedo doubled to chase McHugh. He was replaced by Josh Zeid, who intentionally walked De Aza with two outs before the RBI single by Flowers. NOTES: The series continues Saturday when Houstons Jarred Cosart opposes Hector Noesi. ... Ventura planned to give Abreu a day off to rest his sore left ankle. But Abreu didnt want to sit out so Ventura played him at designated hitter Friday night. ' ' '