Feb. 28, 2008

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
No. 11 Rice rallies for three in bottom of ninth vs. Houston
Ole Miss routs Northwestern State; Georgia Tech nips GSU in 10 innings

In Houston, Adam Zornes' two-run single tied the game, and Jimmy Comerota squeezed in J.P. Padron with the game-winner as No. 11 Rice scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to overcome Houston Wednesday in the first game in the Silver Glove series. Zornes homered and drove in five, and Padron went 3 for 5 with a homer, three runs and four RBI for the Owls, who trailed 11-3 after four innings. Chris Kelley, Zack Harwood, Bryan Price and Jared Gayhart combined for five scoreless innings to allow Rice (3-2) the opportunity to rally. Jake Stewart had two hits and three RBI, and Blake Kelso had three hits and two RBI for the Cougars (3-2), who scored six times in the first inning.

No. 3 Ole Miss 14, Northwestern State 1
In Oxford, Miss., Logan Power went 3 for 5 with two solo homers and three runs, and Fuller Smith went 2 for 2 with a homer and four RBI off the bench as Ole Miss routed Northwestern State. Drew Pomeranz tossed 3.1 innings to post his first win for the Rebels, who improved to 5-0 with their fourth straight 10-plus-run game. NSU dropped to 2-3.
 

Georgia Tech 1, Georgia Southern 0

In Atlanta, Charlie Blackmon’s RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the 10^th lifted Georgia Tech past Georgia Southern. Jason Haniger led off the bottom of the 10^th with a base hit and was sacrificed to second. Following a strikeout, Blackmon dropped a single into shallow left field to bring home Haniger and make winners of the Yellow Jackets (5-0). Matt Miller had two hits for the Eagles (1-4), the only player on either team with more than one hit.

No. 5 South Carolina 12, UNC Asheville 0
In Columbia, S.C., each of South Carolina's first three hitters drove in three runs, and Nick Godwin allowed two hits in six scoreless innings as the Gamecocks blanked UNC Asheville. Reese Havens hit his third homer and drove in three, and James Darnell had three hits and three RBI. Whit Merrifield also drove in three, despite not getting a hit for the Gamecocks (3-1). Reed Kreiser had a pair of hits for the Bulldogs (2-3).

No. 6 Texas 5, Texas-Pan American 0

In Austin, Texas, three Longhorn pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as Texas blanked Texas-Pan American. Chance Ruffin (1-0) fanned four in three innings with three hits and one walk. Casey Whitmer struck out five in three innings. Marcus Tackett tossed a scoreless seventh for the Longhorns (5-0). Russell Moldenhauer had two hits and drove in three for Texas.

No. 7 Vanderbilt 4, Evansville 3
In Nashville, Tenn., Jonathan White singled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Vanderbilt slipped past Evansville. Andrew Giobbi had three hits for the Commodores (3-1), who held a 3-0 lead after eight innings before the Purple Aces (0-4) rallied for three in the top of the ninth.

No. 14 UCLA 5, UC Santa Barbara 4

In Los Angeles, Alden Carrithers has an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th to end a 5:35 marathon with UC Santa Barbara. Carrithers was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth as the Bruins (2-1) tied the game at 4-4. Eric Oliver had a two-run double for the Gauchos (3-1).

No. 15 Clemson 12, High Point 3

In Clemson, S.C., Ben Paulsen homered and drove in four as Clemson throttled High Point. Kyle Parker, John Nester and Wilson Boyd also went deep for the Tigers (4-0). Alfie Wheeler had an RBI single for the Panthers (3-2).

No. 20 Virginia 7, Old Dominion 3

In Charlottesville, Va., David Adams and Jeremy Farrell each had three hits to lead Virginia past Old Dominion. Matt Packer (1-0) allowed one hit and one unearned run in six innings for the Cavaliers (5-0) with two walks and seven strikeouts. Anthony Shawler had an RBI double for the Monarchs (2-2).