May 2, 2008

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Laidig homers twice as Western Illinois outscored Coe

Dallas Baptist wins at No. 6 Texas A&M; Appalachian St. sweeps DH at Elon

In Macomb, Ill., Drew Laidig (left) homered twice to lead Western Illinois past Coe 12-8 Thursday afternoon at Boyer Stadium. Cole Waddell’s two-run double capped a five-run second as the Leathernecks (11-26) took a 6-3 lead. Laidig’s two-run shot in the third made it 8-3. The Kohawks (21-15) answered with one in the fifth and two in the sixth to pull to within two. WIU plated a pair in the bottom of the sixth and one in the seventh to push the lead to 11-6. A two-run homer in the top of the eighth by Tyler McAllister made it 11-8 before Laidig’s leadoff homer in the bottom of the eighth completed the scoring.

Dallas Baptist 12, No. 6 Texas A&M 6

In College Station, Texas, Evan Bigley went 4 for 5 with four runs and one RBI as Dallas Baptist scored in each of the first seven innings to defeat Texas A&M at Olsen Field. Bigley doubled and scored in a two-run first for the Patriots (30-13). Brandon Bantz homered in the second for DBU before Luke Anders and Darby Brown each doubled and scored in the bottom of the frame for the Aggies (38-8). Bigley singled and scored in a two-run third as the Patriots took a 5-2 lead. DBU added one in the fourth, two in the fifth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh for a 12-2 advantage. Blake Stouffer’s home run keyed a four-run eighth for A&M. Jordan Meaker (5-1) fanned seven in 7.1 innings to earn the victory.

Appalachian State 9-26, Elon 3-10

In Elon, N.C., Appalachian State erupted for eight in the top of the ninth in the opener and rolled in the nightcap in sweeping a Southern Conference doubleheader at first-place Elon to win the series. In the first game, the Mountaineers (10-11, 26-23) were held to one hit in the first eight innings, a seventh-inning homer by Jason Rook, before Andrew Franco’s pinch-hit two-run single in the ninth tied it for the Mountaineers (10-11, 26-23). Jason Wallace scored the tie-breaker on an error by the Phoenix (16-8, 34-16). Isaac Harrow’s three-run double capped the eight-run outburst. Garrett Sherrill (1-2) struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for the victory. In the second game, ASU scored two in the first, 11 in the second and three in the fourth for a 16-0 lead. The Mountaineers set school records with 26 runs and 29 hits. Harrow and Jason Altenhof each went 5 for 8 for ASU, while Harrow drove in five. David Rubinstein and Wes Hobson each had four hits and five runs.

New Mexico 9, BYU 7

In Provo, Utah, Mike Brownstein had three hits, one run and two RBI as New Mexico outscored BYU in the opener of their Mountain West series. Sean McNaughton homered in the first as the Cougars (6-10, 18-27) scored in each of the first three innings for a 3-0 lead. Brownstein had an RBI double and scored in a three-run fifth as the Lobos (12-4, 28-19) tied it at 3-3. After BYU reclaimed the lead with a pair in the bottom of the frame, UNM took control with a five-run sixth. Bobby LaFromboise (5-2) went 5.1 innings to record the victory. Clinton Cox fanned four of the final five to earn his third save.

New York Tech 10, Manhattan 9

In Old Westbury, N.Y., Mike LaLuna scored the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch during an intentional walk as New York Tech rallied for the win over Manhattan. Trailing 9-6 in the ninth, Bob Garland hit a leadoff homer to pull the Bears (14-23-1) to within two. Denten Neill walked, Brian Smith had an infield hit and LaLuna walked to load the bases with no outs. Joe Lucente’s RBI single plated Neill and Smith came home on an outfield overthrow to tie it at 9-9. With runners on second and third, Jerry Smith was being intentionally walked when the fourth pitch went wide of the catcher, allowing LaLuna to score the game-winner. Mike McCann’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run seventh as the Jaspers (21-18-1) built an 8-4 lead. NYIT answered with a pair in the bottom of the frame Marc Onarati went deep in the top of the eighth to make it 9-6. Onarati finished with three hits and three runs for Manhattan. Garland had two hits, two runs and two RBI for the Bears.

New Orleans 12, Southern 5

In New Orleans, Mark McGonigle went 4 for 5 with two runs as New Orleans outscored Southern at Maestri Field. Nick Schwaner hit a three-run homer in the first for the Privateers (31-13). T.J. Baxter had a two-run single in a four-run fourth and Alan Harris added a two-run shot in the fifth as UNO took control 9-3. The Privateers have homered in 17 straight contests. Baxter finished with two hits, three runs and two RBI. Michael Gavion went 3 for 5 with a home run for the Jaguars (23-15).