Feb. 25, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Centenary rallies to upset No. 3 Texas A&M

UCR thumps UCLA; Gilligan gets 1,100th win at Lamar

In College Station, Texas, Michael Tompkins’ run-scoring single in the eighth snapped a 4-4 tie and sparked a three-run rally as Centenary upset No. 3 Texas A&M 8-4 Wednesday afternoon in front of 2,979 fans at Olsen Field. With one out in the eighth, Travis Leverson doubled and came home on the base hit by Tompkins to give the Gents (1-1) a 5-4 lead. Robbies Knowles pinch-ran for Tompkins and scored on a double by Steele Lewis, who eventually scored on a fielder’s choice. Leverson added an RBI double in the ninth for Centenary. Nick Fleece homered in the second for the Aggies (5-1) before a two-run single by Lewis sparked a three-run fourth for the Gents. Centenary added a run in the fifth to make it 4-1 before Luke Anders went deep in the sixth and Dylan Petrich added a two-run blast in the seventh to even the score at 4-4. Leverson and Tompkins both had three hits for the Gents.

UC Riverside 11, No. 19 UCLA 1

In Los Angeles, Brian McConkey’s three-run double sparked a six-run second as UCR thumped UCLA at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The first three Highlanders (3-1) were hit by pitches in the second before McConkey’s double brought all three in. UCR add a run in the third and scored twice in both the fifth and sixth. Ryan Platt (1-0) tossed six shutout innings for the Highlanders with three hits, three walks and eight strikeouts. The Bruins (2-3) got an RBI double from Gino Aielli in the ninth to avoid the shutout. McConkey finished with four RBI. Ryan Goetz had two hits, three runs and two RBI for UCR. Casey Haerther and Tyler Rahmatulla both had two hits for UCLA.

Lamar 6, Siena 1

In Beaumont, Texas, Steven Tucker and Joey Latulippe combined for six hits and four RBI as Lamar topped Siena, giving head coach Jim Gilligan his 1,100th win in 33 seasons at Lamar. Latulippe went 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBI. Tucker was also 3 for 4 with two runs and one RBI. Don DiPetta singled and scored on Dan Paolini’s sacrifice fly in the first for the Saints (1-5) before Latulippe’s two-run single in the bottom of the frame gave the Cardinals (6-0) the lead for good. Latulippe singled and scored in the third before a three-spot in the seventh completed the scoring.

No. 1 North Carolina 9, Liberty 5

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Garrett Gore and Kyle Seager both doubled and knocked in three as UNC outscored Liberty at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. Seager had two hits and two runs, while Gore also added two hits. Dustin Ackley had a triple, four walks and three runs for the Tar Heels (4-1). He had an RBI triple and scored in the first. In the third, Gore had a two-run double and Mark Fleury followed with a two-run homer to put UNC on top 6-0. In the fourth for the Flames (3-3), Tyler Bream smacked a two-run homer and Curran Redal had a two-run triple and scored to make it a one-run contest. In the bottom of the fourth, Seager had an RBI double and scored on a base hit by Gore to make it an 8-5 contest. UNC tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Redal finished with two hits, two RBI and a run for Liberty.

No. 2 LSU 11, Southern 5

In Baton Rouge, La., Blake Dean and Leon Landry both homered as LSU defeated Southern in front of 5,828 fans at new Alex Box Stadium. Dean’s dinger in the third snapped a scoreless tie. Landry’s two-run blast in the fourth gave the Tigers (4-0) a 3-0 lead. LSU added one in the fifth, two in the sixth and five in the eighth. The Jaguars (1-3) tallied single runs in the fifth and sixth. Brad McDavid’s two-run homer highlighted a three-run ninth for Southern. Chris Matulis (1-0) allowed five hits and one run in five innings with five strikeouts in his collegiate debut. D.J. LeMahieu was 3 for 5 with two runs and one RBI for the Tigers. Romey Bracey went 3 for 5 for the Jaguars with one run and one RBI.

No. 5 Georgia 11, Presbyterian 4

In Athens, Ga., Bryce Massanari had two hits, including a grand slam, to lead Georgia to a two-game series sweep of Presbyterian at Foley Field. Michael Demperio homered to leadoff the third for the Bulldogs (5-0) and Massanari’s slam later in the frame gave Georgia a 5-0 lead. Kenny Bryant had a two-run homer in the fourth for the Blue Hose (0-5) before Joey Lewis’ RBI double in the bottom of the inning made it 6-2. Presbyterian added two in the sixth to make it 6-4 before Georgia tallied single runs in the sixth and seventh and used a three-run double by Chase Davidson in the eighth to complete the scoring.

No. 7 Rice 9, Houston 2

In Houston, Anthony Rendon went 4 for 4 with a three-run homer to lead Rice past Houston in front of 2,515 fans at the Owls’ Reckling Park. The Cougars (2-3) got a run in the first before a three-run second gave Rice (2-2) the lead. Rick Hague homered in the third for the Owls to make it 4-1. Tom Wertz had an RBI single in the top of the fourth to pull UH to within two before Rendon’s three-run shot keyed a five-run rally in the bottom of the frame. Brock Holt and Jimmy Comerota both had two hits for the Owls. Wertz, Blake Kelso and Zak Presley each had a pair of hits for the Cougars.

No. 11 Georgia Tech 5, Georgia Southern 3

In Statesboro, Ga., Matt Skole had two extra-base hits and knocked in three as Georgia Tech earned a split of its two-game series at Georgia Southern. Jason Haniger had a two-run single to start the scoring in the first for the Yellow Jackets (4-1). Skole smacked a two-run homer in the third and added an RBI double in the fifth to help the Yellow Jackets (4-1) build a 5-2 lead. Luke Murton had three hits and three runs for Georgia Tech. Kevin Jacob (1-0) pitched 6.2 innings for the Jackets and allowed two runs with four strikeouts. Kevin Bowles had two hits, including a homer, and two runs for the Eagles (4-1). Matt Miller and Phillip Porter also had two hits for Georgia Southern.

No. 12 Baylor 15, Houston Baptist 4

In Waco, Texas, Adam Hornung went 3 for 3 with two home runs as Baylor bashed Houston Baptist at Baylor Ballpark. The Huskies (0-4) scored in the top of the second before Hornung’s solo shot in the bottom of the frame tied it at 1-1. The Bears (4-1) used a seven-run fourth to take control. Aaron Miller went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer in the sixth. Hornung also went deep in the sixth. Andrew Taccolini smacked a three-run homer in the eighth for HBU. Joey Hainsfurther went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI.

Saint Mary’s 5, No. 13 Stanford 3

In Stanford, Calif., Kyle Barraclough tossed five scoreless innings to lead Saint Mary’s past Stanford at Sunken Diamond. Barraclough (1-0) allowed three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Ryan Mulligan had an RBI single and scored in a four-run fifth for the Gaels (3-1). The Cardinal (2-2) scored one in the eighth and two in the ninth to make it close. Kyle Jensen had two hits for Saint Mary’s, including a homer in the ninth. Brent Milleville had two hits and an RBI for Stanford.

No. 14 Florida 17, Eastern Michigan 6

In Gainesville, Fla., Riley Cooper had a grand slam to lead Florida past Eastern Michigan in front of 2,143 fans at McKethan Stadium. Matt Skirving had a sacrifice fly in the top of the first for the Eagles (2-4) before Avery Barnes’ leadoff homer sparked a four-run rally in the bottom of the frame for the Gators (5-0). Johnny Crooks belted a grand slam for EMU in the third as the visitors took a 5-4 lead. Cooper’s slam highlighted a five-run fifth as Florida took the lead for good. The Gators added seven in the sixth, capped by a three-run homer by Buddy Munroe, to put the game away. Aaron Powell went 4 for 4 with a run for the Eagles. Jim Gulliver went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI for EMU.

No. 16 San Diego 10, No. 22 Oklahoma 7

In San Diego, Zach Walters went 3 for 5 with one RBI to lead San Diego past Oklahoma and to a split of their two-game set. Kaleb Harren’s RBI double sparked a five-run second for the Sooners (5-1). Walters singled and scored as the Toreros (3-2) scored two in the bottom of the frame. USD erupted for six in the fourth, keyed by a home run by Michael Lugo and a two-run double by James Meador. The Toreros added two in the fifth before OU tacked on a pair in the seventh. Steven Chatwood and Chris Engell both had two hits for USD. Bryant Hernandez sent 4 for 5 for the Sooners with one run and one RBI. Garrett Buechele had three hits and two runs for OU.

No. 18 Pepperdine 10, USC 1

In Los Angeles, Matt Bywater fanned 10 in six scoreless innings in his first start of the season as Pepperdine overwhelmed USC at Dedeaux Field. Bywater (1-0) allowed two hits and walked one. The Waves (3-1) scored four in the first and three in the second to take control. Nate Simon drove in three and Ryan Heroy had two hits and two RBI for Pepperdine. Bryce Mendonca and David Harris both scored three for the Waves. The Trojans (2-2) scored their run in the bottom of the ninth.

No. 20 Ole Miss 11, Central Arkansas 3

In Oxford, Miss., Tim Ferguson went 4 for 5 with two runs and two RBI as Ole Miss completed a two-game series sweep of Central Arkansas in front of 5,279 fans at Oxford-University Stadium. Logan Power had three hits, including a homer, two runs and two RBI for the Rebels (3-2). Brett Bukvich (1-0) allowed one run in five innings with five hits and four strikeouts. Eric Tennyson had an RBI single in the top of the first for the Bears (2-3) before Matt Smith’s RBI single sparked a three-run rally in the bottom of the frame for Ole Miss. Power homered in the third before the Rebels added four in the fourth and three in the fifth to take control. Zach Miller and Kevin Mort both had two hits and two runs for Ole Miss. Zack Dickson went 3 for 4 for UCA with two runs. Jonathan Yerby had two hits and an RBI for the Bears.

No. 21 Clemson 8, Wofford 2

In Clemson, S.C., the Tigers scored seven in their final three at-bats to defeat Wofford in front of 3,609 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. It was the 12th straight win for Clemson (4-0) against the Terriers (2-3). Ben Paulsen’s RBI single in the third gave the Tigers the early lead. Konstantine Diamaduros had a run-scoring triple for Wofford in the fourth to even it at 1-1. Jeff Schaus had a two-run double in the sixth to give Clemson the lead for good. Paulsen had an RBI double and scored in the seventh to make it 5-1. Jake Williams had a run-scoring single in the top of the eighth for Wofford before John Nester belted a two-run homer and Matt Sanders added a solo shot on the next pitch in the bottom of the frame to finish the scoring. Paulsen finished with three hits. Williams and Alex Lee both had two hits for the Terriers.

No. 25 TCU 8, Texas State 2

In Fort Worth, Texas, Taylor Featherston and Chris Ellington both had three hits as TCU topped Texas State at Lupton Stadium. Paul Goldschmidt had a two-run homer in the top of the first for the Bobcats (3-2) before Featherston’s two-run single in the bottom of the frame knotted the game at 2-2. The Horned Frogs (4-1) took the lead for good with a pair in the third. Matt Carpenter led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch to snap the tie. TCU put the game away with four in the sixth. Featherston drove in three and Ellington scored three for the Horned Frogs. Goldschmidt and Bret Atwood both had two hits for Texas State.