April 8, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Arkansas completes two-game sweep of Arizona State

North Carolina outscores Richmond; LSU gets by Grambling State

In Fayetteville, Ark., Tim Carver had a two-run single to cap a three-run fifth as No. 9 Arkansas took the lead for good in sweeping a two-game series from top-ranked Arizona State 8-7 Wednesday in front of a record-crowd of 11,014 at Baum Stadium. Jason Kipnis homered in the first as the Sun Devils (23-7) built a 6-1 lead after three. Andrew Darr had a two-run single in a four-run fourth as the Razorbacks (24-6) pulled to within one. Carver’s hit in the fifth put Arkansas on top 8-7. Darr finished with three hits and four RBI. Carver and Brett Eibner both had two hits for the Razorbacks. Kipnis (2 H, 3 RBI) and Johnny Ruettiger (3 for 3, 2 R, 1 RBI) paced the ASU offense.

No. 2 North Carolina 12, Richmond 8

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Ryan Graepel and Kyle Seager both drove in three as UNC built a 12-0 lead and held on for the win over UR at Boshamer Stadium. Seager had three hits and two runs, while Graepel finished with two hits. Mark Fleury had two hits, two runs and two RBI for the Tar Heels (26-7). UNC scored three in the first, three in the third, four in the fourth and two in the fifth to lead by a dozen. Phil Ruzbarsky had a two-run single in a six-run sixth for the Spiders (13-13). Ryan Metzroth homered in a two-run ninth for UR. Adam McConnell had three hits and two runs for the Spiders.

No. 3 LSU 8, Grambling State 4

In Baton Rouge, La., Ryan Schimpf had a two-run homer to lead LSU past Grambling State at Alex Box Stadium. Schimpf’s two-run blast in the third started the scoring for the home Tigers (24-8). LSU added a pair in the fourth and fifth before the visiting Tigers (5-25) put up four in the sixth. Derek Helenihi had an inside-the-park homer in a two-run sixth for LSU. Mikie Mahtook knocked in two for LSU. Steve Kletke had a two-run homer and Manny Kumar drove in a pair for Grambling State.

Winthrop 7-2, No. 4 Georgia 4-13

In Athens, Ga., Joey Lewis launched two homers, including a grand slam, in the nightcap as Georgia split a doubleheader with Winthrop at Foley Field. The Bulldogs (26-6) scored one in the first, four in the third and three in the fourth in building an 8-1 lead in the nightcap. Lewis had three hits and five RBI, while Poythress also went deep and knocked in four. Chas Crane and Matt Thielepape both had two hits for the Eagles (20-11). Thielepape homered in both contests for Winthrop. The Eagles scored three in the third to start the scoring in the opener. Eddie Rohan had two hits and two RBI for Winthrop. Matt Cerione knocked in a pair for the Bulldogs.

No. 5 Rice 10, Lamar 9

In Beaumont, Texas, Jordan Rogers struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run at second to preserve the win for Rice at Lamar. Rogers recorded his fourth save as the Owls (22-7) stretched their win streak to eight. Craig Manuel had two hits and three RBI for Rice, while Diego Seastrunk and Rick Hague both had three hits, two runs and two RBI for the Owls. Brian Taylor (2 H, 4 RBI) and Steven Tucker (2 H, 3 RBI) led the offense for the Cardinals (22-11). Rice led 9-2 in the third before Lamar battled back to make it a one-run contest.

Georgia Southern 23, No. 10 Georgia Tech 3

In Atlanta, Ty Wright had four hits, including a grand slam in a seven-run seventh, as Georgia Southern smothered Georgia Tech. The Eagles (22-8) led 4-2 after six before scoring seven in the seventh, one in the eighth and 11 in the ninth. Wright scored four for Georgia Southern. Kevin Bowles (3 for 4, 4 R, 2 RBI) and Will Southwell (2 for 2, 2 R, 4 RBI) also had big nights at the plate for the Eagles. Derek Dietrich and Matt Skole both had two hits for the Yellow Jackets (20-7).

Western Carolina 24, Eastern Kentucky 23 (11)

In Cullowhee, N.C., Nick Liles had a bases-loaded chopper to plate the game-winner in the bottom of the 11th as WCU outlasted EKU in a five-hour marathon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. Mitchell Hatley went 7 for 7 with six singles and a home run for the Catamounts (19-10) with three runs and seven RBI. Liles and Trevor Collias both had four hits for WCU, while J.C. Lyons added three hits, including a homer, and five RBI. Anthony Ottrando had three hits and three RBI for the Colonels (18-10). Richie Rodriguez and Michael Garcia both scored four for EKU. WCU led 17-9 after five before EKU scored six in the seventh and five in the eighth to take a 20-19 lead. WCU scored one in the bottom of the eighth to see the score go to 20-20. Both teams scored three in the 10th before the Catamounts won it in the 11th.

Eastern Michigan 27, Bowling Green 7

In Bowling Green, Ohio, Wally Gerbus hit four of his team’s school-record nine home runs as Eastern Michigan powered past Bowling Green at Steller Field. Gerbus tied a Mid-American Conference record and set a school mark. He scored five and drove in eight. Aaron Powell (4 for 7, 3 R, 4 RBI) and Andrew Marshall (4 for 4, 5 R, 6 RBI) both went deep twice for the Eagles (7-23). EMU scored at least three in five of the first six innings in building a 26-5 lead after six. Ryan Shay had three hits, two runs and two RBI for the Falcons (13-14). Ryan Price had two hits and two runs for BGSU.