April 10, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Stillings tosses no-hitter for Kent State at Toledo

Rice rallies past East Carolina; TCU no-hits UTPA

In Toledo, Ohio, Brad Stillings tossed a no-hitter and allowed just two base-runners as Kent State nipped Toledo 1-0 Friday in the opener of their MAC series. Stillings (5-0) allowed no walks and struck out eight in nine innings for the Golden Flashes (8-1, 23-6). He hit one batter and one reached on an error. Stillings became the ninth KSU pitcher to pitch a no-hitter. Jimmy Rider had a leadoff single in the sixth, was sacrificed to second and scored on a double by Ben Klafczynski for the game’s lone run. Klafczynski finished with two hits. Justin Collop (2-4) struck out seven in eight innings, but allowed three hits, one walk and one run to pick up the loss.

No. 5 Rice 15, No. 16 East Carolina 11

In Greenville, N.C., Rice rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to win the opener of its C-USA series at ECU in front of 3,926 fans at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Pirates (8-2, 25-8) scored a pair in the first and Devin Harris had a homer to spark a five-run second. The Owls (8-2, 24-7) trailed 11-4 after five before Brock Holt’s three-run homer capped a four-run sixth to make it 11-8. Rice added a run in the seventh and Chad Mozingo’s three-run double with two outs in the eighth gave the Owls their first lead at 12-11. Rice added three insurance runs in the ninth. Holt finished with two hits and four RBI. Harris and Brandon Henderson both had three hits and two RBI for ECU.

No. 22 TCU 3, Texas-Pan American 0

In Edinburg, Texas, four TCU pitchers combined for the school’s ninth no-hitter in a win over Texas-Pan American. Kelly Walker (1-1), Taylor Cragin, Tyler Lockwood and Eric Marshall all contributed to the effort, striking out six and allowing just three walks for the Horned Frogs (21-10). Mike Lankford went the distance for the Broncs (6-29), striking out six and walking only one while give up three runs on four hits. Chris Ellington, Zac Jordan and Matt Curry each drove in a run for TCU.

No. 1 Arizona State 13, Washington State 3

In Tempe, Ariz., Carlos Ramirez and Kole Calhoun both drove in four as ASU won the opener of its Pac-10 series with WSU at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Mike Leake (8-1) went the distance for the Sun Devils (9-1, 24-7) with eight hits, three runs, one walk and 12 strikeouts. Calhoun had a three-run homer in the first and Riccio Torrez followed with a dinger as ASU took an early 4-0 lead. Ramirez added a three-run shot in a five-run eighth, one of his four hits. The Cougars (4-3, 14-14) scored their three runs in the second. Matt Argyropoulos and Cody Bartlett both had two hits and a RBI for WSU.

Florida State 3, No. 2 North Carolina 2

In Tallahassee, Fla., Rafael Lopez had a game-winning sacrifice fly to cap a two-run ninth as FSU rallied past UNC in the opener of their ACC series in front of 5,533 fans at Dick Howser Stadium. Mike McGee had a one-out single in the ninth for the Seminoles (8-6, 20-10) and moved to third on a base hit by Tommy Oravetz. D’Vontrey Richardson pinch-ran for Oravetz and moved to second on a passed ball. James Ramsey had a pinch-hit infield single to plate McGee with the tying run and advanced Richardson to third. Lopez lofted a sac fly to center to bring home Richardson with the game-winner. The Tar Heels (9-6, 26-8) had scored a pair of unearned runs on a two-out error to take a 2-1 lead. Kyle Seager had two of the three hits for UNC. Geoff Parker (3-1) tossed 2.1 hitless innings with two walks and two strikeouts to earn the win. UNC starter Alex White (5-1) fanned nine in 8.1 innings, but was the tough-luck loser.

No. 3 LSU 8, Alabama 5

In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jared Mitchell’s two-run double with two outs keyed a four-run ninth as LSU rallied past Alabama in the opener of their SEC set at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Tigers (9-4, 25-8) trailed 5-2 after seven before scoring a pair in the eighth and four in the ninth to take the victory. Mitchell (2 for 5, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Ryan Schimpf (4 for 5, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI) led the LSU offense from the top of the lineup. Brandon May (2 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBI) homered for the Crimson Tide (6-7, 21-11), which scored one in the sixth and four in the seventh to build its 5-2 advantage. Nolan Cain (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win and Matty Ott worked the ninth for his seventh save.

Cal State Northridge 5-5, No. 6 Cal State Fullerton 4-7 (Game 1 – 15 innings)

In Northridge, Calif., CSN won the completion of Thursday’s suspended game before CSF evened the series at Matador Field. In the opener, John Parham had a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 15th to give the win to the Matadors (3-5, 14-19). Dominic D’Anna had two hits and two RBI for CSN. Gary Brown had two hits and two runs for the Titans (4-4, 21-9). In the second game, Jared Clark had a two-run homer in the first for Fullerton. The Titans added two in the second and three in the sixth for a 7-0 lead. D’Anna had a grand slam in a five-run sixth for the Matadors.

No. 8 UC Irvine 6, Long Beach State 3

In Irvine, Calif., D.J. Crumlich and Cory Olson both had two hits and one RBI as UCI clinched its Big West series against LBSU. Crumlich and Francis Larson both drove in runs in the first for the Anteaters (7-1, 21-9). Jordan Casas had an RBI single in the third for the Dirtbags (2-3, 14-16) before Jeff Cusick’s run-scoring double in the fifth gave UCI a 3-1 advantage. Olson and Corey Reyes had RBI doubles in the sixth as the Anteaters built a 5-1 lead. John Hill and Tre Dennis both knocked in runs in the seventh for LBSU. Christian Bergman (5-1) allowed two earned runs in six innings with one walk and two strikeouts in recording the victory. Eric Pettis pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

Vanderbilt 9, No. 9 Arkansas 0

In Fayetteville, Ark., Mike Minor (3-3) pitched eight scoreless innings of four-hit ball as Vanderbilt blanked Arkansas at Baum Stadium. Andre Giobbi and Brian Harris both drove in two for the Commondores (6-7, 20-13), who broke the game open in a five-run fourth. Starter Dallas Keuchel (5-1) surrendered seven runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings for the Razorbacks (10-3, 24-7). Ben Tschepikow went 1 for 2 with a stolen base and two walks. The Hogs committed four errors, which was equal to its hit total.

No. 11 Texas 7-11, Nebraska 5-7

In Lincoln, Neb., Tant Shepherd and Cameron Rupp both homered in the opener as Texas swept a Big 12 doubleheader at Nebraska. Kevin Keyes had two hits and three runs for the Longhorns (8-6, 23-8). Tyler Farst scored twice for the Cornhuskers (4-9, 16-16-1). Rupp went deep again in the nightcap for UT. Brandon Belt had three hits and two runs for the Longhorns. Shepherd had two hits and three RBI for UT. Jeff Tezak had three hits and two runs for Nebraska. Cody Asche added three hits and three RBI for the Huskers.

No. 12 Oklahoma 6, Texas Tech 0
In Norman, Okla., Andrew Doyle (5-2) pitched eight scoreless innings as OU blanked Texas Tech at Dale Mitchell Park. Garrett Buechele went 3 for 3 with two RBI for the Sooners (7-3, 27-7). Batters three through five each collected an RBI for Oklahoma. Cleanup hitter Scott LeJeune led the Red Raiders (6-7, 16-21) with three of their seven hits. Starter Brian Cloud (2-3) took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings.

Missouri 5, No. 13 Baylor 3

In Waco, Texas, Kyle Gibson threw his fourth complete game to lead Missouri to a Big 12 win against Baylor. Gibson (5-3) allowed three runs on nine hits and struck out six for Tigers (6-7, 17-17). Greg Folgia had two runs and two RBI as Aaron Senne, Trevor Coleman and Kyle Mach each added two hits. The Bears (10-7, 21-20) were led offensively by Dustin Dickerson’s 3-for-4 day and Shaver Hansen and Aaron Miller each drove in a run. Missouri has won its past four games against Baylor.

South Carolina 12, No. 14 Ole Miss 10

In Oxford, Miss., Whit Merrifield went 5 for 6 with three runs and a RBI as South Carolina scored nine runs in the first two innings to beat Ole Miss at Swayze Field. Justin Dalles went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBI to add to the offensive display by the Gamecocks (6-7, 22-11), who also got three hits from Parker Bangs. The Rebels (8-5, 24-9) were led by Matt Smith, who went 3 for 4 and drove in a run and Logan Power, who collected two hits and three RBI. South Carolina got off to a hot start with eight hits in the first two innings.

No. 17 Texas A&M 4-4, Kansas State 2-6

In Manhattan, Kan., Brooks Raley struck out 11 in the opener as Texas A&M split a Big 12 doubleheader at Kansas State. Raley (6-1) allowed three hits, one walk and two runs. Joe Patterson had a pinch-hit two-run double in a four-run eighth for the Aggies (8-6, 21-13). Brodie Greene and Kevin Gonzalez both had two hits for A&M. Jason King had a run and a RBI for the Wildcats (6-5, 25-9). In the nightcap, Jordan Cruz homered and knocked in three for KSU to get the split. A.J. Morris (9-0) got nine strikeouts in 6.2 innings in earning his ninth win. Justin Bloxom had two hits and two runs for the Wildcats. Kyle Colligan homered and drove in three for the Aggies.

Kansas 8, No. 18 Oklahoma State 1

In Lawrence, Kan., Shaeffer Hall tossed a complete game with a career-high nine strikeouts and no walks for Kansas in a win against Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks (5-5, 21-12) picked up three hits and two runs from Robby Price, and Tony Thompson went 2 for 3 with three RBI. Doug Kroll went 2 for 4 with a run and a RBI for the Cowboys (4-6, 12-12). Oklahoma State did not have a runner in scoring position until the sixth inning and its lone run came on a seventh-inning home run from Kroll.

No. 19 Coastal Carolina 3, Radford 2 (10)

In Conway, S.C., Rico Noel belted a game-winning leadoff homer in the bottom of the 10th as Coastal Carolina won the opener of its Big South series with Radford. The Chanticleers (7-2, 27-7) had tied the game in the ninth as Daniel Bowman drew a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second and scored on a base hit by Taylor Motter. After Coastal scored in the first, the Highlanders (7-4, 14-12) answered with single runs in the second and eighth for a 2-1 advantage. Bowman and Motter both finished with two hits. Robert Lamas had two hits, one run and one RBI for RU. Cody Wheeler fanned 10 in seven innings for the Chanticleers with six hits, two runs and two walks. Nick McCully (3-0) allowed four hits in three scoreless innings with one walk and four strikeouts to earn the win.

Arizona 6, No. 20 Oregon State 5

In Tucson, Ariz., Brad Glenn had two hits and three RBI as Arizona edged OSU to even its Pac-10 series at Jerry Kindall Field. Dillon Baird had three hits and two RBI for the Wildcats (3-8, 14-15). Bryce Ortega had two hits and three runs for Arizona. Jared Norris had two hits, two runs and one RBI for the Beavers (6-2, 19-7).

Pacific 5, No. 21 Cal Poly 4

In Stockton, Calif., Allen Riley’s game-winning single capped a three-run ninth as Pacific knocked off Cal Poly to even its Big West series. Matt Jensen had a three-run double in a four-run seventh as the Mustangs (4-4, 23-8) took a 4-2 lead. Nick Longmire had two hits and two runs for the Tigers (5-3, 12-17).

No. 23 San Diego 9, Gonzaga 2

In Spokane, Wash., Jon Hotta had two hits and two RBI as USD evened its WCC series with Gonzaga. Jose Valerio and Zach Walters had consecutive homers in the ninth for the Toreros (7-1, 23-12). Tyson Van Winkle had two hits and a run for the Bulldogs (5-3, 22-10).

No. 24 San Diego State 8, UNLV 6

In Las Vegas, SDSU scored three in the eighth to rally past UNLV and clinch its Mountain West series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Josh Chasse homered and drove in three for the Aztecs (8-3, 25-11). Jarred Frierson had three hits and a run for the Rebels (4-7, 15-18).

Delaware 27, Hofstra 2

In Hempstead, N.Y., Ryan Cuneo tied a school record with three home runs as Delaware hammered Hofstra in CAA action at University Field. Cuneo scored four and drove in six. Carlos Alonso (4 for 6, 4 R, 1 RBI), Ryan Reed (5 for 7, 1 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI) and Pat Dameron (5 for 6, 3 R, 4 RBI) all had huge days for the Blue Hens (6-4, 20-11). Mark Stuckless had two hits, a run and a RBI for the Pride (1-9, 5-20).

Ohio State 6, Michigan State 1

In Columbus, Ohio, Alex Wimmers carried a no-hitter into the eighth before settling for a two-hitter as OSU defeated MSU in the opener of their Big Ten series at Bill Davis Stadium. Wimmers (6-1) walked one and struck out 11. Eric Roof got the first hit for the Spartans (3-4, 11-19) with a leadoff double in the eighth. He moved to third on a bunt single and scored on a balk. Zach Hurley homered to lead off the first for the Buckeyes (4-3, 24-7), preventing Nolan Moody (4-4) the chance for consecutive no-hitters. Dan Burkhart had a three-run homer in the seventh as OSU built a 5-0 lead.