April 15, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Eight hurlers help Nicholls State knock off No. 1 LSU

Lyons homers in 10th for Arkansas; Bumbry hits three dingers for VT

In Baton Rouge, La., eight pitchers combined to hold top-ranked LSU to four hits and one run as Nicholls State notched a 3-1 win at Alex Box Stadium. Derek Helenihi had a sacrifice fly in the third as the Tigers (27-10) took the early lead. The Colonels (17-18) answered with three in the fourth. Scott Moseley had an RBI single to tie the game. Tyler Minto’s base hit gave Nicholls a 2-1 advantage. Moseley scored on a groundout as the visitors took a 3-1 lead. Moseley and Minto both had two hits for the Colonels. Blake Dean had two of the four hits for LSU, both doubles.

No. 10 Arkansas 10, ULM 9 (10)

In Fayetteville, Ark., Scott Lyons hit a game-winning two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 10th as Arkansas split its two-game series with ULM. The Warhawks (22-13) tied it in the ninth and took a 9-8 lead in the 10th before the Razorbacks (25-9) rallied in the bottom of the frame. Lyons had two hits and drove in four. Brett Eibner had a three-run homer in the seventh for Arkansas. Matt Collins and Matt Laird both drove in three for ULM.

Virginia Tech 22, High Point 13

In High Point, N.C., Steve Bumbry hit three homers and drove in four as Virginia Tech outscored High Point at Williard Stadium. Ronnie Shaban had two homers, including a grand slam, and knocked in a career-high seven for the Hokies (22-12). Mike Kaminski added four hits, four runs and four RBI for Tech. The Hokies scored six in the first and got runs in each of their first seven at-bats. Billy Alvino had three hits and drove in six for the Panthers (14-18).

No. 6 North Carolina 20, Winthrop 4

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Ben Bunting had three hits and three RBI to lead UNC past Winthrop at Boshamer Stadium. Bunting tied a school record with two triples. Garrett Gore and Ryan Graepel both had three hits and three runs for the Tar Heels (28-10). The Eagles (24-12) scored three in the first and didn’t scratch again until the ninth. Eddie Rohan homered and drove in two for Winthrop. Eddie Tisdale also went deep for the Eagles. Brett Thomas had a three-run homer in the seventh for UNC.

No. 8 Texas 8, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1

In Austin, Texas, Brandon Belt went 4 for 4 with a homer and two RBI as UT completed a two-game sweep of TAMCC. Kevin Keyes went 3 for 3 with two runs and two steals for the Longhorns (26-8). Jeramie Marek homered in the second for the Islanders (13-24). UT scored one in the fourth and took the lead with three in fifth. The Longhorns put it away with four in the seventh.

No. 12 Georgia Tech 18, Georgia State 2

In Atlanta, Kevin Jacob fanned a career-high eight as Georgia Tech won at Georgia State’s Field at Panthersville. Jacob (5-2) allowed five hits and two runs in five innings. Evan Martin had a three-run homer to highlight an 11-run second for the Yellow Jackets (23-8-1). Thomas Nichols had a two-run double and Connor Winn whacked a two-run homer in a five-run ninth for Tech. Matt Van Horn had two hits for the Panthers (23-13).

No. 13 Baylor 10, Texas-Arlington 7

In Waco, Texas, Dustin Dickerson homered twice and drove in five as Baylor defeated UTA at Baylor Ballpark. Dickerson had a two-run blast to start the scoring in the first, extending his hit streak to 21. Dickerson added a three-run homer in a five-run second as the Bears (24-11) led 7-0. Justin McPherson homered to spark a three-run third for the Mavericks (19-17). BU added a run in the fourth before UTA rallied to pull to within one at 8-7. Raynor Campbell had a two-run dinger in the eighth for insurance for the Bears. Dickerson finished with three hits and three runs. Campbell also scored three for BU. Matt Otteman had three hits and one RBI for the Mavericks.

No. 20 Florida State 8, UNF 7

In Tallahassee, Fla., Jason Stidham had a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth to lift FSU past UNF at Dick Howser Stadium. Tyler Holt drew a one-out walk in the ninth for the Seminoles (22-12), moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and touched home on Stidham’s base hit. Stidham singled and scored the tying run on a passed ball in the eighth for FSU. Mike McGee had a three-run homer in the fifth and an RBI double in the seventh for the Seminoles. T.J. Thompson had three hits and three runs for the Ospreys (15-23).

No. 21 Clemson 13, Western Carolina 2

In Clemson, S.C., Kyle Parker had a grand slam to key a six-run first as Clemson clobbered WCU at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Parker finished with four hits and three runs. Jason Stolz (3 H, 2 RBI) and Wilson Boyd (2 for 3, 3 RBI) also had big days for the Tigers (25-12). Ben Paulsen went deep in the second for Clemson. Mitchell Hatley had a two-run single in the fourth for the Catamounts (20-14). J.C. Lyons had two hits for WCU.

No. 22 East Carolina 7, NC State 0

In Greenville, N.C., Kevin Brandt and three relievers combined on a four-hit shutout for ECU against NC State at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. Brandt (5-1) went 6.2 innings with three hits, three walks and four strikeouts. Jared Avchen had a sac fly and Ryan Wood added a RBI single in a two-run second for the Pirates (27-10). Trent Whitehead homered in the fourth for ECU. Drew Schieber had a two-run double in a four-run fifth for the Pirates. Dustin Harrington had three hits, two runs and one RBI for ECU. Dallas Poulk had a double for the Wolfpack (19-18).

No. 23 Florida 15, Stetson 4

In Gainesville, Fla., Daniel Pigott went 4 for 6 with a three-run homer and three runs to lead Florida past Stetson at McKethan Stadium. Preston Tucker had a three-run homer in the first for the Gators (25-12). Jeff Simpson’s RBI single sparked a three-run fourth for the Hatters (16-20). Teddy Foster had a two-run single to cap a four-run fifth for UF. Pigott’s three-run homer capped a seven-run sixth as the Gators took a 14-3 lead. Jonathan Pigott finished with three hits and two RBI for UF. Simpson and Mark Jones both had three hits and a run for Stetson.

No. 25 Kansas State 4, Wichita State 3

In Wichita, Kan., Thomas Rooke got the final two outs with the tying run on second in the bottom of the ninth as Kansas State edged Wichita State at Eck Stadium. Rooke got a foulout and a strikeout to secure his second save. The Wildcats (28-9) scored single runs in four of the first six innings before the Shockers (20-15) put up three in the bottom of the sixth. Carter Jurica had one hit, one run and one RBI for KSU. Clinton McKeever had three hits for WSU. The teams combined for 14 hits, all singles.

Xavier 10, Wright State 9

In Cincinnati, Zac Richard knocked in the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth as Xavier nipped Wright State to win the inaugural Joe Nuxhall Classic at UC’s Marge Schott Stadium. Richard went 3 for 7 in two games with three runs and four RBI to earn tourney MVP honors. Ryan Bellamy had three hits and two runs for the Musketeers (18-13). Drew Schmidt and Neil Lindgren both had three hits and three runs for XU. Quentin Cate (3 for 4, 3 R, 2 RBI) and Jeff Mercer (3 for 5, 3 R) led the offense for the Raiders (16-20).