April 17, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Cerione knocks in game-winner in ninth for Georgia

White tosses one-hitter for UNC against Miami; Strasburg fans 14 for SDSU

In Athens, Ga., Matt Cerione (pictured right) drove in the game-winner with one-out base hit in the bottom of the ninth as No. 3 Georgia edged No. 10 Arkansas 4-3 Friday in SEC action in front of 3,640 fans at Foley Field. Jonathan Taylor pinch-hit and drew a leadoff walk in the ninth for the Bulldogs (12-4, 30-7). He moved to second on a throwing error. After a strikeout and a walk, Cerione singled to plate Taylor with the game-winner. Ben Tschepikow homered in the first for the Razorbacks (10-5, 25-10) before Bryce Massanari blasted a three-run bomb in the bottom of the frame. Arkansas scored one in the fifth and one in the seventh to tie it at 3-3. Massanari, Adam Fuller and Levi Hyams each had two hits for Georgia. Tim Carver knocked in two for the Razorbacks.

No. 6 North Carolina 3, No. 11 Miami (Fla.) 0
In Chapel Hill, N.C., Alex White pitched a complete-game one-hitter as UNC blanked Miami in ACC action at Boshamer Stadium. White (6-1) struck out 10 and walked one for the Tar Heels (11-7, 29-10). All-Americans Kyle Seager and Dustin Ackley went a combined 5 for 7 with two runs and both UNC RBI in the third and fourth spots. Chris Hernandez (4-3) surrendered three runs, two earned, on eight hits with six strikeouts and a walk in 6.2 innings for the loss. Dave DiNatale had the only hit for the Hurricanes (11-8, 26-11).
 

No. 24 San Diego State 1, New Mexico 0

In Albuquerque, N.M., Stephen Strasburg tossed a six-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts as SDSU nipped New Mexico in Mountain West play. Strasburg (8-0) walked one in notching his first complete game of the season. Strasburg lowered his ERA to 1.28. He had 121 strikeouts and 12 walks in 63.1 innings. Brandon Meredith hit a leadoff homer in the fourth for the Aztecs (9-4, 26-13). Adam Courcha had a triple for the Lobos (8-5, 28-11).

No. 1 LSU 18, Tennessee 3

In Baton Rouge, La., Jared Mitchell homered and drove in five as LSU thumped Tennessee in SEC action at Alex Box Stadium. Ryan Schimpf went deep and DJ LeMahieu added a two-run double in the first for the Tigers (11-5, 28-10). Mitchell had a two-run blast in the second for a 5-0 advantage. Mitchell had a three-run triple and scored in a five-run third as LSU took a 10-0 lead. Tyler Horne had a two-run homer in a three-run fourth for the Vols (3-13, 17-22). Blake Dean went 4 for 4 for the Tigers with two runs and one RBI.

No. 2 Rice 7, Marshall 5

In Houston, Taylor Wall fanned eight in 6.2 innings as Rice defeated Marshall at Reckling Park. The Owls (10-3, 26-9) moved into sole possession of first place in Conference USA. Wall (5-3) allowed five hits and walked one. Rice scored one in the second and Craig Manuel had a two-run single in a four-run third as the Owls built a 5-0 lead. Brandon Casamassima had a two-run double in a three-run seventh for the Thundering Herd (5-8, 15-21). Victor Gomez added a two-run homer in the eighth for Marshall. Rick Hague and Ryan Lewis both had two hits for Rice.

No. 4 Arizona State 14, Stanford 6

In Tempe, Ariz., Jason Kipnis and Matt Newman both drove in four as ASU outscored Stanford in Pac-10 play in front of 3,376 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Raoul Torrez homered for the Sun Devils (11-2, 26-8). ASU scored in each of the first five innings, including five in the second and three in both the third and fourth. Drew Maggi scored four for the Sun Devils. Josh Spence (8-0) struck out seven in seven innings with eight hits and five earned runs. Ben Clowe had three hits and three RBI for the Cardinal (7-6, 15-14).

No. 5 UC Irvine 16, UC Riverside 1

In Riverside, Calif., Ronnie Shaeffer had three hits, three runs and five RBI as UCI overwhelmed UCR in Big West action at the Riverside Sports Complex. Tommy Reyes (2 for 3, 3 RBI), Francis Larson (4 for 5, 4 R, 2 RBI) and Dillon Bell (2 RBI) paced the offense for the Anteaters (9-1, 23-10). UCI scored three in the fourth to snap a 1-1 tie and added five in the fifth to take control. Shaeffer had a three-run homer and Larson added a solo shot in the fifth. Daniel Bibona (6-1) struck out seven in seven innings with four hits and one run. Michael Hur had an RBI single for the Highlanders (2-5, 20-11).

Pacific 5, No. 7 Cal State Fullerton 4

In Fullerton, Calif., Mike McKeever’s two-run single keyed a four-run ninth as Pacific beat Fullerton in the Big West for the first time since 2002, snapping a 19-game losing streak against the Titans (5-5, 23-10). McKeever’s base hit tied the game at 4 and J.B. Brown scored the game-winner on a fielder’s choice for the Tigers (6-4, 14-18). Joey Centanni went 5 for 5 for Pacific. Brian Martin drove in two for the Tigers, including the game-winner. Jared Clark knocked in a pair for Fullerton.

No. 12 Georgia Tech 13, Wake Forest 2
In Winston-Salem, N.C., Deck McGuire (6-0) pitched seven innings of one-run ball as Georgia Tech handled Wake Forest in ACC action at WF Baseball Park. Tony Plagman went 5 for 6 with two homers, three doubles, three runs and four RBI for the Yellow Jackets (11-5-1, 24-8-1), who scored at least two runs in five different innings. Jeff Rowland finished 4 for 6 with two runs and a stolen base. Starter Garrett Bullock (1-1) suffered the loss for the Demon Deacons (6-13, 20-17) as they collected just fours hits and one RBI. Steven Brooks and Shane Kroker each scored for WFU.

No. 13 Baylor 8, Oklahoma State 5

In Stillwater, Okla., Aaron Miller homered and drove in three as Baylor beat OSU in a Big 12 battle at Reynolds Stadium. Shaver Hansen (3 for 4, 2 R) and Raynor Campbell (2 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI) added offensive support for the Bears (10-6, 25-11). Kevin David had two hits and three RBI for the Cowboys (4-9, 24-15). Kendal Volz (3-3) fanned seven in a career-high 8.1 innings. Michael Dabbs and Neil Medchill both went deep for OSU.

No. 14 Virginia 8, Boston College 3

In Chestnut Hill, Mass., Danny Hultzen scored three, drove in three more – including his first career home run – and tossed 4.1 innings to lead Virginia over Boston College in ACC play. Hultzen struck out three and allowed just one earned run for the Cavaliers (10-6-1, 29-7-1), as Tyler Wilson finished out the game to move his record to 6-2. The Eagles (9-8, 23-14) had a RBI from Tony Sanchez and Mike Belfiore, who was 2 for 4. Franco Valdes finished 3 for 4 with two runs and Jared King drove in two on a double to right-center in the eighth as a pinch-hitter for Virginia.

No. 15 Coastal Carolina 18, High Point 3
In High Point, N.C., Daniel Bowman finished 2 for 6 with a three-run homer and five RBI as Coastal Carolina hammered High Point in the Big South at Williard Stadium. Leadoff hitter Rico Noel went 2 for 4 with a solo shot, two runs, two walks and four RBI, while Cody Wheeler (7-0) allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings for the Chanticleers (10-2, 30-7). Coastal Carolina jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first. Starter R.J. Chlebnikow (2-4) gave up 12 runs, seven earned, on 12 hits with eight walks and six strikeouts in five innings. Jeff Cowan had a double, a run, a walk and a RBI for the Panthers (7-9, 14-19).

No. 16 Ole Miss 6, No. 23 Florida 2

In Gainesville, Fla., Drew Pomeranz threw a complete game for Ole Miss, striking out nine in a SEC win against Florida. Pomeranz (4-1) allowed only two runs on four hits with three walks, and Matt Smith went 2 for 5 with two runs and three RBI to lead the Rebels (10-6, 27-10). The Gators (9-7, 25-13) picked up their runs off the bats of Preston Tucker and Buddy Munroe. Zach Miller and Kyle Henson each added two hits for Ole Miss, who out-hit Florida 11-4.

No. 17 Cal Poly 11, UC Davis 10
In San Luis Obispo, Calif., Adam Buschini scored on a dropped fly ball in the bottom of the 10th as Cal Poly edged UC Davis in the Big West. Ryan Lee went 2 for 5 with three RBI and J.J. Thompson added two hits and two RBI for the Mustangs (6-4, 25-9), who scored five runs in the seventh for a 10-6 lead. But the Aggies (1-6, 6-26) scored four of their own in the eighth to tie it at 10. Tony Bongiovanni had four hits and two RBI, and Grant Hirneise added three hits and a RBI for UC Davis.

USC 4, No. 18 Oregon State 3
In Corvallis, Ore., Brad Boxberger worked into the eighth inning, and Robert Stock picked up his fourth save as USC built a 4-0 lead and held off Oregon State in the Pac-10. Grant Green had two hits and scored two runs for the Trojans (8-5, 18-15), who scored in three of the first four innings for a four-run lead. But the Beavers (7-3, 22-8) rallied for three in the seventh, with Joey Wong and Koe Kahalehoe delivering RBI.

No. 20 Florida State 9, NC State 3

In Raleigh, N.C., Tyler Holt collected four hits, including a double and a triple, as Florida State surged to an ACC win against NC State. Mike McGee added three RBI for the Seminoles (10-7, 23-12) and Stuart Tapley had two hits and two runs. The Wolfpack (7-12, 19-19) got two hits from both Drew Poulk and Andrew Ciencin, who also hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to take a brief lead. The FSU relievers combined to throw the last three scoreless innings with one hit and three strikeouts.

Virginia Tech 5, No. 21 Clemson 2
In Blacksburg, Va., Rhett Ballard (5-2) went seven innings and allowed just two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks as Virginia Tech got past Clemson in ACC action at English Field. Mike Kaminski went 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI for the Hokies (8-10, 23-12), who scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh for the victory. Wilson Boyd hit a solo shot for the Tigers (11-8, 25-13). Chris Dwyer (4-3) took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, in 5.1 innings. He fanned eight and walked two, but Clemson committed three errors.

Tulane 7, No. 22 East Carolina 4

In New Orleans, Jonathan Garrett came in to pitch 4.2 innings of scoreless relief as Tulane rallied from a four-run deficit to beat ECU in Conference USA. Garrett (3-1) struck out four and only gave up two hits for the Green Wave (4-6, 21-16). Scott Powell, Seth Henry and Jamie Bruno each finished with two hits. The Pirates (9-4, 27-11) did their damage early off the bat of Kyle Roller, who went 3 for 4 with a run and two RBI. Tulane put up three runs in the fifth and seventh innings to complete the comeback.

Missouri 4, No. 25 Kansas State 3
In Manhattan, Kan., Trevor Coleman ripped a three-run homer in the top of the ninth, and Kyle Mach followed it with a solo shot as Missouri erased a 2-0 deficit and turned into a Big 12 win over Kansas State. A.J. Morris allowed four hits and no runs entering the ninth, but Aaron Senne doubled to lead off the ninth, and Greg Folgia reached on an infield single. Thomas Rooke (4-1) entered and surrendered a 2-2 homer to Coleman, his sixth of the year. Kyle Gibson (6-3) allowed 11 hits and three runs and struck out nine in a complete-game, 136-pitch effort.

Long Island 15, Sacred Heart 11

In Bridgeport, Conn., James Jones had a two-run homer in the eighth to complete the cycle and snap a 9-9 tie as LIU outlasted Sacred Heart in Northeast Conference action. Jones finished with five hits and five RBI for the Blackbirds (5-4, 9-22). LIU scored nine in the first before the Pioneers (3-5, 12-19-1) scored in each of the first five innings to knot the score at 9-9. The Blackbirds got two in the eighth on the dinger by Jones and added four in the ninth, despite a delay when the sprinklers came on. Mike Drowne went 4 for 5 with a homer, four runs and two RBI for Sacred Heart.

UNLV 2, Northern Colorado 0

In Las Vegas, Tanner Peters tossed a one-hitter as UNLV edged UNC at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Peters (5-2) allowed a leadoff double to Adam Hilker in the fourth. He walked three and struck out seven. J.J. Sferra walked and scored in the first for the Rebels (17-18). Anthony Morel had an RBI single in the fifth to extend the lead for UNLV. Sferra had a base hit in the seventh to extend his hit streak to 26. T.J. Berge walked twice for the Bears (9-22).

Southeastern Louisiana 4, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3

In Hammond, La., Cass Hargis hit for the cycle to lead Southeastern Louisiana past TAMCC in Southland Conference action. Hargis homered in the first, singled in the fourth, tripled in the sixth and had an RBI double to cap a two-run seventh as the Lions (11-8, 22-14) took a 4-2 lead. The Islanders (5-14, 13-25) pulled to within one in the eighth. Chris Franklin got the final out in the eighth and retired the side in the ninth for his ninth save, a school record. Jeramie Marek went 4 for 4 for TAMCC with a run and two RBI.

No. 19 TCU had its three-game Mountain West series at Air Force canceled due to snow. No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 8 Texas was postponed on Friday. They will play a doubleheader on Saturday.

(photo courtesy of Georgia Media Relations Office)