April 18, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Tennessee rallies past No. 1 LSU to even SEC series

Cerione brings in winner for Georgia; Louisville wins on triple play in ninth

In Baton Rouge, La., Tennessee scored three times over the final two innings to rally past No. 1 LSU 7-5 Saturday at Alex Box Stadium and even its SEC series. The Vols (4-13, 18-22) scored two unearned runs in the eighth to take a 6-5 lead. Cody Grisham homered in the ninth for UT. Cody Hawn had three hits for the Vols. Blake Dean went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBI for the Tigers (11-6, 28-11).

No. 3 Georgia 4, No. 10 Arkansas 3

In Athens, Ga., Matt Cerione drove in the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth for the second straight day as Georgia clinched its SEC series with Arkansas at Foley Field. Cerione doubled to bring home Miles Starr from first to end the contest. Cerione finished with three hits and two RBI. Rich Poythress had two hits for the Bulldogs (13-4, 31-7), including his 17th home run. Chase Leavitt had two hits and one RBI for the Razorbacks (10-6, 25-11). Andy Wilkins went deep for Arkansas.

Louisville 7, Rutgers 4

In Piscataway, N.J., Louisville turned a triple play in the ninth to secure its Big East win over Rutgers at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights (3-11, 15-21) had runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth when Dan Perrine lined to first baseman Andrew Clark, who stepped on first for the second out and threw to shortstop John Dao at second base for the third and final out. It was the second triple play turned this month by the Cardinals (10-4, 26-10). Chris Dominguez had two hits and two RBI for Louisville. Ryan Wright also knocked in a pair for Louisville. Luis Feliz had three hits and a run for Rutgers. Jayson Hernandez had two hits and two RBI for the Scarlet Knights.

No. 2 Rice 10, Marshall 3

In Houston, Rick Hague smacked two of his team’s six home runs as Rice powered past Marshall in Conference USA action at Reckling Park. Andrew Yeager singled and scored for the Thundering Herd (5-9, 15-22) in the first before the Owls (11-3, 27-9) tied it in the bottom of the frame and took control with four in the second. Steven Sultzbaugh and Hague both had two-run blasts in the second. Michael Fuda, Brock Holt and Anthony Rendon also went deep for Rice. Holt went 4 for 4 with three runs. Rhett Stafford had two hits for Marshall.

No. 4 Arizona State 7, Stanford 2

In Tempe, Ariz., ASU scored seven in the eighth to rally past Stanford in Pac-10 play in front of 3,950 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Jared McDonald had a two-run double to give the Sun Devils (12-2, 27-8) a 3-2 lead. Drew Maggi, who led off the inning with a triple, had a three-run single to cap the rally. Mike Leake (9-1) allowed eight hits and two runs with nine strikeouts in eight innings to earn the win. Jordan Pries fanned 10 in seven scoreless innings for the Cardinal (7-7, 15-15). Joey August and Zach Jones both had two hits for Stanford.

No. 5 UC Irvine 9, UC Riverside 6

In Riverside, Calif., Casey Stevenson had a three-run double in a six-run first as UCI clinched its Big West series with UCR at Riverside Sports Complex. Stevenson finished with three hits for the Anteaters (10-1, 25-10). Eric Deregisch had two hits and two runs for UCI. Carl Uhl had two hits and knocked in two for the Highlanders (2-6, 20-12). Eric Pettis pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout for his 11th save.

No. 6 North Carolina 5, No. 11 Miami (Fla.) 4 (10)

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Mark Fleury hit the walkoff RBI single in the 10th with runners at the corners against closer Kyle Bellamy (3-1) as UNC edged Miami to clinch its ACC series at Boshamer Stadium. Fleury finished 2 for 4 with a triple, walk and run for the Tar Heels (12-7, 30-10). Michael Levi drove in two in the ninth spot for UNC, which fell behind 3-0 in the first but produced a three-run fourth and tied the score at four apiece in the eighth. Nate Striz (3-0) pitched just 1/3 of an inning for the victory. The Hurricanes (11-9, 26-12) were led by Chris Herrmann, who went 1 for 3 with two walks, a run and a RBI.

Pacific 14, No. 7 Cal State Fullerton 10

In Fullerton, Calif., Joey Centanni started the rally with a triple and capped a seven-run seventh with a two-run double as Pacific secured its first series win ever over against Cal State Fullerton. Josh Simms had three hits and three RBI for the Tigers (7-4, 15-18), while Mike Walker added three hits and three runs. Jared Clark (2 for 4, 3 R, 3 RBI) homered for the Titans (5-6, 23-11).

No. 8 Texas 7-6, No. 9 Oklahoma 3-2

In Austin, Texas, Cameron Rupp homered and drove in three in the nightcap as Texas swept a Big 12 doubleheader from Oklahoma at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns (11-6, 28-8) scored in four of its first five at-bats. Jamie Johnson had two hits and one RBI for the Sooners (8-6, 29-10). In the opener, Brandon Loy had a two-run double to key a five-run second as UT took control early. Tant Shepherd had two hits and two runs for the Longhorns. Aaron Baker had a two-run homer in the fourth for OU.

No. 12 Georgia Tech 8, Wake Forest 1
In Winston-Salem, N.C., starter Zach Von Tersch (6-1) pitched six shutout innings and scattered three hits while two relievers finished the final three frames as Georgia Tech clinched its ACC series with WFU at WF Baseball Park. Derek Dietrich hit a two-run homer for the Yellow Jackets (11-5-1, 25-8-1). Chase Burnette and Chris House went a combined 5 for 9 with two RBI and four runs in the eighth and ninth spots. Phil Negus (2-3) allowed six runs on 10 hits in 6.2 innings, but fanned six and walked none in the loss. Evan Ocheltree had two of the Demon Deacons' (6-14, 20-18) four hits and collected an RBI double in the ninth.
 

Oklahoma State 4, No. 13 Baylor 3

In Stillwater, Okla., Mark Ginther homered in the sixth to snap a 3-3 tie and lead OSU to a split of its Big 12 series at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. After the Cowboys (5-9, 25-15) got a run in the first on a sac fly by Neil Medchill, Aaron Miller smacked a three-run homer in the third for the Bears (10-7, 25-12). Tom Belza had a two-run single in the fourth to knot the score at 3-3. Dean Green had two hits and a run for OSU. Miller, Raynor Campbell and Ben Booker each had two hits for Baylor.

Boston College 9, No. 14 Virginia 6

In Chestnut Hill, Mass., Boston College put up four runs in the eighth – including the go-ahead run off the bat of Brad Zapenas – to come from behind and knock off Virginia to even their ACC series. The Eagles (10-8, 24-14) got two RBI from both Anthony Melchionda and Mike Sudol. Zapenas finished with three hits. Danny Hultzen went 2 for 5 with two runs and four RBI for the Cavaliers (10-7-1, 29-8-1), who started strong with three runs in the first but could not hold the lead.

High Point 12, No. 15 Coastal Carolina 8
In High Point, N.C., Max Fulginiti went 4 for 4 with two stolen bases, three runs and two RBI as High Point evened its Big South series with Coastal Carolina at Williard Stadium. Batters eight and nine - Eric Marion and Pablo Rosario - also drove in two for the Panthers (8-9, 15-19). As a team, High Point stole seven bases and collected 16 hits. Starter Jamie Serber (4-2) allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in six innings, but picked up the win. Corey Swickle picked up his first save by tossing three scoreless innings of relief. Cleanup hitter David Anderson finished 3 for 3 with two homers, two walks and five RBI to lead the Chanticleers (10-3, 30-8). Reliever Caleb Cuevas (1-2) took the loss after surrendering six runs, five earned, on seven hits in 2.1 innings.
 

No. 17 Cal Poly 8, UC Davis 4

In San Luis Obispo, Calif., D.J. Gentile set a school record with three sacrifice flies as Cal Poly clinched its Big West series with UC Davis in front of 1,712 fans at Baggett Stadium. Ryan Lee tied a program record with a 25-game hit streak for the Mustangs (7-4, 25-9). Lee finished with three hits and three runs. Scott Heylman had a two-run double in the second for the Aggies (1-7, 6-27).

USC 5, No. 18 Oregon State 2

In Corvallis, Ore., Billy Pinkerton’s had an RBI double in the ninth to snap a 2-2 tie, and Alex Sherrod followed with a two-run two-bagger as USC topped OSU for its seventh straight Pac-10 win. Grant Green had a run-scoring double in the first for the Trojans (9-5, 19-16) before Stefen Romero had a two-run single in the bottom of the frame for the Beavers (7-4, 22-9). Ricky Oropesa tied it with a run-scoring single in the third. Green and Joe De Pinto both had two hits for USC. Joey Wong had two hits and a run for OSU.

No. 20 Florida State 4, NC State 2

In Raleigh, N.C., Stuart Tapley crushed a grand slam in the eighth inning to provide the only runs for Florida State in an ACC win against NC State at Doak Field. Tyler Holt and Mike McGee walked and Jason Stidham singled to right center to load the bases for Tapley, who caught hold of a 1-1 breaking ball and put it over the fence in left field. The Seminoles (11-7, 24-12) got seven strong innings from Brian Busch (2-2), who struck out five and walked two. Devon Cartwright picked up the lone RBI for the Wolfpack (7-13, 19-20) and Pratt Maynard and Chris Schaeffer each scored a run.

Virginia Tech 7, No. 21 Clemson 3
In Blacksburg, Va., Justin Wright (4-1) pitched eight innings of one-run ball on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks as Virginia Tech clinched its ACC series with Clemson at English Field. Steve Domecus and Austin Wates - hitters four and five - combined to go 5 for 8 with four RBI for the Hokies (9-10, 24-12), who have now won eight in a row. Starter Justin Sarratt (3-2) gave up five runs on six hits in just two innings for the Tigers (11-9, 25-14). John Nester went 2 for 3 with a solo shot and two RBI for Clemson.

No. 22 East Carolina 12, Tulane 5

In New Orleans, eight batters recorded at least a hit for East Carolina, and Devin Harris and Ryan Wood each slapped a three-run homer to blow past Tulane in Conference USA play at Greer Field. The Pirates (10-4, 28-11) collected 15 hits as Harris led all players with five RBI. Tulane (4-7, 21-17) got two RBI from both Sam Honeck and Evan Mistich. Kyle Roller and Stephen Batts each added three hits for East Carolina.

No. 23 Florida 8, No. 16 Ole Miss 4

In Gainesville, Fla., Mike Mooney went 3 for 4 and scored two for Florida in an SEC win over Ole Miss in front of a season-high 5,103 fans at McKethan Stadium. Stephen Locke (2-0) picked up the win for the Gators (10-7, 26-13), striking out five over 7.2 innings. The Rebels (10-7, 27-11) were led offensively by Zach Miller, who was 2 for 4 with a run and two RBI, and Jordan Henry, who added two hits and scored a run. Five of Florida’s runs were unearned because of four errors by Ole Miss.

New Mexico 12, No. 24 San Diego State 4

In Albuquerque, N.M., Max Willet had two hits and five RBI as UNM evened its Mountain West series with SDSU at Isotopes Park. Mike Brownstein and Willet had consecutive two-run doubles in the fourth as the Lobos (9-5, 29-11) took a 7-2 lead. Willet added a three-run homer in the sixth for a 10-2 advantage. Brandon Decker had three hits and a run for the Aztecs (9-5, 26-14).

Missouri 11, No. 25 Kansas State 6

In Manhattan, Kan., Greg Folgia had two homers and knocked in five as Missouri clinched its Big 12 series with KSU. Austin Holt had career highs with three hits and three RBI for the Tigers (8-9, 21-19). The Wildcats (7-7, 28-11) led 5-0 after two before Missouri scored one in the third and five in the fourth, keyed by Folgia’s two-run blast. Adam Muenster went deep in the fourth for KSU to tie it at 5. Folgia’s three-run shot capped a four-run sixth for the Tigers. Justin Bloxom had four hits and a run for the Wildcats.

UCLA 13, Washington 0

In Los Angeles, Trevor Bauer tossed a one-hitter as UCLA blanked Washington in Pac-10 play at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Bauer (6-3) allowed a leadoff single to Brady McGuire of the Huskies (4-7, 14-21) in the sixth. He registered a career-high nine strikeouts and walked one. Blair Dunlap had a grand slam and Gabe Cohen added a two-run homer for the Bruins (8-6, 16-19). Cohen had two hits, three runs and four RBI for UCLA.