May 2, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Larson leads UC Irvine past Cal State Northridge

OSU evens series with ASU; Rice wins at Houston

In Irvine, Calif., Francis Larson went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple and four runs as UCI won its Big West series over Cal State Northridge at Anteater Ballpark. Ben Orloff drove in three for the Anteaters (13-1, 33-11), who have won 14 of their past 16. UCI scored five in the second and Dillon Bell’s two-run double keyed a four-run third as the Anteaters built a 9-0 lead. Richard Cates (2 for 5, 1 R, 3 RBI) and Tommy Simis (3 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI) paced the offense for the Matadors (4-13, 18-28).

No. 24 Oregon State 4, No. 3 Arizona State 3

In Corvallis, Ore., Koa Kahalehoe had an RBI single with two outs to cap a two-run ninth as OSU evened its Pac-10 series with ASU at Goss Stadium. The Sun Devils (16-4, 33-10) took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth on a run-scoring triple by Drew Maggi. Jared Norris had a sac fly in the bottom of the frame before Kahalehoe’s base hit gave the win to the Beavers (10-7, 26-12). Norris had two hits and two RBI for OSU. Matt Newman knocked in two for ASU.

No. 4 Rice 7, Houston 5

In Houston, Michael Fuda had an RBI single to snap a 5-5 tie in the top of the ninth as Rice evened its Conference USA series with Houston at Cougar Field. Craig Manuel added a run-scoring base hit to give the Owls (12-5, 30-11) a 7-5 lead. The Cougars (11-6, 22-24) loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, but a double play and a flyout ended the affair. Fuda and Chad Mozingo (3 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI) both had three hits for Rice. Chase Dempsay and Caleb Ramsey both had two hits and a run for Houston.

No. 8 Arkansas 11-0, No. 5 LSU 4-5
In Fayetteville, Ark., Louis Coleman tossed a two-hit shutout with six strikeouts as LSU won the second game of its SEC doubleheader with Arkansas. The Razorbacks (14-8, 31-13), behind 8.1 strong innings from Dallas Keuchel, took the first game. In the second game, the Tigers (15-8, 35-13) scored three times in the first and Coleman (9-2) took it from there. The reliever-turned-starter faced only 30 batters, walking one, and totaled 112 pitches in tossing LSU's first complete-game shutout since May 1, 2005. Jared Mitchell had two hits, a run and a RBI for the Tigers. Keuchel (7-1) allowed five hits and three earned runs in limiting LSU. Brett Eibner went 2 for 3 with three RBI, Ben Tschepikow went 3 for 5 with two runs and a RBI and Andy Wilkins scored three times for the Razorbacks.
 

No. 6 Cal State Fullerton 5, UC Santa Barbara 4

In Fullerton, Calif., Josh Fellhauer had a two-run single with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth as Cal State Fullerton nipped UCSB in Big West play. Ryan Cavan had three hits for the Gauchos (6-8, 23-17), including an RBI triple in a two-run sixth as UCSB took a 4-3 lead. Jared Clark had a two-run homer in the third for the Titans (11-6, 31-12).

No. 20 Florida 7-10, No. 7 Georgia 6-9 (Game 2 – 11 innings)

In Athens, Ga., Tyler Thompson had an RBI single in the 11th to give Florida a victory in the completion of Friday’s suspended contest and a SEC series win over Georgia at Foley Field. The Gators (15-8, 33-14) also won the regularly-scheduled game over the Bulldogs (14-9, 33-14). Avery Barnes had four hits and two runs, while Jonathan Pigott drove in three for the Gators in Friday’s contest. Bryce Massanari knocked in four for the Bulldogs. In the regularly-scheduled contest, Barnes had two hits and two runs for Florida, while Buddy Munroe had two hits and two RBI. Joey Lewis had two runs and two RBI for Georgia.

No. 9 Ole Miss 8, Auburn 2
In Auburn, Ala., Matt Smith and Tim Ferguson combined to go 5 for 7 with six RBI at as Ole Miss clinched its SEC series victory against Auburn at Plainsman Park. Reliever Nathan Baker (4-1) bailed out starter Phillip Irwin with 4.2 scoreless innings. The Rebels (15-8, 35-13) scored in four consecutive innings, beginning in the second and including a four-run third. Grant Dayton (2-5) allowed six runs on eight hits in just 3.1 innings for the loss. Casey McElroy went 3 for 3 with a double, a walk and a RBI for the Tigers (8-15, 27-21), who scored just two runs on 13 hits.
 

No. 10 Texas 19, No. 22 Baylor 11

In Austin, Texas, Connor Rowe went 4 for 6 with four runs and three RBI as Texas clinched its Big 12 series with Baylor and allowed head coach Augie Garrido to become the first Division I coach to reach 1,700 victories. Rowe had an RBI single before Travis Tucker belted a grand slam in the second as the Longhorns (14-8-1, 32-11-1) took a 6-0 lead. Tucker drove in five, while Michael Torres and Brandon Belt both knocked in three for Texas. Dan Evatt had two hits, two runs and two RBI for the Bears (10-12, 26-19).

No. 11 Georgia Tech 9, Presbyterian 8 (10)

In Atlanta, Jeff Rowland hit a walkoff solo homer for Georgia Tech against Presbyterian at Russ Chandler Stadium. Matt Skole and Chase Burnette drove in three apiece for the Yellow Jackets (31-11-1). Mark Pope (5-1) earned the win by pitching 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Leadoff hitter Andrew Williams went 2 for 5 with a homer and three RBI and ninth batter Gabe Grammer picked up two RBI for the Blue Hose (10-33), who came back from an 8-6 deficit with two runs in the eighth and two errors by Georgia Tech. Andrew Foushee (1-6) worked two innings and surrendered the game-winner.

No. 13 Florida State 10, Virginia Tech 4
In Tallahassee, Fla., Jason Stidham went 3 for 4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs, and Ohmed Danesh blasted a three-run homer as Florida State homered four times in running away from Virginia Tech in the ACC. Stephen Cardullo and Ruairi O'Connor also homered for the Seminoles (17-7, 32-12), who led before the homer barrage started in the fourth inning. Geoff Parker (5-1) allowed two earned runs and struck out nine in six solid innings for FSU. Austin Wates and Buddy Sosnoskie each had two hits and a RBI for the Hokies (10-15, 27-19).
 

No. 16 Miami (Fla.) 7, Boston College 5
In Brockton, Mass., Chris Herrmann went 2 for 4 with two homers and three RBI as Miami clinched its ACC series win over BC at Campanelli Stadium. Jason Hagerty also finished 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI as hitters three through six combined for five homers and all seven RBI for the Hurricanes (15-11, 31-15). Miami scored all of its runs in the fourth and fifth innings and its bullpen pitched seven innings of one-run ball. Michael Rudman (3-0) fanned two in 1.2 innings for the win and Kyle Bellamy picked up his ACC-leading 15th save. Andrew Lawrence went 1 for 2 with a double, sacrifice fly and two RBI for the Eagles (11-13, 28-19), who lost an early 4-0 advantage. Starter John Leonard (1-3) gave up seven runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings for the loss.
 

No. 17 Texas A&M 8, Dallas Baptist 2
In College Station, Texas, Brodie Greene went 3 for 4 with two homers and three RBI, and Barret Loux and Alex Wilson combined to shut down Dallas Baptist as Texas A&M evened its series with the Patriots. Loux (3-1) allowed four hits and one earned run in six innings. Luke Anders contributed two hits and two RBI for the Aggies (31-16), who scored four times in the third inning. The Patriots fell to 32-13 despite a 2-for-4 day from Clay Kelly.

No. 19 Clemson 11, Maryland 2
In Clemson, S.C., Chris Epps went 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI, and Brad Miller added three hits and a RBI as Clemson hit up and down the lineup in an easy win over Maryland in the ACC. Mike Freeman and Wilson Boyd each added two hits and a RBI for the Tigers (15-10, 31-15), who scored four times in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Gerry Spessard drove in the lone run for the Terrapins (6-19, 22-25).
 

No. 23 East Carolina 3, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
In Greenville, N.C., Seth Maness (7-0) allowed just one run on seven hits in 7.2 innings as ECU edged ULL at Clark-LeClair Stadium. Seth Simmons pitched 1.1 scoreless innings for his eighth save. Kyle Roller and Jared Avchen each drove in a run for the Pirates (34-14), who scored all three runs in the fifth and sixth. Justin Robichaux (1-2) did not give up an earned run on six hits in six innings, but took the loss as the Ragin’ Cajuns (21-24-1) committed four errors for three unearned runs. Cleanup hitter Chad Keefer finished 2 for 4 with the sole Louisiana-Lafayette RBI coming in the first.