May 28, 2010

Recaps compiled by Sean Ryan, Brian Buckey, Bart Remington, Michael Perry

click here for complete list of scores

CBI Live: SoCon Game 9: #7 ASU 10, #2 CofC 8

CBI Live: SoCon Game 10: #4 Elon 7, #5 Samford 4

Around the Tournaments
Wittels' hit streak alive at 51, 52

Stony Brook wins America East title, Rider takes MAAC, TCU tops in MWC

(because of rain, several games were postponed last night)

Sun Belt

#4 FIU 18, #1 Florida Atlantic 16 (11)
#6 Troy 6, #3 Middle Tennessee 5 (MTSU eliminated)
#4 FIU 10, #5 South Alabama 4 (USA eliminated)
The magic continues for FIU and Garrett Wittels. Early in the day, Wittels singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 51 games. In the nightcap, Wittels went 3 for 6 with three RBI as the Panthers outlasted Florida Atlantic in an 18-16, 11-inning thriller. Leadoff man Pablo Bermudez went 3 for 7 with a double, homer, three runs and seven RBI, and Yoandy Barroso went 4 for 7 with three runs and three RBI for FIU (34-23). It negated a huge night from FAU's Raymond Church, who went 4 for 6 with two homers and nine RBI. Wittels is now six games shy of Robin Ventura's NCAA Division I record of 58 straight games with a hit. Should the season end with the streak intact, it would be resumed next season. FIU and FAU will play an elimination game Saturday.

America East
#3 Stony Brook 4, #4 Albany 2 (Albany eliminated)
#4 Albany 7, #1 Binghamton 4 (Binghamton eliminated)
In Vestal, N.Y., Pat Cantwell and Chad Marshall hit back-to-back homers to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh as Stony Brook (29-25) edged Albany to win the America East title. Adam Brown tossed 8.2 innings with two earned runs. William Carmona went 3 for 3 and earned the save, and Cantwell was named the tourney's MOP after batting .385 with six RBI and two runs. Earlier in the day, the Great Danes (13-40) eliminated top-seeded Binghamton, thanks to 4.2 innings of scoreless relief from Greg Lutton. Kyle Crean went 6 for 8 in Albany's two games Friday.
 

Metro Atlantic
#3 Rider 4, #1 Canisius 2 (Canisius eliminated)
#4 Manhattan 5 vs. #1 Canisius 6 (Manhattan eliminated)
In Fishkill, N.Y., Patrick Devlin allowed two runs on six hits and struck out seven as Rider captured the Metro Atlantic Tournament title by beating top-seeded Canisius for the second straight day. The Broncs (36-21) led 1-0 until the seventh, when they scored three times on five walks and a hit batter. Eric Woodrow had two RBI, and Tyler Smith pitched a perfect ninth for is ninth save. Will Chamicki had a two-run single for Canisius (39-21).

Mountain West
#1 TCU 2, #2 New Mexico 0 (UNM eliminated)
#2 New Mexico 10, #5 UNLV 3 (UNLV eliminated)
In San Diego, Steven Maxwell tossed six scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and tourney MOP Bryan Holady and Jantzen Witte drove in runs as TCU won the MWC title to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight year. The Horned Frogs (46-11) allowed four runs in their three tourney wins, and Matt Purke, Kyle Winkler and Maxwell improved to 32-2 on the year. Holaday had a RBI double in the first to score Brance Rivera, and Witte's single in the second scored Aaron Schultz, who had singled and stole second. Justin Howard and Alex Allbritton each had two hits for the Lobos (37-20), who with a RPI of 45 are hoping for an NCAA at-large bid.

Earlier Daniel Gonzalez had a three-run triple in a seven-run first inning, and Cameron Smith went 2 for 4 with three RBI as New Mexico eliminated UNLV to set up a title round vs. TCU. Adam Courcha went 3 for 3 with a run, and Max Willett had two hits and two runs for the Lobos (37-19). Rudy Jaramillo worked into the eighth to improve to 4-2. Drew Beuerlein went 3 for 4 for UNLV (29-29).
 

ACC
#6 Virginia Tech 9, #2 Clemson 8
#5 Florida State 12 vs. #8 Boston College 2
#3 Georgia Tech vs. #7 NC State 8 pm
In Greensboro, N.C., Sean Ryan plated the game-winning run with a single in the bottom of the eighth inning as Virginia Tech improved to 2-0 in pool play by slipping past Clemson. Hokies closer Ben Rowen (5-1) tossed the final 1.2 innings to pick up the win. Buddy Sosnoskie blasted a three-run homer in a five-run first, Austin Wates went 3 for 4 with two runs and a RBI and Ronnie Shaban had two RBI for Tech (38-19). The Tigers (37-21) took a short-lived 6-5 lead by scoring four in the fourth, two of which came in on Richie Shaffer's double.

Earlier in the day, James Ramsey went 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs and four RBI, and Devon Travis went 2 for 3 with a homer and three RBI as Florida State routed Boston College in seven innings. Stephen Cardullo went 3 for 4 with two runs and a RBI for the Seminoles (41-17), who scored in six straight innings after being blanked in the first. Mickey Wiswall hit his 19th homer for the Eagles (30-27), who await their NCAA tourney fate Monday.

Atlantic Sun
#3 ETSU 12 vs. #1 FGCU 10 (FGCU eliminated)
#4 UNF vs. #5 Jacksonville 3 pm
#3 ETSU vs. #2 Mercer 7 pm
In Nashville, Tenn., A-Sun Player of the Year Paul Hoilman went 2 for 3 with a double, homer and five RBI, and Matthew Scruggs went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer that gave East Tennessee State a late lead in a win over top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast. Kerry Doane went 3 for 5 with three runs, and Chas Byrne tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief to post the win. The Bucs (32-27) were in control until giving up five in the sixth to fall behind 10-9. But Scruggs homered and ETSU answered with three in the seventh. Zach Maxfield homered and drove in three, and Luke Smierciak went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBI for FGCU (38-20), which hopes it has done enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney.

Atlantic 10
#6 La Salle 2 vs. #3 Rhode Island 7 (La Salle eliminated)
#5 Saint Louis 12, #2 Xavier 9
#1 Charlotte 7, #3 Rhode Island 3 (URI eliminated)
In Camden, N.J., Mike Levine went 4 for 5 with three runs and two RBI, and Jon Myers went 3 for 4 with two RBI as Saint Louis rallied to beat Xavier and earn a spot in the A-10 championship. The Billikens (31-27) trailed 7-4 before scoring four in the sixth and adding three in the seventh and one in the eighth. Cody Cotter went 2 for 4 with two runs and a RBI, and Danny Brock contributed two hits, two RBI and a run for Saint Louis. Bobby Freking had a three-run homer, and Ben Thomas went 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBI for the Musketeers (26-31).

In an elimination game, Shane Basen had a two-run single to key a four-run ninth inning as Charlotte topped Rhode Island. Basen went 2 for 4 out of the 9-hole, and Shane Brown went 2 for 5 with a run and a RBI. Tom Coulombe had two hits and a RBI for the Rams.
 

Big East
#2 Connecticut 7, #3 Pittsburgh 2
#5 USF vs. #1 Louisville 7 pm
In Clearwater, Fla., Pierre LePage went 4 for 4 with a run and two RBI, and Billy Ferriter went 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBI as Connecticut eliminated Pittsburgh from the Big East Tournament. The Huskies (38-18) scored all their runs from the third to seventh innings. Mike Olt had two hits and two runs, and Greg Nappo improved to 8-5 with 5.2 innings, 10 hits and two earned runs. Joe Leonard went 3 for 4 for the Panthers (38-18).

Big South
#2 Liberty 9 @ #3 Winthrop 7 (Winthrop eliminated)
#4 High Point vs. #1 Coastal Carolina 3 pm
#2 Liberty vs. Game 10 loser 7 pm
In Rock Hill, S.C., P.J. Jimenez, Kenneth Negron and Austin Taylor - Liberty's 5, 6 and 7 batters - each drove in two runs as the Flames set the school record for wins by eliminating Winthrop. Liberty (41-18) scored four times in the fifth inning and Dane Beakler tossed the final 2.1 innings for his second save. Matt Williams and Tyler Bream each contributed two hits, two runs and a RBI for the Flames. Eddie Rohan went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs and a RBI for the Eagles (27-20).

Big Ten

No. 5 Purdue 15, No. 6 Indiana 5 (Indiana eliminated)

In Columbus, Ohio, freshman Kevin Plawecki drove in three runs on three hits as Purdue (33-23) cruised past Indiana (28-27) in afternoon action from the BIg Ten Tournament. Drew Madia hit his ninth home run of the season, driving in three runs on three hits as well. Drew Wurdack pitched 6.2 innings of three-run baseball to earn the win.

CAA
#3 VCU 6 vs. #1 James Madison 3
#4 UNC Wilmington 3, #1 James Madison 1 (JMU elimintated)
#2 Georgia State 8 @ #4 UNC Wilmington 10 (GSU eliminated)
In Wilmington, N.C., Brett Mikionis went 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBI, and Jonathan Watson (3 IP) and Kyle Pelchy (3 IP) combined to allow two hits and one earned run in six innings of relief as VCU beat James Madison to advance to the CAA title. Joe Van Meter scored twice, and Matt Leskiw and Richard Gonzalez each contributed two hits and a run for the Rams (33-23-1).

In the nightcap, host UNC Wilmington posted its second win of the day when sophomore Tyler McSwain allowed four hits in a complete-game gem as the Seahawks eliminated James Madison. McSwain (6-3) struck out nine and walked three and threw a whopping 150 pitches. Thomas Pope went 3 for 3 with a RBI, and Hunter Ridge drove in a run for UNCW (32-26). Jake Lowery homered for the Dukes (30-23).
 

Conference USA
#3 Memphis 3, #6 East Carolina 2
#1 Rice 18, #4 Marshall 0
#2 Southern Miss 10, #5 Houston 6
In Houston, Memphis Tyler Huelsing stroked a two-run homer to right to give the Tigers (28-30) the walk-off victory over ECU. The Pirates (32-27) held a slim 2-1 lead heading into the final inning, but Huelsing got a hold of the second pitch from reliever Seth Simmons to end ECU’s chances of appearing in the championship game. Memphis fell behind early as Kyle Roller opened the contest with his own two-run round-tripper, but the Tigers would bounce back on the arm of Brennon Martin (6-6). The senior left-hander would shut the door, allowing just two singles after Roller’s blast. Martin would total nine strikeouts on the way to his sixth win.

Later in the day, top-seed Rice (38-20) flexed its offensive muscle once again as it pummeled Marshall. In the bottom of the second, the Owl posted their second 11-run inning of the tournament and forced another shortened contest. Steven Sultzbaugh (4 for 4) plated seven runs with a pair of homers. The senior notched a grand slam in the second and ripped a two-run bomb to lead of the fifth inning. Jared Rodgers (8-1) tossed seven scoreless innings, fanning eight and allowing just five hits for the Thundering Herd (27-31).

To finish off the day at Cougar Field, Southern Miss knocked out tournament host Houston. The Golden Eagles (34-22) opened the contest with a four-run first inning and capped it off with a five-run seventh. Taylor Walker plated a pair of runs on three hits. Reliever Ryan MacNamara (2-2) pitched five innings, allowing just three runs on eight hits for the win. The Cougars end their season with a 25-32 record. Southern Miss will meet Rice for the Conference USA Tournament title.
 

Horizon
#3 UIC 4 vs. #6 Youngstown State 1 (YSU eliminated)
#4 Valparaiso 10, #3 UIC 5 (UIC eliminated)
#1 Wright State 1, #2 Milwaukee 0
In Gary, Ind., Casey Henn struck out a tourney-record 14 in a six-hit shutout as Wright State slipped past Milwaukee in a winners' bracket affair. Dan Marsh's single in the sixth scored Gerald Ogrinc with the game's only run. Jayme Sukowaty lost his first game of the year, allowing only three hits and one run with three strikeouts.

Earlier, Valparaiso stayed alive as Robbie Robinson went 4 for 5 with three RBI, and Kyle Gaedele and Andrew Bain each drove in two in an elimination win over UIC. The Crusaders (24-31) will meet Milwaukee, with the winner needing two wins to take the title from Wright State.

MAC

#2 Kent State 15, #7 Eastern Michigan 1
#5 Bowling Green 7, #1 Central Michigan 3
#2 Kent State 4, #3 Toledo 3 (12 innings) (Toledo eliminated)
#5 Bowling Green 7, #4 Ball State 4 (Ball State eliminated)
In Chillicothe, Ohio, Kent State (37-23) used an offensive outburst to coast to a win over Eastern Michigan (27-31). The Golden Flashes' win forces an elimination game Saturday between the same teams. Ben Klafczynski paced the Kent State offense with a grand slam. Ryan Mace pitched seven innings of one-run baseball to earn the victory.

Bowling Green (31-22-1) used three home runs in a victory over top-seeded Central Michigan (35-21) on Day 3 of the MAC Tournament. The Falcons' win forces an elimination game tomorrow between the same two teams. Matthew Pitzulo knocked in three runs, and Patrick Martin pitched five innings of two-run baseball to earn the win.

Earlier, Jared Humphreys knocked in Evan Campbell in the bottom of the 12th inning as Kent State (36-23) outlasted Toledo (34-22) in an elimination game. Humphreys led the Golden Flashes with two hits and two RBI. Justin Gill (4-1) pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.

In morning action, Cody Apthorpe (3-2) pitched six innings of two-run baseball to lead Bowling Green (30-22-1) past Ball State (29-29) in an elimination game. Patrick O'Brien pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his sixth save of the year. Matthew Pitzulo had two RBI for the Falcons.

NEC
#1 Sacred Heart 8 vs. #2 Central Connecticut State 3
#3 Wagner 9, #4 Monmouth 4 (Monmouth eliminated)
In Bridgewater, N.J., senior lefty Jared Balbach allowed three runs and held Central Connecticut State to a season-low four hits as Sacred Heart captured a winners' bracket win over the Blue Devils. Dave Boisture hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI as the Seawolves scored three times in the third and five times in the fifth. JJ Edwards had two hits, two runs and a RBI for Sacred Heart (31-25).

Earlier, Matt Logan hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer, and Vin Avella went 3 for 4 with his 17th homer, three runs and two RBI as Wagner eliminated Monmouth.
 

Ohio Valley

#3 Murray State 10, #6 Eastern Kentucky 2 (EKU eliminated)

In Jackson, Tenn., OVC Player of the Year Wes Cunningham had two hits and two RBI as Murray State eliminated EKU. Kyle Tiernan also drove in a pair for the Thoroughbreds (27-27-1). Jake Donz (6-6) went the distance for Murray State with eight hits, two runs and seven strikeouts. Bryce Labhart had three hits and drove in one for the Colonels (28-27). The Thoroughbreds will play #5 Eastern Illinois later today in another elimination game.

Southland Conference
#1 Texas State 9, #8 Nicholls State 5 (NSU eliminated)
#6 McNeese State 5, #3 Southeastern Louisiana 4 (SELA eliminated)
#7 Lamar 9, #6 McNeese State 3 (MSU eliminated)
#1 Texas State 5, #5 UT Arlington 4
In Corpus Christi, Texas, the Bobcats (36-21) eliminated Nicholls State (27-29) with a RBI single down the leftfield line by Jeff McVaney in the top of the seventh. The timely base knock gave Texas State a 7-5 lead. McVaney also tossed 2.2 scoreless relief innings, fanning four of the seven batters he faced. Starter Mitchell Pitts (6-1) was awarded the win after 6.1 innings.

Bryn Thompson emerged a hero for McNeese State (31-26) as he lifted a two-run homer to left to send Southeastern Louisiana (40-19) home. The Cowboys’ Matt Click would close out the contest, pitching a one-hit ninth inning for his ninth save.

 
Lamar (34-24) topped McNeese State with a superb pitching effort from the Cardinals’ one-two punch of lefty starter Jonathan Dziedzic (5-5) and right-hander Cory Holley. The two pitchers teamed up to hold the Cowboys (31-27) to just five hits, while retiring eleven batters on strikes. Lamar jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame and relied on the dominant pitching effort for the win. Andy Mena plated three runs on a pair of hits for the Cardinals. The win over McNeese guarantees Lamar’s spot in championship game.

Facing elimination, Texas State edged out UT Arlington on a RBI base hit to centerfield by Andrew Stumph. Bobcat reliever Carson Smith (10-4) tallied the win as he pitched 2.1 scoreless innings. With the win Texas State forced a Saturday rematch against the Mavericks, with the victor heading to the championship game against Lamar.

Summit
#1 South Dakota State 6 @ #2 Oral Roberts 21
#4 Oakland 7 vs. #3 Centenary 2 (Centenary eliminated)
#4 Oakland vs. #1 South Dakota State 7 pm
In Tulsa, Okla., Chris Elder homered twice and drove in six, and Seth Furmanek homered and drove in five as Oral Roberts stomped South Dakota State in a winners' bracket game. The Golden Eagles (34-25) pounded out 19 hits and scored in every inning but one. Elder ripped a grand slam off Blake Treinen (7-1), and Brett Sowers added a homer as ORU built a 6-1 lead after one.

Earlier, Connor Mielock tossed six innings with five hits and one earned run, and Tim Ryan went 2 for 3 with three RBI as Oakland ended Centenary's season.

WAC
#3 Nevada 5 vs. #2 New Mexico State 4 (NMSU eliminated)
#3 Nevada vs. #6 San Jose State 4 pm
#4 Hawaii vs. #1 Fresno State 7:30 pm
In Mesa, Ariz., freshman Cullen Mahoney ripped a pinch-hit, two-run game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth as Nevada stunned New Mexico State in an elimination game. The Wolf Pack trailed 4-2 heading to the ninth before Kevin Rodland drove in Carlos Escobar, who had doubled, with a ground out. Mahoney hit a 2-0 pitch over the wall in right-center for the win. Nevada (36-21-1) advanced to play another elimination game against San Jose State. Ben Harty went 2 for 4 with two RBI and ended his season batting .408.