May 19, 2010

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
Bryant clinches Northeast Conference regular-season title

Oklahoma tops Texas Southern, Northeastern knocks off Rhode Island

In Smithfield, R.I., Brent Almeida allowed six hits and fanned a career-high eight as Bryant blanked second-place Sacred Heart 9-0 Wednesday to clinch the Northeast Conference regular-season title. Almeida (6-0) allowed one walk in the complete-game victory. Jeff Vigurs had a sacrifice fly in the first for the Bulldogs (23-6, 32-21). Tim Norton (2 for 3, 2 RBI) added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to double the lead. Zakary Cianciolo (right) had a two-run double and Mike DelPonte added a two-run homer in a seven-run eighth as Bryant put the game away. Nick Campbell had one hit, one walk and two runs for the Bulldogs. Rob Griffith had two hits for the Pioneers (19-10, 28-23). Bryant will not participate in the NEC Tournament next week, as it transitions into Division I. Sacred Heart needs one win or one CCSU loss this week to secure the top seed in the NEC tourney.

No. 14 Oklahoma 13, Texas Southern 1

In Norman, Okla., Ryan Gibson tossed five scoreless innings as Oklahoma thumped Texas Southern at Dale Mitchell Park. Gibson (5-2) allowed two hits and one walk with five strikeouts to earn the win. Cody Reine (2 for 2, 3 RBI) and Caleb Bushyhead (3 for 3, 3 R) led the offense for the Sooners (39-14). Max White, Cameron Seitzer, Elliott Blair and Ricky Eisenberg all homered for OU. Corbin Smith had two hits and a run for the Tigers (28-24).

Northeastern 4, Rhode Island 2

In Kingston, R.I., four pitchers combined to hold Rhode Island to two runs as Northwestern claimed the victory. Brandon McNelis allowed two runs in 5.2 innings with seven hits and a career-high seven strikeouts. Keith Ferguson finished the sixth and pitched the seventh to record the victory. Chris Carmain worked a perfect eighth and Dan Zehr pitched the ninth for his first save. Tucker Roeder had a RBI single in a two-run fourth for the Huskies (13-28). Kevin Stenhouse homered in a two-run sixth for the Rams (27-23) to tie the game at 2. David Gustafson had a run-scoring triple in a two-run seventh as NU reclaimed the lead at 4-2. Brendan Stokes and Ryan Maguire both had two hits for the Huskies. Oliver Palmer went 3 for 3 with two walks and one RBI for URI.

Elon 6, Samford 4

In Elon, N.C., Jimmy Reyes struck out eight in seven innings as Elon won the Southern Conference series opener against Samford at Latham Park. Reyes (9-3) allowed five hits and one run without walking a batter. His career total of 227 strikeouts ranks fifth on Elon’s all-time list. Gary Cramer (2 for 4, 2 RBI) had a RBI single in the first for the Bulldogs (16-11, 29-22). Seth Canipe had a three-run homer to cap a five-run fourth for the Phoenix (18-10, 35-19). Scott Riddle (2 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI) went deep in the sixth to give Elon a 6-1 advantage. Cramer added a RBI double in a three-run for Samford. Thomas Girdwood recorded the final four outs for his eighth save.

USC Upstate 8, William and Mary 6

In Spartanburg, S.C., Matt Branham fanned eight in seven innings as USC Upstate edged William and Mary at Harley Park. Branham (6-3) allowed two runs and set the single-season (86) and career (264) strikeout records for the Spartans (19-37). Upstate built an 8-0 lead after six before the Tribe (27-21) tallied two in the seventh and four in the ninth. Derrick Osteen went 4 for 5 with one run and one RBI, while Chris Forsten drove in three for the Spartans. Brian Dempsey (3 for 5, 2 R, 3 RBI) and Gaither Bungardner (2 for 4, 2 RBI) paced the offense for W&M.

USC 5, New Mexico State 3

In Los Angeles, Matt Foat plated the game-winner with a base hit in the bottom of the eighth as USC nipped New Mexico State at Dedeaux Field. After Ben Harty (3 for 4) had a run-scoring single in the top of the first, Keith Castillo (2 for 3, 3 RBI) answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame for the Trojans (25-28). Chace Perkins had a two-run shot in the third as the Aggies (36-21-1) took a 3-2 lead. With the bases loaded in the eighth, Castillo tied it with a base hit to right. Foat singled to center to give USC a 4-3 lead and Kevin Roundtree reached on a fielder’s choice to bring home an insurance run. Mike O’Neill had two hits and two runs for the Trojans. Leo Aguirre had three hits and one run for NMSU. Brad Douthit (1-1) tossed three scoreless innings of relief with two hits and one strikeout to earn the win.

Rutgers 8, Fairleigh Dickinson 2

In Piscataway, N.J., Russ Hopkins went 3 for 5 with two RBI as Rutgers topped FDU at Bainton Field. Jarred Jimenez (2 for 2, 2 R, 3 BB) and Jayson Hernandez both homered for the Scarlet Knights (26-23). Jimenez had a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth that tied the game at 2. After Rutgers plated a pair in the sixth, Hernandez had a leadoff dinger to spark a four-run eighth. Pat Biserta and Steve Nyisztor both had two hits, one run and one RBI for the Scarlet Knights. Ryan Kresky had three hits and a run, and Scott Morrison had two hits and two RBI for the visiting Knights (14-36).

UC Davis 11, Santa Clara 6

In Davis, Calif., David Popkins had a two-run triple in a seven-run first and picked up the win on the mound as UC Davis outscored Santa Clara at Dobbins Stadium. Popkins (3-1) struck out a career-high five in six innings with nine hits and six runs. Seth Batty had two hits in the first for the Aggies (22-27), the second of which drove in two to cap the seven-run rally. UCD added three in the second and one in the fourth for an 11-0 advantage. Lucas Herbst had a two-run single to cap a six-run fifth for the Broncos (21-27). Scott Lyman had three hits and three runs for the Aggies.

Gardner-Webb 15, Furman 4

In Greenville, S.C., O.J. McFarland had two homers and six RBI to lead Gardner-Webb past Furman. Adam McFarland (3 for 5) had a two-run single to cap a three-run third as the Bulldogs (24-27) took the lead for good at 5-2. Kurt Fulginiti went deep in the fifth and O.J. McFarland had a two-run blast in a three-run sixth as Gardner-Webb built a 9-4 lead. O.J. McFarland had a grand slam and Daniel Merck (2 for 4) added a two-run dinger in the ninth to conclude the scoring. John Harris went 3 for 4 with one RBI for the Bulldogs. Paul Nitto had two hits for the Paladins (16-35), including a two-run homer.

(photo courtesy of Bryant Media Relations Office)