March 3, 2012

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
Stripling tosses eight shutout innings for Texas A&M

Florida wins at Miami, Stanford blanks FSU, Guttin reaches 1,000 wins

In College Station, Texas, Ross Stripling (right) pitched eight scoreless innings as No. 5 Texas A&M blanked Michigan State 4-0 Saturday afternoon at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. Stripling (2-0) allowed five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Daniel Mengden struck out three in the ninth to preserve the shutout. Tyler Naquin and Matt Juengel both went 1 for 4 with one RBI for the Aggies (10-1). A&M scored three in the second to take control early. Jordan Keur and Torsten Boss both had a hit and a walk for the Spartans (4-5).

No. 1 Florida 13, No. 8 Miami (Fla.) 5

In Coral Gables, Fla., Taylor Gushue homered twice and knocked in four as Florida powered past Miami to clinch a series victory. Brian Johnson (4 for 5, 2 R, 5 RBI) went deep as well for the Gators (9-1). After trailing 3-0 after three, UF scored in each of its final six at-bats, including five in the fifth to take the lead for good. Daniel Pigott (4 for 5, 2 R) and Nolan Fontana (3 for 5, 3 R) also had big days at the plate for the Gators. Peter O’Brien (2 for 3, 3 RBI) and Stephen Perez (2 for 4, 2 RBI) both homered for the Hurricanes (8-2). Greg Larson (1-0, 4.2 IP, 4 K) earned the win in relief.

No. 2 Stanford 16, Fresno State 0

In Fresno, Calif., Brett Mooneyham matched his career high with 13 strikeouts as Stanford stomped Fresno State to even the series. Mooneyham (3-0) did not allow a hit until the sixth and surrendered two hits and two walks in seven innings. Jake Stewart (2 for 5, 2B, 4 RBI), Eric Smith (2 for 3, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI) and Austin Wilson (2 for 3, 3 R) all homered for the Cardinal (9-1). Trent Garrison had two of the four hits for the Bulldogs (5-6).

Missouri State 8, Northwestern 3

In Natchitoches, La., Pierce Johnson struck out 12 in eight innings as Missouri State edged Northwestern State to give head coach Keith Guttin his 1,000th career victory. Johnson (1-1) allowed 10 hits, two walks and two runs. Tyler Burgess fanned two in the ninth for his second save. Brent Seifert had two doubles and two RBI as the Bears (8-3) scored three in the fifth. Will Watson went 3 for 4 with one run and one RBI for the Demons (2-8).

No. 3 South Carolina 9, No. 14 Clemson 6

In Columbia, S.C., Adam Matthews went 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs and three RBI, and Evan Beal tossed four solid innings of relief as South Carolina beat Clemson for the second straight day. The Tigers (4-4) took an early lead off Matt Price when Jason Stolz singled up the middle with two outs in the second for a 2-0 lead. The Gamecocks (9-0) scored three times in the bottom half, with LB Dantzler hitting a solo homer and Dante Rosenberg adding a RBI ground out. Clemson starter Dominic Leone hit Chase Vergason and walked Evan Marszilli to load the bases, then hit Tanner English to give South Carolina a 3-2 lead. Matthews ripped a three-run homer in the third for a 6-2 edge. Richie Shaffer, who had two hits, two runs and three RBI, doubled in a run and later scored on Phil Pohl’s grounder as Clemson closed to 6-4. But the Gamecocks, with Beal (1-0) quieting Clemson, pulled away with a run in the fifth and two more in the eighth.

No. 4 Rice 6, Texas Tech 2

In Houston, Michael Ratterree had a three-run homer in the bottom of the first to erase a 2-0 deficit and propel Rice past Texas Tech in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. Michael Fuda went 3 for 4 with a double and two runs for the Owls (10-1). Matthew Reckling (2-0, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K) picked up the win, while Tyler Duffey (2.1 IP, 4 K) earned his second save. Barrett Barnes went 2 for 4 with one run and one RBI for the Red Raiders (8-3).

Houston 4, No. 6 Arkansas 1

In Houston, Cory Kay went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs and two RBI as Houston knocked off Arkansas in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. Jordan Lewis (2-1) allowed four hits and one run in six innings with three walks and three strikeouts to earn the victory for the Cougars (6-4). Codey Morehouse surrendered two hits in three scoreless innings with one walk and four strikeouts to register his first save. Tim Carver and Jake Wise both had two hits for the Razorbacks (10-2).

No. 7 North Carolina 1, USC 0

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Jacob Stallings had a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth as North Carolina nipped USC to secure a series win. Chris Munnelly (1 H, 3 BB, 2 K) tossed seven scoreless innings for the Tar Heels (8-1). Shane Taylor (2-0) got the final out in the eighth to record the win, while Michael Morin worked the ninth for his second save. Ben Mount (1-1, 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K) was the tough-luck loser for the Trojans (7-3).

No. 9 Georgia 3, Western Illinois 2

In Athens, Ga., Kevin Ruiz hit a bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth as Georgia edged Western Illinois. Colby May singled – the first Bulldogs hit in four innings – with one out in the ninth and moved to third on a dropped fly ball in the outfield. After an intentional walk, Ruiz singled to right to give Georgia (10-1) the win. Blake Dieterich (2-0) tossed two scoreless innings for the win as the Dawgs’ bullpen combined for five scoreless innings. Conor Welton had three of Georgia’s six hits. Dustin Hunter tossed seven innings with four hits, one earned run, four walks and eight strikeouts for the Leathernecks (3-6).

No. 11 Georgia Tech 9, Rutgers 4
In Atlanta Ga., Daniel Palka had three hits to help push Georgia Tech past Rutgers. Palka, (3 for 4, 2 R, RBI) who extended his hitting streak to ten games, led the way for a Yellow Jacket (9-2) offense that pounded out 14 hits. Jake Davies also enjoyed a successful day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a homer and three RBI. Starter Matt Grimes (2-1) earned the victory for Georgia Tech, lasting six innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs, while striking out six. Steve Zavala and Patrick Kivlehan both were 2 for 4 with a double for the Scarlet Knights (3-5).
 

No. 12 Arizona 3, Harvard 1

In Tucson, Ariz., Konner Wade and Mathew Troupe combined for 12 strikeouts in Arizona’s win over Harvard in front of 2,187 at Hi Corbett Field. The Wildcats (7-2) scratched across two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth and that was all Wade (2-0) would need against the Crimson (0-2). Wade struck out ten along with five walks and two hit batsmen over 7.2 innings. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth. Troupe fanned two over the final 1.1 innings for his first save. Joey Rickard went 3 for 3 for the Wildcats. Crimson starter Joey Novak (0-1) took the loss despite giving up no earned runs over five innings. Andrew Ferreira went 1 for 1 with two walks for Harvard.

No. 13 LSU 16, Dartmouth 3
In Baton Rouge, La., Ty Ross and Mason Katz helped to power LSU past visiting Dartmouth. Katz (2 for 4, 3 RBI) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to break a scoreless tie. Ross (2 for 3, R, 5 RBI) hit a three-run double later in the inning to put the Tigers (9-2) ahead 4-0. Austin Nola also had a solid day offensively, going 3 for 3. The Big Green (0-2) struggled defensively, committing five errors. Chris O’Dowd and Matt Patterson both had two hits for Dartmouth. Ryan Eades (2-1) earned the win for LSU, striking out five and allowing five hits and one earned run in six innings.
 

No. 15 Cal State Fullerton 2, Utah Valley 0

In Fullerton, Calif., Kenny Mathews struck out seven over six innings while only giving up two hits for Cal State Fullerton against Utah Valley at Goodwin Field. Michael Lorenzen sealed the win for the Titans (7-3) with a scoreless ninth for his fourth save. Mathews (1-0) didn’t allow his first hit until he had two outs in the fifth. A leadoff triple and an RBI sacrifice fly by Ricky Pedroza (1 for 3, 2 RBI) in the first was all Fullerton would need. Utah Valley starter Adam Gunn was saddled with the loss after going 6.1 innings and giving up one run on five hits. Cole Butcher had two hits and a walk for the Wolverines (2-7).

Pepperdine 3-1, No. 16 Louisville 2-3
In Louisville, Ky., Joe Sever’s two-run homer in the top of the sixth proved to be the difference in the opener for Pepperdine in its doubleheader split at Louisville. Sever (2 for 3) gave the Waves (8-3) a 3-0 advantage with his home run before the Cardinals (7-3) scored two in the bottom half of the inning. Pepperdine only managed three hits, but was able to escape with the victory thanks to a strong effort by starting pitcher Jon Moscot (1-1) who allowed two earned runs in his seven innings. Justin Amlung was the hard-luck loser for the Cardinals as he worked seven innings and struck out six. In the finale, Jeff Thompson and Matt Koch combined to stymie Pepperdine’s offense as Louisville won Game 2. Thompson (3-0) went seven innings, allowed only four hits, and struck out five in a dominating effort, while Koch earned his third save as he struck out three in his two-inning stint. Mason Snyder (2 for 4) and Zak Wasseman (3 for 4) both delivered RBI hits in the Cardinals’ three-run third. Tony Cooper had two hits in a losing effort for the Waves.

No. 17 Oklahoma 10, New Mexico 5

In Albuquerque, N.M., Cody Reine had a career-high four hits with three doubles, a three-run homer, four runs and four RBI as Oklahoma outscored New Mexico. The Sooners (6-3) were tied 2-2 after three before scoring three in the fourth and four in the fifth. Steven Okert (2-0, 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 7 K) picked up the win. Garrett Carey went 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI for OU. Ben Woodchick went 1 for 3 with a walk and three runs for the Lobos (2-7).

Tennessee 5, No. 18 Texas 4

In Houston, Drew Steckenrider went 2 for 3 with two RBI as Tennessee edged Texas in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. The Volunteers (8-2) scored four in the first to take control early. Davis Morgan also drove in two for Tennessee. Brooks Marlow was a homer away from the cycle, going 3 for 3 with two RBI for the Longhorns (4-6). Zack Godley (2-0, 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K) picked up the win, while Nick Williams (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K) recorded his second save.

No. 19 Ole Miss 11, Miami (Ohio) 3

In Oxford, Miss., R.J. Hively fanned seven in six scoreless innings as Ole Miss evened its series with Miami. Hively (2-0) allowed two hits and walked one. Alex Yarbrough went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBI, while Zach Kirksey homered and drove in three for the Rebels (8-2). Ryan Brenner drove in two for the RedHawks (4-4).

No. 20 Oregon 3, Long Beach State 2 (13)

In Eugene, Ore., Vernell Warren scored the game-winner for the second night in a row as Oregon edged Long Beach State. Kyle Garlic’s base hit in the 13th gave the Ducks (9-1) their ninth win in a row and secured the series win over the Dirtbags (4-6). Jake Reed (7.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER) and Jimmie Sherfy (2-0, 5.2 IP, 1 ER) combined for 14 strikeouts. LBSU starter Matt Anderson went 6.2 innings and gave up two runs while striking out five, but reliever Jon Maciel took the loss.

Arizona State 17, Winthrop 2

In Surprise, Ariz., Joey DeMichele went 4 for 6 with three runs and five RBI to lead Arizona State past Winthrop in the Coca-Cola Classic. The Sun Devils (8-1) racked up 19 hits against the Eagles (1-10). Michael Benjamin went 5 for 5 with three RBI for the Sun Devils. Six first-inning runs were all the support ASU starter Trevor Williams (3-0) would need as he only gave up four hits over six scoreless innings. Winthrop starter Mitchell Knox (0-3) lasted only .2 innings while giving up six runs on five hits.

East Carolina 2, Stony Brook 1

In Greenville, N.C., East Carolina and Stony Brook played a one-run game for the second straight day. And for the second straight day, the Pirates came away victorious. Philip Clark had a sacrifice fly to score Jay Cannon in the bottom of the seventh that provided the difference. Tanner Merritt (1-1) posted 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, and Drew Reynolds earned his second save of the series and fifth on the year. Tyler Joyner gave the Pirates (7-2) a quality start with 6.1 innings with a run and two strikeouts. Brandon McNitt (1-1) tossed a complete game with four hits, one earned run and four strikeouts for the Seawolves (4-2). Maxx Tissenbaum had two hits for the second straight day for Stony Brook.

(photo courtesy of Texas A&M Media Relations Office)