March 18, 2014

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

click here for complete list of scores

Around the Bases
Poyner Pitches Florida Past Florida State

Georgia Southern hammers Clemson, Vanderbilt bests Belmont

In Gainesville, Fla., Bobby Poyner retired the final nine consecutive batters of the contest to earn his first save as Florida edged top-ranked Florida State 3-1 in front of 5,657 fans at McKethan Stadium. Aaron Rhodes (2-0, 3 IP, 3 H, R, 4 K) earned the win in relief of Danny Young (3 IP, 6 H, BB, 2 K). Harrison Bader had an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth to snap a 1-1 tie and scored an insurance run for the Gators (14-7). Josh Tobias homered in the third for Florida. Jose Brizuela (3 for 4) went deep in the top of the sixth for the Seminoles (17-3), who stranded eight.

Georgia Southern 14, No. 16 Clemson 5

In Statesboro, Ga., Aaron Mizell homered for the ninth time and drove in four as Georgia Southern stomped Clemson in front of a crowd of 1,240 at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles (17-4) scored multiple runs in four of the first five innings in building an 11-1 lead. Stryker Brown (3 for 5, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Ben Morgan (3 for 6, 2 R) added to the GSU offense, while Kody Adams (2 for 5, 2 R, 2 RBI) also went deep for the Eagles. Ryan Frederick (2-0, 3 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 2 K) picked up the victory. Steve Wilkerson had two hits, including a double, and two RBI for the Tigers (12-7).

No. 4 Vanderbilt 8, Belmont 4

In Nashville, Tenn., Vanderbilt broke a 1-1 tie with three in the top of the fifth and added three more in the sixth in defeating Belmont at E.S. Rose Park. Ro Coleman and Bryan Reynolds both homered and drove in two for the Commodores (19-3). Walker Buehler (4-1, 6 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 8 K) earned the victory. Scott Moses had a two-run dinger in the eighth for the Bruins (7-13).

No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette 5, Nicholls State 1

In Lafayette, La., Ryan Wilson struck out six with one earned run over six innings, and Chase Compton drove in a pair of runs as Louisiana-Lafayette improved to 18-2 with a win over Nicholls State. The fast start for the Ragin’ Cajuns is their best through 20 games since 2000, when that team went 19-1. Caleb Adams went 2 for 4 with a triple, run and an RBI, and Seth Harrison and Dylan Butler added two hits and a run apiece. Compton’s pinch-hit, two-run single up the middle sparked a three-run sixth, and ULL added two more in the seventh. Philip Lyons went 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Colonels (10-11).

No. 12 Cal State Fullerton 2, UNLV 1

In Fullerton, Calif., three hurlers held UNLV to five hits and one unearned run in a Cal State Fullerton win in front of 1,304 fans at Goodwin Field. Willie Kuhl (1-1, 2.2 IP, 2 H, 6 K) earned the win in relief of Koby Gauna (5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 UE, 1 BB, 4 K). J.D. Davis fanned the final two batters for his second save. Clay Williamson (2 for 3, 2B, R) had an RBI single in the seventh to snap a 1-1 tie. Austin Diemer also had two hits for the Titans (11-7).  Matt McCallister went 1 for 3 with a run for the Rebels (13-6).

No. 14 Rice 14, Texas State 1

In San Marcos, Texas, Caleb Smith struck out 12 in six innings as Rice thumped Texas State in front of a crowd of 2,013 at Bobcat Ballpark. Smith (1-0) allowed three hits and one run with one walk. The Owls (16-6) snapped a 1-1 tie with four in the third, while adding two in the fourth, two in the eighth and five in the ninth. John Clay Reeves had two hits and three RBI, while Skyler Ewing scored four for Rice. Tanner Hill homered in the second for the Bobcat (13-7).

No. 15 Tennessee 8, Austin Peay 7 (12)

In Knoxville, Tenn., Taylor Smart delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the 12th as Tennessee nipped Austin Peay in front of 1,575 fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Govs (8-11) erased a 5-0 deficit with five in the top of the fourth. The Volunteers (18-2) reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Christin Stewart. APSU tallied single runs in the seventh and ninth to force the extra frames. Scott Price (3 for 5) had two doubles and drove in two for UT. Josh Peterson (2-0, 2 IP, H, 2 K) garnered the win. Alex Robles had three hits and two runs, while Dre Gleason added two hits and two RBI for the Govs.

No. 19 Texas 5, Dallas Baptist 0

In Austin, Texas, Lukas Schiraldi allowed three hits and struck out three in eight scoreless innings as Texas ended Dallas Baptist’s six-game winning streak. Mark Payton went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two walks to raise his batting average to .427, and C.J. Hinojosa and Zane Gurwitz each added two hits and an RBI for the Longhorns (16-6). The Patriots fell to 15-5.

Kansas State 17, Air Force 2

In Manhattan, Kan., Tanner DeVinny went 2 for 5 with a double and four RBI as Kansas State downed Air Force to extend its win streak to 11. The Wildcats (12-7) used a four-run third and five-run fourth to take a 12-2 lead. Shane Conlon (2 for 3) drove in three, while Mitch Meyer went 3 for 6 with three runs and two RBI for KSU. Nate Griep (1-0, 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 5 K) earned the victory. David Thomas (3 for 3, BB, 2 R) homered for the Falcons (4-14).