March 22, 2014

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
FSU Wins DH at Clemson, Captures ACC Series

Vanderka tosses third no-hitter, UK edges South Carolina, Miami upends UVa

In Clemson, S.C., Brandon Leibrandt tossed a four-hitter in the opener as top-ranked Florida State swept a doubleheader at No. 16 Clemson Saturday to win the ACC series, taking Game 1 by a score of 11-1 and winning 4-3 in Game 2. Leibrandt (4-1) gave up one unearned run with two walks and one strikeout. DJ Stewart (pictured right) went 4 for 5 with a homer, two runs and three RBI, while Justin Gonzalez was 3 for 6 with two doubles, two runs and three RBI for the Seminoles (7-2, 19-4). Chris Okey had two hits for the Tigers (6-3, 14-9). In the nightcap, FSU erased a three-run deficit with one in the sixth and three in the seventh. John Sansone drove in two, while Justin Gonzalez (2 for 5) homered for the Seminoles. Weston Wilson had two hits and one RBI for Clemson.

Stony Brook 7-6, Albany 0-2

In Stony Brook, N.Y., Frankie Vanderka hurled his third career no-hitter and struck out 10 in the opener as Stony Brook swept an America East doubleheader from Albany at Joe Nathan Field. Vanderka (2-2) walked two and plunked one over nine innings. His previous no-hitters came against NJIT on March 18, 2011, and Fordham on March 10, 2013. Kevin Courtney had two hits and two RBI, while Cole Peragine went 2 for 3 with two runs for the Seawolves (2-0, 8-9). Brandon McNitt (3-1) went the distance in the nightcap for Stony Brook, allowed eight hits and two runs in seven innings with four strikeouts. Courtney drove in three, while Robert Chavarria had two hits and two runs for the Seawolves. Evan Harasta went 2 for 3 with a double, a run and one RBI for the Great Danes (2-3, 4-10).

Kentucky 2, No. 2 South Carolina 1

In Lexington, Ky., Chandler Shepherd held allowed one run over 7.1 innings as Kentucky clinched an SEC series victory over South Carolina. Shepherd (5-0) gave up six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Logan Salow recorded the final out for his first save. Michael Thomas (2 for 3) homered for the Wildcats (3-2, 17-6). DC Arendas had two hits, including a double, for the Gamecocks (2-3, 18-3), who stranded 10.

Miami (Fla.) 7, No. 3 Virginia 1

In Coral Gables, Fla., Zack Collins broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run homer in the sixth as Miami downed Virginia in the opener of their ACC series in front of 3,337 fans at Mark Light Field. It was the 900th win at Miami for head coach Jim Morris. Nick Howard had an RBI single in the top of the sixth for the Cavaliers (5-2, 17-4) to break the scoreless deadlock. The blast by Collins capped a three-run sixth for the Hurricanes (5-2, 13-10). Miami added four insurance runs in the eighth, keyed by a two-run double off the bat of Brandon Lopez. Chris Diaz (5-0, 7.1 IP, 5 H, R, 3 BB, 3 K) earned the victory, while Bryan Garcia (1.2 IP, 2 BB, 3 K) recorded his sixth save.

No. 20 Mississippi State 6, No. 4 Vanderbilt 3

In Starkville, Miss., Ross Mitchell allowed two runs over 7.1 innings as Mississippi State secured an SEC series win over Vanderbilt in front of a season-high crowd of 10,064 at Dudy Noble Field. Mitchell (4-1) scattered six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Jonathan Holder (1.2 IP, 2 H, R, BB, 3 K) registered his third save. Zander Wiel (2 for 4) had a two-run single in the first for the Commodores (2-3, 19-5). The Bulldogs (4-1, 17-8) answered with one in the second and took the lead for good with two in the third. MSU added single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth. Seth Heck had a double and drove in two, while Derrick Armstrong knocked in a pair as well for the Bulldogs.

Arizona State 3, No. 5 Oregon State 2 (10)

In Corvallis, Ore., Arizona State tied it with a run in the top of the ninth and won it in the 10th in edging Oregon State. Ryan Kellogg (2-2, 9 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 4 K) earned the victory, while Ryan Burr fanned two in the 10th for his fourth save. Nathaniel Causey went 4 for 4, while Jake Peevyhouse was 3 for 4 with two doubles and two runs for the Sun Devils (2-3, 11-10). Andy Peterson went 2 for 5 with one run and one RBI for the Beavers (4-1, 19-4).

No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette 14, Georgia State 6

In Lafayette, La., two-run doubles by Greg Davis and Seth Harrison highlighted a nine-run second as Louisiana-Lafayette claimed a Sun Belt series win over Georgia State. Harrison also homered twice and drove in four for the Ragin’ Cajuns (5-0, 21-2). Carson Baranik (5-0, 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K) picked up the win. Ryan Blanton and Chase Raffield both had two hits and two RBI for the Panthers (1-4, 10-13).

No. 7 LSU 2, Georgia 1

In Baton Rouge, La., Jared Poche was one out away from a complete game as LSU clinched an SEC series win over Georgia in front of 7,417 fans at Alex Box Stadium. Poche (5-1) allowed three hits and a run with two walks and six strikeouts. Joe Broussard fanned the final hitter for his fifth save. Sean McMullen had a leadoff triple and scored in the bottom of the first for the Tigers (3-2, 20-4). Mark Laird (3 for 4) added an RBI single in the fifth for LSU. Nelson Ward’s run-scoring single in the top of the sixth pulled the Bulldogs (1-4, 14-10) within one.

California 8, No. 8 Cal Poly 3

In San Luis Obispo, Calif., Mitchell Kranson had a two-run single to highlight a four-run second as California evened its series at Cal Poly and snapped the 18-game home win streak for the Mustangs. Aaron Knapp knocked in a run in the sixth and hit a two-run inside-the-park home run in the eighth for the Golden Bears (11-10). Brenden Farney also knocked in two, while Derek Campbell added two hits and two runs for Cal. Kyle Porter (3-1, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 K) picked up the win, while Trevor Hildenberger (3.2 IP, H, 4 K) notched his fifth save. Brian Mundell went 2 for 4 with a double, one run and one RBI for Cal Poly (18-4).

No. 9 Oregon 4, Utah 1

In Eugene, Ore., four Oregon hurlers held Utah without an earned run in clinching a Pac-12 series victory. Matt Krook (2-1, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 UE, 2 BB, 6 K) was the starter and winner. Trent Paddon tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts, while Garrett Cleavinger worked a scoreless eighth. Jake Reed pitched the ninth and earned his fifth save. The Ducks (4-1, 16-5) scored two in the first and two more in the seventh. Aaron Payne went 3 for 4 with a double, one run and one RBI for Oregon. TJ Bennett scored the lone run for the Utes (0-5, 9-12) in the top of the first.

No. 10 Louisville 9, Rutgers 8

In Louisville, Ky., Louisville tied the game with three in the seventh and plated the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth to clinch an American series win over Rutgers. Grant Kay went 3 for 4 with four runs, while Jeff Gardner (2 for 4) and Nick Solak both drove in two for the Cardinals (2-0, 17-5). Cole Sturgeon (1-0) had a strikeout and two groundouts in the eighth to pick up the win, while Nick Burdi gave up a hit and struck out three in the ninth to earn his third save. Vinne Zarrillo had two hits and three RBI for the Scarlet Knights (0-2, 7-12).

Maryland 7, No. 11 NC State 4

In College Park, Md., Mike Shawaryn allowed one run over seven innings as Maryland clinched an ACC series win over NC State. Shawaryn (5-0) allowed four hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Kevin Mooney fanned three over the final 1.2 innings to earn his third save. Charlie White went 2 for 3 with a homer, two walks, three runs and two RBI, while Anthony Papio also drove in two for the Terps (4-4, 15-6). Trea Turner homered and scored twice for the Wolfpack (3-5, 14-7).

Long Beach State 3, No. 12 Cal State Fullerton 2

In Fullerton, Calif., Garrett Hampson had two doubles and scored twice as Long Beach State evened its non-conference series with Cal State Fullerton in front of 2,536 fans at Goodwin Field. J.D. Davis delivered a two-run double in the third for the Titans (12-9) before the Dirtbags (11-10) responded with one in the fourth and two in the sixth. Andrew Rohrbach (3-1, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K) picked up the win, while Kyle Friedrichs fanned one in a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Georgia Tech 6-9, No. 13 North Carolina 5-1 (Game 1 – 13 innings)

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Connor Justus had an RBI single in a two-run top of the 13th in the opener as Georgia Tech swept an ACC doubleheader from North Carolina. Thomas Smith and A.J. Murray both had two hits and two RBI, while Mott Hyde was 2 for 3 with three walks and three runs for the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 15-9). Wood Myers went 5 for 7 with a double and three RBI, while Adam Pate added three hits and two runs for the Tar Heels (5-4, 15-8). Georgia Tech stranded 18, while UNC left 14 on base. In the nightcap, Matt Grimes (3-0, 7 IP, 8 H, R, 2 BB, 3 K) earned the victory and the Yellow Jacket defense turned four double plays to secure the series win. Hyde had two hits and three RBI, while Keenan Innis went 3 for 5 with two RBI for Georgia Tech. Tom Zengel went 2 for 3 with a walk and one RBI for the Tar Heels.

No. 14 Rice 14, Florida Atlantic 1

In Houston, Shane Hoelscher went 4 for 4 with three doubles and two runs as Rice secured a Conference USA series win over Florida Atlantic at Reckling Park. The home Owls (7-1, 18-6) scored multiple runs in five of their final six at-bats, including four in the third to erase a 1-0 deficit. Michael Aquino (2 for 3) drove in three, while Keenan Cook and Skyler Ewing (2 RBI) both had two hits and three runs for Rice. Blake Fox (5-0, 6.2 IP, 8 H, R, BB, 3 K) earned the victory. Brendon Sanger had two hits and a run for the visiting Owls (3-5, 14-9).

Auburn 4, No. 15 Tennessee 2

In Knoxville, Tenn., Keegan Thompson allowed one run in 7.1 innings as Auburn clinched an SEC series win over Tennessee. Thompson (5-0) allowed five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Terrance Dedrick fanned two in a hitless ninth for his third save. Damon Haecker had two hits and two RBI, while Jordan Ebert went 3 for 5 for the Tigers. Christin Stewart had two hits and one RBI for the Volunteers (2-3, 18-4).

No. 17 Ole Miss 7, Missouri 1

In Oxford, Miss., Sikes Orvis homered twice and drove in three as Ole Miss clinched an SEC series win over Missouri. Will Allen added a three-run dinger for the Rebels (3-2, 20-4). Christian Trent (3-0, 6 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K) earned the victory, while Aaron Greenwood (3 IP, BB, K) recorded his first save. Keaton Steele went 1 for 4 with a run for the Tigers (1-4, 11-11).

No. 18 UCLA 4, Washington State 2

In Los Angeles, Grant Watson allowed four hits and one earned run over eight innings as UCLA evened its Pac-12 series with Washington State. Watson (4-1) walked one and fanned five. David Berg worked a perfect ninth with one strikeout to earn his sixth save. Luke Persico had a two-run single to cap a three-run first for the Bruins (4-1, 13-8). Brian Carroll and Shane Zeile both had two hits, one run and one RBI for UCLA. Patrick McGrath drove in both runs for the Cougars (3-2, 9-10).

No. 19 Texas 6-11, Columbia 1-0

In Austin, Texas, Nathan Thornhill tossed eight scoreless innings in the nightcap as Texas completed a doubleheader and series sweep of Columbia. Thornhill (4-0) allowed five hits and one walk while strikeout out four. Tres Barrera went 4 for 5 with two runs and two RBI to lead the offense for the Longhorns (19-6). Will Savage had a hit and a steal for the Lions (5-12). In the first game, Parker French (3-2, 7.1 IP, 6 H, R, 3 BB, 6 K) earned the win. Brooks Marlow (2 for 4) and C.J. Hinojosa both drove in two for UT. David Vandercook had two hits, including a double, and one RBI for Columbia.

(photo by Larry Novey of FSU Athletics)