March 28, 2014

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
Curtis goes the distance as Middle Tennessee nips Rice

FSU takes two from BC, UVa edges VaTech, Liberty blanks Presbyterian

In Murfreesboro, Tenn., senior Zac Curtis (right) hurled his first complete game as Middle Tennessee edged No. 11 Rice 3-2 Friday to kick off their Conference USA series. Curtis (3-1) allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) with one walk and seven strikeouts. Michael Adkins had an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth for the Blue Raiders (6-4, 10-13) to snap a 2-2 tie. Dustin Delgado had two hits for MTSU. Skyler Ewing homered for the Owls (8-2, 20-8).

No. 1 Florida State 6-11, Boston College 0-7

In Kingston, R.I., John Nogowski belted a grand slam to snap a 7-7 tie and cap a nine-run top of the ninth in the nightcap as Florida State swept an ACC doubleheader from Boston College. Justin Gonzalez had a double and three RBI for the Seminoles (9-2, 21-5). Jim Voyles (1-0, 1 IP, H, BB, K) earned the win. Logan Hoggarth had to hits and four RBI for the Eagles (1-10, 7-17). In the opener, Luke Weaver pitched a one-hit shutout as FSU blanked BC. Weaver (5-2) walked two and fanned four. Nogowski went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and two runs for the Seminoles. Chris Shaw had the lone hit for the Eagles, a single with two away in the seventh.

No. 2 Virginia 2, Virginia Tech 1

In Charlottesville, Va., Nate Irving had an RBI single to snap a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh as Virginia nipped Virginia Tech in their ACC series opener in front of 3,414 fans at Davenport Field. Ricky Surum (2 for 4) put the Hokies (5-5, 12-10-1) up 1-0 in the top of the third with an RBI single before the Cavaliers (8-2, 21-4) rallied for a pair in the seventh. Joe McCarthy drove in Mike Papi (3 for 3, 2 2B) with a single and scored on Irving’s base hit. Whit Mayberry (2-1, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 K) earned the win in relief of Nathan Kirby (6.1 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 5 K). Nick Howard allowed a hit in the ninth and struck out two to notch his seventh save.

Liberty 5, Presbyterian 0

In Clinton, S.C., Trey Lambert tossed a one-hit shutout as Liberty blanked Presbyterian in the opener of their Big South series. Lambert (6-1) allowed a double to Brad Zebedis with two away in the first. Lambert did not walk a batter and struck out seven Blue Hose (3-4, 10-16-1). The Flames (6-1, 19-7) scored one in the fifth and four in the seventh. Ryan Setz had three doubles, one run and one RBI for Liberty.

No. 2 South Carolina 2, No. 20 Tennessee 2 (suspended, top 12)

In Columbia, S.C., the opener of the SEC series between South Carolina and Tennessee was stopped in the top of the 12th due to rain. It will resume on Saturday at 4 p.m. Christin Stewart doubled and scored for the Volunteers in the fourth and delivered a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Kyle Martin had an RBI double for the Gamecocks in the sixth and Tanner English singled and scored in the bottom of the eighth to knot the score at 2-2.

No. 19 Kentucky 4, No. 5 Vanderbilt 2

In Nashville, Tenn., A.J. Reed allowed two runs over eight innings as Kentucky topped Vanderbilt in front of 2,545 fans at Hawkins Field in Game 1 of their SEC series. Reed (5-1) scattered nine hits and surrendered two runs with one walk and seven strikeouts. Kyle Cody pitched a perfect ninth for his first save. The Wildcats (4-3, 19-7) erased a 2-1 deficit with three in the top of the sixth. Austin Cousino went 3 for 4 with one RBI for UK. Chris Harvey went 2 for 4 with one run for the Commodores (3-4, 21.6).

No. 7 Oregon State 11, Arizona 2

In Tucson, Ariz., Dylan Davis went 4 for 6 with two doubles and five RBI as Oregon State thumped Arizona to kick off their Pac-12 series in front of a crowd of 3,254 at Hi Corbett Field. Jeff Hendrix had four hits, including a triple, and four runs as the Beavers (5-2, 20-5) scored two in the first, three in the fifth, four in the eighth and two in the ninth. Ben Wentzler (5-0, 7.1 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 6 K) earned the victory. Kevin Newman had an RBI triple and scored in the ninth for the Wildcats (1-6, 11-17).

No. 8 Cal Poly 8, UC Davis 0

In San Luis Obispo, Calif., Matt Imhof tossed a four-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts as Cal Poly blanked UC Davis to open Big West play in front of 1,177 fans at Baggett Stadium. Imhof (6-1) did not issue a walk. Jimmy Allen had a two-run single to highlight a seven-run first for the Mustangs (1-0, 21-4). Seth Batty went 1 for 2 for the Aggies (0-1, 12-10).

Stanford 6-2, No. 9 Oregon 3-1 (Game 2 – 11 innings)

In Stanford, Calif., Tommy Edman delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th in the nightcap as Stanford swept a Pac-12 doubleheader from Oregon. Zach Hoffpauir had two hits and scored the game-winner in Game 2 for the Cardinal (3-2, 10-10). John Hochstatter (3-1, 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K) earned the win in relief of Cal Quantrill (7 IP, 6 H, R, 8 K). Mark Karaviotis had two hits and one RBI for the Ducks (5-3, 18-8). In the opener, Austin Slater had two hits and two RBI, while Alex Blandino homered and scored twice for Stanford. Mitchell Tolman had three hits and two RBI for Oregon.

No. 10 Cal State Fullerton 5, Wichita State 1

In Wichita, Kan., Thomas Eshelman allowed one unearned run over seven innings as Cal State Fullerton took the opener of its series at Wichita State. Eshelman (5-0) gave up six hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four. The Titans (14-8) scored four runs over the final three innings to secure the win. J.D. Davis went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI for Fullerton. Tanner Kirk went 2 for 3 for the Shockers (14-10).

No. 12 Louisville 8, Xavier 1

In Louisville, Ky., Kyle Funkhouser fanned eight over seven scoreless innings as Louisville defeated Xavier. Funkhouser (5-1) allowed four hits and three walks. The Cardinals (19-6) expanded a 2-0 lead with five in the fourth. Sutton Whiting went 1 for 2 with two walks, two runs and two RBI, while Colin Lyman added a pair of doubles for Louisville. Michael Moore had a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth for the Musketeers (12-12).

Alabama 7, No. 13 Ole Miss 6

In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Ben Moore went 3 for 4 with a homer and two runs as Alabama edged Ole Miss to begin their SEC series in front of 3,302 fans at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Wade Wass had two doubles and two runs, while Chance Vincent homered and drove in a pair for the Crimson Tide (4-3, 17-8). Spencer Turnbull (3-1, 6.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 K) picked up the win, while Thomas Burrows (2.1 IP, H, 4 K) earned his second save. Austin Anderson went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBI for the Rebels (4-3, 21-6).

No. 15 Texas 11, Texas Tech 1

In Lubbock, Texas, Brooks Marlow went 4 for 6 with two doubles, a homer and three runs as Texas took care of Texas Tech in a Big 12 series lid-lifter in front of 4,206 fans at Rip Griffin Park. The Longhorns (2-2, 21-6) broke a 1-1 deadlock with four in the top of the fifth. Mark Payton and Tres Barrera (2 2B) both had three hits, two runs and three RBI for Texas. Parker French (4-2, 7 IP, 6 H, R, 2 BB, 2 K) earned the victory. Hunter Redman went 2 for 3 for the Red Raiders (3-4, 21-8).

Memphis 2, No. 16 Houston 1

In Houston, Caleb Wallingford tossed seven scoreless innings as Memphis nipped Houston in front of 1.126 fans at Cougar Field to kick off their American series. Wallingford (4-1) allowed four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Bryce Beeler recorded the final three outs with one punchout for his sixth save. Tucker Tubbs went 1 for 4 with one RBI for the Tigers (2-2, 16-9). Justin Montemayor and Michael Pyeatt both had two hits for the Cougars (0-1, 20-5).

Hawaii 3, No. 17 UC Santa Barbara 1

In Santa Barbara, Calif., Matt Cooper was brilliant, tossing a complete game with six hits and nine strikeouts as Hawaii knocked off UC Santa Barbara in the Big West. Marcus Doi went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and Marc Flores and Adam Hurley each added two hits and an RBI for the Rainbow Warriors (1-0, 13-12). Jackson Morrow drove in the lone run for the Gauchos (0-1, 18-4).

No. 18 UCLA 7, Arizona State 3

In Los Angeles, James Kaprielian struck out a career-best 12 over six terrific innings – UCLA pitchers combined to strike out 16 – and Kevin Williams went 3 for 3 with a run as the Bruins knocked off Arizona State. Kaprielian (4-3) allowed six hits and three runs (two earned), and Max Schuh, Nick Kern and David Berg combined to allow one hit and strike out four over the final three frames. Trent Chatterton drove in two, and Pat Gallagher scored twice for UCLA (6-1, 16-8). Colby Woodmansee hit a solo homer for the Sun Devils (3-4, 13-11).

(photos courtesy of MTSU Media Relations)