April 4, 2014

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
Kirby Tosses No-Hitter with 18 Strikeouts for Virginia

UCSB knocks off Cal Poly, Oregon downs Washington, LSU blanks MSU

In Pittsburgh, Nathan Kirby (right) threw a no-hitter and struck out 18 as top-ranked Virginia blanked Pittsburgh 4-0 Friday evening to kick off their ACC series. Kirby (6-1) faced two batters over the minimum as one walked and one reached on an error. He tossed the program’s first no-hitter since 2011 and was one strikeout away from the school and ACC single-game record. The Cavaliers (11-2, 26-4) scored single runs in the second and third as well as two in the sixth in extending their win streak to nine. John La Prise went 3 for 5 with a run, while Brandon Downes had two hits and one RBI for Virginia. A.J. Lardo drew a walk for the Panthers (7-6, 15-14).

No. 20 UCSB 8, No. 6 Cal Poly 6
In San Luis Obispo, Calif., Robby Nesovich had three hits, including a three-run homer, and Tyler Kuresa went 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI as UC Santa Barbara roughed up Cal Poly and ace Matt Imhof. Nesovich and Kuresa hit back-to-back homers off Imhof (6-2), who entered with a 1.05 ERA, in the third, and Joey Epperson (2 for 5, 3 R, 2 RBI) drove in a pair in a three-run fourth for the Gauchos (2-2, 20-5). Chris Hoo (3 for 4, 4 RBI) got the Mustangs (3-1, 24-5) back into it with a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth off Austin Pettibone, who matched Ihmof with six earned runs. Greg Mahle (5-1) allowed three hits in three scoreless innings, and Dillon Tate got five outs for his seventh save.

No. 12 Oregon 10, No. 17 Washington 3

In Seattle, Mitchell Tolman went 2 for 3 with two RBI and three runs, and Kyle Garlick went 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run as Oregon pulled away late from Washington in the Pac-12, ending the Huskies’ 10-game winning streak. Tommy Thorpe (4-3) allowed eight hits and one earned run in 5.2 innings for the Ducks (7-3, 22-8), who scored four runs in the ninth inning for the final margin. Erik Forgione went 3 for 3 for Washington (8-2, 20-6-1), which stranded 14 and hit into three double plays.

No. 13 LSU 3, No. 10 Mississippi State 0

In Baton Rouge, La., Aaron Nola allowed two hits and struck out 10 in eight innings as LSU blanked Mississippi State to begin their SEC series. Nola (6-1) walked a pair. Joe Broussard worked a hitless ninth for his sixth save. The Tigers (4-5-1, 22-8-1) scored twice in the third and added a run in the fourth. Sean McMullen went 2 for 2 with a triple, a run and an RBI for LSU. Jake Vickerson and Alex Detz both had hits for the Bulldogs (6-4, 20-11).

No. 2 Florida State 8, Notre Dame 7 (12)

In Tallahassee, Fla., Gage West tripled and scored on a base hit by Casey Smit in the bottom of the 12th as Florida State won its ACC series opener over Notre Dame in front of 5,678 at Dick Howser Stadium. Smit finished with two hits, including a homer, two runs and four RBI, while DJ Stewart added two hits, a  and three RBI for the Seminoles (11-2, 24-5). The Fighting Irish (1-12, 10-18) used a five-run eighth to take a 7-5 lead before FSU tallied single runs in the seventh and eighth to knot the score at 7. Mac Hudgins went 3 for 5 with two runs for Notre Dame.

No. 3 South Carolina 2-1, Arkansas 1-4

In Fayetteville, Ark., Jordan Montgomery fanned nine in seven innings in the opener as South Carolina and Arkansas split an SEC doubleheader. Montgomery (4-2) allowed four hits and a run with three walks. Joel Seddon struck out two in the 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save. The Gamecocks (7-4, 26-4) scored both runs in the top of the eighth. Marcus Mooney and Tanner English both had two hits and one RBI for USC. Blake Baxendale delivered an RBI double in the sixth for the Razorbacks (5-6, 19-12). Jalen Beeks (5-2) tossed a four-hitter with one walk and nine punchouts for Arkansas in the nightcap. Tyler Spoon went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI for the Razorbacks. Connor Bright went 1 for 4 with one RBI for the Gamecocks.

No. 4 Louisiana-Lafayette 15, Troy 4

In Troy, Ala., Seth Harrison had a two-run single to highlight a six-run second as Louisiana-Lafayette rolled past Troy in their Sun Belt series opener. Caleb Adams went 3 for 4 with a homer, three runs and two RBI for the Ragin’ Cajuns (9-1, 28-3). Carson Baranik (7-0, 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K) earned the victory. Garrett Pitts had two hits for the Trojans (4-5, 16-14).

No. 5 Vanderbilt 6, Tennessee 4

In Knoxville, Tenn., Vince Conde went 2 for 4 with a double, a run and two RBI as Vanderbilt edged Tennessee in their SEC series opener. Taylor Smart had a three-run double in the first for the Volunteers (3-7, 19-9) before the Commodores (6-4, 25-6) tallied three in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth. Smart homered in the bottom of the sixth to complete the scoring. Tyler Beede (5-3, 8 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K) picked up the win and Carson Fulmer pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

No. 7 Oregon State 4, Stanford 1

In Corvallis, Ore., Ben Wetzler tossed a complete game with no earned runs and tied the all-time mark for wins at Oregon State with his 30th career victory as the Beavers beat Stanford in the Pac-12. Wetzler (6-0 with a 0.32 ERA) walked three of the first four batters of the game but worked out of the jam and cruised from there in winning his 16^th straight decision. Michael Conforto went 2 for 3 with a solo homer and two runs for the Beavers (7-3, 23-6). Wayne Taylor drove in the lone run for the Cardinal (3-4, 10-12).

No. 8 Louisville 5, Memphis 4

In Louisville, Ky., Jeff Gardner had a two-run double to highlight a four-run first as Louisville nipped Memphis to kick off their American series. Kyle Funkhouser (6-1, 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 5 K) got the win, while Nick Burdi (1.2 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K) recorded his fifth save. Kane Barrow has a two-run homer in the second for the Tigers (2-5, 17-13).

No. 9 Texas 5, Baylor 4

In Austin, Texas, Mark Payton laced a two-strike, two-out, bases-loaded double to clear the bases and give Texas a Big 12 win over Baylor. Trailing 4-2, Madison Carter reached on an error, Zane Gurwitz singled and Brooks Marlow walked to load the bases off Josh Michalec, who entered 11 for 11 in save opportunities. Payton, who was 0 for 4, doubled down the left-field line to reach base for an NCAA-best 70th straight game. Travis Duke (2-1) posted the win for the Longhorns (4-3, 24-7). Brad Kuntz allowed four hits and two runs over eight innings for the Bears (4-5, 15-14). Adam Toth went 3 for 4 with a run and RBI for Baylor.

East Carolina 3, No. 14 Rice 2

In Houston, Drew Reynolds had a two-run single in the top of the ninth to snap a 1-1 tie and lead East Carolina past Rice in their Conference USA series lid-lifter. Reynolds finished with three hits for the Pirates (7-3, 18-12). Jeff Hoffman (2-3, 8 IP, 7 H, R, BB, 7 K) earned the win, while Ryan Williams (1 IP, 2 H, R) notched his third save. Teykl Connor had three hits, while Keenan Cook went 2 for 4 with one RBI for the Owls (9-4, 21-11).

Kentucky 17, No. 16 Florida 1

In Lexington, Ky., A.J. Reed homered and hurled seven scoreless innings as Kentucky clobbered Florida in their SEC series opener. Reed (6-1) allowed five hits and two walks with three strikeouts while going 3 for 4 at the plate with two doubles and two runs. He hit one of four home runs for the Wildcats (5-5, 21-9), who scored four in the second, third and fourth before added five in the fifth. Austin Cousino (1 for 4, 2 R) belted a grand slam, while Max Kuhn (3 for 6, 2 R) and Michael Thomas (1 for 4, 2 R) both launched three-run shots for UK. Thomas Bernal added four hits, two doubles and three runs, while Kyle Barrett scored four for the Wildcats. Peter Alonzo went 3 for 4 for the Gators (6-4, 19-11).

No. 18 Alabama 5, Texas A&M 1

In College Station, Texas, Spencer Turnbull allowed one run over seven innings as Alabama won its SEC series opener at Texas A&M. Turnbull (4-1) gave up five hits and two walks while striking out three. Mikey White went 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Ben Moore drove in a pair for the Crimson Tide (7-3, 21-8). Nick Banks went 3 for 4 with a run for the Aggies (4-6, 18-13).

UC Davis 3, No. 19 Cal State Fullerton 1

In Fullerton, Calif., Steven Patterson had an RBI single and scored in a three-run eighth as UC Davis downed Cal State Fullerton to begin their Big West series. Harry Stanwyck (2-4, 7.1 IP, 6 H, R, 3 BB, 2 K) registered the win, while Zach Stone (1.2 IP, BB) earned his seventh save for the Aggies (1-4, 14-12). J.D. Davis went 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI for the Titans (0-1, 14-11). Thomas Eshelman (5-1, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER) fanned seven in seven innings for Fullerton.

(photo courtesy of UVa Media Relations)