No. 5 LSU 4, No. 11 Houston 2

In Houston, Conner Hale ripped a two-run homer to key a three-run first, and Jared Poche’ yielded two runs and four hits in 7.2 innings as LSU slipped past Houston at the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. Alex Bregman added two hits and a run, and Hale finished 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBI for the Tigers (13-1). Jesse Stallings tossed the ninth inning to pick up his sixth save. Jacob Campbell went 2 for 4 with a solo homer for the Cougars (8-6). Houston’s Andrew Lantrip tossed a complete game with nine hits and three earned runs.

 

No. 2 Vanderbilt 6, No. 6 UCLA 0

In Los Angeles, Cason Fulmer allowed three hits, walked five and struck out nine in 6.1 scoreless innings as Vanderbilt shut down UCLA. Philip Pfeifer closed with 2.2 hitless innings as the Commodores (11-2) quieted a potent Bruins offense that entered averaging nearly nine runs a game. Karl Elison went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Rhett Wiseman went 2 for 4 with a solo homer and two runs for Vanderbilt. James Kaprielian (3-1) allowed eight hits, four runs (three earned) and struck out nine in 5.1 innings for the Bruins (11-2).

 

USC 7, No. 4 TCU 6 (12 innings)

In Los Angeles, Blake Lacey’s squeeze bunt plated Timmy Richardson with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning as USC edged TCU. The Trojans (13-1) led 6-2 entering the ninth, but the Frogs (8-2) rallied for four runs, two coming on Cody Jones’ single. Kyle Davis (1-0) tossed 4.1 innings, including working around an error in the ninth, and allowed four hits (one earned) and struck out six for USC. Lacey, David Oppenheim and AJ Ramirez (HR) each drove in two – Lacey’s second came when Richardson ran through the catcher to score the winning run. Dante Flores added a 3-for-3 day with a run, and Robinson had two hits, two runs and an RBI for the Trojans. Nolan Brown went 3 for 5 with three runs, and Keaton Jones went 4 for 5 with a run and RBI for the Frogs.

 

Cal State Fullerton 4, No. 7 Texas Tech 0

In Fullerton, Calif., Thomas Eshelman allowed five hits and struck out 14 in a complete-game shutout of Texas Tech. A.J. Kennedy went 4 for 4 with three doubles and two RBI, and Jake Jefferies went 3 for 3 with a double, RBI and run as the Titans (7-5) won their fifth straight. Eshelman (2-2) struck out a career-high and now has 39 strikeouts and four walks in 29.1 innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.23. The Red Raiders fell to 10-2.

 

No. 10 Oregon 4, St. John’s 3 (12 innings)

In Eugene, Ore., Matt Eureste scored on an error in the bottom of the 12th as Oregon slipped past St. John’s after losing a three-run lead in the ninth inning. Brandon Cuddy hit a three-run homer in the first inning for the Ducks (11-2), and Cole Irvin (4 IP, 2 H) and Conor Harber (4.1 IP, 3 R) were cruising until the Red Storm (5-5) scored three times to force extras. Bret Dennis delivered a two-run single to tie the game for St. John’s, which limited Oregon to four hits, none past the fourth inning.

 

No. 13 Rice 4, Charlotte 2

In Charlotte, John Clay Reeves went 3 for 4 with two RBI, and Kevin McCanna worked into the seventh inning as Rice got by Charlotte in their Conference USA opener. McCanna (2-1) allowed five hits and one earned run in 6.2 innings before turning it over to Matt Ditman, who closed with 2.1 innings and his third save for the Owls (1-0, 9-6). Brett Netzer went 3 for 4 with a run for the 49ers (0-1, 4-3).

 

San Diego 2, No. 8 Mississippi State 1

In Starkville, Miss., David Hill allowed four hits and struck out six in seven scoreless innings as San Diego followed up its impressive weekend at Texas by taking the first game of its series with Mississippi State. The Toreros (5-6) scored on wild pitches in the second and fourth innings, and Anthony McIver stranded the tying run at third base in the ninth. Ryan Kirby went 2 for 2 for USD, which was held to six hits. Seth Heck had two hits and an RBI, and Cody Brown had two hits and a run for the Bulldogs (13-2).

 

No. 3 Florida 5, Maine 0

In Gainesville, Fla., Logan Shore allowed five hits and struck out five in eight scoreless innings, stretching his scoreless-innings streak to 23.1 innings, as Florida blanked Maine. Christian Hicks hit a solo homer and scored twice, and Dalton Guthrie went 2 for 5 with a run as the Gators (12-2) took control with a four-run second inning. Luke Morrill had two hits for the Black Bears (4-10).

 

No. 9 South Carolina 2, Miami (Ohio) 0

In Columbia, S.C., Logan Koch ripped a two-run homer in the second inning, and Wil Crowe made it stick with seven scoreless innings as South Carolina edged Miami (Ohio). Crowe struck out eight and allowed five hits, and Taylor Widener posted his fourth save for the Gamecocks (10-3). Ryan Powers (1-3) allowed four hits and struck out two in 7.1 solid innings for the RedHawks (2-6).

 

No. 12 UCF 9, Columbia 1

In Orlando, Zach Rodgers allowed five hits and one run in seven splendid innings as UCF used a four-run seventh inning to pull away from Columbia. Dylan Moore and Jordan Savinon had two hits and two RBI apiece, and Matt Diorio went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI for the Knights (12-2). Joey Falcone went 2 for 3 with a solo homer for the Lions (2-3).

 

Illinois 6, No. 16 Oklahoma State 2

In Stillwater, Okla., Kevin Duchene allowed three hits in seven brilliant innings, and Adam Walton went 3 for 4 with a triple, homer, three runs and three RBI as Illinois won the opener of its series with Oklahoma State. Duchene (2-0) walked one, struck out six and surrendered one earned run, and Tyler Jay earned his fourth save with 1.2 scoreless innings for the Fighting Illini (10-2-1). Will Krug added two hits and two runs for Illinois, which has only allowed more than three runs in a game once this season. Conor Costello had two of the five hits for the Cowboys (7-5).

 

No. 19 North Carolina 8, Duke 1

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Zac Gallen struck out 12 in pitching into the eighth inning, and Skye Bolt drove in two runs as North Carolina opened ACC play with a win over Duke. Gallen (1-1) allowed four hits and one unearned run for the Tar Heels (1-0, 9-3). Bolt finished 3 for 5 with three runs, and Korey Dunbar added two hits, including a triple, run and RBI for Carolina. Andrew Istler (1-1) suffered the loss for Duke (0-1, 10-2).