Feb. 23, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Otto has three hits and three RBI to lead VCU past UCF

Baylor edges BYU; Cal rallies to nip Vandy; South Carolina blanks Duquesne

In Orlando, Fla., Doug Otto went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBI as VCU got an 8-3 win Monday afternoon to salvage a four-game series split at UCF. The Rams (2-2) scored in six of their nine at-bats. A two-run single in the fourth by R.J. Schenk (pictured left) snapped a 2-2 tie and gave VCU the lead for good. Josh Alford had two hits, two runs and an RBI for the Rams. Richard Gonzalez had two hits and two runs for the visitors. Two pitchers combined on the six-hitter in their debuts for VCU. Ryan Crosby (1-0) allowed five hits and three runs in five innings with two walks and a strikeout. Kyle Pelchy gave up one hit over the final four scoreless innings with no walks and two punchouts to earn the save. Colin Arnold had a home run and a sacrifice fly for the Knights (2-2). Nick Choto and Eric Kallstrom both had doubles for UCF.

No. 14 Baylor 7, BYU 6

In Waco, Texas, Landis Ware scored on a passed ball with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as Baylor nipped BYU at Baylor Ballpark. Ware had a pinch-hit single with one out and moved to second on Joey Hainsfurther’s base hit. Brooks Kimmey beat out a potential double-play ball, putting Ware at third. The first pitch to pinch-hitter Ben Booker bounced past the catcher, bringing home Ware with the game-winner. The Cougars (1-4) had tied the game in the eighth as Jonathan Cluff drew a one-out walk and eventually scored on a groundout. Hainsfurther finished with three hits and one RBI. Dustin Dickerson was 3 for 5 with two RBI for the Bears (3-1). Shaver Hansen and Raynor Campbell both homered for Baylor. Cluff and Michael Bowen both drove in two for BYU.

California 4, Vanderbilt 3

In Berkeley, Calif., a game-winning single by Jeff Kobernus capped a two-run ninth as Cal edged Vanderbilt at Evans Diamond. Brett Jackson doubled with one out in the ninth for the Bears (2-2) and scored when Austin Booker reached on a three-base error. Kobernus followed with a base hit to give Cal the win. The Commodores (1-3) took a 3-2 lead in the eighth as Brian Harris scored on a wild pitch. Kobernus was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. Mark Canha had a homer in the sixth for the Bears. Harris was 1 for 2 with two runs for Vanderbilt.

South Carolina 6, Duquesne 0

In Columbia, S.C., four pitchers combined on the three-hitter as South Carolina completed the three-game series sweep of Duquesne. Blake Cooper (1-0) allowed two hits in six innings with no walks and seven strikeouts. Grimes Medlin, Matt Price and Parker Bangs each tossed one inning with one walk and one strikeout. Medlin allowed one hit. DeAngelo Mack had a three-run homer in the first for the Gamecocks (3-0). USC added three more in the second to complete the scoring. Bill Torre had a hit and was hit by a pitch for the Dukes (0-3).

UC Santa Barbara 6, Westmont 0

In Santa Barbara, Calif., UCSB blanked Westmont to record consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1992. Jesse Meaux and Zach Samuels combined on the three-hitter. Meaux worked the first three innings and allowed one hit with six strikeouts. Samuels finished the contest, surrendering two hits in six innings with nine punchouts. Brian Gump’s three-run homer capped a four-run second for the Gauchos (2-1). Gump went 3 for 4 with two runs. Ryan Cavan had two triples for UCSB. Colten Christianson had a hit and a steal for the Warriors (2-14).

West Virginia 10, Northwestern 5

In St. Petersburg, Fla., Austin Markel homered twice to lead West Virginia past Northwestern. Markel went deep in the third and homered again in the ninth. Dan DiBartolomeo added a three-run double in the ninth for the Mountaineers (2-2). Markel finished with three hits, as did Jedd Gyorko, who scored twice. Kenneth Avila went 4 for 5 for the Wildcats (1-3) with a run. Jake Goebbert homered and drove in three for Northwestern.

Texas-Arlington 12, Siena 1

In Arlington, Texas, Michael Choice went 4 for 5 with a triple and four RBI to lead an 18-hit attach for UTA against Siena. The Mavericks (3-1) scored in six of their first seven at-bats. Blake Holt’s home run sparked a three-run first. Andrew Kainer also went deep in the fifth for UTA. Dan Paolini had two hits for the Saints (1-3).