March 6, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Three Dominguez dingers help Louisville down Milwaukee

Illinois upsets LSU; Clemson wins at UNC; Georgia loses no-no in ninth

In Louisville, Ky., Chris Dominguez launched three home runs and drove in nine, both career highs, as Louisville powered past Milwaukee 19-6 Friday in the UBS Cardinal Classic at Jim Patterson Stadium. Dominguez went deep in each of his first three at-bats, hitting a solo shot in the second, a grand slam in the third and a three-run blast in the fifth for a 14-2 lead. He added an RBI single in the eighth to drive in the final run for the Cardinals (6-4). Justin Marks (1-1) earned the win, going six innings with four hits, two unearned runs, three walks and a career-best 11 strikeouts. Andrew Clark had three hits and knocked in four for Louisville. Andy Gerhartz had a single, double and triple for the Panthers (3-5).

Illinois 3, No. 1 LSU 1

In Baton Rouge, La., Aaron Johnson’s two-run homer with two outs in the ninth carried Illinois past LSU in front of 10,246 fans at Alex Box Stadium, ending the 25-game regular-season win streak for the Tigers (9-1). Casey McMurray reached on an error in the ninth and moved to second on a sac bunt before Johnson’s dinger brought him home. LSU had two on with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Nick Chmielewski fanned the final two Tigers for his second save. Phil Haig started and allowed one run on eight hits in seven innings for the Illini (6-1). Brandon Wikoff walked and scored for Illinois in the first. Nicholas Pontiff homered in the fifth to knot the score at 1-1. Pete Cappetta went 2 for 3 for the Illini. Sean Ochinko had three hits for the Tigers.

No. 19 Clemson 5, No. 2 North Carolina 4 (10)

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Matt Sanders’ sac fly was the difference as Clemson edged UNC in front of 2,211 fans at Boshamer Stadium in the ACC opener for both teams. Boyd drew a one-out walk in the 10th for the Tigers (1-0, 6-2), moved to second on a base hit by Kyle Parker, advanced to third on a walk to Jeff Schaus before coming home on a fly to right by Sanders. A two-run homer by Schaus highlighted a four-run second for Clemson. The Tar Heels (0-1, 8-2) answered with three in the bottom of the frame, capped by a two-run single by Ben Bunting. Levi Michael’s homer in the seventh knotted the score at 4-4. Tomas Cruz (1-1) earned the victory, going three relief innings with one hit, no runs, no walks and four strikeouts. Sanders and Parker both finished with two hits for the Tigers. Bunting had two hits for UNC.

No. 4 Georgia 7, Quinnipiac 0
In Athens, Ga., Trevor Holder (3-0) tossed seven hitless innings with three walks and seven strikeouts as Georgia blanked Quinnipiac at Foley Field. The Bulldogs (10-0) have the best start in school history. Dean Weaver surrendered two hits in the ninth to the Bobcats (0-4) - one each for Ben Farina and Mickey Amanti. Colby May went 3 for 4 with a homer, double and four RBI. Johnathan Taylor stole three bases and scored three from the leadoff spot. Starter Georgia has now won 10 straight in the series. Bulldog lefty Alex McRee has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and will miss Saturday’s start. He will be reassessed on a weekly basis.
 

No. 3 Texas 6, No. 24 Stanford 2

In Stanford, Calif., Chance Ruffin went the distance as Texas topped Stanford at Sunken Diamond. Ruffin (3-0) allowed four hits and one earned run with three walks and seven strikeouts. Travis Tucker and Brandon Belt both had three hits for the Longhorns (11-0). Tucker homered in the first to start the scoring. Tucker’s two-run single sparked a three-run second as Texas took a 4-0 lead. After the Longhorns added a run in the fourth, Jake Schlander’s RBI single put the Cardinal (2-7) on the board. Joey August singled and scored in the sixth for Stanford before Texas added its final run in the ninth.

No. 5 Arizona State 12, Holy Cross 1

In Tempe, Ariz., Andy Workman knocked in four to lead ASU past Holy Cross in front of 3,160 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Jason Kipnis homered in the first and Jordan Swagerty went deep in the second for the Sun Devils (10-1). ASU took control with a four-run third, capped by Workman’s RBI single. Matt Newman (1-0) fanned eight in six innings with three hits and one run. Jack Laurendeau had two hits for the Crusaders (0-7).

No. 6 Texas A&M 7, Utah 2

In College Station, Texas, Brooks Raley earned his third win and went 4 for 4 with three runs as Texas A&M topped Utah in front of 4,867 fans at Olsen Field. Raley (3-0) had eight strikeouts in six innings with five hits and two runs. Raley had a single and scored in a two-run first for the Aggies (10-2). Kevin Hussey drove in a run in the second for the Utes (5-5) before Caleb Shofner’s homer in the fourth made it 3-1. Raley tripled and scored in a two-run fifth as A&M took a four-run lead. C.J. Cron homered for Utah in the sixth, but the Aggies added single runs in the sixth and seventh to complete the scoring. Luke Anders had two hits and one RBI for A&M. Nick Kuroczko finished with three hits for the Utes.

No. 7 Rice 2, Washington State 1
In Houston, Brock Holt scored on a passed ball, and Jeremy Rathjen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded as Rice rallied to score twice in the bottom of the ninth to edge Washington State at the Rice Invitational. Matt Way held the Owls (7-3) in check with no earned runs and two hits through eight innings before running into trouble in the ninth. The Cougars (3-6) failed to turn two earlier in the inning and Way ended up suffering the loss with two unearned runs. Rathjen had the only two hits for Rice. Patrick Claussen drove in the lone run for WSU.
 

No. 8 Cal State Fullerton 15, Southern Miss 2

In Hattiesburg, Miss., Josh Fellhauer and Jared Clark both homered and drove in three as Cal State Fullerton whipped Southern Miss in front of 4,011 fans at Pete Taylor Park. Fellhauer homered and Joe Scott added a three-run triple in an eight-run second. Clark’s two-run blast came in a five-run third as the Titans (7-2) built a 14-0 lead. Nick Ramirez and Dustin Garneau both went deep in the third. Fellhauer finished with four hits and three runs for Fullerton. Brian Dozier and Corey Stevens both had a hit and an RBI for the Golden Eagles (8-2).

No. 9 Miami 7, NC State 6 (12)
In Coral Gables, Fla., Jason Hagerty hit a game-winning two-run homer as Miami rallied past NC State at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. The Hurricanes (1-0, 8-2) scored two in the eighth and one in the ninth to force extra innings. Harold Martinez and Nathan Melendres each had a pair of RBI. Kyle Bellamy threw three innings of relief and allowed no earned runs for the win. Kyle Rutter allowed just one hit in three innings, Hagerty's long ball, but took the loss for the Wolfpack (0-1, 7-3). It broke their seven-game winning streak. Wade Moore went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI for the Pack, including a run-scoring single in the 12th.

No. 10 Florida State 4, Boston College 1
In Tallahassee, Fla., Sean Gilmartin went eight innings and allowed just one run on three hits as FSU topped BC at Dick Howser Stadium in the ACC opener for both clubs. Jimmy Marshall earned his second save by striking out the side in the ninth. Mike McGee finished 2 for 3 with a two-run homer and two runs for the 'Noles (1-0, 7-3), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Barry Butera provided the only offense for the Eagles (0-1, 8-3) with a solo shot in the second.

No. 11 UC Irvine 13, UAB 5

In Waco, Texas, Brock Bardeen homered twice and set a QTI Baylor Classic record with seven RBI as UCI outscored UAB at Baylor Ballpark. Bardeen had a three-run homer in a five-run first and his grand slam keyed a six-run second as the Anteaters (6-3) built an 11-2 lead. Francis Larson added a two-run homer in the ninth for UCI. Jonathan Merritt, Brint Hardy and Allen Aubin each had two hits for the Blazers (3-5). Cody McMurry had a homer for UAB.

No. 12 Georgia Tech 5, Maryland 1
In Atlanta, Ga., starter Deck McGuire (2-0) pitched 6.2 scoreless innings and scattered five hits with eight strikeouts at Georgia Tech topped Maryland at Russ Chandler Stadium in the ACC opener for both teams. The ninth batter, Jay Dantzler, collected two hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth, as the Yellow Jackets (1-0, 7-1) took a 5-0 lead. Mark Pope picked up his third save. Scott Swinson took the loss for the Terrapins (0-1, 4-5) as he gave up five earned runs over five innings. Mike Murphy and Will Greenberg - hitters four and five - went a combined 4 for 7 for Maryland.

No. 13 Baylor 14, South Alabama 4

In Waco, Texas, Aaron Miller went 2 for 3 with a homer and four RBI as Baylor bounced USA at the QTI Baylor Classic. Miller’s three-run blast capped an eight-run fourth as the Bears (8-2) took a 14-2 lead. Dan Evatt added two hits, two runs and two RBI for Baylor. Sean Laird (2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI) led the offense for the Jaguars (5-5).

No. 14 Oklahoma State 7, Oregon State 5
In Palm Springs, Calif., Doug Kroll went 3 for 4 with four RBI, and Andrew Oliver won for the third time this season (and eighth straight decision overall) as Oklahoma State stopped Oregon State at the Palm Springs Invitational. Tom Belza went 4 for 5 with two runs and a RBI, and Dean Green went 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI for the Cowboys (8-1). Oliver allowed three runs on six hits and struck out seven in six innings. Stefen Romero had two hits and two RBI for the Beavers (5-3).

No. 15 TCU 6, Wichita State 5

In Fort Worth, Texas, Matt Vern’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run eighth as TCU rallied past Wichita State at Lupton Stadium. With one out in the eighth, Jason Coats doubled and Taylor Featherston walked to set the table for Vern, who tied the game at 5-5. Corey Steglich had a two-out double followed by a run-scoring single by Ben Carruthers to give the lead to the Horned Frogs (7-2). The Shockers (6-3) got their first two on in the ninth, but Erik Miller retired the final three hitters for his first save. Coats and Steglich both had two hits for TCU. Josh Rosecrans went 3 for 4 for WSU with a run and an RBI.

No. 16 Coastal Carolina 12, Albany 0

No. 16 Coastal Carolina 9, Stony Brook 0

In Conway, S.C., Coastal Carolina pitchers allowed four hits in 16 scoreless innings at the Carevelle Resort Classic. Five hurlers fanned 18 for the Chanticleers (10-1). Anthony Meo (3-0) struck out eight in five innings with three hits in the opener against the Great Danes (1-5). Tyler Bortnick went 3 for 3 with two RBI, while Evan Noell was 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI. Ryan Gugel had a double for Albany. The game was called in the seventh due to the 10-run rule. Cody Wheeler (2-0) allowed one hit in seven innings with five strikeouts in the nightcap. Adam Rice homered to start the scoring in the third. Bortnick’s bomb in the fifth gave the Chanticleers a five-run lead. Gilmore’s three-run shot in the sixth made it 9-0. Pat Cantwell had the lone single for the Seawolves (1-5).

No. 17 Pepperdine 15, Evansville 5

In Malibu, Calif., Ryan Heroy went 3 for 3 with four RBI as Pepperdine got past Evansville at Eddy D. Field Stadium. Nate Simon’s two-run homer capped a three-run first for the Waves (8-2). Pepperdine added five in the second on its way to a 13-0 lead after five. Trentt Copeland and Alex Acheson both had two hits for the Purple Aces (2-7).

San Diego State 6, No. 18 San Diego 4

In San Diego, Cory Vaughn’s three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th rallied SDSU past USD at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The homer was the first hit for the Aztecs (6-5) since the third inning. Sean Nicol had an RBI single in the top of the 10th for the Toreros (7-5). Brandon Decker and Mitch Blackburn started the bottom of the 10th with walks. After a strikeout, Vaughn’s blast gave the win to the Aztecs. Vaughn finished with two hits and four RBI. Nicol had three hits and two RBI for USD.

No. 20 Ole Miss 20, Vermont 4

In Oxford, Miss., Kevin Mort had four hits, three runs and five RBI as Ole Miss outscored Vermont at Oxford-University Stadium. Zach Miller (2-3, 3 RBI) and Jordan Henry (3-5, 3 R, 3 RBI) both had big bats for the Rebels (5-3). Mark Micowski singled and scored on a base hit by Ethan Paquette in the first for the Catamounts (0-4). Henry doubled and scored in the three-run first for Ole Miss. Jeff Nolet homered in the second, while Micowski doubled and scored in the third to tie it at 3-3. Dave Soltis doubled and scored in the fourth to put the visitors on top 4-3. Henry’s two-run single in the bottom of the frame put the Rebels in front to stay. A nine-run sixth put the game away for the home team. Micowski finished with four hits and two runs for Vermont.

No. 21 Florida 10, Duquesne 5
In Gainesville, Fla., Josh Adams blasted two home runs and accounted for four RBI and three runs as Florida doubled Duquesne at McKethan Stadium. Matt den Dekker, Avery Barnes and Preston Tucker each had two hits for the Gators (7-4), which took a 3-0 lead in the first. The Dukes (0-9) came back with four runs of their own in the next inning before Florida outscored them 5-1 for the rest of the game. Leadoff man Anthony Manley led Duquesne by going 3 for 4 and Bill Torre and Matt Carson each hit a homer and drove in two.

No. 22 Oklahoma 6, UCLA 5

In Norman, Okla., a three-run homer by Bryant Hernandez capped a six-run sixth as Oklahoma edged UCLA at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Bruins (2-8) scored single runs in the first and fourth before Aaron Baker’s leadoff homer started the rally for the Sooners (10-3) and the blast by Hernandez gave OU a 6-2 advantage. Cody Decker had a two-run homer in the seventh and Gino Aielli added a solo shot in the eighth for UCLA, but the Bruins could not plate the equalizer. Baker, Kaleb Herren and Matt Harughty each had two hits for the Sooners. Casey Haerther scored twice for the Bruins. Andrew Doyle (2-1) earned the win despite hitting seven batters. He went 6.1 innings with three hits, three earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts.

No. 23 East Carolina 18, Le Moyne 9

In Statesboro, Ga., Ryan Wood drove in four to lead ECU past Le Moyne in the Holiday Inn Eagle Invitational at J.J. Clements Stadium. Wood had three hits, including two doubles and a home run. Dustin Harrington and Brandon Henderson both had three RBI for the Pirates (7-1). Leadoff hitter Trent Whitehead reached five times with four hits and a walk and scored three. ECU scored six in the bottom of the fifth to snap a 9-9 tie. Matt Nandin went 4 for 5 with two runs for the Dolphins (2-4). Matt Marra went 3 for 5 with a homer, two hits and two RBI for Le Moyne.

No. 25 Cal Poly 13, Houston 5

In Houston, Matt Jensen had four hits, two runs and three RBI to lead Cal Poly past Houston at Cougar Field. J.J. Thompson had three hits and drove in two for the Mustangs (7-1). Cal Poly scored three in the second, four in the fourth and three in the sixth to take control. Caleb Ramsey had three hits for the Cougars (2-9). William Kankel had two hits and two RBI for Houston.

Central Arkansas 9, Stephen F. Austin 0

In Nacogdoches, Texas, Jeremy Cloud tossed a one-hitter and faced the minimum 27 as UCA blanked SFA at Jaycees Field in the Southland Conference opener for both clubs. Cloud (2-0) allowed one base-runner, a leadoff single by Joe Staley in the fifth. Staley was erased on a double play. Cloud threw 91 pitches and 69 were strikes. He fanned five Lumberjacks (0-1, 3-7) and went to two-ball counts on four hitters, the first not coming until the fifth. The Bears (1-0, 7-2) scored single runs in the second, third and fourth before a three-run sixth put UCA in control. Dillon Smith drove in three, while Josh Huffman went 3 for 5 with two runs.

UTSA 11, Southeastern Louisiana 10

In San Antonio, Jose Hernandez tied a school record with three home runs, including a two-run game-winner with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to cap a five-run rally, as UTSA edged Southeastern Louisiana at Roadrunner Field in the Southland Conference opener for both teams. A three-run shot by Hernandez in the first gave the Roadrunners (1-0, 7-3) a 4-2 lead. His solo shot in the third pulled UTSA to within one at 6-5. Ryan Boudreaux struck out a career-high 14 in eight innings for the Lions (0-1, 6-4). Trailing 10-6 heading to the ninth, Matthew James and Marshal Davis started the rally with base hits. After a strikeout, Brett Aguilar had an RBI single. Michael Rockett’s run-scoring double and a sac fly by Clay Schrader made it a one-run contest, setting the stage for the game-ender by Hernandez. Rockett finished with two hits and two RBI. Justin Boudeaux went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBI for the Lions.

The Citadel 12, Elon 8 (11)

In Charleston, S.C., Bryan Altman had a game-ending grand slam in the 11th as The Citadel outlasted Elon in Southern Conference action at Riley Park. Altman had three hits and five RBI for the Bulldogs (1-0, 3-5). The Citadel rallied from a 7-2 deficit with four in the eighth and one in the ninth to force extra innings. David Greene had an RBI single to spark the eighth-inning uprising, and his run-scoring single in the ninth tied it at 7-7. The Phoenix (2-1, 4-3) took a one-run lead in the 10th on an RBI single by Justin Hilt. Nick Orvin drew a leadoff walk and scored on an error in the bottom of the frame to keep the game going. After Elon was retired in order in the top of the 11th, Johnny Dangerfield had a one-out single in the bottom of the frame and moved to third on a double by Jordan. After an intentional walk to Orvin, Altman went deep to end the contest. Orvin had two hits and three runs for the Bulldogs. Zeth Stone went 3 for 4 with two runs for Elon. Mike Lobacz had two hits and three RBI for the Phoenix.

Auburn 11, Brown 2

In Auburn, Ala., Auburn hit five homers, including four in a seven-run first, as the Tigers battered Brown at Plainsman Park. Brian Fletcher hit two and drove in four. Joseph Sanders smacked his seventh, the top total in the nation. Trent Mummey and Casey McElroy also went deep for Auburn (6-4). Ryan Zrenda and Dan Shapiro both had a hit and a run for the Bears (1-2).

Hawaii 7, Mississippi State 4

In Honolulu, Vinnie Catricala hit a three-run game-winner in the bottom of the ninth to lift Hawaii over Mississippi State in front of 2,498 fans at Les Murakami Stadium. Greg Garcia and Kolten Wong drew two-out walks before Catricala’s blast ended the contest. The Rainbows (4-6) scored four in the second before the Bulldogs (8-2) battled back. MSU got a run in the third before Ryan Duffy had an RBI single in the fourth and a two-run homer in the sixth to even the score at 4-4.