March 15, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Nommensen leads Eastern Illinois past No. 18 Oklahoma

UNC outscores Virginia Tech; Kentucky splits doubleheader at LSU

In Tampa, Fla., Brett Nommensen (right) had three hits, including a home run, and scored twice as Eastern Illinois snapped No. 18 Oklahoma’s 10-game win streak with an 8-6 victory Sunday at the USF Bulls Baseball Classic. Richie Derbak had three hits and drove in two for the Panthers (9-4). EIU built a 7-2 lead and held on as Elliott Blair’s three-run homer keyed a four-run eighth for the Sooners (17-4).

No. 1 North Carolina 13, Virginia Tech 5

In Blacksburg, Va., Dustin Ackley had three hits, two runs and two RBI as UNC defeated Virginia Tech to complete a rain-shortened two-game ACC series sweep at English Field. Garrett Gore drove in three and Mark Fleury added a grand slam for the Tar Heels (4-1, 14-2). Fleury hit his slam in the first as UNC took control and the Heels put the game away with seven in the ninth. Steve Domecus and Buddy Sosnoskie both had two hits and one RBI for the Hokies (1-4, 10-6).

Kentucky 5-1, No. 4 LSU 2-3

In Baton Rouge, La., Ryan Schimpf homered and Louis Coleman went the distance as LSU won the second game of the doubleheader to capture the opening SEC series for both teams. Coleman (4-1) allowed four hits and one run with seven strikeouts in seven innings. Schimpf’s two-run homer in the fourth broke a 1-1 tie to give the Tigers (2-1, 13-4) the lead for good. In the opener, Chris Rusin (3-1) pitched the complete game for the Wildcats (1-2, 12-4), surrendering six hits and two runs in seven innings with six strikeouts. Marcus Nidiffer homered in the sixth to give Kentucky a 4-2 lead.

No. 2 Texas 4, Missouri 3
In Austin, Texas, Morgan Mickan scored on a throwing error to cap a three-run ninth as Texas rallied to win its series against Missouri. The Longhorns (2-1, 14-2) trailed 3-1 entering the frame before Kevin Keyes doubled in pinch-runner Connor Rowe and Travis Tucker tied it on a bloop single. Michael Torres lined to shortstop Michael Liberto, who tried to double up Tucker at first but threw wildly, allowing Mickan to score the game-winner. Taylor Jungman (3-0) tossed four hitless innings of relief to post the win. Nick Tepesch allowed seven hits and two earned runs in eight-plus innings for the Tigers (1-2, 8-10).

No. 3 Georgia 10, Alabama 8

In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Rich Poythress had two hits, including his team-best eighth home run, as Georgia salvaged the finale of its three-game SEC set at Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Colby May’s two-run homer capped a seven-run second for the Bulldogs (1-2, 15-2). The Crimson Tide (2-1, 11-5) answered with five in the bottom of the frame and Kent Matthes blasted a three-run homer in the fourth to give Alabama an 8-7 lead. Matthes leads the nation with 13 home runs. The dinger by Poythress in the fifth tied it at 8-8 and Georgia plated two in the sixth to take the lead for good. Levi Hyams had two hits and two runs for the Bulldogs. Taylor Dugas had three hits, two runs and two RBI for the Crimson Tide.

No. 5 Arizona State 12, Kansas 10

In Surprise, Ariz., Riccio Torrez and Kole Calhoun both had three hits and three RBI as Arizona State outscored Kansas. Calhoun had a two-run homer and an RBI double, while Torrez smacked a two-run homer in the fifth to break a 4-4 tie and give the Sun Devils (14-3) the lead for good. Nick Faunce had two hits, including a home run, and four RBI for the Jayhawks (10-5).

No. 6 Texas A&M 13, No. 11 Baylor 7
In College Station, Texas,  Nick Anders ripped two solo homers, and Kevin Gonzalez and Joe Patterson each drove in three as Texas A&M beat Baylor for the second straight day. Brodie Greene went 4 for 5 with a run and a RBI, and Brooks Raley also drove in two runs as the Aggies (2-0, 13-4) pounded out 15 hits. Shaver Hansen and Adam Hornung each had two hits and two RBI, and Aaron Miller drove in three for the Bears (0-2, 10-4).

No. 7 Cal State Fullerton 4, Rhode Island 3

In Stillwater, Okla., Khris Davis had a sacrifice fly in the eighth that snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted Cal State Fullerton past URI on the final day of the Oklahoma State Tournament at Reynolds Field. Tyler Pill had a pinch-hit RBI double in the seventh for the Titans (13-3) that knotted the score at 3-3. Josh Fellhauer and Billy Marcoe both had two hits for Fullerton. Rob DeVeney had two hits, including a two-run single in a three-run first for the Rams (7-5).

No. 8 Miami (Fla.) 7, Duke 6

In Coral Gables, Fla., Jason Hagerty homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth to lift Miami past Duke at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field for the ACC series win. The Blue Devils (3-3, 10-6) trailed 6-1 after five before scoring one in the sixth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth to knot it at 6-6. Harold Martinez and Dave DiNatale both drove in two for the Hurricanes (5-1, 14-3). Alex Hassan (3-4, 2 R) and Matt Williams (3-4, 1 R, 2 RBI) paced Duke.

San Diego 8, No. 10 Rice 0

In Houston, A.J. Griffin allowed three hits in eight scoreless innings of relief as San Diego blanked Rice at Reckling Park. Matt Thomson started for the Toreros (9-9) and pitched the first before a rain delay of more than three hours. When play resumed, Griffin (1-1) took over and allowed three singles and three walks while striking out eight. Bryan Haar’s three-run double capped a four-run fifth for USD. Chris Engell added a two-run double in the sixth and James Meador belted a two-run homer in the ninth to complete the scoring. Brock Holt had two hits, including a double, for the Owls (10-5).

Rhode Island 5, No. 12 Oklahoma State 4

In Stillwater, Okla., Zoey Angulo had a two-run homer in the fifth to propel URI past OSU at Reynolds Stadium. Angulo’s blast gave the Rams (8-5) a 5-1 advantage before the Cowboys (13-4) scored two in the sixth and one in the ninth to pull to within one. Tyrone Hambly had two hits, including a home run, for OSU.

No. 13 UC Irvine 5, Tulane 4
In Irvine, Calif., Casey Stevenson blooped a single to right to score Maverick Olivares with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as UC Irvine won the rubber game of its series with Tulane. Evan Mistich blasted a three-run homer in a four-run eighth as the Green Wave (11-7) took a 4-3 lead. But Francis Larson singled in pinch-runner Sammy Donabedian to tie the game before Stevenson's heroics. Jordan Leyland went 2 for 2 with a RBI off the bench for the Anteaters (10-5). Sam Honeck went 3 for 3 for Tulane.

Minnesota 7, No. 14 TCU 2

In Fort Worth, Texas, A.J. Pettersen had a two-run triple to highlight a seven-run first as Minnesota captured its second straight win over TCU at Lupton Stadium. Nick O’Shea had a two-run single in the first for the Golden Gophers (10-3). Pettersen and Eric Decker both finished with two hits for Minnesota. Tom Buske (3-0) fanned seven in 6.1 innings with four hits, one earned run and two walks. Matt Carpenter had two hits for the Horned Frogs (10-4).

No. 15 Coastal Carolina 9, UNC Asheville 4

In Asheville, N.C., David Anderson went 4 for 5 with three RBI as Coastal Carolina won its Big South opener at UNCA. The Chanticleers (1-0, 15-1) won their 12th straight and are off to the best start in program history. Coastal scored two in the first, two in the fourth and one in the fifth to build a 5-0 lead. Adam Rice had two hits and two RBI for the Chants. Beau Zinman had three hits and a run for the Bulldogs (1-3, 3-12).

Wichita State 3, No. 16 Pepperdine 1

In Wichita, Kan., Ryan Jones had two hits and an RBI as WSU edged Pepperdine at Eck Stadium. Jones had a single and scored in a two-run first for the Shockers (8-7). Aaron Gates homered for the Waves (11-5) in the seventh before Jones had a run-scoring single in the bottom of the frame. Jordan Cooper (2-2) had eight strikeouts in seven innings with six hits, one run and no walks.

No. 17 Ole Miss 6-6, Vanderbilt 1-7

In Nashville, Tenn., Ole Miss split a doubleheader at Vanderbilt to win the opening SEC series. In Game 1, David Phillips had a three-run homer in a four-run fifth for the Rebels (2-1, 11-4). Jordan Henry had three walks and three runs. Philip Irwin (3-0) went the distance, allowing four hits and one run in seven innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Brian Harris and Steven Liddle both had two hits for the Commodores (1-2, 11-6). In the nightcap, Vandy scored in the fifth on a Harris sac fly to snap a 6-6 tie and earn the split. Harris had two hits, two runs and three RBI for the Commodores. Logan Power had two hits and knocked in two for the Rebels.

No. 21 Arkansas 4, No. 19 Florida 2
In Fayetteville, Ark., Drew Smyly tossed six solid innings, and Arkansas scored twice in the eighth inning on a wild pitch and a throwing error to complete an SEC sweep of Florida. Tied at 2, Jarrod McKinney waved a curve ball in the dirt and began to run to first. The ball bounced off catcher Buddy Munroe and then off McKinney, allowing Ben Tschepikow (2 for 3) to score from third. Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan was ejected for arguing on the play. Later in the frame, the Razorbacks (3-0, 12-3) added a run when Munroe threw into left field on a double steal. The Gators (0-3, 9-7) dropped their sixth straight at Baum Stadium.

No. 20 Cal Poly 11, California 4
In Berkeley, Calif., Luke Yoder ripped a grand slam, and D.J. Gentile went 2 for 5 with a homer, three runs and three RBI as Cal Poly won the rubber game of its series with Cal. The Mustangs (11-4) erupted for seven runs in the third inning, with Yoder's slam to left center being the big blow. Wes Dorrell went 3 for 5 with two RBI for Cal Poly. Mark Canha had two RBI to lead the Golden Bears (9-7).

Mississippi State 10-4, No. 23 South Carolina 3-5

In Starkville, Miss., MSU split a doubleheader with USC to capture the opening SEC series at Dudy Noble Field. In Game 1, Jet Butler knocked in three and Grant Hogue homered and scored three as the Bulldogs (2-1, 12-5) topped the Gamecocks (1-2. 11-4). Nick Ebert and Andrew Crisp both had two hits for USC. In the nightcap, the Gamecocks scored twice in the sixth to earn the split. Jackie Bradley, Jr. tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI single and Justin Dailes added a pinch-hit run-scoring single to give USC the lead. Ebert had four hits in Game 2 for the Gamecocks. Ryan Collins had three walks, a run and a steal for the Bulldogs.

No. 24 Clemson 7, Wake Forest 3

In Clemson, S.C., Ben Paulsen homered and drove in three as Clemson completed the three-game ACC sweep of Wake Forest. Paulsen’s two-run bomb capped a three-run fifth as the Tigers (4-2, 11-4) built a 6-1 lead. Mike Freeman had two hits and scored three for Clemson. Michael Murray had two hits, including a home run, for the Demon Deacons (0-6, 7-8). Chris Dwyer (2-0) allowed six hits and two runs in seven innings for the Tigers with two walks and five strikeouts.

(photo courtesy of EIU Media Relations Office)