March 18, 2010

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
Curry drives in four as TCU tops BYU in MWC opener

Thorpe homers in 10th for Utah Valley, Fairfield nips Quinnipiac in 10

In Fort Worth, Texas, Matt Curry homered and drove in four as No. 7 TCU topped BYU 13-6 Thursday in front of 2,750 fans at Lupton Stadium in the Mountain West opener for both teams. The Horned Frogs (1-0, 14-2) put up crooked numbers in each of the first three innings in building a 10-0 lead. Curry’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run second for TCU. Jason Coats added a two-run shot in a three-run third for the Frogs. Aaron Schultz had three hits for TCU. Brandon Relf had three hits and a run for the Cougars (0-1, 7-10). Jonathan Cluff (2 for 5) and Stephen Wells (1 for 3) both knocked in two for BYU. 

Utah Valley 8, Portland 7 (10)

In Orem, Utah, Sage Thorpe smacked a pinch-hit homer with one out in the bottom of the 10th to give Utah Valley the win over Portland in the home opener at Brent Brown Ballpark. Chris Benson (4 for 5, 2 R, 3 RBI) also went deep for the Wolverines (5-6). Jace Brinkerhoff (3 for 5, 2 R, 1 RBI), Billy Burgess (2 for 4, 3 R) and Austin Heaps (1 H, 2 RBI) also had big days for UVU. Brian Whatcott (1-0) earned the win by retiring seven consecutive hitters, including five straight by strikeout. Beau Fraser had two hits, including a homer, and knocked in three for the Pilots (10-6).

Fairfield 3, Quinnipiac 2 (10)

In Fairfield, Conn., Tucker Nathans had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the 10th to lift Fairfield over Quinnipiac in the home opener at Alumni Diamond. Ryan Furbeck drew a leadoff walk to start the winning rally and moved to second on a passed ball. Nathans (2 for 5) doubled to center to bring in Furbeck with the game-winner. Carmine DeVito walked and scored in the bottom of the ninth for the Stags (6-4) to force the extra frame. Ben Farina had three hits, including a homer, for the Bobcats (0-10). Kyle Nisson also had three hits and one RBI for Quinnipiac.

Minnesota 9, Samford 4

In Birmingham, Ala., AJ Pettersen went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI as Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak in defeating Samford at Joe L. Griffin Field. Nick O’Shea homered and knocked in three for the Golden Gophers (6-11). Wayne Miller went deep to spark a two-run first for the Bulldogs (9-8). Pettersen had a sacrifice fly in the third and a two-run double to cap a three-run fifth as Minnesota took a 4-2 lead. After Samford cut the lead to one, O’Shea’s two-run homer in the sixth gave the visitors a 6-4 advantage. The Gophers added one in the seventh and two in the ninth. Meredith went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBI for Samford.

Columbia 4, Winthrop 2

In Rock Hill, S.C., Pat Lowery pitched eight strong innings to lead Columbia past Winthrop at Winthrop Ballpark. Lowery (1-2) allowed six hit and one run with no walks and one strikeout. Derek Squires recorded the final two outs for his first save. Jason Banos had an RBI double in the first for the Lions (3-7). Eddie Rohan homered in the bottom of the fourth for the Eagles (10-6) to even it at one. Jon Eisen (4 for 5) had an RBI double with two outs in the ninth and Eric Williams added a two-run double to give Columbia a 4-1 lead. Adam Gliebe (2 for 4) had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the ninth for Winthrop.

Missouri 17, North Dakota 5

In Columbia, Mo., Jonah Schmidt and Eric Garcia both had two hits in an 11-run third as Missouri thumped North Dakota at Taylor Stadium in the opener of their four-game series. Schmidt (3 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBI) had a two-run double and Garcia (3 for 4, 2 R, 1 RBI) added a run-scoring single in the third for the Tigers (8-6). Brett Nicholas had a two-run homer and Michael Liberto added a three-run triple in the third for Missouri. Kale Gaden, Aaron Senne and Conner Mach also went deep for the Tigers. Jeff Bunch had two hits and two runs for the Fighting Sioux (1-7).