March 14, 2011

Relays and Cutoffs

By Sean Ryan and Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

* Virginia picked up a huge sweep at Clemson – its first ever at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Of special note, it took the Cavaliers 17 games to hit their first homer as Steven Proscia homered in Sunday’s finale. Virginia, which plays home games in a huge yard, homered 61 times a year ago, almost once a game.

* Speaking of homers, Auburn, which led the nation in home runs per game a year ago with better than two homers a game (134 in 64 games) has eight homers in its first 16 games. Georgia Tech, which was second, has 10 in 16 games after hitting 122 in 62 games last year. Morehead State, which was third, has seven in 16 games after hitting 97 in 50 games. New Mexico State (fourth) has 13 in 16 games after averaging 1.73 last year.

* Conversely, Jake Lowery has belted nine home runs for James Madison in 16 games. The Dukes have launched 38 dingers and have posted a batting average of .378, on-base percentage of .475 and slugging percentage of .685. In 53 games a season ago, JMU had 68 homers with a batting average of .319, on-base percentage of .415 and slugging percentage of .521.

* What do opposing pitchers have against the Fighting Camels? Campbell hitters have been plunked 50 times in 16 games and have walked only 40 times. Junior Jimmy Brenneman leads the way by being hit 13 times. The Camels were hit 109 times a season ago in 55 games, with Chris Bangi getting banged 22 times.

* ETSU reliever Bo Reeder has racked up seven saves and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 8.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .074.

* Senior Nick Pepitone of Tulane has also recorded seven saves along with two wins in his 10 appearances. The cousin of former major-leaguer Joe Pepitone, he has helped the Green Wave to an 11-4 start after its series win over Wichita State.

* Davidson junior Chris Lamb, 2-8 with an 8.40 ERA last year as a sophomore, is putting it together. Even though he’s 1-2 (with a hard-luck loss to College of Charleston over the weekend), his ERA is 2.22 and opponents are hitting .196 off the lefty, whose fastball resides in the low- to mid-90s. He’s struck out 30 and walked only six in 28.1 innings. 

* Louisville took two of three in Malibu at Pepperdine and can thank its arms. Cardinals starters Mike Nastold (2-0, 0.53 ERA) and Justin Amlung (3-0, 0.63) have sub-1 ERAs, and Matt Koch is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA. As a team, Louisville (11-3) boasts a 1.20 ERA and a .173 BAA.

* Speaking of ERAs, Texas led Division I last year with a 2.47 ERA. The Longhorns (11-5) are at 2.72. Taylor Jungmann is 4-0 with a 0.78 ERA with 31 strikeouts and three walks in 34.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .151 off him.

* Maybe we should start calling Mike Martin, “Reverend Martin”. With its 4-3 victory over Boston College on Sunday, Florida State has won 22 straight Sunday games.