Feb. 29, 2012

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
Heffley homers to lead Western Carolina past Georgia

UT Arlington upsets Oklahoma, USC Upstate wins big pitching matchup

In Athens, Ga., Ross Heffley (right) homered and drove in two as Western Carolina upset ninth-ranked Georgia 5-3 Wednesday at Foley Field. Heffley (2 for 3) went deep in the top of the third to give the Catamounts (5-3) a 2-1 advantage before the Bulldogs (8-1) tallied single runs in the third and fourth to take a 3-2 advantage. Heffley had a run-scoring single to spark a three-run fifth as WCU took the lead for good. Adam Curtis (2-0, 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K) earned the win, while Preston Hatcher (1.2 IP, 1 BB, 2 K) recorded his second save. Hunter Cole had two hits and one RBI for Georgia.

UT Arlington 10, No. 17 Oklahoma 3

In Norman, Okla., Preston Beck belted a three-run homer as UT Arlington knocked off Oklahoma at L. Dale Mitchell Park. After a scoreless first three innings, the Mavericks (6-2) got a run in the fourth and put up three in the fifth, sixth and eighth. Matt Shortall had three hits and three RBI for UTA. Kasey Merck (1-1) allowed five hits in six scoreless innings with one walk and three strikeouts in earning the victory. Hunter Lockwood went 4 for 5 with a triple and two RBI for the Sooners (4-3).

USC Upstate 4, Georgia State 1

In Spartanburg, S.C., USC Upstate won a big pitching matchup over Georgia State at Harley Park. David Palladino (2-0), the 6’9 starter for the Spartans (7-1), defeated 6’7 starter Max Schmitz (1-1) (left) of the Panthers (5-4). Palladino (5 H, 1 R, 3 BB) fanned seven in seven innings, while Schmitz (3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K) allowed one earned run in five innings. Chad Sobotka, the 6’6 closer for Upstate, struck out two in the ninth for his third save. Brody Greer went 2 for 4 with a triple, one run and one RBI for the Spartans. Joey Wood had two hits and one RBI for Georgia State.

No. 5 Texas A&M 8, Northwestern State 1

In College Station, Texas, Tyler Naquin matched his career high with four hits as Texas A&M completed a two-game sweep of Northwestern State. The Aggies (8-1) scored two in the third and took control with five in the fifth. Matt Juengel had two hits and drove in three, while Mikey Reynolds went 3 for 4 with two runs for A&M. Corey Ray (1-0) allowed six hits and one run in seven innings with one walk and four strikeouts in earning the victory. Colin Bear went 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI for the Demons (2-6).

No. 6 Arkansas 8, BYU 1

In Fayetteville, Ark., Jimmy Bosco and Dominic Ficociello both homered and drove in two as Arkansas defeated BYU for the second straight day. The Razorbacks (9-1) scored three in the first and two in the second for the early lead. Bosco went 2 for 2 with two walks and three runs, while Ficociello went 2 for 3 with one walk and two runs. D.J. Baxendale (3-0) pitched a perfect first with one strikeout to pick up the win. Stephen Wells had a run-scoring single in the third for the Cougars (4-4).

No. 8 Miami (Fla.) 10, Florida Atlantic 5

In Coral Gables, Fla., Miami scored four in each of the first two innings in doubling Florida Atlantic. Michael Broad (2 for 5, 5 RBI) had a grand slam in the first and Rony Rodriguez (3 for 4, 3 R) had a two-run double and scored in the second for the Hurricanes (8-0). Steven Ewing (2-0, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K) registered the win. Mike Albaladejo (3 for 5) had a solo homer in the seventh and Michael Sylvestri added a three-run blast in the eighth for the Owls (6-2).

No. 11 Georgia Tech 11, Kennesaw State 5

In Atlanta, Kyle Wren tied a school record with two triple and drove in three as Georgia Tech outscored Kennesaw State at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Yellow Jackets (7-2) scored three in the second and broke it open with seven in the third. Daniel Palka went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, while Connor Winn knocked in three for Tech. Andy Almonte (3 for 5, 2 R, 2 RBI) homered, while Ronnie Freeman had three hits and Andy Chriscaden drove in two for the Owls (3-5).

No. 13 LSU 19, McNeese State 10

In Baton Rouge, La., Mason Katz had four hits and four RBI as visiting LSU defeated McNeese State. Katz, who has reached in 12 straight plate appearances, had a three-run homer and a double to lead the Tigers (7-2). Tyler Hanover had three hits and drove in four, while Raph Rhymes went 2 for 5 with two runs and two RBI for LSU. The Tigers led 5-4 after six before plating five in the seventh, one in the eighth and eight in the ninth. Andrew Guillotee (3 for 5, 2 R) and Taylor Drake (4 for 5, 2 R) both homered and knocked in four for the Cowboys (2-6).

No. 15 Cal State Fullerton 6, Loyola Marymount 2

In Fullerton, Calif., Matt Orloff went 3 for 4 and scored in a four-run eighth as Cal State Fullerton rallied past Loyola Marymount at Goodwin Field. Austin Kingsolver walked twice and scored two for the Titans (5-3). Christian Coronado (1-0, 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K) earned the win in relief, while Michael Lorenzen struck out the final two batters to secure the win. Scott Harkin went 2 for 3 with a homer and drove in both runs for the Lions (2-6).

(photos courtesy of WCU & GSU Media Relations Offices)