March 31, 2013

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

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Around the Bases
Littrell helps Kentucky complete SEC sweep of Georgia

LSU edges Missouri, Vandy rallies past Tennessee, Miami nips Virginia

In Lexington, Ky., Corey Littrell (left) and a pair of relievers combined on the shutout as ninth-ranked Kentucky won the rubber game of its SEC series with Georgia 5-0 Sunday in front of 1,604 fans at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Littrell (4-0) surrendered three hits in seven innings with two walks and 12 strikeouts. Walter Wijas gave up one hit and struck out one in the eighth before Trevor Gott fanned two in a hitless ninth. The Wildcats (6-3, 21-6) scored one in the first, two in the third and two in the fifth. Austin Cousino (3 for 4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI), Michael Thomas (1 for 2, HR, 2 RBI) and Zac Zellers (1 for 3, 2 RBI) led the UK offense. Hunter Cole, Kyle Farmer, Zack Bowers and DJ Smith each had a hit for the Bulldogs (1-8, 10-19).

No. 2 LSU 6, Missouri 5

In Columbia, Mo., LSU used a five-run third to complete a SEC sweep at Missouri. The visiting Tigers (8-1, 26-2) trailed 5-1 after two before Mason Katz (3 for 5, 4 RBI) belted a three-run homer and Sean McMullen (2 for 4) added a two-run single in the third. Alex Bregman had two hits and two runs for LSU. Brent Bonvillain (2-0, 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 3 K) picked up the win in relief, while Chris Cotton (1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 K) notched his eighth save. LSU is 26-2 for the second time in program history, matching the start of the 1986 squad. Dylan Kelly (1 for 4) and Jake Ivory (1 for 5) both knocked in two, while Case Munson had two hits and two runs for the home Tigers (2-7, 9-15).

No. 4 Vanderbilt 12, Tennessee 8

In Nashville, Tenn., Kyle Smith belted a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to erase an 8-6 deficit as Vanderbilt completed a SEC sweep against Tennessee. Smith drew three walks and scored three, while Mike Yastrzemski went 4 for 5 with a double, two runs and one RBI for the Commodores (9-1, 25-4). Jared Miller (2-1, 2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K) picked up the win, while Carson Fulmer got the final to record his second save. Scott Price went 4 for 4 with three RBI, while A.J. Simcox was 3 for 4 with a double, two runs and two RBI for the Volunteers (3-6, 13-13).

Miami (Fla.) 4, No. 8 Virginia 3

In Charlottesville, Va., Grant Heyman went 1 for 3 with an RBI double, the only Miami extra-base hit, in its win against Virginia to avoid a sweep in the ACC series. Chris Barr (2 for 4) scored first in Miami's four-run first and was the only player with multiple hits for the Hurricanes (5-7, 20-11). Thomas Woodrey (4-0, 3.1 IP, 4 H, BB, K) allowed one unearned run in long relief to hang on to the lead and get the win. Eric Nedeljkovic (1.2 IP) struck out three and allowed just one runner, via hit by pitch, to pick up his sixth save. Reed Gragnani (2 for 4) hit a two-run double in the second for the Cavaliers (9-3, 25-3). The Virginia bullpen allowed no runs in 13 innings this series and just one in its last 35 innings.

Florida 4, No. 11 Ole Miss 0

In Gainesville, Fla., Danny Young and Johnny Magliozzi combined on a four-hit shutout as Florida won its SEC series against Ole Miss in front of 2,934 fans at McKethan Stadium. Young (1-2, 5.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K) earned the victory, while Magliozzi (3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 K) recorded his fifth save. The Gators (4-5, 13-16) put up one in the first and Vickash Ramjit (2 for 4) had a two-run homer in a three-run third. Austin Anderson went 1 for 3 with a double for the Rebels (4-5, 23-6).

No. 12 Arkansas 3, No. 18 Mississippi State 1

In Fayetteville, Ark., Randall Fant pitched six solid innings as Arkansas won its SEC series against Mississippi State. Fant (2-0) allowed four hits and one run with two walks and six strikeouts. Jalen Beeks gave up one hit in two scoreless innings before Colby Suggs fanned one in a hitless ninth for his third save. The Razorbacks (6-3, 21-8) had their first three hitters reach and score in the bottom of the first as Jacob Mahan (1 for 4) had a leadoff single, Joe Serrano (1 for 3, BB) walked and Tyler Spoon (1 for 4) had a RBI double. Jake Wise went 2 for 2 with a walk for Arkansas. Wes Rea (2 for 4) homered in the fourth for the Bulldogs (3-6, 23-8).

No. 20 Houston 2-0, Memphis 0-1

In Memphis, Tenn., a doubleheader split gave Houston a Conference USA series win over Memphis. Austin Pruitt (6-1, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K) tossed six shutout innings in the seven-inning opening contest. Chase Wellbrock fanned one in a hitless seventh for his fourth save. The Cougars (5-1, 23-6) scored twice in the top of the seventh as Kyle Survance (1 for 1, 1 R) and Ashford Fulmer (1 for 3) both drove in runs. Ethan Gross had two hits for the Tigers (2-4, 15-13). Erik Schoenrock (3-2, 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB) fanned 11 for Memphis, but suffered the loss. In the nightcap, Alex Gunn (2-2, 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K) earned the win and Clayton Gant (1.2 IP, 2 H) picked up his first save for the Tigers. Zach Willis (2 for 3) drove in the lone run for Memphis in the bottom of the sixth. Justin Montemayor went 2 for 3 with a double for Houston.

Indiana 9-6. Iowa 6-4

In Iowa City, Iowa, Indiana swept a Big Ten doubleheader and series from Iowa, stretching its win streak to a program-record 15. In the opener, Sam Travis (2 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBI) had a RBI triple in the top of the eighth to break a 6-6 deadlock and scored an insurance run for the Hoosiers (6-0, 22-3). Justin Cureton went 2 for 4 with a double and four runs, while Scott Donley added two hits and two RBI for IU. Scott Effross (5-0, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R) picked up the win in relief. Trevor Kenyon had two doubles and three RBI for the Hawkeyes (1-5, 9-13). In Game 2, Kyle Schwarber had three hits, including a homer, and three runs to lead the IU offense. Aaron Slegers (5-0, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 UE, 3 BB, 4 K) was the starter and winner. Kenyon had two hits and one RBI for Iowa.

Florida Atlantic 3, South Alabama 0

In Boca Raton, Fla., Jeremy Strawn tossed a six-hit shutout as Florida Atlantic completed a three-game Sun Belt sweep of South Alabama. Strawn (2-1) walked three and struck out seven. The Owls (7-2, 19-9) scored two in the second and Mark Nelson homered in the third. Nolan Earley went 1 for 4 with a double for the Jaguars (5-4, 22-7).

(photos courtesy of UK Media Relations)