March 9, 2008

Castro's homer helps Stanford top No. 9 Texas

No. 3 Ole Miss splits two at TCU; Duke takes one of two from No. 4 UNC

In Austin, Texas, Jason Castro drilled a two-run homer to right in the seventh inning as Stanford rallied for a 6-5 win over No. 9 Texas to even their series. Randy Molina had two hits and two RBI, and Joey August had two hits, two runs and a RBI for the Cardinal (7-4). Dan Storen (1-1) allowed three hits and struck out four in 3.2 innings to pick up the win. Russell Moldenhauer had a pair of runs, and Jordan Danks had two hits and two runs for the Longhorns (9-3).

No. 3 Ole Miss 3-4, TCU 1-5

In Fort Worth, Texas, Lance Lynn and Scott Bittle combined to shut down TCU, and Logan Power went 3 for 4 with a run and a RBI as Ole Miss beat the Horned Frogs in the first game of a doubleheader. But TCU rallied for split when Michael Hubbard misplayed Ben Carruthers' long fly ball to center, allowing Aaron Shultz to score the game-winner. In the first game, Lynn (3-0) worked five innings and lowered his ERA to 1.71, but the Horned Frogs forced him to throw 94 pitches. Bittle entered and limited TCU to one hit and struck out five in four innings. Cody Overbeck had two hits and a run for the Rebels. Tyler Lockwood tossed 5.2 innings of scoreless relief for TCU. In Game 2, Bryan Kevin went 3 for 3 for the Frogs (6-5). The Rebels dropped to 10-2.

Duke 13-3, No. 4 North Carolina 4-9

In Durham, N.C., the Duke (1-1, 12-1) and North Carolina (1-1, 9-2) baseball teams split a doubleheader before the evening's showdown on the hardwood. Blue Devils starter Andrew Wolcott won his second game of the season, pitching six innings and limiting the Tar Heels to just two earned runs on seven hits. Designated hitter Kyle Kreick and left fielder Jeremy Gould supplied the offense with four RBI apiece. Gould's effort included a two-run home run, his second of the season. North Carolina second baseman Kyle Seager was 2 for 3 with two doubles in the loss. In Game 2 Duke took an early lead with a second inning three-run homer by Jake Lemmerman, but Tar Heel starter Adam Warren was untouchable after that, conceding just the three runs on six hits in seven innings to earn his second win. All but one UNC starter had a hit as the Tar Heels plated nine runs. Third baseman Chad Flack was 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI.

No. 1 Arizona State 13, Massachusetts 4

In Tempe, Ariz., Ike Davis went 4 for 5, including two hits in a nine-run eighth inning, with two homers, three runs and three RBI, and Stephen Sauer struck out 11 in seven scoreless innings as ASU toppled UMass. Brett Wallace added four hits and two RBI, and Jason Kipnis contributed two hits and three RBI for the Sun Devils (11-0). Jim MacDonald and Mike Donato each had two hits and two RBI for the Minutemen (0-2), who tied it at 4 before ASU’s uprising.

No. 2 Arizona 3, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0

In Corpus Christi, Texas, David Coulon allowed one hit and struck out 11 in eight scoreless innings as Arizona posted its second straight shutout at the Whataburger College Classic. Diallo Fon provided the only offense Coulon would need by going 2 for 3 with a run and two RBI. Coulon set the Islanders down in order in every inning but the fifth. Omar Gutierrez allowed only two hits in seven innings, but allowed four walks and three runs (two earned) for the Islanders (3-8). A&M greeted closer Jason Stoffel with two singles to open the ninth, but Stoffel struck out the No. 4 and 5 hitters to post his fifth save for the Wildcats (9-1).

No. 5 South Carolina 10, Duquesne 2

In Columbia, S.C., South Carolina (7-2) jumped on winless Duquesne (0-9) with a six-run second inning and cruised to a comfortable victory. Leadoff man Reese Havens continued his hot hitting, going 2 for 5 with four RBI. Havens is now hitting .487 and leads the team with four home runs and 21 RBI. Left fielder DeAngelo Mack added three hits, including a solo home run. Gamecock pitchers Will Atwood, Parker Bangs and Brandon Todd combined to strike out 15 Duquesne hitters.

No. 7 Miami (Fla.) 8, Boston College 3

In Coral Gables, Fla., Miami (2-0, 8-1) won their second game in as many days against Boston College (0-2, 6-6). The Hurricanes broke open the game with a six-run fourth inning highlighted by a two-run homer by Adam Severino and a three-run shot by Yonder Alonso. Alonso had already hit a solo shot in the third. Ryan Jackson also had two hits and two RBI for Miami. Catcher Tony Sanchez was the only Eagle with multiple hits, he had two as well as an RBI. The Hurricane bullpen combined for 4.2 innings, allowing no runs and just three hits.

No. 6 Rice 12, Western Carolina 11
In Houston, Derek Myers drove in the game-winning run with a double in the bottom of the ninth as Rice rallied from a 7-1 deficit to beat Western Carolina at the Rice Invitational at Reckling Park. Tyler Kirkpatrick blasted a three-run homer in the third inning to give the Catamounts (4-7) a six-run lead before the Owls (7-5) scored three in the fourth and four in the fifth. Adam Zornes had two hits and four RBI, and Aaron Luna added two hits and three RBI for Rice. David Murphy homered twice and drove in three, and Shaft Barrett contributed three hits and three RBI for WCU.

No. 10 Long Beach State 4, Hawaii 2
In Honolulu, Vance Worley struck out a career-high 11 in eight solid innings as Long Beach State slipped past Hawaii to win their series. David Lohman drove in a pair of runs for the 49ers (8-2). Jonathan Hee had two hits and two RBI for the Rainbows, who got a complete game from Nicholas Rhodes.

No. 12 Florida State 5-16, Maryland 4-0

In Tallahassee, Fla., Florida State (2-0, 11-0) opened ACC play with a sweep of Maryland (5-6, 0-2), FSU has now won 32 straight against the Terps. In Game 1 Elih Villanueva won his third game of the season with a complete game effort. He allowed just two earned runs on five hits, while striking out eight. Every Seminole starter reached base, including 13 hits off the Terps pitchers. Dennis Guinn had two of the hits, including a solo home run, his fifth of the season. Ohmed Danesh had a two-run triple. Maryland did score twice in the ninth after a Danesh error, but could not get to Villanueva for the tying run. In Game 2 the Seminoles plated five in the first and three more in the third. Nine different Seminoles drove in a run. Ruairi O'Connor led the way, going 2 for 3 with three RBI. On the mound Matt Fairel won his third game of the season with seven shutout innings. He allowed seven hits and struck out seven.

No. 13 Virginia 5-0, North Carolina State 3-2

In Raleigh, N.C. the Wolfpack (1-1, 7-3) handed Virginia (1-1, 11-1) its first loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Virginia won Game 1 when designated hitter Phil Gosselin hit a two-run home run to left in the tenth inning. NC State had tied the game in the ninth when pinch-hitter Domonique Rodgers hit an RBI single. Greg Miclat and David Adams each went 3 for 5 with a run the Cavaliers. Marcus Jones was 3 for 5 with a pair of RBI for the Pack. All-American Jacob Thompson went 6.1 innings for Virginia, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out eight. Eric Surkamp matched his effort for NC State, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. In Game 2 Clayton Shunick (2-0) was untouchable for the Wolfpack. The junior pitched eight innings, allowing just 3 hits and walking one, while recording nine strikeouts. Jimmy Gillheeney pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save. Both Wolfpack runs scored on a 2 RBI second inning double by Drew Martin. Pat McAnaney took the loss for Virginia despited allowing just the two runs in seven innings of work.