March 27, 2008

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
UNC Wilmington raises win streak to 17

Minnesota mauls No. 6 Missouri; Oklahoma State stops No. 8 Arizona

In Conway, S.C., Shane French (left) had four hits, including a tie-breaking home run in the ninth, as UNC Wilmington defeated Coastal Carolina 10-7 Wednesday evening at Watson Stadium for its 17^th consecutive victory, the longest current win streak in the nation. The Seahawks (18-4) scored three in the eighth to tie it at 7-7. French went deep leading off the ninth to give UNCW an 8-7 lead. The Seahawks added a pair of insurance runs for the final margin. Tommy Baldridge had two hits and two RBI for the Chanticleers (19-5).

Minnesota 12, No. 6 Missouri 5

In Minneapolis, Matt Nohelty had three hits, three runs and two RBI as Minnesota bounced back from a 5-0 deficit to stop Missouri’s 14-game win streak. Jake Priday’s grand slam sparked a five-run first for the Tigers (19-3). The Golden Gophers (10-9) put up two in the second, one in the third and two in the fifth to tie it at 5-5. Nohelty’s RBI single in the sixth put Minnesota on top to stay. Eric Decker had a two-run triple to highlight a five-run seventh for the Gophers.

Oklahoma State 3, No. 8 Arizona 2

In Stillwater, Okla., Matt Hague’s three-run homer provided all the necessary offense as Oklahoma State nipped Arizona at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Hague’s blast in the third erased a 1-0 deficit for the Cowboys (17-6), who won for the fourth straight time. Jon Gaston tripled and scored in the fifth for the Wildcats (13-7), who dropped their fourth straight. Josh Neal (2-0) pitched the final 4.2 innings for OSU with two hits, no runs and four strikeouts to earn the victory.

No. 2 Miami (Fla.) 7, Bethune-Cookman 6

In Coral Gables, Fla., Dave DiNatale’s two-run single tied it in the eighth and Yasmani Grandal knocked in the game-winner as Miami rallied to nip Bethune-Cookman at Mark Light Field. Grandal and Blake Tekotte each had two hits for the Hurricanes (19-2). Neal Jones had three hits, including a homer, three runs and two RBI for the Wildcats (14-9).

No. 3 Florida State 19, Stetson 3

In Tallahassee, Fla., Mike McGee had three hits and drove in six as Florida State stopped Stetson at Dick Howser Stadium. Tyler Holt’s two-run homer highlighted a five-run second for the Seminoles (21-2). FSU added eight in the third and four in the fourth for a commanding 17-0 advantage. Justin Bass had three hits for the Hatters (11-13).

No. 4 North Carolina 13, Gardner-Webb 2

In Cary, N.C., Dustin Ackley had four hits and three runs as North Carolina scored double-figure runs for the fourth straight game in its win over Gardner-Webb. Kyle Seager and Tim Federowicz each had three hits for the Tar Heels (20-4). Bubbie Spake had a two-run homer in the first for the Bulldogs (9-13). Seager’s two-run single capped a four-run second for UNC. Two-run homers in the third by Tim Fedroff and Garrett Gore gave UNC an 8-2 lead.

No. 9 South Carolina 5, College of Charleston 3

In Columbia, S.C., Reese Havens homered for the seventh time as South Carolina got by College of Charleston at Sarge Frye Field. Havens’ two-run bomb keyed a three-run third for the Gamecocks (16-6). Stuart Haywood had a two-run single in the fifth to pull the Cougars (16-8) to within one. Kyle Enders drove in two with a base hit in the bottom of the frame for USC.

No. 11 Vanderbilt 12, Middle Tennessee 10

In Nashville, Curt Casali clocked a two-run homer in the bottom of the 12 to give Vanderbilt the win over Middle Tennessee, ending the five-hour marathon at Hawkins Field. Dominic de la Osa’s two-run blast in the eighth for the Commodores (16-6) tied the game at 10-10. Blake McDade had a two-run single in a five-run fifth as the Blue Raiders (10-9-1) took an 8-3 lead before Vandy battled back.

Houston 8, No. 12 Rice 5

In Houston, Bryan Pounds went deep twice and drove in seven as Houston defeated Rice in front of 1,524 fans at Cougar Field to even the 2008 Silver Glove Series at one game apiece. Pounds had a two-run blast in the first and a grand slam in the seventh that gave the Cougars (16-7) their first lead at 7-4. Ty Stuckey retired the Owls (18-7) in order in the ninth for his first save. Aaron Luna had an RBI single in a three-run first for Rice.

No. 14 Wichita State 13, Binghamton 8

In Wichita, Kan., Clint McKeever’s two-run single capped a three-run first as Wichita State outscored Binghamton. Kyle Klee had a run-scoring base hit in the first for the Bearcats (5-13). Dusty Coleman’s single tied the game in the bottom of the frame and McKeever’s hit gave the Shockers (16-3) the lead for good. McKeever added an RBI double and scored in a four-run third. Ryan Holley had a three-run homer in the ninth for Binghamton.

George Washington 17, No. 16 Virginia 5

In Charlottesville, Va., Charlie Kruer had three hits and drove in three as George Washington defeated Virginia for the first time since 1988, snapping the school-record 18-game home win streak for the Cavaliers. Kruer’s RBI single in the first gave the Colonials (12-9) the early lead before Virginia (20-5) plated five in the bottom of the frame. After tallying one in the top of the third, Kruer’s two-run single capped a four-run fourth as GW took the lead for good at 6-5. Gavin Swanson added a two-run double in the fifth as the Colonials extended their lead. Swanson’s two-run homer capped an eight-run eighth for the visitors.

No. 19 Nebraska 9, Northern Colorado 4

In Lincoln, Neb., Mitch Abeita’s sacrifice fly in the third gave the Huskers the lead for good as Nebraska held off Northern Colorado at Hawks Field. The Huskers (19-3-1) scored a pair in the second to knot the game at 2-2 before Abeita’s sac fly ignited a five-run rally in the third. Jake Opitz added a two-run single in the eighth for Nebraska. Erik Whinery had three hits and two RBI for the Bears (7-17).