April 6, 2008

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Georgia sweeps DH from sixth-ranked South Carolina

Stanford stops No. 1 Arizona State; Tennessee tops No. 17 Florida

In Athens, Ga., Georgia swept a doubleheader against No. 6 South Carolina, winning 1-0 and 5-3 Saturday. Combined with Florida's loss to Tennessee, Georgia (8-3, 19-10) moved into first place in the SEC Eastern Division with the pair of victories. Trevor Holder started for the Bulldogs and fired seven shutout innings, allowing just five hits. South Carolina (6-4, 20-8) starter Mike Cisco kept pace, throwing eight shutout innings and allowing just six hits. In the ninth Georgia right fielder Matt Olson delivered a walk-off single for the 1-0 win. In Game 2, the Gamecocks led 3-1 going into the eighth on a pair of solo homers by Reese Havens and one by Justin Smoak. In the eighth, Bulldogs third baseman Ryan Peisel, who hit a homer earlier, tied the game with a two-run single. Rich Poythress and Bryce Massanari followed with a pair of RBI singles for the 5-3 final.

Stanford 12, No. 1 Arizona State 2

In Stanford, Calif., Erik Davis went the distance, shutting down Arizona State, as Stanford evened its Pac-10 series at Sunken Diamond. Davis (4-1) allowed two runs on four hits with six walks and five strikeouts against the Sun Devils (4-1, 28-2). Jason Castro went 4 for 5 for the Cardinal (3-2, 14-9) with a double, a homer and two RBI. Sean Ratliff homered and drove in four. Randy Molina also went deep for Stanford.

Tennessee 5, No. 17 Florida 4
In Knoxville, Tenn., Tennessee held off a ninth-inning rally by Florida to beat the Gators in the first game of an SEC doubleheader. The second game was suspended with UT (6-4, 18-10) ahead 10-5 in the sixth. In Game 1, Volunteers' starter Nick Hernandez pitched 7.1 innings, striking out 11 and limiting the Gators (7-3, 20-9) to two runs on seven hits and a walk. Florida starter Billy Bullock kept pace through six innings, allowing just two runs on three hits. However, Tennessee got to the Florida bullpen, plating three in the seventh, two on a double by Kentrail Davis. Shawn Griffin also cracked a two-run homer for the Vols. Florida scored a pair in the ninth on a two-run triple by Avery Barnes, but he was stranded at third to end the game.
 

No. 2 Miami (Fla.) 15, Clemson 5

In Coral Gables, Fla., Yasmani Grandal had four hits and four RBI as Miami clinched its ACC series with Clemson in front of a capacity crowd of 3,000 at Mark Light Field. Grandal’s homer in the sixth snapped a 5-5 tie and gave the Hurricanes (11-1, 25-2) the lead for good. Miami put the game away with eight runs in the eighth. Jemile Weeks had a three-run homer in the fourth for the Canes. Wilson Boyd had three hits for the Tigers (6-8, 18-12). Doug Hogan knocked in three for Clemson, two on a home run in the third.

No. 11 California 9, Oregon State 3

In Berkeley, Calif., Kevin Miller tossed 6.2 scoreless innings in relief as California clinched its Pac-10 series against Oregon State at Evans Diamond. Miller (5-0) allowed one hit and three walks with a career-high seven strikeouts. Michael Brady had a three-run triple in the second for the Golden Bears (4-1, 21-6-1). David Cooper added a two-run homer in the third for Cal. Jason Ogata had a two-run double in the third for the Beavers (2-3, 14-10).

No. 15 Kentucky 5-13, Mississippi State 6-4
In Lexington, Ky., Kentucky and Mississippi State split an SEC doubleheader after Friday's game was rained out. Kentucky (6-5, 24-5) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opener before Mississippi State (3-8, 14-16) scored four in the sixth, highlighted by a Jason Nappi two-run homer. The next inning Ryan Duffy hit a solo shot and Connor Powers had an RBI double to put the Bulldogs ahead for good. In Game 2, Kentucky scored early and often, plating four in the second and four in the fourth on the way to a 13-4 rout. Each Kentucky hitter had at least one of the Wildcats' 19 hits. Collin Cowgill hit his twelfth homer and had four RBI. Brian Spear and Ryan Wilkes also homered and had two RBI apiece.

Several games involving ranked teams were postponed, will play Sunday DH

No. 13 Virginia at No. 3 Miami (Fla.)

No. 20 Georgia Tech at No. 4 North Carolina