April 7, 2008

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Flack becomes UNC career hits leader in DH split

Stanford wins series vs. No. 1 ASU; Georgia sweeps No. 6 South Carolina

In Cary, N.C., Chad Flack (left) became North Carolina’s career hits leader in an ACC doubleheader split with Georgia Tech Sunday. The fourth-ranked Tar Heels (10-4, 25-6) took the opener 10-4 before falling 4-1 in the second game. Flack had two hits and drove in a pair in the first game as he tied Chad Prosser’s record of 291. His single in the sixth of the nightcap set the new mark and extended his hit streak to 14. Kyle Seager had three hits and three RBI in Game 1 for the Tar Heels. Seager had two hits and one RBI in the second game to stretch his hit streak to 27, the fourth-longest in UNC history. Zach Von Tersch (4-1) pitched seven scoreless innings in the nightcap for the Yellow Jackets (9-6, 25-7) with four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Thomas Nichols had two hits and two RBI for Tech.

Stanford 10, No. 1 Arizona State 2

In Stanford, Calif., Stanford used a six-run fifth to win its Pac-10 series against Arizona State, giving head coach Mark Marquess his 1,300^th career victory and moving him into a tie for 10^th place on the all-time win list for NCAA Division I baseball coaches. The fifth-inning explosion by the Cardinal (4-2, 15-9) erased a 2-0 deficit. Brendan Domaracki’s two-run double gave Stanford the lead at 4-2 and Joey August, who started the rally with a base hit, capped the frame with a two-run double. Zach Jones had a two-run triple and scored in the seventh. Petey Paramore had a two-run single in the first for the Sun Devils (4-2, 28-3).

Georgia 4, No. 6 South Carolina 2

In Athens, Ga., Georgia completed an SEC sweep of South Carolina behind another strong pitching performance. Starter Nathan Moreau and four relievers combined to allow just two USC (6-6, 20-10) solo home runs by Phil Disher and James Darnell. The Bulldogs (9-3, 20-10) provided enough offense in the first inning, scoring three times on four hits. Bryce Massanari and Matt Cerione each had an RBI single in the frame. Rich Poythress was 2 for 3 and drove in a Georgia insurance run with a single in the fifth.

No. 2 Miami (Fla.) 7, Clemson 6

In Coral Gables, Dave DiNatale’s three-run homer in the fifth sparked Miami to an ACC sweep of Clemson at Mark Light Field. DiNatale’s blast gave the Hurricanes (12-1, 26-2) a 7-3 lead. Ben Paulsen had a two-run homer, his 10^th, in the seventh to pull the Tigers (6-9, 18-13) to within one, but Carlos Gutierrez retired the final six to record his eighth save. Jemile Weeks had two hits, a run and an RBI for Miami.

No. 3 Florida State 3-3, No. 13 Virginia 2-2 (both games – 10 innings)

In Tallahassee, Fla., Florida State won both games of an ACC doubleheader 3-2 with walk-off tenth-inning runs to complete a sweep of Virginia. In Game 1, Jack Rye was the hero for the Seminoles (13-1, 28-3), driving in the game-winning run with a single, part of 2-for-5, 2-RBI effort. FSU starter Geoff Parker went seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out seven. Ryan Strauss relieved Parker with three no-hit innings to earn the victory. Pat McAnaney was on the mound for Virginia (8-7, 24-9). He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts. In the nightcap, Tyler Holt's chopper drove in Luke Smierciak from third with the game-winner. Dennis Guinn cracked his eleventh homer for the Seminoles and Buster Posey had three hits. Starting pitcher Elih Villanueva worked 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out nine. Jimmy Marshall did not allow a hit while recording the final seven outs for the win. Andrew Carraway was the Virginia starter, going six innings with two runs on six hits while racking up ten strikeouts.

Cal State Fullerton 6, No. 5 UC Irvine 4

In Irvine, Calif., Christian Colon had three hits as Cal State Fullerton battled back from a 4-0 deficit to win the rubber game of the Big West series with UC Irvine. Colon’s RBI infield single capped a four-run seventh as the Titans (2-1, 18-10) took a 5-4 lead. Fullerton added an insurance run in the eighth on Dustin Garneau’s safety squeeze. Josh Tavelli had a two-run single in the second for the Anteaters (3-3, 20-5).

Oklahoma State 8, No. 7 Missouri 6

In Columbia, Mo., Luis Florida had five RBI as Oklahoma won the rubber game of its Big 12 series with Missouri at Taylor Stadium. Flores had four hits, including a home run. The Cowboys (6-6, 20-9) snapped a 6-6 tie with a pair in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Toby Davis and an RBI single by Rebel Ridling. The Tigers (5-4, 22-8) threatened in the seventh and eighth, but could not score.

Oregon State 9, No. 11 California 2

In Berkeley, Calif., Drew George had four hits as Oregon State salvaged the final game of its Pac-10 series at California. Jorge Reyes (2-1) pitched 6.2 innings for the Beavers (3-3, 15-10) with five hits, one earned run, one walk and five strikeouts. David Cooper went deep in the sixth for the Golden Bears (4-2, 21-7-1).

No. 15 Kentucky 9, Mississippi State 8

In Lexington, Ky., Kentucky came back from a 6-2 deficit and held off a Mississippi State rally in the ninth. The Wildcats (7-5, 25-5) trailed 6-3 entering the sixth, but the UK offense came alive for four sixth-inning runs. Marcus Nidiffer, who was 3 for 4, hit a two-run homer and Chris McClendon had an RBI single, one of his three hits. Collin Cowgill was not retired and scored three times. Connor Powers was the star for the Bulldogs (3-9, 14-17), going 4 for 4 with three homers and four RBI. He tied the game in the eight with a solo shot, but Kentucky retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning by scoring a pair on a MSU error. Tyler Moore, who was 2 for 4 with two RBI, singled in a run in the ninth, but the Bulldogs could not get the tying run home.

No. 16 Rice 7, Memphis 6

In Memphis, Tenn., Rice scored in each of the final four innings, including a three-run ninth, to complete a Conference USA sweep of Memphis at Nat Buring Stadium. The Tigers (3-6, 11-19) led 4-0 after five and 6-4 after eight before Aaron Luna started the ninth with his second homer of the game for the Owls (7-2, 23-10). Jess Buenger coaxed a one-out walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Derek Meyers. Diego Seastrunk’s RBI double tied the game and he eventually scored the game-winner on a wild pitch.

No. 17 Florida 6-7, Tennessee 12-2

In Knoxville, Tenn., Tennessee held the lead it built up Saturday to win the suspended game. Florida salvaged the third game of the series. Tennessee (7-5, 19-11) was ahead 10-5 in the sixth inning when play was suspended on Saturday. The Volunteers used an eight-run fifth to build the lead. Kentrail Davis, Shawn Griffin, Jeff Lockwood, and Josh Liles each had a pair of RBI and Yan Gomes had three. All but Davis homered in the game. Josh Adams hit his sixth homer and was 3 for 5 with three RBI for the Gators (8-4, 21-10). In the second game, Florida leadoff man Avery Barnes went 3 for 3 and scored three times while driving in two and hitting his sixth homer. Cole Figueroa also had two RBI and scored twice. Reliever Stephen Locke pitched the final three innings without allowing a hit to earn the win. Griffin homered again, a solo shot, and was 3 for 3 for UT.