April 17, 2008

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Alonso's homer lifts No. 1 Miami over Florida Atlantic

Beckham's blast gives win to No. 12 Georgia; No. 4 UNC beats Charlotte in 12

In Boca Raton, Fla., a two-run homer by Yonder Alonso (left) in the ninth lifted top-ranked Miami over Florida Atlantic 12-10 Wednesday evening in front of 2,348 fans at FAU Stadium. The Hurricanes (31-3) trailed 10-3 after four, their largest deficit of the season. Mark Sobolewski’s three-run homer keyed a four-run fifth for Miami. UM added two in the eighth to make it a one-run contest. In the top of the ninth, the first two Hurricanes struck out before Jemile Weeks singled and Alonso hit his ninth home run to give Miami its first lead. Ryan Jackson (4-5, 3 RBI) added a run-scoring single for the final margin. Alex Silversmith had four hits for the Owls (21-13), who won at Miami a week ago.

No. 12 Georgia 7, Georgia State 5

In Athens, Ga., Gordon Beckham’s three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth ended Georgia’s battle with Georgia State at Foley Field. Chase Childers and Marc Mimeault each had two-run singles with two outs in the third as the Panthers (18-16) built a 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs (25-12) scored on a double play in the fourth and used a sacrifice fly by Matt Olson in the fifth to cut the lead in half. Rich Poythress homered in the sixth to make it a one-run contest. Adam Fuller’s RBI single with two away in the eighth knotted the score at 4-4. GSU took advantage of two Georgia errors in the top of the ninth to reclaim the lead at 5-4. The blast by Beckham (.430, 17 HR, 43 RBI) in the bottom of the ninth gave the Bulldogs their first lead.

No. 4 North Carolina 5, Charlotte 4 (12)

In Cary, N.C., North Carolina rallied for two in the 11^th and the game-winner in the 12^th to sneak past Charlotte at Cary’s USA Baseball National Training Complex. The 49ers (27-8) got an RBI single from pinch-hitter Justin Wilson and a run-scoring double from Alex Bryant in the top of the 11^th for a 4-2 lead. Chad Flack and Kyle Seager had two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the frame for the Tar Heels (31-7) to keep the game going. In the 12^th, UNC loaded the bases before Kyle Shelton’s one-out grounder to third brought home Garrett Gore to end the contest. Tim Federowicz had three hits for the Heels, as did Brad McElroy for Charlotte.

No. 2 Florida State 10, North Florida 2

In Tallahassee, Fla., Jason Stidham had two doubles, two runs and two RBI to lead Florida State past North Florida at Mike Martin Field in Dick Howser Stadium. It was the 10^th consecutive victory for the Seminoles (33-3). The Ospreys (21-17) scored in the top of the first on an RBI groundout by Travis Martin before Stidham’s RBI double ignited a five-run rally in the bottom of the frame. Tommy Oravetz added a two-run single in the first. Stidham had another RBI double and scored in the fourth. Buster Posey added a two-run homer in the eighth for FSU.

No. 8 Missouri 16, William Woods 9

In Columbia, Mo., Jacob Priday went deep twice to become the school’s career leader in home runs and RBI as Missouri outscored William Woods at Taylor Stadium. Priday went 3 for 3 with four runs and three RBI. In his career, Priday has 46 home runs and 223 RBI to claim both records for the Tigers (26-9). The Owls (21-16) led 5-0 after two before Priday’s homer in the fourth started a three-run rally for Mizzou. The Tigers took the lead with a four-run sixth, keyed by a two-run double by Kyle Mach. Priday homered again in the seventh for Missouri.

No. 11 South Carolina 6, Clemson 0

In Clemson, S.C., Nick Godwin pitched 7.2 scoreless innings as South Carolina blanked Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Godwin (4-2) held the Tigers (18-19) to three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. It was the second win for Godwin over Clemson to earn him the Tom Price Award, given to the Most Valuable Player from the Gamecocks (27-10) for the USC-Clemson series. Wilson Boyd received the Bob Bradley Award for the Tigers. The awards are named after the long-time sports information directors at their respective schools. Justin Hopper and Scott Wingo hit consecutive homers in a five-run fourth for the Gamecocks. Reese Havens and Whit Merrifield each had three hits for USC.

No. 15 Vanderbilt 5, Western Kentucky 1

In Bowling Green, Ky., four hurlers combined on a five-hitter as Vanderbilt got by Western Kentucky at Nick Denes Field. Chase Reid, Mark Lamm, Richie Goodenow and Brett Jacobson held the Hilltoppers (20-16) in check. Dominic de la Osa had a sacrifice fly in the first for the Commodores (26-10) that was answered by an RBI double by Terrence Dayleg in the bottom of the frame. Brian Harris had an RBI groundout in the second to give Vanderbilt the lead for good. The Commodores added three unearned runs in the eighth. David Macias had two hits for Vanderbilt, as did Scott Kaskie for WKU.

No. 16 Stanford 11, San Francisco 10 (11)

In Stanford, Calif., Brent Milleville’s RBI single in the 11^th gave Stanford the win over San Francisco at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. The Cardinal (19-11-1) scored one in the eighth and Randy Molina’s run-scoring single with two outs capped a three-run ninth to force extra innings. Milleville had four hits, including a home run, and drove in three. Ben Clowe also went deep for Stanford with three RBI. Mitchell Bialosky went 4 for 6 for the Dons (21-15) with a homer and two RBI.

Texas-Arlington 4, No. 17 Texas 3

In Austin, Texas, one day after defeating No. 19 Oklahoma State, Texas-Arlington got by Texas at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. David McLeod and Danny Slinkman had RBI doubles in a three-run fourth for the Mavericks (17-20). Kyle Russell homered in the fifth to put the Longhorns (23-13) on the board. UTA added an insurance run in the top of the eighth before Texas answered with a run in the eighth and a second homer from Russell to lead off the ninth. Ryan Martin got three groundouts to earn his first save. Marc Picca (1-2) worked six innings for the Mavericks, allowing three hits with three strikeouts.

No. 19 Oklahoma State 25, Mid-America Christian 1

In Stillwater, Okla., Jordy Mercer hit two of his team’s six home runs as Oklahoma State mauled Mid-America Christian at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Mercer had four hits and drove in five for the Cowboys (24-11). The Evangels (10-30) snapped a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by Alex Webb. Rafael Thomas’ grand slam started an 11-run rally in the bottom of the frame.