May 21, 2008

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

Around the Bases
Villanova blanks top-seeded St. John's

Louisville, Cincinnati also post wins in Big East Championship

Big East

No. 8 Villanova 12, No. 1 St. John’s 0

No. 4 Louisville 12, No. 5 Seton Hall 3

No. 2 Cincinnati 11, No. 7 West Virginia 5

No. 6 USF 9, No. 3 Notre Dame 3

In Clearwater, Fla., Derek Shunk went 4 for 5 with two homers and three RBI, and James Dobler tied a Big East Championship record with five RBI as Villanova blanked top-seeded St. John’s at Bright House Field. Shunk had a solo shot in the first and a two-run blast in the third that gave the Wildcats (29-26) a 4-0 lead. Dobler belted a grand slam in the fifth to push the lead to 9-0. Carlos Del Rosario had two hits for the Red Storm (41-13).

Chris Dominguez, the Big East Co-Player of the Year, had two hits and three RBI to lead Louisville past Seton Hall. The Cardinals will face Villanova in a winner’s bracket game, while the Pirates will meet St. John’s in an elimination game. Dominguez had an RBI fielder’s choice in a three-run first and a run-scoring single in a three-run second as Louisville built an early 6-0 lead. Chris Affinito had a homer in the sixth for Seton Hall.

Cameron Satterwhite had two hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth, as Cincinnati outscored West Virginia. Jamel Scott also had two hits for the Bearcats (37-19) with two runs. Ryan Baker’s two-run single capped a three-run first for UC. Mike Spina had a bases-loaded triple in a four-run second as the Bearcats built a 7-0 lead. Justin Park went deep in the third for the Mountaineers (34-20).

Joey Angelberger and Addison Maruszak each had three hits as USF topped Notre Dame for the fourth straight time. The Fighting Irish (33-20-1) scored a pair in the first before the Bulls (30-25) exploded for six in the second to take control.

Big South

No. 6 Radford 6, No. 7 Charleston Southern 1

No. 8 UNC Asheville 3, No. 5 High Point 2 (10)

In Danville, Va., Alex Gregory had three hits, including a home run, as Radford eliminated Charleston Southern to advance to the double-elimination bracket. Eric Evans (5-4) allowed one earned run in 8.1 innings with eight hits, no walks and five strikeouts to earn the victory for the Highlanders (23-30). Tyler Thornburg homered in the third for the Buccaneers (18-35).

Elliott Arrington's two-out single brought in Kevin Mattison with the game-winner in the top of the 10th as UNC Asheville eliminated High Point to advance to the double-elimination bracket. The Panthers (20-33) had tied it with a run in the eighth as Pablo Rosario walked and scored. Arrington and Mike Vaughn each had two hits for the Bulldogs (24-33).

Mountain West

No. 6 UNLV 6, No. 3 San Diego State 2

In Fort Worth, Texas, UNLV scored four in the top of the ninth to claim a 6-2 win over San Diego State in the first game of the Mountain West Championship at Lupton Stadium. Braden Walker’s two-run single snapped a 2-2 tie in the ninth for the Rebels (22-35), who advance to meet top-seeded TCU on Wednesday. Nick Romero went 4 for 4 for the Aztecs (30-27) with a homer and two RBI.