May 31, 2008

Ann Arbor Regional

1 Arizona 13 vs. 4 Eastern Michigan 7

3 Kentucky 1 @ 2 Michigan 5 (suspended by rain in the fifth)

C.J. Ziegler went 3 for 4 with a double and four RBI as Arizona had to outslug Eastern Michigan. EMU scored six times in the fifth inning to chase Wildcats ace Preston Guilmet and take a 6-5 lead, but Arizona (39-17) scored three times in the sixth and five more in the eighth to pull away. Jon Gaston had two hits, two runs and a RBI, and T.J. Steele doubled and drove in two for the Wildcats. Jeff Davis went 2 for 5 with three RBI, and Kyle Rhoad had two hits, two runs and a RBI for the Eagles (25-33).

In the nightcap, Michigan scored five times in the second inning before the rains came and suspended play in the fifth inning.

Athens Regional

4 Lipscomb 10 @ 1 Georgia 7  CBI Live

2 Georgia Tech 8 vs. 3 Louisville 5  CBI Live

Baton Rouge Regional

4 Texas Southern 1 @ 1 LSU 12

2 Southern Miss 13 vs. 3 New Orleans 6

Blake Dean ripped two homers and drove in four, and Jared Mitchell went 3 for 5 with two runs and three RBI as LSU had no problem with Texas Southern. The Tigers (44-16-1) scored four times in the first then pulled away with seven runs from the fourth to the sixth inning. That was more than enough for Jordan Brown, who worked five solid innings with five hits and a run. Matt Clark went 3 for 4 with his 23^rd homer for LSU. Earnest Rhone homered for TSU (16-33).

In the nightcap, Trey Sutton, Drew Carson and Michael Ewing homered - including back-to-back shots Sutton and Carson in the seventh - as Southern Miss scored the game’s final seven runs in a win over New Orleans. Ewing had three hits, including a three-run shot, and five RBI for the Golden Eagles (41-20), and Bo Davis and Brian Dozier had three hits apiece. Johnny Giavotella had a three-run homer that tied the game at 6 in the sixth for UNO.

Cary Regional

2 UNC Wilmington 5 vs. 3 Elon 2

4 Mount St. Mary’s 8 @ 1 North Carolina 16

UNCW ace Bradley Holt got the job done in the opening game of the Cary regional. Holt pitched 8.2 innings, allowing Elon (43-17) just six hits, all singles and two runs. He did walk six, but allowed just one stolen base against the speedy Phoenix. The Seahawks (43-15-1) racked up 12 hits against Elon ace Steven Hensley and pushed five runs across. Leadoff man Alex Hill was 4 for 4 and drove in a run, Mark Carver and Nate Hall each added two hits and drove in a first inning run.
 

The second-rated team in the field of 64 flexed its muscles against NCAA Tournament newcomer Mount St. Mary's as UNC began its quest for a third consecutive appearance in the national finals. The Tar Heels scored in each of the first four innings, to jump to a 10-1 lead and put a quick end to any thoughts of a monumental upset. North Carolina put 19 men on base in the first four innings. UNC stars Dustin Ackley and Tim Federoff fueled the offense with four hits apiece and a combined nine RBI. Seth Williams' two-run homer in the fourth helped to break the game open. Zach Helman and Kyle Kane each had three RBI for Mount St. Mary's (21-33).

College Station Regional

2 Dallas Baptist 5 vs. 3 Houston 9

4 Illinois-Chicago 1 @ 1 Texas A&M 15

Ryan Lormand and Jimmy Cesario each had four hits as Houston outscored Dallas Baptist. Cesario doubled and scored to snap a 5-5 tie in the eighth for the Cougars (39-22). Ryan Enos had three hits, including a home run, for the Patriots (37-18).

Luke Andrew went 4 for 4 and matched a school record with five runs as Texas A&M defeated UIC in front of 3,863 fans at Olsen Field. Darby Brown knocked in four for the Aggies (44-16). Steve McGuiggan scored in the first for the Flames (34-21).

Conway Regional

4 Columbia 2 @ 1 Coastal Carolina 10

2 East Carolina 3 vs. 3 Alabama 16

Ivy League champion Columbia played Coastal Carolina tough, but a six-run eighth inning by the Chanticleers ended any hopes of an upset. Right-hander Nick McCully was excellent on the mound for Coastal Carolina (48-12), allowing just two hits and a run over eight innings with five strikeouts. The Chants had gone ahead with a three-run fifth that included a solo homer by David Anderson. Then in the eighth they sent 10 men to the plate, Anderson and Tommy Baldridge each had two-run singles. Mike Malfettone hit a solo home run for Columbia (22-29).

The Crimson Tide pounded East Carolina ace Seth Maness and clubbed five homers en route to 16-3 beating of the Pirates. The Alabama attack got underway in the second when Jake Smith hit a three-run shot. An inning later Matt Bentley added a three run blast of his own and Alabama tacked on two more. Three more runs in the fourth made it 11-1 and essentially put the game out of reach. On the day, Josh Rutledge, Ross Wilson and Bentley each recorded three hits. Tide starter Austin Hyatt pitched eight strong innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out nine.

Coral Gables Regional

2 Missouri 7 vs. 3 Ole Miss 0

4 Bethune-Cookman 4 @ 1 Miami 7

Missouri's All-American right-hander Aaron Crow was as advertised against Ole Miss. He went the distance, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 Rebels on 122 pitches, though he did walk five batters. The heart of the Missouri (39-19) order got to Ole Miss (37-25) ace Lance Lynn for six runs. Jacob Priday drove in a run with a fielder's choice in the first before Aaron Senne doubled home a pair in the fifth and Priday singled him in. Trevor Coleman's three-run shot in the seventh ended any doubt.
 

Top overall seed Miami faced a stiff challenge from MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman, but escaped with a win in Coral Gables. The Wildcats (36-21) actually got on the board first when they manufactured a pair of runs in the second. However, the Hurricanes (48-8) responded with four runs in the third on five hits. Mark Sobolewski delivered a key two-out, two-run single. However, B-CU tied the game on a two-run triple by Mark Brooks in the sixth. Miami quickly retook the lead on a Yasmani Grandal RBI single and scored two more in the seventh on a Blake Tekotte single. Kyle Bellamy picked up the win in relief with 2.1 scoreless innings.

Fullerton Regional

2 UCLA 3 vs. 3 Virginia 2

4 Rider 0 @ 1 Cal State Fullerton 11

Cody Decker’s grounded a ball to third, where Tyler Cannon’s throw to first was lost in the sun and allowed Chris Giovinazzo to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as UCLA edged Virginia. Aces Tim Murphy (UCLA) and Jacob Thompson (Virginia) were solid, with Murphy allowing two runs (one earned) in 7.2 innings, and Thompson allowing two earned runs in six innings. Weisser went 3 for 4 with a RBI, and Alden Carrithers added a RBI for the Bruins. David Adams went 2 for 3 with a RBI, and Phil Gosselin had three hits for the Cavaliers.

Brian Wilson went the distance for the first time as Cal State Fullerton blanked Rider in front of 2,393 fans at Goodwin Field. Wilson (2-2) allowed six hits and fanned eight. Joel Weeks had four hits for the Titans (38-19). The Broncs fell to 29-27.

Houston Regional

2 Texas 1 vs. 3 St. John’s 2  CBI Live

4 Sam Houston State 2 @ 1 Rice 3  CBI Live

Lincoln Regional

4 Eastern Illinois 10 @ 1 Nebraska 13

2 UC Irvine 9 vs. 3 Oral Roberts 7

The wind was blowing out at Hawks Field, and Jake Opitz took advantage, hitting two homers and driving in three as Nebraska survived Eastern Illinois. Tyler Farst and Craig Corriston also homered for the Cornhuskers, who trailed 5-3 in the fourth inning. Mitch Abeita went 3 for 3 with two runs and three RBI for Nebraska (41-14-1) Brett Nommensen had three hits, a double and four RBI, and Alex Gee went 2 for 3 with a homer, three runs and three RBI for the Panthers (27-29).

Tony Asaro had three hits and Eric Pettis notched his 16th save as UC Irvine got past Oral Roberts. The Anteaters (39-16) scored six in the first to take control. David Genao had three hits, including a two-run homer, for the Golden Eagles (46-13).

Long Beach Regional

2 San Diego 5 vs. 3 California 0  CBI Live

4 Fresno State 7 @ 1 Long Beach State 3  CBI Live

Raleigh Regional

2 South Carolina 15 vs. 3 Charlotte 8

4 James Madison 2 @ 1 NC State 6

Justin Smoak went 4 for 4 with three RBI, and James Darnell and DeAngelo Mack contributed three-run homers as South Carolina pounded out 18 hits and routed Charlotte. The Gamecocks (39-21) opened up a 9-0 lead for Sam Dyson (8-0), who worked into the seventh inning and allowed seven earned runs. Reese Havens went 2 for 4 with two runs, and Whit Merrifield had two runs and two RBI for South Carolina. Aaron Bray 4 for 5 with a homer and three RBI for the 49ers (43-15).

In the late game, Ryan Pond delivered a two-run double to break a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning as NC State escaped James Madison. Christ Schaeffer and Tommy Drew Martin homered for the Wolfpack (39-20). Joey Cutler tossed 3.1 innings of relief to post the win for NCSU.

Stanford Regional

2 Pepperdine 4 vs. 3 Arkansas 3

4 UC Davis 4 @ 1 Stanford 2

Nate Simon made a game-saving diving catch to end the game, and Pepperdine nipped Arkansas. Nathan Newman struck out a career-best 10 in 6.2 innings for the Waves (37-19). Denny Duron went 3 for 3 with two RBI, and Chase d’Arnaud had a solo homer in the sixth to give Pepperdine its first lead at 3-2. Chase Leavitt had two hits and a RBI for the Razorbacks (34-23).

Eddie Gamboa pitched a four-hitter as UC Davis upset Stanford in front of 2,644 fans at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. Gamboa fanned seven in notching his seventh victory. The Aggies (35-22) scored their four in the seventh, keyed by a two-run double by Evan Hudson. The Cardinal (33-22-2) lost to UCD for the third straight time. The Aggies recorded their first Division I regional victory.

Stillwater Regional

2 Wichita State 8 vs. 3 TCU 5

4 Western Kentucky 3 @ 1 Oklahoma State 5

Clinton McKeever went 3 for 4 with two runs, a homer and three RBI, and Andy Dirks went 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs and three RBI as Wichita State slipped past TCU. Rob Musgrave (11-1) tossed a complete game, allowing eight hits and five earned runs for the Shockers (45-15). Matt Carpenter went 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs and two RBI for the Horned Frogs (43-18).

Tyler Lyons (12-2) held the Hilltoppers in check for more that eight innings and Jordy Mercer got the final out for the save as Oklahoma State got by Western Kentucky in front of a sellout crowd of 4,000 fans at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Matt Hague hit his 11th homer in the first for the Cowboys (43-16). Tom Belza's two-run double keyed a three-run sixth for OSU. The Hilltoppers (33-26) got a homer in the seventh by Wade Gaynor. WKU added a pair in the ninth to make it close.

Tallahassee Regional

2 Florida 4 vs. 3 Tulane 7

4 Bucknell 7 @ 1 Florida State 0  Game story

Josh Prince went 3 for 4 with two runs as Tulane scored six times in the seventh inning to overcome Florida 7-4. Scott Powell added three hits, and Seth Henry, Jared Dyer and Drew Allain had two hits and a RBI apiece for the Green Wave (38-20-1). Jon Townsend had a two-run homer for the Gators (34-23).

Tempe Regional

2 Vanderbilt 5 vs. 3 Oklahoma 8

4 Stony Brook 7 @ 1 Arizona State 9

Oklahoma, the team many thought the most fortunate to be invited to the NCAA field, stayed hot as Mike Gosse had three hits and three RBI in a win over Vanderbilt. Andrew Baker contributed three hits, and Casey Johnson went 2 for 4 with a RBI. Matt Harughty added two RBI for the Sooners, who broke from a 3-2 game by scoring four in the sixth inning for a 7-2 edge. David Macias went 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI for the Commodores.

Brett Wallace had four hits, three runs and three RBI to lead Arizona State past Stony Brook in front of 3,425 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Wallace smacked his 21st home run. Tommy Rafferty (12-0) pitched the final five innings for the Sun Devils (46-11) to record the victory with four hits, two runs and four strikeouts. He tied the school record for wins in a season. Leadoff hitter Brian Witkowski had two hits and drove in three for the Seawolves (34-25).