June 2, 2008

Arizona, LSU, UNC, Coastal, Miami, Rice all head to Super Regionals

Ann Arbor Regional

3 Kentucky 3 vs. 1 Arizona 5 (Kentucky eliminated)

3 Kentucky 12 @ 2 Michigan 6 (Michigan eliminated)

Arizona wins Regional

Eric Berger struck out a career-high 11 as Arizona edged Kentucky in a battle of Wildcats to capture the Ann Arbor Regional. Berger (8-3) allowed five hits and three runs in 7.1 innings. Jason Stoffel registered his third save of the regional and 13th of the season. Bobby Coyle hit a two-run homer in the second for UA (41-17). Collin Cowgill hit his 19th homer for UK and Brian Spear also went deep for Kentucky.

Collin Cowgill went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBI, and Brian Spear drove in three as Kentucky scored seven times in the first en route to eliminating Michigan. Cowgill, Spear and Troy Frazier each drove in two in the first, Frazier delivering a two-run homer. Sawyer Carroll homered and had two RBI and three runs, and Chris Wade added two RBI for the Wildcats. Zach Putnam homered and drove in three for the Wolverines.

Athens Regional

1 Georgia 8 vs. 2 Georgia Tech 0  CBI Live

4 Lipscomb 3 @ 1 Georgia 14 (Lipscomb eliminated)  CBI Live

Baton Rouge Regional

2 Southern Miss 4 @ 1 LSU 11 (Southern Miss eliminated)

2 Southern Miss 8 vs. 3 New Orleans 2 (UNO eliminated)

LSU wins Regional

LSU stretched its win streak to 23 as the Tigers topped Southern Miss to win the Baton Rouge Regional in front of 7,161 fans at Alex Box Stadium. Blake Dean had a bases-loaded triple in a six-run sixth for the Tigers (46-16-1). Leon Landry had a two-run homer and D.J. LeMahieu scored three for LSU. The Golden Eagles finished the year at 42-22.

Josh Billeaud tossed seven strong innings, and Keith Winstead homered twice - the first originally was called a foul ball before the umpires changed the ruling to a three-run homer in the top of the second - and drove in four as Southern Miss eliminated New Orleans.

Cary Regional

2 UNC Wilmington 3 @ 1 North Carolina 7 (UNCW eliminated)

2 UNC Wilmington 15 vs. 3 Elon 11 (Elon eliminated)

North Carolina wins Regional

UNCW ran out of magic against top seed North Carolina in the second game of the day in Cary. The Tar Heels (49-12) plated five in the fifth and the pitching staff quieted the UNCW (44-17-1) lineup that had erupted earlier in the day. With a pair of runs already across in the fifth Mark Fleury hit a three-run homer that proved to be the decisive blow. Fleury was 3 for 3, walked once and scored twice. Tim Federoff was also 3 for 3 with a walk and drove in a pair. Jason Appel was 3 for 5 with an RBI for the Seahawks.
 

With its season hanging by a thread, UNCW rallied for 11 runs in the ninth to erase an 11-4 deficit and advance in the Cary Regional. The Seahawks (44-16-1) sent 15 men to the plate in the inning, recording nine hits. Mike Rooney had two hits in the inning, including the single that drove in two to tie the game. Two batters later, a Shane French double drove in a pair and gave the Seahawks the lead. Eight different UNCW players drove in a run, including three by Bobby Leeper, who was 4 for 5. Before the Phoenix (44-18) bullpen melted down, Elon appeared to have secured the victory with a six-run sixth and four insurance runs in the eighth. Donny Jobe was 3 for 4 with three RBI and stole his 25th base. Bennett Davis homered and Mike Melillo had three hits.
 

College Station Regional

3 Houston 4 @ 1 Texas A&M 3

3 Houston 14 vs. 4 Illinois-Chicago 11 (11) (UIC eliminated)

Jake Stewart's RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth lifted Houston over Texas A&M in front of 4,041 fans at Olsen Field to set up a Monday championship game. Jared Ray (4-2) went the distance for the Cougars (42-23), allowing five hits and three earned runs with six walks and four strikeouts. Austin Goolsby had a two-run homer in the third for UH. The Aggies (45-17) scored three in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead before UH tied it in the bottom of the frame.

Chris Wallace had a two-run double in a three-run 11th as Houston survived against UIC in an elimination game. The Flames (35-22) scored four in the bottom of the ninth for force extra innings. Wallace went deep earlier in the game for the Cougars (41-23).

Conway Regional

2 East Carolina 11 @ 1 Coastal Carolina 24 (ECU eliminated)

2 East Carolina 16 vs. 3 Alabama 1 (Alabama eliminated)

Coastal Carolina wins Regional

It was an appropriate way to end the high-scoring Conway regional as Coastal and East Carolina combined to put up 35 runs as the Chanticleers advanced to the Super Regionals. In six games in Conway, the four teams combined for 115 runs, an average of more than 19 runs per game. Coastal Carolina (50-12) scored in each of the first six innings, including a 13-run explosion in the second. Each Chanticleer starter had a hit and all but one recorded multi-hit games. David Anderson homered in each of the first two innings, a two-run job in the first and a three-run bomb in the second. David Sappelt added a grand slam in the second. Scott Woodward, Tyler Bortnick and Chance Gilmore each drove in three. Ryan Wood was 3 for 3 for East Carolina (42-21) and he and Corey Kemp homered.

East Carolina avenged its 16-3 loss in the opening game of the Conway Regional and eliminated the Crimson Tide. The Pirates (42-20) scored in all but two innings, including a seven-run outburst in the third. Jamie Ray was the offensive star again for ECU, going 4 for 6 and driving in six, including a three-run shot in the third. Kyle Roller added a two-run homer in the third. Harrison Eldridge also went deep as part of a three-run, three-RBI day for the Pirates' leadoff man. Justin Bristow shackled the Alabama (35-28) offense that had put up 26 runs in its first two games in Conway. The right-hander allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out six on the way to his ninth victory.
 

Coral Gables Regional

3 Ole Miss 2 @ 1 Miami 11 (Ole Miss eliminated)

2 Missouri 6 vs. 3 Ole Miss 9 (Missouri eliminated)

Miami wins Regional

The Hurricanes looked the part of the top team in the country as they cruised to victory against Ole Miss. Miami (50-8) scored seven times in the first three innings and Eric Erickson kept the Rebels (39-26) offense off the board after the first inning. Erickson allowed a two-run homer to Cody Overbeck in the first, but that was it, as he went seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out five. Jemile Weeks, quiet for much of the regional, got Miami started with an RBI double in the first. After Weeks scored on a groundout, Ryan Jackson's solo shot made it 3-0. Weeks knocked in another with a second inning single, then Dennis Raben hit a two-run homer in the third to break the game open.

Logan Power blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth off Kyle Gibson, who entered in the eighth, as Ole Miss eliminated Missouri to advance to the Regional final. In a back-and-forth game, the Tigers (39-21) had taken a 6-5 lead when Ryan Myer scored from second without a throw when the Rebels thought they had retired Steve Gray on a groundout - Gray was called safe at first and Myer kept running. But Power connected off Gibson (9-4), the Tigers’ No. 2 starter who came on in relief. Scott Bittle struck out a career-best 12 for the Rebels (39-25).

Fullerton Regional

2 UCLA 8 @ 1 Cal State Fullerton 11

3 Virginia 1 @ 1 Cal State Fullerton 4 (Virginia eliminated)

Erik Komatsu's two-run single highlighted a four-run second and the Titans added four in the eighth as Cal State Fullerton outscored UCLA to force a winner-take-all rematch on Monday. Komatsu's base hit in the second snapped a 1-1 tie and gave the lead to the Titans (40-20). Joel Weeks added a three-run double in the eighth for Fullerton. Brandon Crawford had a two-run homer in the ninth for the Bruins (33-26).

Cory Arbiso tossed a complete game with eight hits, one earned run and seven strikeouts as Cal State Fullerton eliminated Virginia. Christian Colon went 2 for 4 with a RBI as the Titans scored twice in the second and once in the third. Erik Komatsu, Gary Brown and Joe Scott also drove in runs for Fullerton. Greg Miclat had a pair of hits for the Cavaliers.

Houston Regional

2 Texas 4 @ 1 Rice 7 (Texas eliminated)  CBI Live

2 Texas 4 vs. 3 St. John’s 3 (St. John’s eliminated)  CBI Live

Rice wins Regional

Lincoln Regional

3 Oral Roberts 0 vs. 2 UC Irvine 8 (Oral Roberts eliminated)

3 Oral Roberts 8 @ 1 Nebraska 0 (Nebraska eliminated)

UC Irvine wins Regional

Bryce Stowell faned a career-high 13 as second-seeded UC Irvine blanked third-seeded Oral Roberts to advance to the Baton Rouge Super Regional against LSU. Stowell (8-2) allowed five hits in 7.2 innings with no walks. Sean Madigan drove in a career-high five for the Anteaters (41-16). Madigan and Casey Stevenson each had three hits. Stevenson had a sacrifice fly in the first and Madigan added an RBI single in the third. Madigan's two-run single highlighted a four-run seventh and he added a two-run single in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Kelly Minissale had a no-hitter for six innings and finished allowing two hits in 8.1 shutout innings as Oral Roberts eliminated Nebraska. Michael Notaro went 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs and three RBI as the Golden Eagles scored single runs in the first and second before putting four on the board in the third and one more in the fourth to take control. Brendan Duffy contributed a 3-for-3 day with three runs. The Cornhuskers finish 41-16-1.

Long Beach Regional

2 San Diego 15 vs. 4 Fresno State 1

2 San Diego 5 @ 1 Long Beach State 1 (LBSU eliminated)  CBI Live

Kyle Blair fanned nine in seven innings as San Diego forced a Monday championship game with Fresno State. Blair (7-2) took a no-hitter into the fifth and finished with four hits and one run. After scoring a run in the first, Logan Gelbrich hit a two-run homer in a four-run second for the Titans (44-16). Josh Romanski was 4 for 5 with two runs and an RBI for USD, which set a school record for victories. The Bulldogs fell to 39-28.

Raleigh Regional

2 South Carolina 1 @ 1 NC State 2 (South Carolina eliminated)

2 South Carolina 7 vs. 4 James Madison 5 (JMU eliminated)

NC State wins Regional

Five hurlers held South Carolina to one run as NC State won the Raleigh Regional, its third regional championship. The Gamecocks (40-23) scored in the bottom of the first. Jeremy Synan homered in the fifth for the Wolfpack (41-20). Matt Payne added an RBI single in the seventh for NC State.

Reese Havens ripped a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth as South Carolina eliminated James Madison to reach the Regional final. The Gamecocks (40-22) entered the ninth with a 5-3 lead, but Chris Johnson delivered a two-out, two-strike double to right center to tie the game. After Scott Wingo singled to lead off the ninth, Havens launched a full-count offering from Kyle Hoffman to right for the game-winner. Justin Smoak hit two homers - No. 22 and 23 - and drove in three for South Carolina. Matt Browning had two hits and two runs for the Dukes (39-19).

Stanford Regional

2 Pepperdine 1 @ 1 Stanford 13

4 UC Davis 4 @ 1 Stanford 8 (UC Davis eliminated)

Stanford scored 11 in the first four innings as Stanford forced a Monday championship game against Pepperdine. Jason Castro, Toby Gerhart and Cord Phelps all went deep for the Cardinal (36-22-2). Dan Sandbrink went the distance for Stanford with six hits and six strikeouts. Gerhart finished with four hits, including three doubles, for the Cardinal. Matt Aidem homered in the sixth for the Waves (38-20).

Brent Milleville hit a two-run go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth to help Stanford defeat UC Davis. Cord Phelps and Jake Schlander each had three hits and two RBI for the Cardinal. Jake Jefferies and Grant Hirneise each had three hits for the Aggies (35-24).

Stillwater Regional

2 Wichita State 11 @ 1 Oklahoma State 7 (10) (OSU eliminated)

3 TCU 8 @ 1 Oklahoma State 9 (TCU eliminated)

Wichita State wins Regional

Clint McKeever hit a grand slam in the top of the 10th to lead Wichita State past Oklahoma State to win the Stillwater Regional. The Shockers (47-15) scored two in the ninth to force extra innings. McKeever drove in five for WSU. Jordy Mercer and Matt Hague each homered for the Cowboys (44-18).

Jordy Mercer’s third homer of the day came to lead off the bottom of the ninth and gave Oklahoma State a thrilling elimination win over TCU. The Horned Frogs (44-19) trailed 8-2 but rallied in the final two innings to tie, thanks in part to Bryan Kervin, who homered, doubled and drove in four, and Ben Carruthers (3 for 5, 3 R), whose solo homer tied it in the ninth. But Mercer was the story of the day, homering three times and driving in six - the last coming after he blew a save opportunity by giving up two earned runs in a third of an inning.

Tallahassee Regional

3 Tulane 8 @ 1 Florida State 17

4 Bucknell 9 @ 1 Florida State 24 (Bucknell eliminated)

Buster Posey drove in five for the second straight game as Florida State outscored Tulane to force a Monday championship game. Posey homered twice to give him five in the regional. Dennis Guinn had three hits, two runs and three RBI for the Seminoles (51-11). Warren McFadden went 4 for 4 with one RBI for the Green Wave (39-21-1). 

Buster Posey went 2 for 3 with two homers and five RBI as Florida State pounded out 25 hits for the second straight game and avenged a shutout loss to Bucknell in eliminating the Bison. After not scoring at all Friday against Bucknell, the Seminoles scored six runs in the second, seven in the third and three in the fourth to take a 16-1 lead. Jason Stidham had three hits, including a homer, and three RBI, Stuart Tapley had three hits and four runs and Ohmed added a homer and three RBI for FSU (50-11). Austin Turban went 3 for 5 with a homer, two runs and two RBI for the Bison (30-24-2).

Tempe Regional

3 Oklahoma 0 @ 1 Arizona State 12 (OU eliminated)

2 Vanderbilt 10 vs. 3 Oklahoma 11 (Vandy eliminated)

Arizona State wins Regional

Josh Satow tossed 7.1 shutout innings as Arizona State blanked Oklahoma to claim the Tempe Regional crown. Satow (9-3) allowed three hits and one walk with five strikeouts for the Sun Devils (48-11). Greg Bordes had a three-run double in a six-run third. The Sooners (36-26-1) finished with four hits.

Aaron Baker ripped a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth as Oklahoma ended Vanderbilt’s season and moved on to meet Arizona State.