April 26, 2009

Rankings are from CBI Composite Poll

CBI Live: UCLA 5, No. 20 Oregon State 2

CBI Live: Vanderbilt 11, Mississippi State 3

Around the Bases
Scott and Smith pitch No. 25 Alabama past Kentucky

UCF's Brown ties NCAA mark by reaching in 18 straight plate appearances

In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Adam Scott (left) and Jake Smith combined to hold Kentucky to a pair of runs as No. 25 Alabama won the SEC series with a 3-2 victory Sunday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Scott (2-1) worked eight innings with eight hits, two runs, three walks and three strikeouts. Scott surrendered a two-run homer to Brandon Kapteyn in the top of the ninth before Smith moved from third to the mound and retired the final three Wildcats (7-14, 22-21), including two by strikeout. The Crimson Tide (12-9, 29-15) got on the board in the fifth on an RBI single by Ross Wilson. In the eighth, Brandon May was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Smith added a sac fly to give Alabama a 3-0 lead. Josh Rutledge had two of the Tide’s four hits. Andy Burns had three hits for UK.

UCF 12, UAB 6

In Birmingham, Ala., Shane Brown (left) tied an NCAA record by reaching base in 18 straight plate appearances as UCF won its Conference USA series at UAB. Brown was a triple short of the cycle, going 4 for 5 with three runs and three RBI for the Knights (5-10, 15-26). Brown’s double in the third tied Odie Hoehnke’s school record of 17 consecutive times aboard set in 1985. Brown’s single in the fifth broke the school mark and matched Shawn Larkin of Cal State Northridge, who reached 18 straight times in 2002. Brown’s streak started with doubles in the seventh and eighth against Stetson on April 21. He reached all eight times against UAB on Friday and five times on Saturday. He flew out in the sixth on Sunday to stop the streak. For the week, Brown batted .722 (13 for 18) with five doubles, two homers, 10 runs, 1.333 slugging percentage and .783 on-base percentage. Kiko Vazquez had a three-run homer in the fifth for UCF. Brint Hardy had two hits, two runs and two RBI for the Blazers (6-9, 24-20).

Eastern Illinois 5, SIU Edwardsville 0

In Charleston, Ill., Tyler Kehrer (right) tossed a one-hitter with a career-high 14 strikeouts as EIU blanked SIUE to complete a three-game series sweep at Coaches Stadium. Kehrer (4-3) allowed a two-out infield single to Ryan Wiggs in the third and then retired the final 19 Cougars (9-29). He did not walk a batter and faced one over the minimum. Richie Derbak had two hits for the Panthers (32-9). Ryan Lindquist had two RBI and Zach Borenstein scored twice for EIU.

No. 1 Arizona State 6, California 5

In Berkeley, Calif., Raoul Torrez had an RBI single in the seventh to snap a 3-3 tie and lead ASU to the Pac-10 series win over Cal at Evans Diamond. Zack MacPhee’s run-scoring single capped a three-run first for the Sun Devils (15-3, 31-9). Jeff Kobernus had an RBI single in the third, Dylan Tonneson homered in the fourth and Kobernus doubled and scored in the sixth as the Golden Bears (6-12, 19-22) evened the score at 3-3. Torrez broke the tie one inning later and he scored on a base hit by Drew Maggi for a 5-3 advantage. Riccio Torrez had an RBI double in the eighth for an insurance run for ASU. Danny Oh had a two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth for Cal before Jordan Swagerty took the hill and worked out of the eighth-inning jam and pitched a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save. Maggi and Raoul Torrez both had two hits for the Sun Devils. Kovernus finished with three hits for the Bears.

No. 2 North Carolina 4, Maryland 2

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Levi Michael had a two-run homer in the seventh to put UNC ahead to stay in completing its ACC sweep of Maryland at Boshamer Stadium. Alfredo Rodriguez had an RBI single in the second for the Terps (6-18, 20-24) before an RBI double by Michael in the fifth tied it at 1. Jensen had a run-scoring single in the sixth to give the lead back to Maryland before Mark Fleury went deep in the bottom of the frame to knot the score at 2-2. Michael’s dinger an inning later put the Tar Heels (16-7, 35-11) on top for good. Fleury and Michael both had two hits for UNC. Pupa and Dan Benick both had two hits for the Terps. The Heels now have an eight-day break for final exams.

No. 4 Texas 6, Kansas State 6 (10 innings, tie)

In Austin, Texas, Cameron Rupp had an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth, but no one scored in the 10th as Texas and KSU played to a 6-6 tie at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in a game halted due to travel curfew. Pinch-runner Jordan Etier replaced Rupp at second in the ninth and was thrown out at the plate to force an extra frame. Drew Biery had a two-run single in the eighth that gave the Wildcats (10-7-1, 31-11-1) a 6-5 advantage. Brandon Loy had four hits and two runs for the Longhorns (12-8-1, 29-11-1). Biery had two hits and three RBI for KSU.

No. 11 Ole Miss 6, No. 5 Georgia 1

In Oxford, Miss., Scott Bittle struck out 11 as Ole Miss won its SEC series over Georgia in front of 8,219 fans at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. The weekend series drew 26,929 fans, the largest three-game series attendance in school history. Bittle (5-2) pitched seven innings with five hits, one run and one walk. Joey Lewis had a run-scoring base hit in the first for the Bulldogs (14-7, 33-11). Matt Snyder had an RBI single and scored in the bottom of the frame for the Rebels (13-8, 32-12). Michael Hubbard had an inside-the-park homer in the fourth to make it 3-1. Jordan Henry had a two-run single to cap a three-run sixth for Ole Miss. Colby May had two of the five hits for Georgia.

No. 22 Clemson 6, No. 7 Georgia Tech 3

In Clemson, S.C., Wilson Boyd went 3 for 3 with two RBI as Clemson captured its ACC series with Georgia Tech in front of 5,164 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. After the Yellow Jackets (14-7-1, 28-11-1) scored a pair in the top of the first, Boyd’s RBI single capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the frame as the Tigers (14-10, 30-15) took the lead for good. Boyd added a run-scoring base hit in a two-run third as Clemson took a 5-2 lead. Tony Plagman had an RBI single in the fifth for Tech before Boyd walked and scored in the bottom of the stanza to complete the scoring. Mike Freeman had two hits and a run for the Tigers. Plagman finished with two hits and two RBI for the Jackets.

No. 8 LSU 7, Auburn 6
In Baton Rouge, La., Tyler Hanover homered and drove in three, and Jared Mitchell had three hits and two runs as LSU held off Auburn to sweep their SEC series. Mikie Mahtook added two hits and two runs as the home Tigers (14-7, 33-12) built a 7-4 lead. Daniel Bradshaw (3-0) earned the win with 2.1 innings of relief but ran into trouble in the eighth, when Chad Jones – a safety on the LSU football team who normally plays outfield for the baseball Tigers - made his collegiate debut and struck out two batters to get out of the jam. Casey McElroy went 5 for 5 with two runs, and Brian Fletcher had two hits and three RBI for Auburn (8-13, 25-19).

No. 9 Cal State Fullerton 6, UC Davis 0
In Davis, Calif., Noe Ramirez allowed four hits and struck out seven in eight scoreless innings, and Christian Colon went 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI as Cal State Fullerton blanked UC Davis to earn a Big West Conference sweep. Gary Brown also homered, and Kris Davis and Joey Siddons also drove in runs for the Titans (9-6, 29-11). Justin Schafer had two hits for the Aggies (1-11, 7-31).

No. 10 Arkansas 15, Tennessee 8
In Knoxville, Tenn., Andy Wilkins finished 2 for 5 with two homers and four RBI as Arkansas won its SEC series with Tennessee at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in a game that was called after eight innings due to the conference curfew policy. Ben Tschepikow and Ryan Cisterna both drove in three and Brett Eibner and Scott Lyons each collected two RBI for the Razorbacks (13-7, 29-12). Reliever Justin Wells (2-0) pitched three innings of one-run ball for the win. Cody Hawn went 3 for 4 with a homer and five RBI for the Volunteers (5-15, 19-25), who led 5-1 heading into the fourth before Arkansas outscored Tennessee 14-3 in the final five innings. Ty'Relle Harris (4-4) picked up his second loss in two days when he gave up two runs on one hit in 1/3 inning.
 

No. 13 Oklahoma 11, No. 12 Baylor 8

In Waco, Texas, Ross Hubbard’s three-run homer snapped an 8-8 tie and capped a six-run seventh as OU completed the Big 12 sweep of Baylor at Baylor Ballpark. Aaron Baker had a two-run dinger in the seventh for the Sooners (11-7, 33-11) that tied it at 8. Baker had two of the game’s nine homers and drove in four. Hubbard also knocked in four. Shaver Hansen and Dan Evatt both homered and drove in two as the Bears (10-10, 25-17) led 8-3 after four.

NC State 7, No. 14 Virginia 6

In Charlottesville, Va., Pratt Maynard hit a two-run homer in the eighth after a rain delay to take back the lead for good as NC State salvaged the finale of its ACC series at Virginia in a seesaw game at Davenport Field. Maynard finished 2 for 3 with a walk and three RBI for the Wolfpack (8-16, 20-24). Devon Cartwright went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI. Sam Brown (2-0) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief and Alex Sogard picked up his first save with a perfect ninth. NC State scored two runs in both the seventh and eighth to counter Virginia's runs. Jarrett Parker and John Hicks each collected two RBI for the Cavaliers (13-8-1, 34-9-1). Kevin Arico (1-2) allowed the winning run on two hits in two innings.

No. 15 Miami (Fla.) 11, Virginia Tech 3
In Coral Gables, Fla., Chris Herrmann went 2 for 3 with two walks, three runs and three RBI as Miami won its ACC series with Virginia Tech at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. Harold Martinez and David Villasuso each drove in two for the Hurricanes (13-11, 29-14), who scored three in both the second and fifth and five in the seventh. Iden Nazario (5-2) pitched five innings of two-run ball on three hits and fanned seven. Mathew Price (3-3) gave up six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings in the loss. Austin Wates finished 2 for 4 with a run and two doubles for the Hokies (10-13, 25-17).
 

No. 16 Cal Poly 15, UC Santa Barbara 7
In Santa Barbara, Calif., Adam Buschini went 2 for 4 with a homer and four RBI to help Cal Poly take the rubber game of its Big West Conference series with UC Santa Barbara. Matt Jensen, D.J. Gentile and Adam Melker each contributed three RBI for the Mustangs (10-5, 29-10), who broke from a 6-6 game with six runs in the sixth. Matt Valaika homered and drove in two for UCSB (6-6, 23-14).
 

No. 17 Florida State 14, Wake Forest 10

In Tallahassee, Fla., Jason Stidham hit his first career grand slam to lift Florida State to a win against Wake Forest and sweep the three-game ACC series. Stidham’s blast came in the fifth for the Seminoles (15-7, 30-12), and D’Vontrey Richardson went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. The Demon Deacons (6-19, 20-13) got three RBI from both Tyler Smith and Evan Ocheltree, and Mike Murray went 4 for 5 with two runs and three RBI. Rafael Lopez added two hits for Florida State, who had nine different players with at least one RBI.

No. 18 Texas A&M 6, Oklahoma State 4

In College Station, Texas, Kyle Colligan and Joe Patterson each hit a home run as Texas A&M took down Oklahoma State in a Big 12 contest. Brodie Greene added a two-run double in the sixth for the Aggies (13-8, 28-15) to extend the lead to 6-1 heading into the last three innings. The Cowboys (6-11, 28-17) rallied with a two-run shot by Jared Womack in the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback. Womack finished with three RBI and Kevin David went 4 for 5 with one RBI.

No. 19 TCU 6, San Diego State 5
In San Diego, Tyler Lockwood worked into the eighth inning as TCU won the rubber game of its showdown with San Diego State to move into first place in the Mountain West Conference. The Horned Frogs (8-4, 27-12) won the final two games of the series, a series in which all three games were decided by one run. Bryan Holaday and Matt Carpenter had two hits and two RBI, and Aaron Schultz added a pair of RBI for TCU. The Aztecs (10-8, 28-17) scored three times in the eighth to close to within a run. Jomel Torres had two RBI, and Cory Vaughn had two hits, two runs and a RBI for SDSU.

No. 21 Coastal Carolina 8, Presbyterian 3

In Clinton, S.C., Steve Davis went 3 for 4 with two runs and one RBI to lead Coastal Carolina to a Big South win over Presbyterian and take the three-game series, 2-1. The Chanticleers (12-5, 32-12) also got three hits from both Tyler Bortnick and Taylor Motter. The Blue Hose (5-18, 10-31) were led by Cory Lyda and Gabe Grammer, who each had two hits. Nick McCully tossed a scoreless 4.2 innings for Coastal Carolina, allowing only two hits while striking out four.

No. 23 Florida 9, South Carolina 5
In Gainesville, Fla., Josh Adams went 3 for 5 with a stolen base, two runs and four RBI in the cleanup spot as Florida completed the three-game SEC sweep of South Carolina at McKethan Stadium. Alex Panteliodis (4-5) gave up four runs, one earned, on nine hits in 5.1 innings for the win. Despite committing one more error and being outhit, the Gators (13-8, 31-14) had Daniel Pigott and Preston Tucker each score twice in the victory. The Gators opened up a 9-0 lead in the fourth before the Gamecocks (9-12, 27-18) scored five unanswered runs. Starter Blake Cooper (5-4) lasted just an inning and surrendered six runs, five earned, on five hits and a walk. Andrew Crisp went 3 for 4 with a walk for South Carolina.

Northwestern 10, No. 24 Ohio State 6

In Columbus, Ohio, Chad Noble went 3 for 5 and drove in three runs to lead Northwestern to a victory against Ohio State and salvage one game from the Big 10 series. Trevor Stevens added three hits and three runs for the Wildcats (3-10, 12-26). Michael Stephens went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI to lead the Buckeyes (11-4, 31-10). Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng added two hits for Ohio State, who left the bases loaded twice in the game.

Elon 12, Samford 9

In Birmingham, Ala., Dallas Tarleton belted three homers and drove in five as Elon outscored Samford to complete a three-game Southern Conference sweep. Tarleton went deep in the fourth, eighth and ninth innings. Thomas Girdwood pitched a perfect ninth to record his 13th save of the season and 22nd for his career, both school records. Justin Hilt and Mike Melillo both had three runs for the Phoenix (17-4, 28-13). David Schulze had a grand slam for the Bulldogs (8-16, 15-29).

Middle Tennessee 11, South Alabama 5

In Mobile, Ala., Nathan Hines hit for the cycle to help MTSU win its Sun Belt series over USA. Hines got the cycle in order, with a single in the first to leadoff the game, a two-run double in a six-run second, a triple in the third, and a two-run homer in the seventh. He finished 4 for 5 with two runs and four RBI. Bryce Brentz also had four hits for the Blue Raiders (18-6, 30-12). Jake Overstreet had three hits and two RBI for the Jags (9-12, 21-22).

Marist 16, Siena 5

In Loudonville, N.Y., Kyle Meyer homered twice and knocked in eight as Marist won its MAAC series at Siena Field. Meyer had a three-run dinger in the third and a grand slam in the fourth as he finished 4 for 4. Bryce Nugent (4 for 5, 1 HR, 3 R) and Brian McDonough (4 for 6, 4 R) both had four hits for the Red Foxes (9-6, 22-19). Ryan Gauck had two hits and four RBI for Marist. Phil Cahill had two hits and two RBI for the Saints (6-12, 10-31).

Notre Dame 13, Louisville 12

In Louisville, Ky., Golden Tate homered in the ninth to give Notre Dame a Big East series win at Louisville. The Fighting Irish (10-8, 25-16) trailed 12-7 after five before tying it with five in the seventh and using Tate’s first dinger to record the victory. Will Hudgins allowed a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth, but retired the next three hitters for his second save in as many days. David Casey homered and drove in five for Notre Dame. Adam Duvall homered three times and knocked in seven for the Cardinals (12-6, 29-13).

Ivy League Championship

Dartmouth split a doubleheader with Harvard to claim the top spot in the Red Rolfe Division. The Big Green (16-4, 22-13) will host the Ivy League best-of-three Championship Series May 2 and 3. Princeton (10-10, 18-17) and Cornell (10-10, 15-21) split a doubleheader and tied for first in the Lou Gehrig Division. They will play this week to decide Dartmouth’s opponent for the Ivy League crown.

Patriot League Tournament

Bucknell, Army, Holy Cross and Lafayette have qualified for the Patriot League Tournament. Bucknell (13-7, 21-23) is the top seed and will host No. 4 Lafayette (9-11, 20-23), while No. 2 Army (13-7, 24-17) entertains No. 3 Holy Cross (11-7, 21-23) in the best-of-three semifinal series May 9-10.

(photos courtesy of Alabama, UCF, EIU Media Relations Offices)