(photo by Mark Mahan)
No. 9 Kentucky 5, No. 4 Auburn 4
In Lexington, Ky., Luke Heyer ripped a two-run homer, and Zeke Lewis (pictured) scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch as Kentucky scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to edge Auburn. Luke Jarvis had two hits and two runs as the Tigers took a 4-2 lead with three runs in the seventh inning. Casey Mize was brilliant again, allowing five hits and two earned runs with 12 strikeouts for Auburn.
No. 4 Arkansas 6, No. 2 Florida 3
In Gainesville, Fla., Arkansas scored three in the second to take control and added two more in the fourth to take the SEC series opener at UF. Heston Kjerstad (3 for 3, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI) and Dominic Fletcher (2 for 4, 2 R) both homered for the Razorbacks (4-0, 17-5), while Carson Shaddy drove in three. Blaine Knight (4-0, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB) struck out 10 in recording the win, while Matt Cronin tossed two scoreless frames with four punchouts to register his fourth save. Wil Dalton and Deacon Liput (2 for 4, 2 RBI) both went deep for the Gators (2-2, 19-5).
No. 3 Stanford 5, USC 1
In Stanford, Calif., Tristan Beck allowed one run in seven innings with nine strikeouts as Stanford topped USC to kick off their Pac-12 series. Beck (3-0) gave up five hits and one walk. Maverick Handley had two hits and two RBI, while Brandon Wulff went 2 for 4 with two runs for the Cardinal (1-0, 15-2). Kaleb Murphy went 2 for 3 with a run for the Trojans (2-2, 11-7).
No. 13 Texas A&M 7, No. 6 Ole Miss 6
In College Station, Texas, Hunter Coleman had two hits and drove in three as TAMU evened its SEC series with Ole Miss. Michael Helman had three hits, including two doubles, and scored twice for the Aggies (2-3, 19-5). John Doxakis (4-0, 6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 7 K) was the starter and winner, while Kaylor Chafin recorded the final out to earn his second save. Michael Fitzsimmons had a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth as the Rebels (3-2, 21-3) pulled within one.
No. 7 Vanderbilt 4, No. 18 LSU 2
In Nashville, Tenn., Julian Infante hit a game-tying two-run homer in the second and Pat DeMarco had a two-run dinger an inning later as VU edged LSU in their SEC series opener. Drake Fellows (4-0, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K) earned the victory, while Zach King tossed four scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and four strikeouts to record his second save for the Commodores (4-0, 16-6). Austin Bain went 2 for 4 with a run for the Tigers (2-2, 15-8).
No. 14 Clemson 3, No. 15 Louisville 1
In Louisville, Ky., Kyle Wilkie delivered a two-run double in the second as Clemson nipped UL in the ACC series lid-lifter. Drew Wharton went 3 for 4 with a double, one run and one RBI for the Tigers (4-3, 17-5). Jacob Hennessy (2-1, 7.1 IP, 5 H, R, 2 BB, 6 K) earned the victory, while Ryan Miller recorded the final four outs for his second save. Logan Wyatt had two hits and scored the lone run for the Cardinals (3-4, 17-5).
North Carolina 16-3, No. 8 Florida State 8-6 (second game 10 innings)
In Chapel Hill, N.C., Michael Busch went 4 for 5 with two homers, three runs and five RBI as North Carolina scored five in the first and seven in the seventh in doubling-up Florida State in the first game of an ACC doubleheader. Cody Roberts added three hits, four runs and an RBI for the Tar Heels in the opener, while Jackson Lueck ripped a three-run homer and finished with four RBI for FSU. In the second game, Mike Salvatore had three hits and two RBI as the Seminoles won in extras.
No. 10 NC State 5, Georgia Tech 2
In Raleigh, N.C., Johnny Piedmonte allowed two hits and struck out five in six scoreless innings, and Shane Shepard contributed a two-run homer as NC State knocked off Georgia Tech in the ACC. The Wolfpack (6-2, 19-4) scored all its runs in the fifth inning and got at least one hit from every hitter in the lineup – Patrick Bailey went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Colin Hall went 2 for 2 with an RBI, and Andy Archer allowed one hit and struck out five in three scoreless innings of relief for the Yellow Jackets (3-5, 13-10).
No. 11 Texas Tech 22, Northeastern 3
In Lubbock, Texas, Zach Reams went 2 for 5 with a homer and four RBI, and Grant Little went 3 for 5 with a homer, three runs and three RBI as Texas Tech rolled past Northeastern. Cody Farhat had two hits and four runs, and Josh Jung went 2 for 2 with three runs and three RBI for the Red Raiders (18-5). Jake Farrell had two RBI for the Huskies (11-6).
No. 12 UCLA 5, Arizona State 4 (10)
In Los Angeles, Kyle Cuellar delivered a pinch-hit game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th as UCLA nipped ASU to begin their Pac-12 series. The Bruins (4-0, 14-4) scored twice in each of the first two innings before the Sun Devils (3-1, 11-11) rallied for three in the seventh and one in the eighth. Jake Pries had two hits and a run for UCLA. Spencer Torkelson homered and knocked in a pair for ASU.
Florida Atlantic 6, No. 17 Southern Miss 5
In Boca Raton, Fla., Cody Wilson came home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth as FAU edged Southern Miss to kick off their C-USA series. Tyler Frank had two homers and knocked in four for the Owls (3-1, 17-5). Luke Reynolds had two of his team’s four dingers for the Golden Eagles (2-1, 15-5).
No. 19 Duke 12, Pittsburgh 6
In Pittsburgh, Kennie Taylor had two hits and four RBI as Duke won at Pitt to begin their ACC series. The Blue Devils (5-2, 19-4) scored five in the top of the first to take control. Zack Kone went 3 for 6 with three runs and three RBI, while Jimmy Herron had two hits, two walks and three runs for Duke. Adam Laskey (5-1, 7 IP, 2 H, UE, 4 BB, 8 K) picked up the victory. Nico Popa had a three-run homer in the ninth for the Panthers (1-6, 11-8).
No. 16 Indiana 4-1, Iowa 2-5
In Iowa City, Iowa, Jonathan Stiever allowed one run over seven innings in the opener as IU split a doubleheader at Iowa. Stiever (3-1) gave up three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Cal Krueger (2 IP, 3 H, R, 4 K) earned his second save. Logan Kaletha (2 for 4) and Matt Lloyd both homered for the Hoosiers (1-1, 16-5). Justin Jenkins went deep for the Hawkeyes (1-1, 13-8). In the nightcap, Tyler Cropley went 3 for 4 with a double, a homer, two runs and two RBI to lead the Iowa offense. Robert Neustrom had two doubles and a run for the Hawkeyes. Brady Schanuel (4-2) allowed one hit in seven scoreless frames with four walks and 11 strikeouts to earn the victory. Luke Miller had a sacrifice fly for IU.
UCF 9, No. 20 East Carolina 1
In Orlando, Ray Alejo went 3 for 5 with three runs and four RBI, and Rylan Thomas added three hits and two RBI as UCF scored four runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to beat East Carolina in an AAC showdown. Joe Sheridan improved to 3-1 with eight innings, seven hits and one earned run for the Knights (1-0, 18-6). Spencer Brickhouse had a pair of hits for the Pirates (0-1, 16-5).