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College baseball fans will remember Saturday for many years to come because of the epic clash between Texas and Boston College in the Austin Regional, but it was a great day of college baseball for a number of reasons. Here’s a quick look back at the day’s action, plus a look ahead to Sunday. All times are Eastern.

Atlanta Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(2) Elon over (4) Georgia State, 4-3 (Georgia State eliminated)
(3) Southern Mississippi over (1) Georgia Tech, 10-7

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

3 p.m.: Elon vs. Georgia Tech.
7 p.m.: Southern Mississippi vs. winner of early game

Pitching was the story in the Elon win, as flame-thrower Jimmy Reyes struck out 14. In the second game, Tech coach Danny Hall made another curious move. A day after starting ace Deck McGuire against Georgia State instead of saving him for Game Two, Hall inserted freshman Connor Winn (who had started five career games before today) at second base for his defense. Winn made three of Tech’s five errors, leading to six unearned runs. I still think whoever wins that Elon/Georgia Tech game is capable of bashing its way to super regionals, but give Southern Miss credit for being the best team in this regional through two days.

Austin Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(4) Army over (2) Texas State, 7-4 (Texas State eliminated)
(1) Texas over (3) Boston College, 3-2 (25 innings)

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

1 p.m.: Army vs. Boston College
7 p.m.: Texas vs. winner of early game

You might have heard about that Texas-BC game (and if you haven’t, click the link above). That seven-hour game ended after 2 a.m. EDT, and the Eagles must now turn around to face Army in less than 12 hours. Given the circumstances, you’ve got to figure the Black Knights have a shot, but I’ll take John Leonard and the Eagles to force a rematch with Texas. The Longhorns are in much better shape on the mound and should take care of business Sunday night.

Baton Rouge Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(2) Minnesota over (4) Southern, 11-8 (Southern eliminated)
(1) Louisiana State over (3) Baylor, 3-2 (10 innings)

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

2 p.m.: Minnesota vs. Baylor
7 p.m.: Louisiana State vs. winner of early game

Sophomore righty Anthony Ranaudo (9 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 14 K) turned in a stellar start in a no-decision against Baylor, and the Tigers won on Austin Nola’s RBI single in the 10th. A scout who was in Baton Rouge said Ranaudo leaned on his heavy fastball for the first seven innings, but his curveball was outstanding also, particularly in the late innings. I don’t see Minnesota or Baylor beating Louis Coleman in the nightcap Sunday.

Chapel Hill Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(3) Kansas over (4) Dartmouth, 16-0 (Dartmouth eliminated)
(1) North Carolina over (2) Coastal Carolina, 14-5

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

1 p.m.: Coastal Carolina vs. Kansas
5 p.m.: North Carolina vs. winner of early game

Baseball Americans were on hand for the Kansas and North Carolina victories—see those reports for details. Coastal couldn’t get it done with lefty Cody Wheeler on the mound today, so I don’t see the Chanticleers or Jayhawks beating UNC senior righty Adam Warren on Sunday night.

Clemson Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(4) Tennessee Tech over (2) Alabama, 6-2 (Alabama eliminated)
(3) Oklahoma State over (1) Clemson, 3-2

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

3 p.m.: Clemson vs. Tennessee Tech
7 p.m.: Oklahoma State vs. winner of early game

Lower seeds won the day in Clemson, as Tennessee Tech sent Jake Smith-less Alabama packing, and Oklahoma State lefty Andrew Oliver (7.1 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) made good in his long-awaited postseason start. I was thrilled to see Oliver perform so well after being deprived of a chance to pitch in regionals last year when he was ruled ineligible on the eve of the NCAA tournament. Oklahoma State’s in the catbird seat, but you never know which Tyler Blandford will show up Sunday. Don’t count out Clemson, which has plenty of pitching depth but needs enigmatic Chris Dwyer to be on his game Sunday, whichever game he works.

Forth Worth Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(2) Texas A&M over (4) Wright State, 6-4 (11 innings; Wright State eliminated)
(1) Texas Christian over (3) Oregon State, 13-1

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

3 p.m.: Texas A&M vs. Oregon State
8 p.m.: Texas Christian vs. winner of early game

Joe Patterson saved A&M’s bacon Saturday, tying the game with an RBI single in the ninth inning and winning it with a two-run homer in the 11th. TCU pounded out 17 hits against Oregon State and got a strong outing from Kyle Winkler (8 IP, 2 H, 1 ER). TCU looks real strong through two games, and you get the sense nothing is going to keep the Horned Frogs from breaking through to super regionals.

Fullerton Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(4) Utah over (2) Georgia Southern, 11-10 (Georgia Southern eliminated)
(1) Cal State Fullerton over (3) Gonzaga, 7-4

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

5 p.m.: Utah vs. Gonzaga
9 p.m.: Cal State Fullerton vs. winner of early game

Check the College Blog for details on the two Saturday games. Utah and Gonzaga are both good clubs, but the Titans are playing at such a high level right now; expect them to wrap this one up Sunday evening.

Gainesville Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(3) Jacksonville over (2) Bethune-Cookman, 8-7 (Bethune-Cookman eliminated)
(1) Florida over (2) Miami, 8-2

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

1 p.m.: Miami vs. Jacksonville
6:30 p.m.: Florida vs. winner of early game

Miami’s Chris Hernandez went 11-0 last year to win national Freshman of the Year honors. Saturday, he lost his fifth game of 2009, allowing six runs over 5 1/3 innings. Florida got a strong start from senior lefty Stephen Locke (7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER). I wouldn’t be shocked if Miami forced an if-necessary game Monday, but I think Florida winds up winning this regional one way or the other. Pitching depth is not a strength for Miami, and at some point soon it’s going to become a significant factor.

Greenville Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(1) East Carolina over (4) Binghamton, 11-7
(4) Binghamton over (3) George Mason, 11-6 (George Mason eliminated)
(2) South Carolina over (1) East Carolina, 12-2

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

2 p.m.: East Carolina vs. Binghamton
6 p.m.: South Carolina vs. winner of early game

The Pirates and Bearcats each had to play twice today because their opener was postponed by bad weather. The Pirates did rap out 14 hits against Blake Cooper in their second game of the day, but they allowed 17, and South Carolina made its hits count. Justin Dalles and Adam Matthews homered twice apiece for the Gamecocks and combined to drive in nine runs. South Carolina’s in better position, obviously, but this one’s still up for grabs; I foresee a lot of offense Sunday.

Houston Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(3) Xavier over (4) Sam Houston State, 9-6 (Sam Houston State eliminated)
(2) Kansas State over (1) Rice, 7-6

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

3 p.m.: Rice vs. Xavier
7 p.m.: Kansas State vs. winner of early game

K-State righty A.J. Morris (9 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 5 ER) improved to 14-1 by beating old high school teammate Ryan Berry (8 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER) in a game that featured three runs for each team in the ninth inning. The Owls have fired their two best bullets (Berry and Mike Ojala) and find themselves in the loser’s bracket, but it seems like it would be a mistake to count out Rice in a regional at Reckling Park.

Irvine Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(3) San Diego State over (4) Fresno State, 4-1 (Fresno State eliminated)
(2) Virginia over (1) UC Irvine, 5-0

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

7 p.m.: San Diego State vs. UC Irvine
11 p.m.: Virginia vs. winner of early game

See the College Blog for details of Saturday’s action. Virginia has senior righty Andrew Carraway going Sunday, and piching depth is not a strength for either the Aztecs or the Anteaters.

Louisville Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(3) Vanderbilt over (4) Indiana, 10-0 (Indiana eliminated)
(1) Louisville over (2) Middle Tennessee State, 3-2

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

3 p.m.: Middle Tennessee State vs. Vanderbilt
7 p.m.: Louisville vs. winner of early game

It wasn’t meant to be for chic sleeper pick Indiana, as lefty Matt Bashore (4.1 IP, 8 R, 7 ER) was hit hard and fireballing freshman Sonny Gray (8 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K) dominated for Vandy. In the winner’s bracket, Louisville came from behind with single runs in the eighth and ninth to beat MTSU. Louisville is clearly in the driver’s seat, but any of the three remaining teams could still win this one, as Vanderbilt has plenty of quality arms left, and MTSU can get its big bats going at a moment’s notice.

Normal Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(3) Washington State over (4) Wichita State, 3-2 (Wichita State eliminated)
(2) Arkansas over (1) Oklahoma, 17-6

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

2 p.m.: Washington State vs. Oklahoma
8 p.m.: Arkansas vs. winner of ealry game

Washington State stayed alive behind a strong outing from Chad Arnold (7.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 10 K). In the nightcap, Arkansas’ long-dormant bats exploded for the second straight day, with first baseman Andy Wilkins (4-for-6, 4 RBI, 2 2B) leading the way. The Razorbacks seemed to regain some momentum with a couple of wins against Florida in the SEC tournament, and it sure seems like their second-half swoon is a distant memory now.

Oxford Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(2) Missouri over (4) Monmouth, 9-0 (Monmouth eliminated)
(1) Mississippi over (3) Western Kentucky, 7-4

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

2 p.m.: Missouri vs. Western Kentucky
6 p.m.: Mississippi vs. winner of early game

Missouri fell into the losers’ bracket after choosing a committee approach over starting Kyle Gibson in its opener against Western Kentucky. Gibson (8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K) breezed against Monmouth Saturday, keeping the Tigers alive. But Ole Miss is in control here after rapping out 13 hits in support of Phillip Irwin (6.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K).

Tallahassee Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(3) Ohio State over (4) Marist, 6-4 (Marist eliminated)
(1) Florida State over (2) Georgia, 8-2

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

12 p.m.: Georgia vs. Ohio State
4 p.m.: Florida State vs. winner of early game

Check the College Blog for details about Saturday’s action. I like Florida State’s chances to win this regional on Sunday.

Tempe Regional

SATURDAY’S RESULTS:

(4) Kent State over (3) Cal Poly, 10-9 (Cal Poly eliminated)
(1) Arizona State over (2) Oral Roberts, 4-1

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

4 p.m.: Kent State vs. Oral Roberts
9 p.m.: Arizona State vs. winner of early game

Kent State nearly coughed up a 10-2 lead in the ninth inning Saturday, as Cal Poly rallied for seven runs in the final frame before running out of gas. In the nightcap, ASU righty Mike Leake carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and was one out away from his third straight complete-game shutout before allowing a run. He had to settle for his third straight complete game, during which he allowed just five hits and two walks while striking out a career-high 15. Arizona State fans better realize how lucky they are to have had the opportunity to watch Leake do his thing for the last three years. Something tells me they’ll get to watch him pitch in Tempe one more time next weekend.

Can’t help but be amused at the “Greenville regional still up for grabs” comment. The lack of respect for South Carolina from you ACC lovers is expected and always amusing.

Posted by Beau | May 31, 2009 at 8:50 am | Shortcut

Aaron,

When are you finally going to admit it. Baseball America was wrong about the Gamecocks all year. This was our reloading year, we knew it would be an up and down year. Baseball America as usual declares their allegiance to the ACC.

How is the Greenville Regional still “up for grabs” to quote you? We are in the winners bracket and have blown out both teams in two games.

“Don’t count out Clemson”? Why? They finished the season poor, getting spanked in the ACC Tourney, they received the Regional Bid that UVA should have had. Clemson got lucky winning against Tenn Tech in the bottom of the 9th on Friday.

Please do us all a favor and start covering College Baseball with some level of neutrality, and if there is ever an issue at BasebACCall America, I am sure the folks at THE STATE newspaper would love to have you.

Posted by Jason | May 31, 2009 at 9:53 am | Shortcut

Still think Oklahoma St and So Miss don’t belong?

Posted by okstpokes | May 31, 2009 at 10:14 am | Shortcut

Actually, Joshua, I do. It doesn’t mean they haven’t played well; they’re good baseball teams. But other teams deserved to get into the tournament more. That fact, that other teams had better resumes, doesn’t change.

Posted by John Manuel | May 31, 2009 at 11:58 am | Shortcut

I picked South Carolina to win that regional in the podcast . . . Just sayin’.

Posted by John Manuel | May 31, 2009 at 12:08 pm | Shortcut

Love how people thump their chest when an undeserving team wins in the tournament. Never once does it cross their mind that, maybe, Rhode Island or Mo St could have done the same as more deserving at larges. They should feel lucky there is a corrupt NCAA Selection Board.

Posted by bgessler | May 31, 2009 at 3:24 pm | Shortcut

I’m a Texas fan (and therefore a Big 12 fan), but I don’t really have a dog in the “which bubble teams made it and which didn’t” fight. This year looked a little wonky, and I share most of the criticism I’ve heard regarding the RPI.

But I have observed the following since about 1998 when I started following college baseball more closely: it seems that most years the ACC and the SEC get seedings that are a bit inflated, AND that on average the two conferences more often under-perform in the post season relative to their seeds. By the same token, the west coast teams seem to regularly get under-seeded and often beat themselves up in the post season with the lucky survivors excelling in the CWS.

I’ve also noticed (with the exception of the year Texas was sent to FSU), that the southwest/midwest teams seem to be pretty fairly seeded and show the expected performance in the post season.

This year, Boyd’s ISR had
OSU 29
Baylor 37
So Miss 59

Frankly, I’d rather see OSU/Baylor in the post season as at large bids than a 96-Rhode Island. And a 59-So Miss versus a 57-Missouri St for me is a pick’em. The question I would ask (rather than the “who’d you rather not play”) is how well would Rhode Island or Missouri St have performed with OSU’s or Baylor’s schedule? OSU and Baylor looked really good before Big 12 play. They probably would have kept looking good (or better) in ANY other conference but maybe the Big West.

So until we have a few post-season Big 12 favoring bloopers in a row (like we’ve seen for the ACC and SEC), let’s just call this season part of the inevitable question mark or two that will arise each year.

John and Aaron, I like your analysis – I have no ability to see the number of games you guys see. So I have to rely on thing’s like Boyd’s ISR, at least til the post season. But it does appear you guys are a little ACC biased, and UNC biased in particular. In my observation, UNC has been given every opportunity to make an overly easy trip to Omaha this and the last couple years.

Posted by Steve | May 31, 2009 at 5:51 pm | Shortcut

Greenville regional is still up for grabs b/c neither team has much pitching left and sc far from dominated ecu on saturday…score was not indicative of the game at all.

Posted by bryan | May 31, 2009 at 10:24 pm | Shortcut

Steve, two things — no one’s saying UNC ever has a difficult road to Omaha any of those years. I don’t quite see where accusations of bias come from but they fly around from all parts of the country. I don’t think we try to hide the fact that we are North Carolina alumni, as was Will Kimmey, who covered college baseball here too. Go ask Mike Fox if he thinks we give North Carolina special treatment, I am pretty sure of what answer he’ll give you . . . Suffice it to say we see more games at Duke, N.C. State, East Carolina and North Carolina than anywhere else because of geography and the fact we don’t have a huge travel budget. That said, this weekend, BA was at five, count ‘em five regionals — Tallahassee, Greenville, N.C., Chapel Hill, UC Irvine and Fullerton. Second of all, you write as if Boyd’s ISR is perfect. It’s not; I’ve been following it the same time period as you, and I can tell you the ISR’s are just as useful (or not) as the RPI. I do appreciate that you read our coverage and took such a long time to make a considered post. Thank you.

Posted by John Manuel | June 1, 2009 at 7:05 am | Shortcut