College Weekend Recap

By Will Kimmey
March 1, 2004

AROUND THE NATION

• Vanderbilt has started 7-0 behind a strong starting trio of Jeremy Sowers, Ryan Mullins and Jensen Lewis. Friday against Maryland, Sowers allowed a leadoff single and then was perfect for the remainder of his eight innings. The junior lefthander struck out 11. Mullins, a 6-foot-6 sophomore lefthander, struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings Sunday against Purdue a week after recording 12 punchouts over seven innings. Lewis threw seven scoreless innings Saturday against Arkansas State, and the sophomore righthander recorded seven strikeouts of his own.

• Ohio senior righthander Marc Cornell lasted just one inning in his first start and didn’t see action this weekend. He hit 98 mph last spring and was a candidate for the draft's first overall pick before taking himself out of two late starts because of a shoulder impingement. He opted for rest and conditioning rather than surgery and is still working his way back into game shape. "Marc needs more time on his throwing program before he gets in a game again," Bobcats coach Joe Carbone said.

• Senior righthander Peter Young threw the first no-hitter since 1994 for Division III Lewis & Clark (Ore.) College on Saturday. Young worked seven innings in the first game of a doubleheader against Bethany College, notching six strikeouts against one walk. The 6-0 win was the Pioneers' fourth shutout in eight games this year.

• Richmond junior righthander Derek Duclos and senior righthander Matt McLoughlin combined on a no-hitter Sunday in a 2-0 win against Coastal Carolina. Duclos struck out six and walked four in six innings before McLoughlin finished the final three frames, getting five strikeouts and a walk. It was Richmond's first no-hitter since 1957.

• Junior righthander Derek Hankins tied a Memphis record with 17 strikeouts (in seven innings) against Murray State on Saturday. He gave up a run on a walk and two singles in the first inning, but also struck out the side in the frame as well as the fifth and sixth. He struck out at least two batters each inning and walked two.

• Louisiana-Lafayette junior righthander Kevin Ardoin gave up a lead off double Friday against Stony Brook, then retired the next 27 batters he faced in a 5-0 one-hit shutout.

• Hawai'i junior righthander Ricky Bauer threw a complete-game shutout Saturday against San Francisco. He allowed six hits over nine innings. Bauer also allowed six hits in a seven-inning shutout against Cal State Northridge earlier this season. He's 4-1, 1.80 with 26 strikeouts and two walks in 35 innings on the season.

• Central Florida junior righthander Matt Fox, a sixth-round pick out of high school in 2001, struck out 14 Monmouth batters over seven innings in a 13-0 win Friday.

• Washington closer Will Fenton saw his streak of 43 1/3 scoreless innings die Saturday against UC Riverside. The Highlanders scored four times in the ninth inning against the junior righthander as he coughed up an 8-5 lead. Fenton hadn't allowed a run since May 26, 2002.

• Kansas sophomore shortstop Ritchie Price set a school record with six hits--all singles--in a 17-2 win against Oakland on Thursday.

• Three players enjoyed seven-RBI games. Washington State senior Collin Henderson did it in a 15-3 win against Texas-Pan American on Saturday. Delaware junior outfielder Dave Harden drove in seven while going 5 for 6 with two home runs Sunday in a 26-4 win against St. Joseph's. But Wake Forest senior Steve LeFaivre gets the minimalist award, turning the trick in just two at-bats Monday in a 23-7 win against High Point. LeFaivre delivered a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning before connecting on a three-run shot the next inning.

• Southern California sophomore All-America Jeff Clement caught his first game of the season in a Tuesday loss to UC Riverside. He returned to the lineup as a DH last week.

• Wake Forest coach George Greer picked up his 700th career victory as the Demon Deacons rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat High Point, 6-5 on Sunday. Greer moved into a tie for fourth place on ACC all-time wins list.

• Rider coach Sonny Pittaro announced he will retire at the end of the season. Pittaro, 65, has guided Rider to a 743-667-8 record, nine conference titles and eight NCAA regional bids since taking the job in 1971. He ranks as the university's winningest coach in any. He will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hallf of Fame in January.

"It's been a wonderful journey, and I've enjoyed every minute of it," Pittaro said. "I'm extremely grateful to Rider for providing me with an opportunity to do something I've loved, to provide for my family, and to work with so many great young men over these many years."

TOP 25

1. STANFORD

This Week: 3-0. Overall: 13-2, 0-0 in PAC 10. (5-1 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 1.

NOTES: Stanford gets its 13th straight W vs. Cal, finishing the sweep on Sun. as Fr. LHP Blake Holler (7 IP, 5 H, R, 5 K) gets his 2nd win in as many starts. So. 1B John Mayberry went 3-5, 3 RBIs. Cardinal trailed 8-5 Fri before putting 3s on the board in the 6th and 7th. So. SS/2B Jed Lowrie goes 3-3 w/ 3 3Bs, ties career high w/ 4 RBIs. Lowrie has 11-G H streak and 7 hits in the series. Jr. OF Danny Putnam goes 3-5, HR, 2 RBIs Sat and Lowrie drove in 3 more runs as Cal So. RHP Adam Gold loses his first of the year (6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 4 K).

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: @ California: W 12-9, W 10-3, W 6-2

NEXT:

March 5-7: @ Southern California

2. RICE

This Week: 2-0. Overall: 7-2, 0-0 in WAC. (2-2 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 2.

NOTES: Jr. RHP Philip Humber shuts down Tar Heels (7.1 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 11 K) and Jr. SS Paul Janish has career-high 4 H, 2 RBIs. Jr. RHP Wade Townsend matched season-highs with 8 IP, 10 K (2 R, 0 ER, 4 H) Sat vs. Nebraska as Rice rallied from a 2-1 deficit. Huskers stranded 5 runners in the final three innings vs Townsend and Jr. RHP Josh Baker (save). Sr. CF Chris Kolkhorst and So. 1B Matt Ueckert had 2 H each. Rained put Sun. vs. Northwestern State, the 3rd rain out vs. a Southland Conference team this year.

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: Rice Invitational vs. North Carolina (17): W 9-2, Nebraska (23): W 4-2

NEXT:

March 2: @ Texas (4)

March 3: Sam Houston State

March 5-7: Texas State

3. LOUISIANA STATE

This Week: 3-0. Overall: 9-1, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 3.

NOTES: Jr. OF Ryan Patterson goes 3-5 w/ career-high 5 RBIs Sun as LSU completes the sweep. Tigers have won 7 in a row, haven't allowed more than 2 R since loss to Central Fla. Sr. RHP Nate Bumstead (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER) wins his first start of the year Sun. Sr. 3B Ivan Naccaratta delivers RBI groundout in 7th Sat. as Jr. LHP Lane Mestepey (6.2 IP, 7 H, ER) is strong but So. LHP Jason Determann gets the W in relief (2.1 IP, H). Jr. LF Jon Zeringue is 3-3, HR. So. Justin Meier goes 7.1 IP, 4 H, ER Fri as So. C Matt Liuzza has 3 H. Mid-week Wally Pontiff Classic game vs. SE Louisiana gets rained out.

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: Texas State: W 10-1, W 2-1, W 13-2

NEXT:

March 2: Tulane (8) @ Zephyr Field

March 5-7: Houston

4. MIAMI

This Week: 3-1. Overall: 7-3. (2-1 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 6.

NOTES: Canes finish weekend with hot bats as Jr. C Erick San Pedro matches his 2003 HR (5) total with another Sun and 3 RBIs. So. SS Ryan Braun also goes deep and drives in 4 while Sr. RHP Danny Touchet (5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) wins his first start since TJ surgery. Miami gets 7 R in first 3 inn Fri and holds on as San Pedro hits a 3-R HR. FIU gets 8 R, 3 ER off Sr. LHP J.D. Cockroft in 2.1 IP (his shortest career start) Thur and wins despite a GS by Sr. 1B Jim Burt. Burt tied career-high with 4 H Sat and drove in 5 including a HR and Jr. RF Brendan Katin goes 3-5, HR, 4 RBIs.

RESULTS:

Feb 26-27: @ Florida International: L 11-7, W 9-7

Feb 28: LaSalle: W 17-0

Feb 29: Minnesota: W 9-2

NEXT:

March 4: Maine

March 5-7: Elon

5. GEORGIA TECH

This Week: 0-3. Overall: 6-3, 0-0 in ACC. (0-1 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 13.

NOTES: Oklahoma gets 4 in the 1st Sun as GT gets swept in Kia Bash. Tech scores 5 R total on the weekend; that amount wouldn't have won any of its 3 G. So. RHP Jason Neoghborgall with another interesting line Sun (0 IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 WP, E). So. RHP Micah Owings gets 8 K's, but two bases-loaded walks and a WP in the 1st put GT behind for good. Owings allowed 4 ER, on 5 H, 4 BB over 5 IP as his counterpart, Fr. RHP Ian Kennedy is again stunning (5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 10 K, 100 pitches) and USC Jr. 1B Joey Metropoulos hits 2 HR. Fullerton LHP Ricky Romero threw CG (4 H, 2 BB, 12 K, 124 pitches) to beat Brian Burks (6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, ER). Romero got out of a second-and-third, no-out situation in the 2nd, then allowed just 1 run in the same scenario an inning later. CSUF got two in the 6th and 7th, then 3 in the 8th.

RESULTS:

Feb. 27-29: Kia Bash: Southern California: L 9-2, Cal State Fullerton (14): L 7-1, Oklahoma: L 6-2

NEXT:

March 2: @ Auburn (9)

March 5-7: Rutgers

6. TEXAS

This Week: 4-0. Overall: 15-2, 0-0 in Big 12. (2-2 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 4.

NOTES: So. RHP Sam LeCure (7 IP, career-high 7 K) completes the sweep Sun. as Fr. CF Drew Stubbs hits mammoth HR over 20-foot CF wall. Jr. RHP Huston Street missed his second week w/ groin injury and hasn't pitched since mid-Feb. So. C/1B Taylor Teagarden and Jr. C/1B Curtis Thigpen had back-to-back 2Bs in the 10th Sat. 2B Seth Johnston and Thigpen each HR Fri as Jr. LHP JP Howell goes 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R. Johnston also had 3 RBIs in Wed win.

RESULTS:

Feb 25: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: W 8-2

Feb 27-29: San Diego State: W 6-0, W 3-2 (10 inn), W 9-0

NEXT:

March 2: Rice (2)

March 5-7: Cal State Fullerton (17), Sam Houston State, Cal State Fullerton (17)

7. SOUTH CAROLINA

This Week: 3-0. Overall: 9-0, 0-0 in SEC. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 5.

NOTES: LHP Matt Campbell (8 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 11 K) Sun as S. Carolina gets its 5th SHO in 9 G. Gamecocks have hit 24 HRs in the span, at least one per game and have batted around 11 times including the first inning Sat vs. Radford. Jr. RHP Billy Bucker (5 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 5 K) wins vs Duquesne as Sr. C Landon Powell homers and drives in 4, as does So. CF Michael Campbell. Jr. 1B Steve Pearce has 3 H, HR (6), 4 RBIs vs. Radford as Jr. Aaron Rawl improves to 3-0 (5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K).

RESULTS:

Feb 28 Duquesne: W 20-2, Radford: W 11-0 (7 inn)

Feb 29 George Mason, W 5-0

NEXT:

March 3: Furman

March 6-7: vs. Clemson (18) H/A

8. LONG BEACH STATE

This Week: 2-1. Overall: 9-3, 0-0 in Big West. (3-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 7.

NOTES: Jr. RHP Jered Weaver retired 15 in a row at one point Fri. as he goes 7 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 10 K, 115 pitches for his 4th W. Jr. C Brad Davis had 5 H, 3 RBI incl a 2-R HR. So. LHP Cesar Ramos (7 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6 K) gets the W Sat as So. SS Troy Tulowitzki gets a 2-R 1B in a 3-R 6th. Jr. LHP Jason Vargas allows 4 R, 2 ER in 4.2 IP Sun as Houston salvages the final game of the weekend behind Brad Lincoln's 5 IP, H.

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: @ Houston: W 6-1, W 4-1, L 4-2

NEXT:

March 2: Pepperdine

March 5: Brigham Young

March 7: Cal State Northridge

9. TULANE

This Week: 3-0. Overall: 8-1, 0-0 in Conference USA. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 8.

NOTES: Tulane gets 3 SHO on weekend, first time since 1984 to go 3 G w/o allowing a R. So. LHP Billy Mohl gets 6 K in 6 IP and out-duels Utah So. Jason Price (CG, 8 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER) as Green Wave turns 2 Es into 3 R. So. LHP J.R. Crowell brings more mound dominance Sat (8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K) for the 1st back-to-back shutouts for Tulane since March 10, 1998. Jr. C/1B Greg Dini (7-11 weekend, 5 RBIs), Sr. OF Wes Swackhammer, So. OF Brian Bogusevic and Jr. 3B Joe Holland all HR Sun.

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: Utah: W 3-0, W 7-0, W 9-0

NEXT:

March 2: Louisiana State (3) @ Zephyr Field

March 5-7: Pepperdine

10. AUBURN

This Week: 4-0. Overall: 9-1, 0-0 in SEC. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 9.

NOTES: Auburn scored 17 unanswered Fri., batting around in 2 inn as So. 1B Josh Sullivan goes 3-4, HR, career-high 5 RBIs. Jr. LF Sean Gamble and So. CF Clete Thomas also with 3 H. Tigers come from behind on Sat as well, getting 4 in the 7th keyed by a 3-R 3B by So. 3B Ben Maitland. Cory Dueitt got the start that game but ND Sat (6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 8 K). OF Ben Sprague with a 3-R HR Sun as Auburn holds Dutchmen hitless for 6.2 innings, the first 5 by Fr. LHP Mike Felix.

RESULTS:

Feb 24: Samford: W 11-5

Feb 27-29 Hofstra: W 19-4, W 6-4, W 9-3

NEXT:

March 2: Georgia Tech (13)

March 5-7: Virginia Commonwealth

11. CLEMSON

This Week: 2-3. Overall: 2-3, 0-0 in ACC. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 18.

NOTES: ECU takes 2 from Tigers, who also opened the year with an L to Charlotte. ECU's Drew Costanzo hits a walk-off HR in the 11th to beat Clemson Sat. Charlotte scores 3 2-out runs in the 4th to lead 3-1 and never looks back. RF Travis Storrer hit a 2-R HR for Clemson, which wasted a nice effort by Jr. LHP Tyler Lumsden (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K). Jr. C Lou Santangelo hit a 3-R HR Sun vs. ECU for a 4-3 Tigers lead in the 6th, but Pirates get 3 R over final 3 innings. Tigers toss 3-H SHO vs. Ga. Southern in the early game as Jr. 3B Brad McCann goes 2-4 and Jr CF Garrick Evans is 2-3, RBI. McCann's 22 G H streak died Sun, but he was .500 for the week with 2 HRs.

RESULTS:

Feb 24: Charlotte: L 5-4

Feb 28: @ Keith LeClair Invitational: Georgia Southern: W 4-0, East Carolina: L 3-2 (11 inn)

Feb 29: @ Keith LeClair Invitational: Georgia Southern: W 9-0, East Carolina: L 6-4

NEXT:

March 3: Gardner-Webb

March 5: @ College of Charleston

March 6-7: vs. South Carolina (5) A/H

12. ARIZONA STATE

This Week: 4-0. Overall: 12-2, 0-0 in PAC 10. (5-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 10.

NOTES: So. LHP Brett Bordes gets 10 K's in 6 scoreless IP against Arizona Tue as Jr. SS Dustin Pedroia goes 3-4 with 2 2Bs. So. OF Travis Buck (10-12 on the weekend, 13 RBIs) tied a school record with 4 2Bs Sat and goes 5-5, 8 RBIs Sun. Pedroia broke a 5-5 tie Sat with a GS as On Fri., Jr. 1B Chris Cook goes 4-4, 4 RBIs after entering the game as a PH. Jr. LF Jeff Larish gets a slump-buster w/ 2 H, 4 RBIs.

RESULTS:

Feb 24: Arizona (16): W 4-0

Feb 27-29: Connecticut: W 18-2, W 16-5, W 18-11

NEXT:

March 5-7: East Carolina (21)

13. CAL STATE FULLERTON

This Week: 2-2. Overall: 8-8, 0-0 in Big West (2-5 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 17.

NOTES: So. LHP Ricky Romero threw CG (4 H, 2 BB, 12 K, 124 pitches) to beat GT and Brian Burks (6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, ER). Romero got out of a second-and-third, no-out situation in the 2nd, then allowed just 1 run in the same scenario an inning later. CSUF got two in the 6th and 7th, then 3 in the 8th. CF Clark Hardman (2 RBIs) and Fr. SS Blake Davis each had 2 H. Hardman and Jr. C Kurt Suzuki each had 3 H Sun as Titans beat USC. Sr. RHP Jason Windsor (9 IP, R, 0 ER) and OU Jr. LHP David Purcey (6.2 IP, 2 H, R) lock up in a duel that's settled in the 10th with 5 consecutive 1Bs. Brady Koch hit a two-out, two-run inside the park HR in the 7th to help LMU win Tue. Titans 3-7 on the road.

RESULTS:

Feb 24: @ Loyola Marymount: L 3-2

Feb 27-29: Kia Bash: Oklahoma: L 5-1 (10), Georgia Tech (5): W 7-1, Southern California: W 10-4

NEXT:

March 5-7: @ Texas (4), Sam Houston State, @ Texas (4)

14. WICHITA STATE

This Week: 0-0. Overall: 0-0, 0-0 in Missouri Valley. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 15.

NOTES: Open Friday vs. UL Lafayette.

RESULTS: NONE

15. BAYLOR

This Week: 1-2. Overall: 4-5, 0-0 in Big 12. (1-5 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 25.

NOTES: Sr. RHP Zane Carlson set a school record with his 92nd appearance Sat., but lost a 3-2 lead and the series as UA So. 3B Brad Boyer delivered a GW 1B. Baylor took the middle game of the series as So. SS Kyle Reynolds went 4-5, 2 RBIs to provide the O for Jr. LHP Trey Taylor (6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, BB, 6 K). So. RHP Mark McCormick (5 IP, 4 H, R, 5 BB, 6 K) gets a ND when Arizona scores the GW R in the 7th on a 3B by So. C Nick Hundley and SF by Fr SS Jason Donald.

RESULTS:

Feb 27, 28 (DH): Arizona (16): L 2-1, W 10-2 (G1), L 5-3 (G2)

NEXT:

March 2: @ Houston

March 5-7: UC Irvine

16. ARIZONA

This Week: 2-2. Overall: 7-5-1, 0-0 in PAC 10. (4-3 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 16.

NOTES: Arizona wins 2 with late rallies. Arizona scores the GW R in the 7th Fri. on a 3B by So. C Nick Hundley and SF by Fr SS Jason Donald. Jr. Koley Kolberg (7 IP, 3 H, R, 0 ER, 6 BB, 8 K) gets his 1st W. Wildcats take the series rubber game after being down 3-2 in the 8th as So. 3B Brad Boyer delivered a GW 1B in 9th. Weekend starter Kevin Guyette gives up 4 in the first 2 IP to ASU in the Tue loss.

RESULTS:

Feb 24: @ Arizona State (12): L 4-0

Feb 27-29: @ Baylor (15): W 2-1, L 10-2 (G1), W 5-3 (G2).

NEXT:

March 5-7: Sacramento State

17. NORTH CAROLINA

This Week: 1-3. Overall: 4-3, 0-0 in ACC. (0-2 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: Out of poll.

NOTES: Tar Heels get swept out of Rice Invitational. So. LHP Adam Kalkhof allows 7 R in .1 IP Sun as Nebraska dominates as if the two schools were playing football. Thus far dormant Rice lineup gets 9 Fri as Jr. RHP Garry Bakker takes the L (4.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K). Jr. RHP Philip Humber shuts down the Tar Heels with 11 K, 2 H in 7.1 IP. NW State gets 5 in 9th off UNC Fr. closer Robert Woodard (.1 IP, 5 R, 4 H) for comeback win behind Clayton Turner (CG, 5 H, R). UNC Fr. RHP Daniel Bard (8 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 6 K) had a stellar outing spoiled Sat. Fr. LHP Andrew Miller goes 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R in his first college start Wed.

RESULTS:

Feb 24: Gardner-Webb: W 5-1.

Feb 27-29: Rice Invitational: Rice (1): L 9-2, Northwestern State: L 6-2, Nebraska (23): L 10-4

NEXT:

March 3: Appalachian State

March 5-7: St. Francis

18. MISSISSIPPI

This Week: 3-0. Overall: 6-0, 0-0 in SEC. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 12.

NOTES: Ole Miss sweeps wild, high-scoring series with 6 in the 6th Sun after being down 9-5. S. Ala. commits 4 Es in 9th Sat that lead to 4 R (including a 2-R HR by Jr. OF Seth Smith) for Miss and a comeback W. So. RHP Mark Holliman allowed 5 R over 8 IP to win, but did fan a career-high 13. So. 1B Stephen Head goes 3-4, 3 2Bs, 4 RBIs Fri. (8-12, 9 RBIs, save on weekend) as So. LHP Brae Wright gets the W (career-best 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 0 ER).

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: @ South Alabama: W 7-3, W 7-5, W 13-11

NEXT:

March 2-3: Southeast Missouri State

March 5-7: Eastern Illinois

19. NOTRE DAME

This Week: 4-0. Overall: 6-0, 0-0 in Big East. (1-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 11.

NOTES: Jr. 1B Matt Edwards hit 2 HR Sat, incl in 9th in ND's win. 6 R in the 4th doom Winthrop Fri. as Jr. RHP Chris Niesel (7 IP, 8 H, R, 5 K, 2 BB) improves to 2-0, 15-1 career. Minn. takes 6-4 lead Sun before ND rallies to tie in bottom of inning, the gets 6 in the 7th. Jr. 3B Matt Macri 4-6, HR, 5 RBIs vs Gophers and Fr. C Sean Gaston is 4-5, 3 RBIs.

RESULTS:

Feb 20-21: IN LA vs. San Diego State: W 7-1, Southern California: W 3-1 (7 inn)

Feb 27-29: FAU Double Tree Classic: Winthrop: W 19-6, Florida Atlantic (21):W 3-2, Minnesota W 19-7

Feb 28: Florida Memorial: W 12-3

NEXT:

March 5-7: Alamo City Irish Classic: Southern Illinois, @ Texas-San Antonio, Penn State

20. TEXAS A&M

This Week: 5-1 Overall: 21-1, 0-0 in Big 12. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 14.

NOTES: Aggies win 5-6 games in 3 days to get their best start since 1993. They get 4 in 1st Fri. vs. Arkansas and don't look back though Jr. LHP Zach Jackson (5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER) lets it get close before improving to 3-0. So. LHP Robert Ray (7 IP, 7 H, R, career-high 12 K) helps bullpen rest in 2nd G Fri vs. NM. Sr. RF Cory Patton gets GW 1B in bottom of 9th Sat to beat NM after trailing 7-4. Arkansas gets 3 in the 8th Sat to give A&M its first loss of the year. Sun, A&M scores 5 times in 9th to comeback from 7-4 down to win. Jr. Kyle Marlatt (CG, 8 IP, 4 H, ER, 5 K) goes the distance in the final game against NM, a 10-run ruler. Fr. 3B Austin Boggs 12-23, 6 RBIs over the weekend to win tourney MVP award.

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: Aggie Classic: Arkansas: W 7-5 (Fri), L 6-4 (Sat.), W 7-5 (Sun.); New Mexico: W 2-1 (Fri.), W 11-10 (Sat.), W 11-1 (Sun.)

NEXT:

March 5-7: @ UCLA

21. FLORIDA ATLANTIC

This Week: 2-1. Overall: 12-1, 0-0 in Atlantic Sun. (0-1 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 20.

NOTES: FAU unable to sweep biggest weekend of the year, losing to Notre Dame. Sr. LHP Randy Beam (8.1 IP, 2 R, 4 K) was solid Sat., but RHP Craig Hughes yielded a HR to Matt Edwards in the 9th as FAU loses its first after 11 wins. OF Anthony Albano had 2 H, RBI for the Owls. Albano was 4-5, 4 RBIs Sun. Sr. OF Rob Horst hits a 3-R HR in the 5th for a comeback win Fri. as Sr. RHP Matt O'Brien improves to 4-0. Gophers So. LHP Glen Perkins (4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) was 89-92 with a strong change and solid curveball in his first start of the year.

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: FAU Double Tree Classic: Minnesota: W 4-2, Notre Dame (19): L 3-2, Winthrop: W 14-4

NEXT:

March 3, 5-7: Florida International A/H/A/H

22. FLORIDA

This Week: 4-0. Overall: 10-3, 0-0 in SEC. (1-2 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 22.

NOTES: Fr. C Brian Jeroloman hits a walk-off GS Sat as UF wins after training 3-1. Jr. RHP Justin Hoyman got the win (CG, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K). Gators score in 6 of 8 ABs Sun to crush N'western as Jr. Connor Falkenbach goes 5 IP, ER in relief for the W. Sr. OF Ben Harrison reached base in all 4 ABs, scoring 3 R.

RESULTS:

Feb 25: Michigan: W 9-4, W 20-7 (7 inn)

Feb 28-29 Northwestern: W 5-3, W 12-3

NEXT:

March 1: Northwestern

March 3: @ Stetson

March 5-7: Purdue

23. NEBRASKA

This Week: 2-1. Overall: 5-1, 0-0 in Big 12. (1-1 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 23.

NOTES: Rice Jr. RHP Wade Townsend holds Nebraska to 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER over 8 IP as Rice rallied from a 2-1 deficit. Huskers stranded 5 runners in the final three innings vs Townsend and Jr. RHP Josh Baker (sv). LF Jesse Boyer led the Huskers' O going 2-5 with both RBIs. 1B Curtis Ledbetter and SS Joe Simonkaitis each have 2-R 1Bs in 7-run 1st vs. UNC. So. 3B Alex Gordon goes 2-4 with 3B, HR Fri. as Huskers use their ace, So. LHP Zach Kroenke (7 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K).

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: Rice Invitational: Northwestern State: W 8-4, Rice (1): L 4-2, North Carolina (17): W 10-4

NEXT:

March 5-7: Dairy Queen Classic in Minneapolis: Florida State, Minnesota, West Virginia

24. NORTH CAROLINA STATE

This Week: 3-0. Overall: 7-0, 0-0 in ACC. (0-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 24.

NOTES: So. RHP Michael Rogers took a no-hitter into the 6th Sat. and finished with a 3 H CG (ER, 0 BB, 11 K, 96 pitches). Sr. RHP Vern Sterry tied NCSU record with 13 straight victories in G2 Sun (7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K). Jr. OF Jason St. Julien strokes a 2-R 1B in the 8th to break a 4-4 tie in G1.

RESULTS:

Feb 28-29: @ The Citadel: W 3-1, @ Charleston (DH): W 6-4, W 7-2

NEXT:

March 2-3: LeMoyne

March 5-7: @ San Diego State

25. FLORIDA STATE

This Week: 2-1. Overall: 9-4, 0-0 in ACC. (0-3 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: Out of poll.

NOTES: FSU gets 3 in the 7th to win a tight series Sun. as C Aaron Cheeseman goes 3-4 and 3B Gibbs Chapman and So. Eddy Martinez-Esteve each have 2 RBIs. On Fri., UNCA's Steve Cook (CG, 4 H, R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 K) one-ups FSU's Hunter Jones (7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER). Two E's in the 7th allow Bulldogs to score the go-ahead run as RF Charles Pippitt reaches by 1B, goes to second on an E by Chapman and scores when SS Stephen Drew misplays a grounder. Sr. RHP Eddie Cannon (8 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 7K, 88 pitches; 4-0) shut out UNCA as Drew goes 4-5, 2B and Martinez-Esteve goes 3-5, HR to lead the offense.

RESULTS:

Feb 27-29: UNC Asheville: L 2-1, W 8-0, W 4-1

NEXT:

March 5-7: Dairy Queen Classic in Minneapolis: Nebraska (23), West Virginia, Minnesota

OTHERS TO CONSIDER

OKLAHOMA

This Week: 3-0. Overall: 8-1, 0-0 in Big 12. (3-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 19.

NOTES: Sooners' 4 R in 1st was all the support Sr. RHP Mark Roberts (8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) needed Sun as Sooners pull off impressive sweep at the Kia Bash. Jr. 1B Ole Sheldon and Jr. 3B Matt Bose each have 2 RBIs. Jr. LHP David Purcey (6.2 IP, 2 H, R) CSUF's Jason Windsor (9 IP, R, 0 ER) lock up in a duel Fri. that's settled in the 10th with 5 consecutive 1Bs. Sheldon goes 3-5, 2 RBIs Sat while Sr. RHP Casey Brown (6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER) does it on the mound for another W.

RESULTS:

Feb 13-15: Gonzaga: L 15-5, Cal State Northridge: W 4-2, Arizona State (14): W 6-0

Feb 21-23: Southeast Missouri State: W 7-1, W 11-5, W 10-2

Feb 27-29: Kia Bash: Cal State Fullerton (13): W 5-1 (10), Southern California: W 9-6, Georgia Tech (5): W 6-2

NEXT:

EAST CAROLINA

This Week: 5-0. Overall: 12-0, 0-0 in CUSA. (2-0 vs. Top 25).

New Ranking: 21.

NOTES: Jr. OF Darryl Lawhorn goes 3-5, 3 RBIs, HR as ECU scores 3 runs over the final 3 innings Sun to rally back from a 4-3 deficit against Clemson. Lawhorn's twin Trevor hit his 5th HR of the year in Sun.'s late game, a win against Georgia Southern. Jr. OF Drew Costanzo hits a walk-off HR in the 11th to beat Clemson Sat. Fr. RHP Mike Flye gets 9 K in 5.2 IP of relief for the W. So. 3B Mark Minicozzi and Jr. 1B Ryan Norwood also hit HRs for ECU, which beat Ga. Southern earlier behind Jr. LHP Brody Taylor (7.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB,career-high 9 K)

RESULTS:

Feb 13-15: UNC Asheville: W 4-1, W 8-0, W 6-2

Feb 18: Campbell: W 10-2

Feb. 20-22: Delaware: W 6-4, W 4-0, W 9-1

Feb 24: North Carolina A&T: W 2-0

Feb 28: Keith LeClair Invitational: Georgia Southern: W 7-1, Clemson (11): W 3-2 (11 inn)

Feb 29: Keith LeClair Invitational: Georgia Southern: W 7-4, Clemson (11): W 6-4

NEXT:

March 5-7: @ Arizona State (10)