By John Manuel
March 4, 2003

If there's any team that has established an identity in the 2003 college season, it's Long Beach State.

What we know--the 49ers can pitch with anybody. If there's a better lefty-righty combination at the front of a rotation than Abe Alvarez and Jered Weaver, it's Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. But in the college game right now, Alvarez and Weaver is as good as it gets.

And if there's something else we know about the Dirtbags, it's that they are not going to play gorilla ball. This is a club with three home runs and yet has scored nearly twice as many runs (89) as its opponents (46).

"You've hit it right on the head," LBSU coach Mike Weathers said. "We've got the first two who have been outstanding, the glue of our team, and it makes us hard to beat on Friday and Saturday. And then we have to find a consistent third starter and be more consistent offensively and defensively to keep up this success."

The Dirtbags have tested their theory of team-building against one of the nation's toughest schedules so far. After 12 games against Pacific-10 Conference teams, Long Beach State took on Louisiana State this weekend and won the series two games to one. It was part of a great weekend of college baseball in the greater Los Angeles area, one that saw No. 6 Baylor continue its impressive start with a sweep at UC Irvine and the return of coach Augie Garrido to Cal State Fullerton.

Garrido's Texas team came to Fullerton ranked sixth and left with a pair of defeats at the hands of the host Titans and UCLA. Fullerton went 3-0 in the Kia Bash to continue its phenomenal 14-1 start that includes ninth-inning comebacks, plenty of great pitching and a new hero every week.

"Everything's all good right now," coach George Horton told the Orange County Register after Sunday's 7-1 win against UCLA that brought the Titans the Bash title.

But everything's pretty good for the Titans' Big West rivals across the LA county line at Long Beach. Weathers, who can still blame predecessor Dave Snow for some of the Dirtbags' amazing schedule, has his team 10-5 with series victories against LSU, Southern California and California, and they're the only group to have defeated 24-1 Arizona State.

"I'm just waiting for conference season," Weathers joked. "We're about to go on the road here for the first time and we start playing our Tuesday midweek games, so it's not getting a lot easier, but I like the way we've responded so far."

Weathers knew Alvarez and Weaver would be good, but so far they've been great. Alvarez, who had struggled with command and was hitting his pitch counts in the sixth inning for most of the season, had his best effort of the year Friday in dominating the Tigers for 7 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 thanks to improved fastball command.

"He was spotting his fastball with arm-side run a lot better and was finally adjusting to the strike zone," Weathers said. "He hasn't been getting that call 2 inches off the plate, and rightfully so. This weekend, he was pitching on the corners and really had a good changeup and curve. His change and curve are both much better than they were last year."

Alvarez is 5-0, 1.21, and his only losses the last two years have been to Stanford and Cal State Fullerton. Weaver has nearly matched him, though he has two of the Dirtbags' losses. He also has a 1.67 ERA and seems to go on a run in each game where he's untouchable. Against California, in one of his losses, Weaver gave up four first-inning runs before retiring 18 in a row. Saturday, he fanned 10 in 7 1/3 innings to beat the Tigers and retired 13 in a row at one point.

Maybe it's because those two starters have been so dominant that other teams have been able to get to Long Beach State's No. 3 guy. For now, Weathers seems to have settled on freshman lefthander Cesar Ramos, a sixth-round pick of the Devil Rays who was 0-2, 3.92 in his first 20 2/3 innings.

Starting pitching isn't the Dirtbags' only strength. Weathers touted his bullpen, which has featured dual closers in Bo Ashabraner (2.03 ERA, 18 Ks in 13 1/3 IP) and Carlos Muniz (2.70, two saves) and setup man deluxe Neil Jamison (0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 innings).

In all this pitching, the Dirtbags' offense tends to get overlooked. The Beach will never Bash, not while they play in spacious Blair Field. Weathers has been pleased with his team's ability to execute offensively thus far and get enough runs for its excellent pitching, with senior shortstop Tim Hutting (.397-0-14, 15-game hitting streak) doing the most damage so far.

"We've got to get some of our other bats like Mike Hofius and Todd Jennings going," said Weathers, who hopes Hofius will return from his ankle sprain in time for next weekend's series at No. 6 Baylor. "But we're getting some at-bats from Sean Boatright (back injury), and we need his bat in the lineup, even if it is just at DH."

Even with their pitching, the Dirtbags will need every run they can get against a remaining non-Big West schedule that includes road swings against the Bears and No. 24 Wichita State as well as a home set with No. 20 Miami, not to mention Tuesday mid-week games against the likes of UCLA, Fresno State and Pepperdine. The first such game comes Tuesday against San Diego State.

"Those are the kinds of games that will make the difference between 32 wins and a No. 3 (regional) seed and 38 or 40 wins and a No. 1 seed," Weathers said. "We'll see how our young guys perform starting now."

Around the Nation

1. GEORGIA TECH
6-0 (0-0 vs. Top 25). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 9-0 (0-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 1.
NOTES: The Yellow Jackets also tied the Atlanta Braves in an exhibition game cut short by rain, and considering how other college teams fared in such games (Texas crushed by the Rangers, Marlins beating Miami, BC falling to Red Sox), that's a good week. Jackets continue to skate through relatively easy early schedule to best start since 1997 team, behind pitching staff w/2.11 ERA. GW gets to Jr. LHP Kyle Bakker for three runs on just four H in 6 IP on FRI, but he's still 3-0, had 7 SO. Fine relief work SAT by Brian Burks (3.1 IP, 0 ER) backed by 3 RBIs by soph. C Mike Nickeas. Jr. LF Matt Murton heats up w/5 hits in last two games, including 3-for-4, HR on SUN. Fr. SS Tyler Greene and Fr. DH Micah Owings each homered on weekend, lead team w/3. Fr. RHP Jason Neighborgall got the start and win SUN, 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 SO.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: George Washington: W, 13-4; W, 4-2; W, 9-2

2. RICE
8-1 (4-0 vs. top 25). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 11-1 (4-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 2.
NOTES: Owls have played a solid schedule so far and have only the one loss to Alabama to show for it. The Bobcats ended Rice's 20-innings scoreless streak, but it's not like the Owls didn't pitch well again. Soph. RHP Jeff Niemann turned 20 by fanning 10 in 7 IP on FRI, 1 R. SWT rallied within 6-5 SAT, but OF Chris Kolkhorst threw out a runner at the plate, and closer David Aardsma got out of bases-full situation w/K to end threat. SWT saved ace Bobby Sawicki for SUN, game was 2-2 before he had to leave w/a sore arm, then Owls exploded for five-run sixth. Nice weekends for Kolkhorst (three two-hit games extend eight-game hitting streak) and 2B Enrique Cruz, who had 2 2B, 3 RBIs on SUN and bases-loaded triple on SUN. Owls made errors 2 and 3 of the year this weekend, ending 85.2 inning errorless streak.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: Southwest Texas State: W, 8-3; W, 7-5; W, 10-4

3. FLORIDA STATE
11-0 (2-1). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 14-1 (2-1 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 3.
NOTES: Seminoles have to struggle a bit with Charleston Southern; perhaps they were looking toward next weekend's sold out Florida series. FRI, DH Aaron Cheesman w/3 hits, 4 RBIs for SS Stephen Drew (three-run triple in 8th sealed it) back Sr. LHP Matt Lynch's 6 3-hit IP. Drew comes through in 8th again on SAT, only this time it was with a two-out, two-run single that was the game-winner, backing LHP Trent Peterson (8 IP, 4 H, 1 R). DH finale on SUN gave FSU its best start since 1986 as closer Daniel Hodges (who worked all three games, 3.1 IP total) got the win after a Cheesman PB helped CS tie the score in top of 8th. Cheesman started game-winning rally w/walk, RF Tony McQuade w/game-winning RBI single, 3 hits for Fr. 3B Eddy Martinez-Esteve.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28, March 2: Charleston Southern: W, 9-0; W, 2-1; W, 10-7

4. ARIZONA STATE
21-1 (4-1 vs. Top 25). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 24-1 (4-1 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 4.
NOTES: it’s officially the best start in Sun Devils history after a sweep of previously 0-0 Penn State; winning streak now at 15 games, longest since 1990. Soph. 1B Jeff Larish continued his amazing season w/grand slam (third of year) and six RBIs on FRI, then had three-run shot SUN, he's hitting .430-10-51, 40 BB for a .608 OBP and .924 SLG. Thanks mostly to Larish, Sun Devils have 35 HR after hitting 38 all of 2002. ASU led 10-0 after 2 on SAT, w/two-run singles by Steve Garrabrants and Frank Mesa and a two-run HR by Fr. CF Ryan Bosch. Larish's HR and the 5th save by Jr. RHP Ryan Schoyer capped the sweep SUN, backing 5 IP by transfer Ben Thurmond, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 SO, 3 H for the win.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: Penn State: W, 13-0; W, 12-1; W, 11-7

5. CAL STATE FULLERTON
11-1 (3-0 vs. Top 25). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 14-1 (5-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 5.
NOTES: The Kia Bash belonged to the Titans, who gave up just six runs in three games and beat Augie Garrido in his ballyhooed return to Fullerton. Titans shuffled the rotation just a bit, moving Fr. LHP Ryan Schreppel to FRI to face Tulane and saving Jr. RHP Wes Littleton for Texas. It worked, as everything else CSUF has tried has in 2003. Schreppel went 7 IP, 2 H, lowered ERA to 0.62, matched by Tulane freshman Matt Goebel (7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R), Tulane took 1-0 lead into ninth, but PH Kurt Suzuki drilled two-run 2B off Joey Charron in 9th for CSUF lead, Chad Cordero nailed down first save w/scoreless bottom half. SAT, a Goodwin Field record crowd of 3,501 saw Titans score 7 in 1st as Sr. 3B Jason Corapci had 4 hits, CF Kyle Boyer reached five times, 3 RBIs, Titans rapped, ripped and blooped in 20 hits while Horns made 4 Es. SUN, Fr. RHP Dustin Miller 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 5 Ks; CSUF led 7-0 through 2 and cruised. Corapci 6-for-9 on weekend as new starting 3B, shared MOP honors on weekend w/UCLA's Wes Whisler (.417, 2 HRs).
RESULTS:
Feb. 28: Tulane (21): W, 2-1
March 1: Texas (6): W, 14-4
March 2: UCLA: W, 7-1

6. TEXAS
12-3 (1-2 vs. Top 25). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 13-5 (2-3 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 9.
NOTES: Perhaps some Titans fans felt some pity for Augie Garrido as the Longhorns gave up 27 runs and made 6 Es in first two games. But Texas rallied SUN to beat Tulane and avoid a winless weekend behind Soph. LPH J.P. Howell, as the USC transfer went 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 6 Ks, 4 BB. FRI, UCLA starter Mike Kunes held Texas trio of Tim Moss, Omar Quintanilla and Dustin Majewski hitless, almost an unheard-of feat. Nice weekend by Fr. C Taylor Teagarden, homered SAT, two-hit game on SUN. Longhorns have made 35 Es this season with 10 by soph. 3b/ss Michael Hollimon and 8 by Moss.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28: vs. UCLA: L, 2-13
March 1: @ Cal State Fullerton (5): L, 4-14
March 2: vs. Tulane (21): W, 6-1

7. WAKE FOREST
4-1 (0-0 vs. Top 25). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 5-3 (0-2 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 11.
NOTES: Better week for Deacons' hoops than baseball, as Wake gets a chilly reception in Minnesota, scoring just one run when Jr. RHP Kyle Sleeth doesn't pitch. He did pitch FRI and got the win again, No. 23 in a row, w/8 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 7 SO, 1 BB. His scoreless streak ended at 17 IP. SAT, without injured RF Ryan Johnson (ankle sprain), Deacs had just two runners in scoring position, five-hit by Nebraska LHP Brian Duensing. Deacons only scored on WP on SUN, wasting 6.2 IP by soph. Tim Morely, 1 R, 4 H, 7 Ks. Closer Adam Hanson finished FRI, then went 5.2 on SUN, 7 H, 6 Ks, but ND finally broke through after leaving 14 in first 12 innings.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28: @ Minnesota: W, 7-3
March 1: vs. Nebraska (18): L, 0-6
March 2: vs. Notre Dame (14): L, 1-2

8. BAYLOR
8-3 (4-1 vs. Top 25). This Week: 4-0. Overall: 12-3 (4-1 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 6.
NOTES: Bears keep a-rollin' all week long with four road wins, running overall win streak to nine. Back-to-back shutouts to start the week, then back-to-back double-figure scoring to finish up. Five pitchers combined vs. UTSA, then another strong outing by Sr. RHP Steven White, 7 IP, 5 H, 8 Ks, 2 BB, he's got 26 Ks in last three starts, then Fr. Abe Woody got all six outs via K to finish. Fr. 2B Kyle Reynolds w/3 H, 3 RBIs to pace offense SAT, then Jr. OF David Murphy hit grand slam in 6th, C Josh Ford w/2-run shot to key win SUN. Sr. 1B/OF Ross Bennett went 11-for-14 on the week, 4 H on WED and SUN, hitting .533 for the season. Two more saves also for Sr. Zane Carlson, 28 for career, 2 shy of Big 12 mark.
RESULTS:
Feb. 26: @ UT-San Antonio: W, 9-0
Feb. 28-March 2: @ UC Irvine: W, 4-0; W, 11-6; W, 12-9

9. STANFORD
9-6 (3-6 vs. Top 25). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 11-7 (5-7 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 7.
NOTES: Pretty nice schedule for the Cardinal, who win the series against the visiting Trojans. For two teams with their pitching traditions, this wasn't pretty on the mound or in the field. Cardinal made 6 Es on FRI in loss, but USC also had 3 HRs in first four innings, scored 8 R (6 ER) off John Hudgins. Cardinal responded SAT w/6-run first off USC lefty Fraser Dizard, led by 7 hits from LF Brian Hall and CF Sam Fuld. SUN, Stanford hits 5 HRs, two by DH Danny Putnam (7 RBIs), and gets second 3-for-4 outing of weekend by Fr. 1B John Mayberry Jr. to back first start by Fr. LHP Mark Romanczuk, who moved to 4-0. Mayberry has 11-game hitting streak and has hit in 17-of-18 games, leads team w/4 3Bs and has 3 HRs.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: Southern California (16): L, 4-13; W, 10-6; W, 18-4

10. SOUTH CAROLINA
8-1 (0-0). This Week: 1-1. Overall: 9-2 (1-1 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 10.
NOTES: Another week, another Aaron Rawl heroic outing. The sophomore RHP responds to Gamecocks' 8-0 drubbing on SAT by going the distance on SUN, 135 pitches, 8 SO, he's now 4-0, 3.09 and 11-2 for his career. Freshmen key the offense SUN, HRs by 1B Trey McDaniel and OF Michael Campbell. Weekend saw a pair of Mahoneys in the lineup; S.C. Fr. Ryan Mahoney hit at DH on SUN, while Clemson's Collin was the starting C. Gamecocks 4-hit on SAT, Sr. 3B Brian Buscher had one to extend hit streak to 10, but it ended SUN.
RESULTS:
March 1-2: @ Clemson (19): L, 0-8; W, 6-4

11. LONG BEACH STATE
8-4 (3-3 vs. Top 25). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 10-5 (5-4 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 8.
NOTES: Can anybody score against these guys? Give Cal credit for getting 4 R off Jered Weaver last weekend, and Arizona State shut out the Dirtbags to beat Weaver 3-0, because otherwise, Weaver and Jr. LHP Abe Alvarez are untouchable. They did it again to LSU this weekend, with Weaver dominant on SAT, 7.1 IP, 10 Ks, retired 13 in a row at one point, now 3-2, 1.67. Alvarez moved to 5-0, 1.21 after perhaps his best outing FRI, 7.2 IP, 10 Ks, helped lower team ERA to 2.69. Sr. SS Tim Hutting has hit safely in all 15 games, 3 RBIs on the weekend while going 7-for-11.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: Louisiana State (13): W, 12-1; W, 5-1; L, 2-7

12. RICHMOND
2-0 (0-0). This Week: 1-0. Overall: 3-0 (0-0). New Rank: 12.
NOTES: Rain cancelled the Spiders' planned games at North Carolina and at home vs. Cleveland State, but they got in a makeup game against Delaware State and play again Monday. Spiders rallied in 8th for win, RBI triples by Fr. Ben Zeskind and Jr. Bobby LeNoir providing the margin of victory.
RESULTS:
March 2: Delaware State: W, 5-3

13. LOUISIANA STATE
6-4 (1-1 vs. Top 25). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 7-6 (2-3 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 16.
NOTES: Tigers are struggling offensively, but then everyone does against LBSU's twin aces. Factor in the Kansas series, and they're just 2-6 vs. teams that have been in the top 25. Sr. RHP Bo Pettit, who missed starts early with the flu, gives team a lift SUN w/6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 106 pitches. Offense came around thanks in part to the return of soph. Clay Harris from shoulder injury; he went 3-for-4 w/two 2Bs. Two-run HR by Ryan Patterson the big blow as Tigers had 14 hits after getting 12 in first two games.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: @ Long Beach State (11): L, 1-12; L, 1-5; W, 7-2

14. NOTRE DAME
2-2 (0-2 vs. Top 25). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 3-4 (1-3 vs. Top 25).
NOTES: Fighting Irish bats struggle (opposing starters had 25 Ks in 20.2 IP), but a win against No. 7 Wake Forest on SUN salvages the weekend. Soph. Josh Axford goes 7 strong IP, then senior RHP J.P. Gagne, a Minnesota native, goes six shutout frames in relief for the win, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 SO. Retired the last 10 he faced. Just the fourth four-game losing streak in coach Paul Mainieri's nine-year tenure. ND has won 15 of last 18 extra-inning games back to 1997, 6-1 in last seven. Nebraska hands soph. RHP Chris Niesel his first college loss FRI.

RESULTS:
Feb. 28: vs. Nebraska (18): L, 1-7
March 1: @ Minnesota: L, 2-8
March 2: vs. Wake Forest (7): W, 2-1 (13)

15. AUBURN
8-3 (4-2 vs. Top 25). This Week: 4-0. Overall: 12-3 (4-2 vs. top 25). New Rank: 13.
NOTES: The Tigers' pitching comes through with its biggest week, giving up one run in each game for first time since 1994, staff had 32 SO. Soph. LHP Arnold Hughey continues to assert himself at the front of the rotation, going five scoreless FRI w/6 SO; freshman Chris Dennis w/5 SO in 2 IP as staff combined for 15 Ks. SAT, Jr. RHP Cory Dueitt comes out of bullpen w/3 scoreless IP, runs scoreless innings streak to 12.2 IP. Down 1-0 in 7th, AU rallied w/7 runs in last two innings SUN, backing relief work by Lavale Speigner (2.1 IP) and Steven Register (7th save, 4 SO in 2 IP, 0.61 ERA for year). Team's 15-game homestand (longest ever) ends now, AU plays 12 of next 16 on road.
RESULTS:
Feb. 25: Troy State: W, 5-1
Feb. 28-March 2: Elon: W, 11-1; W, 3-1; W, 7-1

16. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
5-6 (4-5 vs. Top 25). This Week: 2-2. Overall: 7-8 (5-7 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 18.
NOTES: Trojans and Stanford have the same record against the Top 25, but the Cardinal wins the series and the Trojans remain below .500, as the team's shredded pitching staff struggles. Defense also hurts as Trojans blow 4-3 lead SUN when RF David Gordon misplays a ball, leading to 5-run inning. Offense came through FRI as Michael Moon and Travis McAndrews had three hits apiece to back Brian Bannister, 7 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 SO; first FRI win for USC vs. Stanford since Barry Zito beat 'em in 1999. Soph. C Jeff Clement w/HR on SAT, 7th of year, Stanford employs overshift w/SS Tobin Swope on right side of IF.
RESULTS:
Feb. 26: UC Irvine: W, 6-4
Feb. 28-March 2: @ Stanford (9): W, 13-4; L, 6-10; L, 4-18

17. MISSISSIPPI STATE
2-1 (0-0). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 5-1 (0-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 15.
NOTES: Jr. LHP Paul Maholm bounces back from Opening Day loss with six shutout IP on FRI, 8 SO, 1 BB, then he’s almost trumped SAT by Alan Johnson, who took a no-hitter into the 8th; he finished w/11 SO, 0 BB, 1 H, 1 R. He’s given up 7 H, 0 BB w/15 SO in 14 IP. Bulldog pitching finished a dominant weekend w/15 SO on SUN. Sr. SS Matthew Maniscalco extends hitting streak to six games, had 4 R, 4 RBIs this weekend.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: East Tennessee State: W, 7-0; W, 10-1; W, 11-1

18. NEBRASKA
4-2 (0-0). This Week: 3-0. Overall: 7-2 (2-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 14.
NOTES: Most impressive week of the year so far for the Huskers, whose pitching dominates the Dairy Queen Classic field at the Metrodome. Combined score of 28-3 looks like a Husker football game (we'll say from 2000 to put NU on top). FRI vs. ND, Jr. LHP Aaron Marsden fans 10 in 8 IP; SAT, soph. LHP Brian Duensing goes the distance, 5-hitter, 9 SO, 1 BB, backed by 3-hits by LF Brandon Fusilier. SUN, Sr. CF Jeff Leise goes 4-for-6, 4 R w/HR, went 7-for-15 on the weekend, 6 RBIs, 5 R. Six strong IP from Quinton Robertson to finish it off.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28: vs. Notre Dame (14): W, 7-1
March 1: vs. Wake Forest (7): W, 6-0
March 2: @ Minnesota: W, 15-2

19. CLEMSON
1-2 (1-2). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 3-3 (2-3 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 19.
NOTES: Tigers split with the rival Gamecocks in front of more than 11,000 over just two games--is college baseball hot in the state of South Carolina or what? Tigers get a brilliant performance SAT from soph. LHP Tyler Lumsden with 11 Ks, 1 BB in 7.1 IP to start the combined shutout in front of home fans. Tigers jumped out w/4 runs in first, two RBIs by Kyle Frank (who also had a two-run HR on SUN). Also two-run HR by Michael Johnson on SUN, but Gamecocks got to starter Jeff Hahn for four runs in 4.1 IP with 6.227 at Sarge Frye Field.
RESULTS:
Feb. 26: Charleston Southern: W, 5-0 (8)
March 1-2: vs/@ South Carolina (10):W, 8-0; L, 4-6

20. NORTH CAROLINA
4-0 (0-0). This Week: 1-2. Overall: 5-2 (0-0). New Rank: 22.
NOTES: Rough week for the Tar Heels as they lose a pair at Myrtle Beach to Northern teams. Complete game on FRI by Michigan State's Bryan Gale (son of former big leaguer Rich Gale). Offense stumbled as Tar Heels left 10 on vs. MSU and 13 vs. St. John's. FRI, Jr. RHP Scott Manshack chased after just 1.1 IP. Then SAT, Jr. LHP Daniel Moore walks six, gives up 6 H in 4.2 IP, 5 R, just 3 SO. Pitching story of the week was Fr. Matt Danford, who goes 7.2 scoreless IP in relief of Manshack, 8 SO, 0 BB.
RESULTS:
Feb. 25: Appalachian State: W, 10-6
Feb. 28: vs. Michigan State: L, 1-3
March 1: vs. St. John's: L, 5-6

21. TULANE
8-1 (0-0). This Week: 1-3. Overall: 9-4 (0-2 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 23.
NOTES: Rough week for the Green Wave, who go 0-for-Kia Bash this weekend, who get shut down by LHPs Ryan Shreppel (CSUF) and J.P. Howell (Texas) and UCLA RHP Casey Janssen. CSUF rallies w/2 in ninth FRI off closer Joey Charron to spoil 7.1 scoreless outing by freshman RHP Matt Goebel, who lowered ERA to 1.31 in 20.2 IP. Then SAT, Tulane hit into 4 DPs, gave up 15 hits as UCLA scores game's last 7 runs. SUN, Texas backed Howell w/5-run third and Tulane hits into 3 more DPs.
RESULTS:
Feb. 25: Southeastern La.: W, 7-1
Feb. 28: @ Cal State Fullerton (5): L, 1-2
March 1: vs. UCLA; L, 2-12
March 2: vs. Texas (6): L, 1-6

22. MIAMI:
7-2 (0-0). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 9-3 (0-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 20.
NOTES: Of course the big news of the week was the probation handed down Thursday, which coach Jim Morris called a "black eye for Miami baseball." Hurricanes get back to the field without pitching coach Lazer Collazo (resigned Thursday) and lose opener before bouncing back to win the series. Strong effort SAT by staff ace Vince Bongiovanni, lowered ERA to 1.48 over 24.1 IP after fanning 5 in 7.1 IP. Closer George Huguet, returning from shoulder problems, threw the 9th for first appearance. SUN, C Erick San Pedro w/2 HRs to power team to series clincher, while Ryan Braun finished his strong series, Fr. DH (an SS who has played several pos. so far) had HR in each game, 3-for-3 SUN, hitting a team-best .439, tied for team high w/4 HRs, 2nd w/12 RBIs.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28-March 2: The Citadel: L, 7-8; W, 6-1; W, 14-6

23. KANSAS
11-3 (3-0 vs. Top 25). This Week: 2-1. Overall: 13-4 (3-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 21.
NOTES: Jayhawks keep winning and pull out a 2-1 weekend in Nashville by beating Vanderbilt and ace soph. LHP Jeremy Sowers on SUN. Down 2-1, Jayhawks scrapped for three runs on 4 hits in 5th inning, w/RBI 2B by 1B Ryan Baty and three straight two-out singles. Reliever Brandon Johnson picked up fourth win of year w/4 scoreless IP, while RHP Chris Smart got his third save; Sowers fanned 12 in 8 IP, 8 H, 4 R. OF Matt Tribble extended hitting streak to 17 games.
RESULTS:
Feb. 28: @ Middle Tenn. State: L, 5-6
March 1: @ Lipscomb: W, 10-4
March 2: @ Vanderbilt: W, 4-2

24. TEXAS A&M
7-2 (0-1 vs. Top 25). This Week: 3-2. Overall: 10-4 (0-1 vs. Top 25). New Rank: Out of poll.
NOTES: Aggies started week by finishing Domino's Classic and winning the tournament, then laid an egg at Arizona 11-5), giving up 36 runs in three games and squeaking out one win. Soph. RHP Logan Kensing gets knocked out in the 5th inning, giving up 6 runs in 5th (four unearned) as Aggies made 6 Es on the day. SUN, Aggies made six more errors (they made 14 on the weekend) as Kyle Parcus got the loss, Arizona banged out 16 hits. But the win in Tucson was special as Aggies scored 8 in the 9th, including last six w/two outs. OF Scott Beerer opened inning w/out, but his two-run single proved to be the game-winner. Earlier, he'd homered in the 2nd and then got the save in the bottom of the 9th, his 4th.
RESULTS:
Feb. 24: Utah: W, 5-1
Feb. 24: UCLA: W, 3-0
Feb. 28-March 2: @ Arizona: L, 0-11; W, 11-8; L, 1-17

25. WICHITA STATE
9-1 (0-0 vs. Top 25). This Week: No games. Overall: 9-1 (0-0). New Rank: 24.
NOTES: Shockers had 10 inches of snow last SUN and a few during the week, and the grounds weren't playable enough for Iowa to play yet; scheduled for a DH Tuesday, then two w/K-State this week before a trip to Lafayette, La.
RESULTS: No games

UNC-GREENSBORO
8-0 (0-0 vs. Top 25). This Week: 2-0. Overall: 10-0 (0-0 vs. Top 25). New Rank: 25.
NOTES: Best start in school history. Spartans had been doing it with hitting (team was hitting .377 entering SUN game), but now they did it with pitching as relievers Jarrett Santos and Chris Mason close out Le Moyne rally in opener. SUN, Jr. RHP Scooter Michael goes for fifth career CG, 7 H, 102 pitches, 5 SO, 0 BB, he's 3-0, 1.59. "We have a real good ball club and are really rolling right now," he said. "We just have to make sure our record does not get to our heads."
RESULTS:
March 1-2: Le Moyne: W, 5-4; W, 4-1; Play again Tuesday.