By John Manuel
April 30, 2002

When the British army of some 8,000 troops under General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington and the combined Franco-American force at Yorktown, Va., in 1781, the British military band played a song called "The World Turned Upside Down."

No one's implying that Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State are going to pack it up and pack it in now that they have been swept by Big West Conference foes Cal State Northridge and UC Irvine. But the Big West's world sure got turned upside down last weekend, when the league's flagship baseball programs both lost a trio of home games to their upstart rivals.

The Matadors swept the Titans to take over first place in the league at 12-3. UC Irvine--in its first season as a program after 10 dormant seasons and with no seniors on the roster--went to Long Beach State and handled the 49ers at Blair Field to move into second place.

"Our league still starts with Fullerton and Long Beach," said Northridge coach Mike Batesole, in his seventh season as the program's head coach. "The difference is that we've gotten better, Irvine is in there, UC Riverside has come in, and they've really brought up the middle of the league. Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara are a lot better than they were a few years ago. There just aren't many easy wins in this league."

Added Anteaters coach John Savage, "We're talking about what happened last weekend because it never happens--Fullerton and Long Beach are clearly the teams to beat in our league and they don't get swept at home. "But the league is very strong this year, and you really can't say enough about Northridge. They are really having the best year of any of the teams in our league. That says a lot about Mike and his staff."

CSUF and LBSU have relied on pitching-and-defense formulas to make 15 combined appearances in Omaha, the only ones by current members of the conference. Irvine has followed those clubs' philosophies, but Cal State Northridge chooses a power approach, both at the plate and on the mound.

This year's club, built around a core of players recruited after the program's near-elimination in 1997, has the talent to make Omaha a reality. In juniors Kameron Loe and Bill Murphy, Cal State Northridge has a pair of regional-ready starters with good stuff and good command. Loe, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound righthander and perhaps the program's biggest recruit, was a 39th-round pick out of Grenada Hills High in Northridge who decided to stay home.

He pitched just 61 innings last season and seemed poised to break out this season but was sidelined early by a pectoral muscle injury in his chest. Murphy, 10-4, 4.12 last year as the team's workhorse, stepped into the ace role again. The junior lefthander has put together one of the nation's best seasons at 9-2, 2.97 with 110 strikeouts in 88 innings, getting help from juniors Andy Davidson (7-2, 3.90) and Matt Larson (4-2, 4.24), who have given the Matadors good work while splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen.

"When Kameron (4-2, 4.03 this year) went down early, we thought that might really hurt us," Batesole said. "Instead, it has helped us down the road because it allowed us to get some other guys some innings and experience they might not otherwise have gotten.

"Murphy always had great stuff and great heart; he knew how to make big pitches. But Loe was supposed to be our Friday guy. In his absence, Murphy really stepped up by tightening his location. He misses better than he used to; he doesn't catch as much of the plate."

Opposing pitchers have to be careful not to catch too much of the plate against the Matadors' offense, one of the nation's most potent. Senior second baseman Shaun Larkin--described by Batesole with a laugh as a "professional hitter"--has lived up to his billing as one of the nation's top transfers. He sat out last year after transferring from Texas Tech, but the Orange County native has seemed right at home at Northridge.

Larkin was hitting .389-14-45, leading the team in the triple crown categories while drawing 49 walks and posting a ridiculous .530 on-base percentage. "He helps us even when he doesn't get a hit or a walk, taking pitches, wearing out other pitchers and showing the rest of our guys what they can do," Batesole said.

The Matadors have hit 77 home runs, with junior outfielder Eric Verbryke (.322-13-37) and first baseman Tim Arroyo (.333-9-40) among the contributors. It's a potent mix of power pitching and hitting that has made Northridge the Big West leader.

"They have one of the best plans offensively that you'll see--they can really hit and pitch pretty well too," Savage said. "I wouldn't want to play them in a regional."

The way Savage's first Irvine team has played of late, no one wants to play it, either. Whether or not the Anteaters (28-18 overall) can be a dangerous regional team will depend on how it finishes the season. The Big West's RPI last year ranked fourth in the nation, and the league is stronger and deeper in 2002. If the Anteaters finish among the league's top two or three teams, they will be hard to leave behind.

"I think there's a shot at the league getting four regional teams," Savage said. "In my mind, Long Beach, Fullerton and Northridge are pretty much locks. We're the uncertain team, and Cal Poly at 9-6 is still in it, too."

Savage's stars have been freshmen such as with lefthander Glenn Swanson (7-3, 3.22, two saves), the offspeed ace of a deep staff. Swanson came out of the bullpen to strikeout Jeremy Reed and Nick Covarrubias to ice Friday's series opener and started the finale in a rare double-duty showing.

The Anteaters have allowed just 397 hits in 416 innings and have a bevy of power arms in the bullpen, now led by righthander Paul French. A third-round pick out of high school in 1998, French is at his third school (Arizona State, Sacramento City College) and is a Tommy John surgery survivor. He started the year in the rotation but has given the team veteran leadership by moving to the bullpen; he worked all three games of the Long Beach sweep.

"Our freshmen like Michael Koehler and John Koller and Jimmy Alstot have done a great job out of the bullpen, and they've shown the ability to get some big strikeouts," said Savage, a former pitching coach at Southern California. "French has been a team guy, a high-profile guy who is finally healthy and has really adjusted well to the bullpen."

Offensively, the Anteaters have been opportunistic, with freshman first baseman Matt Anderson (.404-3-30), junior outfielder Jon Horwitz (.390, nine steals) and junior catcher Chris Miller (.310-9-44) providing most of the firepower. They'll need to continue to come up with big hits when Irvine plays host to Cal State Fullerton next weekend, while Long Beach visits Cal Poly and Northridge travels to Pacific.

Pitching carries the Anteaters' freight, as is the case with most Big West teams. However, the team working the formula best in league play right now didn't even have a team last year. And the team on top of the Big West likes to mash.

Strike up the band.

Notes on some of those tight conference races touched on here Friday:

• Richmond got solo homers from sophomores Chris Dolan and Michael Galligan in the ninth inning to beat George Washington 11-10 on Monday and capture that three-game series. The 23rd-ranked Spiders took a two-game lead over the Colonials in the Atlantic-10.

• The Big East stayed tight, with Boston College winning two of three from Villanova while Rutgers swept West Virginia, leaving the teams tied at 13-7 atop the league. Brownlie was solid in six innings to move to 3-1, 1.37 in his last four starts and is now 6-3 overall and 22-7 for his career.

• Coastal Carolina took two of three from Elon and has a one-game lead over Liberty in the Big South.

• Vermont, behind freshman lefthander Brian Robinson's second straight shutout, swept Binghamton and extended its winning streak to eight games to take sole possession of first place in the America East.

• The Big Ten got more jumbled, with Ohio State splitting a four-game set with Purdue and retaining first place at 13-6 in the league. Minnesota took two games from Indiana in a weather-truncated series and sits in second place at 10-6, with Indiana falling to fifth behind Michigan State (28-11 but 10-8 in the league) and Purdue.

• Delaware had its best weekend in Colonial Athletic Association play, sweeping Virginia Commonwealth to grab a share of first place in the Colonial Division. UNC Wilmington (13-2) and James Madison (11-3) have the league's best records, while Delaware is tied with George Mason (loser of two of three to JMU) and VCU (10-5) is a game back in the division.

• Manhattan ended Marist's winning streak at 19 games, and LeMoyne actually passed the Red Foxes atop the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings at 16-2. Marist is a game back.

• Kent State swept a four-game set from Akron to take command of the Mid-America race at 12-2 in the league. The big MAC story though concerned Saturday's doubleheader between Toledo and Bowling Green, played at new Fifth Third Field, the home of the Triple-A Mud Hens. A school-record 6,823 turned out to see the Falcons' 3-2, 11-3 sweep. Bowling Green is second behind Kent State in the East, while Eastern Michigan (14-6) stayed hot, sweeping three-game set at Western Michigan to stay in first in the West.

• The Southern Conference has The Citadel with a two-game edge on Western Carolina after the Bulldogs won two of three from Wofford. The Catamounts kept pace with a critical series win on the road at Georgia Southern and remain two games back.

Around the Nation

1. CLEMSON
This Week: 4-1. Overall: 38-6, 12-3 ACC (7-3 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 1.
NOTES: Probably the best week of the year for the Tigers in terms of quality victories with some adversity. They use Jr. RHP Matt Henrie to start WED vs. S. Carolina despite Wake series coming up, and it works. Henrie beats the Gamecocks, and then Fr. LHP Tyler Lumsden (Marlins 5th-rounder in '01) goes 7.1 shutout IP on SUN, 7 Ks, 4 H, 4 BB. Henrie finished up SUN. In 24 IP, Lumsden has allowed just 10 hits (.132 opp. BA), 22 BB but also 27 Ks. Another LHP, Thomas Boozer, shined SAT, 3.1 Jr. 3B Jeff Baker missed the weekend series w/strained quad. Sr. SS Khalil Greene carried the offense all week, 10-for-16 (w/7 BBs, 0 Ks and 5 SB), 7-for-10 in series, scored final run SUN on single, SB and came home on wild throw to 2B. What a player. Demon Deacons limited to 2-for-22 hitting w/RISP.
RESULTS:
April 23: Furman: W, 18-7
April 24: @ South Carolina (5): W, 4-1
April 26-28: Wake Forest (3): L, 2-4; W, 5-3; W, 4-0

2. RICE
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 39-8, 20-1 WAC (7-2 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 2.
NOTES: The Owls head into their exam break having won 27 of 31, 11 straight (second 11-game win streak this year), 17 in a row at Reckling Park and 15 straight at home in WAC play. Owls finished strong, rallying from 6-0 deficit after 3 IP to get the sweep; Fr. SS Paul Janish capped 3-run 9th-inning rally w/2-run single. The break should help Jr. RHP Steven Herce prepare for important series May 10-12 vs. San Jose State; he missed a turn this weekend w/tendonitis. Fr. RHP Philip Humber moved to 9-1 on THU w/second CG of the year. FRI, Sr. LHP Justin Crowder went 7 scoreless IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks, he's now 5-2, 2.10 in 73 IP, just 24 BB, 71 Ks.
RESULTS:
April 23: @ Texas A&M (22): W, 7-4
April 25-27: Louisiana Tech: W, 3-2; W, 9-1; W, 7-6

3. WAKE FOREST
This Week: 3-2. Overall: 36-8, 15-5 ACC (8-5 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 3.
NOTES: Demon Deacons got their weekend off to a good start, but Clemson pitching turns out to be too tough in series defeat. Deacons held to 17 hits for the weekend and lose junior 2B Nick Blue to separated shoulder on SAT. Soph. RHP Kyle Sleeth moved to 9-0 on FRI, 7 IP, 6 H, 6 Ks, 1 ER for his fourth win against a ranked team (Fla. State, UNC, Nebraska). Junior 1B Jeff Ruziecki w/2-run HR in 8th for the game-winner. Demon Deacons suspended soph. 3B Jamie D'Antona (leader in HRs, RBIs) and C Ryder Mathias entering SAT for four games (curfew violations? In Clemson? How?), but both ended up playing later in the series, w/D'Antona replacing Blue on SAT, Mathias starting SUN after injury limited Stephen Ghutzman to DH.
RESULTS:
April 23: @ Charlotte: W, 15-3
April 24: @ Virginia Tech; W, 10-3
April 26-28: @ Clemson (1): W, 4-2; L, 3-5; L, 0-4

4. STANFORD
This Week: 2-2. Overall: 29-12, 6-6 Pac-10 (6-3 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 9.
NOTES: Back-to-back series losses for Stanford (tied for fourth in Pac-10!), which also happened at this time last year (last two April series at USC and Cal). Stanford held to 11 H, 4 R in first two games, the ones it lost, before 19-hit assault on SUN. Soph. CF Sam Fuld 4-for-4, 5 R, and Sr. 2B Chris O'Riordan 4-for-6, HR, 3 RBIs. Soph. RHP John Hudgins (www.pac10baseball.da.ru) gets the CG SHO, his first. The Cardinal helps Oregon State usher in era of lights at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field on FRI, where Aussie soph. RHP Ben Rowe throws CG 4-hitter, halts RHP Jeremy Guthrie's win streak at 11, ends O'Riordan's 12-game hit streak and 38-game on-base streak. SAT, Cardinal loses when, w/runners at 1st and 2nd, J.R. Runyon K'd on wild pitch, runners advance, then C Ryan Garko's throw to 2B to try to get runner gets away, allowing winning run to score.
RESULTS:
April 24: Sacramento State: W, 6-5
April 26-28: @ Oregon State: L, 1-3; L, 3-4; W, 13-0

5. SOUTH CAROLINA
This Week: 3-1. Overall: 34-10, 14-6 SEC (8-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 4.
NOTES: The weather interrupted the Gamecocks' series at Kentucky, and S.C. didn't play a 9-inning game the whole weekend, needing extra frames Friday and winning a pair of 7-inning games in SUN DH. Senior LF Steve Thomas w/a pair of HRs on SUN, one in each win of the DH. Jr. 3B Brian Buscher, team's leading hitting in SEC play (.404), had RBI single in 10th on FRI, closer Blake Taylor moved to 4-0, 1.84 and got 12th save on SUN. Fr. 2B Kevin Melillo had a nice week, 5-for-12, has replaced injured OF Jon Coutlangus in lineup while Jr. Justin Harris moved to CF. Jr. SS Drew Meyer, team leader w/73 hits, homered to lead off game against RHP Joseph Blanton, who fanned just 2 in 5 IP and has lost 5 straight decisions.
RESULTS:
April 24: Clemson (1): L, 1-4
April 26, 28: @ Kentucky: W, 6-4 (10); W, 6-4; W, 12-6

6. MISSISSIPPI
This Week: 2-2. Overall: 34-11, 13-8 SEC (4-5 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 11.
NOTES: Not a good weekend for the Rebels, who give back the gains they made last weekend at Alabama by losing a series at home to Tennessee (23-23, 8-13 SEC). Volunteers have won 16 of last 21 in series. For the second time this season, Ole Miss' pitching just doesn't get it done. FRI, Ole Miss strands 14 runners as Tenn. makes 6 Es, pitcher Ben Riley gives up 13 H and 5 BB, and still wins as RHP T.J. Beam blows his first save of the year. SAT, Vols score 9 R in first 3 IP off Sr. RHP Pete Montrenes, and Tennessee LHP Jeffrey Terrell--who got the save FRI, pitching 2/3 IP--won SAT as THE STARTER, working into the 8th inning. Rebels had 13 LOB on SAT. Fr. RHP Alan Horne got the win SUN, 6 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 5 Ks, he's won four straight.
RESULTS:
April 24: Tennessee-Martin: W, 3-1
April 26-28: Tennessee: L, 5-8; L, 6-14; W, 9-2

7. ALABAMA
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 38-7, 16-5 SEC (6-4 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 5.
NOTES: The Crimson Tide takes a three-game lead in the SEC West and leads the entire league by a game-and-a-half. Standing-room only crowds on hand to watch Alabama sweep rival Auburn; 6,170 on SUN, 6,124 on SAT, 6,118 on FRI. Tide records a pair of late victories behind the bat of Sr. 1B Brent Boyd (moved from 3b a week ago), who hit sac fly in 8th FRI snapping a 6-6 tie as Auburn made 4 Es. SAT, Boyd hit 0-1 pitch for walk-off, two-run shot in 9th to cap comeback from early 4-0 deficit. Boyd homered in all three games. Closer Brian Reed, relieving Jeffrey Norris, went 4.2 scoreless IP for the win. SUN, Sr. CF Scott McClanahan capped a huge weekend (had HRs on FRI, SUN) w/pair of sterling plays in 7th, turned DP w/catch and throwing out runner at plate, then made diving catch in gap to rob Trent Pratt.
RESULTS:
April 24: @ Jacksonville State: W, 11-10
April 26-28: Auburn: W, 8-6; W, 6-5; W, 7-0

8. FLORIDA STATE
This Week: 3-0. Overall: 41-12, 9-6 ACC (10-4 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 6.
NOTES: Back at home for a long stretch, the Seminoles are playing like fans have come to expect w/7-game winning streak. Next two series are at home vs. Duke and Maryland; no offense, but those should be sweeps, too. This sweep of N.C. State was expected, however. SUN was the tough one, against soph. LHP Mike Prochaska, and FSU had to rally from 9-4 down in bottom of 7th. Blair McCaleb hit grand slam on 3-2 pitch to make it 9-7, then pair of walks brought up pinch-hitter Tony Richie, and the soph hit 3-run shot for 10-9 lead. SAT, Daniel Hodges w/another long save, 3.2 IP, 1 R, 4 H, he's got 7 saves. Soph. DH Tony McQuade ran average over .400, 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs on SAT. FRI, LHP Matt Lynch (9-1) threw team's first CG, McCaleb had four RBIs.
RESULTS:
April 26-28: North Carolina State: W, 9-3; W, 10-4; W, 12-11

9. TEXAS
This Week: 3-1. Overall: 37-11, 15-6 Big 12 (3-4 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 7.
NOTES: Pretty big series sweep for the Longhorns, who extended lead in Big 12 w/4-game lead in loss column over second-place Nebraska. Pitching continues to be the team's calling card; team ERA lowered this weekend to 2.42. FRI, LHP Brad Halsey and FR. RHP Huston Street (who seems to have settled in as the closer w/4th & 5th saves of the season) combined on 7-hitter, 7 Ks. OF Brandon Fahey w/2 RBIs, soph. 2B Tim Moss continued to show why he's one of nation's premier leadoff men, scored 2, caused havoc w/baserunning. He's hitting .380, 51 R, 3rd on team w/32 RBIs, 30-for-36 in SBs. SAT, Soph. LHP Justin Simmons moves to 12-0 w/help of 3 relievers (including Street) and two-run HR by Jr. DH Dustin Majewski off OSU Chris Reilly. SUN, Longhorns moved to 24-0 this year when scoring 7 or more runs; Majewski hit another 2-run HR, he's hitting .355-5-26.
RESULTS:
April 23: Southwest Texas State: L, 0-2
April 26-28: Oklahoma State: W, 3-2; W, 2-1; W, 7-4

10. HOUSTON
This Week: 3-0. Overall: 32-12, 15-5 C-USA (9-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 8.
NOTES: Rain on the weekend limited Houston to 15 innings against C-USA cellar-dweller Saint Louis, but the Cougars swept what was available to claim sole possession of first in the league, 2 up in loss column over Louisville (14-7), Southern Miss (13-7) and East Carolina (13-7-1). Another CG on FRI for soph. RHP Brad Sullivan, who fanned just 5 but retired 19 of last 22. Jr. 1B Brett Cooley, a JC transfer with team's best power, got off to slow start but has gotten red hot, has 15-game hitting streak, 12-game RBI streak, leads team in HRs after hitting Nos. 12 and 13 this weekend.
RESULTS:
April 24: Sam Houston State: W, 6-1
April 26, 28: @ Saint Louis: W, 7-3; W, 9-5 (6)

11. CAL STATE FULLERTON
This Week: 2-3. Overall: 29-15, 10-5 Big West (8-10 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 18.
NOTES: Cal State Northridge wanted this one badly and won a pair of close ones before pounding the Titans on SUN to hand Fullerton its first sweep at home since 1993, and just the second sweep in the five-year George Horton era (season-opening series @ Stanford in 2000). Soph. OF Shane Costa has 22-game hitting streak end on FRI, also had 54-at-bat streak w/out K end SAT. Soph. 1B Richie Burgos w/5-for-5, 4 RBI day vs. UCLA, had hits in first eight ABs on the week. FRI, CSUF lost pitchers duel as Wes Littleton gave up first-inning two-run HR, settled down for career-high 11 Ks, 1 BB in 8 IP but lost. SAT, Titans rally to tie from 4-0 down, but closer Chad Cordero gave up 4 in top of 10th.
RESULTS:
April 23: @ UCLA: W, 9-7
April 24: Vanguard (NAIA): W, 6-1
April 26-28: Cal State Northridge (23): L, 1-2; L, 6-8 (10); L, 3-12

12. FLORIDA
This Week: 2-1. Overall: 32-13, 13-8 SEC (8-8 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 10.
NOTES: The Gators offense seemed like it had been struggling, but then you look and notice four 10+-run efforts in the last nine SEC games, and that's pretty solid. Chance for the sweep vanished SUN as Georgia rallied for six-run ninth off Keith Ramsey (who carried no-hitter into the 7th) and Jamie Goldfarb; E by Fr. SS Jonathan Tucker didn't help. FRI, reliever Tommy Boss w/3.1 IP for 2nd save, team got 3-hit efforts from Matt Goss, Brian Rose and Pat Osborn, who has team-high 13-game hitting streak. Sr. 1B Ryan Shealy w/19th HR on SAT, four shy of single-season school record set in '97 and '98 by Brad Wilkerson.
RESULTS:
April 26-28: Georgia: W, 12-6; W, 12-9; L, 4-6

13. WICHITA STATE
This Week: 5-0. Overall: 32-10, 15-5 MVC (2-3 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 12.
NOTES: Not much to say when you play Howard, except that while Howard is willing to travel, it's still hard to figure out why any Top 25 team would ever schedule these guys, because it just kills your RPI. It does give you a chance to pad your stats and get some easy wins, as a 90-9 composite score for the weekend would attest. Jr. OF Randy Walter had 16 RBIs for the week, 10-for-15, also had 9 R. Jr. 2B Brian Burgamy had 8 RBIs and 10 R. TUE, Fr. Mathew Jakubov goes 7 IP, 2 H, 3 Ks for nice road win; Burgamy 2-for-4, RBI, CF Dustin Hawkins 3-for-4, R, RBI, SB. Next weekend is the big showdown series with Southwest Missouri State.
RESULTS:
April 23: @ Arkansas: W, 3-2
April 26-28: Howard: W, 15-2; W, 31-2; W, 24-0; W, 20-5

14. GEORGIA TECH
This Week: 4-1. Overall: 36-9, 10-7 ACC (0-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 13.
NOTES: Perhaps we shouldn't put so much emphasis on it, but Georgia Tech has a lot riding on next weekend's series in the ATL against No. 1 Clemson. Namely, the Yellow Jackets have to do something to beat a good team. They struggled with improved Virginia this weekend, getting 3-hit on FRI to end a 27-game winning streak at Russ Chandler Stadium. SAT, Jackets rallied to win on bases-loaded, pinch-hit single in 12th by Brandon Boggs. Jr. RHP Jeff Watchko w/5 shutout IP of relief. SUN, soph. OF Matt Murton w/2 HRs, 4 RBIs to power team to series win. RHP Brian Burks returns from muscle pull in back to beat Mercer and UVa.
RESULTS:
April 23: Mercer: W, 12-1
April 24: @ Georgia: W, 6-1
April 26-28: Virginia: L, 1-5; W, 3-2 (12); W, 9-3

15. LONG BEACH STATE
This Week: 1-3. Overall: 26-15, 8-4 Big West (5-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: Out of poll.
NOTES: The suddenly struggling Dirtbags have lost 5 of 7, and absorb a huge sweep at home to UC Irvine that helps tilt the balance of power in the Big West. Cal State Northridge now leads the league, and the Anteaters, in their first year, are 9-3 and all alone in second place. SUN, LBSU took 9-8 lead into the 9th trying to avoid sweep, but Irvine rallied for three runs capped by RBI single by Jon Horwitz, who went 5-for-6 w/4 RBIs for Anteaters. UCI used SUN starter Glenn Swanson to close out win on FRI w/last two outs, he started SUN anyway, K'd 6 in 5.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R. During this 7-game slump. LBUS's team ERA is 7.11, and the 49ers have made 11 errors.
RESULTS:
April 24: San Diego: W, 21-3
April 26-28: UC Irvine: L, 4-5; L, 3-9; L, 9-11

16. BAYLOR
This Week: 2-2. Overall: 31-16, 13-10 Big 12 (10-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 25.
NOTES: Look at the runs Baylor gave up at Kansas State, as only Sr. RHP Justin Taylor got the job done on the mound for the Bears. He moved to 8-1, threw 7 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 6 Ks. Bears barely held onto 6-1 lead as Fr. RHP Sean Walker bails out closer Kyle Edens in 9th. Baylor and LHP Jared Theodorakos blew an 8-0 lead FRI, Wildcats got 7 in 4th on 2 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Es. SAT, soph. 3B Ty Soto had 5 hits, Jr. RHP Steven White goes 4.1 IP, 6 R, 9 H, 2 Ks. K-State is tied for 8th in league w/Oklahoma, half-game back of OK State, % pts behind Mizzou, just 2.5 games separate third-place Baylor and K-State.
RESULTS:
April 24: Texas-Arlington: W, 7-5
April 26-28: @ Kansas State: L, 9-14; L, 9-12; W, 6-5

17. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
This Week: 2-2. Overall: 36-9, 19-2 Atlantic Sun (3-2 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 19.
NOTES: The bullpen blows it against Miami on Wednesday, as soph. RHP Chris Pillsbury one-hits the Hurricanes through 7 but Miami rallies for 5 in 8th. The bullpen, a bulwark all year, also gets the L in the defeat against Jacksonville, as closer Tim McNab gives up 7 H in 1.2 IP for his first loss, Dolphins rally from 3-run deficit. Pillsbury left w/lead after 4.2 IP (going on 3-days' rest). Still, Owls hand Jax Sr. RHP Bryan Williams his first loss, he had 3 consecutive CG SHOs and hadn't given up an earned run in 47.1 IP before FAU got to him in the 3rd for 3 R. Fr. Travis NeSmith w/CG SHO in finale, 9 Ks in 7 IP.
RESULTS:
April 24: @ Miami: L, 5-6
April 27-28: Jacksonville: W, 6-3; L, 3-5; W, 8-0

18. EAST CAROLINA
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 33-10-1, 13-7-1 C-USA (3-1 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 14.
NOTES: Pirates keep winning as coach Keith LeClair enters the hospital, his parents fly in from New Hampshire and stories fill local and even national newspapers. Pirates have won 19 of 23 since being swept at home by Texas Christian. Middle infield combination of SS Luke Cherry and 2B Jedd Sorenson has heated up, both riding 13-game hitting streaks as Pirates find some offensive support for Fr. 1B/3B Darryl Lawhorn. Jr. LHP Sam Narron keys the shutout on FRI, his 25th career win, 6 H in 8 IP, he's 7-2, 3.00, 9 BB in 75 IP. ECU has had to win with pitching (team has 38 HRs, Lawhorn 13 of 'em and he's slowed down), but it has the pitching to do so w/team ERA of 3.17.
RESULTS:
April 23: @ Duke: W, 2-1
April 26-28: @ Memphis: W, 3-0; W, 11-3; W, 7-4

19. NORTH CAROLINA
This Week: 4-1. Overall: 32-15, 13-5 ACC (5-5 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 15.
NOTES: Good week for Tar Heels, pair of impressive midweek wins, then win a close, hard-fought series vs. Miami while pitching well and taking a needed break from grind of conference play. Fr. RHP Michael Gross pitched 5 scoreless IP out of pen, got a pair of wins to move to 6-3, 3.53. Team's wins leaders are both Fr. RHPs, Gross and Carter Harrell (7-3, 3.68), who have combined for 5 starts and 34 relief appearances; usual weekend starters are just 10-5.Jr. IF Russ Adams continues fantastic season, went 9-for-18 w/3 R, 9 RBIs, 4 BB for week, hitting .374 w/41 SB and .487 on-base percentage. Fr. C Chris Iannetta w/pair of HRs on weekend, including game-winner FRI, then threw out a runner trying to steal in the 9th.
RESULTS:
April 23: Va. Commonwealth: W, 10-2
April 24: @ Charlotte: W, 8-0
April 26-28: Miami: W, 5-4; L, 3-4; W, 5-4

20. NEBRASKA
This Week: 4-1. Overall: 30-15, 14-10 Big 12 (8-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 17.
NOTES: The Huskers have rallied in the last two weeks, regaining their footing and moving into second place alone in the Big 12, a half-game up on Baylor but four back in the loss column of league-leading Texas. Once again, the Huskers go without Sr. RHP Shane Komine, who could come back in mid-May or sooner. Also, Jr. LHP Jamie Rodrigue, so hot to start the year, is struggling again, but the Huskers are still getting it done. In series finale, Jr. C Jed Morris clubs pair of HRs, had 5 RBIs, he leads club in those categories, hitting .372-13-53. CF Jeff Leise also homered, he leads team in batting, .408-9-40, also 7 3B, 18 of 19 SB. FRI, soph. LHP Aaron Marsden continues to fill in as new ace, moves to 5-1, 1.39 w/CG 3-hitter, just 100 pitches, 6 Ks, 0 BB.
RESULTS:
April 23-24: UT Pan American: W, 18-1; W, 10-2
April 26, 28: Kansas: W, 4-0; L, 3-14; W, 9-1

21. RICHMOND
This Week: 1-1. Overall: 36-7, 15-2 Atlantic-10 (1-0 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 23.
NOTES: The Spiders split a doubleheader SAT at George Washington as the A-10's top two teams play to a draw, with SUN game rained out. Colonials dealt ace RHP Tim Stauffer his second straight defeat after 11-0 start, threw 132 pitches, 9.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 10 Ks, gave up run in 9th as GW tied the game and two-run HR to Mike Bassett in 10th to end it. Jr. 3B David Reaver saw school-record 34-game hitting streak end. Soph. Thomas Martin responded in 2nd game w/third win, Andy Givens w/1.1 scoreless IP for 1st save. Jr. 1B Vito Chiaravalloti w/14th HR, CF Bryan Pritz w/2 RBIs.
RESULTS:
April 27: @ George Washington: L, 2-4 (10); W, 7-5

22. TEXAS A&M
This Week: 1-3. Overall: 32-18, 11-10 Big 12 (7-8 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: Out of poll.
NOTES: The Aggies have gone just 4-5 in their last three Big 12 series to fall to fifth place, a full four games back of Texas and a half-game back of fourth-place Texas Tech. SAT, the teams split a doubleheader, as Sr. 2B Ty Garner (son of Phil) had four hits, two HRs and 6 RBIs to lead the big win. Aggies made six errors in the second game, leading to 7 unearned runs. FRI, Aggies rallied for 6 in 9th but fell short as Tigers scored 7 R (four unearned) off ace Justin Moore.
RESULTS:
April 23: Rice (2): L, 4-7
April 26-28: Missouri: L, 10-11; W, 16-5; L, 2-13

23. CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE
This Week: 3-0. Overall: 32-13, 12-3 Big West (3-2 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 16.
NOTES: Talk about a statement series. The Matadors get it done with a pair of close wins and then a blowout to sweep the Titans (first time they've been swept at Goodwin Field since 1993) and take first place in the Big West, tied in the loss column with UC Irvine, three up in win column. Jr. C Jason Allec w/3-run HR to cap SAT rally after Matadors blew 4-0 lead; they got 4 in the 10th of Titans ace closer Chad Cordero, all w/2 outs, single by Shaun Larkin, RBI 2B by Eric Verbryke, walk and then Allec's HR. FR, Jason Gormon's 2-run HR in 1st stood up behind Jr. LHP Bill Murphy's CG 5-hitter, 6 Ks, 6 BB, 133 pitches. SUN, Larkin 3-for-4, 4 R, 3 RBIs, Verbryke also 3-for-4, and CSUN got 1B Tim Arroyo back from knee injury for the series, he had 2 RBIs on SUN.
RESULTS:
April 26-28: @ Cal State Fullerton (11): W, 2-1; W, 8-6 (10); W, 12-3

24. SOUTH ALABAMA
This Week: 3-1. Overall: 31-12, 11-2 Sun Belt (4-5 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 21.
NOTES: The Jaguars just miss out on the sweep . . . huh? Yes, well, that 9-4 game on FRI was 4-3 USA going into the 9th, but Fla. International rallied for six that inning, and FIU Fr. RHP Derek DeCarlo moved to 8-0, retiring the last 16 Jaguars hitters. Jags repond on SAT, 18 hits, Brett Parker and Erik Smallwood rap 5 hits apiece and soph. RHP Clark Girardeau throws a CG 7-hitter. SUN, Smallwood brings home the game-winner with a two-out single in the 8th, Bert Heath made it stand up with his first career save. Jaguars are 1-up in loss column on UL Lafayette (12-3 in SBC) and a half-game up on Western Kentucky (1 in loss column).
RESULTS:
April 23: Troy State: W, 11-2
April 26-28: Florida International: L, 4-9; W, 14-4; W, 5-4

25. SAN DIEGO STATE
This Week: 1-3. Overall: 34-18, 16-5 Mountain West (0-1 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: Out of poll.
NOTES: Welcome to the Top 25, Aztecs. San Diego State loses a tight one at midweek to the red-hot Trojans when Michael Morales comes home at the front of a triple-steal off Royce Ring. Then second-place Utah comes into Tony Gwynn Stadium and swept a doubleheader on SAT in front of a stadium-record crowd of 1,788. SDSU had 7-0 lead in the first game, then gave up five unearned runs in six-run 5th inning. Ring gave up inherited runner in 9th in second game as Utah got 2-1 win behind Cheyenne Rushton (8 IP, 5 H, 7 Ks). Aztecs rallied to salvage finale from early 5-0 deficit. Brian Manfred sac flies knocked in last two runs, Ring got his 3rd win.
RESULTS:
April 23: Southern California: L, 8-10
April 27-28: Utah: L, 9-14; L, 1-2; W, 6-5

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
This Week: 3-1. Overall: 28-17, 11-4 Pac-10 (5-10 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 20.
NOTES: This is probably not the style the Trojans and coach Mike Gillespie would prefer to play, but the Trojans have thrown out all subtlety, on the surface, just having to out-mash teams whenever Jr. RHP Anthony Reyes isn't on the bump. (Reyes got the win FRI, 7 IP, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 Ks.) Trojans have scored 10 or more runs in eight straight games as they have charged to front of Pac-10 race, three up in win column on 9-4 Washington, which swept a series at Cal. Just when you think USC is all mash, though, Gillespie calls the triple steal, and Mo Morales swipes the go-ahead run for the win vs. San Diego State. Red-hot Jr. C/3B Alberto Concepcion and white-hot Fr. DH Joey Metropoulos both go 4-for-5 w/HRs on FRI to back up Reyes; SAT, soph. SS Michael Moon 4-for-4, 5 RBIs.
RESULTS:
April 23: San Diego State (25): W, 10-8
April 24: UC Santa Barbara: W, 11-7
April 26-28: Arizona: W, 14-6; W, 12-10; L, 12-15

NOTRE DAME
This Week: 3-0. Overall: 30-12, 11-6 Big East (0-0).
New Rank: 22.
NOTES: The winning streak for the Irish is up to 12 games, and only the weather could stop them this weekend, raining out the final two games of a much-anticipated series with Arizona State. Record crowd (2,810) at Eck Stadium sees return of former ND coach Pat Murphy and Jr. RHP J.P. Gagne, who moved to 6-3, 2.29 w/4.1 IP out of bullpen, holding Sun Devils scoreless. Sr. DH Matt Bok w/2-run single during 5-run 5th inning that pretty much was the ballgame.
RESULTS:
April 23: Chicago State: W, 16-6
April 24: Bowling Green: W, 3-2 (6)
April 26: Arizona State: W, 9-4

LSU
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 30-15, 12-8 SEC (5-8 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 24.
NOTES: One of the best weeks of the year for LSU, which gets its second sweep in three weeks in the SEC after not getting any in the first 4 weeks. On FRI, soph. LHP Lane Mestepey started the weekend with a four-hit shutout, which took just 1 hour, 51 minutes, shortest game since 1997. It's his first career SHO out of 8th career CG. Soph. RHP Brian Wilson followed him with quite an encore, a CG three-hit shutout, his first, in front of a season-high crowd of 8,510, the second-largest in school history. LSU's first back-to-back shutouts since March 26-27, 1996, and first in SEC play since way back in 1986. And SUN, the Tigers made it a complete performance with a season-high 19-win attack for its ninth straight win at home.
RESULTS:
April 23: UL Monroe: W, 10-3
April 26-28: Arkansas: W, 3-0; W, 8-0; W, 13-5