By John Manuel
May 20, 2002

Two more automatic bids went out this weekend, starting with another regular-season champion in a league that does not have a conference tournament.

Cal State Northridge almost had baseball cut in 1997, then was without a conference for two more seasons before joining the Big West last year. This year's Matadors busted down the door by winning the league's regular-season crown, sweeping UC Irvine this weekend.

Junior right fielder Eric Verbryke went 6-for-10 in the series' first two games and had nine RBIs to help lead the Matadors, who moved junior lefty Bill Murphy to the bullpen for the weekend. Murphy, the rotation's workhorse most of the year, had struggled in his last few starts but got the save Saturday in the league clincher.

• It's a return trip to regionals for coach Charlie Hickey, who led Providence's last team to the Big East title and a regional berth in 1999. Hickey moved on to Central Connecticut State when the Friars' program was eliminated, and has guided the Blue Devils (34-21) to their first Northeast Conference title and first regional berth.

Senior Justin Cerbone pitched a complete-game six-hitter in the championship game as CCSU defeated defending tournament champion Maryland-Baltimore County 11-2 in the title game. Cerbone struck out five and was staked to an early lead, which reached 7-0 through the first four innings.

"Justin Cerbone has been the biggest supporter of everyone else on this team all season," said Hickey. "He's faced some of our toughest non-conference opponents all year. When his chance came today against an NEC opponent, he was very special. It was a joy to watch."

Fresno State and Michigan won't be the only major Division I programs hiring a new coach this offseason. After his team's final series against Tennessee, Roy Mewbourne retired after 24 seasons at Vanderbilt, created a coveted opening in the Southeastern Conference. And Kansas coach Bobby Randall resigned after seven seasons as the Jayhawks' coach.

The Commodores were 24-27 this season and 655-608-9 in Mewbourne's 24 seasons, making him their all-time wins leader. However, Vanderbilt made only one regional appearance (1980) in his tenure. In recent years, the Commodores have remained a league doormat despite attracting talented recruits such as first-round picks Mark Prior and Jeremy Sowers. Vanderbilt also opened a new ballpark this season, the $5.8 million Hawkins Field.

"It is time to turn the program over to someone else," Mewbourne said. "I feel I have taken the program as far as I can."

Randall, 53, had spent 11 seasons as Iowa State's head coach prior to coming to Kansas. His Jayhawks teams went 166-214, including 22-29 in 2002. Their best season during his tenure was 31-25 in 1997.

"Our low winning percentage in the (Big 12) conference has overshadowed all other accomplishments the team has achieved," Randall said in a statement.

AROUND THE NATION
1. CLEMSON
This Week: 2-3. Overall: 44-12, 16-8, 4th ACC (8-8 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 6.
NOTES: Spectacular collapse sees the Tigers swept at home by Florida State, falling from first to fourth in ACC. Play Georgia Tech in ACC tournament. Had been 31-5 at home prior to this series. However, the late slide (series losses at Ga. Tech, swept by FSU) can't slow down Sr. SS Khalil Greene, who hit two more HRs, went 5-for-13 in series to drop average to .476.
RESULTS:
May 13: @ Virginia: W, 5-3
May 15: Western Carolina: W, 12-4
May 17-19: Florida State (5): L, 3-9; L, 3-12; L, 3-9

2. RICE
Overall: 44-11, 25-2 WAC (9-3 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 1.
NOTES: The Owls have won seven straight on the road, sweeping Fresno for first time ever, and that's a ridiculous conference record. And don't look now, but sophomore SS Enrique Cruz esta muy caliente, hitting two homers in both SAT and SUN wins, leads team and WAC with 15 HRs. Rice has hit .357 in league play and also has a 2.93 overall ERA, the sign of a complete team. Fr. 1B Vince Sinisi, who wears Lance Berkman's old number (27), it hitting .434, three points ahead of Berkman's school-record .431 average in 1997.
RESULTS:
May 14: Texas (8): L, 2-4
May 17-19: @ Fresno State: W, 4-1; W, 17-9; W, 12-1

3. WAKE FOREST
This Week: 3-1-1. Overall: 42-9-1, 17-6, 2nd ACC (8-5 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 5.
NOTES: Demon Deacons set school's conference wins mark. Deacs have won the ACC tournament (1977, '99) the last two times they were seeded second. Demon Deacons still without 2B Nick Blue, day-to-day w/shoulder separation, team's second-leading hitter at .370; OF Ryan Hubbard also out with back injury. Soph. RHP Kyle Sleeth with the CG on FRI, 12-0, 2.67 overall in 15 starts.
RESULTS:
May 13: @ Liberty: T, 11-11
May 15: @ West Virginia: W, 4-1
May 17-19: @ Duke: W, 14-4; L, 2-6; W, 5-3

4. SOUTH CAROLINA
This Week: 5-0. Overall: 44-12, 21-8, 1st SEC (10-7 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 2.
NOTES: The Gamecocks sweep the Bulldogs on the road to post the SEC's best regular-season record. Sr. closer Blake Taylor had a remarkable regular-season, 17 saves, got the win SUN, he's 5-0, 1.64 in 60 IP, 45 H, 25 BB, 59 SO. Gamecocks have potent power throughout lineup, from Sr. 1B Yaron Peters (.381-21-79) to 3B Brian Buscher (.348-13-53) to OF Garris Gonce (.311-14-47) to DH Trey Dyson (.274-16-51). Team has 99 HRs, opponents 55.
RESULTS:
May 14: @ Charleston Southern: W, 16-4
May 15: Furman: W, 14-0
May 17-19: @ Georgia: W, 11-9; W, 12-4; W, 4-2

5. FLORIDA STATE
This Week: 3-0. Overall: 51-12, 18-6, 1st ACC (13-4 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 3.
NOTES: Seminoles have won 17 straight, but the last three are clearly the most impressive. FSU wins its last 15 ACC games after a 3-6 start to win the regular-season race in what has been the nation's best league--at least at the top--this season. None of the games this weekend were close, either, as FSU dominates a Clemson team that had won 31 of 36 games at home previously. In 35 games, Fr. SS Stephen Drew hits .379-11-43 (from leadoff spot), 43 R, .686 slugging (barely 2nd on team to Ryan Barthelemy), .443 on-base (3rd on team), 9 SB, .969 fielder at SS. Wow.
RESULTS:
May 17-19: @ Clemson (1): W, 9-3; W, 12-3; W, 9-3

6. ALABAMA
This Week: 1-3. Overall: 44-12, 20-10, 1st SEC West (6-7 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 12.
NOTES: Swept at LSU for the first time since 1988. Still win the SEC West, and will be the second seed in the SEC tournament. The Tide just didn't hit this weekend in losing their third SEC series of the year; team has lost eight straight to LSU. This weekend, just 6 R, team was 5-for-24 (.208) w/RISP. Sr. 1B Brent Boyd goes 0-for-13, 6 Ks, 12 LOB alone.
RESULTS:
May 14: Mississippi Valley State: W, 10-7
May 18-19: @ LSU (15): L, 0-3; L, 5-6; L, 1-5

7. STANFORD
This Week: 2-2. Overall: 37-16, 13-8 Pac-10 (6-3 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 8.
NOTES: Cardinal wins on the road at UCLA to creep within a game of first-place USC. Washington also got it done this weekend, winning two of three at Oregon State. ASU is two games back at 12-9 in the league after winning the USC series. Fourth straight CG for Jeremy Guthrie, shutout w/13 Ks. Cardinal offense explodes SUN for season-best five home runs, w/Fr. Chris Carter banging two, Jr. C Ryan Garko w/team-best 13th, and Jr. LF Jason Cooper w/No. 12.
RESULTS:
May 14: @ Nevada: L, 12-13
May 17-19: @ UCLA: W, 11-0; L, 4-9; W, 17-4

8. TEXAS
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 43-13, 19-8, 1st Big 12 (5-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 4.
NOTES: Huge week for the Longhorns, who keep soph. 2B Tim Moss in the lineup, and but the main ingredient remains pitching as Horns win first Big 12 regular-season title. Soph. LHP Justin Simmons wins his 14th straight start, he's an amazing 14-0, 1.83, 103 IP, just 71 H (.195 opp. BA), 26 BB, 64 Ks, 4 CG. Fr. RHP Huston Street has solved the closer problem, 0.87 ERA, 8 SV, 36 Ks and just 5 BB in 31 IP. Team ERA is 2.63, and that's an aluminum-bat league.
RESULTS:
May 14: @ Rice: W, 4-2
May 17: Texas A&M: W, 5-1
May 18-19: @ Texas A&M: W, 7-3; W, 7-4

9. WICHITA STATE
This Week: 3-2. Overall: 42-13, 23-9 MVC (3-3 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 14.
NOTES: Shockers split at home vs. S. Ill., struggling at plate in last two games after clinching MVC regular season. Most of the starters played those two games. Still, the Shockers' two wins make it 16 MVC regular seasons in the last 18 years for Wichita; no other team and league has seen such dominance, and that's saying something. Jr. RHP John Tetuan moves to 9-0, 1.92 on FRI w/7 IP, 1 ER, opp. BA for year is just .189, 75 IP, 50 H, 24 BB, 63 Ks.
RESULTS:
May 13: Oklahoma: W, 5-1
May 17-19: Southern Illinois: W, 10-6; W, 6-1; L, 1-2; L, 3-4 (14)

10. HOUSTON
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 41-14, 22-7, 1st C-USA (10-6 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 7.
NOTES: Cougars sweep Texas Christian, second straight sweep to finish year on 7-game win streak in C-USA (eight overall) and win the league regular season for the third time in four years. CG 1-hitter on THU by soph. RHP Brad Sullivan. He's got two shutouts, has single-season record w/134 strikeouts. Jr. RHP Jesse Crain has a 30.1 IP scoreless streak, school-record nine saves, he's also hitting .318-10-41, third on team in HRs.
RESULTS:
May 14: @ Baylor (25): W, 5-4
May 16-18: Texas Christian: W, 2-0; W, 4-2; W, 6-1

11. FLORIDA
This Week: 40-15, 20-10, 2nd SEC East (9-10 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 11.
NOTES: Gators sweep at Kentucky; getting shutout SUN over first 8 IP by Joseph Blanton, they rally for four hits and 5 runs in 9th, capped by 3-run HR by Sr. SS Mark Kiger, for the sweep. Jr. RHP Alex Hart gets his SEC-best 13th win on SAT, second-shortest start of the year, 5.2 IP, season-high 7 BB, also 8 Ks. David Bartelt w/3.1 4-hit relief to save the win on FRI. SAT, Gators bas season-high (tying) six home runs.
RESULTS:
May 17-19: @ Kentucky: W, 14-4; W, 18-6; W, 5-4

12. GEORGIA TECH
This Week; 3-1. Overall: 44-12, 14-9 ACC (4-8 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 10.
NOTES: Yellow Jackets move to 31-4 at home, they have won four consecutive home series, three against Clemson, Miami and North Carolina. Their reward--5th place in ACC and a first-round game against Clemson. Second-most victories in a 56-game regular season in Tech history. Fr. RF Jeremy Slayden has tied school record w/16 HRs by a freshman; Jr. RHP Jeff Watchko wins his 10th game w/win on SAT in relief.
RESULTS:
May 14: Georgia: W, 12-11 (10)
May 17-19: North Carolina: W, 7-4; W, 12-9; L, 1-6

13. NORTH CAROLINA
This Week: 2-2. Overall: 39-17, 17-7, 3rd ACC (7-7 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 15.
NOTES: The Tar Heels have recovered from 6-8 start in fine fashion; only league series losses were to Clemson and at Ga. Tech and Wake Forest. Soph. LHP Daniel Moore, struggling to the point SUN starter was listed as TBA for Tar Heels going in, put together his best start of the year, CG 4-hitter, to avoid the sweep. Sr. OF/RHP Chris Maples finishes regular season at .350-22-68, .729 slugging.
RESULTS:
May 13: @ Duke: W, 18-9
May 17-19: @ Georgia Tech (12): L, 4-7; L, 9-12; W, 6-1

14. NEBRASKA
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 39-17, 16-11 Big 12 (10-8 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 13.
NOTES: The Huskers have won eight straight and got a taste of Omaha on TUE as they beat Creighton 9-1 in front of 18,500+ and with Sr. RHP Shane Komine pitching five shutout innings in his first start in some time. Sr. IF Will Bolt becomes the Huskers' all-time hits leader with 262, breaking Darin Erstad's record (set in 3 years).
RESULTS:
May 14: @ Creighton: W, 9-1
May 17-19: Louisiana Tech: W, 12-2; W, 7-1; W, 5-1

15. LSU
This Week: 3-0. Overall: 38-17, 19-10, 2nd SEC West (10-9 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 9.
NOTES: Is LSU back or what? Look at that pitching with a shutout and holding Alabama to six runs over the weekend. Team ERA in SEC play is league-best 3.71, and only Alabama surrendered fewer runs (LSU gave up more unearned runs). In SEC, soph. LHP Lane Mestepey went 7-2, 2.63, just 12 BB in 78.2 IP, best ERA among SEC starters. This is not your dad's LSU team, no player has more than 7 HRs. Jr. 3B Wally Pontiff has 42 BBs, .453 on-base to go with .346, 20 2Bs.
RESULTS:
May 18-19: Alabama (6): W, 3-0; W, 6-5; W, 5-1

16. CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 40-15, 19-5, 1st Big West (3-2 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 16.
NOTES: Matadors get the offense going again this weekend in a big sweep of Anteaters. Matadors clinch first Big West title (and the regional berth that goes with it) on SAT, reach 40-win mark and rest some starters in the finale. Starter-turned-reliever Andy Davidson ends up as the team's leading winner at 11-2, 4.09 despite 101 H in 77 IP; just 19 BB, 70 Ks.
RESULTS:
May 14: Loyola Marymount: W, 9-6
May 17-19: UC Irvine: W, 11-1; W, 11-6; W, 13-6

17. CAL STATE FULLERTON
This Week: 1-0. Overall: 34-17, 14-7 Big West (9-10 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 17.
NOTES: Not a mistake or misprint. The Titans won their only game this week in 11 innings, but had an April 23 win vs. UCLA taken back, for now, as the S.C. Umpires Assoc. upheld UCLA's appeal of CSUF's batting-order infraction during the 9th inning of a game at UCLA. Instead of an 8-7 win, the game will pick up at the point of the infraction, with CSUF leading 7-6 in the top of the 9th.
RESULTS:
May 15: @ Southern California (19): W, 2-1 (11)

18. SOUTH ALABAMA
This Week: 2-2. Overall: 38-16, 17-5, 1st Sun Belt (4-5 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 20.
NOTES: Jaguars win the Sun Belt by winning the series w/third-place Western Kentucky, and w/UL Lafayette's loss to Arkansas State. Another CG win for Sam Smith, who's now 7-1, team-best 3.22 ERA, 110.2 IP, 101 H, 31 BB, 98 Ks. Jr. OF Ryan Mulhern powers the offense at .355-12-53. Soph. RHP Clark Girardeau suddenly struggling, 8-5, 5.50 ERA, he's given up 17 HRs.
RESULTS:
May 14: @ Auburn: L, 4-6
May 18-19: @ Western Kentucky: L, 4-13; W, 4-2; W, 13-7

19. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
This Week: 1-3. Overall: 31-22, 14-7, 1st Pac-10 (5-11 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 21.
NOTES: The Trojans lose the series at ASU but retain first place in the Pac-10, lead Stanford and Washington by one game with three games to go; USC owns the tiebreaker vs. Washington, but not vs. Stanford. First loss of the season for Jr. RHP Anthony Reyes on FRI. Trojans finish the season playing 3 at UCLA, while Stanford plays host to Washington State (which won its series vs. Arizona this weekend), Washington plays Arizona and ASU hosts Oregon State.
RESULTS:
May 15: Cal State Fullerton (17): L, 1-2 (11)
May 17-19: @ Arizona State: L, 1-3; W, 9-5; L, 8-17

20. NOTRE DAME
This Week: 4-0. Overall: 41-14, 18-8 Big East (0-0 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 18.
NOTES: The Fighting Irish are hot, winning the Big East regular season (tied w/Va. Tech but Irish swept the series 2-0). Notre Dame hasn't played the toughest schedule in the world, granted, but ND has won 32 of its last 36 games over the last seven weeks. Irish trailed 6-0 vs. BC Fr. Chris Lambert before rallying to 7 runs, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 E. Soph. 1B Joe Thaman w/grand slam in the inning, his second on the weekend, also did it on FRI.
RESULTS:
May 15: Rochester: W, 10-3
May 15: Detroit: W, 23-1 (7)
May 17-18: Boston College: W, 8-2; W, 10-6; W, 5-2

21. RICHMOND
This Week: 2-0. Overall: 48-8 (1-0 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 19.
NOTES: To no one's surprise, Richmond will play host to George Washington for a best-of-three, stage-two of the Atlantic-10 tournament. UR won 2 of 3 in a tight series at GW at the end of April. With all the talk of Richmond's pitching, don't forget the left side of the infield: 3B David Reaver hitting .408-4-48, .475 on-base, SS Matt Craig hits .380-16-74, 17 SB, leads team in RBIs.
RESULTS:
May 17: Temple: W, 5-3
May 18: George Washington: W, 6-4

22. JAMES MADISON
This Week: 1-2. Overall: 41-12, 15-5, 1st CAA (0-2 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: Out of poll.
Notes: Dukes lose the series at ODU, including a 17-K, CG 2-hitter by Monarchs' Fr. RHP Justin Verlander, who is just dealing right now. LHP Dan Meyer responds SAT w/7 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 7 Ks for Dukes. JMU left 8 runners and committed 4 Es on SUN loss.
RESULTS:
May 17-19: @ Old Dominion: L, 0-2; W, 5-0; L, 2-3

23. SAN JOSE STATE
This Week: 1-0. Overall: 42-15, 18-9 WAC (3-5 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 22.
NOTES: Spartans go into final series of year vs. Nevada with 2nd in WAC all but wrapped up after Fresno's sweep by Rice. Fr. RHP Matt Durkin w/8 shutout IP vs. Cal, he's now 10-2, 2.49, 4 CGs in 9 starts, 90 IP, 76 H, 0 HR allowed.
RESULTS:
May 14: California: W, 9-2

24. MISSISSIPPI
This Week: 2-3. Overall: 27-19, 14-16 SEC (5-7 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: Out of poll.
NOTES: What a collapse. Rebels lose 10 of last 12 SEC games after winning series at Alabama and ascending to No. 6 ranking. Ole Miss doesn't even qualify for the SEC tournament and probably won't get a regional bid, though there's no rule against it, apparently. Team's pitching just fell apart late. Gave up double-digit runs in seven of those 10 losses down the stretch.
RESULTS:
May 13: @ Arkansas State: W, 12-4
May 14: McNeese State: W, 3-2
May 18-19: @ Mississippi State: L, 2-12; L, 5-14; L, 5-10

25. BAYLOR
This Week: 0-4. Overall: 24-22, 13-13 Big 12 (10-7 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: Out of poll.
NOTES: Speaking of collapses . . . the Bears go out with a whimper, swept at Texas Tech, blow leads all night FRI including giving up 3 runs in bottom 10th, then lost a 10-run rule game on SUN. Bears have won one Big 12 series since sweeping Kansas March 15-17 (6-11 in Big 12 since then).
RESULTS:
May 14: Houston (10): L, 4-5
May 17-19: @ Texas Tech: L, 7-8 (10); L, 2-5; L, 1-11

TEXAS TECH
This Week: 3-0. Overall: 40-16, 16-11, t2nd Big 12 (6-7 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 23.
NOTES: The Red Raiders are hot, riding a 15-game winning streak, second-longest in school history, just the 10th time the club has won 40 games. Sr. SS Gera Alvarez drove in 7 on SUN, drove in winning run w/SF on FRI. Closer Steve Rowe sealed up the win on SAT, moved to 8-2, 1.35, 8 SV, he's got 65 SO in 53 IP, just 11 BB.
RESULTS:
May 17-19: Baylor (25): W, 8-7; W, 5-2; W, 11-1

ARIZONA STATE
This Week: 4-1. Overall: 32-19, 12-9, 4th Pac-10 (4-8 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 24.
NOTES: Sun Devils win the series against the Trojans with some fine pitching from both LHP Jared Leibeck (7 shutout IP on FRI) and then some big offense on SUN as Sr. SS Sergio Garcia goes 5-for-5, Fr. Nick Cadena goes for two HRs; highest scoring Pac-10 game of year on SUN. ASU finishes up vs. Oregon State next weekend and is just two games out in Pac-10, one back of 2nd.
RESULTS:
May 14-15: Portland: W, 14-2; W, 16-7
May 17-19: Southern California (19): W, 3-1; L, 5-9; W, 17-8

LOUISVILLE
This Week: 4-1. Overall: 39-14, 21-9, 2nd C-USA (0-0 vs. Top 25).
New Rank: 25.
NOTES: Cardinals set school records for Wins and conference wins, has won 10 of 11, 13 of 15 and 20 of 24. Finished second in C-USA to Houston, winning the series at East Carolina on Sun w/CG shutout by Jr. RHP Scott Barber. Soph. OF Mark Jurich continues to power the offense at .380-16-60, leads in all categories (tied in RBIs). Fr. RHP Zach Jackson leads pitching staff at 10-1, 3.86, 72 IP, 62 H, 22 BB, 40 Ks.
RESULTS:
May 14: Akron: W, 3-1; W, 6-2
May 16-18: @ East Carolina: W, 14-1; L, 5-7; W, 7-0