College Top 25

Last week: 3-1
Overall: 3-1, 0-0 in Big Ten (2-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
MLB 4 Tournament in Talking Stick, Ariz.
Feb. 14: vs. (1) Vanderbilt: W 4-3
Feb. 15: vs. Cal Poly: W 8-5
Feb. 15: @ (3) Arizona State: W 5-0
Feb. 16: vs. Connecticut: L 7-1

Upcoming
Feb. 21-23: vs. Connecticut (Port St. Lucie, Fla.)

Even with a weekend-capping loss to Connecticut, Michigan left the biggest impression of any team on Opening Weekend. The clear highlight was Friday’s win over Vanderbilt, which featured a ninth-inning go-ahead home run from fifth-year senior Matt Schmidt. But what they did on Saturday might be more impressive. After taking care of Cal Poly at Talking Stick in the afternoon, they bussed to Phoenix Municipal Stadium to play a road game against No. 3 Arizona State and came away with a 5-0 win. Redshirt freshman lefthander Steve Hajjar was outstanding against the Sun Devils, tossing six shutout innings with three hits and two walks allowed. Outfielder Jordan Nwogu had the best weekend of anyone in the Wolverines’ lineup, going 8-for-16. They’ll get a chance for some revenge against UConn next weekend, when they take on the Huskies in a neutral site series in Florida.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Marshall: W 9-2, W 10-0, W 15-8

Upcoming
Feb. 18-19: vs./@ Jacksonville
Feb. 21-23: @ (3) Miami

The Gators wasted little time in earning their first series win of the season, collecting back-to-back routine wins on Friday and Saturday by a combined 19-2 score. On Opening Day, righthander Tommy Mace scattered eight hits in six innings, allowing two runs to score, while the offense collected 11 hits. The UF scoring was capped on Friday by a three-run blast off the bat of first baseman Kris Armstrong. Florida pitching dominated on Saturday. Righthander Jack Leftwich got things going by allowing three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in six shutout innings and the bullpen trio of David Luethje, Hunter Barco and Brandon Sproat combined to throw three nearly perfect innings to close it out. The Gators won a slugfest in the finale, scoring 15 runs on 15 hits, including home runs from Austin Langworthy and Cory Acton, and two from Brady Smith.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Rutgers: W 2-1, W 8-2, W 13-6

Upcoming
Feb. 19: Kent State
Feb. 21-23: (2) Florida

Faced with a Rutgers team that can really pitch, the Hurricanes won a typical Friday night pitchers duel in the opener. Senior righty Brian Van Belle tossed six shutout innings, striking out ten, and the two runs Miami pushed across in the third inning on an Adrian Del Castillo two-run single were enough to get the job done. In game 2, a contest that was suspended due to rain on Saturday evening and finished on Sunday, righthander Chris McMahon struck out nine in six innings of work and the UM offense broke out a little bit with four home runs - two by Del Castillo, a grand slam by Gabe Rivera and a solo shot to cap off the scoring by J.P. Gates. The lineup stayed hot on Sunday, with 13 runs scoring, and righthander Slade Cecconi gave up two hits and one run in six innings of work.

Last week: 4-0
Overall: 4-0, 0-0 in Big 12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Texas Tech Tournament
Feb. 14: Houston Baptist: W 5-1
Feb. 15: Houston Baptist: W 24-3 (7)
Feb. 15: Northern Colorado: W 22-4
Feb. 16: Northern Colorado: W 14-3 (7)

Upcoming
Round Rock Classic in Round Rock, Texas
Feb. 21: Tennessee
Feb. 22: Stanford
Feb. 23: Houston

Texas Tech dominated its home tournament. After a relatively straightforward 5-1 win on opening day that saw righthanders Clayton Beeter and Micah Dallas combine to hold Houston Baptist to one run on two hits, the Red Raiders exploded for 60 runs in the next three games, including outscoring Northern Colorado 46-7 in a Saturday doubleheader. Freshman Nate Rombach had the biggest weekend among the many Texas Tech hitters who had big weekends, going 7-for-14 with five home runs. The Red Raiders will take a big step up in competition this coming weekend when they take on Tennessee, Stanford and Houston.

Last week: 1-2
Overall: 1-2, 0-0 in SEC (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 0-1

Results
MLB4 Tournament in Talking Stick, Ariz.
Feb. 14: vs. (8) Michigan: L 4-3
Feb. 15: vs. Connecticut: W 6-1
Feb. 16: vs. Cal Poly: L 9-8

Upcoming
Feb. 18-19: South Alabama
Feb. 21-23: Illinois-Chicago

Vanderbilt was close to going 3-0 in the MLB4 Tournament, but instead, ended the weekend with a 1-2 record. In games against Michigan and Cal Poly, they went into the ninth inning with leads, only to see them evaporate. Against the Wolverines, Matt Schmidt connected for a two-run homer in the ninth inning off closer Tyler Brown to hand the Commodores the loss. On Sunday against the Mustangs, Brown again suffered a blown save, although defensive miscues also played a big role, and Cal Poly won it on a walk-off sac fly off the bat of Tate Samuelson. In the game 2 win over Connecticut, righthander Kumar Rocker was his typical self. He had a rough second inning that saw him walk in the Huskies’ only run, but otherwise, he was outstanding. At the end of the day, he had thrown six innings, giving up two hits and one unearned run with three walks and nine strikeouts. Being that it’s just two one-run losses in one weekend, there’s little reason to be alarmed at Vanderbilt’s losing weekend.

Last week: 1-2
Overall: 1-2, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 0-1

Results
Feb. 14-16: @ Mississippi: W 7-2, L 8-6, L 7-6

Upcoming
Feb. 19: Wright State
Feb. 21-23: Valparaiso

Louisville challenged itself to start the season with a road series against Ole Miss, and it returns home with a hard-fought series loss. Ace Reid Detmers set the tone on Friday, throwing five innings, giving up three hits and one run with two walks and nine strikeouts, with the offense chipping in with 12 hits in support of him. But the Cardinals didn’t get the same level of pitching the rest of the weekend. Righthander Bobby Miller surrendered five hits and three runs in four innings in game 2, and in game 3, Ole Miss poured it on in the second half, scoring all seven of its runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The losses sting, but there’s little shame in dropping this particular series on the road, and the Cardinals will likely be better for it moving forward.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Richmond: W 7-6, W 9-3, W 5-4

Upcoming
Feb. 18: @ Kennesaw State
Feb. 21-23: Santa Clara

Georgia survived a scare on Friday, when Richmond chased righthander Emerson Hancock from the game early, having scored six runs off of him in four innings. Two runs in the bottom of the ninth, including a walk-off RBI single from Cole Tate, saved the game. Things went much smoother in game 2, when the Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four innings and righthander Cole Wilcox held the Spiders to one run in five innings. The finale was a tight affair once again, but once Georgia grabbed a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth, righthander Will Childers and lefthander Tucker Bradley combined to throw four scoreless frames to close it out.

Last week: 2-2
Overall: 2-2, 0-0 in Pac-12 (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 0-0-1

Results
Feb. 14-16: Villanova: W 4-1, L 2-1, W 6-4
Feb. 15: (8) Michigan: L 5-0

Upcoming
Feb. 18: (24) Oklahoma State
Feb. 21-23: Boston College

The Sun Devils had a bit of a tough go of it. Coming into the weekend, high run totals might have been expected against an overmatched Villanova pitching staff, but they never came, with the six runs in the series finale the most of any single game. They also missed a chance for an early marquee win when Michigan went into Phoenix Muni for their second game of the day and shut out ASU. The positive outlook on the weekend is that you have to assume that the lineup will come around in due time. There’s just too much talent there for that not to be the case. And at the same time, the pitching, which was more of a question mark, was solid. Lefthander Justin Fall tossed six shutout innings in the series opener against the Wildcats, righthander Boyd Vander Kooi gave up one earned run in 7.2 innings in game 2 of the series, lefthander Cooper Benson showed well against Michigan in the first start of his career, and righthander Tyler Thornton giving up two earned runs in 6.2 innings on Sunday is a respectable outing. ASU will look to put a 2-2 weekend behind them with a tough week of games ahead against Oklahoma State and a series against a talented Boston College team.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Wright State: W 9-6, W 6-2, W 5-1

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Samford
Feb. 21-23: Oregon State

Wright State has a history of playing spoiler against major conference teams early in seasons, but Mississippi State wasn’t having any of it, especially after the Bulldogs came from behind to win the opener. A six-run sixth inning for MSU, which featured two-RBI hits from Rowdey Jordan and Justin Foscue, put MSU ahead for good. In game 2, redshirt-freshman lefthander Christian McLeod was outstanding, throwing five shutout innings, giving up one hit and one walk with 11 strikeouts. Catcher Logan Tanner had a breakout game in support of McLeod, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run. In game 3, righthander Eric Cerantola set the tone with four scoreless innings, striking out eight along the way, and Rowdey Jordan and Jordan Westburg had two-hit games at the top of the order. A home series with Oregon State this coming weekend will be a big test.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in Pac-12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: UC Riverside: W 4-2, W 9-1, W 8-0

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Loyola Marymount
Feb. 21-23: Saint Mary’s

UCLA won its series in typical UCLA fashion, with run prevention. On Friday, righthander Zach Pettway gave up five hits and two runs with no walks and eight strikeouts in six innings and then gave way to relievers Michael Townsend, Kyle Mora and Holden Powell, who finished it off. In game 2, righthander Nick Nastrini gave up two hits and one run in five innings while the Bruins’ offense came alive with nine runs on 11 hits, including a 3-for-5 day with a home run for shortstop Matt McLain. In the finale, it was righthander Jesse Bergin’s turn. He threw five shutout frames, giving up two hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Eastern Illinois: W 5-1, W 10-1, W 12-3

Upcoming
Feb. 20-23: Gonzaga

The Razorbacks made routine work of a season-opening series with Eastern Illinois. On Friday, they waited out the Ohio Valley Conference’s top prospect, righthander Will Klein. After he put up zeroes in three of the first four innings, Arkansas got him for three runs in the fifth, two on a two-run homer by Christian Franklin and one on a Heston Kjerstad home run. On the flip side, Arkansas righthander Connor Noland gave up one unearned run and struck out 11 in 6.2 innings. Lefthander Patrick Wicklander followed Noland with five shutout frames on Saturday. The offense had its best day of the weekend on Sunday, when it scored 12 runs on 14 hits. Franklin, Kjerstad and Matt Goodheart each had three hits in the finale.

Previous ranking: No. 13
Last week: 4-0
Overall: 4-0, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Illinois-Chicago: W 5-3, W 18-1, W 7-3, W 14-0 (7)

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Oakland
Feb. 21-23: Central Florida

The Tigers came away with an impressive four-game sweep over a solid Illinois-Chicago club, scoring 44 runs over four games. It was a huge weekend for senior third baseman Rankin Woley, who went 8-for-15 with four doubles. In a weekend full of abbreviated starts, with no Auburn starter going more than five innings, righthander Richard Fitts had the best of the bunch, allowing two hits and striking out seven in five shutout frames. Righthander Cody Greenhill also turned in a dominant relief performance, striking out six in four shutout innings. A series at home next weekend against Central Florida will be a tougher test to ace.

Last week: 2-1
Overall: 2-1, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-15: Indiana: W 8-1, W 7-4, L 7-2

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Southern
Feb. 19: Nicholls State
Feb. 21-23: Eastern Kentucky

The Tigers passed a season-opening test against a talented Indiana team. On Opening Day, righthander Cole Henry reminded everyone why there’s so much optimism about what he can accomplish in Baton Rouge. He threw four shutout innings, giving up three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts. Freshman second baseman Cade Doughty helped support Henry and three LSU relievers with a two-run homer in his first career plate appearance. Righthander Landon Marceaux didn’t fare so well in game 2 of the series, giving up three runs in 4.1 innings, but the Tigers’ offense was relentless in scoring runs in three of the first four innings of the game.

Last week: 2-1
Overall: 2-1, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Niagara: L 3-1, W 24-4, W 11-1

Upcoming
Feb. 18: South Florida
Feb. 21-23: Cincinnati

The Mike Martin Jr. era didn’t get off to the greatest start on Friday. Not only were the Seminoles limited to one run on three hits, but they surrendered all three of Niagara’s runs in the ninth inning, turning a 1-0 lead into a 3-1 loss. They rebounded the next two days, however, to win the series. In the game 2 win, catcher Carter Smith connected for a home run and outfielder Elijah Cabell drove in four runs. In the finale, righthander Conor Grady turned in an outstanding start, throwing five shutout innings, giving up two hits and no walks with seven strikeouts.

Last week: 2-1
Overall: 2-1, 0-0 in SEC (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: (2) Louisville: L 7-2, W 8-6, W 7-6

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Arkansas State
Feb. 19: Alcorn State
Feb. 21-23: Xavier

Mississippi vaults into the rankings with an impressive series win over Louisville. After having their bats quieted by Cardinals lefthander Reid Detmers on Friday, the Rebels battled back to win game 2 behind a standout performance from DH Cael Baker, who went 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs and four RBI. His two-run homer to break a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning of that game sent the Ole Miss faithful into a frenzy. Things got dicey late in game 3, as Louisville fought back from down 7-4 in the ninth to make it 7-6, but the Rebels pulled through thanks to a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play to end the game. Overall, it was a great sign of things to come for a squad that is young in a lot of key areas.

Last week: 2-1
Overall: 2-1, 0-0 in Big 12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Wahoos Classic in Pensacola
Feb. 14-15: vs. Virginia: L 6-0, W 7-2, W 5-1

Upcoming
Feb. 18-19: Texas Southern
Feb. 21-23: Illinois State

The Sooners authored quite the turnaround story over Opening Weekend, bouncing back from a shutout loss on Friday to sweep a Saturday doubleheader that clinched the series. In the second game of the series, lefthander Levi Prater was solid in giving up two runs in 4.1 innings, but the bullpen trio of righthander Zack Matthews, lefthander Ledgend Smith and righthander Jason Ruffcorn was outstanding, throwing 4.2 scoreless frames to close out a 7-2 win. In the finale, righthander Dane Acker was nearly unhittable, as he allowed just one hit and one run in five innings of work. With the deciding game tied 1-1 heading to the seventh, Oklahoma first baseman Tyler Hardman put the team on his back by slugging a two-run homer in the seventh to give his team the lead and then providing some insurance with a two-run single in the ninth.

Last week: 2-1
Overall: 2-1, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Army: L 2-1, W 9-8, W 7-0

Upcoming
Feb. 18: William & Mary
Feb. 21-23: Cornell

It was a tale of two weekends for Duke. The first half wasn’t altogether pleasant, with a 2-1 loss on Friday and falling behind 7-1 after four innings Saturday. But the second half was a different story. The Blue Devils rallied to pull out Saturday’s game 9-8 with the help of a grand slam off the bat of Matt Mervis and a walk-off error with Chase Cheek at the plate. Sunday’s win was more routine, with Duke pitchers limiting the Black Knights to four hits and no walks, led by 5.2 scoreless innings from righthander Cooper Stinson. Catcher Michael Rothenberg had a big day in the finale, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: James Madison: W 4-0, W 9-6, W 11-2

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Longwood
Feb. 21-23: Tennessee Tech

Lefthander Nick Swiney, who the Wolfpack are leaning on to be a workhorse on Fridays this season, came through in a big way on opening day, throwing seven scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts. On Saturday, the eighth inning was the key inning, as the Pack scored five runs to turn a 6-4 deficit into a 9-6 win. First baseman Austin Murr had a big day out of the leadoff spot, going 3-for-5 with a double and a homer. The lineup continued the hot hitting on Sunday, when they came out and scored nine runs in the first four innings. Center fielder Tyler McDonough was a pest in the two spot. He went 2-for-4 with a walk and three stolen bases, giving him five for the weekend.

Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Middle Tennessee State: W 15-3, W 2-1, W 5-4

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Elon
Feb. 19: High Point
Feb. 21-23: (23) Dallas Baptist

The Tar Heels got off to a roaring start with a blowout win on opening day. They collected 10 hits, walked six times and took advantage of four Middle Tennessee State errors. Joey Lancellotti, who was also the game’s winning pitcher, had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and two RBI. UNC trailed 1-0 going to the bottom of the eighth of game 2, but a Dylan Harris homer in the eighth tied it, and then Lancellotti walked it off with a solo shot in the ninth. The bullpen duo of lefthander Chris Joyner and righty Austin Love came through in the finale, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings to hold on to a lead UNC built up early in the game. A big test looms this weekend, when Dallas Baptist visits Chapel Hill.

Last week: 3-1
Overall: 3-1, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Wake Forest Tournament
Feb. 14: Seton Hall: W 4-3
Feb. 15: Wisconsin-Milwaukee: W 19-3, L 8-6
Feb. 16: Illinois: W 5-3

Upcoming
Feb. 18: UNC Greensboro
Feb. 21-23: @ Long Beach State

There were some tense moments, like a close win over Seton Hall to begin the weekend, and a Saturday loss to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but overall, the Demon Deacons put together a solid showing to begin the season. Friday’s win came courtesy of a walk-off homer off the bat of outfielder Chris Lanzili. The win over Milwaukee was an offensive explosion, with the Deacons collecting 20 hits, but it was also a nice showing for lefthander Jared Shuster, who gave up five hits and two runs with 12 strikeouts in six innings. In the finale against a solid Illinois team, Wake did a good job getting to hard-throwing righthander Aidan Maldonado, scoring four runs off of him in 4.1 innings of work. Lanzilli had another home run in the finale, as did third baseman William Simoneit, who reached base nine times over the course of four games.

Last week: 2-1
Overall: 2-1, 0-0 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Atlanta Challenge
Feb. 14: Saint Peter’s: W 6-0
Feb. 15: Cincinnati: W 6-4
Feb. 16: St. John’s: L 11-1

Upcoming
Feb. 18: @ Georgia Southern
Feb. 21-23: Ohio State

A blowout loss to St. John’s on Sunday was a bit of a head-scratching way for the Yellow Jackets to end things, but they did end up with a winning weekend thanks to wins over Saint Peter’s and Cincinnati. Tech pitching, led by four scoreless innings from freshman Zach Maxwell, held the Peacocks to just three hits in a shutout win on Friday. Fifth-year senior righthander Jonathan Hughes looked solid on Saturday, throwing five innings, giving up five hits and one run, with Andy Archer collecting a four-inning save to finish it off. A tough home series with Ohio State looms this coming weekend.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in Pac-12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: Albany: W 12-7, W 15-0, W 11-3

Upcoming
Feb. 17: vs. Minnesota in Tempe, Ariz.
Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament in San Diego
Feb. 21: Southern Illinois
Feb. 22: Iowa
Feb. 23: Nebraska

As expected, the Wildcats put up runs in bunches during Opening Weekend, scoring 38 runs on 40 hits in three games. Ryan Holgate, Donta Williams, Austin Wells and Kyson Donahue all had massive weekends, with each hitting .500 or better. Holgate led the way by going 7-for-11. Sophomore righthander Quinn Flanagan turned in the best start of the weekend on Saturday, throwing seven shutout innings, giving up two hits and two walks with ten strikeouts. A tricky week, with a Monday game against Minnesota and a tournament in San Diego, should push the Wildcats a bit more.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in MVC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: South Dakota State: W 4-1, W 8-7 (11), W 13-2 (7)

Upcoming
Feb. 18: Texas-Arlington
Feb. 21-23: @ (19) North Carolina

Dallas Baptist caught some resistance from a competitive South Dakota State squad, but still came away with a sweep. Pitching did the heavy lifting in the series opener, with righthanders Ray Gaither, Kragen Kechely and Cole Reeves combining to strike out 16 batters while allowing just one run on three hits. Game 2 was a wild one, with DBU needing a run in the ninth just to send the game to extra innings and then needing to score again in the 11th to avoid dropping the game. But this time, rather than get one run to extend the game, they got two on a Jackson Glenn two-RBI double to end it. The Patriots poured it on late on Sunday, turning a 2-0 deficit after the top of the fourth into a seven-inning run rule victory. Middle infielders Blayne Jones and Jeffrey David both had home runs and three RBI. A series at North Carolina this weekend presents a big opportunity for the Patriots.

Last week: 1-2
Overall: 1-2, 0-0 in Big 12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 0-1

Results
Feb. 14-16: @ Grand Canyon: L 10-3, W 6-4, L 9-3

Upcoming
Feb. 18: @ (8) Arizona State
Feb. 21-23: Texas-Rio Grande Valley

The Cowboys took it on the chin on the road at Grand Canyon, losing two out of three with a total run differential of -11. In neither of the two losses did Oklahoma State get enough from their starting pitchers, as freshmen Bryce Osmond and Justin Campbell throwing two and three innings in their starts, respectively. In the game 2 win, they did get a gutsy performance from lefthander Parker Scott, who threw six innings, giving up seven hits and two runs (one earned) with no walks and four strikeouts. With the otherwise young pitching staff dealing with growing pains, it will continue to be important that OSU knows what it will get with Scott in his starts. The Cowboys hang in the rankings, at least for another week, based on the belief that the young pitching talent will come along and the lineup will put it together at some point, as it always seems to.

Last week: 3-0
Overall: 3-0, 0-0 in AAC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend record: 1-0

Results
Feb. 14-16: William & Mary: W 2-1 (11), W 11-3, W 7-4

Upcoming
Feb. 19: @ Campbell
Feb. 21-23: Georgia Southern

East Carolina had a fight on its hands on Friday, when William & Mary pushed things to extra innings, but a walk-off RBI single off the bat of Seth Caddell ensured the Pirates got the win. Up to that point, lefthander Alec Burleson had been the story of the game. The veteran hurler threw seven innings, giving up six hits and one run. Things were more routine on Saturday, when the Pirates won comfortably behind a 12-hit attack and five shutout innings from starter Tyler Smith. The finale saw ECU batters collect 13 more hits, including a total of seven for the first four players in the lineup - Zach Agnos, Lane Hoover, Burleson and Thomas Francisco.