College Baseball Week 2 Top 50 Notebook

February 28, 2012
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A Rundown Of The Second Week Of 2012…

Stephen Piscotty has helped Stanford to a 7-0 start (courtesy Stanford).

The first weekend of the 2012 season was relatively light on upsets, but week two saw some big shockers. SEC powers LSU and Arkansas were among the top teams to fall prey to upsets at the hands of Appalachian State and Valparaiso, respectively.

Meanwhile, Stanford continued to make an early season statement by sweeping No. 8 Texas in Palo Alto.

Following is the week two rundown of how the Top 50 teams in the country fared (all rankings based on the Week 2 CB360 Composite National Rankings).

Friday (2/24) Top 50 Scoreboard Page

Saturday (2/25) Top 50 Scoreboard Page

Sunday (2/26) Top 50 Scoreboard Page

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(Overall Record/Record Last Week)

1.Florida (7-1, 5-0)

Defeated Bethune-Cookman 8-6 on Tuesday. Mike Zunino homered twice. Four pitchers combined to beat No. 30 UCF 8-0 on Wednesday. Florida’s first five games of the season were against 2011 NCAA teams. Tyler Thompson’s HR was the difference in Friday’s 4-1 win over William & Mary as the Gators went on to a three-game weekend sweep. Preston Tucker became the school’s all-time RBI leader in Saturday’s 5-1 win.

2. South Carolina (6-0, 3-0)

Michael Roth (1-0) fired 7.0 no-hit innings and the Gamecocks missed a combined no-hitter by one out in Friday’s 8-1 win over Elon. Garrett Koster broke-up the bid with a 2-out HR off Patrick Sullivan in the top of the 9th. Roth fanned seven and walked three. With a 3-2 win Saturday and a 6-0 Sunday win, South Carolina swept the series and remained unbeaten in the process. The Gamecock pitching staff allowed just three runs, ( 1 ER ), on seven hits in 27 innings of work with 32 strikeouts in the three wins over the Phoenix.

3. Stanford (7-0, 4-0)

Stephen Piscotty’s HR in the top of the 11th led the Cardinal to a 9-7 win at Pacific Tuesday. Mark Appel (2-0) struckout 10 in 7.0 innings to send the Cardinal to a 7-2 win over No. 8 Texas in Friday’s opener of their marquee match-up. The Cardinal would go on to sweep a second straight weekend series against a ranked opponent (then No. 11 Vanderbilt last week(. Stanford finished the sweep in emphatic fashion with Sunday’s 15-1 victory over the Longhorns. A 13-run 4th inning. Stanford scored 28 runs and hit .364 in the three games, including 17 hits on Sunday.

4. Texas A&M (6-1, 3-1)

Downed Stephen F. Austin 4-3 Tuesday. 4,284 fans flocked to Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park for the midweek game. Michael Wacha fired 7.0 shutout innings with 11 K in a no-decision in the Aggies’ 3-2 win in 11 innings Friday over Holy Cross. The Aggies suffered their first loss of the season the next day, 7-3 in 10 innings, to the Crusaders. Ross Stripling had 10 K  in 6.2 IP in the no-decision. The Aggies won Sunday’s finale 6-2.

5. Rice (5-0, 2-0)

Took a two-game midweek series from New Mexico State, pounding-out 14 hits in Tuesday’s 7-5 win. Michael Fuda led the way with four hits and an RBI. Andrew Banek then fanned a career-high 10 in just 5.1 IP the next night in a 12-4 win over the Aggies. The Owls used a 4-run 4th inning to beat Dallas Baptist in Friday’s series opener. Matt Reckling (2-0) had 11 K and gave-up just two hits in Saturday’s 2-0 win over DBU. Sunday’s 7-3 win to cap the sweep makes the Owls 8-0 for the first time since 2001.

6. North Carolina (5-1, 3-0)

The Tar Heels swept a three game series with  Wright State.   Friday night the Tar Heels won 17- 3.   Freshman outfielder Michael Russell went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI’s, a walk, stolen base, and three runs scored, while Kent Emanual (2-0) won his ninth straight decision.  The Tar Heels won game two 14-0.  Sophomore third baseman Colin Moran went 5-for 6, hitting for the cycle.  He had two singles, a double, triple and a homer.   He scored three runs and knocked in six RBI’s.   The Tar Heels pulled off the sweep Sunday winning 3-0.  Designated hitter Tom Zengel went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.

7. Arkansas (7-1, 4-1)

Jake Wise drew a game-winning bases loaded walk with two outs in the ninth inning to lift No. 4 Arkansas to an 8-7 win over Northwestern State on Tuesday evening at Baum Stadium. Tim Carver tied a career-high with three hits. The Razorbacks downed Northwestern St. 6-2 Wednesday. Six Hogs eached had two hits in Friday’s 7-3 win over Valparaiso. Cade Lynch earned his first save with 3.0 shutout innings. After downing the Crusaders 4-3 Saturday, the Razorbacks were shocked with a 10-9 10-inning loss Sunday. The victory marked the highest ranked team Valparaiso has defeated on the diamond since a 4-2 victory at #1 Notre Dame back on April 25, 2001.

8. Texas (2-5, 0-4)

Upset 7-5 Tuesday by UT-Arlington. No. 3 Stanford plated five runs in the first two innings to beat the Longhorns 7-2 Friday in Palo Alto. Texas starter Nathan Thornhill (1-1) took the loss after giving-up six runs (3 ER) in 5.0 IP. The Longhorns would be outscored 28-3 while being swept by the host Cardinal.  Going back to opening weekend’s series-ending loss to Duke, Texas has now lost five straight.

9. Georgia Tech (6-2, 3-1)

The Yellow Jackets traveled to Georgia Southern and defeated the Eagles 11-9 in a mid-week contest.   Junior Brandon Thomas and sophomore Zane Evans both homered to lead the Yellow Jackets to victory.  Evans three-run homer in the top of the eighth ended up being the game winner.   The Yellow Jackets hosted Ohio State in a three-game series this weekend and took two of three from the Buckeyes.  On Friday night, the Yellow Jackets won 12-4.  They received a strong performance from junior RHP Buck Farmer.  Farmer went six innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, walking four and striking out a career-high 13.   On Saturday the Yellow Jackets dropped a 7-3 contest. Starting pitcher Matt Grimes only made it two innings, giving up three hits, three runs, one earned, striking out one, and walking five.   On Sunday, the Yellow Jackets clinched the series with a 13-4 victory.  Senior first baseman Jake Davies went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, four RBI’s and three runs scored.

10. LSU (5-2, 2-2)

Beat McNeese State 11-4 Wednesday. The 44 runs the Tigers plated through their first four games is their most since plating 46 in their first four games of 2009. LSU got its third shutout in five games in Friday’s 4-0 win over Appalachian State. Kevin Gausman (2-0) fanned seven in 7.0 IP. The Tigers scored just one run over the next two games though, with ASU taking game two 1-0 and the series finale 11-1 to stun the Baton Rouge faithful. The series win is Appalachian State’s first-ever three-game series win over an opponent from a Bowl Championship Series conference. ASU’s only other series victory over a BCS opponent came in 1985 when it swept a two-game set from Connecticut.

11. Florida State (6-1, 3-1)

The Seminoles topped Jacksonville Tuesday 16-9.   First baseman Jayce Boyd led the Seminoles going 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and five RBI’s.   FSU lost the first game of a three-game weekend series against Florida International Friday 8-5.   The Seminoles bounced back with back-to-back wins to clinch the series win, winning Saturday 3-1 and Sunday 2-1.  Closer Robert Benincasa picked up saves both Saturday and Sunday.

12. Miami (7-0, 4-0)

The Hurricanes traveled to Florida Gulf Coast for a mid-week game and left 3-0 winners.  They received seven strong innings of one-hit ball from Steven Ewing who walked two and struck out seven.   The Hurricanes hosted Albany for a three game series this weekend and combined to outscore the Great Danes 38-10 in a three game sweep.  On Friday night, Eric Erickson got things started with seven strong innings of four hit ball, not allowing a walk and striking out nine as the ‘Canes won 15-4.  On Saturday, Miami received six innings of three hit ball from Eric Whaley who walked one and struck out six to guide the ‘Canes to an 11-1 win.  Miami closed out the three-game sweep with a 12-5 victory on Sunday behind a 3-for-4 day from Rony Rodriguez.  Rodriguez had two doubles, a run scored, and two RBIs

13. TCU (2-4, 1-3)

The Horned Frogs dropped a mid-week game vs Baylor 7-1.  On Friday night in the first game of a three-game weekend series, TCU used a three-run 8th inning to get past Call State Fullerton.  TCU starter Andrew Mitchell went five innings giving up two hits, one earned run, allowing three walks and 12 strikeouts.  Saturday, TCU dropped a 4-2 contest.  On Sunday, they fell 11-10 when the game was called in after eight innings due to a travel curfew.  Of the 11 runs Cal State Fullerton scored, only five were earned.

14.  Arizona (5-2, 3-1)

Beat Utah Valley State 12-6 Tuesday. Seth Mejias-Brean drove-in three runs. Alex Mejia homered and tallied 4 RBIs in Friday’s 8-1 win over Auburn. The Wildcats took two of three games from the visiting Tigers, winning 15-3 and then losing the finale 8-3. Mejia homered and had 3 RBIs in the win. Konnor Wade had 10 strikeouts and the Wildcats had 17 hits in the game two win. Through seven games, Mejia leads Arizona with two HR and 9 RBIs.

15. Georgia (7-0, 4-0)

Beat Georgia State 4-1 Wednesday. Freshman Pete Nagel (1-0) tossed 5.0 shutout innings in his first start. Freshman Hunter Cole had four hits to lead the Bulldogs to a 13-5 Friday win over Winthrop. The Bulldogs’ 2-1 Saturday win took just 1:54 to play. Sunday’s 3-0 win capped the sweep and improved Georgia to 7-0 for the first time since the 2009 team’s 14-0 start. The Bulldogs have a .302 batting average, 1.71 ERA and have committed just three errors to date.

16. Clemson (4-2, 2-1)

The Tigers needed a 9-6 win Sunday to clinch the series over Maine after falling on Friday in game one to Maine 6-5.   Saturday, the Tigers evened the series with a 9-5 victory.  Phil Pohl went 1-for-2 with a homer, two RBI’s, and two runs scored.   On Sunday, the Tigers received a 4-for-5 performance from Steve Wilkerson including three runs scored, a double and two RBI’s to win the series.

17. Arizona State (5-1, 2-1)

Abe Ruiz missed a cycle by a triple, but hit a 3-run HR in Friday’s 11-3 win over UC-Riverside. The Sun Devils suffered their first loss of the season, falling 3-1 Saturday. Tim Esmay got his 100th win as the ASU head coach with Sunday’s 11-2 series win. It took Esmay just 129 games to reach the century mark.

18. Vanderbilt (1-6, 1-3)

The Commodores picked-up their first win of the season, 11-4, in their Wednesday home opener against Oakland (Michigan). Mike Yastrzemski hit a three-run HR in front of a crowd of 2,031. The ‘Dores committed three errors and allowed two unearned runs in Friday’s home loss to No. 36 Oregon. The Ducks won 7-2 Saturday and 7-6 Sunday to sweep the series. Vandy starter Sam Selman retired the first 10 batters of Saturday’s game before four walks, a balk and an error combined to doom the ‘Dores. Vandy has 16 errors and has given-up 13 unearned runs in seven games this season.

19. Oklahoma (4-3, 3-0)

The Sooners won their 32nd straight home-opener by downing Hartford 9-6 on Friday. Freshman Hunter Lockwood homered twice. The Sooners also swept a three-game series from Hartford. Head coach Sunny Golloway reached his 600th career win with Sunday’s 8-3 victory. Hunter Lockwood homered in all three games and finished the Hartford series against Hartford with four HR. He leads the Sooners with 9 RBIs.

20. Cal State Fullerton (3-3, 2-1)

Cal State Fullerton hosted TCU for a three-game series and came out on top winning two out of three.  On Friday night they lost 3-2.  The Titans rebounded Saturday for a 4-2 win behind five strong innings from starter Kenny Mathews.  Mathews allowed five hits, but struck out six while walking only one.  On Sunday, the Titans clinched the series win behind an 11-10 win.  Michael Lorenzen led the way going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI’s.

21. Oregon State (5-3, 2-2)

Went 2-2, starting with a 10-7 over Pacific 10-7 at the San Diego State Tournament. The host Aztecs hammered the Beavers 18-2 on Friday and San Diego added to the misery with a 13-2 win Saturday. Starting pitcher Cole Baylis (0-1) gave-up eight runs (4 ER) in 4.1 IP against SDSU. The weekend ended with a 13-5 win over Kansas State. Oregon State pitchers issued 25 BB with 22 K in the four games.

22. California (4-2, 1-2)

Justin Jones (1-1) suffered Cal’s first loss of the season in Friday’s 7-4 setback at Long Beach State. Jones yielded 4 ER in 3.0 IP, as Cal would lose two of three to the Dirtbags. The Golden Bears won game two 2-1 in 10 innings, but dropped the finale 2-1. Reigning Pac-10 Player of the Year Tony Renda has hit safely in all six Cal games. With a 2.38 ERA, Cal is pitching solidly, but the offense is hitting just .268.

23. Louisville (6-1, 4-0)

The Cardinals rapped-out 13 hits in their Wednesday home opening 7-2 win over Eastern Kentucky. Justin Amlung (1-1) retired 10 straight after a leadoff single to start the game in Friday’s 7-4 win over Oakland to start a three-game weekend sweep of the visiting Grizzlies. Louisville’s Stewart Ijames reached base 10 straight times in the three games before he flew out to centerfield in his last at-bat on Sunday. He went 5-for-8 in the series with six runs, five RBI, two home runs and a double.

24. UC Irvine (4-3, 1-3)

After going 3-0 in Houston opening weekend, Irvine returned home and fell 3-2 on Monday to UNLV. Jordan Fox had three hits, and RBI and a stolen base in the loss. Lost 3-0 at home Friday to Washington. Freshman Connor Spencer’s 3-run 7th inning triple propelled the Anteaters to Saturday’s 8-7 win, but the Huskies won 4-3 Sunday to take the series. UCI stranded 10 base runners in the one run loss. The Anteaters have pitched well, with a 2.57 ERA, but they are batting just .248 with nine errors in seven games.

25. UCLA (4-3, 3-1)

Got out the big bats and defeats Northridge, 19-7, behind two home runs by Jeff Gelalich and four RBIs by Trevor Brown. Starter Adam Plutko (0-1) was the loser after giving-up five runs in 3.1 IP in Friday’s 15-3 loss to No. 26 Baylor. Beau Amaral had three hits and 2 RBIs in Saturday’s 9-3 win over the Bears, while Pat Valaika had three hits with 4 RBIs in Sunday’s 8-6 victory to give the Bruins a big series win. Gelalich and Tyler Heineman have each hit safely in all seven UCLA games this year. Gelalich was 7-for-14 with three HR and 5 RBIs during the week. UCLA hit .341 in its four games during the week.

26. Baylor (6-2, 2-2)

Beat TCU 7-1 on Tuesday. Trent Blank started and fired 4.0 no-hit innings. Kolt Browder then kept the Horned Frogs hitless for 3.0 innings. Joey Hainsfurther had no-hitter broken-up with two outs in the top of the 8th. The Bears beat Texas State 5-1 Wednesday in Round Rock, TX. Baylor used an eight-run 7th inning to pound No. 25 UCLA 15-3 in Friday’s series-opener. The Bears totaled 10 doubles among their 19 hits. UCLA won games two and three by finals of 9-3 and 8-6 to take the series. The Baylor bullpen had allowed three runs through 29.0 innings to start the season, but gave-up five in the 6th inning of Saturday’s loss. Max Muncy homered twice in Sunday’s loss and reached base in all three games. He has reached safely in 26 straight overall.

27. Stetson (6-1, 3-1)

Ryan Lashley had 2 RBIs in Friday’s 4-2 win over Central Michigan as the Hatters took three of four games from the visiting Chippewas. Robert Crews (.429) is one of five Hatters with one home runs through seven games. Lindsey Caughel (2-0) has a 0.69 ERA with 10 K and 1 BB in 13.0 IP.

28. St. John’s (2-4, 1-2)

Kyle Hansen (0-2) lost despite giving-up just an unearned run in 6.0 IP in Friday’s 4-1 setback to Texas Tech in game one of the Brooks Wallace Memorial Classic. The Red Storm beat Northern Illinois 11-9 Saturday, but also lost 5-2 to Tech on Sunday. St. John’s is hitting just .201, while it’s starting pitchers are averaging less than 5.0 IP per start through six games.

29. Virginia (5-1, 3-0)

The Cavaliers won a midweek game against William and Mary 6-5 in 11 innings.  Mike Papi hit a two-run walk off single to give the Cavs the win.   The Cavaliers dominated Monmouth in their three-game series sweep, outscoring the Hawks 38-5 starting with Friday’s 18-4 win.   Derek Fisher went 4-for-4 with a triple, three RBI’s ,and three runs scored.    Saturday, the Cavaliers won 7-1 behind a strong seven-inning performance from Scott Silverstein in which he allowed three hits and two walks, while striking out eight.   On Sunday, the Cavs won 13-1 behind a 3-for-5 day with, two doubles, a triple, three runs scored, and four RBI’s from Brandon Downes.

30. Central Florida (5-2, 2-2)

The Golden Knights started off the week with an 8-0 loss to Florida.  UCF hosted Boston College for a three-game weekend series that started with them earning a 6-5 win Friday night. Ben Lively’s career-best 11 K in 6.0 IP led the way. Saturday, UCF fell 8-7.  On Sunday, UCF clinched the series by picking up a 5-4 win.  Shortstop Darnell Sweeney hit a game-winning two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

31. Mississippi (4-1, 3-0)

Zach Kirksey homered to lead the Rebels to Tuesday’s 8-1 win over Arkansas State. Five pitchers combined to allow just a run. Bobby Wahl struckout nine in 7.0 IP in Friday’s 2-0 win over UNC-Wilmington. The win started a weekend sweep. Starter Mike Meyers (1-0) retired 11 straight to start Sunday’s 10-5 win. The Rebels, who had more than 400 innings from last year’s pitching staff to replace, have started the season with a 2.45 ERA with 48 K and 14 BB in 44.0 innings.

32. College of Charleston (5-1, 2-1)

Went 2-1 while hosting the Cougar Invitational. Rhode Island used four first inning unearned runs to knockoff the Cougars 9-5. Tom Verdi had 4 RBIs in a 10-6 win over Connecticut, while Matt Pegler (2-0) allowed just a hit in 7.0 shutout innings of a 4-1 victory over Xavier.

33. East Carolina (5-2, 2-2)

The Pirates won a mid-week game against Old Dominion 10-4.  John Wooten hit a two-run homer to lead ECU.  Over the weekend they hosted the Keith LeClair Classic and went 1-2.  They lost 6-4 Saturday against Purdue, but rebounded to earn a 3-1 win Saturday night against Western Carolina.  Starting pitcher Tyler Joyner improved to 2-0 going seven strong innings allowing one run and striking out three.   On Sunday, the Pirates fell to Maryland 2-1 on a ninth inning single that brought in the eventual winning run.

34. Georgia Southern (5-2, 2-2)

The good news for Georgia Southern is it was able to take two of three games from Radford in its weekend series. The bad news is, the Eagles could be without slugger Victor Roache for the rest of the year. Roache, who led the nation with 30 HR last year, broke his wrist in Saturday’s doubleheader sweep. Sunday he tweeted “left wrist and lookin like the rest of the season.” Eric Phillips totaled 4 RBIs in Wednesday’s 11-9 loss to No. 9 Georgia Tech. Phillips plated at least a run in three of his four plate appearances. A stadium record 3,258 saw the game at Georgia Southern’s J.I. Clements Stadium.

35. Southern Mississippi (4-3, 2-2)

Knocked-off 2-1 Wednesday by Louisiana-Monroe. Kameron Brunty had USM’s only RBI. The Golden Eagles took two of three games from No. 48 Troy. After losing the opener 3-0, Southern Miss took games two and three 2-1 and 8-1. Starting pitchers Boomer Scarborough and Jake Drehoff combined to give-up just a run in 11.0 innings Saturday and Sunday.

36. Oregon (7-1, 5-0)

Started the week on Monday with a 12-6 win over Hawaii to finish its season-opening action with a 3-1 series win. J.J. Altobelli was 5-for-6 with three doubles. Beat Belmont 13-4 Thursday in Nashville. Ryon Healy and Shaun Chase each homered with four and three RBIs, respectively. Beat Vanderbilt 4-2 Friday, to give the Ducks the program’s first five-game winning streak since its 2009 reinstatement, and then went on to a series sweep. Brando Tessar (2-0) became Oregon’s first two-game winner in the process. Oregon has won seven straight since dropping its season-opener at Hawaii.

37. Mississippi State (6-1, 4-0)

Beat Kansas by finals of 1-0 and 3-1 and Mississippi Valley State 13-5 and 5-1 at the tournament MSU hosted. Chris Stratton (2-0) fired 6.0 one-hit relief IP in the 1-0 victory. John Cohen has used seven lineups in seven games. MSU is 22-0 vs. MSVU. The Bulldog pitching staff has recorded 71 strike outs with 16 walks in 67 innings this season. Trey Porter leads MSU with a .409 average, two HR and 5 RBIs.

38. Dallas Baptist (3-4, 0-4)

Lost 9-7 at Oklahoma State Tuesday. Fell 6-5 Friday at Rice. Starter Jake Johansen gave-up just a hit in 3.0 IP, but he walked five to surrender 4 ER. The Patriots were swept at No. 6 Rice over the weekend by finals of 6-5, 2-0 and 7-3 to fall a game under .500 through seven games. The last time Dallas Baptist was under .500 after a loss in the 2009 season-opener.

39. USC (7-0, 4-0)

Beat Long Beach State 4-2 Tuesday night. Andrew Triggs gave-up just a run on four hits in 8.0 IP in a 12-1 Friday win that started a three-game weekend sweep. USC’s 7-0 start is the program’s best since a 15-0 start to the 1988 season. Frank Cruz’s Trojans are hitting .332 with a 2.14 ERA this season.

40. Purdue (5-1. 2-1)

Purdue opened the Keith LeClair Classic with a 6-4 win over East Carolina on Saturday.  Third baseman Cameron Perkins led the way going 2-for-3 with an RBI.   The Boilermakers dropped their second game to Maryland 11-1.   Purdue rebounded Sunday winning 14-7.  Eric Charles, Cameron Perkins, and Kevin Plawecki, Purdue’s 3-4-5 hitters combined to go 9-for-12 with nine RBI’s.

41. Charlotte (5-2, 2-2)

After sweeping St. Peter’s to open the season, the 49ers suffered a midweek loss to High Point before taking two of three games from Toledo. Chad Rothlin fanned seven in 4.2 n-hit innings of relief in Sunday’s 3-2 series-clincher. Charlotte hasn’t lost a home series since 2009 (19 straight series wins). They sport a 2.71 team ERA and struck out 25 batters in the Toledo series.

42. Florida Atlantic (6-1, 3-1)

After sweeping Alabama in Tuscaloosa to open the season FAU took three of four games from visiting Manhattan. Ryan Garton (2-0) fired 7.0 scoreless frames with 8 K to lead the Owls to a 2-0 win in the series opener. Mike Albaladejo has had three or more hits four times this season and leads FAU with a .536 average through seven games.

43. Fresno State (4-3, 1-3)

Blanked 4-0 at Cal State Bakersfield Wednesday and then dropped two of three games to Pepperdine. The Bulldogs saw the Waves score two unearned runs in the 1st inning and the winning run on an 8th inning wild pitch in Friday’s loss. Jordan Luplow had two doubles and 4 RBIs in Saturday’s 8-4 win. Lost Sunday’s finale 6-0.

44. Connecticut (2-4, 1-2)

The Huskies used home runs by Eric Yavarone and John Sulzicki to beat Xavier 7-2 Friday. Dropped both games at the College of Charleston’s Tournament. Fell 10-6 to the hosts on Saturday and then lost 2-0 on Sunday in the 186th all-time meeting with Rhode Island.

45. Coastal Carolina (3-3, 2-1)

Ryan Connolly struck out three of the four batters he faced to earn his first save in Friday’s 1-0 win over Iowa at the Caravelle Resort Baseball at the Beach Tournament. Josh Conway fanned 10 in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Virginia Tech, while four relievers combined for 6.0 shutout IP in Sunday’s 3-2 win over North Carolina State.

46. Kent State (4-2, 2-1)

David Starn struckout 10 in 7.2 IP and George Roberts homered, but Kent State fell 2-1 to Lipscomb Friday in their first game as a Top 50 team. The Golden Flashed took games two and three by finals of 16-3 and 4-0 to win the series. David Lyon had 4 RBIs in Saturday’s win.

47. Florida International (1-5, 1-2)

Florida International traveled to Tallahassee this weekend for a three-game series against the Seminoles of Florida State.  The series got off to a good start for FIU Friday night as the topped the ‘Noles 8-5 for their first win of the season, and their first win over FSU since 1990. Adam Kirsch led FIU going 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI’s.   The weekend went downhill from there.  Florida State came back and won games two and three, 3-1 and 2-1 respectively, to take the series despite strong pitching performances by the FIU staff.

48. Troy (3-3, 1-2)

Tyler Ray (2-0)  fired 7.0 shutout innings in Friday’s 3-0 win over No. 35 Southern Mississippi, but the Trojans would drop two of three games to the Golden Eagles. Troy dropped game two 2-1 and lost game three 8-1. The Trojans are batting just .205 through six games. Ray has a 0.69 ERA with 11 K in 13.0 IP in his two starts.

49. Missouri State (5-3, 4-1)

The Bears took two games from Stephen F. Austin, both by finals of 5-4 Friday. Spiker Helms had five hits to lead a 15-hit attack in game one and then drove-in four runs in the game two win at the UT-Arlington Invitational. The Bears downed Arlington 9-4 Saturday, but saw their five-game win streak halted with an 11-5 Sunday loss to Houston Baptist.

50. Creighton (3-2, 0-2)

After moving into this week’s Top 50, Creighton dropped a pair of games at Portland. The Pilots got a two out 2-run HR from Turner Gill in the 9th and went on to beat the Blue Jays 3-2 in 10 innings Friday and then won 5-3 Sunday afternoon. Portland is now 5-0.

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