Sophomore outfielder JD Orr and his Wright State teammates posted a series upset at Clemson (CB360 #13), winning the first and third games.
Opening week of the 2017 Division I college baseball season (Thus.–Mon.; Feb. 16–21) featured few head-to-head matchups between teams within the CB360 Composite National Rankings Preseason Top–50 … but there still was a boatload of notable results, scattered throughout each day. All told, higher-ranked teams won at a clip of only 70.5 percent (93–39), highlighted by series upsets from: [48] Wright State at [13] Clemson … an [25] Ole Miss sweep of visiting [18] East Carolina … Grand Canyon vs. visiting [15] Oklahoma State … Loyola Marymount at home vs. [23] UC Santa Barbara … and Oklahoma vs. visiting [27] Long Beach State.
Note: CLICK HERE for in-depth look at the CB360 Preseason Top–50 (including assortment of historical notes and archived CNR dating back to 2010).
(Full results included at the bottom of this page; additional photos may be added to this page next week.)
Defending College World Series champion and CNR preseason #9 Coastal Carolina had an inauspicious start to the 2017 season, going 1–3 in its home tournament at Myrtle Beach. The Chants opened with a win vs. Richmond before losing to Western Carolina (4–5), James Madison (3–11) and St. John’s (4–7, in 10 inn.).
The Coastal Carolina losses constituted half of the six upsets suffered by CNR top–10 teams during Opening Week, with the others including (these higher-ranked teams still won their series, 2–1):
• Virginia Commonwealth … at [4] Florida State
(3–0; game-1)
• at San Diego … vs. [5] Vanderbilt
(3–2; game-1, on Thursday)
• UNC-Greensboro … at [6] South Carolina
(1–0; game–3)
The rate of upsets within the CB360 Top–50 fell in the 70% range throughout each day of Opening Weekend, with the following win percentages for the higher-ranked teams (as has been the case historically within the CNR, Sunday/Monday produced the highest rate of upsets):
29–11 (.725) … Thursday/Friday
33–12 (.733) … Saturday
31–16 (.660) … Sunday/Monday__
93–39 (.705) … Thur.–Mon.
Wright State – under first-year head Jeff Mercer (a former WSU standout and three-year Raiders assistant) – posted one of Opening Day’s biggest results, winning 6–4 at Clemson and ultimately taking the series with a decisive 9–2 win in the Sunday finale. Ole Miss sweeping ECU (5–4; 3–2; 8–6) actually was a bit less of an upset, since the Rebels were at home and won the three games by a total of only four runs.
The other series upsets saw Grand Canyon win the first and third games (6–1; 4–0) vs. OK State … LMU bounce back from an opening loss with two wins vs. UCSB (1–0; 8–2) … and Oklahoma use wins in game-1 and game-3 (6–2; 4–2) to take the series from Long Beach. The Sooners entered the season on the fringe of the CB360 Top–50 and likely will move up several spots in the week–2 CNR update.
There also were three 4-game series that ended in 2–2 splits:
• [26] Rice at [33] Texas
(Owls won 3–2 & 7–1; ‘Horns won 5–4 & 6–1 in gms 2+3)
• Seton Hall vs. [40] Michigan, in Port St. Lucie, FL
(SHU won 5–4 and 8–6, in games 1 and 4)
• [47] Oregon at Fresno State
(Bulldogs won 9–1 and 8–3 in first two games)
In addition to the 10 games referenced above (Wright State–Clemson; Ole Miss–ECU; Texas–Rice), there were nine other head-to-head games during Opening Week between teams in the CB360 Top–50:
• [11] Cal State Fullerton went 2–1 vs. visiting [22] Stanford
(1–0 … 8–1 … 6–7, in 11 inn.)
• [45] California won 2-of-3 at [50] Cal Poly
(4–6 … 4–3 … 8–1)
• [21] Texas Tech split a pair at [32] Mississippi State
(Raiders 5–2 Fri. win … ‘Dogs 8–5 Sun. win)
> both teams also swept a pair vs. Western Illinois
• and [7] Louisville 10–7 vs. [31] Maryland (Clearwater, FL)
… [17] Louisiana-Lafayette at [49] Southeastern Louisiana was postponed from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19, and that game ultimately was suspended to March 29 (4–4, in b-11) … the Cajuns and Lions both went 1–1 during the week, with wins over Hofstra and losses to Murray State (see below).
The 39 Opening Week upsets within the CB360 Top–50 include 26 of the games mentioned above, plus the following 13 notable results:
• at Hawaii 8–3 vs. [14] NC State (gm-2)
• Murray State 2–0 at [17] Louisiana-Lafayette (at SE La.)
• Rutgers 17–6 at [19] Miami (gm-3)
• at Santa Clara 4–3 vs. [24] Washington (gm-2)
• at Louisiana-Monroe 8–3 vs. [29] Dallas Baptist (gm-1)
• Ball State 8–3 vs. [31] Maryland (Clearwater, FL)
• Nevada 5–4 (10 inn.) at [35] Sam Houston St. (gm-2)
• Air Force 3–2 at [36] Tulane
• Army 7–4 at [36] Tulane
• Indiana 12–3 & 5–1 vs. Gonzaga (Surprise, AZ)
• UC Riverside 4–3 vs. [46] Nebraska (gm-1)
• Murray State 3–1 at [49] Southeastern Louisiana
> notes: NC State, Miami, Washington, DBU and Sam Houston all won their series, 2–1 … Maryland’s 1–2 start included a win over Alabama State … Tulane (1–2) opened with a win over AFA … Gonzaga posted two wins over Duke (in Surprise) … UCR and Nebraska ultimately split a shortened 2-gm series.
Three CB360 Top–50 teams went undefeated on the road (vs. teams outside the top-50), while playing multiple opponents: [7] Louisville in Clearwater, Fla. (vs. Alabama State, [30] Maryland and Ball State) … [8] Oregon State across four total games in Surprise, Ariz. (twice vs. Indiana and twice vs. Duke) … and [16] Virginia at host Citadel, plus vs. Liberty and Kansas.
Ten teams within the CB360 Top–50 swept three-game weekend series, all at home. The 10 home sweeps included: [1] TCU vs. Penn State … [2] Florida vs. William & Mary … [10] Arizona vs. Eastern Kentucky … [12] North Carolina vs. Kentucky … [20] Texas A&M vs. Bowling Green … [34] Arizona State vs. Northwestern … [39] Florida Atlantic vs. Monmouth … [41] New Mexico vs. Binghamton … [42] Southern Mississippi vs. Northeastern … and [44] USC vs. Coppin State.
Four other teams opened 3–0 at home while facing multiple opponents: [3] LSU (one win vs. Army; two vs. Air Force) … [28] Georgia Tech vs. BYU, Marshall and Western Michigan … [30] Houston vs. Wake Forest (twice) and Nicholls State … and [37] UNC Wilmington vs. George Mason, VMI and Appalachian State.
____________________________________
• TOP OPENING-WEEK SERIES (Feb. 16–20, 2017)
(both teams in CB360 Composite Top–50):
• [22] STANFORD … at [11] Cal State FULLERTON (Titans won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/16): Titans won, 1–0
gm-2 (2/18): Titans won, 8–1
gm-3 (2/19): Cardinal won, 7–6 (11 inn.)
__________
• [48] WRIGHT STATE … at [13] CLEMSON (Raiders won series, 2–1/upset)
gm-1 (2/17): Raiders won, 6–4
gm-2 (2/18): Tigers won, 6–2
gm-3 (2/19): Raiders won, 9–2
__________
• [18] EAST CAROLINA … at [25] MISSISSIPPI (Rebels swept series/upset)
gm-1 (2/17): Ole Miss won, 5–4
gm-2 (2/18): Ole Miss won, 3–2
gm-3 (2/19): Ole Miss won, 8–6
__________
• [26] RICE … at [33] TEXAS (split 4-gm series)
gm-1 (2/17): Owls won, 3–2
gm-2 (2/18): ‘Horns won, 5–4
gm-3 (2/18): ‘Horns won, 6–1
gm-4 (2/19): Owls won, 7–1
__________
• [45] CALIFORNIA … at [50] CAL POLY (Bears won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): postponed
gm-1 (2/18): CP won, 6–4
gm-2 (2/18): Cal won, 4–3
gm-3 (2/19): Cal won, 8–1
Note: other top–50 games (all listed below) included: [21] Texas Tech splitting a pair of game at [32] Mississippi State … [7] Louisville’s win vs. [31] Maryland … and a suspended game between [17] Louisiana-Lafayette at [49] Southeastern Louisiana.
____________________________________
• OTHER KEY OPENING-WEEK GAMES (Feb. 16–20, 2017)
(based on CB360 Composite Top–50):
• at [1] TCU … vs. PENN STATE (Frogs swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): TCU won, 6–3
gm-2 (2/18): TCU won, 12–1
gm-3 (2/19): TCU won, 9–3
__________
• at [2] FLORIDA … vs. WILLIAM & MARY (Gators swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): Gators won, 5–4
gm-2 (2/18): Gators won, 8–1
gm-3 (2/19): Gators won, 11–6
__________
•at [3] LSU … vs. ARMY and AIR FORCE (Tigers went 3–0)
gm-1 (2/17): vs. Army; postponed
gm-1 (2/18): Gators won vs. Army, 9–0 (7 inn.)
gm-2 (2/18): Gators won vs. Army, 6–0 (7 inn.)
gm-3 (2/19): Gators won vs. AFA, 10–3
__________
• at [4] FLORIDA STATE … vs. VCU (FSU won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): VCU won, 3–0
gm-2 (2/18): FSU won, 12–3
gm-3 (2/19): FSU won, 11–3
__________
• [5] VANDERBILT … at SAN DIEGO (Vandy won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/16): USD won, 3–2
gm-2 (2/17 & 2/19): Vandy won, 8–2
gm-3 (2/18): postponed
gm-3 (2/19): Vandy won, 11–1
__________
• at [6] SOUTH CAROLINA … vs. UNC-GREENSBORO (SC won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): SC won, 7–1
gm-2 (2/18): SC won, 5–1
gm-3 (2/19): UNCG won, 1–0
__________
• [7] LOUISVILLE … games in Clearwater, FL . (Cards went 3–0)
gm-1 (2/17): Cards won vs. Alabama State, 7–0
gm-2 (2/18): Cards won vs. [30] Maryland, 10–7
gm-3 (2/19): Cards won vs. Ball State, 10–4
__________
• [8] OREGON STATE … at Sanderson Ford Classic; Surprise, AZ (Beavs went 4–0)
gm-1 (2/17): Ore. St. won vs. Indiana, 1–0
gm-2 (2/17): Ore. St. won vs. Duke, 6–3
gm-3 (2/19): Ore. St. won vs. Duke, 11–2
gm-4 (2/20): Ore. St. won vs. Indiana, 4–1
__________
• [9] COASTAL CAROLINA … home tournament; Myrtle Beach, SC . (CC went 1–3)
gm-1 (2/17): CC won vs. Richmond, 8–5
gm-2 (2/18): Western Carolina won vs. CC, 5–4
gm-3 (2/19): James Madison won vs. CC, 11–3
gm-4 (2/20): St. John’s won vs. CC, 7–4 (10 inn.)
__________
• at [10] ARIZONA … vs. EASTERN KENTUCKY (‘Cats swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): ‘Cats won, 6–0
gm-2 (2/18): ‘Cats won, 16–13
gm-3 (2/19): ‘Cats won, 18–4
gm-4 (2/20): ‘Cats won, 9–8
__________
• at [12] NORTH CAROLINA … vs. KENTUCKY (UNC swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): UNC won, 3–1
gm-2 (2/18): UNC won, 6–5
gm-3 (2/19): UNC won, 5–4
__________
• [14] NORTH CAROLINA STATE … at HAWAII (‘Pack won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): NC St. won, 4–0
gm-2 (2/18): Hawaii won, 8–3
gm-3 (2/19): NC St. won, 8–1
__________
• [15] OKLAHOMA STATE … at GRAND CANYON (‘Lopes won series, 2–1/upset)
gm-1 (2/17): GCU won, 6–1
gm-2 (2/18): postponed
gm-2 (2/19): OK St. won, 6–5
gm-3 (2/20): GCU won, 4–0
__________
• [16] VIRGINIA … at Citadel Charleston Crab House Challenge (UVa went 3–0)
gm-1 (2/17): UVa def. Liberty, 10–2
gm-2 (2/18): UVa won at Citadel, 10–6
gm-3 (2/19): UVa def. Kansas, 9–6
__________
• [17] LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE … at Southeastern Louisiana tournament (Cajuns went 1–1)
gm-1 (2/17): at [49] Southeastern Louisiana, ppd
gm-2 (2/18): lost vs. Murray State, 0–2
gm-3 (2/19): won vs. Hofstra, 1–0
gm-4 (2/20): at [39] Southeastern Louisiana, susp. to 3/29 (4–4; b-11)
__________
• at [19] MIAMI … vs. RUTGERS (‘Canes won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): ‘Canes won, 3–0
gm-2 (2/18): ‘Canes won, 8–4
gm-3 (2/19): RU won, 17–6
__________
• at [20] TEXAS A&M … vs. BOWLING GREEN (Aggies swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): A&M won, 15–1
gm-2 (2/18): A&M won, 19–2
gm-3 (2/19): A&M won, 16–5
__________
• [21] TEXAS TECH … at [32] Mississippi State tournament (TT went 3–1)
gm-1 (2/17): Raiders def. Western Illinois, 15–1
gm-2 (2/17): Raiders def. [32] Miss. St., 5–2
gm-3 (2/18): Raiders def. WIU, 13–5
gm-4 (2/19): Raiders lost to [32] Miss. St., 5–8
__________
• [23] UC SANTA BARBARA … at LOYOLA MARYMOUNT (LMU won series, 2–1/upset)
gm-1 (2/16): UCSB won, 6–3
gm-2 (2/18): LMU won, 1–0
gm-3 (2/19): LMU won, 8–2
__________
• [24] WASHINGTON… at SANTA CLARA (Huskies won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): postponed
gm-1 (2/18): Huskies won, 5–2
gm-2 (2/18): SCU won, 4–3
gm-3 (2/19): Huskies won, 8–1
gm-4 (2/20): postponed/canceled
__________
• [27] LONG BEACH State … at OKLAHOMA (Sooners won series, 2–1/upset)
gm-1 (2/17): Sooners won, 6–2
gm-2 (2/18): LBSU won, 8–3
gm-3 (2/19): Sooners won, 4–2
__________
• [28] GEORGIA TECH … at home tournament (GT went 3–0)
gm-1 (2/17): GT def. BYU, 5–3
gm-2 (2/18): GT def. Marshall, 11–3
gm-3 (2/19): GT def. Western Michigan, 8–3
__________
• [29] DALLAS BAPTIST … at LOUISIANA-MONROE (DBU won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): ULM won, 8–3
gm-2 (2/18): DBU won, 11–0
gm-3 (2/19): DBU won, 12–4
__________
• [30] HOUSTON … at home tournament (Cougars went 3–0)
gm-1 (2/17): Cougars def. Wake Forest, 8–1
gm-2 (2/18): Cougars def. Nicholls State, 5–3
gm-3 (2/19): Cougars def. Wake Forest, 5–4
__________
• [31] MARYLAND … tournament at Clearwater, FL (Terps went 1–2)
gm-1 (2/17): lost vs. Ball State, 3–8
gm-2 (2/18): lost vs. [7] Louisville, 7–10
gm-3 (2/19): won vs. Alabama State, 9–7
__________
• [32] MISSISSIPPI STATE … home tournament (‘Dogs went 3–1)
gm-1 (2/17): lost vs. [31] Texas Tech, 2–5
gm-2 (2/18): won vs. Western Illinois, 8–2
gm-3 (2/19): won vs. WIU, 10–9 (11 inn.)
gm-4 (2/19): won vs. [21] Texas Tech, 8–5
__________
• at [34] ARIZONA STATE … vs. NORTHWESTERN (ASU swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): ASU won, 6–2
gm-2 (2/17): ASU won, 3–1
gm-3 (2/18): postponed
gm-3 (2/19): ASU won, 4–3
__________
• at [35] SAM HOUSTON State … vs. NEVADA (SHSU won series, 2–1)
gm-1 (2/17): SHSU won, 1–0
gm-2 (2/18): Nevada won, 5–4 (10 inn.)
gm-3 (2/19): SHSU won, 8–2
__________
• at [36] TULANE … vs. AIR FORCE and ARMY (Wave went 1–2)
gm-1 (2/17): vs. Air Force, postponed
gm-1 (2/18): won vs. Air Force, 4–3
gm-2 (2/18): lost vs. AFA, 2–3
gm-3 (2/19): lost vs. Army, 4–7
__________
• [37] UNC WILMINGTON … home tournament (UNCW went 3–0)
gm-1 (2/17): UNCW def. George Mason, 12–8
gm-2 (2/18): UNCW def. VMI, 4–3
gm-3 (2/19): UNCW def. Appalachian St., 6–5
__________
• at [38] FLORIDA ATLANTIC … vs. MONMOUTH (FAU swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): FAU won, 16–5
gm-2 (2/18): FAU won, 6–1
gm-3 (2/19): FAU won, 12–10
__________
• [39] GONZAGA … at Sanderson Ford Classic; Surprise, AZ (Zags went 2–2)
gm-1 (2/17): won vs. Duke, 6–1
gm-2 (2/17): lost vs. Indiana, 3–12
gm-3 (2/19): won vs. Duke, 4–1
gm-4 (2/19): lost vs. Indiana, 1–5
__________
• [40] MICHIGAN … vs. SETON HALL, in Port St. Lucie, FL . (split 4-gm series)
gm-1 (2/17): SHU won, 5–4
gm-2 (2/18): Michigan won, 8–7
gm-3 (2/18): postponed
gm-3 (2/19): Michigan won, 10–7
gm-4 (2/19): SHU won, 8–6
__________
• at [41] NEW MEXICO … vs. BINGHAMTON (Lobos swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): UNM won, 8–4
gm-2 (2/18): UNM won, 10–4
gm-3 (2/19): UNM won, 11–4
__________
• at [42] SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI … vs. NORTHEASTERN (So. Miss swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): So. Miss. won, 9–4
gm-2 (2/18): So. Miss. won, 14–1
gm-3 (2/19): So. Miss. won, 8–7
__________
• at [43] UCLA … vs. SAN JOSE STATE (Bruins swept 2-gm series)
gm-1 (2/17): postponed
gm-1 (2/18): Bruins won, 3–2
gm-2 (2/19): Bruins won, 10–1
gm-3 (2/20): canceled
__________
• at [44] USC … vs. COPPIN STATE (Trojans swept series)
gm-1 (2/17): postponed
gm-1 (2/18): USC won, 22–2
gm-2 (2/18): USC won, 6–2
gm-3 (2/19): USC won, 9–4
__________
• [46] NEBRASKA … vs. UC RIVERSIDE; in Tempe, AZ . (split 2-gm series)
gm-1 (2/17): UCR won, 4–3
gm-2 (2/17): Huskers won, 5–4
gm-3 (2/18): canceled
gm-3 (2/19): canceled
__________
• [47] OREGON … at FRESNO STATE (split 4-gm series)
gm-1 (2/17): postponed
gm-1 (2/18): Fresno won, 9–1
gm-2 (2/19): Fresno won, 8–3
gm-3 (2/19): Ducks won, 13–1
gm-4 (2/20): Ducks won, 3–2
__________
• [49] SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA … home tournament (Lions went 1–1)
gm-1 (2/17): vs. [17] La.-Lafayette, ppd
gm-2 (2/18): won vs. Hofstra, 11–1
gm-3 (2/19): lost vs. Murray State, 1–3
gm-1 (2/20): vs. La.-Lafayette, susp. to 3/29 (4–4; b-11th)