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Previews Continue With Teams 11-20…

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin took his team to its first CWS in 2011

With the start of the season rapidly approaching, here’s a look at some of the top teams in the country heading into the 2012 college baseball season.

Our rankings are based on a “composite formula” that combines not only the existing weekly preseason national polls, but also other factors like strength of schedule and preseason conference polls. Other criteria will continually be added throughout the season to our composite rankings.

Here is a look at teams 11-20 heading into the season.

( ) Stats in parenthesis are from the 2011 season.

* After a statistic denotes team leader in that statistical category.

CLICK HERE to see capsules for teams 1-10

CLICK HERE to see capsules for teams 21-30

CLICK HERE to see the entire CB360 2012 Preseason Composite National Rankings

11. Vanderbilt

2011 Record: 54-12

With three straight national championships and a slew of NCAA bids every year, it is apparent just how good and how tough the SEC is on a yearly basis. However, the SEC’s Western Division took that to another level last year.

After several near misses, Vanderbilt finally reached the College World Series in 2011. Vandy’s historic bid made it one of three teams from the SEC West to reach Omaha. The other two, of course, were eventual national champion South Carolina and national runner-up Florida.

If Commodore head coach Tim Corbin is to get back to the CWS in 2012, it may be his best coaching job ever. Vandy suffers major key losses after having 11 – that’s right 11 – players from last year’s CWS team sign professional contracts last summer.

The most significant losses are in the weekend rotation, where All-Americans Sonny Gray (12-4, 2.43 ERA) and Grayson Garvin (13-2, 2.48 ERA) as well as less heralded, but still valuable Taylor Hill (6-1, 2.73 ERA) all must be replaced. The trio combined for 337 1/3 of the staff’s 583 innings and 325 of 567 strikeouts in 2011. As if the front end losses weren’t bad enough, closer Navery Moore (4-2, 1.21 ERA, 11 SV*) is now in the pro ranks as well. Will Clinard (2-2, 2.75 ERA, 35 App*, 39 1/3 IP, 48 K, 3 SV), T.J. Pecoraro (7-0, 1.59 ERA, 39 2/4 IP, 41 K) and Kevin Ziomek (3-0, 1.59 ERA, 45 1/3 IP, 47 K) are among the returnees who will assume larger roles in ’12.

There are a few more recognizable names back in the everyday lineup for Vandy. Notably, Anthony Gomez (.336, 48 RBIs, 61 Runs*, 12 Doubles), leadoff man Tony Kemp (.329, 58 Runs, 7 Triples*, 17 SB) and Mike Yastrzemski (.296, 60 Runs, 42 RBIs, 23 SB*). Vandy will still miss the run production of Aaron Westlake (.344, 18 HR*, 56 RBIs, .640 Slg.%) and Jason Esposito (.340, 9 HR, 59 RBIs*, 22 Doubles*).

Chris Harvey will be the one to watch for Vanderbilt all season. The strong armed catcher skipped his senior year of high school completely to enroll at Vanderbilt last fall. Corbin says of the 18 year old phenom “What separates him from most young players is his feel for hitting and his overall maturity for the game.” Harvey, who is part of what Baseball America has rated as the No. 1 freshman class in the country, comes from an athletic family. His sister, Megan, is a swimmer at Georgetown, while his brother, Michael, wrestles at North Carolina.

12. TCU

2011 Record: 43-19

A trip to the 2010 College World Series was the watershed moment for Jim Schlossnagle’s Horned Frogs, and heading into 2011 they looked like they were set for another Omaha run. The script didn’t quite hold though, as an injury to ace Matt Purke (5-1, 1.71 ERA) caused too much ripple effect in the roles of the rest of the pitching staff. Ultimately, TCU took two steps back, seeing upstart Dallas Baptist win the Ft. Worth Regional.

Purke signed a professional contract after two years at TCU, but fellow starters Kyle Winkler (8-2*, 1.39 ERA*, 13 Starts*, 2 CG, 90 2/3 IP*) and Steven Maxwell (5-1, 3.13 ERA) must also be replaced along with the bat of Taylor Featherston (.335*, 3 HR, 42 RBIs).

Despite that substantial turnover, TCU still has plenty back for a shot at another deep NCAA run. The offense is led by Josh Elander (.333, 5 HR, 38 RBIs, 11 Doubles), Jantzen Witte (.331, 4 HR, 45 RBIs, 21 Doubles*), Jason Coats (.325, 8 HR*, 56 RBIs*, 16 Doubles) and Brance Rivera (.324, 7 HR, 36 RBIs, 14 SB*). The most intriguing new addition is that of 6’5, 260 pound freshman Kevin Cron, who is the younger brother of former Utah All-American C.J. Cron. Kevin was a third round selection out of high school in last year’s MLB Draft, while C.J. went to the Angels in the first round.

Sophomore Andrew Mitchell (6-1, 2.84, 12 Starts, 22 App., 2 SV, 76 IP, 73 K) did a little of everything last year, with the Horned Frogs going 17-5 in games he pitched. He will have a more settled role this year with the previously mentioned departures. Stefan Crichton (6-3, 1.98 ERA, 26 App., 5 SV*, 50 IP) and  Nick Frey (1-0, 3.45 ERA, 10 App., 4 Starts) will look to expanded roles as well.

TCU will be tested early, with a season-opening home series against Ole Miss, followed by three games at Cal State Fullerton the next weekend. With a move to the Big 12 on the way, 2012 will be the Horned Frogs’ last season in the Mountain West Conference.

13. Florida State

2011 Record: 46-19

One thing has become automatic in Mike Martin’s first 32 years as Florida State head coach – an NCAA appearance. The Seminoles have gone to 32 straight NCAA Tournaments, gone to 14 College World Series and averaged an amazing 52 wins in Martin’s first 32 seasons at the helm.

The only thing the ABCA Hall of Famer hasn’t done is the same thing no ACC team has done since 1955 – win a national championship.

As usual, the Seminoles return a lot of offense to make a run at Omaha. James Ramsey (.364*, 10 HR*, 67 RBIs*, 18 Doubles, 58 Runs*, 3 Triples, 11 SB*, 1.022 OPS*) was FSU’s top all-around bat in 2011. He’s joined by the likes of Jayce Boyd (.343, 8 HR, 60 RBIs, 17 Doubles, 44 Runs, 10 SB), Devon Travis (.329, 6 HR, 33 RBIs, 26 Doubles*, 58 Runs*), Justin Gonzalez (.264, 8 HR, 40 RBIs, 13 Doubles, 50 Runs) and Sherman Johnson (.256, HR, 40 RBIs, 18 Doubles, 51 Runs, 10 SB).

The biggest losses to the pitching staff are ace Sean Gilmartin (12-2*, 2.09 ERA, 120 1/3 IP*, 130 K*), two-way player Mike McGee (4-3, 4.68 ERA, 5 SV/.321, 10 HR*, 58 RBIs) and closer Daniel Bennett (3-1, 2.29 ERA, 39 App.*, 15 SV*).

A solid group of returning pitching includes Robert Benincasa (3.58 ERA, 2-2, 20 App.), Gary Merians (6-2, 4.03 ERA), Brian Busch (6-2, 4.29 ERA, 26 App., 63 IP), Hunter Scantling (3-3, 4.45 ERA, 12 Starts, 58 2/3 IP), and Scott Sitz (4-2, 5.92 ERA, 51 2/3 IP).

14. Arizona

2011 Record: 39-21

While the majority of the teams in Division I baseball were struggling to adjust to the new BBCOR bats last year, that was not the case for Arizona. The national batting average dropped from .305 in 2010 to .282 last year (.023), but the Wildcats’ average slipped just .001 – from .321 to .320. Arizona finished third in the nation with its .321 average last season, and was one of just 49 of the nearly 300 DI teams to hit at a .300 or better clip.

Andy Lopez returns his top five bats, Bryce Ortega (.353*, HR, 28 RBIs, 57 Runs*, 25 SB*), Joey Rickard (.347, 4 HR, 37 RBIs, 16 SB), Cole Frenzel (.346, 3 HR, 16 Doubles, 48 RBIs), Alex Mejia (.335, 42 RBIs, 12 Doubles, 4 Triples), and Robert Refsnyder (.320, 6 HR*, 55 RBIs*, 6 Triples*, 13 Doubles) from that high octane offense. Those five combined for more than half of the team’s 370 RBIs and 14 of 29 home runs in 2011.

In addition to the big bats that are back, the Wildcats also return their top two pitchers - Kurt Heyer (8-5, 2.41 ERA*, 138 1/3 IP*, 134 K*) and Kyle Simon (11-3*, 2.72 ERA, 129 IP, 5 CG*). The duo accounted for 19 of the pitching staff’s 39 wins, 38 of 60 starts, more than half of its 534 innings, and all seven complete games.

15. Miami

2011 Record: 38-23

Since going to the College World Series in 2008, the last three seasons have all ended the same for Jim Morris’ Miami Hurricanes – with losses to Florida in Gainesville. The 2009 and 2011 campaigns ended in Regionals, while 2010 came in an error plagued Super Regional defeat.

Maybe Morris decided it was time to find an ace in the hole…or behind the plate anyway.

After three great seasons at Bethune-Cookman, Peter O’Brien looks to provide instant impact after transferring to Miami for his final year of eligibility. The NCAA ruled recently that O’Brien will be allowed to play immediately. The senior catcher batted .304 with 14 home runs and 69 RBIs in 2011.

O’Brien was the MEAC Player of the Year in 2010 and went on to play for the USA Collegiate National Team that summer. He was selected in the third round of the 2011 MLB Draft, but turned down the chance to turn pro for a year in Coral Gables and the ACC.

O’Brien will have plenty of help in the lineup, with Rony Rodriguez (.308, 13 HR*, 44 RBIs*, 16 Doubles*, 43 Runs, 1.008 OPS*), Brad Fieger (.280, 2 HR, 29 RBIs, 14 Doubles, 28 Runs), Dale Carey (.271, 24 RBIs, 30 Runs), and Stephen Perez (.263, 31 RBIs, 12 Doubles, 25 Runs, 14 SB) among those in the supporting cast.

The Hurricanes have one of the more experienced pitching staffs in the ACC this year as well, with juniors Steven Ewing (8-2, 2.66 ERA*, 74 1/3 IP, 77 K), Eric Whaley (7-5, 2.70 ERA, 93 1/3 IP*, 82 K) and E.J. Encinosa (5-6, 3.45 ERA, 86 IP) as well as sophomore Bryan Radziewski (9-2*, 3.35 ERA, 91 1/3 IP, 92 K*) all back. Those four combined to make all but two of the team’s 61 starts in ’11. The biggest hole to fill is that of closer Daniel Miranda (3-1, 2.67 ERA, 15 SV*), who was an eighth round pick in last year’s MLB Draft.

16. Oklahoma

2011 Record: 41-19

After a trip to the 2010 College World Series, Sunny Golloway and Oklahoma had high expectations heading into last season. There was reason, with the bulk of the CWS squad returning. However, despite 41 wins, the Sooners went two-and-out after being sent to the Ft. Worth Regional (hosted by fellow ’10 CWS participant TCU).

While no coach ever wants to say he’s in rebuilding mode, that’s where Golloway is entering 2012.

A total of 11 Sooners, including six pitchers, were drafted last June, leaving OU with big holes to fill in both the everyday lineup and on the mound. Kevin Seitzer (.358*, 4 HR, 17 Doubles*, 41 RBIs), catcher Tyler Ogle (.343, 9 HR*, 45 RBIs*, 53 Runs*) and Garrett Buechele (.317, 8 HR, 63 RBIs*) and the most significant offensive losses. The pitching staff is hit just as hard, with the departures of starters Michael Rocha (10-3*, 1.75 ERA*, 5 CG*, 113 IP*, 82 K*) and Burch Smith (10-4*, 3.90 ERA, 87 2/3 IP) and closer Ryan Duke (2-1, 4.05 ERA, 7 SV*). Rocha and Smith made 32 of the team’s 60 starts last year, while Duke leaves as the program’s all-time saves leader (35).

Lefites Jordan John (4-2, 2.35 ERA, 7 Starts, 61 1/3 IP), who was drafted in 28^th round by Houston last year and 2011 Freshman All-American Dillon Overton (8-4, 2.30 ERA, 7 Starts, 71 1/3 IP) move to the front of the rotation this year. They are joined by a slew of junior college transfers, including expected closer Damien Magnifico.

Top returning bats in the lineup include Evan Mistich (.316, 2 HR, 16 RBIs), Erik Ross (.315, 21 RBIs, 19 SB*), Caleb Busheyhead  (.288, 18 RBIs), Max White (.286, 3 HR, 20 RBIs), and 2010 NCAA hero Cody Reine (.256, 4 HR, 27 RBIs).

17. UCLA

2011 Record: 35-24

The Bruins were not a potent offensive team in 2010 when they advanced all the way to the College World Series Finals before losing to South Carolina. They didn’t have to be though, because they had dual aces Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer. Even with those two, they were upset at their own NCAA Regional by San Francisco in their first round game and then were eliminated by UC Irvine. Cole and Bauer went first and third, respectively, overall in last year’s MLB Draft, so while head coach John Savage has reinforcements, there are still huge shoes to fill.

Adam Plutko (7-4, 2.01 ERA, 107 2/3 IP, 92 K) becomes the man at the front of the rotation, while guys like Nick Vander Tuig (3-4, 2.90 ERA, 9 SV*, 28 App.*) and Zack Weiss (5-3, 2.86 ERA, 66 IP, 53 K) will have more important roles as well.

There is some flux in the everyday lineup, but the biggest impact will be the loss of Rick Vanderhook. The veteran assistant ran the Bruin offense for three seasons while helping Savage win two Pac-10 titles, but he is now the head coach at Cal State Fullerton.

Cody Keefer (.303, 18 RBIs, 29 Runs, 13 Doubles), Beau Amaral (.299, 2 HR, 29 RBIs, 37 Runs*, 16 Doubles*), Cody Regis (.284, 6 HR*, 45 RBIs*), Jeff Gelalich (.268, 2 HR, 13 RBIs, 35 Runs, 4 Triples*, 13 Doubles, 10 SB), and Chris Giovinazzo (.250, 2 HR, 18 RBIs, 28 Runs, 15 SB*, 12 Doubles) are the most notable returnees.

18. Clemson

2011 Record: 43-20

Last year’s NCAA Tournament looked like it was set-up for an early shot at redemption for Clemson, but instead it turned into an early exit. The Tigers started the 2010 College World Series by going 2-0, only to fall to their biggest rival, South Carolina, en-route to the Gamecocks’ first national title.

Both Palmetto State school hosted Regionals last year, and if each won they would square-off in a Super Regional with the winner advancing to Omaha. Problem was, UConn got in the way of that super power match-up by knocking off the Tigers twice to claim the Clemson Regional.

Jack Leggett begins his 19^th season at the Clemson helm (where he’s averaged better than 45 wins a season) with a wealth of both pitching and offensive talent, but he does have some vital production to replace. Namely, Brad Miller (.395*, 5 HR, 50 RBIs, 1.057 OPS*, 21 SB), Will Lamb (.348, 3 HR, 39 RBIs), John Hinson (.331, 9 HR, 41 RBIs, 23 SB*), and Chris Epps (.292, 10 HR, 42 RBIs).

The good new is, while those formidable bats are gone, Leggett has the likes of Richie Shaffer (.315, 13 HR*, 15 Doubles, 55 RBIs*, 62 Runs*), Phil Pohl (.333 avg., 4 HR, 33 RBIs, 22 Doubles*), Spencer Kieboom (.282 avg, 1 HR, 31 RBIs, 10 Doubles) Jon McGibbon (.339 avg., 1 HR, 14 RBIs, 4 Doubles), and Jason Stoltz (.285, HR, 27 RBIs, 30 Runs) to carry the load while talented youngsters break into the lineup.

The pitching staff faces far fewer significant losses, with the likes of David Haseldon (6-1, 2.23 ERA, 25 App. 76 2/3 IP, 3 SV), Kevin Pohle (5-2, 1.93 ERA*, 32.2 IP, 17 K), Jonathan Meyer (5-2, 3.31 ERA, 68 IP, 63 K, CG*, SV), Dominic Leone (6-2, 3.70 ERA, 65 2/3 IP, 72 K), ), and Scott Firth (5-1, 3.06 ERA) all back to anchor a likely 18^th NCAA appearance in 19 seasons for Leggett.

Clemson and South Carolina play their traditional non-conference series the first weekend of March, with three games in three different cities in three days: March 2 in Charleston, SC, March 3 in Columbia and March 4 in Clemson.

19. Georgia

2011 Record: 33-32

A 3-1 mark at the SEC Tournament got Georgia above .500 and into the NCAA Tournament last year. Included in those three wins were triumphs over eventual national champion South Carolina and national runner-up Florida.

The Bulldogs were shipped to the Corvallis Regional, going 2-2 before falling to host Oregon State in the Regional final. The NCAA bid was the sixth in 10 seasons under head coach David Perno and the 11th in program history (seven of those 11 all-time NCAA bids have come since 2001). It was also a much needed berth, after missing the tournament in 2010.

Perno must replace Zach Cone (.275, 4 HR, 35 RBIs), who struggled with BBCOR last year, but was still the 37^th overall pick in last year’s draft. The pop of Chase Davidson (.278, 7 HR, 31 RBIs) will also be missed, but Georgia’s top two statistical bats, Kyle Farmer (.308 avg., 8 HR*, 58 RBIs*, 16 Doubles) is the and Levi Hyams (.332 avg.*, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 17 Doubles*) are both back along with Pete Verdin (.258 avg., 1 HR, 15 RBI, 6 Doubles).

Ben Cornwell was one of a pair of Bulldog pitchers who signed pro contracts last summer, but the pitching staff still returns Michael Palazzone (10-5*, 3.14 ERA, 4 CG*, 128.1 IP*, 78 K) along with Alex Wood (6-7, 4.44 ERA, 1 CG, 101.1 IP, 79 K*). The duo combined for all five of the staffs complete games, , more than 40-percent of the innings pitched and made 31 of 65 starts. Closer Tyler Maloof (2-2, 7.16 ERA, 18 SV*, 27.2 IP, 25 K) and Blake Dieterich (3-3, 3.67 ERA) each made 28 appearances, with the latter making four starts. Bryan Benzor (2-0, 3.94 ERA, 17 App.), Chase Hawkins (2-3, 4.82 ERA, 22 App., 8 Starts), Patrick Boling (1-2, 5.62 ERA, 18 App.) and Earl Daniels (1-0, 6.20 ERA, 24 App.) give the Bulldogs added staff depth.

20. Cal State Fullerton

2011 Record: 41-17

Rick Vanderhook begins his first season as head coach at Cal State Fullerton in 2012, but he is anything but unfamiliar with the land of the Titans. Vanderhook, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant at UCLA, is just the fifth head coach in program history. He was an assistant coach for a total of 21 seasons in Fullerton under the previous four head coaches –  Augie Garrido, Larry Cochell, George Horton, and Dave Serrano (who left to become head coach at Tennessee), so don’t look for the Titans’ offensive philosophy to change.

Vanderhook inherits a lot of returning experience offensively, but he’ll need to replace a ton of pitching. Noe Ramirez (8-4*, 1.69 ERA) and two-way player Tyler Pill (7-1, 2.28 ERA/.323, HR, 30 RBIs, 11 Doubles) are gone from the weekend rotation. Another two-way player and closer Nick Ramirez (1-1, 2.13 ERA, 16 SV*/.291, 17 Doubles*, 9 HR*, 49 RBIs*) is gone as well.

Fullerton’s top returnees include Michael Lorenzen (.342*, 2 HR, 31 RBIs, 3 Triples, 33 Runs, 19 SB,  .906 OPS*), Carlos Lopez (.342*, 34 RBIs, 4 Triples*), Richy Pedroza (.331, 22 RBIs, 37 Runs), and Dylan Floro (4-2, 4.23 ERA, SV).

The Titans will be tested early and often. The season starts with a three game series at 2011 national runner-up Florida, followed by a three game home series against TCU. The Titans have three games at 2011 CWS participant Texas A&M March 9-11, not to mention two games at Arizona State later in the month as well as midweek games against UCLA.

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Some Thoughts/Notes After A Super Day 3…

Game two Super Regional hero Drew Maggi.

24 = 2: It goes down as a sweep, but what a series between Arizona State and Arkansas.  The Sun Devils won a pair of 12 inning games to advance to the CWS for the 22ndt time.  ASU won 7-5 Sunday night thanks to Drew Maggi’s home run in the top of the 9th, but the game only got that far because of Brett Eibner’s two-strike, two-out home run for the Hogs in the bottom of the 9th inning.  Great clutch hitting all the way around.  it’s just a shame the series didn’t go to what was sure to have been an epic third game.

Austin Shocker: TCU beat #2 national seed Texas 4-1 Sunday to clinch the first CWS appearance in Horned Frogs history.  Texas outscored TCU 16-8, but lost the series 2-1.  Unearned runs led to Saturday’s 14-1 laugher, which was the Longhorn’s only win in the series, but it turns out TCU has a pretty good pitching staff of its own.  Games one and three starters Matt Purke and Kyle Winkler combined for 15 1/3 IP with 17 Ks while allowing just one run.

Bruins On The Brink: UCLA was down to its last out against Cal State Fullerton Saturday night before Tyler Rahmatulla’s home run put the Bruins in front in a game they would eventually win in extra innings.  UCLA #3 starter Rob Rasmussen then fired his first career complete game to help UCLA win 8-1 in Sunday’s finale.

Rob Rasmussen tossed his first complete game to send UCLA to Omaha. (UCLA photo)

Good Point: UCLA is in just its third College World Series, while Fullerton was biding for its 17th trip to Omaha.  As Robin Ventura pointed out during Sunday’s broadcast, the Bruins lack Omaha appearances in part because the Titans have owned them over the years, including in NCAA play.  Fullerton had won 19 of 22 games vs. UCLA over the last six years prior to losing Saturday and Sunday.  They’ve also still won 39 of the last 50 meetings between the two teams.

Match (up) Points: There was a lot of talk about the unfairness of some of the Super Regional match-ups, which are largely made due to geography.  To many TCU vs. Texas didn’t seem fair, neither did South Carlina vs. Coastal, UCLA-Fullerton, or ASU-Arkansas, which pitted two teams from last year’s CWS field.   Fans, players, coaches, and analysts looking at those match-ups argued that any of those teams were Omaha worthy, and they were right.  However, Arkansas vs. UCLA, Arizona State vs. Cal State Fullerton, TCU vs. South Carolina, or Coastal Carolina vs. Texas would have been brutal match-ups as well.  It’s not a great system, but with so many very good teams somebody’s gotta go home…

On A Mission: That said, if the NCAA really “Puts its money where its mission is” (you know, like all those commercials during the games say) shouldn’t they just seed the #1 seeds 1-16 (to match the Regional sites) rather than just the top eight national seeds?  Should saving a few bucks on air fares trump at the least the perception of fairness in seeding the field?

Lack Of Legacies: Texas, Miami, USC, and LSU have combined to make 91 College World Series appearances, but none of them will be in Omaha for Rosenblatt Stadium’s swan song.  How rare is that?  Since the CWS moved to Rosenblatt in 1950 this season marks just the eighth time that at least one of those four teams has not been a part of the eight team College World Series field.

I’m Mobile: I’m still getting used to my new tricked-out cell phone, but it came in handy again on Sunday.  I was able to watch part of the Virginia-Oklahoma game on my phone while I was at my daughter’s game.  I’m still not giving-up the name of my provider, but it’s definitely a cool perk.

Omaha Bound: The eight CWS teams will be heading to Omaha this week and so will we.  I’ll be in Omaha Friday for open practice and pre-series press conference day.  We will post several videos with player and coach interviews that day, and we will have extensive coverage from Omaha during the entire series.  Among our coverage:  Daily video & audio, daily CWS scoreboard pages and a daily Notebook/blog.  Collegebaseball360.com will have someone in Omaha from start to finish for the 2010 College World Series!

Goaaaalllll: Soccer, seriously?  When there’s college baseball on?

More Coverage

Friday Super Regional Notebook

Saturday Super Regional Notebook

Super Regional Central

THE FINAL RELEASE

Vanderbilt sophomore lefthander Richie Goodenow

With the Super-Regional round fast approaching, CB360 takes a look back at the Primetime Performers from the Regional Round that wrapped up on Tuesday during this condensed week. Coastal Carolina junior centerfielder Rico Noel (Lawton, Okla.) has been selected the national Primetime Player of the Week while Vanderbilt junior lefthander Richie Goodenow (Nashville, Tenn.) is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week. (front-page photo courtesy of Coastal Carolina)

Coastal Carolina junior centerfielder Rico Noel

It doesn’t get much more “primetime” than during NCAA Tournament play, with 104 high-stakes games played over the five-day stretch of June 4-8. Noel and Goodenow are joined by 19 others in comprising CollegeBaseball360.com’s latest installment of the Primetime Performer Honor Roll, which included a player from each of the 16 advancing teams (plus one each from the five runner-up teams that were playing on the road and forced a game-7 finale).

NOEL supplied his all-around game througout the regional, with Coastal Carolina serving as the host and top seed at BB&T Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Chanticlers battled back from a 16-6 loss vs. 2-seed College of Charleston (in the winners-bracket), winning three straight games to earn a spot in the Super-Regional round.

Coastal Carolina's Noel Rico (pictured in action earlier this season) batted 10-for-23 in the Myrtle Beach Regional with 7 RBI, 7 runs scored, a pair of home runs and 6 stolen bases. His 9th-inning, 2-run blast vs. College of Charleston took Coastal from the brink of elimination to a decisive Monday rematch (photo courtesy of Coastal Carolina).

Over the course of the five regional games, Noel patroled center field while batting .435 (10-for-23) from the 2-hole/leadoff spots. He factored into 12 of Coastal’s runs (7 RBI, 7 R, 2 HR). The speedy veteran swiped six bases during the regional, yielding a nation-leading 56 stolen bases for the season.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound righthanded hitter went 5-for-13 in three showdown games vs. Charleston (6-16; 8-7; 11-10, in 10) – highlighted by his 9th-inning home run as the Chanticleers were 2-outs away from elimination. That home run (his 11th of the season) came on a 1-2 pitch, with the ball sailing over the leftfield wall to turn a 1-run deficit into a 1-run win. His final line in that dramatic game also included batting 4-for-5 with 5 RBI and his 18th double of the season.

Noel collected three stolen bases in Monday’s clinching win, also batting 3-for-6 with a triple in that extra-inning finale. Earlier in the tournament, he helped post a pair of wins (6-0, 25-7) over a scrappy Stony Brook squad that upset 3rd-seed North Carolina State.

In addition to his 56 stolen bases, Noel ranks second on his team in season batting average (.348) and has motored home for a team-leading 81 runs, plus 62 RBI and 40 walks (.464 on-base pct.).

GOODENOW had been a solid lefthanded setup man for Vanderbilt throughout the 2010 season, making 28 appearances before being tabbed for his first start of the season in a pressure-packed situation. Homestanding and top-seeded Louisville was awaiting with a fresher and deeper pitching staff, along with a potent offense that ultimately finished the season with a .314 team batting average and 88 home runs.

Vanderbilt sophomore Richie Goodenow – typically a spot reliever and setup man – rose to the challenge in his first start of the season (second of career), fashioning a 2-hit shutout vs. the potent Louisville offense (7-0) that forced a decisive rematch. Goodenow had a pair of walks – but also rolled up two double-play balls – in facing only 29 batters during the 99-pitch complete game. (photo courtesy of Vanderbilt)

With his team needing to beat Louisville in that Sunday game (and again on Monday), Goodenow delivered a complete game that preserved the bullpen and set up the clinching Monday win. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefthander fashioned a 2-hit shutout (7-0) while facing only two batters over the minimum (29, with a pair of walks). He located 60 of 99 pitches for strikes, with 19 of his outs coming via strikeouts (5), groundballs (12, including pair of double-play balls) or infield popups (2).

A third-inning double represented the only Louisville batter who reached second base during the entire game.

Goodenow retired the first five batters he faced (four on strikeouts) before allowing a double by Cade Stalling (before a 4-3 groundout and F-9 flyout). Ryan Wright later was stranded after a 2-out walk in the 4th, with Goodenow then retiring seven straight before Andrew Clark’s leadoff walk in the 7th (followed by a 5-4 groundout and 4-6-3 double play).

The Cardinals’ fourth and final baserunner came in the 8th, when Josh Richmond sent a 1-out double up the middle but quickly was erased on a 4-6-3 double play.

Louisville’s #1 thru #6 hitters all went hitless (0-for-18 combined) during Goodenow’s masterpiece.

Primetime Performer Award Criteria (not based solely on raw stats, but rather …)
• Must have been playing for or against a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings) or performed a high level in games that could be key to a team’s conference/NCAA postseason qualification/advancement; made significant contribution to team’s postseason positioning (single-game wins, “quality” wins, series wins, road wins, etc.).
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, key defensive efforts, etc.
• Performed at a top level against a team rated highly nationally (or within its conference), with bonus consideration given for key performances away from home field and vs. traditional rivals.
• Overcame adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).
• Any accomplishment that is rare, historic, record-setting, etc., on a national level.

The other 19 members of the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll for the NCAA Regionals include (see capsules for each player at bottom of release): St. John’s fr. LF Jeremy Baltz (Vestal, N.Y.) … Virginia jr. DH John Barr (Ivyland, Pa.) … Washington State sr. 2B Cody Bartlett (Kent, Wash.) … UCLA so. RHP Trevor Bauer (Valencia, Calif.) … Arizona State sr. RF Kole Calhoun (Buckeye, Ariz.) … Cal State Fullerton jr. SS Christian Colon (Corona, Calif.) … South Carolina sr. RHP Blake Cooper (Neeses, S.C.) … Texas A&M jr. catcher Kevin Gonzalez (Houston, Texas) … Clemson jr. 3B  John Hinson (Asheville, N.C.) … College of Charleston jr. SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C.) … Florida State so. 3B Sherman Johnson (Tampa, Fla.) … Texas so. RHP Taylor Jungmann (Temple, Texas) … Arkansas so. LF Collin Kuhn (Beaver Dam, Wis.) … Miami sr. 2B Scott Lawson (Grapevine, Texas) … TCU sr. RHP Steven Maxwell (The Woodland, Texas) … Alabama so. LHP Adam Morgan (Marietta, Ga.) … Oklahoma so. RF Cody Reine (Walker, La.) … Minnesota jr. RHP Seth Rosin (Shoreview, Minn.) … and Florid so. LF Tyler Thompson (Tequesta, Fla.).

The week-16 honorees ended up including at least one player from every position, with seven total pitchers (five RHPs and a pair of LHPs), three leftfielders, two shortstops, two third basemen and two rightfielders, plus a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, centerfielder and DH. The 21 selections feature five seniors, eight juniors, seven sophomores and the freshman Balyz. The honorees hail from 15 different home states, led by four from Texas and two each from California, Florida and South Carolina – plus one each from Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.

PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL #16
(NCAA Regionals; June 4-8, 2010 … presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)

“It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

JEREMY BALTZ (LF … #18)
St. John’s  •  Fr.
Vestal, NY  •  Vestal HS
6-3  •  190  •  Bats: Right

Power-hitting rookie (finished with 24 HR) who wrapped up impressive first season by batting 7-for-16 (.438) with 19 total bases (4 HR) and 13 times on-base (3BB-3HBP) spanning five regional games at Virginia, as 3rd-seed SJU reached the final game … racked up a 1.779 OPS (.591 on-base + 1.188 slugging pct.) at the regional, highlighted by 2-HR game in 6-5 win over the top seed/host Cavaliers … his 2-run blast in the bottom of the 8th of that game sent Red Storm from brink of elimination into Monday rematch (won by UVa, 5-3; Baltz had RBI 1B) … helped eliminate 2-seed Ole Miss (20-16; 1-for-3, RBI-2R-BB-2HBP), after homering in earlier 10-5 loss to the Rebels (2-for-3; 3RBI-2BB) … collected his other HR in 8-6 win over VCU (2RBI, HBP, sac-fly).

JOHN BARR (DH … #7)
Virginia  •  Jr.
Ivyland, PA  •  Germantown Academy
6-2  •  195

Provided bonus production from the 9-hole in key 13-7 winners-bracket game vs. 2-seed Mississippi (4-for-4, 4 RBI, 2B, HBP) … also had some timely offensive moments in pair of games vs. upstart St. John’s (R, BB in 6-5 loss … BB, HBP in 5-3 clinching win) … hit .500 in the four regional games (6-12; 5RBI-2R-2B-2BB-2HBP-SB), including 15-4 opener vs. Virginia Commonwealth (RBI-R-SB).

CODY BARTLETT (2B … #2)
Washington State  •  Sr./Jr.
Kent, WA  •  Kentwood HS
5-8  •  170  •  Bats: Right

Flashed his shortstop background with error-free showing (22 fielding chances) at the regional, also batting .381 (8-for-21) with several key plays from the 2-hole  … factored into 10 runs (4RBI-8R-2HR; 2BB) for 3rd-seeded Cougars squad that made run to regional’s final day … walked and scored twice in 10-7 win over top seed/host Arakansas, forcing the final game … helped knock off #2 seed Kansas State on opening day (9-6; 2-for-4, R-BB) and later smacked huge 8th-inning HR in elimination-game win over KSU (8-6; 3-for-5, 2RBI-3R) … also homered in winners-bracket loss vs. Arkansas (6-4;2-4, 2RBI-R) and had a single/run in 7-2 loss to the Razorbacks.

TREVOR BAUER (RHP … #47)
UCLA  •  So.
Valencia, CA  •  Hart HS
6-1  •  175

Came through in 6-3 winners-bracket victory over LSU, allowing only a single earned run (plus 2 UERs) in 8.0 strong innings … struck out 11 of the 33 batters he faced in that 121-poitch outings, with 7 hits allowed and a pair of walks.

KOLE CALHOUN (RF … #49)
Arizona State … Sr.
Buckeye, AZ  •  Yavapai JC/Buckeye HS
5-11  •  190  •  Bats: Left

Helped Sun Devils reach 50-win mark, following victories over Milwaukee (6-2) and Hawaii (12-1, 8-4) … homered in all three games (giving him 16 HR for the season) while reaching base seven times … factored into four runs vs. Milwaukee (3RBI-2R-HR; BB-HBP) … hit 2-for-4 to help close out Hawaii (BB).

CHISTIAN COLON (SS … #4)
Cal State Fullerton  •  Jr.
Corona, CA  •  Canyon HS
6-0  •  180  •  Bats: Right

Helped Titans win their 4th straight elimination game (9-5 clincher vs. Minnesota) – on the same day he was selected 4th overall in the MLB draft … hit .476 (10-for-21) while factoring into 15 runs (9RBI-8R-2HR) during the five regional games … top-seeded and host team Fullerton had been upset by Minnesota in opener (3-1) before staying alive with 6-5 win over 2-seed Stanford, with Colon homering twice in that key win (4RBI) … went 3-for-5 later that day to help eliminate New Mexico, 11-3 (2RBI-3R-2B-BB) … helped beat Minnesota on Sunday night (7-2; 2-for-4, BB) to force decisive 9-5 finale in which he went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored (2 2B, HBP).

BLAKE COOPER (RHP … #27)
South Carolina  •  Sr.
Neeses, SC  •  Edisto HS
5-10  •  180

Battle-tested veteran who delivered victory for his team in top pitching matchup opposite The Citadel’s ace Asher Wojciechowski, during 9-4 winners-bracket game … did not allow an earned run (4 UER) in game that saw Citadel holding a 4-2 lead entering the 7th … struck out 12 while allowing 6 hits and 3 walks over 7.1 innings, en route to boosting his season record to 11-1.

KEVIN GONZALEZ (C … #10)
Texas A&M  •  Jr.
Houston, TX  • Mayde Creek HS
5-10  •  195  •  Bats: Right

Veteran catcher who supplied bonus offense from the 8-hole, as 2nd-seeded Aggies reached final game in regional … launched huge solo HR in top of 9th vs. Dartmouth, as A&M rallied to avoid elimination with 4-3 comeback win … hit .389 (7-for-18) with an .889 slugging pct. (2 HR, 3 2B) in five games at the regional (5RBI-3R) … helped blow out surging 3-seed Florida International in 17-3 opener (2-for-5, 2RBI-R-HR) … went 2-for-5 with a double in 11-7 win over host team Miami and then 2-for-4 (2RBI-R-2B) in final game, a 10-3 loss to the ‘Canes.

RICHIE GOODENOW (LHP … #15)
Vanderbilt  •  Jr.
Nashville, TN  •  Overton HS
6-2  •  200

Setup man who rose to the occasion in his first start of the season with 2-hit shutout vs. top seed Louisville (7-0), helping his 2nd-seed team rally to beat the host team twice … faced only 29 batters (2 over the minimum) in masterful outing vs. potent Cardinals offense … issued only a pair of walks in the 99-pitch outing that includes 60 strikes thrown … 19 of his outs came via strikeouts (5), groundballs (12, including pair of double-play balls) or infield popups (2) – while a 3rd-inning double represented the only Louisville player that reached scoring position … held each of Louisville #1 thru #6 batters hitless (0-for-18 combined).

JOHN HINSON (3B … #4)
Clemson  •  Jr./So.
Asheville, NC  •  Reynolds HS
6-0  •  175  •  Bats: Left

Delivered clutch play at the hot corner (no errors) and from the 6-hole, batting .563 (9-for-16) with and 19 total bases (3HR-2B; 5RBI-5R-BB-HBP) for 2nd-seeded Clamson … turned in strong efforts during three games (10-1, 10-11, 13-7) vs. top seed Auburn (7-for-12, 4RBI-4R-2HR-2B-BB-HBP) … had a pair of singles and an RBI in winners-bracket game and closed 2-for-3 in clinching win (RBI-3R-HR-2B-BB-HBP) … helped team nearly win second game vs. Auburn (3-5, 2RBI-R-HR) … opened regional going 2-for-4 with a HR vs Southern Mississippi.

JAMIE HOLLER (SS … #4)
College of Charleston … Jr.
Rock Hill, SC  •  Sumter JC/Northwestern HS
6-0  •  170  •  Bats: Right

Slick fielder who made no errors in four regional games (22 fielding chances) while coming through with some timely offense from the 9-hole for 2nd-seeded Cougars … played lead role in 16-6 winnners-bracket victory over top seed and host Coastal Carolina (3-for-5, 2RBI-2R) … connected on a 2-out/2-run blast for his 4th HR of season in that win over CC … batted 7-for-14 in three games vs. Coastal (pair of 1-run losses, 8-7 & 11-10, in 10), factoring into 7 of his team’s runs (3RBI-5R-HR-2B) … also singled and scored in opening win over N.C. State (9-6).

SHERMAN JOHNSON (3B … #32)
Florida State  •  So.
Tampa, FL  •  Alonso HS
5-10  •  180  •  Bats: Left

Steady 2-hole hitter who helped Seminoles advance from a rare road regional, in Norwich, Conn. (11-3 vs. Central Connecticut; 6-4 and 5-3 vs. Oregon) … hit .417 (5-12) with a pair of HR and a double while factoring into seven of team’s runs (4RBI-5R) during the three games (2 BB, SB) … went 2-for-3 with his 8th HR of season in final win over the Ducks (2RBI-BB) … also homered and hit his 14th 2B in earlier win over Oregon (2R).

TAYLOR JUNGMANN (RHP … #26)
Texas  •  So.
Temple, TX  •  Georgetown HS
6-6  •  195

Closed out home regional with impressive outing that helped beat 2nd-seed Rice, 4-1 … faced only 25 batters (2 over the min.) in 7.2 innings, while improving to 7-3 for the season … allowed the lone run on 2 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts and 9 groundball outs in that 84-pitch outing.

COLLIN KUHN (LF … #25)
Arkansas  •  So.
Beaver Dam, WI  •  Beaver Dam HS
5-11  •  190  •  Bats: Right

Leadoff batter who blasted 4 home runs in the regional … hit 4-for-9 and factored into six runs (4RBI-3R-HR; 2 2B-BB-HBP) during pair of wins vs. Washington State (6-4 winners-bracket; 7-2 finale) … hit .412 (7-16) at the regional and had a hand in 11 of the team’s runs (7RBI-8R-4HR; 2 2B-3BB-2 HBP-SB), with the other games including 19-7 win over Grambling and 10-7 loss to WSU (16th HR of season) … went 3-for-5 with 2RBI-2R-HR-2B in the pivotal first win over the Cougars.

SCOTT LAWSON (1B … #2)
Miami  •  Sr.
Grapevine, TX  •  Grayson JC/Colleyville Heritage HS
5-10  •  185  •  Bats: Left

One of a handful of players across the nation with a 3-HR game during regional round, doing so from the 2-hole in 14-1 winners-bracket win over 2-seed Texas A&M … went 4-for-6 in that game while factoring into 7 of the Hurricanes runs (6RBI-4R-3HR) … hit .529 (9-17) with 22 total bases in the four regional games (6RBI-5R-4HR-2B-4BB), with a single, walk and two runs scored in 10-3 clinching win over A&M … opened regional batting 2-for-4 in 12-8 win over Dartmouth (3RBI-R-BB) and added another 2-for-4 game in 11-7 loss to A&M (HR-2B).

STEVEN MAXWELL (RHP … #4)
TCU  •  Sr./Jr.
The Woodlands, TX  •  The Woodlands HS
6-0  •  180

Veteran leader of strong 3-man rotation, delivering key victory in 9-0 winners-bracket game vs. Baylor … faced only 27 batters (3 over the min.) in 8.0 strong innings … struck out 10 while holding the Bears to 3 hits and a pair of walks in the 114-pitch outing.

ADAM MORGAN (LHP … #32)
Alabama  •  So.
Marietta, GA  •  Kell HS
6-1  •  180

Surging lefthander whose complete game sparked a regional-winning rally by 2nd-seeded ‘Bama … picked up the Sunday-night win (8-1) over top seed/host Georgia Tech, forcing the decisive game on Monday … faced only 33 batters in that 114-pitch outing (75 strikes), with only 5 hits allowed and a walk while totaling 9 strikeouts and 10 groundouts … limited GT’s #1 thru #5 hitters to a combined 3-for-19 batting.

RICO NOEL (CF … #1)
Coastal Carolina  •  Jr.
Lawton, OK  •  Lawton HS
5-9  •  170  •  Bats: Right

Talented all-around hitter from the 2-hole/leadoff spots, batting .435 (10-for-23) and factoring into 12 runs (7RBI-7R-2HR) during five regional games … hit 5-for-13 in three showdown games with the College of Charleston (6-16; 8-7; 11-10, in 10) – including the 9th inning, 1-out/2-run HR that won the middle game in dramatic fashion … racked up six stolen bases in the regional, pushing his season total to a nation-leading 56 … his big game in the 8-7 win over CofC included batting 4-for-5 with 5 RBI, his 11th HR of season and 18th 2B … came back next day to hit 3-for-6, triple score twice and collect 3 SBs in clinching win … also helped post pair of wins over scrappy Stony Brook squad (6-0, 25-7).

CODY REINE (RF … #11)
Oklahoma  •  So.
Walker, LA  •  Grayson JC/Walker HS
5-9  •  215  •  Bats: Left

Provided several key offensive plays from the 6-hole, as Sooners advanced with three 1-run wins (7-6 vs. Oral Roberts in 10; 7-6 vs. North Carolina in 10; and 3-2 vs. UNC) … his 7th-inning, 2-out single scored final run in finale vs. the Tar Heels … sparked 10th-inning rally vs. ORU with 1st-pitch/1-out single up the middle (went on to score winning run) … hit 2-for-5 with a sac.-bunt in crucial first win over UNC … batted 5-for-11 in the regional (2RBI-3R-HR-2BB-HBP-SAC).

SETH ROSIN (RHP … #29)
Minnesota  •  Jr.
Shoreview, MN  •  Mounds View HS
6-6  •  245

Shocked top seed and host team Cal State Fullerton with 8.0 dominating innings, as 4th seed Minnesota won its opening game at the regional (9-4) … allowed a single run on 3 hits and no walks, with 7 strikeouts and 6 groundouts among his 26 batters faced (2 over the min.).

TYLER THOMPSON (LF … #18)
Florida  •  So.
Tequesta, FL  •  Jupiter HS
6-1  •  190  •  Bats: Left

Platoon starter in left field who picked perfect time for best game of his career, leading the way regional clinching win over 2-seed Florida Atlantic (15-0) … batted 4-for-5 out of the 9-hole in that game, with his 3 home runs matching his career total entering the game … factored into 7 runs during that final win (6RBI-4R-3HR-2B) … tied program record for total bases (14) while becoming first Gator with 3HR in an NCAA Tournament game (his RBI 2B opened the scoring) … earlier hit 2-for-4 (R-3B) in 10-2 winners-bracket game vs. Oregon State.

* – Coastal Carolina’s Noel is the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Vanderbilt’s Goodenow the Primetime Pitcher of the Week … primary class years are based on academic standing (some players may have an extra year of eligibility)

FLORIDA SWEEPS MIAMI

Alex Panteliodis had 12 Ks in Friday's 7-2 Gator win.

The Florida Gators became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2010 College World Series with their 2-0 Super Regional sweep of Miami in Gainesville, FL.  Click the links below for more details on the two series wins.

Florida next faces either UCLA or Cal State Fullerton in its first CWS appearance since 2005.

By clicking the “Gainesville Super Regional” link above this page will expand to fully support the table below.

CLICK HERE for our Super Regional Central page where you will find links to other Super Regionals.

Best two of three series (all times Eastern)

Friday - FINAL: Florida 7, Miami 2 | Final Stats
UF Recap | MIA Recap *Florida leads series 1-0
* Highlight: Alex Panteliodis has 12 K in 9 IP for first career CG

Saturday – FINAL: Florida 4, Miami 3 |  Final Stats
FLA Recap | MIA Recap

* Florida wins series (2-0)

Podcast with Florida’s Tyler Thompson

The Skinny

Florida: (#3 National Seed) Now in his third season as head coach, Kevin O’Sullivan’s Gators are hosting a Super Regional for the second straight season.  Last year’s is one Florida would just as soon forget.  Southern Mississippi swept two games from the Gators at McKethan Stadium to advance to Omaha.  All four of the program’s Super Regional appearances have come in the last seven years.

Freshman Brian Johnson is one of the top two-way players in the country, and his play in the Gainesville Regional showed it.  Johnson is 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA on the mound to go with a .411 average, 4 HR and 16 RBIs in 24 starts as a DH this season.  The Gator’s don’t have any eye-popping offensive numbers, but they do everything very well.  Matt den Dekker leads the team with a .361 average and 23 stolen bases to go along with 13 HR, Austin Maddox has team highs with 17 HR and 68 RBIs and Preston Tucker plucks along with .345/11 HR/48 RBI numbers.

Florida is one of three Super Regional teams whose pitching staff has no complete games this season.  Alex Panteliodis (10-2, 3.39 ERA) is the front man in the rotation, while Kevin Chapman (3-0, 1.28 ERA, 11 SVs) leads a group of five relievers who have at least one save (including a handful of the 3 inning variety) in 2010.

Miami: The Hurricanes are making their NCAA record 38th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.  They have made it to Omaha in 11 of Jim Morris’ 16 seasons as head coach, including most recently in 2008.  Their season ended last year in Gainesville when they lost to Florida in the Regional championship game.

Catcher Yasmani Grandal (.411/14/58) is the team’s top overall hitter.  He sports a 1.267 OPS.  Harold Martinez’s 21 HR leads the team, while Stephen Perez and Zeke DeVoss each have 24 stolen bases.  With 104 home runs and 103 stolen bases he Hurricanes are one of two teams in the Super Regional field (along with Coastal Carolina) that have topped the century mark in both categories.

Chris Hernandez (10-3, 2.77 ERA) is Miami’s top starter.  Seven other pitchers have combined to make the other 44 starts, including David Gutierrez (5-2, 5.12 ERA) who has five saves and has also made eight starts.  Daniel Miranda (5-2, 3.35 ERA, 5 SVs) leads the team with 33 relief appearances.

Gainesville Super Regional

A By The Numbers Look At Day 3 NCAA Play…

8…Winner take all Regional championship games that will take place on Monday (CLICK HERE to see our full Regional scoreboard with Monday’s match-ups.

8…Teams that went 3-0 in Regional play over the weekend to advance to Super Regionals: Arizona State, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, UCLA, TCU, and Texas.

15…Years since Oklahoma had started NCAA play with a 3-0 record before beating North Carolina 3-2 to advance to the second Super Regional in program history (the format switched in 1999).

Oklahoma celebrates after earning the program's second Super Regional appearance. (OU photo)

2005…The last time a North Carolina team failed to get out of the Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.  Mike Fox’s UNC squad had made four straight College World Series trips, but are eliminated in Regional play for the first time since falling to Notre Dame in ’05 at the Gainesville, FL Regional.

1…Super Regional match-up that is set.  TCU and Texas will square-off in a rematch of last year’s Super Regional that sent the Longhorns to Omaha.

3…Runs allowed in three Regional wins by the vaunted Texas pitching staff.

32…Strikeouts in its three Regional victories by the TCU pitching staff.

1…#4 seed, Minnesota, that started this year’s Regional action 2-0.  The Golden Gophers join the 2004 Pepperdine team and the 2008 eventual National Champion Fresno State squad as the only #4 seeds to start 2-0 since 2003.  Minnesota lost 7-2 to Cal State Fullerton Sunday night and will play for the Regional title Monday night.

8…First inning runs scored by St. John’s en-route to a 22-16 elimination game win over Ole Miss in Charlottesville.

7…Runs given-up in just 2/3 of an inning by Ole Miss starter David Goforth in that game.

Jereymy Baltz (SJU photo)

24…Home runs this season by St. John’s freshman Jeremy Baltz after he hit a pair in Sunday 6-5 upset of #5 national seed Virginia.  The win forced Monday’s Regional Championship game.

10…Runs scored in the first inning by Coastal Carolina in its 25-7 elimination game win over Stony Brook.

23-0…Dartmouth’s record this season when leading after 6 innings prior to Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Texas A&M.  The Big Green lost after Joe Patterson homered in the 8th to tie the game, followed by a long ball by Kevin Gonzalez to lead-off the 9th for the final margin.

10…Home runs hit so far in Regional play by the Aggies after they hit two more in Sunday night’s 11-7 win over Miami to force Monday’s title game.

36 2/3…Innings pitched without allowing an earned run by A&M closer John Stilson.  The sophomore (9-1, 10 saves) tossed 3 scoreless innings in the Dartmouth win, and then fired the final 3 2/3 innings of the win over Miami.

116…Strikeouts by Stilson in 82 2/3 IP this season.

6…Runs in just 2/3 of an inning by Oregon State starter Tyler Waldron in Sunday’s 11-7 elimination game loss to Florida Atlantic.

25-7…Final score of Coastal Carolina’s elimination game win over Stony Brook.  The Chanticleers broke the game open with 10 runs in the top of the 3rd inning.  They scored at least one run in each of the last seven innings of the game.

3…Straight at-bats with a home run by Virginia Tech’s Buddy Sosnoskie, who homered in his first AB of Sunday’s 4-3 win over The Citadel.  He also went deep in his last two trips to the plate in Saturday’s win over Bucknell.

Tyler Thompson and Florida celebrate a home run. (UF photo)

3…Home runs by Florida 9-home batter Tyler Thompson in Sunday’s 15-0 win over Florida Atlantic.  Thompson had hit just two HR all season, but had a power surge to help send the Gators to the Super Regionals for a second straight year.

3…Run home run in the 8th inning by Creede Simpson to propel Auburn to an 11-10 win over Clemson.  The teams rematch for the Regional championship Monday night.

5 1/3…Scoreless innings pitched by St. John’s reliever Kevin Kilpatrick to help the Red Storm shock #5 national seed Virginia 6-5 to force a Monday Regional final game in Charlottesville.

2…Outs in the bottom of the 8th inning when Red Storm freshman Jeremy Baltz homered to provide the eventual winning runs in the St. John’s win.  It was Baltz’s second homer of the game and his24th this season.  He already ranks fourth in the St. John’s all-time home run record book (career home runs, not single season).

5…RBIs by Baltz’s teammate, Matt Wessinger, earlier in the day in a 20-16 elimination game win over Ole Miss.  Wessinger finished a home run shy of the cycle.

8…Runs scored by the Red Storm in the first inning of that game, which sent the Rebels home and St. John’s to the Regional championship round.

Richie Goodnow is congratulated after his first career complete game. (Vandy photo)

0…Runs allowed by Vanderbilt pitcher Ritchie Goodenow in his first career complete game-a 7-0 upset of #7 national seed Louisville on Sunday to force Monday’s Regional final game.

68…Career appearances Goodenow has made.  The win over the Cardinals was just the lefty’s second career start.

5…Runs scored in the 9th inning by Vandy to beat Illinois State 10-4 in an elimination game earlier in the day just to advance for the right to play Louisville.

2…Years in a row Vanderbilt has beaten the Cardinals in an elimination game in Louisville to force a winner take all Regional final.  Louisville won last year to advance to the Fullerton Super Regional.  The winner this year faces Florida State.

1…Career complete game by Rice’s Mike Ojala, who went the distance in his 34th career start to help the Owls beat Louisiana-Lafayette in a Sunday elimination game (they would lose 4-1 to Texas in their next game to see their season end).  Ojala (6-2) had ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery last June.

2…Starts made on Sunday by Washington State junior James Wise.  The junior gave-up six runs in just 2 1/3 innings in an eventual 9-6 elimination game win over Kansas State.  He then started and gave-up just a run in 3 IP to help WSU beat Arkansas 10-7, forcing a Monday Regional final.

James Wise

19…Wins this season by the Washington State bullpen with 6 1/3 shutout innings in the win over K-State.  Richie Ochoa (2-2)  tossed 4 1/3 scoreless frames to help the Cougar pen tie a school record that was originally set in 1987.

33….Years since Washington State last played in a Regional Championship game prior to Monday’s showdown with Arkansas in Fayetteville.

46…Wins this season by UCLA (46-13) to set a new single-season record after Sunday’s 6-2 Regional Championship win over UC-Irvine.  The Bruins are headed to the Super Regionals for the second time in the last four years.

18…50 win seasons by Arizona State (50-8) after beating Hawaii 8-4 to advance to the Super Regionals.

19…Combined College World Series appearances by Florida State head coach Mike Martin (13) and Oregon skipper George Horton (6 with Cal State Fullerton), whose teams met in the championship game of the Norwich Regional.  Martin’s Seminoles won 5-3 to advance to a third straight Super Regional.

1…Out and one runner on in the bottom of the 9th inning when  Rico Noel homered to give Coastal Carolina an 8-7 win over the College of Charleston to force a deciding game Monday in the Myrtle Beach Regional.  Charleston had beaten Coastal a day earlier.

A Look Around The Country At Saturday’s NCAA Action

• The hitting streak continues, but the season is over.  Garrett Wittels extended his hitting streak to 56 games in Florida International’s 15-9 loss to Dartmouth.  The loss eliminated FIU from the Coral Gables Regional.  That means Wittels will begin the 2011 season needing hits in his first two games to tie Robin Ventura for the all-time Division One record hit streak.
  

  Garrett Wittels (FIU photo)

• ““Teams are gonna know what to anticipate.  He likes to drive the ball away.  Look for some teams to try to different things next season.  Try busting him hard inside.  Nobody tried to do that.  We know he can push the ball into right center field, but can he turn on the ball?  I think that’s gonna be the test.”  That’s what ESPNU studio analyst Jay Walker had to say about Wittels and how other teams might approach him next year.  So let me get this straight…Wittels batted .409 this season, hit safely in 56 games, smacked 20 doubles, and came to the plate 237 times, but nobody ever challenged him inside once and he never once turned on the ball?  Great analysis Jay (I hope the sarcasm is detected)!  Anyone who hits in 56 straight and bats .400 over the course of the season is going to do it by going to all fields.  More great analysis by someone we’ve never heard of who probably saw all of eight of Wittels’ at-bats this season.
• Dartmouth clean-up batter Jason Brooks was 2-for-5 in the win over FIU with a grand slam and a total of 6 RBIs.  The win was the first for Dartmouth in the NCAA Tournament since 1987 and the first for the Ivy League since Princeton won a game in 2004.
• Not to be outdone, Illinois State got its first NCAA win in 34 years by downing St. Louis 8-3 in the Louisville Regional elimination game.  Kevin Tokarski homered and drove-in four.
  

  Anthony Rendon (Rice photo)

• Anthony Rendon jacked 3 HR and totaled 7 RBIs to lead Rice to a resounding 19-1 elimination game win over Rider at the Austin Regional.  With the Owls leading 11-0 Wayne Graham lifted starter Taylor Wall after 3 2/3 hitless innings.
• Southern Mississippi’s Taylor Walker was 4-for-4 with a home runs, 4 runs and 4 RBIs in an Auburn Regional elimination win over Jacksonville State.
• Matt Weisinger hit two of St. John’s‘ four home runs in Charlottesville to help the Red Storm eliminate VCU 8-6.
• Baylor beat Lamar 6-5 in Ft. Worth.  Logan Vick had his 29th extra base hit to set a freshman school record.
• Florida Atlantic had a season-high 18 hits to eliminate Bethune-Cookman with a 12-6 win in Gainesville.
• Buddy Sosnoskie belted two HR with 6 RBIs to help Virginia Tech beat Bucknell 16-7.
• Stony Brook eliminated North Carolina State with a 6-2 win in Myrtle Beach.  Sophomore Tyler Johnson (10-3) set a new Seawolves single-season record for wins.  Johnson notched 10 Ks in 8 IP.
• Tyler Garwal hit a walk-off home run to keep Oral Roberts‘ season going with a 9-8 win over Cal in Norman.  The Golden Eagles hit 4 HR and won despite walking 9 batters.
• Francis Larson hit his 25th career home run to help UC Irvine beat Kent State 19-9 in the L.A. elimination game.  Larson has now hit the most home runs in Anteater history.
  

  Neil Holland (UofL photo)

• Louisville’s 7-1 win over Vanderbilt set a program record with the 50th win of the season for the Cardinals.  Neil Holland got his 17th save with 3 shutout innings of one hit ball.
• How confident was Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell that his team could start Regional play 2-0?  Cardinal ace Thomas Royse (9-1, 2.91 ERA) did not start either of his team’s first two games.  He’ll start Sunday, which is the final game of McDonnell’s 3-game suspension.
• Mike Olt is UConn’s all-time home run (44) and RBI (177) leader after belting two long balls with a career-best 8 RBIs as the Huskies routed Central Connecticut State 25-5.  UConn now faces Oregon, which lost 6-4  to Florida State.
• Rain and lightening caused two hours and 28 minutes of delay, but Miami cruised to a 14-1 win over Texas A&M.  Hurricane 1B Scott Lawson was 4-for-6 with 3 HR and 6 RBIs.
• Danny Hultzen gave-up 6 earned runs in 6 IP, but still improved to 10-1 as Virginia beat Ole Miss. 13-7.  The Cavaliers tied a school record with their 49th win.
• Mike Ferraro was 4-for-6 with a home run, two doubles and 6 RBIs to lead San Diego to a resounding 22-1 elimination game win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Tempe.
• Here’s a lesson to the kids at home: ALWAYS RUN IT OUT.  Stanford’s Colin Walsh hit a fairly routine fly ball to left field, but Cal State Fullerton’s Casey Watkins dropped it.  Walsh motored all the way to third on the play and scored on a single by Stephen Piscotty.  The Titans still won 6-5 thanks to a pair of 2-run home runs by Christian Colon.
• Stanford goes 0-2 at the Fullerton Regional.  It’s just the second time Stanford has gone two and out in Regional play.  The last time it happened was in 1994 in Austin, TX.
• There were a total of seven upsets on Saturday.  Five #4 seeds won, with three of those wins vs. #2 seeds.  Two #1 seeds lost to #2 seeds.
• Minnesota is the Cinderella of the Regionals so far.  The fourth-seeded Golden Gophers downed #3 New Mexico 6-4 in 10 innings the Fullerton winner’s bracket game to go to 2-0.
• Scott Matyas struckout 8 in three scoreless, hitless innings of relief to improve to 5-1.
• Eight of Saturday’s Regional games were decided by double digits.
• Citadel’s 1-3 batters combined to go just 2-for-12 in their 9-4 loss to South Carolina.  The Gamecocks used a 5-run 7th inning to take the win.
• Starting pitchers Blake Cooper (11-1) of South Carolina and Asher Wojciechowski (12-3) of The Citadel combined for 23 strikeouts and just 4 walks.
  

  Trevor Bauer (UCLA photo)

• Trevor Bauer had 11 strikeouts to lead UCLA to a 6-3 win over defending national champion LSU in the L.A. winner’s bracket game.  Anthony Ranaudo had 10 Ks in the loss.
• The Bruins (45-13) tied a program record for most wins in one season.  It equals the win total from the Bruins’ 1997 team (45-19-1), which was the last UCLA program to go to the College World Series.
• Junior Casey Harman tossed the first complete game of his career to help #2 seed Clemson topple #1 Auburn 5-2  in Auburn.  Harman scattered five hits with 8 strikeouts.
• Arizona State’s Seth Blair is 12-0 after giving-up just a run in 7 IP as the overall #1 seeded Sun Devils rolled Hawaii 12-1.
• Joe Weik smacked two home runs and had a career-high 6 RBIs to help TCU down Arizona 11-5.  The Horned Frogs improve to 48-11 to tie the school record for wins in a season.
• TCU pitchers Matt Purke (13-0) and Tyler Lockwood combined for 10 strikeouts, making TCU 21-0 when its pitchers have at least 10 Ks in a game.

FIU’s Wittels Heads This Week’s “By The Numbers”…

Garrett Wittels (FIU photo)

45…Game hitting streak by Florida International’s Garrett Wittels.  The sophomore had at least one hit in each of FIU’s three wins over South Alabama over the weekend to tie Roger Schmuck of Arizona State (1971) for the third longest Division One hitting streak of all-time.

47…Game hitting streak by Phil Stephenson of Wichita State in 1981 for the second longest streak in NCAA history.  Oklahoma State’s Robin Ventura’s 58 game streak (which ended at the 1987 College World Series) is the longest in DI history.

3…Teams that have qualified for the 2010 NCAA Baseball Tournament.  San Diego and Cal State Fullerton joined Ivy League champ Dartmouth by claiming the their regular season crowns over the weekend.  San Diego won the WCC thanks to losses by Portland, while Fullerton claimed at least a share of the Big West after sweeping Long Beach State.  The Titans own the tie-breaker with UC Irvine and need just one win or one Cal State Northridge loss to win the title outright.

18-2…Fullerton’s record in its last 20 games since losing game one of its series vs. Irvine back on April 9th.

19…Straight NCAA Tournament appearances Fullerton will make when it plays in its NCAA regional this season.  It’s the third longest active streak in the nation behind Miami (37) and Florida State (32).

47…Days it took to complete TCU‘s 19-17 win in 12 innings over Air Force to clinch the 2010 Mountain West

Matt Purke (TCU photo)

Conference Championship.  The game began on March 28th in Colorado Springs, and was suspended due to weather.  It resumed in the 7th inning Friday afternoon in Ft. Worth with TCU leading 16-15.

12…Strikeouts by TCU pitcher Matt Purke, who gave-up just a run on five hits in six innings of relief in that game to improve to 10-0.  The freshman is the Horned Frog’s regular Friday starter.

8…Home runs TCU hit in that game to help the Horned Frogs to a new school record total of 84 HR hit this season.  The record had stood since 1998.

3…Weekend wins by Kentucky (29-23, 12-15) over LSU to hand the defending national champions their fourth straight SEC series loss.  The Tigers (34-18, 12-15) have lost 11 of their last 12 SEC games and 12 of their last 14 games overall.

19…Years since Kentucky had last swept a weekend series from LSU.

21…Years since LSU played in the NCAA Tournament but did not host a Regional.  The Tigers played in College Station Texas that year.  LSU has hosted 18 NCAA Regionals since then, but could find themselves on the road when the tournament starts this year.

16-8…Score by which Indiana trailed Kentucky heading into the bottom of the 8th inning of Tuesday’s game vs. Kentucky.  The Hoosiers plated five runs with two outs in the 8th and then added three more in the 9th to force extra innings before Michael Early’s walk-off hit gave IU an improbable 18-17 victory.

0-for-6…What Early was at the plate in the game prior to drilling a pitch off the left field wall to plate Dylan Smith with the game-winning run.

4 & 7…Home runs hit and RBI’s by St. John’s left fielder Jeremy Baltz in Friday’s 8-5 win over #6 Louisville (the Red

Jeremy Baltz (SJU photo)

Storm lost the other two games in the series).  The freshman leads St. John’s with a .412 average, 18 home runs and 68 RBIs this season.

14-0…Northwestern’s lead over Michigan in the middle of the third inning Sunday in Ann Arbor.

15-14…The final score of Michigan’s comeback win over the Wildcats.  The game ended on Mike Dufek’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.

5 2/3…Scoreless innings pitched by Wolverine reliever Matt Miller to pick-up the win.  The junior struck out seven and gave-up just two hits to keep the Wildcats scoreless while Michigan scored the last nine of its 15 unanswered runs.

14…Straight games Virginia has won after sweeping North Carolina over the weekend.  North Carolina (32-20, 11-16) had won eight straight and 10 of its last 11 games heading into the series with the Cavs (43-9, 21-6).

2…Walk-off hits the Cavaliers needed to pull off the sweep.  John Barr’s 2-out RBI single capped Saturday’s game one 3-2 victory,  while John Hicks ended Sunday’s 5-3 win with a 3-run home run.

900…Wins at Ohio State by head coach Bob Todd after Sunday’s 11-6 win over Iowa for the Buckeyes’ lone win of the 3-game series.  Todd will retire at season’s end.

7…Scoreless innings pitched by South Carolina’s bullpen in a 3-game weekend sweep of Arkansas.  Five relievers combined to give-up just two hits after starter Tyler Webb left after giving-up three runs in three innings in Sunday’s 5-3 win to cap the sweep.

33…Consecutive Big South Conference games won by #5 Coastal Carolina (45-6, 23-0) after a 3-game sweep of #39 Liberty (37-15, 18-6).  The Chanticleers remain in good shape to receive a top 8 national seed after sweeping the second place team in their conference.

14,619…Fans who saw Florida’s 3-game sweep of Georgia over the weekend in Gainesville.  It’s the best 3-game attendance figure in program history.  Florida (37-12, 20-7) and South Carolina (41-11, 29-7) are tied for first place in the SEC East.  They go head to head this weekend.

4…Straight SEC series won by Auburn after taking two of three games from Tennessee.  The Tigers (35-17, 17-10) now lead the SEC West.

15…Years since Auburn last won the SEC’s Western Division.  They close the regular season this weekend at Ole Miss.

Anthony Rendon (Rice photo)

10…Run deficit faced by Rice as the Owls prepared to bat in the bottom of the third inning Sunday vs. Southern Mississippi.

19…Unanswered runs Rice scored to beat the Golden Eagles 21-14.  Anthony Rendon paced the Owls, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and 4 RBIs to help Rice lock-up the top seed in the Conference USA Tournament.

7…RBIs by USM’s B.A. Vollmuth in the loss.  The sophomore shortstop belted a pair of home runs himself, including a grand slam.

1,000…Career wins by Arizona head coach Andy Lopez after his Wildcats topped #1 Arizona State 12-4 Sunday night in Tucson.  Lopez is the 16th active coach and the 46th all-time Division One coach to reach the milestone.

1…Loss by ASU’s Merrill Kelly (9-1) this season after giving-up six runs (five earned) in just 3 2/3 IP-his shortest start of the season.  The 12 runs are the most given-up by the Sun Devils this year.

25…Consecutive scoreless innings pitched by Rhode Island’s Tim Boyce (a new URI school record).  The senior struck out 10 and gave-up just two singles with his second straight complete game shutout in Friday’s 6-0 win over Richmond.

27 1/3…Consecutive scoreless innings pitched by Wichita State’s Jordan Cooper after Friday’s 3-0 win over Missouri State.  The sophomore fanned 14 and struck out at least one batter in every inning to improve to 8-2.

69…Walks issued to UT Arlington outfielder Michael Choice this season to set a new Southland Conference single season record.  Choice is batting .401 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs for the Mavericks (26-26).  He was walked

Tony Nix (UC Riverside photo)

intentionally in the first inning of Sunday’s 11-8 win over Lamar to set the record.

19…Times Choice has been intentionally walked this season to help him lead the nation with his 69 free passes 2010.

10…Big Ten teams that are all still alive in the race to qualify for next week’s 6-team Big Ten Tournament. Four  teams, Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana, and Iowa, are tied for fifth place.

.266…UC Riverside’s Tony Nix’s season batting average entering last week’s action.

.341…Nix’s current average after a week in which he was 17-for-26 with three home runs, five doubles, a triple, 11 runs scored, and 15 RBIs.  Nix had a stretch during which he had nine straight hits, including a 6-for-6 game against Loyola Marymount.

4…Home runs hit by Bucknell’s Paul Shribman to help the #4 seed Bison beat #1 seed Army in the Patriot League’s best two of three semifinal series.  Shribman belted a grand slam in the series clinching win and finished the weekend by batting 8-for-13 with 9 RBIs and 7 runs scored.  Bucknell faces #3 seed Holy Cross in this weekend’s Patriot League Championship Series.

Texas Nipping On Virginia’s Heels…

The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings. Records indicated are through games of May 2 and do not include ties.

Here’s the week ten college baseball attendance report as compiled by Tami Cutler of the NCBWA.  We have included the top ten most attended games from last week as well as the top ten season to date attendance averages and the ten top single-game attendances of the 2010 season.

CLICK HERE to see the full report.

Big Pitching Performances Headline The Week

Justin Jones

the first to do it Friday afternoon.  He was followed by: Alex Wimmers-Ohio St., Cole Green-Texas, Justin Jones-Cal, D.D. Hanks-South Alabama, Merrill Kelly-Arizona St., and Asher Wojciechowski-The Citadel.

1…Freshman among that group of eight game winners-Cal LHP Justin Jones (8-2, 2.62 ERA), who has both of his team’s complete games this season.

12…Strikeouts by Wojciechowski in his Friday complete game 4-2 win over Furman.

4…ACC series lost by North Carolina this season after being swept in Miami over the weekend.

4…ACC series lost by the Tar Heels over the previous three seasons combined.  UNC lost three conference series last year, none in 2008 and one in 2007.  They also lost just two in 2006 for a total of six ACC series defeats from ’06-’09 en-route to four trips to the College World Series.

David Guetierrez (Miami photo)

7…RBIs by Hurricane catcher Yasmani Grandal, who homered to help his team to the weekend sweep of the Tar Heels.

7…Perfect innings pitched by Miami’s David Guetierrez in Wednesday’s 9-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast.  The senior struck out seven and retired all 21 batters he faced in just his second start of the season before leaving the game after throwing 84 pitches.  Hurricane reliever Eric Whaley lost the perfect game and no-hitter when he hit a batter and gave-up a single in the 8th inning.

3…Wins by #6 Georgia Tech over visiting #16 Clemson.  The sweep was sparked by Friday’s 10th inning walk-off home run by Yellow Jacket right fielder Chase Burnett.

15…Consecutive games in which a Georgia Tech player has homered after second baseman Jacob Esch went deep in Sunday’s 11-3 series finale, which gave Clemson its fifth straight loss.

9…Of Clemson’s 13 losses this season (including three in its five-game slide) which have been decided by one or two runs.

5…Runs scored by #25 Virginia Tech in the top of the 9th inning in Sunday’s 8-5 win over #3 Virginia, which avoided a 3-game sweep.  The rally was capped by Buddy Sosnoskie’s 2-out bases clearing double.

3…Walks issued in just 1/3 of an inning by Cavalier closer Kevin Arico, who had earned his Division One leading 12th save earlier in the series, in that Hokie rally.

4…Walks issued by Arico (0-1)  in 20 innings pitched prior to Sunday’s outing.

0 & 23…Runs allowed and strikeouts totaled in 25 combined innings by Texas starting pitchers Brandon

Brandon Workman (Texas photo)

Workman, Taylor Jungmann and Cole Green in the Longhorns’ weekend sweep of arch rival Texas A&M.  The trio also surrendered a grand total of seven hits on the weekend.

12 & 6…Consecutive wins by Texas and losses by Texas A&M, respectively, after the Aggies’ fourth sweep at the hands of the Longhorns in the last five seasons.  The sweep keeps Texas 2 1/2 games ahead of Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference standings.

14…Big 12 leading home runs hit by Nebraska’s Adam Bailey this season.

1…Hit by Bailey in 13 at-bats vs. Kansas (not a home run), while the Jayhawks took two of three games in the series from the Cornhuskers.

1996…The last time Kansas won a series in Lincoln prior to the weekend’s wins.

1,000…Career wins by Rutgers head coach Fred Hill after his Scarlet Knights beat South Florida 6-1 Saturday en-route to a 3-game weekend sweep of South Florida.  The wins move RU into a first place tie with Connecticut atop the Big East Conference standing.

1…Home run this season by LSU sophomore Grant Dozer-a walk-off shot that ended Sunday’s 6-5 14-inning win over Alabama to cap a 3-game weekend sweep.

2002…The last time LSU (30-6, 11.4) swept a series from Alabama (22-15, 5-10).

7…Ride or die innings pitched by LSU closer Matty Ott to earn his first win of the season.  The sophomore allowed two runs on four hits in the longest outing of his career.  He gave-up the runs in the 8th inning and then proceeded to toss six scoreless frames.

32…Division One leading wins by Coastal Carolina, which beat Gardner-Webb 13-0 Sunday for its 13th straight win.

4…Third inning home runs hit by UC Riverside in Sunday’s 7-5 win over Long Beach State.

Marcus Stroman

3…Hits by Duke second baseman Marcus Stroman in Saturday’s upset of #8 Florida State.

3…Scoreless innings pitched by Stroman, who moved to the mound and earned his fourth win in relief in that same game.

4…RBIs along with a home run hit by Arkansas’ Brett Eibner in Saturday’s win over Georgia.  He is tied for the team lead with 11 HR this season.

7…Innings pitched in that game by Eibner, who earned his third win in his ninth start of the season.

11…Straight wins by the Razorbacks (31-6, 12-3) after Sunday’s 13-5 win over the Bulldogs.  Arkansas has the most overall wins and conference wins of any team in the SEC.

20…Combined strikeouts by starting pitchers Blake Cooper of South Carolina and Drew Pomeranz of Ole Miss in Friday’s Gamecock win over the Rebels.  Cooper (7-0) scattered four hits with 10 K in the complete game effort to help

Christian Walker (USC photo)

South Carolina win two of three games in the series.

9…Straight South Carolina batters who reached base safely in a seven-run 2nd inning-capped by Christian Walker’s grand slam-in Saturday’s 9-5 win over the Rebels.

4…Runs scored by Arizona in the bottom of the 9th inning to rally to beat Washington State 12-11 Sunday in Tucson.

11…Straight wins by the home team in the series between the Wildcats and Cougars.

14…Strikeouts in 8 2/3 IP by Arizona’s Kurt Heyer in Friday’s 5-3 win over Wazzou.

18…Scoreless inning streak by Pepperdine’s Matt Bywater that ended when Gonzaga scored a 1st inning run en-route to a 16-3 win.

8…Runs scored by Miami (OH) in the bottom of the 9th inning of Tuesday’s 12-11 win over Xavier.