2014 College Baseball

[mabrowndog]

* SoCon - 4-seed Georgia Southern got revenge for an earlier 3-2 loss to 5-seed Appalachian State by eliminating the Mountaineers, 2-1. The Eagles used six pitchers to hold them to that lone run, with starter Ryan Frederick working just 1.2 innings. All told, they whiffed 9 ASU batters while walking just 1. GSU will need to beat 8-seed Furman (3-0) twice tomorrow to reach the tournament final. In today's second game, 2-seed Davidson and 6-seed Wofford also have elimination at stake. The Wildcats just took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st. 
 
* Southland - A wild day so far, as the top three seeds have all been knocked out. 2-seed Nichols State fell yesterday to 3-seed Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 3-2. Then this afternoon the Islanders met the same fate, losing to 7-seed McNeese State, 7-5. But the big blow came this morning from 5-seed Northwestern State, which sent top seed Sam Houston State home, 5-1. NSU is battling the 4-seed Lions of SE Louisiana right now, and the Demons are up 3-2 in the 8th. Later tonight, McNeese will play its second game of the day as they face 6-seed Central Arkansas.

 

[mabrowndog]

SEC Update:
 
Arkansas' Joe Serrano doubles to lead off the top of the 9th, takes 3rd on a ground-out, and scores on a Brian Anderson sac fly. In the bottom half, after new Hogs pitcher Jacob Stone whiffed Austin Bousfield for the first out, Austin Anderson singled to left-center -- but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. Stone then got Will Allen swinging to end it. The Razorbacks move on, while the Rebels are eliminated.

 

[mabrowndog]

* West Coast - Just 4 teams in the WCC field, and one of them just left. After dropping their opener vs top seed Pepperdine 5-2 yesterday, 4-seed Santa Clara loses to 3-seed Gonzaga, 8-6. The Broncos had grabbed a 4-3 lead in the last of the 5th, but the Zags put up 4 in the T-6th to seal it. Pepperdine is playing 2-seed/#29 Loyola-Marymount right now, with the Lions up 1-0 in the T-4th. Gonzaga gets the loser at 10:30 pm EDT tonight in an elimination game.
 
* Western - New Mexico State, the 6th and bottom seed in the WAC tourney, has bounced two teams from the field. But it looks like the Aggies' efforts to dismiss another one are going to fail, as they're about to be bounced themselves. After dropping their opener Wednesday to 3-seed Utah Valley 11-10, NMSU knocked off 5-seed Seattle yesterday, 7-3. This afternoon they eliminated 2-seed Texas-Pan American, 7-4. But top seed Sacramento State has the Aggies in a 9-5 hole with the Hornets batting in the top of the 9th. Still to come tonight, Utah Valley faces 4-seed Cal State-Bakersfield.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Summit - Just 4 teams involved. After losing a 10-inning heartbreaker yesterday to 2-seed Western Illinois, 8-7 (on a J.J. Reimer walk-off bases-loaded single), 3-seed Indiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne (IPFW) was axed from the field today by top seed S. Dakota State, 6-3. The 4-seed, N. Dakota State, then knocked off the WIU Leathernecks 6-1 to advance to the final where they'll need to be beaten twice. WIU and SDSU are engaged in an elimination game right now, tied 1-1 in the top of the 5th.
 
* Sun Belt - 8-seed LA-Monroe became the 3rd team sent home today, falling 4-2 to 4-seed Texas State. The Bobcats got HR's from Tanner Hill (2-run shot), Cory Geisler & Austin O'Neil to account for all their scoring. 6-seed Troy also got the heave-ho tonight, as Arkansas State put a dozen on the scoreboard in a 12-0 mercy rule rout that was called after 6.5 innings. Four Trojan errors led to just as many unearned runs, and 6 walks didn't help matters. So the top 4 seeds will be in the semifinals tomorrow. The Bobcats get top seed/#2 LA-Lafayette, while the Red Wolves face 2-seed Texas-Arlington, with both lower seeds needing to win twice.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Pac 12 - No tournament, but #1 Oregon State can clinch the regular season title and the NCAA bid tonight with a win at USC and a #13 Washington loss to UCLA. The Trojans just forged ahead with a pair in the B-7th to lead, 4-2, and they're still batting.
 
Huskies-Bruins starts at 10 pm EDT. In other games of interest, #15 Oregon hosts Cal and Arizona State puts its 7-game winning streak on the line against Washington State.

 

[mabrowndog]

* American - It's pool play, and only 6-seed Temple (0-2) and 7-seed UConn (1-1) have been eliminated from a chance at the auto-bid, though they'll still face each other tomorrow to play out the string. Both are in a pool with 2-seed UCF (2-0) and 3-seed/#12 Houston (1-1), who are going at it right now for a spot in the finals. The Cougars are leading the slugfest 13-8 in the B-9th. The Knights got a 3-run HR from James Vazquez in the B-8th. Houston has pounded out 20 hits, while UCF's 4 errors and 3 walks haven't helped the Knights' cause.
 
In the other pool, 8-seed Memphis beat 4-seed Rutgers 5-1, while 5-seed South Florida upset 1-seed/#5 Louisville, 2-1, on a complete game by Jimmy Herget (9 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K). All four teams are now 1-1 heading into tomorrow's action (Louisville-Rutgers, Memphis-USF). 
 

 
* A-10 - 4-seed VCU & 5-seed George Mason are the only unbeaten teams left, and the Patriots hold a 3-0 lead over the Rams with GMU batting in the top of the 9th. Next up, 1-seed St. Louis & 2-seed St. Joe's, each with a loss, square off in an elimination game. The loser of the former faces the winner of the latter tonight at 8 pm in another win-or-go-home affair.

 
St. Louis knocks out the Hawks, 9-1, as Josh Moore, Matt Eckelman & Sam Nafziger combine on a 5-hitter. The Billikens are now engaged with VCU, with the Rams in front 4-2 in the top of the 6th.

 

[mabrowndog]

St. Louis knocks out the Hawks, 9-1, as Josh Moore, Matt Eckelman & Sam Nafziger combine on a 5-hitter. The Billikens are now engaged with VCU, with the Rams in front 4-2 in the top of the 6th.

 
Man, what a game this turned out to be.
 
SLU ended up scoring 3 in the B-6th, but they were cheap (HBP, walk, bunt single, infield hit, and a seeing-eye slow-rolling single up the middle.) VCU tied it up 5-5 with a run in the T-7th, just as cheaply (single through the SS hole, stolen base, bloop single to left, run scores on a throwing error by LF Mike Bozarth.)
 
Into extras they went. St. Louis loaded the bases with one out in the 15th, but couldn't score. That futility cost them big time, and so did their shoddy fielding as the Rams put up 3 in the top of the 16th. Two singles and another run-scoring throwing error by Bozarth. Then a single to right, and a scoring error (SLU's 5th miscue of the game) by RF Danny Murphy. And a sac fly brought in run #3. St. Louis then rallied with 2 outs in the bottom -- Bozarth singled home Braxton Martinez from second -- but Daniel Concepcion whiffed Mike Cusenza to end it, 8-6, capping off a stellar 7-inning relief stint (1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K).
 
Adios, Billikens. The Rams will now have to turn around and beat 3-seed George Mason twice today to earn the A-10 autobid.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

BA's tournament projections as of this morning. Good info on the projected field and what bubble teams need to happen to get in.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Stony Brook defeated Hartford 10-6 last night to advance to the championship round. They will face the winner of Hartford and Binghamton tonight at 6 pm. If Stony Brook loses, there will be a winner take all game tomorrow at Noon.

 

[mabrowndog]

* ACC - Hats off to Dusty Isaacs (5 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 7 K) and Sam Clay (4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K) of 9-seed Georgia Tech for their 4-hit shutout of 5-seed/#26 Clemson. 2B Mott Hyde (3/4, R, 2 RBI), CF Danny Spingola (2/4, R) & 1B Tommy Smith (2/5, RBI) paced the Jackets offense. Later, 3-seed/#3 Virginia plated a fluke run in the top of the 8th, and the Cavs escaped 7-seed UNC, 3-2. After RF Joe McCarthy was HBP and stole 2nd, LF Derek Fisher hit a sharp grounder that glanced off the glove of Heels 2B Wood Myers and into center field for an RBI single. 
 
So, from PiMB's link above: 
 

The Tigers finished 2-1 in ACC pool play and cannot reach the title game. [6-seed] Maryland awaits either [4-seed] Duke or Georgia Tech in the championship game. If the Blue Devils can beat [1-seed] Miami on Saturday and Maryland on Sunday, they’ll snag an automatic bid, likely at Clemson’s expense.
 
The Tar Heels [0-2 in pool play] finish with Maryland on Saturday, in a game that means nothing for the Terrapins, who have already clinched a trip to the title game. If UNC can win, it will finish 2-2 in the ACC tournament and should be able to rest easy. The Tar Heels still seem likely to get in even with a loss, but they would certainly be sweating on selection day.

 
In the morning game, Miami leads Duke 2-1, t-3rd
 
* Atlantic Sun - Two more were eliminated yesterday, with 7-seed Stetson beating 6-seed East Tennessee, and 1-seed Florida Gulf Coast dispatching 5-seed Jacksonville (sorry, Jack Lamabe 65...) The semis are set for today, with FGCU having to beat 4-seed David Lipscomb twice, and Stetson needing the same against 3-seed Kennesaw State (their first matchup was a 10 am start, and Kennesaw leads 2-1, t-8th.
 
* Big Ten - The M's eliminated the I's yesterday, with 6-seed Michigan State hammering 3-seed Illinois with a late outburst 11-2, and 5-seed Michigan ousting 8-seed Iowa, 7-1. The Spartans broke open a 2-2 game with 5 in the t-8th and 4 more in the t-9th, as catcher Joel Fisher (3/5, 2 dbls, 4 RBI, 3 R) and LF Cam Gibson (Kirk's kid, 4/6, R, RBI) paced the attack. Freshman reliever Jake Lowery made the start, with junior Jeff Kinley replacing him after 2.2 IP (2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K) and tossing 6.1 innings of 2-hit shutout ball (2 K, 1 BB).
 
After spotting the Hawkeyes a 1-0 lead in the t-4th, the Wolverines busted out the bats with 3 in the b-4th (2-triple by SS Travis Maezes), 2 in the b-5th (LF Carmen Benedetti with a 2-run HR) and 2 more in the b-6th (Maezes triple, a double by 3B Jake Cronenworth, and a single by CF Jackson Glines). Evan Hill kept Iowa's offense locked down (7.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K). 
 
That sets up today's semis, with both M schools needing to win twice. Michigan gets 2-seed Nebraska (10 am, 6 pm) while Sparty gets top seed Indiana (2 pm, 10 pm). The Huskers lead the morning game 4-0, t-6th.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Big 12 - Yesterday saw 7-seed Baylor eliminating 4-seed W. Virginia, 9-4, and top seed/#7 Oklahoma St knocking out 8-seed Oklahoma, 11-8. The opener was a tight 2-2 affair until the Bears plated 5 in the t-7th (aided by a pair of WVU errors, a bases-loaded walk, and a bases-loaded HBP) and tacked on 2 more in the t-8th. CF Logan Brown (2/5 with a 2-run triple), SS Brett Doe (2/4, R, 2 RBI) & 1B Aaron Dodson (2/4, 2 R, RBI) led the offense.
 
The second game was loaded with baserunners (38) and lead changes (7). The Sooners took a 6-3 lead with a 4-run b-4th, only to see OSU put up 4 of their own in the t-6th and add another in the t-7th. Oklahoma tied it 8-8 with a pair in the b-7th, but the Cowboys put it away with a 3-run 8th. The Sooners were their own worst enemy, with starter Adam Choplick yielding 7 hits, 6 walks, 2 hit batsmen and a wild pitch, and 3 errors afield leading to 4 unearned runs. OU's sloppiness wasted solid days at the plate by CF Craig Akin (2/5, R, 2 RBI), 3B Sheldon Neuse (4/5, 2 R, 2 RBI) and LF Hunter Haley (1/3, SF, dbl, 3 RBI), and the Cowboys were bailed out from a poor start by Tyler Buffett (3.1 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, BB, 2 K). OSU's offense was led by 1B Tanner Krietemeier (1/2, 2-run double, R, 2 BB), CF Gage Green (2/4, 2 R), C Bryan Case (2/3, 2 BB, RBI, 3 R) & LF Aaron Cornell (2/5, R, 3 RBI). 
 
The semis pit Baylor against 2-seed TCU (10 am, 5 pm) and OSU versus 5-seed Texas (1:30 pm, 8:30 pm), with the TX schools needing to be beaten twice. The Frogs are leading the morning game 3-1, t-8th.
 
* Big East - 4-seed Xavier eliminated 2-sed St. John's, 8-2, behind Vinny Nittoli (8 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K) and strong plate days from RF Mitch Elliott (3/5, R, 3 RBI), 1B Joe Forney (4/5, 3 RBI) and DH Derek Haseneck (4/5, R, RBI). 1-seed Creighton & 3-seed Seton Hall were rained out, but they're underway right now (0-0, t-2nd). Xavier gets the loser in an elimination game this afternoon (4 pm), while the winner heads to tomorrow's final.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Big South - 3-seed Campbell prevailed in a slugfest to eliminate 6-seed Coastal Carolina, 15-11. The Camels belted 17 hits (led by 1B Seth LaRue's 3/4, 2 R, 5 RBI day) while the Chanticleers made 6 errors leading to 5 unearned runs. Later, top seed Liberty sent 5-seed Radford packing in a 4-3 come-from-behind squeaker. The Flames tied it 3-3 with a pair in the b-4th, and plated the go-ahead run in the b-8th on a solo shot by 2B Ryan Seiz.
 
In today's semis, Campbell will need to beat 4-seed High Point twice, and Liberty will need to do the same against 2-seed Winthrop. The Camels have the first one in the books, as they just beat Panthers 3-1 behind Heath Bowers' 10th win of the season (6.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 8 K) and the 8-out save by Ryan Thompson (2.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K). 
 
* Colonial - To recap...
 

 
The top two teams faced off this afternoon, having already won their openers. 2-seed College of Charleston prevailed over top-seed William & Mary, 3-1, as Bailey Ober went the distance (9 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K). A solo HR by RF Josh Smith was the only nuisance from the Tribe, while LF Brandon Murray and 1B Nick Pappas each went yard for the Chanticleers. Next up, 3-seed NC-Wilmington vs 4-seed Delaware. Two teams enter, one team leave. The winner faces W&M tonight in another battle to the death.

 
The Seahawks prevailed over the UD Blue Hens, 5-3, but then fell hard to William & Mary who built a 10-0 lead in the t-3rd on the way to a 12-6 win that ousted UNCW. It'll be the top-seeded Tribe needing to beat 2-seed CoC twice in this afternoon's championship.

 

[mabrowndog]

* C-USA - It's top seed/#17 Rice vs 5-seed Old Dominion in one semi, and 3-seed Southern Miss against 7-seed Texas-San Antonio in the other. DrewDawg's Monarchs just beat the Owls in their first game on a walk-off, 3-2. Tyler Urps reached on an error by Rice pitcher Martin Perez, allowing P.J. Higgins to score the winning run. They'll play again at 5 pm today for a spot in the championship. The Golden Eagles will need a pair of Ws against the lower-seeded Roadrunners.
 
* Horizon - 6-seed Youngstown advanced to the final and sent 4-seed Milwaukee to the loser's bracket with an 11-5 win yesterday. The Panthers face top seed Wright State, with the winner needing two wins over Youngstown later today and tomorrow if necessary. They're underway with Milwaukee up 2-0, t-3rd.

 

[mabrowndog]

* MAAC update:
 

The [5-seed] Monmouth Hawks are now at .500 on the year (24-24), but there's no rest for the weary. Incredibly, they'll have to play a third elimination game tonight at 8:30 vs 2-seed Siena. A win over the Saints would be one of the great unheralded stories of the postseason. But before that, top seed Canisius and 3-seed Fairfield, both unbeaten in the tourney, get started at 5 pm.

 
Monmouth got a major reprieve when their match with Siena was postponed until noon today by the rain gods, but Canisus & Fairfield got their game in with the Golden Griffins eliminating the Stags, 6-2. Alex Godzak won his 10th of the year (6.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K) and Iannick Remillard earned the 8-out save (2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 BB). It's the 40th win for Canisius for the second straight years, and sends them to the final while Fairfield meets the Monmouth-Siena winner. RIght now the Hawks are up 3-1, b-3rd.
 
* Mid-American update
 

6-seed Buffalo beat 3-seed Miami OH for the second time in the tournament, shutting out the RedHawks 4-0 and eliminating them. Senior righty Mike Burke went the distance, yielding 7 hits and no walks while striking out 4. The Bulls move on to face 7-seed Akron tomorrow, with the Zips having already beaten them yesterday, 7-1. Buffalo needs two wins to advance, while Akron requires just one. Meanwhile, top seed Ball State and 8-seed Western Michigan are just getting underway in another elimination match. The Cardinals won their first meeting on Wednesday, 5-3. Waiting in the wings for the winner is 4-seed Kent, which has won both its game so far.

 
WMU got revenge on BSU and advanced 4-1, as Will Nimke relieved Derek Schneider (4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 6 K) and closed it out with 4.2 hitless shutout innings (1 BB, 3 K). The Broncos will now need two wins against 4-seed Kent in a semi this afternoon, while 6-seed Buffalo needs a pair of victories over 7-seed Akron. Right now the Bulls & Zips are tied in their first game, 4-4, with Akron batting in the bottom of the 12th.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

 
 
 
The top two teams faced off this afternoon, having already won their openers. 2-seed College of Charleston prevailed over top-seed William & Mary, 3-1, as Bailey Ober went the distance (9 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K). A solo HR by RF Josh Smith was the only nuisance from the Tribe, while LF Brandon Murray and 1B Nick Pappas each went yard for the Chanticleers. Next up, 3-seed NC-Wilmington vs 4-seed Delaware. Two teams enter, one team leave. The winner faces W&M tonight in another battle to the death.

 
Writer confusing his SC teams. Murray and Pappas play for the Cougars.
 
Miami just took a 4-2 lead over Duke in the 8th.
 
BTW, Bailey Ober has had an amazing freshman year. He's not overpowering, FB tops out around 90, but he's been dominant. Came out of the fall as a nothing special guy, basically just one of three freshman pitchers that CoC was going to use in relief. Was given relief work against UNC early in the year, was supposed to go a few innings but was so good he pitched 5 shutout innings and finished the game. From then on he was pretty much a starter. Has gone 9-2 with a 1.37 era. Overlooked by some big D1's in the region. 

 

[mabrowndog]

 
Writer confusing his SC teams. Murray and Pappas play for the Cougars.
 
Miami just took a 4-2 lead over Duke in the 8th.

 
I should be shot for that. Seriously.

 

[mabrowndog]

6-seed Buffalo needs a pair of victories over 7-seed Akron. Right now the Bulls & Zips are tied in their first game, 4-4, with Akron batting in the bottom of the 12th.

 
Akron manufactures a run following a lead-off single to win it 5-4 in the last of the 12th. 

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

 
I should be shot for that. Seriously.

I thought it was an article you quoted. It's only funny if an editor missed it.
 
Freshman from Duke just went yard in the bottom of the ninth off Miami's closer. First career homer comes in a pinch hit situation, ties the game. Free baseball in Greensboro.
 
The Cougars lead W&M 4-0 in the championship game of the Colonial.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

https://twitter.com/CofCBaseball/status/470282909694558208 

 

[TheGoldenGreek33]

Tip of the cap to my alma mater, Southern Indiana, for knocking off D2 powerhouse Tampa (51-2) in the opening round of the World Series in Cary. 

 

[DJnVa]

* C-USA - It's top seed/#17 Rice vs 5-seed Old Dominion in one semi, and 3-seed Southern Miss against 7-seed Texas-San Antonio in the other. DrewDawg's Monarchs just beat the Owls in their first game on a walk-off, 3-2. Tyler Urps reached on an error by Rice pitcher Martin Perez, allowing P.J. Higgins to score the winning run. They'll play again at 5 pm today for a spot in the championship. The Golden Eagles will need a pair of Ws against the lower-seeded Roadrunners.

 
3rd straight elimination win for ODU. Baseball America has them in, and with a win over UVa and now 2 over Rice, they should be safe.

 

[soxhop411]

IU in the final tomorrow.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Stony Brook will face Binghamton in the finals of the AE tourney. Binghamton defeated Hartford 8-0 in the elimination game this afternoon. However, rain in the area has pushed back the original 6 pm start time.

 

[mabrowndog]

* A-10 - George Mason beats VCU 3-2 to win the A-10 title.
 
* AAC - Temple beats UConn, 9-4. That means Houston (2-1) wins Pool A over UCF (2-1) based on the Cougars' head-to-head win. In Pool B, Louisville (2-1) beats Rutgers (1-2), 9-3. Since the Cards lost previously to South Florida, the Bulls (1-1) can clinch the Pool B slot in the final with a win tonight over Memphis (1-1). A Tigers win would put Louisville in the final.
 
* A-Sun - Kennesaw eliminated Stetson, 2-1, to reach the final. Florida Gulf Coast beat Lipscomb 10-5 to force the second game, which Lipscomb leads 8-3 in the t-5th.
 
* Big Ten - Indiana knocks out Michigan State, 7-4, and Nebraska eliminates Michigan, 6-1. It'll be Hoosers vs Huskers for the title.
 
* Big 12 - TCU eliminated Baylor, 4-1. Oklahoma State beat Texas, 3-1, to force a deciding game. The Cowboys lead that one 3-1, b-3rd.
 
* Big East - Creighton beat Seton Hall, 2-1, to reach the final. The Pirates and Xavier are playing for the other spot with the Musketeers up 5-3, t-8th.
 
* Big South - Winthrop eliminated Liberty, 6-5. Campbell beat High Point, 3-1, to force a second game, which is tied 1-1, t-6th.

 

[mabrowndog]

* ACC - Miami's win over Duke puts Georgia Tech in the final. The Jackets will face Maryland, regardless of what happens in the Terps' game currently underway with UNC, which is tied 7-7, t-8th. It also renders tonight's game between national #3 Virginia and #6 Florida State inconsequential as far as the conference title is concerned.
 
* Big 12 - Texas & OSU are in a rain delay with the Cowboys leading 3-1, t-4th.
 
* C-USA - In their second game, Old Dominion leads Rice 3-2, t-5th. Southern Miss has also forced a second game with UTSA at 8:30 pm by beating the Roadrunners, 8-7.
 
* Horizon - Wright State came back from 2-0 down to beat Milwaukee 4-3 in 12 innings. That put the Raiders into the title round with Youngstown, where the Penguins are leading 5-4 with Wright batting in the last of the 9th.
 
EDIT - And it's a final. Youngstown punches their ticket to the dance.
 
* MAAC - Siena came back from 3-1 down to eliminate Monmouth, 6-5, on a 2-out, walk-off RBI single by LF Andres Ortiz in the bottom of the 9th. The Saints then went right back out there and knocked off Fairfield, 4-3, as Mike Allen doubled home Vinnie Citro all the way from first base in the last of the 7th to break a 3-3 tie. They'll face top seed Canisus in the final.
 
* MAC - Kent eliminated Western Michigan, 12-2. They'll play Akron tomorrow for the title.
 
* Missouri Valley - Missouri State forced a rubber game with Dallas Baptist yesterday, 5-3, but the Patriots responded to eliminate the Bears, 9-4. It'll be DBU vs Illinois State tonight at 8 pm. A Redbirds win sends ISU to the NCAAs, but the Patriots will need to beat them twice to earn the title.
 
* Mountain West - Yesterday, 4-seed Nevada eliminated 5-seed Fresno State, 10-2, and 2-seed New Mexico, 9-4 in 11 innings. Last night, top seed UNLV sent 3-seed San Diego State to the loser's bracket, 5-4, on a 1-out, walk-off RBI double by 3B T.J. White that scored SS Matt McCallister. The Rebs advanced to the final to await this afternoon's SDSU-Nevada elimination winner. The Aztecs lead the Wolf Pack 2-1, t-4th.
 
* Northeast - 3-seed Sacred Heart eliminated Central Connectcut, 2-0. It was the second straight shutout loss for the Blue Devils, but it moved the Pioneers into the title round against Bryant. SHU and the Bulldogs are tied 2-2 in the top of the 12th, with Sacred Heart needing to win twice.
 
* Ohio Valley - 3-seed Jacksonville (AL) State eliminated top seed Southeast Missouri, 6-2. That vaulted the Gamecocks into the championship round against 2-seed Tennessee Tech. They're knotted 7-7 in the last of the 6th, with JSU needing two wins over the Golden Eagles.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Pac 12 - First place Oregon State lost last night to USC, 4-2, but second-place Washington also lost (3-0 to UCLA). A Beavers win or Huskies loss today or tomorrow gives OSU the conference regular season championship and the NCAA auto-bid. 
 
* SEC - After 7-seed Arkansas won their gem over Ole Miss last night, top seed Florida eliminated 5-seed Mississippi State, 5-1. The Razorbacks moved on to face 3-seed LSU this afternoon, but the Tigers destroyed them 11-1 (ended in the 8th by the mercy rule) to clinch a spot in the final. The other spot is a tug o'war between the Gators and 9-seed Kentucky, but Florida went ahead with a run in the 8th and leads 6-5. The Wildcats are down to their final out in the last of the 9th with pinch-runner Marcus Carson on first.
 
EDIT - A wild pitch just moved him to 2nd. RF Storm Wilson is up, and he's hitless on the day.
 
EDIT - Wilson grounds out to end it, and Kentucky's Cinderella run is over. It'll be Gators vs Tigers for the SEC title.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Northeast - Bryant plates 4 runs in the top of the 12th, and holds on to beat Sacred Heart, 6-2. The Bulldogs are NEC champs and are heading to the NCAAs.
 
* SoCon - 3-seed Samford eliminated 6-seed Wofford, 12-3, reaching the final. The 4-seed, Georgia Southern, beat 8-seed Furman, 11-8, to force a deciding game. GSU is leading that one as well, 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th.
 
* Southland - The run ended for 7-seed McNeese State last night as they lost in their second game of the day, 8-6, to 6-seed Central Arkansas. The Bears moved on to today's championship needing two wins over 4-seed Southeastern Louisiana. But they couldn't get even one, as the Lions knocked them off, 9-4, to win the NCAA auto-bid.
 
* Summit - 2-seed Western Illinois won last night's elimination game over top seed South Dakota State, 5-2. But they couldn't beat SDSU's northern neighbor today, as North Dakota State shut them out, 9-0, winning the conference crown and a ticket to the dance.
 
* Sun Belt - With the field pared down to the top four seeds for today's semifinals, 1-seed Louisiana-Lafayette won their 9th in a row as they knocked off 4-seed Texas State, 4-3, staving off a 2-run Bobcats comeback attempt in the 8th. Later, 2-seed Texas-Arlington eliminated 3-seed Arkansas State, 8-7. A 4-run 7th gave the Red Wolves a 7-6 lead, but the Mavericks plated a pair in the b-8th and held on for the win. It'll be the top two seeds for the title tomorrow afternoon.
 
* Western - 3-seed Utah Valley is already in the WAC final. They await either top seed Sacramento State or 4-seed Cal State-Bakersfield. The favored Hornets are up 2-1 in the top of the 8th. UVSU needs to be beaten twice, and the first game will be tonight at 10 pm EDT.
 
* West Coast - Yesterday evening, top seed Pepperdine advanced to the championship and sent 2-seed Loyola-Marymount to the losers bracket, 4-1. Later that night, the Lions eliminated 3-seed Gonzaga, 7-4. So they'll get their rematch with the Waves tonight at 10 pm EDT for all the marbles.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Big South update - 3-seed Campbell pulls off the ol' 1-2 knockout, as they eliminate 4-seed High Point, 2-1. In the last of the 7th, already pre-ordained as the final inning in regulation, DH Matt Parrish led off with a single. With pinch-runner Drew Butler at first, RF Will Albertson reached on an error by 2B Dane McDermott, with Butler taking third. With 1B Seth Larue up, High Point pitcher John Maloney uncorked two wild pitches, the first allowing Albertson to take 2nd with Butler holding at 3rd, and the other on a swinging third strike that allowed Larue to reach safely at first to load the bases. Conor Lourey came on in relief, but 3B Elijah Trail greeted him with a walk-off RBI single to center, scoring Butler with the winning run.
 
The Camels advance to play top seed and tournament host Winthrop in the final.

 

[mabrowndog]

* SoCon update - 8-seed Furman, playing its second game of the day against 4-seed Georgia Southern and needing to beat the Eagles to advance, has come back from 7-1 down to score 3 in the b-7th and 3 more in the b-9th to tie it up and send it to extras. Their most recent rally featured RBI singles by 3B Chris Ohmstede, DH Alex Abrams, and RF Jake Jones. 
 
EDIT - The Eagles fail to score in the t-10th. Here come the Paladins.

 

[mabrowndog]

* AAC Update - Memphis took a 1-0 lead over South Florida in the b-1st, but the Bulls have tied it with a run in the t-7th. 

 

[mabrowndog]

* C-USA update - Rice comes back from 3-2 down with a 4-run fifth and beats Old Dominion, 7-5. The Monarchs are eliminated. The Owls advance to the final against either UTSA or Southern Miss.
 
* Big 12 update - The Texas-OSU game has finally resumed. Still 3-1 Cowboys. Fat Roger's kid Kacy Clemens just grounded out in the b-4th.
 
EDIT - The Longhorns get a pair in the b-4th on a Mark Payton 2-run single, and they're knotted 3-3. Still with runners on 1st & 2nd and one out.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Mountain West update - 4-seed Nevada scored a run in the t-8th to tie 3-seed San Diego, 2-2. They went to extras, and the Aztecs walk off with their 40th win in the bottom of the 10th. They'll play top seed UNLV in the championship tonight at 10 pm EDT.

 

[mabrowndog]

* America East update - Stony Brook draws first blood in the b-2nd as Anthony Italiano singles home Casey Baker.
 
* MVC update - Illinois State takes a 1-0 lead over Dallas Baptist on a Brock Stewart solo shot in the b-2nd. They're now in the b-5th.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Bryant is a dangerous team as a lower seed.  Their RPI is 42 as of tonight.  Whoever gets them as a 3 or 4 seed will have their hands full.

 

[RedOctober3829]

* America East update - Stony Brook draws first blood in the b-2nd as Anthony Italiano singles home Casey Baker.
 
* MVC update - Illinois State takes a 1-0 lead over Dallas Baptist on a Brock Stewart solo shot in the b-2nd. They're now in the b-5th.

In the AE, Binghamton loaded the bases with nobody out in the 2nd inning.  The next hitter grounded into a 3-2-3 DP then they grounded out.  Huge jam to get out of by starter Tyler Honahan.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Pac 12 update - Oregon State beats USC 2-0 and clinches the conference championship. They're a lock as a top-8 NCAA seed.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Big 12 update - OSU hurler Garrett Williams escapes massive damage in the b-4th, getting Madison Carter & C.J. Hinojosa on swinging strikeouts and leaving the bases loaded. Still tied 3-3.

 

[mabrowndog]

* ACC update - John Sansone's RBI single in the b-2nd puts the Noles up 1-0, but a 2-run HR by Brandon Downes in the t-3rd followed by a Joe McCarthy single scoring Danny Pinero gives Virginia a 3-0 lead. This game's for bragging rights and NCAA bracket jockeying only.

 

[mabrowndog]

* SoCon update - Looks like this could be the end of the line for Furman, as GA Southern just put 3 on the board in the top of the 12th. A double followed by a sac bunt led to two IBBs to load the bases. Then came three straight RBI singles. Paladins getting their last ups now...
 
EDIT - A leadoff walk followed by an HBP. No outs. Not dead yet.

 

[mabrowndog]

* MVC update - CF Austin Listi homers in the t-7th for Dallas Baptist, and they've tied up Illinois State, 1-1.
 
* SoCon update - Furman puts their first two batters on base, but then go down 1-2-3 to end it. Georgia Southern wins 10-7 and advances to the final against Samford.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Binghamton has tied Stony Brook at 1 after a fielder's choice scored a runner from 3rd base in the 5th inning.

 

[mabrowndog]

* AAC Update - Memphis walks off with the win over South Florida in the last of the 9th. With 2 outs, Darien Tubbs doubled to deep right-center, driving home pinch runner Corey Chafin for the 2-1 victory. The Tigers get nothing for their efforts other than the knowledge that they're responsible for top seed Louisville reaching the championship game.

 

[mabrowndog]

* Big 12 update - Mark Payton with another clutch hit for Texas, this one an RBI single scoring Brooks Marlow with the lead run in the b-6th. 4-3 Longhorns in the top of the 8th.
 
* MVC update - Dallas Baptist with 2 on and no out after a pair of walks in the t-8th. Still a 1-1 game with Illinois State.
 
EDIT - Bases now loaded for the Patriots after an infield hit. Still no outs. Jeremy Rhoades relieves Dan Savas on the mound for the Redbirds.

 

[mabrowndog]

* MVC Update - Drew Turbin clears the bases with a triple for Dallas Baptist, and the Patriots take a 4-1 lead. Illinois State now batting in the b-8th. 

 

[mabrowndog]

* Big 12 update - Oklahoma State regains the lead in the t-8th. An HBP, walk, sac bunt, and IBB loaded the bases with 1 out for Tanner Krietemeier, who plated a pair with a single up the middle and took 2nd on the throw. Another IBB loads the bases again, and Conor Costello's sac fly drives in another. Cowboys on top 6-4, still batting with 2 on & 2 out.

 

[mabrowndog]

* America East update - A Zach Blanden RBI single puts Binghamton up 2-1 over Stony Brook in the t-7th. It's an unearned run.

 

[mabrowndog]

* ACC update - Matt Thaiss with a 2-out RBI single in the t-6th scores John La Prise, and it's 4-1 Virginia over Florida State.

 

[RedOctober3829]

* America East update - A Zach Blanden RBI single puts Binghamton up 2-1 over Stony Brook in the t-7th. It's an unearned run.

 
 
Yup.  A passed ball on Krause let the Binghamton runner go from 1st to 3rd.  A lined shot that took a bad hop at 1st base let Blanden get on base and the run to score.
 
The Seawolves have the leadoff man on in the 7th and Chavarria bunts Parenty over to 2nd with one out.
 
And POY Kevin Krause hits an opposite field double scoring Parenty from 2nd to tie the game at 2!!!
 
Kevin Courtney hits it hard, but right at the SS and he doubled off Krause to end the 7th.  We go to the 8th tied at 2.

 

[mabrowndog]

* WAC update - Sacramento State puts 3 on the board in the b-1st, with 2 of them unearned thanks to a pair of errors by Utah Valley CF Craig Brinkerhoff. A Will Soto single and a David Del Grande sac fly capitalize on the miscues.
 
Fast forward to the t-3rd, and Kade Andrus just hit a leadoff solo HR for UVSU. It's 3-1 Hornets.

 

[mabrowndog]

The Seawolves have the leadoff man on in the 7th and Chavarria bunts Parenty over to 2nd with one out.
 
And POY Kevin Krause hits an opposite field double scoring Parenty from 2nd to tie the game at 2!!!
 
Kevin Courtney hits it hard, but right at the SS and he doubled off Krause to end the 7th.  We go to the 8th tied at 2.

 
Nice.