| BASEBALL RESULTS |
South Carolina 2, VMI 1
|
Tennessee 7, Northern Illinois 1
|
Auburn 5, Missouri 2
|
Arkansas 11, Villanova 5
|
Kentucky 10, Wofford 4
|
Georgia 6, Presbyterian 1
|
Florida Atlantic 5, Alabama 2
|
LSU 10, Air Force 2
|
Mississippi State 6, Washington State 2
|
Florida 7, Cal State Fullerton 3
|
Stanford 8, Vanderbilt 3
|
Ole Miss 7, TCU 4
|
Gamecocks Open 2012 Season with 2-1 Win Over VMI
Columbia, S.C. – LB Dantzler’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning helped lift second ranked South Carolina to a 2-1 victory over VMI on Opening Day at Carolina Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 8,242 fans. Three Gamecock hurlers combined to limit the Keydets to just one run on five hits while striking out 11 batters in the victory. Game two of the series is now scheduled for Noon on Saturday, Feb. 18 and was moved due to anticipated rain in Columbia in the late afternoon/early evening. The game can be heard live on 107.5 FM “The Game,” with live video broadcast also available at GamecocksOnline.com.
It was a pitcher’s duel on a sunny afternoon in Columbia, S.C. as South Carolina senior left-hander Michael Roth and VMI junior right-hander Coby Cowgill limited both offenses throughout the game. With the score deadlocked at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth and both starters out of the game, the Gamecocks made their move as Evan Marzilli led off with a bunt for a base hit and was sacrificed over into scoring position by Adam Matthews. With two outs and a 0-2 count, Dantzler drilled VMI reliever Alan Watts’ pitch into center field scoring Marzilli and giving the Gamecocks a one-run lead. In the top of the ninth inning, with one out and a runner on first base, Gamecock sophomore right-hander Forrest Koumas entered the game and behind a solid throw by freshman catcher Grayson Greiner, Carolina nabbed pinch runner Brandon Angus at second base for a caught steal leaving the bases clear. Koumas then retired VMI designated hitter Cameron Walter with a strikeout looking to end the game and preserve the South Carolina victory.
South Carolina junior left-hander Tyler Webb earned the win out of the bullpen with 2.1 quality relief innings allowing just one hit while striking out four batters. Koumas earned his first save with 0.2 scoreless innings. Roth was solid in his first start of the year allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks in the no-decision. Cowgill went seven innings with one run, unearned, on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
South Carolina had nine hits to just five for VMI. Marzilli went 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Gamecocks at the plate. Greiner and freshman left fielder Tanner English also had two hits apiece.
VMI got on the scoreboard first with a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Cameron Walter reached base on a one-out single and scored on Drew Bryan’s two-out base hit. Bryan’s line drive just got out of the reach English in left field, who tried to make a diving catch in the gap in left-center.
South Carolina would tie the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning with an unearned run. With runners on first and second and two outs, Cowgill issued up a wild pitch to advance the runners and Chase Vergason would score on the next pitch as VMI catcher Matt Winn was charged with a passed ball.
It was a festive day at Carolina Stadium as the Gamecocks celebrated back-to-back national championships in a pregame ceremony. The South Carolina National Guard Band opened with the national anthem and fans were treated to a video tribute to the 2011 national championship squad. Several former Gamecock players from the ’11 team were in attendance including Robert Beary, Jackie Bradley Jr., Bryan Harper, Peter Mooney, Adrian Morales, Steven Neff, John Taylor, Brady Thomas and Scott Wingo. Bradley, the 2010 College World Series Most Outstanding Player and Wingo, the 2011 College World Series Most Outstanding Player, each threw out ceremonial first pitches before the game. Bradley threw a strike down the middle from near the pitcher’s mound to Thomas with Wingo and Beary simulating a throw from second base to home plate. It was Wingo’s throw and Beary’s pick at home plate that was a key play in the game one victory in the 2011 championship series with the Florida Gators.
Vols Open Serrano Era with 7-1 Win over Northern Illinois
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee baseball program opened its 103rd season - and first under head coach Dave Serrano - with a 7-1 win over Northern Illinois on Friday evening in front of a UT home-opener record 2,812 fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
"I've been in a lot of openers as a head coach," Serrano said. "This is my eighth one and my third on at a different program. I was most excited about this one. I just told the players in there, a lot of it had to do with them. They've had to overcome some of their tough times. For how much they've bought in to what we're trying to do here, this was special. This win was special for them. This isn't just about me. This is for them and what we're trying to do each and every day to become a better team.
“I told the players three sayings today before the game. ‘Play hard. Play smart. Have fun.’ That’s what we have written on the practice plan at the bottom every day. That’s what I want these guys to do. Control what we can control. Baseball should be fun, and I want them to have fun while they’re out here competing.”
Senior Chris Pierce had a career-high four RBIs, launching a three-run home run and knocking in another run with an RBI fielder’s choice, while freshman Jared Allen contributed an RBI double and three Vol pitchers combined to allow just one run.
Junior Drew Steckenrider picked up the win with four shutout innings to open the contest, and also blasted a home run in the eighth inning to cap the scoring. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native was the only Vol with multiple hits on the night, adding a double high off the wall in the sixth inning as well.
“I was proud of (Steckenrider),” Serrano said. “For him to be able to do those types of things, it’s going to make it a lot easier for us to be successful. I say this again, there’s no player that’s more important than any other player but with some of his abilities, if he can live up to some of them, it’s going to help us become more successful consistently.”
Closing out the contest on the mound were a pair of freshmen righthanders in Robbie Kidd and Conner Stevens. Kidd struck out two in three frames of work, while Stevens finished out the final two innings, allowing just one hit.
“We won with a little bit of the long ball today,” Serrano said. “Like I’ve always said, we will win any way we can. The thing I’ll look at is that we played superior defense and we got two freshmen’s feet wet. Robbie [Kidd] came in with the score 3-0 and pitched through three tough innings. He struggled in the fourth and then Conner [Stevens] comes in, in a tough situation as his first Division I experience. He gets out of it unscathed with just the one run and pitches a stellar ninth inning. Just to see the growth of some of the young guys is great and you’ll start to see some of them grow up as we get through more of this.”
Serrano becomes the 14th head coach at Tennessee to win his first game in the Orange and White.
Friday’s record-breaking attendance topped the school’s previous mark of 2,753 set against Louisville on Feb. 25, 1995.
The Vols (1-0) and Huskies (0-1) will complete their three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at noon ET.
Varnadore Fans 11 In 5-2 Auburn Season-Opening Win Over Missouri
AUBURN, Ala. – Derek Varnadore struck out 11, including six of the first 10 hitters he faced, as Auburn opened up the 2012 baseball campaign with a 5-2 win over future conference mate Missouri at Plainsman Park on Friday afternoon. Creede Simpson and Jay Gonzalez each had two hits as Auburn won on opening day for the second straight year and the third time in four seasons under head coach John Pawlowski.
“The difference to me was that between Derek Varnadore and Zach Blatt we only gave up two free bases via walk or hit-by-pitch,” Pawlowski said. “Offensively we got on base seven times via either walk or hit-by-pitch and I thought that was the difference there.”
Varnadore (1-0) wasted little time showing his dominating form from last season, not allowing a base hit until the fourth. After allowing a single run in the fourth inning on a Ben Turner RBI single, he settled in to strike out the side in the fifth. He also benefitted from solid defense behind him as Blake Austin threw out a pair of Missouri runners trying to steal and Garrett Cooper turned an unassisted double play in the sixth.
“I can’t ask for much better than,” Varnadore said. “I was glad I was able to spot up that well.”
Auburn (1-0), which had just 44 stolen bases as a team last season, turned the seven free bases (four walks, three hit batters) into three stolen bases and a three-run seventh inning that opened up Auburn’s lead to four, 5-1, as Missouri walked in a pair of runs with the bases loaded in the frame.
Austin scored Auburn’s first run of the season, leading off the third with a double and scoring on a Ryan Tella two-out double to put Auburn ahead, 1-0.
Simpson, playing second base after being an everyday outfielder the past two seasons, gave Auburn a 2-1 lead in the fourth as he doubled and scored on a Jarred Smith RBI single and then pushed the lead to 5-1 with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
“Everyone came out here Opening Day and everyone was excited,” Simpson said. “Top to bottom everyone was seeing the ball well and doing their job. Every individual has to have an identity and that’s what we were able to do. It’s great to see it this early in the season and hopefully we can carry that on.”
Zach Blatt came in for the eighth and ninth, allowing a solo home run in the eighth to Blake Brown but nothing else.
Eric Anderson (0-1) suffered the loss for Missouri (0-1), allowing two runs on seven hits and six innings while striking out four.
The two teams will play game two of the series at 3pm on Saturday.
No. 4 Arkansas opens 2012 season with 11-5 win
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The fourth-ranked Arkansas baseball team scored six times in the bottom of the first and cruised to an 11-5 win over Villanova on Friday afternoon in front of 6,317 fans at Baum Stadium.
The Razorbacks got the bats going early, scoring nine runs in the first four innings of the game. The 11 runs put up by Arkansas were the most runs on opening day since the 2005 season when the Razorbacks scored 13 times against Dallas Baptist.
Arkansas improved to 42-11 in season openers since the 1960 season and has now won 18 straight regular season openers.
Nine different Razorbacks recorded a hit in the win, including three players that had multi-hit performances. Matt Reynolds led the way, going 3-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored. Jacob Morris added two hits, including Arkansas’ first home run of the season, a no-doubt blast over the left field wall. Morris added three RBI and scored twice. Tim Carver went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.
Preseason All-American DJ Baxendale got the season started on a strong note, throwing five shutout innings to earn the win. Baxendale struck out three and allowed just four hits in his outing.
Nolan Sanburn pitched a perfect ninth inning to close the game, striking out one.
Villanova starter Kyle Helisek took the loss after giving up nine runs, five earned, on nine hits and striking out two in 3.1 innings.
Marlon Calbi, Matt Fleishman and Connor Jones each had two hits to lead the Wildcat offense. Fleishman drove in four runs, all coming on a seventh inning grand slam.
Arkansas jumped on Helisek from the outset, scoring six times in the opening inning. Bo Bigham doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and moved to third on a single to center field by Reynolds. After a ground out by Dominic Ficociello moved Reynolds to second base, Sam Bates laced a double into right field to score both runners and put the Razorbacks in front 2-0. A passed ball advanced Bates to third. Derrick Bleeker then hit a ground ball to second. The second baseman’s throw to first was dropped, allowing Bates to cross home plate for the third run of the inning. With two outs and runners on the corners, Morris hit a triple to the left-center field alley, scoring a pair of runs to make the score 5-0. Carver closed the scoring with a RBI single to center field.
The Razorbacks added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Morris led off the inning with a homer into left field to put Arkansas in front 7-0. Carver then singled to center and moved to second on a stolen base. After a strike out by Bigham, Carver then stole third. A double to left field by Reynolds brought home Carver. A pair of wild pitches scored Reynolds to make the score 9-0.
Villanova got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the sixth. Fleishman led off the inning with a double to right center and then moved to third on a ground out by Connor Jones. A ground out by Kevin Wager allowed Fleishman to cross home plate for the Wildcats’ first run of the game.
Arkansas stretched the lead to 11-1 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Brian Anderson was hit by a pitch to start the inning and then moved to second on an infield single by Jacob Mahan. A four-pitch walk to Ficociello loaded the bases with nobody out. Jimmy Bosco brought home the first run of the inning on a fielder’s choice ground out to second base. Michael Gunn then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Mahan.
Villanova closed the scoring with four runs in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and two out, Fleishman cleared the bases with a grand slam over the left field wall to cut the lead to 11-5.
The Wildcats were unable to get any closer as the Razorback bullpen retired seven in a row to end the game.
Arkansas and Villanova continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Sophomore righty Ryne Stanek will get the start for the Razorbacks, while sophomore right-handed pitcher Pat Young will start for the Wildcats. Single-game tickets for Saturday’s game is $10 for reserved and $8 for general admission. Saturday is Cox magnet schedule day at Baum Stadium. All fans in attendance will receive the 2012 Arkansas baseball magnet schedule.
Kentucky's Rogers Twirls Gem in Season-Opening Win at Wofford
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Behind a dominating nine-strikeout performance from junior starter Taylor Rogers and a monster home run from senior third baseman Thomas McCarthy, the Kentucky baseball team posted a 10-4 win over Wofford in the season lidlifter, on a sunny Friday evening at Russell C. King Field.
Kentucky (1-0) rode the stellar outing from Rogers, who tossed his 12th career quality start in the season debut. Rogers, a native of Littleton, Colo., tossed six innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out a career-high nine. Walter Wijas relieved him in the seventh inning and tossed two strong innings with two strikeouts, before Wofford touched him for three runs without an out in the ninth inning. Chris Garrison came in to get one strikeout in the ninth before freshman southpaw A.J. Reed finished off the game with two outs.
Offensively, UK was paced by a 12-hit, 10-run attack, with balanced production throughout the lineup. Michael Williams, Lucas Witt and Cameron Flynn each recorded two hits, with both of Flynn’s knock coming as doubles off the outfield wall in rightfield. McCarthy, Flynn, Witt, Michael Williams, Luke Maile, J.T. Riddle and Matt Reida each recorded RBI.
Wofford (0-1) ace starter Cash Collins (0-1) – who won eight games in 2011 – turned in a quality start, going 6.1 innings, allowing five hits and three unearned runs, walking one and striking out three. He was relieved by Anthony Rowland, who allowed one run in 0.2 innings. Wofford also used Dominick Del Monte, Gus White and Mason Bradley.
Kentucky returns to action on Saturday, traveling across town for a game with Eastern Michigan at USC Spartanburg’s Harley Park. The game was pushed from a 12 p.m. ET first pitch to an 11 a.m. ET first pitch. Fans can hear the game live on WGVN 1580-AM in Lexington and online at UKathletics.com, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action.
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of the third inning, as Austin Cousino chopped a grounder to the hole between first and second, with second-baseman Josh Hyman ranging to his left and misplaying it for an error. With a 3-2 count on McCarthy, Cousino took off on the pitch, with McCarthy grounding down the third-base line. Cousino motored around second to third base, beating the throw from first after the routine grounder. With one out, Maile ripped a grounder up the middle allowing Cousino to score with the play ruled an error and Maile awarded an RBI. After Maile stole second base, Williams scored him with a single to leftfield, giving UK a 2-0 lead.
Wofford cut the UK lead to 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Eric Brenk led off with a single into leftfield, taking second on a slow grounder on the first base chalk. Brenk then stole third base on a ball in the dirt, scoring on Luke Feisal’s RBI groundout to shortstop.
UK added to its lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning, as McCarthy reached on a throwing error by the second baseman, Hyman. After two outs moved McCarthy into scoring position, Riddle ripped his 11th career two-out RBI through the right side, scoring McCarthy for a 3-1 UK lead.
Kentucky added a run to its lead with a mammoth home run from McCarthy, who connected on a two-strike, two-out offering for his first homer of the year, sending it screaming over the trees in deep leftfield.
The Wildcats added three runs in the top of the eighth inning, taking a 7-1 lead. After a groundout to start the frame, freshman pinch hitter Reed drew a four-pitch walk. Witt then smacked a single into the gap, with Reed thrown out at third base. Pinch hitter Flynn then scored Witt with a double off the top of the 15-foot wall in right-centerfield. Reida then scored Flynn with a two-out single up the middle and Reida plated on a double from Cousino into the right-centerfield gap, his first career hit.
UK stretched its advantage in the ninth inning, as a walk from Maile, a single from Williams and an infield error hit by Riddle allowing the bases to be loaded with no outs. Reed then lofted a high sacrifice fly deep into centerfield, scoring Maile. With Witt at the plate, Williams scored on a wild pitch on a 2-2 offering, with Riddle scampering from first to third on the wild offering. Witt then grounded out to the left side, allowing Riddle to score on the RBI grounder.
Wofford narrowed the UK lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, as David Roney doubled to centerfield and Clark Wise drew a walk. James Plaisted then followed with a first-pitch three-run homer.
#11 Georgia Wins Season Opener 6-1 Over Presbyterian
Athens, Ga. - Fueled by 13 hits and a strong start from Alex Wood, 11th-ranked Georgia defeated Presbyterian 6-1 in the season opener Friday night at Foley Field.
Georgia (1-0) took the lead in the bottom of the third inning on a Brandon Stephens home run, the first round-tripper of the sophomore’s career. Junior shortstop Kyle Farmer put the tally at 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to score Curt Powell, who reached third base on back-to-back bunt singles from Peter Verdin and Conor Welton. The Bulldogs made it 3-0 when Stephens crossed the plate again in the fourth thanks to a two-out RBI single from Powell (3-4, RBI).
After being shut down by Wood for four innings, Presbyterian (0-1) finally got on the board in the top of the fifth when Matt Peden scored on an RBI single from Brandon Paul. Georgia answered in the bottom of the frame when designated hitter Brett DeLoach knocked in senior Levi Hyams, putting the Bulldogs up 4-1.
In the sixth inning, Presbyterian threatened to put a dent in that lead, but Wood overcame a two-on-no-out situation by striking out the side. The redshirt sophomore recorded seven strikeouts with no walks in six innings for the victory. Georgia’s bullpen tossed the final three innings. Freshman Pete Nagel, redshirt freshman Jay Swinford and junior Bryan Benzor all pitched one inning apiece. Benzor closed out the game by sitting by striking out two of the three batters he faced. Overall, the Bulldog staff registered 10 strikeouts with just a pair of walks.
Georgia added some insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to yield the final margin of 6-1. Powell connected on his first career triple and was driven home by Verdin. After reaching on a walk, Welton scored the last run with help from a Farmer RBI double. Seven Bulldogs recorded at least one hit in the contest, as the team went 13-for-35 at the plate.
“We had a little bit of everything tonight, and most importantly we threw a bunch of strikes,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “We showed some little ball and got some big hits too. I thought our defense looked calm and collected. We need to continue to throw the baseball well and keep up the timely hitting.”
Game two of the series with Presbyterian is slated for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
Alabama Baseball Drops Season Opener to FAU, 5-2
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama baseball team opened its 2012 season with a 5-2 loss to the Florida Atlantic Owls on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide now stands at 0-1 while Florida Atlantic improves to 1-0.
Alabama left-hander Taylor Guilbeau (0-1), who became the first true freshman to start a season-opener for the Tide since freshman were allowed to play Division-I baseball, allowed just one run on three hits, striking out four while walking two over five innings.
Junior catcher Brett Booth had two of UA’s five hits on the night, while senior designated hitter Jon Kelton reached base in three of his four plate appearances, notching one of the Crimson Tide’s two runs on the evening.
Florida Atlantic scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning to open a 5-0 lead for starter and winning pitcher Ryan Garton (1-0). Garton allowed one run on three hits while striking out seven in six innings.
Alabama and Florida Atlantic will continue the three-game series with game two on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. from Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
LSU Begins 2012 Campaign with 10-2 Victory over Air Force
BATON ROUGE, La.— No. 8 LSU (1-0) plated nine runs in the first two innings and utilized solid pitching by sophomore starter Kevin Gausman to defeat visiting Air Force (0-2), 10-2, on Opening Day at Alex Box Stadium.
Gausman (1-0) picked up where he left off at the end of last season and fired six innings of one-run baseball. The right-handed limited the Falcons to four hits with seven strikeouts, two walks and one run.
“Kevin has been sharper than he was tonight,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri, “and that’s a tough thing to say when a guy gives up just one run with seven strikeouts. I thought he gave us an outstanding, competitive effort, and he can be even better the next time out.”
Jackson Slaid drove in two on a first inning double and Austin Nola notched a double, a single and plated two. Ty Ross added two hits of his own and three Tigers crossed the plate twice.
LSU chased Air Force starter Ben Bertelson (0-1) in the second inning after the starter was only able to register three outs. Bertelson allowed eight earned on three hits, three walks, three hit batsman and struck out one.
“We didn’t exactly knock the fences down at the plate,” Mainieri said, “but I thought we were very opportunistic, especially early in the game. We took advantage of some situations and we were able to build a big lead. I thought once we got the eight-run lead, we might have relaxed a little bit and lost some of the edge.”
Air Force kicked off the scoring on a first pitch home run to deep left-center by junior left fielder Garret Custons.
LSU responded in the bottom half of the inning by sending all nine batters to the plate and driving in five runs on only two hits. The Tigers loaded the bases after consecutive pitches hit Tyler Hanover and Casey Yocom and Raph Rhymes walked. Mason Katz was then hit by another pitch, which drove in Hanover.
Jackson Slaid delivered a RBI double that just dropped inside the right field line in front of the LSU bullpen. After JaCoby Jones struck out, Nola drove in Rhymes with a fielder’s choice to the shortstop.
Ross stepped in and knocked a laser between shortstop and third to extend the lead to 5-1.
LSU’s offense went back to work in the second, taking advantage of some walks and sending every batter to the plate for the second consecutive inning.
Yocum notched his first double and RBI as a Tiger and drove in Hanover after a leadoff walk.
A walk to Rhymes chased Bertelson, who yielded the mound to reliever Ben Yokley.
Yokley was able to retire Katz and Nola, but Jones pushed a single past an outstretched second baseman to plate Yocum and Rhymes. Jones moved to second on the throw, and was immediately driven in by Nola’s single to center.
The offense went back to work in the bottom half of the fourth. Nola smacked a one-out double to deep center and moved to third on Ross’ single to left. Jordy Snikeris’ fielder choice brought Nola home, as Air Force was unable to turn the double play.
Air Force mustered its second run of the contest against freshman pitcher Aaron Nola. Custons reached second on a double to deep left center and Alex Bast drove him in on a single through the left side.
Nick Goody retired the three batters he faced to close out the ninth inning and preserve the win for LSU.
Mississippi State Claims 2012 Lidlifter With 6-2 Win Over Cougars
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Led by the dominant hitting performance of sophomore Daryl Norris, the Mississippi State Bulldogs started off the 2012 campaign with a 6-2 victory against the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-12.
Norris, who tied a career-high with three hits in four at-bats, was one of many Bulldogs to have a hot bat in tonight’s match-up, as seven of the nine MSU starters earned a hit, where five of those collected multiple.
“I was really pleased with our hitting,” MSU coach John Cohen said. “I think our ball club is a little less swing and miss, and a little more line drive ground ball this year.”
Mississippi State (1-0) won their ninth-consecutive season and home-opener, with Cohen improving to 7-0 in opening-day games at Dudy Noble Field – 3-0 as a player (1988-90) and 4-0 as a coach (2009-12).
After a solid starting pitching performance from redshirt sophomore Ben Bracewell, the Maroon and White opened up the scoring with a three-run second inning. Sophomore Taylor Stark got the ball rolling with an RBI single, scoring Norris. Sac flies from Wes Rea and Matthew Britton tacked on two more, the first scoring Trey Porter, with the latter scoring Stark.
The Cougars answered back in the fourth with two runs of their own, only to have the Bulldogs respond in the bottom half. Sophomores C.T. Bradford and Adam Frazier both drove in runs on base hits, upping State’s lead to three, 5-2.
Norris sent a runner home in the eighth to put the finishing touches on the Bulldogs’ win.
Chris Stratton (1-0) kept the Cougars at bay to close out the game, serving in 4.0 innings of relief, only allowing one hit and striking out three. Bracewell turned in a career-high 4.1 innings of work in his first-career start on the mound, notching a career-high five strikeouts.
The Bulldogs finished with a total of 13 hits. Norris led all batters with three, while Brent Brownlee, Frazier, Porter and Stark all contributed two.
Washington State finished with only four hits in 29 total at-bats. Starter J.D. Leckenby (0-1) pitched 4.0 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, taking the loss for the Cougars.
State will return to action tomorrow for game two of the three-game series against the Cougars, with game time set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday’s contest to close-out the series is set for 1:30 p.m.
No. 1 Florida Downs No. 16 Cal State Fullerton In Season Opener, 7-3
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Before an Opening Night record crowd of 5,356 fans at McKethan Stadium on Friday, No. 1 Florida snapped a 3-3 tie with four runs in the seventh inning on its way to a 7-3 victory over No. 16 Cal State Fullerton in the 2012 debut for both squads.
Senior Preston Tucker (Tampa, Fla.) (1-for-3) belted a game-tying solo homer in the sixth and provided the Gators with an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, junior reliever Steven Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) threw 2.1 scoreless innings and had three strikeouts to pick up the win, while freshman Taylor Gushue (Boca Raton, Fla.) (1-for-4) clubbed a home run on his first collegiate swing.
“First of all, I just want to thank our fans,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan acknowledged. “They were outstanding tonight, and obviously that makes a huge difference when you’re at home. I thought both teams played well. They have a young bullpen. It was the first time on the road for a few of their pitchers and was the first time they were on the mound in college baseball. They have a great team and are very well-coached. I knew this was not going to be easy. It was a great opening day.”
The Titans opened the scoring against junior righty Hudson Randall (Atlanta, Ga.) in the second inning. Sophomore Michael Lorenzen (2-for-4) led off with a double to the base of the wall in left field and was sacrificed to third on a bunt by junior Anthony Hutting. Senior Anthony Trajano’s grounder to second base was misplayed by freshman Casey Turgeon (Palm Harbor, Fla.), as Lorenzen scored and Trajano was able to take second base on the play. Randall struck out freshman J.D. Davis and uncorked a wild pitch that advanced Trajano to third. The right-hander stranded the runner by having redshirt junior Austin Kingsolver (2-for-3) fly out to center field.
Florida answered in the home part of the inning on a two-out solo home run by Gushue. CSF junior Dylan Floro had set down the first five Gators of the contest before Gushue stepped to the plate and sent the righty’s initial pitch into the left-field bleachers. The rookie became the first UF player to homer on his first swing since Chris Freshcorn accomplished the feat on March 5, 2008, against Campbell. Current junior Austin Maddox (Jacksonville, Fla.) homered in his collegiate at bat against USF on Feb. 19, 2010.
“Taylor is a really neat kid,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s sharp, smart, a leader and he’s just quietly put himself in the position to be in the lineup. He didn’t have the fall to do that. He came to campus in January and has earned everything he’s got. It was awfully good to see his first swing be a home run.”
“Hitting a home run is nice, but winning the game is a lot better,” Gushue said. “That’s what’s important to everybody, that’s what is the best.”
Randall had a run of 10-consecutive Titans retired before Kingsolver sliced a two-out single into right field in the fifth. However, junior catcher Mike Zunino (Cape Coral, Fla.) gunned down the runner attempting to steal second base to end the frame.
The Gators seized a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on a two-out double by Turgeon. After senior Tyler Thompson (Tequesta, Fla.) poked a single with one down into center field and moved into scoring position with a two-out theft, Turgeon sent a fly ball just inside of the left-field line that bounced in for a two-bagger for his first collegiate hit to move Florida in front.
Cal State Fullerton plated two runs on three hits in the sixth to claim a 3-2 lead. Junior Casey Watkins started the inning with a ground-rule double that bounced over the right-field fence and junior Richy Pedroza followed with a single through the right side for runners on the corners. Freshman Derek Legg tied the game with a RBI grounder to second base and redshirt junior Carlos Lopez delivered a double to the corner in right field to put the Titans back on top. After Randall had Lorenzen ground out, he was replaced by Rodriguez. Over 5.2 innings, Randall gave up five hits and three runs, with one strikeout. A passed ball enabled Lopez to reach third but Rodriguez struck out junior pinch hitter Ivory Thomas to keep the Gators down by a run.
Tucker knotted the game at 3-3 in the home part of the frame with a line-drive homer to right field underneath the brand new video-board. It was the 42nd homer and the 209th RBI of his Gator career, moving him closer to Brad Wilkerson’s school-record total of 214. Tucker also had a big fly in the season opener in 2011 against USF.
Freshman Jose Cardona (0-1) took over for Floro prior to UF’s seventh at bat after Fullerton’s starter yielded five hits and three runs, with four strikeouts and a walk, over six full innings. Soon after, the Gators erupted for four runs on three hits and two walks to grab a 7-3 lead. Freshman Josh Tobias (Greensboro, N.C.) legged out an infield single with one down for his first collegiate hit and Turgeon and junior Nolan Fontana (Winter Garden, Fla.) earned consecutive walks to load the bases and prompt a pitching change. Freshman Koby Gauna plunked senior Daniel Pigott (Ormond Beach, Fla.) to bring across Tobias with the go-ahead run and a sacrifice fly by Tucker into right field scored Turgeon for a 5-3 lead for the hosts. Zunino stroked an RBI single up the middle to drive in Fontana and junior Brian Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) (2-for-4) expanded Florida’s advantage to 7-3 with a base-knock into right field that brought home Pigott and forced another call to the bullpen. Junior Dave Birosak replaced Gauna (0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R) and induced an inning-ending fly-out by Gushue.
Rodriguez tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless ball and recorded three strikeouts before turning the ball over to senior Greg Larson (Longwood, Fla.) for the ninth. The righty notched the final three outs, allowing one hit with a game-ending strikeout, to secure the win. The Gators held an 8-7 advantage in hits and their bullpen twirled 3.1 scoreless innings.
Saturday’s matchup at 4 p.m. will have sophomore right-hander Karsten Whitson (Chipley, Fla.) (8-1, 2.40 in 2011) pitching for the Gators against Titans’ redshirt freshman right-hander Grahamm Wiest. The game will be carried on WRUF SportsRadio 850 and can be viewed on GatorVision Online.
Dores drop opener at Stanford
Palo Alto, Calif. – Vanderbilt dropped the team’s season opener at third-ranked Stanford Friday night 8-3 at Sunken Diamond.
The Cardinal jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with a Stephen Piscotty home run over the left field fence and never looked back scoring in six of the team’s eight at-bats on the night. Stanford blew the game open in the third inning, scoring three runs on a pair of hits and two Vandy errors. A leadoff walk and hit batter by Commodores’ starter Kevin Ziomek came around to score with Stanford first baseman Brian Ragira driving in a run and scoring the final run of the inning. Ragira led the way for the Cardinal going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Kenny Diekroeger, Lonnie Kauppila, Christian Griffiths and Jake Stewart all had two hits in the win. Piscotty, Griffths and Eric Smith each hit solo home runs for the Cardinal with Smith’s going as an inside the park home run in the fifth inning.
The Commodores were held hitless by Stanford starter and projected MLB top pick Mark Appel for the first four innings until freshman Chris Harvey doubled with a smash to left field to open the fifth inning. Fellow freshman Vince Conde drove in Harvey two batters later with a sacrifice fly to put the Dores on the board. VU scored two runs in the ninth thanks to three straight base hits. Connor Harrell knocked in Mike Yastrzemski with a single through the left side and Conde came through again with a single to left to score Jack Lupo, who had entered as a pinch runner for Harvey. Tony Kemp extended his on-base streak to 31 games with a triple in the eighth inning, the sophomore’s eighth career triple. Harvey was the only Commodore to collect two hits on the night, singling in the ninth to go with his double. Spencer Navin added his first collegiate hit with a double in the fifth inning.
Appel earned the win for the Cardinal working seven solid innings. The big right-hander allowed one run on two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Ziomek was pinned with the loss for the Dores allowing five runs on six hits. The lefty fanned four and walked four in his first collegiate loss. Freshmen hurlers Brian Miller and Jared Miller each made their Vanderbilt debut. Brian Miller allowed two runs on four hits over 2.2 innings with three strikeouts. Jared Miller gave up one run on four hits in his two frames.
The loss marks the first opening day loss for Vanderbilt since 2009 when the Commodores dropped a 6-5 decision in 10 innings at Stanford.
The Commodores return to action tomorrow afternoon at Sunken Diamond against Stanford. VU is scheduled to send freshman right-hander Tyler Beede to the bump to face Cardinal lefty Brett Mooneyham. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. CT. For season ticket information visit vucommodores.com or call 615.322.GOLD.
No. 22 Rebels Down No. 10 TCU 7-4 In Season Opener
FORT WORTH, Texas – Alex Yarbrough went 2-or-5 with a home run and three RBI to help the Rebel offense to a big win on Friday night as No. 22 Ole Miss (1-0) defeated No. 10 TCU (0-1) in the first game of a three-game series.
With the win, Ole Miss improved to 11-1 in season-opening games under head coach Mike Bianco.
The Rebel offense performed well in the outing as Andrew Mistone also homered as part of a night that saw the junior go 1-for-2 and was hit by pitch twice. Eight Rebels recorded hits on the night.
Bobby Wahl (1-0) picked up the win in his first start as a part of the weekend rotation, allowing two runs – both earned – on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.
Brett Huber picked up his first save of the season, closing out the ninth with a walk and two strikeouts while holding the Horned Frogs hitless. It was Huber’s 17th save of his career, moving him into fourth on the career saves list and one save behind Scott Bittle or third all-time.
Andrew Mitchell (0-1) suffered the loss for TCU, allowing four runs – three earned – on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. He struck out four and did not allow a walk on the night.
“We really played well tonight, especially for opening night on the road against a good team in TCU,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “Bobby Wahl didn’t have his best stuff, but he made big pitches when he needed to and hung in there. We showed our athleticism defensively, especially in the outfield.
“We also got a solid outing from Sam Smith and Dylan Chavez,” Bianco said. “I really thought tonight was about our offense against a very good pitcher in (Andrew) Mitchell. We won’t see many better than him this season. We just won a few more at bats than they did at crucial times. Overall, we just competed very hard.”
Ole Miss struck first, scoring a single run in the third when Austin Bousfield grounded out to second with the bases loaded scored Blake Newalu. The Rebels loaded the bases with back-to-back singles from Preston Overbey and Newalu before a Will Jamison bunt single put three men on base. The Horned Frogs got the first out before the Newalu score on the Bousfield grounder. Ole Miss would get no more out of the inning, however, as TCU got the next two outs to get out of the inning.
TCU pushed two runs across in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for the first time on the night. With two men on base and one out following a lead-off walk and a hit batter, Kyle Von Tungelin singled to score Davy Wright and leave men at the corners. A sac fly to center from Jason Coats brought in the second run as the Horned Frogs went up 2-1. A grounder to third with men at second and third a batter later got the Rebels out of the inning trailing by one run.
The Rebels evened things up at two in the fourth when Will Allen scored on a throwing error from the second baseman as he tried to turn a double play. Allen, who had reached with a single and moved to second when Mistone was hit by a pitch, moved to third on the grounder to short from Overbey, and scored when the throw to first from the second baseman was in the dirt and got away from the Horned Frog first baseman.
Ole Miss kept the score tied in the bottom of the inning when Bousfield threw out the go-ahead run at the plate to get the Rebels out of the fourth without any damage.
The Rebels then moved back in front in the fifth inning when Yarbrough got the first home run of the season for Ole Miss, scoring Jamison on the shot to right. Jamison reached on a lead-off single before moving to third on back-to-back groundouts. The home run from Yarbrough gave Ole Miss a 4-2 lead.
Ole Miss extended the lead in the seventh with back-to-back RBI singles with two out. With Bousfield at first, Yarbrough hit a shallow shot to left center that fell in between three converging outfielders, allowing the freshman to score. Yarbrough moved to second on the throw home as TCU attempted to throw out Bousfield. Matt Snyder singled to right in the next at bat to drive in Yarbrough and give the Rebels the 6-2 lead.
TCU cut into the lead in the home half of the seventh, using a lead-off double and a wild pitch to put Wright at third base. A double off the wall in right from Keaton Jones brought home Wright and cut the lead to three.
With two outs on the board and a man on third, Coats took a full count pitch back up the middle to drive in a second run in the inning and trim the Rebel lead to two at 6-4. Ole Miss then turned to the bullpen for the second time, sending freshman Sam Smith to the mound to replace reliever Dylan Chavez.
Mistone pushed the lead back out to three runs for the Rebels in the eighth inning, belting a home run down the left field line to make it 7-4 in favor of Ole Miss.
Smith kept the Horned Frogs off the board in the eighth before Huber worked a scoreless ninth to close out the game and preserve the win for the Rebels.
Ole Miss and TCU will play game two of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can follow the action on gametracker or watch the game on RebelVision at www.OleMissSports.com.