More coverage: College Top 25 | Chat transcript
TEAM OF THE DAY
Texas
The Longhorns are playing a much improved brand of baseball these days, and things didn’t change Tuesday night in a 5-2 road win over Rice. UT righthanded pitcher Lukas Schiraldi allowed just two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, while reliever Travis Duke tossed 1 2/3 shutout frames. Offensively, C.J. Hinojosa and Ben Johnson each had two hits for the Longhorns, while Rice starting pitcher and righty Jon Duplantier allowed two runs in just 3 1/3 innings.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Alex Jurich, c, Illinois-Chicago: The Flames captured a dominant 18-5 home win over Purdue with Jurich leading the way. Jurch had a double, home run and six RBIs to lead UIC's offensive charge.
UPSET OF THE DAY
East Tennessee State 2, Tennessee 1
It was a double your pleasure type of night for ETSU with two-way star Clinton Freeman leading the charge. In addition to hitting his seventh home run of the season, Freeman also struck out four in two shutout innings to lead the Buccaneers to an impressive road win. ETSU also received a solid performance from starting pitcher Griffin Krieg, who allowed just one hit in three innings.
More upsets:
Nebraska-Omaha 6, Kansas State 5 (OF Daniel Jewett: 3 for 4, double, 2 RBIs)
Samford 8, Auburn 1 (1B Cale Bryson: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs)
Florida Atlantic 5, Florida 4 (DH Esteban Puerta: 4-for-5, RBI)
THE GOOD
Pepperdine: Waves righthanded pitcher Matt Maurer struck out four, walked one and allowed just a run on six hits in five innings, as they captured a nice 4-3 home win over UC Irvine. Pepperdine two-way star Aaron Brown led the way offensively with a pair of hits.
San Diego: The Toreros could be in the midst of working their way back into the PG College Top 25. The Toreros captured an impressive 7-1 home win over rival San Diego State with talented third baseman Andrew Daniel hitting a home run and knocking in a pair of runs. Meanwhile, Jerod Smith went 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Louisiana-Lafayette: We’re not sure the Ragin’ Cajuns could’ve put on more of a show Tuesday night in a 16-0 home thrashing of Tulane. ULL’s Tyler Girouard had a home run and two RBIs in the contest, while Evan Powell aded a home run as well. Also, outfielder Dylan Butler went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks’ clutch play is just getting comical at this point. Appalachian State and South Carolina were tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, when catcher Grayson Greiner, who has very much had a flare for the dramatic this season, hit a walk-off RBI single to win 2-1. The stage was set by righthanded pitcher Evan Beal, who struck out three and allowed just two hits in 5 1/3 shutout innings.
Kentucky: After losing a tough series at Vanderbilt over the weekend, the Wildcats responded in impressive fashion with an 8-3 win over Louisville. UK designated hitter Thomas Bernal went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBIs, while on the mound, Spencer Jack finished the contest with 2 2/3 scoreless frames.
Alec Bettinger, rhp, Virginia: The Cavaliers shined in an easy 7-1 win over Old Dominion at home. Bettinger was very solid in his start, striking out two and allowing just three hits in six innings of work.
Isaac Lippert, lhp, Northeastern: The Huskies went on the road and captured a nice 6-0 win over Rhode Island with Lippert leading the way. He struck out six, walked one and allowed just two hits in seven shutout frames.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers have quietly put together an impressive resume this season, including Tuesday’s 6-4 road win over Pittsburgh. WVU catcher Cameron O’Brien led the way at the plate with two hits, one a double and three RBIs, while leadoff hitter and outfielder Bobby Boyd also had a nice performance with three hits.
Oklahoma State: Veteran lefthanded pitcher Tyler Nurdin allowed just a run on two hits in five innings, as the Cowboys captured a solid 3-1 road win over rival Oklahoma. Nurdin struck out just two batters, but that was enough as the bullpen rose to the occasion with Blake Battenfield, Vince Wheeland and Brendan McCurry leading the way.
Maryland: Just a couple of days after dropping a tough home series to Clemson, the Terps were back it at Tuesday in a 5-2 home win over Virginia Commonwealth. Maryland starting pitcher Bobby Ruse had an afternoon to remember, striking out two and allowing just a run on four hits in six innings.
Florida State: The top-ranked Seminoles were impressive on Tuesday in an 8-3 home win over Florida Gulf Coast. FSU relievers Dylan Silva and Gage Smith each threw three or more perfect innings out of the pen, while shortstop Casey Smit led the offense with a pair of hits and two RBIs.
Clemson: Tyler Slaton had two hits and three RBIs, Steve Wilkerson added a home run and third baseman Weston Wilson went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, as the Tigers crushed Furman at home, 13-2. Meanwhile, the Tigers got an outstanding performance from Zack Erwin, who came out of the pen and allowed just two hits in six shutout frames.
Houston: The Cougars continued their winning ways in impressive fashion, beating Texas A&M 10-8 with shortstop Frankie Ratcliff going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Meanwhile, Josh Vidales and Ashford Fulmer each finished the night with three hits and two RBIs, while Texas A&M lefthanded pitcher Matt Kent didn't have a particularly great start, allowing four runs on seven hits in three innings.
Clay Murphy, rhp, Missouri State: How about the senior righthanded pitcher's performance in an 8-0 win over Saint Louis at home? Murphy struck out 11, walked two and allowed just two hits in eight shutout frames. He threw 121 pitches in the contest, 84 for strikes.
Kansas: Righthanded pitcher Drew Morovick allowed just two runs on seven hits in six innings, as the Jayhawks captured a nice 4-2 home win over Wichita State. Talented outfielder Michael Suiter led the offensive charge for the Jayhawks with a pair of hits in the contest.
Liberty: The impressive and sizzling hot Flames continued their impressive ways on Tuesday with a 4-3 home win over Duke. Liberty second baseman Ryan Seiz had a huge day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, while first baseman Alex Close also had a nice night at the plate with a pair of hits and an RBI.
THE BAD
UNC Wilmington: It hasn't been much of a season for the Seahawks thus far, as they dropped a 9-4 road decision to North Carolina to fall to 12-14 overall. UNCW starting pitcher Christian MacDonald struggled in his start, allowing three runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings, while for the Tar Heels, reliever Reilly Hovis was a bright spot with 3 1/3 shutout frames out of the pen.