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PREMIUM: Friday's RPI analysis
PREMIUM: Report on Virginia/Georgia Tech GM1
Michigan State: Coach Jake Boss has the Spartans exactly where he wants them this season. The Spartans defeated Minnesota 4-2 in Game 1 of a huge Big Ten weekend series. MSU starting pitcher Kurt Wunderlich struck out six and allowed just two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. State reliever Tony Wieber threw 2 1/3 shutout innings to preserve the win. The Spartans now are 18-7, 3-1 in Big Ten play.
Rice’s Austin Kubitza: The Owls hit a gold mine when the talented freshman right-handed pitcher decided to attend college. Kubitza has been fantastic this season and helped guide the Owls to a 2-1 win over East Carolina. Kubitza struck out 11 and allowed just a run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings. Rice reliever Tony Cingrani also pitched well, striking out seven in 3 1/3 shutout innings.
Florida State: We can’t say enough about the job Florida State left-handed pitcher Sean Gilmartin has done this season. Gilmartin put together another great start in a 5-3 win over North Carolina. The talented lefty struck out eight and allowed just one earned run on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings. Reliever Mike McGee finished the game and had a hit at the plate.
Miami: The Hurricanes aren’t earning a lot of headlines right now, but improved to 9-3 in the ACC with a 4-1 win over N.C. State. Miami starting pitcher Bryan Radziewski was great again on Friday, striking out eight and allowing just a run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Reliever Travis Miller also was great, tossing 2 1/3 shutout innings for the ‘Canes.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores just continue to collect impressive wins. Vandy starting pitcher and top prospect Sonny Gray allowed two runs on four hits in six innings as the ‘Dores defeated Alabama 11-3. While Gray led the way on the mound, the ‘Dores got solid offensive performances by Anthony Gomez, Aaron Westlake, Curt Casali and Mike Yastrzemski. VU continues to prove its stock as the nation’s top team.
Tulane: The Green Wave has struggled mightily the past couple of weeks and desperately needs a road series win over Central Florida this weekend. The Green Wave started the series on a positive note with a 10-8 triumph. Tulane catcher Jeremy Schaffer had a fantastic night with a home run, two hits and three RBIs, while Matt Ryan, Blake Crohan, Nick Schneeberger and Garrett Cannizaro also collected two hits. Now we’ll see if the Green Wave can finish off the series victory.
Memphis: After back-to-back huge weekends, it was natural for Southern Miss to have somewhat of a letdown on Friday. The Tigers took advantage of an opportunity to strike with a 6-5 triumph over the Golden Eagles. Memphis first baseman T.J. Rich was the key cog with four hits and two RBIs. The Tigers have the Eagles on the ropes, and it’ll be interesting to see how USM responds.
Texas: The Longhorns have a fantastic pitching staff and will be tough to beat as long as they get at least average offensive production. Then there are nights like Friday when everything is clicking, as UT dominated in-state rival Baylor in an 11-3 victory. UT starting pitcher and top prospect Taylor Jungmann struck out 10 and allowed just two runs on five hits in eight innings, while designated hitter Lucas Kephart led the way at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs.
Georgia: The Bulldogs are finding ways to win games these days, and did so on Friday in a 9-8 road victory over Mississippi. Georgia starting pitcher Alex Wood didn’t have a good start as he allowed six runs in seven innings. The offense, though, rose to the occasion with Jonathan Hester hitting a home run and outfielder Zach Cone going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. The Bulldogs’ are playing a solid brand of baseball.
Kansas State: The Wildcats have suffered disappointing setbacks to Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor to begin Big 12 play, but have a leg up on a series against Oklahoma this weekend. K-State left-handed pitcher Kyle Hunter allowed just four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings as the Wildcats defeated the Sooners 2-0. KSU reliever James Allen also threw well, tossing 1 1/3 shutout innings. K-State desperately needs to close out the Sooners this weekend.
Troy: The Trojans couldn’t be more impressive this season. Starting pitcher Tyler Ray was fantastic again as the Trojans defeated Florida International 4-0 in the series opener. Ray only struck out four hitters, but allowed just five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Relievers Nathan Hill and Tyson Workman also did solid jobs in the winning cause. With the win, the Trojans are 24-5, 9-1 in the Sun Belt.
UAB: Blazers starting pitcher Dillon Napoleon earned headlines again Friday with a solid start as his team improved to 5-2 in Conference USA with a 10-1 road victory over Houston. Napoleon allowed just a run on five hits in seven innings against the Cougars, while relievers Chase Mallard tossed two shutout frames to end the game. UAB is doing a great job in conference play
Wichita State: The Shockers have failed to record marquee wins this season and are on the verge of taking another step back this weekend against Missouri State. The Shockers dropped the series opener to the Bears 8-6. MSU starting pitcher Nick Petree struck out 11 in eight innings, while WSU starter Josh Smith allowed six runs in 6 2/3 innings. The Missouri Valley regular season title race is wide open.
College of Charleston: Starting pitcher Matt Talley and The Citadel have had a campaign to forget thus far, but provided some headaches for Charleston on Friday in a 6-2 victory. Talley allowed just two runs in a complete game performance, while Cougars starting pitcher David Peterson allowed six runs in just seven innings. Charleston must find a way to establish some sort of consistency.
Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers took a step back last weekend on the road against Arkansas-Little Rock, but took care of business in their series opener against Louisiana-Lafayette with a 5-1 triumph. WKU starting pitcher Justin Hageman struck out 10 and allowed just a run on eight hits in a complete game performance. Stud sluggers Matt Rice and Kes Carter led the way at the plate with two hits each.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs hit the road last weekend and failed to win a game against Georgia, but they’ve bounced back in impressive fashion. The ‘Dogs defeated Southern Mississippi in midweek play before upsetting Florida on Friday in a 7-5 victory. The Bulldogs touched previously flawless Florida starting pitcher Hudson Randall for six runs in just 2 1/3 innings. State shortstop Jonathan Ogden led the way at the plate with a pair of home runs, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Arkansas: The Hogs have had some bad luck in SEC play and are in a must-win situation this weekend after losing their first three conference sets. Well, the Hogs finally took a step forward on Friday with a 2-0 win over LSU. Hogs starting pitcher DJ Baxendale struck out seven and allowed just eight hits in five shutout innings, while relievers Barrett Astin and Nolan Sanburn rose to the occasion out of the pen.
Oregon State: After gaining a wealth of confidence with a road series win over Arizona last weekend, the Beavers entered Friday’s series opener against Arizona State feeling good again. The Beavers got a solid performance from Sam Gaviglio and others on the way to an important 5-3 victory. Gaviglio, the talented right-handed pitcher, struck out six hitters and allowed just three runs on nine hits in a complete game performance. OSU now must seal the deal against the Sun Devils.
UCLA’s Gerrit Cole: What a battle of top prospects the series opener between UCLA and Washington State was on Friday. UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole was fantastic again on the way to a 3-1 win over the Cougars. Cole struck out seven and allowed just a run on five hits in a complete game performance. His start overshadowed Washington State left-hander Adam Conley, who struck out seven and allowed three runs on nine hits in a complete game. UCLA now is 6-1 in the Pac-10.
San Jose State: Spartans starting pitcher Roberto Padilla earned headlines several weeks ago when he guided his team to a win over UCLA. Padilla was up to his usual ways on Friday in a 3-1 win over Fresno State. Padilla struck out seven and allowed just a run on four hits in 8 1/3 innings. His start overshadowed the one put together by Fresno’s Greg Gonzalez, who allowed just a run in seven innings. A series win over the Bulldogs would be huge for the postseason-minded Spartans.
UC Irvine: The Anteaters have had issues with offensive production the past couple of weeks, but you’d never know that by the way they pounded Fullerton’s pitching staff on the way to a 15-3 triumph. The Anteaters touched Fullerton starting pitcher Jake Floethe for eight runs in just 3 1/3 innings, and the Titans’ bullpen didn’t fair much better. Sean Madigan, D.J. Crumlich and Christian Ramirez led the way at the plate with three hits each.
South Carolina: Pitching wins championships and the Gamecocks continue to do it in impressive fashion. Gamecocks starting pitcher Colby Holmes put together a solid start as his team clinched a road series win over Tennessee with a 2-0 triumph. Holmes struck out seven and allowed just three hits in seven innings, while relievers John Taylor and Matt Price also threw at a high level. Price earned his ninth save.
Texas Tech: It took 12 innings to get it done, but the Red Raiders finally recorded a clutch victory in conference play with a 4-3 triumph over Texas A&M. Tech starting pitcher David Paiz put together a gutsy performance against the Aggies, striking out four and allowing just two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Red Raiders reliever John Neely also threw well, allowing just a run in four solid innings. Tech now needs to seal the deal against the Aggies.
TCU: The Horned Frogs took a step back on Friday with a 10-5 setback to New Mexico. Horned Frogs starting pitcher Kyle Winkler allowed just two runs in six innings while relievers Stefan Crichton and Teddy Nowell imploded in the losing cause. A home series loss to the Lobos would be devastating to the Horned Frogs’ NCAA Regional hosting chances.
Arizona: After dropping back-to-back series to Arizona State and Oregon State, Arizona entered the weekend knowing it was in a must-win situation. The Wildcats certainly pitched like they desperately needed a win in a 5-4 triumph over California. Arizona starting pitcher Kurt Heyer struck out 11 and allowed just four runs on six hits in 8 2/3 innings. Bryce Ortega and Jett Bandy were productive at the plate.
Virginia: We’ve certainly known how dominant Virginia left-handed pitcher and top prospect Danny Hultzen has been this season, but we finally saw it for ourselves in the Cavaliers’ 6-2 win over Georgia Tech. Hultzen was fantastic, topping out at 95 MPH with his fastball and striking out 12 and allowing just two runs on seven hits in eight innings. Reliever Branden Kline also did a nice job, while outfielder David Coleman’s three-run home run in the seventh keyed the victory.
Stanford’s Mark Appel: Appel is arguably the top pitching prospect for the 2012 MLB draft for a reason. Appel put together a fantastic start in a 8-1 road win over USC. Appel struck out seven and allowed just a run on four hits in a complete game performance. Offensively, all but two Cardinal hitters chipped in multi-hit performances against the Trojans. Freshmen Lonnie Kauppila, Brian Ragira and Austin Wilson accounted for seven of Stanford’s 17 hits.
Kendall Rogers is the college baseball managing editor for Perfect Game USA and has covered the sport for over 10 seasons. He can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org