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Team of the day
LSU (18-1)
Paul Mainieri talked earlier this week about how much more consistent right-handed pitcher Ryan Eades has been so far this season. Well, Eades once again was fantastic, tossing a gem in a 7-3 win over Mississippi State. Eades struck out eight, walked two and allowed just one run on six hits in seven innings, while freshman shortstop Alex Bregman and senior first baseman Mason Katz each had a home run.
Upset of the day
Columbia over UCF
The Knights have been rather hot-and-cold so far this season. Knights starting pitcher Danny Davis allowed two runs in just two innings, as they dropped a tough 5-4 decision to Columbia. The Knights allowed Columbia starting pitcher Tim Giel to get into a groove. Giel struck out nine Knights in six innings of work.
Player of the day
Jimmy Luppens, 1B, Jr., Canisius
What an impressive performance Luppens put together in a 16-8 win over Ohio. Luppens went 3-for-5 with three homers, three runs scored and eight RBIs in the winning cause. He also induced a walk in the contest.
Teams feeling good
Central Arkansas (17-2): The Bears continue to play an exceptional brand of baseball. UCA starting pitcher Jeff Enloe struck out five, walked two and allowed just four hits in six shutout frames, as they captured a series-clinching 14-3 win over Southern Miss. While Enloe led the charge on the mound, Ethan Harris did the honors at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and five RBIs.
South Carolina (17-3): The Gamecocks split a doubleheader with Missouri on Saturday, but most importantly, they captured a series win over the Tigers to begin SEC play. Gamecocks left-handed pitcher Nolan Belcher shined in the first game of the twinbill, striking out six, walking none and allowing just five hits in 8 1/3 shutout innings of work. The Gamecocks continue to shine without lefty Jordan Montgomery.
Notre Dame (12-5): The Fighting Irish just continue to impress. Hard-hitting third baseman Eric Jagielo hit his sixth home run of the season, as his club captured an impressive 6-5 win and series over Cal Poly. Jagielo finished the contest with two hits and an RBI, while the bullpen did a great job with Dan Slania closing things out.
Florida Atlantic (13-7): Though the Owls haven't been incredibly consistent this season, they've begun Sun Belt play with an impressive series win over FIU, capturing Saturday's contest 6-5. FAU catcher Mike Spano went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while leadoff hitter and outfielder Nathan Pittman went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Georgia Tech (16-2): No question the Yellow Jackets just continue to play a ridiculously good brand of baseball, beating Boston College 11-3 on Saturday to clinch another ACC series win. Yellow Jackets sluggers Zane Evans, Matt Gonzalez, Kyle Wren and Sam Dove each hit a home run in the game, while starting pitcher Dusty Isaacs allowed just two runs on four hits in seven innings.
UCLA (14-3): After beating the Huskies in 15 innings in the resumption of Friday's contest, the Bruins were dominant in the nightcap, beating Washington 5-0. UCLA junior right-handed pitcher Nick Vander Tuig put together a great start against the Huskies, striking out eight, walking none and allowing just seven hits in a complete game shutout.
Arkansas (14-6): The Hogs didn't play an aggressive brand of baseball in the series opener against Ole Miss, but rose to the occasion in Game 2 on Saturday, beating the Rebels 10-1 to even the series. Arkansas left-handed pitcher Randall Fant struck out five and allowed just one run on seven hits in six innings of work, while Joe Serrano led the way at the plate with three hits and an RBI.
South Alabama (17-3): Mark Calvi and the Jaguars are putting together quite an impressive campaign. USA first baseman Jordan Patterson went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored, while Nolan Earley went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs in a series-clinching 7-5 win over Troy.
Texas A&M (13-7): The Aggies certainly struggled on the weekend in non-conference play, but are off to a solid start in the SEC with a series-clinching 2-1 win over Georgia. A&M starting pitcher Daniel Mengden struck out eight, walked none and allowed just one run on six hits in eight innings. Meanwhile, reliever Jason Jester continued his impressive ways with two shutout frames.
Vanderbilt (18-2): What an impressive weekend the Commodores are putting together against Auburn. Vandy sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede once again was fantastic despite a few walks, allowing just two hits in six shutout frames in a series-clinching 8-1 win over Auburn. While Beede led the charge on the mound, Rhett Wiseman had two hits and two RBIs at the plate.
Oregon State (18-1): The Beavers are incredibly strong this season. Though freshman pitcher Andrew Moore didn't have a great day on the mound, the bullpen rose to the occasion in a 4-3 win over Arizona. While the bullpen led the charge at the plate, Dylan Davis had a hit and two RBIs to lead the club from an offensive standpoint.
Teams wanting a do-over
N.C State (15-5): Speaking of inconsistent teams, the Wolfpack simply haven't been able to get into a groove. NC State starting pitcher Brad Stone allowed seven runs (five earned) on five hits in just an inning of work in a 13-4 loss to Wake Forest. Reliever Andrew Woeck didn't fare much better, allowing three runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Middle Tennessee State (11-9): The Blue Raiders started the season on an incredibly high note, but played a poor brand of baseball this weekend against rival Western Kentucky. MTSU pitching allowed 21 runs in two games, and of course, both of those games resulted in tough losses.
TCU (8-10): While on the subject of inconsistent clubs, the Horned Frogs had a poor showing in an 8-4 loss to Kansas. TCU starting pitcher Trevor Seidenberger allowed three runs on five hits in just an inning of work, while the bullpen wasn't much better. The rubber match between the two clubs is an important one to say the least.
Winthrop (5-13): The Eagles are having a season to forget thus far, dropping another contest to Rhode Island on Saturday. The Eagles were shutdown by URI starting pitcher Sean Furney, who struck out five, walked two and allowed just two runs on five hits in eight innings of work.
Best individual performances
Austin Cousino, OF, So., Kentucky: The outstanding outfielder had a performance to remember in the win over Florida. Cousino went 3-for-5 with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBIs.
Dillon Peters, LHP, So., Texas: It's not easy to out-do Texas Tech right-handed pitcher Trey Masek, but Peters accomplished the goal. He struck out seven, walked three and allowed just a run on five hits in 8 1/3 innings in a victory over the Red Raiders.
Kurt Yinger, RHP, So., Portland: Just a day after Travis Radke shined for the Pilots, Yinger also rose to the occasion in a win over UC Riverside. Yinger struck out 12 and allowed just six hits in a complete game shutout.
Mark Shannon, OF, Sr., UNLV: The Rebels bounced back from a tough loss with an 8-7 win over New Mexico. Shannon led the charge at the plate with a home run, two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. He also induced a walk in the game.
Ben Meyer, RHP, So, Minnesota: It has been a weekend of impressive pitching performances at the Metrodome this weekend, and Meyer joined the cause on Saturday in a win over Indiana State. He struck out 11, walked none and allowed just five hits in a complete game shutout.
Corey Miller, RHP, Jr., Pepperdine: After a tough series opener against LMU, Miller rose to the occasion in the second game. Miller struck out seven, walked none and allowed just a run on six hits in a complete game performance.
Garrett Boulware, C, So., Clemson: The Tigers bounced back from a tough extra-inning loss against Virginia. Boulware led the charge at the plate for Jack Leggett's club, going 3-for-5 with a triple, home run, two runs scored and four RBIs.
Jeff Thompson, RHP, Jr., Louisville: Thompson put together another impressive performance as the Cardinals took care of business against Xavier. Thompson struck out four, walked one and allowed just five hits in eight shutout innings.
Brian Holberton, OF, Jr., North Carolina: The talented outfielder rose to the occasion as the Tar Heels responded with a solid win over Miami. Holberton went 3-for-3 with a home run, double, three runs scored and three RBIs. He also induced two walks in the contest.
Parker Hipp, SS, Sr., New Mexico State: The Aggies thrashed Alabama A&M on Saturday with Hipp leading the way at the plate. Hipp went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBIs to lead the offensive charge.
Scott Brattvet, Sr., RHP, Cal State Bakersfield: The talented veteran right-handed pitcher was fantastic in a win over Northern Colorado. He struck out seven, walked three and allowed just four hits in a complete game shutout.
Ben Griset, LHP, Jr., St. Mary's: The Gaels haven't put together an impressive campaign thus far, but Griset rose to the occasion in the win over Utah Valley. Griset struck out 12, walked one and allowed just five hits in a complete game shutout.
Justin Garza, RHP, Fr., Cal State Fullerton: The Titans captured a road series win over Oral Roberts with Garza on the bump. Garza didn't disappoint against the Eagles, striking out nine, walking one and allowing just a run on four hits in eight innings.
T.D. Davis, 1B, Jr., Georgia Southern: Davis put on a show as the Eagles captured an important win over Samford. Davis went 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored and four RBIs. He also walked twice in the contest.
Noah Buettgen, RHP, So., Dayton: The talented right-handed pitcher struck out nine and allowed just three hits in a complete game shutout win over Oakland.