4/7/2011 1:12:52 AM
Though Tuesday was a busy day in college baseball, Wednesday was the exact opposite for many teams around the country. Some, though, still had important contests.
Here are some items that caught our attention on Wednesday.
* Texas State hit the road hoping to earn an impressive midweek victory after losing to Missouri last week and previously Baylor and Texas. But the Bobcats' wish wasn't granted as they dropped a tough 6-5 decision to Arkansas. The Razorbacks scored four runs in their final two frames to earn the victory. Arkansas outfielder Colin Kuhn recorded three hits in the game, while Dominic Ficociello, Bo Bigham and Jarrod McKinney each had three hits in the game. Since the Bobcats do have a solid RPI, this is an RPI boosting win for the Hogs. The Bobcats, meanwhile, still have some marquee wins to record.
* Miami has an important series with postseason implications coming up this weekend against N.C. State, but it recorded a dominant midweek win over Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday by a score of 8-1. Miami starting pitcher Steven Ewing was solid again, striking out eight and allowing just three hits and a run in seven innings, while first baseman Rony Rodriguez led the way at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and two RBIs. Chantz Mack and Harold Martinez each had two hits in the game. The Hurricanes have a solid ACC record and can improve it against the inconsistent Wolfpack this weekend.
* Florida International is one of several Sun Belt teams aiming for an NCAA postseason berth at the end of the season. The Panthers, though, have something to prove the second half of the season. They dropped a tough midweek bout to Bethune-Cookman by a score of 5-4. FIU got some solid pitching in the game, while Bethune-Cookman pitchers Julio Morales and Jordan Dailey got the best of the Panthers. Offensively, BCC was led at the plate by DJ Leonard, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
* After dropping a tough midweek bout to N.C. State on Tuesday, East Carolina responded in impressive fashion against Elon on Wednesday with a 7-0 triumph. Starting pitcher Austin Chrismon allowed just three hits in four shutout innings while Kevin Brandt returned to the mound from suspension and threw three scoreless innings. Joseph Hughes also had a solid outing, striking out five in two perfect innings to end the game. At the plate, leadoff hitter Ben Fultz went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
* Georgia Southern is one of several bubble teams that must take care of business down the stretch to make the NCAA postseason. The Eagles, though, suffered a big-time setback on Wednesday in a 14-1 loss to Mercer. Mercer had a huge day at the plate with DJ Johnson leading the way going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Leadoff hitter Billy Burnes added two hits and two RBIs, while Thomas Carroll, Matthew Black and Joe Winker each had two hits in the game.
* In terms of upsets, nothing really major stood out on Wednesday. However, Houston, following its Tuesday win over Texas A&M, suffered a tough setback to Lamar.