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With Friday's college baseball action in the books, here's our inside look back at the highlights and lowlights from around the country.
TEAM OF THE DAY: Oregon
The Ducks are playing an outstanding brand of baseball right now. They took a huge leap forward last weekend with a home series sweep over Arizona State. Well, they took another step forward by clinching a series win over UCLA with an 8-3 triumph. UO starting pitcher Jake Reed allowed just three runs on five hits in six innings, while reliever Joey Housey was fantastic, allowing just two hits in three scoreless frames. Also worth noting, Ducks first baseman Ryon Healy had a productive night at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Alex Wood, lhp, Georgia
After dropping a home series to Kentucky last weekend, the Bulldogs desperately needed Wood to start the weekend on a positive note. He did just that in a 4-2 triumph over the Razorbacks. Wood was marvelous in his start, which was his fourth win of the season. Wood, a draft-eligible sophomore, struck out 11 and allowed just two runs on seven hits in a complete game performance ... on the road. Wood rose to the occasion when Georgia needed him the most.
UPSET OF THE DAY: Utah over Arizona
Let's go ahead and call it the Stanford hangover. Sure, the Wildcats won the series opener over the Utes, but dropped a game earlier this week to Utah Valley before losing on Friday, 7-6 in ugly fashion. Arizona starting pitcher Konner Wade, who was fantastic last weekend against Stanford, struggled in a big way. Wade struck out six, but also allowed five runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. Utah relievers Mitch Watrous and Tyler Wagner did just enough to preserve the win. In terms of potential national seeding, the series finale with the Utes on Saturday is huge.
FIVE BEST
Florida State (25-5): I continue to be ultra impressed with the FSU pitching staff this season. Seminoles freshman starting pitcher Brandon Leibrandt matched Georgia Tech stud Buck Farmer in a 2-1 victory. Leibrandt struck out four and allowed just three hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. Meanwhile, relievers Gage Smith and Robert Benincasa each threw well in the win.
Arizona State (18-12): The Sun Devils struggled last weekend with a poor showing on the road against Oregon, but have bounced back in a big way this weekend. The Devils clinched a home series win over Oregon State with a 3-2 triumph on Friday. ASU starting pitcher Trevor Williams allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings, while relievers Robert Ravago and Jake Barrett each threw scoreless frames, Barrett recording two strikeouts to earn his fifth save.
Maryland (20-12): The Terrapins have been in a lull for several weeks, but started the weekend on a positive note with a 4-0 triumph over Ethan Ogburn and N.C. State. Maryland junior left-handed pitcher Jimmy Reed was outstanding against the Wolfpack, striking out eight and allowing just two hits in eight shutout innings. It's also worth noting that first baseman Tim Kiene hit a home run and knocked in three runs.
Tennessee (20-10): Say it isn't so, but could coach Dave Serrano actually guide the Volunteers to the NCAA postseason in his first campaign with the program. It's possible. UT starting pitcher Zack Godley allowed two earned runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 5-4 win over South Carolina. Meanwhile, relievers Drew Steckenrider and Nick Blount were fantastic, finishing the contest with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
Miami (22-8) The Hurricanes took a step back last weekend with a road series loss to Clemson, but have started this weekend on a positive note with an 8-0 triumph over North Carolina. Miami veteran left-handed pitcher Eric Erickson was terrific against the Tar Heels, striking out five and allowing just four hits in seven shutout innings. It's also worth noting stud catcher Peter O'Brien had a home run (10th) and four RBIs in the contest.
FIVE DISAPPOINTMENTS
Arizona (22-9): The Wildcats have had a rather strange week thus far, and things got even stranger Friday night with a 7-6 loss to struggling Utah. Arizona starting pitcher Konner Wade didn't have his best stuff, while reliever Stephen Manthei allowed two runs (none earned) in just an inning of work. The Wildcats must find a way to take the final two games in the series.
Central Florida (24-7): The Knights impressed in last weekend's road series sweep over Houston, but now are in a tough situation after dropping the opening game to UAB this weekend, 11-4 in surprising fashion. UCF junior left-handed pitcher Brian Adkins had a rough night on the mound, striking out just four batters and allowing nine runs (none earned) on 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. Meanwhile, the UAB pitching duo of Dillon Napoleon and Chase Mallard did just enough to tame the Knights.
Rice (22-11): In a lone loss to Southern Mississippi last weekend, the Owls had trouble scoring runs with runners in scoring position. That little issue reared its ugly head again on Friday night in a 7-2 setback to Tulane. Rice recorded 13 hits in the game, but also left 10 runners on base. Meanwhile, it's also important to give the Green Wave pitching duo of David Napoli and D.J. Ponder much credit for taming the Owls.
Oklahoma (18-13): With an incredibly rough RPI in the 90s entering the weekend, the Sooners desperately needed to earn a road series win over Texas A&M. Well, that isn't going to happen, as A&M clinched a series win with a 5-2 triumph on Friday. Texas A&M starting pitcher Ross Stripling struck out eight and allowed just two runs in a complete game performance, while OU starting pitcher Dillon Overton ran out of gas, allowing five runs on nine hits in 7 1/3 innings of work, four of them in the final two frames.
West Virginia (13-19): Call it a hunch, but I don't think the Mountaineers will be breaking many pitching records this season. The Mountaineers allowed 17 runs in just the fifth inning against Villanova on Friday in a 26-11 setback. WVU starting pitcher Zach Bergeron allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings, Dan Dierdoff allowed seven runs in three innings, Eric Hinkle allowed three runs without recording an out, Jared Hill recorded one out and allowed six runs and Tyler Dipzinski allowed four runs and recorded just two outs.
PG TOP 50 ROUNDUP
#12 LSU 0, #1 Florida 7
#2 Florida State 2, #24 Georgia Tech 1
#19 Miami (Fla.) 8, #3 North Carolina 0
#20 Oregon 8, #4 UCLA 3
#13 Mississippi 2, #5 Kentucky 3
#6 Arizona 6, Utah 7
#7 Stanford 4, #38 Washington 6
#30 Georgia 4, #8 Arkansas 2
#31 Oklahoma 2, #9 Texas A&M 5
UC Davis 4, #10 Cal State Fullerton 5
Tennessee 5, #11 South Carolina 4
#14 Rice 2, Tulane 7
#15 Purdue 7, Northwestern 0
UAB 11, #16 Central Florida 4
#17 N.C State 0, Maryland 4
#18 Baylor 5, Missouri 3
Gonzaga 2, #21 San Diego 5
#22 Oregon State 2, #26 Arizona State 3
#23 Louisville 12, Georgetown 1
#25 Auburn 6, Alabama 10
Houston 1, #27 East Carolina 16
#28 California 1, #39 Southern California 2
#29 Texas 6, Texas Tech 7
Vanderbilt 4, #32 Mississippi State 7
College of Charleston 6, #33 Appalachian State 8
#34 Texas State 2, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0
#41 UC Irvine 2, #35 Cal Poly 3
#36 Missouri State 1, Bradley 2
Campbell 4, #37 Liberty 4
UNC Wilmington 0, #40 TCU 4
#42 Coastal Carolina 5, Gardner-Webb 2
Central Arkansas 8, #43 Southeastern Louisiana 4
Jacksonville 5, #44 Stetson 9
#45 Pepperdine 4, St. Mary's 6
Nevada 6, #46 New Mexico State 13
Northwestern State 3, #47 Sam Houston State 4
#50 Clemson 4, Duke 1
Kendall Rogers is the college baseball managing editor for Perfect Game and can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org