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ALSO SEE: Pepperdine's Scott Frazier outshines Texas A&M's Kyle Martin (Breakdown, CBT)
Team of the day
Florida Gulf Coast
Remember in the weekend preview when we said Florida was on upset alert against the Eagles this weekend? Now you're seeing why. Though it's only one win, the Eagles got a tremendous start from veteran right-handed pitcher Ricky Knapp in a dominant 8-2 victory. Knapp struck out four batters and allowed just two runs on six hits in a complete-game performance. He threw 92 pitches, 70 for strikes, while Brooks Beisner and Zack Tillery led the way at the plate, each with three runs batted in.
Player of the day
LHP Brandon Waddell, Virginia
Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor had high hopes for Waddell when he arrived in Charlottesville, Va., in the fall, but he never could've imagined this type of start so early in the season. The talented left-handed pitcher was fantastic in a 15-0 win over Toledo. He struck out 15 batters, walked one, and allowed just six hits in six shutout innings of work. Waddell also showed stronger overall stuff than he did opening weekend, getting up to 90 with his fastball, while his breaking ball was a plus pitch against the Rockets.
Upset of the day
Loyola Marymount 7, Oregon 2
After almost losing a home series to Utah last weekend, the Lions have started this weekend in impressive fashion with a solid victory over George Horton's Oregon Ducks. LMU sophomore right-handed pitcher Colin Welmon was terrific against the Ducks, striking out nine, walking three and allowing just four hits in six innings of work. He also threw 102 pitches, 61 for strikes, while first baseman Cullen Mahoney led the offense with two hits and three RBIs.
Teams feeling good
Alabama: The Crimson Tide might've been picked to finish near the bottom of the SEC, but apparently the players didn't get the memo. The Tide is off to a fantastic 5-0 start after taking care of Florida Atlantic 5-2 on Friday. Alabama starting pitcher Charley Sullivan struck out six and allowed just two runs on five hits in five innings of work, while relievers Tucker Hawley and Keaton Haack each performed at a high level.
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish had a solid first weekend on the diamond and have started their second series against Tulane on a positive note. Irish right-handed starting pitcher Sean Fitzgerald struck out two and allowed just a run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, as they tallied a very impressive 2-1 win over Tulane. While Fitzgerald led the charge on the mound, third baseman Eric Jagielo smacked another home run.
Oregon State: The Beavers are off to a fantastic start this season, and earned yet another solid win on Friday, a 2-0 decision over San Diego State. Senior left-handed pitcher Matt Boyd struck out nine, walked one and allowed just five hits in 8 1/3 shutout innings of work. He also threw 117 pitches, 85 for strikes. Meanwhile, Danny Hayes led the charge at the plate with two hits and an RBI.
Pepperdine: Though the night didn't begin in great fashion with right-handed pitcher Scott Frazier running into trouble in the first inning, the Waves got the job done with a 5-3 triumph, collecting 10 hits in their final five at bats. Frazier struck out eight, walked two, and allowed just three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, while the bullpen did a great job with Eric Karch and Michael Swanner leading the way. Meanwhile, first baseman Sam Meyer had a productive night at the plate with two hits and two RBIs.
Cal State Fullerton: Titans head coach Rick Vanderhook has been raving about his freshmen arms for the past couple weeks, and it's now easy to see why. The Titans got yet another plus performance from freshman hurler Thomas Eshelman, who struck out eight and allowed just three hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings in a 7-2 win over TCU. While Eshelman led the charge on the mound, outfielder Michael Lorenzen had two hits and two RBIs to lead the offense.
Cal State Northridge: It seems like head coach Matt Curtis is putting together quite the team of Matadors this spring. The Matadors captured yet another solid win on Friday night, beating USC 9-4 to take a 1-0 series lead. Northridge outfielder Cal Vogelsang led the charge at the plate with two hits, a double and four RBIs, while reliever John Goossen-Brown held the Trojans at bay in extra innings. Goossen-Brown, who has improved his fastball and is now well into the 90s with that pitch, struck out three and allowed just two hits (no runs) in three innings of work.
Mississippi State: Everyone knew the Bulldogs would have quality pitching depth entering the season, but it's still impressive to see this staff go to work. State starting pitcher Jacob Lindgren struck out and allowed just a run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings as the Bulldogs captured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Purdue. State relievers Chad Girodo and Jonathan Holder also performed at a high level, with Holder once again touching 93-94 on the radar gun.
Teams wanting a do-over
Missouri: The Tigers are one of those teams struggling out of the gate this spring. MU starting pitcher Rob Zastryzny, who usually is very solid in the ace role, had a poor showing against Memphis, striking out four and allowing five runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Tigers offense only mustered two hits off Memphis starting pitcher Sam Moll.
Oral Roberts: It's safe to say the Golden Eagles, at least for now, are finding it tough to move forward without former head coach Rob Walton, who's now an assistant at Oklahoma State. ORU starting pitcher Alex Gonzalez put together a solid start, striking out 11 batters in seven innings against Louisiana Tech. However, the offense floundered in a 2-0 loss, as Louisiana Tech sophomore right-handed hurler Phil Maton struck out 11 batters and allowed just two hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.
Nebraska: The Huskers are near the top of the list of teams that would love to restart the season. NU had another tough loss on Friday, an 8-2 decision to Texas, to fall to 0-5 on the season. NU starting pitcher Brandon Pierce allowed three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, while the bullpen managed to allow five Longhorns runs in the eighth inning. Meanwhile, the offense was stymied by UT starting pitcher Parker French, who struck out six and allowed two runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Kent State: Alex Miklos and Evan Campbell each had two hits for the Golden Flashes against San Diego on Friday, but they were unable to record a victory. Kent starting pitcher Tyler Skulina, if there's a silver lining, bounced back from a tough first start of the season by striking out six batters and allowing just two hits in eight shutout frames. Kent is now 0-5 overall.
Stetson: The Hatters hope to put together a solid campaign this spring, but some things must change for that to happen. Stetson starting pitcher Josh Powers gave his team a chance to win by allowing just three runs on nine hits in seven innings of work. However, the Hatters were just never able to get anything going offensively against Maine starting pitcher Tommy Lawrence, who struck out six and allowed a run on eight hits in eight innings.
San Francisco: The Dons started the 2013 campaign on a sour note last weekend, and things didn't get much better on Friday night against UC Santa Barbara. USF starting pitcher Abe Bobb was lifted after allowing five runs on five hits in three innings of work, while the offense was stymied by UCSB starting pitcher Austin Pettibone, who struck out three, walked one and allowed just five hits in 7 1/3 shutout innings of work.
Individual performances to remember
Sam Moll, LHP, Jr., Memphis: Moll has a power arm and is a heralded prospect for a reason. The talented lefty struck out five, walked one, and allowed just one hit (no runs) in seven innings of work in a win over Missouri. He threw 106 pitches, 70 for strikes.
Dillon Overton, LHP, Jr., Oklahoma: It's just impressive to watch the Sooners' one-two punch of Overton and Gray get the job done each week. Overton was great in a 3-1 win over Iowa. He struck out nine batters and allowed just seven hits in eight shutout innings.
Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Jr., Vanderbilt: The Commodores are expected to have a fantastic spring with Ziomek and others leading the charge. The talented left-handed hurler struck out 11 and allowed just a run on five hits in seven innings of work. He sat 88-92 with his fastball and threw 93 pitches, 64 for strikes.
Marco Gonzales, LHP, Jr., Gonzaga: Gonzales certainly is a workhorse, so it's not surprising he bounced back in a big way in a win over UNLV. Gonzales struck out eight batters, walked two and allowed just a run on six hits in seven innings of work.
Felix Gomez, RHP, So., Texas Southern: You don't see the SWAC show up in a lot of these individual performance showcases, but it's time to give Gomez some props for the way he pitched against Southern University at the MLB Urban Invitational in Houston. Gomez only struck out three batters, but allowed just four hits in eight shutout frames.
Sean Manaea, LHP, Jr., Indiana State: The Sycamores faced a stiff test against College of Charleston's solid offensive lineup, but Manaea was no match, as the left-handed hurler dominated the Cougars. Manaea struck out 10, walked two and allowed just one hit in six shutout innings. Stuff-wise, the lefty was up to 94 with his fastball and settled in with a good slider.
Trevor Williams, RHP, Jr., Arizona State: Williams continues to show why he's one of the nation's elite MLB draft prospects for this summer. Williams was fantastic in a 4-0 win over Tennessee. He struck out eight batters, walked one and allowed three hits in seven shutout frames. Stuff-wise, he was 92-94 with his fastball, also flashing a solid changeup and curveball.
Rob Smorol, LHP, Sr., Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights couldn't have asked for a much better start from the senior lefty on Friday in a win over Old Dominion. Smorol struck out seven batters and allowed just four hits in eight innings of work.
Chad Green, RHP, Jr., Louisville: The Cardinals have a wealth of pitching and Green is just one of many talented arms. Green struck out three batters, walked one, and allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings of work. Green, who has good stuff, threw 90 pitches, 58 for strikes.
Mark Appel, RHP, Sr., Stanford: The former first-round pick might not have been ultra impressive against Rice last weekend, but that certainly changed Friday night in a 3-1 win over Fresno State. Appel was back to his old ways, striking out 11, walked one, and allowing just a run on three hits in a complete game performance. He threw 105 pitches, 74 for strikes.
Cale Wine, RHP, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe: The Warhawks hit the road and captured an impressive 2-1 win over Sam Houston State. Wale was terrific for ULM, striking out seven and allowing just a run on nine hits in a complete game performance.
Austin Kubitza, RHP, Jr., Rice: The talented right-handed pitcher took a big step forward with a sterling showing against Stanford last weekend. He again was great on Friday against Hawaii, striking out 13 batters and allowing just four hits in seven shutout innings.
Nolan Earley, OF, Sr., South Alabama: The veteran outfielder outfielder had a great night at the plate in a record-setting run performance by the Jaguars. He went 3-for-3 with two doubles, four runs scored and five RBIs.