TEAM OF THE DAY
LSU
Some opposing fans might get tired of hearing about the Tigers before the season ends. However, LSU deserves the team of the day slot for the second-straight day after taking a 9-1 win over Kentucky to clinch a series win. With the win, the Tigers improved to 29-2 overall, 10-1 in the SEC. That overall start is the best in school history, quite an amazing feat when you considering the program's history over the past 20 or so seasons. LSU shortstop Alex Bregman went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs, while on the mound, right-handed pitcher Ryan Eades struck out six, walked one and allowed just four hits in 8 2/3 innings of work.
UPSET OF THE DAY
East Carolina over Rice
In most seasons this wouldn't be considered such a big upset, but that is the case this spring as the Pirates, even after capturing a 3-2 extra-inning win on Saturday, are just 15-16 overall, 1-4 in Conference USA. ECU starting pitcher David Lucroy struck out five batters and allowed just two runs (one earned) on three hits in seven innings of work, while shortstop Jack Reinheimer went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Aaron Blair, RHP, Marshall
The outstanding right-handed pitcher and elite MLB draft prospect put together a performance to remember in a 4-0 win over previously red-hot Houston. Blair struck out 11, walked just one and allowed just two hits in eight shutout innings. For the season, the righty now has a 2.11 ERA in 42 2/3 innings of work. He also has struck out 47 and walked 10.
THE GOOD
Vanderbilt: Sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede continues to perform at a very high level for the Commodores, striking out six and allowing just a run on four hits in six innings in a 2-1 win over Ole Miss to clinch yet another important SEC series. Meanwhile, at the plate, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski led the charge with two hits and an RBI.
Virginia: The Cavaliers showed a lot of grit late in the game Saturday afternoon in a 7-6 win over Wake Forest. Outfielder Mike Papi went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a run scored and four RBIs to lead the way offensively, while Whit Mayberry and Kyle Crockett tossed three shutout frames to end the contest.
N.C. State: After winning an extra-inning affair on Friday night, the Wolfpack left little doubt in a 13-4 win over Virginia Tech to clinch a huge series win in the ACC. Wolfpack second baseman Logan Ratledge went 2-for-3 with a run scored and four RBIs, while outfielder Bryan Adametz also had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
Indiana: The Hoosiers are on a roll right now, and have been the entire season. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Kyle Hart struck out three, walked two and allowed just a run on eight hits in seven innings of work. Meanwhile, designated hitter Scott Donley went 3-fro-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Mississippi State: State talented right-handed pitcher Kendall Graveman made sure his club captured their first SEC series win with a terrific performance in a 2-0 win over Florida. Graveman struck out two, walked two and allowed five hits in a complete game shutout. He threw 107 pitches, 68 for strikes.
Arizona State: The Sun Devils are having quite the weekend against Oregon, taking a 14-9 decision on Saturday to clinch the series victory. Third baseman Michael Benjamin continued his hot hitting this weekend, going 3-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Meanwhile, Dalton Dinatale went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, and catcher Max Rossiter had three hits and an RBI.
Radford: The Highlanders made some waves last weekend with a road series win over Campbell. They extended their winning streak to six games with a doubleheader sweep of Winthrop, winning the second game of the DH 11-7. In that contest, shortstop Jeff Kemp had a home run and three RBIs, while third baseman Hunter Higgerson and outfielder Blake Sipe each had two hits and two RBIs to help the offensive cause.
Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers showed Saturday they're still the team to beat in the Big South, taking care of Liberty 5-1 to clinch an important series victory. CCU sophomore left-handed pitcher Ben Smith struck out six, walked none and allowed just a run (none earned) on four hits in eight innings. Meanwhile, at the plate, Alex Buccilli and Will Remillard each had a hit and two RBIs in the contest.
THE BAD
Boston College: The Eagles just can't seem to find a groove this spring. BC dropped to 5-24 overall, 0-13 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a tough 9-2 loss to Clemson on Saturday. BC starting pitcher Eric Stevens allowed seven runs on nine hits in five innings of work, while at the plate, the Eagles were mystified by CU starting pitcher Clate Schmidt, who allowed just two runs on six hits in seven frames.
Washington State: The Cougars appeared to be headed the right direction a couple of weeks ago, but have dropped another Pac-12 series after losing a 2-1 decision to Utah on Saturday. The Cougars were stymied at the plate by Utah starting pitcher Dalton Carroll, who struck out four, walked two and allowed just a run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Cal Poly: The Mustangs had been very consistent this spring entering this weekend's road series against UC Santa Barbara. But things just haven't gone their way against the Gauchos, dropping a 13-2 decision to drop the series. CP starting pitcher Matt Imhof, who typically is very good, allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings, while the Mustangs bullpen struggled in the contest.
Southern California: The Trojans knocked Stanford starting pitcher Marcus Brakeman out of the game after just an inning of work, but were unable to master the Cardinal bullpen in a 10-3 loss. Meanwhile, the USC bullpen struggled after starting pitcher Wyatt Strahan allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. With the loss, the Trojans are now 11-19 overall, 4-7 in the Pac-12.
Texas A&M: The Aggies took a step back last weekend by getting swept on the road by South Carolina. They took yet another step back this weekend, losing the first two games of the weekend to Auburn, the Saturday contest 10-5. A&M freshman right-handed pitcher Grayson Long allowed four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings, while reliever Kyle Martin allowed five runs in just 1 1/3 innings.
Missouri State: The Bears looked very good against Indiana State last weekend, but have taken a step back this weekend with a pair of losses to Illinois State. MSU starting pitcher Cody Schumacher allowed four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work, while the offense was unable to get much going against ISU starting pitcher Dan Savas, who allowed just two hits in eight shutout frames.
Texas Tech: Boy, are the Red Raiders in a funk they desperately need to find a way to get out of sooner rather than later. Tech starting pitcher Jonny Drozd allowed seven runs on four hits in just a 1/3 of an inning, while the bullpen didn't do a much better job with Nathan Bauder allowing six runs on eight hits in just two innings of work in a 15-2 loss to Kansas State.
TOP PERFORMANCES
Andrew Moore, RHP, Oregon State: The talented freshman right-handed pitcher tossed an absolute gem in a 5-0 win over UCLA. He struck out five, walked three and allowed just four hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Spencer Turnbull, RHP, Alabama: The Crimson Tide got a much-needed 5-0 win over Arkansas on Saturday with Turnbull leading the charge. He struck out four, walked two and allowed just five hits in seven shutout frames. He threw 101 pitches, 62 for strikes.
Bryan Radziewski, LHP, Miami (Fla.): The talented junior left-handed pitcher rose to the occasion when the Hurricanes needed him most. He struck out eight, walked three and allowed just four hits in seven shutout frames.
Dillon Peters, LHP, Texas: Peters was consistently up to 92 and tossed an absolute gem in a 1-0 win over rival Oklahoma. Peters struck out five, walked none and allowed just two hits in 7 2/3 shutout frames. He also threw 93 pitches, 60 of them for strikes.
Jeff Thompson, RHP, Louisville: Thompson has been extremely consistent this spring, and continues his impressive ways in a 4-1 win over Cincinnati. He struck out nine, walked one and allowed just seven hits in seven shutout frames.
Corey Miller, RHP, Pepperdine: What a performance the junior righty put together in a 1-0 win over Washington even an important series at 1-1. Miller struck out 10, walked none and allowed just three hits in 10 innings. He also threw 118 pitches in the contest, 78 for strikes.
Tyler Olson, LHP, Gonzaga: The Bulldogs captured an important 4-1 win over Portland with the lefty leading the charge. Olson struck out 11, walked one and allowed a run on five hits in a complete game performance. He also threw 133 pitches, 94 for strikes.
Seth Harrison, DH, Louisiana-Lafayette: Harrison put together a big-time performance in an impressive 9-2 win over Troy. He slugged two homers, had three hits, two runs scored and six RBIs.
Hank LaRue, 1B, Middle Tennessee: LaRue had a big-time afternoon at the plate in an easy win over Arkansas-Little Rock. He went 2-for-4 with a double, home run, three runs scored and four RBIs.
Jim Ploeger, LHP, Arkansas-Pine Bluff: The left-handed pitcher put together a solid performance in a 9-1 win over Southern. He struck out eight, walked none and allowed just a run on five hits in a complete game performance.
Jeffrey Enloe, LHP, Central Arkansas: Well, here's a type of performance I've never seen out of a starting pitcher. The left-hander struck out eight, walked one and allowed just one run (none earned) on seven hits in 11 innings in a 2-1 win over Northwestern State.
Sam Agnew-Wieland, RHP, Appalachian State: The veteran pitcher put together a solid start in a 2-0 win over Georgia Southern. He struck out nine, walked two and allowed just two hits in a complete game performance. He threw 102 pitches, 69 for strikes.
Corey Dick, 1B, UNC Wilmington: Dick had a big day at the plate as the Seahawks bounced back against Davidson with a 15-2 victory. Dick went 3-for-6 with a double, two runs scored and four RBIs.
Chris Rowley, RHP, Army: Rowley had a big-time performance in a 1-0 win over Lehigh. He struck out nine, walked two and allowed just six hits in seven shutout innings of work.
Alex Hughes, DH, Eastern Kentucky: What an impressive performance the hard-hitting designated hitter put together in an 18-6 win over Morehead State. Hughes went 3-for-5 with a triple, home run, two runs scored and five RBIs.
Ryan Wilkinson, LHP, Toledo: Wilkinson was fantastic in a 6-0 win over Buffalo on Saturday. Wilkinson struck out four, walked one and allowed just four hits in a complete game shutout.
Zach Shank, SS, Marist: Shank put together a productive offensive performance in the Red Foxes' 16-1 win over Manhattan. The shortstop went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs and four RBIs.
Andrew Grant, RHP, Massachusetts: The talented right-handed pitcher tossed a gem as the Minutemen captured a 2-0 road win over Rhode Island. He struck out four, walked three and allowed just four hits in a complete game shutout.
Eric Peterson, RHP, Temple: The right-handed pitcher put together an absolute gem in a 3-0 home win over La Salle. He struck out 10, walked one and allowed a hit in a complete game shutout.