ATHENS, Ga. -- Senior Joshua Fields collected two hits including a home run and then struck out the side in the ninth for a save as Georgia defeated top-ranked Arizona 9-7 in the season opener.
The Bulldogs (1-0) jumped on Arizona ace Preston Guilmet with four runs in the first and built a 6-2 lead by the third. However, the Wildcats (0-1) closed the gap to 6-5, scoring three runs in the fourth frame off Bulldog starter Trevor Holder.
Guilmet was lifted after four innings, marking his shortest stint in two seasons but his defense let him down at times. He got the loss, allowing eight runs but only four were earned with three walks and three strikeouts. Holder earned the win, going five innings and scattering five runs (three earned) on six hits with two walk and four strikeouts.
In the fifth, Georgia took an 8-5 lead. After back-to-back walks to Rich Poythress and Matt Olson, Fields put down a bunt and reached safely for his first hit as a designated hitter this season. Sophomore catcher Joey Lewis (1-for-2, 3 RBI) earned an RBI with a bases-loaded walk and junior Adam Fuller picked one up on a fielder’s choice.
In the seventh, the teams exchanged solo blasts. Arizona first baseman C.J. Ziegler connected for one off of Justin Earls while Fields smashed one off Daniel Schlereth for a 9-6 lead. The Wildcats pushed their final run across in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Jon Gaston (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
In the ninth, Fields touched 98 miles per hour plus showcased a sharp breaking ball in striking out the side following a leadoff walk to Ziegler.
“We just relaxed out there and had fun tonight,” said Fields. “We didn’t want to start out 0-6 like last year, we wanted to come out and get a W and we did. Everyone contributed and I was able to help so I’m excited about that.
Bulldog head coach David Perno said he was encouraged with the way his team performed in the opener.
“I was happy for the whole team and especially for Joshua,” said Perno. “He made the decision to come back for his senior year, and it was a great opening night for him. I want the best for him because his heart is in the right place.
Fields was a second round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves last June and opted to return for his final year. Along with being a preseason All-America selection as a closer, Fields has added designated hitter duties this year. He hasn’t hit since his freshman year when he collected 31 at bats. Tonight, Fields hit his second career home run. Also, Georgia senior Ryan Peisel collected three hits on the night including a solo home run in the second.
The series continues Saturday with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
BASEBALL VOLS OPEN RALEIGH ERA WITH 9-4 VICTORY OVER MOREHEAD STATE
KNOXVILLE -- Though it wasn't always pretty, the Tennessee baseball team started the Todd Raleigh era off on the right foot Friday, defeating Morehead State 9-4 to give the first-year UT head coach the first of what surely will be many wins at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“I was a little (nervous)," Raleigh said. "It got to be about an hour before the game and I realized that it was here. I started getting excited.
"The first one, the second one, I'll take all of the wins we can get. Obviously, you want to come out and get off to a good start. It's a little bit of a relief to get the first one and stay undefeated."
The Volunteers (1-0) out-hit the Eagles (0-1) 11-4 on the day, but four UT errors kept the game close early on.
Tennessee right fielder Josh Liles—a true freshman from Jackson, Tenn.—drove in a game-high three runs and was one of five Vols with two hits.
Pitcher Steve Crnkovich was efficient in his Tennessee debut. The right-handed sophomore who transferred from the University of Illinois-Chicago got the start for the Vols and allowed four runs—all unearned—on four hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts through seven innings. Crnkovich picked up the win to start his UT career 1-0.
Despite the cool weather, the Vols offense got off to a hot start, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning while building a quick 4-0 lead. Senior designated hitter Shawn Griffin drew an RBI walk to open the day's scoring, and Liles ripped a two-run single up the middle of the Eagles infield two batters later. Tennessee first baseman Tanner Moore capped UT's four-run frame with an RBI basehit of his own.
Morehead State—led by first-year head coach Jay Sorg—got on the board in the top of the second inning thanks in part to an outfield error. Eagles third baseman Trent Hanna reached on a walk and then advanced to third on a dropped fly ball. Nick Nail then laced an RBI single to score Hanna and cut Morehead State's deficit to three runs, 4-1.
In the bottom of the second, UT freshman Kentrail Davis drove in senior second baseman Andy Simunic with an RBI groundout that restored the Vols' four-run lead.
A second error in Tennessee's all-freshmen outfield enabled the Eagles to scratch their second run Friday. A third-inning drop in right field put MSU outfielder Eric Allen on third base, and he came home on an RBI sacrifice fly by Andrew Wertz to make the score 5-2 in favor of the Vols.
Moore made it a 2-for-2 start to his Big Orange career with another RBI single in the third inning. His second hit of the afternoon scored Griffin, who previously reached on a single. Tennessee's sixth hit of the game pushed the UT lead to 6-2 after three full innings of action.
Eagles leadoff man J.D. Ashbrook trimmed his team's deficit in half in the top of the fourth when he unleashed a two-run homer to left-center. Both runs, however—like all four of MSU's runs Friday—were unearned due to an infield error earlier in the frame.
The Vols managed to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Eagles starting pitcher Tyler Bess induced a much-needed double-play ball that prevented Tennessee from building on its two-run lead.
That marked the end of the day for Bess (0-1), who allowed six runs on seven hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts through five innings. A trio of Eagles relievers worked the final three innings.
Davis added to Tennessee's lead with a hard-hit double to right field in the bottom of the sixth that plated Simunic all the way from first. Brown later reached on an RBI fielder's choice that brought home Davis and pushed the Vols' lead to four runs once again, 8-4.
Tennessee posted a final insurance run in the seventh when Liles unleashed an RBI triple to deep centerfield.
Aaron Everett threw a hitless eighth inning for UT, and junior Ryne Simpson followed suit in the ninth.
Liles' and Moore's first-inning RBI singles came in their first at-bats as Volunteers. That duo, along with Crnkovich, Davis and left fielder P.J. Polk all made their UT debuts Friday.
Tennessee is now 64-33-2 all-time in season openers.
Sophomore left-hander Nick Hernandez will start on the mound Saturday for Tennessee opposite right-handed freshman Josh Schneider for Morehead State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Greinke Throws A Career-Best 6.0 Innings In First Career Win As Auburn Downs ETSU, 6-3, To Open 2008 Season
AUBURN, Ala. -- Junior Luke Greinke made the most of his opportunity to be the Opening Day starter for Auburn as the right-hander went a career-long 6.o innings in Auburn’s 6-3 win over East Tennessee State on Friday afternoon at Plainsman Park. Allowing just two runs on three hits, he earned his first career victory as Auburn opened up the season with a win for the 10th straight season.
“Luke made pitches when he needed to and he had good command of the strike zone,” Auburn Head Coach Tom Slater said.
“I have been working a lot this fall and preseason to get ready for the season,” Greinke said. “Our coaches love strike-throwers and I worked a lot on my fastball.”
Junior Mike Bianucci started his season with a blast over the wall in left on the first pitch he saw of the season to make it 2-0 Auburn in the bottom of the first. The pitch was one of just three strikes the Pre-Season All-American saw on the afternoon as he was intentionally walked in three of his four next at-bats and drew a six-pitch walk in the other. The home run was the 23rd of his career.
“I was looking fastball first pitch and he hung a slider and I got a good piece of it,” Bianucci said. “With a young hitter behind me (Hunter Morris), they are going to make him swing the bat and beat them, and he is a good hitter and he will.”
Junior Evan Crawford came into the game in the eighth and struckout the side and was followed by junior Bryan Woodall, who also threw a perfect inning to earn his first career save.
Freshman Kevin Patterson hit the first home run of his career in his second at-bat, going deep over the wall in left in the bottom of the third to make it 4-1 Auburn. He finished the game 1-for-2 with two walks.
Freshman Brian Fletcher put Auburn up 3-0 in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI double that scored junior Ryan Jenkins (1-for-4, R, RBI).
Junior Ben Jones capped Auburn’s scoring with a RBI double in the eighth that scored freshman Justin Hargett.
Freshman Justin Hargett finished the day 2-for-3 with a walk from the nine hole.
Auburn (1-0) and ETSU (0-1) will play the second game of the four-game series at 3pm CT on Saturday at Plainsman Park. Freshman lefty Cory Luckie is slated to start for Auburn while ETSU will counter with freshman righty Josh Means.
VANDERBILT BASEBALL OPENS WITH IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER OREGON STATE 8-1
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Vanderbilt scored two runs in the first inning and used strong pitching performances by sophomore Mike Minor and redshirt freshman Caleb Cotham to defeat two-time defending NCAA champion Oregon State 8-1 Friday afternoon at Packard Stadium.
The Commodores won in convincing fashion, banging out 11 hits and scoring eight runs while Minor held the Beavers scoreless until the sixth inning. He ended up allowing one run on five hits (two via bunt) in six innings of work with six strikeouts and no walks.
“Mike threw a lot of strikes today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “It is easy to play behind him because the pace of the game is quick. He limited their opportunities to get on base and when they did, he picked them off.”
VU jumped out to the 2-0 lead on a two-run single by shortstop Ryan Flaherty. The single extended Flaherty’s consecutive hit streak to 36 games dating back to last year.
Centerfielder David Macias doubled with two outs in the second and then scored on a RBI single by designated hitter Jonathan White to extend the lead to 3-0. Leftfielder Parker Hanks recorded the team’s first homer of the year in the fourth, a solo shot, and Flaherty added a RBI single in the fifth to make it 5-0.
Oregon State loaded the bases in the sixth with no outs, courtesy of three singles, two via bunt. Minor got shortstop Joey Wong to ground into a 4-6-3 double play that brought in the lone run of the game for the Beavers.
Vanderbilt added three more runs in the top of the ninth to close out the scoring at 8-1. Flaherty had a sacrifice fly RBI and Alex Feinberg came through with a two-out two-run single to lead the way.
Several Commodores had multi-hit days led by Ryan Flaherty with two hits and four RBI. Jonathan White came through in his role at the top of the lineup with two hits and a game high three runs scored. Parker Hanks had two hits as did rightfielder Dominic de la Osa.
“We had four two-out RBIs today,” said Corbin when asked about the offense’s performance. “Flaherty’s RBIs were huge, Jonny White getting on base was big as was Feinberg’s hit in the ninth to put it away.”
The Commodores will be back in action against host Arizona State tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. CT. The Sun Devils are the preseason No. 1 in some polls and open their season against Miami (Ohio) tonight.
Keuchel and Wilkins Carry Diamond Hogs to Season-Opening Win
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas baseball team fell behind early in the 2008 season opener but timely hitting and a strong-bullpen outing by Dallas Keuchel rallied the Razorbacks to a 9-4 win in front of 681 fans at Baum Stadium.
The win was the 14th-straight season-opening win for the Razorbacks (1-0). The go-ahead hit came off the bat of true freshman designated hitter Andy Wilkins, who connected for a three-run home run on an off-speed pitch with two outs in the fourth inning. The blast put the Hogs on top to stay a 5-4.
Keuchel, a sophomore out of Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Okla., pitched a career-high 5.1 innings in relief of starter James Mahler. Keuchel also tied his career high in strikeouts with six while not allowing a single hit to improve to 1-0.
“Dallas [Keuchel] was the key tonight,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “He came in, threw strikes, had something to prove and he proved it.”
Mahler, a true freshman was rattled early and only lasted 1.1 innings, surrendering four runs on five hits. Justin Wells pitched the final 2.1 innings for Arkansas, holding the Raiders to just two hits while striking out four. Keuchel and Wells allowed just two Wright State hits over the last 7.2 innings.
After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, junior-college transfer Chase Leavitt got the Razorbacks on track with a two-run, two-out triple into the right-center field gap.
Arkansas added four more runs in the sixth inning, keyed by a two-RBI single through the left side by senior first baseman Aaron Murphree.
Logan Forsythe, Ben Tschepikow and Murphree paced the Hogs’ nine-hit attack with two hits apiece while Wilkins collected three RBI and scored two runs. Forsythe also drew two walks and stole a base.
Wright State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by Ross Vagedes two-RBI double into the right-center field gap.
The series continues at 1:05 p.m. Saturday as the Razorbacks look to clinch the series against Wright State at Baum Stadium. Shaun Seibert makes his first start of the season, just 338 day after undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 22 of last year.
LSU Opens Season With 7-1 Win Over Hoosiers
BATON ROUGE -- Senior pitcher Jared Bradford struck out eight batters in six innings and sophomore second baseman Ryan Schimpf recorded a career high four hits and scored three runs as the Tigers cruised past Indiana, 7-1, at a chilly Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers (1-0) won their seventh straight season opener dating back to the 2002 season. The game drew a paid crowd of 8,675, the second-largest paid attendance figure in LSU history.
Bradford, a preseason All-American selection, had an outstanding outing allowing only one run on six hits in six innings of work. Head coach Paul Mainieri said he knew his senior starter would come through on opening night.
“That’s why I gave him the ball on opening night,” Mainieri said. “The players love to play behind him because they know he is going to throw the ball over the plate. They know he is going to have poise and composure out there, and they know he is going to make big pitches when he needs to. I thought it was vintage Bradford tonight.”
Schimpf, who finished 4 -for- 4, reached base in every plate appearance. The sophomore leadoff hitter set the table for the Tigers offensively, collecting three singles, a triple and a walk.
“Ryan Schimpf is as improved a player as we have,” Mainieri said. “There were things that he had as weaknesses last year that I felt he needed to improve on, particularly hitting the ball to the opposite field and putting the ball in play with two strikes.
“He put the ball in play, and something good happened for him. I thought he was a real sparkplug for us tonight.”
LSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Schimpf scored on an RBI single by left fielder Blake Dean.
Two innings later, the Tigers broke the game open with a four-run third inning to take the lead, 5-0. Following a leadoff triple by Schimpf, centerfielder Jared Mitchell drove an RBI single past third baseman Evan Crawford. Then, after an RBI single by first baseman Matt Clark, junior college transfer Matt Gaudet drilled an RBI double into the gap in right centerfield to plate Clark. Right fielder Leon Landry knocked in the fifth run with a triple after an unsuccessful dive allowed the ball to skip past Indiana centerfielder Andrew Means.
Meanwhile, Bradford continued to dominate on the mound. After giving up a leadoff single in the top of the fourth inning to right fielder Kipp Schutz, the senior from Hueytown, Ala. bounced right back to strike out the side.
“I thought he was really outstanding today and set the tone for the game,” Mainieri added.
Catcher Sean Ochinko added the sixth run of the game with a double down the third base line to score Schimpf for the third time. Third baseman Michael Hollander, who moved over from shortstop this year, beat out an infield single to drive in Gaudet for the seventh run.
A pair of freshmen, right-handers Jordan Nicholson and Austin Ross, delivered three solid innings out of the bullpen to close the game. The duo allowed only two hits in three innings.
Hoosiers starter Tyler Tufts (0-1) was tabbed with the loss. The junior right-hander surrendered 12 hits and allowed seven earned runs in four innings.
The season opener could not have gone much better for the Tiger squad. The top four hitters in the order, all sophomores, combined for 11 hits and drove in three runs. Mainieri thinks the experience the group gained as freshmen has really paid dividends.
“We bit the bullet last year, and we played them all regularly,” Mainieri said. “They had some inconsistencies, but I knew it would pay off this year and beyond. They came back a lot more confident, a lot stronger and they all set the tone.”
The season-opening series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 11 a.m. Saturday’s contest will only be broadcast in the Baton Rouge area (WTGE 107.3 FM) due to the LSU men’s basketball game against Ole Miss at 5 p.m., but live audio and video will be available to members of the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
Junior right-hander Jordan Brown is scheduled to take the mound for the Tigers against sophomore lefty Matt Bashore.
NO. 4 OLE MISS STRIKES OUT 21 EN ROUTE TO 8-1 WIN OVER MINNESOTA
OXFORD, Miss. - Lance Lynn tied a career-high with 12 strikeouts, including the first eight batters, as Ole Miss (1-0) struck out 21 total batters en route to an 8-1 win over Minnesota (0-1) on Friday.
The 21 strikeouts tied a single-game record for the Rebels. Ole Miss last struck out 21 batters in a game against Arizona on March 3, 2001 in a 17-inning game.
Lynn (1-0) picked up the win as he worked 5.0 scoreless innings and allowed only two hits with the 12 strikeouts. Scott Bittle also turned in 3.0 innings of work and allowed only one hit with seven strikeouts, while Justin Cryer closed out the final inning with two strikeouts and one hit. Cryer came on to relieve Matt Smith, who left the game with an injury in the top of the ninth.
Tom Buske (0-1) suffered the loss for the Golden Gophers as he allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.
Michael Guerrero and Logan Power paced the Rebel offense as Guerrero went 2-for-5 at the plate with two RBI off a home run to left field, while Power went 2-for-4 with four RBI. Cody Overbeck and Jordan Henry also tallied two hits each.
The Rebels got on the board in the third inning when Logan Power came up with a bases loaded single through the left side with the bases loaded to score Jordan Henry and Michael Hubbard. Henry opened the inning with a single before stealing second. Overbeck was then hit by a pitch to load the bases before the Power hit.
Ole Miss added to the lead in the sixth inning with two more runs when Overbeck reached on a bases loaded fielder’s choice to short as the Golden Gophers erased the runner at second, but overthrew first base trying to turn a double play to allow two runs to score.
The eighth inning saw the Rebels add four more runs as back-to-back singles from Evan Button and Overbeck put runners at second and third before Power doubled to push the Ole Miss lead to six. Guerrero then homered to left field in the next at bat to give the Rebels eight runs.
Minnesota got on the board in the ninth as Mike Kvasnicka came up with a single down the left field line with two outs and runners at the corners. Both Minnesota base runners had been hit by pitch to reach base.
The Rebels and Golden Gophers will play the second game of the three-game set on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
Florida Baseball Downs Siena, 10-7, In Kevin O'Sullivan's Debut
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kevin O'Sullivan enjoyed a successful start to his head coaching career as the University of Florida baseball team began its 2008 campaign with a 10-7 victory over Siena in front of 3,408 fans on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. The Gators rallied from deficits of 5-0 and 6-5 and snapped a 6-6 tie in the sixth with a two-run triple by senior Brandon McArthur (Seffner, Fla.). Freshman Josh Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.) later added a two-out, two-RBI single in the frame as the hosts sent 10 batters to the plate. Making the first relief appearance of his career, sophomore righty Billy Bullock (Balm, Fla.) limited the Saints to one run and three hits over six innings and equaled his personal best of six strikeouts to pick up the win.
"Our goal was to chip away when we fell behind," O'Sullivan said. "It's a long game and the first thing we told them was that it's not over until the last out. There were a lot of positives tonight and as a team I was pleased with how we fought back. It's not easy coming back from a 5-0 deficit, especially on opening night with the pressure of a new coach in front of the home crowd."
"It was a little nerve-racking being a head coach for the first time. It kind of a hit me a little bit during the national anthem in front of the fans. Tonight was a good win for everybody associated with our program and it obviously relieves some pressure."
Siena opened the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI single up the middle by senior Moises Rivera. Senior Chris Klepps had started the game with a double to straightaway center field off sophomore Kyle Mullaney (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Rivera stroked the righty's next offering up the middle to break the ice. Mullaney rebounded by striking out the two batters and had junior Eric Mruczek's grounder force the runner at second to end the frame.
Rivera blasted a two-out grand slam in the second inning to provide the Saints with a 5-0 lead. Mullaney set down the first two hitters before yielding consecutive singles to junior Nick Messinger and senior Michael Ambury. Following a four-pitch walk to Klepps, Rivera sent a 2-2 pitch into the left-field bleachers to clear the sacks and create the five-run cushion.
The Gators answered in the bottom of the stanza with five runs on four hits and an error to knot the contest at 5-5. Following a leadoff walk to senior Bryson Barber (Pensacola, Fla.), senior Jon Townsend (London, Ky.) deposited a 2-2 pitch from junior right-hander Craig Chaput (5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 6 K) deep to left over the bleachers to put UF on the board. The round-tripper marked the second year in a row that Townsend had homered on opening night. Adams lofted a fly ball to left that was dropped, resulting in him taking second base. A base-hit by sophomore Jonathan Pigott (Ormond Beach, Fla.) left runners on the corners and an RBI grounder from sophomore Hampton Tignor (Sarasota, Fla.) narrowed the gap to 5-3. Following a passed ball that pushed Pigott to third, junior Avery Barnes (High Springs, Fla.) legged out an infield hit that brought across his teammate. Sophomore Cole Figueroa (Tallahassee, Fla.) later sliced a single through the left side with two down to even the game.
Sophomore Anthony Giansanti moved the Saints back in front with a one-out homer in the third, also to left field. Over three innings on the mound, Mullaney gave up nine hits and six runs and matched his career high of three strikeouts before being replaced by Bullock.
Figueroa delivered his second two-out RBI of the night with a double to left center in the fourth that tied the game at six runs apiece. The previous batter, sophomore Clayton Pisani (Naples, Fla.), had earned a free pass and came all the way around on the two-bagger that went into the gap.McArthur put the Gators in front to stay in the sixth with a key two-run triple off junior reliever Will Hassett and Adams added a two-out, two-RBI single for a 10-6 advantage. Barnes opened the frame with his second base-hit and Pisani walked before Figueroa laid down a sacrifice bunt to move his teammates into scoring position. McArthur smacked Hassett's next pitch over Messinger’s head in center field for a two-run triple and an 8-6 advantage. Townsend reached via a walk for two runners aboard and stole second before Adams collected the first two RBI of his collegiate career with a flare into left field to put the hosts up by four runs.
"We were faced with the challenge of being down five runs early and coming back makes the win that much sweeter," McArthur said. "Although I was thrilled to have the game-winning hit, it didn't really matter who came through for us. I just want to win and make these fans happy any way, shape or form that I can. Luckily, I had the chance to do it tonight."
Klepps' solo homer in the ninth finalized the margin at 10-7. Led by multiple-hit outings from Rivera (2-for-4, five RBI), Klepps (2-for-4, three runs), Willis (2-for-5) and Messinger (2-for-4), the Saints out-hit the Gators, 12-11. For Florida, Adams was 2-for-5 and reached base four times, Barnes went 2-for-5 and scored twice and the duo of Figueroa and Pigott each chipped in with two hits. The Gators were 4-of-5 on stolen-base opportunities, with Townsend swiping a couple of bags. UF will send junior right-hander Patrick Keating (Harrisburg, Ill.) to the hill against Siena junior left-hander Matt Moberg tomorrow afternoon at 2.
MSU BASEBALL DEFEATS NORTH FLORIDA, 8-2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mississippi State University opened the 2008 baseball season on a positive note with an 8-2 win over the University of North Florida Friday afternoon at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, home of the Class AA Southern League Jacksonville Suns.
With the victory, M-State won its season opener for a fifth straight season. Coach Ron Polk is now 22-7 in seasons openers with the Bulldogs. The sunshine state road trip marks the first time the Diamond Dogs played a season opener away from home since the 2000 campaign.
The teams were scoreless before senior right fielder Andy Rice hit a towering fly ball down the right field line for a grand slam home run. The round-tripper was Rice’s sixth career home run and also the second grand slam of his career, coming on the heels of a game-winner walk-off slam in a 9-5 win over Auburn last season in Starkville.
MSU threatened in the early innings. The Bulldogs stranded a pair of runners in both the first and second innings. In the third inning, UNF starter Ty Pryor issued two-out walks to Connor Powers, Jason Nappi and Tyler Moore. The Ospreys then brought Antonio Franzese to the mound in relief. Rice reached Franzese for the home run and an early 4-0 lead.
North Florida quickly answered with two runs in the home half of the third inning. Michael R. Smith started things with a double. T.J. Thompson then drew a one-out walk. Travis Martin did the damage with a two-run single up the middle with two outs, cutting the lead to 4-2.
The Bulldogs expanded the lead with a single run in the fourth inning, two runs in the fifth inning and another single run in the sixth inning.
In the fourth inning, an RBI single by Brandon Turner scored Russ Sneed, who had connected for a two-out double. In the fifth inning, Jason Nappi led off with a double. An infield error reached Tyler Moore and scored Nappi. Moore later scored on a sacrifice fly by Cody Freeman. In the sixth inning, Turner did the damage again. The Bulldogs’ leading hitter from a season ago, hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to up the advantage to 8-2.
That would be more than enough offense for senior left-hander Justin Pigott. Pigott worked the first five innings to win his 2008 debut. The MSU tri-captain allowed five hits and two runs (both earned) while walking three and striking out nine.
Fellow tri-captain John Lalor followed in relief to start the sixth inning. True freshman left-hander Forrest Moore relieved Lalor to start the seventh inning. Senior left-hander Andy Wilson pitched the final inning for the Bulldogs. MSU pitching struck out 15 UNF batters in the contest.
A total of four Bulldogs made their first MSU start Friday afternoon. Junior college transfer Tyler Moore made his first start at first base. Red-shirt freshman Jason Nappi drew a start as the designated hitter. True freshmen Cody Freeman and Ryan Collins started at catcher and left fielder respectively.
The Bulldogs totaled 10 hits, including three hits by Turner and two hits apiece by Sneed and Rice.
The Bulldogs and Ospreys resume their three-game weekend series with a noon CT start Saturday afternoon. That contest will be played on the UNF campus at Harmon Stadium. The Bulldogs are scheduled to start junior right-hander Chad Crosswhite in the Saturday game. That contest may be heard locally on WFCA-FM and also via the Internet through M2M. The series concludes with another noon start on Sunday.
May Leads Tide Past Cal Poly, 10-1
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama baseball team used a two-out rally in the fourth inning to score five consecutive runs en route to a 10-1 season opening win over Cal Poly Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Sophomore second baseman Brandon May led the Tide’s 14-hit attack with a career-high four hits, including his first career home run in the eighth inning, and four RBI.
Junior right fielder Kent Matthes had two hits, including a three-run home run that ignited the UA offense in the fourth inning. Freshman left fielder Ross Wilson went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI in his collegiate debut.
May started the fourth-inning rally with a two-out single to right field and he capped the night with his first collegiate home run in the eighth inning.
“It was great,” May said. “The intensity was high throughout the whole game. We were having fun. The home run was a great feeling. I am going to try and enjoy it.”
Matthes slammed a three-run home run off the top of the center field wall to put the Tide on the board in a five-run, fourth inning. Junior shortstop Jeff Texada capped the inning with a two-run single to right field as UA took a 5-1 lead.
May and senior first baseman Matt Bentley started the two-out rally with back-to-back singles off Cal Poly starter Eric Massingham. Matthes then slammed a three-run home run to dead center to give the Tide a 3-1 lead. Junior DH Ryan Rhoden was hit by a pitch following Matthes’ home run and sophomore third baseman Jake Smith doubled into the left field corner. Texada then singled to right to extend the lead to 5-1.
The five-run outburst was more than enough for UA senior left-hander Will Stroup (1-0), who earned the win with five innings on the mound. He allowed one run on two hits, with two walks and five strikeouts.
Junior right-hander Austin Hyatt capped a strong night on the mound with four scoreless innings in relief of Stroup. Hyatt did not allow a hit and struck out three batters.
Massingham (0-1) allowed six runs and seven his in 4 1/3 innings for the Mustangs and took the loss.
The Crimson Tide added another run in the sixth when freshman left fielder Ross Wilson singled and later scored on May’s RBI double to left-center field to make it 6-1.
Alabama continued its two-out theme with two more runs in the sixth inning off left-hander Grant Theophilus. Wilson plated one run with a two-out infield single and May drove in another run with a base hit to center.
May capped the scoring with a two-run home run in the eighth inning off reliever Mark DeVincenzi.
Cal Poly (0-1) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Kyle Smith doubled to right center, took third on a wild pitch and scored when Logan Schafer reached on an error by UA second baseman Brandon May.
The teams will conclude this three-game series with a double header on Saturday, February 23 at 2 p.m. (CST).
UK BASEBALL OPENER CANCELLED
MOBILE, Ala. -- Due to torrential rain in the Mobile, Ala., area over the past two days, the No. 20 Kentucky baseball team had its season-opening contest with Xavier cancelled on Friday. UK was slated to begin its 2008 season on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, but heavy rains in the area made the University of South Alabama's field unplayable.
Kentucky will kick off the Coca-Cola Classic with a Noon ET first pitch with Xavier on Saturday at USA's Stanky Field. The Wildcats, originally scheduled to play four games during the weekend, will now play three total, with Sunday's game with South Alabama starting at 11 a.m. ET, at Hank Aaron Field, a minor league park in Mobile. UK will then play its final game of the weekend on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET at South Alabama's field.
With the time changes, UK will now have its three-game weekend broadcast via the Big Blue Sports Network (radio), with Dick Gabriel, on Lexington radio station, WXRA 1580-AM. Live stats and audio will be available at UKathletics.com.