Feb. 23, 2008

Florida State Powers Past Duquesne 14-3 In Season Opener

The fans may have had to wait an extra day for opening day baseball at Dick Howser Stadium but it was well worth it as Florida State belted out 14 hits including six home runs en route to a 14-3 victory over Duquesne in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday. Jason Stidham and Tony Delmonico each recorded three hits as the Seminoles improved their all-time mark to 53-7-1 on opening day.

Six different Seminoles hit a home run in the first game of the season while eight of the 14 hits went for extra bases. The last time FSU hit six home runs in a game came last season in College Park, Md., in a 9-3 Florida State victory over Maryland. In that game, Tony Thomas, Jr., Mark Gildea, Ruairi O'Connor and Brandon Reichert all hit solo shots while Travis Anderson hit a pair.

Florida State Sweeps Doubleheader With 15-3 Victory Over Duquesne In Game Two

After posting 14 runs on 14 hits in game one, Florida State (2-0) put together 15 runs on 15 hits in game two to sweep Saturday's doubleheader against Duquesne (0-2) with a 15-3 victory. Sophomore Ohmed Danesh and freshman Mike McGee each collected three hits and scored a pair of runs, while sophomore Jason Stidham drove in four.

Of the 15 runs scored in game two, seven were scored with two outs including all six in the Seminoles' six-run fourth. Eight of the 15 total hits went for extra bases including four doubles, two triples and two home runs. In the first two games, Florida State hit eight home runs all by eight different players. It wasn't until the 14th game of the 2007 season when FSU, as a team, connected on its eighth round tripper.

Hokies down Pitt 7-3 in season opener

The pitching of sophomore transfer Josh Wymer and a four-run sixth inning sparked the Virginia Tech baseball team to an opening day 7-3 victory over Pittsburgh in the IMICHotels.com INN-vitational at Coastal Carolina's Vrooman Field.

Wymer, a 6-3 right-hander from Fort Worth, Texas, is one of 21 newcomers on the Tech roster and one of five to see action in Saturday's opening game. After a shaky start that saw Pitt touch him for two quick runs, Wymer settled down and pitched six straight scoreless innings. During that stretch, he allowed just four base runners and three hits. For the game, he allowed two runs on five hits, struck out two batters and issued just one walk.

Duke Sweeps Iona In Saturday Doubleheader

Paced by a pair of 10-run outbursts and a stellar debut by the pitching staff, the Duke baseball team swept Iona 10-2 and 10-0 in a double header Saturday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.

Duke's pitching staff, anchored by game one starter Andrew Wolcott and game two starter Will Currier, surrendered just 11 hits over the two-game spread, including a two-hit shutout in the nightcap. In only his second career start, Currier (1-0) went six full innings and held the Gaels scoreless on two hits to pick up the win. Wolcott (1-0) also earned the win in game one after contributing five innings of two-run baseball.

Duke's bullpen did not allow a run and gave up just two hits through seven innings of work. Junior Kyle Butler, sophomore Michael Ness and freshman Dennis O'Grady all contributed two scoreless innings apiece, while senior Ron Causey closed out game two with another perfect inning to seal the sweep.

No. 25 Georgia Tech Shuts Out Youngstown State, 1-0, for Second Straight Game

Starter Eddie Burns and three relievers combined on a 10-hit shutout, and left fielder Chris House threw out the potential tying run at the plate to end the game as 25th-ranked Georgia Tech (2-0) blanked Youngstown State (0-2), 1-0, for the second straight game.

Georgia Tech opened the season with two straight shutouts for the first time since 1925. Last year, the Yellow Jackets had two shutouts in 57 games.

The lone run of the game was unearned and it came in the second inning. Tech first baseman Tony Plagman laced a one-out single to left field, and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch and passed ball. Jeff Rowland delivered a two-out infield single to drive in Plagman.

No. 2 North Carolina Outlasts Florida Atlantic, 14-13

Sophomore second baseman Kyle Seager had a career-high four hits, including two solo home runs, and the heart of the order for No. 2 North Carolina combined for 13 RBI in a 14-13 come-from-behind win over Florida Atlantic Saturday at FAU Stadium. The Tar Heels (2-0) belted four home runs for the second straight day and rallied from a 10-6 deficit to secure the 400th win at Carolina for head coach Mike Fox.

In a game that featured eight home runs among its 32 hits, Seager went 4-for-4 and also equaled career bests with three RBI and four runs scored. Seniors Chad Flack and Seth Williams each hit three-run homers and drove in four runs apiece, and left fielder Dustin Ackley was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

After falling behind by four runs in the fourth, the Tar Heels went in front for good on an RBI single in the sixth by Flack and added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth on two-out base hits by Williams and designated hitter Mark Fleury. Fleury's RBI double proved to be the game winner after FAU hit a pair of solo homers in the ninth to cut the lead to just one run.

#13 Tigers Open Season With 12-5 Win Over Mercer in First Game of Doubleheader Saturday

Senior catcher Doug Hogan lived up to his preseason billing and junior lefthander Ryan Hinson made a solid season debut, as they helped #13 Clemson to a 12-5 season-opening victory over Mercer in the first game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday.

Ryan Hinson (1-0) was in midseason form against the Bears, as he worked 5.0 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and three walks with four strikeouts to up his career record to 11-2. Mercer starter Boone Webster (0-1) took the loss, as he allowed seven runs (three earned) in 4.0 innings pitched.

#13 Tigers Hold on for 6-5 Win Over Mercer in Second Game of Doubleheader Saturday

Clemson scored six runs in the first three innings and held on for a 6-5 victory over Mercer in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday in front of 6,317 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The #13 Tigers improved to 2-0, while Mercer dropped to 0-2.

D.J. Mitchell (1-0) pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with four strikeouts to earn the win. Matt Vaughn closed out the game to pick up his first save. Justin Boyette (0-1) surrendered five earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings pitched and took the loss for Mercer.

Chris Epps was 2-for-4 for Clemson with a two-run homer, the first of his career, in the third inning. Epps finished his first day as a Tiger with five hits in seven at-bats.

No. 17 Virginia Downs Lehigh, 5-1, in Opener

The Virginia baseball team earned a 5-1 win over Lehigh Saturday afternoon in its season opener at Davenport Field in the first game of a doubleheader. Jacob Thompson (Jr., Danville, Va.) pitched five innings, allowing just an unearned run, four hits and three walks while striking out six to earn the win. He matched the program record for career wins with 22, tying Sean Doolittle (2005-07).

Matt Packer (So., Germantown, Tenn.) pitched two scoreless innings to close things out.

David Coleman (Fr., Richmond, Va.) led the Cavaliers with a 2-for-4 effort. Ryan Smith (So., Waldorf, Md.) added a key two-run single for the Cavaliers, while David Adams (Jr., Margate, Fla.) reached base three times and scored twice.

No. 17 Virginia Finishes DH Sweep of Lehigh with 4-1 Win

The Virginia baseball team finished off a doubleheader sweep on Opening Day Saturday with a 4-1 win over Lehigh at Davenport Field. UVa broke a one-all tie in the seventh inning with two runs to go on to the win.

Virginia (2-0) received a sterling pitching performance from Pat McAnaney (Sr., Syracuse, N.Y.), who went six shutout innings while surrendering just two hits and a walk. He also tied a career high with nine strikeouts. Kevin Arico (Fr., Flemington, N.J.) picked up the win for Virginia is his first college appearance after working 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Michael Schwimer (Sr., Alexandria, Va.) pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save.

Boston College Baseball Defeats Georgia Southern, 11-7

Four Eagles collected three hits a piece to help lead the Boston College (1-0, 0-0 ACC) baseball team past Georgia Southern (0-1, 0-0 SoCon), 11-7, in game-one of a doubleheader at J.I. Clements Stadium.

Junior Eric Campbell and freshmen Matt Hamlet, Marc Perdios and Garret Smith each tallied three hits on the afternoon.Campbell finished 3-for-5 including a two-run homerun as part of a 17-hit attack by the Eagles.

Hamlet went 3-for-4 with a two-run homerun, Perdios recorded a 3-for-6 day with a solo homerun, three RBIs and two runs, while Smith went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. All three players made their collegiate debuts in the game.

Campbell and Perdios were each a triple shy of the cycle.

Boston College Baseball Wins Game-Two against Georgia Southern, 14-7

Sophomore Sam Shaughnessy went 4-for-6 with three homeruns and four RBIs in the 14-7, Boston College (2-0, 0-0 ACC) win against Georgia Southern (0-2, 0-0 SoCon) in game-two of a doubleheader at J.I. Clements Stadium.

Shaughnessy hit a two-run homer in the third inning, and solo homers in the fourth and seventh innings to help BC sweep a doubleheader from Georgia Southern.

The Eagles totaled 15 hits in the game, including seven for homeruns. In addition to Shaughnessy's trio of homers, Eric Campbell, Barry Butera, Matt Hamlet and Garret Smith all went deep on the evening.

Six players collected multi-hit games for the Eagles including, Shaughnessy (4-for-6), Campbell (2-for-5), Butera (2-for-4), Hamlet (2-for-5), Michael Belfiore (2-for-4) and Tony Sanchez (2-for-4).

DiNatale's Eighth-Inning Blast Leads No. 10 UM to 6-4 Win

Junior outfielder Dave DiNatale broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer to left and sophomore reliever Kyle Bellamy earned his first career win as the No. 10 ranked University of Miami baseball team clinched its season-opening series against Cincinnati Saturday with a 6-4 win over the Bearcats at Mark Light Field. Miami improved to 2-0 on the season while the Bearcats fell to 0-2.

Blake Tekotte, Yonder Alonso, Joey Terdoslavich and DiNatale each had two hits to lead the Hurricanes' 10-hit attack. Sophomore catcher Jason Hagerty finished 1-for-3 with three-RBI coming on his first career home run in the sixth inning. Sophomore right-hander Kyle Bellamy won his first career game. Bellamy, a day after striking out a career-high four batters in UM's season-opening win on Friday, threw a perfect eighth before Carlos Gutierrez came on in the ninth to pick up his second save in as many days.

Center fielder Tony Campana led Cincinnati going 2-for-4 with one RBI while Jamel Scott was 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.

Senior right-hander Enrique Garcia tossed four effective innings in his first start of the season, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six before giving way to sophomore John Housey in the fifth. Housey would struggle in his first appearance, allowing three runs in his only inning of work before fellow sophomore Michael Rudman tossed two hitless innings in the sixth and seventh.

Maryland Drops Opener at Coastal Carolina, 10-4

Senior Steve Braun (Granada Hills, Calif./Pierce CC) led the Terps' offense with three hits, but Maryland baseball dropped its season opener, 10-4, to Coastal Carolina in the IMIChotels.com INN-vitational Saturday afternoon.

Maryland (0-1) had its chances against Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year Bobby Gagg, but missed a couple opportunities for big innings.

Braun and right fielder AJ Casario (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) started the top of the first inning with back-to-back singles. Senior Chad Durakis (Cockeysville, Md./St. Pauls) moved the runners to second and third on a groundout. Designated hitter Will Greenberg (Gaithersburg, Md./Washington College) then smoked a line drive to center field. Coastal center fielder David Sappelt made a diving catch to rob Greenberg and alertly got the ball to second base, picking off Casario before Braun could tag and score, leaving the Terps with no runs in the inning.

Terps Overcome Shaky Start, Rally to Beat Pitt

The Pittsburgh Panthers hit three solo home runs in the first four at-bats of the game, but the Terps fought back for a 10-5 victory, earning a split of two Saturday games in the IMIChotels.com INN-vitational at Coastal Carolina University.

Maryland starting pitcher Ian Schwalenberg (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) got off to a shaky start, allowing solo home runs to the first two Panthers hitters of the ballgame and then another to No. 4 hitter Dan Williams to fall behind 3-0 after the top of the first.

The Terps (1-1) fell behind 4-0 in the third before Schwalenberg settled down. Maryland got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Nick Jowers (Beltsville, Md./DeMatha) and a passed ball that allowed Mike Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) to score all the way from second base.

NC State Splits Doubleheader With Appalachian State

NC State split its 2008 opening day doubleheader with Appalachian State Saturday afternoon, winning game one 8-1, but falling in defeat, 7-5, in the second contest at Doak Field at Dail Park. The Wolfpack and Mountaineers both move to 1-1 on the season.

The win in game one improved NC State's season-opening game winning streak to eight consecutive games. The Wolfpack last lost an opener in 2000, a 10-2 loss to East Carolina in Charleston, S.C.

Ryan Pond led the Wolfpack offensively on the day, going a combined 4-for-8 with a solo home run and three runs scored. Pat Ferguson also had a solid day, going 3-for-7 with a three-run homer, two walks, four RBIs and a run scored. Meanwhile, Dallas Poulk entered the day on a 17-game hitting streak dating back to the end of the 2007 season. He kept that streak intact, improving it to 19 straight games after going 3-for-8 with a double, a walk and three runs scored.

Wake Forest Drops First Game of a Doubleheader at Pepperdine

Pepperdine's Brett Hunter outdueled Wake Forest's Ben Hunter in the season opener as the Waves posted a 3-2 win. Pepperdine right fielder Donald Brown drove in a pair of runs with a double in the fourth inning to give the Waves the season-opening victory.

Allan Dykstra led the Deacons with three of their four hits on the afternoon.

Deacons Split Doubleheader with Pepperdine

The Waves put their first three runs on the board without the benefit of a hit. Pepperdine tallied twice in the bottom of the first. Deacon starter Garrett Bullock hit leadoff hitter Bryce Mendonca and walked Brown to put runners on first and second. An errant pickoff throw at first allowed Mendonca to score and Brown moved all the way to third. An infield ground out by Chase d'Arnaud scored Brown.