March 27, 2008

Hassan Homers To Lead Duke To 10-2 Win Over N.C. Central

DURHAM, N.C. - Alex Hassan and Gabriel Saade drove in three runs apiece, while four Duke pitchers combined to hold N.C. Central to two runs as the Blue Devils topped the Eagles 10-2 Wednesday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in the first-ever baseball game between the Durham-based institutions.

Saade collected three hits in his four at bats, while Hassan mashed his second home run of the season and scored three times. The Blue Devils struck early with back-to-back four run innings in the second and third, while starter Jonathan Foreman (1-0) gave up just one hit through five innings to pick up his first win of the season.

Foreman struck out five batters to pave the way for relievers John Bunder, Ryan Knott and Ron Causey, who tossed the final four innings, surrendering just one unearned run on four hits. Bunder had his most efficient outing to date, giving up just one hit through two scoreless innings while striking out a career-high three batters.

Eight-Run Rally Pushes Baseball Past Holy Cross, 11-2

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Boston College (11-11, 2-7 ACC) used an eight-run sixth inning, highlighted by back-to-back home runs by Tony Sanchez and Eric Campbell, to defeat Holy Cross (4-13, 0-0 CAA) 11-2, Wednesday afternoon at Commander Shea Field.

In the sixth inning, BC scored eight times off six hits capped off by a three-run blast from Sanchez, followed by a solo home run by Campbell to break the game open.

The Eagles' offense was led by first baseman Michael Belfiore. The sophomore went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs. Marc Perdios and Campbell also tallied multi-hit games. Perdios collected two doubles, two runs scored and a RBI, while Campbell went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs.

Plagman, Dietrich Homer Twice in No. 17 Tech Win Over Alabama State, 17-4

ATLANTA - Tony Plagman and Derek Dietrich combined for four of Georgia Tech's seven home runs as the 17th-ranked Yellow Jackets downed Alabama State, 17-4, Wednesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium. With the win, Georgia Tech improved to 19-5 on the season while the Hornets dropped to 9-10.

Dietrich went 3-for-3 with two home runs, three runs and three RBI while Plagman collected two hits, both home runs, in three at bats. He also scored three runs in the game. Jay Dantzler went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI, and Luke Murton and Jason Garofalo added two hits apiece for the Yellow Jackets.

Brandon Cumpton (1-0) earned his first win of the season by holding Alabama State to four runs, only three of which were earned, on six hits. He also fanned eight and walked three in the game. Andrew Robinson, Brad Rulon and Chris Hicks all worked scoreless innings in relief to polish off the Hornets.

Florida State Powers Past Stetson 19-3

Tallahassee, Fla. - Florida State (21-2) swept a two-game series from Stetson (11-13) with a 19-3 victory Wednesday night on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles extended their win streak to nine straight games over the Hatters as the Garnet and Gold set a season-high for runs scored eclipsing the previous mark of 18 set last Sunday against Virginia Tech. Florida State's 19 runs were the most scored in the series since a 21-12 victory by the Seminoles back on March 24, 1959.

FSU batted around in both the second and third innings outscoring the Hatters 13-0 as the Seminoles sent a combined 23 batters to the plate.

Freshman Mike McGee went 3-for-4 with a home run and two singles while setting a career-high with six RBIs. He is the first Seminole to drive in six runs this year and the first since Jack Rye matched the feat back on February 27, 2007 against North Florida.

Balanced Attack Leads No. 3 Carolina Past Bulldogs, 13-2

CARY, N.C. - No. 3 North Carolina continued its recent offensive outburst Wednesday with a 13-2 win over Gardner-Webb at Cary's USA Baseball National Training Complex. Using a balanced attack, the Tar Heels (20-4) eclipsed the 10-run mark for the fourth straight game and pounded out a double-digit hit total for the sixth consecutive contest.

With the win over the Bulldogs, Carolina became the seventh team in the nation to reach the 20-win mark this season.

Paced by a career-high tying four hits from first baseman Dustin Ackley and three-hit efforts by second baseman Kyle Seager and catcher Tim Federowicz, every Tar Heel in the starting line-up hit safely against Gardner-Webb (9-13).

Ackley was 4-for-5 with three runs scored for his seventh career four-hit game, while Seager was 3-for-5 with two RBI to move his career-best hitting streak to 20 games. Federowicz was 3-for-5 with three doubles and an RBI for his fifth straight multi-hit game.

Three-Run 8th Inning Rallies No. 2 UM Past Wildcats, 7-6

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Freshman catcher Yasmani Grandal drove in the game-winning run after junior Dave DiNatale hit a two-run game-tying single in the bottom of the eighth as No. 2 Miami rallied to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 7-6, Wednesday night at Mark Light Field. Junior right-hander Carlos Gutierrez tossed the final inning to record his fifth save for the Hurricanes, who improved to 19-2 on the season.

Sophomore right-hander Kyle Bellamy won for the second time after tossing a scoreless eighth inning. He relieved Alex Koronis, who kept the game close for the Hurricanes. Koronis struck out five in three scoreless innings and allowed just one run on one hit. Sophomore right-hander David Gutierrez made his first career start and gave up three earned runs on five hits in three innings. He struck out three.

Blake Tekotte and Grandal each collected two hits for the Hurricanes. Right fielder Neal Jones led the Wildcats going 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and a home run. Hiram Burgos (2-1) suffered his first loss for Bethune-Cookman as he allowed one run on two hits. Bethune-Cookman starter Felix Machado pitched well. Machado tossed 5 1/3 innings giving up four earned runs on seven hit and striking out five.

Solid Pitching Lifts Clemson to 2-1 Win Over Elon Wednesday

Clemson, SC - Three Tiger pitchers combined to retire the last 18 batters, as Clemson topped Elon 2-1 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday in front of 4,502 fans. Craig Gullickson, Justin Sarratt, and Ryan Hinson yielded only one run, four hits, and no walks while striking out 13. The Tigers, who won the midweek series 2-0, improved to 16-7, while the Phoenix dropped to 19-6.

Gullickson (3-0) went 5.0 innings to pick up the win, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight and walking none. Sarratt, who did not factor into the decision, pitched 2.0 perfect innings while striking out two. Hinson also pitched 2.0 perfect innings to record his first save of the season and second of his career.

Tom Porter (1-1) pitched 0.2 innings in relief, as he allowed two runs on two hits to take the loss.

Doug Hogan went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Tigers, who totaled five hits. Donny Jobe led Elon at the plate with one hit and one RBI. Elon, who entered the series hitting .327 on the season, went just 9-for-61 (.148) in the two-game series.

Rice's Double Lifts Terps Past UMBC

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Pinch-hitter Bill Rice ripped a two-out, bases-clearing double to erase a two-run deficit and lift the University of Maryland to a 6-5 victory in a non-conference college baseball game Wednesday played before 349 at Shipley Field.

Jensen Pupa went 4-for-5 to lead a 10-hit Terrapin offense, including a double. He also scored three runs for Maryland. Nick Jowers chipped in with a 2-for-3 night.

Shawn Retz led the UMBC offense with three hits and a pair of RBIs.

Marshall Twirls One-Hitter At Baseball

RALEIGH, N.C. - As Jerry Reed so eloquently put it, "When you're hot, you're hot; when you're not, you're not." And NC State's hitters are not hot right now. Six Marshall pitchers combined to toss a one-hit shutout at the Wolfpack on Wednesday at Doak Field at Dail Park, winning 3-0 to take a split in their two-game midweek non-conference series.

The shutout was the second against NC State in three games. Clemson's Graham Stoneburner tossed a two-hitter at the Wolfpack on Sunday. NC State has lost three of its last four games, got a combined 10 hits in the three losses, and fell to 14-8 with the loss to the Herd. Marshall snapped a four-game losing streak with the win and improved to 9-12.

No. 15 Virginia's Home Win Streak Snapped in Loss to GW

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia baseball team saw its school-record 18-game winning streak come to a halt Wednesday, as George Washington earned a 17-5 win over the Cavaliers at Davenport Field. Virginia got off to a great start with five runs in the first inning, only to watch the Colonials' offense explode to post 16 unanswered runs.

Dan Grovatt (Fr., Tabernacle, N.J.) went 1-for-3 with two RBI for Virginia, while six other Cavaliers recorded a hit. Jeff Lorick (So., Duluth, Ga.) took the loss for Virginia and fell to 2-1 after giving up three earned runs and four hits in an inning of work out of the bullpen. Virginia's Tyler Wilson (Fr., Midlothian, Va.) made his first career start and went three innings, giving up five earned runs, six hits and a walk while striking out four. The Colonials' 17 runs and 18 hits both were season highs for a Virginia opponent.

Demon Deacons Suffer 12-8 Setback at Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Wake Forest was denied in its bid for a second consecutive season series sweep of Charlotte, as the 49ers dropped the Demon Deacons, 12-8, Wednesday evening at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.

Charlotte's five-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in the offense-dominated affair on Wednesday. The 49ers scored all five runs in the inning with two outs, erasing the Deacs' early 3-2 lead.