March 14, 2007

NC State Downs Valpo to Sweep Series, 9-4

RALEIGH, N.C. - Dallas Poulk hit a bases-loaded triple and Clayton Shunick worked 3 2/3 solid innings Wednesday to lift NC State past Valparaiso 9-4 in the second of a two-game college baseball series at Doak Field at Dail Park.

NC State won for the third straight game to improve to 14-6 on the season. Valparaiso fell to 2-9 with the loss. Shunick (2-1) allowed just one unearned run on two hits. He struck out six without allowing a walk. Elliott Gibbs (0-2) started and took the loss for the Crusaders. Gibbs worked 3 1/3 innings and was charged with six runs, four earned, on five hits. He walked two and struck out two.

The game was not a clinic on crisp, fundamental play. Valparaiso pitchers were charged with four balks, an NC State batter with batter's interference, and there were eight errors, six by NC State, which entered the game with a sterling .971 fielding percentage.

Bartles & Hassan Homer To Lift Duke To A Late-Inning 10-5 Win Over Fairleigh Dickinson

DURHAM, N.C. - Third baseman Brett Bartles hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning and right fielder Alexander Hassan hit a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth, to lift Duke to a 10-5 come-from-behind victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. With the win, the Blue Devils improve to 17-4 on the season while the Knights fall to 4-5.

With Duke trailing 5-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, Hassan and designated hitter Jonathan Anderson drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Two batters later, first baseman Nate Freiman flied out to left, moving Hassan to third. After Anderson stole second, Bartles connected on a 2-1 pitch and sent the go-ahead three-run shot over the center field wall. The home run was the second in as many days for Bartles and the ninth of his career.

Hokies rally past Marist

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech spotted Marist seven runs over the first two innings then roared back to post a 14-8 victory over the Red Foxes at English Field on Wednesday.

Tech improved its season record to 12-6 by scoring in five of its last six innings. The Hokies finally took the lead with a three-run sixth that featured a solo home run by center fielder Nate Parks (Roanoke, Va.) and a two-run blast by right fielder Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) that powered Tech to a 9-8 advantage. The Hokies went on to pull away with five additional runs in the eighth inning.

Marist (1-10) sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring five runs on six hits against Tech freshman pitcher Rob Whitley (Danville, Va.). An RBI-double by designated hitter Justin Lepore got the Red Foxes started. Right fielder Kyle LaHonta added a two-run single during the inning. Left fielder Max Most also drove in a run with a single, while catcher Keith Glasser picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice.

No. 1 Tar Heels Top Spartans, 6-2

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 1 North Carolina got 6 2/3 shutout innings from its bullpen and two RBI each from Tim Federowicz and Benji Johnson in a 6-2 win over UNC Greensboro Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (17-1) scored six unanswered runs after falling behind 2-0 in the first inning to earn their second straight victory over the Spartans (7-8).

Senior right-hander Matt Danford picked up his first win of the season and the 15th of his career with two innings of scoreless relief. He walked two and allowed just one hit. Junior right-hander Rob Wooten struck out five of the nine batters he faced to establish a career high over 2 1/3 shutout innings, and classmate Tyler Trice retired all six batters he faced over the final two frames. Freshman lefty Brian Moran also retired the only batter he saw with two on in the fifth.

Federowicz went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring single in the fifth, while Johnson drove in the go-ahead runs with a triple in the third. Johnson extended his current hitting streak to eight games, and freshman Dustin Ackley extended his team-best hitting streak to 10 games with third career three-hit game. He saw a run of 15 straight games with an RBI snapped, but did score two runs on the night for the Tar Heels, who scored their first five runs with two out.

Terps Roll Past Coppin State, 27-0

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Every Maryland baseball position player recorded at least one hit as the Terrapins cruised to a 27-0 non-conference victory Wednesday against Coppin State in eight innings. The Terps (12-5) rebounded from back-to-back losses as they took the victory in dramatic fashion, tying a school record with 25 hits. Meanwhile, the Eagles (0-16) left Shipley Field still seeking their first win of the season. The game was called in the middle of the eighth inning as both coaches agreed to end the day.

Freshman Nick Pearce (1-1) earned the victory after pitching a perfect fifth inning, while Eagles starter Teon Richburg (0-4) took the loss. Pearce was one of five Terrapin pitchers to see time, with starter Brett Curll allowing CSU's lone hit in the top of the fourth.

With every Terps hitter reaching base with a hit, Maryland's offense banged out 25 hits, tying a school record. In addition, the 27-run margin of victory sets a new all-time mark when Maryland has shut out its opponent.

Santana Pitches No. 23 Miami Past Rutgers, 4-1

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - - Redshirt sophomore Jason Santana struck out a career-high seven in 5 2/3 innings and sophomore first baseman Yonder Alonso went 2-for-4 with two RBI and his sixth home run in leading No. 23 Miami to a 4-1 win over Rutgers (6-8) Wednesday night at Mark Light Field. Blake Tekotte added a pair of hits and an RBI for the Hurricanes (12-9) who won their second straight game heading into this weekend's Atlantic Coast Conference home opening series.

Dennis Raben earned his first career save as he sat down all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. David Gutierrez tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief and struck out for the Hurricane. Santana held the Scarlet Knights to one run on two hits. He walked two batters before leaving in the sixth inning.

#6 Clemson Blanks Georgia Southern 3-0 Wednesday

Clemson, SC - David Kopp pitched 5.0 scoreless innings and three other pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout in #6 Clemson's 3-0 win over Georgia Southern Wednesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson improved to 11-4, while Georgia Southern fell to 13-9.

Clemson continued its run of solid pitching. After Kopp (2-1) pitched 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, Matt Zoltak, Stephen Clyne, and Daniel Moskos combined to shut down the Eagles, who entered the game hitting .326 on the season. Moskos also earned his third save of the season.

Brian Wilkerson (4-2) surrendered two runs (one earned) on six hits in 5.1 innings pitched and took the loss for the Eagles.

Clemson, who totaled 10 hits, was led by Doug Hogan, Ben Paulsen, and Marquez Smith, who had two hits apiece. Paulsen and Hogan each had RBIs as well.

Kennesaw State Holds Off Georgia Tech, 6-4

KENNESAW, Ga. - Matt Dallas drove in three runs and Martin Baker collected a pair of hits to lead Kennesaw State (12-7) to a 6-4 victory over Georgia Tech (9-9) Wednesday evening at Stillwell Stadium on the campus of Kennesaw State University.

Kody Paul and Casey Rogers combined to hold the Jackets to four runs, only two of which were earned, on seven hits while striking out three and walking five.

Danny Payne went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored and Michael Fisher was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI to lead the Jackets Wednesday night. Three of the Jackets' seven hits in the game were for extra bases.

Ball State Sweeps Wake Forest With 6-5 Victory

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Joel Ernst pitched five innings of no-hit ball but couldn't escape a six-run sixth by Ball State, as the Cardinals swept Wake Forest with a 6-5 win Wednesday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

Ernst cruised through the first five innings, allowing just three baserunners via a walk, a hit-batter and a fielding error. However, things fell apart for the redshirt freshman from Loveland, Ohio, in the sixth inning.

Ernst walked the first two batters of the inning and then loaded the bases when the third hitter reached on a Demon Deacon fielding error. Ernst walked the next batter to bring home a run and then surrendered his first hit of the day, a two-run single to left by Matt Stoeklen.

Boston College's game at UMass was postponed due to field conditions. It will be played on April 9 at 3 p.m.