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PREMIUM: Sunday's RPI Report
PREMIUM: Report on Oklahoma State-Texas A&M -- Game 2
Mississippi State: After losing the series opener to South Carolina on Friday, the Bulldogs used some clutch pitching to defeat the Gamecocks 5-3 Saturday afternoon. State starting pitcher Nick Routt allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings, while relievers Luis Pollorena and Caleb Reed were solid in 5 2/3 innings of work. The biggest news of the night was South Carolina outfielder Jackie Bradley leaving the game with an injury.
LSU: The Tigers knew they’d need a strong start from freshman right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman to answer back against Vanderbilt on Saturday. Gausman, though, struggled and the Tigers lost yet again, 10-1. Gausman allowed five runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, while Vanderbilt pitcher Grayson Garvin allowed just a run in seven innings. With the loss, the struggling Tigers dropped to a dismal 4-13 in SEC play.
Florida: The Gators are back home and continue to play well against Alabama this weekend. UF starting pitcher Brian Johnson allowed two runs in five innings as the Gators defeated the Crimson Tide 9-2 to clinch a series win. The bullpen also did a great job with Greg Larson, Steve Rodriguez and Keenan Kish leading the charge. While UF is playing good ball, ‘Bama suddenly is struggling.
Arizona State: That series against Oregon State a couple of weeks ago definitely got the Sun Devils’ attention. They swept Washington State last weekend and earned a road series sweep over California this weekend with a 6-0 triumph on Saturday. ASU starting pitcher Jake Barrett was fabulous, striking out just two but allowing just five hits in a complete game shutout. ASU is playing well.
TCU: No Matt Purke, no problem for the Horned Frogs this weekend. TCU finished off a three-game conference sweep of UNLV on Saturday with a 2-1 victory. TCU starting pitcher Steven Maxwell struck out six and allowed just a run on six hits in five innings. TCU relievers Trent Appleby and Stefan Crichton also threw well. TCU helped its hosting case with another strong week.
Texas A&M: After dominating Oklahoma State’s offense on Friday with ace pitcher John Stilson leading the way, the Aggies liked their chances again on Saturday with Michael Wacha on the mound. The talented right-hander didn’t disappoint as the Aggies clinched their sixth Big 12 series win with a 5-1 triumph over the Cowboys. Wacha struck out eight and allowed just a run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. A&M relievers Nick Fleece also threw at a high level.
Oklahoma: The Sooners are having a much needed productive weekend against Nebraska. Ace pitcher Michael Rocha set the tone in the series opener, and Burch Smith continued the dominance in Saturday’s 4-1 victory. Smith struck out six and allowed just a run on two hits in 7 1/3 innings. OU reliever Ryan Duke also threw well, striking out a pair of hitters in just an inning of work. OU improved to 9-7 in the Big 12.
Miami: The Hurricanes entered the North Carolina series red-hot, but there were some questions about them considering they hadn’t played the toughest part of their schedule. Well, perhaps the questions will now subside. Miami swept a pair of games from the Tar Heels by scores of 13-6 and 5-3 to clinch a series win. In Game 2, Miami starting pitcher Eric Whaley allowed just two runs in six innings. The ‘Canes are taking a huge step forward this weekend.
Georgia Tech: Yellow Jackets stud left-handed pitcher Jed Bradley had been hittable the past couple of weeks, but returned to normal Saturday in a 8-1 series clinching win over Boston College. Bradley struck out six and allowed just a run on six hits in seven innings. With the win, the national seed-minded Yellow Jackets improved to an impressive 16-4 in ACC play.
Stanford: Both teams entered the weekend with serious flaws in their postseason resumes. And going into the bottom of the ninth inning, UCLA appeared to be on its way to a series win over Stanford with a 4-1 lead. The Cardinal, though, scored four runs off UCLA reliever Nick Vander Tuig and captured an important Pac-10 series victory with a 5-4 triumph. What was a heartbreaking series loss for the Bruins was equally great for the Cardinal.
UAB: The Blazers fell out of our field of 64 this week, but they might make a swift return next week. The Blazers dropped the series opener against Rice on Friday, but bounced back in impressive fashion on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep to earn a huge Conference USA series victory. With the win, the Blazers improved to 23-17 overall, 8-7 in C-USA play. The Blazers, though, still have much work to do to earn an NCAA postseason appearance.
Southern Mississippi: While Rice struggled on the road against UAB, Southern Miss took care of business at home against Marshall. The Golden Eagles won the series opener on Friday before sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday to improve to 9-3 in C-USA play. The Golden Eagles are in fantastic shape with only a few weeks left to the regular season. It’s safe to say coach Scott Berry should be the C-USA Coach of the Year.
Oregon: The Ducks have had a miserable campaign so far this season, but they finally have something to smile about. The Ducks defeated Arizona 7-3 at home to win the three-game series. UO starting pitcher Alex Keudell allowed just three runs in 5 2/3 innings, while reliever Scott McGough struck out four in 3 1/3 shutout innings. Offensively, Ryon Healy went 3-for-3 with a home run. Could the Ducks get on a roll the final few weeks of the season?
Stetson: The Hatters made yet another statement this weekend. They began their series against Jacksonville with a win on Friday. They lost the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, only to return in the nightcap with a 9-4 victory and the series win. Stetson starting pitcher Austin Perez allowed just a run in 4 1/3 innings, while third baseman Ben Carhart went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. The Hatters improved to 31-9 and might just be in great shape for an NCAA Regional host.
Florida State: Though the Seminoles made things interesting in a series against inferior Virginia Tech a couple of weeks ago, they haven’t allowed the same to happen this weekend against Duke. FSU clinched a series win over the Blue Devils with a 10-3 victory on Saturday. Starting pitcher Hunter Scantling struck out five and allowed just two runs on three hits in six innings. FSU two-way star Mike McGee led the way at the plate with a 2-for-2 night that included two RBIs.
Kansas State: The Wildcats were an absolute afterthought in the Big 12 postseason pecking order just a couple of weeks ago. But after this weekend’s series against Texas Tech, the Wildcats might just find their way to the field of 64. The Wildcats finished off a three-game home series sweep over the Red Raiders with a 4-1 victory on Saturday. K-State starting pitcher Matt Applegate was fantastic, striking out 13 and allowing just a run on seven hits in seven innings.
Missouri: The Tigers are having a miserable season, but they finally had something to smile about on Saturday. Missouri split the first two games of its series against Baylor before dominating the Bears 10-1 in the series finale. Missouri starting pitcher Matt Stites struck out nine and allowed just a run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings, while Jonah Schmidt and C.J. Jarvis combined for nine hits at the plate. Perhaps this series win will get the Tigers going moving forward.
Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers had been playing a better brand of baseball lately, but that once again changed this weekend. The Chants dropped the first game to High Point on Friday before losing the opener of a doubleheader on Saturday to lose the series. Fortunately, the Chants won the series finale, but the damage already was done. CCU’s at-large chances took a hit with a series loss to the Panthers.
UC Riverside: The Highlanders entered the season with high hopes, but hadn’t done all that well until this weekend against Cal State Bakersfield. The Highlanders won the first two games of the series, and completed the surprising three-game road sweep on Saturday with an 8-4 triumph. UCR starting pitcher Frank Trevor struck out six and allowed two runs in five innings, while leadoff hitter Trevor Hairgrove led the way at the plate with three hits (one double) and three RBIs.
East Carolina: The Pirates have been iffy and good at times this season. And after splitting the first two games of the series, Game 3 seemed in doubt. ECU, though, bounced back by closing the series on Saturday with a dominant 12-2 triumph. ECU starting pitcher Shawn Armstrong struck out eight and allowed just two runs on six hits in five innings, while outfielder Trent Whitehead led the way at the plate with a pair of home runs, three runs scored and four RBIs. This was a huge series win for ECU.
Tulane: The Green Wave stepped out of conference this weekend to host Utah in what appeared to be a very winnable series. The Green Wave, though, dropped two of three as a result of losing 8-1 in Saturday’s series finale. Utah pitcher Brock Duke allowed just a run in seven innings, while Tulane starter Alex Byo allowed seven runs in six innings. Tulane dropped to 63 in the RPI with the loss and now will have a tougher time reaching the NCAA postseason.
Auburn: When Tigers starting pitcher Jon Luke Jacobs allowed five runs in two innings, it looked like Ole Miss might just head home with an important SEC series win. Auburn, though, struck back at the plate and on the mound to claim a 9-7 victory and the series triumph. Auburn reliever Slade Smith rose to the occasion, allowing just two runs in seven innings, while leadoff hitter Justin Fradejas led the offense with four hits. The Tigers improved to 22-17 overall, while both teams are sitting at .500 in SEC play.
Georgia Southern: The Eagles simply couldn’t be making a bigger statement against the Phoenix this weekend. Georgia Southern starting pitcher Andy Moye struck out seven and allowed just five hits in seven shutout innings as the Eagles defeated Elon 6-0 to clinch a series victory. Offensively, leadoff hitter Shawn Payne led the way with a double, home run and two RBIs. In addition to making a move in the conference standings, the Eagles also are improving their postseason resume.
Texas State: The Bobcats dropped the series opener to Northwestern State on Thursday, but bounced back in a big way the rest of the weekend. The Bobcats won Game 2 before thrashing the Demons 16-2 in the series finale. Texas State leadoff hitter Tyler Sibley went 3-for-4 with two home runs, four runs scored and five RBIs to lead the winning cause. The victory was Ty Harrington’s 400th of his coaching career.
Troy: It’s safe to say the Trojans are showing who’s boss in the Sun Belt this weekend. The Trojans put together an impressive performance in the series opener against Western Kentucky before thrashing the Hilltoppers 11-3 on Saturday to clinch a series victory. Troy starting pitcher Ryan Sorce struck out six and allowed a run on five hits in seven innings, while reliever Nathan Hill struck out four in 1 2/3 innings of work. Offensively, Tyler Hannah recorded three hits (one a home run) while Adam Bryant chipped in a four-hit performance.
Arkansas: The Razorbacks have NCAA Regional hosting aspirations, and possibly losing a series to Kentucky would set them back. The Hogs dropped the series opener to the Wildcats 3-2 on Saturday. UK starting pitcher and top prospect Alex Meyer was masterful, striking out 10 and allowing just two runs on three hits in a complete game performance. The Hogs wasted a solid start by Randall Fant, who allowed just a run in seven innings.
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons have played some good games this season, and hope to play spoiler down the stretch. After losing the series opener to Clemson, the Deacons bounced back in Game 2 with an impressive 9-3 triumph. The story of the day was starting pitcher Tim Cooney, who struck out seven and allowed just three runs on nine hits in a complete game performance. Clemson really needs to win the series finale to help its postseason case.
Kendall Rogers is the college baseball editor for Perfect Game USA and has covered the sport for over 10 seasons. He can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org