Team of the day
Cal Poly: The Mustangs really need a marquee series win to feel good about their postseason chances down the stretch, and they got exactly what they were looking for in a 2-1 win over Cal State Fullerton. Veteran right-handed pitcher Joey Wagman allowed just a run on six hits in seven innings of work, while at the plate, while sophomore outfielder Jordan Ellis had three hits and two runs scored. The Titans wasted a solid performance by freshman right-handed pitcher Thomas Eshelman, who struck out three, walked none and allowed just two runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Upset of the day
Kennesaw State over North Florida: It was a slow night in terms of upsets, but the Owls had a nice night on the diamond in a 4-0 road win over North Florida. Right-handed pitcher Stephen Janas struck out four, walked one and allowed five hits in a complete game shutout. Meanwhile, outfielder Bo Way went 2-for-5 with a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBIS.
Player of the day
Tarran Senay, 1B, North Carolina State: The Wolfpack hit the road and captured a very impressive 13-4 win over Georgia Tech to start the weekend. Senay had a terrific night, going 3-for-6 with a home run, a run scored and six RBIs to lead the offensive charge.
Feeling good
LSU: The Tigers are playing an outstanding brand of baseball and captured yet another solid win, beating Alabama 5-0 on Friday. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola struck out 10, walked one and allowed just three hits in a complete game shutout, while at the plate outfielder Raph Rhymes had three hits and three RBIs. Also, shortstop Alex Bregman had another solid day with two hits.
UCLA: Bruins right-handed pitcher Adam Plutko struck out eight batters, walked three and allowed just three hits in seven shutout frames, as his club captured an impressive 1-0 win over Oregon. Meanwhile, right-handed stud reliever David Berg also deserves much credit for tossing two shutout frames to end the contest. On the flip side, UO got a solid start from left-handed hurler Tommy Thorpe, who struck out five and allowed a run on three hits in seven innings.
Texas A&M: Aggies sophomore right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden struck out six, walked two and allowed just two earned runs on five hits in six innings, while outfielder Jonathan Moroney hit a grand slam in an important 5-3 win over Arkansas. Blake Allemand, Cole Lankford and Troy Stein each finished the night with two hits a piece.
Houston: Talented Houston shortstop Frankie Ratcliff went 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs, as the Cougars captured an impressive 8-7 win over Rice. Third baseman Jonathan Davis had two hits and two RBIs, while outfielder Kyle Survance went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. On the mound, talented right-handed pitcher Chase Wellbrock tossed two perfect innings to finish the contest.
Clemson: Tigers sophomore right-handed pitcher Daniel Gossett put together a fantastic start, striking out 10, walking two and allowing just three hits in seven shutout frames, in a 1-0 road win over Miami. Relievers Matt Campbell and Scott Firth also chipped in solid performance in the winning cause.
Oklahoma State: Thanks to a rather weak RPI, the Cowboys must finish the season on an incredibly strong note to make the NCAA postseason. Friday's 9-2 win over Kansas State was a step forward. Third baseman Robbie Rea went 2-for-3 with two homers, two runs scored and three RBIs, while outfielder Zach Fish had two hits and an RBI.
Stanford: The Cardinal is playing a much better brand of baseball these days, capturing a 4-3 win over Arizona. Senior right-handed pitcher Mark Appel struck out six, walked two and allowed three runs (two runs) on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, while at the plate, Austin Wilson had a hit and two RBIs.
South Florida: Freshman right-handed pitcher Jimmy Herget struck out seven, walked three and allowed two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings, as the Bulls moved to an impressive 8-2 in the Big EAst with a 3-2 road win over Connecticut. At the plate, outfielder James Ramsay went 3-for-5 with a run scored.
Illinois: The Fighting Illini could use another nice series win, and started off their series at Ohio State on the right foot with a 9-2 triumph over the Buckeyes. Illinois starting pitcher Kevin Johnson allowed just two runs and two hits in 5 1/3 innings of work, while at the plate, outfielder Jordan Parr went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Belmont: In an intense series between two teams competing for the Ohio Valley regular season title, the Bruins got the best of the Governors in the series opener with a 5-2 win. BU starting pitcher Dan Ludwig struck out seven, walked one and allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings of work, while at the plate, shortstop Jared Breen hit his second home run of the season.
Wanting a do-over
Southern California: Boy, the Trojans just continue to struggle this spring, dropping a tough 10-0 road decision to Utah. USC starting pitcher Sean Silva allowed three runs (none earned) in 3 1/3 innings of work, while the bullpen didn't do much better with Shane Gonzales and Turner Clouse each struggling. The offense was unable to do much against Utah starting pitcher
Texas: West Virginia sophomore left-handed pitcher Harrison Musgrave has been very impressive this season, and tossed a dandy in a 1-0 win over the Longhorns, striking out nine, walking just two and allowing six hits in a complete game shutout. The 'Horns wasted a solid performance from starting pitcher Parker French, who allowed a run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings of work.
Bryant: The Bulldogs carried a 19-game winning streak into Friday's contest against Sacred Heart, but had that streak end in a 4-1 setback. Bryant starting pitcher Peter Kelich put together a solid start, but the Bulldogs were unable to do much against SHU starting pitcher Troy Scribner, who struck out 11 and allowed just a run on three hits in a complete game performance.
Top performances
Chris Anderson, RHP, Jacksonville: The outstanding right-handed pitcher struck out five, walked three and allowed just a run (none earned) on six hits in a complete game performance.
Aaron Judge, OF, Fresno State: The imposing outfielder had a big-time performance in an 8-5 win over Air Force in the second game of a doubleheader. He went 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Ryan Mason, RHP, California: Mason put together an impressive pitching performance in a 4-2 triumph, a much-needed win over Washington State. He struck out four, had no walks, and allowed a run on six hits in six innings.
Michael Benjamin, 3B, Arizona State: The Sun Devils pummeled Valparaiso 16-3 with Benjamin and others leading the charge. He went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs to lead the offensive charge.
Max Garner, RHP, Baylor: The Bears picked up an important win over TCU Friday night, 3-2. Garner was impressive against the Horned Frogs, striking out two batters and allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings.
Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma: The Sooners captured an easy 10-0 win over New Orleans at home with Gray leading the charge. The hard-throwing righty struck out 10, walked none and allowed just two hits in six shutout frames.
Chase Greening, RHP, Stephen F. Austin: The right-handed pitcher put together a very good performance in a 4-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana. Greening struck out three, walked one and allowed five hits in seven shutout frames.
Parker Hipp, DH, New Mexico State: The Aggies captured a solid 10-4 road win over Louisiana Tech. Hipp had a great night at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a home run, a run scored and three RBIs.
Casey Turgeon, 2B, Florida: The Gators continue to play a much better brand of baseball, capturing an 8-6 win over Missouri to start the weekend. Turgeon went 2-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and an RBI.
Bobby Wahl, RHP, Ole Miss: The Rebels picked up a nice 5-0 win over Tennessee to start the weekend, and Wahl, of course, shined. He struck out eight, walked two and allowed three hits in a complete game shutout against the Vols.
Sam Travis, 1B, Indiana: The Hoosiers had a rather easy time in a 12-2 win over Butler at home. Travis led the charge at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBIs.
Marco Gonzales, LHP, Gonzaga: The talented left-handed pitcher struck out three, walked one and allowed just two runs (one earned) on eight hits in seven innings of work in a 6-3 win over Pepperdine
Roche Woodard, OF, Florida International: The Panthers hit the road and defeated Middle Tennessee State 12-3 with Woodard leading the way. He went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBIs.
Tanner Hicks, RHP, Troy: Hicks put together an outstanding performance as the Trojans defeated Arkansas-Little Rock 2-1 at home. Hicks struck out nine, walked three and allowed a run on four hits in a complete game performance.
Alex Milazzo, RHP, Samford: Milazzo twirled a gem as the Bulldogs defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7-1. He struck out seven, walked one and allowed just four hits in six shutout innings of work.
Michael O'Neal, LHP, Auburn: The Tigers split a doubleheader with Mississippi State, and O'Neal was fantastic in the first game of the day, striking out four batters, also walking four, and allowing just five hits in seven shutout innings.
Brooks Fiala, RHP, Miami (Ohio): Fiala shined in a hard-nosed 1-0 win over Ball State at home. The right-handed pitcher struck out 12 and allowed just five hits in eight shutout innings. He threw 115 pitches, 79 of them for strikes.
Ryan Boss, OF, Illinois-Chicago: Boss put together a stellar offensive performance in a 15-11 win over Youngstown State. He went 4-for-6 with a home run, four runs scored and two RBIs.
Jerry Keel, LHP, Cal State Northridge: Keel had a big night on the mound as the Matadors captured a 4-1 win over Hawaii on the road. Keel struck out five, walked one and allowed just a run (not earned) on five hits in a complete game performance.
Aaron Weisberg, RHP, George Washington: What an impressive pitching performance Weisberg had in a 9-0 road win over Fordham. He struck out seven, walked one and allowed just five hits in a complete game shutout.
Mike Bradstreet, RHP, Rhode Island: The Rams took care of business at home in a 3-0 win over Temple. The talented right-handed hurler was magnificent against the Owls, striking out 11, walking three and allowing four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings of work.