Team of the day
Florida: The Gators have really struggled at times this spring, but finally have something to cheer about after solidifying a series sweep over South Carolina with a 14-5 victory, more importantly moving them to 19-18 overall, over .500. UF leadoff hitter Casey Turgeon had three hits and two RBIs, while Richie Martin and Justin Shafer each had two hits and knocked in two runs a piece. Also worth noting, first baseman Vickash Ramjit had three hits and an RBI.
Upset of the day
Tennessee over Kentucky: The Volunteers are having a tough campaign so far this spring, but experienced success Saturday in a 10-9 road win over Kentucky. Young shortstop A.J. Simcox had three hits and three RBIs to lead the way, while second baseman Taylor Smart had two hits and two RBIs.
Player of the day
Austin Pruitt, RHP, Houston: The veteran right-handed pitcher is having a sensational campaign for the Cougars. He rose to the occasion in a 4-0 win over Seton Hall. He struck out 12, walked none and allowed just six hits in a complete game shutout.
The good
Pittsburgh: What a weekend the Panthers are having on the diamond. Red-hot right-handed pitcher Matt Wotherspoon struck out five, walked three and allowed just two runs on four hits in eight innings, as Pitt earned a 4-2 win over Notre Dame. While Wotherspoon led the charge on the mound, designated hitter Boo Vazquez had a huge day at the plate with a home run, two hits and an RBI.
Virginia: The Cavaliers suffered a tough loss in the series opener against Georgia Tech, but responded in impressive fashion Saturday with a 7-2 win over the Yellow Jackets. Starting pitcher Scott Silverstein struck out nine, walked two and allowed just a run on two hits in seven innings of work, while Derek Fisher had three hits, including a home run and three RBIs in the victory.
Michigan State: Someone had to knock Indiana off its track, and it was the Spartans doing the job Saturday afternoon with a 6-5 win over the Hoosiers to clinch a huge Big Ten series win. Outfielder Jimmy Pickens had two hits, a home run an dan RBI, while on the mound, starting pitcher Andrew Garner struck out three and allowed just three runs in seven innings of work.
Florida State: Seminoles third baseman Jose Brizuela went 3-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, as they captured an impressive series win over Duke with an 8-5 triumph. Meanwhile, outfielder DJ Stewart went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and leadoff hitter Seth Miller added a three-hit performance … The Seminoles completed the three-game sweep Saturday night with an 8-3 victory. Third baseman Jose Brizuela had yet another outstanding game, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.
UCF: Spencer Davis and Danny Davis, both key relievers, combined for four shutout frames in relief to carry the Knights to an 11-7 win over Rice, and most importantly, a huge road series win. UCF first baseman James Vasquez had a home run and two RBIs, while outfielder Parker Webster went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs to help the offensive charge.
UCLA: Bruins junior right-handed pitcher Nick Vander Tuig struck out five, walked one and allowed just a run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, as his club captured a series-clinching 3-1 victory over Loyola Marymount. Meanwhile, outfielder Eric Filia went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Mississippi: Rebels junior right-handed pitcher Mike Mayers struck out four, walked none and allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, as the Rebels captured a 5-2 win over Alabama to grab an important series win. Meanwhile, offensively, designated hitter Will Allen went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Coastal Carolina: Chanticleers freshman right-handed pitcher Seth Lamando struck out three, walked none and allowed just a run on three hits in five innings of work in a 13-2 win over Winthrop to improve to 23-12 overall, 9-2 in the Big South. At the plate, second baseman Jake Kane went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Arkansas: Razorbacks junior right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek put together a big-time performance in an 8-3 win over LSU. He struck out five, walked three and allowed four hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings. Meanwhile, offensively, catcher Jake Wise smacked a home run and knocked in four runs, while leadoff hitter Jacob Mahan had two hits and two RBIs.
North Carolina: Tar Heels third baseman Colin Moran had a big-time afternoon at the plate in a 9-8 win over Virginia Tech to clinch yet another important ACC series. Moran went 3-for-4 with a home run, five runs scored and four RBIs in the victory, while Brian Holberton had two hits and two RBIs to help lead the charge.
Oregon: The Ducks captured another Pac-12 series on Saturday with a 10-4 win over California. Ducks outfielder Scott Heineman went 3-for-5 with two homers, three runs scored and four RBIs, while Connor Hofmann went 2-for-4 with two RBIS. On the mound, Darrell Hunter and Garrett Cleavinger combined for four shutout frames.
UNC Wilmington: The Seahawks took total control of the CAA regular season title race on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Delaware by scores of 4-2 and 3-2. Mat Batts struck out eight, walked none and allowed two runs on seven hits in a complete game performance, while Jordan Ramsey started the second game of the doubleheader and struck out five, walked three and allowed two runs in 8 2/3 innings of work.
Mercer: The Bears are putting together quite the weekend against Florida Gulf Coast, clinching an important series win with a 4-3 triumph. Mercer reliever Dimitri Kourtis was fantastic out of the bullpen with 2 2/3 shutout frames, while at the plate, third baseman Chesny Young had two hits and an RBI.
The bad
Georgia: Bulldogs starting pitcher Sean McLaughlin allowed four runs on six hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work, as his squad dropped an 8-4 decision to Georgia to lose the series to Auburn. With the loss, the Bulldogs dropped to a disappointing 12-24 overall, 2-12 in the SEC. The Bulldogs at least saved face in the series finale Saturday afternoon with a win to end the series.
San Diego State: Aztecs young right-handed pitcher Bubba Derby typically is very consistent, but had a tough performance in a 10-9 loss to Air Force. Derby allowed two runs in the ninth inning for the Aztecs. SDSU also didn't get off to a good start in the contest, with starting pitcher Philip Walby allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings of work.
Stanford: The Cardinal picked up a win Friday night with right-handed pitcher Mark Appel on the mound, but dropped a tough 11-3 decision to Washington on Saturday. Starting pitcher Logan James allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings of work, while the offense was stymied by Austin Voth, who tossed a complete game performance.
Georgia Southern: Eagles starting pitcher Justin Hess struck out nine and allowed just four hits in nine innings of work, but the offense wasn't good in a 1-0 loss to The Citadel. The Bulldogs got a solid start from Logan Cribb, who struck out seven and allowed two hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings of work.
Texas A&M: The Aggies appeared to be in good shape in the SEC just a few weeks ago, but have really taken a big step back, losing seven of their last eight conference games. Aggies right-handed pitcher Rafael Pineda allowed six runs on eight hits in two innings in a 9-3 loss to Mississippi State. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, got a huge day from outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who had a big-time home run. To make matters worse for A&M, first baseman Cole Lankford is out for a while with an illness, while shortstop Mikey Reynolds left Saturday's game with a knee injury.
Top performances
Andrew Pierce, RHP, Southern Miss: Pierce is having an impressive 2013 campaign and shined in a 4-1 win over Marshall. He struck out eight, walked two and allowed just one run on three hits in a complete game performance.
Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt: Beede is having a big-time campaign for the Commodores this spring. He struck out 10, walked none and allowed just a run on three hits in seven innings of work in a 12-1 win over Missouri.
Mark Shannon, OF, UNLV: Shannon put together a good offensive performance Saturday afternoon in a 15-2 win over Nevada. He went 3-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and five RBIs.
Kasey Coffman, OF, Arizona State: The Sun Devils needed a big-time offensive boost and got just what they needed in a 6-3 win over USC. Coffman went 4-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.
John Brodner, 3B, Wright State: The Raiders picked up a dominant 11-6 win over Illinois-Chicago with Brodner leading the charge. He went 2-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored and two RBIs to lead the way.
Dillon Peters, LHP, Texas: Peters has thrown very well for the Longhorns the past couple of weeks, leading UT to a 2-1 road win over Kansas. He struck out three, walked one and allowed a run on six hits in a complete game performance.
Dillon Overton, LHP, Oklahoma: The Sooners needed a big-time performance, and Overton certainly answered the call in a 3-1 road win over Baylor. He struck out eight, walked two and allowed just a run on six hits in eight innings.
Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Sacramento State: Hoskins has been a solid hitter the entire season and he went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI in an impressive 16-4 road win over New Mexico State.
Nick Zaharion, OF, South Alabama: Zaharion put together a big-time performance in a 20-2 win over Arkansas State. Zaharion went 4-for-5 with two homers, four runs scored and five RBIs.
Tyler White, 3B, Western Carolina: White had a productive afternoon in an impressive 21-7 win over Samford. White went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and two RBIs.
A.J. Simcox, SS, Tennessee: The Volunteers have a talented freshman class with Simcox and others leading the charge. Simcox went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in a surprising 10-9 road victory over Kentucky.
Tom Marra, RHP, Holy Cross: The Crusaders captured an impressive 3-0 win over Navy with Marra leading the charge. Marra struck out nine, walked two and allowed just two hits in seen shutout innings of work.
Dan Savas, RHP, Illinois State: Savas improved to 5-0 on the season in a 4-0 win over Morehead State. Savas struck out six, walked three and allowed just two hits in seven shutout frames.
Mitchell Garver, C, New Mexico: Garver is having yet another solid offensive campaign for the Lobos. He went 2-for-5 with a double, triple, two runs scored and three RBIs to lead UNM to a 14-3 win over Fresno State.
Tyler Skulina, RHP, Kent State: The Golden Flashes are putting together a good weekend against MIami. Skulina was very good Saturday afternoon in a victory, striking out 10, walking three and allowing a hit in eight shutout innings.
Cole Sulser, RHP, Dartmouth: The Big Green captured a solid 2-0 win over Brown at home with Sulser leading the charge. The talented right-handed pitcher struck out eight, walked one and allowed just three hits in seven innings.
Calvin Copping, RHP, Cal State Northridge: The Matadors put together an impressive performance in a 2-1 road win over UC Irvine. Northridge starting pitcher Calvin Copping allowed just a run on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings of work.
Alex McRae, RHP, Jacksonville: The Dolphins have a two-headed monster in Chris Anderson and McRae. McRae struck out six, walked one and allowed four hits in a complete game shutout win over Kennesaw State
Matthew Crownover, LHP, Clemson: The talented freshman left-handed pitcher struck out four, walked three and allowed just five hits in 5 1/3 shutout innings in a 1-0 win over Wake Forest.
Eric White, 3B, Maine: The Black Bears earned an impressive 19-0 win over Maryland-Baltimore County with White leading the way. He went 4-for-5 with two homers, four runs scored and four RBIs.
Heath Bowers, RHP, Campbell: The Camels swept a doubleheader from Longwood with Bowers setting the tone. The right-handed pitcher struck out eight, walked two and allowed just seven hits in a complete game shutout.
Matt Chapman, 3B, Cal State Fullerton: Chapman had an impressive performance in a 10-2 win over UC Santa Barbara. He went 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Titans against the Gauchos.