Trackin' the Top 25
Take a quick look back at last week's games and a first glance at the upcoming games for the Top 25:
1. Mississippi State
Last week: 4-0. Overall: 15-0, 0-0 in SEC. (2-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 4-0.
Notes: MSU is off to the best start in school history (besting the 1985 team of Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro and Bobby Thigpen), and it has tied the record for consecutive wins. Sunday's finale was rained out. It's all about the pitching, with senior left-hander Brooks Dunn (7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, ER, 7 K) and junior right-hander Josh Johnson (8 IP, 7 H, 0 R) running MSU's quality starts total to 11 in 15 games. Senior shortstop Thomas Berkery (.429) has hit in 12 straight games, and sophomore catcher Ed Easley (.370) has hit in 10 straight.
Results:
March 7: Northeastern: W 2-1
March 10-12: Virginia: W 8-2, W 7-6, L 6-3
This week:
March 21: Alabama-Birmingham
March 22: Jacksonville State
March 24-26: @ No. 15 Louisiana State
2. Rice
Last week: 3-1. Overall: 18-6, 0-0 in Conference USA. (4-5 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 2-0.
Notes: Senior 2B Greg Buchanan has a 10-game hitting streak after batting .632 for the week with 12 hits and seven runs scored. Senior right-hander Eddie Degerman and sophomore left-hander Joe Savery threw five scoreless innings apiece against TAMU-CC.
Results:
March 14: San Diego: W 11-2
March 15: @ Sam Houston State: L 9-8
March 18-19: Texas A&M Corpus-Christi: W 17-2, W 3-0
This week:
March 22: @ No. 18 Texas
March 24-26: East Carolina
3. North Carolina
Last week: 4-1. Overall: 16-3, 4-2 in ACC. (0-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 4-0.
Notes: Credit the offense with a save as UNC needed late rallies to get past Maryland. Junior left fielder Jay Cox homered in all three games and leads the team in the triple crown categories (.461-8-23). Junior right-hander Daniel Bard (5.1 IP, 10 H, 10 R, 9 ER) and junior left-hander Andrew Miller (5 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER) struggled through their worst outings of the year in the first two games.
Results:
March 14-15: George Mason: W 9-5, W 7-4
March 17-19: Maryland: L 14-8, W 11-7, W 10-3
This week:
March 21-22: Towson
March 24-26: @ No. 5 Georgia Tech
4. Cal State Fullerton
Last week: 3-0. Overall: 17-6, 0-0 in Big West. (2-2 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 5-2.
Notes: Fullerton owns three impressive streaks: eight straight wins, 52.1 innings without a walk for sophomore right-hander Wes Roemer through Friday, and three consecutive games with a save and no earned runs allowed for junior right-hander Vinnie Pestano, who worked in each game at Arizona. Senior 2B Justin Turner tallied five hits and five RBI on the weekend, adding a solo home run and an RBI double Sunday as Fullerton rallied from a 3-2 deficit to finish the sweep.
Results:
March 17-19: @ Arizona: W 6-4, W 5-3, W 5-3
This week:
March 21: No. 21 Pepperdine
March 24-26: Long Beach State
5. Georgia Tech
Last week: 2-2. Overall: 18-3, 3-3 in ACC. (1-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 4-1.
Notes: Georgia Tech's pitching staff failed its first major test of legitimacy as its starters allowed 21 runs (15 earned) in 11 innings -- a 12.27 ERA -- with none making it through the fourth against a strong NC State attack. The defense's eight errors didn't help, either. The offense stroked nine homers in the final two games, with sophomore center fielder Danny Payne clubbing one in each of those games and junior 3B Wes Hodges hitting two Sunday, plus two doubles.
Results:
March 15: Mississippi Valley State: W 13-4
March 17-19: @ North Carolina State: L 8-1, L 12-11 (10), W 17-11
This week:
March 24-26: No. 3 North Carolina
6. Florida State
Last week: 3-1. Overall: 21-2, 5-1 in ACC. (1-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 6-0.
Notes: FSU recorded its best win of the season Tuesday, but its 17-game win streak this season and its 15-game streak against Virginia Tech ended Saturday when the bullpen coughed up a 7-3 lead. Junior Dennis Guinn moved from catcher to first base, but it didn't affect his bat; he tallied seven hits (two homers) and seven RBI. Junior right-hander Bryan Henry threw six scoreless innings Friday, and junior right-hander Tyler Chambliss struck out 10 batters in seven innings Sunday.
Results:
March 14: Winthrop: W 10-0
March 17-19: @ Virginia Tech: W 11-2, L 9-7, W 9-4
This week:
March 22: @ Jacksonville
March 24-26: Duke
7. South Carolina
Last week: 4-1. Overall: 17-3, 2-1 in SEC. (1-1 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 5-0.
Notes: South Carolina had won eight consecutive games before Sunday's loss. Freshman right-hander Mike Cisco ran his scoreless innings streak to 17.2 before yielding one Saturday. He still struck out eight batters in 7.1 innings and improved his record to 2-0, his ERA to 1.29. Senior 3B Neil Giesler extended his hit streak to 13 games and has notched multiple hits 11 times this season. Senior 2B Chris Brown collected seven hits in the first two games against Auburn.
Results:
March 14: Davidson: W 9-2
March 15: Yale: W 8-2
March 17-19: @ Auburn: W 12-8 (12), W 7-3, L 7-1
This week:
March 21: Charleston Southern
March 22: Yale
March 24-26: No. 9 Florida
8. Nebraska
Last week: 4-0. Overall: 15-2, 0-0 in Big 12. (1-1 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 2-0.
Notes: Nebraska has allowed seven runs in its last eight weekend games. Sophomore left-hander Tony Watson (5 IP, 2 H) and freshman right-hander Charlie Shirek (7 IP, 3 H) worked Friday's doubleheader before inclement weather put the kibosh on the final two games of the SDSU series. Junior left fielder Nick Jaros collected three hits, three RBI and three steals in the opener, and sophomore center fielder Bryce Nimmo homered in the opener and stole two bags in the nightcap.
Results:
March 14-15: Western Illinois: W 10-7, W 12-6
March 17 (DH): South Dakota State: W 10-0 (7), W 3-0 (7)
This week:
March 24-26: Kansas
9. Florida
Last week: 3-1. Overall: 17-7, 2-1 in SEC. (2-3 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 4-1.
Notes: Florida trailed heading into the bottom of the seventh inning in all three games against Arkansas, but rallied for wins in the first and final games. UF has won eight of its last nine. It trailed 7-0 Sunday before scoring five times in the seventh and getting a three-run homer from junior shortstop Adam Davis in the eighth. Junior center fielder Gavin Dickey drove in three runs Friday. Junior 1B Matt LaPorta returned to the lineup Friday after missing 13 games. He went 1-for-8 with two walks in the series and was robbed of a homer by a leaping Craig Gentry.
Results:
March 14: @ Central Florida: W 10-3
March 17-19: No. 10 Arkansas: W 6-3, L 3-2, W 8-7
This week:
March 21: Stetson
March 24-26: @ No. 6 South Carolina
10. Clemson
Last week: 1-3. Overall: 11-6, 0-3 in ACC. (3-2 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 3-1.
Notes: Clemson suffered its first series sweep since 2004 after finishing 2005 as the only ACC team not to suffer a sweep. Virginia scored once in the ninth to win Friday, then tallied five runs in the final three innings Sunday to complete the sweep. The Tigers batted just .175 in Charlottesville despite a five-hit weekend from junior left-fielder Tyler Colvin.
Results:
March 15: Gardner-Webb: W 10-5
March 17-19: @ Virginia: L 2-1, L 10-2, L 7-4
This week:
March 21-22: Elon
March 24-26: No. 20 NC State
11. Arkansas
Last week: 1-2. Overall: 17-3, 1-2 in SEC. (2-2 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 2-1.
Notes: Arkansas held leads entering the bottom of the seventh inning in each game, but failed to hold a 3-1 advantage Friday and blew a 7-0 lead Sunday. Sophomore left-hander Nick Schmidt (6.2 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 11 K) fell victim to two throwing errors (although one was his own) in the opener as he lost for the first time. Junior center fielder Craig Gentry collected six hits in the series and robbed Matt LaPorta of a homer with a leaping grab.
Results:
March 17-19: @ No. 15 Florida: L 6-3, W 3-2, L 8-7
This week:
March 21-22: Centenary
March 24-26: No. 25 Georgia
12. Tennessee
Last week: 1-3. Overall: 14-5, 0-2 in SEC. (0-3 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 5-1.
Notes: Tennessee has lost three straight and is 3-4 away from home on the season. Sophomore center fielder Julio Borbon went 0-for-MSU after delivering at least one hit in every previous game this season. Sophomore left-hander James Adkins got knocked around Friday (6 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 6 ER). Rain washed out the finale.
Results:
March 14-15: Siena: W 10-9, L 9-8
March 17-18: @ No. 6 Mississippi State: L 8-2, L 4-3
This week:
March 21: Tennessee Tech
March 24-26: Kentucky
13. Wichita State
Last week: 3-1. Overall: 20-3, 0-0 in Missouri Valley. (0-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 5-0.
Notes: Wichita State matched its best start since 1998 and earned its first-ever sweep of Long Beach State. The Shockers have won the last four matchups; before that, Long Beach had won the previous nine. Sophomore right-hander Travis Banwart (7 IP, 4 H) helped hand Jared Hughes his first loss Friday. Sophomore left fielder Tyler Hill totaled seven hits and six RBI in the series.
Results:
March 14: @ Kansas State: L 6-3
March 17-19: @ Long Beach State: W 9-0, W 8-7, W 10-7
This week:
March 21: Oral Roberts
March 24-26: Southern Illinois
14. Tulane
Last week: 2-2. Overall: 14-8, 0-0 in Conference USA. (2-4 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 4-1.
Notes: In Friday's win, sophomore right-hander Sean Morgan struck out 11 batters over eight innings and freshman 3B Seth Henry delivered a three-run double. Freshman DH Anthony Scelfo went 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs in Sunday's win. USA ace P.J. Walters allowed two earned runs in a complete game Saturday.
Results:
March 14: Nicholls State: L 7-4
March 17-19: vs./vs./@ South Alabama: W 6-3, L 8-4, W 7-2
This week:
March 21: New Orleans
March 24-26: @ Memphis
15. Louisiana State
Last week: 1-2. Overall: 17-5, 1-2 in SEC. (1-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 5-1.
Notes: LSU lost its first series to Kentucky since 1994 and was a swing away from getting swept. Senior right fielder Mighty Quinn Stewart turned an 0-2 pitch into a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the ninth Sunday. His seventh homer in 10 games made a winner of junior right-hander Derik Olvey (8 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER). Junior left-hander Clay Dirks (2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB) struggled Friday.
Results:
March 17-19: @ Kentucky: L 8-2, L 6-3, W 5-2
This week:
March 22: Southeastern Louisiana @ Metairie, La.
March 24-26: (1) Mississippi State
16. Oregon State
Last week: 1-2. Overall: 12-7, 1-2 in Pac-10. (2-2 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 1-2.
Notes: Junior right-hander Dallas Buck (7 IP, 4 H, R, 6 BB, K) outdueled Ian Kennedy on Friday, beating Ike for the third time in the last two years. Sophomore catcher Mitch Canham homered in each loss. Junior right-hander Mike Stutes (2.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB) replaced junior left-hander Anton Maxwell in the rotation Saturday, but struggled.
Results:
None.
This week:
March 25-27: Washington State
17. Stanford
Last week: 0-0. Overall: 11-7, 0-0 in Pac-10. (5-1 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 3-2.
Results:
None.
This week:
March 25-27: Washington State
18. Texas
Last week: 2-1. Overall: 15-10, 1-1 in Big 12. (6-3 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 2-3.
Notes: Junior left fielder Carson Kainer drove in eight runs on the week and leads the team with 23 RBI. Freshman left-hander Austin Wood made scoreless relief appearances in all three games, earning a save Friday in relief of sophomore right-hander Adrian Alaniz, who has allowed five earned runs in his last four starts. Junior center fielder Drew Stubbs has a hit in 18 of his last 19 games, and freshman OF/DH Kyle Russell has a hit in 14 of 15 games.
Results:
March 22: No. 2 Rice
March 24-26: Oklahoma State
This week:
March 25-27: Washington State
18. Arizona State
Last week: 1-2. Overall: 18-7, 0-0 in Pac-10. (2-3 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 5-0.
Notes: Junior right fielder Colin Curtis stroked three doubles and drove in two runs Friday, when ASU scored three times in the ninth inning to rally from a 7-5 deficit. Curtis' 21-game hit streak ended Saturday, when four ASU errors meant a loss.
Results:
March 15: @ No. 18 Texas: L 11-6
March 17-19: No. 24 Oklahoma: W 8-7, L 15-8
This week:
March 24-26: Penn State
20. North Carolina State
Last week: 3-1. Overall: 21-5, 5-1 in ACC. (2-1 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 4-1.
Notes: NC State had won eight straight games before Sunday's loss. Junior 1B Aaron Bates went 6-for-10 with four RBI and six runs scored in the first two games before drawing three intentional walks Sunday. His 10th-inning double tied Saturday's game, and he scored the winner on a Jon Still single. Sophomore right-hander Eryk McConnell and three relievers held Georgia Tech to four hits Friday.
Results:
March 15: UNC Greensboro: W 24-3
March 17-19: No. 1 Georgia Tech: W 8-1, W 12-11 (10), L 17-11
This week:
March 24-26: @ No. 10 Clemson
21. Pepperdine
Last week: 2-1. Overall: 14-11, 0-0 in West Coast. (5-3 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 5-2.
Notes: Senior left-hander Paul Coleman (10 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 10 K) got a no decision Friday when he could have used one of the two homers junior catcher Chad Tracy delivered in the last two games of the weekend. Sophomore shortstop Danny Worth collected seven hits in the series and has an eight-game hit streak. Sophomore right-hander Adam Olbrychowski left after four outs Saturday with a triceps strain.
Results:
March 17-19: Dartmouth: L 3-2 (11), W 6-2, W 9-2
This week:
March 21: @ No. 4 Cal State Fullerton
March 24-26: Northwestern
22. Baylor
Last week: 3-1. Overall: 14-6, 2-1 in Big 12. (4-2 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 3-1.
Notes: Junior OF Chase Gerdes went 7-for-11 with two doubles, a homer, three steals and four RBI against Kansas. Senior 2B Kevin Russo accounted for five of Baylor's 14 steals (15 tries) in the series. Sophomore right-hander Tim Matthews (7.1 IP, 7 H, ER) won the clincher Sunday. Junior DH Matt Sodolak tallied three hits and five RBI in Friday's win, and senior right-hander Ryan LaMotta allowed one earned run in six innings.
Results:
March 14: @ Houston: L 5-3
March 17-19: No. 25 Kansas: W 15-3, L 6-5, W 5-1
This week:
March 21: Texas Christian
March 24-26: @ No. 23 Oklahoma
23. Oklahoma
Last week: 2-1. Overall: 18-5, 0-0 in Big 12. (2-2 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 3-0.
Notes: OU has won nine of its last 10, and it was an inning from an 11-game win streak as it allowed three ASU runs in the ninth Friday to take the loss after senior right-hander Daniel McCutcheon had rung up 10 strikeouts in seven innings. Sophomore DH Joe Dunigan homered and drove in three runs Saturday, when senior right fielder Chuckie Caufield scored three times and notched three hits.
Results:
March 14: @ UT Arlington: W 8-0
March 17-19: @ No. 16 Arizona State: L 8-7, W 15-8
This week:
March 24-26: No. 22 Baylor
24. Virginia
Last week: 4-0. Overall: 19-4, 4-2 in ACC. (4-2 vs. Top 25).
Notes: Virginia sweeps Clemson in Charlottesville for the second time in three years. Sophomore left-hander Sean Doolittle struck out a career-high nine batters in eight innings Friday before junior outfielder Sean Marsh's sac fly gave Virginia the win. Marsh tallied four hits Sunday -- seven for the series -- and three walks Saturday. Sophomore left fielder Brandon Guyer had five hits and four RBI in the series.
Results:
March 15: Dayton W 10-3
March 17-19: No. 2 Clemson: W 2-1, W 10-2, W 7-4
This week:
March 24-26: Wake Forest
25. Georgia
Last week: 3-2. Overall: 14-4, 1-2 in SEC. (3-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 3-2.
Notes: Freshman right-hander Trevor Holder (5.1 IP, ER) and freshman shortstop Gordon Beckham (3-for-4) helped Georgia salvage one win on the weekend. Senior right fielder Bobby Felmy owns an eight-game hit streak. Alabama's Wade LeBlanc (CG, 4 H, ER) and Bernard Robert (6.1 IP, 6 H, ER) were too good in the first two games.
Results:
March 14: Kennesaw State: W 11-3
March 15: Western Carolina: W 11-0
Mach 17-19: Alabama: L 4-1, L 5-3, W 6-4
This week:
March 22: Georgia State @ Marietta, Ga.
March 24-26: @ No. 11 Arkansas
Dropped out
19. Washington
Last week: 0-2. Overall: 15-7, 0-0 in Pac-10. (1-0 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 4-1.
Notes: Junior right-hander Tim Lincecum allowed three hits in eight innings, but two were Jimmy Van Ostrand homers as Lincecum yielded five runs (one earned) and UW lost a 4-0 lead. JVO smacked two more bombs Sunday, when Zach Clem and Matt Stevens went deep for U-Dub.
Results:
March 18-19: Cal Poly: L 5-4, L 18-3
This week:
March 22: Puget Sound
March 24-26: @ California
25. Kansas
Last week: 1-2. Overall: 16-8, 1-2 in Big 12. (4-7 vs. Top 25). Weekend series: 3-2.
Notes: Senior right-hander Kody Quick (6.1 IP, 9 H, 2 R) took the loss Sunday, when KU's only run came off a Gus Milner homer. He leads the team with 30 RBI. Sophomore left fielder John Allman delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning to give the Jayhawks a win Saturday.
Results:
March 17-19: @ No. 22 Baylor: L 15-3, W 6-5, L 5-1
This week:
March 22: @ Creighton
March 24-26: @ Nebraska
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