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Regional Madness: Sunday’s Instant Analysis

Late Night Heroics

by MARK ETHERIDGE

In Dallas, top seed Dallas Baptist defeated #2 seed Oregon State 7-1. A pair of Patriots’ pitchers combined to limit the Beavers to four hits. Sean Stutzman (8-1) went 5 and 2/3 innings while Dew Smith worked the final 3 and 1/3 to earn his fourth save. Justin Wall homered to lead the DBU lineup.

Dallas Baptist advances to face VCU Monday. They have to beat the Rams twice.

In Fullerton, top seed Cal State Fullerton won the regional championship with a 10-1 victory over Pepperdine. Connor Seabold worked six scoreless innings and three relievers finished the evening. David Olemedo-Barrera had two hits and drove in three to pace the Titan attack.

Cal State Fullerton advances to the super regionals where they will face Louisville.

In Houston, # 2 seed Rice outlasted the home standing and top seed Cougars 3-2 in 20 innings. Austin Orweiler worked 9 and 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to close the game. Houston had two pitchers pitch nine innings or more in the loss. Leon Byrd got the game-winning RBI – a double in the 20th inning. Tristan Gray had three hits to lead Rice.

The Owls advance to the regional final where they will have to defeat Louisiana-Lafayette twice.

In Lake Elsinore, #3 seed Virginia captured the regional crown with a wild 14-10, 11-inning victory over #2 seed Southern California. The Cavaliers took advantage of four USC errors to score four unearned runs. USC used three UVa errors to score three unearned of their own. Matt Thais and Pavin Smith each had two hits and drove in three runs to lead the Cavalier lineup. Jeremy Martinez led USC with two hits and four RBI.

Virginia advances to face the winner of the Los Angeles Regional.

In Los Angeles, top seed UCLA stayed alive with a 4-2 victory over #3 seed Maryland. Darrell Miller went 3-4 to lead the Bruin lineup and four UCLA hurlers held Maryland to six hits. David Berge worked the final two innings. LaMonte Wade had two hits including a home run to lead the Terrapin offense.

The teams meet again Monday to decide the regional championship.

Sunday Takeaways

by MARK ETHERIDGE

Texas A&M OF Nick Banks (TAMU)

I try my best to be a neutral observer during these games but I caught myself wanting Texas A&M to beat California Sunday night. It started after the teams made play after play to force extra innings – just a day after going 14 innings. I realized we wanted – no, make that needed – a rubber game Monday to decide the College Station Regional title. College baseball needs these kinds of moments and these two clubs have already given us two of them. Whether they can do it again is moot. It gives us something to look forward to on Monday.

It is a bit ironic that after all of the great defensive plays Cal made that the fateful inning was extended by an error. It is also a bit puzzling how Cal’s pitching staff has been able to shutdown an Aggie lineup that has hit everyone they faced. They lit up Carson Fulmer in Hoover. They are scary. Pitching for both clubs Monday? Anyone who can go.

When VCU beat Dallas Baptist Friday, it seemed like more of an indictment of the home team than an endorsement of the Rams. VCU beat Oregon State today to move into the winners’ bracket. Now VCU is in the enviable position to take on who ever makes it between it’s prior two victims. Are we going to see another #4 seed win a regional? Since the Dallas Regional is matched up with the Coral Gables Regional, wouldn’t it be interesting if Columbia beat Miami again Monday. If VCU and Columbia made a Super, where would they play it? And one of them would in Omaha. Underdogs everywhere would rejoice.

OK, I like baseball as much as the next guy and more than most but is it really necessary to start baseball games at 11 PM ET? If my time zone calculation is correct, that is 8 PM local time. Especially on a Sunday and Monday evening, can we move that up an hour or two? This isn’t done for TV. Only the Los Angeles Regional has been slotted for ESPNU. Since it is following Bases Loaded, is there a valid reason to wait that long to start the game?

We have four teams already in next week’s super regional round. Pending results from late Sunday, here is how the pairings look:

Maryland at Virginia or USC – or – Virginia or USC at UCLA Missouri State at Arkansas VCU or Dallas Baptist at Miami – or – Columbia at VCU or Dallas Baptist Florida State (or College of Charleston) at Florida Houston Regional winner at LSU – or – UNC-Wilmington at Houston or Rice – or – UL-Lafayette at UNC-Wilmington Cal at TCU or NC State –or– NC State at Texas A&M –or– Texas A&M at TCU Cal State Fullerton or Pepperdine at Louisville Vanderbilt or Radford at Illinois –or– Wright State at Vanderbilt or Radford

Monday’s Games by Start-times

Dallas Baptist vs VCU 1 PM ET **

UNC-Wilmington at LSU 1 PM ET **

College of Charleston at Florida State 1 PM ET **

Louisiana-Lafayette at/vs Houston/Rice 2 PM ET **

Wright State at Illinois 1 PM ET **

Radford at Vanderbilt 4 PM ET **

Columbia at Miami 7 PM ET

California at Texas A&M 7:30 ET

NC State at TCU 8 PM



Virginia vs. Southern California 9 ET *

Maryland at UCLA 11 PM ET *

Pepperdine at Cal State Fullerton 11 PM ET *



* Pending result of late game Sunday

** Could be a double-header with a second game played prime-time

Dramatic Finishes On Sunday Evening

by MARK ETHERIDGE

In College Station, top seed Texas A&M survived another classic game with #3 seed California 4-3 in 12 innings. The Aggies and Bears have now played twice and logged 26 innings. The Aggies scored the go-ahead run on a bang-bang play at the plate. With two outs, Mitchell Nau singled and took second when Logan Taylor reached on a infield throwing error. Nick Banks singled to left and Nau crossed the plate just as Taylor was being tagged out at third. Cal almost tied it as Aaron Knapp was caught in a rundown and tagged out inches away from scoring.

Ryne Birk homered for the Aggies. Nau had three hits. Texas A&M used six pitchers including Tyler Stubblefield who started and gave them five solid innings. The two teams meet for the regional final Monday evening.

In Stillwater, #2 seed Arkansas scored a run in the ninth to beat #4 seed St. John’s 4-3. The Razorbacks captured the regional title and will face Missouri State next weekend. Brett McAfee had three hits to lead the lineup and Tyler Spoon had a home run. The Hogs used four pitchers as Jackson Lowery (5 IP) allowed just a single hit. Josh Alberius (1.1 IP), James Teague (1.2 IP), and Zach Jackson (1 IP) closed the game. Zach Lauricella had two of St. John’s’ five hits.

Arkansas is expected to host next weekend because national seed Missouri State has a scheduling conflict with the minor league baseball team that shares their ballpark.

In Springfield, top seed Missouri State hung on to beat #2 seed Iowa 3-2 to win the regional title. Each team had just three hits in the contest. MSU’s Jordan Knutson allowed just three hits and two runs in seven innings. Bryan Young got the final five outs to collect the save. Iowa’s Nick Hibbing allowed just one hit and one run on 5 and 2/3 innings. Nick Roscetti had a pair of hits for the Hawkeyes.

Missouri State will now face Arkansas in the super regionals. Iowa’s best season in modern history ends in the regional final.

In Tallahassee, #2 seed College of Charleston got a pair of home runs from Nick Pappas to beat #3 seed Auburn 3-2. The Cougars had four hits and Pappas had three of them. Two of them left the yard and accounted for all of their run production. Nathan Helvey started and went five innings. Chase Henry and Carter Love worked the final four innings of scoreless, one-hit ball. Auburn reliever Robby Clements work 4 and 2/3 innings and allowed only one hit – the two-run home run to Pappas.

The late game regional final against Florida State was postponed to Monday. College of Charleston will have to beat the Seminoles twice to advance.

In Lake Elsinore, #2 seed Southern California scored the final five runs of the game to defeat #4 seed San Diego State 12-11. Timmy Robinson had three hits and a home run and A.J. Ramirez added a home run of his own. San Diego State’s Seby Zavala had four hits to lead the Aztecs.

USC moves on to face Virginia later tonight. San Diego State’s season is complete.

In Los Angeles, top seed UCLA defeated UC Bakersfield 9-1. The Bruins had 13 hits in the win and scored eight combined runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Cody Peteet allowed just three hits in his 5 and 1/3 innings. A pair of Roadrunner errors led to five unearned runs.

UCLA now takes on Maryland later tonight. A Bruin win would force another game Monday.

In Coral Gables, #3 seed Columbia shutout top seed Miami 3-0 to force a winner take all final Monday. Bryce Barr (5 IP), Zack Bahm (3 IP), and Adam Cline (1 IP) combined to limit the potent Hurricane offense to just two hits. Nick Maguire led the Lions with three hits.

The teams meet Monday evening to decide the regional championship.

In Champaign, #3 seed Wright State knocked off #2 seed Notre Dame 4-0. Jack Van Horn worked eight innings of five hit, shutout ball and Andrew Elliott completed the ninth for the shutout. Mitch Roman went 3-4 with a pair of RBI.

Wright State advances to the regional championship against Illinois. They have to beat the Illini twice on Monday.

In Fullerton, #4 seed Pepperdine defeated #2 seed Arizona State 7-4. The Waves got a home run and five RBI in the win. Aaron Barnett and Brandon Caruso also added two hits each. Trever Allen had three hits for the Sun Devils and Jake Peevyhouse had two hits and a homer.

Pepperdine now faces Cal State Fullerton in the regional final. Arizona State’s season is complete.

In Fort Worth, top seed TCU defeated #2 seed North Carolina State 8-2. Tyler Alexander pitched a complete game, three hitter for the Horned Frogs. Cody Jones had three hits and Derek Odell drove in three runs. TCU outhit the Wolfpack 12-3.

The teams meet again Monday in a winner-take-all final.

In Baton Rouge, #2 seed UNC-Wilmington used a six run third inning to pounce on #3 seed Tulane and never look back as they won 8-2. The Seahawks leaned on starting pitcher Nick Monroe who got all but the final out. Zach Canada led the lineup with three of their 12 hits.

UNC-Wilmington faces LSU Monday in a game that was expected to played Sunday evening. The Seahawks will have to beat LSU twice to win the regional title.

Regional Final Action

by MARK ETHERIDGE

In Houston, #3 seed Louisiana-Lafayette kept their last at bat magic going with a victory over top seed Houston 2-1. This was the third consecutive wild victory for UL. After a 12th inning grand slam won them the Sun Belt Tournament title, the Ragin’ Cajuns scored five in the ninth to beat Rice Friday. Sunday, they won the game on a bases loaded hit batsman. Gunner Leger started and went six innings and Greg Milhorn worked the final three frames. The Cajuns won despite only getting two hits. Houston starter Seth Romero had a no-hitter until two outs in the eighth inning.

Houston will now face Rice later tonight. The winner will have to defeat Louisiana-Lafayette twice Monday.

In Stillwater, #2 seed Iowa outlasted #3 seed Oregon 2-1 in 11 innings. The game featured just eight hits and Oregon had just three. Calvin Matthews worked six innings and allowed only an unearned run and two hits. Luke Vandermaten pitched two scoreless innings and Nick Hibbing entered with the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth and somehow escaped unscathed. He followed that with another pair of perfect innings. Oregon wasted some great pitching from Josh Graham (6 IP/3 H/1 R) and Stephen Nogosek (4 2/3 IP/2H/1 R).

Iowa advances to face Missouri State later Sunday. Oregon’s season is complete.

In Louisville, top seeded Louisville claimed a regional title with a 13-4 victory over Michigan. Josh Rogers pitched well with seven innings of six hit, two run ball. Nick Solak had a home run and three RBI. Corey Ray added three hits and three RBI. Michigan had a home run from Carmen Benedetti.

Louisville advances to the super regionals. They await the winner of the Fullerton Regional.

In Dallas, #4 seed VCU keeps shocking the field. After beating the top seed Dallas Baptist Friday, the Rams knocked off #2 seed Oregon State 5-1 to move into the winners’ bracket. Starter Heath Dwyer and reliever Daniel Concepcion combined to limit Oregon State to five hits. Vima Machin went 3-3 with a pair of RBI. OSU used seven pitchers but only the starter Drew Rasmussen throw more than 18 pitches which should help the Beavers in the losers’ bracket.

Oregon State will face Dallas Baptist tonight. The winner has to beat VCU twice Monday.

In Champaign, Top seed Illinois shutout #2 seed Notre Dame 3-0. Illini starter Drasen Johnson pitched a complete game shutout and allowed just five hits. Adam Walton, Casey Fletcher, and David Kerian all had two hits each.

Notre Dame now faces Wright State later Sunday. The winner has to defeat Illinois twice Monday.

In Fort Worth, #1 seed TCU advanced with an 8-3 victory over #3 seed Stony Brook. The Horned Frogs got a home run from Evan Skoug and three hits each from Connor Wanhanen and Nolan Brown. TCU used four pitchers but only Brian Howard (63 pitches) and Preston Guillory (39) threw very many pitches setting their pitching up for the remaining necessary games.

TCU advances to the regional final against NC State. They have to beat the Wolfpack twice.

In Nashville, #2 seed Radford defeated #3 seed Indiana 5-3. The Highlanders scored five runs on just six hits. Shane Johnsonbaugh went 3-5 and Josh Reavis and Patrick Marshall each drove in a pair of runs. Dylan Nelson worked 4 and 1/3 innings before turning it over to Kyle Palmer and Ryan Meisinger who combined for 4 and 2/3 innings of one-hit, shutout ball.

Radford moves on the regional final against Vanderbilt. They have to win twice. Indiana’s season is complete.

In Gainesville, top seed Florida won the regional title with a 2-1 victory over #2 seed Florida Atlantic. Starter Alex Faedo went six innings and allowed just three hits and one run. Bobby Poyner worked a pair of scoreless innings and Taylor Lewis got the save working the ninth. Josh Tobias had three hits to pace the Gator lineup.

Florida moves on the super regional where they will host the winner of the Tallahassee Regional. FAU’s season is complete.

Early Sunday Action

by MARK ETHERIDGE

We have reached championship Sunday and teams are making dreams come true or heading home for the offseason. Let’s take a look at the early games …

In Stillwater, #4 seed St. John’s eliminated #1 seed Oklahoma State 2-1. Red Storm pitcher Chris Kalica worked 7 and 1/3 innings of six hit ball. The one run he allowed was unearned. Thomas Hackimer got the final five outs to get the win. Matt Harris got two of St. John’s six hits. Robert Wayman got the hit to tie the game and Michael Donadio followed with the hit to give them the lead. Cowboy pitcher Conor Costello worked seven shutout innings and allowed just four hits. Trey Cobb relieved him and took the loss.

St. John’s advances to the regional final against Arkansas tonight. Oklahoma State is the second #1 seed to exit – following UCSB.

In Louisville, #3 seed Michigan jumped out early and held on to beat #2 seed Bradley Sunday 4-3. The Wolvervines got 6 and 2/3 innings from Evan Hill who allowed just seven hits, two runs – one earned, and fanned six to get the win. Jacon Cronenworth and Jackson Glines each had two hits for Michigan. Bradley cut a three-run deficit to one thanks to a ninth inning home run from Evan Gruener but could get no closer.

Michigan moves on to the regional final to face Louisville. Bradley’s season is complete.

In Gainesville, #2 seed Florida Atlantic knocked off #3 seed South Florida 8-4. The Owls got home runs from Brendon Sanger and Roman Collins (grand slam) to score eight runs on eight hits. The bullpen duo of David McKay and Bo Logan worked five innings of 1-hit, shutout ball. Luke Maglich led USF with three hits.

FAU advances to face Florida later today. USF’s season is complete.

In Champaign, #3 seed Wright State completed a suspended game and defeated #4 seed Ohio 8-3. Jesse Scholtens (7-4) worked eight innings and allowed right hits and two runs to pick up the win. Mark Fowler went 3-5 with a home run and Ryan Fucci added two hits and a home run to lead the Wright State lineup.

Wright State faces the loser of today’s Notre Dame versus Illinois contest tonight. Ohio’s season is complete.

In Dallas, top seed Dallas Baptist held #3 seed Texas to three hits in an 8-1 victory Sunday. The game was initially scheduled for Saturday but was postponed by rain. DBU starter Cory Taylor pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts. The Patriot lineup pounded 16 hits with Justin Wall leading the attack with three hits, a home run, and six RBI. Camden Zuzenack went 3-4 with four runs scored.

Dallas Baptist will face the loser of today’s Oregon State versus VCU contest tonight. Texas is eliminated – their first time to go 0-2 in regional play since 1971.

In Houston, #2 seed Rice completed a suspended game and defeated #4 seed Houston Baptist 3-1. The Owls used three pitchers – Jordan Stephens, Ricardo Silanas, and Matt Ditman to hold HBU to eight hits. Rice was led offensively by Ford Stainback who went 4-4 with a double. Ryan Chandler had a double and drove in a pair of runs. Houston Baptist got a strong pitching effort from Curtis Jones who logged 7 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits and three runs – two earned.

Rice moves on to face the loser of today’s Houston versus Louisiana-Lafayette contest. Houston Baptist is eliminated.

In College Station, top seed Texas A&M bounced back with a decisive 8-1 victory over #2 seed Coastal Carolina. Andrew Vinson worked 7 and 2/3 scoreless innings and only allowed five hits. He struck out eight and walked three. Nick Banks went 3-3 with a home run and Logan Nottebrook added another homer in the 13 hit attack. Anthony Marks had two of Coastal’s six hits.

Texas A&M moves on to face California. Coastal Carolina’s season is complete.

In Coral Gables, #3 seed Columbia advanced to the regional final with a 4-3 victory over #4 seed Florida International. Three Lion hurlers limited FIU to five hits. Will Savage led the Lions’ lineup with three hits.

Columbia now faces Miami later tonight. FIU’s season is complete.