Monday, June 2, 2014

College Baseball Update

Big day yesterday -- lots of results to report:

SUPER REGIONAL ONE:

 Corvallis (Ore.) Region

Number-one overall seed Oregon State swept two games yesterday, beating UNLV in an elimination game and then beating UC-Irvine to set up a showdown today for the Regional Championship (eliminated teams are in italics):

(1) Oregon St:  3-1
(3) UC-Irvine:  2-1
(2) UNLV:  1-2
(4) N. Dakota St:  0-2

Stillwater (Okla.) Region

Oklahoma State beat Cal-State Fullerton 6-4 to win this region.

(1) Oklahoma St:  3-0
(3) Cal State Fullerton:  2-2
(2) Nebraska:  1-2
(4) Binghamton:  0-2

SUPER REGIONAL TWO:

Houston Region

The old Southwest Conference put on an amazing show yesterday.  Texas A & M trailed Rice 6-1 in the seventh inning, but fought back to win an elimination game 9-8 in 10 innings.  Then the Aggies got a complete game from a freshman pitcher to beat the Texas Longhorns 3-2.  So today the Aggies and Longhorns will play for the Regional Championship:

(2) Texas:  2-1
(3) Texas A & M:  3-1
(1) Rice:  1-2
(4) George Mason:  0-2

Baton Rouge (La.) Region

Another former member of the Southwest Conference -- Houston -- had a big day, beating SE Louisiana 9-5 in an elimination game, and then beating LSU 5-4 in 11 innings to set up a showdown today for the Regional Championship:

(1) Louisiana St:  2-1
(2) Houston:  3-1
(4) SE Louisiana:  1-2
(3)  Bryant:  0-2

SUPER REGIONAL THREE:

Tallahassee (Fla.) Region

Since Florida State was eliminated, these guys were playing in front of a bunch of empty seats.  But Alabama didn't mind, as they beat Georgia Southern 6-0 in an elimination game, and then beat Kennsaw State 4-1 to set up a one-game playoff for the Regional Championship:

(2) Alabama:  3-1
(3) Kennesaw St:  2-1
(4) Georgia Southern:  1-2
(1) Florida St:  0-2

Louisville (Ky.) Region

It's been quite a semester for sports in the Commonwealth.  UK and U of L both qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all four of the big spring sports:  men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, and softball.  We have long recognized that U of L has one of the best athletic departments in the country, but credit should be given to Mitch Barnhart for UK's improvement in some of the non-football sports.

So how did the Cats and Cards do compared to each other?  Kentucky knocked U of L out of the men's basketball tournament, and Kentucky's softball team reached the Women's College World Series, while U of L was beaten in Regional play.  But U of L's women reached the Elite Eight in the women's basketball tournament, while UK could only reach the Sweet 16.  And yesterday, U of L knocked UK out of the baseball tournament, cruising to an easy 4-1 win after the Cats had survived an elimination game against Kansas:

(1) Louisville:  3-0
(2) Kentucky:  2-2
(3) Kansas:  1-2
(4) Kent St:  0-2

SUPER REGIONAL FOUR:

Nashville (Tenn.) Region

Ten teams from the SEC made the NCAA Baseball Tournament, but so far Vandy is the only one to qualify for the Super Regionals.  The Dores advanced last night with a walk-off 3-2 win over Oregon:

(1) Vanderbilt:  3-0
(2) Oregon:  2-2
(4) Xavier:  1-2
(3) Clemson:  0-2

Bloomington (Ind.) Region

Indiana could not finish off Stanford yesterday, as the Cardinals beat the Hoosiers 10-7 to set up a one-game playoff today for the Regional Championship:

(1) Indiana:  2-1
(3) Stanford:  3-1
(4) Youngstown St: 1-2
(2) Indiana St:  0-2


SUPER REGIONAL FIVE:

Gainesville (Fla.) Region

Since Florida has already been eliminated, there were a bunch of empty seats in Gainesville yesterday -- and a lot of rain.  Long Beach State and UNC couldn't finish their elimination game yesterday -- LBSU leads 5-4 in the seventh:

(4) College of Charleston:  2-0
(2) Long Beach St:  1-1
(3) N. Carolina:  1-1
(1) Florida:  0-2

Coral Gables (Fla.) Region

Miami (Fla.) pounded Bethune-Cookman 10-0 in an elimination game, but the Canes were trailing Texas Tech 1-0 in the 8th when that game was stopped by rain:

(2) Texas Tech:  2-0
(1) Miami (Fla.):  2-1
(4) Bethune-Cookman:  1-2
(3) Columbia:  0-2

SUPER REGIONAL SIX

San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Region

Pepperdine swept through this region, beating hosts Cal Poly 10-6 yesterday to clinch a trip to Fort Worth for the Super Regionals:

(3) Pepperdine:  3-0
(1) Cal Poly:  2-2
(4) Sacramento St:  1-2
(2) Arizona St:  0-2

Fort Worth (Tex.) Region

Texas Christian, having survived a 22-inning marathon with Sam Houston State on Saturday night (with some help from the umpires) had little problem with the exhausted Bearkats last night, beating them 6-1 to clinch a trip to the Supers:

(1) Texas Christian:  3-0
(3) Sam Houston St:  2-2
(4) Siena:  1-2
(2) Dallas Baptist:  0-2

SUPER REGIONAL SEVEN

Lafayette (La.) Region

Louisiana-Lafayette, fighting for its life at home, beat Jackson State 11-1 and then beat Mississippi State 14-8 to set up a one-game playoff today for the Regional Championship:

(1) La-Lafayette:  3-1
(2) Mississippi St:  2-1
(4) Jackson St:  1-2
(3) San Diego St:  0-2

Oxford (Miss.) Region

Ole Miss and Washington will meet today to settle this region:

(1) Mississippi:  2-0
(2) Washington:  2-1
(3) Georgia Tech:  1-2
(4) Jacksonville St:  0-2

SUPER REGIONAL EIGHT

Columbia (S.C.) Region

South Carolina hadn't lost a regional tournament at home since the 1970's, and Maryland hadn't been to the NCAA Baseball Tournament at all since 1971.  But history went out the window yesterday, as the Terps pounded the Gamecocks 10-1 to roll into the Supers.

(2) Maryland:  3-0
(1) S. Carolina:  2-2
(4) Campbell:  1-2
(3) Old Dominion:  0-2

Charlottesville (Va.) Region

UVA had a very easy time this weekend, sweeping the region with a 10-1 win over Bucknell, a 3-0 win over Arkansas, and a 9-2 win over Arkansas.  Now the Cavaliers will get the chance to host their old rivals from Maryland in the next round:

(1) Virginia:  3-0
(2) Arkansas:  2-2
(4) Bucknell:  1-2
(3) Liberty:  0-2

46 comments:

  1. In Tallahassee, Alabama and Kennasaw State have started their playoff game.

    Alabama has been on a roll (so to speak). They won the men's golf championship, and they are playing for the NCAA softball championship tonight.

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  2. In Gainesville, Long Beach State closes out UNC 12-5. The Gainesville Region is now down to the Beach and College of Charleston.

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  3. Most Long Beach State teams are known as the "49ers." But the baseball team is known by the "Dirtbags." I thought this was just an informal nickname, but it was up on the scoreboard in Gainesville.

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  4. Miami, trying to stave off elimination, has tied its game with Texas Tech. The score is 1-1 in the top of the 8th.

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  5. In Coral Gables, Miami and Texas Tech are still tied at 1 and are headed to the 10th.

    In Tallahassee, Kennesaw State trailed 2-1 after 4 1/2 innings, but they have fought back with a run in the 5th and another in the 7th. In the bottom of the 8th, the Owls lead Alabama 3-2.

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  6. Kennesaw State tacks on an insurance run, and they now lead Alabama 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th. Louisville better get ready for an Owl invasion.

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  7. Since April 5, Kennesaw State has gone 25-2.

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  8. The Owls are not what they seem! Kennesaw State beats Alabama 4-2 to win the Tallahassee Region. Next up, the Owls travel to Louisville to face the Cardinals.

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  9. Miami beats Texas Tech 2-1 in 10 innings to stave off elimination and force another game later today.

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  10. Three of the Super Regionals have now been decided (home team listed first):

    Louisville v. Kennesaw St.
    Texas Christian v. Pepperdine
    Virginia v. Maryland

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  11. The SEC is quickly running out of teams. So far they've lost Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Alabama. Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU, and Texas A & M are still playing in the Regionals. Only Vandy has advanced to the Supers.

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  12. But in Oxford, Ole Miss just hit a homer to take a 1-0 lead over Washington in the top of the second. If the Johnny Rebs win this game, they will be in the next round.

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  13. In Gainesville, College of Charleston and LBSU are tied 2-2 in the fourth.

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  14. In Oxford, Washington scratches out a run to tie Ole Miss at 1 after three innings.

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  15. In Gainesville, College of Charleston leads LBSU 4-2 in the top of the 4th.

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  16. In the bottom of the 5th, Washington takes the lead on an error, an infield hit, a bunt single, and a sacrifice fly. Huskies 2, Rebels 1.

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  17. In the top of the 6th, Ole Miss ties the game on two doubles, but then their runner is picked off of second to kill that rally. So we're all tied at 2 after 5 1/2.

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  18. In the top of the 7th, with the score tied at 2, Oxford was hit by a rainstorm, so the game is in a delay.

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  19. Meanwhile, the College of Charleston -- which came in second in the Colonial Athletic Association (but won the conference tournament) -- has swept through the Gainesville Regional, beating LBSU 4-2 to advance to the Supers.

    The team that came in first in the CAA -- William & Mary -- didn't get invited to the NCAA, presumably because we needed to give 10 spots to the SEC.

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  20. In Bloomington, IU and Stanford are scoreless in the second inning.

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  21. Wait, now IU has jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Stanford in the second.

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  22. In the final game of the Coral Gables region, Texas Tech is clinging to a 2-0 lead over Miami in the 7th inning.

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  23. Texas Tech still leads Miami 2-0 going into the 9th inning.

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  24. In the top of the 3d, an Indiana batter clubs a tremendous home run to deep right field to put the Hoosiers up 3-0 over Stanford. A bunch of happy IU fans, mostly covered with various forms of plastic to keep out the rain, stand up and cheer.

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  25. In the top of the 9th in Coral Gables, Texas Tech tacks on two more runs to give themselves a 4-0 lead over Miami.

    It's still raining in Oxford.

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  26. Now the rains have hit Bloomington with a vengeance, and the IU/Stanford game is also in a weather delay.

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  27. Texas Tech finishes off Miami 4-0 and the Red Raiders are on to the Supers. All three big clubs in Florida -- the Gators, Noles, and Canes -- lost on their home fields. From 1999 to 2013, Florida teams went 25-3 in regions that they hosted at home. This year, they went 0-3.

    We now have four of the eight Super Regionals (home teams listed first):

    Louisville v. Kennesaw St.
    Texas Tech v. College of Charleston
    Texas Christian v. Pepperdine
    Virginia v. Maryland

    Oklahoma St. and Vandy have also won their regions, but we don't yet know who they'll play next week. The Cowboys will play either Oregon State or UC Irvine, while Vandy will play either Indiana or Stanford.

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  28. The rains have stopped in Oxford, and men with blow dryers are trying to dry the outfield.

    It still seems to be raining pretty hard in Bloomington.

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  29. Meanwhile, Texas and Texas A & M have renewed their ancient rivalry under bright sunny skies in Houston, where they have met to decide the Regional Championship. In the top of the first, the Aggies have a 1-0 lead.

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  30. And in Oxford, the players are out on the field, the fans are back in the stands, and the game is about to be renewed. Ole Miss and Washington are tied at 2 in the top of the 7th.

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  31. 8th inning, still 2-2 in Oxford. Ole Miss opens the inning with its 10th hit of the game, a line drive single to center.

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, that was a one-out single. The Rebels got a walk to put men on first and second.

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    2. But they didn't do anything else. The next batter popped up and the next one struck out. So it's still 2-2 going into the bottom of the 8th.

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  32. In the bottom of the 1st, the Longhorns have tied Texas A & M at 1 apiece.

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  33. In Lafayette, La-Lafayette has jumped out to an early 1-0 lead over Mississippi St. in the third inning.

    This is like some New Year's Days I can remember from the 1980's, where you could sit on your couch and watch the SEC lose all day.

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  34. In fact, I'm stepping out for dinner. I've seen enough for now.

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  35. OK, I'm back. A bunch of stuff has happened:

    In Oxford, Ole Miss finally beat Washington 3-2 in 10 innings, so the Rebs are moving on to the Super Regionals.

    In Lafayette, La-Lafayette leads Mississippi St. 4-1 in the 7th, so the Ragin' Cajuns are probably going to advance.

    In Houston, Texas leads Texas A & M 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th.

    In Baton Rouge, LSU is locked in a 2-2 game with Houston in the 2nd inning. Given how badly the SEC offenses have been today, the Tiger faithful should be happy they've scored at least two runs.

    In Bloomington, IU leads Stanford 3-0 in the third inning of a game that has been stopped by rain.

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  36. La-Lafayette isn't out of the woods yet. Mississippi State has scored two runs in the seventh, and La-Laf now leads by only 4-3.

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  37. You can take the Aggies out of UT's conference, but you can't take the Longhorns out of the Aggies' heads. For about 100 years, Texas dominated A & M in every sport, until the Aggies finally gave up an joined the SEC. Now, in their first major confrontation as members of different leagues, UT has shown that they still dominate the Aggies. The Longhorns lead 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, and they have runners on 2d and 3d with only one out. Meanwhile, in their biggest game of the year, the Aggies have only two hits and three errors.

    If A & M and Mississippi State both lose, as now seems likely, then LSU will be the only SEC team with a chance left to join Vandy and Ole Miss in the Super Regionals. SEC fans are really good at bragging, but there's not much to brag about in this weekend's performance. Florida and South Carolina, which were hosting regionals, have already been beaten. Alabama was knocked out by Kennesaw State. UK lost to U of L. A & M is probably going to lose to UT. These are all disappointing results.

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  38. Plus, Vandy and Ole Miss will probably have to go on the road for their Super Regionals. So if LSU loses today, there's a good chance that no team from the SEC will make the CWS.

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  39. After 7, UT leads A & M 4 to 1.

    The Big XII, by the way, is looking very strong. TCU, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State have already won their regions, and UT is about to join them.

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  40. 6,825 fans have turned out at Rice's Recking Park for the showdown between UT and TAMU, thus setting a stadium record. The ones wearing burnt orange look very happy.

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  41. Meanwhile, Houston has jumped out to a 6-2 lead over LSU in the third inning, so the Tigers are probably done as well.

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  42. OK, I've seen enough. I'll update tomorrow.

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