Conference:
ECU continues to be the leader and nothing about that changed this weekend. They hosted a Rider program that went to the NCAAs last season and more than held their own there. ECU shut them out twice in sweeping the series 16-2, 7-0, 7-0. JJC leads the Pirates but the cupboard is full in Greenville.
Charlotte struggled with Virginia Tech in Charlotte. They lost the first 2 games 0-10, 5-10 before salvaging the Sunday game 10-5. I didn't see a lot of it, but they didn't look competitive Friday, at all. Va. Tech was picked in the bottom 4 of the ACC but obviously it's one of the best conferences.
UTSA hosted UTA and split the 4 game series, 9-10, 7-2, 2-1, 4-5. In that 2-1 win, the Roadrunners beat former Shocker Austin Wallace who came on in relief for UTA in the 9th with the game tied at 1.
Florida Atlantic gave #6 Vanderbilt all they wanted. Vandy could be suffering a PattyBeamer-lag this season. FAU had at least 3 chances to win the first game before dropping a heartbreaker when the Vandyboys scored 3 times with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th to win game one 12-11. FAU came back to win the Saturday matchup 5-4 and Vandy took the series on Sunday convincingly 11-1.
South Florida struggled to get games in this weekend because of weather, and when they did play, they struggled to score runs against very good competition. They lost 1-2 to Uconn on Friday, had games rained out vs Louisville and ISUb on Saturday and Sunday then were shutout by the Trees today 0-5. They only got 2 runners to 2nd and none to 3rd today. Both opponents are receiving votes and picked to win their respective conferences (Big East and MVC).
Memphis lost 2 of 3 on the road at Jacksonville State. JSU was picked 7 of 9 CUSA teams, so not a great start for the Tigers. 5-6 (13 innings) 7-4, 9-13 (10 innings). I caught the end of the last game, kind of cool. JSU had 1st and 2nd, 1 out in the bottom of the 10th, singled to center, and Memphis threw out the runner trying to score. then, with 2 outs, a walk loaded the bases and JSU walked off the Tigers with a grand salami.
Rice, to be frank, looked bad at home against Notre Dame. The Irish are picked in the bottom 4 of the ACC. Rice lost all 3 games, 1-3, 5-9, 10-13. Former Shocker Kyte McDonald struggled the first 2 games in the leadoff position going 0-8 but had a good Sunday lower in the lineup going 2-3 with 2 BB, 1SB, 1 HR & 2 RBI.
Tulane hosted Northwestern out of the Big10. For some reason the Big10 only released the top 6 in the poll. I'm sure NU was picked 13th & last (Wisconsin does not have a baseball team) as they are coming off a bizarre season where they went 10-40. Tulane won 2 of 3. The tiny bit I saw of Tulane on Friday reminded me of Kenny's game yesterday.....disinterested and uninspired. Tulane lost the first game 0-9 but came back to take the Saturday game 6-2 and won the series yesterday 12-9. NU is likely horrible, so not much can be garnered from these results.
UAB hosted Kennesaw State, picked 5th in the very competitive ASUN. UAB led early Friday but gave up a big inning late and lost 7-12. They came back to win Saturday 12-4 and then clinched the series Sunday 3-0. A nice result against a solid team. UAB travels to Auburn tomorrow.
Future opponents results:
Virginia hosted Hofstra picked near the bottom of the CAA 10-8, 21-3, 11-9. They'll try to play a mid week vs ODU before heading to Jax to take on the Shocks. Virginia is picked to win the ACC.
Auburn pummeled Eastern Kentucky over the weekend 17-6, 6-1, 9-1. As mentioned above, they'll take on UAB mid week. Auburn is picked lower half of the SEC but still a likely tourney team.
Iowa won the first 2 games this last weekend, beating Seton Hall 5-2 & Ball State 5-0 before falling to Lehigh 4-8 on Sunday. Iowa is picked to win the B1G.
ORU hosted Evansville and dropped 2 of 3. 12-10, 3-14, 6-7. Former Shocker David Herring starts at SS for ORU and went 3-9 over the weekend. ORU is well coached but they lost a ton from last season's CWS team.
Utah Tech hosted HCBG's former Washington State team at Bruce Hurst Field and dropped 3 of 4 to the Cougars who were picked dead last in the PAC12. 6-12, 6-8, 7-4, 1-5.
Oklahoma lost to Oregon on Friday 2-4. They beat #5 Tennessee on Saturday 5-1 in 10 innings and beat Nebraska 7-6 on Sunday. Former Shocker Jace Minor pitched to one batter in the Nebraska game. Former Shocker Austin Henry has not pitched yet and may (I have no idea) not be healthy.
Long Beach State has a new coach and is picked 8th in the very tough Big West. I'm guessing that's going to be a mistake. LBSU hosted Washington and won 2 of 3 vs the Huskies 10-5, 3-2 and then Sunday's game was halted after 17 tied at 3.
Nebraska, picked in the top 5 of the B1G, opened the season Friday in that Arlington tournament and beat Baylor 4-1. Saturday they lost to Texas Tech 4-6 and on Sunday lost to OU 6-7.
Gonzaga were swept at #22 UCLA over the weekend 7-8, 3-10, 0-6. The Zags were picked 6th in the WCC.
KState travelled to Scottsdale and lost to Cal on Friday 3-6. They bounced back to beat Boston College 6-4 and Georgetown 7-6. Not a great weekend for the #24 Wildcats. Former Shocker Chuck Ingram is hitting 2nd for the Cats, was 5-12 over the weekend with 2 walks and 4 Ks.
Oklahoma State had a rough start to the season. They travelled to Sam Houston State and lost 2 of 3. They lost Friday 2-7, Saturday 1-2 before exacting some revenge Sunday 19-2. Former Shocker Robert Cranz took the loss in Saturday's game. Cranzy pitched 1 and a third, gave up 2 hits and walked 2 and gave up the game winner.
Kansas was terrible in dropping 2 of 3 against Valley bottom dweller UIC. 9-11, 6-13 before getting one Sunday 8-2. Former Shocker Grant Adler pitched 2 and two thirds in relief on Saturday, giving up 3 hits, 2 runs, walked 3 and struck out 4.
Other former Shockers of note....Nate Snead picked up the win vs Baylor for Tennessee pitching 5 innings out of the bullpen. Sneader was mid to high 90s all night.
Payton Tolle hit a 3 run bomb to give TCU the lead late vs FGCU. On the weekend Payton was 4-13 with 5 RBI and pitched 3 innings. He was great for 2 innings then ran into trouble in the 3rd giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, a walk and 2 HBPs. He did strike out 7 in the 3 innings.
Garrett Pennington was 4-13 hitting in the middle of the NC State lineup.
I'm sure I missed some guys.
Clark Candiotti was the Saturday starter for Arizona. Clark gave up 2 earned in 5 innings, striking out 5 and walked none (1 HBP) in a no decision.
ECU continues to be the leader and nothing about that changed this weekend. They hosted a Rider program that went to the NCAAs last season and more than held their own there. ECU shut them out twice in sweeping the series 16-2, 7-0, 7-0. JJC leads the Pirates but the cupboard is full in Greenville.
Charlotte struggled with Virginia Tech in Charlotte. They lost the first 2 games 0-10, 5-10 before salvaging the Sunday game 10-5. I didn't see a lot of it, but they didn't look competitive Friday, at all. Va. Tech was picked in the bottom 4 of the ACC but obviously it's one of the best conferences.
UTSA hosted UTA and split the 4 game series, 9-10, 7-2, 2-1, 4-5. In that 2-1 win, the Roadrunners beat former Shocker Austin Wallace who came on in relief for UTA in the 9th with the game tied at 1.
Florida Atlantic gave #6 Vanderbilt all they wanted. Vandy could be suffering a PattyBeamer-lag this season. FAU had at least 3 chances to win the first game before dropping a heartbreaker when the Vandyboys scored 3 times with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th to win game one 12-11. FAU came back to win the Saturday matchup 5-4 and Vandy took the series on Sunday convincingly 11-1.
South Florida struggled to get games in this weekend because of weather, and when they did play, they struggled to score runs against very good competition. They lost 1-2 to Uconn on Friday, had games rained out vs Louisville and ISUb on Saturday and Sunday then were shutout by the Trees today 0-5. They only got 2 runners to 2nd and none to 3rd today. Both opponents are receiving votes and picked to win their respective conferences (Big East and MVC).
Memphis lost 2 of 3 on the road at Jacksonville State. JSU was picked 7 of 9 CUSA teams, so not a great start for the Tigers. 5-6 (13 innings) 7-4, 9-13 (10 innings). I caught the end of the last game, kind of cool. JSU had 1st and 2nd, 1 out in the bottom of the 10th, singled to center, and Memphis threw out the runner trying to score. then, with 2 outs, a walk loaded the bases and JSU walked off the Tigers with a grand salami.
Rice, to be frank, looked bad at home against Notre Dame. The Irish are picked in the bottom 4 of the ACC. Rice lost all 3 games, 1-3, 5-9, 10-13. Former Shocker Kyte McDonald struggled the first 2 games in the leadoff position going 0-8 but had a good Sunday lower in the lineup going 2-3 with 2 BB, 1SB, 1 HR & 2 RBI.
Tulane hosted Northwestern out of the Big10. For some reason the Big10 only released the top 6 in the poll. I'm sure NU was picked 13th & last (Wisconsin does not have a baseball team) as they are coming off a bizarre season where they went 10-40. Tulane won 2 of 3. The tiny bit I saw of Tulane on Friday reminded me of Kenny's game yesterday.....disinterested and uninspired. Tulane lost the first game 0-9 but came back to take the Saturday game 6-2 and won the series yesterday 12-9. NU is likely horrible, so not much can be garnered from these results.
UAB hosted Kennesaw State, picked 5th in the very competitive ASUN. UAB led early Friday but gave up a big inning late and lost 7-12. They came back to win Saturday 12-4 and then clinched the series Sunday 3-0. A nice result against a solid team. UAB travels to Auburn tomorrow.
Future opponents results:
Virginia hosted Hofstra picked near the bottom of the CAA 10-8, 21-3, 11-9. They'll try to play a mid week vs ODU before heading to Jax to take on the Shocks. Virginia is picked to win the ACC.
Auburn pummeled Eastern Kentucky over the weekend 17-6, 6-1, 9-1. As mentioned above, they'll take on UAB mid week. Auburn is picked lower half of the SEC but still a likely tourney team.
Iowa won the first 2 games this last weekend, beating Seton Hall 5-2 & Ball State 5-0 before falling to Lehigh 4-8 on Sunday. Iowa is picked to win the B1G.
ORU hosted Evansville and dropped 2 of 3. 12-10, 3-14, 6-7. Former Shocker David Herring starts at SS for ORU and went 3-9 over the weekend. ORU is well coached but they lost a ton from last season's CWS team.
Utah Tech hosted HCBG's former Washington State team at Bruce Hurst Field and dropped 3 of 4 to the Cougars who were picked dead last in the PAC12. 6-12, 6-8, 7-4, 1-5.
Oklahoma lost to Oregon on Friday 2-4. They beat #5 Tennessee on Saturday 5-1 in 10 innings and beat Nebraska 7-6 on Sunday. Former Shocker Jace Minor pitched to one batter in the Nebraska game. Former Shocker Austin Henry has not pitched yet and may (I have no idea) not be healthy.
Long Beach State has a new coach and is picked 8th in the very tough Big West. I'm guessing that's going to be a mistake. LBSU hosted Washington and won 2 of 3 vs the Huskies 10-5, 3-2 and then Sunday's game was halted after 17 tied at 3.
Nebraska, picked in the top 5 of the B1G, opened the season Friday in that Arlington tournament and beat Baylor 4-1. Saturday they lost to Texas Tech 4-6 and on Sunday lost to OU 6-7.
Gonzaga were swept at #22 UCLA over the weekend 7-8, 3-10, 0-6. The Zags were picked 6th in the WCC.
KState travelled to Scottsdale and lost to Cal on Friday 3-6. They bounced back to beat Boston College 6-4 and Georgetown 7-6. Not a great weekend for the #24 Wildcats. Former Shocker Chuck Ingram is hitting 2nd for the Cats, was 5-12 over the weekend with 2 walks and 4 Ks.
Oklahoma State had a rough start to the season. They travelled to Sam Houston State and lost 2 of 3. They lost Friday 2-7, Saturday 1-2 before exacting some revenge Sunday 19-2. Former Shocker Robert Cranz took the loss in Saturday's game. Cranzy pitched 1 and a third, gave up 2 hits and walked 2 and gave up the game winner.
Kansas was terrible in dropping 2 of 3 against Valley bottom dweller UIC. 9-11, 6-13 before getting one Sunday 8-2. Former Shocker Grant Adler pitched 2 and two thirds in relief on Saturday, giving up 3 hits, 2 runs, walked 3 and struck out 4.
Other former Shockers of note....Nate Snead picked up the win vs Baylor for Tennessee pitching 5 innings out of the bullpen. Sneader was mid to high 90s all night.
Payton Tolle hit a 3 run bomb to give TCU the lead late vs FGCU. On the weekend Payton was 4-13 with 5 RBI and pitched 3 innings. He was great for 2 innings then ran into trouble in the 3rd giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, a walk and 2 HBPs. He did strike out 7 in the 3 innings.
Garrett Pennington was 4-13 hitting in the middle of the NC State lineup.
I'm sure I missed some guys.
Clark Candiotti was the Saturday starter for Arizona. Clark gave up 2 earned in 5 innings, striking out 5 and walked none (1 HBP) in a no decision.
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