Myworld takes a look at some of the college games around the country and reports on about three or four series a week. We will continue that this year.
Aztecs Sweep Toreros
It would not be a review if we didn’t start things off with our alma mater San Diego State playing the 12th ranked USD Toreros. They played the game at USD’s new facility Fowler Park. The Aztecs pulled a surprising sweep over their San Diego rival USD.
In the opener Greg Allen smashed four hits and Tim Zier three from the first two spots in the order as the Aztecs crushed USD 8-1. Tim finished with a team high three RBIs. Brad Haynall also contributed three hits, two doubles and a triple to drive in two. the Aztecs scored early and often, crossing the plate at least once in five of the first six innings. Despite his wildness, walking five hitters Michael Cederoth got the victory working five innings. Justin Hepner closed out the final four innings for the save. Dylan Covey only survived three innings, giving up six runs before his departure in the fourth after the first three hitters got on base. Kris Bryant went 0 for 3 for USD.
The second game was a little more competetive, but Greg Allen got them rolling again with his three hits and three runs scored to give the Aztecs a 4-2 victory. He started the game off with a double and then scored on a Tim Zier single. Brad Haynal stroked the fourth hit in a row to start the game to drive in Zier for the second run. Zier drove in Allen again with a double in the fifth. Ryan Muno drove in Allen in the seventh with an RBI single. Ethan Miller got the win in relief, working four plus innings and giving up just one run while striking out six. Bubba Derby worked the ninth and got the save despite giving up two hits to put runners on second and third with no outs.
Tim Zier led the Aztecs to the sweep, driving in the first two runs with an RBI single to give the Aztecs a 5-3 win. Bubba Derby picked up another save in the ninth, but it didn’t come any easier. Justin Hepner, who pitched a scoreless eighth loaded the bases in the ninth on a single, hit by pitch and walk. The freshman Derby came in for the second time with the tying run on second and no one out and struck out the side, one of those strikeouts being Kris Bryant. Kris Bryant got a hit earlier in the game for USD, his second of the series and finished 2 for 9.
Things don’t get any easier for the Aztecs as they have to go against sixth ranked Oregon State as their next opponent in San Diego.
Rice Owls Take Two of Three from Cardinal
Since the Stanford Cardinal were rated ninth it was a bit of an upset for the 18th ranked Rice Owls to beat them two out of three in their opener. In the opener the Owls slapped around 2012 first round pick Mark Appel for five runs in five innings to take the opener 5-1. Only two of the runs were earned. Austin Kubitza struck out 12 in six innings of shutout work to get the win. Zech Lemond finished the game for him working the last three innings.
Stanford evened the series with a 3-2 win. Justin Ringo broke a 2-2 tie with a double in the eighth. Brian Ragira had driven in the Cardinal first two runs with a double in the third. Daniel Starwalt got the win with three plus shutout innings of relief. Garrett Hughes retired the last two hitters with the tying run on first to pick up the save. Rice scored their only two runs on two solo shots from Michael Aquino.
Rice came back in the rubber match, limiting the Cardinal to one hit in a 3-0 win. John Simms worked the first seven plus innings, giving up a leadoff double to Austin Barr in the eighth for the only hit. Zech Lemond got the last five outs to pick up the save. The big bat for the Owls was Shane Hoelscher who went 4 for 4, driving in two of the three Owl runs. The Owls scored all three of their runs in the opening frame.
Ole Miss Rebels Down TCU
In another top 25 match up the 13th ranked Ole Miss Rebels swept the 14th ranked TCU Horned Frogs. The opener was a 1-0 pitcher’s duel won by Bobby Wahl over Brandon Finnegan. Wahl worked six innings and gave up just three hits, striking out eight. Closer Bret Huber loaded the bases with one out in the ninth but got out of the inning on a double play ground out by Kevin Daniels after the runner sliding into second was called for interference. The only run in the game scored as a result of a passed ball moving Sikes Orvis to third where he scored on a squeeze bunt by Will Jamison.
The next two games did not have as much drama as the Rebels won the last two 5-2 to complete the sweep. In the second game the Rebels had to rally for four runs in the eighth to overcome a 2-1 deficit. Huber came on in the ninth and had to load the bases again before retiring the last hitter on a fly out. Preston Morrison had limited Ole Miss to just two hits in his first seven innings. After walking the leadoff hitter in the eighth the Horned Frogs went to their bullpen to no avail, getting lashed for the four runs. Tanner Mathis got the game tying single and Auston Bousfield drove in the go ahead run with a single.
Stuart Turner had a grand slam in the opening frame in the second 5-2 victory.