Saturday March 13th

ULM 8 MT 5

Middle Tennessee led 5-4 at the top of the ninth but a defensive breakdown allowed UL-Monroe to take an 8-5 win on Saturday night.

ULM (7-6, 1-1) tied the game for the second straight night in the top of the ninth. Shane Ardoin scored from second after an error by junior Justin Miller on a groundball hit by Caleb Clowers knotting the score at 5. Two more errors by Miller allowed three runs to score for the Warhawks as they took an 8-5 lead.

"You have to go out and get that 27th out which is very hard to do. I don't feel sorry for anybody. This is the way the game is and you find out things about yourself and your teammates. We are finding out we have to be a much mentally tougher team because being physically gifted is not the answer. Monroe had us the whole game and we were opportunistic when we got ourselves where we could have won it but we didn't," head coach Steve Peterson said.

Senior Justin Jones' pinch hit three-run home run tied the game at four and then junior Bryce Brentz hit a home run to right field to give the Blue Raiders (9-5, 1-1) the one run lead. Brentz's home run broke the all-time home run record at Middle Tennessee and he now has 52 in his career.

Sophomore Justin Guidry was the standout on the team in the game as he worked six innings on the mound and accounted for two runs. Guidry entered the game in the third inning and allowed just one run on three hits with four strikeouts in the outing. The Mount Juliet native also provided assistance to the offense going 2 for 3 at the plate with a home run, double, one RBI and scored two runs.

"I thought from the get go Monroe had us in check. They got their runs early and then Justin Guidry pretty much shut them down. Their guy shut us down and didn't really give us a chance then he made a couple of mistakes and Justin Jones did what is the hardest thing to do in baseball, came off the bench and hit a home run," Peterson said. "Congratulations to Bryce. He set the career home run record and put us ahead. They have just dominated us pitching wise so the series is right where it ought to be at 1-1."The Blue Raiders had six hits on the day four of which were for extra bases. Jones and Brentz each posted a hit while senior Drew Robertson and junior Will Skinner also posted a hit in the game.

The Warhawks ended the game with 10 hits while their pitching staff shut down the Blue Raiders most of the night recording 13 strikeouts.

Trailing 2-0, Guidry hit a solo shot to right field putting the first run and hit on the board to lead off the second inning for Blue Raiders.

ULM added two more runs in the third to take a three-run lead, 4-1.

To begin the seventh, Guidry walked and then senior Stuart Meinhart pinch hitting for Acker also received a base on balls putting runners at first and second. Jones, pinch hitting for freshman Ryan Ford, stepped to the plate and with a 2-0 count, hit a three-run home run to right field tying the game at 4.

Brentz set the career home run record with his solo shot to right field with one out in the eighth to give Middle Tennessee a 5-4 lead.

ASU 6 ULL 2

Arkansas State broke a 1-all tie with a five-run, fifth inning and held on for a 6-2 victory over Louisiana Saturday afternoon at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field in the middle game of the Sun Belt opening weekend series.

ULL (9-5, 1-1 Sun Belt) had runners on first and second - with one run already having scored - and no outs in the bottom of the seventh. ASU starting pitcher Ross Humes retired the next three hitters to keep the lead at 6-2.

Then in the eighth inning ASU reliever John Koch hit Jordan Poirrier and Chad Keefer on consecutive at bats to load the bases with the potential tying run coming to the plate. Koch was able to induce a double play off the bat of Matt Goulas to stop the threat.

UL reliever Randall Bulliard turned in a solid performance, entering in the sixth and holding the Red Wolves scoreless over four innings while scattering three hits.

With the win the Red Wolves (9-5, 1-1 Sun Belt) evened up the series with the Cajuns. The rubber match is set for 1 p.m., on Sunday with ULL's T.J. Geith (2-0, 3.79 ERA) facing ASU's Jacob Lee (1-1, 3.07 ERA).

Alex Fuselier extended his team-high and career-best hitting streak to 11 games, going 2-for-4. Keefer was a perfect 3-for-3 as he stretched his current hitting streak out to six games.

Taylor Hubbell was charged with his first loss of the season for the Cajuns. He allowed six earned runs on eight base hits over five innings of which five hits and five runs came in the fifth inning.

The loss ended Louisiana's four-game winning streak. ULL is now 4-3 on its current 10-game homestand.

Hubbell and Humes retired the opposition in order in the first inning and both worked around the leadoff batter getting aboard the basepath in the second inning.

The Red Wolves plated the game's first run in the third inning. Cody Pace doubled to lead off for ASU and wound up scoring on a one-out, RBI single by Michael Faulkner.

A leadoff double to left center by Brian Bowman in the bottom of the fourth helped the Cajuns score their first run off of Humes. Kyle Olasin sacrificed Bowman over to third then a grounder by Poirrier drove him home to knot the score at 1-all.

Pace's second double of the afternoon came with one out in the top of the fifth and jumpstarted a rally for the visitors. That was the first of five consecutive base hits which culminated in a three-run home run by Todd Baumgartner that opened a 6-1 lead for ASU.

Louisiana chopped into the Red Wolves' lead in the seventh. Keefer doubled to lead off and moved to third on a single to shallow center by Goulas. Fuselier dropped down a bunt single to plate Keefer with UL's second run.

Rutgers 20 FIU 11

In the first game of a doubleheader, the Rutgers Scarlett Knights defeated FIU Panthers, 18-11. The Rutgers offensive attack put up 20 runs on 24 hits and four errors to FIU's 11 runs on 14 hits and five errors.

Rutgers picked up an early lead off Scott Rembisz in the top of the first with an RBI single from Jaren Matthews. FIU would even up the game in the bottom half of the inning when Pablo Bermudez scored on a passed by the catcher Jayson Hernandez.

After Rutgers picked up four in the top half of the second, the Panthers would strike back in the bottom of the third and make it a new ball game with singles from T.J. Shantz, Jose Behar and Junior Arrojo.

The Scarlett Knights would put up three more in the fourth to make it an 8-6 advantage before Jeremy Patton led off the bottom of the fourth with his first-career home run. FIU would close the lead to one run with an Arrojo walk with the bases loaded.

Rutgers would continue to find the gaps on the field and put up four runs on five hits in the top of the fifth to go up 12-7.

Tim Jobe knocked in his second home run of the year in the bottom of the sixth when he took a 2-2 offering from Willie Beard over the right center field fence to close the margin to 12-8.

Arrojo led off the seventh inning with a frozen rope down the left field line to cruise into second with a leadoff double. On a 2-0 count, Jabari Henry took a Beard offering off the American Flag pole in left center for his fourth home run of the year, his third in two games, to cut the lead to 13-10. Arrojo had a 3-4 day with two RBI and a run scored.

Rutgers would tack on an extra five runs in the top of the eighth to increase their lead to eight runs.

FIU would chip away at Rutgers eight-run lead when Jobe deposited a solo shot over the left center field wall for his second home run of the game. Jobe finished the game 2-4 with two home runs, three RBI and four runs scored.

Willie Beard runs his record to 1-1 in the 18-11 win over FIU. The Panthers starter, Rembisz, falls to 2-2 on the year. In his first start of the season, Shantz went 3-5 with an RBI and a run.

USA 9 UALR 7

University of South Alabama righthander Garrett Harris allowed four runs on just three hits in six innings to lead the Jaguars to a 9-7 win over UALR Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.

Harris (2-1) struck out six Trojan batters while issuing three walks. Jaguar lefthander Lance Baxter earned his third save of the season in 1.1 innings of shutout relief and did not allow a hit while striking out three.

Jaguar left fielder Sean Laird went 3-for-5 with a home run and double, with three RBI and two runs scored. Zach Grichor also collected three hits, going 3-for-6 with an RBI and one run scored. Jake Overstreet and Taylor White also recorded two hits, and White stole a career-high three bases.

"Garrett [Harris] gave us a good tempo and pitched well," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "He was throwing strikes, and did a great job allowing us to extend the lead. We had some key hits, offensively, and it was a big win for us. Grichor was outstanding with the bat again, and Laird's home run was huge because we needed every run we had at the end of the game. But on the road, we showed some poise at the end of the game and didn't fall apart, so that was big."

UALR righthander Anthony Pryor took the loss in 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Pryor struck out four while walking three.

Trojan third baseman Casey McCollum went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead UALR at the plate.

The Jags took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with three runs on four hits. Overstreet singled to left field to score Grichor from second and give USA a 1-0 lead. Laird followed with a double to right field to move Overstreet to third base, then White singled up the middle to score Overstreet and Laird.

UALR (10-5, 0-2) cut the Jaguar lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first when Jason Houston singled to right center ot score Tyler Cameron, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

The Trojans scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the USA lead to 3-2 when Casey McCollum singled up the middle to score Wilson.

South Alabama increased its lead to 5-2 in the top of the fourth with two runs on two hits. Laird singled to right center to score Overstreet, who singled earlier in the inning. White reached on a fielder's choice later in the inning to score Tanner who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

The Jags opened up an 8-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run home run to right center field by Laird,which scored Brent Tanner who reached on a single.

UALR scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Jaguar lead to 8-3 on McCollum's single through the left side of the infield to score Tyson Parks, who reached on a walk.

USA added a run in the top of the seventh inning to take a 9-3 lead. Brandon Brown led off the inning with a double off the left field wall, and scored on a single by Grichor.

The Trojans rallied to cut the USA lead to 9-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs on three hits. Parks' groundout to second scored Jason Houston, then Wilson followed with an RBI double to center field to score Jake Rowell, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Bryce Killingsworth tripled later in the inning to score Wilson, and would later score on a wild pitch.

USA (11-6, 2-0) will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the final game of the three-game set.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

WKU 7 UNO 6

Western Kentucky rallied with three runs in the ninth inning to take an improbable 7-6 win at New Orleans on Saturday.

Casey Dykes capped off the two-out rally with a go-ahead RBI single to help WKU (11-4, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference) win its seventh straight against UNO (3-8, 0-2).

Dykes had two hits, and Kes Carter went 2-for-4 - including a home run for the second straight day - to clinch the series for the Hilltoppers.

Rye Davis worked around two hits to pick up his third save. Davis was one of seven Hilltopper pitchers, as reliever Ross Hammonds (1-0) was credited with the win after working a scoreless eighth inning.

Mats Mattson (1-1) picked up the loss after giving up three hits and three runs.

The ninth inning spoiled a brilliant outing from UNO starter John Pivach. The junior right-hander went seven innings and gave up just four runs (two earned) while allowing only three hits. He struck out five, though he did struggle with six walks.

Mike Petello led the UNO offense with three hits and an RBI, and senior catcher Tyler Sanford went 2-for-3, including a two-run triple. The Privateers had five players record multiple hits, and UNO tallied 13 hits overall.

The Privateers seemed set to even the three-game series after taking a 6-4 lead into the ninth. Mattson got the first two hitters he faced before running into trouble.

Carter got the rally going with a home run, and Matt Rice followed with a single to left field. After pinch-runner Logan Robbins advanced to second on a wild pitch, Ryan Huck tied the game with an RBI single up the middle.

Right-hander Kevin DeGrouttola relieved Mattson, but Dykes got ahead in the count and laced a single to center - plating Huck.

The Privateers got the potential tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, but Davis recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end it.

Friday March 12th

Louisiana-Lafayette 13, Arkansas State 5
LAFAYETTE, La. - Louisiana hit for the cycle as a team in the second inning and pushed across six runs which catapulted the squad to a 13-5 victory over Arkansas State Friday evening in the Sun Belt Conference opener at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.

Matt Goulas tripled to lead off the inning, just out of the reach of ASU center fielder Michael Faulkner. Alex Fuselier followed with an RBI single to center field for the game's first run.

After a Trask Switzenberg walk, Greg Fontenot tripled to score Fuselier and Switzenberg upping the lead to 3-0. Brian Bowman laid down a bunt that allowed Fontenot to cross home plate with the fourth run.

Kyle Olasin doubled, then Jordan Poirrier capped off the fireworks with a two-run home run over the right field fence to advance the lead to 6-0.

That was more than enough support for starting pitcher Zach Osborne who fanned nine Red Wolves hitters and limited them to only one multiple-run frame over seven innings. Osborne collected his first victory of the season.

The two teams continue the SBC opening weekend series on Saturday at 2 p.m. Justin Robichaux (1-1, 1.54 ERA) takes the mound for UL and faces ASU's Ross Humes (1-1, 1.72 ERA).

Poirrier led the offensive charge for the Ragin' Cajuns (9-4, 1-0 Sun Belt) with a pair of home runs and a career-high four RBI. Fontenot was 3-for-4 and tacked on three RBI.

Fuselier extend his team-high and career-best hitting streak to 10 games. He ended the night 2-of-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Andy Ferguson was tagged for nine earned runs over 4 2/3 innings and suffered the loss for ASU (8-5, 0-1 Sun Belt).

The Cajuns extended the top of the third for the Red Wolves on a two-out error by Poirrier. That allowed Giovanni Garcia, who doubled earlier, to score an unearned run and cut the UL lead to 6-1.

UL got the run back in their half of the third on a solo shot by Fuselier - his first homer of the season.

Poirrier launched his second home run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and the Cajuns' lead grew to 9-1. It was the first multi-homer game of his career and for a Cajun this season.

Jordan Castaldo doubled to lead off ASU's half of the sixth. With one out the Red Wolves poked RBI base hits into the outfield on three straight at bats to close their deficit to five runs, 9-4.

UL registered two runs in the seventh inning of ASU reliever Daniel Wright and pushed across two more in the eighth off Brandon Milhouse.

The Cajuns runs scored were the most in a Sun Belt opener since posting 22 on South Alabama on March 25, 2005.

Louisiana has now plated double figure runs in four consecutive games dating back to the Southern Miss series finale. During the stretch the Cajuns are outscoring the opposition 52-12.

Florida Atlantic 13, Troy 8
BOCA RATON, FL - The Florida Atlantic baseball team scored eight runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 13-8 victory over Troy on Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field.

The Owls (7-4, 1-0) received a stellar pitching performance from reliever Ryan Garton (2-0) who came in for Taylor Everist in the second inning and provided a huge lift to the bullpen. The sophomore right-hander pitched seven innings while giving up four hits, three runs and three walks. Garton also tallied 11 strikeouts, the most recorded by an FAU pitcher so far this season.

"They threatened and he made some huge pitches," said head coach John McCormack. "He was outstanding tonight."

The big blow offensively for the Owls came in the second inning with FAU already leading 4-0. After two singles and a hit by pitch to load the bases, Dan Scheffler sent a towering fly ball to right field which cleared the 30-foot high fence for a grand slam to put the Owls ahead 8-0. It was Scheffler's fourth home run of the season and added to his team leading 17 RBI.

"We swung the bats really well tonight, we didn't give them any glimmer of hope by tacking on runs," said McCormack.
The Trojans struck back in the bottom of the second for five runs and chased FAU starter Taylor Everist. After both teams traded a run in the third, Anthony Mesa connected on his first home run of the season in the top of the fifth, a two-run shot to put FAU ahead 11-6. The Owls added two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth to secure the victory.

The 13 run-output marks the fourth straight game that FAU has cracked the double-digit mark in runs scored. Troy starter Drew Hull (0-2) struggled in his second start of the season, giving up nine runs off 10 hits in just two innings of work.

"It's a start," said McCormack about his 1-0 start in conference play. "The offense isn't going to continue at this pace, and we need a good start from Mike tomorrow."

FAU will continue the three-game series against the Trojans on Saturday with RHP Mike Gipson (3-0, 1.80) getting the start for the Owls. He will be opposed by Trojans RHP Andrew Dickinson (2-1, 5.00). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Middle Tennessee 5, Louisiana-Monroe 4 (11 innings)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A Tyler Burnett double in the eleventh allowed Middle Tennessee to win their first extra innings game of the season 5-4 over visiting UL-Monroe in the conference opener.
Burnett, a Murfreesboro native, proved to be the hero for the Blue Raiders (9-4). The junior went 3-5 at the plate with a home run and three RBI. The Blue Raiders had nine hits with Zach Hudson and Blake McDade each going 1-3 with a pair of walks. Bryce Brentz went 1-5 with an RBI, and Justin Guidry accounted for the other RBI for Middle Tennessee.

Kenneth Roberts put in a solid start, pitching eight and two thirds while allowing four runs and six hits and striking out four. Nick Montgomery earned his fourth win of the season, giving up just one hit over two and one third innings.

"Kenny Roberts pitched an outstanding ball game," said Head Coach Steve Peterson. "It's a shame he didn't get a win out of it, he was tough today."

Middle Tennessee got on the board first with a run in the second. McDade walked to open the frame, and a steal and a passed ball advanced him to third. Guidry grounded out to bring McDade home.

ULM took the lead in the top half of the third with three runs. Shane Ardoin and Boomer Blanchard strung together back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, and a ground out by Caleb Clowers advanced the runners to second and third. A single through the left side by Nick Wade plated Ardoin. Edwards doubled in the following at bat to scored both Blanchard and Wade.

The Blue Raiders would cut the deficit to one in the sixth. Hudson doubled down the left field line, and a wild pitch moved him to third. A Brentz single scored Hudson.

Middle Tennessee regained the lead in the seventh with a Burnett two-run homer over the fence in right field.

The Warhawks put together a two-out rally to tie the score in the ninth. Jordy Poche and Kelvin York singled through the left side to chase Roberts from the game. Josh Gill came on as a pinch hitter and singled to tie the game.

The Blue Raiders went ahead for good in the bottom of the 11th. Miller singled to left field to open up the inning, and a Burnett double to left field brought Miller home to end the game.

Middle Tennessee continue their first series of conference season on Saturday when they play ULM for game two at Reese Smith Jr. Field at 4 p.m. Daniel Palo is scheduled to start for the Blue Raiders. In the event of inclement weather in the Murfreesboro area on Saturday, check goblueraiders.com for any game changes.

South Alabama 3, UALR 0
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - University of South Alabama righthander D.D. Hanks pitched his second complete game in as many starts, and struck out a career high 14 batters to lead the Jaguars to a 3-0 win, and help USA head coach Steve Kittrell record his 1,000th win at South Alabama Friday night at Gary Hogan Field.

Hanks (4-0) allowed just three hits and issued two walks, while striking out the most batters by a USA pitcher since P.J. Walters struck out 14 Middle Tennessee hitters in 2006. The Saraland, Ala., native allowed two hits in the bottom of the first inning and did not allow the final UALR hit until the bottom of the seventh.

Hanks extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 15 with Friday's shutout.

"Once we scored three runs, the momentum was in our favor," Hanks said. "Everything was going good and all four pitches were working for me, so I just wanted to keep the pace up on the mound. As the game went on, I felt like I got stronger."

Kittrell's 1,000th win as head coach at South Alabama will be one he said he will never forget, due in large part to Hanks' performance.

"I thought it was just an outstanding job by D.D. [Hanks] on a Friday night to match up against their 23rd-round draft pick," Kittrell said. "I thought D.D. outpitched him. He was really in a good groove and was a bulldog tonight. He had command of all his pitches, and he was just nasty. That was one of the better games I've seen pitched

Jaguar first baseman Tyler Vick went 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and one run scored to lead the Jags at the plate. Jake Overstreet added a two-run home run for his team-leading eighth multiple-RBI game.

Vick broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with a first-pitch solo home run to left field to give the Jaguars a 1-0 lead.

Third baseman Jake Overstreet extended the USA lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run home run to right-center field, after Clint Reynolds led off the inning with a single to right field.

UALR starter Adam Champion (2-1) also took the loss in nine innings pitched, allowing three runs on six hits. The lefthander struck out seven while walking one.

The Jags moved to 51-9 all-time against the Trojans, and improved to 21-9 all-time in Sun Belt Conference openers.

UALR fell to 10-4 with the loss, and 0-1 in SBC play.

USA (10-6, 1-0) will return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. for game two of this weekend's three game-series.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

WKU 17, New Orleans 1
NEW ORLEANS, La. — WKU started the defense of its Sun Belt Conference championship with a 17-1 pounding of New Orleans Friday night, and Matt Ridings tied the all-time WKU record for pitching victories with six-and-two-thirds two-hit innings. The win was Ridings' third of the season and 28th of his career, tying him with Ryan Hutchison for the most wins by any hurler in the history of Western Kentucky University baseball. The win, the most lopsided conference season-opening win since WKU beat South Alabama, 16-1, on March 15, 1985, moves the Hilltoppers' record to 10-4. New Orleans falls to 3-7.

Ridings pitched six-and-two-thirds innings and allowed just two hits and one earned run. He fanned a season-high eight batters in the contest. Ridings has now only allowed three hits in his last 13.2 innings against New Orleans, both Hilltopper victories. After already surpassing Hutchison for most career strikeouts by a WKU pitcher earlier this season, the senior right-hander is now just one win from passing him in another category and etching his name at the top of the all-time win column in the WKU record books.

Craig Stem and Garrie Krueger combined to finish the rest of the game for the Hilltoppers, allowing no baserunners and striking out four. On the season, the WKU bullpen has given up just two runs in the seventh inning or later, an outstanding 0.44 ERA and .139 opponent batting average in that time frame.

The Hilltoppers scored in every inning except the first en route to a season-high 17 runs and fell two hits shy of equaling their season high of 18. Six players recorded multiple-hit games, with Matt Payton and Matt Rice each having three-hit showings, their fourth and second three-hit contests of the season, respectively. Payton extended his career-long hitting streak to 12 games with the effort. Rice and Jared Andreoli each drove in three runs to lead the way for the Hilltoppers, and Blake Crabtree recorded his first career multi-hit game after entering the game as an injury replacement in the bottom of the second. He went 2-for-5 with three runs and two RBI.

The Hilltoppers started the scoring in top of the second, when Rice led off with a home run to right field. Ryan Huck and Casey Dykes followed with singles and came around to score on an RBI groundout and an error by Privateer starting pitcher, Joe Zimmerman. WKU got one run in both the third and fourth innings, with Kory Petri and Crabtree crossing the plate.

New Orleans got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the fourth off Ridings, as Jay Morris knocked an RBI double down the left-field line. But the Hilltoppers responded by sending 11 men to the plate and scoring six runs on two hits in the top of the fifth. After Rice flew out to start the inning, the next five hitters reached base and scored, taking advantage of multiple Privateer miscues including two hit-by-pitches, two errors, a balk and a wild pitch. On the night, the Privateers made five errors, walked eight batters, threw three wild pitches, hit three Hilltoppers and balked in a run.

Ridings cruised through the fifth and sixth innings and got two outs in the seventh before being lifted after allowing a walk. Stem got a lineout to end the seventh and struck out the side in the eighth, and WKU led 16-1 after eight innings. Rice walked, moved to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on a Jake Wells groundout to shortstop to score the 17th and final Hilltopper run.

Krueger worked a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the ninth, getting two groundouts and a strikeout to end the game and give WKU its first conference win of 2010.

In the last five meetings between the schools, dating back to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game in 2008, WKU has outscored New Orleans 75-12.