College Roundup: LSU Sweeps Irish In Mainieri Return

For the first time since leaving Notre Dame for Louisiana State after the 2006 season, Paul Mainieri returned this week to Frank Eck Stadium in South Bend to coach a game. After a rainout Tuesday, the 11th-ranked Tigers swept the Fighting Irish in a doubleheader Wednesday, winning the first game, 1-0, in 11 innings and taking the nightcap, 3-2, in seven innings.

HOW THE TOP 25 FARED

(1) Florida: off

(2) Texas A&M: off

(3) Mississippi State: won, 7-3, at Troy

(4) Miami: off

(5) Texas Tech: off

(6) Mississippi: off

(7) Florida State: lost, 11-8 in 10 innings, vs. Florida Gulf Coast

(8) South Carolina: off

(9) Louisville: off

(10) Texas Christian: off

(11) Louisiana State: swept DH at Notre Dame, 1-0 in 11 innings and 3-2 in seven innings

(12) Vanderbilt: off

(13) North Carolina State: off

(14) Rice: off

(15) Virginia: off

(16) Oklahoma State: off

(17) Florida Atlantic: lost, 10-2, at Ohio State

(18) Tulane: won, 14-2, vs. Southern

(19) Southern Mississippi: off

(20) Washington: off

(21) Arizona: off

(22) Cal State Fullerton: off

(23) Clemson: lost, 11-4, vs. College of Charleston

(24) UC Santa Barbara: off

(25) Creighton: off

The doubleheader was supposed to be two seven-inning games, but neither team could push a run across until Jake Fraley led off the top of the 11th inning with his second home run of the year. Fraley’s homer was just LSU’s fourth hit of the game. Five Tigers pitchers combined for a six-hit shutout.

The nightcap started with six more scoreless innings before LSU (33-16) pushed three runs across in the top of the seventh. Notre Dame (26-22) scored two runs in the bottom of the inning, but wasn’t able to complete the comeback. The Fighting Irish have now lost 10 of their past 13 games.

No. 17 Florida Atlantic and Ohio State were also victims of bad weather in the Midwest on Tuesday, as the first game of their midweek series was washed out. They did not make it up, opting for just a single game Wednesday, which the Buckeyes won, 10-2.

Ohio State (32-16-1) hit three home runs in the game, including a grand slam from Nick Sergakis (2-for-3, 4 RBIs). With the victory, the Buckeyes improved to 19-4 at home this season, matching their most home victories since 2003.

In another Top 25 upset, College of Charleston knocked off No. 23 Clemson, 11-4, to split the two-game midweek set. The victory was the first for Cougars coach Matt Heath against his former boss Monte Lee, who left Charleston for Clemson after last season.

The Cougars (25-22-1) took an early lead with three runs in the third inning, and then broke the game open with an eight-run seventh. Outfielders Ryan Brown (3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs) and Bradley Dixon (3-for-5, 3 R, 2 RBIs) led the Charleston offense.

Florida Gulf Coast also scored a Top 25 victory, beating No. 7 Florida State, 11-8, in 10 innings. FGCU has now won at FSU’s Dick Howser Stadium in back-to-back years.

Second baseman Jake Noll went 4-for-4 with two home runs to lead the Eagles (22-25). The redshirt junior is hitting .390/.452/.640 with 10 home runs this spring.