College Roundup: Dirtbags Rally; Jefferies Completes Mission

Strike One: Long Beach, Fullerton Renew Rivalry In Thriller

HOW THE TOP 25 FARED

(1) Florida: off

(2) Texas A&M: won, 6-1, vs. (13) Louisiana State

(3) Oregon State: lost, 6-2, at (15) California

(4) Miami: off

(5) Texas Christian: lost, 4-3, at Texas

(6) North Carolina: lost, 3-2, vs. Georgia Tech

(7) Mississippi: lost, 5-1, vs. (18) South Carolina

(8) Louisville: off

(9) Virginia: off

(10) Mississippi State: won, 9-2, vs. Georgia

(11) Vanderbilt: off

(12) Florida State: off

(13) Louisiana State: lost, 6-1, at (2) Texas A&M

(14) UCLA: lost, 6-1, at Arizona

(15) California: won, 6-2, vs. (3) Oregon State

(16) Houston: won, 5-0, vs. George Washington

(17) Clemson: off

(18) South Carolina: won, 5-1, at (7) Mississippi

(19) Oklahoma State: won, 2-1, at Kansas State

(20) Long Beach State: won, 5-4, at Cal State Fullerton in 12 innings

(21) North Carolina State: off

(22) Alabama: off

(23) Michigan: off

(24) UC Santa Barbara: won, 10-1, vs. Southern California

(25) Arkansas: off

With Easter being celebrated Sunday, many series around the country started a day earlier so as not to interfere with the holiday. The early start to the weekend produced several exciting games, and while four Top 10 teams lost Thursday, it was one of the sport’s classic rivalries that produced the best game.

For the first time this season, No. 20 Long Beach State faced Cal State Fullerton, and the Big West Conference battle did not disappoint. The Dirtbags defeated the Titans, 5-4, in 12 innings, in an intense rivalry game.

Fullerton took a two-run lead into the ninth inning, and got two outs before summoning star closer Chad Hockin to face Luke Rasmussen with a runner on second base. Rasmussen tied the game, driving a 2-0 pitch from Hockin over the left field fence.

The game went to extra innings, where neither team was able to gain an advantage until the 12th inning. An error by Fullerton right fielder Ruben Cardenas allowed Garrett Nelson to reach base with one out. Long Beach moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt and an infield single, and he scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Chris Rivera pitched a perfect 12th inning for his ninth save of the year, the most in the country, and Long Beach (15-6) took round one against Fullerton (11-10).

The Titans and Dirtbags will play five more times this year (the final three games are at Long Beach on the final weekend of the regular season), and if the first meeting is any indication, they should be thrilling games.

Strike Two: Cal Takes Opener

While this weekend’s Long Beach-Fullerton series is a nonconference set, up the coast, Pac-12 powers Oregon State and California are facing off in an early-season showdown with conference standings implications. No. 15 Cal had the upper hand Thursday, defeating No. 3 Oregon State, 6-2, in Berkeley, Calif.

The game featured a matchup between righthanders Daulton Jefferies and Drew Rasmussen, teammates on last summer’s USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Rasmussen was a game-time decision for Oregon State due to a sore back, but he started and began the game strong, throwing three hitless innings. But Rasmussen (3.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) ran into trouble in the fourth and ultimately took the loss.

Jefferies (9 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K), however, continued his impressive start to the season. After giving up a solo home run in the first inning to K.J. Harrison, another Team USA alumnus, he settled down and threw his first career nine-inning complete game. With the victory, Jefferies improved to 6-0, 1.29. He has struck out 47 batters and walked six in 42 innings.

For Cal, winning when Jefferies starts is imperative. The Golden Bears are now 6-0 this season when their ace starts, and 6-6 in all other games. But if they can win one of the next two games this weekend to claim the series, it could prove to be significant in the Pac-12 standings later in the season.

Strike Three: Georgia Tech Back On Track

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Following a 12-0 start to the season, Georgia Tech was brought back to earth when it started Atlantic Coast Conference play by getting swept at Florida State. That sweep turned into a four-game losing streak when Auburn routed the Yellow Jackets, 14-3, in Atlanta two days later.

Since then, however, Georgia Tech has gotten back to its winning ways. It swept Virginia Tech last weekend and picked up a win against Kennesaw State on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets rode that momentum into Boshamer Stadium on Thursday, and defeated No. 6 North Carolina, 3-2, to extend their winning streak to five games.

Coach Danny Hall said after the loss to Auburn on Tuesday, March 8, Georgia Tech (17-4) responded well to pull out of the skid.

“I kind of felt like we had a really good Wednesday practice, we had a good Thursday practice, played well against Virginia Tech last weekend,” Hall said. “Kind of since Auburn got us, I think we’ve turned the corner as to where we were to where we are now.”

Righthander Brandon Gold shut down the Tar Heels, holding them to two runs on six hits and a walk in 7 1/3 innings.
Righthander Matthew Gorst came on for the final 1 2/3 to close out the victory.

Neither team produced many hard hit balls, but Georgia Tech scratched out three runs against North Carolina ace Zac Gallen, who went into the game 3-0, 1.45.

Beating the Tar Heels and Gallen, who Hall said won’t lose many games this season, was an important result for the Yellow Jackets.

“They’re one of the best teams in the country,” Hall said. “So to come in here and get a win on (Thursday) night, that was big for us.”

The Lineup

Nine newsmakers from Thursday’s action

1. Jake Shepski, DH, Notre Dame: Led by Shepski, Notre Dame’s offense exploded in a 16-4 victory at Virginia Tech. Shepski (5-for-6, 4 R, 9 RBIs) became the first player to hit three home runs for the Fighting Irish since 2005, and set program records for total bases (17) and RBIs. The switch-hitter homered twice righthanded, once lefthanded and came within a single of hitting for the cycle.

2. Corbin Burnes, rhp, St. Mary’s: In a 2-0 victory against Gonzaga, Burnes (9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K) threw his second straight complete game shutout. The junior improved to 4-0, 1.74 with 39 strikeouts and eight walks in 41 1/3 innings this season. Burnes shut out San Diego last week.

3. Corbin Olmstead, rhp/dh, North Florida: The senior made an impact both on the mound and at the plate in an 8-6 victory against Dartmouth. Olmstead hit two home runs, increasing his career total to 31, the most in school history since the Ospreys moved to Division I. He also picked up the win, coming on to record the final out of the ninth inning before Keith Skinner hit a two-run, walk-off home run.

4. Daulton Jefferies, rhp, California: Facing No. 3 Oregon State, the junior needed just 106 pitches to throw his first career complete game. Jefferies (9 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K) improved to 6-0, 1.29 this season.

5. Nick Mascelli, ss, Wagner: In a 20-4 victory at Mount St. Mary’s, Mascelli (5-for-6, 4 R, 4 RBIs) led the way for the Seahawks. The junior hit two home runs, his first of the season, and is now hitting .467/.507/.583.

6. Brad Haymes, rhp, Gardner-Webb: The senior threw his third straight complete game, shutting out Presbyterian in a 14-0 victory. Haymes (9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K) matched his career high for strikeouts as he improved to 5-0, 1.57.

7. Ryan Scott, of, Arkansas-Little Rock: With a perfect day at the plate, Scott (2-for-2, 3 BB, 4 R) improved his batting average to .512 this season. The senior helped Arkansas-Little Rock defeat Troy, 11-8, and improve its winning streak to four games.

8. Reid Humphreys, of, Mississippi State: In a 9-2 victory against Georgia, Humphreys (3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs) doubled and homered twice. The junior is hitting .355/.432/.677 in 20 games this season.

9. Tanner Hill, 1b, Texas State: A two-homer game for the senior was not enough for Texas State, which lost, 6-4, to South Alabama. Hill (3-for-5, 3 R, 2 RBIs) leads the Bobcats with seven home runs this season.