College Roundup: Seminoles Look Sharp, Aggies Lose

Bad weather the last two weekends forced the cancellation of four games for Florida State—two each against North Carolina State and Boston College. After the first set of cancellations, Florida State moved quickly to schedule a two-game midweek series against Texas Tech, which also had two games rained out earlier this year at California.

HOW THE TOP 25 FARED

(1) Florida: won, 7-2, vs. Jacksonville

(2) Miami: won, 4-0, at Florida Gulf Coast

(3) Texas A&M: lost, 4-3, at (25) Rice

(4) Louisville: off

(5) Mississippi State: won, 14-0, vs. Tennessee-Martin

(6) Vanderbilt: won, 4-3, vs. Lipscomb

(7) Texas Christian: off

(8) South Carolina: won, 4-2, vs. Coastal Carolina

(9) California: lost, 8-6, vs. Stanford

(10) Oregon State: off

(11) Florida State: won, 10-1, vs. (23) Texas Tech

(12) UC Santa Barbara: off

(13) North Carolina: won, 8-1, vs. High Point

(14) Mississippi: won, 6-2, vs. Southern Mississippi at Pearl, Miss.

(15) Louisiana State: won, 11-1, vs. Southern

(16) Oklahoma State: off

(17) Michigan: lost, 9-5, at Notre Dame

(18) Florida Atlantic: won, 5-0, at Central Florida in 11 innings

(19) Kentucky: off

(20) Long Beach State: lost, 6-5, at San Diego State in 12 innings

(21) Clemson: won, 11-6, at Georgia

(22) East Carolina: won, 7-5, at Elon in 11 innings

(23) Texas Tech: lost, 10-1, at (11) Florida State

(24) Houston: lost, 4-1, at McNeese State

(25) Rice: won, 4-3, vs. (3) Texas A&M

The midweek series began Tuesday, with No. 11 Florida State defeating No. 23 Texas Tech, 10-1. The Seminoles had only played three times since March 23, but appeared not to suffer any ill effects from the extra time off.

Florida State (20-6) used its typically patient approach at the plate to great effect, using nine hits and 10 walks to score at least 10 runs for the 10th time this season. Center fielder Ben DeLuzio perhaps best represented the Seminoles approach. The junior drew two walks, stole two bases and scored three runs, despite not recording an official at bat. Catcher Cal Raleigh (2-for-4, 2 R) and third baseman John Sansone (2-for-4, RBI) were also key for Florida State.

Back in Texas on Tuesday, No. 25 Rice defeated No. 3 Texas A&M, 4-3. The loss extended the Aggies’ losing streak to four games after getting swept at Florida over the weekend, and was their first midweek loss since April 1, 2014, snapping a streak of 25 games. Rice (18-10), meanwhile, has won nine of its past 10 games.

Coach Rob Childress said the Aggies (22-7) haven’t been at their best during the losing streak, and have been made to pay for their mistakes.

“We haven’t been crisp in all phases the last four games, but we’re playing very good teams in Florida and Rice,” he said. “We’ve had a string where every time we’ve made a mistake the other team has taken advantage of it.”

Rice scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead. When starter Willy Amador left the game the next inning following a visit by the trainer, coach Wayne Graham turned to closer Glenn Otto. The sophomore righthander threw the final 4 2/3 innings, holding Texas A&M to two unearned runs on five hits and no walks to earn the victory.

Stanford traveled to No. 9 California (18-7) for the first of five meetings over the next five weeks between the storied rivals. In a thrilling, back-and-forth game, the Cardinal scored three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Golden Bears, 8-6. The loss snapped California’s seven-game winning streak.

Down a run going into the ninth, Stanford got a leadoff double from Matt Winaker. He scored, tying the game, on a two-out single from Brandon Wulff. Jonny Locher, who had entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter, followed with a two-run home run off closer Erik Martinez that proved to be the difference.

“Wow.”
Couldn’t say it better ourselves, JT
Stanford scores 3 w/2 outs in the ninth. 8-6 lead #GoStanford #BeatCal https://t.co/ZL12rnt3X9

— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) April 6, 2016

Stanford (15-8) has now won eight of its 11 games since its early-March finals break.

No. 1 Florida continued to roll after its weekend sweep of Texas A&M. It defeated Jacksonville, 7-2, running its program record home winning streak to 28 games.

Lefthander Scott Moss, a redshirt sophomore, started for the Gators (28-3) and struck out four batters in three hitless innings to earn the first win of his career.

Florida’s offense, which scored 24 runs in its weekend sweep, continued to hum against Jacksonville (17-11), pounding out 12 hits for the fourth straight game. Center fielder Buddy Reed, a Preseason All-American, went 2-for-4 and stole two bases.