Complete Notes
The American's baseball teams went 6-3 in midweek nonconference action this week and will open league play on Friday.
Overall, The American has combined to collect 27 series wins with a 112-71 nonconference record this year, including 11 wins against ranked opponents. The conference's .612 winning percentage is the fifth-best among the 31 Division I leagues.
UCF and ECU appeared on all five national polls this week with the Pirates' highest ranking coming from the USA Today Coaches' Poll, NCBWA and D1Baseball.com at No. 18. UCF's top ranking came at No. 20 from both Baseball America's list, as well as Collegiate Baseball's poll. Wichita State was ranked No. 26 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 28 by the NCBWA.
USF (16-6) enters conference play on a nine-game winning streak and will host UConn on the American Digital Network on Friday night. Last week, 1B Joe Genord fueled the team’s offense, going 9-for-18 with six runs scored, three doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs, as he was named NCBWA’s National Player of the Week. LHP Shane McClanahan has been lights out this year, most recently tossing six hitless innings with a career-high 15 strikeouts, as the Bulls collected a no-hitter last Friday. The southpaw ace has 56 K's this season and has not allowed an earned run through five appearances and 30.2 innings pitched. The Bulls lead the nation with 66 doubles and have the third-most triples with 11.
UConn (10-7) has won three straight games after defeating Central Connecticut 7-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday. The Huskies knocked off a pair of ranked opponents on the road last week, taking down No. 30 Coastal Carolina 12-10 and defeating No. 29 St. John’s in a three-game series. UConn’s bullpen fired 7.1 shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out 13 in the Huskies’ two victories in the series at St. John's.
ECU (16-4) is coming off a three-game series sweep over Maryland and enters the weekend with the top record in the conference. The Pirates have won nine of their last 10 games and own the No. 3 ERA in the nation with their conference-leading 2.15 mark and have given up the fourth-fewest walks per nine innings in the country at 2.50. The Pirates' pitching staff has tossed four shutouts this year, as the team has swept three weekend opponents. ECU will travel to UCF tomorrow night to open its conference action.
Houston (13-8) has won five in a row after going 2-0 in its midweek nonconference action, defeating Lamar 3-1 and cruising past Prairie View A&M 9-2. The Cougars won three games last weekend, including a two-game sweep against Columbia. Houston’s LHP Trey Cumbie earned his fifth-career complete game last Friday in a 1-0 shutout against New Mexico. He fanned 10 batters, recording 10 or more strikeouts for the third time this year, facing only two hitters over the minimum (29). Houston will host Memphis in its conference opener over the weekend.
Wichita State (14-4) has won its past two games, most recently edging Oklahoma 2-1 on Tuesday. The Shockers lead the nation in grand slams with five, as 3B Alec Bohm has accounted for three of them to lead the NCAA. Wichita State is 10-1 at home this year, holding a 2.32 ERA at Eck Stadium. The Shockers will host Furman in a three-game series this weekend.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Tuesday, March 20
UConn 7, Central Connecticut 3
No. 5 Florida State 6, No. 20 UCF 4
No. 26 Wichita State 2, Oklahoma 1
Houston 3, Lamar 1
Memphis 14, Mississippi State 0
Wednesday, March 21
No. 5 Florida State 13, No. 20 UCF 3
USF 12, North Florida 5
No. 15 LSU 10, Tulane 4
Houston 9, Prairie View A&M 2
Friday, March 23
ECU at UCF * - 6:30 p.m.
Cincinnati at Tulane* - 6:30 p.m.
UConn at USF (ADN)* - 7 p.m.
Furman at Wichita State - 7 p.m.
Memphis at Houston* - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 24
Furman at Wichita State - 3 p.m.
Cincinnati at Tulane* - 4 p.m.
UConn at USF* - 6:30 p.m.
ECU at UCF* - 6:30 p.m.
Memphis at Houston* - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 25
Cincinnati at Tulane* - Noon
Furman at Wichita State - 12:30 p.m.
ECU at UCF* - 1 p.m.
UConn at USF* - 6 p.m.
Memphis at Houston* - 1 p.m.
All times ET & subject to change
* Conference game