STATISTICS
Friday, March 15 Results:
No. 14 ECU 9, Maryland 0
Jake Agnos tossed seven scoreless innings and Jake Washer's three-run homer highlighted a five-run third inning as No. 14 ECU took the series opener over Maryland, 9-0. Leading 1-0 going to the third inning, ECU exploded for five runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead and never looked back. Agnos allowed six hits and struck out seven in the contest. The Pirates pounded out double-digit hits for the 10th time this season (13 in the game). Bryant Packard recorded four hits, while Turner Brown (three), Spencer Brickhouse (two) and Lane Hoover (two) each registered multiple hits. Washer (three), Brickhouse (two) and Alec Burleson (two) each drove in multiple runs.
Wichita State 8, Rhode Island 7
Jordan Boyer worked a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth-inning to give Wichita State an 8-7 walk-off victory over Rhode Island in the series opener. The Shockers and Rams are scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. ET. After Rhode Island plated three runs in the top of the ninth to gain a 7-5 lead, Paxton Wallace tied the game with a two-run home run to left field with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Boyer went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs, leading Wichita State offensively, while Wallace added a 2-for-5 showing.
UConn 10, Michigan State 6
UConn scored a season-high 10 runs to claim its series opener against Michigan State, 10-6 in Greenville, S.C. UConn capitalized on 11 walks, three hit by pitches and tied a season-high with 12 hits. The Huskies scored in seven of their nine at-bats. The Winkel brothers combined for seven of the 10 runs with Pat Winkel driving in a pair and scoring two runs on the night. His older brother, Chris, drove in two runs and added a run scored in a multi-hit performance. UConn improves to 3-0 in games started by Mason Feole this season. Conor Moriarty recorded his first multi-hit game of the season. The Huskies moved to 5-0 on Fridays and resume the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
UCF 10, VCU 9
Powered by a season-high 16 hits, the UCF baseball team held off VCU in the series opener on Friday night at John Euliano Park. Four Knights notched multi-hit games, as UCF won 10-9. Ray Alejo hit the Knights’ third home run of the game in the eighth inning. He recorded a career-high four hits, added his third triple of the season and homered for the team-leading fourth time this year. Tyler Osik posted a season-high three RBIs and three hits. He extended his on-base streak to 16 games. Game 2 is set for a 6 p.m. ET first pitch Saturday night.
USF 7, Dartmouth 3
Trailing by two in the eighth inning, USF scored six runs to take its first lead and held on in the ninth to win the series opener against Dartmouth, 7-3. The game remained scoreless through the first four innings. Starter Collin Sullivan tossed 6.1 innings, allowing two hits with one earned run. Jordan Santos and Joe Genord each went 2-for-4. In three games this week, Genord already has eight hits. USF and Dartmouth square off in Game 2 Saturday at 6Z:30 p.m. ET.
Houston 8, Dallas Baptist 6
Houston extended its winning streak to five in a row after defeating Dallas Baptist 8-6 on Friday night. Trailing for a total of five innings, Houston scored all its runs through the final three frames. Joe Davis finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Lael Lockhart Jr. tossed six innings in the start. He issued four runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in the no-decision. The Cougars go for the series win at 3 p.m. ET Saturday.
Niagara 2, Cincinnati 1
Cincinnati dropped its series opener 2-1 to Niagara. The Bearcats host Purple Eagles again on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The game remained scoreless in a pitchers’ duel until Niagara scored two runs in the seventh inning. Cincinnati scored its only run of the game in the eighth on a Joey Bellini RBI single. Both teams had only four hits, as Bellini accounted for two of the Bearcats’ base knocks. A.J. Kullman went 7.0 innings in the start with just one earned run, four hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
UNCW 15, Memphis 6
Snapping its four-game winning streak, Memphis dropped its series opener against UNCW, 15-6. Memphis led with one run through the second and third innings after plating a run on a pair of wild pitches. The Seahawks, an NCAA regional team a year ago, tallied at least three runs through four innings to seal the win. Starter Hunter Smith tied a career best with nine strikeouts in five innings pitched. Kyle Ouellette had a 4-for-4 performance and plated three runs. Ouellette has hit .625 in the last four games (10-for-16). Ben Brooks (2-for-2) and Hunter Goodman (2-for-5) also turned in multi-hit efforts. Memphis will return to the diamond Saturday afternoon for Game 2 of the series with first pitch from FedExPark slated for 3 p.m. ET.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Saturday, March 16
UC Riverside at Tulane – Noon (DH)
Michigan State vs. UConn - 1 p.m.
Niagara at Cincinnati - 2 p.m.
ECU at Maryland - 2 p.m.
Rhode Island at Wichita State - 2 p.m. (Cox)
Houston at Dallas Baptist - 3 p.m.
UNCW at Memphis - 3 p.m.
Michigan State vs. UConn - 5 p.m.
Rhode Island at Wichita State - 5 p.m. (Cox)
VCU at UCF - 6 p.m.
Dartmouth at USF - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 17
Michigan State vs. UConn - Noon
Rhode Island at Wichita State - 1 p.m. (Cox)
Dartmouth at USF - 1 p.m.
UNCW at Memphis - 1 p.m.
VCU at UCF - 1 p.m.
Niagara at Cincinnati - 1 p.m.
ECU at Maryland - 1 p.m.
Houston at Dallas Baptist - 2 p.m.
UC Riverside at Tulane - 2 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change