Here is your SEC recap for February 19th.
LSU 5 Centenary 4
BATON ROUGE — A two-RBI performance by shortstop Austin Nola, including the game-winning sacrifice fly, coupled with three runs by left fielder Trey Watkins was enough to earn No. 2 LSU a 5-4 victory in front of a record-breaking crowd of 9,914 Friday night at Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers (1-0) won their ninth consecutive season opener dating back to 2002. With the loss, Centenary dropped to 0-1 on the season.
Centenary Recap
Florida 6 South Florida 2
Junior Josh Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.) powered No. 7 Florida to a 6-2 victory over USF in front of 3,309 fans at McKethan Stadium in the season opener for both teams on Friday. The two-time All-SEC second baseman was a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, a pair of home runs and a double. In his collegiate debut, freshman Austin Maddox (Jacksonville, Fla.) went 2-for-4 and blasted a two-run homer on the first swing of his Gator career. Making his return to the lineup after missing the 2009 campaign, redshirt sophomore right-hander Tommy Toledo (Tampa, Fla.) scattered three hits, registered four strikeouts and allowed an unearned run in 3.1 innings.
Arkansas 10 Ball State 2
FAYETTEVILLE – In the 2010 season opener, the University of Arkansas baseball team pounded out 13 hits in support of starter Mike Bolsinger en route to a 10-2 victory over Ball State Friday evening at Baum Stadium. Junior Andy Wilkins had two hits and a pair of RBI, including a solo home run, to lead the offensive charge. Four Razorbacks had two hits and each player in Friday’s starting lineup came away with at least one base knock. Bolsinger picked up the win on the mound for Arkansas with a five-inning effort, allowing just one run and striking out six.
"You’re always worried about coming out and playing well in the first game in front of the home fans," head coach Dave Van Horn said. "I thought we answered that question pretty early. In the first inning, we had a couple of sac flies and scored three runs on no hits. (Ball State) didn’t make an error so we took advantage of the opportunities they gave us. Overall, it was a good ball game for us today."
Louisiana-Monroe 6 Ole Miss 5
OXFORD, Miss.-Pitching just one hour from his hometown in his ULM debut, Wil Browning was perfect in 2.2 innings of relief as the Warhawks stunned No. 17 Ole Miss and a crowd of 7,611 fans at Oxford-University Stadium defeating the Rebels 6-5 in the 2010 season opener Friday evening.
The Warhawks have now won three of their last four games against Southeastern Conference opponents, while the Rebels dropped their first season opener since 1981.
Browning, a native of Kosciusko, Miss., entered the game in the seventh inning with a runner on first base and one out. The junior college transfer calmly struck out both batters he faced in the seventh and the first batter he faced in the eighth and finished the game with four strikeouts as he picked up the save.
South Carolina 10 Duquesne 3
Columbia SC- Jeffery Jones hit a pair of home runs including a grand slam in the third inning as South Carolina defeated Duquesne 10-3 on Friday afternoon in the season opener for the 2010 season. Gamecock starter Blake Cooper went five innings to earn the victory. The two teams will meet in game two of the series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch 3 p.m. at Carolina Stadium. Live audio broadcast is available at GamecocksOnline.com along with live Gametracker stats. The game can also be heard on 1320 AM and it will be joined in progress on 107.5 FM after the men’s basketball game.
Duquesne Recap
Georgia 7 Baylor 5
WACO, TEXAS—–Sophomore left fielder Johnathan Taylor collected a career-high four RBI to lead 22nd-ranked Georgia to a 7-5 win over host Baylor in the season opener here Friday
After being retired in order through the first four frames, Georgia took a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Freshman designated hitter Zach Taylor reached on a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a bloop single to right by sophomore centerfielder Zach Cone. On a 1-2 count, junior first baseman Robbie O’Bryan put a bunt down that led to the first run thanks to a Baylor miscue. Pitcher Logan Verrett fielded it and threw to third to force out Taylor and then third baseman Raynor Campbell tried to complete a double play. However, Campbell’s throw sailed high and in to the camera well, allowing Cone to score and O’Bryan to go to second. Catcher Christian Glisson followed with a base hit. Freshman shortstop Kyle Farmer made it 2-0 with an RBI-double. After retiring freshman Todd Hankins for the second out, Taylor came through with a two-run single for a 4-0 advantage.
Vanderbilt 9 Niagara 0
NASHVILLE— Sonny Gray threw eight innings of three-hit shutout baseball to lead Vanderbilt to a 9-0 win over Niagara in the 2010 season opener Friday night at Hawkins Field.
Gray (1-0), a sophomore preseason All-American, struck out eight batters and didn’t allow a batter to reach second base until the eighth inning. He walked just one batter while tying a career-high in innings pitched. Dating back to last season, the right-hander has not allowed a run in his last 17 and 2/3 innings with 21 strikeouts and just two walks while giving up 11 hits.
Mississippi State 9 Rhode Island 8
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State’s Luke Adkins ripped a game-winning single in the bottom half of the ninth inning, capping the Bulldogs’ 9-8 comeback win over Rhode Island Friday afternoon in a season-opening college baseball game.
A Dudy Noble Field crowd of 2,490 watched the Bulldogs kick off the 2010 ledger with a wild victory on an unusually mild afternoon. Temperatures remained in the 50s and skies were clear as the Bulldogs clawed back from a 7-3 deficit and also overcame five errors.
SE Missouri State 13 Auburn 8
AUBURN, Ala. – Jim Klocke hit a three-run homer and had five RBI to help Southeast Missouri (1-0) take down Southeastern Conference foe Auburn (0-1), 13-8, Friday at Plainsman Park. Louie Haseltine also added a solo home run for the Redhawks.
Kentucky 15 Virginia Tech 6
CONWAY, S.C. — Preseason All-American second baseman Chris Bisson went 4-for-5 with a walk, two doubles and a stolen base and right-hander Alex Meyer struck out eight in five innings, as Kentucky posted a 15-6, season-opening win over Virginia Tech, Friday afternoon at Coastal Carolina’s Charles Watson Stadium and Vrooman Field.
"We feel great about getting the first win," UK head coach Gary Henderson said. "It is hard to put it into words, you practice for five weeks, feel like you are ready about two weeks ago, then you get an opportunity to play. It is a huge win for us."
Tennessee 16 Xavier 6
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee offense was on full display on Opening Day, as the Volunteers started the 2010 campaign by pounding out 19 hits and cruising a 16-6 triumph over Xavier in front of 2,300 Orange and White-clad fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday. Junior Bryan Morgado earned the win with five solid innings of work, while six different players recorded at least two hits, led by newcomer Khayyan Norfork’s four.
"Our guys came out focused today and really set the tone for the season," UT Head Coach Todd Raleigh said. "I felt like we were ready to play, but you never really know until the game starts. This win gives our team some confidence. I thought we did everything well tonight – we hit well, we pitched well and we played great defense."
