Here are some of the top performances and highlights on the day. We will be providing daily articles as often as possible this season. If you know of an outstanding performance we might miss, feel free to send us an email by clicking here.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs got a fantastic start out of preseason All-American Marco Gonzales who scattered eight hits in a complete game 3-0 shutout over the number 2 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. Cory LeBrun and Billy Moon led the Bulldogs offensive attack each going 2-4 with an RBI.
South Carolina sophomore lefty Jordan Montgomery pitched eight shutout innings allowing only three hits and two walks as the Gamecocks defeated Clemson 6-0 in the first game of a three game set between the intrastate rivals. Graham Saiko, Chase Vergason, Max Schrock, LB Dantzler, and Tanner English all got an RBI in the game for the Gamecocks.
Vanderbilt lefthander Kevin Ziomek was on the top of his game on Friday afternoon against UIC as he pitched a complete game shutout against the Flames striking out 15 batters. You can check out all 15 strikeouts below.
Notre Dame continued their hot start to the season by defeating UMass and Tennessee on the first day of the Irish Baseball Classic in Cary NC. The Fighting Irish defeated UMass in their first game of the day 9-4 before defeating Tennessee 3-2 in 12 innings. The 7-1 start by Notre Dame is their best since the 1960 season.
The state of Rhode Island had a tough night with all three Division 1 baseball programs losing to nationally ranked squads. Bryant University traveled out west on Friday to play against the fifth ranked Oregon State Beavers. The Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh but gave up an unearned run when Jordan Mountford mishandled a line drive in right field which would of ended the inning allowing the tying run to score. The Beavers would get the winning run on a Tyler Smith single to give the Beavers the walkoff win. The Brown Bears opened the season on Friday night by heading down to #4 ranked LSU. The Bears led 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth but the Tigers scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to walk off with the 4-3 win.
The toughest luck squad in Rhode Island has been the University of Rhode Island who are off to a 0-9 record but faced their first squad today not ranked in the top 10 in the nation in ACC squad Virginia Tech who was receiving votes in the latest NCBWA poll. The Rams lost 7-3 to the Hokies to continue their tough start to the season. The Rams will likely be competing though for an Atlantic 10 title though when the season is over and we should see how this tough schedule will prepare them for the postseason.
