Charlotte (7-11, 1-8) vs. FIU (11-13, 3-3)
The 49ers started out the weekend with a 5-4 win over FIU thanks to an 8 inning effort by Sean Geoghegan who only gave up 3 earned runs on 4 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts. Nick Daddio drove in 2 runs and Luke Gibbs was 1-2 with a run and an RBI. FIU bounced back to win the next two games and take the series. In game two the bats broke out for a punishing 23-1 win. Brian Portelli was 4-5 with a home run, 4 runs and 4 RBI. Edwin Rios was 4-4 with 3 home runs, 4 runs scored and 6 RBI. The Panthers won the deciding game 7-5 with Rios hitting another home run and Zach Soria going 4-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI. On the mound Christopher Mourelle gave up 3 earned runs over 7 innings on 6 hits and a walk.
#19 Florida Atlantic (20-5, 4-2) vs. Middle Tennessee (13-8, 5-1)
MTSU took two-out-of-three against the #19 ranked team in the country to take the lead atop the Conference USA standings. The Owls won the first game of the weekend 4-2 as Christian Dicks was 2-3 with an RBI and Roman Collins was 2-3 with 2 runs scored. Reily Monkman was huge in relief striking out 9 batters over 3.2 innings, while not allowing a hit or a walk. Jake Ingold was 2-4 with a run scored in the loss for MTSU. In game two the Blue Raiders won 5-3 in 11 innings. Austin Bryant was 3-4 with 2 runs scored and Ronnie Jebavy had a couple of hits to go along with a run and 2 RBI. In the loss for FAU, Drew Jackson allowed just 2 earned runs on 7 hits and a walk over 7 innings with 7 strikeouts, while C.J. Chatham was 3-5 with 2 RBI. MTSU won the series finale 7-6 as Brad Jarreau had 3 hits and scored 3 runs and Jebavy was 3-5 with 2 runs and an RBI. Nathan Foriest tossed 5 scoreless innings in relief to help MTSU secure the series win.
La Tech (9-10, 1-4) vs. Southern Miss (13-8, 3-2)
The Golden Eagles started out hot winning the first game of the series 13-4 as Taylor Braley had a huge game at the plate going 5-5 with 3 runs and 3 RBI. Matt Durst added a home run and 4 RBI in the win for Southern Miss. The Bulldogs took the second game 2-1 thanks to Phil Maton’s strong performance on the mound where he struck out 12 batters over 8 innings, while giving up just 1 earned run on 2 hits and 3 walks. Cody Carroll was almost as good in the loss for Southern Miss going 7.1 innings and giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts.
Marshall (7-15, 1-5) vs. UAB (12-9, 2-4)
The Blazers snapped a 4-game losing streak by starting out the weekend with a 5-2 win over Marshall. Thomas Lowery was strong in relief not giving up a hit or run over 3.1 innings with 4 strikeouts. Esteban Tresgallo scored a run and drove in a run, while Chase Davis had a pair of hits and a run scored. Matt Reed had 2 RBI in the loss for Marshall. The Thundering Herd pulled out a 7-6 win in 11 innings in game two thanks to Corey Bird going 4-5 with 2 runs and an RBI. T.J. Diffenderfer also had a good day at the plate going 2-4 with a run and 2 RBI. For UAB Mitch Williams was 3-5 with a home run and 3 RBI in the loss. The Blazers bounced back to win the third game and the series 2-1. Evan Peterson was 2-3 with a run scored and Williams picked up another RBI. Michael Taylor had a strong performance on the mound for Marshall in the loss going 8 innings without giving up an earned run on just 6 hits with 9 strikeouts.
Old Dominion (13-8, 3-3) vs. #9 Rice (16-9, 7-2)
The Monarchs took two-out-of-three from #9 Rice over the weekend. They won the first game 12-4 thank to P.J. Higgins going 3-6 with 2 runs and 2 RBI, and Derek Francis going 2-3 with a run and 2 RBI. They won the second game 9-8 as Taylor Ostrich was 3-5 with 4 RBI and Mike Perez was 2-4 with a home run and 3 RBI. In the loss for Rice Leon Byrd was 3-5 with 3 runs and 2 RBI. Rice was able to sneak out of the weekend with a 5-4 victory in game three. Byrd had two more RBI and Ryan Chandler was 2-4 with a run and 2 RBI.
UTSA (13-10, 4-2) vs. Western Kentucky (12-10, 4-2)
The Hilltoppers started out the weekend with a 5-4 win as Danny Hudzina was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and Ryan Messex was 2-3 with 3 RBI. Brock Hartson struck out 10 batters over 9 innings in the loss for UTSA. WKU took the second game of the weekend 8-2 as Anderson Miller was 2-3 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. The Road Runners were victorious in game three 12-0 as Aaron Burns threw 7 scoreless innings, while only giving up 5 hits and a walk to go along with 4 strikeouts. At the plate Jesse Baker was 3-3 with a home run, 3 runs and 3 RBI and Tyler Straub was 2-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.
My CUSA Player of the Weekend:
Edwin Rios – FIU – 7-12, 4 home runs, 7 runs scored, 8 RBI and 2 walks.
My CUSA Pitching Performance of the Weekend:
Phil Maton – La Tech – 8 innings pitched, 2 hits, 3 walks, 1 earned run and 12 strikeouts.
