Presbyterian College releases 2008 schedule

Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC has released their 2008 schedule. The 2008 season will be the first year that the College has competed in Division 1 and will join the Big South Conference in 2009. They will open the season at UNC Asheville on February 22nd for a three game set. Some of the other highlights on the schedule is a visit from Yale for two games and heading to Tennessee, taking on Clemson in Greenville SC, and taking part in the Coastal Carolina Tournament where they will take on Michigan, Ball State, and the hosts Coastal Carolina. The full schedule is available here.

Who's the fastest rising program?

Kendall Rogers of Rivals.com College Baseball has counted down his top 10 rising programs with a series of articles. Here's the list.

10. Memphis
9. Coastal Carolina
8. Michigan
7. UC Riverside
6. Texas A&M
5. Louisville
4. Missouri
3. San Diego
2. UC Irvine
1. UCLA

Kendall also answered some interesting questions in his latest Mailbag. Addressed were the draft decisions for a trio of Longhorns and Rick Porcello. Also discussed are the prospects for the NC State Wolfpack and Western Carolina's hiring of Bobby Moranda.

Baseball America Predicts 2008 CWS Field

Baseball America published an interesting op-ed piece today, forecasting their predicted field for the 2008 College World Series. Obviously it's too soon to tell who will be a legitimate contender, with almost 2 months remaining before the August 15 deadline for MLB organizations to sign would-be college prospects, and injuries, weather and dozens of other factors looming on the horizon. But all the same, it's interesting to start thinking about it already as we watch the summer leagues take shape, and Aaron Fitt provides some interesting food for thought in the off-season. And no, as you near the end of the list, you'll discover that I am not unbiased in my evaluation of this article...

The lucky 8:

Arizona State
Miami

Baylor

Michigan

Missouri

UCLA

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Full Article

Oregon State advances to CWS

The Oregon State Beavers advanced to the College World Series with an 8-2 victory over Michigan. Mike Stutes started for Oregon State and gave them eight strong innings while only giving up three hits and two runs. He also struck out nine batters in the game. Darwin Barney led the offense by going 3-5 with three RBI. The Wolverines end the season with a 42-19 record while Oregon State will play in the College World Series on Saturday.

Oregon State Recap
Michigan Recap

Oregon State takes Game 1

The Oregon State Beavers were limited to one hit but were able to pull out an 1-0 victory over the Michigan Wolverines. Scott Santschi received a lead-off walk in the top of the ninth. He was pinch ran for by Braden Wells. He was bunted to second by Lonnie Lechelt. Zach Putnam then continued his no-hit bid by striking out Chris Hopkins to give the Wolverines two outs in the ninth. Joey Wong then hit a single through the left side of the infield which was the Beavers only hit of the game and drove home Wells with the go-ahead run. Michigan then lifted starter Zach Putnam for Michael Powers who got the final out in the ninth. Eddie Kunz took over on the mound for the Beavers and got the final two outs of the game to give the Beavers an 1-0 series lead. The teams will be back in action on Monday at 7 pm on the East Coast.

Oregon State Recap
Michigan Recap

Oregon State and Michigan Rained out

The Oregon State-Michigan Super Regional was scheduled to start at 3 pm on Saturday but rain has entered into the Corvallis area postponing Game 1 until Sunday. They have pushed the schedule back a full day with Game 1 on Sunday at 4 pm on ESPN, Game 2 on Monday at 1 pm or 4 pm on ESPN or ESPN 2, and Game 3 will be played on Tuesday at a TBA time.

Super Regional Preview: Michigan at Oregon State

The Oregon State Beavers welcome Michigan to Corvallis, Oregon for a Super Regional meeting. The games will be played on Saturday at 3 pm ESPN U, Sunday at 4 pm ESPN, Monday at 7 pm ESPN or ESPN 2.

Oregon State (42-18)

The Oregon State Beavers are making a return trip to a NCAA Super Regional after winning the National Championship last season. The Beavers won the Charlottesville Regional after defeating Rutgers 5-1. The Beavers then took on the Virginia Cavaliers in a winner's bracket game which they lost in 13 innings 7-4. OSU then had to fight through the loser's bracket as they defeated Rutgers 5-2 to advance to the Regional Final against Virginia. They defeated Virginia in Game 1 by a score of 5-3 and then 7-3. Oregon State is led by 13th year head coach Pat Casey who is 604-384-5 in his long career. The Oregon State offense is led by All-American catcher candidate Mitch Canham who is hitting .323 on the year with nine homers. The Beavers pitching staff is led by Daniel Turpen who is 9-1 with a 3.65 ERA. He is joined in the rotation by Mike Stutes (9-4, 4.05 ERA) and Joe Paterson (9-6, 3.81 ERA). Eddie Kunz closes for OSU with 10 saves on the year while making 28 appearances with a 3.05 ERA.

Oregon State Game Notes
Oregon State Season Stats

Michigan (42-17)

The Michigan Wolverines shocked the baseball world by winning the Nashville Regional last weekend which included the Vanderbilt Commodores who was the number 1 seed in the tournament. They opened the tournament up with a 10-7 victory over Memphis. Michigan then had to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores and were able to take them out 4-3 on a Kevin Cislo RBI single in the ninth inning. This sent Michigan to the Regional Championship game where they had to take on Vanderbilt. The Wolverines lost the first game to Vandy 10-7 but in game 2 were able to get a pinch hit homer from freshman Alan Oaks off of David Price (MLB Number 1 overall pick) to give the Wolverines a 4-3 lead which they were able to hold onto. The Wolverines are led by 5th year head coach Rich Maloney who has a career record of 447-254-1 including a head coaching stint with Ball State. The Wolverines offense is led by Nate Recknagel who picked up the MVP award of the Nashville Regional after going 6-17 with 7 RBI. He is hitting .359 on the year with twelve homers. The Michigan pitching staff is led by Chris Fetter who is 6-3 with a 4.50 ERA. Zach Putnam (8-4, 4.13 ERA) will start Game 1 for the Wolverines while Mike Wilson (7-0, 3.07 ERA) is scheduled for Game 2 with Fetter going in Game 3. Ben Jenzen leads the team with 5 saves but a 4.54 ERA.

Michigan Series Notes
Michigan Season Stats
Detroit Free-Press Article about Nate Recknagel

Pitching Match-ups

Saturday: UM Zach Putnam (8-4, 4.13 ERA) vs TBA
Sunday: UM Mike Wilson (7-0, 3.07 ERA) vs TBA
Monday: UM Chris Fetter (6-3, 4.50 ERA) vs TBA

The CBB predicts Oregon State to make it back to the CWS with a two game sweep.

Nashville Regional Day 4 Recap

Michigan 4 Vanderbilt 3

Alan Oaks hit a pinch hit homer in the top of the tenth inning off of upcoming number 1 draft pick David Price to break a 3-3 tie and send the Wolverines to a Super Regional. The Wolverines led the Commodores 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth but gave up two runs in the eighth. Both teams were held scoreless until the tenth inning when Oaks was able to get a hold of a Price fastball and put it over the left center wall. Michael Powers was able to hold Vanderbilt scoreless in the bottom of the tenth to get his fourth save of the season. Vanderbilt ends the season with a 54-13 record and should be back next season in the NCAA Tourney. Michigan will likely head to Oregon State or Virginia for the Super Regional series.

Michigan Recap
Vanderbilt Recap
ESPN.com Article

Nashville Regional Day 3 Recap

Vanderbilt 11 Austin Peay 5

The Vanderbilt Commodores stayed alive in the NCAA Tournament with a tough 11-5 victory over the Governors from Austin Peay. The Commodores returned to action later in the evening to face Michigan in the Regional Championship. Austin Peay finishes with a

Vandy Recap
Austin Peay Recap

Vanderbilt 10 Michigan 7

Vanderbilt forced a winner take all game on Monday by knocking off the Michigan Wolverines 10-7 on Sunday evening at Hawkins Field. According to my sources, Michigan will send Chris Fetter (6-3, 4.71 ERA) to the mound to face Tyler Rhoden (4-0, 5.66 ERA).

Vandy Recap
Michigan Recap

Nashville Regional Day 3 Preview

From Guest Contributor NYDore of VandySports

The West End Word predicted four pitchers to watch on Monday. Those four (David Price and Mikie Minor of Vanderbilt, Shawn Kelley of APSU and Mike Wilson of Michigan) have been brilliant in Vanderbilt's first two games of the Regional. Unfortunately for Commodore fans, Mikie Minor's one poor inning against Michigan and a largely flaccid offense has left Vandy in the loser's bracket, needing to win three straight to get to the Super Regional.

Vanderbilt is not the only top seed to lose one of its first two, and its current fate is far better than of fellow National Seed San Diego, who was eliminated in its first two games. Nevertheless, Tim Corbin faces the unenviable task of needing to win out in its second consecutive double elimination tournament. Vandy achieved that feat in Hoover, taking the SEC Tournament crown. To do so now, they will need to knock off teams whose pitching depth does not run as deep as Ole Miss and Arkansas.

In the early game, Vandy will likely face Ryne Mantooth, who did not, contrary to popular belief, appear in any X-Men films. In two innings of work against the Dores on Feburary 27, Mantooth surrendered 2 hits and an earned run, striking out three. But Vandy would be blessed to face Mantooth, as waiting in the wings is Mike Dunn, who 3-hit the Commodores over 7 innings on April 9. Peay is in the very difficult position of having burned its stopper for the weekend (10 IP by Kelley), lost its #2 guy (Matt Reynolds) to a rain delay after three innings, used almost 5 innings from a key reliever (Jeff Lykins) and having potentially three games remaining in the regional. Look for Coach McClure to try to stretch Mantooth today.

Vandy, meanwhile, is in relatively excellent pitching position. Coach Corbin will almost certainly throw Cody Crowell in the morning session, holding big righty Ty Davis for the right handed hitters of Michigan in the nightcap. Crowell is coming off a complete game against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament, and the Commodores could use more of the same, today. Cody tossed one perfect inning against Peay on February 27, but allowed a run on two hits and two walks in the April 9 game. That run and the Tyler Farrar homer against David Price Friday night account for the only two runs that APSU has managed in 29 innings against Derek Johnson's pitching staff this year.
In the nightcap, if Vandy is to advance, they will face a Michigan team that has to be feeling good. Like Vandy, the Wolverines have only used five pitcher (ace Zach Putnam, Wilson, reliever Michael Powers and 3B Adam Abraham). They will likely throw Chris Fetter in the nightcap. Fetter will be the first pitcher Vandy has faced with less than stellar statistics and could be a welcome respite should the Dores advance. On the year, Fetter has given up his fair share of hits, but has very good control (only 17 walks). Tim Corbin will turn to either Ty Davis (and his .196 BAA) or former Sunday starter Nick Christiani (whose lethal fastball is sometimes erratic). The Wolverines pen will likely have Abraham (2.97 ERA in 30.1 IP), closer Ben Jensen (4.54, 33.2, 5 saves), and Eric Katsman (6.14, 22, 0) available, with arm-fatigued Andrew Hess (3.76, 64.2) held for a potential rematch on Monday.

With the loss last night, the Commodore home record fell to 33-3. Vandy has lost consecutive games just once this year and would likely be favored in each of the remaining games of this Regional. Nevertheless, winning three in a row will be a challenge, despite the quiet confidence that Vandy carries, even when trailing. To win out, Vandy will need their anemic bats to come to life. So far, Vandy has managed only 5 runs, to APSU's 19, Memphis' 14, and Michigan's 14.

Nashville Regional Day 2 Recap

Austin Peay 18 Memphis 7

Austin Peay picked up their first NCAA win ever by knocking Memphis 18-7. AP picked up six runs in the first and fifth innings as they rolled to the win. AP will take on Vanderbilt in an elimination game on Sunday while Memphis ends the season with a record of 36-27.

Austin Peay Recap
Memphis Recap

Michigan 4 Vanderbilt 3

The Michigan Wolverines picked up an upset victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday evening by edging them 4-3. The Michigan offense was led by Nate Recknagel who went 1-3 with three RBI in the game. Michigan reliever Michael Powers picked up the win while Adam Abraham got the save. Vandy reliever Brett Jacobsen gets the loss.

Michigan Recap
Vandy Recap

Nashville Regional Day 2 Preview

FROM GUEST CONTRIBUTOR NewYorkDore of VandySports.com

After a thrilling day one at sold out Hawkins Field, Michigan and Vandy find themselves in the winner's bracket. Michigan outlasted Memphis in a 10-7 slugfest, behind the bats of Nate Recknagel (2-4, 3 R, 3 RBI) and catcher Doug Pickens (2-5, 3 RBI). On the hill, ace Zach Putnam struggled (9 H, 7 ER), but gave the Wolverines 8 innings, allowing Coach Maloney to only use one inning out of Michael Powers.

In the nightcap, Vandy was stifled for 10 innings by Austin Peay's Shawn Kelley; however, the first team all-American combo of David Price and Casey Weathers struck out a mind-boggling 22 batters in 11 innings of near perfect work. Ryan Flaherty came around to score on a Shea Robin grounder to the box, granting Coach Corbin and the Dores an exhilarating 2-1 victory before a largely partisan crowd of approximately 3,600.

Both teams' aces (Putnam and Price) are done pitching for the tournament. Beyond that, each other pitcher should be available for today's matchup, though Weathers did throw a number of pitches in striking out five of the six batters he faced. Coach Maloney was believed to be ready to turn to seasoned Senior Andrew Hess, who has missed a pair of starts down the stretch due to arm fatigue; however, his arm troubles appear to have continued and the Wolverines will toss Sophomore southpaw Mike Wilson. The West End Word identified Wilson as one of four starting pitchers to watch (with Price, Mikie Minor and Kelley) in the Nashville Regional. Wilson went 7-0 over the year and earned First Team Big Ten honors.

Wilson has excellent numbers and very good stuff, as evidenced by a .223 BAA. The one consolation for Vandy fans is that the lefty-heavy big bats in the Commodore lineup (notably Pedro Alvarez, Ryan Flaherty and Ryan Davis) all hit lefties well. With this late change, look for Corbin to insert UCLA-transfer Parker Hanks into the lineup at either Leftfield (for Matt Meingasner) or DH (for Davis).

Toeing the rubber for Vandy will be National Freshman of the Year Candidate Mikie Minor. Minor's plus-plus changeup presents a potential problem for the righty-heavy Michigan lineup… as one is willing to bet that the Wolverines have not yet seen such sophisticated arm action on a fastball-changeup combo.

Tonight's loser will play an elimination game against the Memphis-Austin Peay winner on Sunday. The VU-UM winner will earn the right to sit back and then play the team that emerges from the loser's bracket later on Sunday night and again, if necessary, on Monday.

In the Memphis-APSU game, we'll see the quintessential batters box vs. pitchers mound affair. The Tigers are a slugging team and they showed that Friday with three home runs off of Putnam.

APSU, meanwhile, used stellar mound work from OVC Pitcher of the Year Kelley. The Govs will roll out their second ace, southpaw Matt Reynolds (10-3, 3.09 ERA, .251 BAA) against Ben "don't mention that my uncle is John" Grisham (4-3, 5.68, .327). The prevailing question will be whether or APSU's gloves or the Tiger bats end up on top. Furthermore, both squads played mentally draining games. Memphis' longer layoff and APSU's heart-wrenching loss seem to indicate the guys from out west could have the upper hand.

Nashville Regional Day 1 Recap

Michigan 10 Memphis 7

Nick Recknagel and Doug Pickens each had two hits and three RBI as the Wolverines picked up a 10-7 victory over Memphis. Zach Putnam picked up the victory by pitching eight innings while giving up all seven runs. Michigan will take on Vanderbilt on Saturday while Memphis will take on Austin Peay in an elimination game.

Michigan Recap
Memphis Recap

Vanderbilt 2 Austin Peay 1 (11 innings)

Vanderbilt received a scare from Austin Peay but were able to survive for a 2-1 victory over the Governors. David Price started for Vandy and provided nine innings while allowing one run on five hits. Austin Peay starter Shawn Kelley went 10 strong innings while only giving up one run on five hits and had nine strikeouts. Vandy will take on Michigan in the winner's bracket game on Saturday while Austin Peay will play Memphis in an elimination game.

Vanderbilt Recap
Vandy Rivals Recap
Austin Peay Recap

Nashville Regional Preview

Vanderbilt will be hosting for the first time in their history. They will be joined by Michigan, Memphis, and Austin Peay.

Vanderbilt

The Vanderbilt Commodores (51-11) are the top seed in the entire of the country as they are led by David Price and Pedro Alvarez. Price is expected to be the top pick in the entire draft in a few weeks. Price has an outstanding 11-0 record with a solid ERA of 2.71. He will look to offensive standout Pedro Alvarez who leads the hitters with a .397 average including 17 homers. They open the tournament against Austin Peay on Friday at 7 pm CST.

Vandy Game Notes

Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines (39-16) enter the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. They are led by Nate Recknagel who is hitting .360 on the season. He will look to starting pitcher Mike Wilson (7-0, 3.00 ERA) to hold the offenses down this weekend. Michigan opens the tournament up against Memphis at 2 pm CST on Friday.

Michigan Tourney Notes

Memphis

The Memphis Tigers (36-25) received an at-large berth out of Conference USA. Michael Murray is the top hitter for the Tigers with a batting average of .377. Bill Moss leads the team with 14 homers on the season. The pitching staff Ben Grisham who is only 4-3 with a 5.68 ERA. They open the tournament against Michigan at 2 pm CST on Friday.

Memphis Tourney Notes

Austin Peay

The Governors (39-20) enter the weekend with an automatic bid after winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. They are led by senior pitcher Shawn Kelley who is 11-3 with a 2.52 ERA including eight complete games on the season. The biggest offensive threat is Matt Smith who is hitting .320 on the year. They open the tournament against Vanderbilt at 7 pm CST.

Austin Peay Tourney Notes

The CBB predicts that Vanderbilt will win the Regional without losing a game.

Big Ten Players of the Week

Jason Christansen was named the Player of the week for the Big Ten for the period ending on March11th. He hit .417 over the weekend at the Tony Gwynn Classic. The game against Oklahoma he hit for the cycle which was the first on the road for the Wolverines since 1976. Cory Luebke was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for pitching a complete game three hitter while giving up zero earned runs in a 10-1 victory over Western Michigan.

Big Ten Release
Michigan Release
Ohio State Release

Tony Gwynn 2007 Classic

The San Diego State Aztecs announced plans to host a doubleheader at Petco Park which is the home of the San Diego Padres. They will face the Michigan Wolverines in the nightcap while the San Diego Toreros will face Oklahoma in the early game. This will take place on Saturday, March 10th which is the middle day of the Round-Robin format tournament. The full article about the event is available here.