#DiamondDandies: Sun Belt Shines
Mary Cornaci – ragincajuns.com
When Diamond Dandies started two days ago, I thought it would only be touched once a week to recap the best of the Sun Belt over a seven day stretch.
And then last night happened.
Louisiana Lafayette, WKU and Texas Arlington all knocked off teams in the top 15 of college baseball last night, with the Cajuns beating the top-ranked LSU Tigers, the Toppers beat fourth-ranked Vanderbilt, and the Mavericks grabbed their second victory of the season against the Horned Frogs of TCU.
While the Cajuns and Tigers didn’t play a full 9 innings, they played enough to have it count, as the game was suspended after the top of the sixth after a nearly two-hour rain delay, and was eventually called. Cajun righty Greg Milhorn went the distance for ULL, tossing 5 innings of four hit and one-run ball, with LSU only crossing the plate in the bottom of the 5th.
ULL roughed up Tiger’s starter Cody Glenn early and often, tabbing him for three of their four runs on 5 hits in just 4 innings of work. Center-fielder Seth Harrison, shortstop Blake Trahan and second baseman Jace Conrad (as well as pinch hitter Tyler Girouard) all drove men across the plate, and delivered two runs in the 3rd, and single marks in the 4th and 6th.
While ULL is 8-1 after the win, and in the top 15 themselves, the win last night for Texas Arlington was, seemingly, much more improbable, but much more dominant.
The Mavs platted ten runs against the number 12 team in the land, and were lead by four RBI from catcher Greg McCall, who also scored a run himself. Four Maverick hitters finished the night with multi-hit performances, and three of those hitters finished the evening with a trilogy of hits. TCU starter Jordan Kipper went 4 innings, and gave up 7 runs (only 6 earned) and 8 hits in 21 batters faced. In all, the Horned Frogs used six total pitchers, and the Mavericks reached base a total of 19 times.
While the offense was impressive, the effort on the mound from UT-Arlington wasn’t too shabby, as they only allowed TCU to cross the plate twice. Staring pitcher Brad Vachon went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits but only one run, and struck out seven. Chase Weaver finished the job, going the final 2.1, striking out two of his own.
And the Tops…well, you know what went down by now. Sophomore Josh Bartley pitched a stellar six innings, and his bullpen did the rest, allowing Vandy to have hope, but never allowed them to cross the plate for the game tying or winning runs. Ian Tompkins garnered his fourth save of the season thanks to a four-out performance to slam the door shut.
The offense was lead by reigning Sun Belt Player of the week Scott Wilcox, who platted two teammates, one of which, would ultimately decided the game.
The Sun Belt has long been known for their baseball, and last night was a prime example of what the conference can do when it’s at its best.
For at least WKU, they still have some big games ahead – this weekend they’ll face Pittsburgh and Ohio State, next weekend will face Illinois in the Nick, and the following week will see a two game mid-week series against the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Sun Belt is ready for baseball. But the rest of the nation isn’t ready for the Sun Belt to be.