ICYMI: TCU Beats Sam Houston in 22 Innings

((ht: espn.com))

We started this with the "In Case You Missed It" moniker because more than likely you were asleep at 3:45 a.m when the game ended.

22 Innings and almost 7 hours after it started, Texas Christian University had an NCAA Sub Regional Baseball playoff win against Sam Houston State 3-2.

And the game didn't lack for drama or what ended up being false finishes.

A controversial double play attempt in the 21st inning initially had Sam Houston thinking they won the game...but the umpire at 2nd base ruled interference, giving TCU 2-outs and getting the Horned Frogs out of the inning.

Sam Houston coach David Pierce and the baserunner, Luke Plucheck were both ejected for arguing the call. The umpire stating that Plucheck got too close when breaking up the double play.

The win puts TCU from winning the reason, Sam Houston plays an elimination game at 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

In case you are wondering, the game was the 2nd longest in NCAA playoff history, the longest went 25 innings for what it's worth...

Here's the game highlights
((HT: ESPN))


We do have some reaction from both teams coaches courtesy of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram:


Sam Houston's David Pierce on the 21st inning controversial call:

Ha! UF Baseball Pulls Hidden Ball Trick on College of Charleston

((ht: espn.com))

Oh, this is embarrassing...

Check out what happened in the first game of the Gainesville regional in the NCAA Baseball playoffs.

The home team, the Florida Gators used one of the oldest tricks in the book to get an out during the 1st inning of their game against the College of Charleston.

Gator pitcher Logan Shore ties his shoe and somehow Charleston's Nick Pappas steps off the bag. What Pappas didn't know was Florida shortstop Richie Martin still had the ball.

Martin reaches over and tags Pappas...who undoubtedly is and will be getting grief for some time to come over this one..

Alas, Charleston got the last laugh, beating the top seeded Gators 3-2....

Your video from ESPN.com:

College of Charleston Wins In 23 Innings

((HT:WCIV-TV))

Nothing like having to play a double-header and a half just to settle one game...

Happened in Charleston as the CoC played William and Mary. And played William and Mary. And played.

23 innings and a murderous-looking box score later, it was a 3-2 win for the home team.

Yes, only 3-2 in 23 innings...

The game ties for the second-longest in NCAA history and went a little over 6 hours. One game in the NCAA tourney went 25 innings in 2009 (Texas and BC) and a game back in 1971 also went 23 innings.

The teams scored in the 7th, the 19th, and the 23rd innings and Eric Bauer got the win for Charleston going ten innings in relief.

No word on if he threw 194 pitches in his outing.
Here's some of the highlights
WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

FSU AD Breaks Up Fight At Regional

((HT: Warchant.com))

Randy Spetman is not to be messed with...

Almost 30 years in the Air Force as a defensive lineman and serving your country does not mean that you will suffer fools lightly, and you won't let a little skirmish in the stands mess up your building as Florida State's Athletic Director...

Savannah State fans got in to it with FSU Fans (specifically "the Animals") at Dick Howser at Day One of the NCAA Regionals and...


Ta dah!!!

Scott Sitz pitched the number seven national seed to a 10-0 win on opening day... which gave the Tigers a day two elimination game with Alabama (of all teams)- who lost to Troy on day one...
((HT: WCTV))


Makes an alum proud...

ICYMI: New Worst Pitch Ever Could Happen to Anyone

We kind of feel sorry for John Bledsoe. He now has a lifetime "Most Embarrassing Moment".

The Orlando area insurance company owner got the opportunity to throw out the first pitch Tuesday night at the Stetson/Florida State baseball game.

And according to several reports, he practiced quite a bit, hoping not to embarrass himself or do anything silly.

That didn't happen.

Bledsoe walked out to the mound, wound up, went through his throwing motion and proceeded to slip while throwing, the ball went straight down into the ground and rolled towards the 1st base dugout.

The video:

Central Arkansas Puts Up 30... In Baseball...

((HT: UCA Athletics/Big League Stew))

Normally, when the HQ talks about the University of Central Arkansas, we're discussing either Scottie Pippen or the purple and black turf they have for the football stadium...

now, we'll talk to you about their baseball prowess... at least on one night...

The Bears played Grambling and the Tigers had a really bad night...

Here's the Purple Bears highlights... and there are a lot of them...


In 12 of their 24 wins, the Bears have score double digits... including a 19 against Mississippi Valley...
In the Tigers game... here's their box score...

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 30 (24-8)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Forrestt Allday rf....... 4 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 3
Logan Moon rf........... 3 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 4
Blake Marchal 2b......... 8 3 5 2 0 1 2 1 2
Ethan Harris lf.......... 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 0
Tyler Langley lf/cf..... 5 2 2 1 0 1 3 0 2
Scott Zimmerle 1b........ 1 1 0 1 0 1 3 0 3
Doug Votolato 1b/3b..... 3 3 0 0 3 1 3 0 3
Jonathan Davis cf........ 4 4 2 3 0 0 0 0 0
Garrett Bock lf......... 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Michael Marietta c/1b.... 7 6 7 11 1 0 5 2 0
Chris Townsend dh........ 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Nick Rougeau ph/dh...... 2 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0
Justin Treece ss......... 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0
Sam Moon 3b/ss.......... 3 1 1 3 1 0 1 3 0
Kraig Kelley 3b/ss....... 5 2 1 2 2 0 6 1 1
Connor Gilmore p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Zach Barr p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
John Kordsmeier p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Griffin Glaude p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jon Rand p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bo Stitch p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Blake Clayton p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 53 30 27 28 12 4 27 9 18

Seriously, Marietta had 11 RBI...setting a new team record there, for runs in a game, total bases, and hits in a game with...
Marchal ties the record for official at bats in a game...and they went 27-for-53 from the plate...
The Bears didn't even set a record for runs in a game- it's 32...
The most hits in a game is still 30...

Frankly, there are other records that were set... the HQ is fairly sure... but it got tiring to look in the UCA books...

Here's Grambling's pitching lines...

Grambling State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Manrrique, Armando.. 0.0 5 6 6 0 0 5 6 (current ERA 6.52)
Rivers, Jr., Frank.. 1.0 2 1 1 2 1 4 7 (9.84)
Martin, Colby....... 2.0 9 8 6 3 1 16 21 (9.95)
Murray, Derrick..... 1.2 3 5 0 1 1 8 10 (4.50)
Martin, Michael..... 0.1 1 1 0 2 1 2 4 (5.20)
Ryan, Anthony....... 1.0 1 2 0 2 0 4 7 (first appearance of the year, still 0.00)
Moore, Sean......... 0.1 2 5 3 2 0 4 6 (20.30)
Murphy, TJ.......... 1.2 4 2 1 0 0 10 11 (5.79)

That's a lot of unearned runs... the team ERA is now 5.09 and teams are hitting .279 against them...
Hell, that's just a lot of runs...

Caltech Breaks 228-Game Losing Streak In Baseball

((HT: Cal Tech their ownselves))

228 games is a long time...

Caltech last posted an NCAA baseball win on February 15, 2003 when they beat CSU-Monterey Bay 5-4. Then, this weekend, the Beavers beat Pacifica 9-7 in the second game of a doubleheader to break that astronomically-long losing streak...

And, no the number isn't a misprint...

Caltech has 17 men's and women's sports...

The men's hoops team, at this writing, is 1-20...
So are the women... but Stephanie Wong may set the record for points in a season before they're through... even if their losing streak is at 16...

They have fencing, track and field, soccer, cross country, swimming and diving...

So, statistically, this could be one of the worst athletics programs in the country. But, if we judged Caltech by the athletics program, we'd be in serious trouble...

They can only lay claim to 17 Nobel Prize winners, astronaut Frank Borman, Moshe Arens, a former PM of Iceland, and Frank Capra (yes, THAT Frank Capra)...

So, the HQ is more than happy to celebrate their wins when they come...
Here's postgame from the Pacifica win from Head Coach Matthew Mark, Daniel Chou, and Brian Penserini

Gator Throws No-No In Regional

((HT: Gatorzone.com))

It's the first round of the NCAA regionals and we have our first no-hitter of the weekend...

It was a sophomore pitcher for the school in Gainesville, Florida- Jonathon Crawford in a 4-0 win over Bethune-Cookman...

Here's a Nole and Mark Neely with the recap...


It's the first no-no in 21 years for the north Florida school...

“What a way to start the Regional play,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “The guy to my right [Crawford] had a special night, it was a great night by Jonathon. We needed a good start from our starting pitcher. I thought their starting pitcher was going to be outstanding, and he was. I thought we did a good job getting his [Gonzalez] pitch count up. It is one of those games where we knew it was going to be tight. Bethune is always a very good team. It’s one of those teams, that when it pops up on the board, there is a feeling of a little bit of anxiety because they are very capable. We needed a special outing by Jonathon. I am very proud of Jonathon, but also very proud of our team.”

And they continue...