2012 Houston College Classic Field Announced

The 12^th Annual Houston College Classic lineup was announced today. University of Arkansas, University of Tennessee, University of Houston, Rice University, University of Texas, and Texas Tech University will compete in the round robin early season tournament. The three day tournament will be held at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.

The 2012 lineup features three teams that played in regionals, Arkansas, Texas, and Rice, with Texas advancing to the College World Series.

The 2011 lineup included: Baylor, Rice, Houston, Utah, Texas A&M, Kentucky. Utah came into the tournament 0-5 but managed to upset Texas A&M and Baylor while losing to Kentucky to tie at 2-1 for a share of the championship. Baylor also went 2-1 beating Houston and Rice.

Rice, the 8^th seeded team in college baseball before regional play began, Baylor, and Texas A&M all made regional appearances with A&M making the trip to Omaha this year.

Pairings for the tournament have not been announced.

This will be the Razorbacks first appearance in the Houston Classic. 

What would you like to clarify? Don't forget to sign up for email notifications and as a reader/follower. Follow HogManInLA on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/HogManInLa

College World Series Updates

The Florida Gators continued the dominance over the Vanderbilt Commodores to earn a berth in the College World Series Friday night in Omaha, Nebraska, winning 6-4. Both teams played hard in a wild offensive game.

Tampa Bay 1^st round draft pick Sonny Gray was roughed up for the second time in the CWS by the Florida Gators for 6 earned runs in 7 innings of work. The Gators collected hits from every starting position player tallying 13 total hits. 4 Gator players had multiple hits; Leadoff hitter SS Nolan Fontana went 2-3 with 2 RBIs, 2B Josh Adams 2-3 with a run scored, RF Daniel Pigott went 2-4 with 2 runs, and 3B Cody Dent 2-2 with 2 runs. The bottom of the Gators order was getting on base and the top of the order was driving them in all night.

Commodores 1B Aaron Westlake jumped on Junior LHP Alex Panteliodis, a 9^th round pick by the New York Mets, for a solo homerun in the 1^st inning. Panteliodis would settle down as he threw 6 strong innings allowing 1 ER and 3 hits for the Gators.

Vanderbilt mounted a comeback in the 7^th inning off Tommy Toledo, 2 ER on 3-hits in .2 innings pitched. At the end of 7 the score was 4-3 Florida. In the top of the 8^th Vanderbilt tied the game at 4 all. Vandy DH Conrad Connor was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the last run of the game for the Commodores.

In the bottom of the 8^th inning Grayson started the inning but Will Clinard came in for relief with the bases loaded. Clinard gave up a Preston Tucker singled, which would prove to be the game winning run, scoring Daniel Pigott. Clinard then threw a wild pitch allowing Cody Dent to score.

Austin Maddox closed out the game for the Gators throwing 1.2 innings of shutout ball to earn the victory.

The Gators (53-17) await the winner of the South Carolina vs. Virginia Cavaliers game in the CWS Championship round. The Championship round begins Monday night at 8:00 p.m. EST. 

What would you like to clarify? Don't forget to sign up for email notifications and as a reader/follower. Follow HogManInLA on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/HogManInLa

College World Series Updates, Day 5

Vanderbilt Commodores vs. North Carolina Tar Hills

Wasted opportunities and taking advantage of opportunities was the story of the game when Vanderbilt kept their College World Series hopes alive by beating the UNC Tar Hills 5-1 Wednesday night.

RHP Greg Holt, an 8^th round draft pick by the Washington Nationals, was rocked by the Commodores for 5 earned runs in 2.2 innings of pitching. The Commodores jumped on Holt from the beginning. Lead off hitter LF Tony Kemp hit a triple to center then scored on a sacrifice fly by SS Anthony Gonzalez. Vandy kept the heat on in the second inning with a lead off hit, a walk, and a 3-run homer by CF Connor Harrell; Harrell went 2-3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored. DH Gregor went 2-2 raising his season batting average to .353 for Vanderbilt. In the third inning C Curt Casali hit a solo home run ending Holtz’s night.

UNC’s bullpen would come in and shutdown Vanderbilt’s run production over the remaining 5.1 innings but the damage was done. Vanderbilt pitcher Taylor Hill threw 7 strong innings giving up 1 ER, 4 hits, and struck out 4 earning the win. Hill did walk 4 Tar Hill players but the Tar Hills could never come through with the clutch hits they needed. In the 5^th inning UNC had the bases loaded with one out but could only manage one run on a ball hit to first to score the run. C Jacob Stallings ended his season going 2-4 for the Tar Hills.

Vanderbilt’s win assures the SEC of one team in the NCAA Championship game and at the minimum a second place finish for the 2011 NCAA Baseball season. South Carolina could make the NCAA Championship game an all SEC showdown.

Vanderbilt (54-11) will play the Florida Gators (52-17) Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Thursday’s Game

In an elimination game, the University of Virginia (55-11) will play the California Bears (38-22) at 7:00 p.m. EST.

South Carolina will play the winner of the UV vs. Cal game Friday night at 7:00 p.m. EST.

The Championship Series is set to begin Monday night at 8:00 p.m. EST. The Championship round is a best of 3 series. 

What would you like to clarify? Don't forget to sign up for email notifications and as a reader/follower. Follow HogManInLA on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/HogManInLa