Vandy's Jack Leiter (Vandy photo)
D1 Digest: Vanderbilt’s Leiter Headlines Tuesday’s Action
Roundup
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Tuesday Scoreboard
Team of the day: Oklahoma State over No. 13 Arizona State
We were high on the Cowboys coming into the season, but they promptly dropped out of the rankings this week after losing a series at Grand Canyon. Well, OSU could be back in the rankings sooner rather than later after beating ASU 2-1. OSU’s Brett Standlee was terrific in his start, striking out eight and allowing a run and seven hits in seven innings, while Kale Davis and Ben Leeper each tossed scoreless frames. ASU’s offense continues to struggle, scoring just 12 runs in five games this season. As for ASU’s pitching staff, lefty Erik Tolman had a quality start against the Cowboys, striking out 12 in six innings.
Sit down, be humble! @StandleeBrett with a huge K to strand bases loaded in b2 as #okstate takes the lead to the 3rd#GoPokes pic.twitter.com/y4OGylQWos
— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 19, 2020
Player of the day: Vanderbilt RHP Jack Leiter
In arguably the most anticipated freshman debut of the season, the talented Vandy righthander didn’t disappoint in an impressive 3-0 win over a solid South Alabama club. Leiter was sensational in his start, striking out 12 and walking just one in five no-hit innings. He didn’t disappoint from a stuff standpoint either, sitting 92-95 mph with his fastball, while also showing a filthy 78-82 mph slider and a nasty 74-75 mph curveball. He wasn’t the only Vandy freshman to impress. VU freshman Thomas Schultz struck out seven in four shutout innings and sat 92-95 mph with his fastball. What a night for the two ultra-talented Vandy freshmen.
Jack Leiter's 12Ks/5IP in 30 seconds. pic.twitter.com/MrdeYIRLMc
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 19, 2020
Top 25 Notes
• No. 2 Florida is leaving no doubt with a huge series at No. 1 Miami on the horizon this weekend. The Gators hit the road and crushed Jacksonville, 13-3. Standout freshman Josh Rivera had a big night at the plate, collecting three hits and knocking in two runs, while sophomore outfielder Jud Fabian had three hits and two RBIs. Meanwhile, freshman pitcher Hunter Barco struck out three and walked one in three shutout innings.
• No. 11 LSU got home runs from Saul Garza, Hayden Travinski and Gavin Dugas in an 8-3 win over Southern. Garza finished the night with three hits and four RBIs, while on the mound, Nick Storz had the most intriguing performance. Storz has dealt with a lot of injury issues during his time at LSU, but shined against the Jaguars, striking out three in three shutout frames.
Bulé 💣!
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) February 18, 2020
💻: https://t.co/Oq9zWRcpaI pic.twitter.com/5qeUJUr4Kg
• No. 12 Florida State got a home run and four RBIs from Matheu Nelson in a 7-3 win over South Florida. The bullpen also did an admirable job with Chase Haney tossing 2.1 shutout innings and Parker Messick added five strikeouts in 2.2 shutout innings.
📍388 ft.
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) February 19, 2020
☄️ 103 exit velo.
Nelly punches this ball WAYYYY out to give the Noles the lead 😤 pic.twitter.com/v7oowq7AgN
• No. 14 UCLA is playing an impressive brand of baseball, pummeling LMU 10-1 on Tuesday night. Talented freshman Jared Karros had a strong start against the Lions, striking out six and allowing a run and two hits in five innings, while Kyle Cuellar led the offense with two hits and three RBIs.
• No. 15 NC State picked up a 6-1 win over Longwood with junior lefthander David Harrison leading the charge. Harrison had a strong night on the bump, striking out seven, not allowing a walk and allowing just a run and five hits in six innings.
• No. 16 Duke used some strong pitching to take care of William & Mary, 5-0, Tuesday night. Bill Chillari started for the Blue Devils and struck out and allowed just one hit in three shutout innings, while Eli Herrick tossed 1.2 shutout frames, Matt Dockman threw 1.1 shutout innings, Jack Carey tossed two shutout frames and Matt Mervis ended the game with a shutout frame.
• No. 19 Georgia Tech took care of Georgia Southern on the road, 4-3, Tuesday night. The Jackets needed a two-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Eagles, as Michael Guldberg roped the go-ahead single in the frame. Luke Bartnicki put together a nice start for the Jackets, while freshman Dalton Smith threw well in his three innings out of the pen.
• No. 20 Texas A&M continues to hit at a torrid pace to start the season, beating SFA 13-4 in College Station Tuesday night. Zach DeLoach, who hit over .700 Opening Weekend, had yet another good night at the plate with two hits, while Rody Barker had three hits and two RBIs and Bryce Blaum had two doubles and three RBIs.
• No. 22 North Carolina made easy work of Elon Tuesday afternoon in a 7-1 win. UNC catcher Eric Grintz had a huge night at the plate with a double and four hits, while Joey Lancellotti was again in the lineup and recorded a hit.
• No. 23 Oklahoma got home runs from Tanner Tredaway and freshman Trent Brown in a 14-1 win over Texas Southern. Tredaway finished the night with two hits, while Tyler Hardman had two doubles and finished the game with three hits. OU catcher Justin Mitchell also chipped in a three-hit performance in the winning cause.
• No. 24 Cal State Fullerton hit the road to San Diego State and dropped a tough 8-4 decision to the Aztecs. Mike Jarvis and Anthony Walters each hit home runs for the Aztecs, while Ryan Orr had three hits and two RBIs.
Casey Schmitt shows off his arm at third to end the fifth inning for CSF. pic.twitter.com/TkvrEDgPIC
— SDSU Baseball (@SDSUBaseball) February 19, 2020
• No. 25 Stanford continues to struggle from an offensive standpoint, dropping a 3-2 decision to Santa Clara on the road. The Cardinal was stymied by SCU starting pitcher Travis Howard, who struck out six in three hitless innings, while Alex Waldsmith also put together a solid performance with three shutout frames out of the bullpen.
National Notables
• San Francisco starting pitcher Eric Reyzelman had a strong showing in a 6-0 win over UC Davis. Reyzelman struck out six, walked two and allowed three hits in five shutout innings.
• Tennessee righthander Elijah Pleasants struck out three and allowed just one earned run on six hits in five innings in an 8-2 win over Charlotte. Zach Daniels and Jake Rucker each hit home runs, with Rucker finishing the afternoon with three hits and two RBIs.
• Grand Canyon improved to 3-1 after taking care of Oregon 4-3 in extra innings, beating the Ducks on a wild pitch in the 12th inning. Dominic Grissom had an afternoon to remember with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly, while starting pitcher Jake Schneider struck out six and allowed two runs in five innings. Meanwhile, Oregon is still looking for the first win in the Mark Wasikowski era.
• Louisiana Tech is one of those teams that’ll be in the Top 25 discussion with another strong weekend. The Bulldogs picked up yet another quality win, beating Southland favorite McNeese, 7-4, on the road. Veteran slugger Hunter Wells had a big day at the plate with three hits, two RBIs and a walk.
• TCU continues to look the part from an offensive standpoint through the first four games, as Porter Brown, Gene Wood, Hunter Wolfe and Gray Rodgers each hit a home run in a 14-4 win over Abilene Christian. TCU talented freshman Riley Cornelio made his debut and struck out three in three no-hit innings.
For your viewing pleasure, highlights from an offensive night at Lupton 🎆 #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/yAV9Mx5wHl
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) February 19, 2020
• Washington cooled off Long Beach State Tuesday night in the LBC, as Christian Jones, who returned this season from an injury, launched a two-run home run to give the Huskies a 4-1 win over the Dirtbags. Jones finished the night with three hits and three RBIs.
• Texas improved to 4-0 on the season with a 6-2 win over UTSA. Tristan Stevens was impressive out of the bullpen, while freshman lefty Pete Hansen struck out four and allowed just three hits in three shutout innings.
Oops, he did it again. @TFaltine with another defensive 💎.
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) February 19, 2020
Horns lead, 6-2, in the 8th. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/or04wI7yye
• Pepperdine improved to 4-0 on the season after beating Cal Poly 9-2 on the road. Pepperdine starting pitcher Gunnar Groen struck out five, walked two and allowed a run in five innings, while offensively, Justin Lutes continue his hot hitting with yet another home run and four RBIs. Keep an eye on the Waves, who were on our Top 25 watch list this past Monday.
