St. John’s walk-off stuns N. Carolina
Danny Bethea hit a walk-off three-run homer to help St. John’s stun North Carolina, 5-4, on Saturday night in Chapel Hill, leaving the Red Storm (39-21) one victory from the NCAA Tournament super regionals.
North Carolina (45-15), the No. 6 national seed, appeared on its way to its 17th straight win as a regional host thanks to a two-run homer from Shell McCain and a strong effort from starter Kent Emanuel.
But Jeremy Baltz had a leadoff double against reliever Michael Morin (6-4) in the ninth, then Sean O’Hare reached on an infield hit to set up Bethea’s homer. St. John’s starter Sean Hagan allowed four runs in 81/3 innings. St. John’s will play the winner of Sunday’s East Carolina-UNC game with a chance to advance.
Tyler Herb pitched a two-hitter and Jacob May hit a three-run homer as Coastal Carolina (42-18) knocked Manhattan out of the NCAA tourney with an 11-1 win in Columbia, S.C. The Jaspers (33-27) lost two straight in a regional for the second straight year.
Darnell Sweeney and Jeramy Matos each hit three-run homers to power UCF (45-14) to a 9-8 win over Stony Brook in the Coral Gables Regional. Stony Brook (47-12), which saw its 12-game winning streak end, will face Missouri State in an elimination game on Sunday.
The Seawolves scored three runs in the eighth, but their rally came up short as Joe Rogers pitched the final 11/3 innings for his 13th save.
Branden Cogswell drove in four runs, Branden Kline pitched 52/ strong innings and Virginia beat Army, 9-1, in the completion of the opener at the Charlottesville Regional.
TIGER 4 BACK OF LEVIN
Spencer Levin shot a 3-under 69 and had a one-shot lead at 208 over Rory Sabbatini (71) going into the final round at the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio. Rickie Fowler (69) was at 211; despite two bogeys on the last three holes for a 73, Tiger Woods was only four shots back.
LIBS FALL TO 0-5
Tamika Catchings scored 16 points to help the host Fever beat the Liberty, 91-68, keeping the Libs winless to start the season at 0-5. The last four defeats have been by a combined 82 points. Roneeka Hodges scored 15 points, Jeanette Pohlen added 12 and Katie Douglas had 11 for Indiana (4-0). Plenette Pierson scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting for the Liberty; Cappie Pondexter, the Libs’ leading scorer, finished with 13 on 4-for-15 shooting. The teams meet again Sunday in Newark.
WOZNIACKI BOUNCED
Caroline Wozniacki, the ninth seed, was ousted from the French Open in the third round by No. 23 Kaia Kanepi, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-3. Wozniacki got into a couple of extended arguments over line calls with chair umpire Poncho Ayala. American Christina McHale lost to No. 7 Li Na, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, but fellow American Varvara Lepchenko upset No. 14 Francesca Schiavone, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6.