Kasey Coffman homered on the first pitch of the game and scored three times as Arizona State beat Columbia 10-5 to eliminate the Lions from the NCAA tournament at the Fullerton regional yesterday in Fullerton, Calif.
Nathaniel Causey also homered for Arizona State (37-21-1), which scored 10 runs on just five hits. Columbia (28-21) issued five walks and hit two batters to help the Sun Devils.
After Coffman’s leadoff homer, the Lions briefly held the lead in the first after Joey Falcone hit a two-run double to make it 2-1. But ASU retook the lead for good with a six-run third inning that chased Columbia starter Stefan Olson from the game.
Virginia Tech 3, UConn 1
In Blacksburg, Va., Sean Keselica had two hits and an RBI, and Virginia Tech held on in the ninth inning to edge Connecticut in an elimination game in the Blacksburg regional.
Virginia Tech got a game-ending double play to seal the game after Connecticut (35-28) had two runners on and just one out.
Brad Markey (5-4) gave up one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings for the win.