College Baseball Week 11 News & Notes: SEC Rivalry to Watch

16) Upcoming Games & Draft Watch

Midweek Matchups:

• George Mason at #9 North Carolina – Tuesday

• #16 Oregon at #7 Oregon State – Tuesday

Weekend Series to Watch:

• #1 Texas vs. #10 Arkansas – Thursday–Saturday

• #2 Clemson vs. #4 Florida State – Friday–Sunday

• #11 Auburn vs. #5 Tennessee – Friday–Sunday

• #15 Alabama vs. #8 Vanderbilt – Friday–Sunday

• #6 LSU vs. #17 Texas A&M – Friday–Sunday

• #21 Ole Miss vs. #23 Oklahoma – Friday–Sunday

• #22 TCU vs. #12 Arizona – Friday–Sunday

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The post College Baseball News & Notes – Week 11 appeared first on Just Baseball.

2) Player of the Week – OF James Quinn-Irons, George Mason

Stats: 9-for-15, 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB, 6 SB

James Quinn-Irons was electric at the plate and basepaths, showcasing his five-tool potential with a weekend featuring power, speed, and run production in bunches.

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3) #17 Texas A&M vs. #1 Texas – A Rivalry Reignited

It had been over a decade since Texas and Texas A&M squared off in conference play, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher with SEC supremacy on the line and former A&M skipper Jim Schlossnagle now at the helm in Austin.

In front of sellout crowds, the Longhorns pulled off a dramatic sweep, winning each game by a single run: 2-1, 3-2, and 6-5.

Friday’s opener featured a masterful start from Ruger Riojas, who tossed 5.2 scoreless frames, while Dylan Volantis closed it out with a flourish—five strikeouts and another save. Tommy Farmer IV delivered the decisive blow with his first collegiate home run in the seventh.

Saturday brought more tension, and Texas again answered the bell. Luke Harrison gave the Horns six strong innings, while Volantis slammed the door again. Ethan Mendoza powered the offense with three hits, including a key solo shot.

Sunday’s finale was the most dramatic of all. The Horns came from behind twice, with Adrian Rodriguez’s go-ahead homer in the eighth sealing it. Andre Duplantier II turned in 5.2 critical innings of long relief, setting the stage for Max Grubbs to induce a double-play on just four pitches to secure the sweep.

At 18-2 in SEC play, Texas is asserting itself as the best team in the SEC and possibly the nation.

4) #16 Oregon Takes Down #7 Oregon State

In the other premier in-state showdown of the weekend, Oregon flexed its muscles, taking down rival Oregon State in all three contests in front of a raucous crowd at PK Park.

Grayson Grinsell went seven gritty innings in Friday’s 4-2 win, while Ryan Cooney’s two-run double proved the difference. Mason Neville and Jacob Walsh each launched big flies to ignite the crowd.

Saturday was a Duck domination. Oregon throttled the Beavers 13-1 behind six innings from Collin Clarke and four home runs, including bombs from Neville (No. 21), Dominic Hellman, Walsh, and Maddox Molony. Neville called the top of the lineup “special,” and they certainly looked the part.

Sunday’s 3-2 win sealed the sweep and Oregon’s biggest margin of series victory over the Beavers since 1972. With one more matchup set for Tuesday in Corvallis, the Ducks have firmly planted their flag in this year’s Civil War.

5) NC State Stuns #2 Clemson with a Statement Sweep

The Wolfpack made a thunderous statement in Raleigh, emphatically sweeping No. 2 Clemson.

It all started Thursday with a 14-4 run-rule beatdown, headlined by Brayden Fraasman’s jaw-dropping 5-for-5, 2-HR, 7-RBI performance and Anderson Nance’s four shutout innings in relief.

Friday, Heath Andrews kept Clemson off balance with six solid innings and a career-best nine punchouts. Fraasman stayed red-hot, and the Pack rolled 8-3.

Saturday’s 4-1 win polished off the sweep—NC State’s biggest of the season. The Tigers had entered as the No. 2 team in the country, but by weekend’s end, they were humbled by a surging Pack that’s finding its stride.

6) Virginia Rebounds with a Series Win at #19 Georgia Tech

Don’t count out the Cavaliers just yet. Virginia took two of three from a fading Georgia Tech squad, and the bats came alive in a big way.

Friday saw a seven-run fourth and a 12-9 final, with Aidan Teel and freshman James Nunnallee leading the way. Teel went yard and drove in three, while Nunnallee went a perfect 4-for-4 with a homer and double.

Bradley Hodges was sensational on Saturday, spinning seven innings of two-hit ball with seven Ks. The bats backed him with long balls from Eric Becker, Henry Ford, and Harrison Didawick in a 6-5 win.

Sunday ended in a walk-off loss, but the Cavaliers are trending in the right direction with four wins in their last five and an offense averaging nearly ten runs per game.

7) #21 Ole Miss Handles #8 Vanderbilt at Swayze

Ole Miss is catching fire at the right time. In front of a buzzing Swayze Field, the Rebels took down Vandy in the first two games to win another critical SEC series.

Hunter Elliott shoved on Friday, and the offense broke out behind home runs from Hayden Federico, Luke Hill, and Judd Utermark in an 8-3 win.

Saturday was more of the same. Ryan Moerman’s three-run blast capped a six-run inning, while Utermark went deep again. Riley Maddox threw seven dominant innings on just 88 pitches, and Ole Miss coasted to a 7-1 win to clinch the series.

Now 12-9 in SEC play and climbing fast in the RPI rankings, the Rebels are in the postseason mix—and gaining steam.

8) Florida Outlasts #3 Arkansas in Pivotal Series Win

Florida isn’t done yet. The Gators battled back from early deficits and bullpen woes to win two of three against a top-three Arkansas squad.

Liam Peterson dazzled in game one, striking out 13 over six innings. Luke Heyman’s three-run homer and Jake Clemente’s 2.2-inning save sealed a 6-4 victory.

After a quiet 7-0 loss in Game 2, Sunday was all heart. Down 5-1 after two innings, Florida clawed back behind Bobby Boser’s three-hit day and Brendan Lawson’s two-hit, one-RBI performance. Clemente again locked down the final three frames in a 9-5 win.

That’s seven wins in the last nine SEC games for Florida, who suddenly look like a team no one wants to face.

9) #6 LSU Walks Off #5 Tennessee in Statement Series

LSU rebounded from an ugly midweek loss to Northwestern State by taking two of three from Tennessee in Baton Rouge, punctuated by one of the wildest finishes of the year.

Friday night was unforgettable. Down 3-0 in the ninth, LSU scored six unanswered runs, capped off by a two-strike, walk-off three-run homer from Jared Jones. Derek Curiel’s game-tying single extended his on-base streak to 43 games.

After dropping Saturday’s contest, the Tigers bounced back strong. Curiel went 4-for-4 with a homer and 5 RBI on Sunday, while Jake Brown added a three-run bomb. Freshman Casan Evans gave LSU six strong innings in his first start, and Luis Hernandez’s walk-off double triggered a 12-2 mercy rule win.

LSU is 14-7 in SEC play and has won six of its last seven conference series. They’ll face Texas A&M in a massive showdown next weekend.

10) #25 Louisville Upsets #4 Florida State Behind Historic Speed

It looked like business as usual for Florida State as the Noles powered five home runs and got a dominant 11-strikeout outing from Jamie Arnold in a 10-2 win. But that was the last time FSU would taste victory in Louisville.

The Cardinals flipped the script on Saturday with a program record of 14 stolen bases, led by Zion Rose and Lucas Moore, with four apiece. Jake Munroe, Eddie King Jr., and Michael Lippe all came through in a 9-4 comeback win.

Sunday was an outright beatdown. Louisville run-ruled the Seminoles 14-2 in seven innings, completing the upset with a huge statement win that puts them squarely in the ACC race.

11) Texas Tech Stuns #12 Arizona in Statement Series Win

Perhaps the upset of the weekend, Texas Tech found its groove in Lubbock and handed #12 Arizona a series loss no one saw coming.

In Game 1, the Red Raiders’ offense lit up the scoreboard with 13 hits, including six for extra bases. Leadoff man Tracer Lopez set the tone, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a walk, while Peyton Schulze mirrored him at 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.

Mac Heuer was outstanding on the mound, throwing six innings of one-run ball while allowing just four hits. The bullpen duo of Jack Cebert and JT Drake combined for three shutout innings, locking down a dominant 12-3 win in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader.

In the series-clinching Game 3, the bats stayed hot. Tech racked up 15 hits, featuring five doubles from five different players. Logan Hughes starred with a 3-for-5 line, including a double, a homer, and three RBI, while Damien Bravo added a 3-for-4 performance with a double and two driven in.

Starter Zane Petty provided solid length, going 4.1 innings and giving up just two runs with four strikeouts. Cebert returned in relief and continued his sharp week with 3.1 innings of one-run ball, and Lukas Pirko nailed the final four outs to seal a 9-3 win and the series.

Sure, it’s been a rocky season in Lubbock, but this was the kind of weekend Tim Tadlock’s club desperately needed. Up next: a double-midweek against UTRGV before heading to Morgantown for a critical Big 12 showdown with West Virginia.

12) Midweek Chaos: Upsets Shake the Landscape

It was an upset-heavy midweek slate, and no one was safe, including multiple ranked squads. Here’s a full rundown of the carnage:

• Penn State stuns #14 West Virginia, 3–2

• College of Charleston takes down #20 Coastal Carolina, 4–2

• Kentucky buries #25 Louisville, 17–5

• Middle Tennessee upsets #8 Vanderbilt, 5–3

• Oral Roberts clips #13 Oklahoma, 5–3

• Northwestern State ten-runs #6 LSU, 13–3

• #23 UC Irvine knocks off #18 UCLA, 5–3

• Portland sweeps the midweek vs. #16 Oregon, including a wild 10–9 win

This week reminded everyone that no team is safe midweek, especially with regional resumes on the line.

13) 2025 Draft Spotlight: JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss

Season Stats: 1.92 ERA | 70.1 IP | 82 K / 19 BB | 0.853 WHIP

After two seasons as a key bullpen arm, JB Middleton has flourished in the Friday night role for Southern Miss, and with each dominant outing, he’s cementing himself as a legitimate Day 1 draft prospect.

His latest showing — a complete game four-hitter with eight strikeouts against Appalachian State — was another reminder of how polished and effective he's become.

Middleton attacks hitters with a refined fastball/slider mix, sequencing his arsenal with veteran poise. His four-seamer shows cut and ride, while the two-seamer adds a different look with run and sink, allowing him to change eye levels and induce soft contact. It’s a pair of fastballs that keep hitters guessing and help him rack up ground balls or jam swings.

But the headliner? That slider. It’s a dynamic 85–88 mph pitch with late bite, depth, and some sweep. He’s adept at manipulating it — flashing a cutter when needed or leaning into a mini-sweeper for deception. It’s a consistent swing-and-miss pitch and a weapon he’ll land in any count.

He’ll also sprinkle in a tumbling changeup later in outings, giving him another layer and some sneaky upside. The pitchability, athleticism, and polish are all there, and if the right development team helps him hone the slider into a true sweeper, the ceiling rises even higher.

Once a bullpen piece with a good arm, Middleton has pitched his way into top-100 territory, and by July, it wouldn’t be surprising to see his name called in the second round.

14) Pitcher Stats

RHP Blake Gillespie, Charlotte
9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K

LHP Liam Doyle, Tennessee
6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K

RHP Zane Taylor, UNC-Wilmington
7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

LHP Caleb Leys, Maine
7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K

LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State
7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 K

RHP Caden Aoki, USC
9 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

LHP Bradley Hodges, Virginia
7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

LHP Ben Jacobs, Arizona State
7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 11 K

LHP Kade Anderson, LSU
7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 11 K

RHP JB Middleton, Southern Miss
9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

RHP Jake Knapp, North Carolina
6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

RHP Aiven Cabral, Northeastern
6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K

RHP Leighton Finley, Georgia
5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

RHP Riley Quick, Alabama
5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

RHP Anthony Eyanson, LSU
5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K

RHP Callan Fang, Harvard
6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 12 K

15) Hitter Stats

1B Zach Yorke, Grand Canyon
8-for-16, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI

OF Nick Dumesnil, Cal Baptist
10-for-19, 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB

OF Kien Vu, Arizona State
6-for-15, 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB

3B Andrew Fischer, Tennessee
7-for-15, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB

OF Will Hodo, Alabama
5-for-11, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 2 HBP

OF Nolan Schubart, Oklahoma State
6-for-16, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB

UTL Mitch Voit, Michigan
5-for-14, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB

1B Jacob Walsh, Oregon
5-for-13, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB, SB

SS Alex Lodise, Florida State
8-for-16, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, BB

OF James Quinn-Irons, George Mason
9-for-15, 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB, 6 SB

16) Upcoming Games & Draft Watch

Midweek Matchups:

• George Mason at #9 North Carolina – Tuesday

• #16 Oregon at #7 Oregon State – Tuesday

Weekend Series to Watch:

• #1 Texas vs. #10 Arkansas – Thursday–Saturday

• #2 Clemson vs. #4 Florida State – Friday–Sunday

• #11 Auburn vs. #5 Tennessee – Friday–Sunday

• #15 Alabama vs. #8 Vanderbilt – Friday–Sunday

• #6 LSU vs. #17 Texas A&M – Friday–Sunday

• #21 Ole Miss vs. #23 Oklahoma – Friday–Sunday

• #22 TCU vs. #12 Arizona – Friday–Sunday

Connect with On The Clock for all the latest college baseball and MLB Draft news, analysis, interviews, scouting reports, and more! Follow us for all the latest updates! 

The post College Baseball News & Notes – Week 11 appeared first on Just Baseball.