This might not even be the biggest story in the NCAAs yesterday, because Kent State and Kentucky went 21 innings before Kent State won 7-6. Kentucky's starting DH ended up throwing 108 pitches in 9 innings of relief, which has to be a record for a starting DH.

This might not even be the biggest story in the NCAAs yesterday, because Kent State and Kentucky went 21 innings before Kent State won 7-6. Kentucky's starting DH ended up throwing 108 pitches in 9 innings of relief, which has to be a record for a starting DH.

As I mentioned in the Dugout, I took my boy to watch the Purdue-Valpo game at 7 p.m., and instead watched 10 innings of the UK-Kent State game. Most of the fans in attendance (Purdue and Valpo fans) just wanted it to end. As more of a baseball fan than a Boiler or Crusader fan, I just wanted it to keep going. With the stakes, it was probably the most exciting game I've ever seen in person.

As for the DH/pitcher, he was involved in the game's biggest play (extra innings division). Down 6-5 in the 18th, he was on first in a one-out, first-and-third situation when the batter launched a double to left center. The lead runner scored, but Reed got gunned down at the plate by the shortstop, keeping the Golden Flahes alive to play three more.

Kentucky had been complaining about losing out on a regional hosting bid to Purdue, and with some justice to my mind. Going two and barbecue in the regional would not make them look very good.

Kudos to Crawford. Florida had an interesting year; the Gators were a consensus pre-season number one and an overwhelming pick to win the title this year. Injuries and some baffling offensive failures meant UF was never the juggernaut it was supposed to be, but Florida did manage to earn the number one overall seed. Crawford, by the way, is UF's third starter, which shows why the Gators are still a favorite to win the tournament.

BTW, fun information from ESPN's Stats and Research, courtesy of BA's Aaron Fitt:

That honor has to go to Florida sophomore Jonathon Crawford, who threw the first no-hitter in the NCAA tournament in 21 years. And wouldn't you know it, even Crawford's no-hitter was overshadowed by the first no-hitter in New York Mets history by Johan Santana.

If that's not enough for you, consider this, from ESPN stats and research: the last NCAA tournament no-hitter was also thrown by a Gator (John Burke), on May 23, 1991. That same day, there was also a no-hitter in the big leagues, by Tommy Greene of the Phillies.

Oh, and perhaps the weirdest play of all in the UK game, which happened just moments before we walked in. The Cats' leadoff hitter in the bottom of the 12th hit an apparent double, but was called out for missing first base.

Wow, UNC just lost to St John's 5-4 on a walkoff 3-run homer that seemed to come out of nowhere. The guy who hit it (Danny Bethea) had two homers all year, and it came off closer Michael Morin and his 0.81 ERA. This feels like a real disaster for a good Heels team.

Miami is the first top regional seed to be eliminated.

This is a stupid question, but how many innings are in a college baseball game?

This is a stupid question, but how many innings are in a college baseball game?

Nine. Though doubleheaders are two 7-inning games (or were, when I played 25 years ago).

Though doubleheaders are two 7-inning games (or were, when I played 25 years ago).

That's what I was curious about. A kid my wife used to babysit for is a freshman this year and most of his games were 7 innings. But, most of his games were also doubleheaders so I wasn't sure if it was just a doubleheader thing or if all college games were 7 innings.

Doubleheader thing. They do that in the minors too...

Assuming that we're treating this as an unofficial tournament thread, it's worth noting that Miami was eliminated in two games from their own regional. They were destroyed in back-to-back games by Stony Brook and Missouri State.

That program has fallen a long way.