Oregon State rallies to topple Fullerton

OMAHA, Neb. — Unbeaten national victories leader Jake Thompson was scuffling, his teammates were struggling against Connor Seabold, and Oregon State was facing a four-run deficit that was its biggest in almost two months.

This Beavers team can never be counted out, though. They have, after all, lost only four times.

After reliever Jake Mulholland settled things down for the Beavers and Fullerton Coach Rick Vanderhook made a pitching change he ended up regretting, Oregon State came back to beat the Titans 6-5 on Saturday in the College World Series opener.

“I think just with how this whole season’s gone for us, we know that we’re in just about any game,” the Beavers’ Jack Anderson said. “Doesn’t matter. We’re down one, down four, we’re just believing in ourselves regardless of the score.”

Adley Rutschman hit the tie-breaking single in the eighth inning after having flied out four times and stranded eight runners in his previous at-bats, Mulholland pitched 41/3 innings of no-hit relief and No. 1 seed Oregon State (55-4) extended its winning streak to 22 games.

Thompson, who came into the game with 14 victories, lasted 32/3 innings in his shortest outing of the season. Mulholland (7-1), who throws in the mid-80s compared with the low 90s for Thompson, retired 12 of 13 batters.