Beavers rally for victory

Championship game Thursday

OMAHA, Neb. — Oregon State’s Trevor Larnach hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning after Arkansas blew a chance to lock up the national championship, and the Beavers forced a third and final game in the College World Series finals with a 5-3 victory Wednesday night.

The third and deciding game of the best-of-three finals will be played Thursdaynight.

Cadyn Grenier singled in the tying run after three Arkansas fielders watched his foul pop-up drop betweenthem.

Larnach then launched his 19th homer of the season into the right-field bullpen to set off a wild celebration in the Oregon State dugout.

The game, however, might be most remembered for the play the Razorbacks (48-20) didn’t make, one that would have given them their first nationaltitle in baseball.

Zach Clayton, who pinch ran for Zak Taylor after a walk leading off the ninth inning, was on third base when Grenier came up to bat with two outs and everybodyon their feet.

On a 1-1 pitch from Matt Cronin (2-2), Grenier popped a foul behind first base and toward the stands. There was room to make the catch and second baseman Carson Shaddy, first baseman Jared Gates and right fielder Eric Cole converged.

But no one called it, and it hit the ground, keeping the Beavers (54-12-1) alive. Cronin took a moment to compose himself, wiping his brow and adjusting his hat. His next pitch was way high and, after a foul ball, Grenier sent a drive into left field to score Clayton. Grenier pumpedhis fist as he ran to first and punched the air twice more when he roundedthe base.

Kevin Abel (7-1) was the winner.

Carson Shaddy gave Arkansas a 3-2 lead in the fifth,and Kole Ramage and Cronin turned back Oregon State threats in the sixthand eighth innings.

The Beavers were the hottest hitting team throughout the CWS, but had struggled to convert scoring chances in the finalsuntil they caught their huge break in the ninth inning.