The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Beavers rally past Fullerton in CWS
Oregon State overcomes 4-run deficit in 6-5 win.
OMAHA, NEB. — Adley Rutschman hit the tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, Jake Mulholland pitched 4⅓ innings of no-hit relief, and Oregon State rallied to beat Cal State Fullerton 6-5 in the College World Series opener on Saturday.
The Beavers (55-4) extended their winning streak to 22 games after falling behind by four runs as national wins leader Jake Thompson scuffled.
Mulholland (7-1) settled things down for the Beavers, retiring 12 of the 13 batters after taking over for Thompson, who came into the game with 14 wins but lasted 3⅔ innings in his shortest outing of the season.
The Beavers tied it with four runs in the sixth inning, and Rutschman put them ahead with his single up the middle off Blake Workman (6-3). Drew Rasmussen pitched the ninth for his second save.
Timmy Richards’ three-run homer in the first and Chris Hudgins’ two-run single in the fourth gave the Titans (39-23) a 5-1 lead, the largest deficit the Beavers have faced since losing 7-1 to UCLA on April 22.
Fullerton starter Connor Seabold worked a strong five innings, but his pitch count ballooned to 97 and he was relieved by Colton Eastman to start the bottom of the sixth.
Eastman, who was spectacular in a seven-inning start in the super regional-clinching win over Long Beach State last Sunday, couldn’t find the strike zone. The Beavers were content to wait him out.
He got only two batters out, walked four and threw 40 pitches, including 13 to KJ Harrison during an at-bat that ended with a bases-loaded walk.
Workman came on and Trevor Larnach singled up the middle for two runs, and Jack Anderson followed with another base hit to center to tie it 5-all.
Louisville’s McKay is player of the year
Louisville pitcher-first baseman Brendan McKay won the Dick Howser Trophy as the top player in college baseball.
McKay, the fourth overall pick in the major league draft, was honored at a ceremony Saturday by the Howser Trophy committee and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
McKay, from Darlington, Pa., was chosen as national player of the year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and Baseball America, and is a three-time winner of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.
McKay, who will be the starting pitcher in Louisville’s College World Series game against Texas A&M today, is 10-3 with a 2.34 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 104 innings. He’s batting .343 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs.