Quick Hitters
Harrison slam fuels Beavers’ 13-1 win over LSU
OMAHA, Neb. — Bryce Fehmel limited LSU to two hits in eight innings, KJ Harrison hit the first College World Series grand slam at TD Ameritrade Park, and Oregon State beat LSU 13-1 for its 23rd straight win Monday night.
The top-seeded Beavers (56-4), who matched the school-record win streak they set earlier this season, took control of Bracket 1. They don’t play again until Friday, and need one more win to advance to next week’s best-ofthree finals.
LSU (49-18) had its 17-game win streak end with its most lopsided CWS loss since a 20-6 rout by Cal State Fullerton in 1994.
LSU had issues early in the game. Starter Eric Walker (8-2) left the game after throwing four pitches in the third inning because of forearm tightness.
Caleb Gilbert held the Beavers for a couple of innings, but they capitalized on a couple of LSU misplays to go up 3-0 in the fifth.
Oregon State broke the game open in the sixth.
Harrison hammered Hunter Newman’s first pitch over the left-center fence for the first CWS grand slam since 2010, the last year the event was played at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Harrison broke into a wide smile as he watched the ball fly out, his trot turned into a run and he whooped and pounded his chest as he approached teammates waiting at home plate. Harrison has four home runs and 14 RBIs in seven NCAA Tournament games.
GM Griffin, Cavs part ways after title, 3 straight Finals
CLEVELAND — One year ago, David Griffin celebrated the biggest win in Cavaliers history.
He marked the anniversary Monday by walking away from the team.
Griffin’s three-year run as general manager with Cleveland is over after one championship and three straight trips to the NBA Finals.
After guiding the team through its most successful stretch, Griffin mutually parted ways with the Cavs as owner Dan Gilbert said the GM’s contract will not be extended once it expires June 30.
“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Griff for his leadership and many contributions during his time here, including most recently, his role in the franchise’s first NBA Championship,” Gilbert said in a statement. “We have no announcement at this time related to new leadership of the Cavaliers basketball operations group, but we are confident our current front office will continue to aggressively explore and pursue opportunities to improve our team in the weeks ahead.”
Griffin’s departure comes on the one-year anniversary of the Cavs’ dramatic Game 7 win over Golden State, capping a historic comeback that gave Cleveland its first major professional sports championship since 1964.
He’s also leaving three days before the draft and on the eve of free agency. Cleveland could have a busy summer as it looks to revamp its roster after losing to the Warriors in five games in this year’s Finals.
With Griffin out, the Cavs enter a critical juncture without a seasoned executive making the calls. The Cavs will try to improve their roster this summer as superstar LeBron James enters his final season under contract.