Stanford gets bounced
Foster’s RBI double in 6th inning helps Auburn stay alive
Cole Foster’s three-run double in the sixth inning gave Auburn the lead, and the Tigers beat No. 2 national seed Stanford 6-2 in a College World Series elimination game for their first win in Omaha in 25 years.
The Tigers (44-21) will play Tuesday against Arkansas, which lost Mississippi in the late game.
Stanford (47-18) concluded a short, disappointing stay in Omaha. The Cardinal lost their opener against Arkansas 17-2 — the most lopsided game here in 34 years — and then did next to nothing after taking an early lead against Auburn.
Stanford, which staved off elimination five times in its regional and super regional, went 0-2 in a CWS for the first time in 18 appearances.
Trace Bright (5-4) went five innings for the win and Blake Burkhalter, the Tigers’ star closer, struck out six of the eight batters he faced for his 16th save.
Auburn had been 0-3 in the CWS since beating Rice 10-1 in 1997.
“It’s important for us as we continue to try to build our program and build a brand of respectability, sincere respectability,” Tigers coach Butch
Thompson said. “So it is a big deal and it gives us a chance to compete again.”
The Tigers, who lost 5-1 to Mississippi on Saturday, had managed one run and seven hits in 14 innings before breaking out in the sixth against the Cardinal.
Foster, who doubled twice, was back in the lineup after leaving in the middle of Saturday’s game because of illness and dehydration.
Mississippi 13, Arkansas 5: Mississippi remained perfect in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to Wednesday’s Bracket 2 final. Calvin Harris finished 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIS. Arkansas faces an elimination game Tuesday night against Auburn for a chance at a rematch with the Rebels.