San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Tar Heels, Beavers into CWS
North Carolina jumped on Stetson starter Jack Perkins in a four-run first inning and the host Tar Heels clinched a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., by beating the Hatters 7-5 on Saturday.
Cody Roberts, Brandon Riley and Ashton McGee had RBI doubles in that first inning for North Carolina (43-18), which swept the best-of-three NCAA super regional series.
Reliever Caden O’Brien (6-0) earned the win, while the Tar Heels finished with 14 hits on the way to earning their first trip to the College World Series since 2013.
Jonathan Meola and Andrew MacNeil each hit solo home runs for the Hatters (48-13). Perkins (11-3) allowed six runs and nine hits in 21⁄3 innings — his shortest outing of the year.
Stetson scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on Mike Spooner’s single, and had runners on first and second with two out. But Brooks Wilson flied out to deep center field, sending the Tar Heels running to the mound for a celebration. “They get to experience something that’s going to be a lifetime memory for them,” North Carolina coach Mike Fox said of his players. “... These kids have no idea what they’re getting ready to experience.”
Oregon State 6, Minnesota 3: In Minneapolis, Adley Rutschman delivered a two-run single to snap a ninthinning tie and a hit batter with the bases loaded plated another run in the frame as the Beavers (48-10) beat the Gophers (44-14) to sweep the super regional and qualify for the CWS. Minnesota led 3-2 entering the eighth, but Oregon State tied it on a Kyle Nobach RBI single.
Cal State Fullerton 5, Washington 2: Junior right-hander Tommy Wilson pitched seven strong innings to lead the host Titans (36-24) to a victory over the Huskies (34-29) to even their best-of-three super-regional series at a game apiece. Wilson (7-0) limited the Huskies to one run and three hits. Brett Conine pitched the eighth and ninth innings to secure the victory. The winner-take-all Game 3 is Sunday. Washington fell to 1-9 all-time against Fullerton and needs a win Sunday to advance to its first CWS in school’s history. Fullerton reached the super regional by beating Stanford.
Vanderbilt 4, Mississippi State 3: J.J. Bleday homered in the bottom of the ninth as the host Commodores (3526) beat the Bulldogs (36-27) to send the super regional to Game 3 on Sunday. Mississippi State led 3-2 entering the eighth, but Vanderbilt tied the score when Harrison Ray tripled and Ethan Paul followed with an RBI single.
Arkansas 9, South Carolina 3: Carson Shaddy drove in four runs, including three on a seventh-inning double, and the host Razorbacks beat the Gamecocks in the opening game of the super regional. Shaddy’s double hit off the top of the fence in left- center field and cleared the bases for Arkansas (43-18). LT Tolbert and Madison Stokes each had home runs for South Carolina (36-25). Blaine Knight (12-0) gave up three runs in six innings to help the Razorbacks improve to 34-3 at home this season.
Florida 8, Auburn 2: Wil Dalton drove in two runs, Deacon Liput homered for the second time in three games and the host Gators (46-18) roughed up No. 1 draft pick Casey Mize and the visiting Tigers (42-22) in the super regional opener. Pitching for the first time since becoming first-round draft picks, Brady Singer out-dueled Mize. It was a muchhyped matchup of soon-to-be millionaires, with Mize going to Detroit with the first pick Monday night and Singer taken by Kansas City with the 18th selection. Mize (10-6) gave up six earned runs on seven hits, walked four and a hit batter in five innings. Singer (12-1), the SEC Pitcher of the Year, allowed four hits and two earned runs in 62⁄3 innings. He struck out nine, walked two and plunked two.
Texas Tech 6, Duke 4: Gabe Holt went 3-for-5 and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to help the host Red Raiders (43-17) beat the Blue Devils (44-17) in Game 1 of their super regional. Holt’s single to right field scored Cody Farhat and, four pitches later, Brian Klein’s RBI double gave Texas Tech a 6-4 lead going into the ninth.
Tennessee Tech 5, Texas 4: Chase Chambers and David Garza each had an RBI double to power a three-run fifth inning and the visiting Golden Eagles (53-10) held on to beat the Longhorns (40-21) in their best-ofthree opener. Texas opened the scoring with Zach Zubia’s sacrifice fly in the first inning and took a 3-2 lead in the third on Kody Clemens’ 22nd homer.