It may go down as one of the most amazing comeback wins in College World Series history as it’s been a crazy week in Omaha, the site of the NCAA championships, with lightning and rain delays, and games being reschedule.
And crazy it was last night for Oregon State, who faced North Carolina in a rematch from Saturday’s opening tournament-loss, and were staring at being eliminated in a ‘loser-out’ game.
The 3rd ranked Beavers jumped on the Tar Heels in the opening inning with solo home runs by (add-lee rutch-man) Adley Rutchsman and
Cadyn (grenn-yay) Grenier to lead 2-zip, then added a run in the top of the third owning a nice 3-to-nothing lead.
But, like the weather here and in Omaha, things changed, and in a bad way suddenly for the Beavs as once again Carolina knocked OSU pitching ace and record-holder Luke Heimlich out of the game in the bottom half of the third smacking him around for 3-runs on 6-hits, to tie it, 3-3.
Beaver 2-time champion Coach Pat Casey wasted little time and made a change on the mound. However, North Carolina pushed across 3-runs to own a 6-3 lead after six and things seemed terminal for OSU.
Then, in the 8th inning, Oregon State ignited for 4-runs to take the lead, and tacked on 4-more insurance runs in the top of the 9th just to make sure, and held on for an 11-6 win to live for another game.
The Beavs, 51-and-11, meet unranked Mississippi State in a one bracket semifinal tomorrow at Noon, and must beat the Bulldogs Friday, and again Saturday to play for the National Title on Monday.
Today, top-ranked & defending Champion Florida must win facing Texas Tech today at 5 in the other bracket Semi which is an elimination game for both teams. 5th ranked Arkansas awaits the winner tomorrow night.
FOOTBALL
Mike Riley is leaving Oregon State’s football coaching staff as an assistant and recruiting consultant to become head coach of the new ‘Alliance of American Football’ league’s San Antonio franchise which will be announced today.
Riley, who turns 65, next month joins other coaching notables in the fledgling league like Dennis Erickson, Salt Lake City…Rich Neuheisel, Phoenix, and Steve Spurrier in Orlando.
