June 11.2007

UC Irvine savors 1st trip to Omaha

Staff and News Services

Bryan Peterson's double in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted UC Irvine over Wichita State 3-2 in Wichita, Kan., on Sunday, sending the Anteaters to the College World Series for the first time in school history.

UC Irvine (45-15-1) swept the best-of-three super regional with great pitching, on Sunday by Wes Etheridge. The right-hander, who held Wichita State to five hits in 8 1/3 innings, gave up a single to Andy Dirks to start the game and then retired 17 straight batters.

WSU (53-22) tied it with two runs in the top of the ninth, breaking a 21-inning scoreless streak, greatly helped by a disputed call. After Derek Schermerhorn singled, Damon Sublett grounded to shortstop Ben Orloff and was ruled out on a close play at first. Shockers coach Gene Stephenson argued the call, saying first baseman Taylor Holiday's foot came off the bag.

After a brief discussion, plate umpire Scott Erby overturned the call and ruled Sublett safe. That, in turn, infuriated UC Irvine coach Dave Serrano.

Replays appeared to show that Holiday's foot was still on the base when he caught the ball.

Two outs later, pinch-hitter Danny Jackson walked to load the bases and Tyler Hill singled through the right side to tie it 2-2.The Anteaters came right back in their half, as Matt Morris hit a one-out single off Anthony Capra (7-1) and scored when Peterson doubled over the head of right fielder Matt Brown.

Cal State Fullerton 2, UCLA 1: Matt Wallach, the son of former major-league third baseman Tim Wallach, hit an RBI single to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning as the Titans completed a sweep in Fullerton.

The Bruins' Gavin Brooks went the distance and took the loss even though he struck out 12 and did not issue a walk.
Arizona State 7, Mississippi 1: The Sun Devils advanced to the College World Series for the second time in three years by completing a two-game sweep in Tempe.

Josh Satow (13-3) scattered five hits and walked five in 7 2/3 scoreless innings for the Sun Devils. Brett Wallace homered and drove in three runs.

The Devils will face UC Irvine in the first round in Omaha, Neb.

Louisville 20, Oklahoma St. 2: Isaiah Howes hit a grand slam and drove in six runs as the host Cardinals (46-22) pounded out 21 hits, earning their first trip to the College World Series.

Howes was 3-for-6 with three runs scored, Jorge Castillo drove in four runs, Pete Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored and Logan Johnson was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.
Louisville will meet Rice on Friday in Omaha.

N. Carolina 9, S. Carolina 4: Chad Flack's two-run homer off reliever Will Atwood in the seventh snapped a 4-4 tie in Chapel Hill, N.C., sending the Tar Heels to Omaha.

Flack' two-run, game-ending homer in last season's super regional at Alabama gave the Heels their first CWS berth since 1989.

North Carolina (53-13) will face Mississippi State in Omaha.

The Gamecocks (46-20) forced the third game by completing an 8-6 victory in a game that was suspended Saturday night because of lightning and heavy rain.
Oregon State 1, Michigan 0: Joey Wong's RBI single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning spoiled Zach Putnam's bid for a no-hitter and led the defending national champion Beavers (43-18) to a victory in the opening game of their super regional.
Wong grounded a 1-2 pitch into left field to score pinch-runner Braden Wells from second base as the throw to the plate from Michigan's Derek VanBuskirk was late.
Putnam (8-5) struck out eight and walked three, leaving after Wong's hit. He didn't allow a baserunner until Scott Santschi's one-out walk in the sixth. The Wolverines fell to 42-18.