June 11, 2007

Rice, Mississippi State advance

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — Matt Langwell allowed just one earned run and struck out seven to help Rice beat Texas A&M 5-2 on Saturday to advance to the College World Series for the second straight year.

The Owls (54-12) led 2-0 after three innings with Joe Savery leading the way offensively. Savery singled home Brian Friday in the first inning. In the third, he connected on Kyle Thebeau’s 2-1 pitch for an opposite-field home run to left for a 2-0 lead. Danny Lehmann made it 3-0 an inning later when he scored on Tyler Henley’s double-play grounder.

Mississippi St. 8, Clemson 5

STARKVILLE, Miss. — A day after his home run lifted Mississippi State to one victory, Mitch Moreland’s save sent the Bulldogs to the College World Series for the first time since 1998.

Moreland combined with closer Aaron Weatherford on four strikeouts and 21/3 innings of scoreless relief to ensure the win over Clemson (41-23).

It was an improbable run to Omaha, Neb., for Mississippi State (38-20), which had lost eight of 10 games heading into NCAA postseason play.

Oklahoma St. 3, Louisville 2

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Keanon Simon’s RBI single in the top of the 12th inning gave Oklahoma State a win over host Louisville in the super regional.

The Cowboys’ victory forced a third game in the best-of-three series. The final game will be today at Jim Patterson Stadium, where 4,138 fans turned out Saturday.

Oklahoma State (42-20), which has been to 19 College World Series, scored first on Corey Brown’s solo home run in the fourth inning.

UC Irvine 1, Wichita St. 0

WICHITA, Kan. — UC Irvine right-hander Scott Gorgen shut out Wichita State.

The Anteaters (44-15-1) need one more victory to advance to the College World Series for the first time in the program’s history.

S. Carolina 8, UNC 5 (susp.)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The North Carolina vs. South Carolina super regional game has been suspended until today because of rain and lightning. South Carolina leads 8-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Cal St. Fullerton 12, UCLA 2

FULLERTON, Calif. — Wes Roemer pitched a complete game and Evan McArthur had three RBIs to help Cal State Fullerton defeat UCLA.

McArthur had three hits, scored two runs and reached base five times. His two-run single in the first inning propelled the Titans to a 3-0 lead.

Roemer, who earlier in the week was the first-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, threw 125 pitches and gave up eight hits, struck out seven and improved his record to 11-6.

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Sun Devils rallied from three down in the eighth inning with a three-run ninth to win the first game of the super regional.

Brett Wallace delivered a two-out single to plate the game-winner for the Sun Devils. Pinch-hitter Jason Jarvis delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly before Wallace’s game-winner.

CJ Retherford had an RBI groundout in the ninth.