June 11, 2007

Mississippi State caps sweep
Oklahoma State trims Louisville; UC Irvine wins 1-0

Chronicle News Services

STARKVILLE, MISS. — A day after his home run lifted Mississippi State to one victory, Mitch Moreland's save in an 8-5 win Saturday over Clemson sent the Bulldogs to the College World Series for the first time since 1998.

Moreland combined with closer Aaron Weatherford for four strikeouts and 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to ensure the win that came in front of a super regional record of 13,715 fans.

It was an improbable run to Omaha, Neb., for Mississippi State, which had lost eight of 10 games heading into NCAA postseason play. The Bulldogs are 5-0 since, after twice beating No. 6 national seed Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla., before coming from behind in both games against Clemson.

In other games

• Oklahoma State 3, Louisville 2 — Ty Wright's leadoff home run in the ninth inning — just the Cowboys' second hit — forced extra innings, and OSU went on to a 12-inning victory over the Cardinals in Louisville, Ky., to force a third game in the series.

Keanon Simon's RBI single in the 12th chased home the decisive run. Corey Brown's fourth-inning homer was OSU's only hit until the ninth.

The Cardinals' Jorge Castillo doubled home two unearned runs in the sixth inning. Jordy Mercer, the Cowboys' starting shortstop, pitched four scoreless innings for the victory.

• Cal Irvine 1, Wichita State 0 — Scott Gorgen pitched around eight hits and three walks, throwing141 pitches, as the Anteaters trimmed the Shockers in Wichita, Kan.

Sean Madigan's RBI single in the eighth inning accounted for the only run.

Wichita State also lost the opener of its regional series last weekend.

• Arizona State 4, Mississippi 3 — Down by two runs entering the ninth inning, the Sun Devils combined four hits, an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to score three time in stunning the Rebels in Tempe, Ariz.

Singles by Ike Davis, Matt Spencer and Tim Smith filled the bases, and two runs scored on C.J. Retherford's bounce out and Jason Jarvis' sacrifice fly before Brett Wallace singled in the winning run.

• Cal State Fullerton 12, UCLA 2 — Evan McArthur capped a two-out, three-run rally in the first inning with a two-run single as host Cal-State Fullerton ran past UCLA in a super regional opener.

Wes Roemer scattered nine hits, struck out seven and did not walk a man in pitching a complete game.

• Rain delay at North Carolina — South Carolina combined eight hits, four walks, an error and a balk for eight runs in the first four innings as the Gamecocks built an 8-5 lead over North Carolina in a game delayed by rain in the seventh inning in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Tar Heels lead the series 1-0.