June 11, 2007

Moreland a one-man show
Game 1 batting hero gets the save in second game as Bulldogs eliminate Tigers

The Associated Press

Mitch Moreland's resume is already jam-packed, but Mississippi State's most versatile player has another line to add -- College World Series participant.
A day after his home run lifted Mississippi State to one victory, Moreland's save in an 8-5 win Saturday over Clemson sent the Bulldogs to Omaha, Neb., for the first time since 1998.

"With the limited scholarships in NCAA baseball, having a guy who can play two positions and pitch, it's like gold," Mississippi State coach Ron Polk said. "Mitch is unique."

After hitting two doubles, driving in one run and scoring another earlier, Moreland combined with closer Aaron Weatherford on four strikeouts and 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to ensure the win at Starkville, Miss.

The team piled on Moreland near the pitcher's mound and hundreds of the super regional- record 13,715 fans in attendance swarmed the infield to join the celebration.

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. But the Bulldogs are 5-0 since, twice beating national seed Florida State in Tallahassee before coming from behind in both games against Clemson (41-23).

Mississippi State will play the winner of the super regional between South Carolina and North Carolina on Friday.

The Bulldogs won the super regional with the help of nine doubles and 13 extra-base hits, and victimized seven Tigers pitchers for 23 hits Friday and Saturday.

"It's just tough not to get to Omaha after the way we played in the last month and a half," Clemson coach Jack Leggett said.

ALSO SATURDAY

AT LOUISVILLE, KY.

OKLAHOMA STATE 3, LOUISVILLE 2: 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 today in the best-of-three series.

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. It was a team-leading 22nd of the year for Brown, who was selected 59th overall by the Oakland Athletics in last week's Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Louisville (45-22), which has never been to a College World Series, took the lead with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

UC-IRVINE 1, WICHITA STATE 0: California-Irvine right-hander Scott Gorgen shut out Wichita State in the opening game of the super regional.

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.

Gorgen allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked three. He threw 141 pitches.

Wichita State (53-21) left the bases loaded in the sixth.

AT HOUSTON

RICE 5, TEXAS A&M 1: Matt Langwell allowed just one earned run and struck out seven to help Rice beat Texas A&M 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 and hit a solo homer in the third.

AT FULLERTON, CALIF.

CAL SATE FULLERTON 12, UCLA 2: Wes Roemer pitched a complete game and Evan McArthur had three RBIs to help Cal State Fullerton defeat UCLA in the opening game of the super regional.

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.

AT CORVALLIS, ORE.

OPENER RAINED OUT: The first game of the Corvallis super regional best-of-three series between Oregon State and Michigan was postponed because of steady rain.

The game was rescheduled for today at 4 p.m. The second game of the series is now slated for Monday and the third game Tuesday.