June 11, 2007

Owls, Bulldogs sweep Super Regionals

BY 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.

Langwell (8-1) pitched into the seventh inning to get the win. Cole St. Claire allowed one run to earn his eighth save of the year.

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 2 1-3 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.

Justin Pigott (7-6) earned the win after allowing nine hits over six innings. He gave up five runs, four earned and struck out three.

David Kopp (6-3) took the loss. He left in the second inning after giving up five hits and five runs, three earned.

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 4 p.m. Sunday 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. 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.

Jordy Mercer (3-1), who played shortstop until taking the mound in the ninth, got the win while Tyler Magnuson (3-2), the 56th overall selection of the Toronto Blue Jays, took the loss.

UC-IRVINE 1, WICHITA ST. 0

WICHITA, Kan. - California-Irvine right-hander Scott Gorgen shut out Wichita State in the opening game of the NCAA super regional.

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

The Anteaters scored in the eighth inning when Sean Madigan hit a pitch off WSU closer Noah Krol's leg. It bounced away, allowing the runner to score from third.

WSU reliever Andy Womack walked two batters in the inning and gave up a single before giving way to Krol. WSU (53-21) left the bases loaded in the sixth and had a runner who was caught stealing.

CAL ST-FULLERTON 12, UCLA 2

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

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.

Tyson Brummett (10-6) pitched 4 1-3 innings, gave up nine runs and eight hits and took the loss for the Bruins.

The Titans' victory in the opener of a best-of-three series puts them one win away from returning to the College World Series.

OREGON ST.-MICHIGAN, PPD

CORVALLIS, Ore. - 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 Sunday at 4 p.m. The second game of the series is now slated for Monday and the third game Tuesday, with starting times to be announced.

S. CAROLINA 8, N. CAROLINA 5, 6 1/2 INNINGS, SUSP., LIGHTNING.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Justin Smoak hit his team-leading 22nd homer and Phil Disher added a key two-run double that left South Carolina leading North Carolina 8-5 when the second game of their best-of-three super regional series was suspended because of lightning and rain.

After a delay of nearly 90 minutes, the game was suspended with the Gamecocks about to bat in the seventh. It will be finished at 2:36 p.m. Sunday, with the decisive third game to follow, if necessary.

South Carolina, which blew a six-run lead in the series opener and lost 9-6, also led this one by six rorth Carolina within three runs before lightning led officials to delay the game and empty Boshamer Stadium.

uns to move into position to deny the Tar Heels their fourth straight come-from-behind victory in the tournament.

Tim Federowicz had a two-run single in the seventh to pull N