June 11 , 2007

NCAA Baseball | Oregon State uses 9th-inning single to beat Michigan 1-0


By The Associated Press

 

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Joey Wong's ninth-inning RBI single was the winner Sunday in Oregon State's 1-0 victory over Michigan in the opening game of the best-of-three Corvallis Super Regional of the NCAA Division I tournament.

Wong's soft liner to left field on a 1-2 count with two out — the only hit of the game for the defending national champions — brought home pinch-runner Braden Wells from second base.

Michigan starter Zach Putnam, who gave up the hit, didn't allow a baserunner until Scott Santschi walked in the sixth inning.

Santschi, who is from Vancouver, Wash., and played for the Community Colleges of Spokane, walked again to start the ninth and was replaced by the speedier Wells.

Lonnie Lechelt, a graduate of Southridge High in Kennewick, sacrificed Wells to second. One out later, Wong delivered in the clutch.

"It was another splitter," Wong said of Putnam's final pitch of the game. "He'd been throwing them all day and making us look silly. But I just happened to be the guy and found a hole."

Wells said, "Once I heard the crack of the bat, I just took off and there was no stopping me. I was getting to home plate."

Jorge Reyes, a freshman from Warden in Grant County, started for the Beavers and allowed three hits in seven innings.

Joe Paterson (10-6) got the win and Eddie Kunz picked up the save. Though the game was on Oregon State's field, Michigan was the designated home team and batted last.

Game 2 is today. Game 3, if necessary, would be played Tuesday. The first game was scheduled for Saturday and postponed because of rain. The Corvallis Super Regional winner advances to the eight-team College World Series, which starts Friday in Omaha, Neb.

"There's no question we're a national team. It just wasn't meant to be today," Michigan coach Rich Maloney said. "We came here to win this thing and we really believe we've still got a chance."

Putnam struck out eight and walked three before departing after Wong's single.

"You just try to find a way to win games like this," Oregon State coach Pat Casey said. "Fortunately for us, we did."


Pac-10 champion Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, Louisville and North Carolina earned CWS berths Sunday.

Mississippi State and Rice qualified Saturday.