june 11, 2007

Rice sweeps to punch its ticket to Omaha

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 year in a row.

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.

Thebeau (3-6) was removed after three innings and took the loss for the Aggies, giving up three earned runs, walking two and striking out six.

CAL ST-FULLERTON 12, UCLA 2

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

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.