June 17, 2007

Oregon State gets unexpected pop

News Tribune news services

OMAHA, Neb. – Shoulder surgery in the offseason and an inconsistent regular season left Scott Santschi hopeful that he could play a small part in Oregon State’s bid to repeat as national champion.

Santschi played a starring role Saturday night, hitting his first homer of the season and driving in two runs in the Beavers’ 3-2 victory against Cal State Fullerton in the College World Series.

“I was thinking before the game that I wanted to be able to do anything I could to help this team,” Santschi said. “Winning the first one is always big. I’ve had some ups and downs this year, going through my surgery in October and trying to get back.”

The Beavers (45-18) had to survive some nervous moments before moving to a Monday game against Pacific-10 Conference rival Arizona State (49-13), which beat UC Irvine, 5-4, on Saturday. Big West members Fullerton (38-24) and UC Irvine (45-16-1) meet in an elimination game Monday.

Jorge Reyes, Joe Paterson and Eddie Kunz combined to allow six hits for the Beavers, trying to become the first repeat champion since Louisiana State in 1996-97.

Fullerton’s Wes Roemer struck out seven to become the school’s career leader. Otherwise, it was another disappointing CWS start for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ first-round draft pick.

“To beat a pitcher like Wes Roemer in the opener is a good way to start it,” Beavers coach Pat Casey said. “It’s always good to win the first game of this tournament. It takes a little pressure off you.”

Mike Lissman homered in the first, and Santschi singled in a run in the second to put the Beavers up 2-0.

Roemer retired the next 13 in a row and 15 of 17 before Santschi homered to right with one out in the seventh to make it 3-1.

It was Santschi’s first home run since June 11, 2006, the day the Beavers swept a super regional against Stanford to set the stage for their first championship.

Santschi, who had two home runs last season after hitting one in two years in junior college, has been in and out of the lineup all season. He has appeared in 37 of the Beavers’ 63 games and started 22.

The .261 hitter was in the No. 8 hole and starting in right field Saturday.

“There are mental things you go through, and I feel I’m a better and more mature player and person now that I’ve gone through those things,” Santschi said. “I’m glad I’m able to come out and be in the lineup and help us win ballgames now that we’re in the World Series. It feels great because I have battled mentally and physically, and I’m playing well right now.”

Roemer, one of the country’s most dominant pitchers for three years, is winless in three CWS starts. He has allowed seven home runs in 19 innings in Omaha.

“In my career here I have left a few up,” Roemer said. “I thought I pitched a decent game today. I just made two mistakes. Unfortunately, those two mistakes were the difference in the game.”

Arizona State 5, UC Irvine 4: Ike Davis hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning, and Mike Leake and Jason Jarvis held the Anteaters (45-16-1) scoreless the last five innings to lead the Sun Devils (49-13).

Arizona State, which came in with 75 home runs in 61 games, scored all its runs on homers.