June 17, 2007

Davis' home run lifts Arizona State

ASSOCIATED PRESS

OMAHA, Neb. -- Ike Davis hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning and Mike Leake and Jason Jarvis held UC Irvine scoreless the last five innings to lead Arizona State to a 5-4 victory in the College Baseball World Series on Saturday.

The Sun Devils (49-13), who came in with 75 home runs in 61 games, scored all their runs on long balls against the Anteaters (45-16-1). Matt Spencer hit a three-run homer in the second and CJ Retherford had a solo homer in the fifth.

Davis' eighth homer of the season landed in the right-field bleachers and ended the day for UC Irvine starter Scott Gorgen (12-3), who was bidding for his fifth straight complete game.

The Sun Devils, making their 20th CWS appearance, play Monday against defending champion Oregon State. UC Irvine, a first-time CWS participant, will play Cal State-Fullerton in an elimination contest Monday.

ASU, unbeaten in six NCAA tournament games, ended Gorgen's 17-inning shutout streak in the second when Spencer drove a ball 20 rows up in the right-field bleachers for a 3-0 lead.

The at-bat was in stark contrast to Spencer's previous one at the CWS. Playing for North Carolina last year, Spencer struck out looking as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning of a 3-2 loss to Oregon State in the championship game.

OREGON STATE 3, CAL STATE-FULLERTON 2 -- Scott Santschi hit his first homer of the season and had two RBI as the Beavers survived some nervous moments.

OSU pitchers Jorge Reyes, Joe Paterson and Eddie Kunz combined to allow six hits as the Beavers began their bid 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.

* * *
College World Series

AT ROSENBLATT STADIUM

OMAHA, NEB.

Bracket 1

FRIDAY

Game 1: Rice 15, Louisville 10

Game 2: North Carolina 8, Mississippi State 5

TODAY

Game 5: Louisville vs. Mississippi State, 2 p.m.

Game 6: Rice vs, North Carolina, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY

Game 9: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 2 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Game 11: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 2 p.m.

THURSDAY

Game 13: if necessary, 2 p.m.

Bracket 2

SATURday

Game 3: Arizona State 5, UC Irvine 4

Game 4: Oregon State 3, Cal State-Fullerton 2

Monday

Game 7: UC Irvine vs. Cal State Fullerton, 2 p.m.

Game 8: Winner Arizona State vs. Oregon State, 7 p.m.

Tuesday

Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 7 p.m.

Thursday

Game 14: if necessary, 7 p.m.

Championship series

(Best-of-three)

June 23, 7 p.m.

June 24, 7 p.m.

June 25, 7 p.m.