June 23, 2007

Oregon St., UNC ready for rematch

BY ERIC OLSON | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OMAHA, Neb. - The message was simple. The task was much more difficult.

"Win two of three, or we're going home," Oregon State coach Pat Casey told his players on the eve of their final regular-season series at UCLA.

The Beavers (47-18) won two of the three games - and they're still playing a month later. The defending national champions have won 10 of their past 11 entering their College World Series finals rematch against North Carolina.

Games 1 and 2 in the best-of-three series are Saturday and Sunday, with a third game Monday, if necessary. It's the second time in the CWS' 61-year history that the same teams have reached the finals in consecutive years. Arizona State and Southern California met in 1972 and 1973.

Oregon State won a regional at Virginia, took two from Michigan at home in super regionals and beat Cal State Fullerton, Arizona State and UC Irvine at the CWS.

North Carolina (57-14) swept through its regional and won a three-game super regional over South Carolina, both at home. The Tar Heels split their first two games in Omaha, then had to beat Louisville once and Rice twice to get back to the finals.

Two freshmen have drawn starts in the opener. North Carolina will send Alex White (6-6) against Jorge Reyes (6-3).

The Game 2 pitching matchup has the Tar Heels' Luke Putkonen (8-1) against Mike Stutes (11-4).

White was the loser against Rice last Sunday, giving up five hits and six runs in 11/3 innings.

Reyes allowed three hits and one run in six innings in Oregon State's win over Fullerton last Saturday.

"We're just a tough bunch," UNC reliever Andrew Carignan said. "We know how much of a challenge this is, but we've come together for it."

So have the Beavers, who began planning for another championship run the day they left Omaha last year.

"There wasn't a doubt in my mind, after we had our whole team set up at the first meeting, that we were going to be back here," catcher Mitch Canham said.