June 23, 2007

College World Series | Beavers pursue repeat

By Gannett News Service and The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — Less than five weeks ago, Oregon State's team seemingly was dead in the water. The defending national champion was embarrassed on its home field, managing a total of nine hits in three losses to Arizona State that dropped the Beavers to 8-13 in the Pac-10.

But this weekend, the Beavers (47-18) face North Carolina (57-14) as they try to become the first repeat champions at the College World Series since Louisiana State in 1996-97.

"I don't know what the odds were for us three weeks ago," Oregon State coach Pat Casey said. "But we wanted to get better, and the players stayed with it. I was able to make sure they understood I felt confident we were going to turn this thing around."

With a berth in the 64-team field in the balance, Oregon State won two of three games at UCLA to end the regular season.

After having to claw out of the losers' bracket in Omaha a year ago, Oregon State rolled past Cal State Fullerton, Pac-10 champion Arizona State and UC Irvine in the eight-team CWS to reach this year's best-of-three championship series rested and unscathed.

"We knew we were in a funk," Beavers shortstop Darwin Barney said of the tailspin in May. "But that's part of baseball. It was about defining the kind of team you are, finding your identity. Last year it took something else, some special energy, some special players for us to win.

"This year, I think all 25 of us truly believe we can make it happen."

For the second time in the 61-year history of the CWS, the same teams reached the final in consecutive years. Arizona State and USC met in 1972 and 1973.