Hotty Toddy! From the last team in; to the last team standing, Ole Miss wins first Men’s College World Series title in school history
By: Jacob Thimjon
June 26, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; The Ole Miss Rebels celebrate with the national championship trophy after their victory against the Oklahoma Sooners at Charles Schwab Field Steven Branscombe, USA Today Sports
OMAHA, Neb.- From beginning the season as the preseason No. 1 team to doubting if the team would make the NCAA tournament to being the last team standing in Omaha, there was one word instilled into the Ole Miss Rebels, and that word was belief.
“We just had to keep believing,” Ole Miss first baseman Tim Elko said. “We kept believing and fighting, and we won a national championship for Ole Miss.”
The Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 4-2 in Game Two of the Men’s College World Series Championship Series to clinch the team’s first MCWS title in school history.
Game Two started as a pitchers duel as both freshman starters, Cade Horton for Oklahoma and Hunter Elliott for Old Miss, surrendered three hits combined through the first five innings.
The Rebels threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth after shortstop Jacob Gonzalez led off the inning with a single to right field and a hit-by-pitch from Horton to left fielder Kevin Graham. Two strikeouts by Horton to Rebel’s first baseman Elko, designated hitter Kemp Alderman and a groundout by right fielder Calvin Harris got Horton and the Sooners out of the fourth inning jam.
Elliott continued his strong outing on the mound for Ole Miss allowing no runs and one hit and recording five strikeouts through five innings pitched.
Oklahoma initially took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth when right fielder John Spikerman reached first base with a sacrifice bunt and scored second baseman, Jackson Nicklaus from third. However, after a challenge by Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco, Spikerman was called out for interference in the throwing lane when Elliott threw to Elko on the sacrifice.
Bianco said he initially didn’t see Spikerman running out of the baseline until seeing the replay of the sacrifice bunt on the jumbotron.
“Thank God for the jumbotron,” Bianco said. “I looked up at the jumbotron, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s out of the running lane.’”
Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson said Ole Miss exceeded their time limit if they wanted to challenge the call at first base.
“The rule says that you have to do it within 30 seconds and not be able to look at the video board,” Johnson said.
Despite the challenge being granted to Ole Miss past the 30-second time limit Johnson said the “human element” is part of the game of baseball.
“If we take out the human element of the umpires, this game is not ever gonna be good; if we mess with the fabric of the game by getting computer umpires, I think I’ll just go fishing,” Johnson said.
The next batter, Sooner shortstop Peyton Graham flew out to right field to keep the game scoreless going into the bottom of the sixth.
In the next half inning, Gonzalez gave Ole Miss a 1-0 lead hitting his 18th home run of the season, a 394-foot solo blast to right-center field.
Oklahoma responded with a run of its own to tie the game at 1-all in the top of the seventh inning when Nicklaus delivered his 11th double of the season to shallow right-center field just beyond the glove of Gonzalez to score catcher Jimmy Crooks from second base. Ole Miss reliever Mason Nichols hit Sooner pinch hitter Sebastion Orduno to load the bases with two out. Nichols walked Sooners left fielder Kendall Pettis the next at-bat with the bases loaded to give the Sooners a 2-1 lead.
Ole Miss reliever John Gaddis relieved Nichols and came out of the bullpen to strike out Spikerman with the bases loaded to escape the jam to keep the Rebels within a run.
Ole Miss center fielder TJ McCants, who was a part of the three straight home runs hit in Game One of the Finals, walked to begin the bottom of the eighth for the Rebels.
Horton was then relieved by the Sooner bullpen after allowing four hits and recorded 13 strikeouts, a Men’s College World Series finals record for most strikeouts in a single game.
“I’m just taking things one pitch at a time; I just wanted to put my team in a position to win,” Horton said.
Horton, a Norman, Oklahoma native who missed last season due to Tommy John surgery, said he will never forget his first season as a Sooner.
“It’s just a dream come true for me,” Horton said. “I just wanted to represent the university as best as I could.”
McCants scored after Gonzalez delivered a run-scoring single to right field to tie the game at 2-all in the bottom of the eighth. The Rebels then took a 4-2 lead when the Rebels scored on back-to-back wild pitches scoring third baseman Justin Bench, who reached earlier in the inning with a single to right field, and Gonzalez, who reached earlier with a single to the right side of the infield earlier in the inning.
Ole Miss closer Brandon Johnson pitched a one-two-three inning in the top of the ninth inning to seal the Rebel’s 4-2 win and secure the national championship.
“It was a dream come true,” Johnson said.“Ever since you’re a little kid, you dream of being on the mound in those situations.”
The Rebels were a team wondering if they would even play in the NCAA tournament after being selected as the last at-large bid in the NCAA tournament after finishing their season 37-22 going into the NCAA tournament. Ole Miss played their best baseball at the right time, however, going 10-1 in the postseason and finishing with an overall record of 42-23.
“This story of our season is going to be told for years to come,” Elko said. “This is the best Ole Miss baseball team in history.”
The Sooners finish their season (45-23) after winning the Big-12 tournament title in 2022 and defeating the Liberty Eagles, the Florida Gators and the Virginia Tech Hokies in the NCAA before losing to the Rebels in the MCWS finals in Omaha.
Despite falling short of the team’s goal, Horton said there is confidence in Oklahoma baseball in the future.
“We’ll be back,” Horton said. “I know that because this team laid the foundation for Oklahoma baseball.”
Bianco said the team legacy for the Rebels is resiliency.
“I’m just so proud to get to this point,” Bianco said. “You know at the end what you’re made of.”
Men’s College World Series Final Recap Game One: Historic half inning and dominant pitching performance put Rebels one win away from national title
By: Jacob Thimjon
June 25: Ole Miss’ Jack Dougherty (39) walks off the mound after closing out the third inning against Oklahoma during a College World Series game. Megan Nielsen, The Omaha World-Herald
OMAHA, Neb.- The Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 10-3 in Game One of the Men’s College World Series finals behind dominant pitching and offense.
The Rebels drew first blood just four batters into the game after Rebels left fielder Kevin Graham singled to left field, scoring first baseman Tim Elko from second. Elko advanced to second on a wild pitch earlier in the inning.
A two-out error by Sooner shortstop Peyton Graham scored Kevin Graham from third base to increase Ole Miss’s lead to 2-0. Graham advanced to third on the second wild pitch of the inning from Oklahoma starter Jake Bennett.
Bennett’s command struggles continued in the top of the second when he threw his third wild pitch of the game, allowing Ole Miss right fielder Calvin Harris to score from second base, extending the Rebel lead to 3-0. Harris reached base on an infield single after Oklahoma’s first baseman Blake Robertson dropped the potential third out of the inning.
Elko led off the top of the third with his 24th home run of the season, launching a 354-foot solo home run into the right-field bullpen to increase the lead to 4-0.
Ole Miss starting pitcher Jack Dougherty was dominant on the mound. He began his start by retiring the first 15 Sooners he faced.
Dougherty said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco had a simple yet effective message for his starter before Game One.
“Just be you,” Dougherty said of what Bianco told him before the game. “Go out, attack with your fastball, get ahead in counts, and just pitch like you pitch, and you’ll be successful.”
Dougherty’s perfect game was broken up in the bottom of the sixth when Sooners second baseman Jack Nicklaus singled to center field.
Designated hitter Sebastian Orduno followed with a single, and left fielder Kendall Pettis reached base on an infield bunt that loaded the bases. A throwing error by Ole Miss third baseman Garret Wood allowed Nicklaus to score to make the Rebel lead 4-1.
A walk by Oklahoma Right fielder John Spikerman walked to again load the bases for the Sooners. Doughtery was relieved by freshman left-handed reliever Mason Nichols out of the Ole Miss bullpen following the Spikerman walk.
Nichols recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Graham and Robertson. However, a walk to Sooner center fielder Tanner Tredaway scored Orduno and cut the Rebel’s lead to 4-2. The Rebels escaped further damage when Sooner catcher Jimmy Crooks grounded out to Nichols the next at-bat to end the inning.
“I was just focused on doing my job, and I’m glad I got it done,” Nichols said.
Ole Miss delivered the biggest blow of the game when the Rebels hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the top of the eighth —marking the first time since 1998 that three straight home runs were in one half-inning at the MCWS.
“That kind of knocked the wind out of their sails,” Bianco said.
Pinch hitter TJ McCants started the home run barrage with a two-out, two-run home run into the right-field bullpen. Harris followed with a solo shot to right field, and center fielder Justin Bench delivered the third consecutive home run of the inning into the left-center field bleachers to extend the Ole Miss lead to 8-2.
“The morale was real high, it was really cool to watch,” Elko said.
Robertson delivered a run-scoring single to right field to score Orduno, to trim Oklahoma’s deficit to 8-3 in the eighth. Orduno walked and advanced to second on a balk by Ole Miss reliever Josh Mallitz.
The Rebels added two runs in the top of the ninth on second baseman Peyton Chatagner’s RBI double and followed by a sacrifice fly by catcher Hayden Dunhurst to make the Rebel lead 10-3.
After two Sooners reached scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, Mallitz struck out Pettis to seal the Ole Miss 10-3 win and give Oklahoma its first loss of the MCWS.
“We’re going to learn our lesson,” Bennett said. “Slow everything down; we’ll get back and be ready to play tomorrow; it’s a three-game series for a reason.”
Bennett finished his outing surrendering four runs (three earned) on seven hits and recorded 10 strikeouts in 6 ⅓ innings pitched.
Oklahoma (45-23) must now win games two and three of the MCWS championship series to win their first national championship since 1994. Ole Miss (41-23) is one win away from the program’s first national championship in baseball with the win.
“We still have another game to win; it’s obviously great to win the first one, but we still have to win one more to take home the whole thing,” Elko said. “Be rested up tomorrow, focused up, and be ready to win one more.”
Game Two of the championship series is Sunday, June 26, at 2 p.m from Charles Schwab Field on ESPN.
And then there were two: DeLucia gem puts Rebels in the Men’s College World Series finals against Sooners
OMAHA, Neb.- The Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 2-0 behind starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia’s complete-game shutout to advance the Rebels to the Men’s College World Series Championship series against the Oklahoma Sooners.
“The story of the day was Dylan, legendary performance,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said.
Runs were at a premium as DeLucia and Razorbacks ace Connor Noland surrendered only three hits combined through the first three innings.
“It was just one of those days you had to take care of your opportunities when you got them,” Ole Miss left fielder Kevin Graham said.
The Rebels took the early lead in the top of the fourth when Graham delivered a run-scoring double down the left-field line, which scored Justin Bench and gave Ole Miss a 1-0 lead.
Both teams were scoreless the next two innings of play as Noland retired five of the next six batters he faced while DeLucia retired six batters in a row after surrendering a single in the bottom of the sixth. DeLucia started the game by retiring 18 of the first 21 batters he faced.
“The pitchers they gave it everything they had,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said.
The Rebels led 2-0 in the top of the seventh. when right fielder Calvin Harris singled to right to score Tim Elko and increase the Ole Miss lead to 2-0. Elko and Graham started the inning with back-to-back singles.
The Razorbacks threatened to score in the bottom of the 7th inning when two runners reached on an infield single and an error with two out in the inning. DeLucia, however, pitched into and out of trouble when Razorbacks designated hitter Brady Slavens grounded out to Rebel’s second baseman Peyton Chatagnier to end the Arkansas threat.
“I just went out there to put up as much zeroes as I can,” DeLucia said.
DeLucia finished the game by allowing no runs and no hits in the final two innings, finishing his complete-game shutout with six strikeouts on 114 pitches.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better pitching performance in a clutch game like that,” Elko said.
Noland threw eight innings for Arkansas, allowing two runs and collecting seven strikeouts.
“He was unbelievable,” Arkansas third baseman Cayden Wallace said. “He pitched his heart out just like he did for us all year.”
The Razorbacks finish their season with a 46-21 record after making it to the MCWS for the second time in four years.
“So proud of my team; I’m just proud of the way they fought,” Van Horn said. “I’m not going to cry when you finish your season in Omaha.”
The Rebels (40-23) now advance to face the Oklahoma Sooners in a best two-of-three series for the national championship beginning Saturday, June 25 at Charles Schwab Field at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
“They’ve had a terrific year,” Bianco said about the Sooners. “They’ve played their best baseball down the stretch; I have a lot of work to do over the next 36 hours.”
Men’s College World Series Day Six Recap: ‘Team of Davids’ advances to championship series; Razorbacks survive instant classic against the Rebels
GAME 11
By: Jacob Thimjon
June 22: Oklahoma Sooners sluggers Peyton Graham (20), John Spikerman (8), Kendall Pettis (7), Blake Robertson (26) and Tanner Tredaway take part in batting practice before Game 11 showdown vs. the Texas A&M Aggies at the Men’s College World Series
OMAHA, Neb.- The Oklahoma Sooners have been a team that has loved embracing the underdog role at the Men’s College World Series. Sooners head coach Skip Johnson said it was fitting that a man named David helped propel his “Team of Davids” to its second win over the Texas A&M Aggies at the Men’s College World Series with a 5-1 win.
“He was just a bulldog on the mound,” Oklahoma catcher Jimmy Crooks said when referring to Oklahoma starting pitcher David Sandlin’s performance in Game 11 vs the Aggies.
Sandlin, who surrendered four earned runs in one-third of an inning pitched out of the bullpen against the Aggies in Game One of the MCWS, set a new career-high in strikeouts with 12. Sandlin surpassed his previous career-high of 10 set earlier this season against the Kansas State Wildcats during the Big 12 championship on May 28.
Sandlin said his previous relief outing against the Aggies in Game One helped him with his mental preparation for his Game 11 start.
“It just got me ready for the atmosphere, and just trust everything I had,” Sandlin said.
Crooks started the scoring for the Sooners in the bottom of the first inning, hitting his ninth home run of the season; a 348-foot three-run home run to right field to give the Sooners an early 3-0 lead.
“It’s really important for us to score first; our approach is to be aggressive and just do our thing,” Crooks said.
A defensive miscue by the Aggies gave the Sooners a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Texas A&M’s first baseman Jack Moss committed an error at first base by dropping a throw from Aggies relief pitcher Jacob Palisch. Sooner shortstop Petyon Graham, who reached second base with a double down the left-field line earlier in the inning, scored from second base on the error.
The Aggies had their first two men reach in the top of the fourth, but three straight strikeouts by Sandlin got the Sooners out of the jam.
Johnson said Sandlin’s ability to work into and out of trouble depended on his pitch execution
“For him to focus like that in the middle of the game, in that environment was a high elite level of focus and concentration,” Johnson said.
The Sooners continued to excel offensively. Oklahoma center fielder Tanner Tredaway singled to left field to score right fielder John Spikerman to extend the Oklahoma lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth.
The Aggies cut the Sooner lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth when first baseman Dylan Rock hit his 19th home run of the season into the left-center field bleachers.
The Sooners bullpen pitched two shutout innings to finish off the Sooners’ 5-1 victory to improve Oklahoma to 45-22 on the season and advance to the championship series of the MCWS for the first time since 1994.
“Just really proud of our baseball team and what they’ve done; a team with a bunch of David’s Johnson said.
Texas A&M finishes its season at 44-20 under first-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle.
Schlossnagle said the accomplishments of the Aggies this season will live on for years to come.
“They will forever be remembered hopefully as the team that reignited Texas A&M baseball,” Schlossnagle said, “I’m really proud to be a part of this team.”
GAME 12
By: Jacob Thimjon
Behind big hits and stellar pitching performances, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 3-2 in a down-to-the-wire instant classic in Wednesday’s Game 12 at the Men’s College World Series. The two teams will meet Thursday in a winner-take-all game with a berth in the MCWS championship series on the line.
Conor Noland (8-5; 3.75 earned run average) will start Thursday for the Razorbacks, while Dylan Delucia (7-2; 4.07 ERA) will start for the Rebels.
“Great win for our team; back against the wall and a lot of drama at the end,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said.
Arkansas right fielder Chris Lanzilli got the Razorbacks out to an early 1-0 in the top of the third inning when he launched his 10th home run of the season into the left-center field bleachers just beyond the glove of Rebel outfielder Kevin Graham.
The Rebels, however, were quick to respond in the bottom of the third when Ole Miss designated hitter Kemp Alderman hit a solo home run of his own to left field to tie the score at 1-all.
Arkansas’s designated hitter Brady Slavens put the Razorbacks back in front 2-1 in the top of the fifth, hitting his 16th home run of the season over the wall in dead center field.
Both teams were carried by their pitching staff. Arkansas starter Hagen Smith pitched five innings, allowing one earned run, four walks and recording eight strikeouts. Rebels starter John Gaddis pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits while surrendering two walks and recording four strikeouts. The teams combined for eight hits through the first seven innings.
Arkansas third baseman Cayden Wallace hit a line-drive double down the left-field line that tipped off the glove of Ole Miss third baseman Garret Wood in the top of the eighth. The ball traveled slightly down the left-field line after tipping off of Wood’s glove and allowed Wallace to advance safely to second. Ole Miss challenged the safe call at second base, and after replay video review, the call of safe stood.
Arkansas’s next batter, catcher Michael Turner, singled to left field to score Wallace from second to extend the Razorback lead to 3-1.
The Rebels escaped further trouble in the eighth. The Razorbacks loaded the bases, but Rebels reliever Jack Dougherty struck out Slavens and pinch hitter Kendall Diggs to end the Arkansas threat.
“Jack got back-to-back strikeouts that were huge that, you know, gave us a shot in the ninth,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said.
Ole Miss loaded the bases trailing 3-1 with no one out in the bottom of the ninth. Alderman began the Rebels’ rally with a single to right field, and second baseman Peyton Chatagnier and catcher Hayden Dunhurst were each hit by a pitch.
Justin Bench had a two-out, infield single that scored Alderman and cut the Arkansas lead to 3-2.
Arkansas reliever Zack Morris got Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez to fly out to left field to secure the save and 3-2 win for the Razorbacks.
“It’s disappointing bases loaded bottom of the ninth, and we have a chance to win it,” Bianco said.
Bianco said Thursday’s elimination game is a chance for his team to appreciate the opportunity in front of them.
“This is what you play for, appreciate the moment and try your best at that moment,” he said.
Men’s College World Series Day Four Recap: The Tigers Roar and the Rebels Roll
This is an article that I co-wrote with another beat writer when covering the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Below is my portion of the article.
GAME SEVEN
By: Jacob Thimjon
OMAHA, Neb.- After only lasting two-thirds of an inning and surrendering four earned runs against the Oregon State Beavers in the Corvallis super regional, Auburn Tigers left-handed pitcher Trace Bright turned in one of his best starts of the season. Bright pitched five innings allowing just two earned runs, no walks and recording eight strikeouts with his team facing elimination.
“Trace Bright, I gained more respect for him today,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said.
Stanford grabbed an early 1-0 lead on just their third batter of the game when second baseman Brett Barrera delivered his 53rd run batted in on the season, a double to right field that scored Brock Jones, who got into scoring position after a steal of second base.
Stanford’s lead grew in the top of the second when back-to-back doubles down the left-field line from shortstop Adam Crampton and designated hitter Tommy Troy increased the Cardinal lead to 2-0. Auburn challenged the RBI double, contesting a foul ball on the double by Crampton that scored Troy; replay video review confirmed Crampton’s hit was a fair ball.
“I wanted to get us off on the right foot, and I kind of had us behind the eight ball for a few innings,” Bright said. “Once the offense got rolling, we were in a good place.”
Auburn threatened in the top of the fifth after the first two batters of the inning reached. Stanford starting pitcher Drew Dowd was relieved later in the inning by Cardinal left-handed pitcher Quinn Matthews. The Tigers would put runners on first and third in the inning. However, Matthews was able to work out of trouble after Tiger’s second baseman Cole Foster was caught stealing at third base after the Tigers attempted a double steal with two out to end the inning.
The Tigers threatened again in the top of the sixth when Auburn loaded the bases after left fielder Mike Bello and third baseman Blake Rabusch reached on back-to-back singles and first baseman Sonny DiChiara was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Bobby Peirce got the Tigers on the board with a bases-loaded walk to cut the Stanford lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning. The Tigers then took a 4-2 when Foster hit a three-run double off the left-center field wall.
Tiger shortstop Brody Moore delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that scored pinch-runner Bryson Moore from third base to extend Auburn’s lead to 5-2 in the top of the seventh. Peirce then doubled to left-center field to score third baseman Blake Rambusch to push the Tiger lead four runs at 6-2.
Stanford loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Auburn reliever Blake Burkhalter recorded a two-out strikeout of Barrera on a full count to escape the bases-loaded jam.
“The cutter was working, and the change up was working, and that’s what I had to lean on; I was right on the brink of walking him, but thankfully, I got that strikeout and got us off the field,” Burkhalter said.
Auburn’s pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts and allowed just two runs and one walk in nine innings to help secure the Tiger’s 6-2 victory.
Thompson said that postseason play is not just about advancing but rather having humility in competition.
“I’ve embraced every one of these teams we’ve got to play; I respect the game and care about the game so much,” Thompson said.
Auburn (43-21) will play Arkansas on Tuesday evening in its second elimination game of the Men’s College World Series.
Stanford finished its season at 47-18, won both the Pacific 12 Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and came in as the No. 2 team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, but lost its first two games at the MCWS for the first time in program history.
“I’m so proud of this team and in our program and our coaches,” Stanford head coach David Esquer said. “There is no shame in our showing here in Omaha.”
Men’s College World Series Recap Day Three: Aggies avoid elimination; Sooners continue their winning ways
This is an article that I co-wrote with another beat writer when covering the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Below is my portion of the article.
Game Six
By: Jacob Thimjon
The Oklahoma Sooners used an all-around performance at the plate, on the mound, and on the field in their 6-2 victory against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Game Six of MCWS.
Sooner first baseman Blake Robertson electrified the Sooner faithful by catching a pop fly-out in foul territory and then fell over the first base dugout railing and into Notre Dame’s dugout to record the game’s first out on the first pitch of the game.
“That was a spectacular play,” Oklahoma starting pitcher Cade Horton said. “This defense behind me is incredible.”
Tanner Tredaway got the Sooners on the board in the bottom of the third, delivering a one-out run-batted-in single to center field that scored Sooner first-team All-Big 12 selection Peyton Graham, from third base to give Oklahoma an early 1-0 lead. Third baseman Wallace Clark extended the Sooner lead to 2-0 later in the inning, delivering his own RBI single to center field to score Tredaway.
The Sooners continued their offensive assault adding three more runs in the bottom of the fifth after Clark reached base safely on a throwing error by Notre Dame first baseman Carter Putz that traveled into foul territory down the right-field line. The error scored Oklahoma catcher Jimmy Crooks who singled to begin the inning, and Tredaway, who reached on a single to left field earlier in the inning. Jackson Nicklaus scored the third run of the bottom of the fifth for the Sooners with an RBI single to left field that scored Clark from third base.
Notre Dame catcher David LaManna hit a two-run home run into the Oklahoma left-field bullpen; his third home run of the season in the top of the sixth, cutting the Sooner lead to 5-2.
The Sooners quickly responded their next turn at-bat after Tredaway delivered an RBI single to center field that scored right fielder John Spikerman.
The Notre Dame bullpen allowed six runs in 4 ⅔ innings of work after relieving starting pitcher Austin Temple.
“Nobody could really settle in consistently string sequences together to limit them,” Notre Dame head coach Link Jarrett said. “We didn’t finish them off.”
Oklahoma’s Horton pitched six innings while only allowing two runs on five hits and recorded 11 strikeouts.
“He had a good fastball and good secondary stuff, and he was in the zone all day,” LaManna said of Horton’s pitching performance.
After relieving Horton, the Oklahoma bullpen pitched three shutout innings allowing just two hits to help seal Oklahoma’s 6-2 victory.
With the win, Oklahoma (44-22) is one win away from advancing to the MCWS championship series.
“We want to prove people wrong and make a statement,” Tredaway said.
Notre Dame (41-16) will play the Texas A&M Aggies in an elimination game on Tuesday at 1 p.m to keep their hopes of a national championship alive.
“We just try and go 1-0 each and every day,” Putz said. “As long as we play our game, we can go out there and compete with anyone.”
Men’s College World Series Recap: Razorbacks dominate while the Rebels roll on Day Two
OMAHA, Neb.- On the second day of the Men’s College World Series, game one featured two programs full of tradition, the Stanford Cardinal and the Arkansas Razorbacks. A sea of crimson filled the stadium with Razorback faithful, and propelled the Razorbacks to a dominating 17-2 win over the Cardinal.
But the main storyline of Game Three was Razorbacks starting pitcher Connor Noland, who with great command of his pitches, dominated the Cardinal lineup.
“I just stuck to the plan,” Noland said, when referring to his approach to the Cardinal offense. Noland threw only 79 pitches, 55 of them for strikes, in 7 2/3 innings of work, surrendered just two earned runs on seven hits.
Braydon Webb led the game off with a triple to get the momentum going for the Razorbacks. He would be driven in by a sacrifice fly from the next batter Brady Slavens, giving Arkansas a 1-0 lead early in the game.
Brock Jones answered back for the Cardinal in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left field, evening the score. Stanford hit a program-record 117 home runs on the season coming into the game on Saturday.
After both teams put a run on the board in the first inning, it turned into a pitching battle between both teams’ top arms. That was until the top of the fifth when Razorbacks Chris Lanzilli hit a three-run bomb to left-center field, giving Arkansas a 4-1 lead. Later in the inning, a wild pitch scored Robert Moore from third base extending the Arkansas lead to 5-1. Then the Razorbacks made it a 6-1 game off the RBI single from Zack Gregory.
The Razorbacks then went on to score three more runs in the top of the seventh, moving their lead to 9-1.
Two more runs were added to the Razorbacks lead making it a 11-1 game, after Peyton Stovall drove in both Robert Moore and Jalen Battles.
In the bottom of the eight Stanford was able to plate Eddie Park off a Carter Graham double, making the score 11-2
Cayden Wallace then blew the game wide-open with a two run shot to right-center field in the top of the ninth, giving the Razorbacks an 11-run advantage, 13-2. Peyton Stovall then drove in his third and fourth RBIs on the day making the score 15-2, giving him two RBI base-hits in back-to-back innings. Braydon Webb went on to hit a rocket line drive to center-field driving in two more runs, giving the Razorbacks 21 hits on the day and a 17-2 victory to move the Razorbacks into the winner’s bracket and a matchup with a familiar SEC west foe.
GAME FOUR
By: Jacob Thimjon
The lone unbeaten this postseason, the Ole Miss Rebels, remained perfect in tournament play with a 5-1 win over the Auburn Tigers.
The Rebels began their offensive attack in the top of the first when Ole Miss designated hitter Kemp Alderman delivered a two-RBI single to left field off Auburn starting pitcher Joseph Gonzalez to give the Rebels an early 2-0 lead.
Ole Miss extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third after left fielder Kevin Graham hit his 11th home run of the season that landed just beyond the outstretched glove of Auburn left fielder Mike Bello and into the Auburn bullpen.
The Rebels were complimented with a dominant pitching performance by freshman right-handed pitcher Dylan DeLucia (6-2; 4.35 ERA) as he retired the first 14 Tigers batters he faced.
DeLucia said his key to success on the mound against the Tigers was his ability to throw strikes.
“Throw it in the zone, let them hit it if they don’t get it good for me, but just let them put the ball in play and have my defense work for me,” DeLucia said.
Auburn center fielder Kason Howell collected the Tiger’s first hit in the top of the fifth with a two-out single to right field. DeLucia, however, struck out the next batter he faced, catcher Nate LaRue looking to retire the side.
Ole Miss second baseman Peyton Catagnier grounded out into a double play with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth and scored Alderman from third base to extend the Ole Miss lead to 4-0. Center fielder TJ McCants singled to left field later in the inning to widen the Rebel’s lead to 5-0.
Tigers’ junior right fielder Bobby Peirce scored Auburn’s lone run in the bottom of the seventh, delivering an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score infielder Garrett Farquhar to cut the Rebel’s lead to 5-1 with no out in the inning. DeLucia, however, retired the next three batters he faced to escape out of trouble.
DeLucia finished the game pitching 7 2/3 innings, surrendering four hits, one earned run and striking out 10.
“We couldn’t garner any offense,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said.
DeLucia gave way to an Ole Miss bullpen that hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 21. The Rebels bullpen continued its dominance by pitching three shutout innings to finish off the 5-1 win for the Rebels.
“We’ve battled back a lot, and one loss isn’t going to kill us,” Peirce said. “We’re going to come back Monday fighting.”
Auburn (42-21) faces the Stanford Cardinal (47-16) in an elimination game Monday at 1 p.m, while Ole Miss (38-22) advances to play Southeastern Conference rival the Arkansas Razorbacks (44-19) Monday at 6 p.m.
Luck of the Irish: Notre Dame puts on strong showing in Game Two win over Texas
By: Jacob Thimjon
OMAHA, Neb.- It didn’t take long for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to start with some early fireworks to propel the Fighting Irish to a 7-3 win in Game Two of the Men’s College World Series.
Just two batters into the game, team captain and senior second baseman Jared Miller hit a solo home run in his first at-bat since May 14 since dislocating his right shoulder, giving Notre Dame an early 1-0 lead.
“It was huge for the team,” Notre Dame head coach Link Jarrett said. “I think that kind of sent a message to our team that Miller he’s back.”
Notre Dame added a run in the top of the third when senior left fielder Ryan Cole scored on a fielder’s choice. Texas added a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning when sophomore outfielder Dylan Campbell scored on a sacrifice bunt from Texas left fielder Eric Kennedy to cut the deficit to 2-1 going to the top of the fourth.
Fighting Irish third baseman Jack Brannigan led off the next half-inning with an infield single, and a single by Notre Dame right fielder Brooks Coetzee advanced Brannigan to third base. Brannigan scored from third base after a sacrifice bunt by Notre Dame center fielder Spencer Myers. Brannigan was initially called out at the plate, but the call was overturned to safe after Notre Dame challenged the play at home plate, the Fighting Irish lead 3-1.
Notre Dame added three more runs in the top of the fifth with an RBI single into the center field from Notre Dame shortstop Zach Pajzner. Brannigan then scored from third after a balk from Texas right-handed pitcher Tristan Stevens. An RBI single by Myers scored Pajzner to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 6-1.
Texas responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth when Texas center fielder Douglas Hodo III delivered an RBI single to left field that scored Campbell. The Longhorns added their final run of the game when senior second baseman Murphy Stehly scored on a wild pitch from third off of Notre Dame reliever Alex Rao to make the Notre Dame lead 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
Starting pitcher, John Michael Bertrand finished the game pitching 5 ⅓ innings allowing six hits, three earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.
Bertrand said his key to success against the Longhorns lineup was “confidence through preparation.”
“There’s a distinct difference in their approaches with two strikes,” Bertrand said.“I was able to go fastball to both sides of the plate, the cutter into the righties; just getting back to the basics and execute; one pitch at a time.”
The Irish added a final insurance run in the top of the ninth when first baseman Carter Putz hit a 394-foot solo home run to right-center field to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 7-3.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Jack Findlay pitched a one-two-three inning to seal the win in Game Two for the Fighting Irish.
“It was almost as relaxed as I’ve been coaching a game,” Jarrett said. “The game played out like we were hoping.”
The Longhorns, meanwhile, will look to regroup to avoid elimination.
“Tomorrow’s a new day. We’ve been in this situation in the past, move on and get back to work,” Stevens said.
The Longhorns (47-21) will face the Texas A&M Aggies (42-19) in an elimination game on Sunday at 1 p.m, while Notre Dame (40-16) will play Oklahoma (43-22) on Sunday at 6 p.m; at Charles Schwab Field.
‘They’re just a team of Davids’ Oklahoma’s Offensive Barrage Propels Sooners to Game One Win
By: Jacob Thimjon
OMAHA, Neb.- The bats came alive for the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas A&M Aggies in Game One of the Men’s College World Series, with 21 runs and 19 hits combined between the two teams. However, Oklahoma’s eight runs combined in the first two innings, including a seven-run second inning and four-run fourth inning, cultivated the Sooners to a 13-8 win in Game One.
Oklahoma’s scoring began with an RBI groundout by Blake Robertson that scored Sooner center fielder John Spikerman.
The Sooner offensive barrage continued in the top of the second as Oklahoma batted around their lineup. Sooner shortstop and first-team All-Big 12 Peyton Graham walked with the bases loaded, scoring Oklahoma second baseman Jackson Nicklaus. Run-scoring singles by first baseman Blake Robertson and center-fielder Tanner Tredaway extended the Sooner lead to 5-0.
The major blow of Oklahoma’s inning came off the bat of Oklahoma catcher Jimmy Crooks hitting a three-run home run into the Sooner bullpen in left field to extend Oklahoma’s lead 8-0 in the top of the second inning.
“I thought we set the table really early in the game; we gathered the momentum and kept the momentum,” Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson said.
The Aggies were quick to respond; however, after Jordan Thompson hit a 372-foot three-run home run of his own to cut the Oklahoma lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the second.
Oklahoma continued its offensive attack in the top of the fourth as Nicklaus recorded his second hit, hitting with his 11th home run of the season; a 394-foot grand slam to extend the Oklahoma lead to 12-3.
A solo home run by Aggie designated hitter Austin Bost in the bottom of the fourth cut the Sooner lead to 12-4. The Aggies used multiple-RBI singles and an RBI groundout to further cut into the Sooner lead with a four-run bottom of the seventh to make the deficit 12-8.
Oklahoma added an insurance run when Spikerman delivered an RBI single to center field to drive in pinch hitter Sebastian Orduno, extending the Sooner lead to 13-8 in the top of the ninth.
Oklahoma starter Jake Bennett went six strong innings while striking out five batters.
“I really tried to just execute one pitch at a time,” Bennett said.
Aggies starter Nathan Dettmer meanwhile, failed to pitch through the second inning, allowing seven earned runs on four hits with just one strikeout.
Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said Dettmer’s struggles were attributed to him being unable to get off the field.
“All seven runs in the second inning were with two outs and two strikes a lot of the time,” Schlossnagle said.
Junior reliever Joseph Menefee allowed five runs and four earned runs in 2 ⅓ innings pitched and had to burn through six pitchers in total to navigate through all nine innings.
Schlossnagle said that despite the pitching struggles in Game One, it’s not indicative of how his team has pitched this season. But Schlossnagle said he recognizes his team will have to rise to the occasion to keep their hopes of a national championship alive.
“In order for us to play deep in this tournament, someone’s going to have to give us something,” Schlossnagle said.
The Aggies (42-19) will play the loser of Game Two between Notre Dame and Texas on Friday at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Sooners (43-22) will play the winner of Game Two on Friday at 6 p.m.
Johnson said the Sooners are embracing playing the role of the underdog.
“They’re a team that believes,” Johnson said, “they’re just a team full of Davids.”