College World Series: Oregon State eliminates Washington in weather-delayed marathon
A rain-sogged game featuring a four-hour, 31-minute rain delay was in search of a hero. Kyle Nobach was happy to oblige.
Oregon State's redshirt senior lifted a two-out, three-run homer over the right-field wall with two outs in the seventh to break open Monday's elimination game. In the afternoon-turned-evening game in Omaha, Nebraska, Oregon State won 14-5 over Pac-12 foe Washington to remain alive at the College World Series.
Either Mississippi State or North Carolina awaits the Beavers Wednesday in another elimination game. The Beavers will have an extra day of rest against either ballclub; Monday's nightcap game between the Bulldogs and Tar Heels was pushed back to Tuesday morning.
[Related: 2018 NCAA Baseball College World Series bracket (NCAA.com)]
Oregon State 14, Washington 5
Nobach was the lasting player of the game, but before he stepped to the plate, Michael Gretler gave the Bevaers the go-ahead run. His run-scoring double in the seventh to score Nick Madrigal broke a 5-5 tie and gave Oregon State a one-run cushion.
The Beavers scored in the sixth to knot the game up after posting a four-spot in the fifth to jumpstart their come-from-behind effort.
Washington went to its bullpen with two on and two outs in the fifth. But Oregon State head coach Pat Casey countered by subbing in Zak Taylor, who roped a single right up the middle to score the Beavers' first run of the game and make it 3-1.
Preston Jones promptly doubed to right in the following at-bat and moved to third on a fielding error. On the play, Jack Anderson and Taylor scored to knot the game up. Oregon State then scored its fourth run of the game on a passed ball. All in all, the Beavers recorded four straight two-out hits against Burgmann.
Washington responded with two runs of its own after chasing Oregon State starter Bryce Fehmel from the ballgame in the fifth. With Kevin Abel on in relief, Joe Wainhouse grounded into a fielder's choice that plated Mason Cerrillo. Nick Kahle scored one batter later when Levi Jordan knocked him in from second.
Kahle opened the game's scoring with a two-run double in the third inning on a first-pitch offering from Fehmel. Wainhouse added to UW's third-inning haul with a single to score Kahle.
Malone added Oregon State's 10th run of the game, a solo homer in the eighth. Malone also contributed by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the sixth coming out of the lengthy weather with the bases loaded.
After Malone's blast, Oregon State added four more runs on RBIs from Adley Rutschman, Gretler and Anderson.
Washington finishes its historic season 35-26. The Huskies made their first-ever trips to the NCAA Super Regional and CWS rounds and return a deep stable of young talent for 2019.