Bulldogs’ walk-off win over Huskies in CWS is 3rd in 8 games

Published 5:40 am Sunday, June 17, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Luke Alexander’s drive to right field got past Christian Jones in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing Hunter Stovall to score from second base to give Mississippi State a 1-0 victory over Washington in the College World Series on Saturday night.

It was the Bulldogs’ third walk-off win, and fourth on their final at-bat, in their last eight NCAA Tournament games.

Stovall and Elijah MacNamee singled leading off the ninth against Andy Hardy before Alexander hit an 0-2 pitch deep to right. Jones was playing shallow and gave chase, but he couldn’t catch up to the ball as it bounced to the wall. Alexander easily scored, prompting players to pour out of the Mississippi State dugout and celebrate on the grass behind third base.

Starters Ethan Small of the Bulldogs (38-27) and Joe DeMers of Washington (35-25) traded zeroes through seven fast-paced innings.

DeMers threw strikes on 19 of his first 22 pitches and held the Bulldogs scoreless even though their leadoff man reached base in four of the first five innings. DeMers was helped by two double plays and some sharp fielding by shortstop Levi Jordan, who made a couple diving stops and came up throwing to get runners at first.

DeMers had retired seven in a row before Jake Mangum doubled with one out in the eighth. Hardy (5-3) relieved and got Rowdey Jordan and Tanner Allen to ground out.

The Huskies had runners in scoring position in the second, third and sixth innings but couldn’t push a run across against Small, who left after the seventh and matched his second-longest outing of the season.

NORTH CAROLINA 8, OREGON STATE 6

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — It took nearly 4 1/2 hours in 95-degree heat to play the opening game of the College World Series.

Time flew for North Carolina coach Mike Fox. He was having fun.

The Tar Heels knocked out Oregon State ace Luke Heimlich during a five-run third inning and went on to beat the Beavers 8-6 on Saturday.

“I liked being in the third-base coaching box in the top of the third. Felt I was out there for a while,” Fox said. “For me, the more you’re out there, the better. I get it. It was a long game. But they’re not long for me, and they’re not long for the coaches and players. Sometimes it’s agonizing for the people watching. We’re not trying to drag it out by design.”

The Tar Heels (44-18) used six pitchers in a 4-hour, 24-minute slog that was the longest nine-inning game in CWS history. They turned back threats in the sixth and seventh innings and prevailed against an opponent they hadn’t faced since losing to the Beavers in the 2006 and ’07 CWS finals.

NCAA College World Series Glance

By The Associated Press

At TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

Omaha, Neb.

All Times CDT

(Double Elimination)

Saturday, June 16

North Carolina 8, Oregon State 6

Mississippi State 1, Washington 0

Sunday, June 17

Game 3 — Arkansas (44-19) vs. Texas (42-21), 1 p.m.

Game 4 — Texas Tech (44-18) vs. Florida (47-19), 6 p.m.

Monday, June 18

Game 5 — Oregon State (49-11-1) vs. Washington (35-25), 1 p.m.

Game 6 — North Carolina (44-18) vs. Mississippi State (38-27), 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 19

Game 7 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m.

Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 20

Game 9 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 21

Game 10 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 22

Game 11 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m. Game 12 — Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 23

x-Game 13 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m.

x-Game 14 — Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m.

Championship Series

(Best-of-3)

Monday, June 25: Pairings TBD, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 26: Pairings TBD, 6 p.m.

x-Wednesday, June 27: Pairings TBD, 6 p.m.