Arkansas was one defensive play away from earning the school’s first College World Series championship. Instead, they’ll have to try again on Thursday, as Oregon State rallied to score three runs in the ninth inning for a 5-3 win to force a decisive Game 3.
Three Razorbacks defenders had a chance to catch a pop foul that would have ended the game. But the ball fell unceremoniously to the ground instead, and the Beavers would take full advantage.
New Life for Beavers
Three pitches later, Cadyn Grenier drilled a single to left field to score Zak Taylor and tie the game at 3-3. The next batter, Trevor Lamach, hit a 2-0 pitch over the right field wall for a home run, giving Oregon State their two run advantage.
Oregon State Takes Advantage of ‘Extra Life’
For the Beavers, seeing that ball fall between three fielders meant they had a lifeline that they couldn’t afford to throw away.
“As soon as you see the ball drop, you know you have another life,” Grenier said after the game. “I needed to refocus and make the most of that extra life we got. That’s a gift.”
Oregon State closer Jake Mulholland had little trouble collecting his 16th save of the season in the bottom of the ninth, forcing the teams to come back for Game 3 to determine a national champion.
Razorbacks Refocus
While the loss was stunning for the Razorbacks, who had been 44-0 this season when leading after eight innings, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said he had a simple message for his team after the game.
“You can’t take it back. It’s over,” Van Horn said after the game. “Get your head up and start getting your mind right because it’s going to be tomorrow before you know it and we need to come out here and give ourselves a chance.”
Arkansas took an early lead in the second inning after Jared Gates scampered home from third on a passed ball with the bases loaded. Bryce Fehmel then induced a pop out to get out of the inning, but that was the end for the Oregon State starter, who was done after just two innings of work.
Beavers catcher Adley Rutschman has been one of the hottest hitters at the College World Series, and that continued on Wednesday night. Rutschman hit a long home run to left field in the fourth inning to tie the game at one.
Oregon State took its first lead of the night on the fifth inning, when Grenier drove in a run on a bases loaded squeeze play to make the score 2-1. But in the bottom of the inning, singles by Luke Bonfield and Carson Shaddy drove in two runs for Arkansas to give the Razorbacks a 3-2 lead.
Both bullpens would then keep the opposing offenses in check until Oregon State’s ninth inning heroics. The comeback gave the Beavers their fifth straight win in an elimination game at the College World Series this year.
According to BetDSI, Oregon State is a -220 favorite to win Game 3, while Arkansas can be backed at +166 to take the championship.
