Oregon State has new life as Arkansas drops a chance to clinch the College World Series before the Beavers rally for a 5-3 win in Game 2.
Game Odds
BetDSI Sportsbook has released odds, which you can view below, for this matchup.
Oregon State Beavers -160
Arkansas Razorbacks +120
How it happened
After the two final teams exchanged leads early, Arkansas held a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth.
A leadoff walk by Zak Taylor in an eight-pitch at-bat followed by a SAC bunt from Andy Armstrong and a groundout by Nick Madrigal put the tying run on third with Oregon State down to its final out.
On a 1-1 count Cadyn Greiner popped a ball foul down the first base line, only to see the ball fall between Razorbacks’ first baseman Jared Gates, second baseman Carson Shaddy and right fielder Eric Cole, all of whom could’ve made the clinching out, but none did.
Three pitches later Greiner singled up the middle off Arkansas closer Matt Cronin to tie the game before Trevor Larnach sent a 2-0 pitch over the right field fence to put the Beavers up 5-3.
Jax Biggers hit a leadoff single for Arkansas in the bottom half of the inning, but Jake Mulholland closed the door on the game getting a strikeout and a double play to record his 16th save of the year.
What set up the drama
Neither starter lasted long in Game 2 as Oregon State pulled Bryce Fehmel after allowing only a run, on one hit and three walks while striking out one in two innings of work.
The Razorbacks scored first in the bottom of the second when Fehmel threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded to allow Gates to come home.
The Beavers would take a 2-1 advantage with runs in the fourth and fifth innings to bring an end to Arkansas stater Kacey Murphy’s night. Murphy went 4 1/3 and gave up two runs, on six hits and no walks while striking out four.
Adley Rutschman tied the game with a solo shot in the fourth before Oregon State took the lead in the fifth on an RBI bunt single from Grenier, who went 3-for-5 on the night with two big RBIs.
Brandon Eisert relieved Fehmel and went five innings, giving up two runs, on five hits and no walks while striking out seven. The Razorbacks retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Luke Bonfield and Shaddy each hit RBI singles to go up 3-2, Shaddy was 2-for-4 with an RBI as was Bonfield.
The Beavers threatened in the sixth with a runner on the corners and no outs and failed to score and in the eighth had a runner on third with one out after Cronin came in and threw a wild pitch. But he settled down to get a strikeout and a fly ball to escape the jam.
Who’s next
With Oregon State turning to Kevin Abel (who got the win) in the eighth and a bit in the ninth, there is a bit of question on who will start for the Beavers in Game 3 Thursday.
While he only pitched an inning, he did take the mound in the ninth and ended up throwing 23 pitches.
Arkansas will look to Los Angeles Angels 24th round pick Isaiah Campbell who is 5-6 with a 4.12 ERA this season, but is coming off a win that gave the Razorbacks a spot in the final going 5 1/3 against defending champions Florida as he allowed two runs, on two hits and no walks while striking out eight.
