OMAHA, Neb. — Daniel Pinero’s sacrifice fly scored Thomas Woodruff in the bottom of the 15th inning to give Virginia a 3-2 victory Tuesday night in a game that matched the longest in the College World Series’ 66-year history. ADVERTISING
OMAHA, Neb. — Daniel Pinero’s sacrifice fly scored Thomas Woodruff in the bottom of the 15th inning to give Virginia a 3-2 victory Tuesday night in a game that matched the longest in the College World Series’ 66-year history.
Pinero fouled off two squeeze-bunt attempts against Trey Teakell before he lofted a fly to center. Cody Jones’ throw toward home never had a chance to get Woodruff. The Cavaliers’ bench and bullpen emptied, with everybody mobbing Pinero near second base.
Virginia (51-14), which had a walk-off 2-1 win against Mississippi on Sunday in nine innings, plays Friday in its bracket final. TCU (48-17) plays Ole Miss in an elimination game Thursday.
Artie Lewicki (8-1) got the win with two innings of no-hit relief. Teakell (6-1) took the loss, with Nate Irving’s ground-rule double leading off the bottom of the 15th the only hit he allowed in 2 1-3 innings.
It was the longest game, as measured by innings, since Southern California beat Florida State 2-1 in 15 in the 1970 national championship game. Two other CWS games had gone 15.
Virginia and TCU are well-acquainted with one-run games. The Cavaliers have won 15 of 22 this season and TCU has won nine of 14. Seven of TCU’s NCAA tournament games have been decided by one run.
Texas Tech’s 1st CWS appearance ends with 2-1 loss
OMAHA, Neb. — Texas Tech’s first appearance in the College World Series was a short one.
After scratching out a run to tie it in the top of the ninth inning, Mississippi scored in the bottom half to hand the Red Raiders a 2-1 loss that sends them back to Lubbock, Texas, after two games here.
“We line up to play and we want to win,” Tech coach Tim Tadlock said, “so right now it’s kind of an unusual feeling for me because we did do something these guys will hold forever. At the same time, we’re going to lay our head down every night and wake up every morning trying to get back.”
The Red Raiders (45-20) batted just .223 at TD Ameritrade Park, and three of the five runs they allowed were unearned.
Ole Miss (47-20) won on John Gatlin’s pinch single into short right field over a pulled-in, five-man infield. The exciting finish came after Texas Tech had tied it in the top of the ninth on a couple daring steals and a sacrifice fly.
“When the game is on the line like that, we’re each called upon in different situations and every one of us feels prepared for it and expects to get the job done,” Gatlin said. “That just goes back to the toughness we’ve been preaching all year.”
By wire sources
