Beavers Make College World Series Finals

Congrats to Oregon State, who did the unlikely in advancing to the championship of the College World Series from the loser's bracket. The opening game loss to Miami put OSU in a win-or-else situation for four straight games, and boy did they come through. On consecutive days, the Beavers not only beat the top ranked team for much of the season (Rice), they shut them out...both times. No team has pitched consecutive shutouts in the CWS since 1992, a huge feat when you consider the use of aluminum bats that push up scores in the college game.

Number two starter Jonah Nickerson was dominant tonight (the ESPN guys said he pitched "a whale of a game," yuk yuk), but the team owes its position to the two unknowns who went deep into their 2nd and 3rd elimination games, saving the bullpen and giving the OSU bats a chance to win the game.

The Beavers now take on undefeated North Carolina in a best of three series starting Saturday in Omaha, NE. The Tar Heels will undoubtedly be favored, since they are well rested and haven't lost a game--but if there is mojo afoot in Omaha, it definitely rests with the team in black and orange. Good luck, guys! You've already done your state proud; now bring home the first ever baseball title for Oregon.