OMAHA, Neb. -- Fans at the College World Series got their money's worth Sunday, as both first-round games came down to the final inning before two traditional powerhouses came away with victories.
In the first game, Arizona State's Josh Spence and North Carolina's Alex White hooked up in a great duel, but it was a key defensive miscue that turned the game in the Sun Devils' favor, as they came away with a 5-2 win in 10 innings over the Tar Heels.
In the nightcap, Texas broke a 6-6 tie without swinging the bat, as three walks and a hit batsman helped the top-seeded Longhorns win a wild one over upstart Southern Mississippi, 7-6.
Some were expecting a matchup of first-round draft picks Sunday afternoon, as White was taken by the Cleveland Indians while Arizona State ace Mike Leake was taken by the Cincinnati Reds. Coach Pat Murphy rolled the dice, though, going with Spence, who came through with seven solid innings of work to keep the Tar Heels' bats at bay.
Spence was relieved by Mitchell Lambson, who made a big pitch in the bottom of the ninth, getting the nation's leading hitter -- North Carolina's Dustin Ackley -- to look at a called third strike to send the game to extra innings.
In the 10th, a dropped fly ball by Garrett Gore led to a tie-breaking single by Carlos Ramirez, scoring Drew Maggi from second base. Kole Calhoun followed with a three-run homer to cap the Sun Devils' four-run outburst in the 10th. Lambson gave up a run in the bottom of the 10th, but settled down and struck out the last two batters to end the game.
Texas looked to be in command with a 4-2 lead going to the eighth, highlighted by Russell Moldenhauer's solo homer in the sixth and an RBI single by Connor Rowe in the seventh. But Southern Miss took advantage of a couple of Texas errors and Corey Stevens' bases-loaded walk to score three runs and take a 5-4 lead.
Texas came back with two in the eighth, both coming on bases-loaded walks, but Southern Miss tied the game at 6-6 on a two-out single by by James Ewing.
Southern Miss had trouble finding the plate in the bottom of the ninth, and with two outs and the bases loaded, Brandon Loy saw four straight pitches and strolled to first with a bases-loaded walk to end the game.
Monday is elimination day for one team, as the loser of the 1 p.m. matchup between Cal State Fullerton and Virginia goes home. The winner will meet the loser of tonight's 6 p.m. battle between Arkansas and LSU on Wednesday.
You can get great seats for all the remaining games of the College World Series now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.
College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)
Saturday, June 13
Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5
Sunday, June 14
Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6
Monday, June 15
Game 5 -- Cal State Fullerton (47-15) vs. Virginia (48-14-1), 1 p.m.
Game 6 -- Arkansas (40-22) vs. LSU (52-16), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 16
Game 7 -- North Carolina (47-17) vs. Southern Miss (40-25), 1 p.m.
Game 8 -- Arizona State (50-12) vs. Texas (47-14-1), 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17
Game 9 -- Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 6 p.m.
Thursday, June 18
Game 10 -- Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 p.m.
Friday, June 19
Game 11 -- Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 12 -- Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 20
Game 13 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14 -- Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m.
(NOTE: If only one "if necessary" game is played, it will be at 6 p.m.)
Monday, June 22
Championship Game 1 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23
Championship Game 2 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24
Championship Game 3 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m. (If necessary)
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