OMAHA, Neb. — Eddie King Jr.’s walk-off sacrifice fly kept Louisville’s season alive as the Cardinals escaped with a 7-6 victory over No. 8 Oregon State in the Men’s College World Series on Tuesday.
King’s fly ball to straightaway center off freshman Zach Edwards was deep enough to allow Alex Alicea, who drew a walk off Kellan Oakes (5-1) to start the Louisville ninth, to score the winning run. The sophomore shortstop committed a fielding error in the top of the inning that allowed the Beavers to tie the game.
Louisville moves on to face Coastal Carolina Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals must beat the 13th-seeded Chanticleers twice in order to advance to the College World Series Finals, a best-of-three series scheduled to begin Saturday.
King, who went 2-for-3, drove in three runs. Louisville’s Jake Munroe went 2-for-5, including a two-run home run in the third, and Zion Rose, a sophomore outfielder, banged a solo shot an inning later.
Jacob Krieg and Aiva Arquette homered for the Beavers (48-16-1), but they stranded a dozen runners and were 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Those were costly as Oregon State lost for the first time in six elimination games during this postseason.
The Cardinals (42-23) remain in the World Series despite giving up a 6-3 lead in the top of the ninth. Tucker Biven (5-0), who threw four shutout innings in Sunday’s win over Arizona, capped the damage after Alicea’s error by striking out two and coaxing a popout. Biven’s effort kept the Beavers from beating Louisville in the ninth inning for a second time, after Oregon State walked them off Friday.
Louisville senior Brennyn Cutts made the start and struck out a season-high seven. He allowed three hits and four walks in three-plus innings but left after allowing a two-run homer to Krieg in the fourth.
Nelson Keljo pitched three innings in the start for Oregon State. He gave up three runs on five hits.
–Field Level Media
