FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Zach Jackson pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings of relief as Arkansas earned its first College World Series berth in three years with a 3-2 victory over Missouri State in their super regional Sunday.
The CWS appearance is the eighth in school history for the Razorbacks (40-23), who are 26-9 this season since falling to 14-14 following a loss to the Bears (49-12) on March 31.
“I’m very proud of this team for hanging in there all year,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “… We were 14-14 in early April, and we’ve got 40 wins. These guys know, and I know, it’s really hard to get to Omaha. It’s not easy, and these guys persevered and did it.”
The Razorbacks scored three times in the first inning Sunday, including an RBI single from Tyler Spoon. That offense proved enough for starting pitcher James Teague and a pair of relievers, with Jackson earning his ninth save of the year.
The Bears, who were attempting to reach their second College World Series in school history, left 10 runners on base.
LSU 6, Louisiana-Lafayette 3 (LSU wins series 2-0, advances to College World Series)
BATON ROUGE, La. — Jared Poche struck out seven and did not allow a run until the eighth inning, Kade Scivicque broke up a scoreless tie with a home run in the seventh, and LSU clinched its 17th College World Series appearance with a 6-3 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday night.
Poche (9-1), a sophomore lefty, allowed five hits and walked one before he was relieved after allowing his only run.
“I think that’s just my competitive nature coming out in me,” Poche said of the five runners he stranded in scoring position in the first six innings. “I don’t have the most dominant pitches, so I just kind of gut up and just execute.”
“He just rose up and made some really big pitches at key times, but that’s his M.O.” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “When he gets in jams, he just has that innate ability to come up with the big pitch when he needs it, and he did that all night tonight.”
Shortstop Alex Bregman, LSU’s top pro prospect, ended an 0-for-15 slump with a two-out, two-run single in the eighth, and Conner Hale added a two-run triple as the Tigers (53-10) swept their best-of-three super regional with the Ragin’ Cajuns (42-23) to remain unbeaten in the NCAA tournament.
“We’re going to be very confident in Omaha,” Bregman said. “We deserve to be there.”
Louisiana-Lafayette starter Gunner Leger (6-5) appeared to be in complete control through 7⅓ innings, having thrown only 70 pitches before Scivicque’s homer cleared the left-field bleachers.
Texas A&M 2, TCU 1 (series tied 1-1)
FORT WORTH, Texas — Leadoff hitter Blake Allemand relished the chance to bat with Texas A&M tied in the 10th inning in yet another elimination game.
The senior shortstop came through for the Aggies.
Allemand’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Texas A&M a 2-1 victory at TCU, forcing a deciding Game 3 for a spot in the College World Series.
“I wanted to be at the plate in that situation,” Allemand said. “I embraced it and was ready to put a good swing on the ball.”
His fly ball to left that scored Nick Choruby came on a 1-1 pitch against TCU closer Riley Ferrell and ended a game dominated by the starting pitchers.
TCU starter Preston Morrison (11-3) got the first out in the 10th before walking Choruby and allowing a single to No. 9 hitter Michael Barash on a hit-and-run play.
Ryan Hendrix (6-3) went 2 1/3 innings in relief after Texas A&M starter Matt Kent struck out six over 7 2/3 scoreless innings in his third start in 10 days.
Logan Taylor had an RBI double in the sixth for Texas A&M. TCU, the visiting team in its home park, tied the game in the ninth on Keaton Jones’ sac fly.
Louisville 9, Cal State Fullerton 3 (series tied 1-1)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Danny Rosenbaum had four hits and Corey Ray and Logan Taylor each added three hits and three RBIs to lead Louisville to a 9-3 win over Cal State Fullerton to even the best-of-three series at one game apiece.
“We weren’t ready to be done,” said Rosenbaum, who finished 4-for-5.
The Cardinals’ 16 hits produced more than enough offense for freshman starter Brendan McKay (9-3). The left-hander gave up two earned runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out nine in seven innings for Louisville (47-17), the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
Game 3 between the Cardinals and Titans (38-23) will be Monday.
Louisville broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that was highlighted by Taylor’s two-run homer in his first at-bat after he entered the game in center field in the fourth.
Fullerton starter John Gavin (7-3) took the loss.
Vanderbilt-Illinois postponed (Vanderbilt leads series 1-0)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The second of a three-game series of the super regional between Vanderbilt and Illinois has been postponed until Monday because of stormy weather.
Officials told everyone to leave Illinois Field as the skies darkened and lightning started flashing. The forecast calls for storms with high winds.
Defending national champion Vanderbilt (46-19) won the opening game Saturday night 13-0. It is the third straight super regional appearance for the Commodores. Illinois (50-9) is making its first super regional appearance.
It could end up being a big day for players on both teams with the first two rounds of the Major League Baseball draft on Monday night.
Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson is in the mix to be the No. 1 overall selection by Arizona, while pitchers Carson Fulmer and Walker Buehler are also expected to be first-rounders. Illinois closer Tyler Jay has been mentioned as a possibility for the top pick.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.