Omaha, NE (My Sportsbook) - Arizona State and Texas both got victories Sunday in thrilling fashion, as Bracket Two play began at the 2009 College World Series.
Texas came out on top in a back-and-forth night game against Southern Miss, 7-6, thanks to a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth. Earlier Sunday, Arizona State rallied for four runs in the top of the 10th inning to take a 5-2 win over North Carolina.
All four teams will play again Tuesday, as Arizona State and Texas face off in a night contest on the winners' side of the double-elimination bracket. UNC and Southern Miss will fight to stay alive in a day elimination game.
A resilient Southern Miss squad entered the top of the ninth down a run, 6-5, after Texas had scored twice in the bottom of the eighth. But the Golden Eagles, playing in their first College World Series, rallied for the tying run.
Facing the Longhorns' Austin Wood, pinch-hitter Tyler Koelling singled to right and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Taylor Jungmann was then brought in to pitch, but surrendered a run-scoring bloop single to James Ewing.
But the Longhorns took the game in the bottom half. Josh Fields retired the first batter before hitting Travis Tucker and walking Brandon Belt. Jonathan Johnston was then brought in and struck out Tant Shepherd, but got behind in the count to Kyle Lusson and issued a walk to load the bases. He then walked Brandon Loy on four pitches, the last being slightly inside, to force in the game winning run and hand the Longhorns the win. Fields (2-1) took the loss, while Jungmann (9-3) got the win.
"Championships are decided by the unexpected and we were the beneficiaries of some nervousness tonight," said Texas coach Augie Garrido. "Total offense means doing what the ball tells you to do. But you have to be disciplined enough to do that."
Southern Miss starter Todd McInnis allowed four runs in 6 2/3 frames, while Texas' Cole Green gave up three runs in seven-plus innings. The nearly even performances were reflective of the back-and-forth style of the contest, as the teams traded hits and key moments.
"We had an opportunity to win. We kept coming back; we just didn't throw strikes at the end of the game," said Southern Miss coach Corky Miller. "Our players played like I thought they would on a big stage. I thought there were no nerves, we just didn't throw strikes at the end, and we just didn't throw strikes all game. That's really why we lost the game. We had every opportunity to win, and we just didn't get it done."
Kevin Keyes smoked a two-run double off the wall in right-center to give Texas a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Michael Ewing hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the Eagles to tie the game.
Russell Moldenhauer's solo homer in the bottom of the sixth and Connor Rowe's RBI single in the next frame made it a 4-2 Texas lead through seven full innings, at which point each team's starter was finished.
The Eagles, though, grabbed a 5-4 lead in the eighth, scoring runs on a wild pitch, a bases-loaded walk and a fielder's choice. However, two bases-loaded walks in the bottom half gave the lead right back to Texas.
In the earlier game, Kole Calhoun's three-run homer punctuated a four-run 10th inning for Arizona State, which was also engaged in a tight contest.
A pitching duel for much of the day, Sunday's ASU-UNC came down to an extra- inning battle. Carlos Ramirez preceded Calhoun's homer with the go-ahead RBI single that broke a 1-1 deadlock.
Josh Spence limited UNC to one run on eight hits and three walks in a seven- inning start for Arizona State. Mitchell Lambson (9-3) pitched the final three innings for the Sun Devils, allowing a run in the bottom of the 10th, and picked up the win.
"It was pretty special," ASU head coach Pat Murphy said. "I'm proud of our guys, we hung in there and it wasn't pretty."
UNC starter Alex White was masterful in a nine-inning outing, as he gave up only one run on seven hits, walked three and struck out 12. But the game fell apart for the Tar Heels in the 10th after an error by UNC right fielder Garrett Gore allowed ASU to kick-start a rally en route to the 5-2 win.
"It was a terrific game," UNC head coach Mike Fox said. "Two outstanding pitchers went head-to-head. Alex did a great job. It all comes down to a big hit and we didn't get it done. We got to give hats off to Arizona State. They played better than us today."
Colin Bates (4-3), who took the loss, began the 10th on the mound for UNC and got the leadoff batter out. But Drew Maggi singled before Bates was removed in favor of Brian Moran. Jason Kipnis then lofted a fly to right that bounced off the heel of Gore's glove, leaving both runners safe.
Ramirez then singled up the middle to plate a run, and Calhoun followed with a three-run shot to left for a 5-1 lead.
"I got the 1-1 pitch up in the wind, and the wind took over," Calhoun said. "I was trying to have a better at-bat than my one before, and it wasn't hard. [Coach Murphy] told me to take what he gives me, and I did and hit it into left center. Fortunately it got up in the air."
Kyle Seager scored in the bottom half on an error, but Lambson struck out the final two batters to end the game.
Zack MacPhee doubled home a run in the second to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead, but UNC tied the game in the sixth on Gore's run-scoring hit.
College World Series action picks up again on Monday, when Cal State Fullerton and Virginia, both losers Saturday, square off in an elimination contest. Arkansas and LSU play in the nightcap Monday.
