Omaha, NE (My Sportsbook) - LSU and Texas both won on Friday to set up the College World Series final, which will begin on Monday.
Blake Dean hit a solo homer and knocked in two, and Tyler Hanover hit a two-run shot as LSU moved on after hammering Arkansas, 14-5, at Rosenblatt Stadium following a 2 1/2-hour rain delay at the start of the afternoon game.
Hanover finished with three RBI, while Ryan Schimpf added a solo homer for the Tigers, who have won 13 straight games. LSU improved to 33-19 all-time in the CWS and will be vying for its sixth national title.
"We don't really think about winning streaks," said Schimpf. "We look at it as just another ballgame. The team's doing a great job and we're peaking at the right time."
Anthony Ranaudo picked up the win after working six shutout innings. The righty gave up four hits and struck out five.
Chase Leavitt hit a three-run homer and Brett Eibner belted a two-run blast for Arkansas, which finished 7-2 in the NCAA Tournament and 41-24 overall.
"We're a good team, we knew we could do it," said Eibner. "We hit a bump in May, but I'm glad we could rebound and get here."
Stephen Richards was tagged with the loss. The Razorbacks' closer this season made his first start of the year, but lasted only two-plus innings. The left- hander allowed four runs -- two earned -- with a pair of walks, while striking out two. Richards was 6-1 with a 1.80 earned run average coming into the contest.
In the nightcap, the Longhorns polished off Arizona State in dramatic fashion as Cameron Rupp and Connor Rowe both slugged solo homers in the ninth inning to lift Texas past the Sun Devils, 4-3.
Austin Wood got the win after throwing three innings of one-run relief with three hits. Cole Green started and went six innings while yielding two runs on eight hits to get a no-decision. Travis Tucker went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win.
Kole Calhoun went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Arizona State, which finished with 11 hits in the setback. Zach Wilson and Drew Maggi both had a hit and an RBI in defeat.
Mitchell Lambson absorbed the loss after tossing 2 2/3 innings of relief and giving up the two homers. He did strike out five batters in the process, though. Mike Leake started and went six innings while yielding two runs on eight hits while fanning seven and walking one.
"Any game with this team is memorable," said Leake. "This is the best team I've ever been on, and I will always remember this team."
The pitchers settled down after the fifth inning, until Jason Kipnis hit a grounder to first off Wood that caromed off Brandon Belt's glove to leadoff the ninth. Tucker, backing up, threw to the bag but it went wide, which allowed the runner to move to second. Carlos Ramirez then flied out and Calhoun went down swinging, but Wilson lined a shot to right field that dropped in for a triple that scored Kipnis and made it 3-2.
"We came in, and were a little upset," said Rupp of his team's emotions entering the bottom of the ninth. "We picked each other up, we've done that before and we take pride in that. We go into each inning looking to win. We've competed like that all tournament long and it gave us the win tonight."
Lambson was on the hill for ASU in the home ninth and struck out Brandon Loy. Rupp, though, crushed an offering over the center field wall to tie the game at three. Preston Clarke then fouled out but Rowe stroked a homer to left to give Texas the win.
"I wasn't thinking about hitting a home run," said Rowe. "I had faced him three times before and I'd seen a lot of changeups. I was sitting there waiting for it and got it."
Arizona State got on the board in the third inning. Kipnis had a one-out single before Ramirez reached on a fielder's choice and Kipnis advanced to third on an error by Loy. Calhoun then singled to center and an outfielding gaffe allowed Kipnis to score to make it 1-0. Michael Torres then opened the home half with a homer to tie it up.
The Sun Devils jumped ahead, 2-1, the next frame. Zack MacPhee had a two-out double in the fourth inning and crossed home as Maggi followed with a single.
Rowe opened the home fifth with a double, moved to third on Torres' groundout and scored to tie it up on Tucker's single.