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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 1:58 p.m., Sunday, June 10, 2007

UC Irvine tops Wichita St., earns first World Series trip

Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. — Bryan Peterson's double in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted UC Irvine over Wichita State 3-2 and sent the Anteaters to the College World Series for the first time in school history.

UC Irvine (45-15-1) swept the best-of-three super regional with great pitching efforts, the latest by Wes Etheridge. The right-hander, who held Wichita State to five hits in 8 1/3 innings, gave up a single to Andy Dirks to start the game and then retired 17 straight.

WSU (53-22) tied it with two runs in the top of the ninth, breaking a 21 2/3 scoreless inning streak, helped by a controversial call. After Derek Schermerhorn singled, Damon Sublett grounded to shortstop Ben Orloff and was ruled out in a close play at first. Shockers coach Gene Stephenson came out to argue the call, saying first baseman Taylor Holiday's foot came off the bag.

After a brief discussion, plate umpire Scott Erby overturned the call and ruled Sublett safe. That brought out an irate UC Irvine coach Dave Serrano, saying the original call was correct.

Television replays appeared to show that Holiday's foot was still on the base when he caught the ball.

Two outs later, pinch-hitter Danny Jackson walked to load the bases and Tyler Hill singled through the right side to tie it at 2.

The Anteaters came right back in their half, as Matt Morris hit a one-out single off Anthony Capra (7-1) and scored when Peterson doubled over the head of right fielder Matt Brown.

Dylan Axelrod (5-4) got one out in relief and picked up the victory.