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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, June 8, 2008

Stanford is first to advance to Omaha

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Stanford's Jason Castro, left, who had four RBIs, is greeted by Michael Marshall after scoring a run in the fifth.

FRANCIS SPECKER | Associated Press

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FULLERTON, Calif. — Jason Castro drove in four runs, including three on a sixth-inning double, to give Stanford an 8-5 victory over Cal State Fullerton last night in the super regional and a trip to the College World Series.

The Cardinal (39-22-2) used its sixth consecutive victory and eighth in 10 games to eliminate the Titans (41-22), seeded fifth nationally, and reach the series.

"This has been a real special team," Stanford coach Mark Marquess said. "We've been hitting in the clutch and our pitching has been great. But the biggest difference in this team is our defense. We played great defense all year."

Castro broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the sixth with his third hit of the game, a double down the left-field line that scored Zach Jones, Jack Schlander and Colin Walsh.

"They had a shift they were playing on us pretty much all weekend," Castro said. "I just tried to stay inside the ball and drive it down that line."

Fullerton had scored two runs in the top of the sixth to force the tie before loading the bases with one out. But Brian Wilson lined into an unassisted double play by first baseman Brent Milleville, who tagged first base to end the threat.

"Momentum is a huge thing in the super regionals," Titans outfielder Josh Fellhauer said. "We knew that if we turned it around today, we'd have a good shot at winning (a berth in the College World Series)."

UC IRVINE 11, LSU 5

BATON ROUGE, La. — Sean Madigan and Brock Bardeen each hit home runs, helping the Anteaters (42-16) to a victory in their super regional opener, ending the Tigers' (46-17-1) 23-game winning streak.

The Anteaters scored quickly with a two-run single in the first by Tony Asaro and broke it open with nine runs from the fifth through eighth innings. Madigan hit a three-run homer in the sixth, and Bardeen a two-run shot in the eighth for UC Irvine, one win away from its second straight College World Series appearance.

Anteaters ace Scott Gorgen (12-3) allowed two runs — one earned — and six hits and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings.

FLORIDA STATE 14, WICHITA STATE 4

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State scored five runs in the third inning and Matt Fairel (12-2) pitched eight solid innings to lead the Seminoles (53-12) over the Shockers (48-16) to force a deciding third game in their super regional series.

The Seminoles chased Shockers ace Aaron Shafer, a second-round pick of the Chicago Cubs, in the third inning, the shortest stint of his career. Stuart Tapley homered and Dennis Guinn dealt the final blow with a two-run single, driving in the fourth and fifth runs of the inning.

Wichita State saw its 10-game winning streak end against a Florida State team that has scored 10 or more runs in five of seven NCAA postseason games. The 14 runs allowed were the most by the Shockers this season.

NORTH CAROLINA ST. 10, GEORGIA 6

ATHENS, Ga. — The Wolfpack scored four runs in the seventh inning and forced a deciding third game in its super regional series against the Bulldogs.

Jeremy Synan, Ryan Pond, Tommy Foschi and Russell Wilson each had two RBIs for N.C. State (42-21), seeking its second College World Series appearance and first since 1968.

Georgia (40-23-1), which is 4-0 in elimination games this year at Foley Field and 15-0 in ballpark history, is attempting to make the College World Series' field of eight teams for the third time in five years.

Bulldogs starter Nathan Moreau (4-2) lasted just 2 2/3 innings for the Southeastern Conference regular-season champions, giving up four runs, five hits, two walks and striking out two.

Jake Buchanan (2-2) earned the win after allowing three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

NORTH CAROLINA 9, COASTAL CAROLINA 4

CARY, N.C. — Alex White threw seven strong innings and Seth Williams homered to lead the Tar Heels (50-12) past the mistake-prone Chanticleers (50-13) in the opener of the teams' super regional series.

Williams, Kyle Seager and Kyle Shelton drove in two runs apiece for the Tar Heels, who turned the Chanticleers' season-high six errors into six unearned runs and moved within one victory of their third straight trip to the College World Series.

White (10-3) struck out six and allowed eight hits on a sweltering day in which the temperature surpassed 100 degrees.

Coastal Carolina pieced together two hits in the fourth against White before Dock Doyle raced home on his wild pitch to make it a 3-1 game, but White and the Tar Heels didn't let them get any closer.

RICE 9, TEXAS A&M 7

HOUSTON — Jordan Dodson drove in four runs and Cole St. Clair had a terrific outing in relief, leading the Owls (46-13) past the Aggies (46-18) in the first game of their super regional.

St. Clair (10-2) allowed one run and two hits during the final 4 1/3 innings, bringing the Owls within one win of their third straight College World Series appearance and seventh since 1997.

With the game tied at 6 in the fifth inning, the Owls scored three runs with two outs against Kyle Thebeau (6-5). Jimmy Comerota and Mozingo started the rally with walks and scored on a double by Dodson, who later came home on an error by first baseman Luke Anders.

The Aggies, who lost to Rice in the super regionals last year, had tied it with three runs in the top of the fifth.

MIAMI 14, ARIZONA 10

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal hit three-run homers as the Hurricanes (51-9) outslugged the Wildcats (42-18) to send their super regional to a decisive third game.

Mark Sobolewski hit a go-ahead solo home run and the Hurricanes rallied from an early four-run deficit. Jason Hagerty also homered for Miami.

Sobolewski's leadoff homer off Arizona reliever Mike Colla (4-3) in the sixth put Miami ahead 8-7. Grandal hit a three-run homer later in the inning.

Arizona pitchers walked 16 batters, a school record. Miami's Dennis Rabin walked six times, tying an NCAA record previously set by Josh Hamilton on May 29, 1999.

David Gutierrez (5-0) pitched four innings in relief for the win.

ARIZONA STATE 12, FRESNO STATE 4

TEMPE, Ariz. — Ryan Sontag homered twice and drove in four runs to lead the Sun Devils (49-11) over the Bulldogs (40-29) to open their super regional.

Jason Kipnis and Brett Wallace had three hits each and Petey Paramore added two RBIs for the Sun Devils, who have scored 10 or more runs in three of four postseason games.

Sophomore right-hander Mike Leake earned his second win of the postseason, allowing four runs — two earned — and eight hits over 7 2/3 innings.

Sontag broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third with a towering home run over the right-field fence.

Fresno State scored once in the seventh and pulled within 8-4 in the eighth on Alan Ahmady's two-run single to right.

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