OMAHA, Neb. -- Lefthander Matt Boyd knew that elimination loomed for Oregon State against Indiana on Wednesday in Game 9 of the College World Series.

Across the diamond, in the third-base dugout, Indiana’s 6-foot-10 Aaron Slegers had an unobstructed view of what the Hoosiers needed in their loser-leave-town matchup: a win.

2013 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Game 9: Oregon State 1, Indiana 0
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Cross: Oregon State's Boyd nabs win
Game 8: UCLA: 2, NC State 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Berg nearly unhittable vs. NC State
Game 7: North Carolina 4, LSU 2
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Coming through when it counts
Game 6: Mississippi St. 5, Indiana 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Porter steps up for Bulldogs
Game 5: Oregon State 11, Louisville 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Beavers’ big inning pays off
Game 4: UCLA 2, LSU 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: UCLA makes opportunities vs. LSU
Game 3: NC State 8, North Carolina 1
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Rodon dominant vs. Tar Heels
Game 2: Indiana 2, Louisville 0
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: DeNato delivers on big stage
Game 1: Mississippi St. 5, Oregon St. 4
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Pen mighty in Bulldogs' win
Previews
Teams get pumped up | Poppe retires
Eight players to watch | Team tidbits
Darkhorse picks | Favorites to lose
Brackets: Interactive | Printable
More: Scoreboard | CWS Info | History
Watch DI College Baseball Videos
Going to Omaha? Get your tickets now

Thus the stage was set with two All-Americans dueling to help advance their team to a Friday matchup against Mississippi State.

In the end, the 1-0 win was Oregon State’s 12th shutout -- tied with Rice for the most in the NCAA -- as Boyd posted the 81st complete-game shutout in CWS history.

“Entertainment value, I think it was off the charts,” IU coach Tracy Smith said. “It’s just one of those where you had two guys who were on [Wednesday night] and both of them throwing extremely well. And unfortunately we came out on the wrong end of that.”

Oregon State went on the offensive from the jump, putting the lead-off hitter on base in the first and second innings and had a runner in scoring position with one out in both frames. In the third, Slegers yielded a two-out double and issued an intentional base on balls -- and again worked out of the jam with no damage.

Despite having its opportunities, Oregon State was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position with five runners left on base through three innings.

“I tried to focus not on the scoreboard, just making pitches,” Boyd said. “With the game 0-0 or 1-0, the score shouldn’t matter or dictate how you pitch -- still go after guys, try to get ahead and just get outs. The whole game that was my focus, just really trying not to focus on the score, just making pitches, focus on one pitch at a time.”

However, the pressure was mounting on redshirt sophomore Slegers. Indiana’s hitters were having a tough time solving Oregon State’s Boyd, who had six strikeouts through three innings, including five consecutive -- the Nos. 4-8 batters. Boyd faced the minimum through three, thanks to two pickoffs of IU baserunners.

Oregon State kept pecking away in the fourth inning, again getting on its lead-off batter, Kavin Keyes. Ryan Barnes followed with a double down the third-base line to put runners at second and third with none out. A sacrifice fly to right by Jake Rodriguez plated Keyes to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead.

“When you know the guy on the other side is throwing well, it gives you a little bit more motivation to make those pitches because you know runs are going to be at a premium,” Slegers said.

“Looking back on this game, a lot of plays were made behind me...I just tried to do my part to get the win.”

Meanwhile, the Beavers’ lefty was keeping Indiana at bay. Boyd, a senior who was a Pac-12 all-conference selection, retired the side in order in the fourth. He gave up back-to-back one-out singles in the fifth -- the first hits allowed by Boyd through 4.1 innings -- before escaping unscathed. In the sixth, IU got its leadoff batter on, but that potential rally was snuffed out by an inning-ending double play.

Slegers continued to keep Indiana in the ballgame, facing the minimum in the fifth and sixth innings. Boyd responded with another 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, the sixth frame in which he had faced the minimum. However, Slegers (9-2) again came out dealing in the eighth, setting down Oregon State in order, the last two outs via swing-and-miss strikeouts.

In the home-half of the eighth inning, IU managed to get one runner on but Boyd dashed the Hoosiers’ hopes by retiring the next two batters to set up a dramatic ninth inning that carried the hopes of two teams.

Slegers’ 101st pitch was a strike to Oregon State’s Danny Hayes and the at-bat ended with a swinging K. Three batters later, IU was coming off the field and looking to do something, anything, to not only reward Slegers’ season-high 116-pitch effort on the biggest stage of his career but to extend its season, if only for another inning.

Like clockwork, Boyd (11-4) got two quick outs before Sam Travis reached on a soft single to right. With the Hoosiers’ season on the line, Nick Ramos bounced out to third and with the putout, Oregon State pocketed its eighth consecutive victory in CWS elimination games.

Boyd threw 126 pitches and Oregon State coach Pat Casey was looking to go the distance with Boyd -- to a point.

“It would be hard to take Matty out in that situation. As well as he was pitching, we were going to win or lose with him on the mound.”

Boyd’s gem was the first shutout tossed this season against Indiana, which ended its season 49-16. He allowed only four hits, walked three and fanned 11. Indiana struck out 25 times in its two CWS losses.

“My curveball and slider were working very well [Wednesday],” Boyd said, “and being able to put it on both sides of the plate and get ahead with it early down in the zone opened up both sides of the plate for my other pitches as well.”

Slegers’ line was similarly impressive as he yielded seven hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out five.

The last CWS game to feature complete games by the starting pitchers was on June 19, 2006, when North Carolina’s Robert Woodard blanked Clemson’s Stephen Faris in the Tar Heels’ 2-0 victory.

The Beavers’ victory was the 18th 1-0 game in College World Series annals and the first 1-0 CWS game since 1985, when Arkansas shut out South Carolina in 14 innings. It was the first nine-inning, 1-0 game since 1977.

Indiana was the first Big Ten team to advance to Omaha since Michigan in 1984 and Smith said despite going 0-2 that the CWS was a learning process for the Hoosiers program.

“Until you’re [in Omaha] and experience it, it’s kind of what you see on TV," Smith said. "I’m stubborn enough where I’m not going to come out and sit and watch it. I’m not going to watch everybody else have fun.

“I think it was important for our guys to see it. It was definitely important for me to see it. We’ve seen the blueprint. We know what areas we need to improve on. We know what it takes to get here. You’ve gotta be darned good.”

OMAHA, Neb. -- Matt Boyd pitched a four-hitter and struck out 11 and Oregon State made a fourth-inning sacrifice fly stand for a 1-0 victory against Indiana in the College World Series on Wednesday night.

The Beavers (52-12) won the first 1-0 game at the CWS since 1985. They now face Mississippi State on Friday, needing to beat the Bulldogs twice to reach next week's finals.

The Hoosiers (49-16) went 1-2 in their first CWS appearance. Indiana's Aaron Slegers allowed seven hits in his first career complete game.

Boyd, who pitched his fourth complete game and third shutout this season, flummoxed the Hoosiers with his mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches. He faced the minimum through four innings. He held the Hoosiers hitless until Michael Basil looped a ball into short-right field in the fifth. Basil moved to second on Dustin DeMuth's bunt single, but no Hoosiers runner advanced farther.

The Beavers scored in the fourth when Kavin Keyes singled, went to third on Ryan Barnes' double and came home on Jake Rodriguez's sacrifice fly to right.

Boyd earned his first win in five starts since May 10 against Stanford. He had a loss and three no-decisions in between.

The Beavers played error-free defense behind Boyd, picked off runners in the first and third innings and turned a double play in the sixth.

Boyd, who was drafted in the sixth round by Toronto, took the loss in that game, allowing a run on two hits in an inning of relief of Andrew Moore.

Big Ten champion Indiana was the first team from the conference to make it to the CWS since Michigan in 1984. The Hoosiers were the first from the Big Ten to win a game here since the Wolverines beat Stanford in 1983.

But they struggled offensively, particularly against left-handed pitching, after batting .309, averaging 9.4 runs and hitting six home runs in their first five tournament games. The Hoosiers batted .211 and scored a total of six runs in three CWS games.

Oregon State 1, Indiana 0

Matt Boyd | Oregon State | P Oregon State starting pitcher Matt Boyd continued a streak of excellent starting performances at the 2013 College World Series. Boyd pitched a complete-game shutout while striking out 11 and allowing just four hits and three walks. Boyd threw 121 pitches and faced the minimum in six of the first seven innings thanks to two pick-offs. Boyd wasn't the only pitcher to throw a gem Wednesday night as IU's Aaron Slegers also tossed a complete game. The last CWS game to feature two complete games was on June 19, 2006 when UNC's Robert Woodard and Clemson's Stephen Faris locked up in a in a 2-0 Tar Heel victory.

"I hope we get some respect. But it's one of those things; this thing seemed so far off for our program. Here people talk about it. Until you're there and experience it it's kind of what you see on TV and I'm stubborn enough where I'm not going to come out and sit and watch it. I'm not going to watch everybody else have fun. I think it was important for our guys to see it. It was definitely important for me to see it." -- Indiana head coach Tracy Smith Speaking about how important it was for his program to make it to Omaha

Oregon State's Matt Boyd pitched a complete game against Indiana, helping the Beavers earn the first 1-0 CWS win since 1985.

USA TODAY Sports Imgaes

Lefthander Matt Boyd knew that elimination loomed for Oregon State against Indiana on Wednesday in Game 9 of the College World Series.
   
Across the diamond, in the third-base dugout, Indiana’s 6-foot-10 Aaron Slegers had an unobstructed view of what the Hoosiers needed in their loser-leave-town matchup: a win.

• Complete Story

Oregon State survives to play against Mississippi State at 3 p.m. ET on Friday. The Beavers will need to beat the Bulldogs twice -- Friday and Saturday -- to get to the CWS championship series. OSU dropped the first matchup with MSU 5-4 in Game 1 of the CWS.

Indiana becomes the third team eliminated from the 2013 College World Series. The Hoosiers finish the season with a record of 49-16 -- the most wins in the program's history.

INDIANA (49-15) vs. OREGON STATE (51-12) 8 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)  |  TD Ameritrade Park  |  Omaha, Neb. Announcers: Mike Patrick, Orel Hershiser, Jessica Mendoza Series History: Oregon State leads 1-0 Last: Feb. 27, 2011 (OSU 7-5) Recap Game Details  Scoreboard  Watch  Listen  Brackets: Interactive  CWS
Notes | Roster | Schedule Stats: Season | Postseason	Notes | Roster | Schedule Stats: Season | Postseason
Follow IU Baseball:  @IUBaseballNews	Follow OSU Baseball:  @Beaver_Baseball

NCAA.com is covering the College World Series from the first pitch to the last out with Doug Kroll and Duane Cross on the ground. Refresh this page often to follow the action with our view of the game, including analysis, social media, statistics and photo galleries:

B9: Indiana will have the top of the order up: Sujka, Schwarber and Travis -- if there was ever a time ... And Sujka strikes out looking on a 3-2 pitch for Boyd's 11th strikeout. That's one out ... Schwarber gets ahold of a ball to right center but that ball didn't stand a chance in this park. That's two outs ... Travis bloops one to RF for a hit on the first pitch he sees from Boyd. Tim O'Conner comes in to pinch run ... Ramos grounds out to third to end it ... It's the first 1-0 game at the CWS since 1985 when Arkansas beat South Carolina in 14 innings. It's the first 1-0 CWS game that went nine innings since 1977 when Cal State L.A. beat Clemson ... Matt Boyd gets the win and moves to 11-4 while Aaron Slegers falls to 9-2 in a game that lasted 2:49 ... Oregon State wins 1-0.

T9: Tonight's attendance at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha -- 26,035 bringing the total to 218,109 which is approx. 19,000 ahead of last year with an average of 24,234 fans. Awesome numbers ... After Slegers gets the first two outs in the ninth, Ryan Barnes legs out an infield single on a slow roller to 3B as OSU looks to tack on a run ... In case you're wondering -- there is no action in the Beavers' bullpen ... And Slegers strikes out Jake Rodriguez to end the top of the ninth. Slegers' nine innings pitched is a season-high and so are his 116 pitches. This would be one of the more tough-luck losses in CWS history if his team doesn't get him off the hook in the bottom half.

B8: Indiana has the tying run on after a Casey Smith single with one out. Will Nolden comes in to pinch run at first and Chad Clark comes up -- he's 0-for-2 tonight ... Make that 0-for-3 as he lines out to CF. It's left to Justin Cureton who has walked in both plate appearances tonight ... Cureton goes down swinging for the third out of the inning -- Boyd's 10th strikeout of the night. He's at 108 pitches as we go to the ninth inning.

T8: A lot is going to be made about Matt Boyd's performance for Oregon State but Indiana's Aaron Slegers has been tremendous for IU. His last pitch was his 100th as he struck out the two toughest batters in the OSU order to end the inning -- Conforto and Davis. Slegers has allowed six hits and struck out three through eight but his team trails by a run as they come up in the bottom half.

2013 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Game 9: Oregon State 1, Indiana 0
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Cross: Oregon State's Boyd nabs win
Game 8: UCLA: 2, NC State 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Berg nearly unhittable vs. NC State
Game 7: North Carolina 4, LSU 2
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Coming through when it counts
Game 6: Mississippi St. 5, Indiana 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Porter steps up for Bulldogs
Game 5: Oregon State 11, Louisville 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Beavers’ big inning pays off
Game 4: UCLA 2, LSU 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: UCLA makes opportunities vs. LSU
Game 3: NC State 8, North Carolina 1
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Rodon dominant vs. Tar Heels
Game 2: Indiana 2, Louisville 0
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: DeNato delivers on big stage
Game 1: Mississippi St. 5, Oregon St. 4
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Pen mighty in Bulldogs' win
Previews
Teams get pumped up | Poppe retires
Eight players to watch | Team tidbits
Darkhorse picks | Favorites to lose
Brackets: Interactive | Printable
More: Scoreboard | CWS Info | History
Watch DI College Baseball Videos
Going to Omaha? Get your tickets now

B7: Indiana head coach Tracy Smith takes out his cleanup hitter and RBI leader Scott Donley as he pinch hits Nick Ramos -- who has five homers in 90 ABs this year. But Ramos grounds back to the pitcher and doesn't even run it out. Odd. Very odd. Ramos was a righty to go up against the lefty Boyd but still ... no one is touching him -- righties or lefties. We go to the eighth now, OSU still leads 1-0.

T7: Jeff Hendrix reaches on an infield single to shortstop to break up Slegers stretch of 10 in a row set down. Now we go to the top of the order with Tyler Smith ... And a fantastic 6-4-3 double play turned by the Hoosiers -- Michael Basil flipped it to Chad Clark who fired to first in time to get the speedy Smith to end the inning.

B6: Cureton starts the sixth in good fashion drawing his second walk of the game ... Sidenote: no wonder why Boyd has picked off two guys. As he throws over to first to check in on Cureton, he is awfully close to a balk. But aren't all lefties? Anyway, Chris Sujka can't get a bunt down and flies out to RF after the count moved to 0-2. They needed that ... Here's Schwarber ... Wow, Boyd gets IU's best hitter to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. Moving right along as we go to the seventh, 1-0 Oregon State.

T6: Slegers has settled in nicely for Indiana as he gets his second 1-2-3 inning in a row. That's now nine in a row set down by the big righty who sits at 79 pitches through six.

B5: Much like another lefty earlier in the CWS -- Carlos Rodon -- Boyd loses his no-hitter in the fifth inning as Basil knocks one through the right side with a bloop single ... DeMuth follows with a bunt single. Two Hoosiers on for the first time tonight ... The threat ends as Boyd gets Casey Smith to pop up weakly to third. Done with five innings and OSU leads 1-0.

T5: More from the "Ouch Stat" department -- Indiana entered the CWS striking out fewer than six times per game, but has now K'd 34 times in 22 innings in Omaha. Slegers tosses his first 1-2-3 inning of the night as he gets the middle of the Beavers' lineup. Let's see if Indiana can finally get to Boyd as they'll have Donley, Basil and DeMuth due up.

B4: Indiana goes quietly once again as Boyd strikes out his seventh batter of the game. He's at 60 pitches -- 34 for strikes ... Some of the media following Indiana joked when they put the ball in play that inning -- albeit weakly -- that it was "baby steps." We agree.

T4: Oregon State gets another leadoff hit from Kavin Keyes and Ryan Barnes follows with a ringing double down the LF line. Second and third with nobody out for Jake Rodriguez ... OSU's catcher lifts one to RF that is just deep enough to score Keyes and give the Beavers a 1-0 lead. Barnes moves up to third on the play. It's not a hit with RISP but it at least gives them a lead ... But the Beavers move to 0-for-7 with RISP as Hendrix and Smith can't get Barnes in ... 1-0 Oregon State.

B3: Boyd is rolling. Four strikeouts in a row for Oregon State's starter as he gets Casey Smith to lead off the inning. Remember that Indiana struck out 14 times against Mississippi State in its last game and head coach Tracy Smith was really upset with the team's approach at the plate. So far, nothing to change it so far ... Make it five strikeouts in a row and six overall as Chad Clark goes down swinging ... Justin Cureton ends the streak as he draws the Hoosiers' second walk of the game with two outs ... Boyd is still facing the minimum through three despite two walks as he picks off his second runner to end the inning. It's the same way the first ended.

T3: We've talked a little bit about the struggles of the hitters here in Omaha this year -- especially with runners in scoring position. With their 0-for-4 today, the Beavers are just 6-for-35 with RISP in Omaha. Yuck ... Tyler Smith pops out to start the inning and Andy Peterson follows by doing the same. Michael Conforto coming up with two outs and nobody on ... When you're hot, you're hot as Conforto bloops one down the LF line for a double -- he's now 7-for-10 in the CWS ... Slegers intentionally walks Dylan Davis for the second time in the game to face Danny Hayes. It worked the first time ... And it works the second time as Hayes flies out the other way to LF to end the inning. We're up to 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position for OSU today.

B2: Matt Boyd ends the streak of leadoff men getting on at three as he strikes out Scott Donley to start the inning. Michael Basil follows with a strikeout. Boyd has struck out three of the five batters he's faced ... Make that four of the first six batters have K'd as Dustin DeMuth goes down swinging as well. Boyd looking dominant early as we go to the third.

T2: We're 3-for-3 for leadoff men getting on as Kavin Keyes lines a base hit to LF. We've seen a ton of guys reach base in the first at bat of an inning and a bunch of guy sleft on in this CWS. So far, the trend has continued tonight. Ryan Barnes -- second on the team in sac bunts -- puts the ball in play on a hit and run instead and gets Keyes over to 2B as he grounds out to the right side. We saw the sacrifice in the first inning but Pat Casey switches things up her ein the second. OSU went 0-for-2 with a runner in scoring position in the first, let's see what they can do with a couple more cracks. Jake Rodriguez is up and is a .263 hitter in this spot this season ... Rodriguez strikes out and wouldn't you know it? The inning is left in the hands of Jeff Hendrix -- the freshman with just 24 AB's this season who was inserted into the lineup right before first pitch ... Hendrix lines out softly to RF and Casey Smith and Chad Clark collide on the play. Both get up and we go to the bottom of the second ... OSU already 0-for-4 with RISP.

B1: Chris Sujka ledas off with a walk for Indiana. Sujka is playing LF tonight after pinch hitting on Monday. This is only his 20th start of the season ... Big out by Boyd as he gets IU's biggest bat in Kyle Schwarber swinging. Still needs to get through Sam Travis and possibly Scott Donley with one out. Not out of the woods yet ... Oregon State almost gets out of it on one swing as Travis lifted a ball to RF with Sujka running on the pitch that Dylan Davis caught. Sujka got back in time but with a good throw, he probably would'v ebeen out. Two outs for Donley ... And Donley is left at the plate as Sujka gets picked off. No score after one.

T1: Tyler Smith gets things started for Oregon State with a base hit to CF. Tough sun right now in the OF and Indiana CF Justin Cureton can really go get 'em out there but he didn't stand a chance to get to that bloop ... Andy Peterson follows with a sac bunt to move Smith up to second. For Peterson, that's his 21st sacrifice of the season. The Beavers are playing for an early lead against Slegers ... Indiana's lanky righty gets Michael Conforto -- a huge out in the OSU lineup -- and now will intentionally walk the other big bopper, Dylan Davis. Runners on the corners with two outs for Danny Hayes ... Slegers gets Hayes on a pop up to SS to end the inning. Hoosiers coming up in the first.

Pregame: Not sure if I've ever seen this before. The top three batters in the Beavers' lineup are hitting .335. Random. Odd. Awesome. All in one.

Pregame: A late lineup change for Oregon State as Max Gordon is replaced in the nine-hole by Jeff Hendrix and will play CF. For Hendrix, it's only his fourth start of the season. No reason why yet. The weather for tonight: it's 87 degrees with partly cloudy skies. It's by far the windiest day so far, gusting to 25 mph and in from CF -- which should knock some more fly balls down.

Pregame: The first single-game day is upon us as we are set for baseball at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha with Indiana and Oregon State meeting in an elimination game. The starting pitchers tonight: for Oregon State, it'll be lefty Matt Boyd (10-4, 2.18) while Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Aaron Slegers (9-1, 2.13) gets the ball for Indiana. If you watched the Beavers' first game in Omaha, you'll remember Boyd's name after he came in to the game in the eighth inning. He ended up throwing 1.0 inning and picking up the loss against Mississippi State. As for Slegers, he's 6-foot-10 and last threw against Florida State in the super regional. He lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed nine hits, five runs (three earned) in a no-decision.

Heading into Monday’s game, the Hoosiers were 43-1 when leading after seven innings, but Mississippi State’s three-run eighth dropped IU’s record to 43-2. ... The Hoosiers struck out a season-high 14 times against the Bulldogs. The team's previous high was 11 (twice) at Georgia Southern (Feb. 22) and vs. Northwestern (May 10). ... Casey Smith has driven in at least one run in five of Indiana's seven NCAA tournament games. Smith knocked in a run Monday with a second-inning single.

The Beavers are now 46-28 in the program’s postseason history and head coach Pat Casey owns 41 of those wins. Casey is 12-5 in the CWS, owning all of OSU’s CWS wins. ... After going 4-for-4 with a walk on Saturday, Conforto went 2-for-4 with a walk against Louisville. His CWS batting average improved to .750 and his on-base percentage increased to .800. ... Oregon State’s 11 runs scored are the second most it has scored in a CWS game. The most the Beavers scored in a single game was 12 vs. Arizona State on June 18, 2007.

IU fans getting a little antsy!

Some Big Ten humor ...

It hasn't worked yet for the Beavers but they have tried ...

Oregon State head coach Pat Casey is set for tonight's game

OMAHA, Neb. -- In the three days since winning the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, UCLA sophomore David Berg has proven -- twice -- he is incredibly worthy of the honor.

Berg, a right-handed submariner, shut down NC State’s comeback bid in the last two innings en route to the Bruins’ 2-1 victory in the College World Series on Tuesday -- two days after tossing a scoreless inning of relief in a 2-1 win against LSU.

2013 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Game 9: Oregon State 1, Indiana 0
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Cross: Oregon State's Boyd nabs win
Game 8: UCLA: 2, NC State 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Berg nearly unhittable vs. NC State
Game 7: North Carolina 4, LSU 2
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Coming through when it counts
Game 6: Mississippi St. 5, Indiana 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Porter steps up for Bulldogs
Game 5: Oregon State 11, Louisville 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Beavers’ big inning pays off
Game 4: UCLA 2, LSU 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: UCLA makes opportunities vs. LSU
Game 3: NC State 8, North Carolina 1
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Rodon dominant vs. Tar Heels
Game 2: Indiana 2, Louisville 0
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: DeNato delivers on big stage
Game 1: Mississippi St. 5, Oregon St. 4
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Pen mighty in Bulldogs' win
Previews
Teams get pumped up | Poppe retires
Eight players to watch | Team tidbits
Darkhorse picks | Favorites to lose
Brackets: Interactive | Printable
More: Scoreboard | CWS Info | History
Watch DI College Baseball Videos
Going to Omaha? Get your tickets now

After entering the game in the eighth with a runner on base, Berg tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters to earn his 23rd save of the year, tying an NCAA single-season record. 

It wasn’t easy, though. Berg hit the first batter he faced to put two runners on with no outs, but fielded a Logan Ratledge bunt and got a force out at third base. NC State’s Trea Turner drove a deep fly ball to the warning track in left center, but defensive substitute Christoph Bono ran it down and Jake Fincher ended the threat by striking out.

“I knew [Turner] got a good swing off on it,” Berg said. “I wasn't quite sure how well he hit it. I kind of watched it. My heart sunk a little bit. I knew it was a bad pitch and he's a good hitter. Those combinations, not very many good things happen. Luckily, Christoph went out and made a great play for me and I was able to get out of that inning.”

In the ninth inning, the Wolfpack singled a runner on base, but Berg went on to strike out the final two batters, Grant Clyde and Brett Williams, on six pitches. 

“As hitters, we knew if we went into the eighth or ninth down a couple of runs with David Berg in the pen, it's making life a lot tougher than what it would be,” Clyde said. 

The closer’s consistency has helped the Bruins compile a 38-0 record when leading after seven innings and a 17-2 mark in one-run games. 

“Obviously, Berg's Berg and he's a stud,” Turner said. “He didn't miss many spots either … threw a couple of balls. His stuff was about unhittable because it sinks so much. They both did a great job and they came out on top.”

Berg, a former walk-on who was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, has pitched in each of the Bruins’ seven NCAA postseason games, posting a 1-0 record, 1.74 ERA and five saves in 10.1 innings. It was the third time in UCLA’s last four games he has entered the game before the ninth inning.

“He has thrown some two- or three-inning saves we don't really like to do that,” UCLA head coach John Savage said. “But with a couple of days off we went to him a little earlier. We tried to sneak another out or two without using him and hit the first pitch for a base hit in the eighth. What can you say? I mean, we would never be here without him. So we're going to go down with him.”

Berg has appeared in 14 consecutive NCAA tournament games for the Bruins.

“He's starting to become a pretty experienced guy for how young he is,” Savage said. “He can handle big moments. And I think [Tuesday] was as big a moment as you're going to see in Omaha.”

OMAHA, Neb. -- Nick Vander Tuig scattered four hits during seven-plus innings and UCLA produced just enough offense to defeat NC State 2-1 in the College World Series on Tuesday night.

UCLA (46-17) moved within one victory of next week's best-of-three finals. The Wolfpack (50-15) will play an elimination game against North Carolina on Thursday.

2013 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Game 9: Oregon State 1, Indiana 0
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Cross: Oregon State's Boyd nabs win
Game 8: UCLA: 2, NC State 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Berg nearly unhittable vs. NC State
Game 7: North Carolina 4, LSU 2
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Coming through when it counts
Game 6: Mississippi St. 5, Indiana 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Porter steps up for Bulldogs
Game 5: Oregon State 11, Louisville 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Beavers’ big inning pays off
Game 4: UCLA 2, LSU 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: UCLA makes opportunities vs. LSU
Game 3: NC State 8, North Carolina 1
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Rodon dominant vs. Tar Heels
Game 2: Indiana 2, Louisville 0
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: DeNato delivers on big stage
Game 1: Mississippi St. 5, Oregon St. 4
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Pen mighty in Bulldogs' win
Previews
Teams get pumped up | Poppe retires
Eight players to watch | Team tidbits
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UCLA used two walks, two singles and a wild pitch to scratch out a couple runs and go up 2-1 in the fifth. Two innings before, Vander Tuig tagged out a runner at the plate to keep the Wolfpack from adding to a 1-0 lead.

Vander Tuig (13-4) retired 13 of 14 batters heading into the eighth inning. David Berg came on after Vander Tuig gave up a leadoff single to Bryan Adametz. Berg worked out of trouble in the eighth and earned his NCAA record-tying 23rd save.

NC State starter Logan Jernigan (1-1) took the loss.

UCLA opened the CWS with a 2-1 victory against LSU and now is 17-2 in one-run games.

"It's Bruin baseball," coach John Savage said. "Sometimes it's grueling, and it's tough to watch, I'm sure. Our kids hung in there. We were opportunistic. It's like walking a tight rope, that's for sure."

The Bruins' four runs in two CWS games are the fewest by a team that won its first two games in Omaha in the metal-bat era. The previous record was six by Eastern Michigan in 1976 and South Carolina in 1977.

Jernigan allowed two hits through four innings, but couldn't get out of the fifth. Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent called on lefty Grant Sasser after Jernigan gave up a single and two walks to load the bases.

Kevin Kramer delivered the tying single. With the bases still loaded, Sasser's changeup bounced away from catcher Brent Austin, and Brenton Allen scored from third to put UCLA up 2-1.

"It's more a mentality for us, taking advantage of opportunities," Kramer said. "We're not going to put up any gaudy numbers. It does get a little frustrating at times, but when you have great pitchers like this, we know we can put up a couple of runs and play defense because we know these guys will take us a long way."

Vander Tuig set down the first six batters, but the Wolfpack had runners at second and third with one out in third after he hit Adametz and Jake Armstrong singled. Trea Turner singled to drive in Adametz. Armstrong tried to come around from second when Allen's high throw from left sailed to the backstop. Catcher Shane Zeile ran down the ball and flung it back to the plate, where the covering Vander Tuig tagged out Armstrong.

The Wolfpack threatened against Berg in the eighth. He hit the first batter he faced to put two runners on base, but No. 9 hitter Logan Ratledge couldn't get a good sacrifice bunt down to move them over. Berg threw to third to get an out.

That brought up Turner, who launched a deep fly that left fielder Christoph Bono, who entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh, had to go to the warning track to catch over his right shoulder. Berg struck out Jake Fincher on three pitches, then struck out the last two batters in the ninth to end the game.

"UCLA's going to give you absolutely nothing, and they didn't,'' Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent said. ''We fought hard. We played hard. We played pretty well. Their pitcher kept hitting the spots."

"That's about as good as I can hit a ball right now,'' Turner said. ''Unfortunately, it fell a few feet short. That could have been the difference in the game."

UCLA 2, NC State 1

Nick Vander Tuig | UCLA | P UCLA's starting pitcher picked up right where Adam Plutko left off on Sunday against LSU by shutting down the NC State lineup on Tuesday night. The righty worked 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits and one run while striking out six batters and walking none. The Bruins are now 13-5 when Nick Vander Tuig starts. He has started six postseason games in his career, moving into second in the UCLA record book behind Adam Plutko (7). His nine career postseason appearances are second only to Berg.

"Right now I guess that's who we are. I mean, it's Bruins baseball. Sometimes it's grueling, it's tough to watch, I'm sure, from outside the dugout. But our kids hung in there and they persevered. We really didn't do much offensively. And we were opportunistic, would be the right word, I guess. And pitching and defense, I think, is clearly our strength. Our guys know our strength, and sometimes it's walking a tightrope. That's for sure. And [Tuesday] was one of those nights." -- UCLA head coach John Savage Speaking about the way his Bruins team has played here in Omaha

David Berg shut down NC State’s comeback bid to earn his 23rd save of the year, tying an NCAA single-season record.

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Berg, a right-handed submariner, shut down NC State’s comeback bid in the last two innings en route to the Bruins’ 2-1 victory in the College World Series on Tuesday.

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NC State will play North Carolina in an elimination game at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. The Wolfpack beat the Tar Heels 8-1 in their first game played in the College World Series on Sunday. The loser will be the fourth team eliminated from the CWS.

UCLA will not play again until Friday when the Bruins take on the winner of Thursday's NC State vs. North Carolina game at 8 p.m. ET.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Wherever North Carolina head coach Mike Fox plugs junior Brian Holberton into the line-up he’s likely to make a contribution. On Tuesday afternoon, Holberton did just that, blasting a first-inning, two-run homer to spark UNC to a 4-2 victory against LSU as the Tar Heels staved off elimination in the College World Series.

“I thought the home run by Brian, though, was really crucial for us, just kind of let the air out a little bit and playing with a lead, something we seemed to haven't done in a while,” Fox said. 

“When I got up there I was thinking if [LSU pitcher Cody Glenn] throws one he's gotta try to pull it because he's going to run in on your hands and that's exactly what he did,” Holberton said. “I swung over I think it was the second strike and after that I just stepped out, I told myself he's going to try to throw a two-seamer in here and don't get beat in. He threw it in and put a good swing on it.”

2013 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Game 9: Oregon State 1, Indiana 0
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Cross: Oregon State's Boyd nabs win
Game 8: UCLA: 2, NC State 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Berg nearly unhittable vs. NC State
Game 7: North Carolina 4, LSU 2
Wrap-Up | Analysis |Highlights |Box
Farnum: Coming through when it counts
Game 6: Mississippi St. 5, Indiana 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Porter steps up for Bulldogs
Game 5: Oregon State 11, Louisville 4
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Beavers’ big inning pays off
Game 4: UCLA 2, LSU 1
Wrap-Up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: UCLA makes opportunities vs. LSU
Game 3: NC State 8, North Carolina 1
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Rodon dominant vs. Tar Heels
Game 2: Indiana 2, Louisville 0
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: DeNato delivers on big stage
Game 1: Mississippi St. 5, Oregon St. 4
Wrap-up | Analysis | Highlights | Box
Farnum: Pen mighty in Bulldogs' win
Previews
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It was Holberton’s second in this year’s NCAA tournament and 12th of the season. His last round-tripper was also in an elimination game when the Tar Heels topped South Carolina in the NCAA Super Regional on June. 11. Holberton now has 58 RBI and 15 multi-RBI games this year, and has recorded a team-best 17 RBI in the last 13 games.

The home run -- the second of this year’s CWS -- set the tone for the Tar Heels, and UNC freshman pitcher Trent Thornton reaped the rewards as he held the Tigers to two runs. LSU had entered the CWS averaging 6.5 runs per game.

“It's always good to get a lead early in the game and when you get a lead early, need to focus and know that just don't give up any runs and you'll win the game,” Thornton said. “It's just a confidence booster, because you've got your team's back.”

In Sunday’s game against NC State, Holberton batted in the seven-hole and collected two of the Tar Heels’ five hits, including one that broke up left-hander Carlos Rodon’s no-hit bid in the fifth inning. Against the Tigers, Fox moved Holberton up to cleanup spot for the LSU game -- a spot he where he had success when Skye Bolt was out with a broken foot in the middle of the season.

“It made the move look good but it wasn't me,” Fox said. “Brian's been in that position before. We felt we needed to move some things around a little bit and really we did think about that. Having Brian in there can do a lot of things for us -- not just home run -- but he can hit and he can bunt and he can do a lot of things for us. It paid off [Tuesday]. He did well.”

Holberton added a single in the third inning to up his hit total to 15 for the NCAA tournament as well as a sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning helped manufacture UNC’s fourth run of the contest. He is batting .441 (15-for-34) with nine RBI in nine NCAA postseason games. 

A native of Charlotte, N.C., he has also shown his defensive versatility during the season. He has started at catcher in the last five games since regular starter Matt Roberts suffered a broken hand against Florida Atlantic, and is errorless in the NCAA postseason. For the majority of the year, Holberton had played left or right field and entered the CWS with only eight starts at catcher. 

With the win against the Tigers, North Carolina improved to 11-0 after a loss and Holberton has been an integral part of the Tar Heels’ survival in postseason play.

“It goes to show the whole team doesn't want to give up,” Holberton said. “We've done it all year, with our backs against the wall, just come out fighting. And I think we played better that way. And we're a team that just doesn't want to lose. We just want to keep going.”