Arkansas takes Game 1 of CWS Final, now one win away from its first CWS title
Arkansas took the first game of the best-of-three Championship Series over Oregon State. With that victory, Arkansas is one win away from the school’s first College World Series title.
Oregon State, the first team since the College World Series moved to TD Ameritrade Park to lose its opening game and reach the finals, put up the first run of the game in the second inning. Trevor Larnach hit a leadoff double to begin the inning, followed by a Tyler Malone single which put runners on the corners. Michael Gretler knocked in a single to give the Beavers a 1-0 advantage. With that, Gretler became the fifth Beaver on this year’s roster with at least 80 hits – the most in Oregon State history.
Controversy struck in the fourth inning when Oregon State was trying to build on their lead. Larnach began the inning with a double after Heston Kjerstad lost the ball in the sun, resulting in a ground-rule double. Later in the inning, with Larnach on third base and Adley Rutschman on first base, Malone grounded into a double-play that brought Larnach home from third, scoring the second run of the game for Oregon State… or so everyone thought. Rutschman would be called for interference, because he did not slide into second base on the play. This made the throw from Jax Biggers to first base much more difficult. With that, Malone and Rutschman were called out, Larnach was forced to return to third, and the run was taken away from the Beavers. Gretler would then strikeout to end the inning for Oregon State.
Blaine Knight, a third-round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles, consistently delivered for Arkansas. He threw for six innings, had seven strikeouts and gave up one earned run.
The top half of the next inning is where Arkansas made their move. After getting runners on the corners, Grant Koch hit an RBI-single to tie the game back at 1-1. Biggers was then hit by a pitch which loaded the bases for Arkansas; the following batter, Eric Cole, was also hit by a pitch that brought the go-ahead run in. After Nick Madrigal mishandled a ground ball the following play, Arkansas tacked on one more run before Oregon State switched to freshman reliever, Christian Chamberlain. Chamberlain would give up one unearned run in the fifth and Arkansas left the inning with a 4-1 lead over the Beavers.
Chamberlain had a career-day for Oregon State. In just 4.2 innings he had 11 strikeouts – a new career-high. Chamberlain tied Calvin Schiraldi, who had 11 strikeouts for Texas back in the 1983 College World Series, for most strikeouts by a relief pitcher during a College World Series game in the Aluminum Bat Era.
Chamberlain didn’t receive much help from the Oregon State bats, who have averaged over eight runs per game in this year’s College World Series. After the fourth inning controversy, the Beavers had four hits and no runs for the rest of the game. Arkansas would hold on to their 4-1 lead and take Game 1 of the Championship Series.
Grant Koch went 2-3 with an RBI for Arkansas, and Matt Cronin picked up his 14th save of the season, breaking the single-season record for the Razorbacks. Meanwhile Larnach had a pair of doubles, and Gretler had an RBI for Oregon State.
Game 2 of the Championship Series will be played at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Written by Matt Kirkle
