Arizona tops Cowboys, forces CWS bracket final rematch

OMAHA, Neb. — For the first time in a long time, Oklahoma State’s pitching looked vulnerable.

Arizona collected 14 hits Friday against what had been the best pitching staff in the NCAA Tournament and defeated the Cowboys 9-3 to stay alive in the College World Series.

The Wildcats forced a Saturday rematch, with the winner advancing to the best-of-three finals beginning Monday.

Oklahoma State beat Arizona 1-0 on a three-hitter this past Monday. The win Friday improved the Wildcats to 5-0 in elimination games in the national tournament.

“All year we’ve been counted out, picked to finish 10th or ninth in the Pac-12, not even supposed to come out of a regional,” outfielder Zach Gibbons said. “I feel like when we get on the field, we have to prove everyone wrong
almost. We’re going to go out and grind. And if they get us, they’re going to get us at our best.”

Nathan Bannister and two relievers pitched a four-hitter for the Wildcats. Bannister was dominant until he had to leave with an arm injury with two outs in the third inning.

Bannister, who has pitched a nation-leading 142 1/3 innings, was starting his fifth game of the NCAA Tournament. He allowed one run in eight innings of Arizona’s 5-1 victory over Miami last Saturday.

He struck out five of the first eight batters he faced Friday. After he walked Collin Theroux, coach Jay Johnson, pitching coach Dave Lawn and an athletic trainer went to the mound. Bannister threw a couple of warmup pitches, then walked to the dugout, tipping his cap to Wildcats fans.

“He felt something uncomfortable that he felt three summers ago when he was in the Cape Cod League,” Johnson said. “He said it was just a little bit tight, a little bit tired, like there was nothing on the ball.”

Johnson said Bannister will get evaluated further, but the coach is optimistic the injury isn’t serious.

Kevin Ginkel (5-1) and Cameron Ming held the Cowboys mostly in check after Bannister left. Jensen Elliott (9-3), who lasted two innings, took the loss.

JJ Matijevic and Gibbons had three hits apiece to lead Arizona (46-23). The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first on Matijevic’s RBI single, marking the first time the Cowboys (43-21) have trailed in the national tournament. Louis
Boyd doubled in a run and Gibbons had an RBI single in the second, and Gibbon’s sacrifice fly in the fourth made it 4-0.

The Cowboys won their first two CWS games by scores of 1-0 to reach the bracket final, and they had an 0.71 ERA through their first seven tournament games. When their starting pitching didn’t show up — it had allowed three runs in its previous 51 innings — the offense’s struggle in Omaha was magnified. Oklahoma State is batting .170 with five runs through three CWS games.

“That’s going to happen sometimes,” Oklahoma State’s Conor Costello said. “Up to this point, our pitching staff has been really, really great. We’re going to bounce back tomorrow. We’re not worried at all.”

Four of Arizona’s last five runs were unearned.

Costello tripled in a run and scored on a wild pitch in the fourth. After Dustin Williams’ single in the fourth, the Cowboys didn’t get another hit until Garrett Benge was credited with a double when left fielder Justin Behnke lost
the ball in the sun in the ninth.

“We’ll come out tomorrow and play better; that’s all there is to it,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said. “It’s a three-game series (with Arizona), which we’re accustomed to in college baseball. Tomorrow is Game 3. We’ll bounce back and be a better ballclub tomorrow.”

GIBBONS OVER 100 HITS

Gibbons leads the Wildcats with 17 hits in the NCAA Tournament, and he recorded his 100th of the season in the second inning. He leads Division I with 101.

TWO’S THE MAGIC NUMBER

Arizona is 25-1 when holding opponents to two runs or less.

UP NEXT

The teams meet again Saturday, with the winner advancing to the best-of-three finals starting Monday. Oklahoma State will send Thomas Hatch (9-2, 1.89 ERA) to the mound. Arizona hasn’t named a starter.