Trevor Larnach smacked a two-run homer to cap a three-run ninth as OSU rallied past Arkansas to win their fifth straight elimination game in Omaha and even their CWS Championship Series at one game apiece. The Beavers and the Razorbacks will play at 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday to decide the national championship. OSU trailed 3-2 heading to the ninth. Zak Taylor drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth and Zach Clayton pinch-ran at first. Andy Armstrong pinch-hit and put down a sacrifice bunt to first to advance Clayton to second. Nick Madrigal grounded out to first, moving Clayton to third. Cadyn Grenier popped a foul ball on the right side that fell untouched among three Arkansas defenders, prolonging the game. Grenier took advantage and singled through the left side to drive in Clayton with the tying run. Larnach lined a 2-0 pitch over the fence in right to give the Beavers a 5-3 lead. Jax Biggers had a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth for Arkansas before closer Jake Mulholland took over on the mound. He struck out Eric Cole looking and started a 1-4-3 double play to end the contest.
Arkansas struck first in the bottom of the second. Jared Gates was hit by a pitch with one away and came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Hogs an early 1-0 lead. Adley Rutschman homered in the top of the fourth as the Beavers tied it at 1-1. One inning later, Taylor had a one-out single and came home on a bunt to third by Grenier as OSU took a 2-1 edge. Arkansas answered in the bottom of the frame. Casey Martin singled with one away and moved to second on a base hit by Heston Kjerstad. Luke Bonfield singled to left to plate Martin with the tying run. With two away, Carson Shaddy had a base hit to left center to drive in Kjerstad, giving the Razorbacks a 3-2 advantage. The Beavers threatened in the sixth as Michael Gretler reached on an error and went to third on a single by Tyler Malone. Jack Anderson popped up a bunt and Gretler was doubled off third. A groundout by Taylor ended the threat. In the eighth, Rutschman had a leadoff single for OSU and was sacrificed to second by Gretler. Rutschman went to third on a passed ball. Matt Cronin fanned Malone and got Steven Kwan to fly out to left to keep it 3-2.