photo gallery by Craig Jackson
OMAHA, Neb. – Another close game, another walk-off win.
Drew Campbell had an RBI single to plate Danny Oriente with the game-winning run to cap a two-run bottom of the ninth as No. 7 Louisville rallied past No. 6 Mississippi State 4-3 Thursday evening in an elimination game in the 2019 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.
The Cardinals (51-17) will face second-seeded Vanderbilt on Friday at 6 p.m. UL must beat the Commodores on both Friday and Saturday to advance to the CWS Championship Series. The Bulldogs end their season at 52-15.
Of the 10 games played so far in the 2019 College World Series, all have been decided by three runs or less. There have been four one-run games, four two-run games, and a pair decided by three runs.
“We showed a lot of fight,” UL head coach Dan McDonnell said. “We didn’t play great, but we hung in there. There was a lot of belief in that dugout. They definitely felt like we had a chance. We just had to make it happen, and we were able to there late.”
UL trailed 3-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth. Jake Snider drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt at first. After not getting a bunt down, Oriente sent a single into center. Snider rounded third and dove head first into home. The home plate umpire appeared ready to punch out Snider, but saw the ball laying in the dirt and called Snider safe to tie the game at 3-3. Oriente moved to second on the throw.
“I was just trying to move the ball with two strikes,” Oriente said. “I wasn’t seeing the slider really well all night. So just trying to stay alive in the zone, hit anything that came in the zone, and it worked out.”
Campbell was also unsuccessful in getting a bunt down. He sent a base hit to right center, deep enough to drive in Oriente with the game-winning run.
“I think you can see a lot from our team in those two at-bats,” McDonnell said, “with Oriente and Campbell. We have two at-bats there where we don’t get the bunt down, but we talk about it all the time. If you don’t get the hit-and-run, you don’t get the bunt — you don’t execute and you’re still alive, win the at-bat. Show your toughness and win the at-bat. Those two at-bats by those two guys really showed our toughness tonight.”
MSU got on the board in the top of the fourth. Justin Foscue had a one-out single and scored on a two-out double by Rowdey Jordan. Gunner Halter followed with a single to plate Jordan and give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
JT Ginn tossed six scoreless innings for MSU with three hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
“I just tried to go out there and compete and make pitches when I needed to,” Ginn said, “and the defense played great behind me, and [catcher] Dustin Skelton called a hell of a game tonight,”
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the top of the seventh. Jake Mangum singled to give him a program-record 108 hits on the season, the top mark in Division I. Jordan Westburg singled to right to move Mangum to second. Tanner Allen had a base hit to center that brought home Mangum, making it 3-0.
UL responded in the bottom of the frame against reliever Jared Liebelt. Tyler Fitzgerald and Alex Binelas walked to start the inning. Snider had an infield single to short to load the bases. With one away, Campbell singled to left to drive in Fitzgerald with the first run for the Cards. Justin Lavey hit into a fielder’s choice and plated Binelas to make it a one-run game at 3-2.
The Cards looked like they might tie it in the eighth. Lucas Dunn had a leadoff single to start the inning. Logan Wyatt sent a base hit to center, advancing Dunn to second. Dunn rounded the bag and Mangum threw behind him, nailing him for the first out. After a wild pitch moved Wyatt to second, a flyout to center and a strikeout looking kept the Bulldogs up by one.
“Great college baseball game,” MSU skipper Chris Lemonis said. “Tip your hat to Louisville. They got a couple big hits there late. But really proud of our guys, the way they played, the way they have fought all year long. It’s just a tremendous group of kids that we just would never quit. That’s kind of how you had to beat us on the last swing, because our guys just have that never-die attitude.”
The game ended the outstanding career of Mangum.
“I’ve been very fortunate for the last four years,”
Mangum said. “God has been very, very good to me for those four years, and
they were the best four years of my life. Mississippi State baseball, it’s literally a part of me.. I hate it
ended this way, but it is what it is. I absolutely hate it for the guys. I
really do.”