Game 1 - Oklahoma vs Pitt - Friday, March 1 2 p.m.
A barrage of scoring occurred in the opener at Las Vegas Ballpark, as the Pittsburgh Panthers run-ruled the Oklahoma Sooners 19-9 in seven innings. Fifteen total runs were scored in the first three innings with the Panthers maintaining a 9-6 lead.
Pitt capitalized the early output on Jake Kendro’s three-run blast in the third inning. The Panthers were not done, breaking the game open with an eight-run fifth to inch them closer to the run-rule. They sent 13 batters to the plate in that eventful inning and completed the victory with a walk-off walk in the bottom of the seventh.
After the strong offensive showing, head coach Mike Bell credited his team with dealing with the elements of extremely sunny weather and significant wind gusts during the contest. Turner Grau came in as a pinch hitter early in the game, but still had himself a day. The graduate left fielder went 3-for-4 at the dish with three RBIs and two walks. Every hitter in the Pitt lineup either had a hit or an RBI in the shortened game.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma struggled to find consistency on the mound, sending out eight arms against the Panthers. The Sooners saw a bright spot from designated hitter Easton Carmichael, who finished 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBIs. The Big 12 squad will look to bounce back against California in Saturday’s nightcap.
The Panthers will continue their quest to the inaugural Las Vegas College Baseball Classic Championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes at 12:00 p.m. PT.
Game 2 - Cal vs Ohio State - Friday, March 1 6 p.m.
Game two of the opening day of the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic Friday saw Ohio State (5-4) jump out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never look back en route to a 9-4 win over California (7-2).
The windy night at Las Vegas Ballpark didn't seem to phase the Buckeyes as OSU starter Landon Beidelschies spent the first five innings shutting down a potent Cal offense that entered the game hitting .312 as a team and 7-1 overall. The sophomore retired eight straight out of the gate and 12 of his first 13 batters until Cal managed its first hit off the lefty to lead off the fifth.
Ohio State dropped a five-spot in the bottom of the third behind a bases-clearing triple by junior outfielder Trey Lipsey and it was 8-0 after three with Beidelschies dealing.
The Bears finally got to Beidelschies in the sixth when Preseason All-American catcher Caleb Lomavita sent a one-out solo home run over the left field wall to spoil the shutout. Rodney Green Jr. followed with a double that stayed just fair inside the left field line and Carson Crawford brought him home with a single to left to make it 8-2.
OSU added a run in the sixth and Cal plated two more in the eighth for the final margin.
Seven different Buckeyes registered at least one hit, led by Matthew Graveline going 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Beidelschies went 6.0 innings with four hits allowed, 2 earned runs and 8 strikeouts, improving his record to 2-1 on the year with a 3.18 ERA.
Buckeye head coach Bill Mosiello was impressed with his young starter on the mound and the quick start at the plate. "Baseball is always about starting pitcher pitching, so obviously he [Beidelschies] had a fantastic go through those first four innings," he said. "Offensively we came out ready to play in the first inning and just got after them and we did a good job of preparing for them."
Cal starter Trey Newmann (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing eight runs - three earned - four hits and five walks while striking out four.
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