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College  | Story | 6/26/2018

Opportunistic Hogs take Game 1

Nick Herfordt
Photo: Blaine Knight (Arkansas Communications)
 



2018 CWS Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8
2018 Honors: Vaughn leads '18 college awards | College All-Americans | Freshmen All-Americans

OMAHA, Neb. – The start to the 2018 College World Series finals had the pieces in place for what many had predicted could be a prolific scoring explosion. This despite TD Ameritrade’s ballyhooed propensity for low-scoring contests.

The finals presented a match up of two of the top offenses in the nation as both schools averaged well over seven runs per game this season and the two teams nearly compiled a thousand runs between them this spring. Arkansas has been batting .302 as a club and was tied for third in the county with 98 home runs. In fact, 36 percent of their run production (172 of 475) were generated via the long ball.

Not to be outdone, Oregon State had been hitting a third-in-the-nation .323, which not only was tops in the Pac 12 but was 33 points higher than any other team in the conference.

Of course both teams would have their aces on the mound in an attempt to extinguish each other’s incendiary bats, however, both arms were susceptible to generosity.

Despite Oregon State’s Luke Heimlich’s brilliance in the regular season, he had been battered about in Omaha. In his two appearances at the College World Series coming into Game 1, Heimlich allowed eight earned runs in five total innings while plunking three batters in the series opener alone. Arkansas’ Blaine Knight also has vulnerabilities despite his 13-0 record. Entering the game he had allowed 18 home runs, and with the run blowing out, the Beaver bats had the potential to add to their tally of 29 times they batted around in an inning.

Both pitchers started stunningly, with Heimlich and Knight each sitting down the other team’s lineup in order to start the game. However, in the second inning Knight wouldn’t be as fortunate.

Oregon State right fielder Trevor Larnach laced a ball down the right field line and advanced to second when the ball skirted to the wall. Knight rebounded to strike out out Adley Rutchman, who had been leading the CWS with 10 RBI, but the Arkansas junior starter ran into trouble once again against OSU’s designated hitter, Tyler Malone. Malone, who has menacingly hit three home runs while in Omaha, didn’t send another ball over the fence, but he was able to nub the ball into the void between the pitcher and shortstop to put runners on the corners via his infield hit.

Tenth-round draft pick Michael Gretler put the first run on the board with the next at-bat. He thwacked a 2-0 offering off the end of his bat up the middle, which somehow managed to out-avoid shortstop Jax Bigger’s outstretched mitt and bring in the first run. With two men on and only one out it didn’t bode well for Arkansas, but Knight resoundingly rebounded with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning and smother the scoring threat.

After a scoreless third inning, the fourth provided one of the most memorable moments in College World Series history.

Oregon State’s Trevor Larnach skied a ball to left which, 99 times out of a 100, if not more, would have been an uneventful lazy fly ball. However the sun blinded left fielder Heston Kjerstad who had no idea where the ball was. The ball landed behind him and bounded over the wall for a ground-rule double.

A line drive up the middle by catcher Adley Rutschman put the runners on the corners as the Beavers threatened to increase their lead. The next batter, Malone hit a ball feebly to Carson Shaddy at second base, which appeared to be a sure double play that would limit OSU’s overall scoring potential. However, shortstop Jax Biggers double-pumped his throw to first, which provided Malone the extra instant he needed to safely beat the ball to the base.

In a stunning twist of fate,  Rutschman, despite ducking under the relay throw to first, was called for interference, which not only removed Malone from first, but negated the run as Larnach was sent back to third. The next batter, third baseman Michael Gretler, struck out to end the inning, much to the furious dismay of Oregon State head coach Pat Casey who unquestionably didn’t agree with the momentum-changing call which occurred at second.

The inning ended with the Beavers maintaining their 1-0 lead.

While the call unquestionably adhered to the letter of the rule – Rule 8-4a: on any force play, the runner must slide on the ground before the base and in a direct line between the two bases… Penalty, with less than two outs, the batter runner, as well as the interfering runner shall be called out and no runners shall advance – the spirit of call was questioned by Casey after the game.

"Yeah, I don't agree with his explanation. It appeared Rutsch was doing everything he could to get out of the way. The ball left the guy's hand,” Casey lamented. “They weren't near one another, so I don't agree with the call … it did affect that inning. We had that run taken off the board right there, so that makes it tough. We've got a guy on first base with a two-run lead and one out.”

Up to the fifth, Heimlich had been dominant on the hill. His fastballs were precise and approaching triple digits, he had command of his slider and was seamlessly working side-to-side through the strike zone. That would soon change quickly and dramatically.

An innocent infield pop up started the inning and it appeared Heimlich would continue to dominate. Following a walk to second baseman Carson Shaddy, Jared Gates hopped one over the head over the outstretched arm of his first base counterpart, Zak Taylor, to put runners on the corners. Catcher Grant Koch singled through the right side to tie the game, 1-1.

That’s when the wheels completely fell off Heimlich’s wagon.

Heimlich plunked Biggers with a ferocious wild pitch that would’ve made Rick Vaughn envious. With the bases now loaded and Heimlich’s control rapidly going AWOL, a handful of Beaver relievers raced to the bullpen while Heimlich beaned another batter to gift Arkansas another run.

Without an available option ready to relieve him, Heimlich stayed on the mound. The next batter would’ve generated a much-needed out, but usually soft-handed second baseman Nick Madrigal juggled the ball on an apparent fielder’s choice which not only kept the bases loaded, but gifted the Razorbacks yet another run.

Christian Chamberlain was brought in to replace Heimlich, but he seemingly completed his warm-ups on the mound as he immediately issued a four-pitch walk that increased the lead to three. Fortunately for the Beavers he was able to quickly gain his composure and struck out the next two Arkansas batters to stop the bleeding.

Nevertheless, the damage was done. Arkansas had taken a 4-1 lead and that was all the effort they’d need to finish the game.

Knight was removed at the end of the sixth inning and his replacements were just as effective and fortuitous as he had been on the mound. Barrett Loseke and Matt Cronin earned the final nine outs by only allowing a pair of hits while striking out five.

While the most memorable on-the-field event was the interference play, which potentially turned the tide for Arkansas, the most meaning performance was that of Knight. Assuming it was his final appearance in a Razorback uniform, it was the pièce de résistance of a brilliant season in which he earned wins when facing four pitchers who were drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft (Casey Mize, Auburn; Brady Singer, Florida; Ryan Rolison, Ole Miss and Jackson Kowar, Florida). Knight earned his 14th win of the season, throwing six innings while only allowing a single earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts.

“I just gave him a hug and he said thank you. It was pretty simple. He knew exactly what I meant,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said of Knight after the game. “But you know, it was kind of surreal knowing that that was the last time he's going to probably step on the mound for us. I mean, it is.”

While Knight’s season is likely over, his teammates’ is most certainly not. The Razorbacks will be looking to earn their first national title Wednesday when the two teams tangle once again in Omaha. If Oregon State wins, the two will play a deciding game on Thursday.
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