THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,801 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,801 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 6/17/2013

CWS: Oregon State eliminates L'Ville


College World Series: Game 5

 4              
11



1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

 

R

H

E

LOB

Louisville

0

0

0

0

1

0

3

0

0

   

4

12

4

9

Oregon State

0

0

3

7

0

0

1

0

X

 

11

11

1

10

OMAHA, Neb. -- Louisville exited the College World Series sooner than it had expected.

The Cardinals headed to Omaha with a full head of steam and much momentum. Last weekend, the Cardinals couldn't have been more impressive on the road in Nashville, Tenn., where they did a clean sweep of Vanderbilt to notch the program's second CWS appearance.

In its CWS opener against Indiana, the Cardinals had trouble getting anything going offensively against Indiana left-handed pitcher Joey DeNato, while Chad Green and the pitching staff did their job in impressive fashion.

In uncharacteristic fashion against Oregon State in an elimination game, everything came crashing down for coach Dan McDonnell's club in a disappointing 11-4 setback.

"From our standpoint, I'm sure our guys are very disappointed. They didn't play well and we didn't play clean baseball in the third and fourth innings," McDonnell said. "Unfortunately, that happens when you're playing a very good opponent. It's very tough at this moment, but I don't want this game to define them or their season.”

Even with tough left-handed pitcher Ben Wetzler on the mound for Oregon State, UL felt good about its chances in this contest with imposing right-handed pitcher Jeff Thompson on the mound. Thompson, who usually sits anywhere from 91-93, but was more upper-80s against the Beavers, couldn’t have been more impressive last weekend against Vanderbilt. He struck out nine, walked two and allowed just a run on three hits in seven innings of work.

Thompson had two crisp innings against the Beavers, recording three strikeouts in the first two frames. But as the defense went away in the third and fourth innings, so did Thompson’s crispness an ability to tame Oregon State’s offense.

Louisville’s defense, which entered the CWS with a .971 fielding percentage in the postseason, committed two errors in the third inning, helping lead to two Oregon State runs, via an RBI double by shortstop Tyler Smith, and another run across via an ugly error by second baseman Zach Lucas, who was playing in place of Nick Ratajczak, who didn’t play in either game in Omaha because of an injury.

The fourth inning was the ugliest part of the game for McDonnell’s Cardinals, and essentially put the contest out of reach heading into the middle frames. The Beavers scored seven runs in the frame, aided by another error, and capped off by a two-RBI single from nine-hole hitter Max Gordon to make it 10-0 in OSU’s favor.

Thompson struck out four batters, walked one and allowed seven runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, throwing 77 pitches, 51 for strikes.

“You can’t have great pitching without great defense,” McDonnell said. “Overall, I really would’ve like to see us play better defense behind Thompson. I really think he would’ve given us a chance [to win].”

While Thompson and the Cardinals struggled for the second-straight game in Omaha, Oregon State came out early and made a statement, allowing very reliable left-handed pitcher Ben Wetzler to settle into a groove.

Wetzler had been terrific in his previous two NCAA postseason starts. Against Texas A&M in the Corvallis Regional title game, Wetzler, who can get up to 90-93 with his fastball, allowed just a run in a complete game performance. Then, last weekend, Wetzler willed his way to a good start against Kansas State, allowing three runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings of work.

Very much like that performance against K-State, Wetzler wasn’t overpowering against the Cardinals. However, he buckled down when he needed to, striking out six, walking two batters and allowing three runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.

“You want a tough guy, a competitive guy, out there when you’re up against the wall [facing elimination],” Oregon State coach Pat Casey said. “I thought that long inning affected him a little bit. Sometimes you get a lead and lose a bit of focus. But we were fortunate not to let him get deep in his pitch count, and I think that’s something that’s going to benefit him down the road.”

Though Wetzler led the Beavers on the mound, the offensive lineup did their part in this contest, too, with leadoff hitter Tyler Smith having a huge game with two hits and an RBI, two-hole hitter Andy Petersen recording three hits, Max Gordon having his big game, and of course, outfielder Michael Conforto putting together yet another impressive performance, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

With the win, the Beavers actually are set up well in the CWS moving forward. Ace left-handed pitcher Matt Boyd will start Wednesday’s game, while freshman right-handed pitcher Andrew Moore could come back later in the week, along with Wetzler, after the lefty threw 102 pitches against the Cardinals.

As for Louisville, its season comes to an end with a 51-14 overall record. However, despite not making a huge imprint in Omaha, this certainly can be described as a successful season for the Cardinals.

Louisville entered the season expected to compete for a CWS appearance, and potentially a national title.

The Cards might’ve come up short in their quest for the program’s first baseball national title, but they shouldn’t head home too disappointed.

After all, UL accomplished exactly what it was supposed to.


CWS Snapshot: Louisville vs. Oregon State

Player of the game:
OF Max Gordon, Oregon State -- Sophomore outfielder Michael Conforto put together another solid performance for the Beavers, but it was Gordon who led the charge against the Cardinals, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Conforto also deserves to be mentioned after recording two hits, one of them a double, and knocking in yet another run here in Omaha.

Turning point: Oregon State carried just a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning, but that’s when it blew things wide open against the Cardinals. Dylan Davis began the scoring with a two-RBI single, two more runs scored on an error by shortstop Sutton Whitting, the Cards walked in a run, then Gordon capped off the big OSU inning with a two-RBI single through the left side to make it 10-0. The Beavers never looked back on the way to the dominant victory.

What they said: “I told this group how proud I was of them in the outfield. It’s hard watching these guys. Their hearts are broken. And they do love each other. And it’s hard for me to look at a player and see him cry. I get emotional. But I told them how proud I was of them. I don’t want this game today to define their season. I know it hurts. But I challenge them to celebrate, because the one thing this team did was they were expected to come here, and they got here. I am pretty proud of this team because the bar was set so high going into the season.” -- Louisville coach Dan McDonnell.

What’s next: Louisville put together some impressive performances last weekend against Vanderbilt, but wasn’t so great in the College World Series. Though right-handed pitcher Chad Green was solid in the opening game against Indiana, hard-throwing right-handed pitcher Jeff Thompson struggled immensely, and didn’t get much help from his defense, in the setback to the Beavers. Despite the struggles in Omaha, it was a very successful season for the Cardinals, who finished the 2013 campaign with a 51-14 overall mark, an astonishing 20-4 mark in the Big East. The good news for UL, despite likely losing starting pitchers Green and Thompson, among others, Nick Burdi, Anthony Kidston and others give Dan McDonnell a solid foundation for the future.

College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 15

John McAdams
Article Image
Tucker Rice (27 MS) bumping up to 91; living hi-80s from real fast arm. Good SL @ 77-79 w/ depth & sold w/ intent. Loads of traits & strikes. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/DEjFqRcsIY — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 6, 2025 Tucker Rice, RHP, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Alabama has continued to stay red hot in the recruiting trail ever since August 1st rolled around on the calendar and have continued to stack major pieces in their ’27 class. They dip into Mississippi to land one of the premier arms and one that’s stood out on the circuit for quite some time. It’s a fast arm and the athleticism certainly shines working down the slope. The velocity has continued to tick up over the last calendar year and reached into the low-90s towards the end of the summer. He’s confident in his changeup and the breaking ball is...
Tournaments | Story | 12/15/2025

17u Tourney All-American Team

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
There’s a lot of talent throughout this 2026 class, filled with the big-name stars, to talent that spreads across the nation. It’s been a lot of fun seeing these prospects grow and develop over the years, from the days of watching some of these guys at the 13/14u days at events on the circuit, to now where they are all graduating seniors in 2026. There’s been new faces who have popped along the way over the years, even in 2026, where some players who were relatively undiscovered, have come out and made a name for themselves with a statement performance. Between the familiar and the new, there’s a lot of names on this list that are going to be quite regularly talked about on the circuit, and for good reason.  Whether it’s PG All-Americans or not, there’s a lot of names with superstar potential at the next level. We’ve got 14 PG All-Americans...
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
Article Image
Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
Article Image
Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
Article Image
BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
Article Image
Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
Loading more articles...