Oregon rallies for 9-8 victory, ends Oral Roberts' 21-game win streak

Oregon pitcher Grayson Grinsell pitches against Oral Roberts during the second inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game Friday, June 9, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Bennett Thompson hit two home runs, Drew Cowley singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning and Oregon rallied from an eight-run deficit to beat Oral Roberts 9-8 on Friday night, snapping the Golden Eagles’ 21-game win streak.

Oregon (41-20), which won the second regional title in program history last week, can punch its ticket to the College World Series with a win over Oral Roberts (49-12) on Saturday in the best-of-3 series. The Ducks have made only one previous CWS appearance — in 1954. They lost both games. The Golden Eagles have to win Saturday and Sunday to advance to their second CWS and first since 1978.

Matt Hogan hit a three-run home run in the third inning for Oral Roberts and Jake McMurray capped the eight-run inning with a three-run single. Oregon answered with home runs from Jacob Walsh and Thompson leading off the bottom of the inning.

Thompson hit a three-run homer in the fourth to pull the Ducks within 8-5. Drew Smith hit a solo shot in the sixth and Cowley and Tanner Smith added RBI singles in the seventh to tie it at 8.

No. 9 hitter Gavin Grant and Rikuu Nishida drew walks to lead off the ninth. A fielder’s choice forced Grant out at third before Cowley delivered his game-winner, scoring Nishida.

Josh Mollerus (3-2) got the last four outs to earn the victory. Dalton Patten (4-2) took the loss.

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