Kent State Defeats Oregon, 3-2, to Advance to College World Series for First Time
6/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
A dramatic one-out double by Rider to score Toadvine punches Kent State's ticket
Â
EUGENE, Ore. – The Kent State baseball team (46-18) won in dramatic style Monday evening, as Derek Toadvine score the game's winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a one-out double by Kent State all-time hits leader Jimmy Rider to give the Golden Flashes a 3-2 victory over Oregon in the Eugene Super Regional, hosted by the University of Oregon.
A leadoff walk followed by a sacrifice bunt set the stage for Rider, as his blooping hit down the left field line scored Toadvine fromsecond to send the Golden Flashes to Omaha.
The victory sends Kent State to the College World Series for the first time in program history, which dates back to 1915. The Golden Flashes, which are in their 12th NCAA tournament appearance, advanced to the Super Regional for the first time this season.
Kent State will play the winner of Arkansas (43-20)/Baylor (49-16) Saturday, June 16 at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT (Local). As of the end of Kent State's game, Arkansas and Baylor were tied at 0-0 in the ninth inning.
Kent State's historic win also gives the Golden Flashes 46 victories on the year, a single-season record.
The Golden Flashes got on the board first with single runs in the bottom of the first and second innings. Kent State held a shutout into the eighth inning, when the Ducks tied the game at 2-2 with a one-out, two-run single by Ryon Healy.
A full recap will be posted later this evening on kentstatesports.com.
