College World Series 2016: Monday Scores, Winners and Bracket Results
One team's stay at the 2016 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, will be over by the end of Monday.
The Miami Hurricanes and UC Santa Barbara are fighting for their tournament lives after dropping their first games. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Arizona Wildcats will be competing for a spot in the semifinals.
Below is a brief recap for how Monday unfolded, and an updated bracket is available on NCAA.com.
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Monday Scores
| 2 p.m. | Miami | 3-5 | UC Santa Barbara |
| 7 p.m. | Oklahoma State | 1-0 | Arizona |
Monday Recap
UC Santa Barbara 5, Miami 3
UC Santa Barbara knocked out one of the College World Series favorites Monday when it defeated Miami 5-3. A four-run sixth inning propelled the Gauchos to victory.
The Hurricanes got on the board first with a solo home run by catcher Zack Collins in the top of the first. UC Santa Barbara tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by second baseman JJ Muno.
Both teams held each other in check over the next four innings, and then the Gauchos exploded. They had to wait a little bit to take the lead following an hourlong rain delay in the bottom of the sixth after Devon Gradford singled to lead off the inning.
After play resumed, Muno hit a one-out double to move Gradford to third. An intentional walk to catcher Dempsey Grover loaded the bases, and pinch hitter Ryan Cumberland brought two runs home with a single to right field. NCAA Baseball offered an umpire's-eye view of the hit:
Back-to-back sacrifice bunts by the Gauchos plated two more baserunners as they grabbed a 5-1 lead:
According to ESPN Stats & Info, UCSB hadn't squandered a four-run lead all season, so the chances of a Miami comeback looked slim.
The ACC champions ate into the deficit with two runs in the top of the eighth. Collins and designated hitter Randy Batista each had an RBI single as the Hurricanes got to within two runs.
Left fielder Jacob Heyward singled with one out in the top of the ninth, but pinch hitter Peter Crocitto grounded into a double play to end the game. CBS Sports Radio's Jim Rome was proud to see his alma mater record its first College World Series win:
The Gauchos received a massive ovation from their fans as they walked to their bus after the game, via Matt English, UCSB's associate athletic director:
"It's been a very special ride," said Muno, per Big West Baseball. "We're just playing for each other."
Noah Davis deserves a lot of credit for shutting down the Hurricanes' high-powered offense. The freshman right-hander went six innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and striking out three.
UC Santa Barbara can't rest on its laurels for too long. One defeat is all it takes to send the team packing from Omaha. The Gauchos will take the field again Wednesday, and they'll face the loser of Arizona vs. Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State 1, Arizona 0
The later game on Monday was all about pitching, as Oklahoma State outlasted Arizona 1-0 in a dramatic pitcher’s duel.
Tyler Buffett started for the Cowboys and pitched eight brilliant innings. He did not allow a run and gave up a mere three base hits and two walks. He was in full control the entire game and baffled the Wildcats hitters in every important situation on his way to six strikeouts.
Trey Cobb closed the contest for the victorious Oklahoma State with a hitless ninth, although he did walk a batter.
Arizona’s efforts on the mound were nearly equally as impressive.
Bobby Dalbec went eight innings and allowed one earned run and five hits while notching a blistering 12 strikeouts. Cameron Ming pitched a perfect relief inning for the Wildcats, but it was Dalbec who made some ballpark history with his performance, as Creighton sports information director (SID) Rob Anderson pointed out:
The game’s only run came in the top of the fourth inning when Oklahoma State’s Donnie Walton doubled to lead things off and Garrett Benge drove him in on a single to right. Dalbec then hit Conor Costello to put runners on first and second with nobody out but worked his way out of the jam with two strikeouts and a pop out.
Walton scored the lone run and was the only player for either team to tally more than a single base hit when he went 2-for-4.
Arizona’s offense was so lifeless it never even had multiple runners on base at any point in the game. It was a foreshadowing moment for the Wildcats when leadoff batter Cody Ramer drilled one into the right-centerfield gap to start off the bottom of the first, only to be robbed by Ryan Sluder.
NCAA Baseball shared the play:
Behind a strong defensive performance and a dominant outing from Buffett, Oklahoma State emerged with the critical victory.
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