Yes, Virginia, that’s an impressive debut
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OMAHA — Virginia trumped another ace.
The Cavaliers beat All-American Daniel Renken and Cal State Fullerton, 7-5, on Monday, extending their first appearance in the College World Series and eliminating the Titans.
Two weeks ago, Virginia defeated San Diego State star and No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg in the regionals.
Virginia scored four times against Renken in the second inning, and he was finished in the sixth after giving up a season-high six runs.
“To put up four runs on an All-America pitcher like Renken is a great inning for us and, believe me, I wanted more,” Cavaliers Coach Brian O’Connor said.
The Cavaliers did get more, which was a good thing for them because Fullerton had the winning run at the plate in the ninth inning before Virginia secured its first win in Omaha.
Virginia (49-14-1) next plays Arkansas (40-23) in an elimination game Wednesday. Fullerton (47-16) has lost five straight in the CWS.
Renken (11-3), who had gone at least eight innings in 10 of his previous 11 starts, was taken out after Franco Valdes’ two-out double in the sixth.
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Louisiana State 9, Arkansas 1 -- Mikie Mahtook, Austin Nola and Blake Dean homered and the Tigers stayed unbeaten at the CWS.
The No. 3-seeded Tigers (53-16), who have won 12 straight, are off until they play the Razorbacks or Virginia on Friday. A win in that game would send LSU to next week’s best-of-three finals.
Razorbacks starter Brett Eibner (5-5) was knocked out in the second inning after giving up four runs. T.J. Forrest held LSU scoreless until the sixth, when the Tigers added five more.
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