COLLEGE BASEBALL / NCAA REGIONALS : Northridge Comes Up Short at Fresno, 6-5

Todd Johnson’s two-run single in the ninth inning Sunday lifted Fresno State to a 6-5 victory over Cal State Northridge and the championship of the NCAA West II Regional.

The Bulldogs (41-21), forced to play Northridge a second time Sunday after losing to the Matadors, 6-2, earlier in the day, advanced to the College World Series for the second time in four years.

Fresno State’s Mike Noel began the ninth by reaching first on third baseman Danny Vigo’s error.

Phil Romero walked and Jason Wood beat out a bunt to load the bases with none out. Johnson singled over second base to score Noel and Romero.

Bobby Jones (15-1) pitched a complete game on only two days rest to get the victory. Jones allowed 10 hits and struck out five.

Ken Kendrana gave up six runs on 12 hits for the loss.

Northridge (44-18) had led, 3-0, on solo home runs by Scott Richardson, Kyle Washington and Mike Solar.

ATLANTIC REGIONAL

Florida State 6, Alabama 5--Garrett Blanton’s seventh-inning double scored Chris Brock with the winning run and the Seminoles got past Alabama to win the regional title at Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State (56-13) beat Alabama relief ace Ben Short (7-3) for the second time to reach the College World Series for the fourth time in six years.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Wichita State 8, California 1--Junior Darrin Paxton allowed the Golden Bears only two hits and the Shockers moved into today’s championship round by remaining undefeated at Wichita, Kan.

Paxton struck out five and faced two batters over the minimum as the Shockers (62-12) built an 8-0 lead through seven innings and improved to 39-2 at home.

Paxton (10-2) left in the ninth after a sharp grounder bounced off his left knee. He was taken to the hospital for observation.

Cal (36-26) played Ohio State (53-12) Sunday night after the Buckeyes stayed alive by beating East Carolina, 6-5.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL

Clemson 13, Maine 5--The Tigers advanced to the College World Series by pounding out 16 hits--including six doubles--to win at Orono, Maine.

Clemson (60-8) took a 7-2 lead in the fourth inning when Kevin Northrup doubled home Jim Anderson and Chuck Foster. Northrup scored on Eric Macrina’s fielder’s choice.

Maine (48-18) reached the final game by beating Mississippi State Saturday night.

SOUTH REGIONAL

Southwestern La. 11, Northwestern State 7--Papp Ramos had three hits, including a leadoff homer, and Michael Watts drove in two runs to lift Southwestern Louisiana to its first NCAA playoff victory at Baton Rogue, La.

Louisiana State 4, Oklahoma 3--Reliever Rick Greene struck out Byron Mathews with the tying run at third base to give LSU (48-18) the victory and enable the Tigers to advance to a final against the winner of Texas A&M-South; Alabama, played Sunday. Oklahoma finished at 40-22.

EAST REGIONAL

Florida 3, N.C. State 2--Dave Majeski drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the 10th inning at Gainesville, Fla., as the Gators (49-19) advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1988. N.C. State finished with a 48-20 record.