Key Error Leads Oregon State to Title

Bill Rowe scored the go-ahead run on second baseman Bryan Steed’s throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Oregon State held on to beat North Carolina, 3-2, for its first College World Series title Monday night.

The Beavers (50-16) became the first team in College World Series history to lose twice in Omaha and win the national championship. Oregon State also is the first truly Northern school to win the series since Ohio State in 1966.

“You’ve got to be lucky to win a national championship,” closer Kevin Gunderson said. “We got the right breaks when we needed them. Someone was looking out over our heads tonight. For everyone who doubted us all year, it proves we can play ball.”

With the game tied at 2-2 in the eighth, Rowe drew a two-out walk and Tyler Graham blooped a single into left. Tar Heels ace Andrew Miller, the No. 6 overall pick in the draft by Detroit, came on in relief of Daniel Bard and got pinch-hitter Ryan Gipson to one-hop a grounder to Steed.

The second baseman, who came in as a defensive replacement in the fifth, threw wide and past first baseman Tim Federowicz for the Tar Heels’ fourth error of the game as Rowe slid into home with the go-ahead run. The Beavers stormed out of their dugout and mobbed Rowe.

“I probably got rid of it too quick,” Steed said.

North Carolina (54-15) put two runners on against Dallas Buck (13-3) with one out in the ninth, but Gunderson got Josh Horton to hit into a fielder’s choice, and -- with the tying run on third -- got slugger Chad Flack to fly out to center to end it.

Gunderson, who won Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series by pitching a season-high 5 1/3 relief innings, threw his glove and cap in the air, and waited as his teammates ran to the mound and piled on one another in celebration.