Oregon State inches closer to title, 11-4

Freshman Jorge Reyes led Oregon State to within one win of its second straight College World Series title with another strong pitching performance and the Beavers beat North Carolina, 11-4, in Game 1 on Saturday night.

North Carolina, which won three straight elimination games to set up a rematch of last year’s championship series, needs to win twice to keep Oregon State from becoming the first back-to-back national champion since Louisiana State in 1996-97.

Reyes (7-3) gave up eight hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings to win for the second time in the CWS and third time in the NCAA tournament.

The Tar Heels (57-15), who have come from behind to win five games in the NCAA tournament, couldn’t rally against Oregon State (48-18), which is 41-0 when leading after seven innings. And the pitching problems that plagued North Carolina early in the tournament appeared to return.

North Carolina freshman Alex White (6-7) gave up eight hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings and lost for the second time in the CWS.

Oregon State and North Carolina are playing the first title-series rematch since Arizona State and USC met in 1973. A year ago, the Tar Heels won Game 1, then the Beavers won two straight for their first national championship.

The Beavers have won all four of their CWS games and 10 of their last 11 overall.

Reyes held North Carolina scoreless on three hits through four innings.

The Beavers got to White in the second with two outs. He walked Scott Santschi before Jordan Lennerton hit his second homer of the CWS.

Oregon State scored four runs in the seventh inning to put it away.