Just want to with all you dads a Happy Father's Day! After working most of the afternoon, I'm heading out to watch the UCLA-LSU game at TD Ameritrade Park tonight here in Omaha. 

LSU seems to be a favorite here in Omaha -- probably since the Tigers have pretty much been a regular at the College World Series through the years.  LSU is very, very good.  They had nine players on this team drafted in the MLB draft, the most of any of the eight schools here in Omaha. (OSU by comparison had seven players drafted).

The Beavers practiced at a local high school today as they prepare for their elimination game with Louisville.  I really believe the Beavers will respond in a big way after losing their first game in the CWS.  Ben Wetzler has been pitching great, and I anticipate we'll see him pitch a good game tomorrow.  Louisville was shutout in its opening game, so the Cardinals have something to prove as well.  However, we've seen OSU respond time and again this season after suffering a loss.  I'd be very surprised if they don't have a great game vs. Louisville.

Hear the game on Fox Sports Radio 620 starting with the pregame show at 11:30 a.m. PT

Yes it was frustrating.  The Beavers had so many chances, but left a half-dozen runners in scoring position in their 5-4 loss to Mississippi State.  The Beavers execution wasn't the best we've seen.  Even Andy Peterson, unquestionably the best bunter in Oregon State baseball history, failed to sacrifice runners over from first in both the 7th and 9th innings.

But as Coach Pat Casey was quick to point out, this was a team loss.  OSU had a runner at third in the fourth and left him stranded.  The Beavers also had runners in scoring position in four other innings with fewer than two outs and failed to bring any of those runners home.  Consider that for a moment.  In five innings, OSU had men in position to be brought home with a single, and not once in those situations did a Beaver batter deliver.

About the only Beaver you couldn't fault was Pac-12 Player of the Year, Michael Conforto, who went 4-for-4 with a walk, thus becoming the first Oregon State player to get four hits in a College World Series game.

The Beavers now have to win a bunch of elimination games to avoid packing early for Corvallis.  Most experts would say it's darn near impossible to do, but Coach Casey can point to his first NCAA championship team which won six elimination games while winning the national title.  It can be done.  They just have to win them, one at a time, starting with the Monday game against Louisville.  Ben Wetzler will be on the mound trying to extend the Beavers' season.  I like his chances...

(See the recap of the game below)

Wes Rea drilled a hanging change-up from pitcher Matt Boyd into the right-center-field gap, driving in the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the eighth innning, to lift Mississippi State to a 5-4 win over Oregon State in Game One of the College World Series in Omaha.

Boyd came on in relief of starter Andrew Moore, who gave up three runs in the second after OSU had scored a pair of unearned runs in the first to go up 2-0. Despite not having his best stuff, Moore retired 18 of the last 21 batters he faced and had a 4-3 lead when he left the game.

But after Moore gave up a one-out hit to Alex Detz, and after he fell behind Hunter Renfroe 1-ball, 0-strikes, Boyd came in from the bullpen to try to get the Beavers out of the inning. However, Renfroe rocketed a ball off Boyd that bounced to third baseman Kavin Keyes, who threw to first just a split-second too late to retire Renfroe which gave the Bulldogs runners at first and second with only one out. Boyd struck out cleanup man Brett Pirtle, but Rea hit the first pitch he saw from Boyd into the gap scoring the runs that would turn a one-run deficit into a one-run lead for the Bulldogs.

Oregon State threatened in the ninth, putting men on first and second with only one out, but Dylan Davis struck out, and Danny Hayes hit a mammoth drive that appeared to be heading into the bleachers in right field. However, Renfroe went back to the wall and made the game-ending catch at the wall.

Coach Pat Casey bemoaned his team's lack of execution, and pointed out his team should have produced more runs since the Beavers had ten hits in the game. OSU stranded ten base-runners, six of them in scoring position.

Oregon State will play Louisville in an elimination game Monday at noon PT. The Beavers must win to earn the right to play again Wednesday. A loss would send the Beavers home from Omaha after just two games.

Radio coverage of the OSU-Louisville game will begin Monday at 11:30 a.m. PT on the Home of the Baseball Beavers, Fox Sports Radio 620.