OMAHA, Neb. — Arizona’s locker room was quiet Tuesday night, devoid of the playful banter that had followed so many postseason victories.
The UA was hoping to celebrate the fifth College World Series championship in school history. Coastal Carolina postponed the party.
The Chanticleers rallied for a 5-4 victory in front of 24,716 at TD Ameritrade Park, forcing a deciding third game in the CWS finals Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 5:08 p.m., Tucson time.
Although despondent in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s loss, the Wildcats were confident they would regroup. They have done it time and again this season.
“It sucks right now,” losing pitcher Cameron Ming said. “But we’re going to get it together tonight, compete and give it all we’ve got.”
Arizona knows what it’s like to recover from a disappointing defeat, having done so twice this postseason. The Wildcats also have won six times in a row when facing elimination.
“I think we’re fine,” junior third baseman Bobby Dalbec said. “We’re not going to take tonight into the game tomorrow.”
That would be wise. Arizona (49-23) was uncharacteristically sloppy at times, squandering scoring opportunities and a lead for the first time in the College World Series.
Despite mistakes at the plate and in the field, the Wildcats rallied for a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth. That’s where the score stood entering the eighth.
Ming entered in relief of junior right-hander Kevin Ginkel, who pitched the game of his life, allowing two runs (one earned) in seven innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts and no walks. Ming himself had been virtually unhittable during the postseason. He had a 1.10 ERA in 16ª innings with a win and four saves.
He couldn’t locate as well as he had previously, however, surrendering a leadoff single to Anthony Marks. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Marks scored on Connor Owings’ bloop single to left to give Coastal Carolina the lead.
“I executed a good pitch on the lefty, and he blooped it over third base,” Ming said. “That was pretty much the dagger.”
After a double by Zach Remillard put runners on second and third, Alfonso Rivas III replaced Ming. Rivas allowed a two-RBI single to G.K. Young to make it 5-2.
Ming was charged with three runs in one-third of an inning.
“I felt fine,” said Ming, who threw 79 pitches Friday. “I was in control. I wasn’t nervous. I just didn’t execute.”
Arizona made it a one-run game in the bottom half of the inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases. After Jared Oliva popped out, Justin Behnke hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Ryan Aguilar. Louis Boyd then reached on an error to score Dalbec. However, Cody Ramer flew out to left to end the inning.
Chanticleers reliever Bobby Holmes retired the Wildcats in order in the ninth to end the game.
Ginkel and CCU counterpart Mike Morrison matched each other pitch for pitch. Morrison, normally the Chanticleers’ closer, also established a career high with 10 strikeouts. He lasted 6º innings, his longest stint of the season.
Boyd was among several Wildcats who believed Ginkel deserved a better fate.
“He gave us a chance to win,” Boyd said. “He pitched his heart out. We let him down.”
Boyd felt particularly culpable. The normally reliable shortstop failed to make a relatively routine play in the top of the third. The infield was playing in with a runner on third base, and Boyd lost track of David Parrett’s high pop-up, which was hit over the shortstop’s head.
“I thought it was hit deeper than it was,” Boyd said. “I turned and ran when I shouldn’t have. I wish I could have had it.”
Arizona didn’t need to bring in the infield at that point in the game, but UA coach Jay Johnson believed there was a strong chance Parrett, a .159 hitter, would make weak contact.
“It’s not on positioning,” Boyd said. “It’s on me.”
The base runner, Billy Cooke, remained at third base. Parrett made it to second. The next batter, Marks, stroked a single to center to drive in both runners and give CCU (54-18) a 2-1 advantage. It was the first time in seven College World Series games that Arizona had surrendered a lead.
The Wildcats could have been up by more than they were.
In the bottom of the first, Ramer and Zach Gibbons hit back-to-back singles. But JJ Matijevic failed to bunt them over, eventually striking out while attempting to bunt with an 0-2 count.
After Aguilar walked to load the bases, Johnson put on the squeeze play with Dalbec at the plate. Dalbec squared but didn’t make an attempt on a low-and-outside pitch. Ramer was halfway down the third-base line and got thrown out.
Arizona ended up with only one run in the inning, on Dalbec’s hard single that deflected off third baseman Remillard.
Johnson wasn’t surprised that the Wildcats were downcast in the locker room. Nor did he think they would let it linger.
“They’re competitive guys,” Johnson said. “We’ve won a lot of games. Sometimes when you don’t, it’s going to sting. And that’s OK. I have no worries about their readiness for tomorrow.”
