Virginia wins to eliminate Titans

OMAHA, Neb. - Virginia trumped another ace.

The Cavaliers beat All-America Daniel Renken and Cal State Fullerton yesterday, 7-5, extending their first appearance at the College World Series, and eliminating the second-seeded Titans.

Just 2 weeks ago, unseeded Virginia defeated San Diego State star and No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg in the regionals.

Virginia scored four times against Renken in the second inning, and he was finished in the sixth after allowing a season-high six runs.

"To put up four runs on an All-America pitcher like Renken is a great inning for us and, believe me, I wanted more," Cavaliers coach Brian O'Connor said.

The Cavs did get more, which was a good thing for them because Fullerton had the winning run at the plate in the ninth inning before Virginia secured its first win in Omaha.

Virginia (49-14-1) will play Arkansas (40-23), in an elimination game tomorrow night.

Unseeded Arkansas lost to LSU, 9-1, last night.

Mikie Mahtook hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Austin Nola and Blake Dean also homered as third-seeded LSU (53-16) remained unbeaten in World Series play.

The Tigers will play the winner the Virginia vs. Arkansas game on Friday.

Yesterday, Renken (11-3), who had gone at least eight innings in 10 of his previous 11 starts, was taken out after Franco Valdes' two-out double in the sixth. Nick Ramirez came on and gave up a pair of RBI singles that made it a four-run game.

Virginia leftfielder Phil Gosselin, out of Malvern Prep, contributed an RBI double.

Dustin Garneau's two-run homer off Virginia starter Robert Morey put Fullerton up 2-0 in the second inning. Virginia took the lead for good in the bottom half by scoring four times. *