Regionals, super regionals, qualifiers, (rainouts), they all boil down to this: the 2018 College World Series finals.
The Arkansas Razorbacks — or Diamond Hogs, if you prefer — earned their ninth appearance in the College World Series, but are still searching for that elusive championship. The last time they made it to the College World Series finals was 1979, losing to Cal State Fullerton. The Razorbacks are searching for their first finals win in Omaha since 2012.
On the other side of the diamond, the Oregon State Beavers are hoping to break the dam of disappointment and secure their first national title since 2007, despite making the College World Series in 2013 and 2017. They were eliminated in the 2017 semifinals by eventual runner-up LSU.
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The Hogs boast one of the nation's top power-hitting lineups: they've mashed 98 home runs this year, tied for third-most in the country. The Beavers feature Nick Madrigal, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and one of the best hitters in the nation.
The numbers and talent lean in favor of the Razorbacks, but a championship pedigree follows the Beavers.
Three games (if necessary) will determine the best college baseball team in the country, and they started Tuesday.
Tom Gatto contributed to this report.
Arkansas vs. Oregon State, College World Series Game 1 results
(All times Eastern)
FINAL SCORE: Arkansas 4, Oregon State 1; Arkansas leads series 1-0
11:01 p.m.: Cronin retires all three batters he faces, two by strikeout. The Hogs can complete the sweep in Game 2 Wednesday night.
10:50 p.m.: Arkansas closer Matt Cronin is summoned after Loeske allows a leadoff single in the ninth. Save situation.
10:46 p.m.: Chamberlain finishes the Arkansas ninth with a strikeout, his 11th in 4 2/3 innings of relief or Heimlich. ESPN's Karl Ravech reports the 11 Ks tie Calvin Schiraldi (Texas) for most strikeouts in a CWS relief outing. Chamberlain is a freshman, by the way.
👊 to #34
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 27, 2018
🔥 Christian Chamberlain 🔥
4.2 IP | 21 BF | 11 K | 2 H | 0 R pic.twitter.com/ojfWhlGwTa
10:35 p.m.: Arkansas is three outs away from winning Game 1. The Hogs bat in the top of the ninth, still leading 4-1. Barrett Loeske has thrown two scoreless innings in relief of Knight.
10 p.m.: Arkansas leads 4-1 after six innings (and, yes, we're almost at the three-hour mark). Hogs starter Blaine Knight appears to be done for the night after getting hugs in the dugout. He allows seven hits and a walk and strikes out six over 97 pitches.
9:28 p.m.: We have a second umpiring controversy. Video review turns a foul ball call into a two-out single by Cadyn Greiner. The hit advances Steven Kwan from first to third. Oregon State argues that Greiner should have been awarded a double. The ruling is made moot when Madrigal, the next batter, lines out to second to end the inning. Earlier in the inning, replay upheld this diving catch by Hogs first baseman Jared Gates:
It's #CWS Finals. YOU GO ALL OUT. #SCtop10 | @RazorbackBSB pic.twitter.com/TNV3bolg7P
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 27, 2018
9:06 p.m.: Chamberlain issues a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-1, Arkansas.
8:58 p.m.: The Hogs add two more runs in the fifth — on a bases-loaded hit batsman and an infield error — and knock out Heimlich. Christian Chamberlain comes on in relief.
8:51 p.m. : Arkansas ties the game 1-1 against Heimlich in the top of the fifth. Grant Koch singles in Carson Shaddy.
Koch rips one into left...
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 27, 2018
Anddd we're tied in the fifth, with @RazorbackBSB still threatening! #CWS pic.twitter.com/3CaXwuO7gP
8:44 p.m.: ESPN's field microphones picked up the argument that ensued after the double play call. "He went right into the fielder," the umpire told Oregon State coach Pat Casey.
8:38 p.m.: The Beavers are denied a run after a controversial double play. The second-base umpire ruled Adley Rutschman interfered with Arkansas shortstop Jax Biggers' relay to first base. Rutschman did not slide and veered into Biggers' path. Larnach, who had crossed the plate on the play, was sent back to third base. ( Corrects previous entry. )
8:16 p.m: Oregon State leads 1-0 in the fourth. Heimlich allowed a hit and a walk and struck out four over his first three frames.
7:52 p.m.: The Beavers take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Michael Gretler singles home Trevor Larnach, who led off the inning with a double.
Beavers strike first! 👊
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 26, 2018
Gretler lines one to center to bring in the opening run of the #CWS Finals! pic.twitter.com/wNCrEG094p
7:25 p.m.: It's 0-0 after one complete inning at TD Ameritrade Park.
7:10 p.m.: ESPN wastes no time going over Oregon State starting pitcher Luke Heimlich's history as a sex offender. Play-by-play man Karl Ravech goes through it as Heimlich throws his warmup pitches.
7:07 p.m.: Unlike Monday night, weather conditions in Omaha are playable: partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80s.