Harris Makes It Grand for LSU

Clay Harris’ grand slam sparked an 11-run sixth inning that help send Louisiana State to the College World Series with a 20-5 victory over Baylor in the deciding game of their best-of-three super regional series Sunday at Baton Rouge, La.

Ryan Patterson and Jon Zeringue also homered for LSU (45-20-1), which will make its 12th trip to Omaha since 1986 -- and first since winning the 2000 national championship.

The Tigers, who have won five College World Series titles, will play Friday against Cal State Fullerton, which advanced with a 7-1 victory over Arizona State.

Baylor (45-23) was attempting to get to the College World Series for the first time since 1978, but the Bears used five pitchers and walked six batters in the sixth inning.

Miami 11, North Carolina State 5 -- Erick San Pedro’s grand slam highlighted a six-run 11th inning at Coral Gables, Fla., giving the Hurricanes a berth in the College World Series.

The Hurricanes (44-15-1) swept the super regional series against the Wolfpack (45-18) and are going to Omaha for the 20th time -- and eighth in 10 seasons under Coach Jim Morris.

Miami, which won the title in its last two trips to the CWS in 1999 and 2001, will play either Florida State or Texas in the first round.

Southwest Missouri State 13, Ohio State 7 -- Tony Piazza’s grand slam capped an eight-run sixth inning, enabling the Bears to clinch their first trip to the College World Series.

Shaun Marcum also homered for the Bears (40-24), who swept the super regional series at Columbus, Ohio, and will play the winner of the Houston-Rice series in the first round in Omaha.

The Bears led, 3-0, before the Buckeyes (44-21) scored the next six runs. But the Bears broke the game open with seven unearned runs in the sixth, capped by Piazza’s grand slam and Marcum’s solo shot.

Rice 10, Houston 2 -- Jeff Niemann allowed four hits and struck out 12 in seven innings for his 16th consecutive victory, and Vincent Sinisi hit a three-run homer as the Owls (52-11) evened their super regional series with the Cougars (37-29) at Houston.

Texas 8, Florida State 3 -- J.P. Howell (9-2) pitched six strong innings and Eric Sultemeier drove in two runs and scored twice as the defending national champion Longhorns (47-18) beat the Seminoles (54-12-1) in the opening game of their series at Tallahassee, Fla.