LINCOLN REGIONAL:

LINCOLN, Neb. — The UC Irvine baseball team has officially shaken its novelty tag by defeating Oral Roberts in the championship game of the NCAA Lincoln, Neb. Regional Sunday, 8-0, to advance to this week’s Super Regional at LSU.

The Anteaters, who went 3-0 at the Round Rock, Texas Regional, then swept the Wichita State Super Regional to advance to the 2007 College World Series in Omaha, finished off a perfect three-day blitz through the regional that also included host Nebraska (41-16-1) and Eastern Illinois (27-30).

Sophomore right-hander Bryce Stowell struck out a career-high 13 in 7 2/3 innings to earn his eighth win of the season in what he termed the best pitching outing of his career.

Relievers Tom Calahan, and Christian Bergman helped close out the shutout, the first time Oral Roberts has been blanked since April 5, 2007 (by Long Beach State), a span of 90 games.

Stowell, who gave up five hits and did not issue a walk, was named Most Valuable Player of the regional.

UCI improves to 41-16, while LSU is now 46-16-1, after sweeping the Baton Rouge Regional with three wins. Oral Roberts finishes its season at 48-14.

Sophomore right fielder Sean Madigan went three for five with five RBIs to lead the Anteaters’ 12-hit attack Sunday.

Sophomore second baseman Casey Stevenson was three for four with two RBIs and finished seven for nine in the regional.

Sophmore first baseman Jeff Cusick also had two hits to help UCI improve to 8-0 in regional and super regional play the last two seasons.

Junior shortstop Ben Orloff, junior center fielder Ollie Linton, Madigan and sophomore starting pitcher Danny Bibona were also chosen on the 11-player all-regional team.

The start day of the best-of-three series at LSU will be announced Monday at 5 p.m.

NCAA Regional

Championship game

UC Irvine 8, Oral Roberts 0

Score by Innings

UCI 101 000 402 – 8 12 0

ORU 000 000 000 – 0 7 4

Stowell, Calahan (8), Bergman (9) and Larson; Luna, Jarmen (7), Serrano (7), Kelly (9) and Genao; W – Stowell, 8-2. L – Luna, 13-1. 2B – Orloff (UCI), Stevenson (UCI), Minisalle (ORU).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].