Heimlich implodes in Game 1 of CWS

Associated Press

omaha, neb.

Arkansas scored four fifth-inning runs against Luke Heimlich and moved a step closer to its first national championship in baseball with a 4-1 win over Oregon State in Game 1 of the College World Series finals Tuesday night.

Heimlich was in full command while striking out five and limiting the Razorbacks (48-19) to one hit through four innings.

In the fifth, though, the senior left-hander issued a walk, hit two batters, gave up two hits and got a bad break when second baseman Nick Madrigal fumbled the ball trying to make a throw.

Arkansas starter Blaine Knight (14-0) went back to the mound with a 4-1 lead, pitched another inning and left having allowed seven hits with six strikeouts. Barrett Loseke and Matt Cronin combined to pitch three scoreless innings of relief.

Michael Gretler’s base hit in the second put Oregon State (53-12-1) up 1-0.

Heimlich (16-3) issued a walk and gave up back-to-back singles for the Razorbacks’ first run in the fifth. Heimlich then hit two straight batters to bring home another run.

Christian Chamberlain walked the first batter he faced in the fifth with the bases loaded, making it 4-1. Chamberlain struck out 11 in 42/3 innings but also walked five.

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Game 2 is today. The winner of Game 1 has won 11 of the 15 finals since the best-of-three format began in 2003.