Nickerson proves a workhorse

OMAHA -- Jonah Nickerson approached Oregon State's Pat Casey after Wednesday's victory over Rice and told his coach that if need be, he could pitch in Thursday's rematch at Rosenblatt Stadium. Casey considered the offer and figured that Nickerson, who would be coming back on two days' rest, could give him an inning or two.

But as the night wore on and Thursday morning dawned, it became more apparent to Casey that Nickerson, a seventh-round selection by the Tigers in this month's First-Year Player Draft, should get the start. So, after only a brief bit of further deliberation, he handed the junior right-hander the ball and Nickerson rewarded him and the Beavers with an effort that will be remembered for years to come as one of the greatest in College World Series history.

Nickerson, who started and won a game on Monday, combined with Kevin Gunderson on a two-hit shutout, topping the Owls, 2-0, before a packed house to put Oregon State in the CWS Championship Series. It was the 27th two-hitter in CWS history and, following Wednesday's whitewashing of Rice, marked the first time in 14 years that a team threw consecutive shutouts in the event.

"That was one of the guttiest performances I've ever seen in the sport of baseball," Casey said. "It was Jonah's decision and he came to me. And I know he's not going to go out and put himself in jeopardy. So it was an easy decision."

The Beavers, who will face North Carolina in the best-of-three championship series, have won four straight and become an improbable finalist after losing their opening-round contest to Miami. They will be looking to become just the second team in 25 years and first since USC in 1998 to win the title after losing its first game of the series.

OSU became the first team since Pepperdine in 1992 to throw consecutive CWS shutouts and only the second team to shut out the same opponent twice in one CWS, the first since Cal State-Fullerton turned the trick on South Carolina in 1994.

The Owls, who began the CWS with consecutive victories, finished the season at 57-13 after a stunning collapse that saw them go scoreless in their final 23 innings, breaking a longstanding CWS mark for futility set by Northern Colorado in 1955. Rice is just the third team -- and first since 1982 -- to get blanked in back-to-back games.

And Nickerson (13-4) deserves much of the credit. He went 7 2/3 innings, allowing both hits, while striking out nine and walking three. He threw 109 pitches, following up the 114-pitch effort he put forth against Georgia on Monday. Though Nickerson's right thumbnail was starting to separate from his finger as the eighth inning progressed, it wasn't the reason he left. He admitted to having no legs afterwards and supported Casey's decision to pull him in favor of a fresher arm.

"My arm felt good and I really felt as if I could have started yesterday (Wednesday)," Nickerson said. "I was prepared and rested and it felt like a normal start day except I had no legs. But my arm felt great. I was throwing a little more off-speed stuff when I usually start out with more fastballs, so I was pitching backwards.

"I don't know if I've ever pitched on two days' rest, but I wouldn't have pitched on two days' rest if I couldn't. I just didn't know how long they would let me go. My legs were tired in the bullpen, but I wasn't gassed. I just battled until he pulled me out. I take care of my body and I don't put too much stress on my arm, so I think that's why I was able to come back on short rest."

One of the two defining moments Nickerson had came in the fifth inning when he walked a pair of batters -- the only inning in which two Owls reached base. But he got pinch-hitter Kenny Ford looking to end the threat.

Rice made some noise again in the seventh, when Joe Savery connected for a one-out double before Nickerson retired the final two batters on long fly balls to left and center.

"Even on the best of teams the bats go cold," Rice coach Wayne Graham said. "And you always notice the bats go cold when the pitcher was great, and he was. He did most of his work on the outside corner, but he could paint. He's a great pitcher."

While Nickerson deserves a heap of praise, Rice pitchers deserve some credit, even if their offense sputtered. The Beavers managed only three hits, all of which came off starter Eddie Degerman (fourth round, Cardinals). Reliever Bryce Cox (third round, Red Sox) pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out six and not walking a batter. The only blemish on his blotter was a ninth-inning hit batter.

The Beavers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third after Bill Rove led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. He came in to score on Mitch Canham's sacrifice fly to left, giving Nickerson all the support he needed.

OSU tacked on a run in the fifth, chasing Degerman in the process. Chris Kunda led off with a single and went to third on a daring dash as Shea McFeely's single dropped into left field. Kunda just beat the throw, with McFeely taking second on the play.

John Wallace smacked a hard grounder back up the middle after Darwin Barney walked to load the bases. The shot ricocheted of Degerman's foot and was picked up by third baseman Josh Rodriguez, who fired to first for the out. But Kunda scored, giving OSU a two-run advantage. It was Degerman's final batter. Cox came on to strike out Cole Gillespie and end the threat.