Miami blasts Beavers

Rain fails to slow Hurricanes in opening-round victory

? Dennis Raben homered and drove in four runs and Scott Maine combined with two relievers for a six-hitter in Miami’s 11-1 victory over Oregon State in the College World Series on Saturday night.

Miami (42-22) moves to a Monday game against Rice, which defeated Georgia 6-4 in the afternoon. Oregon State (44-15) meets the Bulldogs in a Bracket 2 elimination game Monday.

Jon Jay and Tommy Giles had three RBIs apiece as the Hurricanes, in Omaha for the 22nd time in 32 years, won their CWS opener for the first time in their last three appearances.

The Beavers played Tulane and Baylor close in losses at last year’s CWS. The only returning team from the 2005 CWS field, Oregon State never threatened against the Hurricanes.

Miami scored five runs in the first two innings against Dallas Buck (12-3). The Beavers’ starter didn’t come out for the sixth after giving up a two-run homer to Raben that put Miami up 7-0.

Rain delayed the game 1 hour, 34 minutes between the seventh and eighth innings. The break did nothing to cool off the Hurricanes, who got a bases-loaded triple by Jay in a four-run eighth against Eddie Kunz.

Maine (12-3) bounced back from a dismal outing in the super regionals last week.

Rice 6, Georgia 4

Omaha, Neb. – Rice’s Eddie Degerman lost his no-hit bid – and his lead – in the seventh inning before the second-seeded Owls came back to beat the Bulldogs.

After the Owls’ 2-0 lead became a 4-2 deficit, they rallied with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win for the 38th time in 41 games. Joe Savery, who went 3-for-3, put the Owls (56-11) in front again with a two-run single.

Degerman, who struck out nine, walked eight but held the Bulldogs without a hit for 61â3 innings. Then the Bulldogs (47-22) strung five consecutive singles off three pitchers to take the lead.