Omaha, Neb. ? The season was on the line for Oregon State and Jonah Nickerson wanted the ball – on only two days’ rest.

Coach Pat Casey let him have it for a second start in four days, and the junior right-hander led the Beavers into the championship round of the College World Series for the first time in school history.

“You just saw one of the guttiest performances by any person I’ve ever seen in the sport of baseball,” Casey said.

Nickerson (13-4) pitched 72â3 shutout innings in a 2-0 victory over Rice on Thursday night, setting up a best-of-three series against North Carolina starting Saturday night. The impressive outing came after he threw seven strong innings in a 5-3 victory over Georgia on Monday.

“You can’t really prepare to pitch on two days’ rest, but I took care of my arm and did everything I could,” Nickerson said. “Everything since the beginning of the year I’ve done to keep my arm healthy and my body healthy has helped up to this point.”

Oregon State (48-15) advanced from the losers’ bracket after falling to Miami on the tournament’s first day, assuring there will be a first-time national champion: Neither the Beavers nor the Tar Heels have won the College World Series.

Oregon State pitcher Jonah Nickerson works against Rice in the first inning. OSU ousted the Owls, 2-0, from the College World Series on Thursday in Omaha, Neb.

“Winning four straight games just shows the character of our club,” Casey said. “We just said when we get beat next time in this bracket format, we were never going to get to play together again.”

Nickerson allowed two hits, struck out nine and walked three, and was replaced by star closer Kevin Gunderson after fanning pinch-hitter Adam Zornes.

Nickerson walked off the mound and received a standing ovation from the appreciative Rosenblatt Stadium crowd, and got high-fives and fist bumps from his teammates.

“He just came out there and was outstanding,” Casey said. “And our guys scrapped to find a run here and there against the unbelievable pitching that Rice has.”

Gunderson struck out Tyler Henley, and pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save, tying him with Kansas University’s Don Czyz for the national lead. After getting Josh Rodriguez to foul out to left to end it, Gunderson pumped his fist twice and hopped on the mound as the Beavers charged out of their dugout to celebrate.