College World Series Finals

One spot in the 2018 College World Series final was filled on Friday, and the final one was up for grabs in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday night.

College World Series Finals Live Free Coverage

After the Oregon State Beavers powered their way to a 12-2 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday, the stage was set for a winner-take-all showdown one day later. And with both teams trying to keep their respective seasons alive, the drama came down to the final pitch.

Below is a look at how the action unfolded in this semifinal showdown.

2018 College World Series Score: Semifinals

Oregon State 5, Mississippi State 2

2018 College World Series Finals Schedule

Arkansas vs. Oregon State

Game 1: Monday, June 25 at 7 p.m. ET

Game 2: Tuesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. ET

Game 3 (if necessary): Wednesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. ET

Oregon State 5, Mississippi State 2

For the first time since 2007, the Oregon State Beavers are headed to the College World Series final. 

The high-powered Beavers offense—which scored 11-plus runs in each of the previous three contests, including 12 against the Bulldogs on Friday—wasted little time getting on the board. The two sides traded zeroes for the first two frames, but after Mississippi State starter Ethan Small managed to retire the first two hitters in the top of the third, he ran into trouble.

Oregon State paired a double with three consecutive singles to take a 2-0 lead. Then, designated hitter Tyler Malone broke the game open with a three-run blast:

Two-out magic at its finest. That outburst gave Beavers starter Kevin Abel a lead to work with, and it was more than enough.

Abel retired the first six batters he faced and did not allow a hit the first time through the lineup. But he worked himself into some trouble by walking a pair in the third, so when he did finally allow a hit, a run came around to score.

Mississippi State threatened in the sixth, putting two runners in scoring position. However, a line-drive double play got Abel out of trouble and kept the four-run lead intact. With the way Abel was pitching, the Bulldogs couldn't afford to waste opportunities like that.