Steve Arlin, Ohio State’s ace pitcher, had a 15-inning shutout against Washington State. Arlin struck out 20 batters, helping the Buckeyes win 1-0 in an elimination game. This remains one of the most incredible pitching performances in CWS history.
In their initial appearance in the CWS, Coastal Carolina astonished baseball fans by defeating No. 1 Florida and No. 5 Texas Tech. Led by submarine pitcher Andrew Beckwith, the Chanticleers showed tenacity and brilliance before winning the national championship in a fairy-tale run.
Despite having a 10-14 conference record and being one of the last teams chosen for the NCAA Tournament, Oregon State beat the odds. The Beavers swept the powerful North Carolina Tar Heels in the finals to win their second national championship in a row.
Kent State, a No. 3 seed in their regional, took an unexpected voyage to Omaha. Following an early setback to Arkansas, the Golden Flashes faced elimination against top-seeded Florida. In a nail-biting game, Kent State defeated the Gators 5-4, marking the program’s biggest win historically.
Fresno State’s 2008 triumph is often regarded as the most surprising in CWS history. The Bulldogs, who entered the tournament as a No. 4 regional seed with a 33-27 record, needed to win their conference tournament to qualify.
