OMAHA, Neb. — Joey DeNato threw a four-hitter and Indiana looked right at home in beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night in the Hoosiers’ first appearance in the College World Series.
The Hoosiers manufactured their runs early, and DeNato (10-2) made them stand up in a masterful performance in front of a TD Ameritrade Park-record crowd of 27,122.
Indiana (49-18) has beaten the Cardinals (51-13) in three of four meetings, shutting them out twice. The Hoosiers will play Monday against Mississippi State, and the Cardinals will face Oregon State in an elimination game.
DeNato allowed three singles and a double in his second complete game. He struck out eight and walked three.
Louisville starter Chad Green (10-4) left after Indiana loaded the bases with none out in the third inning.
MISSISSIPPI ST. 5, OREGON ST. 4
Mississippi State took the lead on Wes Rea’s two-run double in the eighth inning, closer Jonathan Holder turned back two Oregon State threats, and the Bulldogs beat the Beavers in the opening game.
Hunter Renfroe’s hard comebacker off the leg of Matt Boyd (10-4) put runners on first and second in the eighth for the Bulldogs (49-18). Rea then sent a double into the right-center gap. Andy Detz scored easily and Renfroe beat second baseman Andy Peterson’s relay throw home.
Ross Mitchell (13-0) pitched 2 2-3 shutout innings before turning the game over to Holder.
The Beavers (50-12) are the No. 3 national seed.
