Men's College World Series Day 1 Recap

OMAHA, Neb. — June 13, 2025

Day 1 of the Men’s College World Series delivered drama right out of the gate, and no game brought more intensity than Oregon State’s 4–3 walk-off win over Louisville on Friday night at Charles Schwab Field.

In a matchup that lived up to its billing, the Beavers and Cardinals staged a nine-inning thriller that ended with a Gavin Turley RBI double, setting the tone for what promises to be a tournament packed with drama.

After Coastal Carolina beat Arizona 7–4 in the early game, all eyes turned to a prime-time showdown between two battle-tested squads. Oregon State, a three-time national champion, leaned on its depth and late-game execution to take the edge over a gritty Louisville team that refused to go down quietly.

Both starting pitchers put on a show. Louisville’s Patrick Forbes dazzled over 5 1/3 innings, striking out 10 while scattering four hits. Oregon State’s Dax Whitney was equally sharp, recording nine punchouts and holding the Cardinals to just one run in his outing.

It was a classic postseason duel, filled with high-octane fastballs, nasty breaking balls, and little margin for error.

Oregon State struck first in the fourth, plating a run to take a 1–0 lead. But Louisville responded in the fourth with a pair of runs one off a fielder’s choice and another from a clutch two-out single. The Beavers added a third run in the sixth, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to build a 3–1 lead.

Just when it looked like Oregon State would cruise into the winners’ bracket, Louisville mounted a stunning rally in the top of the ninth. Zion Rose led off with a triple, and after a walk and a wild pitch, Tague Davis drove in a run to make it 3–2.

Kamau Neighbors followed with a game-tying RBI single, silencing the orange-clad Beaver faithful and injecting new life into the Cardinals’ dugout.

But Oregon State was far from finished. In the bottom of the ninth, Aiva Arquette led off with a single and quickly moved into scoring position. That’s when Gavin Turley—one of the most dangerous bats in the tournament—stepped to the plate and delivered.

His sharply hit double down the right-field line rolled into the corner, and Arquette slid head-first into home plate to score the game-winner.

“It’s a moment you dream about,” Turley said after the game. “We’ve worked all year for this, and to come through for my team like that in Omaha—it’s something I’ll never forget.”

With the win, Oregon State moves into the winners’ bracket and will face Coastal Carolina in a Sunday showdown between two teams riding high on momentum. Louisville, meanwhile, drops to the elimination bracket and will take on Arizona, needing a win to stay alive.

If Day 1 was any indication, this year’s College World Series is going to be unforgettable—and Oregon State just delivered its first instant classic.