Clemson 11, Oral Roberts 8

Thursday, June 8th 2006, 10:26 pm

By: News On 6

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) _ A big week for Tyler Colvin got even bigger Friday. Now, Colvin and his Clemson teammates are one win away from the biggest prize in college baseball, the College World Series.

Colvin's ninth-inning grand slam rallied the top-seeded Tigers to an 11-8 victory over Oral Roberts to start the NCAA super regional Friday. The winning hit came three days after Colvin heard his named called by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the major league draft.

Maybe Colvin should rush out for some lottery tickets during his personal hot streak.

``One more win,'' he said, smiling, ``and I'll be happy.''

For a long while in this one, Oral Roberts had Clemson (51-14) on its heels. Then in the ninth, the Golden Eagles (41-15) scored three times to go in front, 8-7 and stun the orange-clad crowd at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson coach Jack Leggett had seen his team fight back throughout the season, including last Sunday night's 8-6 win over Mississippi State that clinched the NCAA regional. He made sure they didn't forget that.

``Coach told us it wasn't over until the last out,'' Herman Demmink said.

So with one out Demmink slapped a ball through the middle, Brad Chalk beat out a bunt and Marquez Smith bounced one deep in the hole at short for a third straight hit to load the bases. Colvin, a stellar outfielder leading the team with a .358 average, sent the second pitch from reliever Sean Jarrett into right field near the team's batting cage complex for his 13th homer this year.

Colvin's teammates rushed off the bench to swarm him when he touched home. Even Colvin, known for his staid, low-key demeanor, got excited about the big hit, flinging his batting helmet as he trotted home. ``Yeah, I'm happy,'' he said. ``It's my first walk-off.''

It also was the first walk-off grand slam in Clemson history.

Earlier, Colvin had extended his hitting streak 24 games.

One more victory in the best-of-3 series would put Clemson into the CWS for the first time since 2002.

Clemson's closer, Daniel Moskos (5-5), picked up the victory despite giving up all three ninth-inning runs to Oral Roberts.

D.J. Mitchell had three run-scoring hits, Taylor Harbin his third homer in four NCAA tournament games and Demmink led off with a homer for the second straight contest for the Tigers.

Leggett was thrilled with Colvin's hit. But he was just as pleased with Clemson's resolve. ``The best thing we did today is every time they scored, we responded,'' he said.

Oral Roberts, in its first NCAA super regional, gave Clemson a lot of runs to respond to.

Travis DeBondt's three-run homer in the second, his third of the season, put the Golden Eagles ahead 4-1 and ended the outing of one of Clemson's strongest starters, Jason Berken.

The Tigers, though, chipped their way back in the game off two of Oral Roberts' best in pitchers Nick Jones and Erik Crichton.

Harbin led off the second inning with a home run and Mitchell had RBI hits in the fourth and sixth innings, both that tied things up for the Tigers.

Jones lasted less than three innings, his shortest outing of the season. Crichton gave up three runs after not allowing any in his previous five appearances.

When Mitchell's final hit made it 7-5, it appeared Clemson was out of danger.

But Oral Roberts fought back one last time in the ninth. Chad Rothford's soft single along the left field line capped the Golden Eagles' three-run rally and put them ahead 8-7.

Rothford also had a monstrous solo home run to right in the fifth that gave Oral Roberts a 5-4 lead.

Oral Roberts coach Rob Walton said Jarrett had been one of the team's most reliable pitcher during its recent run of success _ the Golden Eagles were 31-3 from March 28 through last week's NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

``It's a tough way to lose a ball game,'' he said.

Afterward, he told his players he still have confidence they would make it through Clemson and reach the team's first CWS since 1978.

``I think we're a team of destiny,'' he said. ``I believe our guys can go out and compete and win.''