Recent College World Series Heroes

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 15, 2011

Recent College World Series Heroes

Whit Merrifield

After spanking UCLA in the first game of the series, South Carolina needed an eight-inning run to help send the game to extras. In the bottom of the 11th, Whit Merrifield (left) knocked a single to right to score the series-winning run. It was his only hit of the game in five at-bats.

Jared Mitchell

Jared Mitchell, a two-sport star at LSU, helped the Tigers to their sixth national championship in 2009 with an incredible College World Series. Named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, Mitchell smacked two home runs, eight RBIs and scored four runs in six games.

Tommy Mendonca, Justin Wilson

Fresno State needed it on the mound and at the plate in the 2008 CWS. Tommy Mendonca (top) had four homers and 11 RBIs in six games to give the Bulldogs all the offense they needed. On the rubber, Justin Wilson pitched a gem in the deciding title game against Georgia. He went eight innings and allowed five hits and one run in the 6-1 victory.

Jordan Lennerton

Oregon State denied North Carolina its second shot at the title in 2007 with the help of Jordan Lennerton (left). The Beavers' slugger sent two bombs over the Rosenblatt fence as Oregon State routed the Tar Heels in consecutive games.

Kevin Gunderson

Kevin Gunderson had a big hand in Oregon State's first CWS victory, which also came against UNC. Gunderson grabbed the win after a costly Tar Heels error turned the tide in Oregon State's favor in Game 2, then he picked up the save in the series-clinching Game 3.

David Maroul

Texas wrapped up its sixth national title in a two-game defeat of Florida. Third baseman David Maroul picked up MOP honors after blasting two home runs in those games, including a three-run smash in Game 2.

Kurt Suzuki

Kurt Suzuki had only one hit for Cal State Fullerton in Game 2 of the 2004 CWS and it came in the bottom of the seventh with the game tied at 2-2. The third Texas error of the game allowed Suzuki to get to the plate, where he singled to left field and scored Ronnie Prettyman for the series-winning run.

Chris Kolkhorst

Rice needed extra innings to win Game 1 of what would be a three-game series with Stanford. In the bottom of the 10th, Chris Kolkhorst (left) led off with a walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice. Austin Davis then hit a soft grounder to Stanford pitcher Kodiak Quick, who threw high to first base, allowing Kolkhorst to come around and give the Owls the 4-3 win.

Huston Street

Before Huston Street became the Oakland A's closer, he led Texas to three CWS appearances in four years in Austin. In 2002, the last year the CWS played a one-game final, Street won the MOP award as Texas beat South Carolina 12-6.

Tom Farmer

When you only had one game to decide who would be national champs, you had to make sure the right guy was on the mound. Miami opted for Tom Farmer, who tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed only one earned run en route to the Hurricanes' 12-1 throttling of the Cardinal in 2001.