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Ollie Linton hit a game-winner for UC Irvine in the College World Series

UNC Advances, Anteaters Come Up Short

Linton heads home, Catapano to play for title

June 22, 2007

By: Andrew Gothelf - Orleans Cardinals Broadcaster

With back-to-back wins over Rice, RHP Rob Catapano and his UNC squad are headed to the College World Series finals.  The Tar Heels will square off with reigning champ Oregon State for the title.

As for Cardinal signee and OF Ollie Linton (UC Irvine), his spring season is over as the Beavers topped the Anteaters to advance top the finals – but it wasn’t without some excitement from Linton.

Linton hit a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the 10th, scoring teammate Matt Morris as UC Irvine eliminated No. 3 Arizona State from the CWS, 8-7.  With the victory, UC Irvine became the first team in CWS history to win consecutive extra inning games – advancing them to play OSU, to whom they fell.

The Anteaters trailed 7-3 in the 8th inning, but were able to tie the game with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. That set the stage for Linton, who also scored a run in the game, to drive home the game-winning tally with the bases loaded knock.

Linton is batting .345 on the season with 20 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.

"Before I went to bat coach told me that I would be the guy to do it,” Linton said.  “I walked to the plate with positive thoughts. I was looking for something high and in. I got a curve ball high and I fought through it for the hit."

It was redemption for the Anteaters against a Sun Devil team that had already defeated UC Irvine, 5-4, in the first game of the CWS.  Linton’s next stop is Orleans for the summer.