Stanford Manages to Stay Alive

OMAHA — Stanford sophomore pitcher Jeff Austin is finding a home at the College World Series.

Playing on a team with three Omaha-area players, Austin’s two appearances at the CWS have made him a local hero.

He pitched 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to keep Stanford alive with an 11-4 victory over Auburn in an elimination game Tuesday. It was his second standout performance against Auburn at the tournament.

The third-seeded Cardinal (45-19) advanced to tonight’s game against second-seeded Louisiana State (55-13), which is 2-0 in the tournament after a 10-5 victory over Stanford on Sunday.

Alabama 9, Mississippi State 5--Mark Peer’s two-run homer capped a five-run eighth inning and top-seeded Alabama beat Mississippi State.

Alabama (54-13) had been the only team not to have hit a home run in the College World Series, but the Crimson Tide had two against its fellow Southeastern Conference school as Andy Phillips hit a three-run homer in the fifth.

Alabama will play fifth-seeded and unbeaten Miami (51-16) for the bracket championship Thursday night.