Punahou alum Harrison hits grand slam in Oregon State win

OMAHA, Neb. >> Bryce Fehmel limited LSU to two hits in eight innings, Punahou School alum KJ Harrison hit the first College World Series grand slam at TD Ameritrade Park, and Oregon State beat LSU 13-1 for its 23rd straight win today.

The top-seeded Beavers (56-4), who matched the school-record win streak they set earlier this season, took control of Bracket 1. They don’t play again until Friday, and need one more win to advance to next week’s best-of-three finals.

“We just talked before the game about this is our time, this is our opportunity,” Oregon State coach Pat Casey said. “This is what we came here for. Let’s not miss that moment. So the guys played great.”

LSU (49-18) had its 17-game win streak end with its most lopsided CWS loss since a 20-6 rout by Cal State Fullerton in 1994.

LSU had issues early in the game. Starter Eric Walker (8-2) left the game after throwing four pitches in the third inning because of forearm tightness.

Caleb Gilbert held the Beavers for a couple of innings, but they capitalized on a couple of LSU misplays to go up 3-0 in the fifth.

Oregon State broke the game open in the sixth.

Harrison, who was drafted in the third round by Milwaukee in last week’s major league draft, hammered Hunter Newman’s first pitch over the left-center fence for the first CWS grand slam since 2010, the last year the event was played at Rosenblatt Stadium.

“That’s the stuff you dream of doing,” Harrison said, “and for it to come true on such a big stage is an amazing feeling.”

Harrison broke into a wide smile as he watched the ball fly out, his trot turned into a run and he whooped and pounded his chest as he approached teammates waiting at home plate. Harrison has four home runs and 14 RBIs in seven NCAA Tournament games.

Fehmel (6-2) wiggled out of a mini jam in the fifth before Zach Watson’s homer in the seventh allowed LSU to avoid getting shut out for the first time in its 62 CWS games.