Beavers feel at home in Omaha.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

OMAHA, Neb. - The first College World Series game for Oregon State in 53 years really did not seem that different from any other game this season for the Beavers.

"I don't think any of those things that people wondered about, if certain things would affect us like the crowd, I didn't think that affected us at all," Oregon State coach Pat Casey said after Tulane defeated the Beavers 3-1 in an opening-round game. "I was pleased we handled all that very well."

The attendance of 20,345 at Rosenblatt Stadium marked the largest crowd ever to watch an Oregon State baseball game.

The Beavers saw an even bigger crowd on Friday night when local favorite Nebraska defeated Arizona State 5-3 in front of 24,904.

"I didn't notice much of the crowd today," OSU first baseman Andy Jenkins said. "I was more nervous watching Nebraska in the stands. When you're on the field, it's weird. You just don't really see that."

Oregon State, the No. 8 seed, did not show any outward jitters against the top-seeded Green Wave. The Beavers had no errors, but they could not generate enough offense to beat Tulane.

"It was a great atmosphere," Casey said. "We just did not do a good job on the offensive part."

The Beavers took a 1-0 lead immediately with a run in the first inning, but could not get another runner across the plate.

OSU stranded two runners in the third inning and then left the bases loaded in the sixth when Brian Bogusevic made a diving catch for the third out to prevent at least two runs from scoring.

Tulane starter Micah Owings held the Beavers to four hits and one earned run in seven innings for the victory.

"He had good command of his fastball," Jenkins said. "He came right at us and he got the outs when he needed to. We had threats three or four times, but we did not come up with a big hit."

Owings walked four and struck out four.

"He threw a lot of fastballs," said OSU center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who was 1-for-5 with a run scored. "We did not make the adjustments we needed to make late in the game."

Mike Lissman led off the seventh inning with a walk for OSU, but he was stranded at third base.

Jenkins hit a one-out double in the eighth but was stranded at second. Lissman hit a single with one out in the ninth before reliever Daniel Latham got pinch-hitter Geoff Wagner and Ellsbury to fly out to end the game.

Ellsbury said the Beavers did not play their best but may have earned respect as the No. 8 seed.

"We could have played better, but we showed we can play with the best team in the country," he said.

Now the Beavers must show they can beat one of the best teams in the country to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.

OSU, whose 53-year span between appearances is the longest ever, is now 0-3 in its two trips to Omaha.

The only other team in the field without a CWS victory is Baylor, Oregon State's opponent on Monday.

The Beavers will have their ace on the mound against the Bears when Dallas Buck gets the start.

COLLEGE

WORLD SERIES

At Omaha, Neb.

Double Elimination

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Tulane 3, Oregon State 1

Texas 5, Baylor 1

TODAY'S GAMES

Tennessee (46-20) vs. Arizona State (39-24), 11 a.m.

Florida (46-20) vs. Nebraska (57-13), 4 p.m.

MONDAY'S GAMES

Oregon State (46-11) vs. Baylor (44-23), 11 a.m.

Tulane (56-10) vs. Texas (52-16), 4 p.m.

CAPTION(S):

Oregon State played before the largest crowd in school history Saturday in its 3-1 loss to Tulane at the College World Series.