Beaver Nation celebrates Oregon State baseball's national championship

Pete Martini | Statesman Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption OSU fans welcome the 2018 National Champions Oregon State fans filled Goss Stadium as they celebrated the arrival of their 2018 National Champion baseball team fresh off of their victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in Omaha.

CORVALLIS — Oregon State’s baseball team returned home to a hero’s welcome Friday, one day after winning the third national championship in program history at the College World Series.

Thousands of Beavers fans packed into Goss Stadium as the team returned from Omaha with yet another championship trophy.

“All the work that we put in during the offseason, and it finally came together,” said sophomore infielder Andy Armstrong, from West Salem High School. “All of the emotions of this big moment is unbelievable.”

MORE: Oregon State Beavers baseball team makes believers out of us all

The Beavers have won the College World Series three times in the past 13 seasons (2006, 2007 and 2018), which is the most in the nation during that stretch.

Oregon State coach Pat Casey, who took over the program in 1995, has been through it all as he has built one of the country’s top college baseball programs.

He addressed the crowd at Goss Stadium on Friday and expressed how much the players mean to him.

"It's an honor to coach these guys, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart," Casey said. "It is absolutely a blessing."

The Beavers’ run in Omaha was highlighted by a three-run, ninth-inning rally on Wednesday to stay alive.

How OSU Won a National Championship How OSU rode four epic rallies to a national championship

Armstrong was key to that rally, as he sacrificed Zach Clayton to second, and Clayton later scored the tying run on Cadyn Greiner’s RBI single.

“It was kind of a weird feeling (in the dugout going into the ninth inning of Game 2). No one was thinking that we were going to lose. We didn't know how we were going to finish the job, but we knew we were going to finish the job,” Armstrong said. “I pride myself in the little things like bunting. I've been preparing for a moment like that.”

Armstrong's parents, Rich and Susi, were in attendance for the celebration Friday. Susi said she was excited to watch her son make an important play during such an epic comeback.

MORE: Breaking down Oregon State's three CWS national championship teams

“When I saw him on deck, I knew they had a purpose for him. I got a little fired up,” she said. “I just have goosebumps. It's been the best thing to watch him grow as a kid and as a teammate. He's learned so much, and to accept his role and not be the star. He just loves this group.”

Oregon State finished the season with a 55-12-1 record, including a 11-2 mark in the postseason.

After sweeping their regional, the Beavers swept Minnesota during the super regionals in Corvallis to advance to Omaha.

At the College World Series, Oregon State dropped its opener to North Carolina, before winning four in a row to advance to the finals against Arkansas.

"It hasn't really soaked in, honestly," Armstrong said. “There's been just so much support from all over the place. It's just a great feeling to know that all of your work has paid off."

MORE: How OSU Won a National Championship

The other player from Salem on Oregon State's roster is junior pitcher Sam Tweedt, from South Salem High School. Andy Jenkins, also from South Salem, is an assistant coach on the team and helped the 2005 Beavers reach the College World Series.

Tweedt pitched and helped the Beavers clinch the super regional and advance to the College World Series.

"It's a dream come true," Tweedt said. "We have such a tight bond with our team, and to bring a championship home to Corvallis, and to celebrate in front of a crowd like this, was really special."

ANDY ARMSTRONG

Team: Oregon State baseball

Year: Sophomore

Position: Infielder

High school: West Salem

2018 statistics: .262 AVG (32 for 122), 13 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 20 RBIs, 18 runs

SAM TWEEDT

Team: Oregon State baseball

Year: Junior

Position: Pitcher

High school: South Salem

2018 statistics: 1-0 record, 7.16 ERA, 12 walks, 9 strikeouts in 10 appearances (2 starts)