OMAHA–Oregon State won its second consecutive national title with a 9-3 win against North Carolina on Sunday night. The Beavers became just the fifth team to repeat as national champion, and the first since Louisiana State in 1996-97.

Oregon State trailed for the first time in its last 50 CWS innings after UNC took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Beavers took the lead for good on Darwin Barney’s two-run homer in the second inning. Junior righthander Mike Stutes picked up the win, limiting UNC to three runs on seven hits while striking out five over 5 1/3.

OSU’s second title was largely devoid of the high drama of its first. Oregon State thoroughly dominated this CWS, becoming the first team ever to win four straight World Series games by six runs or more. It was quite a turnaround for the Beavers, who also became the first team ever to finish below .500 in their conference during the regular season and go on to win the national title.

North Carolina became the first team since Stanford in 2000-01 to repeat as national runner-up.

I’ll have much more on OSU’s triumph after the postgame.