"It's been a lot tougher to get [to the Super Regional] this year," Casey said. "But everyone has stepped up and done so many things."

Catcher Mitch Canham echoed that statement, saying that, "All the little stuff was big. You have guys like [shortstop Darwin] Barney laying down bunts and Dallas [Buck] on the mound throwing."

Keep in mind Canham said that after knocking in the winning run in the eighth inning. It was Canham's only hit in the game, but he sure picked a good time to connect with a pitch. Outfielder Cole Gillespie, the 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year, finished 2-for-3 for OSU. Stanford's Jim Rapoport -- who knocked the home run out in the third inning -- went 2-4 on the night.

Buck struck out six and Stanford pitcher Greg Reynolds struck out nine. The Cardinal tallied three errors in the contest, two by third baseman Randy Molina.

Stanford talked at length in the press conference about how important it is to win the first game.

"Obviously, winning the first one is an advantage and you always want to win the first," Stanford coach Mark Marquess said.

"It's going to be a battle," added Stanford shortstop Chris Minaker. "It was a battle today, not exactly played cleanly on our side. But we're going to come out tomorrow and use this."

Casey isn't about to overlook the Cardinal though.

"At this point in the tournament, some pretty good ballclubs are going to lose some games," Casey said. "But they are a very, very talented club and every team in the Super [Regional] is like that and Stanford is like that."

Attendance was recorded at 3,173 -- not bad for a stadium that supposedly holds 2,500.

Game time is set tomorrow for 7 p.m. OSU pitcher Jonah Nickerson will start on the mound for the Beavers and Nolan Gallagher will get the nod for the Cardinal.