The Arkansas Razorbacks are one win away from being College World Series champions for the first time in their history after beating Oregon State, 4-1, Tuesday in Omaha, Neb.
Junior pitcher Blaine Knight picked up the win with six strong innings. He struck out six and scattered seven hits in allowing just one run.
Selected in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, Knight has been dominant all season for Arkansas, going 14-0 with a 2.81 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 112.1 innings pitched in 19 games.
All he does is win. pic.twitter.com/uQZa3TB2YV
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 27, 2018
Knight, whose Twitter page reads “I love God,” told KARK-TV that honoring God in all he does is the most important thing in his life.
“God, he created us all for a reason,” Knight said. “So, I kinda owe it back to Him for creating me and making me who I was. I see fit to owe it to Him everyday, whether I’m playing, I’m walking down the street, driving down the road. It’s whatever. You kinda owe it to Him and you gotta thank Him for making who you are.”
Knight’s father, Blake, is an ordained minister and says church and sharing Christ runs in his family.
“My dad’s a pastor, my brother’s a pastor, I’m ordained, my uncle’s a pastor (laughs),” Blake said. “So it’s always been rich in our blood for a long, long time. I knew at a young age that God has blessed him, but we’ve always tried to make Blaine understand that it is because of that. That’s where he’s at and that’s where his talent comes from.”
“He’s one of the most Godly people that I know,” Knight’s younger brother, Braden, said. “If you ever need a person to talk to, he would always be there and if you ever need some tips on hunting or fishing, he’ll always be the first to help you out. And he’s just a good guy all around, he’ll give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.”
Blaine says his motto is a simple one, so simple that he got it tattooed on his arm: “I’m anointed to play baseball at a level the world is unfamiliar with, all for the glory of God.”
Knight and the Razorbacks look to become champions on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the College World Series at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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