College World Series Championship Round Updates

The South Carolina Gamecocks have found an exciting but dangerous blueprint for winning in the College World Series. With a flair for the dramatic the Gamecocks went extra innings on Monday night to defeat the Florida Gators 2-1 to win game 1 of the College World Series.

Just like in the Gamecocks’ CWS Championship berth clinching game versus the Virginia Cavaliers, the Gamecocks took advantage of two throwing errors to score the winning run. With one out in the top of the 11^th inning 1B Christian Walker hit a single up the middle to start the inning. Walker, cleared to play with a broken wrist just before game time, attempted to steal second base when Gators’ catcher Mike Zunino, a Johnny Bench Award finalist, overthrew second allowing Walker to advance to third. Gators’ CF Bryson Smith then overthrew third trying to get Walker out at third allowing the winning run to score. Walker and his broken wrist went 2-5 for the Gamecocks.

Florida had their chances to score in the 9^th and 10^th inning. Two Gator runners were thrown out at home in the 9^th and one in the 10^th. In the 9^th inning 2B Scott Wingo, an 11^th round draft pick by the Dodgers, threw home twice to get Gator runners Zunino and DH Brian Johnson out. 3B Cody Dent was thrown out by LF Jake Williams in the 10^th.

Offensively the Gators had great nights from Johnson 3-5 and Smith 2-4 with a walk but only managed 8 hits in total. The Gamecocks faired no better at the plate only getting 7 hits, with 2 hits coming from Walker.

The Gamecocks threw four pitchers Monday night with starter Forrest Koumas going 5.2 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 ER. Matt Price was a hero again for the Gamecocks earning the save closing out the 11^th inning. John Taylor, a Seattle Mariners’ draft pick, pitched the 9^th and 10^th innings for South Carolina to earn the win. Taylor walked 3 and gave up 3 hits while shutting down the Gators.

The Gators countered the Gamecocks with Hudson Randall who threw 7.2 innings of 3 hit ball giving up 1 ER. Nick Maronde, a third round draft pick of the Angels, took the loss throwing 1 inning of relief.

Cody Dent put the Gators on the board in the 3^rd scoring LF Tyler Thompson, a National’s draft pick, on a scarf ice fly. The Gamecocks scored in the 8^th to tie the game on 2B Scott Wingo’s single up the middle scoring SS Peter Mooney. 

Game 2 is Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. EST. The College World Series Championship Round is a best of 3 series.

 

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College World Series Updates

Finally the game college baseball fans had been waiting to see. The defending College World Series Champions South Carolina Gamecocks versus the 2011 top seeded Virginia Cavaliers. Sure both teams played each other on Tuesday but that game was a runaway by the Gamecocks 7-1, not what fans had been hoping to see. College baseball fans got their fill and then some in an extra inning pitchers duel that sent the Gamecocks to the CWS Championship round for the second straight year as they defeated UV 3-2 in 13 innings. Looking back, both teams will see multiple chances missed and wasted opportunities but neither team gave up.

Virginia jumped out in the second inning on a RBI fielder’s choice hit by CF Kenny Swab to score 3B Steven Proscia. The Gamecocks would answer in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two run double by DH Brady Thomas scoring 1B Christian Walker and CF Jackie Bradley Jr.

In the eighth inning Virginia benefited from 2 South Carolina errors, 3B Adrian Morales allowed Virginia SS Chris Taylor to reach base on a throwing error and SS Peter Mooney committed a fielding error off a John Hicks hit pitch to score the game tying run.

Gamecocks junior LHP Michael Roth, a 2011 Cleveland Indians draft pick, pitched 7 strong innings giving up 1 ER on 4-hits and striking out 3. John Taylor gave up one unearned run in .1 innings of work for South Carolina. The Cavaliers got 3 innings of 1-hit ball from Danny Hultzen, the second pick of the 2011 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners, before being relieved by Kyle Crockett. Crockett gave up 2 ER in 4 innings of work.

Both teams turned to their closers earlier than they had hoped and relied on them for a starter’s type outing in innings worked and pitches thrown. Matt Price threw for 5.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 95 pitches for the Gamecocks while Branden Kline threw 5 innings of shutout ball throwing 107 pitches for the Cavaliers. South Carolina gambled heavily on Matt Price in the 13^th inning which almost cost them the game. Price loaded the bases with no outs then struck out SS Taylor and LF John Barr lined into a double play to get out of the jam.

Cody Winiarski came in to relieve Kline in the bottom of the 13^th inning. Winiarski gave up a leadoff single to DH Brady Thomas (2-6) then the wheels came off for Winiarski. On back to back plays he committed throwing errors, the last allowing pitch runner Adam Matthews to score the winning run on C Robert Beary’s sacrifice bunt. Winiarski faced three batters but did not retire any Gamecock hitters.

South Carolina (53-14) will face the Florida Gators (53-17) in the Championship Round of the College World Series Monday night at 8:00 p.m. EST.

CWS Facts

This will be the first all-SEC Championship Game since the 1997 CWS between LSU and Alabama.

Only the PAC 10, 1998 Southern California vs. Arizona State, has had an all conference championship game since 1997.

South Carolina beat the Florida Gators 2 out of 3 times in conference play. They did not play each other during the SEC Tournament.

This is Florida’s second appearance in the NCAA Championship Game.

Florida’s last appearance in the Championship game was in 2005 vs. University of Texas which they lost 4-2 and 6-2.

This is also South Carolina’s second appearance in the Championship Game. South Carolina won the 2010 NCAA College World Series. 

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College World Series Updates

The Florida Gators continued the dominance over the Vanderbilt Commodores to earn a berth in the College World Series Friday night in Omaha, Nebraska, winning 6-4. Both teams played hard in a wild offensive game.

Tampa Bay 1^st round draft pick Sonny Gray was roughed up for the second time in the CWS by the Florida Gators for 6 earned runs in 7 innings of work. The Gators collected hits from every starting position player tallying 13 total hits. 4 Gator players had multiple hits; Leadoff hitter SS Nolan Fontana went 2-3 with 2 RBIs, 2B Josh Adams 2-3 with a run scored, RF Daniel Pigott went 2-4 with 2 runs, and 3B Cody Dent 2-2 with 2 runs. The bottom of the Gators order was getting on base and the top of the order was driving them in all night.

Commodores 1B Aaron Westlake jumped on Junior LHP Alex Panteliodis, a 9^th round pick by the New York Mets, for a solo homerun in the 1^st inning. Panteliodis would settle down as he threw 6 strong innings allowing 1 ER and 3 hits for the Gators.

Vanderbilt mounted a comeback in the 7^th inning off Tommy Toledo, 2 ER on 3-hits in .2 innings pitched. At the end of 7 the score was 4-3 Florida. In the top of the 8^th Vanderbilt tied the game at 4 all. Vandy DH Conrad Connor was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the last run of the game for the Commodores.

In the bottom of the 8^th inning Grayson started the inning but Will Clinard came in for relief with the bases loaded. Clinard gave up a Preston Tucker singled, which would prove to be the game winning run, scoring Daniel Pigott. Clinard then threw a wild pitch allowing Cody Dent to score.

Austin Maddox closed out the game for the Gators throwing 1.2 innings of shutout ball to earn the victory.

The Gators (53-17) await the winner of the South Carolina vs. Virginia Cavaliers game in the CWS Championship round. The Championship round begins Monday night at 8:00 p.m. EST. 

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College World Series Updates, Day 6

California Bears vs. Virginia Cavaliers

Cal’s miracle season came to an end Thursday against the #1 seeded Virginia Cavaliers losing 8-1. Cal’s whole season can be looked at as a blessing thanks to generous donations from benefactors of their baseball program but their improbable run as possible NCAA Champions is over. Virginia senior RHP Tyler Wilson dominated the Bears earning his second 2011 CWS victory.

Wilson, a 10^th round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, worked 7.2 innings, striking out 5, walking none, spreading out 5-hits, and giving up 1 ER. Wilson retired 11 straight batters from the second inning into the sixth inning. He kept the Bears hitters off-balance throughout the game. Bears DH Tony Renda went 1-4 and drove in CF Darrell Matthews for the only Bear run. Leadoff hitter LF/2B Austin Booker went 2-4 in the losing effort.

The Bears pitching staff was undone by three fielding errors which led to three unearned runs for the Cavs. Dixon Anderson took the loss for the Bears pitching 3 innings giving up 1 ER and 1 unearned. Kevin Miller gave up 4 ER in 2.2 innings.

Every Cavs starter registered a hit while 7 different players scored against the Bears. Cavs’ LF John Barr drove in 2 runs, CF Kenny Swab went 2-5, and 2B Keith Werman went 2-2.

The Cavaliers play South Carolina in an elimination game Friday night. 

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College World Series Updates, Day Three

One team was sent packing and another team has to wait until tomorrow to find out their fate in day three action of the College World Series.

Texas Longhorns vs. North Carolina Tar Hills

The early game in Omaha on Monday saw the Texas Longhorns, 6 time NCAA Baseball Champions, say goodbye to their hopes of capturing their 7^th NCAA Baseball Championship by losing to North Carolina 3-0. The Longhorns were shut down by Tar Hill pitcher Kent Emmanuel’s complete game 4-hit shutout. LF Jonathan Walsh tried to spark a punch less Texas’ offense by going 2-3. The Longhorns committed bases running errors to stop scoring opportunities in the second and fourth innings. Tar Hill LF Chaz Frank and RF Seth Baldwin helped double off two Longhorn runners with outfield assists on the plays to end both innings.

The Tar Hills offense scored two runs in the third inning off a two out single by C Jacob Stallings (the son of Vanderbilt’s men’s head basketball coach) to take control of the game. North Carolina collected nine total hits with four of those hits coming from 2-hole hitter CF Ben Bunting. Bunting scored a run and drove in a run.

The story of the game was Kent Emmanuel’s pitching for the Tar Hills. Emmanuel threw 126 pitches, stuck out 5, and walked 1 to earn the victory. Longhorn pitcher Cole Green threw 2 innings giving up 5 hits and 2 earned runs for the loss.

Florida Gators vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

The final outcome of the winner’s bracket game will have to wait until Tuesday as play was suspended due to inclement weather. Florida was leading 3-0 in the bottom half of the sixth inning with two outs when tornado sirens cleared the field; Vanderbilt was batting with two outs. Play will resume on Tuesday at 11:06 a.m. EST.

Colorado Rockies 16^th round draft pick RF Preston Tucker hit a three-run home run in the third inning to put the Gators up before play was stopped. Preston was leading a Florida attack that had accumulated 5 hits in 6 innings with Preston going 2-3. Vanderbilt SS Anthony Gomez had 2 of the 4 Commodore hits.

Tampa Rays compensatory pick (#59), LHP Grayson Garvin, gave up five hits and three earned runs for the Commodores on 99 pitches while striking out 9.

North Carolina awaits the loser of the Florida vs. Vanderbilt game. That game will be played Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Tuesday’s Games

California Bears (37-22) vs. Texas A&M (47-21) at 2:00 p.m. EST.

South Carolina Gamecocks (51-14) vs. Virginia Cavaliers (55-10) at 7:00 p.m. EST. 

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College World Series Updates, Day 2

Day Two, Bracket Two Updates

Day two of the College World Series proved to be as exciting as day one. Walk-off hits and strong pitching highlighted play on Sunday.

South Carolina vs. Texas A&M

The Gamecocks and Aggies had to shake off CWS nerves and jitters in the first inning before settling down to fundamental baseball in the second inning. Both teams benefited from an early error in the bottom half and top half of the first inning to tie the game at 4-4. The Gamecocks would earn a walk-off 5-4 victory with a single in the 9^th.

South Carolina Pitching

Michael Roth pitched 7.1 innings of 0 earned run ball but gave up 4 unearned runs in the first inning for the Gamecocks. Roth was a workhorse throwing 122 pitches, striking out 8, walking 5, while only giving up 4 hits to earn the victory. Roth gave up 2 hits in the 1^st, a hit in the 2^nd, and 1 in the 4^th. South Carolina would only allow 2 bases runners after the 4^th inning. John Taylor and Matt Price combined to throw 1.2 innings of no-hit shut out ball to close out the game.

South Carolina Hitting

2B Scott Wingo was the offensive star for South Carolina going 4-4, was hit by a pitch, knocked in one, and scored one. His walk-off single with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 9^th advanced South Carolina into the winners bracket. C Robert Beary started off the 9^th with a double, followed by a CF Jackie Bradley Jr. single (his only hit of the night), and then a walk by lead-off hitter RF Evan Marzilli loaded the bases for Wingo’s clutch game winning RBI.

Texas A&M Hitting

LF Brandon Wood led the way for the Aggies at the plate. He had a bases clearing triple with two outs in the first inning. Lead off hitter RF Tyler Naquin got the first inning going for the Aggies reaching base off an error by South Carolina’s 1B Christian Walker.

Texas A&M Pitching

Aggies’ starting pitcher Ross Stripling threw 114 pitches in 8 innings of work, striking out 6, walking 1, giving up 2 ER and 7 hits.

California vs. Virginia

A pitchers duel broke out between top seeded Virginia and the scrappy California Bears. The Cavaliers were able to slow Cal’s bats and earn a 4-1 victory to advance into the winners bracket of the CWS.

University of Virginia Pitching

Danny Hultzen threw 6.1 innings of 3 hit shut out ball with no run support. Hultzen struck out 6 and walked 3. Tyler Wilson was then brought in to provide 2.1 innings of relief, giving up 3 hits, and 1 ER for the win. Brandon Kline threw .1 innings getting CF Darrel Matthew to foul out to 3B Steven Proscia for the last out and the save.

University of Virginia Hitting

The Cavaliers threatened in the third but were held scoreless until their 2-run 7^th inning and 2-run 8^th inning. 2B Keith Werman, the Cavaliers’ 9 hole hitter (batting .216), had the game of his life going 2-4 with a RBI and scoring the Cavs first run of the CWS. Lead off hitter SS Chris Taylor would score the winning run for the Cavs in the 7^th inning. LF John Barr went 2-2 with a walk.

University of California-Berkley Hitting

The Cal Bears tried for late innings heroics scoring their only run in the top of the 9^th on a single to left center by RF Chad Bunting scoring SS and cleanup hitter Marcus Semien. The Bears did not advance a runner past 2^nd until the 9^th inning. Cal put a runner on second base in the 1^st, 2^nd, and 7^th innings but were never able to capitalize on Cavs pitching.

University of California-Berkley Pitching

Erik Johnson labored through 3 innings for Cal giving up 5 walks and 2 hits but no earned runs. Logan Scott threw 3 innings giving up 2 ER for the loss. Kevin Miller threw 1 inning giving up 2 ER on 3 hits.

Bracket Two Games on Tuesday

Virginia (55-10) will play South Carolina (51-14) Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. EST in the winner’s bracket.

California (37-22) will play Texas A&M (47-21) Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. EST in an elimination game.

Day 3 Games of the College World Series, Bracket One

Vanderbilt (53-10) plays Florida (51-17) in the winner’s bracket at 7:00 p.m. EST.

North Carolina (50-15) plays Texas (49-18) in an elimination game at 2:00 p.m. EST. 

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College World Series Updates

Bracket One

North Carolina vs. Vanderbilt

College World Series play began Saturday with Vanderbilt taking on North Carolina. Vanderbilt will be the first team to tell you having a strong bullpen can make all the difference in the College World Series. North Carolina roughed up Vanderbilt’s starting pitcher, Sonny Gray (1^st round draft pick for the Oakland A’s), for 8 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB in 4.2 innings. Corey Williams came in to shut the door on the Tar Hills with 2.2 innings of shut out relief pitching to earn the win. Will Clinard and Kevin Ziomek combined for 1.2 innings of relief pitching with 0 ER.

Both teams brought their offense to Omaha as the Commodores had 10 hits and the Tar Hills had 11. UNC was led by 3B Collin Moran going 3-4 with 2 RBIs and Vanderbilt by lead-off hitter LF Tony Kemp going 3-4 with 1 RBI and 1 BB.

University of Texas vs. University of Florida

University of Texas lost 8-4 to University of Florida in Game 2 of Bracket 1 play in the College World Series on Saturday.

UF starting pitcher, Hudson Randall, was able to overcome 2 Florida errors and 4 unearned runs to beat the Longhorns. Randall only gave up 1 earned run on 5 hits in 6.2 innings pitched. Florida’s bullpen was able to 2.1 innings of no-hit shutout relief to close the game.

Florida’s offense was paced by CF Bryson Smith’s 2-2 effort with 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 2 walks. Texas SS Brandon Loy continued his strong season at the plate with a 2-4 night.

Texas’ starting pitcher, Taylor Jungmann labored through 4.1 innings giving up 4 earned runs on only 3 hits but giving up 4 walks.

Vanderbilt will play Florida Monday night at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Florida was 2-1 vs. Vanderbilt during the regular season and 1-0 in the SEC Tournament winning 6-5, losing 14-1, and winning 6-3 in 12 innings. Florida beat Vanderbilt in the SEC Tourney Championship Game 5-0.

North Carolina will play Texas Monday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. EST in the loser’s bracket.

North Carolina and Texas did not meet in 2011 regular season action.

Sunday’s Games

University of California vs. University of Virginia at 2:00 p.m. EST.

University of South Carolina vs. Texas A&M University at 7:00 p.m. EST. 

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College World Series Facts and Information

Only one top seeded team, since the seeding format began in 1999, has won the College World Series, University of Miami. This year’s #1 seed is University of Virginia.

The last ACC team to win a CWS was Wake Forest in 1955.

The California Bears have not won a College World Series since 1957. Their last appearance in the CWS was in 1992 when they went 0-2.

This is the 7^th CWS appearance for the Florida Gators, 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2010, 2011. The Gators finished 2^nd in the 2005 CWS.

North Carolina has made 5 CWS appearances since 2006. UNC finished 2^nd in 2006 and 2007.

UF catcher Jacob Stallings is the son of Vanderbilt’s head men’s basketball coach Kevin Stallings.

The Bears are the lowest seeded team, 3 seed, to earn a CWS berth since the 4^th seeded 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs berth. Fresno State won the 2008 CWS.

The Gamecocks have 5 CWS berths since 2002 winning the NCAA Championship in 2010.

UF was 2 and out in the 2010 CWS.

The Gamecocks have only trailed in one game during 2011 post season play. They trailed University of Connecticut 2-0 before coming back for an 8-2 win.

The Texas Longhorns have 34 CWS appearances winning 6. Their last win was in 2005.

Texas A&M has 5 CWS berths, never finishing better than 5^th.

This is Vanderbilt’s first CWS berth.

This is Virginia’s 2^nd CWS appearance. In 2009 they tied for 5^th place.

Six of the last seven CWS winners were not seeded in the top 8. 

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Super Regional Updates Day Three

Four more teams clinched a berth in the 2011 College World Series on Sunday.

Florida Gators

South Carolina Gamecocks

Texas Longhorns

California Bears

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Vanderbilt Commodores won their Super Regional on Saturday.

Three SEC teams have a spot in the 2011 College World Series. The ACC can claim three if Florida State and University of Virginia win on Monday.

Updates of Sunday’s games

University of Florida vs. Mississippi State

So much for the new bats limiting home runs, Florida slugged five home runs against Mississippi State on Sunday closing their Super Regional with an 8-6 victory. Mike Zunino contributed to the home run derby hitting his 18^th on the season. Zunino, a Johnny Bench Award finalist, went 2-4 raising his season average to .376. Mississippi State 2B Nick Vickerson hit another home run in a losing effort; his 9^th of the year. This is the Gators seventh appearance in the College World Series.

South Carolina vs. University of Connecticut

Christian Walker has hit back to back Super Regional clinching home runs (2010 over Coastal Carolina) to lift the Gamecocks 8-2 to the College World Series over Connecticut. The Gamecocks will have an opportunity to defend their 2010 NCAA National Championship in Omaha.

University of Texas vs. Arizona State University

The Texas Longhorns clinched their 37^th College World Series berth with a 4-2 win over Arizona State. Texas’ pitchers scattered 6 hits keeping ASU off balance all game. Texas SS Brandon Loy went 3-4 with a RBI and BB raising his season average to .350.

University of California vs. Dallas Baptist University

The Cal Bears stopped Dallas Baptist unbelievable 2011 play winning 6-2. Is Cal a team of destiny this season? Their program was cut by the university earlier in the year due to budget constraints but saved by booster donations in time for 2011 season play. Catcher Chadd Krist went 2-4 with 3 RBIs for Cal.

Elimination Monday

Florida State and UC Irvine won to keep their College World series hopes alive on Sunday.

Florida State University vs. University of Texas A&M

Florida State demolished Texas A&M 23-9. FSU out hit Texas A&M 16 to 12 and capitalized on 4 Aggie errors. FSU hit 3 home runs on their way to scoring 20 earned runs. Five different A&M pitchers took the mound on Sunday, each giving up at least 3 earned runs.

Game three between FSU and Texas A&M begins Monday at 7:00 p.m. EST.

University of Virginia vs. UC Irvine

After a 4 ½ hour rain delay, the Anteaters stayed alive with a 6-4 win over #1 overall seeded Virginia. LF Drew Hillman went 2-4 with a solo home run for UC Irvine.

Game three between Virginia and UC Irvine is set for Monday at 4:00 p.m. EST. 

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Super Regional Updates Day Two

Vanderbilt and North Carolina have won a berth in the College World Series.

North Carolina held off a late game rally to beat Stanford 7-5 earning a trip to the College World Series. C Jacob Stallings went 3-5 with 3 RBIs for the Tar Heels. RP Greg Holt gave up 4 ER in the 8^th to bring the Cardinal within 6-5 before the Tar Heels added another run in the 9^th.

Vanderbilt jumped on Oregon State early and kept the pressure on to win 9-3. Vanderbilt’s offense was highlighted by SS Anthony Gomez’s 4-6 and 1B Aaron Westlake’s 3-4 nights. Westlake went deep for the Commodores and knocked in 6 runs. Will Clinard earned the victory throwing 4.2 innings, 1 ER, and striking out 8. 3B Carter Bell went 2-4 and hit a solo home run for the Beavers.

Elimination Sunday

Texas ties series with Arizona State University winning 5-1. 2B Jordan Etier hit a 3-run home run in the 9^th, his second on the season, to blow the game open. Game three is at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Mississippi State ties series with Florida State winning 4-3. Nick Vickerson hit a walk-off 2-run home run with two outs in the ninth to keep Mississippi State alive in their bid for a College World Series berth. Florida C Mike Zunino, a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award, went 2-5 and he is now hitting .374 on the season. Game Three is at 1:00 p.m. EST in the Gainesville Regional.

Game 1 Updates

Texas A&M beat Florida State 6-2 behind the strong pitching of Ross Stripling.

Stripling scattered 7 hits in 7 innings to earn the victory for the Aggies. The Aggies scored 4 runs in the 7^th to take a 5-2 lead. Florida State had strong efforts at the plate by RF James Ramsey 3-4, .371, and C Rafael Lopez, 3-4, .341. Game two is at 4:00 p.m. EST in the Tallahassee Regional.

South Carolina beat Connecticut 5-1 behind Michael Roth’s outstanding pitching, 8.1 innings pitched, 1 R, O earned. The Gamecocks racked up 10 hits against Huskies pitching. Game two is at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Columbia Regional.

California beat Dallas Baptist 7-0. California’s pitching 3-hit the Patriots potent offensive lineup. Pats RF Jason Krizan 1-4, .416, and CF Landon Anderson 1-3, .358, couldn’t muster up any additional offense against the solid starting pitching of Justin Jones. Game two is at 10:00 EST in the Santa Clara Regional.

Virginia beat UC Irvine 6-0 behind 1B Jarred King’s home run and 3-4 effort, 3 RBIs. UC Irvine was held to four hits. Game two is at 1:00 p.m. EST in Charlottesville Regional.

The top 8 seeded teams going into post-season play:

Virginia

Florida

North Carolina

South Carolina

Florida State

Vanderbilt

Texas

Rice

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2011 College Baseball Tournament Updates

11 teams have won their regional and are headed to their super regional. Five more teams await their fate today. Here’s an update of this weekend’s action.  

There were few big surprises from the NCAA tournament this weekend. #3 seeded UC Irvine upset #1 seeded UCLA 4-3 on Sunday with a walk-off single in the ninth. The Anteaters advance to the Charlotte super regional, their first super regional since 2008, where they will face overall #1 seeded University of Virginia.

#3 seeded Mississippi State upset #1 seeded Georgia Tech 7-3 on Sunday in the Atlanta regional. Mississippi State advances to the Gainesville regional where they will face their Southeastern Conference foe the Florida Gators. Florida took 2 out of 3 games from Mississippi State in Starkville during the regular season (5-7, 18-0, 3-1) and beat the Bulldogs 7-5 in the SEC Tournament.

#2 seeded Stanford sent #4 seeded University of Illinois, the only Big Ten team in the tournament, home on Sunday winning 14-2. The Fighting Illini upset #1 seeded Cal-State Fullerton 7-5 in the Sunday morning game of the Fullerton regional.

The biggest upsets of the weekend occurred in the Fort Worth regional. #1 seeded TCU was put out of the tournament after three games. TCU beat #4 seed Oral Roberts on Friday 10-2, lost to #3 seed Dallas Baptist 3-2 on Saturday, and then lost to Oral Roberts on Sunday 8-4. #2 seeded Oklahoma was ousted in two games losing to Dallas Baptist 3-2 in 10 innings on Friday and Oral Roberts 7-0 on Saturday. Dallas Baptist and Oral Roberts play for the right to advance to what would have been the Houston regional had Rice not been defeated by University of California during the Sunday morning game 6-3. The higher winning seed between the Houston regional (#3 California vs. #2 Baylor) and Fort Worth regional will host that super regional.

Power conferences have paved the way to the super regional. The SEC has 4 teams advancing, ACC 3, and the PAC 10 has 3.

Teams that are headed to a super regional:

#1 seeded Virginia

#1 seeded South Carolina

#1 seeded Florida

#1 seeded Florida State

#1 seeded Arizona State

#1 seeded Oregon State

#1 seeded Vanderbilt

#1 seeded North Carolina

#2 seeded Stanford

#3 seeded Mississippi State

#3 seeded UC Irvine

Teams still fighting for a super regional berth:

#1 Texas vs. #3 Kent State; Austin regional

#2 Baylor vs. #3 California; Houston regional

#1 Clemson vs. #2 Connecticut; Clemson regional

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Arizona; College Station regional

#3 Dallas Baptist vs. #4 Oral Roberts; Fort Worth regional

Super regional play will begin Friday June 10 through Sunday if necessary. The super regional format is a best of three series. The College World Series will begin June 18 in Omaha, Nebraska. 

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2011 College Baseball Tournament Updates

College baseball teams began their march to Omaha, Nebraska on Friday. 16 teams are hosting the field of 64 across the country. The top 8 surviving teams will battle it out for the National Championship June 18-29. Without the same fan fair as March Madness, college baseball is proving it has the same share of thrills and mayhem for college sports fans. 6 top seeded teams face elimination games today, five #2 seeds have already been sent home, and four #3 seeds are 2-0.

NCAA top 8 seeded teams

Virginia

Florida

North Carolina

South Carolina

Florida State

Vanderbilt

Texas

Rice

NCAA Division 1 updates from Friday and Saturday

#1 seeds facing elimination games:

UCLA is 1-1 and faces an elimination game today.

Texas is 1-1 and faces an elimination game today.

TCU is 1-1 and faces an elimination game today.

Rice is 1-1 and faces an elimination game today.

Georgia Tech is 1-1 and faces an elimination game today.

Cal-State Fullerton is 1-1 and faces an elimination game today.

Eliminated #4 seeds:

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Sacred Heart

Georgia Southern

Wright State

Navy

Alcorn State

Bethune Cookman

Manhattan

New Mexico

Princeton

Eliminated #3 seeds:

Kansas State

Upsets and surprises:

#2 seeded Oklahoma is out of the tournament.

#2 seeded Oklahoma State is out of the tournament.

# 2 seeded Southern Mississippi is out of the tournament.

#2 seeded Fresno State is out of the tournament.

#2 seeded Florida International University is out of the tournament.

#3 seeded Dallas Baptist University is 2-0 in the Fort Worth/TCU regional.

#3 seeded UC Irvine is 2-0 in the UCLA/Los Angeles regional.

#3 seeded Mississippi State is 2-0 in the Georgia Tech/Atlanta regional.

#3 seeded Kent State is 2-0 in the University of Texas/Austin regional.

Win-Loss breakdown per seeds thru Friday and Saturday games:

                        2-0       1-1       0-2

#1 seeds          10        6          0         

#2 seeds          2          9          5

#3 seeds          4          11        1

#4 seeds          0          6          10

How are the “power conferences” performing?

                        Teams              Wins/Losses

ACC                7                      11-3

Big East          3                      3-3

Big 12             6                      5-7

Big 10             1                      1-1

PAC 10           6                      9-3

SEC                 7                      11-3

How are the new bats affecting play?

Home runs are down in the NCAA tournament this year. During the first day of play in 2010 (32 games) 87 home runs were hit. This year only 38 home runs were hit on the first day of play (32 games).

A full season perspective:

Offense was down this year in Division 1 baseball primarily due to the new bats. The new bats are said to have a smaller “sweet spot”, 3 inches as opposed to the 5 inches on the older bats, and the weight of the bat is throwing hitters off. The average distance of home runs has changed from 400 ft. in 2010 to 375 ft. in 2011. Teams have complained that the weight of the bat is not centered properly like a wooden bat. More weight is given to the barrel of the bat used this year in college baseball. This causes players to change their swing and go through the strike zone too fast. The NCAA plans to change the style of bats for the 2012 season.

The one thing they got right with the bats is the sound the ball makes on contact. The “PING” sound of the old aluminum bats is gone, replaced with the sound a wooden bat makes upon contact.

1998 was a record setting year offensively in Division 1 baseball. Compare 1998’s stats to 2011 for yourself.

Comparing numbers

                                    1998    2011

Home runs/game         1.00     .52

Runs/game                  7.12     5.62

Batting avg.                3.06     2.82

ERA                            6.12     4.70

Just to clarify, it was a clean play, get over it!

San Francisco Giants’ fans and their team management need a little baseball education. On May 25^th Florida Marlins rookie, Scott Cousins, made a clean baseball play when he collided with Giants’ catcher Buster Posey at the plate. It is unfortunate that Posey was hurt and is out for the rest of the season due an ankle injury that occurred from their collision. Fans have been sending Cousins death threats and Giants management has been harsh in their words and also threatening to Cousins. Cousins apologized twice to Posey, the Giants organization, and their fans publicly. Still Cousins receives death threats from fans for a clean play at the plate. Posey was blocking the plate preventing Cousins from making a clean slide to the plate. Shoe on the other foot, anyone of the Giants players would’ve run over a Marlins’ catcher. 

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