College World Series

The Michigan Wolverines picked up where they left off following their 15-3 win over Texas Tech on Friday by defeating Vanderbilt 7-4 in Monday night's Game 1 of the 2019 College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.

The win grants Michigan's a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Michigan jumped on Vanderbilt starting pitcher Drake Fellows right away by scoring two in the top of the first inning, and it marked the fourth straight game in which the Wolverines plated at least one run in the first inning.

The Wolverines strike first and take the early 1-0 lead! #CWS | @umichbaseball pic.twitter.com/mWw5JnQUx0

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 24, 2019

Michigan keeps the bats going and drives one home! #CWS | @umichbaseball pic.twitter.com/jEPhIlJWkZ

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 24, 2019

Wolverines pitchers entered Monday's game 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts in Omaha, Nebraska, and Tommy Henry continued their dominant streak on the mound. The junior southpaw tossed 8.1 innings and struck out eight before leaving to a standing ovation.

That said, Vanderbilt did make a run at Michigan's lead in the bottom of the second, scoring on a Ty Duvall single and a passed ball.

Fellows was chased out of the game in the top of the sixth after allowing four runs and striking out seven, but J.J. Bleday, the 2019 No. 4 overall pick of the Miami Marlins and Division I home run leader, smashed a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to cut Michigan's lead to 4-3.

BLEDAY with the BOMB! 💣#CWS | @VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/QVLCRZZhJG

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2019

The Wolverines kept their composure and answered in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer from Jimmy Kerr, his third of the College World Series—a Michigan record. Joe Donovan piled on with a solo shot of his own in the top of the eighth.

JIMMY KERR IS A LEGEND.#CWS | @umichbaseball pic.twitter.com/UGzqTnOo0H

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2019

Back... Back... Back... TOUCH THEM ALL, Joe Donovan! #CWS | @umichbaseball pic.twitter.com/LP5v1mmMFp

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2019

In the bottom half of the frame, down 7-3, Vanderbilt threatened again. With one out and one on, Ethan Paul singleld to right field where Jordan Brewer gathered the ball and threw out Austin Martin at third. Henry ended the inning one batter later with a strikeout, effectively ending Vanderbilt's rally before it really started.

WHAT A 🚀 OF A THROW!

JORDAN BREWER! #CWS #SCTop10 | @umichbaseball pic.twitter.com/dBx0MZxDRA

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 25, 2019

Jeff Criswell closed Game 1 for the Wolverines and is expected to take the mound as Michigan's starter in Game 2. His only allowed run was from a sacrifice fly, and he collected his fourth save of the season—all of which have come in the College World Series.

Kumar Rocker will start for Vanderbilt.

Since the best-of-three format was introduced to the College World Series in 2003, 11 of 16 national champions won Game 1, according to NCAA.com. However, reigning champion Oregon State won two in a row after losing the first game just last year.

Heckuva #CWS stat courtesy of @ESPNStatsInfo:

With Michigan's Game 1 win, non-national seeds are 15-2 against Top-8 national seeds in CWS Finals games, and have won all 7 previous best-of-3 series.

— Rob Anderson (@_robanderson) June 25, 2019

Vanderbilt is more than capable of following suit, starting with Rocker on the mound Tuesday night. The freshman sensation became the first to toss a no-hitter in Super Regionals history on June 8 in a win-or-go-home situation against Duke. He struck out 19 batters.

unhittable [ənˈhidəb(ə)l] - adjective

1. impossible to hit
2. Kumar Rocker tonight#RoadToOmaha | @VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/b6bcMjXN7T

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 9, 2019

Michigan, though, is a different beast than Duke. The Wolverines, along with Duke, were one of the Last Four selected into the NCAA tournament. Since then, Michigan has unseated No. 1 overall seed UCLA to advance to the College World Series.

Now, the Wolverines are one win away from defeating the No. 2 overall seed for their first national championship since 1962. The rest of the college baseball world may be shocked, but Michigan head coach Erik Bakich assured ESPN.com's Ryan McGee that he and his team are not:

"We certainly don't look at ourselves as some sort of Cinderella story. These guys believe they should be here. I think if you've really watched them over the last month, you've seen that attitude develop. They just want to play ball, and they want to do it together as long as they can. Every win is one more day that they get to stay together. That's the goal they're focused on, not where we are or who we're playing or what people think of our chances. Because of that, they aren't intimidated by Omaha or anywhere else."

While this is Michigan's first trip to Omaha since 1984, Vanderbilt was crowned champion in 2014 and lost in the finals to Virginia in 2015. This year's Commodores squad set an SEC record with 13 MLB draft picks and has lost back-to-back games only twice, according to MLive.com's Ryan Zuke.

Michigan is on a roll, but Vanderbilt won't lay down easy.

In other words, buckle up for Game 2.

     

What's Next?

Game 2's first pitch is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET from TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.

Michigan (49-20) and Vanderbilt (57-11) both go into the championship round of the College World Series playing the game at a sensational level.

The Wolverines have rolled to three victories in the CWS, including a 15-3 triumph over Texas Tech in their last game. That explosive performance may be difficult to repeat against the Commodores.

Vanderbilt is also 3-0 in the CWS to this point, and the Commodores have a strong and deep lineup.

The championship round of the CWS is a best-of-3 matchup, with games Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, if necessary. All games will be played at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

     

2019 College World Series: Championship

Monday, June 24
Game 1, Michigan vs. Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Tuesday, June 25
Game 2, Michigan vs. Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Wednesday, June 26
Game 3, Michigan vs. Vanderbilt, if necessary, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

The CWS can be live-streamed at WatchESPN

     

Vanderbilt has a powerful lineup that includes JJ Bleday, Austin Martin, Stephen Scott and Julian Infante.

Bleday is the leading slugger in the nation, and he has 26 home runs and 70 RBI. Martin is hitting .406, and he has belted 10 home runs and stolen 18 bases in 23 attempts.

Scott has 14 home runs and 59 RBI, while Infante has 12 home runs. 

Bleday could prove to be the most dangerous hitter in the series against Michigan, and the Wolverines' pitching staff is going to have to contain him.

The Vanderbilt starting pitching staff includes Drake Fellows, Kumar Rocker, Patrick Raby and Mason Hickman. Fellows has a 13-1 record and a 3.97 earned-run average, while Rocker is 11-5 and has a 3.38 ERA.

Michigan has enough weapons to cause problems for the Commodores. The Wolverines are led by Jordan Brewer and Jordan Nwogu. Brewer is hitting .329 with 12 home runs and 57 runs batted in, and Nwogu is batting .326 with 12 homers and 46 RBI.

In addition to Brewer and Nwogu, Jimmy Kerr is also a dangerous hitter with 14 home runs and 62 RBI, while Jesse Franklin has hammered 13 homers and driven in 54 runs.

Michigan's starting pitchers Karl Kauffmann, Tommy Henry and Jeff Criswell will have the responsibility of keeping the Commodores in check. Kauffmann has a 12-6 record with a 2.75 ERA, Henry has an 11-5 mark and a 3.27 ERA and Criswell has a 7-1 record with a 2.60 ERA.

Henry will get the start in Game 1 for the Wolverines, while Fellows will go to the mound for Vanderbilt.

The finish line is in sight for the College World Series, and Vanderbilt has an excellent chance of joining Michigan in college baseball's national championship series.

The Commodores have been the best team in the sport for the majority of the season, and they will advance to the title round if they beat Louisville Friday night.

If they lose that game, the two teams will play Saturday as a result of the double-elimination format of the CWS, and the winner of that game will play in the championship round.

The Wolverines landed in the CWS championship series after trouncing Texas Tech 15-3 Friday afternoon. Michigan has won all three of CWS games to this point.

     

College World Series schedule

Friday, June 21
Game 11: Michigan 15, Texas Tech 3
Game 12: Vanderbilt vs. Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, June 22
Vanderbilt vs. Louisville (if necessary): 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

     

CWS finals

TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha, Nebraska
June 24-26 on ESPN

Monday, June 24
Game 1, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 25
Game 2, 7 p.m. 

Wednesday, June 26
Game 3, if necessary, 7 p.m.

      

Glance at Michigan 

Michigan (49-20) has a pair of sluggers in Jordan Brewer and Jordan Nwogu. Both players have excellent old-school stat lines, as Brewer is hitting .336 with 12 home runs and 56 RBI and Nwogu is contributing a .328 batting average with 12 blasts and 43 RBI.

The Michigan pitching staff is led by Karl Kauffmann, Tommy Henry and Jeff Criswell. Kauffman has already picked up two wins in Omaha, and he has demonstrated a strong arm and solid control.

The Wolverines are playing their best baseball of the year in the College World Series. They went 2-0 against Texas Tech, a team that swept them in a three-game series earlier this year.

     

Vanderbilt vs. Louisville

Give the Cardinals (50-17) credit for their 4-3 victory over Mississippi State in an elimination game, but taking on the top-seeded Commodores (56-11) is a much tougher assignment.

Vanderbilt has three sluggers in the middle of its lineup in Austin Martin, JJ Bleday and Stephen Scott. Martin is a magnificent all-around offensive force with a .409 average, 10 homers and 45 RBI along with 18 stolen bases. Bleday has hammered 26 home runs and knocked in 70 runs, while Scott is hitting .335 with 14 homers and 59 RBI.

The Commodores have a deep pitching staff that includes Drake Fellows, Kumar Rocker, Patrick Raby and Mason Hickman, and they are capable of shutting down opposing offenses.

The Cardinals can't come close to matching Vanderbilt in terms of power. Alex Binelas has hit 14 home runs and driven in 59 runs, and he is the only Louisville hitter who has hit 10 or more home runs. Shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald is also a key factor in the lineup with a .322 batting average to go along with eight home runs and 65 RBI.

     

Predictions

Michigan got the best of Texas Tech in the semifinal round, and Vanderbilt will overpower Louisville.

The CWS championship round is a best of three series that gets underway Monday. Michigan will have to improve its level of play if it is going to win a game in the series and extend Vanderbilt, let alone win the series.

Brewer and Nwogu are good hitters who can carry the offense, but they can't match Martin, Bleday and Scott.

Kauffmann is a solid starter for Michigan, and Henry is coming off a three-hitter in his last outing against Florida State. The pitching looks good, but Vanderbilt has the advantage in that area with Fellows and Rocker at the top of the rotation.

Vanderbilt wins the College World Series, and it would be a shock if it took more than two games.

The Michigan Wolverines and Vanderbilt Commodores are both a single victory away from sealing a place in the championship round of the 2019 College World Series.

But a familiar foe stands in the path of both programs.

Michigan will challenge Texas Tech, which advanced to Friday's action with a 4-1 triumph over Florida State. During the opening round of the CWS, the Wolverines dispatched the Red Raiders 5-3.

Later on, Vanderbilt will attempt to earn its third season win against Louisville. In addition to a 6-2 victory during the regular season, the Commodores toppled the Cards 3-1 earlier in the week. Louisville advanced after surviving Thursday's elimination game with Mississippi State.

If either or both Michigan and Vanderbilt falls Friday, a winner-take-all rematch will be played Saturday.

           

2019 CWS Friday Schedule

Texas Tech vs. Michigan, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN, WatchESPN)

Vanderbilt vs. Louisville, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, WatchESPN)

               

What to Know for Friday

Michigan has notched a pair of CWS victories with opportunistic hitting, but a combined .224 batting average is reason for concern.

Not panic, but concern.

"Gotta tighten some things up offensively," Michigan coach Erik Bakich said after the victory against Florida State. "But that's what pitching and defense can do, they can cover up a night where you don't have your best offensive performance."

Tommy Henry spun a three-hit shutout in Monday's win, which followed a superb Saturday from Karl Kauffman and Jeff Criswell.

Kauffman allowed three runs to Texas Tech in seven innings, and Criswell tossed a pair of scoreless frames.

Kauffman (11-6, 2.66 ERA) is expected to start, but a well-rested Criswell (7-1, 2.68) should be ready as a reliever. Texas Tech will counter with freshman righty Micah Dallas (7-1, 3.66).

While the Red Raiders hope to have better success against Kauffman, Louisville is set to face a different pitcher in the rematch.

Vanderbilt will send out Mason Hickman (8-0, 2.23), who has surrendered more than two runs in only two appearances all season. Plus, the sophomore has racked up 37 strikeouts over his last 22 innings. Louisville can ill-afford another slow start.

The Cardinals managed to recover in dramatic fashion Thursday, celebrating a walk-off 4-3 victory with all four runs coming in the final three frames. Louisville had been 1-6 when trailing after eight innings, according to the Associated Press.

Vanderbilt's bullpen likely won't be as forgiving, though.

Junior right-hander Luke Smith (6-0, 4.33) will put his perfect record on the line for the Cards. He last pitched in the regional, ceding two runs in 8.1 innings to guide Louisville past Illinois State.

          

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

The College World Series is getting close to its most crucial stage.

Michigan and Vanderbilt have won their first two games of the double-elimination tournament, and have reached Friday's semifinal round.

The Wolverines can advance to the championship series if they can beat Texas Tech at 2 p.m. ET at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. Even if Michigan loses that game, the Wolverines can advance to the title round by beating the Red Raiders in a return match Saturday. Texas Tech must win both games to advance.

Vanderbilt will be in the same situation as Michigan when they face either Louisville or Mississippi State at 7 p.m. The Cardinals and Bulldogs are playing an elimination game Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET, and the winner gets the top-seeded Commodores Friday night.

      

Friday's College World Series Schedule

Game 11: Michigan vs. Texas Tech, 2 p.m., ESPN
Game 12: Vanderbilt vs. Louisville-Mississippi State winner, 7 p.m., ESPN

     

Michigan vs. Texas Tech

The Wolverines (48-20) have already picked up a pair of victories in the CWS, and one of them was a 5-3 victory over the Red Raiders (46-19).

Michigan's other victory in the tournament came over Florida State.

While the Wolverines can feel good about their CWS, they know they have a serious battle against Texas Tech because they were swept in a three-game series by the Red Raiders this season.

Junior right-hander Karl Kauffmann is likely to get the start for the Wolverines. He was the winning pitcher in the earlier CWS win over Texas Tech, giving up three runs.

U-M's offense is led by right fielder Jordan Brewer and designated hitter Jordan Nwogu. Brewer is hitting a robust .336 with 12 homers and 56 runs batted in, while Nwogu is hitting .328 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI.

Texas Tech has won 22 of its last 27 games, and the Red Raiders are led by the slugging of first baseman Cameron Warren (18 HRs, 79 RBI), and shortstop Josh Jung (.343, 15 HRs, 58 RBI).

Prediction: Texas Tech 4, Michigan 2. The Wolverines are on an impressive roll at the CWS, but the Red Raiders are not going down without a fight. Texas Tech wins this semifinal game and forces a Saturday showdown for a spot in the CWS championship round.

      

Vanderbilt vs. Louisville-Mississippi State winner

The Commodores (56-11) have been the best team in college baseball throughout the season, and there has been no downturn since their arrival in Omaha, Nebraska. They have won a pair of games on the big stage, and they will be prepared for their semifinal.

Vanderbilt can overpower any opponent when it is at its best. Austin Martin, JJ Bleday and Stephen Scott are a formidable trio that can put runs on the board quickly.

Martin is probably the best igniter in the tournament as he is hitting .409 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 23 attempts. Bleday is a dominant hitter with a .358 average, 26 home runs and 70 RBI, while Scott is hitting .335 with 14 long balls and 59 RBI.

Bleday may be feeling some pressure to contribute with the long ball since Martin and Scott have both hit two home runs in Omaha, while he has yet to hit one over the fence.

The pitching is also impressive with Drake Fellows, Kumar Rocker, Patrick Raby and Mason Hickman.

Louisville (50-17) is a tough and feisty all-around team, but the Cardinals can't match Vanderbilt in power or pitching. Third baseman Alex Binelas has 14 home runs and 59 RBI, but he is the only Cardinal in double figures in home runs. Shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald (.322, 8 HRs, 65 RBI) can be a difference-maker.

Mississippi State (52-14) may be somewhat better equipped to take on Vanderbilt, although the Bulldogs would still need to raise their game to beat the Commodores.

Catcher Dustin Skelton has hammered 10 home runs and driven in 55 runs, while second baseman Justin Foscue looks like a game-changing hitter with a .332 batting average, 14 homers and 60 RBI.

Prediction: Vanderbilt defeats the Louisville-Mississippi State winner. The Commodores have too much power and pitching for either opponent, although the Bulldogs will make it somewhat closer than the Cardinals.

One more program will be eliminated from the 2019 College World Series when the Louisville Cardinals and Mississippi State Bulldogs meet Thursday night in Omaha, Nebraska.

Louisville navigated its first knockout game, fending off the Auburn Tigers for a 5-3 victory Wednesday. Junior shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald launched his eighth homer of the season, and Michael Kirian picked up his fifth save despite a tense inning of work.

Mississippi State followed with a loss, though.

A 6-3 defeat to the Vanderbilt Commodores dropped the Bulldogs from the winner's bracket. After falling behind 6-0 early, they trimmed the gap but couldn't pull off a comeback.

Louisville will serve as the home team in the elimination clash.

           

2019 CWS Thursday Schedule

Matchup: Mississippi State vs. Louisville

When: 8 p.m. ET

TV and live stream: ESPN2, WatchESPN

          

Because of Tuesday's rain pushing the conclusion of the Auburn game to Wednesday, Louisville now faces a daunting task of three wins in three days against a couple of top-three teams.

Right after the victory, though, the Cardinals already had a clear grasp of the situation.

"We celebrated, but we know we have a lot of games ahead of us," said freshman third baseman Alex Binelas, per Cameron Teague Robinson of the Courier-Journal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roAn_yacpOE

Louisville will send junior left-hander Nick Bennett (7-3, 4.40 ERA) to the mound. He's surrendered two earned runs in 7.2 innings during the NCAA tournament, though he hasn't pitched since June 3 against Illinois State in the regional round.

That would seem a greater disadvantage if Mississippi State starter JT Ginn (8-4, 3.36) had thrown any more recently. However, his last appearance occurred all the way back on May 31.

Ginn, the SEC Freshman of the Year, will be banking on a better day of situational hitting from his teammates.

Mississippi State trudged to a 2-for-11 finish Wednesday with runners in scoring position. That followed a 5-for-18 performance in the opening game―an error-gifted 5-4 win over Auburn.

"It's frustrating because you feel like the hits are there and you don't have anything to show for it," said outfielder Rowdey Jordan, according to Tyler Cleveland of the Sun Herald. "You just have to keep plugging away, putting together good at-bats and know that the timely hits will come."

Granted, even if the Bulldogs' bats aren't hammering the ball immediately, this team has proved it's not over until it's over. Mississippi State boasts 28 come-from-behind wins this season.

"We tend to play pretty well with our back against the wall," said outfielder Elijah MacNamee, per Tyler Horka of the Clarion Ledger.

Louisville's challenge―if it can score on Ginn early―is managing to protect that lead over the Bulldogs. Otherwise, the No. 3 team in the country will secure another showdown with No. 2 Vandy.

             

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR

After Mother Nature made her presence felt in Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday night, the 2019 College World Series resumed on Wednesday afternoon with plenty of action to follow.

Not only did the Louisville Cardinals and the Auburn Tigers have to complete their elimination game, but the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Mississippi State Bulldogs were finally able to take the field as well. The Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Florida State Seminoles also had a showdown.

Below is a look at the latest action from Omaha.

     

2019 College World Series Results—June 19

Louisville 5, Auburn 3

Vanderbilt 6, Mississippi State 3

Texas Tech 4, Florida State 1

     

Bracket

The CWS bracket. No surprise that Arkansas, which was one out away from a title last year, and Florida State, with legendary retiring coach Mike Martin, are playing the Saturday night, opening-round game. pic.twitter.com/bULID3Jl8I

— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) June 11, 2019

     

Louisville 5, Auburn 3

Louisville jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Auburn on Tuesday, but because of inclement weather, the Cardinals weren't able to finish off the victory until Wednesday.

Tyler Fitzgerald wasted little time in getting the scoring started, hitting a solo shot with two outs in the opening frame:

Tyler Fitzgerald started the game off with a BANG 💥#CWS | @LouisvilleBSB pic.twitter.com/UGGHyzKzKL

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 2019

While Auburn would even the score up in the bottom of the second, the Louisville offense was more than up for the task.

The Cardinals used small ball to perfection in the third, scoring three runs in the frame despite recording only one hit. The name of the game is get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in—and that's exactly what they did.

Louisville has two more cross the plate and their lead increases to 3! #CWS | @LouisvilleBSB pic.twitter.com/28zf27EK8v

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 2019

Then, Mother Nature struck, causing a postponement after four innings. When the game resumed on Wednesday, it took some time for the bats to get going.

Auburn cut into the deficit with an RBI double by designated hitter Conor Davis. But again, Louisville had an answer:

Louisville responds!

The Cardinals regain a 3 run lead.#CWS | @LouisvilleBSB https://t.co/XCB8nfsKbu

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2019

Davis (3-5, 2 RBI) added a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, which made him just the second player since 2011 to record three extra-base hits in a College World Series game, according to NCAA Baseball. However, that would not be enough to save the Tigers' season.

Louisville will face Mississippi State on Thursday.

     

Vanderbilt 6, Mississippi State 3

Vanderbilt used a five-run fifth to grab a 6-3 victory over Mississippi State.

The Commodores struck first, thanks to a second-inning blast by left fielder Stephen Scott:

Home run for Stephen Scott!

The solo shot gives the @VandyBoys an early 1-0 lead! #CWS pic.twitter.com/ZiHv0WJccH

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2019

That would just be the start of a big day for Scott.

After Vanderbilt starter Kumar Rocker and Mississippi State starter Peyton Plumlee traded zeroes for a few frames, the Commodores' bats came to life in the fifth. Right fielder JJ Bleday jump-started the rally with an RBI double:

JJ drove in one to give the @VandyBoys some cushion to their lead! #CWS pic.twitter.com/BCH1MoXuPX

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2019

A few batters later, Scott broke the game wide open with his second homer of the game, this one of the three-run variety:

No doubt about this one, folks!

You can pucker up and kiss that one goodbye! #CWS | @VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/EgauualA0q

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2019

It was clear by the bat flip that he knew it was gone from the moment it left his bat.

A 6-0 lead was more than enough for Rocker, who was fresh off the first no-hitter in Super Regionals history. While the Bulldogs cracked the hit column, they weren't able to get much else off him as he went six innings, allowed one run and struck out six.

The Bulldogs didn't go away quietly, though, cutting the deficit in half in the sixth and seventh frames:

The Dawgs are on the board! #CWS | @HailStateBB pic.twitter.com/iPDgrMNS7z

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2019

DAWGS. ARE. BARKIN'.#CWS | @HailStateBB pic.twitter.com/0sOMTfdb8m

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2019

It turned out to be too little, too late.

Mississippi State will take on Louisville on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, while Vanderbilt will face the winner of the Bulldogs and Cardinals on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

     

Texas Tech 4, Florida State 1

Dominant pitching powered the Red Raiders to a 4-1 victory over the Seminoles on Wednesday to keep their season alive.

Early on, both starting pitchers were on top of their games, as Texas Tech's Bryce Bonnin and Florida State's Conor Grady kept the offenses at bay for the first third of the game. Ultimately, though, each team managed to scratch across a run in the fourth.

Red Raiders first baseman Cameron Warren opened the scoring with an RBI single:

Texas Tech strikes first!

The RBI guy does it again and the Red Raiders have an early 1-0 lead! #CWS | @TTU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/bWrCRYgWcF

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 20, 2019

The Seminoles managed to draw even in the bottom of the frame despite not recording a hit. A walk, a hit batsman, a sacrifice and an error got the job done.

It would remain a tie game until Texas Tech second baseman Brian Klein led off the sixth with a home run:

Big time launch for Brian Klein! #CWS | @TTU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/3RiSHI9dsw

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 20, 2019

As NCAA Baseball pointed out, two of Klein's three dingers this season have come in Omaha.

Texas Tech gained some breathing room in the eighth, as five of the first six batters reached base. That would set the table for a pair of runs in the frame to extend the lead to three.

With the way the Red Raiders right-hander Taylor Floyd was pitching, that would create an insurmountable deficit for the Seminoles.

Floyd threw four innings of shutout baseball in relief for Texas Tech, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. But he didn't keep the Seminoles offense off the board by himself—he had some help:

HOLY COW.

THIS CATCH THO...🔥🔥🔥#CWS | @TTU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/CacFjkl6Xg

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 20, 2019

It was that kind of night for the Florida State offense. Overall, the Seminoles could only muster up a total of three hits on the night while striking out 15 times. They did manage to draw eight walks, though. As a result, their season came to a close in Omaha on Wednesday.

It also marked the end of Florida State coach Mike Martin, who is retiring after 40 seasons in the dugout in Tallahassee:

Florida State has been eliminated from the College World Series

Head coach Mike Martin finishes his career with 2,029 wins, the most by any coach in any NCAA sport

Martin reached the College World Series 17 times but never won the title pic.twitter.com/3h1d30Roxd

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 20, 2019

Texas Tech advances to face Michigan in the national semifinals Friday. Of course, it was the Wolverines who sent the Red Raiders to the losers bracket with a 5-3 victory in the College World Series opener Saturday.

Rain washed out play at the 2019 College World Series on Tuesday, setting the stage for a tripleheader of action in Omaha, Nebraska.

Due to inclement weather, the Louisville-Auburn game will resume Wednesday at noon ET. Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State will begin at approximately 2 p.m. ET, followed by the Florida State-Texas Tech elimination game at 7 p.m. ET.

🌧 GAME TIME UPDATE 🌧

Due to ongoing inclement weather conditions, #CWS Game 7 will resume at 11 a.m. CT on Wed., June 19.

Gates will open at 9 a.m. CT.

Game 8 will begin 65 min. after the conclusion of Game 7.

Game 9 will then begin at 6 p.m. CT on Wed., June 19. pic.twitter.com/QIJ25LtNkN

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2019

The weather came at a bad time for Louisville, which scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Umpires called for the tarp with the Cardinals holding a 4-1 advantage going into the bottom of the fifth.

Vanderbilt and Mississippi State could be one of the best matchups of the entire tournament. The Bulldogs have won all six of their tournament games to this point. The Commodores have won six of their first seven games.

In the nightcap, Florida State will look to keep its tournament run going to give head coach Mike Martin a chance to win his first career College World Series before retiring.

The loser of the Vanderbilt-Mississippi State contest will take on the winner of Louisville-Auburn on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET in an elimination game.

As SEC rivals, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State have had plenty of past baseball matchups, but the two schools have never played at the College World Series.

Until Tuesday, that is.

The Commodores and Bulldogs will both look to stay unbeaten at the College World Series when they face off in the second game of Tuesday's slate at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. Another SEC school, Auburn, is playing in the first game of the day against Louisville.

Only three teams have yet to lose at the College World Series—Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Michigan—while Arkansas is the only squad out of the eight teams to be eliminated thus far. Either Auburn or Louisville will become the second team to get eliminated on Tuesday.

This will be the 124th all-time meeting between Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, and the fourth to come in the NCAA tournament. The Commodores beat the Bulldogs 1-0 earlier this season in the SEC tournament.

         

Tuesday Schedule

Louisville vs. Auburn, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN (elimination game)

Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Games can be live-streamed on WatchESPN

       

Vandy Looks to Continue Strong Run

The Commodores notched their school-record 55th win of the season on Sunday, when they beat Louisville 3-1. Austin Martin hit two home runs and drove in all three of Vanderbilt's runs in the victory.

Now, they will turn to freshman right-hander Kumar Rocker (10-5, 3.50 ERA) to try to take down Mississippi State on Tuesday. The winner will get two days off and return to action Friday, while the loser will have to play an elimination game Thursday.

Rocker had one of the best starts in NCAA tournament history the last time he took the mound, as he pitched a no-hitter and struck out 19 in a 3-0 win over Duke in the Super Regionals on June 8. Now, he'll look to follow that outing with another impressive performance.

"He's just got to pitch," Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said, according to The Tennessean's Joe Rexrode. "I tell you the thing about him, he just wants to win. So he's just going to do the best he can. I know when you pitch like that one time there's a certain level of anticipation. But he'll handle it well."

Mississippi State has momentum entering its matchup against Vanderbilt. On Sunday, the Bulldogs erased a three-run deficit in the ninth inning, scoring four runs for a 5-4 walk-off victory over Auburn in their first game of this year's College World Series.

Right-hander Peyton Plumlee (7-4, 3.67 ERA) is scheduled to start for Mississippi State.

            

Auburn, Louisville Aim to Stave Off Elimination

Entering the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, it didn't seem like Auburn's next matchup would be an elimination game. Now, the Tigers will have to try to bounce back after their devastating loss to Mississippi State when they take on Louisville, which is coming off a defeat to Vanderbilt.

The Cardinals also lost a competitive game in their first College World Series contest, as they allowed only five hits against the Commodores, but two of those were homers that decided the game. Since the start of the NCAA tournament, Louisville had won six of its first seven games before its last loss, so it was a rare defeat that the Cardinals will be looking to rebound from.

"We just have to play with an edge, that’s just our style," Louisville coach Dan McDonnell said, according to the Louisville Courier Journal's Cameron Teague Robinson. "You have to take it personal and both teams are playing for their seasons to extend. ... At the end of the day, you want to make sure you put it all on the line and play the way that we like to play and that’s with energy and a looseness."

While both the Tigers and Cardinals have played important games this season, especially over the last month, none will have had higher stakes than Tuesday's matchup. One team could still have a chance to win the national championship, while the other's season will be over.

The starters on the mound are scheduled to be Auburn's Bailey Horn (4-1, 6.03 ERA) and Louisville's Bobby Miller (7-1, 3.91 ERA).

Mississippi State rallied for four runs in the ninth inning and the Bulldogs came up with a 5-4 victory over Auburn in their College World Series game Sunday, and they will try to build off that performance when they meet Vanderbilt Tuesday.

The Commodores got the best of Louisville 3-1 in their opening CWS game, and the winner of the Vanderbilt-Mississippi State game will have an opportunity to play in the semifinal round of the tournament.

Tuesday, June 18
Game 7: Louisville vs. Auburn, 2 p.m., ESPN
Game 8: Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2

The Bulldogs took advantage of a throwing error by third baseman Edouard Julien to tie the score, and Marshall Gilbert drove in the winning run with a single up the middle as Mississippi State rallied with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn the victory.

Mississippi State had threatened throughout the game but couldn't come up with key hits until their winning rally.

Vanderbilt rode the home-run bat of Austin Martin to key their victory over the Cardinals. Martin hit his first home run on the first pitch he saw leading off the bottom of the first inning, and then broke a 1-1 tie with his second blast of the game in the seventh inning. 

Martin is hitting .411 for the season, and while he is involved in most Vanderbilt rallies, the long balls are usually the responsibility of outfielder JJ Bleday, who has hit 26 home runs this season.

Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State

ICYMI: Austin Martin hit ✌️ dingers today. #CWS | @VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/X8JH0vYyDT

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 16, 2019

The Commodores (55-11) are the top seed in the tournament, and Martin's heroics have allowed them to get off to a sharp start in the tournament. The Bulldogs (52-13) showed off their grittiness with their rally in the ninth, and that's something they have done on a regular basis this season.

Mississippi State has rallied from behind to win 28 times, and five of those wins have come in NCAA tournament games.

The Bulldogs are led by catcher Dustin Skelton and second baseman Justin Foscue. Skelton has belted 10 home runs this season with 55 runs batted in, while Foscue has 14 homers and 60 RBI.  

Vanderbilt is a dominant team that can win slugfests, pitching duels and any type of game in between. Martin is usually the triggerman for the offense, but he has added power to his game recently and he has 10 long balls for the season. Bleday has to be contained if the Bulldogs are going to have a shot in this game. He has an intimidating slash line of .352/.467/.715.

Vanderbilt also gets plenty of production from outfielder Stephen Scott, who has hit 12 home runs and driven in 55 runs.

These two teams met in the SEC tournament, and Vanderbilt emerged with a 1-0 victory in that game as Drake Fellows got the best of Ethan Small. 

Prediction: Vanderbilt 2, Mississippi State 1—Both teams understand what it takes to win tight games and this game could be a matchup of the two best teams in the CWS. Bleday has the power to take over any game, and he should play a key role in this game as the Commodores get this victory.

Louisville vs. Auburn

The Cardinals (49-17) have to feel good about themselves after pushing Vanderbilt so hard and keeping that team's offense in check for the majority of the game.

The Tigers (38-27) are anxious to get back on the field after failing to hold onto a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning.

While the winner of this game remains alive in the CWS, the loser will be sent home from Omaha.

Louisville is keyed by third baseman Alex Binelas, who has hit 10 home runs and driven in 57 runs. He gets support from shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, who has hit seven home runs and driven in 64 runs. Left-handed pitcher Nick Bennett has a 7-3 record and a 4.40 earned-run average.

Auburn has struggled against the best opponents it has faced, and the loss to Mississippi State dropped the Tigers' season-long record against CWS opponents to 2-9. Julien will be anxious to make up for his key error, and he has hit nine home runs and driven in 54 runs. Steven Williams has also hit hit nine home runs for the Tigers.

Prediction: Louisville 4, Auburn 1—The Cardinals should be encouraged by their performance against powerful Vanderbilt, while Auburn knows it let an opportunity slip away. The Cardinals send the Tigers home for the offseason.