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College World Series 2019: TV, Live-Stream Schedule and Game Times for Monday

Jun 17, 2019
Michigan head coach Erik Bakich in an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 8, 2019. UCLA won 5-4. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Michigan head coach Erik Bakich in an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 8, 2019. UCLA won 5-4. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

The first elimination contest of the 2019 College World Series will lead off Monday's two-game slate in Omaha, Nebraska.

Both the Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas Tech Red Raiders are looking to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament. Arkansas dropped a 1-0 pitcher's duel to the Florida State Seminoles, and Texas Tech fell 5-3 to the Michigan Wolverines.

After that showdown, FSU and Michigan will collide with an opportunity to secure the coveted place in the winner's bracket.

Although the opening games were significant, the stakes increase dramatically beginning Monday.

                   

2019 CWS Monday Schedule

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

Michigan vs. Florida State, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

                 

What to Know for Monday

The all-or-nothing Arkansas bats returned Saturday in a 1-0 shutout.

Dating back to May 3, the Razorbacks have scored 8.7 runs per game in 11 wins but averaged just two runs in eight losses. They mustered five hits against Florida State and put only two runners on third base throughout the entire game.

Throw in last season's struggles in the College World Series, and Arkansas is dealing with a bad trend in Omaha.

Arkansas is eyeing a bounce-back performance opposite Texas Tech, which may choose to start Caleb Kilian (8-3, 3.93 ERA). Since a rough stretch to open the season, the right-hander has allowed 23 earned runs over his last 73.2 innings (2.81 ERA).

Kilian, similarly, will be hoping for more timely contributions from Big 12 co-Player of the Year Josh Jung and the Red Raiders' lineup. They went hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position during the loss to Michigan. Arkansas will send right-hander Connor Noland (3-5, 4.00) to the mound.

Taking advantage of scoring opportunities is always important, but it's absolutely critical when elimination is on the line.

In the evening game, a pair of third-seeded Cinderellas will attempt to continue their remarkable NCAA tournament runs.

Michigan earned the program's first CWS victory in 36 years partially thanks to an unorthodox move. Karl Kauffmann surrendered three runs in seven innings of work, and the Wolverines turned to starter Jeff Criswell to throw the final two frames.

"We thought going in we were going to not save anybody," Michigan coach Erik Bakich said, per Joe Healy of Baseball America. "The way we've been approaching all these tournaments is we're just going to worry about Game 1 and do whatever we have to do in Game 1 and worry about Game 2 in Game 2."

Criswell figures to be available out of the bullpen if necessary, though Tommy Henry (10-5, 3.54) will get the start.

Florida State, meanwhile, finds itself in an advantageous position at the CWS for the first time in a long time.

Despite reaching Omaha on five occasions since 2000, Mike Martin's teams had opened 0-1 in each appearance. The 75-year-old, who is coaching his 40th and final season, is seeking his first 2-0 start since 1989―a streak of 12 straight CWS trips at either 0-1 or 1-1.

Sophomore right-hander CJ Van Eyk (10-3, 3.80), a third-team All-ACC pitcher, will take the mound for the Seminoles.

            

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

College Baseball World Series 2019: Vanderbilt, Mississippi State Win on Sunday

Jun 16, 2019
Vanderbilt's Austin Martin (16) celebrates his solo home run against Louisville in the first inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, June 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Vanderbilt's Austin Martin (16) celebrates his solo home run against Louisville in the first inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, June 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Day 2 from the 2019 College World Series features the bottom half of the bracket getting in on the action.

Michigan and Florida State won Saturday, sending them to the winner's portion of the bracket and moving them one step closer to the championship series. Texas Tech and Arkansas will square off Monday afternoon trying to keep their title hopes alive.

Sunday features three of the nation's best teams in action, including a marquee showdown between Vanderbilt and Louisville.

       

College World Series Scores

Game 3: Vanderbilt def. Louisville, 3-1

Game 4: Mississippi State def. Auburn, 5-4

             

Vanderbilt 3, Louisville 1

Austin Martin carried Vanderbilt to a 3-1 victory over Louisville in the College World Series opener for both teams.

The Commodores' third baseman hit two homers and drove in all three runs for the SEC champions. His two-run shot off Louisville reliever Bryan Hoeing in the bottom of the seventh broke a 1-1 tie.

With Martin providing the offensive spark, Vanderbilt got a dominant pitching performance from Drake Fellows. The San Diego Padres' sixth-round draft pick allowed one run and seven hits with six strikeouts over seven innings.

The Cardinals wasted their best scoring opportunity of the game in the fifth inning. They loaded the bases with one out after tying the score at one, but the rally was foiled when Tyler Fitzgerald fouled out and Alex Binelas grounded out.

Louisville was held to two hits and two walks and didn't have a runner advance past second over the final four innings.

Reid Detmers, who entered the game with just 27 walks in 107.1 innings, struggled to find his control. The sophomore issued a career-high six free passes over 5.2 innings of work for the Cardinals.

Vanderbilt advances to the winner's side of the field and can clinch a spot in the bracket two final with a victory Tuesday.

Louisville must now win out if it wants to reach the championship series for the first time in school history.

      

Mississippi State 5, Auburn 4

Mississippi State scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to shock Auburn for a walk-off win in the SEC battle.

The Tigers appeared ready for an easy victory with a three-run lead and just three outs remaining, but a couple of doubles helped the Bulldogs cut the lead to two. Auburn then had several chances to get out of the inning on ground balls but couldn't get it done in the field:

Marshall Gilbert was credited with the walk-off RBI single.

Edouard Julien was responsible for the error at third base that could've sealed the win for Auburn.

Of course, prior to the final inning it was Julien who was the star for the Tigers. A two-run home run in the second and an RBI single in the fourth helped the squad take the early lead.

The team's No. 7 hitter finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Though the Tigers only had six total hits as a team, they were able to get their runs in to get an early lead. With starter Jack Owen allowing only one run in five innings, it appeared Mississippi State's dangerous lineup was going to be held in check.

However, the Bulldogs continued to fight back, beginning with a Jake Mangum double and several big hits down the stretch. The late drama gave Mississippi State the victory and potentially shifted the entire College World Series.

Meanwhile, Auburn is now one loss away from elimination and will face Louisville on Tuesday with its season on the line.

College World Series 2019: Michigan, FSU Wins Highlight Saturday's Results

Jun 15, 2019
Michigan's Jesse Franklin (7) and Jordan Brewer (22) celebrate after scoring on Jimmy Kerr's two-run triple against Texas Tech in the third inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Michigan's Jesse Franklin (7) and Jordan Brewer (22) celebrate after scoring on Jimmy Kerr's two-run triple against Texas Tech in the third inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The opening round of the 2019 College World Series kicked off Saturday with two games at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

It's a double-elimination tournament with two distinct halves of the bracket. The winner of the top half (Arkansas, Florida State, Michigan or Texas Tech) will take on the winner of the bottom half (Auburn, Louisville, Mississippi State or Vanderbilt) in a three-game championship series.

Let's check out the complete set of scores from Saturday's play, which will be updated after the nightcap. That's followed by a look at the bracket and a recap of the action.

                

Saturday (June 15) Results

Game 1: Michigan 5, Texas Tech 3

Game 2: Florida State 1, Arkansas 0

              

Sunday (June 16) Schedule

Game 3: Vanderbilt vs. Louisville (2 p.m. ET)

Game 4: Mississippi State vs. Auburn (7:30 p.m. ET)

             

Tournament Bracket

            

Michigan Wolverines 5, Texas Tech Red Raiders 3

Michigan built a 4-0 lead and held on despite some ninth-inning drama to keep its magical run toward a College World Series title trending in the right direction.

The Wolverines started the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the four-team Corvallis Regional. They survived that double-elimination bracket and then upset host UCLA in the Los Angeles Super Regional to punch their ticket to Omaha.

First baseman Jimmy Kerr delivered the game's key hit with a two-run triple in the third inning. Right fielder Jordan Brewer and third baseman Blake Nelson also drove in runs for Michigan.

The pitching staff took care of the rest. Starter Karl Kauffmann allowed three earned runs on eight hits and no walks across seven innings with three strikeouts. Reliever Jeff Criswell, who only made one bullpen appearance all season, delivered two scoreless frames to pick up the save.

Texas Tech second baseman Brian Klein hit the game's only home run with a two-run shot in the third inning. Third baseman Dru Baker added an RBI in the sixth, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback.

The Red Raiders now head for an elimination game Monday afternoon.

           

Florida State 1, Arkansas 0

A sacrifice fly by second baseman Nander De Sedas in the top of the ninth helped Florida State pull out a 1-0 victory over Arkansas in a pitchers' duel in the nightcap in Omaha

It was a tough day at the plate for the hitters, as both Razorbacks right-hander Isaiah Campbell and Seminoles southpaw Drew Parrish were on top of their respective games.

Campbell set the tone early, with five of his first seven outs coming via strikeouts. The redshirt junior wound up striking out 10 batters on the night, marking the fifth time this season that he reached double digits.

Campbell never allowed Florida State to seriously threaten during his seven innings of work. While the Seminoles had a pair of innings with multiple baserunners, Campbell never allowed a runner to reach third.

Meanwhile, Parrish was matching him pitch for pitch. The junior threw eight innings of shutout baseball, striking out nine. Unlike Campbell, though, he had to wiggle off the hook on a few occasions.

Parrish got some help from De Sedas in the bottom of the third, as an inning-ending double play helped him escape a two-on, one-out jam:

In the bottom of the eighth, Parrish took care of business on his own by striking out a pair of Razorbacks hitters with a runner on third.

Ultimately, a tough-luck Arkansas bullpen couldn't keep the shutout intact, and it proved costly. Flowers—who scored the game-winning run in the top of the frame—threw a perfect ninth to close out the victory to record his 13th save of the season.

Florida State advances to play Michigan in the winner's bracket Monday, while Arkansas will face Texas Tech in a win-or-go-home game.

College World Series 2019: Bracket, TV Schedule and Favorites Entering Omaha

Jun 13, 2019
Arkansas' Isaiah Campbell throws against Mississippi during the second inning of Game 1 at the NCAA college baseball super regional tournament Saturday, June 8, 2019, 2019, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Arkansas' Isaiah Campbell throws against Mississippi during the second inning of Game 1 at the NCAA college baseball super regional tournament Saturday, June 8, 2019, 2019, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Eight schools remain in the 2019 NCAA baseball tournament, and they're all eyeing a place in the championship round of the College World Series.

Although the eight-team field is loaded with ACC and SEC schools―two and four, respectively―both the Big Ten and Big 12 have a representative looking to crash the party.

The finalists are divided into a pair of four-team groups for the double-elimination tournament. Texas Tech, Michigan, Arkansas and Florida State are in Bracket 1, while Vanderbilt, Louisville, Mississippi State and Auburn are in Bracket 2.

Whichever teams emerge from the brackets will play in a best-of-three series to determine the national champion.

          

2019 CWS Schedule (All times ET)

Saturday, June 15

Game 1: Texas Tech vs. Michigan, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Arkansas vs. Florida State, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, June 16

Game 3: Vanderbilt vs. Louisville, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Mississippi State vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Monday, June 17

Game 5: Game 1 and Game 2 losers, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 6: Game 1 and Game 2 winners, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, June 18

Game 7: Game 3 and Game 4 losers, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2 tbd)
Game 8: Game 3 and Game 4 winners, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2 tbd

Wednesday, June 19

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday, June 20

Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Friday, June 21

Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2 tbd)
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, June 22

Game 11 teams*: 2 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2 tbd)
Game 12 teams*, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2 tbd)

2019 College World Series Schedule

Game 1: Monday, June 24, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Tuesday, June 25, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 3*: Wednesday, June 26, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

* - if necessary

           

CWS Favorites

Thanks to Michigan's upset of No. 1 UCLA, second-ranked Vanderbilt is the highest remaining national seed in the field.

Vanderbilt recovered from a surprising 18-5 loss to Duke in the Super Regionals with a couple of resounding wins. Freshman pitcher Kumar Rocker spun a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts in Game 2, and the Commodores walloped Duke 13-2 in Game 3.

The SEC regular-season and tournament champions hold a 54-11 overall record, which includes a mid-May victory over Louisville.

Vanderbilt recently had 13 players selected in the 2019 MLB draft―most notably outfielder JJ Bleday, the No. 4 overall pick by the Miami Marlins. He enters the College World Series with a .350 batting average and team-best 26 home runs.

But if the 'Dores fall short, SEC teams are still the favorite.

Arkansas is looking for redemption after losing to Oregon State in the championship series last year. The Razorbacks, who arrive in Omaha at 46-18, have hammered the ball lately and scored 8.3 runs per game during the NCAA tournament so far.

Right-handed pitcher Isaiah Campbell―on whom the Seattle Mariners used the draft's 76th overall pick―is Arkansas' ace. He owns a 12-1 record with a 2.26 ERA and 115 strikeouts to only 20 walks.

Mississippi State boasts the SEC Pitcher of the Year in Ethan Small (10-2, 1.76) and Freshman of the Year in JT Ginn (8-4, 3.36). The left-handed Small, a first-round choice of the Milwaukee Brewers, leads the entire country with 168 strikeouts.

Senior outfielder Jake Mangum ranks fifth in Division I history with 378 career hits, 103 of which he's smacked this season.

           

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

College World Series 2019: TV Schedule and Predictions from Omaha

Jun 12, 2019

With Oregon State among the top contenders already ousted, the NCAA will crown a new champion at this year's College World Series.

An SEC-heavy field still features plenty of potent teams, three of which (Arkansas, Texas Tech and Mississippi State) return to Omaha, Nebraska, for the second straight year. Another three (Auburn, Florida State and Michigan) ended the season unranked.

The eight remaining clubs will split up into two double-elimination brackets, and two will advance to vie for the title in a best-of-three series. Let's take a look at the full College World Series schedule, courtesy of NCAA.com, and make some predictions for Omaha's action.

       

College World Series Schedule

Saturday, June 15

Game 1: Texas Tech vs. Michigan, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 2: Arkansas vs. Florida State, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Sunday, June 16

Game 3: Vanderbilt vs. Louisville, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 4: Mississippi State vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Monday, June 17

Game 5: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 6: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Tuesday, June 18

Game 7: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 8: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Wednesday, June 19

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Thursday, June 20

Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Friday, June 21

Game 11: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Friday, June 21

Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Saturday, June 22

Game 13 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 14 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Monday, June 24

CWS Finals Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Tuesday, June 25

CWS Finals Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Wednesday, June 26

CWS Finals Game 3 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

     

Predictions

Michigan's Improbable Run Ends

The Wolverines, who lucked out by avoiding Oregon State in their regional bracket, stunned the nation's top-ranked UCLA Bruins in the super regionals. They'll hope to stay hot in their first College World Series appearance since 1984.

Michigan has the pitching to stay alive. In fact, the school's 3.47 ERA is the lowest of the eight teams playing in Omaha. Shortly before celebrating the 22-year anniversary of Michael Jordan's Flu Game, Tommy Henry had one of his own Sunday to upend UCLA.

Per Angelique S. Chengelis of the Detroit News, head coach Erik Bakich marveled over Henry stifling the Pac-12 powerhouse to just two runs in an elimination game.

"That was one of the gutsiest performances I've ever seen in college athletics," Bakich said. "That kid looked like he was on his death bed. He was in the ER with an IV hooked up to him 48 hours earlier. We thought there was no way he was going to be able to pitch, and if he did pitch maybe he could give us a couple of innings. For him to go seven innings in a quality start, just tremendous, inspirational pitching performance."

The offense is a bigger question mark. Dating back to the Big Ten tournament, Michigan has plated 78 runs in 12 games. Most of that production came in a pair of 17- and 18-run outbursts before narrowly outscoring the Bruins, 11-9, through three tightly contested showdowns.

While Michigan possesses plenty of patient hitters who can create activity on the basepaths, the club is collectively slugging .448. That's good for 43rd among all Division I teams prior to the CWS, but the Wolverines happen to share a bracket with two potent lineups. Arkansas (.491) and Texas Tech (.471) respectively rank 10th and 20th in slugging percentage.

Michigan survived some pitching duels against UCLA's aces, but it may have a tougher time piling up the runs needed to conquer this power-packed grouping.  

         

Arkansas Returns to CWS Final

Arkansas was one out away from capturing its first national title last year. A defensive miscue extended Oregon State's life, and the Beavers rallied to take a must-win Game 2 before capturing the ensuing winner-take-all bout. 

The Razorbacks have a chance for redemption this month. Intent on avoiding further heartbreak, they pummeled Ole Miss by a combined 30-run margin in three super-regional routes. The onslaught improved their scoring average to a demonstrative 7.6 runs per game, and five of their regular starters are batting .317 or higher. 

One of four SEC teams still standing, Arkansas doesn't have the same pitching depth behind ace Isaiah Campbell. When he's on the mound, however, the nation's No. 5-ranked squad is nearly unstoppable.

The 6'4" righty, drafted with the 76th pick by the Seattle Mariners, has posted a 2.26 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 111.1 superb innings. Pairing his elite production with heavy helpings of run support has led him to notch 12 victories in 17 starts. 

Campbell should get Arkansas started on the right path, and the offense shouldn't have much trouble hitting Florida State (4.67 ERA) or Texas Tech (4.00 ERA). Yet another chance at the final series may not result in a different ending.

      

Vanderbilt Takes the Title

Despite its stronghold as an NCAA juggernaut, Vanderbilt have parlayed seven regional championships in the last 15 years into one lonely title. Five years after capturing that championship, the Commodores are poised to add another trophy to their mantle.

Firing on all cylinders, an 18-5 beating by Duke serves as their only blemish on the road to Omaha. They had previously won 11 straight games, cumulatively outscoring the opposition 104-41.

The one defeat didn't derail their momentum. The following game, with their season on the line, freshman Kumar Rocker gained vengeance on the Blue Devils by getting 19 strikeouts in a dominant no-hitter.

As ESPN Stats & Info noted, no MLB pitcher has ever tallied more than 17 strikeouts in a no-hitter.

Rocker now owns a 3.50 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 15 walks in 87.1 innings, but he's not even the rotation's top performer this season. Mason Hickman and Patrick Raby have also each struck out over a batter per frame with ERAs of 2.23 and 2.82, respectively. Paired with an offense possessing a .944 OPS, those three aces make Vanderbilt the favorites in just about every encounter.

Led by JJ Bleday, the No. 4 MLB draft pick who's batting .350 with 26 home runs, the Commodores are too stacked in every facet to pick against. While any team can lose twice, they're well positioned to win it all. 

     

Note: All stats courtesy of NCAA.com and school athletic pages.

College World Series 2019: Dates, Schedule and Top Contenders

Jun 11, 2019

The SEC has a strong chance of adding a baseball national championship in a few weeks. That's because the conference makes up half of the College World Series field.

For the fourth time in its history, the SEC is sending four schools to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series, which begins Saturday. Vanderbilt and Mississippi State clinched their places on Sunday, then Arkansas and Auburn joined the field Monday.

The SEC previously had four teams reach the College World Series in 1997, 2004 and 2015.

The other four schools in this year's College World Series field are Florida State and Louisville of the ACC, Michigan (Big Ten) and Texas Tech (Big 12).

The College World Series takes place at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. It features double-elimination play in two four-team brackets, with the two winners meeting in a best-of-three finals, which begins June 24.

           

2019 College World Series Schedule

All times ET. The full bracket can be found at NCAA.com.

Saturday, June 15

Game 1: Texas Tech vs. Michigan, 2 p.m.

Game 2: Arkansas vs. Florida State, 7 p.m.

          

Sunday, June 16

Game 3: Vanderbilt vs. Louisville, 2 p.m.

Game 4: Mississippi State vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m.

           

Monday, June 17

Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 2 p.m.

Game 6: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 7 p.m.

           

Tuesday, June 18

Game 7: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, 2 p.m.

Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 7 p.m.

             

Wednesday, June 19

Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 6, 7 p.m.

           

Thursday, June 20

Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Loser of Game 8, 8 p.m.

           

Friday, June 21

Game 11: Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 9, 2 p.m.

Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10, 7 p.m.

            

Saturday, June 22

Game 13: TBD vs. TBD, 2 p.m. (if necessary)

Game 14: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

            

Monday, June 24

College World Series Finals Game 1, 7 p.m.

           

Tuesday, June 25

College World Series Finals Game 2, 7 p.m.

            

Wednesday, June 26

College World Series Finals Game 3, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

           

Top Contenders

Vanderbilt (54-11)

Key Players

OF JJ Bleday (.350/.464/.717, 26 HR, 69 RBI)
UTL Austin Martin (.410/.503/.619, 8 HR, 42 RBI)
UTL Stephen Scott (.339/.460/.591, 12 HR, 55 RBI)
RHP Drake Fellows (17 GS, 12-1, 4.15 ERA, 120 K, 104 IP, 2 CG, 1 SHO)
RHP Kumar Rocker (17 G, 14 GS, 10-5, 3.50 ERA, 97 K, 87.1 IP, 1 CG, 1 SHO)
RHP Mason Hickman (18 G, 11 GS, 8-0, 2.23 ERA, 116 K, 84.2 IP, 0.96 WHIP)

The Commodores have to be considered the favorite to win the national title, as they are the No. 2 team in the D1Baseball.com Top 25 rankings. (No. 1 UCLA was eliminated in the Super Regionals by Michigan.)

JJ Bleday was selected by the Miami Marlins with the No. 4 pick in the 2019 MLB draft, and he's hit more home runs in a single season than any player in Vanderbilt history.

Drake Fellows (sixth round, San Diego Padres) and Stephen Scott (10th round, Boston Red Sox) were both selected on the second day of the draft.

Kumar Rocker may not have the flashiest numbers, but he's coming off one of the most dominant performances in college baseball history, after tossing a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Duke in the Super Regionals.

This is a dangerous team that could easily win the program its second national championship, which it previously won in 2014.

           

Mississippi State (51-13)

Key Players

OF Jake Mangum (.355/.411/.462, 1 HR, 22 2B, 39 RBI)
IF/OF Tanner Allen (.348/.423/.519, 7 HR, 22 2B, 64 RBI)
IF Justin Foscue (.338/.402/.582, 14 HR, 22 2B, 59 RBI)
LHP Ethan Small (17 GS, 10-2, 1.76 ERA, 168 K, 102 IP)
RHP JT Ginn (16 GS, 8-4, 3.36 ERA, 103 K, 80.1 IP, 1 CG)
RHP Peyton Plumlee (20 G, 15 GS, 7-4, 3.67 ERA, 63 K, 81 IP)

The Bulldogs didn't win the SEC regular-season or tournament championship this season, but that's because Vanderbilt won both. Mississippi State lost its only matchup against Vandy 1-0 in the SEC tourney.

This is another strong SEC team to watch, though. The Bulldogs will open the College World Series against a familiar foe—Auburn, which it beat twice in three games during the regular season.

Ethan Small is the top player on this squad, as he was a first-round selection (No. 28 overall) of the Milwaukee Brewers in the MLB draft. Jake Mangum (fourth round, New York Mets) was also an early selection.

Mississippi State is in the same bracket as Vanderbilt, so in order for the Bulldogs to win their first national championship, they'll likely need to avenge their earlier loss to the Commodores first.

           

Texas Tech (44-18)

Key Players

IF Cameron Warren (.354/.448/.664, 17 HR, 76 RBI)
IF Josh Jung (.342/.476/.636, 14 HR, 22 2B, 56 RBI)
IF/OF Dylan Neuse (.307/.418/.518, 8 HR, 6 3B, 51 RBI)
IF/OF Gabe Holt (.320/.413/.438, 3 HR, 3 3B, 35 RBI)
RHP Caleb Kilian (16 GS, 8-3, 3.93 ERA, 80 K, 89.1 IP, 1 CG, 1 SHO)
RHP Micah Dallas (17 G, 11 GS, 7-0, 3.38 ERA, 82 K, 72 IP

If a non-SEC team is going to win this year's College World Series, it could be the Red Raiders, who won the Big 12 regular-season championship and are making their third CWS appearance in four seasons.

Josh Jung is an exciting player who was selected No. 8 overall by the Texas Rangers in the MLB draft. Gabe Holt (seventh round, Milwaukee Brewers) and Caleb Kilian (eight round, San Francisco Giants) were Day 2 selections.

While Texas Tech has never won a national championship—and it had never reached the College World Series before 2014—this is a program that has improved tremendously over the past decade. Perhaps this is the year the Red Raiders, led by a balanced lineup with plenty of potent hitters, bring home the title.

College Baseball Super Regionals 2019: Results, Highlights, Bracket from Sunday

Jun 9, 2019

The 2019 NCAA super regionals continued across the country Sunday, with the No. 1 overall-seeded UCLA Bruins suffering a shocking upset to end their season.

UCLA lost to Michigan on Friday before beating the Wolverines in extra innings Saturday. A berth in the College World Series was on the line Sunday, but it was the underdog that came away with the road victory to get to Omaha.

Vanderbilt was fortunate enough to avoid the same fate as the No. 2 overall-seeded Commodores came through with a big win in Game 3 after they split the first two with Duke.

Below is an overview of how Sunday unfolded in the super regionals.

       

Sunday Results

No. 1 North Carolina def. No. 2 Auburn, 2-0

No. 1 Ole Miss def. No. 1 Arkansas, 13-5

No. 1 Vanderbilt def. No. 3 Duke, 13-2

No. 3 Florida State def. No. 1 LSU, 5-4 (12 innings)

No. 1 Texas Tech def. No. 1 Oklahoma State, 8-6

No. 1 Mississippi State def. No. 1 Stanford, 8-1

No. 3 Michigan def. No. 1 UCLA, 4-2

     

Bracket

Updated bracket at NCAA.com.

       

Sunday Recap

North Carolina 2, Auburn 0

A combined effort from Austin Bergner and Austin Love kept North Carolina's season alive as the Tar Heels beat Auburn 2-0.

The Heels got on the board in the top of the first inning with a two-run single by Ike Freeman.

Despite having the bases loaded and only one out, North Carolina couldn't get another run across the plate.

It didn't matter in the end, as Bergner and Love were dealing. The pair also got some help from their defense.

Bergner went 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and four walks and striking out five. Aside from the first inning, when Auburn loaded the bases with two outs, the Tigers offense couldn't get much going against the junior right-hander.

Love was even more dominant. Auburn mustered only two hits over the final 4.2 innings as the freshman right-hander also notched six strikeouts. According to UNC's official Twitter account, all but nine of Love's 50 pitches were strikes.

The Tar Heels will have a home crowd behind them Monday when they take on the Tigers in Chapel Hill.

        

Ole Miss 13, Arkansas 5

Arkansas blew out Ole Miss in their first super regional game Saturday. The Rebels returned the favor Sunday, rolling to a 13-5 win.

A two-run homer from Dominic Fletcher gave the Razorbacks an early lead in the first, but Ole Miss dropped three runs in the bottom half of the inning and then five more in the second. Cole Zabowski put the Rebels ahead with a three-run home run to right.

Ole Miss broke the game open on the strength of a Cooper Johnson solo homer and a three-run triple by Tyler Keenan. The pair each went 2-for-5 and combined to drive in five of their team's runs.

A three-run fourth inning breathed some life into Arkansas. The Razorbacks couldn't eat into the deficit further, and the Rebels tacked on five more runs over the sixth and seventh innings.

In addition to Johnson and Keenan, Thomas Dillard helped set the tone from the leadoff spot as well. He went 1-for-3 with two walks—bringing his on-base percentage to .454—and scored three runs. Houston Roth pitched well in relief, too, to help Ole Miss stave off any comeback. He didn't allow a run over the final four innings.

     

Vanderbilt 13, Duke 2

Vanderbilt sent Duke packing with a comfortable 13-2 victory, with inclement weather the only thing that could silence the Commodores offense.

The two teams had to wait out a storm in Nashville, Tennessee, that forced a lengthy delay. The lightning merely prolonged the inevitable for the Blue Devils, who couldn't recover from a disastrous start.

Vanderbilt led 9-1 after the third inning and 12-2 after the fifth. The Commodores chased Duke starter Bill Chillari out of the game in the second inning, and his replacement, Jack Carey, lasted 1.2 innings before getting the hook.

Vanderbilt leadoff hitter Austin Martin was the standout performer. He opened the first inning with a solo home run and went yard again in the second.

Building such a big lead meant Vanderbilt didn't have to push Mason Hickman too hard. The sophomore right-hander struck out nine and allowed two earned runs on three hits in four innings. Patrick Raby, Zach King and Tyler Brown combined to pitch the final five innings.

       

Texas Tech 8, Oklahoma State 6

A four-run eighth inning powered Texas Tech to an 8-6 win over Oklahoma State, which ended the Cowboys' NCAA tournament run.

Things were looking good for Oklahoma State in the top half of the eighth. Colin Simpson homered and Andrew Navigato scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Cowboys ahead 6-4.

But Josh Jung opened the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer. Then, with runners on second and third, Kurt Wilson delivered a three-run shot to right-center field.

Oklahoma State looked poised for a comeback in the top of the ninth. Back-to-back walks for Alix Garcia and Cade Cabbiness put runners on first and second with nobody out. But Hueston Morrill struck out and Christian Funk popped out for two quick outs.

Simpson, who was second on the team in home runs (16) before Sunday, had the chance to be the hero. Dane Haveman got Simpson to chase a fastball up and in to end the game.

The Red Raiders are now through to the College World Series for the second straight year and fourth time in program history.

        

Florida State 5, LSU 4

Florida State was the next team to punch its ticket to the College World Series after beating LSU 5-4 in 12 innings.

Devin Fontenot was nearly untouchable in relief for the Tigers. He pitched 6.1 innings and struck out 11 batters.

Even into the 12th, Fontenot was one strike away from prolonging the game. Mike Salvatore was on second after singling and advancing to second on a wild pitch. On a 2-2 count, Drew Mendoza singled into shallow right and Salvatore scored the winning run with ease.

Antonio Velez was nearly just as good as Fontenot to put the Seminoles in position for the victory. He threw the final 4.2 innings, striking out six and keeping LSU off the board.

One more trip to Omaha, Nebraska, is a great retirement gift for FSU coach Mike Martin, who has already said this year will be his last in the dugout. The impact of the moment was evident by Martin's celebration after the game.

A national championship is the one glaring omission on Martin's Hall of Fame resume. Checking that off the list would truly be a storybook ending to a legendary career.

       

Mississippi State 8, Stanford 1

Mississippi State punched its ticket to the College World Series with an 8-1 win over Stanford, clinching the best-of-three series in two games.

Dustin Skelton was the star in this one, changing the game with a hit that went down as a bases-clearing triple:

Skelton showcased his ability behind the plate Sunday, throwing out multiple runners and making this great play on a bunt attempt in the fourth inning:

The catcher helped contribute to Saturday's win with a two-run double and came up big once again in Game 2.

Although the game was technically within reach for the next few innings, Elijah MacNamee ended any hope of a Stanford comeback with a three-run home run in the ninth.

With Peyton Plumlee allowing just one run in 6.2 innings, it became an easy win for Mississippi State.

Kyle Stowers led things off in the first inning with a solo home run for Stanford, but that was the end of the scoring for the Cardinal.

         

Michigan 4, UCLA 2

The No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament has been eliminated, as Michigan pulled off the upset in Sunday's decisive Game 3.

It was all about timely hitting for the Wolverines in the 4-2 upset win.

Ako Thomas had the biggest hit of the day, giving Michigan the lead with a two-run single in the fifth:

Christian Bullock then tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly to give the team an insurance run in the ninth inning.

The pitching was also outstanding, beginning with Tommy Henry and his seven strong innings with only two runs allowed:

UCLA scratched a couple of runs across in the early innings, both coming on RBI groundouts, but Henry was otherwise able to keep the opposing offense in check with six strikeouts and zero walks.

Benjamin Keizer then worked around trouble in the ninth to close out a two-inning save, stranding runners on second and third.

Michigan surprised many by just escaping the regional round in a bracket with Oregon State, but the squad is now headed to the College World Series and shouldn't be counted out in the upcoming week.

College Baseball Super Regionals 2019: Saturday Results, Highlights and Bracket

Jun 8, 2019
Vanderbilt's Kumar Rocker (80) is congratulated by teammates after he threw a no-hitter against Duke in an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game Saturday, June 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 3-0. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Vanderbilt's Kumar Rocker (80) is congratulated by teammates after he threw a no-hitter against Duke in an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game Saturday, June 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 3-0. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Vanderbilt pitcher Kumar Rocker tossed a 19-strikeout no-hitter as the Commodores beat the Duke Blue Devils 3-0 to stave off NCAA men's baseball tournament elimination Saturday.

Rocker's gem was the highlight of the biggest tournament day to date, with four teams having a chance to secure a spot in the College World Series.  

After the first day of games at the super regionals, three No. 1 seeds faced elimination, with UCLA, Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt all losing their opening games Friday. 

With so much at stake around the country, here are results and recaps from all eight of Saturday's matchups as they go final. 

            

Super Regional Bracket

                

Super Regional Scores

Fayetteville Super Regional Game 1: No. 1 Arkansas def. No. 1 Mississippi, 11-2

Louisville Super Regional Game 2: No. 1 Louisville def. No. 1 East Carolina, 12-0

Chapel Hill Super Regional Game 1: No. 2 Auburn def. No. 1 North Carolina, 11-7

Baton Rouge Super Regional Game 1: No. 3 Florida State def. No. 1 LSU, 6-4

Lubbock Super Regional Game 2: No. 1 Oklahoma State def. No. 1 Texas Tech, 6-5

Starkville Super Regional Game 1: No. 1 Mississippi State def. No. 1 Stanford, 6-2

Nashville Super Regional Game 2: No. 1 Vanderbilt def. No. 3 Duke, 3-0

Los Angeles Super Regional Game 2: No. 1 UCLA def. No. 3 Michigan, 5-4 

         

Vanderbilt 3, Duke 0

The Commodores forced a winner-take-all Game 3 thanks to Rocker's 19 strikeouts, 13 of which came in the final five innings.

The Blue Devils had no answer for Rocker, who allowed only four baserunners via two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch following a strikeout.

That latter baserunner did allow Rocker to punch out four batters in the fifth inning, however:

Rocker threw 131 pitches en route to leading Vanderbilt to a bounce-back victory after the Commodores fell to the Blue Devils 18-5 the night before. He also struck out the side to end the game.

At the dish, Philip Clarke knocked home Ethan Paul with an RBI single in the fifth to give Rocker the only run he needed.

Vandy scored twice in the eighth courtesy of a Stephen Scott sacrifice fly and a Julian Infante bunt single. Pat Demarco tripled before scoring on the Scott sac fly, and Harrison Ray hit a single to get on base for Infante's RBI. Ray led Vanderbilt's offensive charge with three hits and a run.

Rocker's night obscured Duke pitcher Blake Jarvis' performance: The Blue Devils starter tossed seven frames of one-run ball and struck out nine Commodores.

Vanderbilt will host Duke on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in Nashville, Tennessee, with the winner advancing to the College World Series.

           

Mississippi State 6, Stanford 2

Mississippi State beat Stanford 6-2 to win Game 1 of their Super Regional round, but the game's result paled in comparison to a medical emergency suffered by Bulldogs left-handed pitcher Jack Eagan.

The southpaw, who Tyler Horka of the Clarion-Ledger reported is in "stable" condition, suffered what MSU called a "non-athletic medical event" in the dugout before the seventh inning began.

The broadcast captured images featuring players forming a human shield around Eagan, who appeared on the ground being attended to by medical personnel. Horka later reported that Eagan was having a seizure and got transported to a local hospital via an ambulance.

MSU manager Chris Lemonis told reporters postgame that Eagan was stable and with family members.

As for the game, MSU held serve at home thanks to 12 hits, including two apiece from Jordan Westburg, Tanner Allen, Dustin Skelton and Josh Hatcher. Skelton delivered the biggest blow: a two-run double that scored Westburg and Justin Foscue to give MSU a 3-1 edge in the third.

All six of MSU's runs occurred in the second, third or fourth inning.

MSU pitcher Ethan Small punched out eight Stanford batters and scattered five hits in six frames. Stanford only scored one unearned run with Small on the mound before adding another run in the eighth.

MSU will host Stanford for Game 2 on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET in Starkville, Mississippi.

                 

Oklahoma State 6, Texas Tech 5

Oklahoma State was able to fight off elimination with a 6-5 walk-off win against Texas Tech. 

Texas Tech's ongoing bullpen issues cost it again Saturday. Noah Sifrit scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch by Taylor Floyd, who also had two four-pitch walks in the four batters he faced. 

In the first two games, the Red Raiders' bullpen has given up six runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks in 6.1 innings. 

Both games in the series thus far have been wild back-and-forth affairs. The Red Raiders held on to an 8-6 win Friday after jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth inning. 

Oklahoma State nearly blew Game 2 when Ben Leeper gave up the tying run on Brian Klein's sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning. 

The Red Raiders had the go-ahead run on third base with one out, but Cameron Warren flied out and Cody Masters grounded out to end the inning. 

This game was a testament to the Cowboys' resiliency. Colin Simpson put them up 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run homer after Texas Tech took its first lead in the top half of the frame. 

Oklahoma State figures to have the advantage on Sunday in front of its home crowd with a chance to go to Omaha on the line. Texas Tech's offense has answered the call through the first two games, but its pitching let it down Saturday. 

Both teams will have all hands on deck in a must-win situation for the right to compete for a national title. 

     

Florida State 6, LSU 4

Florida State chipped away at a 4-0 deficit by scoring six unanswered runs to take a 1-0 advantage against LSU in the Baton Rouge super regional. 

This game can be divided into two parts. The first was all LSU with single runs in four straight innings and solid pitching from Cole Henry and Todd Peterson. That duo held the Seminoles hitless for the first five innings. 

Florida State finally got on the board in the sixth thanks to Mattheu Nelson's RBI single off Peterson. Reese Albert delivered the key blow in the seventh with his first of two homers, a three-run blast off Trent Vietmeier to tie the game. 

The Seminoles' pitching turned things around after a slow start to keep the game in hand. LSU managed just two singles over the final four innings.

The Tigers did have the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a Chris Reid single and Zach Watson walk, but Antoine Duplantis fouled out to the catcher to end the game. 

Florida State is riding an emotional wave this postseason in head coach Mike Martin's final season. He's never won a national title in 40 years with the program. This group is one win away from giving him a chance to have the storybook ending. 

        

Arkansas 11, Mississippi 2

After splitting two games in the SEC tournament, Arkansas routed Mississippi 11-2 to take a 1-0 series lead in their super regional. 

The Razorbacks wasted no time putting pressure on their conference rivals. Ole Miss jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Arkansas responded with 11 unanswered runs, including six in the first two innings. 

Jack Kenley delivered the big blast in the bottom of the first with a three-run homer off Mississippi starter Will Ethridge. 

While Arkansas' offense was busy lighting up Mississippi's pitching staff, Isaiah Campbell's breakout season on the mound continued in spectacular fashion. The redshirt junior lowered his season ERA to 2.26 after allowing just two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in 8.1 innings.

Following last year's runner-up finish in the College World Series, Arkansas is on track to be a major factor in Omaha with one more win. The Razorbacks will have a chance to sweep Mississippi on their home field Sunday. 

      

Louisville 12, East Carolina 0

Louisville became the first team to lock up a spot in the College World Series with an easy 12-0 win over East Carolina. 

If the Cardinals were using the super regionals to make a statement, they accomplished their mission. The ACC regular-season champions outscored the Pirates 26-1 in two games. Their offense scored three runs in four different innings Saturday. 

The bottom of Louisville's lineup did a lot of damage against East Carolina pitching. Their 7-9 hitters went 9-for-13 with eight RBI and seven runs scored. 

Bobby Miller's start shouldn't get lost in the shuffle of Louisville's blowout win. The sophomore carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Thomas Francisco's pinch-hit single broke it up.

This marks Louisville's fifth trip to the College World Series since 2007. It hasn't advanced past the second round the previous four times. 

       

Auburn 11, North Carolina 7

Auburn rallied for nine runs in the final two innings to stun North Carolina 11-7 in the first game of the Chapel Hill super regional. 

North Carolina looked to be in control from the start with a three-run first inning highlighted by Ashton McGee's single that scored a pair. 

After falling behind 5-2 heading into the top of the eighth, Auburn's bats came to life. Rankin Woley and Edouard Julien each drove in three runs over the final two innings. 

The Tar Heels entered the super regional on a roll with seven straight wins dating back to the ACC tournament. They find themselves one defeat away from an early exit from the NCAA tournament. 

Auburn, meanwhile, is trying to lock up its first appearance in the College World Series since 1997. Head coach Butch Thompson has done a terrific job in his four seasons with the program, guiding the Tigers to the NCAA tournament in three consecutive years for the first time since 2001 to 2003. 

College Baseball Regional 2019: Georgia Tech, UConn, UGA Among Early Winners

Jun 2, 2019

Saturday saw the field begin to thin out in the 2019 NCAA baseball tournament, and the process continued Sunday as teams looked to secure a berth in the regional final.

Georgia Tech entered the tournament as the No. 3 overall national seed, but the Yellow Jackets were one loss away from elimination when they played Coastal Carolina in the first round of games Sunday. Likewise, Georgia needed a victory over Florida Atlantic to stay alive at home in Athens.

Below are the full scores from Sunday and a brief recap of the biggest games.

               

Tournament Regional Results

Los Angeles Regional

UCLA def. Baylor, 11-6

UCLA def. Loyola Marymount, 6-1

      

Corvallis Regional

Creighton def. Cincinnati, 6-1

Creighton def. Michigan, 11-7

     

Lubbock Regional

DBU def. Florida, 9-8

Texas Tech def. DBU, 3-0

        

Oklahoma City Regional

UConn def. Nebraska, 16-1

UConn def. Oklahoma State, 5-2

       

Fayetteville Regional

TCU def. Central Connecticut State, 9-5

Arkansas def. TCU, 6-0

         

Oxford Regional

Jacksonville State def. Clemson, 9-2

Mississippi def. Jacksonville State, 19-4

         

Athens Regional

Georgia def. Florida Atlantic, 13-0

Florida State def. Georgia, 10-1

        

Baton Rouge Regional

Southern Miss def. Arizona State, 13-12

LSU def. Southern Miss, 6-4

        

Atlanta Regional

Georgia Tech def. Coastal Carolina, 10-8

Auburn def. Georgia Tech, 4-1

        

Chapel Hill Regional

Tennessee def. Liberty, 6-5 (10)

North Carolina def. Tennessee, 5-2

        

Starkville Regional

Miami def. Central Michigan, 18-3

Mississippi State def. Miami, 5-2

      

Stanford Regional

Stanford def. Sacramento State, 12-3

Stanford def. Fresno State, 8-6

       

Louisville Regional

Louisville def. Indiana, 9-7

Louisville def. Illinois State, 11-2

       

Greenville Regional

East Carolina def. NC State, 9-2

Campbell def. Quinnipiac, 9-8

East Carolina def. Quinnipiac, 13-3

        

Nashville Regional

Indiana State def. Ohio State, 10-5

Vanderbilt def. Indiana State, 12-1

        

Morgantown Regional

Texas A&M def. West Virginia, 11-10

Duke def. Texas A&M, 4-1

        

The full bracket is available on NCAA.com

      

Notable Results

Trailing 7-2 entering the sixth, the Yellow Jackets responded strongly as they watched their season slowly slipping away at the hands of the Chanticleers.

Austin Wilhite delivered a two-out two-run single in the top of the sixth to make it a three-run game. An inning later, Kyle McCann tied the score with a three-run triple to right and then was the go-ahead run on a double by Tristin English.

In addition to delivering the game's decisive blow, English pitched three scoreless innings to preserve the victory. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two batters.

Georgia didn't require similar heroics to extend its regional trip against Florida Atlantic. The Bulldogs registered 12 hits and scored 13 runs in a shutout of the Owls.

Tim Elliott went the distance on the mound, striking out eight and surrendering only two hits.

Aaron Schunk was the standout offensive performer for Georgia. The junior third baseman went 2-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored. Schunk began and ended the Bulldogs' scoring. His two-run homer gave his team an early edge in the third inning, and he then brought the onslaught to an end with a grand slam in the eighth.

Tennessee survived a major scare against Liberty, walking away with a 6-5 win in 10 innings.

Redmond Walsh hit Logan Mathieu with a pitch to bring in the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth, and the danger was far from over for the Volunteers southpaw. The Flames had the bases loaded and nobody out with the winning run 90 feet from home plate.

Will Wagner lined out to Pete Derkay for the first out. Walsh then got Cam Locklear to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Locklear's bad luck continued into the next frame, as his throwing error extended the 10th inning for Tennessee. Jake Rucker capitalized by singling to left and bringing home Evan Russell.

Brandon Rohrer opened the bottom half of the 10th with a single, but Walsh got a groundout and two fly outs to end the game.

College Baseball Regional 2019: Dates, Schedule, Bracket and Players to Watch

May 30, 2019

It's time to play college ball with the stakes raised and a trip to the College World Series on the line.

The NCAA tournament begins Friday with the opening of the regional round that will run through Monday. The 64-team field will then be trimmed to 16 for the super regionals, before eight teams travel to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series.

Two teams will end up playing for the national championship in a best-of-three series following the double-elimination round to begin the College World Series.  

For the full bracket for this year's NCAA tournament, visit NCAA.com. Below is the schedule for Friday's opening slate of games as well as some players to watch on the road to the College World Series.

        

May 31 Schedule

All times ET

Los Angeles Regional hosted by UCLA

No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 3 Loyola Marymount, 4 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 4 Omaha, 10 p.m., ESPN3

         

Corvallis Regional hosted by Oregon State

No. 2 Creighton vs. No. 3 Michigan, 4 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 Oregon State vs. No. 4 Cincinnati, 10 p.m., ESPNU

            

Oklahoma City Regional hosted by Oklahoma State

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Nebraska, 1 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 Oklahoma State vs. No. 4 Harvard, 7 p.m., ESPN3

        

Lubbock Regional hosted by Texas Tech

No. 1 Texas Tech vs. No. 4 Army, 4 p.m., ESPN3

No. 2 DBU vs. No. 3 Florida, 8 p.m., ESPN3

          

Fayetteville Regional hosted by Arkansas

No. 1 Arkansas vs. No. 4 Central Connecticut State, 2 p.m., ESPN3

No. 2 California vs. No. 3 TCU, 7 p.m., ESPN3

           

Oxford Regional hosted by Ole Miss

No. 2 Illinois vs. No. 3 Clemson, 4 p.m., ESPNU

No. 1 Ole Miss vs. No. 4 Jacksonville State, 8 p.m., ESPN3

        

Baton Rouge Regional hosted by LSU

No. 2 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Southern Miss, 1 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Stony Brook, 7 p.m., ESPNU

           

Athens Regional hosted by Georgia

No. 2 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 3 Florida State, 12 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Mercer, 7 p.m., SEC Network

         

Nashville Regional hosted by Vanderbilt

No. 2 Indiana State vs. No. 3 McNeese State, 1 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 Vanderbilt vs. No. 4 Ohio State, 7 p.m., ESPN2

         

Morgantown Regional hosted by West Virginia

No. 2 Texas A&M vs. No. 3 Duke, 4 p.m., ESPN2

No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 4 Fordham, 8 p.m., ESPN3

         

Greenville Regional hosted by East Carolina

No. 2 NC State vs. No. 3 Campbell, 12 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 East Carolina vs. No. 4 Quinnipiac, 6 p.m., ESPN3

         

Louisville Regional hosted by Louisville

No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 3 Illinois State, 2 p.m., ESPN3

No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 4 UIC, 6 p.m., ESPN3

         

Starkville Regional hosted by Mississippi State

No. 1 Mississippi State vs. No. 4 Southern, 1 p.m., SEC Network

No. 2 Miami vs. No. 3 Central Michigan, 8 p.m., ESPN3

          

Stanford Regional hosted by Stanford

No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 4 Sacramento State, 4 p.m., ESPN3

No. 2 UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 3 Fresno State, 10 p.m., ESPN3

           

Chapel Hill Regional hosted by North Carolina

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 4 UNCW, 2 p.m., ESPN3

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Liberty, 7 p.m., ESPN3

         

Atlanta Regional hosted by Georgia Tech

No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 3 Coastal Carolina, 12 p.m., ESPNU

No. 1 Georgia Tech vs. No. 4 Florida A&M, 7 p.m., ESPN3

             

Players to Watch

Adley Rutschman, Oregon State catcher

Rutschman is the top player in the 2019 MLB draft class, per MLBPipeline.com, and he could be the first player selected in this year's draft, which begins Monday.

The Oregon State catcher will be looking to lead the national champions to another strong postseason performance, although the Beavers are the No. 16 seed and the lowest-ranked team to host a regional in the opening round.

This season, Rutschman is batting .419 with 17 home runs and 57 RBI. If he gets hot during the NCAA tournament, it could help the Beavers make a deep run, even if they have to face top-seeded UCLA in the super regionals.

           

JJ Bleday, Vanderbilt outfielder

Vanderbilt has plenty of momentum entering the NCAA tournament after winning the SEC regular-season and tournament championships.

The Commodores erased an eight-run deficit in the SEC tourney championship game to rally for a walk-off victory over Ole Miss.

Bleday is the catalyst for Vandy's lineup, as he broke the school's single-season home run record. He leads all NCAA Division I players with 26 homers this season, while batting .357 with 67 RBI.

As the No. 5 player in the 2019 MLB draft class, per MLBPipeline.com, Bleday is one of the top players in this year's NCAA tournament. And as the top hitter on one of the best teams in the nation, he could play a critical role in leading the Commodores to their first College World Series appearance since 2015.

              

Nick Lodolo, TCU left-handed pitcher

Unlike Rutschman and Bleday, Lodolo plays for a team that won't be hosting a regional to open the NCAA tournament. However, the lefty could help TCU make a surprise run.

Lodolo, the No. 8 player in the 2019 MLB draft class, per MLBPipeline.com, is 6-5 with a 2.48 ERA in 15 starts for the Horned Frogs this season. He made the same number of starts as his previous two seasons but set career highs in innings pitched (98) and strikeouts (125) while also pitching his first career complete game.

Although TCU is a No. 3 seed in the Fayetteville Regional, Lodolo could pitch the Horned Frogs into the next round. The experienced southpaw has the skills and repertoire to lead his team to a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

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