July 1, 2019

Last week, on June 26, Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University Commodores defeated the University of Michigan Wolverines 8-2 to win the College World Series (CWS). Vanderbilt won the best-of-three series two games to one for its second national baseball title. After a hard-fought series filled with future Major League Baseball (MLB) stars, the final out in the ninth inning—a pop fly to center—prompted a happy black-and-gold Commodore “dogpile” in the infield at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

J.J. Bleday of the Vanderbilt Commodores singles in a run in the fourth inning of game three of the College World Series Championship Final on June 26, 2019, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. Credit: © Peter Aiken, Getty Images

The College World Series is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Baseball Championship tournament. The tournament begins with 64 teams, but only the final 8 advance to the CWS. (World Series is an MLB trademark licensed to the NCAA.) Michigan finished second in the Big Ten Conference before battling its way to the tense CWS bracket. Michigan downed Texas Tech and Florida State on the way to the finals. Vanderbilt won the east division of the Southeastern Conference and rolled through the early parts of the tournament to reach the CWS. The Commodores then knocked off Louisville and Mississippi State to reach the finals.

The first NCAA College World Series was played in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1947. Credit: © NCAA

In game one of the CWS Finals, Michigan jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead, and then steadily pulled away for a 7-4 victory. Lefty Wolverine ace Tommy Henry (drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the June 2019 MLB draft) pitched into the ninth, striking out eight Commodores and allowing three earned runs. First baseman Jimmy Kerr (a Detroit Tigers draft pick) and catcher Joe Donovan went deep for Michigan, and Vanderbilt outfielder J.J. Bleday—the fourth overall pick (Miami Marlins) in the draft—blasted his 27th home run of the season, the most in NCAA Division I this year. (Thirteen Vanderbilt players were chosen in this year’s MLB draft, the most of any CWS team.)

In game two, Vanderbilt rolled to a 4-1 win behind the power pitching of freshman Kumar Rocker, who struck out 11 Wolverines in 6.1 innings. The Commodores scored first on a fielder’s choice in the fourth. An inning later, wild pitches by Michigan allowed two more Commodores to cross the plate. Vanderbilt catcher Philip Clarke (drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays) clubbed a solo homer in the seventh, and reliever Tyler Brown recorded the final eight outs to seal the Commodore victory.

In the deciding game three, Michigan notched a run in the top of the first, but Vanderbilt centerfielder Pat DeMarco (drafted by the New York Yankees) ripped a long ball to left to tie the game in the bottom of the second. A bases loaded walk and a clutch two-out, two-run single gave Vanderbilt a 4-1 lead in the third. A pair of runs in the fourth and a single tally in the seventh padded the Commodore lead. Michigan scraped a run across in the eighth, but Vanderbilt too added a run for a commanding 8-2 advantage. Desperate for a rally in the ninth, all Michigan could muster was a base on balls before the series-ending third out. Towering Vanderbilt starter Mason Hickman struck out 10 batters over 6 innings for the win.

The CWS win was Vanderbilt’s second. The team’s previous title came in 2014 over Virginia. Michigan won the CWS in 1953 and 1962. The CWS has been held in Omaha, Nebraska—a central and generally neutral location—since 1950. The series was played at historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium—once the largest minor league stadium in the United States—through 2010. TD Ameritrade Park has hosted the CWS since it opened in 2011.

June 29, 2018

Last night, on June 28, the Oregon State University (OSU) Beavers defeated the University of Arkansas Razorbacks 5-0 to win a thrilling College World Series. OSU won the best-of-three series two games to one for its third baseball national title. After a hard-fought series filled with future Major League Baseball stars, the final out in the ninth inning seemed as much a relief as a celebration as the Beavers collapsed in a joyous “dogpile” behind the pitcher’s mound at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

Oregon State ballplayers pose with the NCAA national championship trophy and their mascot, Benny Beaver, after defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks in the College World Series on June 28, 2018. Credit: © Peter Aiken, Getty Images

The College World Series (CWS) is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Baseball Championship tournament. The tournament begins with 64 teams, but only the final 8 advance to the CWS. (World Series is a trademark of Major League Baseball licensed to the NCAA). Arkansas won the west division of the Southeastern Conference and rolled through the early parts of the tournament to reach the tense CWS bracket. The Razorbacks then knocked off Texas, Texas Tech, and defending champion Florida to reach the finals. Oregon State finished second in the Pacific-12 Conference before battling their way to the CWS. OSU lost its first game to North Carolina, but the team rebounded from the loser’s bracket to beat Washington, take revenge on North Carolina, and down Mississippi State in the semifinals.

NCAA 2018 Men’s College World Series logo. Credit: © NCAA

In game one of the CWS Finals, Arkansas starter Blaine Knight gave up a single run through seven tough innings before a decidedly pro-Razorback crowd in Omaha. OSU pushed its run across in the second and was poised to do more damage in the bottom of the fourth, but a controversial interference call negated a second run, killed a rally, and proved the turning point in the game. Immediately after, in the top of the fifth, Arkansas erupted for four runs against OSU starter Luke Heimlich. With baseball karma fully behind Arkansas, the innings ticked away as OSU line drives found Razorback gloves and close calls went against the Beavers. The 4-1 Arkansas win thrilled the boisterous Omahog fans (Razorback—Hog—fans in Omaha) chanting the wooo pig sooie hog call.

In an epic game two, Arkansas struck first with a tally in the second, but OSU responded with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. A two-run bottom of the fifth gave the Razorbacks a precarious 3-2 lead, but Arkansas relievers kept the stout Beaver lineup in check through to the ninth inning. With the Omahogs roaring in the stands, lefty closer Matt Cronin brought Arkansas to within one out of the championship. OSU and its outnumbered Beaver fans refused to give in, however, and shortstop Cadyn Grenier stepped to the plate with the tying run at third and the season resting on his shoulders. It all appeared over as Grenier popped a lazy foul down the right field line. In a moment of karma reversal, however, the ball fell to the ground between three incredulous Arkansas fielders. Reprieved, Grenier stung a base hit to tie the game. Power-hitting outfielder Trevor Larnach then drilled a laser-beam homer to right for a stadium-silencing 5-3 OSU lead and the win.

Oregon State’s momentum continued in the deciding game three as the Beavers scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Lone runs in the third and fifth gave OSU freshman starter Kevin Abel a 4-0 advantage, which was more than he needed. In the bottom of the eighth, a fifth Beaver run only confirmed what had already been decided. Abel retired the 27th and final out on a grounder to short, completing the game for a mitt-tossing party. Abel struck out 10 batters in his 9 innings and surrendered just 2 Razorback hits.

The CWS win was Oregon State’s third. The team’s previous titles came in 2006 and 2007. Arkansas has yet to win the baseball title, but it was the team’s second trip to the CWS Finals. The Razorbacks lost the 1979 championship to Cal State Fullerton. The CWS has been held in Omaha, Nebraska—a central and generally neutral location—since 1950. The series was played at historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium—once the largest minor league stadium in the United States—through 2010. TD Ameritrade Park has hosted the CWS since it opened in 2011.

June 28, 2017

Last night, June 27, the University of Florida Gators defeated the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers 6-1 to win the College World Series. Florida won the best-of-three series 2 games to 0 for its first baseball national title. After the final out in the ninth inning, the Gators stormed the field and collided in a joyous pile of ballplayers behind the pitcher’s mound at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

University of Florida players celebrate the final out of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 27, 2017. Florida won the series 2 games to 0 over Louisiana State University. Credit: © Jamie Schwaberow, NCAA/Getty Images

The College World Series (CWS) is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Baseball Championship tournament. The tournament begins with 64 teams, but only the final 8 advance to the CWS. (World Series is a trademark of Major League Baseball licensed to the NCAA). Southeastern Conference rivals Florida and LSU rolled through the early parts of the tournament to reach the tense CWS brackets. LSU knocked off top-ranked Oregon State University to reach the finals. Florida bested a tough Texas Christian University club in its semifinals.

In game one of the CWS Finals, Florida stifled late-inning LSU rallies to eke out a 4-3 win. Pitcher Brady Singer struck out 12 over 7 innings for the Gators, and the lineup pushed just enough runs across to hold off a 9-hit Tiger attack. In game two, Florida starter Tyler Dyson blanked the Tigers for six innings, leaving in the seventh with a 2-0 lead. LSU jumped on Gator reliever Michael Byrne, scoring a run and putting runners at first and third with no outs. Power-hitting LSU catcher Michael Papierski rolled into a double play, but a controversial interference call at second base prevented the tying run from scoring from third. The Gators escaped the inning with a 2-1 lead.

LSU had another golden scoring chance in the eighth, putting runners at first and third with no outs against Byrne and then Gator pitcher Jackson Kowar. But a strikeout, fielder’s choice at the plate, and line out netted zero runs. The Gators responded with four runs in their half of the eighth to make it 6-1, completely deflating the LSU ball club. The Tigers managed a single in the ninth before Kowar got the last out on a chopper to second.

The CWS win was Florida’s first. LSU has six CWS titles, winning in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2009. The CWS has been held in Omaha, Nebraska—a central and generally neutral location—since 1950. The series was played at historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium—once the largest minor league stadium in the United States—through 2010. TD Ameritrade Park has hosted the CWS since it opened in 2011.