6.11.2008

The Road to Omaha (I-29)

Here at BertFlex, our love for college baseball has been sort of documented here. Continuing in that kinda-great tradition, I'll recap the past two weeks of the College Baseball Playoffs.

Coral Gables Super Regional
Miami over Arizona (3-6, 14-10, 4-2)

Miami was the number 1 national seed and walked through the regional round unblemished to get here. Arizona was also unbeaten in their regional, beating each of the other three teams once to advance. The Super Regional started off great for the Wildcats, beating the Hurricanes in eleven to take an early series lead. However, Miami's first loss of the playoff and only their ninth of the season seemed to wake them up as they recovered to take the next two and punch their ticket to Omaha for the 24th time.


Athens Super Regional
Georgia over NC State (11-4, 8-10, 17-8)

Georgia dropped their first game of the tournament to Lipscomb (WHO?) and I figured they were dead and buried. Shows what I know: they go 6-1 in their next seven to make it to Omaha, beating four different teams in the process. NC State cruised through their regional, winning a pair of one run games but couldn't get it done in the end. Georgia was the lowest seeded Super Regional host and I expect them to be the first ones out this weekend, even with Gordon Beckham and his amazing hair.


Fullerton Super Regional
Stanford over Fullerton (4-3, 8-5)

Stanford was another top seed that dropped their regional opener and will still play next week. Cal-Davis got them in the first round but the Cardinal have run off six straight wins since that loss, allowing only 3.5 runs a game since then. Fullerton was the #5 National seed but didn't look as strong as normal in this year's playoffs, finishing with a 4-3 record. That means we won't be hearing rumors about Kevin Costner getting hammered in an Omaha bar at 9am before a Fullerton game this year :(


Tallahassee Super Regional
Florida St. over Wichita St. (7-10, 14-4, 11-4)

Apparently getting shut out by Bucknel was the wake-up call the Noles needed as they went off in the rest of their regional, scoring 17, 24, 17, and 16 to advance, then put up 32 in three games against WSU. Led by future Giant Busta Posey, I think it's safe to say that FSU is the nation's most explosive offense right now. The Shockers blew through their regional from the 3 hole by beating host Oklahoma State twice but, in the end, were no match for the Seminole offense.


Cary Super Regional
North Carolina over Coastal Carolina (9-4, 14-4)

Another disappointing outcome for yours truly, as I had hoped to see the nasty Coastal Carolina uniforms in Omaha. North Carolina has yet to drop a game in the playoffs, though they aren't really putting it on anyone as of yet. CCU scored 10, 13, and 24 in their regional but were stymied by the Tarheel pitchers in the next round. NC may have the best staff in the nation right now after allowing only 12 runs in their last four playoff wins.


Baton Rouge Super Regional
LSU over UC-Irvine (5-11, 9-7, 21-7)

The dreams of Eater Nation were crushed in the span of two innings in Baton Rouge this weekend. After winning the Lincoln regional, including a 3-2 win over the hosting Cornhuskers, the Anteaters went into the Bayou Bengals' home and took the first game of the series. They led the second game 7-2 after seven innings, just 2 innings away from their second straight trip to the College World Series, and off came the wheels. LSU scores 2 in the eighth and 5 in the ninth to even the series at one game apiece. The Tigers then score 6 in the first inning of the third game on their way to a 21-7 beatdown and a Super Regional victory.


Houston Super Regional
Rice over Texas A&M (9-7, 6-5)

Rice is following the North Carolina plan, having not lost a game yet this postseason. The Owls have beaten four other Texas schools on their road to Omaha. A&M was looking like a considerable foe for Rice, scoring 53 runs in their four Regional games. The Owls pitchers had other ideas, holding them to just twelve in a two game sweep. Watch out for Rice, as they have only allowed 20 runs in their five games thusfar.


Tempe Super Regional
Fresno State over Arizona State (4-12, 8-6, 12-9)

The Bulldogs are looking to be the darlings of Omaha this year, coming all the way from their #4 Regional seed in one of the most loaded regionals to drawing Rice in their first game in Omaha. Arizona State and my new hero Brett Wallace looked poised to run right through Fresno after crushing their regional 36-10 in three games, then taking the first Super Regional game 12-4. However, the Bulldogs gutted out the next two games to advance and send #3 National seed ASU home. That means no Brett Wallace AND no Mike Jones in Omaha this year. Thanks for ruining all my fun, jerks.

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