No. 3 Oregon State Beavers
Corvallis, Oregon
Won Corvallis Regional (3-0), Won Corvallis Super Regional (2-0), at-large bid from Pac-12
2018 record: 20-9-1, 49-10-1 (second in Pac-12)
Head coach: Pat Casey (George Fox, 1990)
Record at school: 894-456-6 (24 years)
Overall record: 1,065-570-7 (31 years)
Assistant coaches: Pat Bailey, Andy Jenkins, Nate Yeskie
Team offense: .320 BA, 459 R, 59 HR, .490 SLG%, .417 OBP%, 47-61 SB
Team pitching: 3.26 ERA, 535.1 IP, 440 H, 194 BB, 526 K
Top hitters: Nick Madrigal (.397/3/32/12-12 SB), Adley Rutschman (.386/7/70/19 2B), Steven Kwan (.357/2/41/14-20 SB), Trevor Larnach (.336/18/68/14 2B), Cadyn Grenier (.322/5/44/16 2B), Michael Gretler (.316/7/44/20 2B)
Top pitchers: Luke Heimlich (16-1, 2.32, 120.1 IP, 91 H, 25 BB, 151 K), Jake Mulholland (1-2, 15 SV, 2.37, 38 IP, 27 H, 7 BB, 37 K), Brandon Eisert (4-3, 5 SV, 2.74, 42.2 IP, 33 H, 10 BB, 38 K) Bryce Fehmel (10-1, 2.87, 103.1 IP, 86 H, 24 BB, 60 K)
Last CWS appearance: 2017 (2-2, tied for third)
Notes: The Beavers are returning to Omaha for the second straight year and seventh time overall. The Beavers, who have outscored opponents 49-8 in the postseason, won national titles in 2006 and 2007. OSU deserves plenty of praise for its pitching, but the Beavers entered postseason play third in the nation in average (.317) and currently are at .320. They are third, right behind Texas Tech, in on-base percentage (.417). Oregon State features one of the best middle infields in the country in Nick Madrigal (.397/3/32), who missed about half the season because of an injury and Cadyn Grenier (.322/5/44), who has been relatively quiet in the postseason. Madrigal hasn’t made an error in his 34 starts, and Grenier was named the winner of the Brooks Wallace Award for the nation’s best shortstop this week. Trevor Larnach (.336/18/68) and catcher Adley Rutschman (.386/7/70) have provided plenty of pop. On the mound, Luke Heimlich (16-1, 2.32 ERA, 120.1 IP, 91 H, 25 BB, 151 K) was named the College Baseball Foundation’s National Pitcher of the Year this week. He did not pitch for the Beavers last year in Omaha because of a past sexual assault case. Bryce Fehmel (10-1, 2.87 ERA, .228 BAA) isn’t overpowering but has proven a terrific No. 2 for the Beavers.
No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Won Chapel Hill Regional (3-0), Won Chapel Hill Super Regional (2-0), at-large bid from ACC
2018 record: 22-8, 43-18 (first in ACC Coastal Division)
Head coach: Mike Fox (North Carolina, 1978)
Record at school: 889-378-1 (20 years)
Overall record: 1,428-519-5 (35 years)
Assistant coaches: Scott Forbes, Robert Woodard, Jesse Wierzbicki
Team offense: .286 BA, 436 R, 55 HR, .423 SLG%, .394 OBP%, 49-67 SB
Team pitching: 3.60 ERA, 547 IP, 490 H, 238 BB, 594 K
Top hitters: Kyle Datres (.344/6/34/15 2B/12-14 SB), Michael Busch (.333/13/63/10 2B), Ike Freeman (.295/3/50), Brandon Riley (.294/5/52/13 2B), Cody Roberts (.276/5/39/11 2B), Zack Gahagan (.274/7/40)
Top pitchers: Brett Daniels (6-0, 2 SV, 2.74, 62.1 IP, 58 H, 26 BB, 71 K), Cooper Criswell (6-2, 2.82, 70.1 IP, 66 H, 11 BB, 80 K), Josh Hiatt (3-2, 6 SV, 2.94, 49 IP, 35 H, 18 BB, 51 K), Austin Bergner (7-2, 1 SV, 4.28, 75.2 IP, 71 H, 33 BB, 76 K), Tyler Baum (4-1, 4.55, 63.1 IP, 57 H, 32 BB, 73 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2013 (2-2, tied for third)
Notes: The Tar Heels are making their 11th trip to Omaha and first since 2013 – they’re going back for the seventh time in the past 13 years. After a 7-7 start, UNC won 30 of its last 40 regular-season games and has continued to roll in the postseason. Coach Mike Fox played in the CWS in 1978 when he was a second baseman for the Tar Heels. Kyle Datres (.344/6/34) and Michael Busch (.333/16/63) are the only two UNC hitters over .300, and Busch has five homers and 11 RBI in the postseason. Busch also has a .478 on-base percentage thanks in large part to 54 walks and 11 HBPs. On the mound, UNC doesn’t have a pitcher who has thrown more than 76 innings and turns to a stable of arms that often bend but don’t break. Brett Daniels (6-0, 2.74, 71 K in 62.1 IP) and Caden O’Brien (6-0, 2.14) have done a brilliant job of setting up Josh Hiatt (3-2, 6 SV, 2.94 ERA) in the bullpen. And Cooper Criswell (6-2, 2.82) has emerged as a solid starter for a staff that recently has welcomed back Luca Dalatri from injury.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Starkville, Mississippi
Won Tallahassee Regional (4-1), won Nashville Super Regional (2-1), at-large bid from SEC
2018 record: 15-15, 37-27 (tied for third in SEC West)
Head coach: Gary Henderson (San Diego State, 1984)
Record at school: 37-24 (1 year)
Overall record: 317-255 (10 years)
Assistant coaches: Jake Gautreau, Mike Brown, A.J. Gaura
Team offense: .281 BA, 391 R, 44 HR, .411 SLG%, .358 OBP%, 34-46 SB
Team pitching: 4.39 ERA, 579.2 IP, 592 H, 254 BB, 593 K
Top hitters: Jake Mangum (.353/3/33/21 2B/14-17 SB), Rowdey Jordan (.333/7/35/15 2B), Hunter Stovall (.319/2/39/15 2B/10-12 SB), Elijah MacNamee (.318/8/42/11 2B), Tanner Allen (.298/5/44/18 2B), Josh Hatcher (.259/3/16)
Top pitchers: Blake Smith (4-0, 3 SV, 3.00, 21 IP, 17 H, 9 BB, 20 K), Ethan Small (5-3, 3.11, 89.2 IP, 82 H, 32 BB, 112 K), Riley Self (5-0, 1 SV, 3.51, 25.2 IP, 20 H, 12 BB, 20 K), Zach Neff (3-3, 2 SV, 3.57, 45.1 IP, 50 H, 9 BB, 40 K), JP France (5-5, 2 SV, 3.84, 58.2 IP, 57 H, 26 BB, 64 K), Konnor Pilkington (2-6, 4.56, 96.2 IP, 100 H, 31 BB, 103 K), Cole Gordon (4-3, 3 SV, 4.86, 53.2 IP, 48 H, 32 BB, 63 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2013 (3-2, national runner-up)
Notes: The Bulldogs are making their 10th trip to the College World Series and first since 2013, when MSU lost in the championship series to UCLA. Andy Cannizaro stepped down as head coach three games into the season and Gary Henderson took over as interim head coach. Henderson was named national Coach of the Year by Perfect Game/Rawlings. Henderson was an assistant coach at Florida (1995-98) and at Oregon State (1999-2002) before becoming an assistant at Kentucky. Henderson was head coach at UK from 2009-16. Jake Mangum was named All-South Region Second Team by the ABCA. He leads the SEC and is seventh in the nation with 97 hits. Mangum had 21 doubles, first in the conference and 28th in the country. Elijah MacNamee had a pair of walk-off homers during the NCAA Tournament. His three-run shot in the bottom of the ninth in the Tallahassee Regional gave MSU a 3-2 win over host Florida State in an elimination game. MacNamee smacked a two-run dinger in the bottom of the ninth in a 10-8 victory at Vanderbilt in Game 1 of the Nashville Super Regional. Macamee had three home runs during the regular season,
Washington Huskies
Seattle, Washington
Won Conway Regional (3-0), won Fullerton Super Regional (2-1), at-large bid from Pac-12
2018 record: 20-10, 35-24 (third in Pac-12)
Head coach: Lindsay Meggs (UCLA, 1985)
Record at school: 265-237-1 (9 years)
Overall record: 880-544-5 (25 years)
Assistant coaches: Jason Kelly, Donegal Fergus, Dave Nakama
Team offense: .274 BA, 299 R, 40 HR, .395 SLG%, .353 OBP%, 37-55 SB
Team pitching: 3.70 ERA, 535.2 IP, 522 H, 172 BB, 414 K
Top hitters: Mason Cerrillo (.335/0/21/14 2B), Joe Wainhouse (.312/19/59), Braiden Ward (309/0/14/18-23 SB), Levi Jordan (.302/8/42/17 2B), Nick Kahle (.293/6/35/19 2B), Christian Jones (.269/2/13)
Top pitchers: Alex Hardy (5-2, 8 SV, 2.14, 59 IP, 44 H, 21 BB, 45 K), Joe DeMers (7-3, 3 SV, 123 IP, 96 H, 20 BB, 92 K), Josh Burgmann (2-2, 1 SV, 2.90, 31 IP, 33 H, 13 BB, 21 K), Lucas Knowles (6-5, 3.89, 88 IP, 100 H, 21 BB, 64 K), Jordan Jones (6-4, 3.99, 99.1 IP, 104 H, 17 BB, 80 K)
Last CWS appearance: first appearance
Notes: The Huskies are making their first trip to the College World Series. UW was one win away from Omaha in 1994 and 1997. Head coach Lindsay Meggs made seven trips to the Division II World Series during his 13-year career at Chico State, winning national titles in 1997 and 1999. Meggs’ son, Joe, is the director of operations for the UW baseball program. The Huskies are 1-4 against Mississippi State, last facing the Bulldogs in 1998. This season, UW only faced one other CWS team. The Huskies dropped two of three to Oregon State. UW has won 10 of its past 12 games heading into the CWS. The Huskies had four players selected in the MLB Draft: AJ Graffanino (8th, Braves), Willie MacIver (9th, Rockies), Joe DeMers (11th, A’s), Levi Jordan (29th, Cubs). DeMers tossed a perfect game against UC Riverside on Feb. 24. He needed just 84 pitches to complete the gem and fanned nine. The UW pitching staff leads the Pac-12 in fewest walks allowed (172), fewest hit batters (36) and fewest wild pitches (19). Joe Wainhouse leads the Pac-12 with 37 RBI and is second with 12 homers. Alex Hardy tops the Pac-12 with an ERA of 2.14, is second with 35 appearances and fourth with eight saves. Wainhouse is the son of Dave Wainhouse, who spent seven seasons (1991-2000) as a pitcher with five different major league teams. AJ Graffanino’s father, Tony, played 13 seasons in the big leagues from 1996-2009. Dylan Lamb’s brother, Jake, is an All-Star with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Won Fayetteville Regional (3-0), won Fayetteville Super Regional (2-1), at-large bid from SEC
2018 record: 18-12, 44-19 (tied for first in SEC West)
Head coach: Dave Van Horn (Santa Clara, 1990)
Record at school: 639-362 (15 years)
Overall record: 1,224-602 (30 years)
Assistant coaches: Nate Thompson, Wes Johnson, Craig Parry
Team offense: .301 BA, 452 R, 94 HR, .487 SLG%, .397 OBP%, 39-50 SB
Team pitching: 3.55 ERA, 550.1 IP, 484 H, 209 BB, 559 K
Top hitters: Casey Martin (.344/13/46/12 2B), Carson Shaddy (.341/13/52/12 2B), Heston Kjerstad (.340/14/54/14 2B), Eric Cole (.329/14/50/13 2B), Luke Bonfield (.307/8/39), Jax Biggers (.287/4/24), Dominic Fletcher (.282/8/41/14 2B), Grant Koch (.251/7/34)
Top pitchers: Blaine Knight (12-0, 2.84, 101.1 IP, 85 H, 23 BB, 92 K), Jake Reindl (3-1, 5 SV, 2.96, 51.2 IP, 47 H, 18 BB, 63 K), Matt Cronin (2-1, 12 SV, 2.98, 42.1 IP, 20 H, 12 BB, 52 K), Kacey Murphy (8-5, 3.12, 92.1 IP, 77 H, 20 BB, 74 K), Barrett Loseke (3-2, 4 SV, 3.15, 45.2 IP, 29 H, 26 BB, 57 K), Isaiah Campbell (4-6, 4.19, 62.1 IP, 63 H, 28 BB, 65 K)
Last CWS appearance: 2015 (0-2)
Notes: The Razorbacks are making their ninth appearance in the College World Series and first since 2015. It is their fifth trip to Omaha under head coach Dave Van Horn, who also took Nebraska to a pair of CWS appearances (2001, 2002). Arkansas is looking for its first national championship. The Razorbacks finished second in 1979, falling 2-1 to Cal State Fullerton in the title game. Arkansas has played in the NCAA Tournament in 15 of the past 16 seasons. Arkansas is 2-0 against Texas this season, winning 13-4 and 7-5 at home in mid-March. The Hogs are 5-5 against teams in the CWS (2-0 Texas, 1-0 Texas Tech, 2-2 Florida, 0-3 Mississippi State). Arkansas had 11 players selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, a program record. Blaine Knight, an All-American pitcher, was taken in the third round by the Baltimore Orioles. Heston Kjerstad, the SEC Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American, set freshman program records with 81 hits and 14 home runs. The Hogs went 35-4 at home this season.
No. 13 Texas Longhorns
Austin, Texas
Won Austin Regional (3-0), won Austin Super Regional (2-1), at-large bid from Big 12
2018 record: 17-7, 42-21 (first in Big 12)
Head coach: David Pierce (Santa Clara, 1990)
Record at school: 81-46 (2 years)
Overall record: 278-154 (7 years)
Assistant coaches: Sean Allen, Philip Miller, Phil Haig
Team offense: .272 BA, 374 R, 62 HR, .435 SLG%, .379 OBP%, 78-100 SB
Team pitching: 4.09 ERA, 552 IP, 540 H, 263 BB, 457 K
Top hitters: Kody Clemens (.356/24/72/15 2B), Duke Ellis (.297/1/27), David Hamilton (.294/5/36), Zach Zubia (.277/11/44/13 2B), DJ Petrinsky (.261/9/28/10 2B), Mason Hibbeier (.256/4/30/14 2B), Ryan Reynolds (.252/4/36/16 2B), Jake McKenzie (.246/0/14), Tate Shaw (.245/0/22/13 2B)
Top pitchers: Parker Joe Robinson (3-0, 1.17, 30.2 IP, 25 H, 7 BB, 30 K), Andy McGuire (1-2, 7 SV, 2.01, 31.1 IP, 22 H, 13 BB, 28 K), Blair Henley (6-6, 1 SV, 3.32, 84 IP, 90 H, 33 BB, 63 K), Chase Shugart (6-3, 2 SV, 4.07, 90.2 IP, 82 H, 40 BB, 63 K), Nolan Kingham (8-4, 3 SV, 4.34, 95.1 IP, 117 H, 11 BB, 25 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2014 (3-2, tied for third)
Notes: The Longhorns are making their 36th CWS appearance, the most in NCAA history. UT has won six national titles and finished second six other times. The Longhorns have played in 144 CWS games and have won 85, both NCAA records. UT is 74-35 all-time against Arkansas. All-American second baseman Kody Clemens, the son of former major league pitcher Roger Clemens, was taken in the third round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. He is one of four finalists for the Golden Spikes Award and one of five finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy. Clemens has hit 24 of UT’s 62 home runs. Pitcher Matteo Bocchi is from Parma, Italy. He was the starter and winner in the third Super Regional contest against Tennessee Tech, going 5.0 innings with four hits, one run, one walk and three strikeouts.
No. 1 Florida Gators
Gainesville, Florida
Won Gainesville Regional (3-1), won Gainesville Super Regional (2-1), at-large bid from SEC
2018 record: 20-10, 47-19 (first in SEC East)
Head coach: Kevin O’Sullivan (Virginia, 1991)
Record at school: 495-227 (11 years)
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Craig Bell, Brad Weitzel, Lars Davis
Team offense: .278 BA, 439 R, 96 HR, .477 SLG%, .373 OBP%, 68-101 SB
Team pitching: 3.46 ERA, 582.1 IP, 505 H, 198 BB, 569 K
Top hitters: Jonathan India (.354/20/48/12 2B/12-14 SB), JJ Schwarz (.325/12/48/18 2B), Austin Langworthy (.294/4/28/10 2B), Deacon Liput (.291/9/37/14 2B), Nelson Maldonado (.278/8/40/10 2B), Nick Horvath (.279/8/33/14 2B), Wil Dalton (.266/18/60/17 2B)
Top pitchers: Michael Byrne (3-1, 15 SV, 1.59, 56.2 IP, 41 H, 5 BB, 60 K), Brady Singer (12-1, 2.30, 101.2 IP, 68 H, 21 BB, 107 K), Jackson Kowar (9-5, 3.24, 105.2 IP, 98 H, 41 BB, 102 K), Jordan Butler (6-2, 4/11, 50.1 IP, 37 H, 24 BB, 56 K), Jack Leftwich (4-5, 2 SV, 4.32, 75 IP, 64 H, 24 BB, 79 K)
Last CWS appearance: 2017 (5-1, won national championship)
Notes: The Gators return to Omaha for the fourth straight year, this time as defending champ. Florida again has a bevy of power arms, led by Brady Singer (12-1, 2.30, 107 K, 21 BB, .187 BAA) and Jackson Kowar (9-5, 3.24, 102 K, 41 BB). And it boasts one of the best relievers in the nation in Michael Byrne (3-1, 15 SV, 1.59) – opponents hit only .197 off Byrne. Overall, opponents hit only .230 off Gators pitchers. SEC Player of the Year Jonathan India (.354/20/58) leads the offense, which has been a little inconsistent. It has pop in Wil Dalton (.266/19/60) and expects to see the return of JJ Schwarz (.325/12/46) from injury. Austin Langworthy (.294/4/28) won the Gainesville Super Regional with a homer to beat Auburn.
No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Lubbock, Texas
Won Lubbock Regional (3-0), won Lubbock Super Regional (2-1), at-large bid from Big 12
2018 record: 15-9, 44-18 (third in Big 12)
Head coach: Tim Tadlock (Texas Tech, 1991)
Record at school: 238-130 (6 years)
Overall record: 479-145 (15 years)
Assistant coaches: Matt Gardner, J-Bob Thomas, Ray Hayward, Hunter Redman
Team offense: .311 BA, 513 R, 82 HR, .512 SLG%, .422 OBP%, 75-97 SB
Team pitching: 4.40 ERA, 544 IP, 501 H, 326 BB, 537 K
Top hitters: Josh Jung (.390/12/78/17 2B), Grant Little (.372/12/73/24 2B), Gabe Holt (.352/6/41/13 2B/29-30 SB), Zach Rheams (.348/17/54/10 2B), Cameron Warren (.327/10/53/15 2B), Brian Klein (.323/4/31/16 2B), Cody Farhat (.294/5/37/16-22 SB), Michael Davis (.288/12/52/17 2B)
Top pitchers: Dylan Dusek (3-0, 2.03, 31 IP, 28 H, 11 BB, 30 K), Jose Quezada (5-2, 2 SV, 2.16, 33.1 IP, 16 H, 21 BB, 39 K), Ryan Shetter (5-0, 3 SV, 3.03, 68.1 IP, 51 H, 26 BB, 72 K), Caleb Killian (9-2, 3.04, 68 IP, 57 H, 25 BB, 59 K), Ty Harpenau (7-2, 4 SV, 3.38, 53.1 IP, 40 H, 24 BB, 51 K), John McMillon (5-3, 4.01, 60.2 IP, 60 H, 47 BB, 71 K), Davis Martin (7-5, 4.50, 74 IP, 73 H, 36 BB, 75 K)
Last CWS appearance: 2016 (1-2, tied for fifth)
Notes: The Red Raiders are back in Omaha for the third time in five years – all of their CWS appearances have come under coach Tim Tadlock, who was a two-year starter at shortstop at Texas Tech under Larry Hays. It starts with the offense for Tech, as it entered the postseason second in the nation in on-base percentage (.422) and slugging percentage (.512). In an age of high strikeout percentages, four Tech starters walk more than they strike out, and three have on-base percentages better than .450, led by Josh Jung (.390/12/78/.493 OBP). Grant Little (.372/12/73) and Zach Rheams (.348/17/54/.742 slugging) are other big bats. The pitching has been up and down, and the Red Raiders likely will mix and match. Caleb Killian (9-2, 3.04), Ryan Shetter (5-0, 3.03), John McMillon (5-3, 4.01) and Davis Martin (7-5, 4.50) are ones to watch.