Monday Roundup: Virginia, Texas A&M Fill Out CWS Field



The College World Series field is set, as the final two teams punched their tickets to Omaha in decisive third games of super regionals Monday. No. 1 national seed Virginia won a thrilling game against UC Irvine to make its second trip to the CWS in the last three years, while Texas A&M pounded Florida State to reach Omaha for the first time since 1999. We'll recap Monday's action below, but first let's take a look at the College World Series field.

A year after just three national seeds reached the CWS, six of the top eight seeds made it this year. Six national seeds also made it to Omaha in 2008, when Fresno State became the only No. 4 regional seed to win the national title. This year's field also features the all-time leader in College World Series appearances (Texas, with 34) but none of the next 12 teams on the all-time list. South Carolina, making its 10th trip to Omaha, has the most CWS appearances in this field, after Texas.

Here is the schedule for the first weekend (all times Eastern; national seeds in parentheses):

Saturday, June 18
2 p.m.: (6) Vanderbilt vs. (3) North Carolina
7 p.m.: (7) Texas vs. (2) Florida

Sunday, June 19
2 p.m.: California vs. (1) Virginia
7 p.m.: Texas A&M vs. (4) South Carolina

Here's a look back at Monday's action:

Charlottesville Super Regional

Virginia over UC Irvine, 3-2 (Virginia wins series 2-1)

A tight pitcher's duel got wild in the ninth inning. After Irvine scored an unearned run against closer Branden Kline in the top of the ninth to take a 2-1 lead, UCI ace Matt Summers (who entered in the eighth) retired the first two batters of the bottom of the ninth. But with two outs and the bases empty, the Cavaliers strung together consecutive singles up the middle, then a walk, then a walk-off two-run single up the middle by Chris Taylor. Will Roberts (7.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER) turned in a strong start for the Cavs, while Crosby Slaught (3 IP, 4 H, 0 R) and Jimmy Litchfield (4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER) kept UVa.'s potent offense at bay until the ninth.

Tallahassee Super Regional

Texas A&M over Florida State, 11-2 (Texas A&M wins series, 2-1)

Texas A&M took advantage of an erratic Hunter Scantling (0.0 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB) in a six-run first inning, highlighted by Kevin Gonzalez's two-run double, and the the Aggies never looked back. Adam Smith followed with a two-run homer in the second to extend the lead to 8-0. Aggies Michael Wacha (7.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 8 K) contained an FSU offense that produced 23 runs Sunday. The Aggies head to Omaha for the first time since 1999.



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7 Comments

Vandy v. Virginia in Finals — Vandy Nat'l Champs in 3.
Westlake MOP

Pitching and timely hitting will be the key to whomever takes the CWS first title crown at the new ball park in Omaha.   Virginia would be a favorite, California a huge sleeper with a sense of urgency and new found energy, also UNC playing hot at the right time.  Should be a very interesting and good viewing CWS.

I guess all those people were right sayin that Rice deserved a national seed over A&M and how about that great pac 10 conference gettin one team in, and cal had to beat dbu to get there WOW!

South Carolina will take it all again – Go ***** !!!

dont ever count out Ray Tanner and the defending national champion Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks Repeat!! Least talented on paper….but the toughest team in the CWS!

Well well – It seems that after thirty+ years of haggling and manipulating and restricting practice times and scrimmages in the fall and limiting recruiting contacts to ridiculous restrictions, the East has has finally overtaken the West in representation at the CWS. Five east coast teams, two from Texas and one from California. How ironic that Cal got there in light of nearly losing their program altogether. And they don't even come close to being the best that the west coast has to offer. The NCAA thinks so little of the west now that they put the Super Regional in Santa Clara. SANTA CLARA ! While the facility is nice, it does not even come close to the other hosts ! What a slap in the WESTS face. Keep whining you east coast coaches and let those $$$$$$ keep rollin' in ! 


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  • Aaron Fitt is the lead college writer for Baseball America. If you have questions or comments about college baseball you can e-mail him at collegeblog@baseballamerica.com.

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