Five of the eight spots in the College World Series are set, but it's easy to predict which team will be the darling of Omaha.
Stony Brook completed one of the most stunning upsets in college baseball history Sunday, thoroughly dominating Louisiana State 7-2 to win the Baton Rouge Super Regional. Stony Brook, an America East Conference school from Long Island, went into college baseball's most intimidating environment and won a decisive third game in front of 11,976 fans—larger than Stony Brook's home attendance for the entire season. On his way into the postgame press conference, coach Matt Senk received a congratulatory handshake from former LSU coach Skip Bertman, winner of five national titles. The moment was surreal for Senk, who arrived at Stony Brook in 1991 and shepherded the program through its transition from Division III to D-II in 1995, then from D-II to D-I in 2000.
"I'm a little overwhelmed, quite frankly, because I think I do know the magnitude of this," Senk said afterward. "To make it to Omaha is every college baseball team's dream, every college baseball coach's dream, and it's come to fruition. And to do against LSU, Alex Box Stadium . . . to shake Coach Bertman's hand on the way in. Oh my God. Having that man congratulate me for going to the College World Series, it's just unbelievable."
Frankie Vanderka, who spent most of the season as Stony Brook's closer, held LSU to just three hits in a complete game, while the Seawolves pounded out 15 hits against LSU's vaunted pitching staff. First-team preseason All-American Travis Jankowski went 4-for-6 to lead the Seawolves, who took control of the game with three runs in the third and two more in the fourth. The only time Stony Brook trailed in the three-game super regional was after Mason Katz hit a walk-off RBI single to end the first game in the 12th inning. It was a dominating performance by the Seawolves, who went through perennial powerhouses Miami and LSU on their way to Omaha.
"I very seriously doubt that we're sneaking up on anybody when we go to Omaha," Senk said. "Watch out for Stony Brook."
Let's get to the rest of the day's action, starting with the two other super regionals that were decided Sunday:
Gainesville Super Regional
Florida earned a hard-fought 9-8 win in 10 innings against North Carolina State to sweep the series and advance to Omaha for the third straight year. A two-hour, 23-minute rain delay ended Wolfpack ace Carlos Rodon's outing after three hitless innings, and the Gators stormed ahead with four runs in the fourth against the N.C. State bullpen after play resumed. But the 'Pack fought back as it has done all year, and the teams traded rallies in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings. Daniel Pigott's solo homer and Josh Tobias' RBI single put the Gators ahead by two in the 10th, but the Wolfpack battled back for one run in the bottom of the frame, then left the tying run at second base when Chris Diaz was called out on a very questionable third strike from Keenan Kish. Casey Turgeon (3-for-5, 2 R, RBI) led Florida's balanced 15-hit attack.
Tallahassee Super Regional
Florida State pummeled Stanford for the second straight day, 18-7, to advance to Omaha for the 21st time. Sherman Johnson (3-for-6, R, 5 RBI) led the FSU offense and helped put the Seminoles in a commanding position with a three-run homer in the second, giving FSU a 6-0 lead. The Cardinal trailed 10-2 heading into the seventh, when it made things interesting with four runs in the inning before leaving the bases loaded. Florida State stomped on Stanford's throat with eight runs in the next inning, punctuated by Seth Miller's grand slam. The 'Noles outscored the Cardinal 35-8 in a two-game sweep.
Columbia Super Regional
Game Two between South Carolina and Oklahoma was postponed by rain until Monday at 4 p.m. ET. A third game would follow Monday evening if necessary.
Eugene Super Regional
Oregon leveled the series with a come-from-behind 3-2 win against Kent State. Ryan Bores (6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh, when Oregon rallied for three runs, highlighted by Ryan Hambright's game-tying single and Brett Hambright's perfectly executed squeeze. The Oregon bullpen took it from there, as Tommy Thorpe and Jimmie Sherfy combined to strike out six of the final eight Kent State hitters—including three straight after T.J. Sutton's leadoff double in the ninth.
Waco Super Regional
Arkansas came from behind with two runs in the ninth to beat Baylor, 5-4, and force a decisive third game Monday. The Bears unraveled in the final frame, as shortstop Jake Miller booted a routine double-play ball that would have ended the game, and two Baylor relievers later issued back-to-back hit-by-pitches to force in the tying and winning runs. That spoiled a solid start from Josh Turley (7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K), who out-pitched Ryne Stanek (4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K). But after the Bears took a 4-3 lead with three runs in the fifth, relievers Brandon Moore, Barrett Astin and Trent Daniel kept them off the scoreboard for the final four frame, setting up the ninth-inning rally.
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Go NOLES!! WE GOIN' BACK BABY! HOPING THIS COULD FINALLY BE THE YEAR. Very wary of Stony Brook, props to them and glad we aren't playing them in game 1!
Posted by Matt | June 11, 2012 at 2:28 am | ShortcutI watched the last pitch from Florida-NC State over and over again. I didn't think it was that questionable. I see that pitch called a strike over and over again in college baseball. I actually think it got part of the plate. Diaz definitely can't let it go by with the season on the line.
Posted by Murray Passarieu | June 11, 2012 at 8:28 am | ShortcutArkansas hung tough and Baylor made too many mistakes Sunday. Hopefully Baylor will play at its best today, and earn that CWS ticket.
Posted by DJ Drummond | June 11, 2012 at 9:35 am | ShortcutFrom an LSU fan, congrats to Stony Brook. That team is for real. I will not be surprised to see the Seawolves make a run in the CWS.
Posted by Mike M. | June 11, 2012 at 9:58 am | ShortcutAaron, The call on Diaz was the way the ump had been calling the game all day. You NEVER leave a call up to the ump, Diaz should have taken a cut at the ball.
Posted by Mike | June 11, 2012 at 10:54 am | ShortcutFurthermore, Diaz should go through anger-management classes as he cannot control his temper. They won't put up with his antics in the pros.
I love it that Stony Brook upset LSU! I am an SEC fan and a UGA alumnus, but I am glad to see a new team in Omaha. Hopefully Kent State can do likewise. Maybe Florida State can finally win it all so Mike Martin can retire. It was nice to see the LSU coach humbled as he is usually smug and arrogant.
Posted by Mitch | June 11, 2012 at 12:05 pm | ShortcutGotta disagree with you on Paul Mainieri, Mitch. He’s one of the classiest people in college baseball, and I’ve never found him smug or arrogant in the slightest.
Posted by Aaron Fitt | June 11, 2012 at 2:00 pm | ShortcutCongrats to Stony Brook!! As a huge LSU fan, I enjoyed the heck out of watching this Stony Brook attack a very good pitching staff. That team has no weaknesses and plays the game the way it should be played. Their batters 1-9 simply do not strike out, play great defense (accept Carmona) and pitch extremely effective. The rest of America will get a treat watching them play in Omaha next week.
Posted by Ed | June 11, 2012 at 2:25 pm | ShortcutMitch seems like a typical UGA fan; I guess it could be worse for LSU today since we could be UGA.
Good luck to Stony Brook!
CONGRATS to an intrepid bunch of young men from Stony Brook who came into Alex Box and dominated the Tigers during the super regionals. I have been to most of the home games at Alex Box this season and can say that the Stony Brook Seawolves deserve to be in Omaha. A classy and humbled group of players and coaches! We enjoyed hosting you guys and will be pulling for you in Omaha. Hoping to see the headlines read: "Stony Brook Seawolves, 2012 College World Series Champs!"
Posted by Kirk | June 13, 2012 at 7:58 am | Shortcut