Omaha Preview - Part 2

  Here is Part 2 of our NCAA College World Series overview.  Nearly 300 Division 1 schools began the season and now it's down to the final 8 who will meet in Omaha to decide the 2021 National Champion.  Here is a look at the first round match ups on Sunday June 20th.

Sunday, June 20th

Tennessee vs. Virginia

Tennessee [50-16] The #3 ranked Volunteers enter the College World Series on a 5 game winning streak, sweeping both the Regional and Super Regional in Knoxville.  They are a fairly balanced team, finishing in the Top 25 in both OPS [25th] and ERA [8th].  Junior Pitcher Chad Dallas [11-1], a transfer from Panola College, led the staff with 118 strikeouts in 96.2 innings.  The Tennessee offense can put up runs in bunches, finishing 4th in Home Runs with 98 on the season.  They have 5 players with 10 home runs or more this year, led by Sophomore outfielder Jordan Beck and Redshirt Junior first baseman Luc Lipcius with 15 each.

Virginia [35-25] has battled its way to the College World Series, surviving a tough 3 game series with Dallas Baptist in the Super Regional.  For success this week in Omaha, the Cavaliers will rely on the pitching staff to continue holding its opponents at bay.  They have the 14th ranked team ERA at 3.61 runs per game. Andrew Abbot [8-6] leads the way for this staff with 100.2 innings pitched and a salty 3.04 ERA.  Offensively, Virginia can struggle at times to put up runs.  They ranked 90th in OPS, far and away the lowest of the 8 teams in Omaha.  Kyle Teel [.320 batting average], and Zack Gelof [.298 average] lead the team with 9 home runs each.

Texas vs. Mississippi St.

Texas [47-15] advanced to the College World Series for a record 37th time by dominating the Regional and Super Regional in Austin.  The Big 12 champions outscored its opponents 49-12, going 5-0 in the process.  The Longhorns feature the Number 1 ranked pitching staff with a 2.89 team ERA.  They feature 3 frontline starters in Redshirt Sophomore RHP Ty Madden [7-4, 2.41 ERA], Redshirt Junior RHP Tristan Stevens [11-3, 2.97 ERA], and Redshirt Freshman LHP Pete Hansen [9-1, 1.84 ERA].  They also have good back end pitching in Freshman RHP Tanner Witt [1.42 K/9] and Freshman RHP Aaron Nixon [ 8 Saves, 2.35 ERA].  The Longhorns are an average offensive team, ranking 40th in OPS.  Their best pure hitter is Freshman Second Baseman Mitchell Daly with a .321 batting average.  The power in the lineup is provided by Redshirt Sophomore Ivan Melendez [12 HRs], Redshirt Junior Third Baseman Cam Williams [11 HRs], and Redshirt Junior First Baseman Zach Zubia [10 HRs].

Mississippi St.[45-16] made its way to Omaha by outlasting Notre Dame in the Starkville Super Regional.  Much like Stanford, the Bulldogs are statistically very average with the 43rd ranked team ERA [4.05] and 64th ranked OPS [.826].  Offensively, Mississippi State has 5 players with double digit home runs this year, led by Logan Tanner with 14. Tanner Allen is another excellent hitter with .392 batting average and 10 HRs.  Sophomore RHP Will Bednar [7-1, 3.53 ERA] and Junior LHP Christian MacLeod [6-5, 4.24 ERA] will lead Mississippi State on the mound.