CWS Preview, Bracket Two

Baseball America’s Teddy Cahill breaks down the College World Series teams.

Coastal Carolina

CWS History: first appearance

How They Got Here

Turning Point: Coastal Carolina has been remarkably consistent all season. It ranks third in the country with 49 wins and has only had two losing weekends—a sweep at Georgia Tech and a 1-2 showing at the Chanticleer Classic in the third weekend of the season. After both of those weekends, the Chanticleers rebounded well and went back to dominating the Big South Conference, going 21-3 in the regular season and then sweeping through the conference tournament.

Low Point: Coastal went to Georgia Tech at the end of April with designs on being a national seed. Getting swept by the Yellow Jackets dashed those hopes and, ultimately, the Chanticleers’ hosting chances as well. To Coastal’s credit, it responded by going on the road the next weekend and sweeping Liberty, outscoring the Flames 43-12.

Looking Ahead

X Factor: Coastal has experimented with a few different alignments of its pitching staff, using nearly all of its pitchers both as starters and relievers this season. But the Chanticleers seem to have hit on something with sophomore Bobby Holmes in the bullpen over the last month. Since returning to the bullpen after the Georgia Tech series, Holmes has made 10 appearances and has posted a 1.54 ERA. He won both games of the Baton Rouge Super Regional last weekend, and will likely be counted on in key situations again in Omaha.

How They Win: Throughout the season, Coastal has thrived thanks to its diverse offense, capable of driving the ball out of the yard and pressuring opposing teams with its aggressive baserunning and small ball. The Chanticleers may need to rely more on their pressure game in the spacious TD Ameritrade Park, but if their power continues to play, they will be tough to pitch to. The Chanticleers aren’t the biggest brand in Omaha, but haven’t been cowed by having to go through North Carolina State and Louisiana State to reach the CWS for the first time in program history. Coastal’s confidence and offense make it dangerous, but it will need a couple pitchers to step up in support of its core arms.

Florida

CWS History: 10th appearance (2nd straight), 0 titles (best CWS finish: runner-up in 2011).

How They Got Here

Turning Point: Florida was the preseason No. 1 team in the country and held that mantle most of the season, eventually entering the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 national seed. The Gators went undefeated in midweek games and have not lost more than two games in a row. With that kind of consistent excellence, there hasn’t been much need for a turning point. Florida has lived up to its preseason billing, and hasn’t let any loss fester.

Low Point: Florida went into the final weekend of the regular season atop the Southeastern Conference standings. Three days later, after a series loss at Louisiana State, however, Florida was in fourth place at the end of the regular season. The Gators lost the first two games of the series, including their only loss all year in a game started by All-American righthander Logan Shore. His start, like the rest of the series, was marred by bad weather. The game began with the first few innings Thursday before rain forced play to be suspended, not to be picked up again until Saturday. The Gators also struggled offensively without All-American first baseman Peter Alonso, who was out after breaking his hand the week before. Florida salvaged the weekend (and a bye in the SEC tournament) with a win in the series finale, but it wasn’t quite the exclamation point the Gators had hoped to put on the regular season.

Looking Ahead

X Factor: Lefthander A.J. Puk (2-3, 3.05) was the sixth overall pick in the draft last week and likely would have been the choice at 1-1 if he had shown more consistency this season. He has the ability to dominate hitters, but the 6-foot-7 lefty hasn’t made it out of the fifth inning in his first two starts in the NCAA tournament this season. Florida has won both of those games, but lost his previous six starts. The Gators have the deepest pitching staff in the country and can overcome another poor start from Puk, but it would make things much simpler for them if he’s able to deliver the kind of game of which he’s capable.

How They Win: Florida has amassed 52 victories, the most in the nation, this season on the strength of its pitching and defense. It had six pitchers drafted in the top 10 rounds last week, a total which doesn’t take into account underclassmen such as righthanders Alex Faedo and Brady Singer. The Gators’ depth is such that they have been able to essentially piggyback Puk with righthander Dane Dunning, the 29th overall pick, during the NCAA tournament. With Alonso (.373/.468/.652, 13 HR) back in the three-hole of the lineup, Florida’s offense has hummed along in the first two rounds of the tournament. The Gators have the most talented team in the country and, after finishing third in last year’s CWS, have experience playing in Omaha and are hungry for the first national championship in program history. To knock off the Gators, a team will likely have to beat them at their own game, something that hasn’t happened often this season.

Texas Christian

CWS History: fourth appearance (third straight), no titles (best CWS finish: third place in 2010).

How They Got Here

Turning Point: After losing the first two games of its series at Baylor May 13-14, TCU responded with a 7-3 victory in the series finale. That victory was the start of a seven-game winning streak, and the Horned Frogs have lost just twice since, claiming the Big 12 Conference tournament title and advancing to the CWS along the way.

Low Point: After losing a series at Oklahoma State and seeing freshman phenom Luken Baker sustain an injury that would ultimately keep him off the mound the rest of the season, TCU returned to Fort Worth to face Texas Tech from April 29-May 2 in a series that had significant implications for the Big 12 regular-season championship and the race for national seeds. The Horned Frogs trailed the Red Raiders by two games in the standings, and a series victory would have kept them within striking distance and kept them firmly in the national seed discussion. After splitting the first two games of the series, TCU lost the finale, 3-1. The Horned Frogs had a chance to win it in the ninth inning, getting the tying run to second base, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Looking Ahead

X Factor: After losing starting pitchers Tyler Alexander, Preston Morrison and Alex Young and closer Riley Ferrell from last year’s team, TCU came into this year counting on righthander Mitchell Traver to provide experience to its pitching staff. But Traver strained a lat muscle the week before Opening Day, leaving the Horned Frogs without their ace for much of the season. Traver (1-2, 3.00) returned to action in May and has been a boost to a rotation that hasn’t been at full-strength throughout the season. Getting another strong start from Traver will be important for the Horned Frogs.

How They Win: TCU’s last two CWS teams were largely built on pitching. While this year’s group is still strong on the mound, the Horned Frogs are a more offensive team. They average more than seven runs per game and have power throughout the lineup, as five batters have hit at least seven home runs this season. Baker (.379/.488/.560, 9 HR) is the team’s leading hitter and most potent threat. The All-American has been particularly good at the plate during TCU’s hot streak, and it will need him to continue to make life difficult for opposing pitchers. The Horned Frogs have done a good job piecing things together on the mound, but in Omaha they’ll need the kind of offensive support they’ve had all year.

Texas Tech

CWS History: second appearance (first since 2014), no titles (best CWS finish: seventh in 2014)

How They Got Here

Turning Point: After losing a home series to Cal State Fullerton on the third weekend of the year, Texas Tech reconstructed its rotation, going all-in on its freshmen pitchers. Righander Davis Martin was installed as the Friday starter and lefthander Steven Gingery followed on Saturdays. Righthander Ty Harpenau and lefthander Erikson Lanning took on key roles as well. The move paid off, as Martin (9-1, 2.73) and Gingery (4-2, 3.25) earned all-Big 12 Conference honors, and Texas Tech went on to win its first regular season conference title since 1997.

Low Point: Texas Tech had won 10 straight Big 12 games and its last six weekend series when Texas arrived at Rip Griffin Park for a series from April 22-24. The Red Raiders and the Longhorns split the first two games of the series, before Texas routed Texas Tech, 17-1, in seven innings in the series finale. It was the first time the Red Raiders had been run-ruled at home since 2007. It was also the only Big 12 series Texas Tech lost this season.

Looking Ahead

X Factor: In Martin and Gingery, Texas Tech has two reliable starters. But the Red Raiders will need more than that to win in Omaha. Lanning stepped up in super regionals, throwing seven scoreless innings in the deciding game against East Carolina. Before that game, however, Texas Tech had lost the third game of its last three weekends. If Lanning (3-3, 5.07) can repeat his super regionals performance, it would ease the burden on the rest of the pitching staff in the CWS.

How They Win: Texas Tech was the class of the Big 12 during the regular season and boasts a deep lineup. All-American first baseman Eric Gutierrez (.326/.458/.571, 12 HR) is one of several players who brings CWS experience from the Red Raiders’ trip to Omaha two years ago. Texas Tech is averaging more than seven runs per game this season, which has helped ease the pressure on its young pitchers. They’ll need that offensive support in Omaha, where Davis and Gingery will be starting the biggest games of their careers.