College World Series 2022: Predictions, Prospects to Watch on Tuesday's Schedule
The 2022 College World Series field will be trimmed from six to four teams on Tuesday.
A pair of elimination games will take place in Omaha, Nebraska to determine which programs need two wins to get to the championship series.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are the only team left in the field without ties to the SEC. The ACC squad faces the Texas A&M Aggies in the first game of the elimination doubleheader.
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SEC West rivals, the Arkansas Razorbacks and Auburn Tigers, do battle in the second game, which features two of the best sluggers in college baseball in Cayden Wallace and Sonny DiChiara.
Wallace, the Arkansas third baseman, is the only player in action on Tuesday who is listed as a first-round pick in the latest MLB mock draft from ESPN.com's Kiley McDaniel.
Although there may not be many potential first-rounders scattered across all four rosters, there are plenty of notable names to watch as the teams attempt to keep their seasons alive.
Tuesday College World Series Schedule
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Arkansas vs. Auburn (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Predictions
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M
Players To Watch: Dylan Rock, OF, Texas A&M; Carter Putz, 1B, Notre Dame
Dylan Rock is due for a big game in the heart of the Texas A&M lineup.
The Aggies outfielder led the team with 18 home runs this season, but his bat has been silent in Omaha. He does not have a hit in seven at-bats.
Rock scored once in the 10-2 win over the Texas Longhorns, but that came after he drew a walk.
Other batters in the Aggies order stepped up, including Ryan Targac and Troy Claunch, to help the team stave off elimination for the first time in the College World Series.
Targac and Claunch combined to draw three walks, earn two hits and score four runs from the two spots beneath Rock in the order.
Notre Dame received the opposite wave of production out of its No. 3 hitter, Carter Putz. He went 4-for-4 in a losing effort against the Oklahoma Sooners. He was 1-for-5 with two RBI in the opening game against Texas.
The first baseman could be a tone-setter in front of Jack Zyska and David LaManna, who both played key roles in defeating the top seed Tennessee Volunteers in the super regional round to land in Omaha.
Texas A&M's hitters may have a slight advantage against Notre Dame's pitching because the Irish were forced to use six arms out of the bullpen on Sunday. The Aggies used two relievers behind Micah Dallas to beat Texas.
Both bullpens could be worked to the maximum if the power hitters show up in the Tuesday afternoon clash. Rock and Putz would be in the middle of the power show if that happened.
The winner of the Notre Dame-Texas A&M contest will face Oklahoma on Wednesday, That team has to beat the Sooners twice to reach the College World Series championship.
Prediction: Texas A&M 12, Notre Dame 8
Arkansas vs. Auburn
Players To Watch: Cayden Wallace, 3B, Arkansas; Sonny DiChiara, 1B, Auburn
Wallace and DiChiara will be the first hitters the Arkansas and Auburn pitching staffs focus on when the lineups for Tuesday night's game are released.
Wallace is in the mix to be a first-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft, and his floor appears to be the compensatory first round.
DiChiara has been one of the most-discussed players in college baseball this season. The Auburn first baseman is one of the best power hitters in the sport, but his draft stock is not as high as Wallace's.
Part of that has to do with DiChiara's 6'1", 260-pound frame. His power stroke at the plate is undeniable, and he could earn a bit more respect in MLB draft rooms with a starring performance in Omaha. A team will take a risk on the senior, but his draft range is unknown because of his frame, age and limited positions on the diamond.
However, he needs to be better than his three-strikeout performance against Stanford on Monday to draw more attention to himself and keep Auburn afloat in Omaha.
The Tigers' No. 5-7 hitters were responsible for five hits and three RBI in the 6-2 victory over the Cardinal. More production from DiChiara could help the team counter whatever Arkansas throws at it.
Arkansas' biggest concern going into Tuesday will be its pitching depth. It used seven pitchers to get through their 13-5 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels on Monday night.
The quick turnaround may hurt the Razorbacks bullpen, which is why its bats need to make a statement from the first inning on. Wallace went 0-for-3 on Monday and needs to improve to be the catalyst for the offense.
Arkansas put 21 runs on the Auburn pitching staff during a three-game SEC series on the first weekend of May. The Razorbacks need a similar output from their bats on Tuesday to stay alive and set up a rematch with Ole Miss.
Ole Miss sits in the same position as Oklahoma. The Rebels need to beat the Arkansas-Auburn winner once to advance to the championship series, while the Razorbacks or Tigers need two wins on Wednesday and Thursday to move on.
Prediction; Arkansas 10, Auburn 7
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