College World Series 2015: Latest Results and Updated Picks for Thursday
Florida kept its title hopes alive with an elimination-game victory over rival Miami on Wednesday night at the 2015 College World Series. Now, LSU and TCU find themselves in the same position as they prepare to battle on Thursday.
The Gators advance to the semifinals where they will face Virginia. They need to beat the Cavaliers two straight times to reach the championship series. The same will be true for either the Tigers or Horned Frogs when they go up against reigning champion Vanderbilt.
Let's check out yesterday's scoreline before turning the page to the details for today's contest. The key information is followed by a preview and prediction for the latest pressure-filled clash in Omaha.
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Wednesday Result
| Florida | 10 | 14 | 1 |
| Miami (Fla.) | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Thursday Schedule
| 8 p.m. | LSU | TCU | ESPN |
Game Pick
This will mark the second meeting between LSU and TCU in this year's College World Series. The Horned Frogs cruised to a 10-3 triumph in the opening round, thanks in part to an uncharacteristic four errors by the Tigers defense.
A more competitive game is likely on the horizon this time around, as both teams will be fighting to keep their respective seasons alive. Both sides are in a situation where they will need three wins in three days, including two over a terrific Vandy squad, to reach the finals.
TCU head coach Jim Schlossnagle believes his team is capable of making a run, per Carlos A. Mendez of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
The Horned Frogs should have the advantage on the mound. They are sending out Mitchell Traver, who's been nothing short of outstanding with a 1.60 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 73 innings across 15 appearances, including 13 starts.
LSU is taking a different approach. After TCU was shut out for seven innings by Vanderbilt lefty Philip Pfeifer, the Tigers are giving the ball to left-hander Zac Person, who's made just one start this season. It's unclear how many innings he'll be able to provide, so the bullpen must be ready.
Randy Rosetta of the Times-Picayune passed along comments from pitching coach Alan Dunn about his philosophy heading into the elimination game.
"At this point of the season, dudes have to step up and we're going to manage the game with whatever it takes," Dunn said.
The Tigers have also showcased a more positive feel following their win over Cal State Fullerton in the previous round, according to Robert O'Shields of Sports NOLA:
"The vibe was much more upbeat. The Tigers believe they can roar all the way to the College World Series Championship Series.
The players were laughing and joking, more confident like kids who know all the answers to the test before the teacher hands it out. LSU earned close to an A-plus against Cal State Fullerton.
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Both sides have strong lineups. LSU features the speed of Alex Bregman and Andrew Stevenson as well as the power of Chris Chinea. TCU puts a lot of pressure on opponents on the basepaths with eight players tallying at least eight stolen bases led by Cody Jones with 33.
So this game could come down to how the Tigers' pitching strategy works. If the "whole-staff" mentality pays off, the coaches will be praised. If Person struggles, the coaches will have a lot of questions to answer about their decision.
All told, look for a much closer contest than their previous meeting, but with Traver on the mound, TCU still holds the edge in the rematch.
Prediction: 4-3, TCU
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