College World Series 2016: Bracket Predictions, Times for Wednesday's Schedule
The 2016 College World Series has already been memorable, with UC Santa Barbara continuing its dazzling run by eliminating Miami and with top-seeded Florida on the brink of elimination Tuesday.
While the Gators' fate will be known by the end of tonight, UC Santa Barbara must wait until Wednesday to see if it can keep its season alive in an elimination game against Arizona.
The Gauchos and Wildcats have the stage all to themselves on Wednesday, getting a prime-time matchup on ESPN.
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| UC Santa Barbara (1-1) vs. Arizona (1-1) | 7 p.m. | ESPN | TD Ameritrade Park (Omaha, Nebraska) |
| Oklahoma State (2-0) | TCU (1-0) |
| Arizona (1-1) | Coastal Carolina (1-0) |
| UC Santa Barbara (1-1) | Florida (0-1) |
| Miami (0-2) | Texas Tech (0-1) |
Wednesday Prediction
Any notion that UC Santa Barbara was going to be a novelty act in its first College World Series appearance has been dispensed this month, as it knocked out national No. 2 Louisville in the Super Regionals with a sweep and national No. 3 Miami on Monday.
Gauchos head coach Andrew Checketts has slowly built this program into a national power, reaching the NCAA tournament last year and bringing this team in this year in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year to Omaha.
Aaron Fitt of D1Baseball.com did point out, though, that UC Santa Barbara has managed to turn things around after a late-season lull against inferior competition:
"UCSB lost three of its final four Big West series, including sets against UC Davis (17-36) and UC Riverside (26-29). Nobody in their right mind would argue that UC Santa Barbara had a better regular season than Miami or Louisville, and nobody can contest the reality that the Hurricanes and Cardinals were more talented and more experienced than UCSB.
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There's something to be said for momentum, especially when the postseason is about to start, but UCSB has been able to compartmentalize bad performances to make it this far.
The Gauchos weren't even bad in the College World Series game they lost against Oklahoma State. Cowboys starter Thomas Hatch was brilliant on Saturday, surrendering only five hits in a 1-0 victory.
Arizona, too, was stifled by Oklahoma State in a 1-0 loss to set up Wednesday's matchup. The Wildcats started the College World Series in grand fashion with a 5-1 win over Miami in which starting pitcher Nathan Bannister struck out 11.
Neither team lights up a stat sheet. Neither has big power hitters or dominant starting pitchers, but both are able to execute in key situations to put pressure on the opposition.
In a game that isn't likely to feature a lot of runs, bullpens are going to play a huge role in the outcome. Fitt noted in D1Baseball.com's College World Series preview that the Gauchos have one of the nation's best arms out of the pen:
"Santa Barbara’s MVP this season has been lefthander Kyle Nelson (7-2, 2.02, 9 SV, 71.1 IP), one of college baseball’s most effective stoppers. With a mid-to-high-80s fastball, Nelson doesn’t overpower hitters with velocity, but his delivery is deceptive and his slider/cutter is devastating. He can single-handedly shorten games by entering in the middle innings and taking the Gauchos over the finish line.
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UCSB leadoff hitter Andrew Calica, who has a .441 on-base percentage, will be the difference-maker offensively for the team. He's not a dynamic hitter but finds ways to create opportunities on the bases. If he's having a good day, the Gauchos will, too.
UC Santa Barbara 3, Arizona 2
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