College World Series 2016: Latest Results and Updated Picks for Wednesday
The powerhouse Florida Gators arrived in Omaha with a swagger as the top seed in the College World Series, but after absorbing a 3-2 defeat Tuesday at the hands of Texas Tech, they have been eliminated from title contention.
The Gators had a strong and relentless offensive attack through most of the season, but their stay in Nebraska was marked by an inability to solve their opponents' pitching. They scored three runs in 18 innings, and that's why head coach Kevin O'Sullivan's team is heading home.
The coach tried to put a positive spin on his team's season, but it was hard to hide the Gators' overall disappointment.
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"To look at two games we've lost, 2-1 and 3-2, and look at those guys in the locker room and think, 'Boy, the season's been a failure.' If getting to Omaha's a failure, then—I don't look at it that way," O'Sullivan said after the game, per the Associated Press' Eric Olson, via Yahoo Sports. "Of course we're disappointed, of course we want to stay here longer."
Texas Tech held a 3-0 lead in the ninth, but Peter Alonso's home run drew Florida within one run. While there was some tension in the Red Raiders' dugout as the Gators got close, they were able to finish the game successfully when left fielder Tyler Neslony threw out Jonathan India, who was trying to stretch a single into a double.
| Arizona (1-1) vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-1) | 7 p.m. | ESPN | Arizona |
The Red Raiders were not the only Texas team that was successful Tuesday. The TCU Horned Frogs jumped in front early and defeated Coastal Carolina 6-1.
Red-hot freshman Luken Baker got TCU off on the right foot when he powered a home run in his first at-bat, and the Chanticleers never recovered.
Baker has hit seven home runs in his last 13 games, and he is hitting .558 in those games. He said his home run came on a pitch that was right in his hitting zone.
| Oklahoma State (2-0) | TCU (2-0) |
| Arizona (1-1) | Texas Tech (1-1) |
| UC Santa Barbara (1-1) | Coastal Carolina (1-1) |
| Miami, Fla. (0-2) eliminated | Florida (0-2) eliminated |
"I got a fastball up and away I could handle and put a good swing on it, and I was a little more excited for this one than a few of the ones I've had in the past because it was my first opposite-field one," Baker said, per the Associated Press, via ESPN.com.
As a result of the victory, the Horned Frogs are one win away from moving to the College World Series finals next week.
The Arizona Wildcats and the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will meet Wednesday night in an elimination game at the College World Series.
Both teams are 1-1 in the event, and they will play at 7 p.m. ET in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN.
The winner of this game will face 2-0 Oklahoma State Friday and will have to beat the Cowboys twice to reach the finals.
The Wildcats and the Gauchos have both suffered 1-0 defeats at the hands of Oklahoma State, and Wednesday night's meeting figures to be a tight game.
The Wildcats are sparked by Zach Gibbons, who leads the team with a .382 batting average, has driven in 41 runs and has an on-base percentage of .466. Power-hitting Ryan Aguilar may be the key to the Arizona attack. Aguilar is hitting .308 with a team-high eight home runs and 51 RBI.
The Gauchos have a spark plug in JJ Muno, who is hitting .298 with five home runs and 31 RBI in addition to a slugging percentage of .456. Austin Bush is UCSB's leading power hitter, and he has bashed 11 home runs and driven in 49 while slugging .469.
Prediction
This should be a close game between two teams that execute well. Look for a game that is tied or within one run going into the last two innings, with the decisive factors being relief pitching and finding a way to advance the runners.
The Wildcats appear to have the smallest of edges, and head coach Jay Johnson's team should find a way to earn another opportunity to face the red-hot pitching staff of Oklahoma State.
Final score: Arizona 2, UCSB 1
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