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College World Series 2016: TV, Live-Stream Schedule and Saturday Predictions
June 25, 2016
No matter which two teams survive Saturday's elimination showdowns, the 2016 College World Series will host two improbable finalists.
The wild NCAA tournament hasn't settled down in Omaha, Nebraska, where the only three seeded teams remaining (the No. 1 Florida Gators, No. 3 Miami Hurricanes and No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders) got ousted with one win between them.
On Friday night, the Arizona Wildcats and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers fended off elimination by beating the Oklahoma State Cowboys and TCU Horned Frogs, respectively. Since all four teams are saddled with one loss, Saturday will feature two rematches.
Before the two victors commence a best-of-three championship series Monday, here's a look at both of Saturday's win-or-go-home contests:
| College World Series: Saturday, June 25 | ||||
| Time (ET) | Matchup | TV | Live Stream | Prediction |
| 3 p.m. | Arizona vs. Oklahoma State | ESPN2 | WatchESPN | 3-2, UA |
| 8 p.m. | Coastal Carolina vs. TCU | ESPN | WatchESPN | 6-4, CCU |
| NCAA.com; Author's Predictions | ||||
Arizona vs. Oklahoma State
Having split their first two meetings in Omaha, Arizona and Oklahoma State will settle the score in Saturday's rubber match.
On Monday, Oklahoma State overcame a gem from Bobby Dalbec to win a 1-0 pitchers' duel behind Tyler Buffett. While the Cowboys again failed to muster much offense in Friday's rematch—generating four hits—the Wildcats scored nine times on 19 hits.
Despite the six-run defeat, Cowboys head coach Josh Holliday can take comfort in turning to his ace. Per the team's official Twitter account, he declared Saturday's starter after watching his team suffer its first loss of the tournament:
Thomas Hatch holds a 1.89 ERA through 18 starts, and he hasn't allowed a run in three June starts. Over that dominant stretch, the right-handed sophomore has collected 20 strikeouts over 23 scoreless frames.
Per the Tulsa World's Eric Bailey, Holliday expressed confidence in the red-hot hurler's ability to halt Arizona's offensive surge:
Arizona's pitching may prove to be a tougher riddle to solve. The Wildcats have allowed five runs in four College World Series contests, and they can counter with a stud who has already stymied the Cowboys this week.
Dalbec is positioned to take the hill again Saturday. The junior, who pulls double duty as a third baseman, accumulated 12 strikeouts during Monday's outing. He has a 2.76 ERA this year.
Friday's loss means little with an ace going Saturday. Expect the Cowboys to bounce back from a blowout and claim a low-scoring victory behind Hatch.
Prediction: Oklahoma State wins, 3-2.
Coastal Carolina vs. TCU
Coastal Carolina has orchestrated an improbable run behind the strength of its hulking hitters. The team is now one win away from the finals in spite of its bats cooling down in Omaha.
Despite averaging 7.2 runs per game this year, the Chanticleers have registered only 14 runs in four College World Series games. They accrued half of those runs Thursday with the help of three Texas Tech errors. Two days earlier, they crossed home plate once against TCU.
They fared better in Friday's rematch, making the most of their four hits to tally as many runs. Ace Andrew Beckwith also presented another gem to offset the offensive inconsistency. The junior has fueled two victories by going the distance and allowing one run in each start.
Coastal Carolina exceeded expectations by making it this far, but head coach Gary Gilmore would not be not content with the ride ending this weekend.
"A lot of people thought we just wanted to come out here [to Omaha]," he said, per ESPN.com's Ryan McGee. "I think they've shown they want to stay out here."
Also searching for its first national title, TCU brandished offensive firepower before facing Beckwith on Friday night. Luken Baker guided the Horned Frogs to two quick victories by homering in each game, including a game-winning blast in the ninth inning Sunday.
The big designated hitter went hitless Friday, ending a sizzling streak ESPN Stats & Info noted beforehand:
Four Chanticleers have hit at least 15 homers this year, but the Horned Frogs need Baker to trigger their offense. Coastal Carolina wields too many potent bats to stay stagnant, so look for a well-timed rebound to cement a championship bid.
Prediction: Coastal Carolina wins, 6-4.