2012 College World Series Recap: Arizona is First Team to Omaha

Saturday the University of Arizona became the first college baseball team in 2012 to win their super regional and advance to the College World Series in Omaha.

The Wildcats took Friday night’s opener over Big East co-champs St. John’s winning 7-6 in walk-off fashion in the 10th inning. Saturday Arizona won 7-4 with a complete game six-hit gem thrown by Konner Wade.

Wade allowed two earned runs in nine innings striking out two and walking none.

At the plate Arizona was led by third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean’s 3-5 performance. Mejias-Brean scored two runs and drove in a run in the super regional clinching win.

Florida won game one of their series 7-1 over North Carolina State.

The Gators outhit the Wolfpack 10-9 but took advantage of two NC State errors to score two unearned runs off Ethan Ogburn.

Florida’s All-Everything catcher Mike Zunio flexed his muscle going 2-4 with two runs and three RBI while hitting his 10th homerun of the year.

Hudson Randall threw seven solid innings for the Gators allowing seven hits, walking none, and striking out four.

Florida, the top seeded team in super regional action, can close out their series tomorrow with game two scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST.

Baylor looked to prove their fifth seed by the NCAA Selection Committee was no joke by jumping on Arkansas Razorback ace D.J. Baxendale early.

Logan Vick hit the first of his two homeruns (6) in the first inning that was a two-run shot to right field. Vick finished the day 2-4 with three RBI.

Bears’ third baseman Cal Towey was 3-4 and knocked in two runs to help Baylor beat Arkansas 8-1.

Arkansas and Baylor resume their series tomorrow at Baylor Park at 4:00 p.m. EST and can be seen on ESPNU.

The Cinderella story continues for Stony Brook, the fourth seed out of the Miami regional.

On Friday Mother Nature intervened slowing the momentum of the Sea Wolves in the 12th inning forcing game one to be completed Saturday morning.

The Tigers dodged the proverbial bullet by winning 5-4 with ace pitcher Kevin Gausman coming in as a relief pitcher in game one to get the win. Gausman then started game two after a long break causing controversy for LSU head coach Paul Mainieri.

Gausman pitched 7.0 innings in game two, not including the 12-pitch inning earlier in game one, allowing three runs on six hits.

The bottom of the batting order carried Stony Brook in game two with their eight and nine guys (1B Kevin Courtney and RF Sal Intagliata) going a combined 4-6 with a RBI each.

Two of Courtney’s three hits were for extra bases, one being his fourth homerun of the year.

With the series tied 1-1 either team has a shot at Omaha tomorrow when game three begins at 1:00 p.m. EST at Alex Box Stadium.

TCU got out to an early lead over UCLA on Friday but a 2-1 Horned Frogs lead was erased after a five-run sixth inning by the Bruins.

Bruin’s ace Adam Plutko worked seven innings allowing two earned while striking out seven for the win.

Florida State used a seven-run fourth inning followed by a four-run fifth, a three-run sixth, and a three-run seventh to whip Stanford 17-1 on Friday.

FSU roughed up Cardinal ace pitcher and 2012 MLB first round draft pick Mark Appel for seven runs, five earned, in four innings. Appel did not help him self surrendering four walks in his four innings.

Stanford used 16 different position players in the route with first baseman Brian Ragira going 3-3 at the plate.

The Seminoles’ top five batters in the lineup did the majority of the damage against the Cardinal. Sherman Johnson, Devon Travis, James Ramsey, Jaycee Boyd, and Stephen McGee combined to go 11-19 with 11 runs scored and 12 RBI.

Johnson scored four times and Travis knocked in six runs for FSU.

Game two of the Tallahassee super regional is Sunday at 7:00 p.m. EST.

South Carolina jumped on Oklahoma starter Jordan John in the second inning for three runs on two hits causing the Sooners to hit the panic button for relief. Dillon Overton came in to relieve John in the third inning.

USC ace Michael Roth has given up four hits in three innings walking none and striking out one.

The Gamecocks are up 3-0 in the top of the fourth at the time of this posting.

Game one of the Oregon vs. Kent State super regional is a late game beginning at 11:00 p.m. EST.