2,075 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story  | 6/6/2017

Regional Recap, Supers Set

Patrick Ebert     
Photo: Vanderbilt Athletics

Regional Preview | College Top 25 | Player/Pitcher of the Week

Perfect Game/Rawlings National Player of the Week: Will Toffey, Vanderbilt
Perfet Game/Rawlings National Pitcher of the Week: Will Zirzow, Florida State

Only two teams from last year’s College World Series field will have the opportunity to repeat this year as Regional hosts Florida and TCU were the only two teams to advance. To be fair, three of last year’s CWS teams (Coastal Carolina, Miami, UCSB) didn’t even make this year’s postseason. However, notably absent is Texas Tech, who entered this year’s postseason as the No. 5 overall seed.

The Red Raiders weren’t the only team to be upset in Regional play. Far from it. Only nine of the Regional hosts survived, and only five of those were among the Top 8 National Seeds: Oregon State (1), Florida (3), LSU (4), TCU (6), Louisville, Long Beach State, Kentucky, Florida State and Wake Forest.

Of the other seven teams there are four No. 2 Regional seeds (Cal State Fullerton, Mississippi State Missouri State, Vanderbilt), two No. 3 Regional seeds (Sam Houston State, Texas A&M) and one No. 4 Regional seed (Davidson).

In addition, after only one SEC team (Florida) made the College World Series a year ago there could be as many as five teams to make it this year.

Here are the matchups:
Away Home Location Away Home Location
Vanderbilt Oregon State Corvallis, OR Davison Texas A&M College Station, TX
Cal State Fullerton Long Beach State Long Beach, CA Kentucky Louisville Louisville, KY
Sam Houston State Florida State Tallahasssee, FL Missouri State Texas Christian Fort Worth, TX
Mississippi State Louisiana State Baton Rouge, LA Wake Forest Florida Gainesville, FL

And here is a brief recap of this weekend’s action, which includes notes on the Player and Pitcher of the Week, Will Toffey of Vanderbilt and Will Zirzow of Florida State.


Corvallis Regional

The Beavers moved to 52-4 overall on the year after making quick work of their weekend opponents at home in Corvallis, out-scoring Holy Cross and Yale (who they played twice) 27-3. Jake Thompson and Luke Heimlich flip-flopped in the weekend rotation over the first two games for Oregon State with Drew Rasmussen recording another start on Sunday since his return from injury, and those three only allowed two earned runs in 18 2/3 combined innings. Outfielder Steven Kwan had eight base hits in those three games while third baseman Michael Gretler hit a pair of home runs.

Nebraska, the second-ranked seed in the Regional, never got the chance to face the host Beavers after losing each of their first two games. This year marks the second year in a row in which the Huskers have suffered a quick 0-2 exit from the postseason. They also went 0-2 to open the Big Ten Tournament in 2015.


Clemson Regional

The Vandy Boys put a pretty loud exclamation point on their Regional win over Clemson on Monday, beating the host Tigers 8-0. Aside from Tyler Jackson’s masterful performance on Sunday night, the Commodores hitters seemed to have found their swings, particularly those at the top of the order. No one had a bigger impact than leadoff hitter Will Toffey who went 9-for-19 (.474) with four runs scored, 10 driven in, a pair of walks, a pair of doubles and three home runs, including two blasts on Monday in the clincher. For his hot hitting Toffey has been named the Perfect Game/Rawlings National Player of the Week.

The series win was a pretty emotional one for Vanderbilt, a team that just hasn’t been the same since losing their teammate Donny Everett in a tragic swimming accident the day before Regional play opened a season ago. There weren’t many moments that the team clicked on all cylinders this past season, but that definitely seemed to change in Clemson. Keep in mind this team opened the season ranked ninth overall as they certainly have the talent to continue their charge towards Omaha. However, they will now head to Corvallis to take on the No. 1 team in the nation, Oregon State, in what will surely create some must-see TV.


Chapel Hill Regional

A week after taking down the No. 1 seed (VCU) in the Atlantic 10 Championship Davidson immediately made noise in Chapel Hill by pushing North Carolina, the No. 2 overall seed in the entire tournament, to the losers’ bracket with a 8-4 win over the Tar Heels, handing UNC ace J.B. Bukaukas his first loss of the year. They followed that up with a pair of 2-1 wins, the first over Florida Gulf Coast and the second being their Regional-clinching win over the host Tar Heels. Overall it was an impressive team effort for the Wildcats, getting key contributions from players up and down their roster. Durin O’Linger’s name stands out the most simply for working the first six innings of their first game and the last two innings of their last game.

It should be pointed out that Davidson and North Carolina played in a midweek contest, in Chapel Hill, almost one month ago (May 9), a game Davidson led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. UNC tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with three runs and went on to win in walkoff fashion in the 10th.


Houston Regional

Hosting Davidson in Super Regional play will be Texas A&M, who was the worst kept secret as a three-seed in arguably the most competitive Regional with Baylor, Iowa and host Houston. Heavy rains even gave the Aggies an extra day off, as games were pushed back on Sunday allowing their pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, to get some much-needed rest. Starters Brigham Hill, Corbin Martin and Stephen Kolek each went deep into their games while Kaylor Chafin and Carson Sherrod saw multiple looks out of the bullpen; Chafin worked in all three games, logging 4 1/3 total innings. A&M opened the season just outside the preseason Top 25 and spent some time during the season in the rankings, so seeing them one step away from Omaha (unlike their Super Regional counterparts) is no surprise.

The host Cougars had a flair for the dramatic in Regional play, even if they fell just short of advancing. After losing their first game to Iowa they unloaded on Baylor for a 17-3 win, highlighted by an eight-run seventh inning that included a huge three-run home run by American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Jake Scheiner. In their next game Connor Wong hit a solo shot against Iowa in the top of the ninth that broke a tie and led to a 7-5 win, and they finished their 2017 season with three runs in the bottom of the ninth and the tying run on second base in a 4-3 loss to the Aggies.


Gainesville Regional

Although the Gators entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 overall seed things haven’t been as easy for Coach O’Sullivan’s squad this season as they look to return to Omaha for the third consecutive year. While they appeared to be cruising heading into Sunday’s game against Bethune-Cookman, with their usual Saturday starter Brady Singer on the mound, the Wildcats had other ideas and forced Monday’s elimination game with a 6-2 win. Florida returned the favor on Monday to advance, winning 6-1, largely thanks to freshman Austin Langworthy who allowed just one run in four innings on the mound and also went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI at the plate.

Closer Michael Byrne played a crucial role in all three of Florida’s wins, providing 9 1/3 combined scoreless innings of relief, allowing just six base hits and a pair of walks with 13 strikeouts in wins over Marist, South Florida and Bethune-Cookman.


Winston-Salem Regional

Wake Forest, who will travel to Gainesville this weekend to take on the Gators, didn’t take their hosting opportunity for granted, winning each of their games in relatively convincing fashion, although it took a Gavin Sheets walkoff base hit to defeat West Virginia on Saturday. Sunday’s clincher, again against West Virginia, got out of hand quickly thanks to a six-run fourth inning that led to a 12-8 victory. The Demon Deacons pounded out 38 hits in their three games and once again were led by outfielder and three-hole hitter Stuart Fairchild, who went 6-for-14 (.429) with eight RBI, going 2-for-6 on Sunday with a pair of home runs and six RBI. Slowing down the Wake Forest lineup will be no easy task for Florida this weekend.

West Virginia put up a good fight, just as they did all season long, taking a pair of games from previously ranked Maryland in Winston-Salem, even if they were unable to beat the Regional host. The Mountaineers finish the 2017 season with a 36-26 overall record, highlighted by series wins over Baylor, Oklahoma State and TCU as well as strong showings in both the Big 12 Tournament and Regional play.


Baton Rouge Regional

LSU appears to be on cruise control right now, as they have won 14 in a row dating back to May 11, which includes series sweeps over Auburn and Mississippi State before blazing through the SEC Tournament and the Baton Rouge Regional. Sunday’s Regional clinching win over upstart Rice was the best of freshman Eric Walker’s young career, working eight scoreless frames against a very potent lineup to move to 8-1 on the season while making a loud statement that he’s more than ready to take over as the staff ace once Jared Poche’ and Alex Lange move on to professional baseball.

Tigers center fielder Zach Watson, who has made a huge impression in the national spotlight the past couple of weeks with his defensive play, made his presence felt offensively over LSU’s first two games, 15-7 and 11-6 victories over Texas Southern and Southeastern Louisiana respectively. In each of those two games Watson hit a pair of home runs, finishing the three-game Regional 5-for-14 (.357) with five runs scored, seven driven in and those four home runs.


Hattiesburg Regional

Mississippi State certainly took the hard way to the Regional win in Hattiesburg, knocking out each of the other three participants – Illinois-Chicago, South Alabama and host Southern Miss – after losing their first game. The pitching staff seemed a little shaky until Jacob Billingsley provided a huge, much-needed complete game victory over Southern Miss that forced the determining winner-take-all contest on Monday. Even in that game starter Cole Gordon lasted only 2/3 of an inning, giving up four runs, but the stout bullpen duo of Spencer Price and Riley Self combined to go five innings which gave Brent Rooker and the Bulldogs offense a chance to fight back and win the game. Mississippi State will travel to Baton Rouge this weekend to take on LSU, who swept MSU, in Starkville, to close out the regular season.

While Southern Miss closer Nick Sandlin was saddled with the loss on Monday, giving up four runs (three were earned) in 3 2/3 innings, he really needs to be commended for a spectacular season. He finished the year 10-2 with eight saves and a 2.38 ERA, logging 56 2/3 innings in 29 relief appearances while striking out 80 and limiting opposing hitters to a .201 average.


Lubbock Regional

Sam Houston State – a team that opened the year just on the outside of the Preseason Top 25 at No. 28 – may have entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed at the Lubbock Regional but they had a lot of positive momentum, riding an eight-game winning streak that included the championship at the Southland Conference Tournament. They started off right, beating last year’s CWS runner-up, Arizona, 5-4. After losing to Texas Tech on Saturday they beat Arizona again in an elimination game, ending the Wildcats season. They had to do it the long and hard way but the Bearkats beat the Red Raiders twice to secure the Regional and move on to the next level.

It was a true team effort for Sam Houston State as the Bearkats were out hit in each of their five games. On the mound, Riley Cooper earned the win in each of his three appearances, including the fifth and final game, with freshman Nick Mikolajchak picking up the save in those three games as well.


Tallahassee Regional

What a difference a couple of weeks can make. Florida State looked dead in the water not too long ago after opening the season ranked third overall only to drop out of the rankings completely in mid April. Now they appear to be on the mission to get back to Omaha for the 22nd time in their history, and the first time since 2012. However, they made things difficult on themselves in Tallahassee by losing their first game to Tennessee Tech, forcing them to take the longer route to a Regional win. The offense is starting to click, led by the team’s Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters, Dylan Busby, Jackson Lueck and Quincy Nieporte, who are showing more signs of life which could be a dangerous sign for their Super Regional opponent, Sam Houston State.

Tyler Holton tossed a gem on Saturday against a potent UCF lineup to avoid elimination, going the distance while allowing one unearned run and striking out 13. Will Zirzow was even better on Monday, allowing just two base hits with 11 strikeouts of his own over the full nine to secure the Regional victory. As a result Zirzow has been named the Perfect Game/Rawlings Regional National Pitcher of the Week.


Forth Worth Regional

Although rain got in the way and pushed a few games back, the Horned Frogs proved to be rude hosts over the weekend making quick work of their three guests – Central Connecticut, Virginia and Dallas Baptist – out-scoring those three teams by a combined score of 29-10. TCU’s lineup appears to be doing just fine without slugger Luken Baker, as catcher Evan Skoug in particular has really stepped up in his absence, hitting a pair of doubles and a pair of homers in those three games.

If TCU is to advance to the College World Series it will mark the fourth year in a row that Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle has guided his club to Omaha. And if he does he may be thanking his pitching staff more than his offense. After Mitchell Traver shut down Central Connecticut over seven innings of work on Saturday Jared Janczak and Brian Howard were masterful doing the same against two of the nation’s most prolific offenses, holding Virginia and Dallas Baptist to just six base hits each.


Fayetteville Regional

Missouri State exacted some revenge on Arkansas after losing two of three games in Fayetteville at Baum Stadium in Super Regional play just two years ago. This year they beat Arkansas twice in three games, and also beat Oklahoma State – in walkoff fashion thanks to Jeremy Eierman’s second of two home runs – to open Regional play and advance to the winners’ bracket. This marks the third time in Missouri State’s history that they have advanced to Super Regional play as they look to get back to Omaha for the second time in program history in Fort Worth against the Horned Frogs.

Jordan Knutson was used in an expanded bullpen role, making an appearance in each of the four games. He picked up a pair of wins, a loss and a save in the process, saving his best or last by working the final 2 1/3 innings in a 3-2 clinching win.


Louisville Regional

After winning their first two games of Regional play by scores of 11-6 and 11-1 (over Radford and Oklahoma respectively) Louisville had to sweat out their 8-7 win over Xavier on Sunday to clinch their Regional victory. Down 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Josh Stowers drove in the game-tying run and scored the go-ahead run as part of the Cardinals two-run frame to secure the win. Stowers was huge in all three games, hitting .600 (6-for-10) with eight runs scored and seven driven in. Of course Louisville’s big test will come this weekend as they look to move past Super Regional play and return to Omaha for the first time since 2014.

Louisville has an embarrassment of riches in their bullpen, as only one pitcher, Jake Sparger, made multiple appearances in their three games. Even then Sparger, who picked up the victory in Saturday’s 11-1 over Oklahoma, only recorded a total of two outs. Sam Bordner faced one over the minimum in 3 1/3 innings in their first game, striking out six without allowing a hit to pick up the win, while Lincoln Henzman worked the final 2 2/3 frames on Sunday, also without giving up a hit, to pick up another victory for the ‘pen.


Lexington Regional

For the first time ever Kentucky has advanced to Super Regional play and will face their in-state rivals, Louisville, on the road. The Wildcats offense continued to do its thing, scoring double-digits twice, and while there were no shortages of offensive contributors second baseman Riley Mahan once again led the way by hitting .500 (10-for-20) with 11 driven in and four runs scored. They did have to beat NC State twice, after the Wolfpack sent Kentucky to the losers’ bracket on Saturday.

SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle saved his best for last, providing 3 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in Monday’s 10-5 clinching win. He faced the minimum, striking out five of the 10 batters he faced, and with his two wins in Regional play he moved to 11-3 on the year.


Stanford Regional

Cal State Fullerton was the first team to advance, with the Stanford Regional beginning on Thursday (due to BYU’s inclusion) and wrapping up on Saturday with three convincing Titans wins. With Colton Eastman, who started on Saturday, back in the rotation the Fullerton starting rotation is back to full strength, as Eastman, Connor Seabold and John Gavin combined to allow only four earned runs in three games while Blake Workman and Brett Conine give Head Coach Rick Vanderhook two reliable bullpen arms to turn to. Scott Hurst continues to be one of the nation’s hotter hitters at the top of the Fullerton lineup, hitting a double, a triple and a home run in three games, and the entire offense came to life in the team’s opening 13-2 win over BYU.

Fullerton’s Regional win spoiled two impressive starts by Cardinal hurlers – Kris Bubic and Chris Casellanos – and also signaled the end of Head Coach Mark Marquess’ impressive career after spending 41 years at the helm of the host Cardinal.


Long Beach Regional

In arguably the most tightly contested Regional finals, Long Beach State squeezed out the 2-1 win over Texas on Monday to advance, and they will host Big West rival Cal State Fullerton in Super Regional play next weekend. They took a longer route to achieve that goal, losing their second game of Regional play, to Texas, only to battle back against San Diego State in an elimination game and then played two more contests against the Longhorns. The combined score of those four games was 16-13 (after winning the first game 6-0), as the Dirtbags had to scratch and claw for every run scored and every out recorded, and that likely will continue against an equally stout Fullerton pitching staff.

It was a very successful season for first-year Texas Head Coach David Pierce who guided the Longhorns to a 39-24 record after opening the year ranked 17th. The team had series wins over Regional participants including UCLA, Oklahoma and West Virginia and nearly emerged as the Big 12 Tournament champion. Most importantly, Pierce has a lot of key pieces coming back on both sides of the ball.
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.