Louisville vs. Vanderbilt CWS Game Preview

Tomorrow night at 7pm, the Louisville Cardinals (50-15, 19-5 AAC) take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (46-19, 17-13 SEC) in an opening round game at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.  Louisville is making their its second consecutive trip to Omaha after sweeping the Super Regional best-of-three series 2-0 against Kennesaw State last weekend.  The Cardinals won games one and two 5-3 and 7-4, respectively.  Sophomore Kyle Funkhouser will be getting the start for the Cards'.  He has a team best ERA of 1.73 on the season.  Funkhouser also leads the team in wins with 13.  Cole Sturgeon has a batting average of .331, a team high.  Jeff Gardner leads the team with 9 homeruns and 68 RBI.  Vanderbilt is making a trip to the CWS after winning its Super Regional series 2-1 at home against Stanford last weekend.  The Commodores won games one and three to clinch the series.  Sophomore Carson Fullmer will be the starting pitcher tomorrow night.  He leads Vandy starters with an ERA of 1.78.  Walker Buehler leads the 'Dores with 11 wins on the season.  Bryan Reynolds has a .343 batting average that leads the team.  Wiel Zander has a team best 5 dingers on the year, while Reynolds has 52 RBI to lead the squad.  These teams met earlier in the season, with Louisville getting the 11-7 win at Vandy.  I think this will also be a high scoring affair, as the young starting pitchers may have some nerves early in this contest.  After it's all said and done, I think Louisville's bats will carry them to another win, this one in the opening round of the College World Series.

UC Irvine vs. Texas CWS Game Preview

Tomorrow afternoon at 2pm CST, the UC Irvine Anteaters (40-23, 15-9 Big West) take on the Texas Longhorns (43-19, 13-11 Big 12) in the opening game of the 2014 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.  The Anteaters earned a trip to Omaha by besting Oklahoma State two games to none in the best-of-three series in the Super Regionals last weekend.  Strong pitching has carried Irvine this season, as they have a team ERA of 2.76.  Andrew Morales is the ace of the staff and he will get the start tomorrow afternoon for the 'Eaters.  He pitched a complete game shutout in the series-clinching game in Stillwater last weekend.  Morales has a team-best ERA of 1.53 among starting pitchers.  He also has a team high 11 wins.  Connor Spencer leads UC Irvine in batting average with a .370 mark.  Taylor Sparks and Kris Paulino are tied for the team lead in homeruns with 5, and Spencer leads the team with 44 RBI on the season.  Texas was rewarded with another trip to the CWS after sweeping Houston 2-0 in its Super Regional series last weekend.  The Longhorns also have a strong pitching staff that has been their bread and butter this year.  Senior Nathan Thornhill has an ERA of 1.57 to lead pitchers with a minimum of 10 starts, and he will get the start tomorrow on the hill for the 'Horns.  He also has a team-best 8 wins on the season for legendary coach Augie Garrido.  Madison Carter has a batting average of .347, tops for the team.  Ben Johnson leads the team with 6 homeruns, and Mark Payton has a team best 38 RBI.  This should be a great game, and I think runs will be at a premium with two great starting pitchers taking the hill.  I think Morales will continue his hot streak on the mound for the Anteaters, and I look for UC Irvine to manufacture some runs and come out with an opening round win.