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Historic Upsets and Thrilling Comebacks: NCAA Baseball Super Regionals Heat Up

The Men’s College World Series (MCWS) road is still being shaped, and NCAA Baseball fever is in full force. As a number of other teams compete in the Super Regionals, No. 8 Florida State has already secured their trip to Omaha. Here’s a detailed explanation of the most recent standings, timetables, and ways to watch every moment of action.

Florida State’s Heroics Performance

James Tibbs III of Florida State put on a fantastic effort, blasting a two-run home run in the 12th inning to give his team a 10-8 victory over UConn in the Tallahassee Super Regional. With his third home run of the contest, Tibbs helped the Seminoles advance to their 24th MCWS participation.

The Upsets and Surprises

The journey to the MCWS hasn’t been smooth. The Knoxville Super Regional saw an unexpected upset as Evansville defeated No. 1 Tennessee 10-8 to force a Sunday elimination match.

The Purple Aces fell behind 4-0 at the beginning of the game, but they rallied with strong fifth and sixth innings to win. With this win, Evansville became the first regional 4-seed to overcome the top-seeded team overall.

In the meantime, No. 7 Georgia suffered its first series loss at the hands of No. 10 NC State, who easily defeated Georgia 18-1 in the Athens Super Regional.

Upcoming Super Regional Games

Elimination games in a number of Super Regionals are expected to intensify the tension. Here are the current schedules and standings:

Knoxville Super Regional

  • Game 1: No. 1 Tennessee 11, Evansville 6
  • Game 2: Evansville 10, No. 1 Tennessee 8
  • Game 3: Sunday, 6 p.m. on ESPNU

Tallahassee Super Regional

  • Game 1: No. 8 Florida State 24, UConn 4
  • Game 2: No. 8 Florida State 10, UConn 8 (12 innings) (UConn eliminated)
  • No. 8 Florida State advances to MCWS

Charlottesville Super Regional

  • Game 1: No. 12 Virginia 7, Kansas State 4
  • Game 2: Saturday, 3 p.m. on ESPNU
  • Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, 3 p.m. on ESPNU

Chapel Hill Super Regional

  • Game 1: No. 4 North Carolina 8, West Virginia 6
  • Game 2: Saturday, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
  • Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, 3 p.m. on ESPN2

Lexington Super Regional

  • No. 15 Oregon State at No. 2 Kentucky
    • Game 1: Saturday, 6 p.m. on ESPNU
    • Game 2: Sunday, 9 p.m. on ESPNU
    • Game 3 (if necessary): Monday, TBD

Athens Super Regional

  • Game 1: No. 10 NC State 18, No. 7 Georgia 1
  • Game 2: Sunday, noon on ESPNU
  • Game 3 (if necessary): Monday, TBD

Clemson Super Regional

  • Florida at No. 6 Clemson
    • Game 1: Saturday, 2 p.m. on ESPN
    • Game 2: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN
    • Game 3 (if necessary): Monday, TBD

Bryan-College Station Super Regional

  • Oregon at No. 3 Texas A&M
    • Game 1: Saturday, 2 p.m. on ESPN2
    • Game 2: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2
    • Game 3 (if necessary): Monday, TBD

Men’s College World Series Schedule

The Men’s College World Series is scheduled from Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 23/Monday, June 24. The teams advancing from the super regionals will compete in this prestigious tournament, aiming to be crowned the national champion.

Regional Results Recap

Knoxville Regional (Knoxville, Tennessee)

  • Tennessee dominated the regionals, advancing to the super regionals after defeating Indiana and Southern Miss.

Greenville Regional (Greenville, North Carolina)

  • Evansville emerged victorious, making history by eliminating No. 16 East Carolina.

Norman Regional (Norman, Oklahoma)

  • UConn clinched a spot in the super regionals, outperforming Duke and Oklahoma.

Tallahassee Regional (Tallahassee, Florida)

  • Florida State advanced after decisive victories over Stetson and UCF.

Fayetteville Regional (Fayetteville, Arkansas)

  • Kansas State emerged on top, eliminating No. 5 Arkansas and SE Missouri State.

Charlottesville Regional (Charlottesville, Virginia)

  • No. 12 Virginia dominated, securing their place in the super regionals.

Tucson Regional (Tucson, Arizona)

  • West Virginia triumphed over Grand Canyon and Dallas Baptist to advance.

Chapel Hill Regional (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

  • No. 4 North Carolina secured a spot in the super regionals after a thrilling victory over LSU.

Lexington Regional (Lexington, Kentucky)

  • No. 2 Kentucky advanced by defeating Western Michigan and Indiana State.

Corvallis Regional (Corvallis, Oregon)

  • No. 15 Oregon State emerged victorious, eliminating UC Irvine and Tulane.

Raleigh Regional (Raleigh, North Carolina)

  • No. 10 NC State secured a spot in the super regionals after defeating Bryant and James Madison.

Athens Regional (Athens, Georgia)

  • No. 7 Georgia advanced to the super regionals, overcoming UNC Wilmington and Georgia Tech.

Clemson Regional (Clemson, South Carolina)

  • No. 6 Clemson moved on to the super regionals after victories over Coastal Carolina and High Point.

Stillwater Regional (Stillwater, Oklahoma)

  • Florida advanced to the super regionals, eliminating Nebraska and Oklahoma State.

Santa Barbara Regional (Santa Barbara, California)

  • Oregon clinched a spot in the super regionals after defeating San Diego and No. 14 UC Santa Barbara.

Bryan-College Station Regional (Bryan-College Station, Texas)

  • No. 3 Texas A&M secured their place in the super regionals with victories over Grambling and Texas.

How to Watch and Where to Watch

On the ESPN networks, which include ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, fans can watch every play live. From June 14 to June 23/24, the Men’s College World Series will be televised, offering continuous coverage of the best collegiate baseball teams in the country.

Keep checking back for more information as NCAA baseball’s trip to Omaha continues to provide exciting contests and memorable events.

This article was edited by Tushar, author @09sports.com

Source – ESPN

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Against All Odds: Jim Penders and the Inspiring Rise of UConn Baseball to the Super Regional

Head baseball coach Jim Penders of UConn is leading the Huskies to the Super Regional at Florida State while displaying his extraordinary leadership and coaching skills.

Penders continues to attend important functions like the Coaches Road Shows and the Franciscan Life Center Banquet while he juggles his responsibilities, but this week he is fully focused on the field. His peers are aware of his accomplishments and dedication.

Penders is considered one of the greatest UConn coaches ever, along with Jim Calhoun, Danny Hurley, and Geno Auriemma.

Calhoun is the iconic coach who led UConn men’s basketball to three national titles. “Jim Penders is equal to any of us,” Calhoun said, emphasizing Penders’ capacity to go up against challenging opponents as well as inclement weather.

Surprisingly, Penders has guided the Huskies into the NCAA Tournament on multiple occasions, frequently up against top teams from areas where baseball is played all year long.

Penders has performed in a way that many believe to be his best to date this season. The Huskies had a 9–15 record at the beginning of the season and faced formidable opponents in Florida, Alabama, and California.

However, they turned things around and won the Big East regular-season championship. With skillful use of the transfer portal, Penders has recruited nine transfers from Division III universities, seven of whom were instrumental in the Regional triumphs.

Jim Mora, the football coach, respects Penders’ composed personality and believes Penders has had a significant impact on the team’s success. “You watch him during games, and his personality is so steady,” said Mora.

His players performed with delight and confidence throughout their shocking victory over Oklahoma and Duke, demonstrating how this composure has obviously rubbed off on them.

Penders has a very personal connection to UConn. Along with his father and uncle, Penders was a former player at UConn. After taking over as head coach in 2004, he amassed 735 victories to become the program’s all-time winningest coach.

His choice to stay at UConn in spite of chances at more prestigious programs shows how deeply committed he is to the university.

Penders has long been regarded as the greatest coach at UConn by legendary women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma. “He’s coaching the crap out of them,” Auriemma remarked, highlighting the difficulties Penders encounters in comparison to their counterparts in the south and west, including unfavorable weather and a lack of resources.

Penders has become increasingly adept at keeping a level head when under pressure. He thought back to counsel from his early assistant coach, Dave Turgeon, who advised him to maintain composure and follow Yankees Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre.

This strategy has grown to be a pillar of Penders’ coaching ethos, enabling him to lead his group through demanding circumstances.

Another aspect of Penders’ coaching style that sets him apart is his dedication to honesty and discipline. Even under pressure, he doesn’t hesitate to make the hard choices that are necessary, like benching important players for disobeying club policies.

His teammates appreciate and remain loyal to him because of his firm attitude on discipline.

Colleagues of Penders praise his accomplishments outside of baseball. Danny Hurley, who won two consecutive titles with UConn men’s basketball, called Penders one of the best coaches he has ever worked with in any sport.

Penders’ participation in a number of UConn activities and his encouraging attendance at coaching events highlight his crucial position in the UConn sports community.

The Huskies are up against a tough opponent as they get ready to play Florida State in the Super Regional.

The Seminoles have made it to the College World Series 22 times, and they have a formidable lineup and pitching staff.

UConn’s season has been nothing short of extraordinary. With just one error in five games, the club displayed their finest baseball performance at Oklahoma. Ian Cooke will start the first game as the pitcher, recording 85 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings.

Under Penders’ direction, the Huskies’ combination of quickness, agility, and strategic discipline will be crucial in the series versus Florida State.

Beyond his remarkable winning record, Jim Penders left a lasting legacy at UConn. His ability to consistently field competitive teams in the face of great challenges is evidence of his coaching skill.

UConn is hoping to represent Penders’ lasting legacy and earn a trip to the College World Series when they take the field against Florida State. Regardless of the result, Jim Penders has cemented his status as one of UConn’s all-time great coaches.

This is an opinion based article by Tushar, @09sports.com

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Sports News

Kansas State Baseball Earns NCAA Tournament Berth Under Coach Pete Hughes

Kansas State baseball is returning to the NCAA Tournament after a ten-year absence.

As the third seed, the Wildcats were able to secure an at-large bid on Monday, making their first tournament trip since 2013.

In the Fayetteville Regional, they take on Louisiana Tech on Friday at 7 p.m. Southeast Missouri State and Arkansas are in the other half of the bracket. On ESPN+, viewers may watch the action.

A Nervous Wait Ends in Jubilation

K-State had an overall record of 32-24 going into the Big 12 Tournament, so their postseason prospects were unclear.

Selection Monday was a nerve-wracking day due to the Wildcats’ early tournament elimination.

But when the team heard they had advanced to the NCAA Regional, they were relieved and overjoyed. It was a credit to their perseverance and hard work all season long.

Building Toward Success

For head coach Pete Hughes, this accomplishment represents a big turning point.

Hughes has made it his goal to get the Manhattan program back to the NCAA Tournament since he took control.

They missed out on 33 victories in the previous season and 34 wins in 2021, coming agonizingly close in both instances.

Hughes was determined to make a breakthrough, so this year coach strengthened the team’s non-conference schedule to bolster their tournament resume—a move that eventually paid off.

The Fayetteville Regional Challenge

The University of Arkansas campus will host the double-elimination Fayetteville Regional.

Southeast Missouri State (SEMO), who concluded their season with a 34-25 record, will take on the Razorbacks, who are the clear favorites with a 43-15 record.

Louisiana Tech, K-State’s first opponent, comes into the regional with a stellar 45-17 record.

Even though Arkansas might be the team to beat, baseball in the postseason is infamously unpredictable.

This is the Wildcats’ opportunity to show off their skills and establish their eligibility for the competition.

They will make it to the Super Regional for the first time since their incredible 2013 campaign, in which they won 45 games and the Big 12 championship, if they can make it through this challenging regional.

The Road to Omaha

Reaching the College World Series in Omaha, which kicks off next month, is the ultimate objective shared by all participating teams in the NCAA Tournament.

This implies that K-State will play each game as it comes, beginning with their encounter with Louisiana Tech.

The Wildcats have a chance because of their current trend and the enthusiasm from their tournament selection, but their trip to Omaha will need good performances and maybe a few shocks along the way.

Final Thought

For Coach Pete Hughes and his squad, Kansas State’s return to the NCAA Tournament is a noteworthy accomplishment.

Their well-deserved at-large bid is evidence of their tenacity and tactical thinking during the season.

The Wildcats can potentially repeat the success of their 2013 campaign and make a deep postseason run as they get ready for the Fayetteville Regional.

K-State is ready to make a big splash in the NCAA Tournament thanks to the encouragement of their supporters and the perseverance that has brought them this far.

This Article was edited by Priya Singhania, Author @09sports.com

Source – kansas.com

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