June 25, 2009

LSU beats Texas to win sixth College World Series title

OMAHA, Neb. -- The College World Series title is heading back to Bayou country.

LSU broke a 4-4 tie with five runs in the sixth inning and beat Texas 11-4 in the third and final game of the College World Series Wednesday at Rosenblatt Stadium.

With the win, the Tigers claimed their sixth national title, matching Texas for the second-most titles won by a team, trailing only the 12 that have been won by USC.

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Jared Mitchell's three-run homer down the left field line, then extended it to 4-0 in the second when Ryan Schimpf singled home Micah Gibbs.

Showing the composure of a champion, though, Texas battled back with two runs in the third, then tied it with two in the fifth on Kevin Keyes homer to left.

LSU bounced right back and took the lead in the top of the sixth, as Mikie Mahtook's RBI double broke the 4-4 tie. Texas' pitching came unglued in the inning, as two walks and two hit batters led to LSU's decisive five-run inning.

A Ranaudo pitched 6 1/3 solid innings of baseball to keep the Longhorns from showing the power that surprised everyone at this year's tournament, and the Tigers were able to close it out and win the national title, the first for coach Paul Mainieri.

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Monday, June 22

Game 1 -- LSU 7, Texas 6, 11 inn.

Tuesday, June 23

Game 2 -- Texas 5, LSU 1 (Series tied 1-1)

Wednesday, June 24

Game 3 -- LSU 11, Texas 4 (LSU wins series 2-1)

June 24, 2009

Longhorns force third game at College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. -- Texas rode the arm of Taylor Jungmann, who threw a complete game and held LSU to four hits to lead the Longhorns to a 5-1 win in the second game of the College World Series.

Tuesday's win ties the best-of-three series at one game apiece, so the two teams will play a third and final game Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium to determine the 2009 College World Series champions.

Jungmann was practically unhittable on the night, limiting the Tigers to a series-low four hits. LSU's only run came as the result of a throwing error, allowing Jared Mitchell to score from second base, pulling the Tigers within a run at 2-1 in the second inning.

Top-seeded Texas broke the game open in the top of the third. Russell Moldenhauer opened with a home run, and the top-seeded Longhorns added two more runs on a Connor Rowe double and a Preston Clark single. Clark finished the night going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs.

It was an uncharacteristic night for the LSU bats. The third-seeded Tigers never got a serious rally going and left three runners in scoring position, as Jungmann kept the Tigers back on their heels the whole night.

That sets up what should be a tremendous third and final game Wednesday at 6 p.m. Cole Green will get the ball for the Longhorns, while LSU will look to Anthony Ranaudo to lead the Tigers.

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Monday, June 22

Game 1 -- LSU 7, Texas 6, 11 inn.

Tuesday, June 23

Game 2 -- Texas 5, LSU 1 (Series tied 1-1)

Wednesday, June 24

Game 3 -- LSU (55-17) vs. Texas (50-15-1), 6 p.m.

June 23, 2009

LSU takes first game in College World Series finals

OMAHA, Neb. -- If the first game was any indication of what kind of a championship series we'll have at the College World Series, it should be a dandy.

LSU gave up five solo home runs to Texas, yet were able to plate two runs in the top of the ninth to come from behind and send the game into extra innings, going on to a 7-6 win in 11 innings in the first game of the best-of-three championship series at Rosenblatt Stadium. Game two is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Ryan Schimpf gave LSU an early 1-0 lead in the first with a solo homer, but Texas had solo shots aplenty to counter the Tigers' early start, with Travis Tucker, Russell Moldenhauer and Kevin Keyes hitting solo home runs in the fourth inning to give the top-seeded Longhorns a 3-1 advantage.

LSU tied the game in the sixth inning when Jared Mitchel tripled home Blake Dean and Micah Gibbs, But Texas regained the lead in the bottom of the inning after Moldenhauer hit his second solo homer of the night and Keyes singled and came home on a wild pitch.

Infield DJ LeMahieu came up big twice for the Tigers down the stretch, though. His solo home run in the seventh pulled LSU within a run at 5-4, and after Connor Rowe homered in the bottom of the seventh, LeMahieu came up with a crucial two-out double down the left field line, scoring two runs to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

Reliever Matty Ott worked out of a ninth-inning jam for the Tigers, and the game stayed tied until the 11th when Mikie Mahtook singled with two outs to break the 6-6 deadlock. Ott worked a perfect 11th inning to seal the deal, giving LSU the 1-0 series lead.

LSU needs one more win to wrap up the national title, but Texas can force a third game by winning Tuesday's 6 p.m. battle. If the two teams need a third game to decide who wins the 2009 College World Series, it will be played Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Get your tickets for Game Two right now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.

Monday, June 22

Game 1 -- LSU 7, Texas 6, 11 inn. (LSU leads series 1-0)

Tuesday, June 23

Game 2 -- LSU (55-16) vs. Texas (49-15-1), 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

Game 3 -- LSU vs. Texas, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

June 22, 2009

Pitching matchups set for College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. -- Two of the winningest programs in college baseball history will square off to determine the 2009 College World Series champion this week at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Texas and LSU have combined for 11 national championships in the 60-plus years of the College World Series, and while they have met twice in non-championship games in Omaha, this will be the first time the Longhorns and Tigers have met with for all the marbles.

Texas comes in as the No. 1 seed in the entire tournament, earning that spot after winning the Big 12 Championship and leading the 64-team pack. LSU has been ranked at or near the top of all the major college baseball polls and came into the tournament on a hot streak, fresh off winning the Southeastern Conference title and earning a No. 3 seed to the postseason tournament.

Monday's 6 p.m. opener should be a great pitching matchup. The Longhorns will run their ace up the hill in Chance Ruffin, who takes a 10-2 record and a 3.27 earned-run average into the game. He'll go up against Tigers' All-American Louis Coleman, who is 14-2 with a 2.68 ERA and hasn't pitched since the Tigers' first win over Arkansas last Tuesday.

It will be a great chance at redemption for Coleman. Last year, he surrendered a grand slam home run in the ninth inning of LSU's elimination loss to North Carolina. It was his only loss of the season last year, and he certainly will want to avoid a repeat of that disappointing result.

The starters for Tuesday's second game at 6 p.m. are not known yet, but the Tigers are expected to go with either Anthony Ranaudo. Texas may counter with freshman Taylor Jungmann, who will find himself in a tremendous situation as the pitcher who could potentially nail down another national title for the Longhorns.

If both teams win one and lose one, they'll settle it with a third and final game on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium.

It promises to be one of the best College World Series championships in recent history, and you can get great seats to see the best-of-three finals right now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.

Monday, June 22

Championship Game 1 -- LSU (54-16) vs. Texas (49-14-1), 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23

Championship Game 2 -- LSU vs. Texas, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

Championship Game 3 -- LSU vs. Texas, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

June 21, 2009

Recapping Tigers, Longhorns run to CWS championship series

OMAHA, Neb. -- LSU and Texas are the last two survivors standing as the 2009 College World Series gets ready for its best-of-three championship series.

Here's a look back at the Tigers' and Longhorns' run to what should be an epic championship showdown that begins Monday at Rosenblatt Stadium:

LSU dominates

The LSU Tigers were the No. 1 team in the rankings at the start of the 64-team tournament earlier this month, and have certainly proved themselves worthy of being in the conversation when it comes to the nation's best college baseball teams.

They started this year's College World Series with a 9-5 win over Virginia. The only time they have trailed during this year's tournament came in their opener, and that was erased with Sean Ochinko belted a three-run homer in the fifth inning. That round-tripper gave LSU a 6-4 lead and they haven't trailed since.

D.J. LeMahieu and Micah Gibbs both went 3-for-5 in the Tigers' opener, Ryan Schimpf added a pair of hits and Anthony Ranaudo pitched well in a starting role, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out four in three-plus innings of work.

The first of two all-SEC battles came next, and the Tigers handled Arkansas 9-1 to earn an extended break in the double-elimination tournament. The Tigers rode the arm of Louis Coleman, who struck out seven and gave up six hits in six innings to get the win.

LSU hit three home runs in this battle, with Blake Dean blasting a two-run shot in the sixth that helped break the game open. LeMahieu and Jared Mitchel both went 3-for-5 in the win.

The Tigers and Razorbacks met again in the first bracket final Friday, and any hopes of Arkansas getting payback for the earlier loss were erased early. LSU pounded out 16 hits and hit four home runs on their way to a bracket-clinching 14-5 win.

While Ranaudo didn't get the win in LSU's opener, he pitched six strong innings to get the "W" and send the Tigers to their sixth championship game in school history. he got plenty of help from Schimpf, who was 3-for-5 with a homer, and Dean, who went 2-for-4 with a round-tripper of his own.

Never-say-die Longhorns

Fans got their money's worth and then some when it came to the top-seeded Texas Longhorns, as they came from behind in all three games to reach the championship round for the 12th time in school history.

In their first game, Texas and Southern Miss went back-and-forth before the Longhorns took advantage of some inopportune pitching breakdowns to post a 7-6 win.

Southern Miss had rallied with three runs in the eighth, then countered a Texas rally with another run in the ninth to tie the game. Southern Miss' pitchers couldn't find the plate down the stretch, though...seven of the last nine Texas batters got on base via a free pass (seven walks, two hit batters), and when Brandon Loy looked at ball four, it allowed Travis Tucker to come home with the winning run.

In their next game, the Longhorns spotted Arizona State six runs, then came roaring back with 10 unanswered runs to post a 10-6 win and earn a trip to the bracket finals.

Arizona State led 6-0 after three innings, but Cameron Rupp's bat caught fire and he belted two home runs to help the Longhorns come back. His first homer ignited a six-run fourth inning that tied the game, and he hit a two-run homer later in the game to help the Longhorns get the win. Loy and Brandon Belt each added two hits and two RBIs to the winning effort.

The two teams would meet again three nights later in the other bracket final, and while the first matchup turned into an offensive fireworks display, this game saw two great pitching efforts and a nail-biting finish, won by the Longhorns 4-3.

Texas got a great pitching performance from Cole Green against Arizona State ace Mike Leake. Both starters threw six solid innings and each gave up two runs, and that 2-2 would stand until the dramatic ninth inning.

Arizona State appeared to have the momentum, as a triple helped score a run in the top of the ninth to give the Sun Devils a 3-2 lead. Texas had one last shot, however, and they made it happen when Rupp hit a solo homer to tie the game and Connor Rowe followed with a two-out solo shot to win the game.

These two teams do have a history at the College World Series, splitting two previous meetings. The Longhorns beat the Tigers 12-7 in the 1989 tournament on their way to a national runner-up finish, while LSU handed Texas a 13-5 defeat on its way to the 2000 national championship.

Their series kicks off Monday at 6 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium, with the second game scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. If a third game is needed to decide the national title, it will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m.

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June 20, 2009

Tigers, Longhorns set to battle in CWS finals

OMAHA, Neb. -- Two of the most dominating teams in recent College World Series history are going to battle for the 2009 championship next week.

LSU and Texas both finished undefeated in their four-team double-elimination brackets Friday night to set up what should be a very exciting best-of-three championship round at the 2009 College World Series.

LSU earned a trip to the finals with an impressive offensive performance, dominating SEC rival Arkansas after a long rain delay and hand the Razorbacks a 12-5 defeat.

While the afternoon affair looked to be a one-sided battle, the evening game provided plenty of great pitching, defense and late-game dramatics. Arizona State broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth, only to see top-seeded Texas hit a pair of solo homers in the bottom of the ninth to come away with an incredible 4-3 win over the Sun Devils.

In the first game, the third-seeded Tigers continued their impressive offensive performance, hitting four home runs off Razorback hurlers to power their way to the win. Blake Dean, Jared Mitchell and Ryan Schimpf all hit solo home runs, and Tyle Hanover added a two-run blast in the ninth to help LSU to the easy win.

The Tigers have been an offensive juggernaut in this year's College World Series, averaging more than 10 runs a game. That was more than the Arkansas pitching staff could handle, and while Chase Leavitt went 3-for-5 with three RBI's on the day, it wasn't nearly enough to keep the Razorbacks in the hunt and force a second bracket final game on Saturday.

Arizona State and Texas hooked up in a dandy nighttime affair at Rosenblatt Stadium. Both starting pitchers -- Arizona State's Mike Leake and the Longhorns' Cole Green -- pitched very well throughout the night and kept the opposing teams' bats fairly quiet for much of the evening.

The intensity of a close matchup exploded in the ninth, however. Arizona State, needing a win to force a deciding game in the double-elimination bracket, broke a 2-2 tie when Zach Wilson tripled down the right field line, scoring Jason Kipnis.

It looked as if the Sun Devils would win this one, but much as they did in their previous meeting -- erasing a 6-0 deficit with 12 unanswered runs -- the top-seeded Longhorns did their counterparts one better.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Cameron Rupp came up and launched a homer to center field, tying the game at 3-3. It looked as if this one was headed to extra innings, but with two out in the bottom of the ninth, Connor Rowe sent a shot into the bleachers in left field, bringing his teammates out of the dugout in celebration as he circled the bases with the game-winning home run.

So now it's Texas and LSU, with a combined 11 championships, meeting up to determine who will commence the celebratory dogpile as the 2009 College World Series champions. The first game of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Monday at 6 pm., with the second game to be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. If a third game is needed, it will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Get great seats for the College World Series best-of-three championship finals right now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.

College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)

Saturday, June 13

Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5

Sunday, June 14

Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6

Monday, June 15

Game 5 -- Virginia 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (CSF eliminated)
Game 6 -- LSU 9, Arkansas 1

Tuesday, June 16

Game 7 -- North Carolina 11, Southern Miss 4 (Southern Miss eliminated)
Game 8 -- Texas 10, Arizona State 6

Wednesday, June 17

Game 9 -- Arkansas 4, Virginia 3 12 inn. (Virginia eliminated)

Thursday, June 18

Game 10 -- Arizona State 12, North Carolina 5 (North Carolina eliminated)

Friday, June 19

Game 11 -- LSU 12, Arkansas 5 (Arkansas eliminated)
Game 12 -- Texas 4, Arizona State 3 (Arizona State eliminated)

Monday, June 22

Championship Game 1 -- LSU (54-16) vs. Texas (49-14-1), 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23

Championship Game 2 -- LSU vs. Texas, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

Championship Game 3 -- LSU vs. Texas, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

June 19, 2009

Sun Devils bounce back, rout Tar Heels at College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. -- North Carolina looked to be in good shape to reach the bracket final of the College World Series.

Arizona State's Kole Calhoun had other plans, though. His fifth-inning grand slam and a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh erased a four-run deficit and helped the Sun Devils beat the Tar Heels 12-5 to reach the bracket finals Thursday night at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Tar Heels, who had lost to the Sun Devils in the opening round Sunday, were in good shape after staking themselves to a 4-0 advantage in the fourth. Jacob Stallings executed a pair of safety squeezes in the second and fourth innings, the second sparking a three-run outburst that put North Carolina in command.

That all changed in the fifth. Arizona State turned two walks and a hit batter into a one-out, bases-loaded situation and Calhoun, batting cleanup, turned on a Brian Moran 3-2 pitch and sent it into the seats in left-center to tie the game at 4-4.

After that, it looked like North Carolina fell completely flat, and Arizona State took advantage in the seventh. Calhoun's two-run double broke the 4-4 tie and started a monster inning that saw the Sun Devils score eight runs and send 13 batters to the plate. North Carolina would pick up a run in the ninth, but it was far too little, far too late, as their season came to an end.

With the win, Arizona State advances to the bracket final against Texas. Needing two wins to reach the College World Series best-of-three championship series, the Sun Devils will go for their first win in Friday's 6 p.m. matchup.

Kicking off the festivities Friday will be an all-SEC battle between LSU and Arkansas at 1 p.m. The Tigers need one win to reach the finals, while Arkansas will have to double the number wins they have against their conference rivals (they won the first of a three-game series during the regular season) to reach the championship round.

Don't forget -- you can get great seats to Friday's College World Series games right now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.

College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)

Saturday, June 13

Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5

Sunday, June 14

Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6

Monday, June 15

Game 5 -- Virginia 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (CSF eliminated)
Game 6 -- LSU 9, Arkansas 1

Tuesday, June 16

Game 7 -- North Carolina 11, Southern Miss 4 (Southern Miss eliminated)
Game 8 -- Texas 10, Arizona State 6

Wednesday, June 17

Game 9 -- Arkansas 4, Virginia 3 12 inn. (Virginia eliminated)

Thursday, June 18

Game 10 -- Arizona State 12, North Carolina 5 (North Carolina eliminated)

Friday, June 19

Game 11 -- LSU (53-16) vs. Arkansas (41-23), 1 p.m.
Game 12 -- Texas (48-14-1) vs. Arizona State (51-13), 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 20

Game 13 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14 -- Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m.
(NOTE: If only one "if necessary" game is played, it will be at 6 p.m.)

Monday, June 22

Championship Game 1 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23

Championship Game 2 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

Championship Game 3 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

June 18, 2009

Arkansas needs extra innings to survive at College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. -- It took a dramatic comeback and extra innings, but Arkansas is still alive at the College World Series.

A two-run homer in the top of the ninth by Brett Eibner brought the Razorbacks back from the edge of defeat, and Andrew Darr brought home the winning run with a double in the 12th to help Arkansas edge Virginia 4-3 and keep their College World Series championship hopes alive.

Arkansas will next face LSU in a Friday matchup at 1 p.m. The Razorbacks will need to beat LSU twice to reach the best-of-three championship round that starts next week.

The game was a pitcher's duel for the first four innings, as Arkansas Drew Smyly and Virginia's Danny Hultzen both pitched well early on.

In the fifth inning, Virginia got on the board with a solo home run by John Hicks, then added another running with Danny Hultzen's RBI double.

Arkansas got back to within 2-1 in the seventh with Eibner's sacrifice fly, but it looked like Virginia was in command in the eighth with Dan Grovatt hit a solo home run to left field to make it 3-1.

Virginia got the first two Arkansas batters out in the top of the ninth and were one pitch away from advancing when Zack Cox singled and Eibner followed with a homer to left field to tie the game.

The Cavaliers had chances to win the game in each of the last four innings. Arkansas got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom ninth with a double play, and reliever Dallas Keuchel pitched the Razorbacks out of two-out, two-on situations in the 10th and 11th innings. After Arkansas broke the tie with Darr's double to left, Virginia had the tying run on base with one out in the bottom of the 12th, but couldn't bring him home.

James McCann was 3-for-4 and Cox and Jarrod McKinney each added two hits for the Razorbacks. Hicks and Steven Proscia each had three hits for the Cavaliers, who were eliminated from the tournament.

On Thursday, North Carolina and Arizona State meet at 6 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium, with the winner facing Texas Friday night at 6 p.m.

Great seats for the College World Series are available at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.

College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)

Saturday, June 13

Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5

Sunday, June 14

Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6

Monday, June 15

Game 5 -- Virginia 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (CSF eliminated)
Game 6 -- LSU 9, Arkansas 1

Tuesday, June 16

Game 7 -- North Carolina 11, Southern Miss 4 (Southern Miss eliminated)
Game 8 -- Texas 10, Arizona State 6

Wednesday, June 17

Game 9 -- Arkansas 4, Virginia 3 12 inn. (Virginia eliminated)

Thursday, June 18

Game 10 -- North Carolina (48-17) vs. Arizona State (50-13), 6 p.m.

Friday, June 19

Game 11 -- LSU (53-16) vs. Arkansas (41-23), 1 p.m.
Game 12 -- Texas (48-14-1) vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 20

Game 13 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14 -- Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m.
(NOTE: If only one "if necessary" game is played, it will be at 6 p.m.)

Monday, June 22

Championship Game 1 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23

Championship Game 2 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

Championship Game 3 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

June 17, 2009

Texas in bracket final, Tar Heels survive

OMAHA, Neb. -- Texas got a two-day vacation at the College World Series, thanks to an amazing comeback.

The top-seeded Longhorns gave up six runs in the first three innings against Arizona State, then got them all back in one inning and pulled away for a 10-6 win over the fifth-seeded Sun Devils, putting them in Friday's bracket final.

The loss sends Arizona State to Thursday's losers bracket matchup against North Carolina, who survived elimination by defeating first-timer Southern Miss 11-4 and sending Golden Eagles head coach Corky Palmer into retirement.

In Tuesday's nightcap at Rosenblatt Stadium, the Sun Devils looked to be in great shape after staking All-American pitcher Mike Leake to a six-run advantage. Leadoff solo homers by Kole Calhoun and Carlos Ramirez sparked three-run efforts in the second and third innings, giving Arizona State a 6-0 advantage.

Texas got those runs back in a hurry in the top of the fourth, sparked by a three-run homer by Cameron Rupp, an RBI single by Travis Tucker and a two-RBI single by Brandon Belt.

The game stayed tied until the seventh when Rupp hit his second homer of the night, with his solo shot putting Texas ahead to stay. They added three insurance runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

North Carolina earned a rematch against the Sun Devils thanks to the efforts of Dustin Ackley.

The nation's leading hitter proved why he deserves that moniker, going 5-for-6 and becoming the all-time leader in hits at the College World Series. His four singles and a double helped the Tar Heels jump out to an 8-0 lead and cruise to the easy win.

Ackley needed just four hits to tie the mark of 26 set by Stanford's Sam Fuld from 2001-2003, and he broke the record later in the game with his fifth hit of the day. Had he been able to get a hit in the ninth -- he flied out to finish 5-for-6 -- he would have become only the second player in College World Series history to put together a 6-for-6 day at the plate.

With the win, North Carolina will meet Arizona State for the second time at the 2009 College World Series. The winner of Thurdsay's UNC-ASU game will advance to Friday's 6 p.m. final against the top-seeded Longhorns.

Wednesday night is the first of two days of elimination games, with Arkansas facing Virginia in a 6 p.m. matchup. Wednesday's winner will have to beat LSU and twice to get to win the bracket and earn a trip to the best-of-three championship finals.

Great seats for all the remaining 2009 College World Series games are available right now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.

College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)

Saturday, June 13

Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5

Sunday, June 14

Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6

Monday, June 15

Game 5 -- Virginia 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (CSF eliminated)
Game 6 -- LSU 9, Arkansas 1

Tuesday, June 16

Game 7 -- North Carolina 11, Southern Miss 4 (Southern Miss eliminated)
Game 8 -- Texas 10, Arizona State 6

Wednesday, June 17

Game 9 -- Virginia (49-14-1) vs. Arkansas (40-23), 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 18

Game 10 -- North Carolina (48-17) vs. Arizona State (50-13), 6 p.m.

Friday, June 19

Game 11 -- LSU (53-16) vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 12 -- Texas (48-14-1) vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 20

Game 13 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14 -- Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m.
(NOTE: If only one "if necessary" game is played, it will be at 6 p.m.)

Monday, June 22

Championship Game 1 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23

Championship Game 2 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

Championship Game 3 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m. (If necessary)

June 16, 2009

Tigers reach bracket final, Titans out at College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. -- The phrase "two and 'cue" is a phrase that teams try to avoid at the College World Series.

Those three words are an offshoot of the classic "Oh and two and barbecue" that describes a team that fails to win in two tries each summer at Rosenblatt Stadium.

In 2009, the first team to earn that dubious distinction was Cal State Fullerton, who failed to win a game after being ousted by newcomer Virginia 7-5 Monday afternoon at the College World Series.

It is the second straight time the Titans have done the "two and 'cue," as they were winless in their last trip in 2007. They nearly avoided elimination, but Virginia held on and advanced to face Arkansas, a 9-1 loser to LSU in winner's bracket play Monday evening.

Virginia got its first-ever win at the College World Series after tagging All-American Daniel Renken for six runs in less than six innings of work. The six runs given up by Renken was a season high for the Titans' ace.

Cal State Fullerton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run homer by Dustin Garneau, but Virginia strung three RBI hits together in a four-run effort in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead, and the Cavaliers never trailed after that.

Keith Werman singled home the tying run, and Danny Hultzen followed with a two-run single to give the Cavaliers the lead for good. They would extend their lead to 7-3 before Cal State Fullerton rallied to close the gap to two runs and have the tying run on base before the Cavs shut down the rally.

The win was a special one for Virginia coach Brian O'Connor, who was a pitcher for the hometown Creighton Bluejays when they reached the College World Series in 1991.

LSU made quick work in disposing of their conference rivals, using three home runs to defeat Arkansas and earn a three-day break, as they will take on the winner of Wednesday's Virginia-Arkanas matchup on Friday.

The Tigers got a three-run homer from Mikie Mahtook in the first inning to get the runaway rolling, then saw Austin Nola and Blake Dean launch solo shots to highlight a five-run sixth inning that blew the game open.

That was more than enough run support for Louis Coleman, who scattered six hits in six innings of work to get his 14th win of the season. The three home runs hit by the Tigers brought their season home run total to 99.

On Tuesday, North Carolina and Southern Miss will meet in a 1 p.m. elimination game, while Sunday winners Arizona State and Texas meet in a 6 p.m. matchup.

Both games Tuesday should be exciting affairs, and you can get tickets for these, and all remaining, College World Series games now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.

College World Series Schedule, Results
(All times CDT)

Saturday, June 13

Game 1 -- Arkansas 10, Cal State Fullerton 6
Game 2 -- LSU 9, Virginia 5

Sunday, June 14

Game 3 -- Arizona State 5, North Carolina 2 (10 inn.)
Game 4 -- Texas 7, Southern Miss 6

Monday, June 15

Game 5 -- Virginia 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (CSF eliminated)
Game 6 -- LSU 9, Arkansas 1

Tuesday, June 16

Game 7 -- North Carolina (47-17) vs. Southern Miss (40-25), 1 p.m.
Game 8 -- Arizona State (50-12) vs. Texas (47-14-1), 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 17

Game 9 -- Virginia (49-14-1) vs. Arkansas (40-23), 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 18

Game 10 -- Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 p.m.

Friday, June 19

Game 11 -- LSU (53-16) vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 12 -- Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 20

Game 13 -- Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 14 -- Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m.
(NOTE: If only one "if necessary" game is played, it will be at 6 p.m.)

Monday, June 22

Championship Game 1 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23

Championship Game 2 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

Championship Game 3 -- Bracket winners, 6 p.m. (If necessary)