The 2018 College World Series will get underway this weekend and we’ll be previewing each bracket of four teams individually.
We start with bracket one, which includes Oregon State, North Carolina, Washington and Mississippi State.
Washington and Mississippi State are the only teams in the College World Series that aren’t top 16 teams. They’ve done all their work on the road in this tournament, and are the definite surprises in Omaha.
Oregon State and North Carolina both breezed through the regionals and super regionals. The Beavers are the clear favorite to win this bracket.
We’ll give a quick breakdown of each team and then pick a winner.
3 Oregon State 49-10-1
Oregon State is 5-0 in the postseason and has outscored their opponents 49-8. If that’s not domination, I don’t know what is. They’ve scored at least 6 runs in every game, and their lowest win margin was three. You know the players by now, but Luke Heimlich (2.32 ERA, 151 Ks, 120.1 IP) and Bryce Fehmel (2.87 ERA, 60 Ks, 103.1 IP) lead the starting rotation. Jake Mulholland (2.37 ERA, 37 Ks, 38 IP, 15 SV) is the ace out of the bullpen.
The top five hitters in this lineup are ridiculous, led by second baseman Nick Madrigal (.397). Trevor Larnach brings the thunder with 18 home runs and 68 RBI. Steven Kwan, Cadyn Grenier and Adley Rutschman round out that top five.
This team is the total package, and they are hungry than ever to win it all this season.
6 North Carolina 43-18
The offense for the Tar Heels has turned it on in the postseason scoring 48 runs in five games. We all knew the pitching staff would be great coming into the season, but if the offense continues to hit like they have, this will be a dangerous team in Omaha. That offense is led by third baseman Kyle Datres who is hitting .344. First baseman Michael Busch has driven in the runs with 63 RBI and a team-high 13 home runs.
Cooper Criswell (2.82 ERA, 80 Ks, 70.1 IP) and Gianluca Dalatri (3.08 ERA, 31 Ks, 26.1 IP) got the starts in the super regionals. Dalatri only lasted 3.1 innings against Stetson as he’s still working his way back from injury. Caden O’Brien (2.14 ERA, 45 Ks, 42 IP) seemed to be the go-to guy in the middle innings for North Carolina in the supers. Josh Hiatt (2.94 ERA, 51 Ks, 49 IP) worked in both games as well. Brett Daniels (2.74 ERA, 71 Ks, 62.1 IP) is another good arm out of the bullpen where they are really deep.
This Tar Heel team doesn’t look as dominant on paper as teams in the past, even last year’s team that went out in the regionals, but they are hitting their stride at the right time.
Washington 35-24
The Huskies put a lot of people on notice when they swept through the regionals, and then they went on the road again to take 2-of-3 from Cal State Fullerton, advancing to their first-ever College World Series. Other than their one loss, they’ve scored at least six runs in every postseason game. However, they’ve also given up five runs or more in all but one game. Leadoff hitter Mason Cerrillo paces the Washington offense hitting a team-high .335. Designated hitter Joe Wainhouse leads the team with 19 home runs and 59 RBI. He hit two home runs in their 5-2 loss to Cal State Fullerton.
They used Joe DeMers to save game one, and then he started game three in the supers, but he’s their best starter with a 2.56 ERA in 123 innings pitched with 92 strikeouts. Lucas Knowles (3.89 ERA, 64 Ks, 88 IP) and Jordan Jones (3.99 ERA, 80 Ks, 99.1 IP) also started against Cal State Fullerton. Alex Hardy (2.14 ERA, 45 Ks, 59 IP) is their most reliable arm in a thin bullpen.
This has impressed me immensely through this postseason, and they have that magical feel about them entering Omaha.
Mississippi State 37-27
Speaking of magical, the Bulldogs run to Omaha has been nothing short of miraculous. After losing their first game of the postseason 20-10, they won four straight in the regionals to advance — including a walk-off home run over Florida State. And then in the super regionals they won a game on a walk-off, and their other win was in extra innings. Elijah MacNamee has been the story of the postseason hitting both of those walk-off home runs. Jake Mangum leads this offense though with a .353 average and 61 runs scored.
The Bulldogs didn’t have a single starter last more than five innings in the supers as Ethan Small (3.11 ERA, 112 Ks, 89.2 IP) and Konnor Pilkington (4.56 ERA, 103 Ks, 96.2 IP) continue to have their ups-and-downs. However, the bullpen has been great this postseason — outside of that first game. Riley Self (3.11), Zach Neff (3.57), JP France (3.84), Keegan James (4.50) and Cole Gordon (4.86) form a solid group of bullpen arms.
Mississippi State has had a rough road to Omaha, and you have to wonder if they’ll run out of gas. I know one thing, I’m not going to doubt this team right now.
Prediction:
As much as I love the stories of Washington and Mississippi State, I would be utterly shocked if this bracket doesn’t come down to North Carolina and Oregon State. And to be quite honest, I would be shocked if the Beavers don’t breeze through this bracket.
That’s not to take anything away from the other three teams, but I just think Oregon State is on a whole other level right now. If North Carolina were to win that first game, then things could get interesting. But if they don’t, I think Oregon State cruises to the championship.
Winner – Oregon State
