College World Series Preview Capsules as TCU prepares

ERIC OLSON, AP Sports Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A capsule look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park. (Capsules in order of CWS opening games. Coaches’ records through super regionals):

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UC IRVINE (40-23)

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Coach: Mike Gillespie (273-142, 7 years at UC Irvine; 1,036-613-2, 26 years overall).

Road To Omaha: Won Corvallis Regional: beat UNLV 10-3, beat Oregon State 14-2, lost to Oregon State 4-0, beat Oregon State 4-2. Won Stillwater Super Regional: beat Oklahoma State 8-4, beat Oklahoma State 1-0.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2007.

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All-time record in CWS: 2-2 in 1 appearance.

Meet the Anteaters: C Jerry McClanahan (.320, 1 HR, 36 RBIs), 1B Connor Spencer (.370, 1, 44), 2B Grant Palmer (.267, 0, 13), 3B Taylor Sparks (.307, 5, 34), SS Chris Rabago (.252, 0, 19), LF Adam Alcantara (.315, 8, 17), CF Justin Castro (.244, 0, 8), RF Kris Paulino (.214, 5, 24), DH Jonathan Munoz (.293, 0, 17). Starting pitchers: RHP Andrew Morales (11-2, 1.53), LHP Elliot Surrey (8-4, 1.99), RHP Evan Brock (8-6, 3.16). Relievers: RHP Sam Moore (0-3, 1.88, 23 saves), LHP Evan Manarino (4-3, 2.83), LHP Jimmy Litchfield (3-2,3.58), LHP Matt Fielding (2-0, 4.00), RHP Mitch Merten (2-2, 6.84).

MLB Alumni: Brady Anderson, Doug Linton.

Short Hops: Anteaters have won five of six after losing eight of nine to finish regular season … Five graduating seniors will miss President Barack Obama’s UC Irvine commencement address, which will coincide with the CWS opener against Texas … Andrew Morales is tied for first nationally with 136 strikeouts … Anteaters broke Big West’s four-year CWS drought, longest in conference’s 44-year history.

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Quotable: “Some of the sexier-named teams that were thought to be the ones that would get to Omaha, and maybe win it, didn’t make it. Things happen. We’re a classic illustration of the unexpected team that gets there. Whoever gets there typically earns it.” – Gillespie.

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TEXAS (43-19)

Coach: Augie Garrido (766-366-2, 18 years at Texas; 1,917-890-9, 46 years overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Houston Regional: beat Texas A&M 8-1, beat Rice 3-2 (11 inn.), lost to Texas A&M 3-2, beat Texas A&M 4-1. Won Austin Super Regional: beat Houston 4-2, beat Houston 4-0.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 3-4.

Last CWS appearance: 2011.

All-time record in CWS: 82-57 in 34 appearances.

Meet the Longhorns: C Tres Barrera (.275, 5 HRs, 35 RBIs), 1B Kacy Clemens (.220, 1, 18), 2B Brooks Marlow (.279, 3, 19), 3B Zane Gurwitz (.279, 2, 26), SS C.J. Hinojosa (.300, 1, 33), LF Ben Johnson (.271, 6, 32), CF Mark Payton (.326, 2, 38), RF Collin Shaw (.257, 0, 23), DH Madison Carter (.347, 1, 11). Starting pitchers: RHP Nathan Thornhill (8-2, 1.57), RHP Parker French (6-5, 2.45), RHP Lukas Schiraldi (7-3, 4.08), RHP Dillon Peters (7-3, 2.13). Relievers: LHP Travis Duke (2-1, 0.34), RHP Chad Hollingsworth (3-0, 1.36), LHP Ty Culbreth (2-0, 1.98), RHP Morgan Cooper (4-2, 2.98), RHP John Curtiss (2-2, 2.06, 9 saves).

MLB Alumni: Roger Clemens, Ron Gardenhire, Burt Hooton, Brooks Kieschnick, Sam LeCure, Keith Moreland, Spike Owen, Calvin Schiraldi, Huston Street, Taylor Teagarden, Greg Swindell, Curtis Thigpen.

Short Hops: Longhorns are in the CWS for a nation-leading eighth time since 2000 … Hinojosa is batting .476 (10 for 21) in the NCAA tournament with two doubles and six RBIs … Pitching staff has a 1.15 ERA over last six games … Longhorns lead nation with 96 sacrifice bunts.

Quotable: “We’re not here to create traditions; we’re here to live up to traditions. We’re here to support the traditions that separate the University of Texas from a lot of the other baseball programs.” – Garrido.

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VANDERBILT (46-19)

Coach: Tim Corbin (511-248, 12 years at Vanderbilt; 617-386, 17 years overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Nashville Regional: beat Xavier 11-0, beat Oregon 7-2, beat Oregon 3-2. Won Nashville Super Regional: beat Stanford 11-6, lost to Stanford 5-4, beat Stanford 12-5.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 0-2.

Last CWS appearance: 2011.

All-time record in CWS: 2-2 in 1 appearances.

Meet the Commodores: C Jason Delay (.272, 0 HR, 13 RBIs), 1B Zander Wiel (.274, 5, 41), 2B Dansby Swanson (.335, 3, 32), 3B Xavier Turner (.283, 2, 37), SS Vince Conde (.303, 4, 47), LF Bryan Reynolds (.343, 4, 52), CF John Norwood (.285, 2, 26), RF Rhett Wiseman (.274, 0, 28), DH Karl Ellison (.237, 0, 9). Starting pitchers: RHP Tyler Beede (8-7, 3.58), RHP Carson Fulmer (6-1, 1.78, 10 saves), RHP Walker Buehler (11-2, 2.39), RHP Tyler Ferguson (8-3, 2.51). Relievers: LHP Jared Miller (6-2, 4.20), LHP Ben Bowden (1-1, 1.82), RHP Hayden Stone (2-0, 1.64), RHP Adam Ravenelle (3-2, 1.56), RHP Brian Miller (1-1, 1.82), RHP TJ Pecoraro (1-1, 8.15).

MLB Alumni: Joey Cora, David Price, Ryan Flaherty, Sonny Gray, Pedro Alvarez, Matt Kata, Scott Sanderson.

Short Hops: Commodores have won five of six after starting the NCAA tournament off losses in four of six … Beede is the highest-drafted player in the CWS, going 14th overall to the San Francisco Giants … Reynolds was 8 for 12 with three RBIs in the super regional vs. Stanford.

Quotable: “I really love our starting pitchers, and in a situation like Omaha, if you’re successful and you win, you can be riding out those pitchers for a long period of time because it gives them enough time to recover.” – Corbin.

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LOUISVILLE (50-15)

Coach: Dan McDonnell (359-157, 8 years at Louisville and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Louisville Regional: beat Kent State 5-0, beat Kansas 6-3, beat Kentucky 4-1. Won Louisville Super Regional: beat Kennesaw State 5-3, beat Kennesaw State 7-4.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 1-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2013.

All-time record in CWS: 1-4 in 2 appearances.

Meet the Cardinals: C Kyle Gibson (.319, 1 HR, 20 RBIs), 1B Grant Kay (.289, 5, 35), 2B Zach Lucas (.268, 5, 44), 3B Alex Chittenden (.291, 1, 30), SS Sutton Whiting (.212, 2, 17), LF Jeff Gardner (.321, 9, 68), CF Cole Sturgeon (.331, 2, 34), RF Colin Lyman (.265, 0, 16), DH Nick Solak (.267, 2, 24). Starting pitchers: RHP Kyle Funkhouser (13-2, 1.73), RHP Jared Ruxer (7-1, 2.27), RHP Anthony Kidston (9-0, 3.54). Relievers: LHP Kyle McGrath (2-1, 1.38), RHP Cole Sturgeon (3-0, 1.98), RHP Jake Sparger (2-1, 3.20), LHP Josh Rogers (3-3, 3.63), LHP Drew Harrington (3-2, 4.95), RHP Nick Burdi (3-1, 0.51, 18 saves).

MLB Alumni: Sean Green, B.J. Rosenberg.

Short Hops: Louisville is only team returning from 2013 CWS … Kay returns to his hometown of Omaha for the CWS. He played last season at Iowa Western CC, started 57 games this year and was 27th-round draft pick by Tampa Bay … Burdi has saves in 4 of Louisville’s 5 NCAA tournament games, and his 18 are school record … Louisville was 10-0 in regional and super regionals last two seasons … Cardinals’ 132 stolen bases ranks second to Wofford’s 153.

Quotable: “This time of the year, you don’t win many games 14-0. They’re all grinds.” –McDonnell.

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TCU (47-16)

Coach: Jim Schlossnagle (464-219, 11 years at TCU; 541-266, 13 years overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Fort Worth Regional: beat Siena 2-1, beat Sam Houston State 3-2 (22 inn.), beat Sam Houston State 6-1. Won Fort Worth Super Regional: beat Pepperdine 3-2, lost to Pepperdine 3-2, beat Pepperdine 6-5.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 5-2.

Last CWS appearance: 2010.

All-time record in CWS: 3-2 in 1 appearance.

Meet the Horned Frogs: C Kyle Bacak (.269, 0 HRs, 18 RBIs), 1B Kevin Cron (.279, 5, 40), 2B Garrett Crain (.335, 1, 19), 3B Derek Odell (.280, 1, 35), SS Keaton Jones (.268, 0, 20), LF Boomer White (.318, 2, 46), CF Cody Jones (.269, 0, 17), RF Dylan Fitzgerald (.318, 2, 33), DH Jerrick Suiter (.278, 0, 29). Starting pitchers: RHP Preston Morrison (9-4, 1.32), LHP Brandon Finnegan (9-3, 2.12), LHP Tyler Alexander (10-3, 2.16). Relievers: RHP Jordan Kipper (8-2, 3.10), RHP Trey Teakell (6-0, 2.22), LHP Alex Young (1-3, 2.53), RHP Riley Ferrell (2-1, 0.68, 15 saves).

MLB Alumni: Scott Atchison, Lance Broadway, Matt Carpenter, Sam Demel, Bryan Holaday.

Short Hops: Horned Frogs have won 32 of last 36 … Bullpen has not allowed a run in 28 2-3 innings … Bacak has reached base in 18 straight games and Fitzgerald in 17 in a row … TCU has posted a Big 12-record 14 shutouts, second nationally behind LSU’s 17.

Quotable: “Everybody knows what his job is. Someone finds a way to get it done when it matters. We always give ourselves a chance to win.” – Cron.

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TEXAS TECH (45-19)

Coach: Tim Tadlock (71-49, 2 years at Texas Tech and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Coral Gables Regional: beat Columbia 3-2, beat Miami 3-0, lost 2-1 (10 inn.) to Miami, beat Miami 4-0. Won Lubbock Super Regional: beat College of Charleston 1-0, beat College of Charleston 1-0.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 3-5.

Last CWS appearance: None.

All-time record in CWS: 0-0.

Meet the Red Raiders: C Hunter Redman (.257, 0 HRs, 17 RBIs), 1B Eric Gutierrez (.312, 12, 58), 2B Bryant Burleson (.275, 2, 37), 3B Ryan Long (.207, 0, 22), SS Tim Proudfoot (.317, 0, 19), LF Tyler Neslony (.388, 4, 32), CF Devon Conley (.271, 0, 8), RF Stephen Smith (.282, 1, 20), DH Adam Kirsch (.300, 10, 51). Starting pitchers: LHP Chris Sadberry (5-3, 3.17), LHP Dylan Dusek (8-0, 1.94), LHP Cameron Smith (8-2, 2.81). Relievers: RHP Corey Taylor (5-3, 2.62), RHP Ryan Moseley (1-2, 3.32), RHP Dominic Moreno (4-5, 3.14), LHP Jonny Drozd (7-0, 2.00, 5 saves).

MLB Alumni: Doug Ault, Chad Bettis, Roger Kieschnick, A.J. Ramos, Dallas Braden, Jeff Karstens, Chris Sampson, Joe Dillon.

Short Hops: Red Raiders is coming off three straight shutouts and four in five NCAA tournament games. They have school-record nine for season … Tech starting pitchers have 36 straight scoreless innings … Raiders’ 45 wins in most since 1997 team had 46 … Tech’s 3.17 ERA is best since 1971.

Quotable: “This is the last year I can play in college and to be able to go to the College World Series. It’s definitely a dream come true.” – Conley.

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VIRGINIA (49-14)

Coach: Brian O’Connor (510-175-2, 11 years at Virginia and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Charlottesville Regional: beat Bucknell 10-1, beat Arkansas 3-0, beat Arkansas 9-2. Won Charlottesville Super Regional: lost to Maryland 5-4, beat Maryland 7-3, beat Maryland 11-2.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2011.

All-time record in CWS: 3-4 in 2 appearances.

Meet the Cavaliers: C Robbie Coman (.271, 1 HR, 13 RBIs), 1B Mike Papi (.311, 11, 54), 2B Branden Cogswell (.292, 0, 21), 3B Kenny Towns (.273, 2, 33), SS Daniel Pinero (.266, 0, 19), LF Derek Fisher (.285, 3, 26), CF Brandon Downes (.233, 7, 37), RF Joe McCarthy (.305, 6, 46), DH John La Prise (.368, 1, 15). Starting pitchers: RHP Nathan Kirby (9-2, 1.73), LHP Brandon Waddell (9-3, 2.66), RHP Josh Sborz (5-4, 3.04), RHP Artie Lewicki (6-1, 1.59). Relievers: RHP Connor Jones (4-1, 3.13), RHP Austin Young (1-0, 2.01), RHP Alec Bettinger (6-0, 1.23), RHP Nick Howard (2-1, 2.05, 19 saves), RHP Whit Mayberry (6-1, 1.59).

MLB Alumni: Ryan Zimmerman, Ricky Horton, Javier Lopez, Mark Reynolds, Mark Reynolds, Phil Gosselin, Sean Doolittle, David Adams.

Short Hops: Virginia, at No. 3, is the highest national seed remaining … Lewicki, Young and Mayberry are the only holdovers from the 2011 CWS team … Papi has reached base in 17 games in a row … Cavaliers are allowing nation-low 6.5 hits a game, and its 2.31 ERA ranks fifth. Their .982 fielding percentage ranks third and is best among CWS teams.

Quotable: “I think this is a team that’s built to win in Omaha. I think they’ll understand what it takes to be successful there. They’ll be very, very focused.” – O’Connor.

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MISSISSIPPI (46-19)

Coach: Mike Bianco (555-321-1, 14 years at Ole Miss; 655-392-1, 17 years overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Oxford Regional: beat Jacksonville State 12-2, beat Washington 2-1, beat Washington 3-2 (10 inn.) Won Oxford Super Regional: lost to Louisiana-Lafayette 9-5, beat Louisiana-Lafayette 5-2, beat Louisiana-Lafayette 10-4.

2014 record vs. CWS teams: 1-0.

Last CWS appearance: 1972.

All-time record in CWS: 3-8 in 4 appearances.

Meet the Rebels: C Will Allen (.345, 7 HRs, 61 RBIs), 1B Sikes Orvis (.295, 14, 51), 2B Preston Overbey (.269, 4, 34), 3B Austin Anderson (.331, 5, 41), SS Errol Robinson (.299, 0, 19), LF Braxton Lee (.290, 0, 24), CF Auston Bousfield (.349, 6, 50), RF J.B. Woodman (.308, 2, 20), DH Colby Bortles (.262, 2, 14). Starting pitchers: RHP Chris Ellis (10-2, 2.45), LHP Christian Trent (9-0, 2.21), RHP Sam Smith (5-4, 3.45). Relievers: LHP Jeremy Massie (4-3, 2.77), RHP Scott Weathersby (3-1, 2.00), RHP Aaron Greenwood (3-1, 1.96), RHP Josh Laxer (2-2, 1.32, 6 saves), LHP Wyatt Short (3-3, 2.73).

MLB Alumni: Don Kessinger, Jeff Fassero, Lance Lynn, Chris Coghlan, Seth Smith, Alex Presley, Zack Cozart, Drew Pomeranz, Matt Tolbert.

Short Hops: Rebels were picked sixth in the SEC West and finished first … Ellis was first of nine Rebels drafted, going to Angels as 88th overall pick, and was among two weekend starters in the SEC to go undefeated in the regular season … Ole Miss’ .303 batting average is best among the CWS teams … Orvis’ 14 homers is most of any player in Omaha.

Quotable: “The road to the College World Series is one that’s bumpy and winding. I didn’t expect it to take this long to get there.” – Bianco.