The 2014 College World Series kicked off with a pair of thrilling games Saturday, and the action will continue with two more contests Sunday. In this double-elimination format, getting off to a fast start is of the utmost importance. A loss Sunday will suddenly set a team on the brink of elimination with a daunting trip to the losers bracket. With so much at stake, we're likely in for some intense baseball. To ensure that not a single ...

The 2014 College World Series just started and the memorable comebacks are already underway.  On Saturday, Texas held on for dear life to a 1-0 lead that it built in the second inning off a Zane Gurwitz bunt single that sent Collin Shaw home. For the five innings that followed, Texas led UC Irvine. The Anteaters were unable to score off the sensational Nathan Thornhill, who started the day leading the nation with a 2.11 ERA this postseason. But four ...

The 2014 College World Series has commenced, as UC Irvine kicked things off with a 3-1 victory over Texas. There is still one contest to be played in the opening slate of games with Louisville taking on Vanderbilt, but Sunday's showdowns also offer some compelling matchups. To start Sunday, Texas Tech hopes to knock off intrastate adversary and Big 12 tournament champion TCU. Both Lone Star State programs will receive enthusiastic support from the impassioned crowds, ...

The 2014 College World Series has officially begun with a pair of thrilling matchups on the Day 1 slate. UC Irvine and Texas were first to do battle in Omaha on Saturday, followed up by the nightcap that featured Louisville and Vanderbilt going head-to-head. The winners moved to being just one victory away from the semifinals, while the losers fell into the losers' bracket, one defeat away from elimination. Let's take a look at the Day 1 ...

Unlike past years, where the upsets seemed to come fast and frequent, the 2014 College World Series has mostly played out as expected. There are five No. 1 seeds from the Regionals in Omaha.  In fact, with the exception of Texas Tech making its College World Series debut, there isn't any new blood left in the field. Texas and UC Irvine aren't top seeds, but these programs certainly aren't strangers to this event, with five combined ...

The College World Series gets underway on Saturday. Since most of the teams left standing were the No. 1 seeds in their respective regionals, the title chase is wide open, which should lead to plenty of drama in Omaha over the next couple weeks. Along with the parity, the double-elimination format adds to the intrigue. It forces coaching staffs to make some tough choices with their pitching because they have to think about how things could ...

The road to Omaha, Nebraska, isn't an easy one. After a grueling regular season, double-elimination regional play and best-of-three super regional action, eight surviving teams are set to compete in the 2014 College World Series. Seven new teams are on display this year, as Louisville is the sole returning team from one season ago. Every squad is different—some feature stellar pitching, and others rely on offensive firepower. That diversity only adds to the impending intensity and drama ...

If there's one thing that has defined the College World Series over the years, it's parity. Just as we have no idea what to expect from Major League Baseball's postseason, the college game has a way of making us look like fools.  However, it's precisely because of parity that the annual trek to Omaha is more than just a niche event for hardcore baseball fans. The air of unpredictability and excitement gives it a special feeling ...

Some of the best talents in college baseball will be on display when College World Series play begins in Omaha. The four teams opening play on Saturday took every manner of route to reach this pinnacle of their sport. Louisville has yet to lose since postseason play began. Starting as the second seed in the Houston regional, Texas fought through three in-state rivals to get this far. Vanderbilt needed three games to get past Stanford in the ...

One of the great advantages of having the 2014 Major League Baseball draft take place right before the College World Series begins is the way it brings players to the forefront of fans who would otherwise have a casual interest in this event.  College baseball has always been a niche sport, but the widespread popularity of the draft and added exposure, thanks to ESPN's coverage, has allowed it to grow in recent years. Now everyone knows ...