Oregon State and Florida need win to gain spot in College Baseball World Series finals

Top-seeded Oregon State and 3^rd seeded Florida need to win one more on Friday to gain Monday’s best-of-three finals of the 17^th annual College Baseball World Series played in Omaha, Neb.

Still hanging around are Louisiana State and Texas Christian, but both have a setback and on the brink of elimination at TD Ameritrade Park

By Arnie Leshin | June 23, 2017

It’s unthinkable to find the Gators meeting up with the Beavers. It would be a slaughter in the water. But that’s not going to happen, because if Florida winds up facing Oregon State in the NCAA College Baseball World Series, it would be on nothing other than the baseball diamond.

Currently, the top-ranked Ducks and their awesome record of 57-4, are 2-0 and in the Friday doubleheader at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., as the 17^th annual Division I championships wind down.

If they win once more, it will be them and probably 3^rd seeded Florida, which is the other half of the Friday twin bill, and also needs but one win to bring a best-of-three between the Gators and Beavers. Right now, these two schools are comfortably in the driver’s seat.

It will be Oregon State and its 23-game win streak in the Friday afternoon game scheduled for 2 o’clock against Louisiana State, which is now 49-18 after disposing and eliminating Florida State, 5-3. It was another exit without a championship for head coach Mike Martin, as his team went home at 46-22 in Martin’s 38^th year.

LSU is the 4^th seed at 49-18. It lost previously to the Ducks to fall into the loser’s bracket. Now the Bayou Tigers must win twice in order to gain the best-of-three finals.

In the 7 p.m. contest, Texas Christian, the 6^th seed at 49-16, gets a return meeting with the 3^rd seeded Gators (49-18), but it, too, must win twice or go home. The Horned Frogs ousted 7^th seeded Louisville, 5-4, Thursday to remain in contention.

That’s it, from a field of 64 schools, it’s down to four. The final two meet up Monday night, and it could any one of this quartet if Oregon State and Florida just happen to lose Friday. That would bring a Saturday game or games.

But right now, it’s the streaking Ducks with all that you need to win another title (they won back-to-back in 2005 and 2006). They have a solid lineup, excellent pitching, play stellar defense, and can run the bases.

The Gators? About the same, for they have outstanding pitching, have strength throughout the lineup, can field, and can also take the extra base.

Already back home are Cal State-Fullerton, Texas A & M, Louisville and FSU.

The weather has been outstanding for the Elite Eight. Sunny skies every day, no sight of the skies empting, although the temperatures have been in the 80s. And capacity crowds every day. Most people that couldn’t get in sit outside the stadium with tents, refreshments and televisions.