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College World Series 2023: Bracket, schedule and TV info for Friday, June 16
By Keith Farner
Published:
College World Series action opens on Friday afternoon with a matchup between Oral Roberts and TCU in a matchup of hot teams.
The double elimination round is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN, and will be followed by Virginia and Florida in a game set for 7 p.m. also on ESPN. Saturday action will feature Stanford against Wake Forest at 2 p.m., and Tennessee against LSU at 7 p.m.
Oral Roberts is at the event for the first time since 1978, and got to Omaha by beating Oregon in the Eugene Super Regional after it dropped the first game. Jonah Cox has a 47-game hitting streak, which is tied for third longest in Division I history.
He has a hit in 62 of 63 games. The Eagles have won 23 of 24 games, including 16 of past 17 on the road.
TCU is back in Omaha for the first time since 2017, and advanced to the CWS by knocking off Indiana State in the Fort Worth Super Regional. TCU is the hottest team in the country as it’s on an 11-game win streak, and the Horned Frogs have won 19 of 21 overall.
Florida knocked off South Carolina in the Gainesville Super Regional, and Virginia beat Duke in the Charlottesville Super Regional.
For the Gators, it’s the first time they’re back in Omaha since 2018. Florida’s been fueled by the long ball, and have 129 homers, which is 3 off the school record set in 1998. Hurston Waldrep has 25 strikeouts in 15 innings in 2 NCAA Tournament starts. He struck out 9 of the final 14 batters he faced in the Super Regional-clinching win over South Carolina.
Virginia is another hot team as the Cavaliers have won 15 of past 16 games and Jake Gelof’s 23 homers are a program single-season record.
Coach Brian O’Connor grew up near Omaha in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and is very familiar with this event as he has participated in the CWS as a pitcher (1991 Creighton), assistant (2002 Notre Dame) and head coach. The Cavs last made it in 2021.
Put it all together, and this is considered the most talent-laden College World Series of all-time.
Here’s the College World Series bracket:
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
