The Blue Workhorse

Last night, the Fresno State Bulldogs completed an unprecedented run to a national championship, by defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 6-1 in the deciding Game 3 of the Championship Finals to win the College World Series.

Following the game, members of the media began comparing their title run to other great upsets in sports history, and saying it may top them all. While all the media attention is exciting, people that know baseball understand Fresno State had a damn good ball team.

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Legendary Rice coach Wayne Graham was accustomed to facing Fresno State (Rice was in the Western Athletic Conference with FSU from 1996-2005), but he had never played the Bulldogs in such a big game.

While Graham’s Rice Owls are making their 14th consecutive appearance in the national tournament and their third straight trip to Omaha, Fresno State slipped into the national tournament by winning the WAC Tournament, and the Bulldogs are making their first trip to Rosenblatt Stadium since 1991.

Nonetheless, the Mike Batesole-led Bulldogs outplayed Rice pounding them 17-5 behind a 14 hit attack and solid pitching by lefty Justin Wilson (7 IP, 2 ER).

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We’ve previously previewed each of the NCAA college baseball Regionals and the Super Regionals, and with Bracket One of the College World Series set to begin Saturday, it’s time we preview the teams that will be playing at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha for the chance to be crowned national champions.

Today, we preview Bracket Two, which will begin Sunday, giving you each teams’ projected starting lineup and projected pitching rotation, “Road to Omaha,” and some keys to success:
North Carolina Tar Heels (51-12)

Projected Starting Lineup:
1. Dustin Ackley (1B)
2. Kyle Shelton (LF)
3. Tim Fedroff (RF)
4. Chad Flack (3B)
5. Kyle Seager (2B)
6. Tim Federowicz (C)
7. Garrett Gore (DH)
8. Seth Williams (CF)
9. Ryan Graepel (SS)

Projected Pitching Rotation:

On Monday, the NCAA announced the 64 collegiate baseball teams to earn the honor to be a part of the Division I national tournament, which will begin Friday at noon when the Missouri Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels. In preview of the regional tournaments that will be held this weekend, throughout the week our we will examine each individual regional:

Long Beach Regional

1. Long Beach State Dirtbags (37-19) vs 4. Fresno State Bulldogs (37-27)
2. San Diego Toreros (41-15) vs 3. California Golden Bears (33-19)