Breaking down the teams playing for national championship at College World Series

By ERIC OLSON
AP Sports Writer

A look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Friday at Charles Schwab Field. (Capsules in order of CWS opening games. Coaches’ records through super regionals):

ORAL ROBERTS (51-12)

Coach: Ryan Folmar (370-222 in 11 years at ORU).

Road to Omaha: Won Stillwater Regional: beat Oklahoma State 6-4, beat Washington 15-12, beat Dallas Baptist 6-5. Won Eugene Super Regional: lost 9-8 to Oregon, beat Oregon 8-7, beat Oregon 11-6.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 1978.

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

Meet the Golden Eagles: C Jacob Godman (.296, 5 HRs, 29 RBIs), 1B Jake McMurray (.327, 6, 47), 2B Blaze Brothers (.302, 11, 38), SS Mac McCroskey (.310, 13, 62), 3B Holden Breeze (.317, 6, 42), LF Justin Quinn (.351, 7, 39), CF Jonah Cox (.420, 11, 67), RF Matt Hogan (.332, 18, 70), DH Drew Stahl (.281, 11, 55). Starting rotation: Jakob Hall (8-3, 3.56 ERA), LHP Harley Gollert (10-1, 4.30), RHP Brooks Fowler (9-1, 3.27). Relievers: RHP Cade Denton (2-1, 1.85, 15 saves), LHP Jacob Widener (2-2, 3.06, 1 save), LHP Caleb Isaacs (8-0, 5.04), RHP Evan Kowalski (2-1, 6.25), RHP Dalton Patten (4-2, 4.43).

MLB alumni: Todd Burns, Craig Colbert, Jeremy Hefner, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Jeff Heathcock, Mike Moore, Tom Nieto, Jordan Romano, Tyler Saladino, Jose Trevino.

Short hops: Joins 2012 Stony Brook and 2008 Fresno State as only No. 4 regional seeds to reach the CWS. … Cox’s 47-game hitting streak is tied for third longest in Division I history. He has a hit in 62 of 63 games. … Eagles have won 23 of 24, including 16 of past 17 on road. … McMurray has started 145 consecutive games. … First Summit League team to make CWS.

Quotable: “We knew we had a good club coming into the year. We continued to get better and better and better, and we’re playing well at the right time of year. We get an opportunity to keep playing, and that’s pretty fun.” — Folmar.

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TCU (42-22)

Coach: Kirk Saarloos (80-44 in two years at TCU).

Road to Omaha: Won Fayetteville Regional: beat Arizona 12-4, beat Arkansas 20-5, beat Arkansas 12-4. Won Fort Worth Super Regional: beat Indiana State 4-1, beat Indiana State 6-4.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2017.

All-time record in CWS: 11-10 in five appearances.

Meet the Horned Frogs: C Karson Bowen .355, 6 HRs, 46 RBIs), 1B Cole Fontenelle (.347, 13, 52), 2B Tre Richardson (.315, 6, 59), SS Anthony Silva (.340, 7, 47), 3B Brayden Taylor (.314, 23, 69), LF Luke Boyers (.231, 7, 27), CF Elijah Nunez (.290, 3, 35), RF Austin Davis (.280, 9, 55), DH Kurtis Byrne (.291, 10, 46). Starting rotation: RHP Kole Klecker (10-4, 3.84 ERA), RHP Sam Stoutenborough (5-0, 4.52), RHP Cam Brown (3-2, 5.50). Relievers: RHP Hunter Hodges (1-0, 3.09), RHP Mason Speaker (0-0, 6.46), LHP Ben Abeldt (3-3, 3.72), RHP Luke Savage (5-3, 2.50, 2 saves), RHP Cohen Feser (1-0, 2.73, 1 save), RHP Garrett Wright (2-2, 3.24, 5 saves).

MLB alumni: Jake Arrieta, Scott Atchison, Jim Busby, Matt Carpenter, Andrew Cashner, Brandon Finnegan, Bryan Holaday, Nick Lodolo, Tim Mauser, Carl Warwick.

Short hops: Frogs’ 11-game win streak is longest in nation, and they’ve won 19 of 21. … Abeldt has allowed only one run in 21 2/3 innings over 12 appearances. … Taylor has reached base in 30 straight games. … Frogs have 139 steals, most in the CWS field, and have at least 100 three seasons in a row.

Quotable: “It doesn’t feel any different than when I was the assistant coach. It just feels awesome. But it does feel good as the head coach. At least I got there as the head coach, I can say that no matter what happens.” — Saarloos, who went to four CWS as a TCU assistant under Jim Schlossnagle.

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FLORIDA (50-15)

Coach: Kevin O’Sullivan (677-317 in 16 years at Florida).

Road to Omaha: Won Gainesville Regional: beat Florida A&M 3-0, lost to Texas Tech 5-4, beat UConn 8-2, beat Texas Tech 7-1, beat Texas Tech 6-0. Won Gainesville Super Regional: beat South Carolina 5-4, beat South Carolina 4-0.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1 (vs. Tennessee).

Last CWS appearance: 2018.

All-time record in CWS: 21-24 in 12 appearances (won national title in 2017).

Meet the Gators: C BT Riopelle (.250, 16 HRs, 65 RBIs), 1B Jac Caglianone (.336, 31, 84) or Luke Heyman (.327, 11, 36), 2B Cade Curland (.300, 16, 46), SS Josh Rivera (.362, 17, 68), 3B Colby Halter (.248, 3, 28) or Dale Thomas (.244, 1, 4), LF Wyatt Langford (.373, 18, 48), CF Michael Robertson (.232, 1, 19), RF Tyler Shelnut (.285, 7, 27), DH Caglianone or Heyman. Starting rotation: RHP Brandon Sproat (8-3, 4.69 ERA), RHP Hurston Waldrep (9-3, 4.15), LHP Caglianone (7-3, 3.78). Relievers: RHP Brandon Neely (0-2, 3.66, 13 saves), LHP Cade Fisher (6-0, 3.02), RHP Ryan Slater (10-1, 3.51), LHP Philip Abner (3-0, 3.16), RHP Nick Ficarrotta (0-0, 5.45), RHP Tyler Nesbitt (1-0, 2.95).

MLB alumni: Pete Alonso, Harrison Bader, David Eckstein, Mark Ellis, Dalton Guthrie, Jonathan India, A.J. Puk, David Ross, Brady Singer, Mike Stanley, Brad Wilkerson, Mike Zunino.

Short hops: The Gators have their seventh 50-win season, with five coming under O’Sullivan. … Waldrep has 25 strikeouts in 15 innings in two NCAA Tournament starts. He struck out nine of the final 14 batters he faced in the super regional-clinching win over South Carolina. … Langford has one error in 120 games he’s played in the field. … Gators have 129 homers, three off the school record set in 1998.

Quotable: “Getting to Omaha is goal No. 1, but we feel like we have a team that can potentially do some special things in Omaha.” — O’Sullivan.

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VIRGINIA (50-13)

Coach: Brian O’Connor (839-351-2 in 20 years at Virginia).

Road to Omaha: Won Charlottesville Regional: beat Army 15-1, beat East Carolina 2-1, beat East Carolina 8-3. Won Charlottesville Super Regional: lost to Duke 5-4, beat Duke 14-4, beat Duke 12-2.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2021.

All-time record in CWS: 13-10 in five appearances (won national title in 2015).

Meet the Cavaliers: C Kyle Teel (.418, 13 HRs, 69 RBIs), 1B Ethan Anderson (.377, 14, 65), 2B Henry Godbout (.291, 3, 38), SS Griff O’Ferrall (.398, 1, 40), 3B Jake Gelof (.331, 23, 89), LF Harrison Didawick (.247, 4, 33) or Colin Tuft (.234, 1, 17), CF Ethan O’Donnell (.356, 13, 55), RF Casey Saucke (.298, 4, 48), DH Anthony Stephan (.338, 5, 34). Starting rotation: RHP Nick Parker (8-0, 3.81 ERA), LHP Connelly Early (12-2, 3.06), RHP Brian Edgington (9-3, 3.47). Relievers: RHP Jack O’Connor (6-3, 3.88), RHP Jay Woolfolk (2-1, 3.00, 9 saves), LHP Evan Blanco (1-0, 2.70), RHP Cullen McKay (0-0, 3.78), RHP Chase Hungate (3-0, 5.76), LHP Jake Berry (0-4, 3.33), LHP Angelo Tonas (4-0, 2.25), RHP Kevin Jaxel (2-0, 3.75).

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

Short hops: Cavaliers have won 15 of past 16 games. … Gelof’s 23 homers are a program single-season record. … Edgington’s complete game in the super-regional clincher was Virginia’s first in the NCAA Tournament since 2014. … Gelof and Teel were freshman starters on the 2021 CWS team. … Brian O’Connor grew up across the Missouri River from Omaha in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and he has participated in the CWS as a pitcher (1991 Creighton), assistant (2002 Notre Dame) and head coach.

Quotable: “Getting to Omaha is very, very difficult to do. It takes a lot of things. It takes a lot more than just talent, and that’s why I’m so proud of these players that wear our uniform.” — Brian O’Connor.

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WAKE FOREST (52-10)

Coach Tom Walter (418-339-1 in 14 years at Wake Forest; 846-671-1 overall in 27 years).

Road to Omaha: Won Winston-Salem Regional: beat George Mason 12-0, beat Maryland 21-6, beat George Mason 15-1. Won Winston-Salem Super Regional: beat Alabama 5-4, beat Alabama 22-5.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 1955.

All-time record in CWS: 7-3 in two appearances (won national title in 1955).

Meet the Demon Deacons: C Bennett Lee (.308, 7 HRs, 33), 1B Nick Kurtz (.370, 24, 69), 2B Justin Johnson (.341, 16, 76), SS Marek Houston (.224, 4, 29), 3B Brock Wilken (.357, 30, 80), LF Lucas Costello (.303, 4, 24), CF Tommy Hawke (.354, 7, 33), RF Pierce Bennett (.357, 13, 43), DH Danny Corona (.301, 13, 43). Starting rotation: RHP Rhett Lowder (15-0, 2.05 ERA), LHP Josh Hartle (10-2, 2.80 ERA), RHP Seth Keener (7-1, 2.23). Relievers: LHP Sean Sullivan (5-3, 2.64, 3 saves), RHP Cole Roland (2-1, 2.12), RHP Michael Massey (3-0, 2.58), RHP Camden Minacci (0-1, 2.73, 12 saves), RHP Reed Mascolo (7-1, 3.96), LHP Joe Ariola (0-0, 6.75), RHP William Ray (1-1, 5.40), LHP Derek Crum (1-0, 3.38).

MLB alumni: Mike Buddie, Stuart Fairchild, Chris Getz, Tommy Gregg, Eric Hanson, Kevin Jarvis, Mike MacDougal, Craig Robinson, Gavin Sheets, Jared Shuster, Cory Sullivan.

Short hops: Deacons are first No. 1 national seed to reach CWS since 2018. … Their 10 losses are fewest in nation. They haven’t lost consecutive games. … First Wake Forest team to win at least 50 games. … Wilken’s 70 homers are ACC career record. … Corona leads tournament with six homers and 17 RBIs. … Lowder’s 15 wins lead nation.

Quotable: “We’ve had high expectations all year — No. 2 ranked, No. 1 ranked. The higher the expectations got, the more these guys showed up.” — Walter.

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STANFORD (44-18)

Coach: David Esquer (225-90 in 6 years at Stanford, 750-557-2 in 24 years overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Stanford Regional: beat San Jose State 13-2, lost to Texas A&M 8-5, beat Cal State Fullerton 6-5, beat Texas A&M 13-5, beat Texas A&M 7-1. Won Stanford Super Regional: lost to Texas 7-5, beat Texas 8-3, beat Texas 7-6.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2022.

All-time record in CWS: 41-33 in 18 appearances (won national titles in 1987, 1988).

Meet the Cardinal: C Malcolm Moore (.316, 15 HRs, 62 RBIs), 1B Carter Graham (.312, 15, 76), 2B Drew Bowser (.275, 14, 48), SS Temo Becerra (.327, 2, 7), 3B Tommy Troy (.397, 17, 58), LF Alberto Rios (.387, 18, 71), CF Eddie Park (.340, 6, 47), RF Saborn Campbell (.226, 0, 3), DH Braden Montgomery (.336, 17, 60). Starting rotation: RHP Joey Dixon (9-3, 4.76 ERA), LHP Quinn Mathews (10-4, 3.60), RHP Matt Scott (5-4, 4.86). Relievers: LHP Drew Dowd (9-3, 4.76), RHP Brandt Pancer (3-1, 4.43), LHP Ryan Bruno (2-1, 5.18, 9 saves), LHP Nicolas Lopez (2-1, 7.04), RHP Nick Dugan (1-0, 7.27), RHP Ty Uber (1-0, 9.86), RHP Braden Montgomery (1-2, 12.21), RHP Toran O’Harran (1-1, 11.65), RHP Max Meier (2-0, 11.57).

MLB alumni: Bob Boone, Steve Buechele, Jack McDowell, Mike Mussina, Jeffrey Hammonds, A.J. Hinch, Kyle Peterson, Paul Carey, Ed Sprague, Ryan Garko, Drew Storen, Michael Taylor, Stephen Piscotty, Tommy Edman.

Short hops: Team’s .319 batting average is highest since the 2004 squad batted .328. … Pac-12 pitcher of year Mathews threw 156 pitches in second game of super regional. He has thrown more than 100 pitches in 15 starts, and his 120 innings are most in the nation. … Esquer is Pac-12 coach of year for third time since 2018. … Rios is Pac-12 player of year.

Quotable: “Have you ever seen an ending like that, because I haven’t. That was unbelievable.” — Esquer, on the winning run in Game 3 of the super regional scoring when Texas’ outfielders lost a fly ball in the twilight sky.

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LSU (48-15)

Coach: Jay Johnson (88-37 in two years at LSU; 405-209 in 11 years overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Baton Rouge Regional: beat Tulane 72, beat Oregon State 6-5, beat Oregon State 13-7. Won Baton Rouge Super Regional: beat Kentucky 14-0, beat Kentucky 8-3.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1 (vs. Tennessee)

Last CWS appearance: 2017.

All-time record in CWS: 40-27 in 18 appearances (won national titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009).

Meet the Tigers: C Hayden Travinski (.404, 10 HRs, 29 RBIs), 1B Tre’ Morgan (.312, 22, 97), 2B Gavin Dugas (.288, 15, 42), SS Jordan Thompson (.273, 11, 49), 3B Tommy White (.377, 22, 97), LF Josh Pearson (.252, 3, 25), CF Dylan Crews (.434, 17, 67), RF Brayden Jobert (.302, 11, 42), DH Cade Beloso (.316, 14, 41). Starting rotation: RHP Paul Skenes (12-2, 1.77 ERA), RHP Ty Floyd (7-0, 4.50). Relievers: LHP Riley Cooper (4-3, 5.02), RHP Gavin Guidry (3-0, 3.42, 3 saves), RHP Blake Money (1-0, 5.73), LHP Nate Ackenhausen (2-0, 3.63), LHP Griffin Herring (4-2, 4.55), RHP Thatcher Hurd (6-2, 6.49, 3 saves), RHP Sam Dutton (0-0, 6.05), LHP Javen Coleman (1-2, 6.39).

MLB alumni: Albert Belle, Alex Bregman, Paul Byrd, Jake Fraley, Kevin Gausman, Will Harris, Brad Hawpe, Aaron Hill, Alex Lange, DJ LeMahieu, Ben McDonald, Aaron Nola, Austin Nola, Todd Walker, Brian Wilson.

Short hops: Tigers’ six national titles are second to Southern California’s 12. … Crews and Skenes are projected 1-2 overall picks in the amateur draft. … Crews’ .434 batting average is highest among players in the CWS and is third nationally. His on-base percentage is .667 in the tournament. … Skenes’ 15.81 strikeouts per nine innings this season lead the nation. … Tigers’ 133 homers are most among CWS teams.

Quotable: “They’ve earned the right to play for a national championship, and that’s what we intend on doing and going for it. And I will not promise we’ll win it, but everything will be invested by everybody to go do that.” — Johnson.

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TENNESSEE (43-20)

Coach: Tony Vitello (234-97 in six years at Tennessee).

Road to Omaha: Won Clemson Regional: beat Charlotte 8-1, beat Clemson 6-5, beat Charlotte 9-2. Won Hattiesburg Super Regional: lost to Southern Mississippi 5-3, beat Southern Mississippi 8-4, beat Southern Mississippi 5-0.

2023 record vs. CWS teams: 2-4 (1-2 vs. LSU, 1-2 vs. Florida).

Last CWS appearance: 2021.

All-time record in CWS: 8-10 in five appearances.

Meet the Volunteers: C Cal Stark (.181, 5 HRs, 17 RBIs), 1B Blake Burke (.279, 16, 43), 2B Christian Moore (.313, 17, 48), SS Maui Ahuna (.302, 8, 41), 3B Zane Denton (.274, 16, 58), LF Jared Dickey (.325, 12, 51), CF Hunter Ensley (.279, 28, 76), RF Christian Scott (.282, 7, 34), DH Griffin Merritt (.315, 18, 48). Starting rotation: RHP Andrew Lindsey (3-3, 2.79 ERA), RHP Chase Dollander (7-6, 4.50), RHP Drew Beam (9-4, 3.78). Relievers: RHP Chase Burns (4-3, 4.64), RHP Aaron Combs (4-0, 2.61), RHP Camden Sewell (4-0, 3.91), RHP Seth Halvorsen (3-3, 3.60), RHP AJ Russell (2-0, 0.94), LHP Zander Sechrist (0-1, 2.05), LHP Kirby Connell (1-0, 3.77), RHP Hollis Fanning (0-0, 0.66).

MLB alumni: Todd Helton, Phil Garner, Rick Honeycutt, Luke Hochevar, R.A. Dickey, Joe Randa, Mike Difelice, Bubba Trammell, Chris Burke, Mike Lincoln, Steve Searcy, Nick Senzel.

Short hops: Volunteers are one of three programs in at least two of the past three CWS, joining Stanford and Virginia. … Burns has allowed one earned run in 10 innings over three appearances. … Over past three seasons, Vols have hit NCAA-leading 381 home runs. In the previous decade (2010-20), they hit 376 combined. … Denton and Moore each have homered four times in six games, and Moore also has four doubles.

Quotable: “We kind of carve our own way out by being a team that consistently makes progress and figures things out. About halfway through the year they took ownership of the team — the players, that is — and they’ve continued to push forward and they have room to continue to do that.” — Vitello.

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