College World Series winners and losers: The best and worst from Day 3 in Omaha
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Which NCAA baseball teams could blow up the bracket
The Montgomery Advertiser's Adam Cole and The Southwest Times Record's Jackson Fuller break down who could wreck the tournament bracket.
OMAMA, NE ― Day 3 of the 2024 College World Series saw Coastal Carolina become the first team to punch its ticket to the semifinals. The Chanticleers rode a strong start from Jacob Morrison to a 6-2 win over Oregon State.
Meanwhile, Louisville stayed alive with an 8-3 win over Arizona in a game that was closer than it seemed, as the Cardinals scored six runs in the eighth inning after facing a 3-2 deficit.
Louisville will face the Beavers in an elimination game June 17 (2 p.m. ET), with the winner advancing to the semifinals and needing to beat Coastal Carolina twice.
Here were the winners and losers from Day 3 at Charles Schwab Field:
WINNERS
Small ball
There were three home runs hit during Day 3 in Omaha: one by Arizona and two for Oregon State. Both of those teams lost.
Louisville, which won the first game, had just one extra-base hit, a double. Coastal Carolina, the winner of the second game, had two doubles. The Chanticleers had two sacrifice bunts; Louisville had one sac and a bunt hit. The Cardinals also stole three bases and took advantage of errors.
Mid-majors
Unlike in basketball, where mid-major powerhouses often make the Final Four or even win titles, it's become increasingly difficult for mid-majors to do well in the College World Series.
Before Coastal Carolina's run, the last mid-major to compete in the semifinals in Omaha was also the Chanticleers in 2016, when they won the national title. Before that, the last teams to do it were Fresno State and San Diego in 2008, the former of which won the national title.
Paul Skenes
For a player who is notably playing in MLB currently and whose former team didn't play, Paul Skenes got some airtime on Day 3. First came the reports that Skenes, the former LSU pitcher and 2023 College World Series Most Outstanding Player, would be attending the Tigers' winners bracket game on June 16. Then, a graphic on the ESPN broadcast compared Coastal Carolina pitcher Jacob Morrison to Skenes. According to the graphic, those two pitchers had the most starts with six or more innings pitched and one or fewer runs allowed in the last five seasons.
Morrison pitched 7⅔ innings of one-run ball against Oregon State.
LOSERS
Defense
In the pitcher-friendly Charles Schwab Field, the impact of any defensive mistake is magnified. Oregon State and Arizona learned that lesson the hard way.
The Wildcats committed two errors and allowed four unearned runs amid a six-run eighth inning for Louisville. That included a throwing error by the shortstop on a routine play and the pitcher dropping the ball on a rundown at home plate.
The Beavers also allowed four unearned runs thanks to two different errors, one that allowed Caden Bodine to reach to lead off the game and a second when Bodine hit what should've been an inning-ending double play in the fourth inning, but the second baseman booted the ball, leading to one run, and another run scored on a wild pitch afterwards.
Hot mics
During the College World Series, umpires are mic'd up. That helps make calls more clear, but several players didn't realize the mics were on and were audibly heard shouting expletives after at-bats that didn't go their way.
Program loyalty: Oregon State, Coastal Carolina baseball led by former players in College World Series 2025
The (former) Pac-12
The league formerly known as the Pac-12 made waves by getting three teams into Omaha, now in two different conferences and one independent, something that the actual Pac-12 hadn't done in decades. But one of those teams, Arizona, has already been eliminated, and Oregon State will face elimination after falling to Coastal Carolina. UCLA is in the winner's bracket, but will be a heavy underdog to LSU.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
24 minutes ago
- Newsweek
People Are Betting on Little League, Threatening 'Sanctity' of Youth Sports
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Protecting players should be a top concern for the Little League World Series amid the proliferation of gambling overseas, which represents the "erosion of the sanctity in youth sports," critics told Newsweek. Shawn French, host of The Determined Society podcast and a former catcher at Louisiana State University, denounced the rise of sites like BetOnline and Bovada as detrimental to young athletes, potentially creating a nightmare scenario. "Now we know that betting on youth sports, especially 10- to 12-year-olds, is against the law here," French told Newsweek. "But it doesn't necessarily keep the risk away regarding these overseas betting sites. The thing that really scares me is it proposes this massive ethical risk for these minors." Shawn French, founder/host of The Determined Society podcast and a former catcher at Louisiana State University. Shawn French, founder/host of The Determined Society podcast and a former catcher at Louisiana State University. Courtesy of Shawn French French warned of potential safety risks and threats to players and their parents due to wagers linked to Little League World Series (LLWS) matchups. "These people get very fanatical about their bets and how much money they lose," he said. "What's to say these families aren't going to get death threats if their 11-year-old kid doesn't play well? That is scary to me. It should be scary to the parents, it should be scary for the kids and it should be scary for the society we live in that these children are now being subject to people who may be more worried about their betting streak than the safety and sanctity of these children." French, who previously played in the College World Series and now coaches his 11-year-old son's team, said he was dismayed by LLWS gambling and the potential impact on young athletes. "It's a wild thing," he told Newsweek. "This is just an erosion of the sanctity in youth sports. It is scary." Little League officials, meanwhile, publicly condemned gambling on youth sports in a statement last week. "While Little League International continues to monitor the complexity and ever-evolving world of sports betting, we feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games or on any other youth sports competition," Little League International announced on August 14. Little League players learn the "fundamentals of the games" and vital life lessons, including teamwork and integrity, while on the diamond, organizers said. "And no one should be exploiting the successes and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain," the statement concluded. Some Little League managers are also angered that gamblers can wager on games involving boys as young as 10. "I'm not a fan," South Carolina manager Dave Bogan told the Associated Press. "It's just not appropriate, it feels dirty, quite honestly." Jimmy Taxiltaridis, of Fairfield, Connecticut, tags out Cutter Ricafort of Las Vegas at home plate during a Little League World Series game on August 20, 2025. Jimmy Taxiltaridis, of Fairfield, Connecticut, tags out Cutter Ricafort of Las Vegas at home plate during a Little League World Series game on August 20, 2025. AP Photo/Jared Freed Hawaii's manager, Gerald Oda, said placing a bet on young boys robs the "beauty" of Little League. "This is the only tournament where you're representing your local community," Oda told the AP. "It's that innocence, that pureness that these kids show on the field." The 12-year-old boys on Oda's team should cherish the memories from this summer more so than wins or losses, he added. "Gambling is here to stay, but I am thankful that Little League is very protective of what they have, and they should be." Oda continued. "You know that pure joy and emotion whether you win or you lose, that's the greatest thing." An Outsider's Perspective George Daniel, former commissioner of the National Lacrosse League, also called on LLWS officials to be more aggressive regarding ongoing efforts to protect young athletes as gambling thrives overseas. "Professional athletes face backlash from angry bettors in social media," Daniel told Newsweek. "For a young person to deal with that would be unbearable. Little League World Series needs to be proactive in limiting their data rights and being diligent in prohibiting gambling on their events." South Carolina's Preston Ware celebrates as he scores the winning run against South Dakota at the Little League World Series on August 20 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. South Carolina's Preston Ware celebrates as he scores the winning run against South Dakota at the Little League World Series on August 20 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. AP Photo/Jared Freed Daniel said he'd work to further highlight the collective sheer love of baseball if he oversaw the roughly two million boys and girls who play Little League worldwide. "Balancing the commercial aspects with sportsmanship of a youth sports property is always challenging," Daniel told Newsweek. "I would try to emphasize the joy of playing rather than the competitive aspects, but that's not easy to do when you are talking about an internationally televised event." Fond Memories Sixty-five percent of U.S. adults surveyed in 2022 said they played competitive or recreational youth sports — with basketball (24 percent) and baseball (23 percent) ranking as the most popular, according to the YouGov poll. Among former baseball players, 45 percent of Americans said they had "very positive" experiences, compared to just 2 percent who had "very negative" recollections from the diamond. More than 60 boys who played in the Little League World Series later went onto the majors, including Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson. In 1981, he starred as a catcher on a team from Barrington, Illinois, that lost in the final and ultimately finished third. Read more Push to move back mound as Little League pitchers hurl 80 mph fastballs Push to move back mound as Little League pitchers hurl 80 mph fastballs "I think at some point even when you lose that game and your hopes have sort of been dashed, that's when it starts to sink in that you played for the U.S. championship," Wilson told the Seattle Times on Saturday. "Even at 12, that means quite a bit." Despite the devastating 11-10 loss to a squad out of Tampa, Florida, Wilson fondly recalled the indelible experience he had decades earlier. "Just kind of a storybook kind of a scenario from beginning to end," Wilson told the newspaper. "But as a 12-year-old just realizing how much fun the game was, what a good team around you was all about and the whole experience of Williamsport was just so fun." Wilson, 56, returned to Pennsylvania on Sunday as the Seattle Mariners played the New York Mets in the MLB Little League Classic game. He also threw out the first pitch before a Little League World Series matchup between Panama and Mexico. "I'll probably feel 12 years old all over again," Wilson said prior to the trip. "I think in some ways I'm realistic in believing that it probably looks completely different than how I remembered it at 12. It's probably a lot smaller than I thought it was. But just kind of being able to see the Little Leaguers there and seeing that experience again through their eyes will bring back a lot more."
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Women Baseball Players Flock to a Historic Pro Tryout: Here Are Players to Know
Major League Baseball Women Baseball Players Flock to a Historic Pro Tryout: Here Are Players to Know Published Aug. 21, 2025 11:59 a.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Hundreds of women will flock to Washington on Friday to take their first swings at turning pro baseball dreams into reality. Some at the historic tryout will be seasoned veterans and trailblazers in the women's game. Plenty others are beginners chasing a shot at the pros. They'll meet on the same field in a camp organized by the Women's Pro Baseball League. Set to debut next year, the league is holding the first pro women's baseball tryouts in more than 80 years this weekend in partnership with Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals. The U.S. hasn't had a pro women's league since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — the one immortalized in "A League of Their Own" — dissolved in 1954. Players will take part in drill-focused sessions, athletic performance testing and player evaluations at the Nationals' Youth Baseball Academy over the first three days, and the showcase will culminate in a live game at Nationals Park on Aug. 25. In the end, 150 players will advance to the league's inaugural draft in October. For co-founder Justine Siegal, the tryouts mark a crucial step in creating a true arena for female baseball players to compete against one another, which was the driving force behind her vision for the league. "I didn't get to grow up and play girls baseball. I had to play baseball with the boys," said Siegal, the first woman to coach for an MLB team with the Oakland Athletics in 2015. "We have players who have been waiting a lifetime for an opportunity not to just have a chance to try out for a professional women's baseball league, but to be seen and to be given a chance. ADVERTISEMENT "It's very important to us that women know that we see them." More than 600 players registered for the four-day camp. Here are five notable competitors to keep an eye on: Mo'ne Davis: right-handed pitcher, outfielder Former Little League star Mo'ne Davis throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies in 2025. (Photo by) At 13, Davis became the first girl to earn a win — and pitch a shutout — in the Little League World Series. She drew national attention and became an instant celebrity, gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated and earning AP Female Athlete of the Year honors in 2014. Davis later played softball at Hampton University, where she last played competitively in 2020 before graduating in 2023. With few professional baseball avenues available, she sometimes wondered if her baseball career had ended. "A lot of times I've talked to people in school," Davis told The Associated Press, "and ... they just kind of assume that I have everything planned out in life, which isn't true at all." Davis, now 24, has provided commentary on ESPN for Little League games but recently has explored other career options, including flag football, basketball and content creation. She hopes the next chapter of her career begins with the WPBL, where she will try out as a pitcher, shortstop and center fielder. "I'm excited to get out there with all the women," Davis said. "Very excited just to play with each other, to share the field, to bring our love to each other and also to the fans watching." Kelsie Whitmore: pitcher, outfielder Kelsie Whitmore was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game, as well as the first to pitch in one. (Photo by) Whitmore became the first female player in an MLB-partnered league when she suited up for the Staten Island FerryHawks in the Atlantic League in 2022. She first played on the U.S. women's national baseball team as a 14-year-old, helping earn a silver medal at the 2014 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's World Cup and gold at the 2015 Pan American games. The 27-year-old's pursuit of a pro baseball career has largely meant finding opportunities to compete alongside men. In 2016, she and Stacy Piagno played for the Sonoma Stompers of the independent Pacific Association, and last year, she became the first woman to play for the Pioneer League with the Oakland Ballers. Whitmore debuted with the barnstorming squad Savannah Bananas earlier this month. Ayami Sato, right-handed pitcher Ayami Sato has pitched professionally and in international tournaments, representing Japan. (Photo by) Sato, 35, has led the Japan national team to six women's baseball World Cup championships and is widely considered one of the best female pitchers ever, with a nearly 80 mph fastball and a precise curveball. A three-time MVP, Sato earlier this year debuted for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Canada's Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) as the first woman to play professional men's baseball in Canada. Sato also grew up playing baseball alongside or against boys — but longed for a career on the mound even when she played girls basketball in middle school. Now, she's a special advisor to the WPBL and was featured in the baseball documentary "See Her Be Her," which chronicled the paths of seven female baseball players from around the world. Kylee Lahners, third base Kylee Lahners has played for Team USA, and now she's ready to play pro ball. (Photo by Laura Heald /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) Lahners played softball at the University of Washington from 2012 to 2015, helping the Huskies reach third place in the 2013 Women's College World Series and finishing her college career fourth in school history in home runs and walks. Now 32, Lahners has played third base for the U.S. national team since 2018 and was a part of the squad's silver-medal run in the World Cup last year. Alli Schroder, right-handed pitcher Schroder, a right-handed pitcher, has played for Canada's national team since 2018. She debuted for the team at 16, helping Canada win bronze in the 2018 World Cup. In 2021, Schroder became the first woman to play in the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference at Vancouver Island University. She also works grueling two-week stretches fighting major wildfires. From her career as a firefighter, she deals with chronically sore shoulders and knees that could shorten her playing career, and the fingers on her non-throwing, left hand were injured to the point that she once worried whether she could even swing a bat. "There's a lot more at stake on the fire line than there is in a big game," Schroder told the AP last year, "and I think that's something that I've really been able to use to calm myself down on the baseball field in big situations." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! What did you think of this story? share
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
2025 CFB Week 0 Action Report: Small Weekend Slate Doesn't Deter Bettors
College Football 2025 CFB Week 0 Action Report: Small Weekend Slate Doesn't Deter Bettors Updated Aug. 21, 2025 12:20 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link The first weekend of the 2025 college football season doesn't present the most exhilarating matchups. But the bottom line is, it's still football. So bets are flowing for the first few games on the college football Week 1 oddsboard. "Everybody is excited that football is back. Yes, we've had NFL preseason the past couple weeks, but that's not the same as a college football game that actually counts," Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. "Even though it's a small slate, there's still that excitement of it being a college football Saturday." Bookmakers and sharp bettors offer their Week 1 college football betting insights, kicking off with Kansas State vs. Iowa State from Dublin, Ireland. Big 12 Battle It all gets going at noon ET Saturday across the pond, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Kansas State vs. Iowa State has been on Caesars' betting board since May 23, when the Wildcats opened at -3 (-120). From then until mid-July, the line dipped to -2.5 multiple times. But over the past two weeks, K-State got as high as -4 occasionally. In the past week, the Wildcats have toggled between -3.5/-3, and they're currently 3-point favorites while getting the bulk of attention. "The Ireland game always does big numbers. That game is what's gonna drive the weekend," Feazel said Wednesday afternoon. "We've got quite a bit of Kansas State money, which is not super surprising." ADVERTISEMENT That's in part due to K-State being the +450 co-favorite to win the Big 12 title, joined by Texas Tech. On The Move The matchup generating the most noteworthy odds move is Saturday night's Stanford vs. Hawaii tilt. The Cardinal opened as 2-point favorites and touched -2.5 a couple times early in the summer. But the pendulum has since swung toward host Hawaii, which hit -2.5 a few times in the past three weeks and is now a 2-point favorite for this 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. "We're seeing a lot of movement in the offseason, flipping favorites," Feazel said. "Thus far, it's more of the sharper action. And the sharps are definitely on the Under in this game, too." A month ago, Caesars opened the total at 55.5, and it's slowly made its way down to as low as 50.5. Feazel noted sharp action at Under 54.5 and Under 53.5. At 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX gets into the opening-day festivities with Fresno State vs. Kansas. The host Jayhawks opened as healthy 14-point favorites at Caesars, but the line is now down to Jayhawks -12.5. "That move would suggest sharper action on Fresno State," Feazel said. And speaking of sharp action … On-Campus Sharp Side College football betting expert Paul Stone is getting involved in Saturday's limited slate, banking on the Rainbow Warriors. And it should come as no surprise that Stone got just about the best of the number, at Hawaii +1.5 a month ago. As noted above, the line flipped as far as Hawaii -2.5. "The line has moved substantially since the opener. But it's not as significant as most 4.5-point moves, since it's across zero," said Stone, who still likes the Rainbow Warriors as a small favorite. "Hawaii has a dynamic quarterback in Micah Alejado and returns two receivers who had more than 60 receptions last year. "I think the Rainbow Warriors win this one by a field goal or better." I Like Big Bets And I Cannot Lie With the first Saturday slate lacking a true marquee matchup, there's not much in the way of major wagers. The biggest bet Caesars Sports has taken so far: $4,773 on Iowa State moneyline +135. If the underdog Cyclones beat K-State outright, then the bettor profits $6,443.55, for a total payout of $11,216.55. Where Caesars is seeing more interesting action so far is in the College Football Playoff championship odds market. Among the notable plays: $10,000 Clemson +900. If the Tigers win the national title, then the bettor profits a hefty $90,000 (total payout $100,000). $1,000 TCU +20000 (200/1). It's a long shot, but if the Horned Frogs win it all, then the bettor bags $200,000 profit (total payout $201,000). $1,000 Colorado +12500 (125/1). Can Deion Sanders and Colorado succeed without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter? The past two seasons, coach Deion Sanders and his Buffaloes were all the rage with the public betting masses. But Coach Prime no longer has son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, nor Heisman Trophy-winning two-way star Travis Hunter. Let's hope that the Colorado bettor followed the most practical wagering advice: Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Enjoy opening weekend, everyone! Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He's based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! What did you think of this story? share
