2013 College World Series: Mississippi State Bulldogs Defeat 3-Seed Twice, Earn Spot in Finals
By Brian Spaen
The Mississippi State Bulldogs continue their hot streak in college baseball’s postseason. They go undefeated in their bracket to advance to the College World Series’ best-of-three championship round in Omaha, Nebraska.
In Bracket One of the CWS, the Bulldogs were able to defeat the 3rd-seeded Oregon State Beavers twice and the Indiana Hoosiers to go 3-0 overall. Their first and second games were one-run victories by the same score of 5-4 against the Beavers and Hoosiers, respectively. On Friday, they defeated Oregon State again, 4-1, and await the winner between top-seeded North Carolina and UCLA in Bracket Two.
“Really proud of these guys,” MSU head coach John Cohen said in the school’s recap. “The story of the ballgame is Kendall Graveman shoving the ball in the strike zone. He changed speeds and filled the strike zone. We played a clean game defensively and did the things we have always done.”
Similar to the dominance in football, the Southeastern Conference has sent a school to the CWS Finals now for six straight seasons. The SEC is 3-2 in those last five championship series appearances. Their opponent will be determined either tonight if the Bruins win or tomorrow if the Tar Heels win tonight’s game.
Perhaps next year if Mississippi State makes it back to Omaha, the street vendors will get their mascot name correct.