Gauchos make grand entrance to CWS; Chanticleers coming, too

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UC Santa Barbara and Coastal Carolina are heading to the College World Series for the first time. The Big 12 is sending all three of its teams that made the NCAA Tournament to Omaha, Nebraska. No. 3 national seed Miami also advanced Sunday.

No. 1 Florida staved off elimination in its best-of-three super regional, keeping the Southeastern Conference’s hopes of having at least one team make it to the CWS for a 24th straight year.

For Santa Barbara, Sam Cohen’s walkoff pinch grand slam off star closer Zack Burdi in the bottom of the ninth inning produced a 4-3 victory over No. 2 national seed Louisville, undoubtedly the biggest hit and victory in the Gauchos’ program history.

Coastal Carolina knocked off No. 8 LSU 4-3, also in walkoff fashion, on Michael Paez’s single to score Anthony Marks from second base in the bottom of the ninth. The Chanticleers were 0-4 in super regional play before going to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and winning two straight.

Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and TCU also advanced, giving the Big Ten three teams in Omaha for the second time in three years.

Oklahoma State defeated South Carolina 3-1 to post a sweep in Columbia, where the Gamecocks were 30-3 in the regular season, but 4-3 in the national tournament. The Cowboys, who are in the CWS for the first time since 1999, scored all three of their runs in the fifth inning on two hits and two errors.

No. 5 Texas Tech bounced back in from a Game 1 loss in Lubbock to win two straight over East Carolina, with Erikson Lanning and Hayden Howard combining on a two-hit shutout in an 11-0 victory Sunday. The Red Raiders are in their second CWS, all in the last three years.

TCU will be in the CWS for a third straight year after eliminating No. 4 Texas A&M with a 4-1 victory. Brian Howard and Durbin Feltman combined on a two-hitter in Game 3.

No. 3 Miami advanced to a second straight CWS and 25th overall with a 9-4 win over Boston College in Game 3 in Coral Gables, Florida. Edgar Michelangeli hit a three-run homer and grand slam, with the second blast leading to a confrontation between the teams after Michelangeli flipped his bat at the start of his trot and there was an exchange of words between him and BC catcher Nick Sciortino.

Florida bounced back from its Saturday loss to Florida State with a 5-0 victory that forced a decisive game on Monday. Logan Shore allowed two hits over eight-plus shutout innings, and Peter Alonso doubled three times and drove in three runs.

The SEC had seven teams make the tournament, and the Gators are the only one still alive.

Arizona was the first team to make the CWS after sweeping No. 6 Mississippi State on Saturday.

A look around the country:

BIG BATS

— UC Santa Barbara’s Cohen had just 26 at-bats this season before stepping to the plate in the bottom of the ninth Sunday and delivering his second career home run.

— Michelangeli, who didn’t homer his first two seasons at Miami, has hit three of his five this season since May 26.

— Boston College’s Donovan Casey 2 for 5 with three RBIs.

— Louisville’s Blake Tiberi was 3 for 4 Sunday and 5 for 8 in the super regional.

— Texas Tech’s Hunter Hargrove was 3 for 5 with a double and four RBIs.

— South Carolina’s Marcus Mooney went 3 for 4.

MARVELOUS ON MOUND

— Louisville’s Drew Harrington pitched seven shutout innings and struck out 12.

— UC Santa Barbara’s James Carter, Trevor Bettencourt and Kevin Chandler combined on 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief after Louisville took a 3-0 lead.

— Oklahoma State’s Tyler Buffett pitched seven innings, allowing one run on eight hits and a walk.

— Miami’s Bryan Garcia worked the last 1 1/3 innings for his third save of the tournament and 18th of the season.

— Florida’s Shore struck out nine and allowed only two singles.

— TCU’s Howard retired the last 11 batters he faced, and Feltman set down all six in the last two innings.

PROSPECT WATCH

— Louisville OF Corey Ray, the fifth overall pick by the Brewers, was 0 for 8 in the super regional and 4 for 21 in five tournament games.

— Miami C Zack Collins, 10th overall pick by the White Sox, was 0 for 2 and walked three times.

— Louisville’s Burdi, 26th overall pick by the White Sox, blew a save for the first time this season by giving up Cohen’s grand slam.

— Florida’s Alonso, second-round pick by the Mets, is 11 for 21 with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs in the tournament.

Members of UC Santa Barbara pile onto teammate Sam Cohen following his walkoff grand slam to win an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against Louisville, Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Louisville Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/06/web1_110852531-96928498881e42a7b855a65d4927a393.jpgMembers of UC Santa Barbara pile onto teammate Sam Cohen following his walkoff grand slam to win an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against Louisville, Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Louisville Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

UC Santa Barbara’s Sam Cohen (30) celebrates as he heads for home following his walkoff grand slam to win an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against Louisville, Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Louisville Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/06/web1_110852531-d16e86dbedbc4809aba3bdf289dd7e0d.jpgUC Santa Barbara’s Sam Cohen (30) celebrates as he heads for home following his walkoff grand slam to win an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against Louisville, Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Louisville Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

UC Santa Barbara’s Sam Cohen (30) celebrates after hitting a walkoff grand slam to win an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against Louisville, Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Louisville Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/06/web1_110852531-e5a460cd82b94e6d8cfa4915278f25a6.jpgUC Santa Barbara’s Sam Cohen (30) celebrates after hitting a walkoff grand slam to win an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game against Louisville, Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Louisville Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

By Eric Olson

AP Sports Writer

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