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NCAA baseball tournament continues this weekend with super regionals at eight sites.
Win two games, and you're headed to the College World Series, and we're guaranteed at least two CWS first-timers as the West Virginia/Cal Poly winner and Troy/Little Rock winner will be Omaha debutants.
The USA TODAY Network will provide comprehensive super regionals coverage this weekend with reporters at seven of the eight sites.
Super regionals re-rank: NCAA baseball tournament bracket upended by upsets
We asked the beat writers who cover their respective local teams for one player who will decide each super regional. Here's who they picked:
Georgia pitcher Matt Scott: Scott, a Stanford transfer, pitched five shutout, one-hit innings in relief in a regional win against Liberty. Georgia would need Scott again if starter Dylan Vigue continues to struggle, or he could be called on to start himself. — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia C/OF Daniel Jackson. With Tre Phelps suspended for Game 1 between Mississippi State and Georgia, Jackson, the SEC Player of the Year, will need to be on top of his game. Otherwise, the Georgia offense could be in trouble for Game 1. — Sam Sklar, The Clarion Ledger
Auburn catcher Chase Fralick. Fralick caught all 45 innings of Auburn’s regional contests and drove the Tigers offense with a program record six home runs and 15 RBIs. For Auburn to outlast Ole Miss, it needs some offense. Fralick’s the man for the job. — Adam Cole, Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn catcher Chase Fralick. He hit a home run in each game of the regional, and had two in one game, so the Ole Miss pitchers must be careful with his scalding-hot bat. — Sam Hutchens, The Clarion Ledger
Oregon DH Naulivou Lauaki Jr. The Pacific Northwest has gotten just a glimpse of what Lauaki can do this season when healthy. The 6-5, 265-pound redshirt freshman hit his first home run of the season April 8 and in the 27 games since has 14 total in just 125 plate appearances. Lauaki also has a penchant for a knockout punch in late innings, putting away Yale and Washington State with homers in Eugene. — Alec Dietz, Eugene Register Guard
UNC starting pitcher Jason DeCaro: The Tar Heels’ ace hasn’t pitched like it in recent weeks, but if UNC is going to get to Omaha, it needs DeCaro’s best. The junior righty hasn’t made it out of the fourth inning in his past two starts, allowing six runs and five walks across seven innings. — Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer
Kansas INF/OF Tyson LeBlanc. LeBlanc was named the most outstanding player for the Lawrence Regional, in addition to making the all-regional team at shortstop, and for good reason. If he can continue to play at the level he’s been playing at, he can help lead KU to a super regional title. — Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital Journal
Oklahoma catcher Deiten Lachance. The biggest question I have is can Oklahoma's bats stay hot, and Lachance is at the center of the Sooners' lineup. The McLennan Community College transfer hit only four home runs during the first three months of the season but has hit 10 in the past month. — Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman
West Virginia LHP Maxx Yehl. The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year bounced back from a rough first outing in the regional vs. Kentucky to throw five innings of one-run ball in the Mountaineers' regional final win June 1. Yehl is 8-2 with a 2.12 ERA this season, with 101 strikeouts in 85 innings.
Troy C/UTIL Jabe Boroff. Boroff is coming off a big week in Gainesville going 10-of-20 with 12 RBIs and six runs scored. He went hitless in the loss to Miami but woke up as the Trojans won four straight. —Maxwell Donaldson, The Gadsden Times
Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron. Lebron is the kind of postseason bat — and glove — Alabama can lean on when games tighten up, because he’s already proven he can deliver in high-pressure moments and stretch innings with one swing. With Alabama’s offense often needing a spark, he’s the player most likely to tilt the super regional in their favor when everything gets tense. — Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News
The ESPN Family of Networks will broadcast the super regionals of the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Streaming options for the games include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and ESPN+, ESPN's subscription streaming service.
Another streaming option for the best-of-three series includes Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA baseball super regionals: Players who will decide who reaches CWS
Continue reading...
Win two games, and you're headed to the College World Series, and we're guaranteed at least two CWS first-timers as the West Virginia/Cal Poly winner and Troy/Little Rock winner will be Omaha debutants.
The USA TODAY Network will provide comprehensive super regionals coverage this weekend with reporters at seven of the eight sites.
Super regionals re-rank: NCAA baseball tournament bracket upended by upsets
We asked the beat writers who cover their respective local teams for one player who will decide each super regional. Here's who they picked:
Athens Super Regional: Georgia vs Mississippi State
Georgia pitcher Matt Scott: Scott, a Stanford transfer, pitched five shutout, one-hit innings in relief in a regional win against Liberty. Georgia would need Scott again if starter Dylan Vigue continues to struggle, or he could be called on to start himself. — Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia C/OF Daniel Jackson. With Tre Phelps suspended for Game 1 between Mississippi State and Georgia, Jackson, the SEC Player of the Year, will need to be on top of his game. Otherwise, the Georgia offense could be in trouble for Game 1. — Sam Sklar, The Clarion Ledger
Auburn Super Regional: Ole Miss vs Auburn
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Auburn catcher Chase Fralick. Fralick caught all 45 innings of Auburn’s regional contests and drove the Tigers offense with a program record six home runs and 15 RBIs. For Auburn to outlast Ole Miss, it needs some offense. Fralick’s the man for the job. — Adam Cole, Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn catcher Chase Fralick. He hit a home run in each game of the regional, and had two in one game, so the Ole Miss pitchers must be careful with his scalding-hot bat. — Sam Hutchens, The Clarion Ledger
Austin Super Regional: Texas vs Oregon
Oregon DH Naulivou Lauaki Jr. The Pacific Northwest has gotten just a glimpse of what Lauaki can do this season when healthy. The 6-5, 265-pound redshirt freshman hit his first home run of the season April 8 and in the 27 games since has 14 total in just 125 plate appearances. Lauaki also has a penchant for a knockout punch in late innings, putting away Yale and Washington State with homers in Eugene. — Alec Dietz, Eugene Register Guard
Chapel Hill Super Regional: North Carolina vs USC
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UNC starting pitcher Jason DeCaro: The Tar Heels’ ace hasn’t pitched like it in recent weeks, but if UNC is going to get to Omaha, it needs DeCaro’s best. The junior righty hasn’t made it out of the fourth inning in his past two starts, allowing six runs and five walks across seven innings. — Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer
Lawrence Super Regional: Kansas vs Oklahoma
Kansas INF/OF Tyson LeBlanc. LeBlanc was named the most outstanding player for the Lawrence Regional, in addition to making the all-regional team at shortstop, and for good reason. If he can continue to play at the level he’s been playing at, he can help lead KU to a super regional title. — Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital Journal
Oklahoma catcher Deiten Lachance. The biggest question I have is can Oklahoma's bats stay hot, and Lachance is at the center of the Sooners' lineup. The McLennan Community College transfer hit only four home runs during the first three months of the season but has hit 10 in the past month. — Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman
Morgantown Super Regional: West Virginia vs Cal Poly
West Virginia LHP Maxx Yehl. The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year bounced back from a rough first outing in the regional vs. Kentucky to throw five innings of one-run ball in the Mountaineers' regional final win June 1. Yehl is 8-2 with a 2.12 ERA this season, with 101 strikeouts in 85 innings.
Troy Super Regional: Troy vs Little Rock
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Troy C/UTIL Jabe Boroff. Boroff is coming off a big week in Gainesville going 10-of-20 with 12 RBIs and six runs scored. He went hitless in the loss to Miami but woke up as the Trojans won four straight. —Maxwell Donaldson, The Gadsden Times
Tuscaloosa Super Regional: Alabama vs. St. John's
Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron. Lebron is the kind of postseason bat — and glove — Alabama can lean on when games tighten up, because he’s already proven he can deliver in high-pressure moments and stretch innings with one swing. With Alabama’s offense often needing a spark, he’s the player most likely to tilt the super regional in their favor when everything gets tense. — Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News
2026 NCAA baseball super regional schedule, how to watch
Athens Super Regional
- Game 1: No. 3 Georgia vs No. 14 Mississippi State | 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN
- Game 2: No. 3 Georgia vs No. 14 Mississippi State | Noon ET on Sunday, June 7 | ESPN
- Game 3 (if necessary): No. 3 Georgia vs No. 14 Mississippi State | Time TBD
Chapel Hill Super Regional
- Game 1: No. 5 North Carolina vs USC | 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 5 | ESPN2
- Game 2: No. 5 North Carolina vs USC | 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN
- Game 3 (if necessary): No. 5 North Carolina vs USC | Time TBD
Austin Super Regional
- Game 1: No. 6 Texas vs No. 11 Oregon | 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN
- Game 2: No. 6 Texas vs No. 11 Oregon | 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 7 | ESPN
- Game 3 (if necessary): No. 6 Texas vs No. 11 Oregon | Time TBD
Tuscaloosa Super Regional
- Game 1: No. 7 Alabama vs St. John's | 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN2
- Game 2: No. 7 Alabama vs St. John's | 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 7 | TBD
- Game 3 (if necessary): No. 7 Alabama vs St. John's | Time TBD
Lawrence Super Regional
- Game 1: No. 15 Kansas vs Oklahoma | 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN2
- Game 2: No. 15 Kansas vs Oklahoma | 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 7 | TBD
- Game 3 (if necessary): No. 15 Kansas vs Oklahoma | Time TBD
Troy Super Regional
- Game 1: Troy vs. Little Rock | 5 p.m. ET on Friday, June 5 | ESPNU
- Game 2: Troy vs. Little Rock | 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN2
- Game 3 (if necessary): Troy vs. Little Rock | Time TBD
Morgantown Super Regional
- Game 1: No. 16 West Virginia vs. Cal Poly | Noon ET on Friday, June 5 | ESPN2
- Game 2: No. 16 West Virginia vs. Cal Poly | Noon ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN2
- Game 3 (if necessary): No. 16 West Virginia vs. Cal Poly | Time TBD
Auburn Super Regional
- Game 1: No. 4 Auburn vs Ole Miss | 8 p.m. ET on Friday, June 5 | ESPN2
- Game 2: No. 4 Auburn vs Ole Miss | 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 | ESPN
- Game 3 (if necessary): No. 4 Auburn vs Ole Miss | Time TBD
How to watch NCAA Baseball Tournament super regionals
- TV channel: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU
- Streaming option: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
The ESPN Family of Networks will broadcast the super regionals of the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Streaming options for the games include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and ESPN+, ESPN's subscription streaming service.
Another streaming option for the best-of-three series includes Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA baseball super regionals: Players who will decide who reaches CWS
Continue reading...
