College World Series 2007 preview

A capsule look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts today at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.:1. OREGON STATE (44-18)

• Coach: Pat Casey
• Road To Omaha: Won Charlottesville Regional: beat Rutgers 5-1; lost to Virginia 7-4 in 13 innings; beat Rutgers 5-2; beat Virginia 5-3; beat Virginia 7-3. Won Corvallis Super Regional: beat Michigan 1-0; beat Michigan 8-2.
• Short Hops: Despite losing two key starting pitchers, closer and several starters from last year's lineup, Beavers looking to join Texas (1949-50), USC (1970-74), Stanford (1987-88) and LSU (1996-97) as only consecutive winners. ... Became first truly Northern school to win CWS since Ohio State in 1966.

2. RICE (54-12)

• Coach: Wayne Graham
• Road To Omaha: Won Houston Regional: beat Prairie View 5-0; beat TCU 6-3; beat TCU 3-1. Won Houston Super Regional: beat Texas A&M 3-2 in 10 innings; beat Texas A&M 5-2.
• Short Hops: Owls return to Omaha for second straight year and fourth time in six years. ... Owls won title in 2003, the school's first NCAA team title in any sport. ... Ranked No. 1 in every major national poll. ... Have won 35 of past 37 games.

3. NORTH CAROLINA (53-13)

• Coach: Mike Fox
• Road To Omaha: Won Chapel Hill Regional: beat Jacksonville 6-0; beat East Carolina 11-10; beat Western Carolina 6-5. Won Chapel Hill Super Regional: beat South Carolina 9-6; lost to South Carolina 8-6; beat South Carolina 9-4.
• Short Hops: Last year's CWS runner-up are first ACC team to make consecutive trips to Omaha since Florida State in 1999 and 2000.

4. UC IRVINE (45-15-1)

• Coach: Dave Serrano
• Road To Omaha: Won Round Rock Regional: beat Wake Forest 13-0; beat Texas 3-1; beat Texas 9-6. Won Wichita Super Regional: beat Wichita State 1-0; beat Wichita State 3-2.
• Short Hops: Anteaters making first CWS appearance in sixth year back in Division I. Program was cut after 1992 season because of statewide budget cuts, but was resurrected when students voted seven years later in favor of increasing school activity fees to fund baseball and other athletic programs.

5. ARIZONA STATE (48-13)

• Coach: Pat Murphy
• Road To Omaha: Won Tempe Regional: beat Monmouth, N.J., 5-3; beat UC Riverside 9-2; beat Nebraska 19-7. Won Tempe Super Regional: beat Mississippi 4-3; beat Mississippi 7-1.
• Short Hops: Sun Devils returning to CWS for second time in three years.

6. MISSISSIPPI STATE (38-20)

• Coach: Ron Polk
• Road To Omaha: Won Tallahassee Regional: beat Stetson 6-3; beat Florida State 3-0; beat Florida State 9-4. Won Starkville Super Regional: beat Clemson 8-6; beat Clemson 8-5.
• Short Hops: Polk returns to Omaha for first time since leading Georgia to CWS in 2001. It's Polk's eighth trip: one each with Georgia and Georgia Southern and six with MSU. Polk retired as Bulldogs coach following 1997 season, resumed career at Georgia in 2000 and returned to MSU in 2002.

7. LOUISVILLE (46-22)

• Coach: Dan McDonnell
• Road To Omaha: Won Columbia, Mo., Regional: beat Miami 13-7; lost to Missouri 7-5; beat Miami 8-7; beat Missouri 4-3; beat Missouri 16-6. Won Louisville Super Regional: beat Oklahoma State 9-0; lost to Oklahoma State 3-2; beat Oklahoma State 20-2.
• Short Hops: First-year coach McDonnell directs program in second NCAA tournament appearance. ... Pitching staff has posted 3.02 team ERA.

8. CAL STATE FULLERTON (38-23)

• Coach: George Horton
• Road To Omaha: Won San Diego Regional: beat Minnesota 7-1; beat Fresno State 6-4; beat Fresno State 13-2. Won Fullerton Super Regional: beat UCLA 12-2; beat UCLA 2-1.
• Short Hops: Titans playing in fourth CWS in five years.