The Florida Gators found out Sunday they would start their 25th NCAA Division I Baseball Championship journey in a familiar place – McKethan Stadium.
Monday, the Gators found out that the three teams coming to Gainesville for the double-elimination tournament Friday through Sunday are quite familiar, too.
The NCAA Baseball Committee released its regional pairings Monday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN’s “The Road to Omaha” selection show, and coach Kevin O’Sullivan and his team found out they will be welcoming three teams they played this season – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bethune-Cookman, Atlantic Sun champion Jacksonville and at-large Miami (Fla.) of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Gators (39-20), who were seeded eighth in the field of 64 teams, will begin their play on Friday night at 6:30 against Bethune-Cookman (32-26), the fourth seed in the regional. Third-seeded Jacksonville (36-20) and second-seeded Miami (36-20) will play in Friday’s first game at 1 p.m.
“Playing at home should be a good opportunity for our fans to come and support us,” O’Sullivan said. “It will be a challenging field and we are looking forward to facing a talented Bethune-Cookman team on Friday.”
The double-elimination regional continues Saturday with two games (at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) and two more on Sunday (1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) with an if-necessary game Monday at 6:30 p.m. The Gainesville Regional winner will play the Atlanta Regional winner in a best-of-three Super Regional series June 5-7. The Super Regional winner joins seven other Super Regional winners in the field at the 63rd College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., June 13-24.
Florida, which came on strong at the end of the season to win the SEC East Division, beat Bethune-Cookman, 12-7, in the teams’ only meeting on April 7 at McKethan. The Gators beat Jacksonville, 7-4, on May 12 in Gainesville, but the Hurricanes swept Florida 8-5, 2-1 and 16-2 Feb. 27-March 1 in Gainesville. At that time, the Gators were without senior left-hander Stephen Locke (suspension) and O’Sullivan was trying to put together a consistent starting staff and bullpen. Plus, co-SEC Freshman of the Year Preston Tucker and his classmates were just settling into their roles with the club.
Florida is 64-51 (a .557 winning percentage) all-time in its 24 previous NCAA appearances, reaching the College World Series five times: 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2005. The Gators are 3-0 against Bethune-Cookman in tournament play. Florida last met Jacksonville in the NCAA tournament in 1991 and prevailed, 3-0. Miami swept a pair of games from Florida in the Coral Gables Super Regional in 2004.
NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
TOP SEEDS
1. Texas (41-13-1)
2. Cal State Fullerton (42-14)
3. Louisiana State (40-16)
4. North Carolina (42-16)
5. Arizona State (44-12)
6. UC Irvine (43-13)
7. Oklahoma (41-18)
8. Florida (39-20)
REGIONALS
May 29-June 1 on campus, All times Eastern
Double elimination
AUSTIN, TEXAS/TEXAS
At UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Texas State (41-15) vs. (3) Boston College (33-24), 2 p.m.
Game 2: (1/1) Texas (41-13-1) vs. (4) Army (34-19), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 2 p.m.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS/TEXAS CHRISTIAN
At Lupton Field
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Texas A&M (36-22) vs. (3) Oregon State (35-17), 3 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Texas Christian (36-16) vs. (4) Wright State (33-28), 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary,
ATLANTA, GA./GEORGIA TECH
At Russ Chandler Stadium
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Elon (40-16) vs. (3) Southern Mississippi (35-23), 3 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Georgia Tech (35-17-1) vs. (4) Georgia State (39-20), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 7 p.m.
GAINESVILLE, FLA./FLORIDA
At McKethan Stadium
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Miami, Fla. (36-20) vs. (3) Jacksonville (36-20), 1 p.m.
Game 2: (1/8) Florida (39-20) vs. (4) Bethune-Cookman (32-26), 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 6:30 p.m.
TEMPE, ARIZ./ARIZONA STATE
At Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Oral Roberts (31-13) vs. (3) Cal Poly (37-19), 4 p.m.
Game 2: (1/5) Arizona State (44-12) vs. (4) Kent State (42-15), 9 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 9 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 8 p.m.
CLEMSON, S.C./CLEMSON
At Doug Kingsmore Stadium
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Alabama (37-19) vs. (3) Oklahoma State (32-22), 3 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Clemson (40-19) vs. (4) Tennessee Tech (30-22-1), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 7 p.m.
GREENVILLE, N.C./EAST CAROLINA
At Clark-LeClair Stadium/Lewis Field
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) South Carolina (38-21) vs. (3) George Mason (42-12), 3 p.m.
Game 2: (1) East Carolina (42-17) vs. (4) Binghamton (29-20), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 6 p.m.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C./NORTH CAROLINA
At Boshamer Stadium
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Coastal Carolina (46-14) vs. (3) Kansas (37-22), 2 p.m.
Game 2: (1/4) North Carolina (42-16) vs. (4) Dartmouth (27-16), 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 5 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 6 p.m.
FULLERTON, CALIF./CAL STATE FULLERTON
At Goodwin Field
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Georgia Southern (42-15) vs. (3) Gonzaga (35-16), 6 p.m.
Game 2: (1/2) Cal State Fullerton (42-14) vs. (4) Utah (26-29), 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 9 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 9 p.m.
LOUISVILLE, KY./LOUISVILLE
At Jim Patterson Stadium
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Middle Tennessee (43-16) vs. (3) Vanderbilt (34-25), 3 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Louisville (44-15) vs. (4) Indiana (32-25), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 7 p.m.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA./FLORIDA STATE
At Dick Howser Stadium
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Georgia (37-22) vs. (3) Ohio State (40-17), Noon
Game 2: (1) Florida State (42-16) vs. (4) Marist (31-26), 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Noon
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, Noon
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 7 p.m.
NORMAN, OKLA./OKLAHOMA
At L. Dale Mitchell Park
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Arkansas (34-22) vs. (3) Washington State (31-23), 2 p.m.
Game 2: (1/7) Oklahoma (41-18) vs. (4) Wichita State (30-25), 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 8 p.m.
IRVINE, CALIF./UC IRVINE
At Anteater Ballpark/Cicerone Field
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Virginia (43-12-1) vs. (3) San Diego State (40-21), 7 p.m.
Game 2: (1/6) UC Irvine (43-13) vs. (4) Fresno State (32-28), 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 11 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 11 p.m.
OXFORD, MISS./MISSISSIPPI
At Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field
Friday, May 29
(2) Missouri (34-25) vs. (3) Western Kentucky (39-18), 4 p.m.
(1) Mississippi (40-17) vs. (4) Monmouth (32-23), 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 8 p.m.
HOUSTON, TEXAS/RICE
At Reckling Park
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Kansas State (41-16-1) vs. (3) Xavier, Ohio (38-19), 3 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Rice (39-15) vs. (4) Sam Houston State (36-22), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 7 p.m.
BATON ROUGE, LA./LOUISIANA STATE
At Alex Box Stadium
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (1/3) Louisiana State (46-16) vs. (4) Southern (30-15), 2 p.m.
Game 2: (2) Minnesota (38-17) vs. (3) Baylor (29-24), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, if necessary, 7 p.m.
SUPER REGIONALS
Host teams will be announced Monday, June 1 at 11 p.m. on http://www.NCAA.com
June 5-8 on campus
Best-of-three series
Austin Regional winner vs. Fort Worth Regional winner
Atlanta Regional winner vs. Gainesville Regional winner
Tempe Regional winner vs. Clemson Regional winner
Greenville Regional winner vs. Chapel Hill Regional winner
Fullerton Regional winner vs. Louisville Regional winner
Tallahassee Regional winner vs. Norman Regional winner
Irvine Regional winner vs. Oxford Regional winner
Houston Regional winner vs. Baton Rouge Regional winner
63rd COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES
June 13-24 at Omaha, Neb., Rosenblatt Stadium
Double elimination
First-round matches
Austin Regional/Fort Worth Regional winner vs. Atlanta Regional/Gainesville Regional winner
Tempe Regional/Clemson Regional winner vs. Greenville Regional/Chapel Hill Regional winner
Fullerton Regional/Louisville Regional winner vs. Tallahassee Regional/Norman Regional winner
Irvine Regional/Oxford Regional winner vs. Houston Regional winner/Baton Rouge Regional winner
CHAMPIONSHIP
June 22-24
Best-of-three series
Bracket One winner vs. Bracket Two winner
FIELD BY CONFERENCE
x-conference champion
Big 12: 8 (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, x-Texas, Texas A&M)
Southeastern: 8 (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, x-Louisiana State, Mississippi, South Carolina, Vanderbilt)
Atlantic Coast: 7 (Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, x-Virginia)
Big Ten 3: (x-Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State)
Big West 3: (Cal Poly, x-UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton)
Conference USA: 3 (x-East Carolina, Rice, Southern Mississippi)
Mountain West: 3 (San Diego State, Texas Christian, x-Utah)
Pacific-10: 3 (x-Arizona State, Oregon State, Washington State)
Colonial: 2 (George Mason, x-Georgia State)
Southern: 2 (Elon, x-Georgia Southern)
Southland: 2 (x-Sam Houston State, Texas State)
Sun Belt: 2 (x-Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky)
America East: 1 (x-Binghamton)
Atlantic Sun: 1 (x-Jacksonville)
Atlantic 10: 1 (x-Xavier, Ohio)
Big East: 1 (x-Louisville)
Big South: 1 (x-Coastal Carolina)
Horizon: 1 (x-Wright State)
Ivy: 1 (x-Dartmouth)
Metro Atlantic: 1 (x-Marist)
Mid-American: 1 (x-Kent State)
Mid-Eastern: 1 (x-Bethune-Cookman)
Missouri Valley: 1 (x-Wichita State)
Northeast: 1 (x-Monmouth)
Ohio Valley: 1 (x-Tennessee Tech)
Patriot: 1 (x-Army)
Southwestern: 1 (x-Southern)
Summit: 1 (x-Oral Roberts)
West Coast: 1 (x-Gonzaga)
Western Athletic: 1 (x-Fresno State)