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Jonathan Hogart (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)
The second day of the College World Series brought everything we love about this event into full view. There were dominant arms, spectacular defensive plays and the kind of strange, chaotic tension that only college baseball can deliver.
From rising stars to old-school success stories, here are five takeaways from a wild Saturday in Omaha.
The Racers Are Down, But Don’t Count Them Out
Saturday felt like the beginning of the end for the magical Murray State team that became just the 10th four-seed to advance to the College World Series. The Racers fell 6-4 to UCLA in a game that looked closer in the box score than it did on the field. The Bruins pounced early, jumping out to a 6-0 lead thanks in large part to a four-run fourth that broke things open.
Forced to play from behind, Murray State mounted an admirable rally—but not an effective one. And now, head coach Dan Skirka’s team faces elimination against Arkansas, a program with every bell and whistle, a massive baseball budget and national championship expectations.
Bluntly speaking, it’ll take a miracle for the Racers to see another day in Omaha. But, then again, so would have everything they’ve done to this point.
“Good,” leadoff hitter Jonathan Hogart said when asked how he’d respond to being counted out. “We love it. Our back’s been against the wall the entire run. Nobody thought we’d beat Ole Miss or Georgia Tech or Duke.”
The Racers know what it’ll take to keep going. Every arm is available. Every bat is ready. And if there’s one more spark of magic left in this run, they plan to find it.
“It’s fun,” Hogart said. “Those are really good programs with a lot of talent. But we are too.”
Player Of The Day
Kade Anderson. Period. No questions asked.
The LSU ace was electric Saturday night, firing seven innings of three-hit, one-run baseball with seven strikeouts. His fastball touched 96 mph and rode through the zone with effortless carry. His high-spin curveball—massive in both shape and effect—tied up one of the most dangerous lineups in the country.
From a team perspective, Anderson’s outing was invaluable. He left just two innings for the Tigers’ bullpen to cover, a crucial luxury in what LSU hopes will be a long, taxing week in Omaha.
Individually, the implications could be just as meaningful. Anderson entered the College World Series in the conversation to be this year’s No. 1 overall pick. He might’ve moved a step closer. Against arguably the top offense in the field, he didn’t just hold his own—he dominated.
The race for top college arm is thinning. Anderson is starting to separate. On Saturday, the national strikeout leader looked every bit like the nation’s best.
LSU Takes Stranglehold On CWS Betting Spread
Saturday night’s showdown between LSU and Arkansas wasn’t just about advancing—it was about establishing control of the College World Series odds board.
With both SEC powers entering as clear betting favorites, their winner was all but certain to become the new frontrunner.
Now that team is LSU.
The Tigers have everything Omaha demands. Anderson is a championship-caliber ace. Anthony Eyanson, who’d front most rotations in the country, gives LSU a No. 2 with No. 1 stuff. The bullpen is deep and dangerous, built on premium velocity and advanced pitchability. And the lineup? It offers a mix of relentless contact and light-tower power that can win games in any style.
At this point, conventional wisdom and market confidence agree: LSU looks like the team to beat. If not the favorite to win it all, it’s at least the safest bet to reach the final.
Old School Recruiting Still Works—And UCLA Is Proof
In an era defined by transfer portal turnover and roster plug-and-play, UCLA is bucking the trend. The Bruins have 37 homegrown players on their roster, including each of their top four hitters. And they’re winning with a formula that feels almost radical in 2025: recruit, develop, retain.
“We’ve got good, young players,” head coach John Savage said. “We’ve got to keep them. We’ve got to hold on to them.”
That continuity has started to pay off in Omaha. Players like shortstop Roch Cholowsky, a second-year standout who isn’t even draft eligible yet, and outfielder Dean West, who barely saw the field last year due to injury, have blossomed into leaders. West, Savage said, has some of the best zone discipline and hand-eye coordination in the country. Cholowsky is the spark plug of a confident lineup built not on flash but familiarity.
“We wore it last year,” Savage said. “We did not win many games.”
But now?
“We’re kind of getting the payoff.”
It’s not a young team in the conventional sense, as many of UCLA’s sophomores have played over 100 Division I games. And it’s not a roster dependent on outside reinforcements. While others chase quick fixes in the portal, the Bruins have invested in their own. Slowly. Intentionally.
“It evolves,” Savage said. “And anything good takes time.”
So far, UCLA’s time has been worth the wait.
This Is Baseball Heaven
Two days in, the College World Series has already delivered everything that makes college baseball so captivating. We’ve seen dominant pitching and clutch hitting. There’s been a walk-off, highlight-reel defense and errors that would make a Little League coach wince. Chaos. Tension. Joy. Weirdness. It’s all part of the charm.
This is Omaha. And there’s nowhere else like it.
Coaches stand one step from immortality. Players become larger than life. And fans—whether they’re diehards or first-timers—are immersed in the magic. Everyone feels it.
Murray State right fielder Dustin Mercer said it best.
“It’s baseball heaven here,” he said. “I never felt famous before until I got here. Those kids don’t care whether I’m going to the big leagues or I’m done playing in two weeks. They just want to talk to me. That’s a really awesome experience.”
For Mercer, who said this is his final week playing the game, the emotion is raw.
“I know we lost,” he said. “That stings, but those kids are here to watch us. That’s super cool. I’m just trying to keep that [smile] on my face and enjoy the ride.”
And that’s the magic: the ride. The reason we all keep watching.
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