Fresh faces join powerhouses at College World Series

Two newcomers join the fray with longtime regulars at the College World Series, which begins today at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.

Stony Brook, which hails from Long Island, N.Y., and Kent State are making their first trips to the CWS. The Seawolves open at 5 p.m. EDT Friday against UCLA, which swept TCU in the Super Regional last weekend. The Golden Flashes, the first team from Ohio to make the CWS since Ohio University in 1970, open against Arkansas, which eliminated Baylor, at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The rest of the field is filled with Omaha regulars, including two-time defending champ South Carolina, 16-time attendee Arizona and Florida State, which has never won a title in 21 trips.

Arizona (43-17)

Coach: Andy Lopez (11 years/30 overall)

Top pitcher: Junior Kurt Heyer (12-2, 2.28 ERA) is one of three Wildcats pitchers to throw a complete game in the postseason.

Top hitter: Sophomore Johnny Field leads a team with seven starters batting more than .300 with a .383 average and .553 slugging percentage.

Road to Omaha: After sharing the Pac-12 Conference title with UCLA, its first since 1992, Arizona swept through its regional by scoring 47 runs in three games and then swept St. John?s.

CWS history: 16 appearances, including three titles (1976, ?80 and ?86).

Arkansas (44-20)

Coach: Dave Van Horn (10 years/24 overall)

Top pitcher: Ryne Stanek (7-4, 2.91 ERA) is the hottest pitcher on a staff that is tied with Florida for the lowest ERA in the field at 2.90.

Top hitter: Matt Reynolds leads the team with a .338 average, 48 runs, 20 doubles, seven home runs and 15 stolen bases.

Road to Omaha: The Hogs finished tied for second in the SEC?s Western Division with a 16-14 record but swept through the Houston Regional with wins over Rice and Sam Houston State and then rallied after losing Game 1 at Baylor to win two one-run games in the Super Regional.

CWS history: Seven appearances, no titles.

Florida (47-18)

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