Louisville baseball vs Oregon State prediction for College World Series: Who wins Game 1?

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Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell explains what makes pitcher Patrick Forbes a great athlete and Forbes' future at the professional level.

OMAHA, NE. -- For the past few months, Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell never said the "O" word.

Despite "Omaha"' being plastered around Jim Patterson Stadium and the Cardinals' indoor baseball facility, reaching the College World Series wasn't discussed among the team. The goal was actually to win the ACC championship. The Cardinals missed out on the conference title but were able to speak of Omaha again Sunday after stamping their ticket to the CWS by beating Miami in a best-of-three super regional series.

Louisville is scheduled to play Oregon State, which advanced after beating Florida State in the super regionals, today in the first round. The programs have only played once -- in another postseason matchup.

Louisville baseball vs. Oregon State in College World Series

Louisville and Oregon State have only played once. In 2013, the programs faced off in the elimination bracket of the College World Series. The Beavers won, 11-4. Despite the loss, the Cardinals set a program record for wins (51).

Louisville baseball vs. Oregon State prediction in NCAA College World Series

Neither team is a stranger to Charles Schwab Field, though Oregon State has been more successful there in the past. Given Louisville's strong mix of veteran and youthful talent in addition to how the pitching staff has competed in the postseason, the Cardinals have a chance to make a statement in their first game of the 2025 College World Series. Louisville 6, Oregon State 4.

Has Louisville baseball ever won College World Series?

Louisville has made the College World Series five times in the past and has never won it all. U of L has only won the first game of the CWS winners bracket once in 2017, when it beat Texas A&M 8-4. The Cardinals are 4-10 in Omaha.

Has Oregon State baseball ever won College World Series?

Oregon State has won the College World Series national championship three times in seven previous trips to Omaha. The Beavers became the fifth team to win back-to-back titles in 2006-07.

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Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.