College World Series schedule: NC State vs. Stanford set for Saturday afternoon

NC State will begin its College World Series run against Stanford at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, with television coverage from ESPN. The Wolfpack and Cardinal clash in the opening game of the event.

The College World Series is split into two four-team pools, with the format exactly like the regional round. NC State’s pool includes the Cardinal plus Vanderbilt and Arizona. The team that survives this double-elimination gauntlet will play for the national championship, against the winner of the Texas/Tennessee/UVA/Mississippi State pool.

Managing pitching will be a bit easier in Omaha, as there are off days in between games. After the Stanford game, NC State will return to action on Monday. If the Pack stays on the winners’ side, taking both its first two games, its third game won’t be until Friday, June 25. That would be ideal, obviously, since Evan Justice could throw in all three games if necessary. Going 3-0 is the goal, just as it was in Ruston.

The two teams that advance to the championship series play a best-of-three that begins Monday, June 28.

The full College World Series schedule, with game times and television information, is available here.