Alabama Seeded No. 1 As Cws Field Fills Up

Defending national champion Louisiana State helps kick off the College World Series on Friday night when the Tigers play the Rice Owls in the second game of the first day.

In pairings announced Monday night by the NCAA, Alabama was made the top seed. The Crimson Tide (52-12) begin play Saturday night against eighth-seeded Mississippi State (46-19).

LSU (53-13), which won the title last season on Warren Morris’ dramatic homer in the ninth inning against Miami, returns to Omaha for the ninth time, while the Owls (47-14) are making their first trip.

Friday’s series opener matches third-seeded Stanford (43-18) against sixth-seeded Auburn (49-15).

In Saturday’s early game, it’s fourth-seeded UCLA (45-19-1) against fifth-seeded Miami (49-16).

The College World Series will end June 6 or June 7.