You can't say that Stony Brook's baseball team didn't warn you; after all, their motto is "Shock the world."
The small Long Island school stuck to their own script as they beat LSU in the deciding game of the Baton Rouge super regional and are heading to the school's first College World Series.
Stony Brook is just the second No. 4 seed to reach the CWS. The last team to do so was Fresno State in 2008 on their way to winning the national title.
"I'm a little overwhelmed, quite frankly, because I think I do know the magnitude of this," said Stony Brook coach Matt Senk. "It's just an overwhelming feeling to make it to Omaha -- every college baseball team's dream, every college baseball coach's dream -- and it's come to fruition."
LSU was the heavy favorite coming into the series. They play in the SEC, the NCAA's dominant baseball conference, have been to the College World Series 15 times and have six national championships under their belt. However, it was Stony Brook that looked like title contender and LSU was lucky to just get one victory in the three-game series.
In game one, LSU was able to hit game-tying home runs in the ninth, 10th and 11th before winning in the 12th. In games two and three, they weren't as fortunate.
Tyler Johnson pitched a complete game to tie the series at two. He outdueled LSU's Kevin Gausman, the No. 4 pick in last week's MLB draft, giving up just three hits and one earned run in the Seawolves' 3-1 win.
In the clinching game, Stony Brook got another dominating performance on the mound. Frankie Vanderka tossed the team's second consecutive complete game in a 7-2 win. Vanderka got help from his teammates, who scored six runs in the first four innings.
"It is hard for me to find weaknesses in their team," said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. "Offensively, one through nine, that was the toughest lineup that we have faced all year. I will put them in the category with Florida, maybe even better."
While Stony Brook may not have the reputation of a LSU, they certainly have the talent. Seven players on the team were selected in last week's MLB Draft. They were led by outfielder Travis Jankowski, who became the first player in school history taken in the first round when he was selected by the San Diego Padres 44th overall. Jankowski, who went 4-for-6 in the clinching game, is one of the country's best hitters, batting .422 on the season. Four more players were taken in the second round.
Stony Brook will now head to Omaha to try and win their first national championship and they have at least some people believing.
"I would not be one bit surprised if Stony Brook goes on to win the national championship," Mainieri said. "I cannot imagine anyone in the country being better than that team."
