Ryan Folmar addresses pace of play in College World Series

The final game of Oral Roberts‘ season versus TCU at the Men’s College World Series did not go how head coach Ryan Folmar would have liked. The Horned Frogs jumped out to an early lead and the Golden Eagles were never able to string enough hits together to get back in the game.

But another oddity of the game was its pace. The 6-1 TCU victory was a slower game than usual.

There were multiple long replay reviews throughout the game and nine pitchers used total by each squad. It lead to a three-hour, 30-minute long game.

However, most of the games throughout the season were faster than in previous years because of some new pace of play rules. Folmar said he thinks the rules were a great addition to college baseball.

“I think everybody likes it,” Folmar said after the season-ending loss. “I don’t think there was anything that came out negative about the pace of play in the game. I think at the beginning of the year, especially those first probably three to five games, I think it was a little bit different. You felt a little bit more rushed than what you have been.”

The reviews during Tuesday’s game included a fifth inning decision about whether or not Oral Roberts pitcher Joshua Caravalho committed a pitch clock violation and a sixth-inning decision about whether a TCU runner was pushed off third base before being tagged out.

“But at the end of the day I didn’t hear one complaint during the season as to games are going too fast,” Folmar said. “I think that’s what the fans wanted. I think it’s good for players. I think it’s good for student-athlete welfare. I think it’s good for the game. You’re seeing it in Major League Baseball now. I think everybody’s enjoying that part of it. The pace of play has been better, has improved — not here this afternoon, but for the most part, I think people enjoy it.”

The Golden Eagles finished the season with a 52-14 record, including an impressive 23-1 mark in Summit League play.

Its appearance in Omaha was only its second trip ever to the Men’s College World Series. Oral Roberts’ only other appearance was in 1978.

“What it means historically, I don’t know yet,” Folmar said. “We’ll take some time and process that now that we’re done. But when you’re in the moment, I don’t think you really think in those terms in the moment.”