John Kruk to Be Analyst on ESPN’s Women’s College World Series

By admin - Posted on May 28th, 2008

Coverage Begins May 29

May 27, 2008 -- ESPN’s coverage of the entire Women’s College World Series – up to 17 games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com beginning Thursday, May 29 – will feature ESPN’s John Kruk as a game analyst on 10 games, including the best-of-three Championship. Kruk, an analyst on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight studio show and select MLB games, will work with Beth Mowins and analyst Jessica Mendoza, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the U.S. team headed for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

ESPN’s 27th consecutive year of televising the event will also include Eric Collins and analyst Michele Smith, a two-time U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist (2000 and 1996), calling games. Smith will work as a field-level pitching reporter on the best-of-three Championship. Holly Rowe will serve as the field reporter on every game.

ESPN360.com -- ESPN’s signature live, sports broadband network – will simulcast every ESPN and ESPN2 telecast, which will also be available in high definition on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD.

ESPN will televise all four opening games May 29 highlighted by two-time defending champions Arizona taking on traditional powerhouse UCLA, making its 23rd Women’s College World Series appearance, at 9 p.m. ET. Other matchup highlights:

* Two teams will make their first Women’s College World Series appearances: top seed Florida taking on Louisiana-Lafayette (its fifth overall) at 1 p.m. and Virginia Tech playing Texas A&M (its second straight) at 3 p.m.

* Alabama, making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Women's College World Series and its third trip in the last four years, will play Arizona State, making their third consecutive appearance, at 7 p.m.

NCAA Women’s College World Series Presented on ESPN by Dick’s Sporting Goods

Date
Time
Network
Matchup
Commentators

5/29

1 p.m.
ESPN HD/ESPN360.com
Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Florida
Collins, Smith, Rowe

3 p.m.
ESPN HD/ESPN360.com
Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&M
Collins, Smith, Rowe

7 p.m.
ESPN HD/ESPN360.com
Arizona State vs. Alabama
Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe

9 p.m.
ESPN HD/ESPN360.com
Arizona vs. UCLA
Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe

5/30

7 p.m.
ESPN2 HD/ESPN360.com
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Collins, Smith, Rowe

9 p.m.
ESPN2 HD/ESPN360.com
Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe

5/31

noon
ESPN HD/ESPN360.com
Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Collins, Smith, Rowe