BTN.com staff, June 12, 2013

Indiana opens its first College World Series at 8 p.m. ET Saturday in Omaha, Neb. The Hoosiers, the Big Ten's first CWS team since 1984 (Michigan), open vs. Louisville, which they went 2-1 vs. in the regular season. Check out the AP's team capsules for the Hoosiers and Cardinals in this post.

[ RELATED: Q&A: Voice of Indiana baseball ready to squeal like a pig ]

INDIANA (48-14)

Coach: Tracy Smith (242-220, 8 years at Indiana; 559-440-1, 17 years overall).

Road To Omaha: Won Bloomington Regional: beat Valparaiso 5-4, beat Austin Peay 15-6, beat Austin Peay 6-1. Won Tallahassee Super Regional: beat Florida State 10-9, beat Florida State 11-6.

2013 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1.

Last CWS appearance: None.

All-time record in CWS: 0-0.

Meet the Hoosiers: C Kyle Schwarber (.376, 18, 54), 1B Sam Travis (.313, 10, 56), 2B Chad Clark (.238, 1, 32), SS Michael Basil (.315, 3, 48), 3B Dustin DeMuth (.389, 5, 41), LF Casey Smith (.309, 5, 33), CF Justin Cureton (.224, 1, 17), RF Will Nolden (.301, 0, 12), DH Scott Donley (.361, 5, 58). Starting pitchers: LHP Joey DeNato (9-2, 2.76), RHP Aaron Slegers (9-1, 2.13), LHP Kyle Hart (8-2, 3.01), LHP Will Coursen-Carr (5-0, 1.80). Relievers: RHP Scott Effross (6-1, 2.47), RHP Luke Harrison (4-2, 2.82), RHP Ryan Halstead (4-4, 2.40, 11 saves).

All-Star Alumni: Ted Kluszewski, Kevin Orie, Doug DeVore, Mickey Morandini, Barry Jones, John Wehner.

Short Hops: Indiana is in the CWS for the first time and in the NCAA tournament for the third. Other NCAA appearances were in 1996 and 2009. Hoosiers are first Big Ten team to reach Omaha since Michigan in 1984. … Hoosiers beat Louisville, their opening CWS opponent, 2-0 in the season opener in Dunedin, Fla. … Freshman Will Coursen-Carr earned clinching victories in Big Ten tournament, NCAA regional and super regional. … Indiana has scored in the first inning in 28 of 62 games and hold a 59-24 advantage in first-inning runs. … Sam Travis has four homers and 16 RBIs in nine postseason games.

Quotable: ?This is what you dream about as a little kid. You watch the College World Series on the TV, and you just dream of it and now it just feels like you are living in the dream.? – Sam Travis.

[ RELATED: Twitter: Reaction to CWS berth | View full CWS schedule | NCAA.com bracket ]

LOUISVILLE (51-12)

Coach: Dan McDonnell (309-140, 7 years at Louisville; 985-531-2, 25 years overall).

Road To Omaha: Won Louisville Regional: beat Bowling Green 8-3, beat Miami 6-4, beat Oklahoma State 12-3. Won Nashville Super Regional: beat Vanderbilt 5-3, beat Vanderbilt 2-1.

2013 record vs. CWS teams: 1-2.

Last CWS appearance: 2007.

All-time record in CWS: 1-2 in 1 appearance.

Meet the Cardinals: C Shane Crain (.229, 1, 15) or Kyle Gibson (.301, 0, 13), 1B Zak Wasserman (.235, 0, 25), 2B Nick Ratajczak (.285, 2, 34), SS Sutton Whiting (.315, 1, 30), 3B Ty Young (.339, 4, 57), LF Coco Johnson (.333, 8, 50), CF Adam Engel (.234, 1, 26), RF Cole Sturgeon (.327, 1, 33), DH Jeff Gardner (.335, 9, 43). Starting pitchers: RHP Jeff Thompson (11-1, 2.00), RHP Chad Green (10-3, 2.29), RHP Dace Kime (6-1, 3.07). Relievers: RHP Kyle Funkhouser (5-1, 2.24), LHP Kyle McGrath (6-1, 2.30), RHP Nick Burdi (3-3, 0.78), LHP Cody Ege (4-1, 1.19), RHP Anthony Kidston (5-0, 1.31).

[ RELATED: Check out this Louisville alternate uniform ]

All-Star Alumni: Sean Green, B.J. Rosenberg.

Short Hops: Louisville is enjoying a banner year in athletics, with its men?s basketball team winning the national title, its women?s basketball team finishing as national runner-up to Connecticut and its football team beating Florida in the Sugar Bowl. … Cardinals? 51 wins are a school record. … Louisville has held opponents to 2 or fewer earned runs in 35 of 63 games. … Ratajczak is the toughest player in the nation to strike out, fanning once every 26.6 at-bats. … Thompson?s 5.2 hits allowed per nine innings is best in the nation.

Quotable: ?I think in 2007 when we went, we caught people off guard, even our fan base. I guess it?s a little disappointing LSU made it because I?m afraid their fan base is going to take up all the hotels in Omaha. But I?ve been saying it since our Leadoff Banquet in January, we?re going to represent. Our fans are going to represent and I think we?re going to give LSU a run for their money there in fan support.? – Dan McDonnell.

— AP