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May 30, 2003

College Station Regional Capsules

1. Texas A&M Aggies

College Station, Texas

At-large bid from Big 12 Conference

2003 Record – 19-8, 43-17 (second in Big 12)

Coach – Mark Johnson (New Mexico, 1967)

Record at school – 802-382-2, 19 years

Overall record - same

Assistant coaches – Jim Lawler, David Coleman, Damon Thames

Team offense - ,303 BA, 383 R, 51 HR, .449 SLG%, .376 OB%, 49/75 SB

Team pitching – 4.03 ERA, 520 IP, 555 H, 177 BB, 437 K

Top hitters – Erik Schindewolf (.352/2/26/12 SB), Cory Patton (.340/12/57), Cliff Pennington (.335/1/39/10 SB), Justin Ruggiano (.329/8/46), Scott Beerer (.325/10/53), Jordy Mitchell (.255/4/20), Matt Alexander (.231/4/34)

Top pitchers – Scott Beerer (6-1, 12 save, 1.57, 46 IP, 29 H, 10 BB, 54 K), Logan Kensing (7-5, 1 save, 3.86, 84 IP, 95 H, 22 BB, 57 K), Kyle Parcus (5-3, 1 save, 4.14, 71.2 IP, 76 H, 25 BB, 58 K), Matt Farnum (7-1, 1 save, 4.24, 68 IP, 75 H, 18 BB, 50 K), Zach Dixon (6-2, 5.55, 71.1 IP, 86 H, 30 BB, 64 K)

Last NCAA appearance – 1999 (4-1 at College Station Regional, 2-1 at College Station Super Regional, 0-2 at College World Series)

Notes – This is the 21^st NCAA appearance for the Aggies, the 12^th under Coach Mark Johnson. Johnson has taken two Aggie squads to the College World Series. Texas A&M has hosted a regional in three of the past six years. Johnson is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The Aggies have out-homered opponents 51-31. Scott Beerer has reached double figures in home runs (10) and saves (12).

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Automatic bid from Southeastern Conference

2003 Record - 14-16, 37-22 (fifth in SEC West)

Coach - Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980)

Record at school - 408-174, 9 years

Overall record - 600-263, 14 years

Assistant coaches - Jim Gatewood, Danny Watkins, B.J. Green

(stats through 55 games)

Team offense - .294 BA, 412 R, 61 HR, .470 SLG%, .389 OB%, 53/65 SB

Team pitching - 4.39 ERA, 484 IP, 534 H, 148 BB, 427 SO

Top hitters – Travis Garner (.371/2/26/18 SB), Beau Hearod (.338/20/72), Zac Welch (.335/4/41), Adam Pavkovich (.321/9/48/22 2B), Al Hecklinski (.303/11/47), Allen Rice (.247/6/35)

Top pitchers – Brent Carter (9-5, 3.18, 107.2 IP, 99 H, 18 BB, 93 K), Brian Reed (2-2, 11 saves, 3.26, 49.2 IP, 44 H, 16 BB, 38 K), Seth Johnson (6-5, 3.95, 70.2 IP, 72 H, 23 BB, 71 K), Jared Woodward (2-0, 1 save, 4.26, 61.1 IP, 70 H, 12 BB, 50 SO), Taylor Tankersley (6-4, 5.57, 82.1 IP, 105 H, 41 BB, 90SO), Jeffrey Norris (5-2, 5.72, 56.2 IP, 76 H, 11 BB, 46 SO)

Last NCAA appearance - 2002 (3-2, 2^nd at Tuscaloosa Regional)

Notes - Alabama won its second consecutive SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide has won seven SEC Tournament titles, including six under Jim Wells.

3. Houston Cougars
Houston, Texas
At-large from Conference USA
2003 Record: 18-2, 32-27 (third in C-USA)
Coach: Rayner Noble (Houston, 1988)
Record at school: 391-353, nine years
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Todd Whitting, Sean Allen
Team offense: .275 BA, 299 R, 35 HR, .389 SLG%, .339 OB%, 82/108 SB
Team pitching: 4.10 ERA, 526.1 IP, 473 H, 219 BB, 549 K

Top hitters: Hyung Cho (.356/13/58), Travis Tully (.342/0/23), Michael Bourn (.325/1/14/20 SB), Gabe Lucas (.298/4/21), Matt Farrington (.281/1/19), Stuart Musselwhite (.274/1/23), Thanos Papavasiliou (.254/3/30), Nick Bott (.230/2/23).
Top pitchers: Ryan Wagner (4-5, 13 saves, 2.07, 69.2 IP, 34 H, 17 BB, 130 K), Brad Sullivan (6-6, 2.58, 115 IP, 78 H, 39 BB, 149 K), Danny Zell (8-5, 3.64, 99 IP, 104 H, 30 BB, 70 K), Garrett Mock (5-4, 4.24, 80.2 IP, 62 H, 37 BB, 63 K), Brian Henderson (4-4, 4.27, 52.2 IP, 62 H, 16 BB, 53 K), Gene Flores (3-2, 6.94, 36.1 IP, 46 H, 20 BB, 23 K).
Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (3-0 at Tempe Regional, 1-2 at Austin Super Regional)
Notes: The Cougars return to the field for the fifth straight season and 16th time overall. Last year, Houston pushed national-champion Texas to the limit in the Super Regional, losing the final 5-2. The Cougars have played through adversity this year. Volunteer assistant Dr. Bragg Stockton, a former Cougars head coach, passed away in the off-season. Brett Cooley, one of the team’s offensive stars last year with 18 homers and 56 RBI, has played in only 12 games. Brad Sullivan is the ace of the staff, limiting hitters to a .190 batting average. Danny Zell is a nice No. 2. Ryan Wagner has been nasty as a closer, holding hitters to a .147 average. He’s struck out 130 batters in 69.2 innings. On offense, Hyung Cho is the leader and the guy with the most pop (18 doubles, 13 homers). Otherwise, it’s an offense that strikes out a lot and doesn’t have a ton of power (.389 SLG%).

4. Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Tulsa, Okla.
Automatic - won the Mid-Continent Tournament
2003 Record: 19-1, 41-18 (first in Mid-Con)
Coach: Sunny Golloway
Record at school: 333-152, eight years
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Rob Walton, M.J. Mariani, Justin Timmerman
Team offense: .301 BA, 450 R, 62 HR, .449 SLG%, .400 OB%, 107/141 SB
Team pitching: 3.66 ERA, 498.2 IP, 500 H, 179 BB, 426 SO
Top hitters: Matt VanDerBosch (.364/1/26/26 SB), David Castillo (.345/17/70), Grant Plumley (.335/4/50), Scott Campbell (.313/4/32), Ryan Welborn (.287/1/33/28 SB), Josh Lex (.284/4/40), Kevin Lamb (.283/8/25/16 SB), Dennis Bigley (.280/9/48).
Top pitchers: Taylor McIntyre (7-2, 2.27, 79.1 IP, 71 H, 30 BB, 59 K), Dennis Bigley (10-2, 2.69, 87 IP, 67 H, 13 BB, 80 K), Dallas Martin (8-6, 2.75, 85 IP, 84 H, 20 BB, 77 K), Alex Chalfant (3-2, 2.84, 38 IP, 26 H, 14 BB, 59 K), Justin Ramsey (5-0, 5 saves, 3.12, 49 IP, 45 H, 15 BB, 45 K).
Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (2-2 at Wichita Regional)
Notes: The Golden Eagles won their sixth straight conference tourney and are back in the field of 64 after winning two games a year ago. ORU beat Wichita State and twice but couldn’t knock off Arkansas. Star pitcher Rene Ricio threw only 13 innings in the regular season before getting hurt. Dennis Bigley has picked up the slack, as opponents are hitting only .212 off him. David Castillo is the bat to watch, slugging .635 and hitting 17 homers. The Golden Eagles have won 22 of 23 entering the tourney.