2008 Ann Arbor Regional

1. Arizona Wildcats

2. Michigan Wolverines

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Automatic bid – won Big Ten Tournament

2008 Record: 26-5, 42-12 (first in Big Ten)

Head coach: Rich Maloney (Western Michigan, 1986)

Record at school: 233-124, six years

Overall record: 489-266-1, 13 years

Assistant coaches: Bob Keller, Matt Husted, Aaron Hepner

Team offense: .317 BA, 434 R, 582 H, .497 SLG%, .402 OB%, 70 HR

Team pitching: 4.22 ERA, 450.1 IP, 248 R, 388 K, 213 BB

Top hitters: Nate Recknagel (.381/23/68, .787 SLG), Kevin Cislo (.359/1/26), Adam Abraham (.344/7/50), Zach Putnam (.320/9/46), Derek VanBuskirk (.293/10/41)

Top pitchers: Chris Fetter (9-1, 2.49, 4 CG, 79.2 IP, 65 K, 21 BB), Zach Putnam (7-0, 2.64, 64.2 IP, 65 K, 18 BB), Michael Powers (6-4, 2.94, 52.0 IP, 50 K, 17 BB, 23 appearances, 4 saves), Travis Smith (5-1, 4.40, 43.0 IP, 28 K, 20 BB)

Last NCAA appearance: 2007 (3-1 in Nashville Regional, 0-2 in Corvallis Super Regional)

Notes: Michigan set a single-season record for most conference wins in a season (26). The Wolverines swept the major Big Ten postseason awards as Nate Recknagel was named Player of the Year, Zach Putnam Pitcher of the Year and Rich Maloney Coach of the Year.  Putnam was also a first team selection as a designated hitter, repeating his feat from last year as the first player in Big Ten history to make first team All-Big Ten as a hitter and a pitcher. Recknagel finished tied for second in the NCAA in home runs (23). Adam Abraham was a top hockey prospect before opting to play baseball at Michigan.

3. Kentucky Wildcats

Lexington, Kentucky

At-large bid from SEC

2008 record: 16-14, 42-17 (third in SEC East)

Head coach: John Cohen (Mississippi State, 1990)

Record at school: 173-110, five years

Overall record: 319-194, nine years

Assistant coaches: Gary Henderson, Brad Bohannon, Keith Vorhoff

Team offense: .320 BA, 486 R, 77 HR, .517 SLG%, .415 OBP, 75/100 SB

Team pitching: 3.63 ERA, 528 IP, 537 H, 179 BB, 459 K

Top hitters: Sawyer Carroll (.416/16/78/12 SB), Ryan Wilkes (.374/9/36), Collin Cowgill (.359/18/57/23 SB), Chris McClendon (.356/3/32), Keenan Wiley (.332/2/37)

Top pitchers: Chris Rusin (6-2, 2.84 ERA, 82.1 IP, 86 H, 17 BB, 65 K), Andrew Albers (7-4, 4 SV, 2.63 ERA, 51.1 IP, 42 H, 16 BB, 61 K), James Paxton (4-2, 2.92 ERA, 52.1 IP, 46 H, 25 BB, 43 K), Greg Dombrowski (5-1, 4.17 ERA, 73.1 IP, 99 H, 13 BB, 57 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2006 (2-2 at Lexington Regional)

Notes: Kentucky started 19-0 for a second consecutive season, and faded in the second half for the second consecutive season, going 23-17 the rest of the way. They were in danger of missing the SEC Tournament before getting hot and winning seven of their last eight games, including a sweep of rival Tennessee and two of three against Mississippi on the last day of the season. The lineup is headlined by speedy outfielders Sawyer Carroll and Collin Cowgill, both of whom posted double digit totals in stolen bases, home runs and doubles and hit over .360. Both were named to the All-SEC first team. The powerful Wildcat offense ranked tenth in the nation entering the SEC tournament. Carroll's .416 averaged was 16th best in Division I entering tournament play.

4. Eastern Michigan Eagles

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Automatic bid - won Mid-American Tournament

2008 record: 15-8, 25-32 (first in MAC West)

Coach: Jake Boss, Jr. (Alma, 1993)

Record at school: 25-32, first year

Overall record: 25-32, first year

Assistant coaches: Del Young, Mark VanAmeyde, Shane Davis

Team offense: .297 BA, 390 R, 64 HR, .464 SLG%, .382 OBA%, 48/85 SB

Team pitching: 7.65 ERA, 488.1 IP, 655 H, 237 BB, 289 K

Top hitters: Steve Bradshaw (.385/5/53/21 2B), Zack Leonard (.342/9/51/17 2B), Josh Ivan (.340/7/45), Jeff Davis (.330/6/46/18 2B), Kyle Rhoad (.325/8/28/19-24 SB), Aaron Powell (.302/8/30).

Top pitchers: Matt Shoemaker (5-3, 4.54, 79.1 IP, 94 H, 28 BB, 40 K), Dan Puls (4-4, 2 SV, 5.66, 41.1 IP, 37 H, 29 BB, 30 K), Sean Hoffman (5-2, 1 SV, 6.28, 91.2 IP, 112 H, 33 BB, 54 K), Jake Stapf (3-4, 6.68, 68.2 IP, 82 H, 31 BB, 41 K), Robert Wendzicki (3-6, 9 SV, 7.34, 38 IP, 47 H, 11 BB, 27 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2003 (1-2 at Lincoln Regional)

Notes: The Eagles started the season 0-17 before winning 25 of their last 40. EMU was the No. 2 seed in the MAC tournament and defeated top-seeded Kent State 12-4 in the title game. First-year head coach Jake Boss, Jr., was an assistant at Michigan the past three years before taking over at EMU. He was an assistant with the Eagles for seven seasons prior to working with the Wolverines. Jim Gulliver’s father, Glenn, played baseball at EMU from 1972-76 and was the starting shortstop on two College World Series teams. Glenn Gulliver played professionally for the Baltimore Orioles from 1981-83 and is a member of the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame. Former Eagles who made it to the major leagues include Bob Welch, Bob Owchinko, Terry Collins, Chris Hoiles and Bryan Clutterbuck.