2008 Lincoln Regional

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Lincoln, Nebraska

At-large bid from Big 12

Record 17-9-1, 40-14-1 (third in Big 12)

Head coach: Mike Anderson

Record at school: 300-133-1, seven years

Overall record: 300-133-1, seven years

Assistant coaches: Dave Bingham, Eric Newman, Nate Thompson

Team offense: .278 BA, 341 R, 31 HR, .402 SLG%, .371 OB%, 73/97 SB

Team pitching: 3.96 ERA, 470.0 IP, 243 hits, 448 K, 175 BB

Top hitters: Mitch Abeita (.344/9/44, .548 SLG%, .479 OBP), Jake Opitz (.327/7/42, .517 SLG%, team leading 13 steals), Nick Sullivan (.306/3/31, .440 SLG%), Craig Corriston (.294/4/29, .471 SLG%)

Top pitchers: Johnny Dorn (5-1, 2.55, 91.2 IP, 93 K, 26 BB), Dan Jennings (6-2, 2.81, 67.1 IP, 68 K, 25 BB, 4 saves), Aaron Pribanic (3-4, 4.54, 69.1 IP, 56 K, 30 BB)

Last NCAA appearance: 2006 (Super Regional)

Notes: Nebraska ended the month of March with a 21-4-1 record, which included a 14-game win streak. The Cornhuskers ended the season on a sour note when they were swept by Missouri in both teams final Big 12 series. Eric Newman is in his first season as pitching coach and his staff allowed the fewest hits in the conference, was second in earned runs and runs and Johnny Dorn was second in the Big 12 in strikeouts. The Nebraska offense, however, has had a down year and finished 11^th in the Big 12 in batting average, runs and hits on top of hitting the least home runs.

2. UC Irvine Anteaters

Irvine, California

At-large bid from Big West

2008 record: 14-10, 38-16 (Tied for second in the Big West)

Head coach: Mike Gillespie (Southern California, 1962)

School record: 38-16, one year

Overall record: 774-487-2

Assistant coaches: Pat Shine, Ted Silva, Bob Macaluso

Team offense: .305 BA, 327 R, 34 HR, 303 RBI, .430 SLG, .390 OBA, 95/135 SB

Team pitching: 2.87 ERA, 485.2 IP, 452 H, 162 BB, 443 K

Top hitters: Ben Orloff (.356 BA, 45 R, 21 RBI, .431 SLG, .457 OBA, 19 SB), Jeff Cusick (.338 BA, 24 R, 25 RBI, .449 SLG, .436 OBA, 4 SB), Dillon Bell (.333, 25 R, 4 HR, 25 RBI, .484 SLG, .388 OBA, 2 SB), Francis Larson (.326 BA, 29 R, 7 HR, 39 RBI, .513 SLG, .380 OBA, 5 SB), Ollie Linton (.323 BA, 49 R, 3 HR, 33 RBI, .400 SLG, .419 OBA, 37 SB), Tony Asaro (.310 BA, 21 R, 4 HR, 18 RBI, .563 SLG, .374 OBA)

Top pitchers: Christian Bergman (1.38 ERA, 52.0 IP, 51 H, 15 BB, 31 K), Eric Pettis (1.76 ERA, 41.0 IP, 31 H, 15 BB, 46 K, 15 saves), Scott Gorgen (1.90 ERA, 104.0 IP, 57 H, 33 BB, 109 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2007, (2-2 at the College World Series)

Notes: The Anteaters continued to be one of the top teams in the country this season, despite the departure of head coach Dave Serrano. Serrano guided the Anteaters to the program’s first ever College World Series last season, only to leave the team just days later to take over for George Horton at rival Cal State Fullerton. Taking over at the helm this season was Mike Gillespie, the 20-year USC coach that led the Trojans to a record five College World Series titles and a College World Series title 10 years ago. All-American and tri-Big West Pitcher of the Year Scott Gorgen led the Anteaters this year. The former Team USA pitcher continues to vie for a Golden Spikes Award, a Roger Clemens Award and the National Player of the Year crown.

3. Oral Roberts Golden Eagles

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Automatic bid – won Summit League Tournament

2008 Record: 24-4, 46-12 (first in Summit)

Head coach: Rob Walton

Record at school: 219-76, four years

Overall record: 219-76, four years

Assistant coaches: Ryan Folmar, Brian Kraft, Ryan Neill

Team offense: .328 BA, 466 R, 625 H, .509 SLG, .423 OBP

Team pitching: 4.20 ERA, 477.1 IP, 266 R, 482 H, 13 CG

Top hitters: Brian Van Kirk (.411/15/66, .722 SLG, .502 OBP), Ryan Groth (.356/9/45), Ben Petralli (.352/7/61), David Genao (.335/8/45), Juan Martinez (.325/8/49)

Top pitchers: Carlos Luna (12-0, 2.88, 84.1 IP, 5 CG, 92 K, 38 BB), Michael Jarman (10-2, 3.48, 95.2 IP, 6 CG, 86 K, 40 BB), Jerry Sullivan (8-2, 3.97, 90.2 IP, 92 K, 22 BB), T.J. Kelly (1-1, 4.13, 9 SV, 28.1 IP, 26 K, 11 BB)

Last NCAA appearance: 2007 Wichita Regional (0-2)

Notes: Outfielder Jared Reynolds is the nephew of former major leaguer and baseball commentator Harold Reynolds. Catcher Ben Petralli’s father, Geno, played in the majors for 12 years. Coach Walton will be the head coach of Team USA this summer. Carlos Luna tied for the NCAA lead in wins (12). Oral Roberts has won 10 straight conference championships.

4. Eastern Illinois Panthers

Charleston, Illinois

Automatic bid - won Ohio Valley Tournament

2008 record: 13-13, 27-28 (sixth in OVC)

Head coach: Jim Schmitz (Wilmington College, 1979)

Record at school: 380-367, 14 years

Overall record: 544-528, 21 years

Assistant coaches: Sean Lyons, Skyler Meade, Casey Spears

Team offense: .281 BA, 330 R, 30 HR, .403 SLG%, .359 OBA%, 52/81 SB

Team pitching: 4.33 ERA, 463 IP, 442 H, 273 BB, 380 K

Top hitters: Brett Nommensen (.397/4/30/18 SB), Curt Restko (.305/1/19), Jordan Tokarz (.293/4/42), Zach Skidmore (.285/4/31), Jordan Kreke (.280/2/44), Richie Derbak (.280/3/39), Tristan Facer (.273/6/27).

Top pitchers: Tyler Brandon (3-3, 2.32, 54.1 IP, 41 H, 36 BB, 47 K), Richie Derbak (1-3, 2.91, 21.2, 20 IP, 15 BB, 20 K), Brian Morrell (5-1, 3.57, 53 IP, 50 H, 22 BB, 42 K), Scott Foley (3-2, 6 SV, 3.71, 26.2 IP, 27 H, 19 BB, 21 K), Josh Mueller (6-7, 4.26, 67.2 IP, 55 H, 41 BB, 75 K), Tyler Kehrer (1-5, 4.55, 61.1 IP, 62 H, 44 BB, 57 K).

Last NCAA appearance: 1999 (1-2 at Waco Regional)

Notes: Eastern Illinois returns to the field of 64 for the first time since 1999, when it lost to Baylor and Minnesota but eliminated Arizona. Every player on the roster hails from Illinois. Eastern Illinois won four games against four different teams in four days to win the OVC. It nearly didn’t get a chance, needing a 20-7 win on the final Sunday of the regular season to qualify for the league tourney. The Panthers are riding a five-game winning streak - their third five-game streak of the year. Josh Mueller and Tyler Kehrer have combined for 26 starts, with opponents hitting only .218 off Mueller. Opponents hit only .217 off reliever Tyler Brandon, who is tied for the team lead with 24 appearances. Leading hitter Brett Nommensen improved his batting average by nearly 100 points from last year. Coach Jim Schmitz assisted Don Kessinger at Ole Miss and was the head coach at Cincinnati from 1987-90. Assistant coach Skyler Meade pitched in four of Louisville’s 11 NCAA tourney games in its run to the College World Series last year.