1. Arkansas Razorbacks
Fayetteville, Arkansas
At-large bid from SEC
2017 record: 18-11, 42-17 (second in SEC West)
Head coach: Dave Van Horn (Arkansas, 1988)
Record at school: 592-341 (15 years)
Overall record: 1,177-581-6 (29 years)
Assistant coaches: Wes Johnson, Tony Vitello, Josh Elander
Team offense: .287 BA, 398 R, 80 HR, .460 SLG%, .374 OBP%, 26-41 SB
Team pitching: 3.60 ERA, 520 IP, 451 H, 189 BB, 557 K
Top hitters: Jax Biggers (.352/4/33/13 2B), Chad Spanberger (.305/19/64), Dominic Fletcher (.298/12/36), Jake Arledge (.294/3/27), Grant Koch (.276/13/42)
Top pitchers: Jake Reindl (3-1, 2.15, 2 SV, 46 IP, 36 H, 15 BB, 45 K), Blaine Knight (8-4, 3.08, 84.2 IP, 71 H, 17 BB, 88 K), Trevor Stephan (5-3, 3.12, 83.2 IP, 69 H, 17 BB, 108 K), Kevin Kopps (3-1, 3.15, 2 SV, 45.2 IP, 40 H, 18 BB, 37 K), Kacey Murphy (5-0, 3.32, 40.2 IP, 37 H, 18 BB, 54 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2015 (3-0 at Stillwater Regional, 2-1 at Fayetteville Super Regional, 0-2 at CWS)
Notes: The Razorbacks bounced back after missing the NCAA Tournament in 2016. Arkansas is making its 28th overall NCAA tourney appearance and 14th in the past 15 seasons. It is the sixth time Fayetteville will host a regional and first since 2010. Arkansas reached the finals of the SEC Tournament after a 16-0 victory over top-seeded Florida in the semifinals. The Razorbacks fell 4-2 to LSU in the title game. Chad Spanberger was the tourney’s Most Valuable Player, leading all players with three doubles, five home runs, 10 RBI and 26 total bases. Luke Bonfield and Kacey Murphy joined Spanberger on the SEC All-Tournament Team. Arkansas pitchers held opponents to .233 batting average and .316 on-base percentage this season.
2. Missouri State Bears
Springfield, Missouri
At-large bid from Missouri Valley Conference
2017 record: 18-1, 40-17 (first in MVC)
Head coach: Keith Guttin (Missouri-St. Louis)
Record at school: 1,316-756 (35 years)
Overall record: same
Assistant coaches: Paul Evans, Nate Thompson, Joe Lincoln
Team offense: .280 BA, 406 R, 72 HR, .451 SLG%, .396 OBP%, 50-66 SB
Team pitching: 3.58 ERA, 504.2 IP, 432 H, 186 BB, 509 K
Top hitters: Jake Burger (.341/22/63), Blake Graham (.338/9/33), Justin Paulsen (.330/6/45/17 2B), Jeremy Eierman (.311/19/61/13-15 SB), Hunter Steinmetz (.294/4/37)
Top pitchers: Bryan Young (1-1, 0.68, 8 SV, 26.2 IP, 9 H, 17 BB, 41 K), Jake Fromson (8-3, 1.86, 2 SV, 67.2 IP, 35 H, 13 BB, 81 K), Doug Still (7-2, 2.57, 87.2 IP, 79 H, 23 BB, 79 K), Austin Knight (3-2, 3.32, 57.0 IP, 47 H, 26 BB, 40 K), Jordan Knutson (6-2, 4.55, 85.0 IP, 90 H, 19 BB, 83 K), Dylan Coleman (8-3, 4.93, 87.2 IP, 76 H, 42 BB, 90 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2015 (3-0 at Springfield Regional, 1-2 at Fayetteville Super Regional)
Notes: The Bears had a 21-3 record against MVC opponents, including winning their first 18 conference contests. Over its final six games, MSU lost three times to last-place Illinois State, including twice in the MVC Tournament. First Team All-MVC picks Jake Burger and Jeremy Eierman have combined for 41 home runs, the top total for Division I teammates. Both Burger and Eierman were named semifinalists for the NCBWA’s Dick Howser Trophy.
3. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Automatic bid – won Big 12 Tournament
2017 record: 8-13, 30-25 (eighth in Big 12)
Head coach: Josh Holliday (Oklahoma State, 2004)
Record at school: 200-104 (5 years)
Overall record: same
Assistant coaches: Rob Walton, James Vilade, Mark Ginther
Team offense: .265 BA, 321 R, 48 HR, .405 SLG%, .374 OBP%, 52-71 SB
Team pitching: 4.37 ERA, 489.2 IP, 502 H, 193 BB, 488 K
Top hitters: Garrett McCain (.394/4/43/19-20 SB), Garrett Benge (.298/9/51), Colin Simpson (.280/11/40), Ryan Cash (.279/0/8), Cade Cabbiness (.279/2/15)
Top pitchers: Jake Cowan (2-0, 2.43, 2 SV, 29.2 IP, 23 H, 15 BB, 31 K), Carson Teel (5-4, 3.08, 3 SV, 61.1 IP, 50 H, 18 BB, 74 K), Trey Cobb (1-0, 3.13, 3 SV, 23 IP, 19 H, 9 BB, 30 K), Jensen Elliott (3-0, 3.63, 22.1 IP, 24 H, 7 BB, 26 K), Jonathan Heasley (2-4, 3.65, 3 SV, 37 IP, 30 H, 19 BB, 30 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2015 (3-0 at Clemson Regional, 2-0 at Columbia Super Regional, 2-2 at College World Series)
Notes: OSU was 24-25 before beating Oklahoma twice and going 4-0 to win Big 12 tournament. All six wins came in Oklahoma City. The Cowboys are making their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 43rd overall trip. Garrett McCain leads the Big 12 with a batting average of .394. OSU is 46-21 all-time against Arkansas, including an 8-3 win earlier this season on March 5. The Cowboys are 13-6 all-time against MSU, including 7-0 under Josh Holliday. OSU topped the Bears 7-3 on March 7. The Cowboys are 35-35 all-time against ORU. OSU is 1-2 against the Golden Eagles this season.
4. Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Automatic bid – won Summit League Tournament
2017 record: 25-4, 42-14 (first in Summit)
Head coach: Ryan Folmar (Oklahoma State, 1997)
Record at school: 176-109 (5 years)
Overall record: same
Assistant coaches: Ryan Neill, Sean Snedeker, Todd George
Team offense: .294 BA, 385 R, 67 HR, .000 SLG%, .000 OBP%, 58-68 SB
Team pitching: 3.00 ERA, 503.1 IP, 467 H, 208 BB, 496 K
Top hitters: Dylan Snypes (.329/0/37/18 2B), Noah Cummings (.325/14/69), Nick Roark (.316/3/36/12-15 SB), Trevor McCutchin (.311/6/23), Matt Whatley (.307/11/49/10-11 SB), Brent Williams (.271/16/50)
Top pitchers: Miguel Ausua (11-2, 1.67, 86.1 IP, 72 H, 27 BB, 79 K), Kyler Stout (2-3, 1.72, 11 SV, 31.1 IP, 28 H, 12 BB, 33 K), Josh McMinn (9-3, 2.08, 86.1 IP, 82 H, 26 BB, 72 K), Justin McGregor (9-0, 2.81, 77 IP, 75 H, 26 BB, 66 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (0-2 at Fort Worth Regional)
Notes: ORU won its 18th Summit League title to extend its win streak to nine. ORU was one of three teams out of 25 conferences to be a No. 1 seed and win its conference tournament last week. The Golden Eagles are making their 27th NCAA tourney appearance. Ryan Folmar was an assistant for nine seasons at ORU before being named head coach. The Golden Eagles have recorded eight shutouts, including a 7-0 win over North Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament title game. ORU has not been blanked this season.