1 Florida Gators
Gainesville, Florida
At-large bid from SEC
2017 record: 21-9, 42-16 (first in SEC East)
Head coach: Kevin O’Sullivan (Virginia, 1991)
Record at school: 438-205 (10 years)
Overall record: same
Assistant coaches: Craig Bell, Brad Weitzel, Lars Davis
Team offense: .269 BA, 323 R, 45 HR, .396 SLG%, .366 OBP%, 72-96 SB
Team pitching: 3.46 ERA, 514.1 IP, 495 H, 178 BB, 485 K
Top hitters: Nelson Maldonado (.327/6/28), Ryan Larson (.318/5/23), Christian Hicks (.289/4/25), JJ Schwarz (.286/9/46), Jonathan India (.278/6/30), Dalton Guthrie (.271/4/19/10-14 SB), Deacon Liput (.223/1/25/11-17 SB)
Top pitchers: Michael Byrne (2-4, 1.84, 14 SV, 53.2 IP, 43 H, 10 BB, 61 K), Brady Singer (7-3, 2.67, 97.2 IP, 26 BB, 89 K), Alex Faedo (7-2, 2.80, 96.1 IP, 81 H, 32 BB, 113 K), Jackson Kowar (11-0, 3.74, 91.1 IP, 91 H, 38 BB, 64 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (3-0 at Gainesville Regional, 2-1 at Gainesville Super Regional, 0-2 at College World Series)
Notes: Senior outfielder Ryan Larson is unavailable for the Regional after suffering a head injury after being hit by a pitch during the SEC Tournament. He is expected to be available if UF advances to a super regional. The Gators were blanked 16-0 by Arkansas in the semifinals of the SEC tourney, their worst loss of the season. UF is in the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive season, a program record. Pitcher Alex Faedo is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Florida has never faced Marist.
2 USF Bulls
Tampa, Florida
At-large bid from American
2017 record: 14-10, 41-17 (tied for third in American)
Head coach: Mark Kingston (North Carolina, 1995)
Record at school: 99-76-1 (3 years)
Overall record: 272-180-1 (8 years)
Assistant coaches: Mike Current, Billy Mohl, Chris Cates
Team offense: .288 BA, 339 R, 45 HR, .427 SLG%, .386 OBP%, 45-62 SB
Team pitching: 3.25 ERA, 521.1 IP, 443 H, 211 BB, 599 K
Top hitters: Kevin Merrell (.386/6/35/18-22 SB), Luke Borders (.338/7/53), Duke Stunkel (.335/1/21), David Villar (.303/7/46), Coco Montes (.292/4/28), Joe Gonord (.261/9/37)
Top pitchers: Andrew Perez (6-2, 6 SV, 2.23, 36.1 IP, 23 H, 15 BB, 50 K), Joe Cavallaro (5-3, 5 SV, 2.40, 56.1 IP, 46 H, 18 BB, 75 K), Peter Strzelecki (3-4, 2.42, 67 IP, 55 H, 27 BB, 62 K), Phoenix Sanders (5-2, 3.00, 90 IP, 84 H, 23 BB, 102 K), Shane McClanahan (4-2, 3.28, 74 IP, 48 H, 35 BB, 104 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (3-2 at Lubbock Regional)
Notes: USF is in the field for the second time in Mark Kingston’s three seasons. The Bulls have arms… Not only do Phoenix Sanders and Shane McClanahan (.185 BAA) have more than 100 Ks, but Joe Cavallaro (.216 BAA) and Andrew Perez (.187 BAA) also have been lights out in the pen. Kevin Merrell and Luke Borders provide some pop, with 21 and 22 extra base hits, respectively.
3 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Daytona Beach, Florida
Automatic bid – MEAC Champions
2017 record: 15-8 MEAC, 33-23
Head coach: Jason Beverlin (Western Carolina, 1994)
Record at school: 176-175 (7 years)
Overall record: 176- 175 (7 years)
Assistant coaches: Barrett Shaft, Jason Bell
Team offense: .291 BA, 355 R, 33 HR, .428 SLG%, .369 OBP%, 52-73 SB
Team pitching: 4.55 ERA, 466.2 IP,460 H, 207 BB, 320 K
Top hitters: Adonia Lao (.367/0/29) , Danny Rodriguez (,343/11/45), Kyle Corbin (.270/3/25 20 SB), Demetrius Sims (.327/1/23 13 SB), Jamell Edney (.330/4/40 21 SB)
Top pitchers: Anthony Maldonado (8-3, 2.78 ERA, 81 IP, 67 H, 28 BB, 60 K), Ivan Coutinho (2-2, 3.54 ERA, 7 Sv, 28 IP, 29 H, 12 BB, 27 K), Tyler Norris (8-1, 3.58 ERA, 75.1 IP, 60 H, 31 BB, 57 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (0-2 at Gainesville Regional
Notes: Bethune-Cookman won the MEAC title, their 3rd in the last 4 seasons, and make their 16th NCAA appearance. In only four seasons since 1996 has someone other than the Wildcats won the MEAC. They went 4-2 against ACC teams this year sweeping Boston College in a 3-game series to open the series and going 1-2 vs. Miami. B-CU was second in the MEAC in team batting average and team ERA. They had league leaders in several offensive categories including runs (Sims ,51), hits (Adams, 73), doubles (Edney, 21), home runs (Rodriguez, 11), stolen bases (Corbin, 20). Maldonado ranked tied for 2nd in the MEAC in wins, 3rd in innings pitched and tied for fourth in strikeouts.
4 Marist Foxes
Poughkeepsie, New York
Automatic bid – MAAC Champions
2017 record: 16-8 MAAC, 32-21
Head coach: Chris Tracz (Marist, 2005)
Record at school: 212-195-2 (8 years)
Overall record: same
Assistant coaches: Eric Pelletier, Lance Ratchford, Steve Nilsen
Team offense: .279 BA, 329 R, 27 HR, .377 SLG%, .374 OBP%, 98-119 SB
Team pitching: 4.01 ERA, 460.1 IP, 439 H, 190 BB, 441 K
Top hitters: Tyler Kapuscinski (.335/1/15), Andrew Rouse (.317/3/34/12-16 SB), Frankie Gregoire (.302/9/42), Matt Iantosca (.293/1/23), Randy Taveras (.292/3/23/16-20 SB), Matt Pagano (.291/1/24/11-13)
Top pitchers: Scott Boches (6-5, 2.72, 86 IP, 82 H, 28 BB, 85 K), Sean Keenan (6-1, 3.14, 91.2 IP, 69 H, 44 BB, 89 K), Tony Romanelli (2-2, 3.24, 9 SV, 41.2 IP, 27 H, 15 BB, 47 K), John Parisi (3-3, 3.70, 1 SV, 41.1 IP, 42 H, 17 BB, 37 K), Charlie Jerla (9-1, 3.92, 64.1 IP, 64 H, 20 BB, 65 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2009 (0-2 at Tallahassee Regional)
Notes: Marist won its sixth MAAC title. Its 32 wins are the most since 35 in 2011. Charlie Jerla was named MAAC Pitcher of the Year. Frankie Gregoire joined Jerla on All-MAAC First Team. Head coach Chris Tracz is the top pitcher in Marist history, holding school records for wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and starts.