1. Stanford Cardinal
Stanford, California
At-large bid from Pac-12
2017 record: 21-9, 40-14 (second in Pac-12)
Head coach: Mark Marquess (Stanford, 1969)
Record at school: 1,625-876-7 (41 years)
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Rusty Filter, Jon Karcich, Nicholas Enriquez
Team offense: .283 BA, 305 R, 32 HR, .405 SLG%, .359 OBP%, 31-43 SB
Team pitching: 3.44 ERA, 483.1 IP, 452 H, 158 BB, 390 K
Top hitters: Matt Winaker (.318/8/42), Daniel Bakst (.317/2/33), Nico Hoerner (.315/1/33), Quinn Brodey (.302/8/47), Duke Kinamon (.288/3/22)
Top pitchers: Colton Hock (6-1, 1.94, 16 SV, 46.1 IP, 35 H, 11 BB, 35 K), Tyler Thorne (4-1, 2.36, 49.2 IP, 39 H, 19 BB, 42 K), Will Matthiessen (3-0, 2.52, 35.2 IP, 29 H, 9 BB, 29 K), Kris Bubic (6-6, 3.06, 82.1 IP, 74 H, 31 BB, 85 K), Chris Castellanos (8-3, 3.51, 89.2 IP, 91 H, 15 BB, 53 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2014 (4-1 at Bloomington Regional; 1-2 at Nashville Super Regional)
Notes: Legend Mark Marquess’ final season leading the Cardinal couldn’t have gone much better – Stanford is back in the field for the first time since 2014 and is hosting no less (for the first time since 2012). The Cardinal has won 21 of 23 and topped 40 wins for the 21sttime in Marquess’ career. Colton Hock is one of the best closers in the nation and has 28 career saves – his 16 this season are tied for the most in the country. Sophomore Duke Kinamon was a QB in high school and became the eighth player in Georgia high school history to throw for seven touchdowns in a game.
2. Cal State Fullerton Titans
Fullerton, California
At-large bid from the Big West
2017 record: 15-9, 34-21 (second in Big West)
Head coach: Rick Vanderhook (Trinity University, 2003)
Record at school: 230-124 (6 years)
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Chad Baum, Blake Hawksworth, J.J. Altobelli
Team offense: .267 BA, 299 R, 40 HR, .399 SLG%, .357 OBP%, 47-60 SB
Team pitching: 3.83 ERA, 491.1 IP, 488 H, 129 BB, 412 K
Top hitters: Scott Hurst (.339/11/37), Sahid Valenzuela (.339/1/21), Timmy Richards (.284/4/22), Dillon Persinger (.280/3/27), Hunter Cullen (.276/5/26), Taylor Bryant (.275/3/34)
Top pitchers: Brett Conine (0-1, 12 SV, 1.45, 37.1 IP, 30 H, 5 BB, 36 K), Colton Eastman (0-0, 1.86, 19.1 IP, 11 H, 6 BB, 24 K), Blake Workman (6-2, 2.81, 57.2 IP, 58 H, 14 BB, 50 K), Connor Seabold (10-4, 2.94, 110.1 IP, 103 H, 19 BB, 108 K), John Gavin (6-2, 3.07, 85 IP, 76 H, 26 BB, 74 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (1-2 Starkville Regional)
Notes: Another year, another Titans appearance, making it 26 straight and each of Rick Vanderhook’s six seasons. Connor Seabold and Blake Workman stepped up in the absence of ace Colton Eastman, who missed most of the year with an arm injury and returned last week. The Titans’ staff is stingy – they walk only 2.3 batters per game. Scott Hurst put it all together this season after hitting .215 a year ago.
3. BYU Cougars
Provo, Utah
Automatic bid – West Coast Conference Champions
2017 record: 20-7 (WCC), 37-19
Head coach: Mike Littlewood (BYU,1993)
Record at school: 156-114 (5 years)
Overall record: 761-363 (21 years)
Assistant coaches: Trent Pratt, Brent Haring, Jeremy Thomas
Team offense: .324 BA, 468 R, 73 HR, .500 SLG%, .357 OBP%, 33-41 SB
Team pitching: 4.62 ERA, 501 IP, 565 H, 205 BB, 402 K
Top hitters: Brock Hale (.399/12/48), Nate Favero (.348/7/45), Brennon Anderson (.345/6/39), Bronson Larsen (.344/16/62), Colton Shaver (.272/11/40), Keaton Kringlen (.325/5/55)
Top pitchers: Hayden Rogers (8-2, 3.80 ERA, 85.1 IP, 90 H, 20 BB, 41 K), Mason Marshall (3-2, 1.47 ERA, 2 Sv, 43 IP, 39 H, 15 BB, 43 K), Keaton Cenatiempo (0-0, 4.71 ERA, 4 Sv, 31.1 IP, 41 H, 11 BB, 21 K), Riley Gates (3-1, 1.65 ERA, 3 Sv, 27.1 IP, 19 H, 12 BB, 38 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (2-2 at Los Angeles Regional)
Notes: BYU lost their WCC tournament opener to Loyola Marymount before coming through the loser’s bracket to win four in a row including pounding out wins of 10-3 and 16-3 over Gonzaga to earn their first WCC title. This a week after being outscored 26-8 in a 3-game sweep by the ‘Zags. The Cougars were the 3-seed in the tournament despite finishing in a 3-way tie for first with Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount. BYU was 20-4 in April and May before being swept by Gonzaga. BYU is one of the most powerful teams in the country ranking in the top-10 nationally in runs (5th), batting average (5th), slugging percentage (9th), hits (8th) and their 73 home runs is ranks 16th. Shortshop Daniel Schneemann was named WCC Defensive Player of the Year. Only Shaver was named first-team all-WCC. Anderson, Larsen and Kringlen were second-team all-WCC selections. Leader by a wide margin for most major offensive categories in the conference but finished 7th as a pitching staff in ERA and opponents’ batting average. Marshall, Gates & Cenatiempo all have 20-plus appearances as bullpen is a strength of the staff.
4. Sacramento State Hornets
Sacramento, California
Automatic bid – won WAC Tournament
2017 record: 12-12, 32-27 (fourth in WAC)
Head coach: Reggie Christiansen (Menlo, 1998)
Record at school: 219-198 (7 years)
Overall record: 326-339
Assistant coaches: Jake Angier, Tommy Nicholson
Team offense: .270 BA, 324 R, 46 HR, .409 SLG%, .350 OBP%, 63-82 SB
Team pitching: 3.87 ERA, 514 IP, 484 H, 179 BB, 394 K
Top hitters: Ian Dawkins (.341/3/29), Kody Reynolds (.312/11/43), Vinny Esposito (.306/10/52), Ricky Martinez (.287/0/11), Andrew McWilliam (.280/4/23), Trent Goodrich (.280/1/25)
Top pitchers: Justin Dillon (5-7, 3.12, 106.2 IP, 85 H, 26 BB, 103 K), Parker Brahms (8-3, 3.01, 92.2 IP, 78 H, 25 BB, 59 K), Austin Root (2-2, 3 SV, 2.28 ERA, 55.1 IP, 51 H, 9 BB, 37 K), Alex Dentoni (5-1, 3 SV, 2.10, 34.1 IP, 29 H, 10 BB, 32 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2014 (1-2 at San Luis Obispo Regional)
Notes: The Hornets won their third WAC title (2012, 2014) and are making their second NCAA appearance. The program became a D-I program in 1990. Shortstop Trent Goodrich began his career at Dartmouth and brings an 11-game hit streak into the tournament, a span when he’s 20 for 44 (.455) with 13 runs and 12 RBI. Senior starter Justin Dillon missed his freshman year with an injury and missed two months last year after going 10-8 as the team’s Sunday starter his sophomore and junior seasons. Kody Reynolds hit three homers a year ago – he has three homers over a hot final two weeks (15 for 33, .455, 3 HR, 15 RBI in eight games).