1 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Lubbock, Texas
At-large bid from the Big 12
2017 record: 16-8, 43-15 (first in Big 12
Head coach: Tim Tadlock (Texas Tech, 1992)
Record at school: 192-110 (5 years)
Overall record: Same
Assistant coaches: Ray Hayward, J-Bob Thomas, Matt Gardner
Team offense: .305 BA, 420 R, 54 HR, .472 SLG%, .391 OBP%, 50-72 SB
Team pitching: 3.81 ERA, 518 IP, 461 H, 257 BB, 517 K
Top hitters: Grant Little (.342/2/34), Hunter Hargrove (.342/5/51), Ryan Long (.321/4/25), Michael Berglund (.311/2/26), Josh Jung (.310/5/41), Orlando Garcia (.298/12/57), Tanner Gardner (.297/2/27)
Top pitchers: Steven Gingery (9-1, 1.69, 85.1 IP, 58 H, 27 BB, 99 K), John McMillon (2-0, 5 SV, 2.05, 22 IP, 8 H, 19 BB, 25 K), Parker Mushinski (3-1, 5 SV, 2.06, 35 IP, 22 H, 23 BB, 43 K), Davis Martin (4-2, 3.05, 38.1 IP, 35 H, 8 BB, 29 K), Erikson Lanning (3-1, 3.12, 40.1 IP, 40 H, 17 BB, 18 K), Ryan Shetter (4-0, 3.49, 67 IP, 61 H, 26 BB, 72 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2015 (1-2 at Houston Regional)
Notes: Texas Tech backed up its 2016 Omaha trip by being named a National Seed and host, marking the second time the program has hosted a Regional in back-to-back years. The Red Raiders boast a bona fide No. 1 in Steven Gingery (.191 BAA) and a pair of closers in John McMillon (.113 BAA) and Parker Mushinski (.183 BAA) who are tough to hit. In between, they have a stable of quality arms: Nine pitchers have more than 30 innings, and seven have recorded a save. The offense had to replace about half its lineup, and Orlando Garcia added 33 points and six homers to his 2016 ledger. Freshman Grant Little, whose father played hoops at Baylor, tied senior Hunter Hargrove, who became a full-time starter this year, in hitting.
2 Arizona Wildcats
Tucson, Arizona
At-large bid from Pac-12
2017 record: 16-14, 37-19 (fourth in the Pac-12)
Head coach: Jay Johnson (Point Loma Nazarene, 2001)
Record at school: 86-43 (2 years)
Overall record: 151-71 (4 years)
Assistant coaches: Sergio Brown, Dave Lawn, Marc Wanaka
Team offense: .308 BA, 440 R, 34 HR, .442 SLG%, .404 OBP%, 47-61 SB
Team pitching: 3.49 ERA, 493 IP, 435 H, 197 BB, 461 K
Top hitters: JJ Matijevic (.389/10/64), Alfonso Rivas (.374/6/61), Jared Oliva (.328/4/53/10-12 SB), Mitchell Morimoto (.319/1/24), Cal Stevenson (.313/4/29), Nick Quintana (.293/6/37)
Top pitchers: Cameron Ming (7-2, 2.70, 70 IP, 64 H, 19 BB, 58 K), Cody Deason (5-2, 2.82, 51 IP, 52 H, 16 BB, 43 K), JC Cloney (7-1, 2.94, 82.2 IP, 75 H, 17 BB, 66 K), Michael Flynn (5-0, 3.12, 49 IP, 39 BB, 13 BB, 45 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (4-1 at Lafayette Regional, 2-0 at Starkville Super Regional, 5-3 at College World Series, going 1-2 in Championship Series)
Notes: Arizona followed up its CWS Championship Series run with another Regional appearance. Coach Jay Johnson has averaged 38 wins a season in his four seasons as a head coach, two at Nevada and two at Arizona. JJ Matijevic had a terrific year in the Cape and followed it up by hitting 102 points higher with six more homers and 27 more RBI than last year. Lefties Cameron Ming and JC Cloney, who’s back after a little rest a few weeks ago, lead the rotation, combining for a 14-3 record.
3 Sam Houston State Bearkats
Huntsville, Texas
Southland Conference Champion
2017 record: 19-11 (Southland), 40-20
Head coach: Matt Deggs (Northwood, 1994)
Record at school: 113-70 (3 years)
Overall record: 300- 170 (8 years)
Assistant coaches: Jay Siranni, Lance Harvell, Gary Miller
Team offense: .306 BA, 401 R, 30 HR, .430 SLG%, .399 OBP%, 93-126 SB
Team pitching: 3.54 ERA, 529 IP, 500 H, 175 BB, 463 K
Top hitters: Blake Chisolm (.360/4/34), Bryce Johnson (.345/0/38), Robie Rojas (.340/6/40), Andrew Regia (.323/7/44)
Top pitchers: Heath Donica (9-1, 1.69 ERA, 101 IP, 69 H, 27 BB, 100 K), Hayden Wesneski (9-2, 3.97 ERA, 77 IP, 78 H, 21 BB, 43 K), Seth Ballew (6-3, 3.99 ERA, 67.2 IP, 70 H, 30 BB, 51 K), Riley Cooper (1-3, 2.50 ERA, 1 Sv, 36 IP, 24 H, 10 BB, 30 K), Nick Mikolaschak (0-3, 2.84 ERA, 10 Sv, 24 IP, 23 H, 7 BB, 25 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (1-2 at Lafayette Regional)
Notes: The preseason pick to win the Southland, the Bearkats finished third in the regular season but won four games at the conference tournament by a 37-10 margin to win their second consecutive title. It is the Bearkats’ 8th NCAA appearance since 2007 and their 40 wins marks the 4th time that has occurred in the past seven seasons. However, SHSU lost four of their last five Southland series being swept by Central Arkansas and Houston Baptist. Went 8-6 in non-conference games against Texas, Louisiana, Baylor, Rice, Houston, Texas A&M & Dallas Baptist. The team’s 93 stolen bases ranks in the top-20 nationally led by one of the top base stealers Bryce Johnson (30, t-7th). SHSU led the Southland in runs and on-base percentage and rank in the top-20 nationally in those two statistics. Seniors Rojas and Taylor Beene (.442 OBP) were first-team all-league selections. Southland Pitcher of the Year Heath Donica led the league in ERA and opponents’ batting average and 3rd in strikeouts. Wesnewski was named Freshman of the Year.
4 Delaware Blue Hens
Newark, Delaware
Bid received from winning CAA tournament
2017 record: 15-9 ,34-21
Head coach: Jim Sherman (Delaware 1982)
Record at school: 509 – 415 (17 years)
Overall record: 727-543 (23 years)
Assistant coaches: Dan Hammer, Troy O’Neal, Andrew Amaro
Team offense: .313 BA, 415 R, 57 HR, .487 SLG%, .411 OBP%, 58-77 SB
Team pitching: 4.36 ERA, 481.2 IP, 474 H, 223 BB, 444 K
Top hitters: Brian Mayer (.331/11/39), Doug Trimble (.341/6/48), Jordan Glover (.333/10/47) and 21 for 22 on SB, Jeremy Ake (.359/3/42)
Top pitchers: Ron Marinaccio (4-2, 1.85 ERA, 58.1 IP, 41 H, 19 BB, 65 K), Brandon Walter (4-5, 3.42 ERA, 55.1 IP, 53 H, 16 BB, 61 K), Nick Spadafino (7-3, 4.67 ERA, 71.1 IP, 67 H, 29 BB, 48 K), Kevin Milley (4-3, 4.71 ERA, 63.0 IP, 77 H, 40 BB, 51 K), Burk FitzPatrick (2-0, 3.22 ERA, 44.2 IP, 40 H, 20 BB, 45 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2001 (1-2 in Columbus Regional)
Notes: Eight of Delaware’s top nine hitters are batting above .300. The Blue Hens won the CAA title as the No. 4 seed. Delaware won the District 2 Regional in 1970 in Princeton, N.J., and advanced to the College World Series.