6 TCU Horned Frogs
Fort Worth, Texas
Won Fort Worth Regional (3-0), at-large bid from the Big 12
2017 record: 16-8, 45-16 (second in Big 12)
Head coach: Jim Schlossnagle (Elon, 1992)
Record at school: 610-270 (14 years)
Overall record: 687-317 (16 years)
Assistant coaches: Bill Mosiello, Kirk Sarloos, Zach Etheredge
Team offense: .272 BA, 423 R, 54 HR, .409 SLG%, .379 OBP%, 100-118 SB
Team pitching: 4.10 ERA, 548.1 IP, 494 H, 191 BB, 567 K
Top hitters: Austen Wade (.355/5/37/15-20 SB), Luken Baker (.317/8/41), Nolan Brown (.290/3/35/26-27 SB), Cam Warner (.286/5/48/10-12 SB), Evan Skoug (.278/18/62), Ryan Merrill (.242/5/39/16-18 SB), Josh Watson (.241/1/36), Elliott Barzilli (.236/5/26)
Top pitchers: Jared Janczak (9-0, 1.89, 76 IP, 42 H, 18 BB, 81 K), Sean Wymer (4-4, 2.54, 1 SV, 46 IP, 33 H, 9 BB, 54 K), Durbin Feltman (2-2, 16 SV, 4.05, 26.2 IP, 22 H, 14 BB, 32 K), Brian Howard (10-3, 4.17, 90.2 IP, 77 H, 33 BB, 90 K), Nick Lodolo (5-1, 4.28, 73.2 IP, 70 H, 27 BB, 69 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2016 (3-0 at Fort Worth Regional, 2-1 at College Station Super Regional, 2-2 at College World Series)
Notes: TCU outscored its opponents 29-10 in three regional games. The Horned Frogs have been to the College World Series each of the past three years. The Frogs are in the field for the 13th time in 14 years. A bevy of injuries has slowed TCU only a bit, and pitchers Jared Janczak and Mitchell Traver, who threw a gem against Texas in the Big 12 tourney, appear to be ready to roll for the postseason. First baseman Luken Baker will miss the postseason after having surgery on his injured left arm. Evan Skoug hit 16 homers his first two seasons and has 18 this season entering the tourney – he has 159 RBI in his career.
Missouri State Bears
Springfield, Missouri
Won Fayetteville Regional (3-1), at-large bid from Missouri Valley Conference
2017 record: 18-1, 43-18 (first in MVC)
Head coach: Keith Guttin (Missouri-St. Louis)
Record at school: 1,319-757 (35 years)
Overall record: same
Assistant coaches: Paul Evans, Nate Thompson, Joe Lincoln
Team offense: .278 BA, 430 R, 78 HR, .448 SLG%, .394 OBP%, 55-72 SB
Team pitching: 3.72 ERA, 539.2 IP, 470 H, 201 BB, 542 K
Top hitters: Jake Burger (.333/22/65), Justin Paulsen (.329/7/49/17 2B), Blake Graham (.325/9/34), Jeremy Eierman (.312/22/67/15-17 SB), Hunter Steinmetz (.302/6/40/10-12 SB)
Top pitchers: Bryan Young (1-1, 1.53, 8 SV, 29.1 IP, 12 H, 17 BB, 47 K), Jake Fromson (8-3, 1.98, 3 SV, 72.2 IP, 40 H, 16 BB, 85 K), Doug Still (8-2, 2.66, 98 IP, 90 H, 24 BB, 85 K), Austin Knight (3-2, 3.97, 59 IP, 54 H, 26 BB, 41 K), Jordan Knutson (8-3, 4.50, 92 IP, 94 H, 21 BB, 89 K), Dylan Coleman (8-3, 4.99, 92 IP, 82 H, 45 BB, 96 K)
Last NCAA appearance: 2015 (3-0 at Springfield Regional, 1-2 at Fayetteville Super Regional)
Notes: The Bears are making their third Super Regional appearance and second in past three seasons. MSU is looking for its second trip the College World Series and first since 2003. MSU defeated Arkansas two out of three times to win the Fayetteville Regional, and all three games were one-run affairs. 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 44 home runs, the top total for Division I teammates. Both Burger and Eierman were named semifinalists for the NCBWA’s Dick Howser Trophy. Eierman had three homers in regional play, including a game-winning two-run dinger in the bottom of the ninth in the opening game against Oklahoma State. MSU is 2-0 all-time against TCU, winning a two-game series in 1990 in Springfield.