No. 1 Florida State (43-17)
No. 2 Mississippi State (31-25)
No. 3 Oklahoma (36-23)
No. 4 Samford (36-24)
Florida State
Mike Martin became the game’s all-time leader in wins and guided the Seminoles to yet another ACC title. Average-wise, the Noles hit only .268, but there is plenty of pop, especially from Cal Raleigh (.330/13/54), who also has 51 walks. Jackson Lueck (253/15/45) seems to come up big, and Drew Mendoza (.317/7/43) and Rhett Alpin (.301/2/33) are on base all the time. Drew Parrish (5-0, 2.47, 121 K in 98.1 IP, .191 BAA) can dominate, and FSU has good arms out of the pen in the emerging C.J. Van Eyk (7-0, 2.89, 70 K in 56 IP) and Clayton Kwiatkowksi (4-1, 2.89). The Seminoles are 30-7 at home.
Mississippi State
The Bulldogs overcame a disastrous start to the season to reach the tourney after a .500 year in the SEC as former Kentucky skipper Gary Henderson took the reins. It all starts with Jake Mangum (.353/20 2B/1/24), one of the best spark plugs in the nation. Hunter Stovall (.329/2/35) and Elijah MacNamee (.314/3/29) join Rowdey Jordan (.305/5/27) as other threats. When on, Konnor Pilkington (2-6, 4.28) can shut down an offense, and Ethan Small (5-3, 2.94, 99 K in 79.2 IP) has been terrific all year.
Oklahoma
The Sooners are back for the second straight year and first under coach Skip Johnson. Centerfielder Kyler Murray, projected to replace Baker Mayfield as the OU quarterback in the fall, hit .296 with 10 homers, four coming in the month of May. Steele Walker has put on a show, hitting .352 with 13 homers and 53 RBI. Jake Irvin (6-2, 2.85, 109 K, 91.2 IP, .201 BAA) has given the Sooners a power arm, and Kyle Tyler (5-2, 2.84, 81 K in 63.1 IP) has been nearly as good.
Samford
Winners of the Southern Conference, the Bulldogs are making their second appearance – the first time came in 2012 when they beat Mississippi State twice and lose to Florida State twice in the Tallahassee Regional. Samford has arms, posting a 3.48 ERA. Samuel Strickland (8-2, 1.89, 82 K in 76.1 IP) has been its top starter, and Wyatt Burns (5-3, 1.68, 12 SV, 77 K in 59 IP) has been a shutdown closer. Brooks Carlson (.350/8/44) and Anthony Mulrine (.312/7/47) lead an offense that hits only .269.