The Gauchos are here for a reason, and it’s because they can really pitch. UCSB came through a solid Big West that produced multiple tournament teams, and the Gauchos rank sixth nationally in ERA. Only Arkansas, Tennessee and East Carolina had a better ERA among tournament teams.
Arkansas returns this year with a No. 5 seed and outstanding pitching. The Razorbacks didn’t just lead the SEC in ERA; they led the nation with a 3.66 ERA as a team. They’ve got the best staff and the best overall pitcher in Hagen Smith, making them a favorite to get back to Omaha.
Kentucky’s hitting and speed has gotten it to this point. The Wildcats are a new baseball power, and they win by taking the extra base and hitting situationally. But the Wildcats’ strength can become their weakness in the wrong matchup, and Indiana State could be the wrong matchup.
Bring on the bats. If you love to watch offense, this is the regional for you, as some of the nation’s best offenses descend on Corvallis. Oregon State, UC Irvine and Nicholls are all in the top 25 nationally for runs scored, while Tulane averaged double digit runs per game in winning the American Conference tournament.
One of the best things about the 64-team bracket the NCAA uses for most sports is how it quickly fixes selection committee errors. When a team gets seeded too high or too low, they still get the opportunity to prove their critics right or wrong. That’s likely the case in Greenville.
The Rangers face a greater concern than South Florida in June: the Florida power play. The Panthers now have five power play goals in the past three games, connecting on 41.67% of their advantages. That’s not how New York wins games.
Kentucky’s hitting and speed has gotten it to this point. The Wildcats are a new baseball power, and they win by taking the extra base and hitting situationally. But the Wildcats’ strength can become their weakness in the wrong matchup, and Indiana State could be the wrong matchup.
This year, NC State’s got some more hitting on its side, but South Carolina’s still got an edge in pitching. But the Gamecocks’ defense really let down last week. If they don’t clean that up, they’ll open the door for James Madison.
The good news for Oklahoma is that it didn’t get an early welcome to the SEC with its regional draw. The bad news is that it still got a brutal No. 2 seed in Duke. With Oral Roberts and Connecticut also here, nobody in Norman is here just to make up numbers.