SEC Baseball Sets an NCAA Tournament Record
By Baron Dionis
Once again, the SEC is breaking records. This time, there are 11 baseball teams heading to the NCAA Baseball Tournament. This is the most in division one history. Five SEC teams are hosting regional sites. Let's take a look at the 11 teams that will be playing inside the tournament and who they will be facing.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide has made it to the NCAA Tournament after big year. They have a record of 33-22 with a 13-17 conference record.
They will be heading to the Tallahassee regional and will face off against UCF. The other teams in this regional are Florida State and Stetson.
Alabamas top pitcher is Greg Farone. This season, Farone has a 4-3 record with an earned run average of 4.52 in 67.2 innings pitched and has struck out 62 batters.
The top hitter in the Crimson Tide lineup is Gage Miller. This season, Miller has a batting average of .381 with 18 home runs and 56 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.189, which includes an on-base percentage of .475 and a slugging percentage of .714.
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Arkansas Razorbacks are hosting a regional after a very great season. They have a record of 43-14 with a conference record of 20-10.
In the Fayetteville regional, Arkansas will take on Southeast Missouri State in the opener. The other two teams in this regional is Louisiana Tech and Kansas State.
The top pitcher for the Razorbacks is SEC Pitcher of the Year, Hagen Smith. This season, Smith has a 9-1 record with an earned run average of 1.48 in 79 innings pitched and has struck out 154 batters.
Arkansas' best hitter is Peyton Stovall. This season, Stovall has a .349 batting average with nine home runs and 38 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .972, which includes an on-base percentage of .413 and a slugging percentage of .559.
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators snuck into the tournament after a mediocre season. They have a record of 28-27 with a conference record of 13-17.
They will be heading to the Stillwater regional and will take on Nebraska in game one. The other two teams in this regional are Oklahoma State and Niagara.
The top pitcher in the Gators staff is star two-way player, Jac Caglianone. This season, Caglianone has a 5-1 record with an earned run average of 4.35 in 62 innings pitched and has struck out 68 batters.
Caglianone is also the top hitter in the Florida lineup. This season, Caglianone has a batting average of .415 with 29 home runs and 58 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.369, which includes an on-base percentage of .525 and a slugging percentage of .844.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are hosting a regional after a great season. They have a record of 39-15 with a conference record of 17-13.
In the Athens regional, Georgia will take on Army in the opener. The other two teams in this regional are UNC Wilmington and Georgia Tech.
The top pitcher for the Bulldogs is Leighton Finley. This season, Finley has a 5-1 record with an earned run average of 4.18 in 64.2 innings pitched and has struck out 69 batters.
Charlie Condon is the SEC Player of the Year and is the top hitter in the Georgia lineup. This season, Condon has a .443 batting average with 35 home runs and 75 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.601, which includes an on-base percentage of .558 and a slugging percentage of 1.043.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are hosting a regional after a great season. They have a record of 40-14 with a conference record of 22-8.
In the Lexington regional, Kentucky will open up against Western Michigan. The other two teams in this regional is Illinois and Indiana State.
The top pitcher for the Wildcats is Trey Pooser. This season, Pooser has a 5-1 record with an earned run average of 4.02 in 69.1 innings pitched and has struck out 64 batters.
Ryan Waldschmidt is the best overall hitter in the Kentucky lineup. This season, Waldschmidt has a .357 batting average with 13 home runs and 42 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.141, which includes an on-base percentage of .487 and a slugging percentage of .654.
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers found a way into the tournament after a great run in the SEC Tournament. They have a record of 40-21 with a 13-17 conference record.
They will be heading to the Chapel Hill regional and will take one Wofford in game one. The other two teams in this regional are North Carolina and Long Island.
The top pitcher for the Tigers is Luke Holman. This season, Holman has a 9-3 record with a 2.54 earned run average in 85 innings pitched and has struck out 116 batters.
Tommy White is the best hitter in the LSU lineup. This season, White has a batting average of .337 with 24 home runs and 69 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.086, which includes an on-base .412 and a slugging percentage of .675.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs clinched a solid spot in the tournament after a great season. They have a record of 38-21 with a conference record of 17-13.
They will be heading to the Charlottesville regional and will take on St. Johns in game one. The other two teams in this regional are Virginia and Penn.
The top pitcher for the Bulldogs is Khal Stephen. This season, Stephen has a 8-3 record with an earned run average of 3.38 in 88 innings pitched and has struck out 97 batters.
Dakota Jordan is the top hitter in the Mississippi State lineup. This season, Jordan has a batting average of .339 with 17 home runs and 63 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.095, which includes an on-base percentage of .452 and a slugging percentage of .643.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The South Carolina Gamecocks got a spot in the tournament after a solid performance in the SEC Tournament. They have a record of 36-23 with a conference record of 13-17.
They will be heading to the Raleigh regional and will face James Madison in the first round. The other two teams in this regional are NC State and Bryant.
The top pitcher for the Gamecocks is Dylan Eskew. This season, Eskew has a 3-4 record with an earned run average of 4.87 in 57.1 innings pitched and has struck out 38 batters.
Cole Messina is the top hitter in the South Carolina lineup. This season, Messina has a batting average of .330 with 20 home runs and 69 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.172, which includes an on-base perentage of .465 and a slugging percentage of .707.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers are the number one seed in this entire tournament and will host a regional. They have a record of 50-11 with a 22-8 conference record.
In the Knoxville regional, Tennessee will take on Northern Kentucky in the first round. The other two teams in this regional are Southern Miss and Indiana.
The top pitcher for the Volunteers this season has been Drew Beam. This season, Beam has an 8-2 record with an earned run average of 3.92 in 85 innings pitched and has struck out 75 batters.
Christian Moore has been the top hitter in this Tennessee lineup. This season, Moore has a batting average of .382 with 28 home runs and 63 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.236, which includes an on-base percentage of .447 and a slugging percentage of .789.
Texas A&M Aggies
The Texas A&M Aggies are hosting a regional after a very great year. They have a record of 44-13 with a conference record of 19-11.
In the College Station regional, Texas A&M will face off against Grambling State in the opener. The two other teams in this regional are Louisiana and Texas.
The top pitcher for the Aggies is Ryan Prager. This season, Prager has an 8-1 record with an earned run average of 2.51 in 79 innings pitched and has struck out 106 batters.
Jace LaViolette has been the best overall hitter for Texas A&M. This season, LaViolette has a .321 batting average with 28 home runs and 73 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.246, which includes an on-base percentage of .450 and a slugging percentage of .796.
Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores are heading to the tournament after a solid season. They have a record of 38-20 with a 13-17 conference record.
They are heading to the Clemson regional and will take on Coastal Carolina in game one. The other two teams in this regional are Clemson and High Point.
The top pitcher for the Commodores has been Bryce Cunningham. This season, Cunningham has a 7-4 record with a 4.20 earned run average in 79.1 innings pitched and has struck out 94 batters.
RJ Austin has been the best hitter for Vanderbilt. This season, Austin has a .322 batting average with five home runs and 51 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .857, which includes an on-base percentage of .393 and a slugging percentage of .464.