May 30, 2003

Lincoln Regional Capsules

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Lincoln, Neb.
At-large bid from Big 12 Conference
2003 Record - 44-16 overall, 20-8 in Big 12 (first)
Coach - Mike Anderson (Northern Colorado, 1990)
Record at school - 44-16, one year
Overall record - Same
Assistant coaches - Rob Childress, Kevin Koch
Team offense - .315 BA, 480 R, 63 HR, .484 SLG%, .406 OB%
Team pitching - 3.52 ERA, 530.0 IP, 155 BB, 429 SO
Top hitters - Matt Hopper (.374/18/59), Curtis Ledbetter (.341/12/46), Jeff Leise (.337/7/33/19 SB), Alex Gordon (.325/6/47), Daniel Bruce (.304/3/27), Joe Simokaitis (.296/1/34), John Grose (.296/3/19), Brandon Fusilier (.294/6/41), Jake Mullinax (.288/0/16).
Top pitchers - Aaron Marsden (8-2, 2.78, 107 IP, 99 H, 19 BB, 107 K), Quinton Richardson (9-2, 3.90, 83 IP, 85 H, 19 BB, 46 K), Mike Sillman (1-1, 1.21, 22.1, 17 H, 13 BB, 20 K), Brian Duensing (3-0, 2.42, 22.1 IP, 14 H, 6 BB, 24 K), Zach Kroenke (5-2, 3.02, 50.2 IP, 45 H, 18 BB, 29 K), Jason Burch (4-1, 3.08, 26.1 IP, 27 H, 11 BB, 31 K), Phil Shirek (5-2, 3.62, 59.2 IP, 44 H, 22 BB, 45 K).
Last time in tournament - 2002 (3-0 at Lincoln Regional, 2-1 at Lincoln Super Regional, 0-2 at College World Series).
Notes - After reaching the College World Series the past two years, the Cornhuskers will be making their fifth straight trip to the NCAA tourney. The Cornhuskers not only lost a ton of players, but they also lost their coach in Dave Van Horn. But Mike Anderson, who spent eight years as an assistant, has assembled a group that has actually had a better regular season than last year's team. The Huskers won their second regular-season title in the past three years. Senior Matt Hopper has been one of the most productive hitters in Big 12 history and is the guy teams don't want to beat them. Aaron Marsden has gone 16-3 the past two seasons.

2. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Conway, S.C.

Automatic bid from Big South Conference

2003 Record: 12-7, 45-16 (second in Big South)

Coach: Gary Gilmore (Coastal Carolina, 1980)

Record at school: 286-183, eight years

Overall record: 539-285, 14 years

Assistant coaches: Bill Jarman, Kevin Schnall, Eric Filipek

Team offense: .284 BA, 417 R, 45 HR, .424 SLG%, .391 OB%, 152/193 SB

Team pitching: 3.41 ERA, 540.2 IP, 492 H, 210 BB, 488 SO

Top hitters: Brandon Powell (.365/5/44/29 SB), Ryan McGraw (.343/5/38/44 SB), Mike Costanzo (.303/7/40), Brett Grandstrand (.295/6/43/34 SB), Jeff Baker (.280/9/35), Tyler Hasbrouck (.280/5/42), Chad Oxendine (.269/0/31), Steve Pinocchio (.252/3/38/10 SB)

Top pitchers: Brian Waack (4-2, 3 saves, 2.68, 77.1 IP, 70 H, 29 BB, 70 K), Justin Sturge (10-2, 3.04, 94.2 IP, 87 H, 31 BB, 89 K), Seamus Donovan (4-7, 1 save, 3.78, 85.2 IP, 88 H, 33 BB, 71 K), Steven Carter (11-3, 4.02, 109.2 IP, 100 H, 29 BB, 101 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (1-2 at Atlanta Regional)

Notes: Maybe they should be called the running Chanticleers. Coastal Carolina has stolen 152 bases, with three players having at least 29. The Chanticleers have won seven Big South Championships, including three in a row. Coastal is making its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and fourth overall. The Chants have had three straight 40-win seasons and four in the past five years. Coastal is 9-3 against this year’s NCAA field, but have never faced any of their regional opponents (Nebraska, SMS, Eastern Michigan).

3. Southwest Missouri State Bears

Springfield, Mo.

At-large bid from Missouri Valley Conference

2003 Record: 19-11, 35-23 (first in MVC)

Coach: Keith Guttin (Missouri-St. Louis, 1978)

Record at school: 746-420, 21 years

Overall record: same

Assistant coaches: Paul Evans, Brent Thomas, Sam Carel

Team offense: .294 BA, 363 R, 36 HR, .418 SLG%, .366 OB%, 61/88 SB

Team pitching: 4.21 ERA, 497.2 IP, 516 H, 160 BB, 476 SO

Top hitters: Dant’e Brinkley (.346/5/36), Clay Wheeler (.330/2/29), Greg Mathis (.321/4/44), Tony Piazza (.302/13/44), Adam Pummill (.300/0/20), Tim Rafferty (.291/0/19), Brooks Colvin (.286/1/40), Shaun Marcum (.271/5/33)

Top pitchers: Shaun Marcum (0-4, 11 saves, 2.25, 36 IP, 30 H, 10 BB, 49 K), Chad Mulholland (9-3, 2.60, 100.1 IP, 86 H, 24 BB, 103 K), David Bader (2-2, 3.52, 38.1 IP, 37 H, 18 BB, 32 K), Brad Ziegler (10-1, 4.09, 88 IP, 94 H, 19 BB, 78 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2002 (2-2 at Lincoln regional)

Notes: The Bears are making their seventh NCAA tourney appearance and sixth in the past nine years. They have gone 2-2 each of their past four trips. Keith Guttin was MVC coach of the year for the second time in the past three years and the third time overall. He has led SMS to two regular-season crowns and two MVC tournament titles.

4. Eastern Michigan Eagles

Ypsilanti, Mich.

Automatic bid from Mid-American Conference

2003 Record – 16-11, 32-26 (second in MAC West Division)

Coach – Roger Coryell (Eastern Michigan, 1971)

Record at school – 430-446-2, 17 years

Overall record - same

Assistant coach – Jake Boss

Team offense - .306 BA, 379 R, 54 HR, .454 SLG%, .387 OB%, 82/109 SB

Team pitching – 5.61 ERA, 489.2 IP, 595 H, 246 BB, 334 K

Top hitters – Derrick Peterson (.383/5/45), Ryan Ford (.331/2/29), Brian Bixler (.326/9/27/16 SB), Ryan Arnett (.320/11/43/15 SB), Brent Olivier (.315/3/29), Ryan Goleski (.315/14/52), Tony Palazzolo (.298/0/28), Luke Beeler (.291/3/17), Tim Clouse (.287/0-32/17 SB)

Top pitchers – Dave Pieron (7-4, 2 saves, 3.98, 95.2 IP, 118 H, 40 BB, 64 K), Ross Winiemko (7-2, 4 saves, 4.39, 55.1 IP, 56 H, 31 BB, 36 K), Anthony Tomey (4-5, 2 saves, 5.31, 76.1 IP, 80 H, 57 BB, 71 K), Trevor Carpenter (3-5, 1 save, 5.80, 63.2 IP, 86 H, 22 BB, 38 K)

Last NCAA appearance – 1982 (3-2 at Central Regional)

Notes – The Eagles are making their first NCAA trip in 21 years. This will be EMU’s sixth NCAA appearance. Shortstop Brian Bixler was the MAC Tournament MVP. The Eagles lost their first game of the MAC tourney, then won four straight to take the title. Ryan Arnett has reached double figures in home runs (11) and stolen bases (15). Seven different pitchers have recorded saves for the Eagles.