2007 Nashville Regional

(capsules compiled by Jamie Learakos, Stuart Smith, Scott Day, Sean Ryan, Phil Stanton)

1. Vanderbilt Commodores
Nashville, Tenn.

Automatic bid - won SEC Tournament

2007 record: 22-8, 51-11 (first in SEC-East)

Coach: Tim Corbin (Ohio Wesleyan, 1984)

Record at school: 195-106. 5 years

Overall record: Same

Assistant coaches: Erik Bakich, Derek Johnson

Team offense - .327 BA, 455 R, 59 HR, .490 SLG%, .398 OB%, 68/95 SB

Team pitching - 3.55 ERA, 549.2 IP, 483 H, 167 BB, 567 SO

Top hitters – Pedro Alvarez (.399/17/65/21 2B), Dominic de la Osa (.390/19/59/19 SB), Ryan Flaherty (.365/3/52/10 SB), Alex Feinberg (.321/4/43/16 2B), Shea Robin (.303/2/32), David Macias (.294/0/24/15 2B)

Top pitchers – Casey Weathers (11-2, 7 saves, 2.64, 44.1 IP, 23 H, 18 BB, 67 K), David Price (11-0, 2.71, 123 IP, 89 H, 29 BB, 175 K), Mike Minor (9-1, 2 saves, 3.07, 82 IP, 71 H, 19 BB, 80 K), Brett Jacobson (5-2, 3.43, 65.2 IP, 77 H, 12 BB, 53 K), Nick Christiani (5-3, 3.68, 66 IP, 64 H, 34 BB, 53 K), Cody Crowell (4-1, 2 saves, 3.77, 62 IP, 51 H, 17 BB, 54 K)

Last NCAA appearance - 2006 (2-2 at Atlanta Regional)

Notes – Vanderbilt is hosting a regional for the first time. The Commodores are making their sixth NCAA appearance and third in the past four years. Vandy won the SEC Tournament for the second time. Its first came in 1980. Commodores are first team since 1996 to capture both SEC regular-season and tournament crowns. Ryan Flaherty carries a 30-game hitting streak into the NCAA Tournament. Pedro Alvarez, the SEC Tournament MVP, has a 21-game hitting streak.

2. Michigan Wolverines

Ann Arbor, Mich.

At-large bid from the Big Ten Conference

2007 record – 21-7, 39-16 (first in Big Ten)

Coach – Rich Maloney (Western Michigan)

Record at school – 188-109, five years

Overall record - 444-253-1, 12 years

Assistant coaches – Bob Keller, Jake Boss Jr., Aaron Hepner

Team offense: .337 BA, 403 R, 44 HR, .496 SLG%, .412 OBA%, 85/120 SB

Team pitching: 4.31 ERA, 440.2 IP, 442 H, 196 BB, 333 K

Top hitters (through 5/20): Derek VanBuskirk (.395/3/30), Kevin Cislo (.378/1/21), Zach Putnam (.361/8/57), Nate Recknagel (.358/10/54), Doug Pickens (.352/5/37), Adam Abraham (.340/4/42), Jason Christian (.333/7/39).

Top pitchers (through 5/20): Mike Wilson (7-0, 2.81, 57.2 IP, 41 H, 34 BB, 50 K); Adam Abraham (4-1, 2.97, 30.1 IP, 29 IP, 10 BB, 22 K), Zach Putnam (7-3, 3.69, 78 IP, 74 H, 30 BB, 67 K), Andrew Hess (7-1, 3.76, 64.2 IP, 69 H, 31 BB, 35 K), Chris Fetter (6-3, 4.71, 63 IP, 77 H, 17 BB, 45 K).

Last NCAA appearance: 2006 (1-2 at Atlanta Regional)

Notes: The Wolverines are back in the NCAA field for the third straight year after winning the Big Ten regular-season title. Coach Rich Maloney, who was inducted into the Western Michigan hall of fame in 2004, served as head coach at Ball State before arriving in Ann Arbor. Two-way player Adam Abraham was a star defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League before deciding to play baseball at Michigan. Starter Mike Wilson has won his first 15 college decisions. Zach Putnam was named all-Big Ten as a pitcher and as a designated hitter. Eric Rose has stolen 32 bases, second-most in school history, and Brad Robin has 20 steals. 

3. Memphis Tigers

Memphis, Tenn.

At-large bid from Conference USA

2007 record – 12-12, 36-25 (fourth in C-USA)

Coach – Daron Schoenrock (Tennessee Tech, 1994)

Record at school – 81-95, three years

Overall record - Same

Assistant coaches – Mike Federico, Jerry Zulli, Allen Osborne

Team offense: .301 BA, 417 R, 59 HR, .457 SLG%, .380 OBA%, 61/82 SB

Team pitching: 5.68 ERA, 528 IP, 623 H, 225 BB, 343 K

Top hitters: Michael Murray (.377/4/34), Adam Amar (.351/6/46), Bill Moss (.332/14/52), Josh Irvin (.325/4/45), K.K. Chalmers (.295/7/38/33 SB), Kyle Norrid (.282/5/28), Joey Lieberman (.272/13/54).

Top pitchers: Matt Yoakley (4-2, 9 SV, 2.40, 45 IP, 42 H, 17 BB, 55 K), Dusty Davis (7-3, 4.12, 59 IP, 63 H, 14 BB, 33 K), Brennon Martin (4-1, 4.73, 45.2 IP, 53 H, 23 BB, 23 K), Ben Grisham (4-3, 5.68, 65 IP, 88 H, 23 BB, 36 K), Scott McGregor (5-3, 6.45, 68.1 IP, 91 H, 23 BB, 33 K).

Last NCAA appearance: 1994

Notes: It's been 13 years, but Memphis is heading to the NCAA tourney. Two years ago, the Tigers won only 13 games in Daron Schoenrock's first season. The former assistant to Ron Polk at Mississippi State has since led Memphis to 32- and 36-win seasons. The Tigers have done it this year despite a 5.68 ERA, one of the lowest in the field. Matt Yoakley has been solid as a closer, but it's been starter by committee, with eight pitchers totaling more than 30 innings. Joey Lieberman was a first-team C-USA performer. Two-way player Ben Grisham is a transfer from Mississippi State. Adam Amar was recruited to play football at Louisville. K.K. Chalmers has 86 stolen bases in three years, most in school history. Freshman Zach Helton is a first cousin of Todd Helton. Pitcher Will Hudgens is a great story - the Tigers' quarterback was injured three straight years and tried out for baseball. Hudgens threw five innings in Memphis' 2-1 win over Rice in the C-USA tourney, which pushed the Tigers over the top for an at-large bid.

4. Austin Peay Governors

Clarksville, Tenn.

Automatic bid - won Ohio Valley Tournament

2007 record – 19-8, 39-20 (first in OVC)

Coach – Gary McClure (Cumberland, Austin Peay, 1987)

Record at school – 600-542-4, 20 years

Overall record - Same

Assistant coaches – Ryan Edwards, Eddie Fitzpatrick

Team offense: .297 BA, 349 R, 38 HR, .417 SLG%, .368 OBA%, 82/113 SB

Team pitching: 3.61 ERA, 513.2 IP, 521 H, 146 BB, 325 K

Top hitters: Tyler Farrar (.343/5/38/16 SB), Matt Smith (.320/2/26), Jake Lane (.319/8/38), Will Hogue (.312/8/40), Rafael Hill (.309/1/15), J.B. Gilbert (.301/3/29).

Top pitchers: Shawn Kelley (11-3, 2.52, 117.2 IP, 107 H, 11 BB, 73 K), Matt Reynolds (10-3, 3.09, 99 IP, 92 H, 24 BB, 73 K), Ryne Mantooth (8-3, 3.53, 89.1 IP, 85 H, 28 BB, 49 K), Ben Wilshire (1-5, 9 SV, 2.97, 33.1 IP, 30 H, 17 BB, 14 K).

Last NCAA appearance: 2005

Notes: The Governors are in the NCAA tourney for the third time during Gary McClure’s tenure, the last coming in 2005. The Govs were the regular-season champ and followed it up with the tourney title - the first time that’s happened in the OVC since 2002. Austin Peay edged Jacksonville State in the OVC final, giving McClure an even 600 wins for his career. He as named OVC coach of the year. Ace Shawn Kelley was named the conference pitcher of the year, while Jake Lane was named to the OVC’s first team.