2009 Clemson Regional

Capsules compiled by Christina De Nicola, Duncan Phillips, Sean Ryan, Phil Stanton

1. Clemson Tigers

Clemson, South Carolina

At-large bid from ACC

2009 record: 19-11, 40-19 (second in Atlantic Division)

Head coach: Jack Leggett (Maine, 1976)

Record at school: 720-328-1, 16 years

Overall record: 1097-618-1, 30 years

Assistant coaches: Tom Riginos, Kyle Bunn, Michael Johnson

Team offense: .301 BA, 409 R, 58 HR, .452 SLG%, .390 OB%, 76-99 SB

Team pitching: 3.68 ERA, 533.1 IP, 511 H, 182 BB, 494 K

Top hitters: Ben Paulsen (.368/11/55), Wilson Boyd (.348/3/41), Jeff Schaus (.329/11/43/9-13 SB), Mike Freeman (.324/3/37/11-16 SB), Brad Miller (.278/3/35/15-19 SB), Kyle Parker (.268/12/50), John Nester (.315/5/31)

Top pitchers: Casey Harman (7-3, 1 SV, 3.86 ERA, 74.2 IP, 85 H, 12 BB, 77 K), Chris Dwyer (4-5, 5.30 ERA, 73 IP, 66 H, 29 BB, 75 K), Scott Weismann (2-1, 1 SV, 1.57 ERA, 28.2 IP, 22 H, 12 BB, 26 K), Matt Vaughn (3-1, 4 SV, 2.67 ERA, 27 IP, 27 H, 9 BB, 21 K), Ryan Hinson (2-0, 3.25 ERA, 36 IP, 29 H, 17 BB, 45 K), Tomas Cruz (2-3, 4 SV, 3.51 ERA, 41 IP, 27 H, 14 BB, 35 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2007 (3-0 in Myrtle Beach Regional, 0-2 Starkville Super Regional)

Notes: Clemson makes its 34th NCAA Tournament appearance and 22nd in the past 23 years, including its first since 2007. The Tigers will host a regional for the 12th time since 1975, which is fourth-most among the 16 sites chosen. Their pitching staff is second in the ACC behind Virginia - the third-best in the country. Clemson is 27-8 at home this season at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Five Tigers combined on a no-hitter against USC Upstate on March 18. It was the first no-hitter for Clemson since 1984. The Tigers have four high-school quarterbacks on their team: Chris Dwyer, Richard Mounce, Kyle Parker and Matt Vaughn. Parker is on the Clemson football team and will compete for the starting quarterback job in 2009. On April 11, Parker went 13 for 21 for 171 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions in the Spring Football Game. Later that day, he went 3 for 7 with two homers and five RBI in a doubleheader against Miami. Head coach Jack Leggett captained the 1976 Maine team that played in the College World Series. He was a two-time All-Yankee Conference selection in football as a defensive back and placekicker. He still holds the Maine record for longest field goal at 52 yards.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

At-large bid from SEC

2009 record: 18-11, 37-19 (third in SEC West)

Head coach: Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1981)

Record at school: 625-319, 15 years

Overall record: 819-408, 20 years

Assistant coaches: Mitch Gaspard, Dax Norris, Drew French

Team offense: .331 BA, 501 R, 107 HR, .571 SLG%, .416 OBP, 60-80 SB

Team pitching: 5.02 ERA, 491.2 IP, 529 H, 174 BB, 472 K

Top hitters: Kent Matthes (.365/28/81/14 2B/.883 SLG%/11 HBP/13-15 SB), Jake Smith (.359/18/54/14 SB), Taylor Dugas (.354/2/27/19 2B/13-14 SB), Ross Wilson (.349/9/46/14 2B), Brandon May (.343/12/68/18 2B), Alex Kubal (.319/4/16/13 2B), Josh Rutledge (.307/5/44/13 2B)

Top pitchers: Austin Hyatt (8-2, 3.14 ERA, 100.1 IP, 82 H, 13BB, 86 K), Adam Morgan (4-1, 3.61 ERA, 52.1 IP, 56 H, 18 BB, 41 K), Nathan Kilcrease (4-3, 2 SV, 4.14 ERA, 45.2 IP, 44 H, 16 BB, 43 K), Jimmy Nelson (2-3, 2 SV, 4.58 ERA, 35.1 IP, 31 H, 18 BB, 35 K)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2008 (1-2 at Conway Regional)

Notes: Alabama returns to the NCAA tournament for the ninth time in the past 12 years. Jim Wells, who won his 800th game earlier this year, leads his team to the NCAA regionals for the 15th time in 20 years at Alabama. Wells is the longest-tenured active SEC head coach. Kent Matthes was named SEC Player of the Year. He owns the school record for home runs in a season with 28. His father, Dieter Matthes, played football at Miami (Fla.). Third baseman Jake Smith suffered an ankle injury on the final play of Alabama’s 9-5 loss to South Carolina in the first round of the SEC Tournament.

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Stillwater, Oklahoma

At-large bid from Big 12

2009 Record: 9-16, 32-22 (ninth in Big 12)

Head coach: Frank Anderson (Emporia State, 1983)

Record at school: 231-130, 6 years

Overall record: 231-130, 6 years

Assistant coaches: Greg Evans, Billy Jones, Forrest Martin

Team offense: .304 BA, 390 R, 73 HR, .506 SLG%, .384 OBP

Team pitching: 4.60 ERA, 472 IP, 471 H, 187 BB, 486 K)

Top hitters: Tyrone Hambly (.338/9/38/11 2B), Neil Medchill (.337/14/55/16 2B), Tom Belza (.336/2/43/11 2B), Michael Dabbs (.335/13/38/11-16 SB), Doug Kroll (.325/9/35), Mark Ginther (.308/3/17), Davis Duren (.248/4/26/14-15 SB)

Top pitching: Brad Propst (1-1, 1 SV, 2.20 ERA, 28.2 IP, 22 H, 9 BB, 25 K), Randy McCurry (3-1, 9 SV, 2.45 ERA, 36.2 IP, 35 H, 14 BB, 49 K), Tyler Lyons (6-5, 3.75 ERA, 84 IP, 96 H, 21 BB, 66 K), Tyler Blandford (7-3, 4.83 ERA, 76.1 IP, 55 H, 42 BB, 95 K), Andrew Oliver (5-6, 5.58 ERA, 80.2 IP, 84 H, 33 BB, 91 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2008 (2-2 in Stillwater Regional)

Notes: The Cowboys are making their 37th NCAA Tournament appearance. OSU has 94 tourney victories. The Cowboys have made 19 trips to the College World Series, most recently in 1999. OSU won the national championship 50 years ago in 1959.

4. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

Cookeville, Tennessee

Automatic bid - won Ohio Valley Championship

2009 record: 10-11-1, 30-22-1 (fifth in OVC)

Head coach: Matt Bragga (Kentucky, 1994)

Record at school: 137-182-2, 6 years

Overall record: 137-182-2, 6 years

Assistant coaches: Larry Bragga, Chris Cole, Justin Hogan

Team offense: .293, 491 R, 49 HR, .442 SLG%, .384 OB%, 26-36 SB

Team pitching: 5.45 ERA, 436 IP, 462 H, 246 BB, 363 K

Top hitters: Casanova Donaldson (.351/2/18), Chad Oberacker (.348/4/26/10-12 SB), A.J. Kirby-Jones (.344/20/66/15 2B/.747 SLG%), Ben Burgess (.325/4/45), Evan Webb (.305/7/34/15 2B), Alex Henry (.299/3/21)

Top pitchers: Lee Henry (9-2, 1 SV, 2.96 ERA, 76 IP, 65 H, 37 BB, 74 K), Ryan Dennick (4-2, 2 SV, 3.74 ERA, 65 IP, 62 H, 29 BB, 53 K), Chason Coate (1-1, 4.06 ERA, 37.2 IP, 28 H, 28 BB, 24 K), A.J. Kirby-Jones (2-3, 3 SV, 5.51 ERA, 49 IP, 47 H, 37 BB, 52 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2001 (1-2 in Knoxville Regional)

Notes: Tennessee Tech is making its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and first under head coach Matt Bragga. A four-year letterman, Bragga was an outfielder at Kentucky from 1991-94. Assistant coach Larry Bragga is Matt’s father. A.J. Kirby-Jones had tied the school record for homers in a season with 20 and is second with 66 RBI. He also set a school record with three grand slams this season. Kirby-Jones was named MVP of the OVC Tournament. The Golden Eagles are 5-0 this season in extra-innings games, including the final two contests of the OVC Tournament against Jacksonville State.