2009 Gainesville Super Regional

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

8. Florida Gators

Gainesville, Florida

At-large bid from SEC, 3-0 at Gainesville Regional

2009 record: 19-11, 42-20 (first in SEC East)

Head coach: Kevin O'Sullivan (Virginia, 1991)

Record at school: 76-44, 2 years

Overall record: 76-44, 2 years

Assistant coaches: Brad Weitzel, Craig Bell, Don Norris

Team offense: .310 BA, 473 R, 65 HR, .459 SLG%, .394 OBP, 69/106 SB

Team pitching: 4.16 ERA, 547.1 IP, 601 H, 182 BB, 412 K

Top hitters: Jonathan Pigott (.364/6/32), Avery Barnes (.359/8/42/17-24 SB), Preston Tucker (.357/14/87/13 2B), Josh Adams (.343/8/50/10 2B), Brandon McArthur (.337/2/37/13 2B), Mike Mooney (.320/2/24), Matt den Dekker (.297/5/35/16-17 SB), Buddy Munroe (.279/5/26)

Top pitchers: Billy Bullock (3-2, 11 SV, 2.12 ERA, 46.2 IP, 38 H, 21 BB, 48 K), Tony Davis (5-0, 2.27 ERA, 39.2 IP, 28 H, 18 BB, 35 K), Greg Larson (3-2, 3.64 ERA, 29.2 IP, 31 H, 17 BB, 14 K), Stephen Locke (5-2, 4.02 ERA, 62.1 IP, 79 H, 15 BB, 45 K), Nick Maronde (3-1, 4.17 ERA, 58.1 IP, 59 H, 17 BB, 56 K), Alex Panteliodis (6-5, 1 SV, 4.38 ERA, 63.2 IP, 82 H, 16 BB, 43 K), Jeff Barfield (2-1, 1 SV, 4.50 ERA, 46 IP, 47 H, 15 BB, 40 K), Anthony DeSclafan (6-3, 4.98 ERA, 65 IP, 63 H, 16 BB, 47 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2008 (0-2 at Tallahassee Regional)

Notes: This is the 25th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Gators. Florida has won seven NCAA Regional titles. UF is in a Super Regional for the third time in the past six years and the first time since 2005. The Gators have been to the College World series five times, all since 1988. Florida is looking for its first national title. The Gators were runner-up in 2005, falling to Texas in the championship series. Florida and Southern Miss have not met in postseason play and will play for just the second time. The Golden Eagles defeated the Gators 3-1 on April 18, 1990, in Mobile, Ala. Freshman Preston Tucker was the Most Outstanding Player of the Gainesville Regional, going 9 for 13 (.692) with two home runs and six RBI. Tucker was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year. Tucker has 83 RBI, the most in a season in school history. The Gators are 30-8 this season at McKethan Stadium. Florida is 25-7 at home in NCAA Tournament games, including eight in a row. Jonathan Pigott hit two home runs in Florida’s SEC tournament win over Ole Miss. It matched his season total.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

At-large bid from Conference USA, 3-1 at Atlanta Regional

2008 record: 12-12, 38-24 (fifth in C-USA)

Head coach: Corky Palmer (Southern Miss, 1977)

Record at school: 456-279, 12 years

Overall record: 956-491, 22 years

Assistant coaches: Scott Berry, Chad Caillet, Richy Harrelson

Team offense: .308 BA, 482 R, 68 HR, .467 SLG%, .403 OBP, 45-69 SB

Team pitching: 5.01 ERA, 535.1 IP, 586 H, 228 BB, 420 K

Top hitters: Bo Davis (.367/13/52/10-11 SB), Kameron Brunty (.347/7/52), Corey Stevens (.330/8/55/14 2B), Joey Archer (.310/10/58/12 2B), Taylor Walker (.306/3/29/11 2B), James Ewing (.298/3/39), Tyler Koelling (.275/2/26)

Top pitchers: Todd McInnis (9-4, 3.21 ERA, 89.2 IP, 83 H, 27 BB, 80 K), Collin Cargill (4-3, 11 SV, 3.25 ERA, 36 IP, 26 H, 20 BB, 32 K), JR Ballinger (6-3, 3.92 ERA, 80.1 IP, 80 H, 35 BB, 59 K), Jeff Stanley (4-2, 4.43 ERA, 42.2 IP, 46 H, 21 BB, 24 K), Cody Schlagel (5-1, 4.75, 47.1 IP, 42 H, 26 BB, 42 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2008 (2-2 at Baton Rouge Regional)

Notes: The Golden Eagles are making their first trip to a Super Regional. Southern Miss has won its only meeting with Florida. The Golden Eagles defeated the Gators 3-1 on April 18, 1990, in Mobile, Ala. Southern Miss was the only No. 3 seed to win a Regional and is one of three Conference USA teams playing in a Super Regional. Freshman B.A. Vollmuth, the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlanta Regional, hit two home runs in a nine-run second in the championship game against Georgia Tech. Southern Miss hit 12 homers in four regional games after hitting 56 in its first 58 games. Sophomore closer Collin Cargill had a win and two saves in the regional. The Golden Eagles have made seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Southern Miss has made 10 NCAA trips, all since 1990. Head coach Corky Palmer announced he would be retiring at the end of this season. Associate head coach Scott Berry will succeed Palmer. Todd McInnis was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Year. Bo Davis joined McInnis on the all-C-USA first team. Brian Dozier was second team and Kameron Brunty made the all-freshman team. Dozier has not played since April 14 after suffering a fractured clavicle.