2011 Clemson Regional

1. Clemson Tigers

Clemson, South Carolina

At-large bid from ACC

2011 record: 17-13, 41-18 (second in Atlantic Division)

Head coach: Jack Leggett (University of Maine, 1976)

Record at school: 810-374-1, 18 years

Overall record: 1,187-664-1, 32 years

Assistant coaches: Dan Pepicelli, Bradley LeCroy, Michael Johnson

Team offense: .319 BA, 419 R, 43 HR, .458 SLG%, .405 OB%, 101-133 SB

Team pitching: 3.18 ERA, 506.2 IP, 443 H, 188 BB, 419 K

Top hitters: Brad Miller (.419/5/46/21-25 SB), Will Lamb (.344/2/38), Phil Pohl (.329/4/32), Jeff Schaus (.326/0/42), John Hinson (.320/7/35/21-27 SB), Richie Shaffer (.311/11/50), Spencer Kieboom (.295/1/27), Chris Epps (.290/10/39)

Top pitchers: Kevin Pohle (5-1, 1.19, 30.1 IP, 31 H, 9 BB, 16 K), David Haselden (5-1, 2,12, 3 SV, 72.1 IP, 58 H, 14 BB, 47 K), Kevin Brady (2-0, 1.69, 21.1 IP, 13 H, 1 BB, 30 K), Matt Campbell (1-0, 2.18, 2 SV, 20.2 IP, 10 H, 13 BB, 23 K), Justin Sarratt (7-2, 2.40, 75 IP, 64 H, 13 BB, 60 K), Scott Firth (4-1, 3.27, 44 IP, 36 H, 26 BB, 33 K), Jonathan Meyer (5-2, 3.31, 68 IP, 55 H, 19 BB, 63 K), Dominic Leone (6-2, 3.38, 61.1 IP, 46 H, 28 BB, 68 K), Scott Weismann (3-4, 4.94, 7 SV, 54.2 IP, 58 H, 16 BB, 49 K

Last NCAA appearance: 2010 (3-1 at Clemson Regional, 2-1 at Clemson Super Regional, 2-2 at College World Series)

Notes: The Tigers will try to return to the College World Series for the second straight year after reaching the tourney for the 24th time in 25 years. Coach Jack Leggett was a captain of Maine's 1976 CWS team and played three years for the Black Bears football team. This Tigers team has done it a little different from previous Tigers teams. Pitching is deep and plentiful, led by starters Justin Sarratt and Dominic Leone. They also have solid relievers led by David Haselden, who made four starts and also saved three games. Brad Miller does a little bit of everything and is a pure hitter - he boasts a .419 average, .598 slugging percentage and a .523 on-base average. He also stole 21 bases. Will Lamb is another top bat, with Chris Epps and Richie Shaffer providing the most pop, combining for 21 homers. Miller was named ACC Player of the Year. He was selected in the 39th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. Miller’s father, Steve, played baseball at Northern Iowa. Junior Phil Pohl is from Cooperstown, N.Y., the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pohl was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 44th round of the 2008 MLB Draft.

2. Connecticut Huskies

Storrs, Connecticut

At-large bid from Big East

2011 record: 22-5, 41-17-1 (first in Big East)

Head coach: Jim Penders (Connecticut, 1994)

Record at school: 285-181-2, 8 years

Overall record: same

Assistant coaches: Justin Blood, Steven Malinowski, Chris Podeszwa

Team offense: .306 BA, 374 R, 32 HR, .424 SLG%, .382 OB%, 122-160 SB

Team pitching: 2.86 ERA, 530.2 IP, 426 H, 211 BB, 419 K

Top hitters: George Springer (.361/12/74/22 2B/31-38 SB), Mike Nemeth (.351/3/46/13 2B), LJ Mazzilli (.335/3/27/11-19 SB), Nick Ahmed (.327/2/31/21-27 SB), Doug Elliot (.311/1/30), John Andreoli (.309/0/26/20-27 SB), Ryan Fuller (.305/5/49/24 2B/11-13 SB), Billy Ferriter (.269/0/21/15-18 SB)

Top pitchers: Kevin Vance (0-0, 13 SV, 0.98, 27.2 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 28 K), Matt Barnes (11-3, 1.12, 112.1 IP, 62 H, 28 BB, 105 K), David Fischer (2-1, 2 SB, 1.77, 45.2 IP, 34 H, 19 BB, 41 K), Greg Nappo (8-2, 2.71, 79.2 IP, 63 H, 35 BB, 47 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2010 (1-2 at Norwich Regional)

Notes: UConn is in the tournament for the 17th time. The Huskies have earned bids in consecutive years after not appearing since 1994. Connecticut has reached Omaha five times, the last coming in 1979. Junior right-hander Matt Barnes and junior outfielder George Springer are expected to be high picks in the upcoming MLB Draft. The Huskies took home the top Big East awards, as Barnes was Pitcher of the Year, Springer was Player of the Year and Jim Penders was Coach of the Year for the second straight season and third time overall. Barnes is the second UConn hurler to win Pitcher of the Year. Charles Nagy earned the award in both 1987 and 1988. Barnes and Springer were unanimous choices for All-Big East first team, while Greg Nappo, Doug Elliot, Mike Nemeth, LJ Mazzilli, Ryan Fuller and Nick Ahmed were second team.

3. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Conway, South Carolina

Automatic bid – Won Big South tournament

2011 record: 20-7, 41-18 (first in Big South)

Head coach: Gary Gilmore (Coastal Carolina, 1980)

Record at school: 609-303, 15 years

Overall record: 865-405-2, 21 years

Assistant coaches: Kevin Schnall, Brendan Dougherty, Drew Thomas

Team offense: .277 BA, 386 R, 47 HR, .426 SLG%, .371 OB%, 99-114 SB

Team pitching: 2.85 ERA, 540.1 IP, 453 H, 179 BB, 460 K

Top hitters: Tommy La Stella (.391/11/63), Scott Woodward (.363/4/36/30-34 SB), Rich Witten (.288/5/49), Taylor Motter (.285/4/29/21-23 SB), Keith Hardwick (.283/5/24), Hayes Orton (.278/2/29), Daniel Bowman (.275/12/56)

Top Pitchers: Jordan Coone (5-3, 1.21, 2 SV, 44.2 IP, 31 H, 13 BB, 28 K), Matt Rein (9-2, 1.78, 70.2 IP, 51 H, 14 BB, 42 K), Ryan Connolly (0-1, 1.99, 3 SV, 40.2 IP, 33 H, 12 BB, 35 K), Anthony Meo (9-3, 2.21, 102 IP, 82 H, 29 BB, 108 K), Josh Conway (8-1, 2.49, 3 SV, 72.1 IP, 63 H, 20 BB, 68 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2010 (4-1 at Myrtle Beach Regional, 0-2 at Myrtle Beach Super Regional)

Notes: It's not a surprise that Coastal Carolina is back in the field - the Chants have won the Big South title the past five years and they are making their 10th trip in the past 11 years. The surprise was that the rest of the Big South caught up a little bit, handing Coastal seven league losses after it went 25-0 last year. That's what happens when you win 50 or more games four times since 2005 and have reeled off 40-plus wins in 12 of the past 14 years as Coastal has done. Coach Gary Gilmore was voted the best non-BCS coach in the country in a 2011 CollegeBaseballInsider.com survey of 40 percent of college coaches. Tommy La Stella has pounded out 25 homers and 121 RBI the past two regular seasons - he was named the Big South Player of the Year. Matt Rein, who was unhittable as a starter and reliever, was named the conference's pitcher of the year. Junior Anthony Meo is 31-7 in his Coastal career and posted his best ERA this year - he also tossed a no-hitter in the Big South tourney against Radford. Senior dynamo Scott Woodward leads the team in on-base average and is second in slugging - and he can fly, as 157 career stolen bases prove.

4. Sacred Heart Pioneers

Fairfield, Connecticut

Automatic bid – won Northeast Conference Tournament

2011 record: 23-9, 34-21 (second in NEC)

Head coach: Nick Giaquinto (Connecticut, 1979)

Record at school: 467-570-2, 23 years

Overall record: same

Assistant coaches: Wayne Mazzoni, Tyler Kavanaugh, John Delaney

Team offense: .311 BA, 319R, 14 HR, .397 SLG%, .371 OB%, 64-88 SB

Team pitching: 4.35 ERA, 465 IP, 477 H, 187 BB, 272 K

Top hitters: JJ Edwards (.380/0/30), MJ Schifano (.337/2/28/12-17 SB), Steve Tedesco (.335/1/27/16-17 SB), Hunter Phillips (.335/0/34), Rob Griffith (.333/4/44), John Murphy (.305/3/43), Dave Boisture (.299/4/18)

Top Pitchers: Robbie Maguire (3-0, 3.13, 23 IP, 20 H, 11 BB, 23 K), John Hermanson (6-1, 3.43, 42 IP, 40 H, 23 BB, 24 K), Nick Leiningen (7-3, 3.68, 80.2 IP, 74 H, 26 BB, 34 K), Troy Scribner (9-2, 3.69, 92.2 IP, 108 H, 20 BB, 44 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2006 (0-2 at Athens Regional)

Notes: Sacred Heart is making its second trip to the Field of 64 after knocking off Monmouth to capture the Northeast Conference title. Coach Nick Giaquinto won a Super Bowl ring as a running back with the Washington Redskins when they beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. Rob Griffith led the NEC in RBI, and J.J. Edwards was second in hits and third in average. The Pioneers hit up and down the lineup with five batters over .333, and they put the ball in play, with about five strikeouts a game. Nick Leiningen tossed seven complete games. With 3,500 undergrads, Sacred Heart joins Stetson as one of the smallest schools in the tourney.