2011 Houston Regional

1. Rice Owls

Houston, Texas

Automatic bid – won Conference USA tournament

2011 record: 16-8, 41-19 (tied for first in C-USA)

Head coach: Wayne Graham (Texas, 1970)

Record at school: 911-359, 20 years

Overall record: 1,485-469, 31 years

Assistant Coaches: Mike Taylor, Dave Pierce, Patrick Hallmark

Team offense: .285 BA, 347 R, 22 HR, .377 SLG%, .385 OB%, 40-61 SB

Team pitching: 3.22 ERA, 537 IP, 543 H, 197 BB, 508 K

Top hitters: Anthony Rendon (.330/6/35/12-17 SB), Michael Ratterree (.324/6/51), Craig Manuel (.311/1/34), J.T. Chargois (.309/2/31), Shane Hoelscher (.277/3/35), Keenan Cook (.277/0/20)

Top Pitchers: Tony Cingrani (3-2, 1.77, 12 SV, 56 IP, 47 H, 10 BB, 65 K), Austin Kubitza (6-4, 2.33, 92.2 IP, 90 H, 21 BB, 93 K), Tyler Duffey (8-1, 2.72, 2 SV, 53 IP, 48 H, 17 BB, 66 K), Matthew Reckling (4-1, 2.90, 68.1 IP, 55 H, 44 BB, 84 K), Abe Gonzales (7-2, 3.03, 65.1 IP, 63 H, 20 BB, 39 K), John Simms (3-2, 3.32, 62.1 IP, 18 BB, 63 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2010 (2-2 at Austin Regional)

Notes: The Owls have made 17 straight NCAA tourney appearances, fourth behind Miami (39), FSU (34) and Cal State Fullerton (20). In addition, Rice has had 17 straight 40-win seasons. Wayne Graham has been brilliant, averaging better than 45 games a season during his time in Houston. Since 2000, only FSU has won more games than Rice. All-world Anthony Rendon is one of the best players in the country and may be the most feared hitter in the country - he was walked 78 times this season, which contributed to a .523 OBA. Austin Kubitza gives the Owls innings and is the brother of Texas State's Kyle Kubitza. Matthew Reckling, whose family's name graces the Owls' Reckling Park, has gone from reliever to steady starter. And lefty reliever Tony Cingrani made 33 appearances, striking out 65 and walking 10.

2. Baylor Bears

Waco, Texas

At-large bid from Big 12

2011 record: 13-14, 29-26 (fifth in Big 12)

Head coach: Steve Smith (Baylor, 1986)

Record at school: 617-413-1, 17 years

Overall record: same

Assistant coaches: Mitch Thompson, Steve Johnigan, Trevor Mote

Team offense: .268 BA, 281 R, 34 HR, .395 SLG%, .356 OB%, 74-95 SB

Team pitching: 3.91 ERA, 494.2 IP, 498 H, 189 BB, 379 K

Top hitters: Max Muncy (.329/9/43), Jake Miller (.295/3/25), Brooks Pinckard (.295/2/16/32-34 SB), Chris Slater (.284/2/21/12 2B), Josh Ludy (.283/3/31/10 2B), Joey Hainsfurther (.279/0/15), Dan Evatt (.225/8/23)

Top pitchers: Max Garner (2-4, 7 SV, 2.74, 42.2 IP, 34 H, 16 BB, 38 K), Logan Verrett (6-5, 2.81, 93 IP, 85 H, 28 BB, 91 K), Josh Turley (3-5, 3.63, 86.2 IP, 96 H, 16 BB, 56 K), Brooks Pinckard (5-2, 3 SV, 3.81, 52 IP, 41 H, 30 BB, 41 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2010 (2-2 at Fort Worth Regional)

Notes: coming soon

3. California Golden Bears

Berkeley, California

At-large bid from Pac-10

2011 record: 13-13, 31-20 (sixth in Pac-10)

Head coach: David Esquer (Stanford, 1987)

Record at school: 347-310-2, 12 years

Overall record: same

Assistant coaches: Dan Hubbs, Tony Arnerich, Brad Sanfilippo

Team offense: .284 BA, 274 R, 25 HR, .398 SLG%, .354 OB%, 43-65 SB

Team pitching: 2.83 ERA, 467.2 IP, 412 H, 134 BB, 395 K

Top hitters: Tony Renda (.330/3/38), Austin Booker (.318/1/22), Vince Bruno (.313/0/11), Chad Krist (.297/1/35), Mitch Delfino (.280/4/19), Devon Rodriguez (.278/4/27), Marcus Semien (.260/4/29)

Top Pitchers: Kyle Porter (4-0, 1.87, 2 SV, 43.1 IP, 39 H, 12 BB, 43 K), Erik Johnson (6-3, 2.08, 90.2 IP, 56 H, 41 BB, 91 K), Kevin Miller (6-4, 2.27, 75.1 IP, 63 H, 12 BB, 78 K), Matt Flemer (2-2, 2.40, 5 SV, 30 IP, 26 H, 6 BB, 33 K), Justin Jones (7-6, 3.33, 105.1 IP, 108 H, 27BB, 66 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2010 (0-2 at Norman Regional)

Notes: One of the best endings to the 2011 season, California - who appeared to be ready to fold as a program - instead is heading back to the Field of 64. Coach David Esquer, who played on a CWS championship team at Stanford, not only kept the Golden Bears together, but also helped keep the program alive. Winning was the icing on the cake. The Bears pitch and play defense, with Erik Johnson leading the way. Johnson shaved two runs off his ERA and held opponents to a .184 average. Freshman Kyle Porter, who once threw an eight-inning perfect game with 18 strikeouts, has been amazing out of the pen. And Kevin Miller's ERA is 2.5 runs less than a year ago, making eight starts and nine appearances. Defensively, Cal fields at a .977 clip and no player has made more than 10 errors. Tony Renda followed his splendid freshman year with another big year, leading the Bears in hits and slugging.

4. Alcorn State Braves

Alcorn State, Mississippi

Automatic bid – won Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament

2011 record: 19-4, 27-28 (first in Eastern Division)

Head coach: Barrett Rey (Southern, 1997)

Record at school: 54-55, 2 years

Overall record: 110-149, 5 years

Assistant coaches: David Gomez, Kevin Vital, Byron Banks

Team offense: .276 BA, 350 R, 27 HR, .386 SLG%, .379 OB%, 133-168 SB

Team pitching: 6.12 ERA, 463.1 IP, 557 H, 201 BB, 259 K

Top hitters: Kilby Perdomo (.357/10/49/17 2B), Eduardo Gonzalez (.348/3/46/23 2B), Antolin Morales (.296/1/23), Jann Butler (.290/2/26/17-21 SB), Brandon Hollins (.284/0/19/37-45 SB), Kenny Rowan (.274/3/31/17-22 SB)

Top pitchers: Cole Vicars (5-3, 4.43 ERA, 63 IP, 66 H, 19 BB, 42 K), Steve Easter (8-5, 1 SV, 4.44, 107.1 IP, 109 H, 19 BB, 76 K), Troy Williams (7-5, 4.96, 94.1 IP, 121 H, 36 BB, 42 K), Harrison Gary (1-3, 3 SV, 5.29, 32.1 IP, 36 H, 15 BB, 16 K)

Last NCAA appearance: First appearance

Notes: After losing to Southern 12-10 in the 2009 SWAC championship game and to Grambling State 15-2 a year ago, the Braves beat Southern 12-6 to capture their first SWAC title and earn their initial NCAA tourney bid. Alcorn State split a doubleheader with MEAC champ Bethune-Cookman this past Saturday.