2014 Stillwater Regional

(capsules compiled by Sean Ryan, Phil Stanton, Colin Graves, John Whittle, Matt Mullen)

1. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Stillwater, Oklahoma

At-large bid from Big 12

2014 record: 18-6, 42-16

Head coach: Josh Holliday (Oklahoma State, 2004)

Record at school: 83-35, two years

Overall record: 83-35, two years

Assistant coaches: Marty Lees, Rob Walton, Roland Fanning

Team offense: .274 BA, 369 R, 49 HR, .398 SLG%, .386 OBP, 71-92 SB

Team pitching: 3.27 ERA, 553 IP, 513 H, 227 BB, 443 K

Top hitters: Gage Green (.321/3/41/18-20 SB), Zach Fish (.320/11/38), Donnie Walton (.297/3/38), Tan Krietemeier (.270/0/44), Tim Arakawa (.260/4/40/15-17 SB), Conor Costello (.220/7/25)

Top pitchers: Vince Wheeland (9-0, 1.49 ERA, 72.2 IP, 51 H, 14 BB, 39 K), Jon Perrin (7-4, 1.78 ERA, 91 IP, 79 H, 26 BB, 76 K), Brendan McCurry (5-0, 0.42 ERA, 43 IP, 27 H, 7 BB, 47 K), Blake Battenfield (3-0, 1.76 ERA, 51 IP, 42 H, 19 BB, 35 SO)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2013 (2-2 Louisville Regional)

Notes: The Cowboys are back in the field for the second straight year under Josh Holliday. Oklahoma State won 41 games a year ago and followed it up with 42 wins, the first back-to-back 40-win campaigns since 2007-08. Holliday is the first former OSU player to coach the Cowboys and was a four-year starter who played on two College World Series teams (1996, 1999). He was named the Big 12 Coach of the year, and Zach Fish was tabbed Player of the Year. Fish is a three-year starter whose first career hit was a grand slam against Dallas Baptist. Vince Wheeland has been incredible primarily out of the bullpen the past two years, compiling a 17-2 record. Opponents hit only .208 against him. Equally filthy is Brendan McCurry, who has allowed two earned runs and four extra-base hits in 43 innings this season. Opponents hit .182 against him. Jon Perrin pitched primarily in relief last year before doubling his innings this year.

2. Nebraska Huskers

Lincoln, Nebraska

At-large bid from Big Ten

2014 record: 18-6, 40-19 (second)

Head coach: Darin Erstad (Nebraska 1995)

Record at school: 104-72, 3 years

Overall record: 104-72, 3 years

Assistant coaches: Ted Silva, Will Bolt, Jeff Christy

Team offense: .293 BA, 351 R, 19 HR, .385 SLG%, .366 OBP, 38-56 SB

Team pitching: 3.55 ERA, 527.1 IP, 529 H, 191 BB, 344 K

Top hitters: Blake Headley (.319/2/24), Ben Miller (.319/2/13), Pat Kelly (.312/4/55/10 2B), Michael Pritchard (.311/3/46/21 2B), Ryan Boldt (.302/2/30/11 2B), Austin Darby (.295/3/35/10 2B)

Top pitchers: Zach Hirsch (4-1, 4 SV, 1.32 ERA, 47.2 IP, 32 H, 13 BB, 48 K), Chance Sinclair (9-1, 2.29 ERA, 94.1 IP, 85 H, 25 BB, 48 K), Christian DeLeon (5-2, 2.46 ERA, 80.1 IP, 71 H, 16 BB, 39 K), Josh Roeder (3-1, 12 SV, 2.70 ERA, 20 IP, 21 H, 6 BB, 21 K)

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

Notes: Nebraska fell to Indiana in the Big Ten title game for the second straight season. Nebraska hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2008. The Huskers have advanced to the College World Series three times (2001, 2002, 2005). Senior Michael Pritchard was named a preseason All-American. Junior Blake Headley was selected Second-Team All-Big Ten. Head coach Darin Erstad was an All-American during his playing days at Nebraska and played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues. He earned a World Series ring with the Angels in 2002.

3. Cal State Fullerton Titans

Fullerton, California

At-large bid from the Big West

2014 record: 14-10, 32-22 (fourth in Big West)

Head Coach: Rick Vanderhook (Trinity University, 2003)

Record at School: 119-53 (three years)

Overall Record: 119-53 (three years)

Assistant Coaches: Mike Kirby, Jason Dietrich, Chad Baum

Team offense: .260 BA, 254 R, 15 HR, 54-74 SB

Team pitching: 2.03 ERA, 510.1 IP, 426 H, 83 BB, 432 K

Top hitters: J.D. Davis (.338/5/38), Matt Chapman (.321/6/46), Tanner Pinkston (.293/1/18), Keegan Dale (.287/0/19), Clay Williamson (.283/0/20), Austin Diemer (.255/0/16)

Top pitchers: Thomas Eshelman (8-3, 1.92 ERA, 117.1 IP, 93 H, 7 BB, 94 K), Grahamm Wiest (4-4, 1.55 ERA, 104.2 IP, 82 H, 12 BB, 81 K), Phil Bickford (6-3, 2.04 ERA, 70.2 IP, 60 H, 12 BB, 68 K), Justin Garza (5-3, 2.51 ERA, 68 IP, 60 H, 13 BB, 56 K), Koby Gauna (4-2, 1.45 ERA, 5 SV, 56 IP, 45 H, 7 BB, 47 K), Willie Kuhl (1-2, 1.04 ERA, 26 IP, 10 BB, 29 K), J.D. Davis (0-2, 2.95 ERA, 6 SV, 18.1 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 20 K)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2013 (3-0 at Fullerton Regional; 0-2 at Fullerton Super Regional)

Notes: It was far from easy, but Cal State Fullerton reached the NCAA Tournament for the 23^rd straight season. Now that they’re in, the Titans are as dangerous as any team in the field, entering Regionals on a seven-game winning streak. Coach Rick Vanderhook missed 16 games due to what the school termed “improper, unprofessional communication” with student-athletes. Vanderhook spent nearly 25 years as an assistant to Augie Garrido, Larry Cochell, George Horton and Dave Serrano and also played for the Titans. The Titans, a preseason No. 1 selection by several polls, rank No. 1 in the country in ERA (2.03), WHIP (1.00), K/BB ratio (5.20) and BB per 9 IP (1.46). Sophomore Thomas Eshelman has struck out 177 and walked 10 and is 20-6 in his two years. Grahamm Wiest and Justin Garza round out college baseball’s top rotation, and freshman Phil Bickford is electric. The Titans average only 4.7 runs per game but have two legitimate power threats in J.D. Davis and Matt Chapman, whose HR totals are reduced by playing in a big park. Catcher Chad Wallach is the son of former major leaguer Tim Wallach, infielder Jake Jefferies is the son of former major leaguer Gregg Jefferies and outfielder Tyler Stieb is the nephew of former major leaguer Dave Stieb.

4. Binghamton Bearcats

Binghamton, New York

Automatic bid – won America East Tournament

2014 Record: 11-12, 25-25 (fourth in America East)

Head Coach: Tim Sinicki (Western Carolina, 1988)

Record at School: 486-492-6, 22 years

Overall Record: 486-492-6, 22 years

Assistant Coaches: Ed Folli, Ryan Hurba, Dustin Johnson

Team offense: .277 BA, 257 R, 18 HR, 74-87 SB

Team pitching: 4.00 ERA, 422.2 IP, 420 H, 177 BB, 260 K

Top hitters: Bill Bereszniewicz (.360/0/24), Eddie Posavec (.326/0/17), Daniel Nevares (.294/5/35), Reed Gamache (.292/1/25), Zach Blanden (.274/1/22), Jake Thomas (.273/6/35), Shaun McGraw (.269/4/29)

Top pitchers: Nicholas Liegi (2-1, 1.78 ERA, 1 SV, 30.1 IP, 28 H, 6 BB, 14 K), Greg Ostner (3-1, 2.01 ERA, 4 SV, 49.1 IP, 48 H, 9 BB, 23 K), Jack Rogalla (5-8, 3.77 ERA, 86 IP, 81 H, 27 BB, 63 K), Jake Cryts (5-5, 3.90 ERA, 85.1 IP, 78 H, 32 BB, 36 K), Jextin Pugh (1-1, 4.17 ERA, 36.2 IP, 39 H, 21 BB, 26 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2013 (0-2 at Raleigh Regional)

Notes: The Bearcats are in the field for the second straight year and third time in six years after defeating top-seeded Stony Brook in the America East Championship 4-3 and 8-7. The conference-clinching game ended in walk-off fashion with freshman Eddie Posavec hitting a bases-loaded single to left field in the bottom of the 12th inning, ending the longest AEC title game. Coach Tim Sinicki played at Binghamton and finished his career at Western Carolina, where he won 15 games over two years as a pitcher. Jake Thomas was picked as the best pure hitter in a survey of AEC coaches before the season. Jack Rogalla has been an anchor in the starting rotation the past two years.