Texas A&M
Minnesota
Wake Forest
Binghamton
Texas A&M Baseball
2016 NCAA Baseball Championship: College Station Regional preview
With a No. 4 national seed in hand, the Texas A&M baseball team embarks on its road to Omaha beginning Friday in the College Station Regional.
The Aggies will play host to Big Ten regular season champion Minnesota, battle-tested ACC participant Wake Forest and America East conference champion Binghamton. Weather permitting, play will begin Friday afternoon with the No. 2 seed Golden Gophers taking on the No. 3 seed Demon Deacons while the Aggies battle the Bearcats from Vestal, N.Y. in the 8:00 PM night cap.
Here's a breakdown of all four teams in this weekend's regional.
Abigail Cook, TexAgs
The Aggies closed the season on fire and ranked No. 1 and will count on Kyle Simonds to open the regional on a winning note.
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Record: 45-14 (20-10 SEC)
Team average: .316
Team ERA: 3.14
Fielding %: .977
Offense: 7.2 runs/gm
Defense: 3.6 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
Top pitchers: Brigham Hill (8-1, 1.88 ERA), Kyle Simonds (9-3, 2.79), Mark Ecker (0.43, 6 saves)
Top hitters: Boomer White (.395 BA, .524 slug, .471 OBP), Hunter Melton (.309 BA, 11 HR, 65 RBI, .524 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: The Aggies are clearly the best team in the field. They are also battle-tested, with more than half their games coming against top-50 competition. Texas A&M comes into the regional with the best team ERA, the most productive offense and the highest RPI.
The key for the Aggies is to stay on schedule with the starting pitching. If this team can get a minimum of 5-6 innings from its starters, look for Texas A&M to handily win this regional. With all three opposing teams relatively weak on the mound, the Aggies will score plenty of runs; only a meltdown on the bump could derail a regional title.
Odds to win College Station Regional: 80 percent
Record: 34-20 (16-7 Big 10)
Team ERA: 3.90
Fielding %: .980
Offense: 6.5 runs/gm
Defense: 4.6 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
Top pitchers: Dalton Sawyer (7-6, 3.15 ERA), Matt Fiedler (7-3, 4.10), Jordan Jess (4.18, 9 saves)
Top hitters: Matt Fiedler (.377 BA, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 13 SB), Austin Athmann (.367 BA, 11 HR, 39 RBI, .622 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: The Golden Gophers lead this regional in batting with a very impressive batting average of .325. This team has at least seven players in the order hitting over .300, which is very similar to Texas A&M's with dangerous hitters up and down the lineup. While MInnesota didn't face the caliber of pitching that the Aggies faced in the SEC, it won't have to face any elite pitching in the College Station Regional with the possible exception of Brigham Hill in a Saturday winner's bracket game.
Thus, the Golden Gophers need to score early and often in game one against an equally dangerous hitting Wake Forest squad, stay in the winner's bracket, and hope like hell that Hill has an off night.
Record: 34-25 (13-17 ACC)
Team average: .280
Team ERA: 4.99
Fielding %: .970
Offense: 6.5 runs/gm
Defense: 5.7 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
Top pitchers: Parker Dunshee (9-5, 3.27 ERA), Drew Loepprich (3-1, 4.22), Will Craig (4.18, 9 saves)
Top hitters: Will Craig (.392 BA, 16 HR, 65 RBI, .766 slug, .537 OBP), Gavin Sheets (.323 BA, 9 HR, 43 RBI, .498 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: Wake Forest is the most intriguing opponent in the College Station Regional. The Demon Deacons played 30 games against top-50 teams, so they will not be intimidated at Olsen Field facing Texas A&M in a critical Saturday winner's game bracket if they get past Minnesota. Wake has been through the wars, just like the Aggies.
The only difference is this squad simply doesn't have the quality arms on the hill. That 4.99 team ERA is a sore thumb.
What we do know is Wake can hit and has one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball. Will Craig has incredible offensive stats with 16 homers, 65 RBI and a whopping .766 slugging percentage. For this team to win, Craig and the middle of the Demon Deacon lineup must be hot. Craig has the ability to take over a game, and that's what he'll need to do. Even then, the Demon Deacons will need to have at least one pitcher give them a surprise start this weekend.
No. 4 Seed: Binghamton Bearcats
RPI: No. 108
Record: 30-23 (19-5 America East)
Team ERA: 5.02
Fielding %: .979
Offense: 6.3 runs/gm
Defense: 5.1 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
Top pitchers: Mike Bunal (8-3, 3.45 ERA), Jake Cryts (7-4, 5.04), Rob Hardy (3.58, 7 saves)
Top hitters: Reed Gamache (.367 BA, 7 HR, 46 RBI, .551 slug, .450 OBP), Brendan Skidmore (.315 BA, 9 HR, 42 RBI, .533 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: Binghamton qualified for the NCAA Tournament by winning the America East Conference. The Bearcats started the season with a dismal 2-13 record, but finished on a high note by going 28-10 to round out the season. But the key here is the lack of competition.
Binghamton has not faced a top-50 team all season, and the numbers are pretty average given the lackluster schedule. With a 5.02 team ERA against weak competition, this team has little to no chance of navigating through this regional with three top-50 teams.
The Aggies will play host to Big Ten regular season champion Minnesota, battle-tested ACC participant Wake Forest and America East conference champion Binghamton. Weather permitting, play will begin Friday afternoon with the No. 2 seed Golden Gophers taking on the No. 3 seed Demon Deacons while the Aggies battle the Bearcats from Vestal, N.Y. in the 8:00 PM night cap.
Here's a breakdown of all four teams in this weekend's regional.
Abigail Cook, TexAgs
The Aggies closed the season on fire and ranked No. 1 and will count on Kyle Simonds to open the regional on a winning note.
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No. 1 Seed: Texas A&M Aggies
RPI: 4Record: 45-14 (20-10 SEC)
Team average: .316
Team ERA: 3.14
Fielding %: .977
Offense: 7.2 runs/gm
Defense: 3.6 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
- vs. 1-50: 19-10
- vs. 51-100: 9-2
- vs. 101-200: 8-2
- vs. 200+: 9-0
Top pitchers: Brigham Hill (8-1, 1.88 ERA), Kyle Simonds (9-3, 2.79), Mark Ecker (0.43, 6 saves)
Top hitters: Boomer White (.395 BA, .524 slug, .471 OBP), Hunter Melton (.309 BA, 11 HR, 65 RBI, .524 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: The Aggies are clearly the best team in the field. They are also battle-tested, with more than half their games coming against top-50 competition. Texas A&M comes into the regional with the best team ERA, the most productive offense and the highest RPI.
The key for the Aggies is to stay on schedule with the starting pitching. If this team can get a minimum of 5-6 innings from its starters, look for Texas A&M to handily win this regional. With all three opposing teams relatively weak on the mound, the Aggies will score plenty of runs; only a meltdown on the bump could derail a regional title.
Odds to win College Station Regional: 80 percent
No. 2 Seed: Minnesota Golden Gophers
RPI: 50Record: 34-20 (16-7 Big 10)
This team has at least seven players in the order hitting over .300, which is very similar to Texas A&M's with dangerous hitters up and down the lineup.
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"right","Quote":"This team has at least seven players in the order hitting over .300, which is very similar to Texas A\u0026M\u0027s with dangerous hitters up and down the lineup.","Author":""}
Team average: .325Team ERA: 3.90
Fielding %: .980
Offense: 6.5 runs/gm
Defense: 4.6 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
- vs. 1-50: 3-4
- vs. 51-100: 10-5
- vs. 101-200: 7-9
- vs. 200+: 12-2
Top pitchers: Dalton Sawyer (7-6, 3.15 ERA), Matt Fiedler (7-3, 4.10), Jordan Jess (4.18, 9 saves)
Top hitters: Matt Fiedler (.377 BA, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 13 SB), Austin Athmann (.367 BA, 11 HR, 39 RBI, .622 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: The Golden Gophers lead this regional in batting with a very impressive batting average of .325. This team has at least seven players in the order hitting over .300, which is very similar to Texas A&M's with dangerous hitters up and down the lineup. While MInnesota didn't face the caliber of pitching that the Aggies faced in the SEC, it won't have to face any elite pitching in the College Station Regional with the possible exception of Brigham Hill in a Saturday winner's bracket game.
Thus, the Golden Gophers need to score early and often in game one against an equally dangerous hitting Wake Forest squad, stay in the winner's bracket, and hope like hell that Hill has an off night.
No. 3 Seed: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
RPI: 25Record: 34-25 (13-17 ACC)
What we do know is Wake can hit
and has one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball. Will
Craig has incredible offensive stats with 16 homers, 65 RBI and a
whopping .766 slugging percentage.
Team average: .280
Team ERA: 4.99
Fielding %: .970
Offense: 6.5 runs/gm
Defense: 5.7 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
- vs. 1-50: 13-17
- vs. 51-100: 4-5
- vs. 101-200: 10-2
- vs. 200+: 7-1
Top pitchers: Parker Dunshee (9-5, 3.27 ERA), Drew Loepprich (3-1, 4.22), Will Craig (4.18, 9 saves)
Top hitters: Will Craig (.392 BA, 16 HR, 65 RBI, .766 slug, .537 OBP), Gavin Sheets (.323 BA, 9 HR, 43 RBI, .498 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: Wake Forest is the most intriguing opponent in the College Station Regional. The Demon Deacons played 30 games against top-50 teams, so they will not be intimidated at Olsen Field facing Texas A&M in a critical Saturday winner's game bracket if they get past Minnesota. Wake has been through the wars, just like the Aggies.
The only difference is this squad simply doesn't have the quality arms on the hill. That 4.99 team ERA is a sore thumb.
What we do know is Wake can hit and has one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball. Will Craig has incredible offensive stats with 16 homers, 65 RBI and a whopping .766 slugging percentage. For this team to win, Craig and the middle of the Demon Deacon lineup must be hot. Craig has the ability to take over a game, and that's what he'll need to do. Even then, the Demon Deacons will need to have at least one pitcher give them a surprise start this weekend.
No. 4 Seed: Binghamton Bearcats
RPI: No. 108
Record: 30-23 (19-5 America East)
Binghamton has not faced a top-50 team all season, and the numbers are pretty average given the lackluster schedule.
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Team average: .297Team ERA: 5.02
Fielding %: .979
Offense: 6.3 runs/gm
Defense: 5.1 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams ranked:
- vs. 1-50: 0-0
- vs. 51-100: 4-3
- vs. 101-200: 7-9
- vs. 200+: 19-11
Top pitchers: Mike Bunal (8-3, 3.45 ERA), Jake Cryts (7-4, 5.04), Rob Hardy (3.58, 7 saves)
Top hitters: Reed Gamache (.367 BA, 7 HR, 46 RBI, .551 slug, .450 OBP), Brendan Skidmore (.315 BA, 9 HR, 42 RBI, .533 slug)
Keys to winning the regional: Binghamton qualified for the NCAA Tournament by winning the America East Conference. The Bearcats started the season with a dismal 2-13 record, but finished on a high note by going 28-10 to round out the season. But the key here is the lack of competition.
Binghamton has not faced a top-50 team all season, and the numbers are pretty average given the lackluster schedule. With a 5.02 team ERA against weak competition, this team has little to no chance of navigating through this regional with three top-50 teams.
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