CBB Regional Preview: Stillwater

542

The Stillwater Regional includes Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Texas Christian and Western Kentucky.

Oklahoma State finished second in the Big 12 Conference regular-season standings and will bring a 42-16 overall record into the tournament. Joining the Cowboys in Stillwater are second-seeded Wichita State, which owns a 44-15 record, along with third-seeded Texas Christian (43-17) and fourth-seeded Western Kentucky (32-25).

Oklahoma State versus Western Kentucky
Friday at 7 p.m. CST.

Probable Pitching Matchup
Andrew Oliver (LHP, 7-2, 2.20) vs. Matt Ridings (RHP, 10-2, 3.63)

The Hilltoppers earned an NCAA tourney berth by winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

OSU is making its 36th appearance in the NCAA Tournament which is tied for fourth on the NCAA’s all-time list. The Cowboys are 130-77 (.628) all-time in the NCAA tourney and the 130 wins ranks sixth all-time. OSU’s 19 College World Series appearances are the fifth-most in NCAA history.

The Cowboys will be making their third consecutive appearance in an NCAA Regional and fourth in five seasons under head coach Frank Anderson. It also marks the second time under Anderson that the Cowboys will be a No. 1 seed. OSU was the No. 1 seed in the 2006 Fayetteville Regional.

The Cowboys enter the NCAA Baseball Championship with a 42-16 record and No. 5 national ranking. OSU won its final six Big 12 Conference series to finish 18-9 and in second place in the league standings, tying the Cowboys’ highest-ever Big 12 finish. The Cowboys are the No. 1 seed at an NCAA Regional for the second time in the last three seasons (2006 Fayetteville). OSU is making its fourth NCAA appearance in five seasons under head coach Frank Anderson, who has led the Cowboys to a 7-6 record in NCAA tourney play.

The Cowboys are 14-7 against ranked teams this season, with nine of those wins coming against Top 10-ranked opponents. OSU is hitting a Big 12-best .330 as a team, and the Cowboys lead the league in six other offensive categories. The pitching staff sports a collective 3.80 ERA, the lowest mark in the league, and tops the conference with 20 saves.

Key Players
• SS/RP Jordy Mercer
• 3B Matt Hague
• LHP Andrew Oliver
• 1B Rebel Ridling

The Hilltoppers are 33-25 overall and won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. WKU is hitting .322 as a team, and its pitching staff sports a collective 5.31 ERA.

Key Players
• DH Chad Cregar (.355, 20 HR, 78 RBI)
• RHP Matt Ridings (10-2, 3.63 ERA, 93 Ks)

Wichita State versus Texas Christian
Friday at 1 p.m. CST

Probable Pitching Matchup
Rob Musgrave (LHP, 10-1, 1.96) vs. Tyler Lockwood (RHP, 7-1, 2.21)

The Shockers are 44-15 and won the Missouri Valley Conference championship. WSU is hitting .316 as a team, and its pitching staff sports a collective 3.56 ERA.

Key Players
• 3B Conor Gillaspie (.421, 10 HR, 77 RBI)
• LHP Rob Musgrave (10-1, 1.96 ERA, 5 CG)
• LHP Aaron Schafer
• LHP Anthony Capra
• SS Dusty Coleman
• OF Ken Williams Jr.

The Horned Frogs are 43-17 and captured the Mountain West Conference title. TCU is hitting .302 as a team, and its pitching staff sports a collective 3.45 ERA. For the first time in school history, the Frogs have earned five straight trips to the NCAA Regionals. This is the Frogs seventh overall trip to the regionals. The previous six trips came in 1956, 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Key Players
• OF Chris Ellington (.335, 5 HR, 52 RBI)
• RHP Andrew Cashner (8-3, 9 saves, 1.80 ERA)

Its going to be a very hot and muggy series with temperatures between 93-97 degrees all 4 days with a chance of rain on Sunday.