Team:
UCSB
Record:
45-9 overall, 19-5 Big West
National rankings:
RPI (21), USA Today Coaches Poll (13), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (14), Collegiate Baseball (8), Baseball America (13), D1Baseball.com(19).
Manager (career record):
Andrew Checketts (276-176-4)
Key 2019 victories: The Gauchos beat WCC champion Loyola Marymount 7-2 in their season opener … They swept Tulane in a three-game road series (March 8-10) and also went 3-0 against five of their eight Big West opponents, which included a pivotal three-game set against Big West runner-up UC Irvine (April 12-14). UCSB clinched the league title outright last Sunday by shutting out Cal Poly 7-0.
Last NCAA appearance:
2016
NCAA pedigree:
The Gauchos have advanced to the NCAA Tournament 12 times which include four appearances in the last seven years under Big West Coach of the Year Andrew Checketts. They played host to an NCAA Regional at Lake Elsinore in 2015 and advanced to the College World Series for the first time in school history in 2016. Their postseason record is 13-23 (Checketts is 7-6).
Offense:
The Gauchos batted a Big West-best .299 with 66 home runs – just seven off the school record – and are 36-2 in games in which they hit at least one homer. Four starters are batting at least .324, led by junior catcher Eric Yang (.383).
Defense:
Yang, a semifinalist for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, has allowed only one passed ball all season and has just two errors in 44 starts behind the plate. He’s thrown out 10 of the 29 runners who’ve attempted a steal against him.
Pitching:
UCSB’s earned run average of 3.21 ranks sixth in the nation. The Gauchos have an all-left-handed starting rotation Ben Brecht (10-1, 3.76 ERA), Jack Dashwood (9-2, 2.17), Rodney Boone (8-0, 2.78), and Jorge Arellano (4-1, 2.30). Right-handers Chris Lincoln (4-1, 3.60, 13 saves) and Michael McGreevy (5-1, 2.01, six saves) head up a deep bullpen.
Player to watch:
Like last year, senior designated hitter Thomas Rowan of Santa Ynez is finishing strong, having hit six of his team-best 13 homers in 24 Big West games. He also batted .362 in conference games (.324 overall).
Coach Checketts’ comment:
ASDF
•••
Team:
Fresno State
Record:
38-14-1 overall, 20-8-1 Mountain West
National rankings:
RPI (34), USA Today Coaches Poll (29), NCBWA (23), Collegiate Baseball (23), Baseball America (21), D1Baseball.com (NR).
Manager (career record):
Mike Batesole (837-597-2)
Key 2019 victories: The Bulldogs won at then-No. 25 Tennessee 10-7 on March 10 … They also won back-to-back games at Oregon on April 4-5 … They enter the NCAA Tournament with a seven-game winning streak which includes consecutive victories over UNLV to win the Mountain West Tournament.
Last NCAA appearance:
2012
NCAA pedigree:
Fresno State is making its 35th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its first since playing at the Stanford Regional in 2012. The Bulldogs have advanced to the College World Series four times, winning the national championship in 2008.
Offense:
The Bulldogs’ .300 batting average is ranked 20th nationally and is the best of the four teams at the Stanford Regional. Senior centerfielder Zach Ashford won the Mountain West batting title with a .386 average, and three of his teammates are also hitting .343 or better.
Defense:
Sophomore shortstop J.T. Arruda anchors a steady Fresno infield, having made only eight errors in 242 chances for a fielding percentage of .967.
Pitching:
Tonight’s starter, junior right-hander Ryan Jensen (11-1, 2.92 ERA) leads the nation in wins with a fastball that has been clocked in the high-90s. He ranked second in the Mountain West with 99 strikeouts. The Bulldogs’ team ERA of 3.72 ranks 31st nationally.
Player to watch:
Mountain West Co-Player of the Year McCarthy Tatum is Fresno’s major power source, having hit 12 homers with a batting average of .353. The senior third baseman has 71 RBIs to rank 11th in the nation.
•••
Team:
Stanford
Record:
41-11 overall, 22-7 Pac-12
National rankings:
RPI (10), USA Today Coaches Poll (3), NCBWA (3), Collegiate Baseball (3), Baseball America (3), D1Baseball.com (4).
Manager (career record):
David Esquer (612-490-2)
Key 2019 victories: Beat then-No. 12 Texas three times in a four-game series; went 1-2 in its Pac-12 series against No. 1 UCLA and 1-1 with a rainout against No. 11 Oregon State.
Last NCAA appearance:
2018
NCAA pedigree:
The Cardinal will be playing host to an NCAA Regional for the third-straight year and for the 18th time in program history. It’s qualified for the NCAA Tournament 32 times, has advanced to the College World Series 16 times, and won back-to-back NCAA titles in 1987 – eliminating UCSB along the way – and in 1988.
Offense:
Stanford ranks 14th in the nation in home runs with 75, led by Brandon Wulf (17) and Andrew Daschbach (16). Daschbach hit four homers in one game alone against Cal Poly. The Cardinal bats .281 as a team, led by Duke Kinamon’s .327 average.
Defense:
Catcher Maverick Handley, who’s allowed only three passed balls and thrown out 10 of the 26 runners who’ve attempted a stolen base, was voted as the Pac-12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Daschbach (first base) and Kyle Stowers (centerfield) also made the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.
Pitching:
Stanford’s team earned run average of 3.47 ranks 11th in the nation. Closer Jack Little (10 saves) made the All-Pac-12 first team. Alex Williams (7-1, 3.48 ERA) and Erik Miller (7-2, 2.91) are the Cardinal’s top starters.
Player to watch:
First-team All-Pac-12 selection Will Matthiessen, whose parents (Conrad and Julie) met while attending UCSB in the late 1980s, is a two-way star for the Cardinal. He’s batting .317 with 10 homers and a team-best 47 RBIs while also going 6-2 as a pitcher with a 3.91 ERA.
•••
Team:
Sacramento State
Record:
39-23 overall, 18-9 WAC
National rankings:
RPI (117), USA Today Coaches Poll (NR), NCBWA (NR), Collegiate Baseball (NR), Baseball America (NR), D1Baseball.com (NR).
Manager (career record):
Reggie Christiansen (400-389)
Key 2019 victories: The Hornets beat No. 1 UCLA 2-1 on March 3, with Tanner Dalton pitching four innings of two-hit relief … Seven Sac State pitchers combined to shut out Cal 6-0 on March 26 … The Hornets won a WAC-Tournament record six consecutive games after having lost the opener, capturing the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament with back-to-back wins over Grand Canyon.
Last NCAA appearance:
2017
NCAA pedigree:
Sac State has made the NCAA Regionals twice – playing at Stanford both times (2014 and 2017) – since moving up to the Division 1 level. Its lone NCAA win came in 2014 against Arizona State at the San Luis Obispo Regional.
Offense:
The Hornets are hitting just .235 as a team, although First-Team All-WAC outfielder Matt Smith (.318, 42 runs) has gotten hot in the leadoff spot, batting .436 in WAC play. Dawsen Bacho (eight home runs, 53 RBIs) and Steven Moretto (nine homers, 38 RBIs) provide power behind him.
Defense:
Catcher Dawsen Bacho has made only one error behind the plate all season. The Hornets are strong up the middle with shortstop Keith Torres (.960 fielding percentage) and second baseman Ryan Walstad (.980).
Pitching:
Sac State’s earned run average of 3.71 ranks 30th in the nation. The Hornets are led by starters Austin Roberts (4-4, 3.18 ERA) and Scott Randall (8-1, 2.50). Closer Tanner Dalton (5-2, 2.17 ERA) has notched six saves.
Player to watch:
Austin Roberts was a workhorse at the WAC Tournament, winning his start against Cal State Bakersfield and then coming out of the bullpen to save three other victories.
— Compiled by Mark Patton
