HOOVER, Ala. – The regular season has ended and the top eight baseball teams in the Southeastern Conference have made the trek to Regions Park with a championship on the line.
It’s an event viewed by the college baseball world as one of the best if not the best postseason tournament in the country.
But the SEC Tournament that opens Wednesday morning at 11 ET when East Division champion Florida plays West Division also-ran Arkansas goes much deeper than that.
League overall champion Louisiana State represented the SEC in the College World Series last season, but there is no doubt in the Tigers’ mind where they saw the best atmosphere last year.
“I asked our team about this event, and 10 of our main guys told me this was their favorite event last year,” said LSU head coach Paul Mainieri, the SEC Coach of the Year. “We played in a regional, a super regional and in the College World Series. It’s great competition, it’s run in a first-class manner and it’s at a wonderful facility. We love this event.”
Welcome to the mindset of every SEC baseball fan.
Even the coaches and players act like fans when Hoover is mentioned. It’s an environment unique to the SEC.
The Gators (38-18, 19-11 SEC East) and Razorbacks (32-20, 14-15 SEC West) met the first weekend of the SEC season. The Gators went into that series floundering. The team didn’t have its identity then.
Florida was 9-4 when they went to Fayetteville for the series. They were coming off a series against Duquesne, which didn’t have a win on the season at that point. Because of a fight in the Duquesne series, Florida was without two of its key offensive components in Josh Adams and Matt den Dekker for the first game of the series because of suspension.
Arkansas won the opener behind left-hander Dallas Keuchel (7-3, 3.89 ERA). The junior went seven innings, allowing only one run on four hits and struck out nine. The knockout blow was freshman Zack Cox’s fifth-inning grand slam, leading the Razorbacks to an 11-4 victory.
Saturday wasn’t much better. Arkansas jumped out early with a six-run second inning and didn’t do much after that. Four pitchers combined to allow Florida only four runs on six hits, leading Arkansas to an 8-4 victory.
The Gators almost salvaged Sunday’s finale thanks to five innings of one-run baseball from Nick Maronde. After hitting the game-winning grand slam on Friday, Cox picked up the win on the mound for Arkansas which scored two runs in the eighth inning on a wild pitch and a throwing error by catcher Buddy Munroe.
How different are the Gators since that weekend in mid-March? Consider these factors. Florida’s star closer, Billy Bullock, actually started the Friday night of that series on the mound. Freshman first baseman Preston Tucker, who broke the school’s record for RBI by a freshman, only started one of the three games. He went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts on Friday night. Mike Mooney only played shortstop in one game that weekend. Riley Cooper started all three games in right field.
It’s obvious the Gators are now a completely different team from the one swept to start the conference season.
“We’re a totally different team,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Our infield is more solidified and our younger pitchers are more mature. I think they know what to expect now more than at the beginning of the year. We’re playing solid. We’ve got a couple key parts, but if I had to point one thing out, I think we’re playing much better defense.”
Pitchers Anthony DeSclafani, Greg Larson, Maronde and Alex Panteliodis all saw their first action in a difficult road atmosphere that weekend. Florida played its previous three weekends at home, with only one road game in front of a crowd under 2,000 at Stetson before that.
The freshmen were thrown into the fire, and it’s a large part of why they have been so good now at the end of the season.
“It has helped them a lot,” O’Sullivan said. “You go to Arkansas and then everybody knows about the LSU weekend. It could have done nothing but help our pitchers. If they’re not better because of it, I don’t know what else you can do. They’ve been put in serious situations as far as there being a lot on the line. Their roles have changed. I would hope this experience this year has prepared them for this postseason.”
One of the similarities between that series and Wednesday’s game is the Razorbacks pitcher. Keuchel will take the mound to face the Gators again. Florida will start senior Stephen Locke (4-1, 4.88 ERA), who has never started a game against Arkansas in his long career as a Gator. In fact, Locke has only worked two scoreless innings against the Razorbacks in his career.
Keuchel is the focus for the Florida head coach, especially after his performance against the Gators earlier this year.
“He’s very capable of pitching well against us,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s already done it once this year. He was one of my favorite pitchers in the league. He throws strikes and he’s composed. It’s hard to have big innings off him. We’ve got our hands full.”
Despite getting swept by Arkansas, O’Sullivan doesn’t believe Florida has the motivational advantage heading into Wednesday’s game.
“I don’t know if there’s redemption,” O’Sullivan said. “I’m not sure who you’d rather play in this tournament. Everybody is really good. We would certainly like to play a team that got the best of us just to show we have improved. I don’t think there’s any more incentive to play Arkansas on Wednesday than anybody else.”
Another difference between the two teams is the way they have played over the last few weeks. The roles have been reversed since the first week of the season, and Florida is now the team on a hot streak while Arkansas has lost eight of its last nine games in the conference.
The Razorbacks have been outscored 61-37 in those last nine conference game, and the only consistent player has been Keuchel. Despite their inconsistencies, O’Sullivan has seen the Razorbacks play their best ball this season and knows how good they can be.
“I know they’re very capable and a very good team,” O’Sullivan said. “Every team goes through a stretch where they don’t play their best baseball, but I find it hard to believe that they won’t be really good in the postseason.”
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn isn’t worried about his team’s slide. They will continue to go through their normal routine leading up to the tournament in Hoover.
“We’ll say the same thing we’ve been saying the last few weeks,” Van Horn said. “If we keep working hard, things will start to happen. We know we have a chance to start over. Everybody is 0-0 going into the tournament.”
The biggest struggle for Arkansas has been their bats. They rank last in the SEC in batting average at .269, which is .017 below Tennessee in 11th. Their slugging percentage (.441) is second to last in the conference. Their on-base percentage (.369) is also last in the SEC.
They have scored the fewest runs in the conference at 318, 38 runs less than Mississippi State.
One of the few offensive statistical categories that Arkansas ranks higher than Florida in is home runs. The Razorbacks have pounded out 64 home runs, seven more than the Gators.
The Razorbacks only have four players who boast batting averages about .300. The senior leader is shortstop Scott Lyons, who boasts a team-high .315 batting average. He has hit seven home runs and 38 RBI.
Lyons got injured during Saturday’s home game against Ole Miss, and right now coach Van Horn is just hoping his senior can play on Wednesday.
“We’re not sure if he’ll be able to play,” Van Horn said. “He took ground ball Sunday but he didn’t throw or hit. We’ll rest him today and see how it goes Tuesday at practice.”
O’Sullivan knows what it’s like to be missing your shortstop. Mooney missed a few weeks in the beginning of the season with an injured foot and it threw the Florida defense into a tailspin.
“If you take out anyone’s shortstop in this league they’re going to be hurt,” O’Sullivan said. “That’s kind of what happened to us at the beginning of the year. We didn’t have Mooney a couple weeks before Arkansas, and he wasn’t healthy. It really did disrupt our defense. It’s one thing to take out a corner outfielder, but when you’re taking out a catcher, shortstop or center fielder, it certainly does change you defensively.”
If Lyons is out, redshirt freshman Tim Carver will start in his place. He is hitting .240 with no home runs and only eight RBI in 75 at-bats this season.
First baseman Andy Wilkins is the most feared bat in the Arkansas lineup. He is hitting .308 this season with a team-high 15 home runs. He is also tied for the team lead with 38 RBI.
Leadoff-hitter Chase Leavitt is hitting .304 with one home run and 27 RBI. The right fielder wasn’t healthy for the Florida series earlier this season, so this will be the Gators’ first look at him.
“I really like their lineup,” O’Sullivan said. “They’ve got power. When we played them, I thought they had a ton of grit. Plus when you’ve got Keuchel on the mound, he’s as good as anyone in our league.”
Florida’s offense is healthy albeit one freshman bat. Daniel Pigott fractured one of his fingers while diving back to first base during Saturday’s regular-season finale against Kentucky. The injury isn’t season-ending, but he probably won’t play in Hoover.
“I’m not quite sure if we’ll be using Daniel because we want to have him ready to go for the regional,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s not something that I don’t think he couldn’t play with but we’ll be cautious.”
Freshman Tyler Thompson went 4-for-4 with a home run replacing Daniel Pigott. Jonathan Pigott (.367, 2 HR, 22 RBI) also could help replace his brother. Freshman Preston Tucker (.338, 11 HR, 71 RBI), sophomore Josh Adams (.341, 7 HR, 46 RBI) and senior Avery Barnes (.360, 8 HR, 38 RBI) will be asked to shoulder more of the load.
The Razorbacks pitching staff has the fourth best ERA in the SEC at 4.61. However they don’t strike many batters out, only 414, which is good for ninth in the conference. Arkansas pitchers have allowed the fewest hits in the conference.
The key to Arkansas’ bullpen is closer Stephen Richards. He has worked 30.1 innings this season and has a 0.89 ERA.
Arkansas is tied for the worst fielding percentage in the conference at .966. Florida’s fielding percentage is only at .967.
NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
At Regions Park, Hoover, Ala.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (7) Arkansas (32-20) vs. (2) Florida (38-18), 11 a.m. (CSS)
Game 2: (6) Georgia (35-20) vs. (3) Mississippi (40-15), 2:30 p.m. (CSS)
Game 3: (8) Vanderbilt (31-24) vs. (1) Louisiana State, (41-15), 6 p.m. (CSS)
Game 4: (5) South Carolina (37-19) vs. (4) Alabama (37-17), 9:30 p.m. (CSS)
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m. (CSS)
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 2:30 p.m. (CSS)
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m. (CSS)
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 9:30 p.m. (CSS)
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7, 4 p.m. (FSN)
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 7:30 p.m. (FSN)
Saturday, May 23
Game 11: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 11 a.m. (FSN)
Game 12: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 10, 2:30 p.m. (FSN)
Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 6 p.m. (Game 13 will be necessary if Winner of Game 9 also wins Game 11)
Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 9:30 p.m. (Game 14 will be necessary if winner of Game 10 also wins Game 12. If Game 13 is not necessary, Game 15 will start at 6 p.m.)
Sunday, May 24
Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, 4 p.m. (FSN)
Note: If both bracket winners are undefeated, there will be no Game 13 and Game 14 and the championship game would be Game 13.
AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE
At Pete Sylvester Field, Endicott, N.Y.
Thursday, May 21
Game 1: (2) Albany (24-29-1) vs. (3) Stony Brook (29-21), 4 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Binghamton (26-20) vs. (4) Vermont (22-31), 8 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, Noon, if necessary
ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
At Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham, N.C.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Georgia Tech (34-15-1) vs. (5) Miami (35-18), Noon
Game 2: (1) Florida State (40-14) vs. (8) Boston College (31-23), 4 p.m.
Game 3: (2) North Carolina (41-14) vs. (7) Duke (34-22), 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 4: Georgia Tech vs. Boston College, Noon
Game 5: Florida State vs. Miami, 4 p.m.
Game 6: (3) Clemson (39-17) vs. (6) Virginia (39-12-1), 8 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: Miami vs. Boston College, Noon
Game 8: Clemson vs. Duke, 4 p.m.
Game 9: North Carolina vs. Virginia, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 10: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech, Noon
Game 11: North Carolina vs. Clemson, 4 p.m.
Game 12: Virginia vs. Duke, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 13: Championship, 1 p.m.
ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE
At Melching Field/Conrad Park, DeLand, Fla.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (1) Jacksonville (34-20) vs. (6) East Tennessee State (24-27), 11 a.m.
Game 2: (2) Lipscomb (23-31) vs. (5) Mercer (23-22), 3 p.m.
Game 3: (3) Stetson (27-29) vs. (4) Belmont (28-28), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 11 a.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6, 3 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 4 p.m., if necessary
ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE
At Fifth Third Field, Dayton, Ohio
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Massachusetts (25-24) vs. (5) Fordham (22-30), Noon
Game 2: (3) Xavier, Ohio (33-18) vs. (6) Charlotte (32-20), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 4: (1) Dayton (37-17) vs. Winner Game 1, Noon
Game 5: (2) Rhode Island (35-18-1) vs. Winner Game 2, 3:30 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Lower seed of Losers Games 4 and 5, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, Noon
Game 8: Winner Game 6 vs. Higher seed of Losers Games 4 and 5, 3:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, Noon
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE
At Bright House Field, Clearwater, Fla.
Tuesday, May 19
Game 1: (5) Notre Dame 14, (4) St. John’s 5
Game 2: (1) Louisville 12, (8) Cincinnati 2
Game 3: (6) Connecticut 6, (3) West Virginia 1
Game 4: (7) Pittsburgh vs. (2) South Florida, ppd., rain
Wednesday, May 20
Game 4: (7) Pittsburgh (28-19) vs. (2) South Florida (32-23), 10 a.m.
Game 5: (4) St. John’s (29-21) vs. (8) Cincinnati (29-28), 1 p.m.
Game 6: (5) Notre Dame (34-21) vs. (1) Louisville (41-14), 5 p.m.
Game 7: (3) West Virginia (36-17) vs. Loser Game 4, 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 8: (6) Connecticut (34-23) vs. Winner Game 4, 10 a.m.
Game 9: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 11: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9, 10 a.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 11, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 14: Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 12, 6:30 or 8 p.m. (if necessary; game would be at 6:30 p.m. if Game 13 is not necessary, 8 p.m. otherwise
Saturday, May 23
Game 15: Winner of Group 1 vs. Winner of Group 2, 1 p.m.
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE
At McCormick Field, Asheville, N.C.
Tuesday, May 19
Game A: (6) High Point 2, (7) Charleston Southern 1
Game B: (8) Virginia Military Institute 13, (5) Gardner-Webb 4
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (1) Coastal Carolina (42-13) vs. (8) Virginia Military Institute (18-33), 11 a.m.
Game 2: (2) Winthrop (32-23) vs. (6) High Point (20-30), 3 p.m.
Game 3: (3) Liberty (31-19) vs. (4) Radford (25-22), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 1, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 4, 11 a.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 3 p.m.
Game 9: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 4 p.m., if necessary
BIG TEN CONFERENCE
At Huntington Park, Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Illinois (32-17) vs. (5) Michigan State (22-28), 12:05 p.m.
Game 2: (3) Indiana (27-24) vs. (6) Purdue (23-23), 3:35 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 12:05 p.m.
Game 4: (2) Minnesota (34-14) vs. highest seed of Games 1 and 2 winners, 3:35 p.m.
Game 5: (1) Ohio State (37-15) vs. lowest seed of Games 1 and 2 winners, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Lowest seed of Games 4 and 5 losers, 12:05 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Highest seed of Games 4 and 5 losers, 3:35 p.m
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 3:35 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 12:05 p.m., if necessary
BIG 12 CONFERENCE
At AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Kansas State (39-14-1) vs. (5) Kansas (36-19), 10 a.m.
Game 2: (1) Texas (36-12-1) vs. (8) Baylor (27-22), 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: (3) Missouri (31-23) vs. (6) Texas A&M (34-20), 5 p.m.
Game 4: (2) Oklahoma (39-16) vs. (7) Texas Tech (24-29), 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Texas vs. Kansas, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Kansas State vs. Baylor, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: Missouri vs. Texas Tech, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 9: Kansas vs. Baylor, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Texas vs. Kansas State, 1:30 p.m.
Game 11: Oklahoma vs. Missouri, 5 p.m.
Game 12: Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 13: Championship, 2 p.m.
BIG WEST CONFERENCE
Champion: UC Irvine (40-12)
COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
At Brooks Field, Wilmington, N.C.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (1) George Mason (40-10) vs. (6) Delaware (27-18), Noon
Game 2: (2) Georgia State (35-20) vs. (5) Northeastern (28-23), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3: (3) UNC Wilmington (28-21) vs. (4) Old Dominion (22-25), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Noon
Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 1, 3:30 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 4, Noon
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 3:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 4 p.m., if necessary
CONFERENCE USA
At Pete Taylor Park, Hattiesburg, Miss.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (6) UAB (30-24) vs. (3) Houston (25-29), 10 a.m.
Game 2: (7) Marshall (22-31) vs. (2) Rice (35-15), 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: (8) UCF (22-33) vs. (1) East Carolina (41-15), 5 p.m.
Game 4: (4) Tulane (32-23) vs. (5) Southern Mississippi (32-22), 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7, 4 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 10 a.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 1:30 p.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 11 (if it is Winner Game 9) vs. Winner Game 7, 5 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 12 (if it is Winner Game 10) vs. Winner Game 8, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 15: Winner Game 11 or 13 vs. Winner Game 12 or 14, 2 p.m.
HORIZON LEAGUE
At Pipe Yard Stadium, Lorain, Ohio
Tuesday, May 19
Game 1: (7) Butler 7, (6) Youngstown State 6
Wednesday, May 20
Game 2: (4) Valparaiso (27-22) vs. (5) Cleveland State (20-29), 11 a.m.
Game 3: (7) Butler (13-39) vs. (3) Wright State (29-27), 3 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 4: Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3, 11 a.m.
Game 5: (2) Milwaukee (26-25) vs. higher seed of Game 2 and 3 winners, 3 p.m.
Game 6: (1) Illinois-Chicago (26-21) vs. lower seed of Game 2 and 3 winners, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: Winner Game 4 vs. lower seed of Game 5 and 6 losers, 11 a.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 7 vs. higher seed of Game 5 and 6 losers, 3 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9, 11 a.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 3 p.m.
IVY GROUP
Champion: Dartmouth (25-15)
METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
At Waterfront Park, Trenton, N.J.
Thursday, May 21
Game 1: (2) Canisius (33-20) vs. (3) Marist (28-25), 4 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Manhattan (34-16) vs. (4) Rider (26-21), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Noon
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m., if necessary
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
At VA Memorial Stadium, Chillicothe, Ohio
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Kent State (38-15) vs. (5) Miami, Ohio (28-23), 9 a.m.
Game 2: (3) Ohio (28-22) vs. (6) Toledo (21-29), 12:30 p.m.
Game 3: (2) Ball State (26-23) vs. (7) Eastern Michigan (23-33), 4 p.m.
Game 4: (1) Bowling Green (28-20) vs. (8) Central Michigan (27-28), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3, 9 p.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 4, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 9 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 12:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 4 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 13: Championship, 1 p.m.
MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Champion: Bethune-Cookman (30-26)
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE
At Tyler Field/Eck Stadium, Wichita, Kan.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Creighton (28-24) vs. (5) Southern Illinois (23-26), Noon
Game 2: (1) Missouri State (32-19) vs. (6) Illinois State (23-21), 4 p.m.
Game 3: (2) Indiana State (33-18) vs. (3) Wichita State (27-24), 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 4: (1) Missouri State vs. (5) Southern Illinois, Noon
Game 5: (2) Indiana State vs. (6) Illinois State, 4 p.m.
Game 6: (3) Wichita State vs. (4) Creighton, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 7: (2) Indiana State vs. (5) Southern Illinois, Noon
Game 8: (1) Missouri State vs. (4) Creighton, 4 p.m.
Game 9: (3) Wichita State vs. (6) Illinois State, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 10: Championship Game, 8 p.m.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
At Lupton Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
Tuesday, May 19
Game 1: (6) Utah 2, (3) Brigham Young 1
Game 2: (4) San Diego State 12, (5) UNLV 1
Wednesday, May 20
Game 3: (3) Brigham Young (28-23) vs. (5) UNLV (26-31), Noon
Game 4: (4) San Diego State (38-19) vs. (2) New Mexico (37-18), 4 p.m.
Game 5: (6) Utah (22-28) vs. (1) Texas Christian (35-14), 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Lower seed loser of Games 4 and 5, Noon
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Higher see loser of Games 4 and 5, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 4 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 2 p.m., if necessary
NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
At New Britain Stadium, New Britain, Conn.
Thursday, May 21
Game 1: (1) Wagner (30-19) vs. (4) Monmouth (29-23), Noon
Game 2: (2) Sacred Heart (27-25-1) vs. (3) Central Connecticut State (26-20), 3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Noon
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Noon
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, Noon, if necessary
OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
At Brooks Stadium, Paducah, Ky.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Southeast Missouri (26-23) vs. (5) Tennessee Tech (26-22-1), 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: (2) Morehead State (19-30) vs. (6) Jacksonville State (28-24), 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 4: (2) Murray State (32-19-1) vs. highest seed of Games 1 and 2 winners, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: (1) Eastern Illinois (36-12) vs. lowest seed of Games 1 and 2 winners, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. lowest seed of Games 4 and 5 losers, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. highest seed of Games 4 and 5 losers, 2:30 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, Noon
Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, Noon, if necessary
PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE
Champion: Arizona State (41-11)
PATRIOT LEAGUE
Champion: Army (33-18)
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
At Fluor Field, Greenville, S.C.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (2) Georgia Southern (38-15) vs. (7) Davidson (18-29), 9 a.m.
Game 2: (3) The Citadel (34-20) vs. (6) Appalachian State (32-19), 1 p.m.
Game 3: (1) Elon (37-14) vs. (8) Furman (22-29), 5 p.m.
Game 4: (4) Western Carolina (34-20) vs. (5) College of Charleston (35-20), 9 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 9 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 5, 3 p.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 6, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 11: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 9 a.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 10, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 11, 5 p.m., if necessary
Game 14: Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 12, 9 p.m., if necessary
Sunday, May 24
Game 15: Championship Game, 2 p.m.
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
At Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi, Texas
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (3) UT San Antonio (31-22) vs. (6) Northwestern Louisiana (26-24), 10 a.m.
Game 2: (2) Southeastern Louisiana (35-20) vs. (7) Sam Houston State (32-22), 1 p.m.
Game 3: (1) Texas State (38-14) vs. (8) Stephen F. Austin (23-30), 5 p.m.
Game 4: (4) Lamar University (36-20) vs. (5) UT Arlington (29-24), 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 5, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 6, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 7, 5 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 10 a.m., if necessary
Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 2 p.m., if necessary
Game 15: Championship, 6 p.m.
SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
At Lee-Hines Field, Baton Rouge, La.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (3E) Alcorn State (25-17) vs. (2W) Arkansas-Pine Bluff (20-23), 10 a.m.
Game 2: (3W) Grambling State (14-35) vs. (2E) Jackson State (35-19), 1 p.m.
Game 3: (4W) Texas Southern (22-27) vs. (1E) Mississippi Valley State (20-27), 4 p.m.
Game 4: (4E) Alabama A&M (14-29) vs. (1W) Southern (25-14), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 4 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m., if necessary
Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 4 p.m., if necessary
Sunday, May 24
Game 15: Championship, 2 p.m.
SUN BELT CONFERENCE
At Riddle-Pace Field, Troy, Ala.
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1: (4) Florida International (34-21) vs. (5) Louisiana-Lafayette (25-28-1), 10 a.m.
Game 2: (1) Middle Tennessee (38-15) vs. (8) Florida Atlantic (29-24), 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: (2) Western Kentucky (37-16) vs. (7) Louisiana-Monroe (28-25), 5 p.m.
Game 4: (3) Troy (32-21) vs. (6) South Alabama (25-28), 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 5, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 6, 1:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 5 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 11, 10 a.m., if necessary
Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 1:30 p.m., if necessary
Game 15: Championship, 5 p.m.
THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
At J.L. Johnson Stadium, Tulsa, Okla.
Thursday, May 21
Game 1: (2) Southern Utah (26-22) vs. (3) South Dakota State (24-28), 4 p.m.
Game 2: (1) Oral Roberts (28-13) vs. (4) Centenary (33-17), 8 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Noon
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6 p.m., if necessary
WEST COAST CONFERENCE
At Patterson Baseball Complex, Spokane, Wash.
Friday, May 22
Game 1: (2) Loyola Marymount (30-26) vs. (1) Gonzaga (32-16), 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 2: (2) Loyola Marymount vs. (1) Gonzaga, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Game 3: (2) Loyola Marymount vs. (1) Gonzaga, 3 p.m., if necessary
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
At Les Murakami Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Thursday, May 21
Game 1: (1) San Jose State (39-18) vs. (6) Nevada (25-29), 5 p.m.
Game 2: (2) Louisiana Tech (28-20) vs. (5) Hawai’i (31-24), 1 a.m. Friday
Game 3: (3) Fresno State (28-27) vs. (4) New Mexico State (41-15), 9 p.m.
Friday, May 22
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 9 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 1 a.m. Saturday
Saturday, May 23
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6, 9 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, 1 a.m. Sunday
Sunday, May 24
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 6 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 10 p.m., if necessary