2014 Indiana Baseball Regional Preview
By Evan Reller
Jun 17, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tracy Smith after their College World Series game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Dave Weaver-USA Today Sports
For the second year in a row, IU is hosting a a regional in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. The Indiana Baseball Regional also features Indiana State, Stanford, and Youngstown State.
The regional is a double elimination style tournament that begins later today. The Hoosiers will also host a Super Regional in Bloomington next weekend, which will be a best of three series.
1. Indiana Hoosiers (42-13)
Head Coach: Tracy Smith
RPI: 2nd
NCBWA: 11th
USA Today Coaches Poll: 11th
Best Finish: College World Series, 2013
ERA: 2.17
AVG: .294
2. Indiana State Sycamore (35-16)
Head Coach: Mitch Hannahs
RPI: 18th
Best Finish: College World Series, 1986
ERA: 3.32
AVG: .274
3. Stanford Cardinals (30-23)
Head Coach: Mark Marquess
RPI: 47th
Best Finish: College World Series Champions, 1987, ’88
ERA: 3.45
AVG: .269
4. Youngstown State Penguins (16-36)
Head Coach: Steve Gillispie
RPI: 270th
Best Finish: NCAA Regional, 2004
ERA: 6.90
AVG: .256
IU has been on a hot streak recently, having won 15 of its last 16 games and posting a 30-3 record to close out the year. There is no reason to believe that the Hoosiers won’t roll through this regional with more efficiency than last season.
Stanford was a bubble team that many didn’t have making the tournament. Youngstown State is here courtesy of winning the Horizon League Championship with a couple of late game rallies and earning an automatic bid. The Penguins will basically be a tune up game for IU.
Only IU and ISU have ever faced each other before today. The Hoosiers were 1-1 against the Sycamores this year, and 56-41-1 all time record against them. The lone loss this year for IU was at Terre Haute. The Sycamores simply don’t have the fire power to take out IU on the home field.
The winner of the Indiana Regional will face the winner of the Vanderbilt Regional, which also hosts Xavier, Clemson, and Oregon
ISU and Stanford open the regional Friday at 2pm eastern. IU and Youngstown State will be at 7pm. Both games can be found on ESPN 3.