Andrew Herrmann

UL senior pitcher Andrew Herrmann has thrown more than 100 innings for the Cajuns this season.

 Joey Meredith

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Head coach: Brian O'Connor (1st season here; career record 957-405).

Record: 40-17, 16-14 in SEC.

RPI: 13.

Ranking: No. 17.

SEC tourney: 1-1, lost in Georgia 5-3 in the second round.

NCAA history: 43rd appearance with 12 titles; 12 CWS appearances; 1 national title.

Last appearance: 2025.

Team hitting: .313, 486 runs, 122 doubles, 106 HRs, 57 SBs.

Top hitters: DH Noah Sullivan (.348, 12 HRs, 45 RBIs, 10 SBs), CF Bryce Chance (.346, 2 HRs, 33 RBIs, 13 SBs), 2B Frei Gehrig (.329, 9 HRs, 41 RBIs), 3B Ace Reese (.327, 20 HRs, 69 RBIs).Β 

Team pitching: 4.32 ERA, 488 IP, 442 H, 202 BB, 627 Ks, .238 OBA.

Top pitchers: LHP Tomas Valincius (10-2, 2.93 ERA, 86 IP, 120 K), RHP Ryan McPherson (3-1, 2.70, 36β…” IP, 43 K), RHP Duke Stone (6-3, 5.69, 68 IP, 92 K), Bullpen: RHP Ben Davis (0-2, 3.35, 5 saves, 43 IP, 50 K), RHP Maddox Webb (1-1, 4.01, 3 saves, 24β…” IP, 29 K).

Cincinnati Bearcats

Head coach: Jordan Bishel (102-71 at UC; 416-227 overall).

Record: 37-20, 17-13 in Big 12.

RPI: 22.

Ranking: No. 24.

Big 12 tourney: 0-1, lost to Arizona State 10-2.

NCAA history: 9th appearance.

Last appearance: 2025.

Team hitting: .300, 420 runs, 97 doubles, 84 HRs, 115 SBs.

Top hitters: DH Enzo Infelise (.371, 9 HRs, 44 RBIs), 1B/3B Quinton Coats (.346, 28 HRs, 78 RBIs, 10 SBs), CF Derrick Pitts (.339, 8 HRs, 41 RBIs, 17 SBs), C Jack Natili (.336, 16 HRs, 59 RBIs).

Team pitching: 4.96 ERA, 497 IP, 498 H, 211 BB, 524 K, .260 OBA.

Top pitchers: RHP Nathan Taylor (6-3, 3.86, 84 IP, 112 K), RHP Connor Blue (4-1, 4.82, 56 IP, 42 K), RHP Logan Knight (4-4, 4.98, 65 IP, 60 K); Bullpen: RHP Chad Brown (5-0, 3 saves, 3.72, 36β…“ IP, 41 K), RHP Dominic Mauro (2-3, 5.18, 40 IP, 41 K).Β 

UL Ragin' Cajuns

Head coach: Matt Deggs (226-153 at UL; 413-271 overall).

Record: 39-23, 16-14 in Sun Belt.

RPI: 33.

Ranking: No. 25.

Sun Belt tourney: 5-2, lost to Southern Miss in finals.Β 

NCAA history: 20th with four titles; one World Series in 2000.

Last appearance: 2024.

Team offense: .267, 380 runs, 111 doubles, 47 HRs, 110 SBs.

Top hitting: 1B Lee Amedee (.311,7 HRs, 52 RBIs), C Colt Brown (.307, 5 HRs, 50 RBIs), CF Noah Lewis (.296, 2 HRs, 18 RBIs).

Team pitching: 4.88 ERA, 553.2 IP, 508 H, 231 BB, 534 K, .246 OBAΒ 

Top pitchers: RHP Cody Brasch (6-2, 6 saves, 2.04, 70β…” IP, 77 K), LHP Andrew Herrmann (7-5, 4.43, 103β…” IP, 108 K), LHP Ty Roman (4-4, 4.48, 80β…“ IP, 84 K); Bullpen: RHP Parker Smith (3-3, 3.30, 46β…“ IP, 37 K), LHP Tyler Papenbrock (3-0, 5.70, 3 saves, 36β…“ IP, 25 K).

Lipscomb Bisons

Head coach: Jeff Forehand (533-555 in NCAA; 211-142 in NAIA).

Record: 29-24, 19-11 in Atlantic Sun.

RPI: 155.

ASUN tourney: Won tournament with 3-0 record.

NCAA history: Fourth appearance (two NAIA national titles).

Last appearance: 2023.

Team hitting: .292, 320 runs, 99 doubles, 32 RBIs, 73 SBs.

Top hitters: 3B Cam Pruitt (.356, 2 HRs, 48 RBIs, 15 SBs), CF Hutson Miles (.351, 1 HR, 20 RBIs, 14 SBs), LF Jordan Thomas (.309, 10 HRs, 40 RBIs, 9 SBs).Β 

Team pitching: 6.22 ERA, 466 IP, 507 H, 283 BB, 412 K.

Top pitching: LHP Alexander Llinas (6-4, 5.40 ERA, 75 IP, 61 K), RHP Collin Bosley-Smith (4-2, 4.69, 40β…“ IP, 46 K); Bullpen: RHP Kaleb Kantola (1-0, 1.69 ERA, 9 saves, 26β…” IP, 29 K), RHP Adam Jamison (4-0, 2.88, 3 saves, 50 IP, 45 K).

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

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