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2018 NCAA Baseball Tournament Preview: Road to Omaha

By Neil Harrington

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: The University of Florida players run onto the field in celebration after defeating Louisiana State University 6-1 in game two of the Division I Men's Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 27, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: The University of Florida players run onto the field in celebration after defeating Louisiana State University 6-1 in game two of the Division I Men's Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 27, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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NCAA Baseball
11 March 2015: Stetson University right-handed pitcher Griffin Fuller (31) pitch against the University of Miami at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, Coral Gables, Florida, in Miami’s 7-0 victory. (Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

DeLand Regional

  1. Stetson (45-11) RPI: 4 — Atlantic Sun Regular Season Champs (Last bid 2017)
  2. South Florida (45-11) RPI: 18 — At-large AAC  (Last bid 2017)
  3. Oklahoma State (31-25-1)  RPI: 41 — At-large Big 12 (Last bid 2017)
  4. Hartford (26-29)  RPI: 150 — American East Reg Season champs (First appearance)

The Stetson Hatters are the heavy favorite in this regional and were a heartbeat away from snagging a top-eight national seed. Austin Hale is one of the best defensive catchers in NCAA Baseball, throwing out close to 40 percent of would-be baserunners. The Hatters are very solid on defense and are even saving their top pitcher for day two –Logan Gilbert (10-1, 2.52 ERA).

South Florida is a dangerous two-seed and one good enough to do some severe damage in DeLand. David Villar is the best offensive talent in the Regional (.379 and 12 home runs). Shane McClanahan is a high MLB draft talent, who can hit 100 MPH on the radar gun.

Their bullpen boasts a trio of relievers with ERA’s under 3.00 ( Andrew Perez with 12 saves, Connor Eason, and Richie Cruz).

Oklahoma State is the wild card of the 2018 NCAA Baseball Tournament, as unpredictable as the ever-changing stock market. If you take away the first third and the last third of the season, the Cowboys are a national seed and Big 12 champs. But, their overall body of work put them on the bubble and one of the last team’s int he NCAA Baseball Tournament.

They have enough talent to make it to the College World Series and enough inconsistency to lose their first two games in DeLand.

Hartford earned their first NCAA Baseball D1 tourney appearance the hard way, starting the season 2-14. Four of those downfalls were close losses to Oregon State. Their top talent is American East Player of the Year, Nick Campana (.389/.472/.626 and 10 home runs).

CTTP Predicted winner: Stetson

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