LITTLE ROCK — NO. 1 RICE LOCATION Houston CONFERENCE Conference USA NICKNAME Owls 2012 RECORD 40-17, 17-7 COACH Wayne Graham (953-378 in 21 seasons at Rice) KEY PLAYERS 2B Christian Stringer (.348, 3 HR, 36 RBI), OF Jeremy Rathjen (.333, 9 HR, 41 RBI), 1B/RHP J.T. Charqois (.333, 31 RBI, 4-1, 2.25 ERA, 8 saves), RHP Andrew Benak (7-2, 2.70 ERA), RHP Matthew Recking (8-2, 2.90 ERA) TEAM BATTING AVERAGE .284 TEAM ERA 2.91 LAST NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCE 2011 NOTEWORTHY Rice is making its 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
NO. 2 ARKANSAS LOCATION Fayetteville CONFERENCE SEC NICKNAME Razorbacks 2012 RECORD 39-19, 16-14 COACH Dave Van Horn (769-388 in 19 seasons at Central Missouri, Northwestern (La.) State, Nebraska and Arkansas) KEY PLAYERS 3B Matt Reynolds (.340, 7 HR, 41 RBI), SS Tim Carver (.313, 27 RBI, 13 SB), 1B Dominic Ficociello (.309, 6 HR, 37 RBI), RHP DJ Baxendale (7-4, 3.02 ERA), RHP Ryne Stanek (6-4, 3.09 ERA), RHP Barrett Astin (3-5, 2.31 ERA, 9 saves). TEAM BATTING AVERAGE .279 TEAM ERA 2.99 LAST NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCE 2011 NOTEWORTHY Arkansas scored one run in two games at the SEC Tournament.
NO. 3 SAM HOUSTON STATE LOCATION Huntsville, Texas CONFERENCE Southland NICKNAME Bearkats 2012 RECORD 38-20, 24-9 COACH David Pierce (38-20 in first season at Sam Houston State) KEY PLAYERS DH Anthony Azar (.382, 3 HR, 35 RBI), 3B Kevin Miller (.324, 2 HR, 33 RBI), OF Colt Atwood (.317, 37 R, 10 2B), RPH Michael Oros (7-1, 2.67 ERA), RPH Justin Jackson (8-4, 2.93 ERA), LHP Caleb Smith (8-5, 3.00 ERA) TEAM BATTING AVERAGE .295 TEAM ERA 3.42 LAST NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCE 2009 NOTEWORTHY Pierce was a Rice assistant coach the previous nine seasons.
NO. 4 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M LOCATION Houston CONFERENCE SWAC NICKNAME Panthers 2012 RECORD 28-23, 15-8 COACH Waskyla Cullivan (86-104 in four seasons at Prairie View A&M) KEY PLAYERS 1B Dominiq Harris (.314, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 3B Brad Benes (.313, 1 HR, 24 RBI), C Evan Richard (.257, I HR, 20 RBI), RHP Derrick Mitchell (6-4, 3.09 ERA), LHP Daniel Castillo (5-0, 1.83 ERA, 6 saves) TEAM BATTING AVERAGE .263 TEAM ERA 4.71 LAST NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCE 2007 NOTEWORTHY Richard was MVP of the SWAC Tournament.
Sports, Pages 22 on 05/29/2012