re: Regionals: Ole Miss & Vanderbilt Advance to the Supers! (Unsticky Admins)

quote:

---

No. 2 Kentucky (35-23, 14-16 in SEC East) Roster | Statistics
Eighth appearance (last in 2012), at-large, fourth place in SEC East
Top 200 Prospects: 1B/LHP A.J. Reed (36), OF Austin Cousino (183)

---

quote:

---

Kentucky has had an up-and-down season, largely because of its rugged schedule (only Florida has more wins against RPI top 25 teams than Kentucky, which is 11-11 in such games). But unlike last year, when UK got off to a great start and then went in the tank in the second half, the Wildcats persevered through adversity, winning their final two weekend series and turning in a strong 3-1 showing in the SEC tournament to carry some momentum into what should be an intense regional hosted by arch-rival Louisville. This regional has a little extra appeal because it will showcase the presumptive national Player of the Year, Kentucky two-way superstar A.J. Reed, who leads the nation in home runs (23) and slugging (.768), ranks second total bases (162), fourth in RBIs (70) and ninth in OBP (.491). And oh yeah, he’s also a legit SEC Friday ace, going 11-2, 2.10 thanks largely to his competitiveness and the running life on his average fastball. The Wildcats struggled on the mound while righties Chandler Shepherd and Kyle Cody worked their way back from injuries this year, but both threw well in the SEC tournament, giving Kentucky reason for optimism that this could be the year it wins a regional for the first time. The massive Cody can run his fastball up to 95-96 and flashes a very good breaking ball, while the smaller Shepherd can locate an average fastball to both sides and get swings-and-misses with his downer curve. The bullpen lacks depth, but juco transfer Spencer Jack (4-1, 1.19), a funky max-effort bulldog, has done a nice job providing some stability in the post-Trevor Gott era. Kentucky’s calling card, though is its explosive offense, which ranks fifth in the nation in scoring and fourth in home runs. Reed has a sound supporting cast in veterans Ka’ai Tom (.333), Max Kuhn (.322, 8 HR), Thomas Bernal (.313) and Michael Thomas (.310, 8 HR). And center fielder/leadoff man Austin Cousino (.298/.355/.435, 17 SB) provides more star power—he’s the engine atop the lineup.

---

quote:

---

No. 1 Vanderbilt (41-18, 17-13 in SEC) Roster | Statistics
13th appearance (10 straight), at-large, third place in SEC East
Top 200 Prospects: RHP Tyler Beede (15), RHP Adam Ravenelle (115)

---

quote:

---

Vanderbilt looked like it was on course for a national seed after taking two of three at Florida in early May, but the Commodores closed the season by losing a home series to South Carolina and then getting bounced early in the SEC tournament, costing themselves a spot in the top eight. Nonetheless, Vandy landed its third regional hosting spot in the last four years. Pitching continues to be at the heart of Vanderbilt’s success, as the ’Dores are 16th in the nation in ERA at 2.73. Ace junior Tyler Beede (7-7, 3.49) has held down the Friday night role and shows a first-round arsenal when he’s on, with a low to mid-90s fastball, a dominant changeup and a hard curveball. However, Beede’s had an inconsistent year, and one of the turning points in Vandy’s season was the insertion of sophomore righty Carson Fulmer (5-1, 1.31) into the rotation in late April. Fulmer has an explosive fastball-curveball-changeup combination, beginning the season as the closer (10 saves), then winning each of his first five starts after the move to the rotation. Even without Fulmer, Vandy has a quality bullpen headed by a couple of junior righthanders in deceptive sidewinder Brian Miller (1-1, 1.97, 5 SV) and the power-armed Adam Ravenelle (3-1, 1.35), who pitches at 92-93 with a power slider. Offensively, what the ’Dores lack in power—just 21 homers as a team—they make up for in speed and athleticism. Vandy hitters pepper the gaps and run relentlessly, leading the SEC in doubles (122) and ranking second in steals (93). Speedy leadoff man Dansby Swanson (.336/.414/.487, 21 2B) is the spark plug, while middle-of-the-order anchors Zander Wiel (.274/.381/.447, 5 HR) and Bryan Reynolds (.323/.383/.478, 4 HR) both hit well down the stretch. Junior Vince Conde (.306/.407/.423, 4 HR, 43 RBI; .982 fielding percentage) has become one of the best all-around shortstops in college baseball, joining Swanson in an elite double-play tandem.

---

quote:

---

No. 2 Mississippi State (37-22, 18-12 in SEC West) Roster | Statistics
32nd appearance (four straight), at-large, third place in SEC West
Top 200 Prospects: LHP Jacob Lindgren (89)

---

quote:

---

Mississippi State reached the CWS Finals last year using a novel approach to its pitching staff, and the same formula has helped the Bulldogs come on strong down the stretch this year. Last year, Kendall Graveman was the only MSU starter who consistently worked deep into a game; the bullpen routinely took over in the second or third inning of other games. This year, funky low-slot lefty Ross Mitchell (8-4, 2.10) is the lone workhorse starting option, but once again the deep bullpen is up to the task of shouldering a heavy burden. LHP Jacob Lindgren (6-1, 0.88, 93-21 SO-BB in 51 IP) has simply electric stuff, with a fastball that touches 94 and a slider that rates as plus-plus when it’s really on. Preseason All-America closer Jonathan Holder (6-1, 2.38, 7 SV, 59-9 SO-BB in 45 IP) is the other key piece; he hasn’t as dominant this spring as in years past, but he is still a proven big-game bulldog with a true out pitch in his downer curveball. The lineup is less potent this year without All-American Hunter Renfroe and catalyst Adam Frazier, but Seth Heck (.304 batting average, .983 fielding percentage) filled Frazier’s shoes at shortstop to stabilize the defense, and athletic freshman catcher Gavin Collins (.325/.381/.415) is a budding star who led the team in hitting in SEC play. Gritty second baseman Brett Pirtle (.341/.421/.413) emerged as the team’s best hitter this spring, but the Bulldogs lack punch; Wes Rea leads the team in homers with four, and no Bulldog has more than eight doubles. Still, the bullpen and defense (.981 fielding percentage, sixth in the nation) are elite, and the lineup has enough proven winners with Omaha experience to make Mississippi State very dangerous.

---