The Road to Omaha — Alabama Baseball Tuscaloosa Regional Primer

The Alabama Crimson was chosen as a host for the NCAA Baseball Tournament as the 16th overall seed. Everyone around the country except for the committee, chaired by Tuscaloosa native and Auburn Athletic Director, John Cohen, thought the Tide would be anywhere from the 9th to the 12th seed.

Alabama will be the number one seed in their Regional and host 2nd-seeded Boston College, 3rd-seeded Troy, and 4th-seeded Nicholls. The Tide has defeated Troy twice this season in two tries, but has not faced the other two visitors. Boston College is presumably the 17th seed, as the number two seed in the 16th seeds Regional. After falling to the last National Seed, the Tide matches up with the #1 Wake Forest Regional should both teams win. But, should Alabama win and Wake Forest happens to lose, the Tide would also host the Super Regional.

Here is a rundown on each team, and some players to watch in Tuscaloosa this weekend:

---

Alabama No. 1
16th National Seed:

Conference: SEC
Record: 40-19, 16-14 in SEC, 2-2 in SEC Tournament

Team Statistics: Offense

• Batting average : .297
• Doubles: 93
• Triples: 10
• Home runs: 102
• Slugging %: .507
• Walks: 3-0
• HBP: 75
• Strikeouts: 441
• On Base %: .405
• Stolen bases/attempts: 46-64

Defensive Statistics

• Fielding %: .978
• ERA: 3.98
• Shoutouts: 6
• Saves: 14
• Innings Pitched: 511
• Hits allowed: 433
• Walks: 215
• Strikeouts: 544
• Doubles allowed: 65
• Triples allowed: one
• Home Runs allowed: 66
• Batting average against: .229

Who to watch:

• Tommy Seidl: .364, nine doubles, nine home runs, 42 RBI, 64 hits,.470 OBP, .568 slugging %, 51 runs, eight stolen bases, three outfield assists
• Andrew Pinckney: .350, 12 doubles, three tripes, 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 51 runs, 35 walks, 75 hits, seven stolen bases, .650 slugging %, .448 OBP, five outfield assists
• Drew Williamson: .317, five doubles, 15 home runs, 69 hits, 58 RBI, .546 slugging %, .420 OBP, 39 walks
• Colby Shelton: .294, 10 doubles, 22 home runs, 46 RBI, .546 slugging %, .407 OBP, 55 hits, 44 runs
• Ed Johnson: .332, 61 hits, eight doubles, six home runs, 40 RBI, .484 slugging %, 30 walks, .439 OBP
• Jim Jarvis: .284, 64 hits, 63 runs, nine doubles, four triples, six home runs, .440 slugging%, .396 OBP, nine stolen bases
• Luke Holman: 7-3 3.50 ERA, 69.1 IP, 43 hits, 29 walks, 74 strikeouts, .176 batting average allowed
• Garrett McMillian: 4-2 3.99 ERA 38.1 IP, 32 hits, 15 walks, 34 strikeouts, .229 batting average allowed
• Jacob McNairy: 6-2 4.08 ERA 70.2 IP, 76 hits, 18 walks, 72 strikeouts, .274 batting average against
• Alton Davis II: 0-2 4.15 ERA, 22 appearances, seven saves, 30.1 IP. 30 hits, 10 walks, 28 strikeouts, .261 batting average allowed
• Hunter Furtado: 1-1 4.59 ERA, 16 appearances-two starts, 33.1 IP, 30 hits, 14 walks, 34 strikeouts, .250 batting average against
• Hagan Banks: 1-2 3.51 ERA, 15 appearances-two starts, 33.1 IP, 22 hits, five walks, 37 strikeouts, .182 batting average against
• Kade Woods: 4-1, one save, 4.67 ERA, 27 IP, 22 hits, 14 walks, 35 strikeouts, .202 batting average against
• Aidan Moza: 3-1 3.00 ERA, 18 IP, 13 hits, eight walks, 17 strikeouts, .206 batting average against
• Hunter Hoopes: 1-1 1.93 ERA, six appearances, 9 IP, seven hits, four walks, 10 strikeouts, .226 batting average against

Pinckney has grown into a five-tool superstar, as he has improved year-by-year. Super Senior Seidl is the leading hitter on the team and has been a huge sparkplug since being moved to the two spot in the batting order. Likewise, Super Senior Williamson has had his best year to-date. Hard to rave about all-SEC Andrew Pinckney any more than we already do. He and freshman phenom Colby Shelton are the most dangerous powerball hitters in the lineup for an Alabama team that was 4th in the SEC in dingers.

The biggest strength for the Tide, though, has been the pitching. The starters — Holman, McMillian, and McNairy — have been outstanding the last month of the season, especially. And the bullpen, led by Davis II, has become a strength after losing several save opportunities in the middle of the schedule. Alabama has rebounded from those early losses, and is 5th in the SEC in converted save opportunities.

---

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Boston College No. 2 seed

Conference: ACC
Record: 35-18, 16-14 ACC, 1-1 ACC Tournament

Team Statistics: Offense

• Batting average: .271
• Doubles: 88
• Triples: four
• Home runs: 63
• Slugging %: .429
• Walks: 275
• Hit by pitch: 78
• Strikeouts: 438
• On base %: .386
• Stolen bases/attempts: 60-71

Defensive Statistics:

• Fielding %: .982
• ERA 5.42
• IP: 470
• Hits: 504
• Walks: 185
• Strikeouts: 476
• Doubles allowed: 93
• Triples allowed: 10
• Home runs allowed: 56
• Batting average against: .276

Who to watch:

• Joe Vetrano .305, 62 hits, 11 doubles, 18 home runs, 48 runs, 55 RBI, .626 slugging %, 30 walks, .395 OBP
• Barry Walsh .303, 54 hits, nine doubles, six home runs, .455 slugging %, 24 walks, 13 stolen bases, .401 OBP
• Patrick Roche .293, 54 hits, 12 doubles, three home runs, .408 slugging %, .404 OBP
• Vince Cimini .292, 54 hits, 28 walks, .390 OBP
• Cameron Leary .257, 10 home runs, 26 RBI, .514 slugging %, .409 OBP
• Nick Wang .238, 10 home runs, 40 RBI, .466 slugging %,
• Andrew Roman 1-0 3.00 ERA, nine saves, 40.2 IP, 34 hits, seven walks, 35 strikeouts, .231 batting average against
• Chris Flynn 7-3 4.21 ERA, 72.2 IP, 71 hits, 34 walks, 82 strikeouts, .252 batting average against
• Johns West 5-3 4.52 ERA, 61.2 IP, 45 hits, 22 walks, 63 strikeouts, .200 batting average against
• Henry Leake 4-5 6.34 ERA 59.2 IP, 75 hits, 18 walks, 58 strikeouts, .315 batting average against
• Julian Tonghini 2-1 3.37 ERA, two saves, 26.2 IP, 25 hits, 17 walks, 33 strikeouts, .256 batting average against
• Eric Schroeder 5-4 5.94 ERA, 53 IP, 61hits, 17 walks, 36 strikeouts, .290 batting average against

Boston College doesn't overwhelm you in any one aspect of the game. Their hitting is middle of the road, but they are disciplined in small-ball: they run well and take a lot of walks. Vertano is a star and gets some back up from Walsh and Roche. On the mound, the pitchers throw strikes, don't walk a lot of guys, and strikeout out a lot of opposing batters. It’s solid team baseball, if not one that impresses you — they win a lot in the very competitive ACC by not giving away games.

Troy, No. 3 seed
Conference: Sunbelt
Record 39-20, 18-12 Sunbelt, 1-2 Sunbelt Tournament

Team Statistics: offense

• Batting average: .285
• Hits: 565
• Doubles: 84
• Triples: 19
• Home runs: 101
• Slugging %: .501
• Walks: 300
• Hit by pitch: 101
• Strikeouts: 488
• On base %: .400
• Stolen bases/attempts: 72-91
• Fielding %: .958

Defensive Statistics:

• ERA 5.48
• Saves: 20
• IP: 514
• Hits: 546
• Walks: 274
• Strikeouts: 610
• Home runs: 65
• Doubles: 94
• Triples: eight
• Batting average against: .268

Who to watch for:

• Ethan Kavanaugh .322, 69 hits, 45 runs, 38 walks, .397 slugging%, .432 OBP
• William Sullivan .310, 67 hits, 60 runs, 14 doubles, 16 home runs, 50 RBI. .625 slugging %, .384 OBP
• Caleb Bartolero .305, 71 hits, 51 runs, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, .571 slugging %, .384 OBP
• Tremayne Cobb, Jr. .303, 54 hits, 40 runs, eight home runs, 42 RBI, .483 slugging %, .422 OBP, 14 stolen bases
• Kole Myers .292, 55 runs, 69 hits. 11 home runs, 35 RBI, 20 stolen bases, .517 slugging %, .404 OBP
• Shane Lewis .291, 60 hits, 61 runs, 27 home runs, 76 RBI, .733 slugging S%, .442 OBP
• Noah Manning 3-2 3.40 ERA, 32 appearances, 11 saves, 45 IP, 48 hits, 14 walks, 41 strikeouts, .277 batting average against
• Grayson Stewart 9-2 3.55 ERA, 83.2 IP, 81 hits, 21 walks, 88 strikeouts, .248 batting average against
• Logan Ross 4-1 4.47 ERA, 56.1 IP, 68 hits, 21 walks, 58 strikeouts, .288 batting average againsts
• Kristian Asbury 4-1, one save, 6.05 ERA, 41.2 IP, 39 hits, 22 walks, 66 strikeouts, .245 batting average against
• Brady Fuller 4-5 7.01 ERA. 60.1 IP, 74 hits, 29 walks, 71 strikeouts, .294 batting average against
• Zach Fruit 6-1, four saves, 6.04 ERA, 64.1 IP, 65 hits, 39 walks, 86 strikeouts, .258 batting average against

Troy bludgeons teams at the plate, but are also very patient, shown by their 101 home runs and 300 walks and 72 stolen bases. Lewis is one of the premier sluggers in the country with 27 home runs and 76 runs driven in. On the mound Troy does get hit hard, .268 average allowed, but strike out a ton of hitters- 610. All the pitchers that throw the most innings all average well over one strikeout per inning.

---

Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Nicholls State, No. 4 Seed

Conference: Southland
Record: 34-22, 15-9 conference, 4-0, won Southland Conference Tournament

Team Statistics: Offense

• Batting average: .288
• Doubles: 121
• Triples: 19
• Home runs: 36
• Slugging %: .423
• Walks: 231
• Hit by pitch: 77
• Strikeouts: 423
• On base %: .379
• Stolen bases/attempts: 59-78

Defensive Statistics:

• ERA: 4.50
• IP: 504.1
• Hits: 501
• Walks: 199
• Hit by pitch: 72
• Strikeouts: 428
• Batting average against: .262

Who to watch for:

• Xane Washington .379, 50 runs, 81 hits, 17 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 46RBI, .551 slugging %, 31 walks, 14 HBP, .481 OBP, 16 stolen bases
• Edgar Alvarez .333, 40 runs, 70 hits, 17 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 38 RBI, 31 walks, .533 slugging %, .422 OBP
• Garrett Felix .313, 61 hits, 28 runs, 17 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 30 RBI, nine stolen bases, .441 slugging %, .386 OBP
• Gerardo Villarreal .303, 53 hits, 23 runs, 12 doubles, .434 slugging %, .352 OBP
• Parker Coddou .288, 65 hits, 38 runs, 13 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 34 RBI, nine stolen bases, .478 slugging %, .354 OBP

Team statistics: pitching

• Jacob Mayers 9-1 1.93 ERA, 70 IP, 41 hits, 55 walks, 97 strikeouts, .176 batting average against
• Cade Evans 0-2 4.29 ERA, seven saves, 32 IP, 35 hits, 13 walks, 19 strikeouts, .280 batting average against
• Gavin Galy 2-0 1.85 ERA, one save, 34 IP, 21 hits, three walks, 33 strikeouts, .184 batting average against
• Nico Saltaformaggio 5-1 3.67 ERA, three saves, 54 IP, 47 hits, 16 walks, 44 strikeouts, .233 batting average against
• Tyler Theriot 3-4 5.14 ERA, 61.1 IP, 71 hits, 20 walks, 42 strikeouts, .295 batting average against
• Devin Desandro 2-5 5.69 ERA, 49 IP, 59 hits, 12 walks, 25 strikeouts, .333 batting average against

Nicholls isn't going to scare many people at the plate: Their 36 home runs hit are the fewest in the tournament, but they have hit 121 doubles and 19 triples. On the mound freshman Jacob Mayers really stands out with his 9-1 record and 1.93 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 70 innings. Other than Mayers and Galy, all the main arms have elevated numbers. Get past Mayers and they shouldn't offer much resistance.

---

Schedule

• Game 1: Boston College (35-18) vs. Troy (39-20) | 2 p.m. CT Friday | ESPN+
• Game 2: Alabama (40-19) vs. Nicholls (34-22) | 6 p.m. CT Friday | ESPN+

Projection

The Tide is a convincing favorite to win the Regional and advance. Troy has a potent offense, Boston College played well in the tough ACC, and Nicholls has a win vs LSU on their resume and the best pitcher (stats-wise) in the field. Bama should have the depth both on the mound and throughout their lineup to move on to the Super Regional round for the first time since 2010. Alabama can't take Jacob Mayers lightly, if he is the game one starter for Nicholls. Mayers is a 6’5’ freshman right hander from Gonzales, LA, and given the nature of the game these days, I wouldn't be surprised if he moves on to a power five school next year after a huge season on the hill for the Colonels.

Roll Tide

#BamaBaseballFeverCatchIt!