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BYU baseball: Cougars earn No. 3 seed, will take on Cal State Fullerton

By Nathan Cunningham

May 21, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of an official Rawlings baseball in the dugout at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of an official Rawlings baseball in the dugout at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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BYU baseball has made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. Now in the dance, the Cougars will play CS-Fullerton.

For the first time in 15 years, BYU baseball is in the NCAA Tournament. After a miraculous run in the West Coast Conference Tournament, the Cougars are in the Stanford Regional.

Their first game will come against one of the most decorated collegiate baseball programs: Cal State Fullerton.

CS-Fullerton is the No. 2 seed in the Stanford Regional, and the winner of four National Championships.

Cal State Fullerton at a glance

CS-Fullerton went 34-21 in the regular season, including a 15-9 mark in the Big West (behind Long Beach State University and Cal Poly.

The Titans’ best hitter is probably junior Scott Hurst. The outfielder is hitting .339 with 11 homers and 37 runs batted in on the year. He’s scored 49 runs and stole seven bases as well. His slugging percentage is .592.

The Titans aren’t a great hitting team, but they certainly aren’t bad either. They’re hitting .267 on the season.

In years past, CS-Fullerton would rely on its pitching.

CS-Fullerton led the nation in team ERA last season (2.22), but this season that number has ballooned to 3.83. Still, the two arms at the top of the rotation are very talented.

Juniors Connor Seabold and John Gavin combined to make 29 starts with a 16-6 mark in them. In 195.1 innings to duo has struck out 182 batters with an ERA right around 3.00.

BYU baseball at a glance

BYU sits at 37-19 overall, including 24-8 in the West Coast Conference.

There’s a reason that BYU baseball has the nickname “Bat Cats.” Of the eight players who played at least 48 games for the Cougars this season, seven of them are hitting well above .300.

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Colton Shaver is the lone Cougar among that group who isn’t – and he’s hitting .272. The rest? Brock Hale (.399), Nate Favero (.348), Brennon Anderson (.345), Bronson Larsen (.344), Daniel Schneemann (.325), Keaton Kringlen (.325) and Tanner Chauncey (.322).

BYU baseball also features five different players with 40+ RBIs. There’s no arguing that the Cougars can put up runs. The question will be whether or not they can keep runs off the board.

Entering the year, it was thought that Maverik Buffo would be the ace. But that proved incorrect as Buffo posted a 6.06 ERA. Brady Corless has struggled as well, posting a 4.91 ERA in 15 starts. Hayden Rogers has been the best at limiting runs, going 8-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 13 starts. But opposing players are hitting .274 against him.

Sunday play in Stanford Regional

Each of the other 15 regionals will begin play on Friday. Because BYU will not play on Sunday, the Stanford Regional will begin on Thursday, so the Cougars can avoid a potential Sunday game.

The winner of this regional will face the winner of the Long Beach State Regional in a three-game series.

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