June 1, 2007

Columbia Regional at a glance

Key players

RHP Spencer Steedley, Charlotte: The senior has a big role as the 49ers’ No. 2 starter. Ace Adam Mills has the lowest ERA in the country (1.06) and will get things started Friday. That sets up Steedley (8-1, 2.56) to pitch Saturday. If Charlotte is to win the region, it will need a great start from Steedley.

RHP Eryk McConnell, N.C. State: The junior is one of the ACC’s top closers and has a 1.19 ERA. With top starter Andrew Brackman out for the weekend, N.C. State’s best strategy is to find ways to make McConnell relevant.

1B Justin Smoak, South Carolina: The sophomore slugger has to be ecstatic to be back in the cozy dimensions of Sarge Frye Field, after just missing on three home runs in cavernous Regions Park at the SEC tournament.

3B Brandon Waring, Wofford: The Terriers lead the nation in homers, and Waring is tied for the national lead with Kyle Russell of Texas with 27. Waring is the anchor of the lineup, so it’s hard to see Wofford winning without him doing much of the damage.

By the numbers

7.35

Wofford’s team earned run average. Ben Austin leads the team at 4.03.

82

Combined home run total for N.C. State and Charlotte

210

Combined home run total for South Carolina and Wofford

.370

Batting average in the past 22 games for N.C. State second baseman Ramon Corona, a preseason All-American who was hitting .230 before the hot streak.

4-3

Charlotte’s record against teams that eventually made the NCAA Tournament. All four wins were against Le Moyne, but the 49ers lost twice to Wake Forest in extra innings and by three runs at North Carolina.

Fun facts

While N.C. State is seeded ahead of Charlotte, Charlotte is ranked higher in both major national rankings: Charlotte is No. 22 in Baseball America and No. 25 in Collegiate Baseball, while N.C. State is unranked in both.

South Carolina is in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth consecutive year, one of nine teams that can say that. The others are Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Oral Roberts, Rice and Texas.

The players from the four teams are from 19 different states, and one is from Canada (Charlotte’s Brad McElroy).

Despite the close proximity, N.C. State hasn’t seen much of any of the other three regional teams lately. The Wolfpack last played South Carolina in the 1992 NCAA Tournament (when the Wolfpack were coached by Ray Tanner). N.C. State and Charlotte last met in May 2002, and the Wolfpack never have played Wofford.

Charlotte coach Loren Hibbs holds the NCAA single-season record for runs scored. Hibbs scored 125 runs for Wichita State in 1982, when the Shockers lost to Miami in the College World Series title game.

Prediction

South Carolina’s path to a Super Regional became a lot easier Thursday with the news that N.C. State would be without ace Andrew Brackman. The Wolfpack still have solid hitting and a terrific bullpen, while Charlotte could sneak up on the top two seeds. Wofford is a great story, but winning once this weekend could be an accomplishment. So the Gamecocks are the favorite, especially if their bats heat back up at home.

— Seth Emerson