1. Interesting factoid to those who think we were slumping or in the doldrums going into this Regional...including our three games this weekend, only the North Carolina game to kickoff the ACC tournament was an opponent that didn't play this weekend going back to the UK game on May 8th (and a good case can be made that North Carolina should have been included in the field). We have played twelve games in that span against teams playing in Regional play.
2. Major plusses ...and foremost in my opinion...3 quality starts from our starters. Huge, and no coincidence we were the 1st to make it through to the SuperRegionals because one of the first teams to also make it through is our SuperRegional opponent Cal State Fullerton who it cannot be argued has some of the best pitching in college baseball. Thomas Eshelman and their reliever Peitzmeier are AA's; we will have to change our approach with Eshelman because he doesn't walk people, and when I say that I mean at a historic clip and we need a great first start out of Funk. Fullerton is somebody who might not necessarily match us arm-for-arm which might show up in a three game series--but they have the pitching to beat us 2-0. We have to beat their ACE in Game One to stave us playing an elimination game at home in Game Two of the series (I'm assuming it will be Eshelman though their coach likes to use his ace in Game Two in a double elimination series). This series should be low scoring due to the caliber of pitching, so there will be incredible pressure to make the clean play, to field and execute bunts; for baseball strategy wonks, this SuperRegional will be a fascinating one to watch. For the guy who likes softball scores...find reruns of Colorado Rockies games.
3. Batting order balance: it was great to get production out of the bottom of the order from Hairston and Logan Taylor and I think sliding Lucas down a slot had more to do with connecting the bottom of the order to the middle rather than demoting Lucas down. It connected perfectly yesterday and it seemed like we were taking extra bases all day keeping constant pressure on Michigan. It was vintage McDonnell Ball. We got alot of bats pseudo-righted yesterday most notably Sutton Whiting and Ray getting hits (though in Ray's case, loopers that found a gap--his triple against Morehead was a screamer), and I was pleased not so much with Hairston getting hits it was the fact that he hit the ball hard and kept the ball in play better with runners on base ahead of him. Solak blistered the ball twice yesterday.
4. It will have to be maintained in spades against a Fullerton that traditionally plays a similar style. CSF bunts and get hit by pitches alot (thirty more than we did in both categories), they steal in parts of their lineup but they don't hit for much power which may be a reflection of their ballpark if I recall from the 2009 SuperRegional. They get on base via walk two and a half times more than their opponents. They put tremendous pressure on a college infield to make plays.
One strength will be significantly challenged...CSF catchers cutdown 50% of base stealers on the year.
5. Alot of good work from the pen and we didn't have to extend anybody to get through (for the record, CSF's closer went five innings in a game Saturday night).
Overall I don't think we could have had a more positive weekend as it sets up hosting a Super; we got direly needed quality work out of Funkhauser in addition to McKay and Rogers, and alot of freshmen got their feet wet making big contributions (at the plate notably Logan Taylor and Hairston). Hopefully it carries over, because we looked like a team riding great momentum this weekend.
2. Major plusses ...and foremost in my opinion...3 quality starts from our starters. Huge, and no coincidence we were the 1st to make it through to the SuperRegionals because one of the first teams to also make it through is our SuperRegional opponent Cal State Fullerton who it cannot be argued has some of the best pitching in college baseball. Thomas Eshelman and their reliever Peitzmeier are AA's; we will have to change our approach with Eshelman because he doesn't walk people, and when I say that I mean at a historic clip and we need a great first start out of Funk. Fullerton is somebody who might not necessarily match us arm-for-arm which might show up in a three game series--but they have the pitching to beat us 2-0. We have to beat their ACE in Game One to stave us playing an elimination game at home in Game Two of the series (I'm assuming it will be Eshelman though their coach likes to use his ace in Game Two in a double elimination series). This series should be low scoring due to the caliber of pitching, so there will be incredible pressure to make the clean play, to field and execute bunts; for baseball strategy wonks, this SuperRegional will be a fascinating one to watch. For the guy who likes softball scores...find reruns of Colorado Rockies games.
3. Batting order balance: it was great to get production out of the bottom of the order from Hairston and Logan Taylor and I think sliding Lucas down a slot had more to do with connecting the bottom of the order to the middle rather than demoting Lucas down. It connected perfectly yesterday and it seemed like we were taking extra bases all day keeping constant pressure on Michigan. It was vintage McDonnell Ball. We got alot of bats pseudo-righted yesterday most notably Sutton Whiting and Ray getting hits (though in Ray's case, loopers that found a gap--his triple against Morehead was a screamer), and I was pleased not so much with Hairston getting hits it was the fact that he hit the ball hard and kept the ball in play better with runners on base ahead of him. Solak blistered the ball twice yesterday.
4. It will have to be maintained in spades against a Fullerton that traditionally plays a similar style. CSF bunts and get hit by pitches alot (thirty more than we did in both categories), they steal in parts of their lineup but they don't hit for much power which may be a reflection of their ballpark if I recall from the 2009 SuperRegional. They get on base via walk two and a half times more than their opponents. They put tremendous pressure on a college infield to make plays.
One strength will be significantly challenged...CSF catchers cutdown 50% of base stealers on the year.
5. Alot of good work from the pen and we didn't have to extend anybody to get through (for the record, CSF's closer went five innings in a game Saturday night).
Overall I don't think we could have had a more positive weekend as it sets up hosting a Super; we got direly needed quality work out of Funkhauser in addition to McKay and Rogers, and alot of freshmen got their feet wet making big contributions (at the plate notably Logan Taylor and Hairston). Hopefully it carries over, because we looked like a team riding great momentum this weekend.
