College Station Regional Field Announced

The NCAA announced the field of 64 for the upcoming NCAA Baseball Championships and the Aggies will welcome Louisiana-Lafayette, Ohio State, and Le Moyne to Olsen Field next Friday.

The NCAA released the field of 64 teams for next week’s NCAA Baseball Championships Monday morning. Texas A&M, fresh off its Big 12 Tournament Championship, knew they were in the field and were hosting a first round regional, but the team awaited word on a potential national seed and the other teams that would be sent to the College Station Regional that starts Friday at 1:00 PM.

The Aggies did not receive a national seed, but will welcome University of Louisiana-Lafayette (43-15) as the No. 2 seed in College Station. The Ragin’ Cajuns will battle No. 3 seed Ohio State (37-22) in the opening round at 1:00 PM. In the 7:00PM game, Texas A&M will take on No. 4 seed Le Moyne College (34-17).

The winner of the College Station Regional will match-up with the winner of the Rice Regional in Houston, where the Owls will host No. 2 seed TCU, No. 3 seed Baylor, and No. 4 seed Prairie View A&M in what will have a strong old SWC flavor.

Louisiana-Lafayette looks to be A&M’s stiffest competition on paper, with a national No. 16 ranking in the Pomeroy RPI Index and No. 13 in the Warren Nolan RPI Index. In fact, many college baseball observers expected the Ragin’ Cajuns to receive one of the sixteen host sites. ULA-LA is a well-balanced team with a team batting average of .312 and a team ERA of3.79. However, after their ace Danny Farquhar, the staff does not have a pitcher with an ERA under 3.00.

Ohio State may strike fear into people in football and basketball, but the Buckeyes are less intimidating on the diamond with a Pomeroy power rating of No. 73 and a Warren Nolan rating of No. 70. Strength of schedule for the Big 10 school is questionable at No. 112.

Le Moyne has had some dangerous teams in the past, but this year’s squad is not o par with previous squads with a Pomeroy power rating of No. 127 and a Warren Nolan power rating of No. 99. Le Moyne has a poor strength of schedule, coming in at a lowly No. 202.

We’ll have more details on A&M’s opponents and how the regional breaks down later today and throughout the week.