For the first time in four years, and the 13th time in program history, Missouri State baseball is in the NCAA Tournament. The Bears were placed into the Lawrence Regional as the third seed alongside Kansas, Arkansas, and Northeastern.
The regional starts on Friday and could run until Monday night, if it goes to a do-or-die Game 7. Here’s what to know about Missouri State’s opponents:
Kansas
- Nickname: Jayhawks
- Conference: Big 12
- Regional Seed: 1
- Win-Loss Record: 42-16 (22-8 Big 12)
- Conference Finish: First
- Conference Tournament Finish: Champions
- Players to Watch: SS Tyson LeBlanc, LHP Boede Rahe
The Jayhawks are in the midst of perhaps the greatest season in program history, winning the Big 12 Tournament for the first time in 20 years and hosting a regional for the first time ever. Shortstop Tyson LeBlanc and reliever Boede Rahe were both named All-Big 12 players, with head coach Dan Fitzgerald being named the league’s Coach of the Year.
Arkansas
- Nickname: Razorbacks
- Conference: SEC
- Regional Seed: 2
- Win-Loss Record: 39-20 (17-13 SEC)
- Conference Finish: Seventh
- Conference Tournament Finish: Runner-Up
- Players to Watch: LHP Hunter Dietz, C Ryder Helfrick
The Razorbacks went on a Cinderella run in the SEC Tournament, making it all the way to the championship game before falling to Georgia. Still, with All-SEC players in starting pitcher Hunter Dietz and slugging catcher Ryder Helfrick — not to mention a legend on the bench in Dave Van Horn — Arkansas remains a force to be reckoned with.
Northeastern
- Nickname: Huskies
- Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
- Regional Seed: 4
- Win-Loss Record: 38-20 (22-8 CAA)
- Conference Finish: Second
- Conference Tournament Finish: Champions
- Players to Watch: OF Ryan Gerety, DH Matt Brinker
While this Boston school may be unknown to some, the Huskies have built a baseball power, making it to four of the last six tournaments. This season, Northeastern had four All-CAA players, led by Ryan Gerety and Matt Brinker who both hit over .300 this year. The Huskies also boast some baseball royalty in the dugout — their head coach is Mike Glavine, a fellow Massachusetts native and Northeastern graduate whose brother, Tom Glavine, is a Baseball Hall of Famer for the Atlanta Braves.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State baseball NCAA opponent scouting reports guide