2013 Baseball World Series Nashville Regional Breakdown
#2 Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Illinois, East Tennessee State
Vanderbilt is set to host an NCAA Regional for the second time in three years and third time in school history. The last time Vandy hosted a regional, it also hosted a Super Regional, where it swept Oregon State and went to the College World Series. Connor Harrell is the team's top power hitter, having knocked 11 balls out of the yard and knocking in 64 RBI. Tony Kemp sets the tone for the Commodores lineup though, as he is hitting .402 with 96 hits, 61 runs and 30 steals in 42 attempts. Vanderbilt is a stealing machine though, as the squad has combined for 126 stolen bases and has five players, including Kemp, that have stolen 15 bases or more. Kevin Ziomek and Tyler Beede continue the streak of stud pitchers from the Nashville school. Ziomek has a 10-2 record in 15 starts, including three complete games and one shutout. Beede is 14-0 in 15 starts with a 2.10 ERA. Ziomek leads the squad with 107 strikeouts, but Beede isn't far behind with 97. Like many of its top team counterparts, Vanderbilt is tough at home, compiling a 31-4 record, including two different stretches of 11 consecutive wins.
Georgia Tech has appeared in six consecutive NCAA Regionals, 27 of the last 29 and in 29 all time. Over the last 29 years, only the 29 appearances by Florida State and Miami lead Tech's 27 berths in that span. The Yellow Jackets come in on a bit of a rough stretch, having dropped six of their last ten. Daniel Palka (17 home runs, 65 RBI), and Zane Evans (14 home runs, 62 RBI) are the team's top hitters. Buck Farmer is the team's leading pitcher with an 8-4 record in 15 starts and 2.87 ERA. He's also struck out 112 batters. Illinois (34-18) earned an at-large bid after equaling its most wins in a season since 2000 when the Illini went 41-23 and reached the Clemson Regional. The Illini's appearance in the NCAA Tournament will be their 11th in school history and first since 2011. UI is one of two Big Ten teams to qualify for a regional along with Indiana. Justin Parr leads the Illini with a.399 average, 87 hits, 14 doubles, four triples and 51 RBI. ETSU carries a seven-game win streak into the regional after it swept four games in the Atlantic Sun tournament to advance to the NCAA Regional for the first time since 1981. Senior Kerry Doane – who is 13-1 with a 1.99 ERA – was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after tossing his NCAA-leading 12th complete game in Sunday’s 7-2 win over Kennesaw State in the championship game. Fellow senior Derek Niesman carries a 16-game hit streak into the regional. Clinton Freeman, who has a team-high eight saves, is also the team's top hitter with 10 home runs and 56 RBI. This marks the third NCAA regional appearance for the Bucs and the first since 1981. ETSU is 3-4 all-time in regional play with the Bucs’ first appearance coming in 1980.
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