Missouri State at No. 6 TCU
TCU Missouri State
Jim Schlossnagle (14th season) Head coach Keith Guttin (33rd season)
Big 12 (16-8) Conference Missouri Valley (19-1)
45-16 Overall record 43-18
3-0 (Dallas Baptist in finals) Regional record 3-1 (Arkansas in finals)
2016 Last Super Regional berth 2015
2016 (fourth) Last CWS appearance 2003
Never Last championship Never
6.9 (34th) Runs per game 7.0 (29th)
4.07 (66th) Earned-run average 3.72 (38th)
Game 1: 6 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Game 2: 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Game 3: TBA (ESPN/ESPN2)
TCU summary: Even with star hitter Luken Baker's season-ending arm injury, the Horned Frogs can still really bash the ball, and that was showcased with 15 runs in the regional clincher against Dallas Baptist. Austen Wade might not be as recognized, but he has been phenomenal this year with a .355 batting average and 15 steals. Throw in one of the best power threats in Evan Skoug (18 homers) and two of the top speedsters in Nolan Brown and Ryan Merrill (combined 42 steals in 45 attempts) and you have a lineup that can get on a pitcher in a hurry. Jared Janczak (9-0, 1.89 ERA) is going to give you a great shot when he takes the mound, but the rotation gets awfully dicey behind him. Winning the game that he gets the ball for could be imperative for the Horned Frogs.
Missouri State summary: Despite a surprising defeat in the MVC tournament championship, the Bears certainly earned their at-large bid thanks to an 18-0 start to conference play — their two tournament losses and one regular-season loss were all to Illinois State. However, as they had a grand total of one non-conference game against teams that went on to qualify for the tournament — a 7-3 loss at Oklahoma State in March — no one was quite sure what to expect. What they got was four nail-biting games all decided by one run, including one over that Oklahoma State team and three against host Arkansas. It's easy to see why the Bears would be successful in tight games with a fantastic bullpen led by Jake Fromson and closer Bryan Young, while Doug Still (8-2, 2.66 ERA) gives them a reliable ace starter. Throw in the nation's top home run-hitting duo in Jake Burger and Jeremy Eierman, who have each blasted 22 dingers, and you've got a very difficult opponent.