Stanford, UCLA move on to the NCAA baseball Super Regionals

COMPLETE RELEASE | NCAA BRACKET: Interactive | PDF

SUPER REGIONALS PREVIEW: No. 1-overall seed UCLA and No. 11-seed Stanford advanced to the NCAA Baseball Super Regionals. Both the Bruins and the Cardinal battled through the elimination bracket of the regional round and won three-straight games to clinch a spot at this week’s super regionals, marking the second-straight year two Pac-12 teams have advanced to the second weekend.

As the top seed in the tournament, UCLA is one of the eight Super Regional hosts and welcome Michigan for a best-of-three series on Friday, June 7 - Sunday, June 9. No. 11 Stanford heads south to face No. 6 Mississippi State and plays on Saturday, June 8 - Monday, June 10.

UCLA is in the Super Regionals for the first time since 2013 when it went on to win its first NCAA College World Series title. This is the sixth time in program history the Bruins earned a spot in the Super Regional, advancing to the CWS each of the last three times (2010, 2012, 2013). The Pac-12 Champion Bruins recently matched a program record with their 51st win of the season and boast the best ERA in the nation at 2.58. UCLA is also the only program in the country to rank in the top 10 in both ERA and fielding percentage (4th, .982). The UCLA vs. Michigan best-of-three series will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Stanford reaches the Super Regionals for the 11th time in program history and the first time since 2014. The Cardinal aims to reach the CWS for the first time since 2008. Stanford holds a 2-0 all-time advantage over Super Regional-host Mississippi State. The Cardinal’s offense has led the way this postseason, as it hit 12 home runs in five games during the regional round, the most home runs in the postseason of any other team. It has hit multiple home runs in 17 of its last 29 games with 71 homers in 33 games. Saturday’s game and the potential third game on Monday will be on ESPN2, while Sunday’s game will be broadcast on ESPNU.

The Pac-12 earned five NCAA bids this season, including Arizona State, California and Oregon State, the most for the Conference since 2015 when six teams were selected.  

PAC-12 IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP:
Pac-12 baseball is far and away the most successful conference in terms of NCAA titles and postseason success. With Oregon State’s 2018 NCAA crown, the Pac-12 has won 29 NCAA titles all-time, including three of the last seven. Pac-12 baseball teams have reached the CWS title series in four of the last seven years (Oregon State 2018; Arizona 2016, 2012; UCLA 2013); eight of the last 15; and 12 of the last 20. The Pac-12’s 29 NCAA titles nearly triple the amount of all other conferences with the Big 12 being next closest at 10. With Washington’s first program appearance in the 2018 NCAA College World Series, all 11 league programs made an appearance in the CWS. The only other league to have all of its baseball programs reach the CWS is the SEC.

ALL-AMERICANS:
Collegiate Baseball named 10 Pac-12 student-athletes to its All-American team, and OSU’s Adley Rutschman claimed National Player of the Year. He is the fifth league player to earn the honor and the first since 2011. The 10 All-Americans is the most for the Conference since 2000 when the Pac-12 garnered 11. Joining Rutschman on the first team is Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year Ryan Garcia of UCLA. His teammates Jack Ralston and Holden Powell were named to the second team. Cal’s Andrew Vaughn and Korey Lee, Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson, and Arizona’s Cameron Cannon and Nick Quintana rounded out the second team. Utah’s Oliver Dunn earned a spot on the third team becoming Utah’s first Collegiate Baseball All-American since 2010 and its fourth all-time.

Four freshmen were selected to Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman All-American Team, including Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Arizona’s Austin Wells. Fellow Wildcat Dayton Dooney was also named to the team, giving Arizona two Freshman All-Americans for the first time since 2009. UCLA pitcher Jesse Bergin and Stanford pitcher Alex Williams were also selected.

2019 MLB DRAFT:
Oregon State junior catcher Adley Rutschman was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, giving the Pac-12 an NCAA-best seven No. 1 overall draft picks all-time. The Pac-12 Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year is also the first-ever Beaver to be named the top pick in the MLB draft. Since 2011, five college players were selected with the top pick, and three of them have come from the Conference of Champions (Stanford’s Mark Appel, 2013; UCLA’s Gerrit Cole, 2011).

Cal first baseman Andrew Vaughn also set a new Golden Bears’ standard, becoming the highest selection in program history with the third overall pick by the Chicago White Sox. The Pac-12 has had two of the top-three picks four times (2019, 2011, 1991, 1978) in the history of the draft since 1965, the most of any conference with the SEC doing so once in 2015. Cal’s catcher Korey Lee was also selected in the first round with the 32nd overall pick by the Houston Astros. It marked the first time in school history that multiple Golden Bears were selected in the first round.

After day two of the draft, the Pac-12 had the second-most picks of any conference with 31. UCLA was also tied with Arkansas for the most draft picks through 10 rounds with six selections each. The Bruins are the only program in the nation to have three draft picks in the first two rounds of the draft.

Follow along with the final day of the MLB Draft and see where all the Pac-12 draftees are headed here: pac-12.com/2019-mlb-draft.

GOLDEN SPIKES FINALISTS:
Two of the four finalists for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award are Pac-12 student-athletes, including last year’s winner Cal’s Andrew Vaughn and Pac-12 Player of the Year Adley Rutschman of Oregon State.

Vaughn is only the third student-athlete to be named a finalist the year after winning the Golden Spikes Award (Jim Abbot 1987-88, Mark Kotsay 1995-96). There has never been a repeat winner but the junior first baseman has a chance to be the first. He was selected to the All-Pac-12 team for the second-straight season after hitting .374 with the third-best on-base percentage in the nation (.539), second-best walks per game average (1.15) along with 15 home runs and 50 RBI.

Rutschman earned Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pac-12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Pac-12 Batting Champion (.419) honors after an impressive junior campaign. The No. 1 overall MLB Draft pick leads the country in OBP (.575) and walks with 76, which broke the OSU single-season record. He has reached base safely via a hit, walk or hit by pitch in 56 of OSU’s 57 games this season. He is just the second Beaver to be named a Golden Spikes Award finalist (Michael Conforto, 2014) and looks to become the first in program history to be honored as the top amateur baseball player in the nation.

The Pac-12 is home to eight Golden Spikes Award winners all-time after Vaughn claimed the award last season, tying the ACC and SEC for most of any conference. The winner of the 42nd Golden Spikes Award will be named on Friday, June 14.

NCAA NOTABLES:
The Pac-12’s five NCAA bids (Arizona State, California, Oregon State, UCLA, Stanford) is the most for the Conference since 2015 when six teams were selected. California earned its first NCAA appearance since 2015.

UCLA earned No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second-time in program history and for the first time since 2015.

Stanford and Oregon State were two of only four teams in the nation to be named a NCAA Regional host the last three years. OSU set a new program record after it secured its third-straight national seed.

Arizona State led the nation in home runs during the regular season with 92, the most since the 1993 Sun Devils recorded 97 homers. It added two more homers during the postseason for a final total of 92, second-best in the nation. Three Sun Devils reached double-digit homers this season in Spencer Torkelson (23) Hunter Bishop (22) and Trevor Hauver (13). ASU is the only school in the country with two players to reach the 20 home run tally.

PAC-12 HONORS:
In a vote by the league’s coaches, Oregon State’s Adley Rutschman was voted the Pac-12 Player of the Year and crowned the Pac-12 Batting Champion with a league-leading .419 batting average. Rutschman also shared Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year with Stanford catcher Maverick Handley. UCLA’s Ryan Garcia was tabbed Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and Arizona’s Austin Wells was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the first Wildcat to ever win the award. UCLA head coach John Savage earns his second career Pac-12 Coach of the Year honor.

BIG TIME RELIEF:
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced its midseason Stopper of the Year Award watch list, which includes three Pac-12 relief pitchers, tied for the most of any conference. Stanford’s Jack Little is the only returner among last year’s five finalists. Joining him on the list is Oregon State junior Jake Mulholland and UCLA’s Holden Powell.

MIDSEASON AWARDS: 
Halfway through the 2019 season, Pac-12 baseball’s dominance is being recognized nationwide. D1Baseball announced its midseason awards and honored Arizona State’s Hunter Bishop as the midseason top player and Tracy Smith as the midseason co-top coach of the year. Four from the Pac-12 were also named midseason All-Americans.

Perfect Game also chose Bishop as its midseason Player of the Year, as he is batting .396 with 16 home runs and a .932 slugging percentage. UCLA skipper John Savage was named the midseason coach of the year and Arizona State was tabbed the team of the year. Five Pac-12 student-athletes were named midseason first team All-Americans by Perfect Game, the most of any conference on the first team. Bishop, OSU’s Adley Rutschman and Brandon Eisert, Cal’s Andrew Vaughn and ASU’s Alec Marsh all earned the nod.

Rutschman was also named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award watch list, along with four other league catchers. Seventy-nine catchers were nominated for the 2019 Buster Posey Award by their coaches, given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher. The winner will be announced on June 27, 2019.

SENIOR CLASS CANDIDATE:
OSU’s right-handed pitcher Bryce Fehmel has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award. The award is honored to an NCAA Division I senior that has notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. 

2019 PAC-12 BASEBALL POSTSEASON HONORS

Pac-12 Player Of The Year/Batting Champion:
Adley Rutschman, Oregon State

Pac-12 Co-Defensive Players Of The Year:
Maverick Handley, Stanford & Adley Rutschman, Oregon State

Pac-12 Pitcher Of The Year:
Ryan Garcia, UCLA

Pac-12 Freshman Of The Year:
Austin Wells, Arizona

Pac-12 Coach Of The Year:
John Savage, UCLA

2019 PAC-12 BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

NATIONAL HONORS 

Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year
Adley Rutschman, Jr., C, OSU

Collegiate Baseball All-Americans
First Team
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Ryan Garcia, RHP, UCLA
Second Team
Jack Ralston, RHP, UCLA
Holden Powell RHP, UCLA
Korey Lee, C, CAL
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Cameron Cannon, 2B, ARIZ\
Nick Quintana. 3B, ARIZ
Third Team
Oliver Dunn, 2B, UTAH

Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-Americans
Jesse Bergin, RHP, UCLA
Dayton Dooney, DH, ARIZ
Austin Wells, C/1B, ARIZ
Alex Williams, RHP, STAN

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Finalists
Adley Rutschman, Jr., OSU

USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Finalists
Adley Rutschman, Jr., C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, Jr., IF, CAL

USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Semifinalists
Hunter Bishop, Jr., OF, ASU
Ryan Garcia, Jr., P, UCLA
Adley Rutschman, Jr., C, OSU
Spencer Torkelson, So., IF, ASU
Andrew Vaughn, Jr., IF, CAL

NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalists
Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State
Ryan Garcia, SP, UCLA
Jack Ralston, SP, UCLA
Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Semifinalists
Nick Kahle, Jr., WASH
Korey Lee, Jr., CAL
Adley Rutschman, Jr., OSU

College Baseball Foundation Olerud Award Semifinalists
Will Matthiesen, Jr., STAN

College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year Watch List
Brandon Eisert, Jr., OSU
Ryan Garcia, Jr., UCLA

NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List
Jack Little, Jr., STAN
Jake Mulholland, Jr., OSU
Holden Powell, So., UCLA

USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
Hunter Bishop, Jr., ASU
Josh Burgmann, RS So., WASH
Brandon Eisert, Jr., OSU
Nick Kahle, Jr., WASH
Alec Marsh, Jr., ASU
Adley Rutschman, Jr., OSU
Spencer Torkelson, So., ASU
Andrew Vaughn, Jr., CAL

D1Baseball.com Midseason Top Player
Hunter Bishop, OF, ASU

D1Baseball.com Midseason Co-Top Coach
Tracy Smith, ASU

D1Baseball.com Midseason All-Americans
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Hunter Bishop, OF, ASU
Brandon Eisert, RP, OSU

Perfect Game/Rawlings Player of the Week
March 5 - Andrew Vaughn, IF, CAL
May 7 - Nick Quintana, INF, ARIZ

Midseason Perfect Game/Rawlings Player of the Year
Hunter Bishop, OF, ASU

Midseason Perfect Game/Rawlings Coach of the Year
John Savage, UCLA

Midseason Perfect Game/Rawlings Team of the Year
Arizona State

Midseason Perfect Game/Rawlings College Baseball All-American Teams
First Team
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Hunter Bishop, OF, ASU
Alec Marsh, SP, ASU
Brandon Eisert, RP, OSU

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List
Matthew Dyer, Jr., ARIZ
Maverick Handley, Jr., STAN
Nick Kahle, Jr., WASH
Korey Lee, Jr., CAL
Adley Rutschman, Jr., OSU

NCBWA National Player of the Month
March - Hunter Bishop, OF, ASU
April - Adley Rutschman, C, OSU

NCBWA National Hitter of the Week
April 16 - Spencer Steer, IF, ORE
May 21 - Andrew Daschbach, 1B, STAN

NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week
April 29 - Ryan Garcia, RHP, UCLA

Senior CLASS Award Finalist
Bryce Fehmel, P, OSU

College Sports Madness National Baseball Players of the Week:
Feb. 18 - Ryan Holgate, OF, ARIZ (Field Player)
April 15 - Spencer Steer, IF, ORE (Field Player)
April 29 - Ryan Garcia, P, UCLA (Pitcher)

USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List:
Kevin Abel, RHP, OSU
Jack Little, RHP, STAB
Nick Quintana, IF, ARIZ
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Kyle Stowers, OF, STAN
Chase Strumpf, IF, UCLA
Michael Toglia, IF, UCLA
Spencer Torkelson, IF, ASU
Andrew Vaughn, IF, CAL
Kenyon Yovan, RHP, ORE

NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List: 
Brandon Eisert, Jr., OSU
Jack Little, Jr., STAN
Connor Lunn, Jr., USC
Jake Mulholland, Jr., OSU
Ryne Nelson, Jr., ORE
Jacob Palisch, So., STAN
Holden Powell, So., UCLA

Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-Americans:
First Team 
Kevin Abel, RHP, OSU
Jack Little, RHP, STAN
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA
Second Team
Bryce Fehmel, RHP, OSU
Kenyon Yovan, RHP, ORE
Jeremy Ydens, OF, UCLA
Third Team
Brendan Beck, RHP, STAN
Jake Mulholland, LHP, OSU
Nic Kahle, C, WASH
Michael Toglia, 1B, UCLA
Nick Quintana, 3B, ARIZ

Collegiate Baseball Projected  Player of the Year:
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU

D1Baseball.com Preseason All-Americans:
First Team
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA
Spencer Torkelson, DH, ASU
Kevin Abel, SP, OSU
Jack Little, RP, STAN
Second Team
Michael Toglia, 1B, UCLA
Cameron Cannon, 2B, ARIZ
Kenyon Yovan, SP, ORE
Third Team
Nick Quintana, 3B, ARIZ
Brandon Eisert, RP, OSU

Perfect Game Preseason All-Americans:
First Team
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Kevin Abel, SP, OSU
Jack Little, RP, STAN
Second Team
Bryce Fehmel, SP, OSU
Third Team 
Michael Toglia, 1B, UCLA
Nick Quintana, 3B, ARIZ
Jake Mulholland, RP, OSU 

Baseball America Preseason All-Americans:
First Team
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA
Kyle Stowers, OF, STAN
Second Team
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Erik Miller, SP, STAN
Jack Little, RP, STAN
Third Team
Nick Quintana, 3B, ARIZ
Ryne Nelson, SP, ORE

Baseball America Preseason All-American Best Tools:
Best Hitter
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Best Power
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Best Defensive Catcher
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU

NCBWA Preseason All-Americans:
First Team 
Adley Rutschman, C, OSU
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CAL
Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Kevin Abel, SP, OSU
Bryce Fehmel, SP, OSU
Jack Little, RP, STAN
Jake Mulholland, RP, OSU
Second Team
Nick Quintana, 3B, ARIZ
Joe Wainhouse, DH, WASH
Third Team
Michael Toglia, 1B, UCLA
Kenyon Yovan, UT, ORE
Brendan Beck, SP, STAN
Brandon Eisert, RP, OSU