SPRINGFIELD, MO - The Missouri State Bears (39-20) are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since reaching the College World Series in 2003. MSU draws the 3-seed in the Coral Gables Regional and will face 2-seed Central Florida in 1:00 pm (Central) game time.
"You do well in postseason when you have great pitching and experienced position players, and that's what we have," said veteran head coach Keith Guttin who also coached the Bears in their 2003 World Series run to Omaha.
The Bears were an at-large selection after going 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament last week at Hammons Field.
Pitching has been the key to MSU's success this season, leading the nation with a 2.51 ERA. But it will be a total team effort when the Bears visit South Florida Saturday.
"They (UCF) don't know anything about us, we don't know anything about them, so the slate is clean," said senior first baseman Brock Chaffin.
"There's no off days here, especially with regionals coming up, so it starts today," siad freshman shortstop Eric Cheray.
UCF (43-15) won the Conference USA Tournament and is currently ranked 16th in the nation.
NCAA Tournament 64-team Bracket
REGIONAL SCHEDULE:
Friday, June 1
Game 1: No. 2 UCF vs. No. 3 Missouri State (1 p.m.)
Game 2: No. 1 Miami vs. No. 4 Stony Brook (6 p.m.)
Saturday, June 2
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (1 p.m.)
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 (6 p.m.)
Sunday, June 3
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (1 p.m.)
Game 6: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4 (6 p.m.)
Monday, June 4
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (6 p.m., if necessary)
