Best Starting Rotation: Maryland
Connecticut might have a claim in 12 other regionals, but the Terrapins’ triple aces is unmatched outside of Tennessee and maybe Gonzaga. They have three different guys that all have legit stuff and have all spent time in the Friday role this season. Jason Savacool, Ryan Ramsey and Nick Dean are a combined 24-5, 3.54 with 266 strikeouts in 261.2 innings.
Best Bullpen: Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons’ bullpen features six pitchers with 20 or more appearances headlined by sophomore righthander Camden Minacci, who commandeered the closer’s role and had six saves with a 1.33 ERA at the the end of the regular season. The bullpen is deep enough that Eric Adler (0-1, 8.86), who began the season as the closer, and his 96-mph fastball and elite spin rate on a hammer breaking ball has been MIA for much of the last month and a half despite 37 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. If Wake could get him on track, that’d be yet another weapon for it.
Best Offensive Team: Maryland.
Wake Forest has negligably better statistics, but Maryland has a more complete offensive attack with its ability to manufacture runs and attack with aggressiveness on the bases. Both teams are scoring more than nine runs a game and if they face off in the ‘if necessary’ game with the pitching staff’s exhausted, it could be the first to 15 runs.
Best Defensive Team: UConn.
The Huskies have the highest fielding percentage of the bunch and have only got better as the season progressed and Bryan Padilla solidified himself as the everyday shortstop allowing Zach Bushling to move to second and third base where his range is more suited. David Smith struggled at second base initially but has really come on while Ben Huber has been a defensive gem found at a lower level at first base..
No. 1 Seed Win Probability (1-10): 4.
Maryland has all the pieces for a College World Series run, but they have to be able to push aside all the extras that come with being a first-time host. There will be extra pressure playing in front of a rowdy home crowd looking for something to rally around and how the Terrapins handle that could determine whether this regional is there’s to win or if Wake Forest/UConn should be licking their lips at the opportunity in front of them.