This Week in MSU Baseball: OMAHA Edition (June 12, 2013)

Well, it looks like the weekly preview continues to survive just as the Dawgs continue to survive. The Bulldogs went up to Virginia and left with an impressive 2-0 weekend and a trip to the College World Series in Omaha for the ninth time in school history. Strong pitching and 30 hits in two days, usually bode well for teams and they certainly did for MSU in the Super Regional.

The Dawgs returned home around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning to about 150-200 loyal Bulldog fans. They came off of the bus in awe with smiles on their faces hugging everyone in sight. You could really tell that this team knew they had accomplished what they set for themselves in the preseason. Now, there's one more accomplishment and that's a national championship.

With the College World Series field set, there is only one publication that is still doing the top 25. Here is a list of the last rankings MSU were awarded. We expect a very high postseason finish for this team, most definitely in the top 10 in each publication.

Publication	This Week	Last Ranking
Baseball America	N/A	14
Collegiate Baseball	7	12
USA Today	N/A	11
Perfect Game	N/A	12
NCBWA	N/A	9

Now let's check out where the Bulldogs stack up against the rest of the country and in the conference. They had a huge weekend and should move up in several categories with all but one other conference team still alive.

Individual Offense

Batting Average: 6th - Hunter Renfroe (.360); 7th- Adam Frazier (.359)

Hits: 3rd (4th in NCAA)- Frazier (102); 5th (T-40th in NCAA) - Renfroe (85)

Slugging %: 1st (21st in NCAA) - Renfroe (.644)

On Base %: 3rd- Alex Detz (.457); 6th- Renfroe (.445)

Runs Scored: T-2nd-Frazier (T-29th in NCAA) (60); 5th-Renfroe (54)

RBI: 3rd (T-27th in NCAA)- Renfore (61)

Doubles: 1st- Frazier (19); T-9th- Renfroe (16)

Triples: T-1st (T-6th in NCAA) - Frazier (7)

Home Runs: T-1st (T-14th in NCAA) - Renfroe (15); T-7th- Wes Rea (7)

Total Bases: 2nd (13th in NCAA)- Renfroe (152); 4th (T-39th in NCAA)- Frazier (135)

Walks: 2nd (T-11th in NCAA) -Alex Detz (52); T-11th- Renfroe (34)

Hit by Pitch: 3rd (T-28th in NCAA)-Brett Pirtle (19)

At Bats: 1st- Frazier (284); T-7th-Bradford (245)

Team Batting

Batting Average: 3rd (.297)

Hits: 3rd (T-9th in NCAA) (672)

Slugging %: 4th (.392)

On Base %: 3rd (33rd in NCAA) (.387)

Runs Scored: 3rd (31st in NCAA) (399)

RBI: 3rd (356)

Doubles: 5th (99)

Triples: 4th (15)

Home Runs: 7th (29)

Total Bases: 3rd (888)

At Bats: 2nd (2266)

Walks: T-3rd (T-14th in NCAA) (280)

Hit by Pitch: 4th (76)

Stolen Bases: 6th (56)

Team/Individual Defense and Pitching

Earned Run Average: 4th (13th in NCAA) (2.77) Leaders: Ross Mitchell- 1st (8th in NCAA)- (1.35)

Opposing Batting Average: 4th (.224) Leaders: R. Mitchell-6th (.205)

Innings Pitched: 2nd (598.1) Leader: Kendall Graveman- 6th (103.1)

Strikeouts: 1st (2nd in NCAA) (549) Leader: Jonathan Holder- 7th (83)

Wins: 3rd (48) Leaders: R. Mitchell- T-2nd (T-6th in NCAA) (12); Chad Girodo- T-7th (8); Graveman- T-11th (7)

Saves: T-3rd (21) Leader: Jonathan Holder- 1st (T-5th in NCAA)- (18)

Appearances: Leader: Chad Girodo- T-3rd (34); R. Mitchell- 9th (31); Holder- T-10th (30)

(Least Amount) Hits: 7th (488) Leaders: R. Mitchell- 9th- (63)

(Least Amount) Earned Runs: 4th (184) Leader: R. Mitchell- T-1st- (13)

(Least Amount) Doubles: 3rd (63); Leader: R. Mitchell- T-8th (9)

(Least Amount) Triples: T-2nd (5) Leaders: R. Mitchell and Pollorena -T-1st (0)

(Least Amount) Home Runs: T-5th (21) Leaders: R. Mitchell and Pollorena- T-6th (2)

(Least Amount) Intentional Walks: T-1st (3)

Fielding %: 8th (.972)

Chances: 1st (2650) Leader: Wes Rea- 9th (471)

Putouts: 2nd (1795) Leader: Rea- 8th (442)

Assists: 1st (780) Leader: Frazier-1st (228); Pirtle- T-9th (168)

Double Plays: 2nd (4th in NCAA) (76) Leaders: Frazier-2nd (59); Rea- 6th (46); Pirtle-T-10th (42)

So State moved up in several statistical categories and will continue to do so as they are now one of just eight teams remaining in NCAA baseball.

Game one of the College World Series will pit MSU vs. the number three overall seed Oregon State. The Beavers lost game one of their series against Kansas State before winning each of the next two games to advance to Omaha. Interesting enough, OSU's last appearance in the CWS was also in 2007. That game is set for 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon on ESPN 2.

Also in the Bulldogs' bracket are Indiana and Louisville who will play their game following MSU/OSU. Half of this years' field was a part of the CWS field in 2007 (North Carolina, Oregon State, Louisville and MSU).