The bracket is out and it should be an interesting tournament. FGCU is gonna be hard to beat, but outside of their #1 starter they aren't nearly as tough.

Opening games on Wednesday:

game 1 -- #1 FGCU vs. #6 Stetson

game 2 -- #2 Mercer vs. #5 Jacksonville

game 3 -- #3 ETSU vs. #4 North Florida

------------
next game after opening round
Winner G1 vs. loser Game 3
Winner G2 vs. Winner G3
Loser G1 vs. Loser G2 -- elimination game

So I'm assuming FGCU will throw Sale (their ace) to open the tournament so he's ready for a possible final game on Saturday. I don't see any reason to try to "save" him for a tougher opponent in game 2 and then pitch again on shorter rest. We all need Stetson to pull a miracle and beat them in game 1. Stetson is a tough opening match for them, it's possible.

Just to get in Stetson had to rally from a 6-1 deficit in the 5th to beat JU 8-6 in the last game and avoid a sweep, then the fans and players stuck around as the PA announcer gave updates on the Mercer-Belmont game. Big sigh of relief at Melching when the Mercer 9-8 final came over the speakers. Doesn't feel great to sneak into the tournament, but it's better than missing it! Gracias Mercer!

Our offense has gone AWOL for a while now and sure not gonna come back vs. Sale - need to hope for a 2-1 or 1-0 upset.

Wow I had no idea the drama that Stetson went through to get in!! I knew Belmont had to win 2 of 3 from Mercer, but I didn't know Stetson was down big in their final game. I am gonna be looking for a Hatter upset on Wednesday! FGCU may be really good, but they've still never been to the postseason. Stetson has all the experience. It's gonna be a tense game.

Isn't the tournament at Lipscomb? You'd think they'd expand to eight teams just to include the Bisons.

yea Lipsomb didn't have much of a team this year and they are the host. Sad to host a tournament and just be a spectator.

(05-23-2010 11:40 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  Isn't the tournament at Lipscomb? You'd think they'd expand to eight teams just to include the Bisons.

Wouldn't even help...Lipscomb finished 9th behind Belmont and KSU

FGCU ran away from Stetson late, 9-4
Mercer jumped on Jacksonville early, won 10-1
ETSU held off a UNF rally and won 7-5

today it's Stetson-JU (elimination game), FGCU-UNF (elimination for UNF only) and Mercer-ETSU

I just turned on asun.tv and saw Stetson tie up JU in the 9th.

Jacksonville stayed alive and eliminated Stetson, 3-2

I have to admit I was happy to see Stetson eliminated, they have always been Mercer's nemesis.

I wouldn't have worried. The last Stetson players to make a regional just graduated and likely to be a while to make it back.