Selection Monday

It was the Monday morning after SEC Championship tournament, and the NCAA selection show was happening at 11 a.m. College Baseball fans around the nation were counting down the minutes to find out where they would be going.

How much would these national seeds change and where would the two and three seeds end up? With upsets and tournaments around the conferences still happening this would be one thing that no one was prepared for.

10:30 a.m. came around, and the NCAA Baseball tweeted out the top four seeds in alphabetical order, and they are as follows: Arkansas, Auburn, Texas and Vanderbilt.

As the clock strikes the top of the hour, the LSU Baseball team files sit together in anticipation, ready to hear the selections made and what this will do to their chances of getting back to the mecca of college baseball: Omaha.

As the reveal of the national seeds and opening round matchups approaches for the Tigers, the players are growing increasingly anxious, their anticipation mounting as they await the announcement of their national ranking and the identity of their regional opponent.

The Tigers, now the No. 6 national seed, will host a regional and super regional on home turf in Alex Box, opening with Little Rock, Rhode Island and Dallas Baptist University, and it's looking favorable for the Baton Rouge regional.

And the regional they are paired with is the Clemson regional, which brought a loud round of cheers from the Tigers.

If the LSU Tigers can win the Baton Rouge regional, they will host the super-regional, and the road to Omaha for the Tigers is entirely in home territory, so fans will head to the Box for postseason play.

This seed comes as no shock to the Tigers, who have been fighting all season to embark on a redemption tour after narrowly missing a return to Omaha. Head coach Jay Johnson was never shocked to be a top 8 national seed, but who they are opening up with is something they are more than prepared for going into the postseason.

"I think we have been consistent in our approach," said head coach Jay Johnson. "I like that the we have a bit of an home field advantage, and I think I love playing here, I love our fans and I love how our team this year has played here."

This region looks favorable for the Tigers, so here is a break-down on each team. Starting with the opening team, the Little Rock Trojans.

After capturing the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 2024, Little Rock is poised for a strong showing in the regional. They were picked second in the OVC Preseason Poll, reflecting the respect they've garnered within the conference.

A key player to look for is Jackson Wells (RHP): A senior pitcher named Little Rock's 2025 Player to Watch, Wells previously led the nation in ERA (1.65) in 2023 and is expected to anchor the Trojans' rotation.

The Trojans' success will largely depend on their pitching staff, led by Wells. If he can recapture his dominant form from 2023, Little Rock could pose a significant challenge to higher-seeded teams in the regional

Dallas Baptist:

Under the seasoned leadership of Head Coach Dan Heefner, now in his 18th season, the Patriots have established themselves as a formidable mid-major program. They've made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including each of the last 10 seasons, and have reached two super regionals since 2008.

Some key players to look out for

• Grant Jay (C): A junior and one of the nation's top power hitters, Jay was named the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year. In 2024, he posted a .300 batting average with 21 home runs and 57 RBIs. DBU Patriots

• Chayton Krauss (1B): Senior infielder who led the team with a .358 average, 16 home runs, and 66 RBIs in the previous season. College Sports Madness

• Michael Dattalo (3B): A junior who contributed a .345 average, 8 home runs, and 47 RBIs, earning All-Conference USA honors. DBU Patriots

• Luke Pettitte (RHP): Sophomore pitcher and son of former MLB pitcher Andy Pettitte, he was named C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2024. Baseball America

Dallas Baptist boasts a potent offense with a veteran infield and power hitters throughout the lineup. While the pitching staff has talent, it lacks experience, especially after the departure of key starters. The team's success in the regional will hinge on the young pitchers stepping up under pressure.

Rhode Island:

The Rams secured both the Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament titles, marking their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016. Under 11th-year head coach Raphael Cerrato, Rhode Island has developed a balanced team capable of competing on the national stage.

A key player to look out for is Paul Calandrelli (C): A versatile athlete committed to Rhode Island, Calandrelli has demonstrated leadership and adaptability, excelling as both a catcher and closer in high school.

Rhode Island enters the regional with momentum from their conference championship run. Their balanced roster and strong team chemistry could make them a dark horse in the Baton Rouge Regional.