D2 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL: UMO's Lancaster says there's no clear-cut favorite

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 18, 2017 9:59 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Grab a pen and cut up six slips of paper.

Write down these names -- University of Mount Olive, North Georgia, Georgia College, UNC Pembroke, Catawba, Lincoln Memorial and USC Aiken.

Fold the paper.

Place the names into a hat and shake it up.

Pull one out.

Chances are you might -- or might not -- pick the winner of the 2017 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional that started this morning at Scarborough Field on the University of Mount Olive campus.

"They all scare me," laughed UMO head coach Carl Lancaster. "There are not any weak teams here, no doubt about that. I think this is going to be one of the best regions in the country this year. Who gets out of this is going to have a chance to go a long way in the World Series."

But, first things, first.

Someone has to survive the rigor and brutality associated with this seven-team field over a five-day period.

Peach Belt Conference foes Georgia College (35-13 overall) and USC Aiken (39-13) played the opener earlier today. Lincoln Memorial (33-17) and North Georgia (42-10) square off in the middle game at 3 p.m.

In-state rivals Catawba (37-15) and UNC Pembroke (40-15) meet at 7 p.m. Catawba emerged as the CWS runner-up in 2015.

UMO?

Well, the top-seeded Trojans -- who are also ranked No. 1 in the country -- meet either Catawba or UNC Pembroke at 3 p.m. on Friday. Lancaster's club is in the regional for the eighth straight year and 16th time overall during the program's Division II era.

"(To survive) you have to go out and do your best, get some key hits and hope our pitchers have done what they have done for us all year," Lancaster said. "We've got to swing the bat better than we've swung it in a long time, no question. We have to make every pitch count, battle when you get down in the count."

The Trojans are hitting .286 as a team with 427 strikeouts - an average of 7.8 per game. Seven batters in the starting nine are hitting .300 or higher, but have combined for 245 strikeouts -- 57 percent of the team's total.

Their saving grace?

A masterful bullpen led by three workhorses -- Austin Hutchison, Bruce Zimmerman and Brighton Hudson. The trio of weekend starters has amassed a total of 28 wins and combined to throw 251.3 innings.

The ERA? A respectable 2.15.

"I feel like we've got as good a chance as anybody," Lancaster said. "The only concern is this long break. It's been forever...almost like we're starting our season over as if it's the beginning of the year. The layoff and quality of pitching you're seeing, that's the two issues you face."

UMO is 11-13 all-time in Southeast Regional play. The Trojans won the 2008 CWS crown and tied for fourth during the 2011 CWS.