Preview | Horizon baseball tournament

Butler

Record: 12-33, 7-17 Horizon Coach: Steve Farley (17th season at Butler – 427-494-1 / 20th overall – 480-539-1) Season update: YSU went 2-3 against the Bulldogs in 2008, losing twice in three games in Indianapolis and splitting a doubleheader at Eastwood Field. Sophomore infielder Kyle Schultz is batting a team-high .381 for the Bulldogs, who are hitting .269 as a team. Tournament history: Butler has won tournament titles in 1998 and 2000 and finished as the runner-up three times (1999, 2003, 2006). YSU is 2-3 overall in the tournament. YSU eliminated the Bulldogs from the tournament last season with a 20-7 victory.

Cleveland State

Record: 21-29, 10-13 Horizon Coach: Kevin Kocks (Second season at CSU – 35-73 / 15th overall – 504-401) Season update: YSU went 1-2 against Cleveland State. The Vikings ended the season by losing 10 of their final 12, including seven straight. Tournament history: Cleveland State has finished as the runner-up twice (2001, 2004). YSU holds a 3-2 record against CSU in the league tournament. Cleveland State knocked YSU from the 2006 tournament with a 6-4 victory while YSU ousted Cleveland State in 2007 with a 15-9 win. YSU defeated Cleveland State twice, including the championship game, in the 2004 tournament.

Milwaukee

Record: 21-34, 11-15 Horizon Coach: Scott Doffek (Second season at UWM/overall – 46-66) Season update: YSU went 4-1 against the Panthers this season, taking two out of three last week in Milwaukee. The Panthers are batting .305, average 6.53 runs per game and have hit 29 homers. Six different players are batting over .300 with senior outfielder Nick Wicsher leading the way with a .363 average and six RBIs. Tournament history: Milwaukee won the title three out of four years from 1999-2002. Its three titles are tied with UIC for the most by a current league member. YSU has won two out of five contests against Milwaukee in the tournament, but two of the losses came last season. YSU has opened postseason play against Milwaukee three times since 2003, including last year.

Illinois-Chicago

Record: 31-19, 17-6 Horizon Coach: Mike Dee (10th season at UIC/overall – 333-220-1) Season update: YSU went 2-1 against UIC. Five players are hitting above .300 for UIC, which is batting .303 as a team. Freshman outfielder Steve McGuiggan is hitting a team-best .369.

Tournament history: UIC has won three of the last five titles (2003, 2005, 2007). The Flames have also finished as the runner-up three times (1996, 2000, 2002), and have been the No. 1 seed the past six seasons.

Valparaiso

Record: 18-33, 8-13 Horizon Coach: Tracy Woodson (Second season at Valpo/overall – 40-65) Season update: YSU went 3-2 against Valparaiso this season, including winning two out of three at Eastwood Field in early April. Valpo is batting .285 as a team with four everyday players hitting above .300. Senior outfielder Zach Rodeghero is batting a team-high .424, including .474 against the Horizon League, and has 45 RBIs. Tournament history: This is Valpo’s first season in the Horizon League.

Wright State

Record: 27-20, 16-6 Horizon Coach: Rob Cooper (Fourth season at Wright State/overall – 121-102) Season update: Wright State went 3-1 against YSU, with its lone defeat coming on May 4 at Eastwood Field, 8-5. The Raiders are led by junior probable high-round draft choices Jeremy Hamilton and Justin Parker. Hamilton is batting .424 with 21 doubles, eight homers and 47 RBIs while Parker is hitting .403 with 18 doubles, seven homers and 49 RBIs. Tournament history: Wright State won its league tournament title in 1995, and it captured the crown in 2006 on its home field. The Raiders were the runners-up in 1997. Youngstown State and Wright State have never played in the tournament.