NCAA Baseball Tournament Athens Regional Preview & Predictions
Last updated May 30, 2025
The Athens Regional of the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament launches at noon on May 30 with top-seed Georgia hosting fourth-seed Binghamton, while second-seed Duke collides with third-seed Oklahoma State in their tournament openers. A double-elimination format will decide which club moves on to the Super Regional round, and with every team bringing a prodigious power profile, Foley Field’s short right-field porch figures to be busy all weekend.
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Athens Regional Preview
Georgia Team Preview
Coach Wes Johnson’s group rolls in after a 42-15 campaign built on elite power and improved pitching. Grad transfer Ryland Zaborowski has filled the Charlie Condon void with a .375 average, 16 homers and 60 RBIs, while Bryce Clavon (1.207 OPS) and Robbie Burnett (20 HR) are key pieces in the UGA lineup.
On the hill, Leighton Finley and Brian Curley are the first two starters we are likely to see. They have a combined 154 strikeouts between them this season and will look to get the Bulldogs off to a 2-0 start to give them two chances to advance. Georgia’s +63 home run differential illustrates how well their arms have complemented their big bats.
Oklahoma State Team Preview
The Oklahoma State Cowboys had a streaky year in the rugged Big 12 but have impact talent that could help them in a postseason setting. Their offense leans on four long-ball threats: Brayden Smith (.312 AVG, 11 HR, 38 RBI), Colin Brueggemann (.301, 14 HR), Ritchie Kollin (10 HR, .554 SLG), and Nolan Schubart (17 HR, 54 RBI).
Pitching ace Harrison Bodendorf headlines the staff after transferring from Hawai‘i. The lanky lefty is 10-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 87.2 frames, earning repeated Big 12 weekly honors. Mario Pesca (7 wins) and Hunter Watkins (66 strikeouts in 60 innings) bolster their pitching depth, but the overall staff ERA sits at 4.33, so damage control will be pivotal against the homer-happy field.
Duke Team Preview
Chris Pollard brings a balanced Blue Devils club to Athens. The offense is anchored by third baseman Ben Miller (.323 AVG, 18 HR, 58 RBI) and sophomore center fielder AJ Gracia (.303, 13 HR, 52 RBI). Right fielder Jake Hyde adds a .291 mark with 11 homers and a team-best 61 RBI. Their 99 home runs make them dangerous enough to where they were also able to draw 382 walks, nearly double what their pitchers issued to opposing hitters.
Pitching has steadied over the last six weeks for Duke. The staff ERA sits at 4.12 since April 1, giving Duke a path in lower-scoring tilts. They are allowing just 3.6 walks per nine innings as well, and they will need pinpoint control if they want any shot at winning this regional.
Binghamton Team Preview
The America East champions crash the SEC party after an extra-inning conference title win over Bryant. Their veteran-heavy lineup can surprise. Zach Rogacki (.360 AVG, 8 HR, 42 RBI) and first baseman Freddy Forgione (.358 AVG, 14 HR) pack a punch, while table-setter Matt Bolton (.356) and catcher Devan Bade (.348 AVG, 11 HR, 59 RBI) can build up traffic on the bases.
Run prevention is the concern for Binghamton. The Bearcats’ staff ERA stands at 6.46, with weekend arm Hayden Tarsia posting a 4.97 mark over 67 innings and veteran Ryan Packard holding a 7.52 figure as the de facto number 2 starter. Their bullpen has struggled even against lesser competition, making multi-run frames a constant threat.
Betting Insights
Georgia is a −310 favorite to win the regional, with Duke +330, Oklahoma State +800, and Binghamton +4000. That hefty price on the Bulldogs reflects both their thunderous attack and home-field advantage, but it also opens value angles on the two power-conference challengers.
The bracket winner advances to face the Oxford Regional champion, so an SEC showdown with Ole Miss or an in-state tilt with Georgia Tech could lie ahead if Georgia were to hold serve in this regional foursome.
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2025 Athens Regional Prediction
Expect Georgia to beat Binghamton comfortably, while Oklahoma State squeaks past Duke in a power hitting showcase. Georgia’s right-hand power will neutralize the Cowboys in Saturday’s winners’ game, pushing the Bulldogs into Sunday unbeaten. Duke, meanwhile, survives the elimination path behind Owen Proksch and Reid Easterly, then forces Georgia to a Monday decider where the Bulldogs’ deeper bullpen and crowd edge finally close the deal.
Final call: Georgia advances, but their current price is certainly not fun to lay.
