Monday May 26, 2003

Golden Panthers’ streak of six straight Regionals snapped

After six straight invitations to the NCAA Baseball Championships, head coach Danny Price and his Golden Panthers were left home this year despite an above-average 36-23 record and an RPI in the low 40s.

“I knew we were on the bubble, but I’m still extremely disappointed,” Price said. “As far as the RPI was considered, I thought we were fine. Still, we needed fewer upsets in the conference championships, and we didn’t see that.”

Fellow Sun Belt Conference members South Alabama, Middle Tennessee State and New Mexico State all received bids. Price endorsed the selection of New Mexico State, even though they finished with an RPI in the low 50s,

“I felt our conference would have needed to receive four bids for us to get in. I truly felt New Mexico State, having beaten us, deserved to go.”

“We have been to the Regionals every year except one since 1995. We’ll be back. We just need to turn this around and keep working hard.”