Southland baseball

* Last year: 41-22 overall, 15-9 and tied for third in the Pac-10; advanced to NCAA super regional before losing to Oregon State.

* Top returners: Jr. RHP Ian Kennedy (12-3, 2.54 ERA, 158 K, 117 IP); Jr. RHP Paul Koss (4-1, 2.81 ERA, 14 saves); So. 3B Matt Cusick (.311, 4 HRs, 35 RBIs).

*--* USC

*--*

* Top newcomers: Jr. C Johnny Bowden; Jr. OF/DH Shawn Olsen.

* Opener: Today vs. Long Beach State at Blair Field.

*--* UCLA

*--*

* Last year: 15-41 overall, 4-20 and next to last in the Pac-10.

* Top returners: Sr. OF Chris Jensen (.368, 7 HRs, 21 RBIs); Sr. 1B/3B Brett McMillan (.257, 7 HRs, 33 RBIs); Jr. RHP Hector Ambriz (3-7, 3.94 ERA).

* Top newcomers: Fr. C Ryan Babineau; Fr. INF Brandon Crawford.

* Opener: Today vs. Fresno State at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

*--* CAL STATE FULLERTON

*--*

* Last year: 46-18 overall, 16-5 and first in the Big West; advanced to NCAA super regional before losing to Arizona State.

* Top returners: Sr. 2B Justin Turner (.324, 3 HRs, 41 RBIs); Sr. LF Danny Dorn (.272, 10 HRs, 49 RBIs); Jr. 1B Brett Pill (.327, 9 HRs, 57 RBIs).

* Top newcomers: Fr. 1B/LHP David Cooper; So. RHP/OF Chris Jones; Jr. LHP Ryan Paul.

* Opener: Today at Stanford.

*--* LONG BEACH STATE

*--*

* Last year: 37-22 overall, 14-7 and tied for second in the Big West.

* Top returners: Jr. 3B Evan Longoria (.320, 5 HRs, 30 RBIs); Jr. RHP Jared Hughes (8-3, 2.89 ERA); So. 1B Brandon Godfrey (.305, 1 HR, 34 RBIs).

* Top newcomers: Fr. SS Danny Espinosa; Jr. RHP Andrew Carpenter; Fr. RHP Vance Worley.

* Opener: Today vs. USC at Blair Field.

*--* UC RIVERSIDE

*--*

* Last year: 28-27 overall, 11-10 and fourth in the Big West.

* Top returners: Sr. RHP Haley Winter (6-8, 3.44 ERA); Sr. OF Aaron Grant (.357, 1 HR, 30 RBIs); Jr. 1B Nick Salotti (.339, 8 HRs, 46 RBIs).

* Top newcomers: Jr. OF D.J. Hollingsworth; Fr. RHP Erick Carrillo.

* Opener: Today at home vs. San Francisco.

*--* UC IRVINE

*--*

* Last year: 31-25 overall, 10-11 and fifth in the Big West.

* Top returners: Jr. RHP Justin Cassel (9-4, 3.54 ERA); Jr. RHP Blair Erickson (1-2, 1.80 ERA, 10 saves); Sr. LHP Glenn Swanson (6-4, 5.51 ERA in 2004).

* Top newcomers: Fr. 2B Ben Orloff; Fr. C Sammy Donabedian.

* Opener: Today at home vs. California.

*--* UC SANTA BARBARA

*--*

* Last year: 26-30 overall, 8-13 and seventh in the Big West.

* Top returners: Jr. SS Chris Valaika (.208, 0 HRs, 4 RBIs); Sr. RHP Steve Morlock (7-7, 5.83 ERA); Jr. RHP Andy Graham (4-7, 5.95 ERA).

* Top newcomers: Jr. OF Mario Lewis; Jr. 1B Robbie Blauer.

* Opener: Tuesday at home vs. Westmont.

*--* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

*--*

* Last year: 18-36-1 overall, 2-19 and last in the Big West.

* Top returners: Jr. RHP Craig Baker (4-5, 7.88 ERA); Sr. 3B Erik Hagstrom (.310, 24 RBIs).

* Top newcomers: Jr. 2B/SS Alex Bardeguez; Fr. RHP Edwin Quirarte.

* Next game: Today at home vs. Nevada.

*--* PEPPERDINE

*--*

* Last year: 41-23 overall, 21-9 and first in the West Division of the West Coast Conference; advanced to NCAA regional before losing to USC.

* Top returners: Sr. LHP Paul Coleman (9-3, 3.35 ERA); Jr. C Chad Tracy (.367, 12 HRs, 61 RBIs); Soph. RHP Barry Enright (10-1, 4.62 ERA).

* Top newcomers: Fr. 3B Chase d’Arnaud; So. INF Matt Aidem; Jr. C Justin Tellam.

* Opener: Today at home vs. Nevada Las Vegas.

*--* LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

*--*

* Last year: 31-27 overall, 18-12 and first in the Coast Division of the West Coast Conference.

* Top returners: Sr. LF Chris Pettit (.329, 9 HRs, 44 RBIs, 21 steals); Sr. 3B Kyle Mura (.247, 6 HRs, 35 RBIs); So. 2B Eric Farris (.345, 2 HRs, 17 RBIs).

* Top newcomers: Sr. RF Erik Johnson; Sr. RHP Roberto Torres; Sr. 3B Casey Gordon.

* Opener: Today at Arizona.

*

-- BEN BOLCH