Our Marquee Match-Up of the Week for this weekend heads out to the west coast, and we have yet another jam-packed schedule on the docket. Although there are no series' this week between a pair of ranked teams, we do have an awful lot of match-ups that consist of some lofty early-season win-loss records. Additionally, we are getting in to the swing of conference play in the west and south, which is going to create some favorites going forward for the next couple weeks.
Without further explanation, our week five Marquee Match-Up of the Week is...
Cal State-Monterey Bay (11-1, 0-0 CCAA) at Chico State (10-2, 0-0 CCAA)
Game One: Friday, 2/26, 5:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio | Video)
Game Three: Saturday, 2/27, 5:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio | Video)
Game Four: Sunday, 2/28, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio | Video)
Projected Pitching Match-Ups
Game One: Gabe Katich (1-1, 2.40) vs Clayton Gelfand (2-1, 0.73)
Game Two: Jorge Alvarado (0-0, 4.00) vs Steven Baker (2-0, 2.37)
Game Three: Jared Koenig (0-0, 3.52) vs Dalton Erb (2-1, 2.95)
Game Four: Ryan Boydstun (2-0, 4.80) vs TBA
(Pitching match-ups are based on rotations in prior series during the season and are not to be considered accurate)
Although neither team has broken in to the Perfect Game Top 25 yet, these are a pair of teams that could very well supplant one of the two CCAA favorites for the top spot in the conference this season. CSMB has been one of the hottest teams of the year so far, while Chico State's only discrepancies came in an uncharacteristic series loss to the Academy of Art. Their incredible pitching staff has been mowing hitters down, and will have their hands full trying to stymie the Otter bats. I have to think that if either team can take three of four in this series, they'll have the inside track on a top three finish in the conference, albeit with plenty of games to play.
Here are a bevy of other Division II series' from around the country to keep an eye on, including one here at the top of the list that could have very well stolen the Marquee Match-Up of the Week label for themselves:
Dixie State (10-0) at #4 Colorado Mesa (6-1)
Game One: Friday, 2/26, 4:30 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Saturday, 2/27, 5:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Four: Sunday, 2/28, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Barry (9-3, 2-1 SSC) at #5 Tampa (8-1, 0-0 SSC)
Game One: Friday, 2/26, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Saturday, 2/27, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Lindenwood (5-2, 0-0 MIAA) at #8 Missouri Southern (8-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Game One: Friday, 2/26, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Sunday, 2/28, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio)
Valdosta State (10-3, 3-0 GSC) at #10 West Florida (6-5, 2-1 GSC)
Game One: Saturday, 2/27, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 5:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Sunday, 2/28, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
#12 Columbus State (10-2, 3-0 PBC) at North Georgia (9-2, 3-0 PBC)
Game One: Friday, 2/26, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Sunday, 2/28, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Newberry (11-3-1, 0-0 SAC) at #22 Catawba (5-4, 0-0 SAC)
Game One: Saturday, 2/27, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Sunday, 2/28, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Cal State-East Bay (9-2, 0-0 CCAA) vs Stanislaus State (7-3, 0-0 CCAA)
Game One: Friday, 2/26, 6:00 PM ET (@ CSU-Stan) (Live Stats | Audio | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 3:00 PM ET (@ CSU-EB) (Live Stats)
Game Three: Saturday, 2/27, 6:00 PM ET (@ CSU-EB) (Live Stats)
Game Four: Sunday, 2/28, 3:00 PM ET (@ CSU-Stan) (Live Stats | Audio | Video)
Lubbock Christian (9-1) at Colorado State-Pueblo (4-3)
Game One: Friday, 2/26, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Saturday, 2/27, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Four: Sunday, 2/28, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Wingate (8-5, 0-0 SAC) at Mars Hill (11-4, 0-0 SAC)
Game One: Saturday, 2/27, 12:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Sunday, 2/28, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Alabama-Huntsville (8-4, 3-0 GSC) at West Georgia (8-2, 1-2 GSC)
Game One: Saturday, 2/27, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Sunday, 2/28, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Lee (5-5, 0-3 GSC) at Delta State (7-4, 2-1 GSC)
Game One: Saturday, 2/27, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio)
Game Two: Saturday, 2/27, 4:30 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio)
Game Three: Sunday, 2/28, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio)
Here is a breakdown of the next week's schedule for the entirety of the Perfect Game Top 25:
#1 St. Cloud State (3-0): Off until March 7th.
#2 Franklin Pierce (0-0): The Ravens finally begin their season with a five-game set this weekend in Myrtle Beach. They'll play a doubleheader against Mercy on Friday, play Queens (N.Y.) and Bridgeport on Saturday, then wrap up the weekend with a game against Wilmington on Sunday.
#3 Millersville (6-1): The Marauders have a tough weekend coming up. Millersville will face UNC Pembroke on Thursday, Saint Rose on Friday and Saturday, and finish the weekend with a game against Francis Marion, all in Florence, South Carolina.
#4 Colorado Mesa (6-1): Mesa faces an undefeated Dixie State team in a four-game series this weekend at home.
#5 Tampa (8-1): Tampa kicks off conference play with a three-game series against Barry at home. On Sunday, they will participate in an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies (which Tampa won last year, 6-2).
#6 St. Edward's (10-3): The Hilltoppers, riding an eight-game winning streak, will take on LIU Post in a four-game series at home this weekend.
#7 Quincy (0-0): The Midwest region favorites begin their season with three games in Nashville on the field of Trevecca Nazarene, including beginning their year with a game on Friday against the hosts. On Saturday, they'll face Wayne State (Mich.) before taking on Walsh on Sunday.
#8 Missouri Southern (8-0): The undefeated Lions begin MIAA play with a three-game series at home against Lindenwood.
#9 Minnesota State (3-0): The Mavericks are off until March 3rd.
#10 West Florida (6-5): UWF welcomes Valdosta State in to town for a three-game GSC series this weekend. They'll also face Stillman on Wednesday for a non-conference contest.
#11 Florida Tech (6-6): FIT will take on Albany State in a three-game non-conference series this weekend.
#12 Columbus State (10-2): The Cougars will look to grab the early upper-hand in the PBC with a three-game series at North Georgia. They'll also face Auburn-Montgomery in a Wednesday contest.
#13 Cal Poly Pomona (8-3): The Broncos used seven pitchers to combine on a three-hitter against Azusa Pacific in a 1-0 victory on Wednesday night. This weekend, they'll take on San Francisco State in a three-game CCAA set at SFSU.
#14 UC San Diego (10-2): UCSD will take on Cal State-San Bernardino in a split four-game series to kick off CCAA play. They'll play the Friday and Sunday single games in San Diego and play a doubleheader in San Bernardino on Saturday.
#15 Mercyhurst (4-3): The Lakers are off until March 12th.
#16 California Baptist (6-4): CBU will look to rebound with a four-game home series against Saint Martin's.
#17 Southern Indiana (2-1): The Screaming Eagles will host a pair of teams on their home field this weekend, facing Truman State on Friday and Sunday with a game against Ashland on Saturday.
#18 West Alabama (8-4): UWA will head to Mississippi College for a three-game GSC series this weekend. They'll also face Spring Hill in a single game on the road on Wednesday.
#19 Nova Southeastern (6-5): The Sharks will look to continue their run of stellar performances with a three-game series at Flagler this weekend.
#20 Ashland (0-0): AU is kicking off their season with a trio of games in Evansville, Ind. at the home of Southern Indiana. They'll face Missouri-St. Louis for an early game on Saturday before taking on host USI in the evening. On Sunday, they'll face St. Joseph's.
#21 Southern Arkansas (8-5): The Muleriders will be looking to rebound from a 1-2 GAC start with a three-game conference set at home against Southern Nazarene.
#22 Catawba (5-4): The Indians will begin their SAC conference season with what might be a match-up against the other favorite in the league. They'll take on Newberry in a three-game home series.
#23 Southern New Hampshire (0-0): One of the East region favorites will begin their season this weekend with five games in Myrtle Beach. They'll face Dominican in a Friday doubleheader, take on Wilmington and Nyack on Saturday, and finish up the weekend with a single game against Mercy.
#24 East Stroudsburg (4-0): The Warriors are heading to Virginia for a four-game weekend. They'll face California (Pa.) on Saturday, Post and Shepherd on Sunday, and face a yet-to-be-determined opponent on Monday.
#25 USC Aiken (10-1): The Pacers will look to continue their nine-game win streak with a three-game PBC set at Georgia College over the weekend. They'll then take on Paine in a Wednesday non-conference game.
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