It is that time of week again! Inside, we preview the top series in the world of Division II baseball this weekend as well as giving you all the pertinent links to the rest of the top series' around the nation. Our Marquee Match-Up of the Week finally starts moving a little bit East across the plains, and finds itself in...
Joplin, Missouri, for an important MIAA tilt.
Marquee Match-Up of the Week
Emporia State (13-3, 6-0 MIAA) at #8 Missouri Southern State (11-3, 3-3 MIAA)
Game One: Saturday, 3/12, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio)
Game Two: Sunday, 3/13, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Audio)
Game Three: Monday, 3/14, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Projected Pitching Match-Ups
Game One: ESU Stubblefield (3-0, 2.20) vs MSSU Walker (3-1, 2.00)
Game Two: ESU Slauter (3-0, 4.24) vs MSSU Smith (1-1, 4.50)
Game Three: ESU Plank (3-0, 2.20) vs MSSU Hoffman (1-0, 6.92)
(Projected match-ups are based purely on prior schedule's rotation and should not be considered official in any way.)
On paper, Emporia State holds a significant advantage here. They boast one of the best offenses in Division II baseball so far this season, with *every* *single* *starter* batting over .300 and five of them hitting over .400. The team is led by Evan Koehler, who is raking at a .444 clip with 24 runs, seven doubles, a nation-leading 11 home runs) and 29 RBI (4th in the country).
Here comes the caveat. ESU, riding an eight-game winning streak, is 6-0 in the MIAA, but the two teams they have swept are a combined 0-13 in the conference. That doesn't make the numbers any less impressive, though. ESU is in the top 5 in the country in almost every offensive category.
For Missouri Southern, it is a much more balanced attack. They are hitting .323 as a team and holding a team ERA of 4.13, Jesse Rall leads the way on offense, hitting .439 with 19 runs, 5 HR, 16 RBI and a nice, round 1.000 slugging percentage with a .619 on-base percentage. He is one of three starters batting over .400, and much like ESU, MSSU has all nine starters batting over .300.
In game one, we are going to have a heck of a pitching match-up. MSSU's Payton Walker (3-1, 2.00 ERA, 26 K in 27 IP, .198 BAA) and ESU's Tyler Stubblefield (3-0, 2.20 ERA, 36 K in 28.2 IP, .192 BAA) are two of the best in the conference, and should provide probably the only resistance to these two offenses all weekend.
ESU has the upper hand in the conference standings right now thanks to their advantageous schedule so far, but if MSSU can take the series, they'll have a favorable rest of the season schedule, with the same two bottom-feeding teams yet to come on their schedule.
Elsewhere around the country, here are the match-ups we are keeping an eye on:
#4 Tampa (16-1, 3-0 SSC) at Saint Leo (12-7, 0-0 SSC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Georgia College (11-7, 6-3 PBC) at #6 Columbus State (17-4, 5-1 PBC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Sunday, 3/13, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
#10 West Florida (12-7, 6-3 GSC) at #24 Alabama-Huntsville (16-5, 8-1 GSC)
Game One: Saturday, 3/12, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Sunday, 3/13, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
#11 Florida Tech (15-6, 2-1 SSC) at Florida Southern (11-6, 0-3 SSC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
#25 USC Aiken (16-4, 9-3 PBC) at Francis Marion (14-6, 2-4 PBC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Sunday, 3/13, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Embry-Riddle (14-6, 3-3 SSC) at Barry (14-6, 2-4 SSC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Delta State (12-7, 6-3 GSC) at West Georgia (12-5, 4-5 GSC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Friday, 3/11, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
GRU Augusta (13-7, 5-1 PBC) at Lander (17-5, 9-3 PBC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Sunday, 3/13, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Newberry (15-7-1, 2-4 SAC) at Lenoir-Rhyne (16-5, 2-1 SAC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Saturdya, 3/12, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Wingate (14-7, 1-2 SAC) at Lincoln Memorial (13-5, 5-1 SAC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Mars Hill (15-8, 3-3 SAC) at Carson-Newman (14-5, 3-0 SAC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video | Audio)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 12:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video | Audio)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video | Audio)
West Texas A&M (14-4, 3-1 LSC) at Cameron (12-3, 1-3 LSC)
Game One: Saturday, 3/12, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Sunday, 3/13, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Sunday, 3/13, 4:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Four: Monday, 3/14, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Texas A&M-Kingsville (10-4, 3-1 LSC) at Angelo State (11-6, 4-0 LSC)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 7:30 PM ET (Live Stats | Video | Audio)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 5:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video | Audio)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 7:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video | Audio)
Game Four: Sunday, 3/13, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video | Audio)
Rogers State (13-4, 0-0 Heartland) at St. Mary's (12-8, 0-0 Heartland)
Game One: Saturday, 3/12, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Sunday, 3/13, 1:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Lubbock Christian (13-4, 0-0 Heartland) at Newman (12-5, 0-0 Heartland)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Two: Friday, 3/11, 5:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 2:00 PM ET (Live Stats)
Mount Olive (9-6, 4-2 Conference Carolinas) at North Greenville (14-8, 6-0 Conference Carolinas)
Game One: Friday, 3/11, 6:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Two: Saturday, 3/12, 12:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Game Three: Saturday, 3/12, 3:00 PM ET (Live Stats | Video)
Finally, here is what each school in the PerfectGame Top 25 is up to for this week:
#1 St. Cloud State (10-0): The Huskies are finishing up their Arizona spring trip with single games against Valley City State (Saturday), Dickinson State (Sunday), Mount Marty College (Monday) and Northern State (Tuesday). They should be able to run their record to at least 13-0 before facing some resistance in NSU.
#2 Franklin Pierce (9-0): FPU is getting ready to take on Felician in a four-game non-conference set this weekend, before heading to Mount Olive to face the Trojans in a pair of single games on Monday and Tuesday.
#3 Millersville (12-1): The Marauders are finishing their weekend with a single game against Le Moyne on Saturday and a doubleheader against Post on Sunday, both at home.
#4 Tampa (15-1): As mentioned above, the Spartans are heading to Saint Leo for a three-game SSC series this weekend.
#5 Quincy (8-1): The Hawks will take on Indianapolis on both Friday and Sunday with a single game against Saginaw Valley State in-between. On Tuesday, they'll face NW Missouri State in a single game at home.
#6 Columbus State (17-4): CSU is welcoming Georgia College in to town for a three-game PBC set this weekend.
#7 Colorado Mesa (12-3): The Mavericks will look to stay perfect in RMAC play with a four-game series against Metro State this weekend. They will then welcome Northern Colorado in to town for a pair of single games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
#8 Missouri Southern (11-3): The Lions are part of our Marquee Match-Up of the Week, facing Emporia State at home in a three-game MIAA set.
#9 St. Edward's (16-5): SEU will begin conference play this weekend with a three-game Heartland series on the road at Oklahoma Christian.
#10 West Florida (12-7): The Argos will hit the road for a very important three-game GSC series at Alabama-Huntsville this weekend. They will then welcome Embry Riddle in to town for single games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
#11 Florida Tech (13-6): The Panthers, riding an 11-game winning streak, will head to Florida Southern for a three-game SSC series this weekend.
#12 California Baptist (14-5): CBU already picked up a win in their series-opener against Holy Names, and have three more games on the docket against HNU to wrap up the weekend.
#13 UC San Diego (16-5): The Tritons took it on the chin in the series-opener against CSU-Dominguez Hills, but they'll have three more games this weekend against the Toros, including one on Friday and a doubleheader on Sunday.
#14 Minnesota State (8-5): MSU is off this weekend after finishing their Florida spring trip, but will face Wisconsin-Parkside in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
#15 Mercyhurst (9-3): The Lakers will face Notre Dame College in a three-game series this weekend.
#16 West Alabama (16-4): The Tigers are riding a nine-game winning streak and will face Christian Brothers in a three-game GSC set this weekend before a single game against Miles on Tuesday.
#17 East Stroudsburg (10-2): The Warriors will play their first home games this weekend in a four-game series against Indiana (Pa.).
#18 Cal Poly Pomona (11-6): CPP will continue CCAA play with a four-game series against CSU-San Marcos. Friday and Sunday's contests will be on the road, while Saturday's doubleheader will be at home.
#19 Southern New Hampshire (9-0): The rolling Penmen will look to continue their undefeated start with five games in Florida this weekend. They'll face Molloy on Saturday, Caldwell in a doubleheader on Sunday, Adelphi on Monday and then finish up their trip with a game at Nova Southeastern on Tuesday.
#20 Dixie State (13-5): The Red Storm will get a late start to their weekend, facing Academy of Art at home in a four-game series spanning from Sunday to Tuesday.
#21 Southern Indiana (8-4): USI will take on Drury in a three-game series on the road this weekend, although it will be a non-conference affair.
#22 Southern Arkansas (12-7): The Muleriders are at home this weekend for a three-game GAC series against NW Oklahoma State.
#23 Ashland (6-5): The Eagles will finish up their Florida spring trip with a single game against Slippery Rock on Friday and a single game against Wayne State on Saturday.
#24 Alabama-Huntsville (16-5): As noted before, the Chargers at home this weekend for a very important three-game GSC series against West Florida.
#25 USC Aiken (16-4): The Pacers are going to be locked in battle this weekend for a big three-game PBC series at Francis Marion.
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