Thursday, March 23, 2017

Yet Another Top 10 Match-Up Highlights Week Eight Slate

We have yet another Top 10 match-up to highlight in this weekend's action, and it is the only match-up between a pair of Top 25 teams this week. It is a three-team race in the PacWest Conference, and two of them are squaring off. Check out what the weekend schedule looks like for the most recent ranked teams as we go full swing in to conference play around the nation.

Again, before we start, another disclaimer: THE RANKINGS BELOW ARE NOT OURS. WE DO NOT DO RANKINGS. THEY ARE THE MOST RECENT PERFECTGAME.ORG TOP 25 RANKINGS, WHICH CAN BE SEEN BY CLICKING HERE. THANK YOU.

We begin by highlighting our top series of the weekend, our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, which should be a doozie between a pair of Top 10 squads:

#8 Point Loma (16-4, 8-0 PacWest) at #6 Dixie State (20-6, 9-3 PacWest)
PacWest Conference
Game One (Friday, 3/24, 4 p.m. MT): PLNU Kellen Sheppard (5-0, 3.32) vs DSU Dylan File (4-0, 3.07) Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Friday, 3/24, 7 p.m. MT): PLNU Kevin Lillicrop (2-1, 5.25) vs DSU Mason Hilty (5-1, 4.37) Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Saturday, 3/25, 12 p.m. MT): PLNU Trevor Abshire (2-1, 3.18) vs DSU Matt Mosca (4-1, 5.22) Live Stats
Game Four (Saturday, 3/25, 3 p.m. MT): PLNU Stephen Young (4-0, 1.80) vs DSU Preston Hannay (2-1, 4.99) Live Stats
(Projected pitching match-ups are based only on previous series' rotations, and should not be considered official in any way.)

We have quite a barn-burner on our hands here, at least on paper.  There seems to be a clear divide between the two teams. PLNU holds the advantage on the mound, with a 3.34 team ERA compared to 4.32 for Dixie State, but the Trailblazers seem to have a clear advantage at the plate, with a .343 team average versus PLNU's .293. If any series this year screams "split" before they play, it might be this one.

North Greenville (22-8, 9-3 Conf. Carolinas) at #11 Mount Olive (25-5, 12-0 Conf. Carolinas)
Conference Carolinas
Game One (Friday, 3/24, 6 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 3/25, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Saturday, 3/25, 4 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video

#15 West Texas A&M (18-4, 0-0 LSC) at Eastern New Mexico (21-5, 0-0 LSC)
Lone Star Conference
Game One (Friday, 3/24, 7 p.m. MT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 3/25, 1 p.m. MT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Saturday, 3/25, 4 p.m. MT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Four (Sunday, 3/26, 1 p.m. MT): Live Stats | Live Video

Indianapolis (14-5, 0-0 GLVC) at St. Joseph's (Ind.) (14-2, 0-0 GLVC)
Great Lakes Valley Conference
Game One (Saturday, 3/24, 12 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 3/24, 3 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Sunday, 3/25, 12 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Four (Sunday, 3/25, 3 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video

And here is what the weekend schedule looks like for each of the teams in the most recent PerfectGame.org Top 25:

1. Tampa (19-6, 8-1 SSC): The top-ranked Spartans will face a feisty Embry-Riddle squad in non-conference action for three games this weekend.

2. North Georgia (21-4, 8-1 PBC): The Nighthawks take their 11-game win streak on the road for three games at UNC Pembroke, a team with a good overall record, but which has struggled in conference action so far.

3. Chico State (21-5, 14-1 CCAA): Chico had a long winning streak snapped to end last weekend, but will have an opportunity to start a new one, beginning with three games on the road at Cal State-Dominguez Hills.

4. USC Aiken (20-7, 6-3 PBC): The Pacers have a stubborn Lander squad on the docket this weekend, as they hit the road for three conference games.

5. Emporia State (19-5, 8-2 MIAA): Emporia will stay at home this weekend for three games against Nebraska-Kearney.

6. Dixie State (20-6, 9-3 PacWest): As noted above, the Trailblazers are involved in the biggest series in the land this weekend, as they'll welcome in to town the #8 Point Loma Sea Lions for four conference games that will probably set the favorite for the rest of the year in the PacWest.

7. Angelo State (18-4, 0-0 LSC): The Rams will get started with Lone Star Conference play this weekend with a tough opening weekend at home against Cameron, where they'll face the Aggies four times.

8. Point Loma (16-4, 8-0 PacWest): PLNU is heading to #6 Dixie State for our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, where they'll face the Trailblazers in a pair of doubleheaders for PacWest supremacy.

9. Nova Southeastern (17-10, 5-4 SSC): The Sharks just ended a four-game losing streak, but I think they'll find their footing again this weekend as they hit their "easy" stretch in SSC play (I use that term loosely, as the "easy" stretch in SSC play is still tougher than almost every other conference in the country) with three games against Saint Leo on the road this weekend.

10. Azusa Pacific (21-3, 8-2 PacWest): Lurking in the PacWest standings is APU, who may be the biggest beneficiary of the highlighted series of the week. The Cougars already won their opening doubleheader of the weekend against Hawaii-Hilo on Thursday (Mar. 23), and they'll face them two more times in another doubleheader on Friday (Mar. 24).

11. Mount Olive (25-5, 12-0 Conf. Carolinas): The Trojans will be putting their 10-game winning streak on the line at home with three games against a very good North Greenville team. If UMO leaves the weekend with that streak still in tact, the top 10 will most likely be in their future next week.

12. Lynn (20-7, 4-2 SSC): Lynn has won 10 of its last 11 games, and they'll hit the road for three games at Florida Tech this weekend.

13. Mercyhurst (8-1, 0-0 PSAC): The Lakers will open conference play this weekend with a split series against Indiana (Pa.), with the first two games at Mercyhurst and the second two at IUP.

14. Colorado Mesa (14-8, 6-2 RMAC): The Mavericks welcome Colorado State-Pueblo for four games, the team that has been their biggest challenge in the conference each of the last two seasons.

15. West Texas A&M (18-4, 0-0 LSC): WTAM takes its gaudy record in to conference play with four games on the road at an equally-gaudy Eastern New Mexico, although ENMU has not faced very much solid competition.

16. Lubbock Christian (18-8, 2-1 Heartland): The Chaps get back in to conference play with three games against one of the top challengers in the conference in St. Mary's.

17. Central Missouri (18-5, 10-3 MIAA): UCM is hitting the road for three games at NW Missouri State in conference play before a single game against Drury on Tuesday (Mar. 28).

18. UC San Diego (18-4, 10-2 CCAA): The Tritons, winners of 14 of their last 16, are at home this weekend for three games against Sonoma State in CCAA play.

19. Millersville (14-4, 0-0 PSAC): Millersville begins conference play with a split four-game series against Kutztown, with the first two at home and the latter two on the road.

20. Florida Southern (18-6, 3-3 SSC): The Mocs are back in the rankings after running its winning streak to 10 straight games, and they'll face Eckerd for three games this weekend before taking on a pesky #25 Flagler in a single game on Tuesday (Mar. 28).

21. Minnesota State (9-4, 4-0 NSIC): MSU will continue conference play with four games against Minnesota-Duluth.

22. Delta State (19-7, 10-5 GSC): The Statesmen will face a stiff test this weekend at home, as North Alabama comes in to town for three games. Delta State will also face #23 Southern Arkansas in a single game on the road on Tuesday (Mar. 28).

23. Southern Arkansas (20-5, 14-1 GAC): The Muleriders make their first appearance in the rankings, as SAU has won 12 straight games to vault themselves to the top of the conference standings. They'll face NW Oklahoma State on the road for three games before welcoming the aforementioned #22 Delta State squad for a single game on Tuesday (Mar. 28).

24. Henderson State (16-9, 10-5 GAC): HSU will be looking to keep pace with the Muleriders with three games at home against East Central this weekend.

25. Flagler (19-10, 7-2 PBC): The Saints are in the early stages of a very difficult stretch of schedule. They just took a loss to Nova Southeastern, and now they'll face a good Francis Marion team for three conference contests on the road this weekend, before a single game against #20 Florida Southern on Tuesday (Mar. 28) and then a series next weekend against #4 USC Aiken.

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