Wednesday, April 5, 2017

D2 Diamond Series of the Week Heads West; Top Conference Teams Do Battle Nation-Wide

The D2 Diamond Series of the Week is heading back out to the west coast, for a series between the two top teams in one of the nation's best conferences. It is one of two match-ups between top-20 teams in the most recent PerfectGame.org Top 25 rankings, and both series' should go a long way in determining how those respective conferences will shake out the rest of the season.


Disclaimer: THE RANKINGS BELOW ARE NOT OUR RANKINGS. WE DO NOT DO RANKINGS. THESE ARE THE MOST RECENT DIVISION II PERFECTGAME.ORG TOP 25 RANKINGS, WHICH CAN BE SEEN BY CLICKING HERE. THANK YOU!

Let's get right in to things! Our D2 Diamond Series of the Week heads back out west, where all eyes will be on Chico State and UC San Diego in CCAA play:

#3 Chico State (27-5, 20-1 CCAA) at #16 UC San Diego (22-6, 14-4 CCAA)
California Collegiate Athletic Association
Game One (Saturday, 4/8, 1 p.m. PT): CS Hunter Haworth (4-1, 2.75) vs UCSD Preston Mott (6-1, 2.39) Live StatsLive Video | Live Audio
Game Two (Saturday, 4/8, 4:30 p.m. PT): CS Casey Costello (7-0, 1.04) vs UCSD Jack Rupe (0-1, 3.46) Live StatsLive Video | Live Audio
Game Three (Sunday, 4/9, 12 p.m. PT): CS Cam Greenough (5-0, 1.80) vs UCSD Adrian Orozco (5-0, 3.03) Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
(Projected pitching match-ups are based exclusively off previous series' rotations, and should not be considered official in any way whatsoever.)

The two gems of one of the top conferences in Division II baseball will go at it, as a hotter-than-hot Chico State squad will look to essentially wrap up the overall conference title with a big weekend. For UCSD, the CCAA South leaders will be looking to pick up a signature series victory and stay within shouting distance of the overall conference crown.

Here are a plethora of other match-ups to keep an eye on this weekend across the D-II landscape, including another top-20 series:

#18 Central Missouri (21-9, 12-6 MIAA) at #5 Emporia State (25-7, 14-4 MIAA)
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Game One (Friday, 4/7, 6 p.m. CT): Live Stats
Game Two (Saturday, 4/8, 1 p.m. CT): Live Stats
Game Three (Sunday, 4/9, 12 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Audio

Texas A&M-Kingsville (18-8, 4-0 LSC) at #4 Angelo State (24-6, 6-1 LSC)
Lone Star Conference
Game One (Friday, 4/7, 6:30 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Two (Saturday, 4/8, 4 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Three (Saturday, 4/8, 6 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Four (Sunday, 4/9, 1 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

St. Edward's (21-12, 8-4 Heartland) at #13 Lubbock Christian (24-9, 7-2 Heartland)
Heartland Conference
Game One (Thursday, 4/6, 4 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Two (Thursday, 4/6, 6 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Three (Friday, 4/7, 2 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

Henderson State (20-13, 13-8 GAC) at #19 Southern Arkansas (26-7, 19-2 GAC)
Great American Conference
Game One (Friday, 4/7, 6 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Two (Saturday, 4/8, 2 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Three (Saturday, 4/8, 5 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

#23 Millersville (18-8, 4-4 PSAC) vs West Chester (14-5, 6-2 PSAC)
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Game One at WC (Friday, 4/7, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two at WC (Friday, 4/7, 3 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Audio
Game Three at MU (Saturday, 4/8, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Four at MU (Saturday, 4/8, 3 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video

Francis Marion (26-11, 8-7 PBC) at UNC Pembroke (23-11, 7-8 PBC)
Peach Belt Conference
Game One (Friday, 4/7, 6 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 4/8, 3 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Three (Sunday, 4/9, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video

West Florida (21-13, 13-8 GSC) at West Alabama (24-11, 14-7 GSC)
Gulf South Conference
Game One (Saturday, 4/8, 2 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Two (Saturday, 4/8, 4:30 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Three (Sunday, 4/9, 1 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

And here is what the schedule looks like for the most recent PerfectGame.org Top 25:

1. Tampa (23-8, 10-2 SSC): The Spartans are on the road for three games at Tusculum, a team that should bolster the regional ranking help for UT if they can grab a series victory.

2. North Georgia (26-7, 11-4 PBC): UNG is also on the road, facing Young Harris for three PBC games over the weekend.

3. Chico State (27-5, 20-1 CCAA): Arguably the hottest team in the nation outside of Florida Southern, the Wildcats take their show on the road for three games at #16 UC San Diego in our D2 Diamond Series of the Week.

4. Angelo State (24-6, 6-1 LSC): Angelo welcomes in to town a very good Texas A&M-Kingsville squad for four LSC contests.

5. Emporia State (25-7, 14-4 MIAA): The Hornets can almost nail down the conference with a big weekend, as they will take on one of their biggest threats at home this weekend, with #18 Central Missouri coming to town for three games.

6. USC Aiken (24-10, 9-6 PBC): USCA will look to improve its conference record with three games at home against Augusta, followed by a non-conference contest on the road at Newberry on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

7. Mercyhurst (18-2, 7-1 PSAC): The Lakeshow will take on a tough Slippery Rock squad in four split games in PSAC play this weekend, with the first two at home and the second two on the road. 'Hurst will face Notre Dame College on the road on Tuesday (Apr. 11) for a make-up game, as well.

8. Dixie State (25-9, 14-6 PacWest): Dixie is back at home this weekend for four games against Academy of Art as they look to get back on track in PacWest play.

9. Azusa Pacific (26-4, 13-3 PacWest): The Cougars will have an opportunity to put some distance on the field in the conference with four games at home against Hawaii Pacific, where APU is 14-2 this season.

10. Nova Southeastern (22-11, 10-5 SSC): The Sharks will take on Palm Beach Atlantic in three games at home this weekend, followed by a single contest on the road at PBA on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

11. Florida Southern (25-6, 6-3 SSC): FSC will take its co-Division II-leading 17-game winning streak to the field for three conference contests against Rollins this weekend.

12. Colorado Mesa (22-8, 14-2 RMAC): A nine-game winning streak will be on the line for Mavs in an interesting weekend schedule. CMU will face Colorado Mines on both Friday (Apr. 7) and Sunday (Apr. 9), and will face Colorado Christian on Saturday (Apr. 8) and Sunday (Apr. 9), all RMAC tilts.

13. Lubbock Christian (24-9, 7-2 Heartland): The Chaps are at home for three games against a very good St. Edward's squad, as LCU hopes to take control of the conference.

14. Mount Olive (30-7, 16-2 Conf. Carolinas): After dropping their first conference games of the season, the Trojans should have a pretty easy time getting back on the horse with three games at Southern Wesleyan this weekend, followed by a single contest at home against Catawba on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

15. West Texas A&M (25-6, 7-1 LSC): The Buffs have the weekend off from conference play, but will be taking on Arkansas-Fort Smith in three games at home.

16. UC San Diego (22-6, 14-4 CCAA): UCSD will need a big weekend to try and make up ground in the conference overall race against #3 Chico State, as they'll face the Wildcats in three games at home in our D2 Diamond Series of the Week. The Tritons are leading the CCAA South, but Chico is running away with the CCAA North and overall title.

17. Minnesota State (21-4, 16-0 NSIC): The Mavericks are tied with the FSC Mocs for the longest winning streak in D-II right now, as they'll take a 17-game streak on the road to Minot State for four more NSIC games, where they are undefeated so far.

18. Central Missouri (21-9, 12-6 MIAA): The Mules will hit the road for three games against #5 Emporia State, as UCM tries to gain some ground in the conference race. They'll also face SW Baptist for a single contest on Tuesday (Apr. 11) on the road.

19. Southern Arkansas (26-7, 19-2 GAC): SAU is putting up some gaudy conference numbers so far, and they can really bury the rest of the conference if they can come up with a series victory at home against previously-ranked Henderson State, where they'll face the Reddies for three games. They'll play Ouachita Baptist in a single game on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

20. Delta State (26-8, 16-5 GSC): The Statesmen will stay at home this weekend for three GSC games against Shorter, while also taking on Arkansas-Monticello in a non-conference game on the road on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

21. Point Loma (18-10, 10-6 PacWest): The Sea Lions are going to have to go crazy in PacWest play from here on out to have a shot at crawling back in to the running, and they'll begin that trek with four games against Concordia, the first two at home and the second two on the road.

22. Lynn (23-11, 6-6 SSC): Thee more conference games are on deck for Lynn, as they'll head to Saint Leo this weekend, before a single game against St. Thomas on the road on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

23. Millersville (18-8, 4-4 PSAC): Things are not going to get any easier this weekend in conference play for the Marauders, as they'll face West Chester in a split four-game PSAC series, with the first pair on the road and the latter pair at home. They'll face USciences in a doubleheader on Tuesday (Apr. 11), as well.

24. Belmont Abbey (23-14, 14-7 Conf. Carolinas): After an impressive series victory over the streaking Trojans of #14 Mount Olive, Belmont Abbey is back in the rankings. They'll face Limestone in three conference games at home, with a single game on the road at Armstrong State on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

25. Georgia College (22-9, 9-6 PBC): The Bobcats are in the rankings for the first time this year, and they'll begin their climb up the rankings with three games on the road at Lander and a single contest on the road at Albany State on Tuesday (Apr. 11).

No comments:

Post a Comment