After a wild weekend around the country, we are back at it with a little bit more of a tame schedule. There are two big Top 25 match-ups, one of which is our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, and we will look forward to the first in-season update of the Top 25 rankings from PerfectGame.org this upcoming Wednesday. Before that, take a look at the top match-ups of this weekend from around the nation.
First, let's take a look at our most notable match-ups of the upcoming weekend, including our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, with all the links necessary to follow the action throughout the coming days.
Up first is our highlight, the D2 Diamond Series of the Week:
#15 Southern Indiana (0-0) at #1 Tampa (5-1)
Game One (Friday, 2/17, 6 p.m. ET): USI Colin Nowak (7-3, 3.15 in 2016) vs UT Garrett Cave (2-0, 1.00) Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 2/18, 12 p.m. ET): USI Lucas Barnett (8-5, 3.64 in 2016) vs UT Christian Calleja (0-0, 1.93) Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Sunday, 2/19, 12 p.m. ET): USI Austin Krizan (4-1, 3.66 in 2016) vs UT Jordan Leasure (1-0, 2.08) Live Stats | Live Video
Live Audio for all three games (Southern Indiana feed)
(Projected starters are based only off prior games' information or game notes and are purely the author's guess)
And now, a cornucopia of spectacular match-ups to keep your eyes on throughout the weekend:
#6 Lubbock Christian (7-1) at #21 Angelo State (5-1)
Game One (Friday, 2/17, 6 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Two (Saturday, 2/18, 5 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Three (Sunday, 2/19, 1 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
#5 USC Aiken (7-0) at Mount Olive (4-2)
Game One (Friday, 2/17, 3 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Two (Saturday, 2/18, 12 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Three (Sunday, 2/19, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Lynn (5-3) at #12 North Georgia (6-1)
Game One (Friday, 2/17, 4 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 2/18, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Sunday, 2/19, 12 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
#19 Wayne State (Mich.) (0-0) at Trevecca Nazarene (0-3)
Game One (Friday, 2/17, 4 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 2/18, 12 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Saturday, 2/18, 3 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video
Union (Tenn.) (7-1) at Shorter (6-0)
Game One (Saturday, 2/18, 12 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Two (Saturday, 2/18, 2 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Three (Sunday, 2/19, 12 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Delta State (5-1) at West Alabama (5-3)
Game One (Saturday, 2/18, 2 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Two (Saturday, 2/18, 4:30 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Game Three (Sunday, 2/19, 1 p.m. CT): Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Below are the schedules this week for the current PerfectGame.org Top 25. This will be the last week that the preseason Top 25 is used, as PG will begin updating their rankings weekly beginning this upcoming Wednesday:
1. Tampa (5-1): The top team in the country faces its toughest test so far as #15 Southern Indiana comes to town to open its season in a three-game series this weekend. The Spartans will also face the Philadelphia Phillies in an exhibition game on Wednesday (Feb. 23).
2. Nova Southeastern (7-2): The reigning champions are off this weekend, but will face Flagler in a single game at home on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
3. West Florida (4-4): UWF picked up a victory over Auburn-Montgomery on Wednesday (8-0), and will face Mississippi College at home for three games this weekend to open Gulf South Conference play.
4. Cal Poly Pomona (4-5): The Broncos, still trying to find their feet, finish up non-conference play with a three-game set against usual conference foe Cal State Monterey Bay at home. They were already victorious in game one on Thursday (Feb. 16), 4-2, and will finish the series with two more contests.
5. USC Aiken (7-0): If the Pacers can stay undefeated through this weekend, when they head to Mount Olive for a three-game series, we might be talking about the top team in the country come next week. On top of those three games against UMO, they'll take on Paine in a stat-stuffing game on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
6. Lubbock Christian (7-1): LCU will face a stiff test this weekend as they head to #22 Angelo State for three games. They'll also hit up undefeated West Texas A&M for a single game on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
7. Minnesota State (0-0): The Mavericks won't hit the field until February 25th, when they take on Minnesota-Crookston at U.S. Bank Stadium.
8. Colorado Mesa (3-1): CMU begins its home schedule this weekend with four games against Montana State-Billings.
9. Dixie State (6-3): After dropping three-of-four to Colorado Mesa last weekend, the Trailblazers dominated Concordia (Oregon) for a victory on Thursday (Feb. 16), and will take on Saint Martin's on Friday (Feb. 17) and Saturday (Feb. 18) at home.
10. Belmont Abbey (5-4): Belmont Abbey begins Conference Carolinas play this weekend with three games on the road at Emmanuel. They'll also take on Wingate on Tuesday (Feb. 21) and Francis Marion on Wednesday (Feb. 22) on the road for a busy week of competition.
11. Point Loma (6-3): The Sea Lions already did their work for the week, sweeping Cal State Dominguez Hills in a doubleheader on Thursday (Feb. 16), 10-9 and 9-6. They are now off through next weekend before welcoming Hawaii Pacific in to town for a four-game set to begin PacWest play March 4th and 6th.
12. North Georgia (6-1): If UNG can continue rolling like they have been, through this three-game set at home with Lynn, they will undoubtedly find themselves nearing the top five when next week's rankings come out.
13. Emporia State (5-1): The Hornets finish non-conference play with three games against Missouri S&T at home this weekend.
14. Franklin Pierce (0-0): As one of the dreaded non-Southern or non-Western teams, the Ravens will have to wait until the weekend of Feb. 23-26 for their first competition, when they head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Ripken Experience against Felician, Queens (N.Y.), Wilmington and LIU Post.
15. Southern Indiana (0-0): The Screaming Eagles begin their season with three games on the road at #1 Tampa for the second time in the last three years.
16. Mercyhurst (0-0): 'Hurst will begin its season with a doubleheader against West Virginia State on Saturday (Feb. 18) and a single game at Glenville State on Sunday (Feb. 19).
17. St. Mary's (4-3): The Rattlers will take part this weekend in one of the most interesting D-II baseball tournaments every year. They'll head to Houston to play three games at Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros, where they'll take on Tarleton State on Friday (Feb. 17), Chico State on Saturday (Feb. 18) and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday (Feb. 19). They'll end the upcoming week with a single game at home against #21 Angelo State.
18. Millersville (3-0): The 'Ville will continue its trek back towards the top of the rankings with four games in North Carolina this weekend. A doubleheader each against Charleston on Friday (Feb. 17) and Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday (Feb. 18).
19. Wayne State (Mich.) (0-0): The highest-ranked GLIAC team begins its season this weekend in Nashville with three games on the road at Trevecca Nazarene, the G-MAC favorites.
20. Florida Tech (6-2): The Panthers dropped a single game against Flagler on Wednesday (Feb. 15), 14-5, but will try and rebound this weekend on the road with three games at Spring Hill.
21. Angelo State (5-1): Angelo will be welcoming #6 Lubbock Christian in to town this weekend for three games, and then take on #17 St. Mary's in a single game on Wednesday (Feb. 22) on the road.
22. Augustana (1-4): The Vikings will attempt to rid themselves of their Hawaii hangover from the beginning of the season by heading to Lindenwood this weekend for three games against the Lions.
23. Azusa Pacific (7-1): Azusa began their weekend with a 4-0 victory over San Francisco State in game one of a Thursday (Feb. 16) doubleheader, and they'll take the Gators on in one more game on Thursday, and one more game each on Friday (Feb. 17) and Saturday (Feb. 18).
24. Henderson State (5-2): The Reddies begin Great American Conference play this weekend with three games at home against Southern Nazarene before taking on Ouachita Baptist in a single game on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
25. Lincoln Memorial (1-7): The Railsplitters are struggling mightily with a tough early-season schedule, but they'll try and right themselves this weekend with three games at home against Ohio Valley and a doubleheader against Kentucky State on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
Here are some teams of note we want to talk about, because there are going to be quite a few Top 25 spots up for grabs when the first update of the season takes place on Wednesday, and we feel like these teams may get some looks at those spots:
Barton (10-0): The Bulldogs, the first D-II team to 10 wins, will face Goldey-Beacom at home for three games this weekend, and take on Chowan on the road on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
Lenoir-Rhyne (9-0): L-R will welcome West Virginia State in to town this weekend for three games, then take on UNC Pembroke in a single game on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
Francis Marion (8-0): The Patriots swept Chowan on Tuesday (Feb. 14), 9-0, and on Wednesday (Feb. 15) 11-4 to remain undefeated, and they'll face some quality opponents this week with three games against Newberry and a single contest against Belmont Abbey on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
Flagler (7-1): The Saints picked up a 14-5 victory over Florida Tech on Wednesday (Feb. 15), and they'll have a very important week in front of them to finish non-conference play. Flagler will face Palm Beach Atlantic for three games on the road this weekend before heading to #2 Nova Southeastern for a single game on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
Central Oklahoma (6-1): UCO has only one game this upcoming week, a contest at home against SW Oklahoma State on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
Lee (7-1): The Flames are the winners of six straight after an 8-5 victory over Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday (Feb. 15), but they'll start conference play this weekend in the Gulf South Conference with three games at home against Alabama-Huntsville. They'll also take on Young Harris in a single game on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
UNC Pembroke (6-1): UNCP, which starts the season with 18 of its first 20 games at home, plays Saint Rose in a three-game set this weekend, while also welcoming Lenoir-Rhyne in to town on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
Cameron (7-1): The Aggies will look to continue their hot start for the second straight season with three games at home against William Jewell.
Tarleton State (5-1): Tarleton is one of the lucky few heading to Houston to play in Minute Maid Park three times this weekend, as they'll face St. Mary's on Friday (Feb. 17), Central Missouri on Saturday (Feb. 18), and Arkansas-Fort Smith on Sunday (Feb. 19).
NW Missouri State (6-1): NWMS is off to a surprising start this year, and they'll look to continue as they head to Oklahoma Christian for three games this weekend.
Florida Southern (5-2): The Mocs will try to rack up the victories this weekend at Claflin before they get in to conference play, with three contests in South Carolina. They'll also face the Detroit Tigers in their annual exhibition game on Thursday (Feb. 23).
West Texas A&M (6-0): WTAM will stay at home for three games against Oklahoma Panhandle State before taking on #6 Lubbock Christian in a single game on Tuesday (Feb. 21), also at home.
Washburn (6-1): Washburn will take on a perennial Midwest region contender in Drury this weekend with four contests on the road.
UC San Diego (7-2): The Tritons picked up an impressive two victories over Western Oregon to begin their four-game weekend series on Thursday (Feb. 16), and they'll have two more on the docket for the rest of this weekend, game days to be determined due to weather.
Stanislaus State (7-1): The Warriors should be able to buoy their record a little more before CCAA play starts, as they'll take on Simpson in three games this weekend at home.
Delta State (5-1): The Statesmen, fresh off a successful week in Florida, will begin Gulf South Conference play with three games on the road at West Alabama, before taking on Southern Arkansas for a single contest at home on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
No comments:
Post a Comment