We are finally able to leave the West and the South to feature our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, and we also have only one series this weekend between a pair of top 25 squads. A tame weekend compared to most, but still some very important conference series' to be played out over the next few days.
Back to our disclaimer again! THE RANKINGS BELOW ARE NOT OUR RANKINGS. WE DO NOT DO RANKINGS. THEY ARE THE RANKINGS FROM THE MOST RECENT RELEASE OF THE PERFECTGAME.ORG DIVISION TOP 25, WHICH CAN BE SEEN BY CLICKING HERE.
First, let's announce to you what we believe is the most important series of the weekend, our D2 Diamond Series of the Week:
#12 Mercyhurst (13-1, 4-0 PSAC) vs Seton Hill (14-7, 2-2 PSAC)
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Game One at MU (Saturday, 4/1, 1 p.m. ET): MU Chris Vallimont (3-1, 3.44) vs SH Perry DellaValle (0-0, 0.00) Live Stats
Game Two at MU (Saturday, 4/1, 3 p.m. ET): MU Russell Lamovec (3-0, 2.45) vs SH Zack Martinelli (3-1, 2.70) Live Stats
Game Three at SH (Sunday, 4/2, 1 p.m. ET): MU Vicenzo Lucente (1-0, 0.00) vs SH Joe Shaffer (1-1, 4.33) Live Stats | Live Audio
Game Four at SH (Sunday, 4/2, 3 p.m. ET): MU Nolan Freeman (1-0, 0.00) vs SH Josh Keefe (1-0, 5.64) Live Stats | Live Audio
(Projected pitching match-ups are based solely on prior series' rotations, and should not be considered official in any way whatsoever.)
Hey guys, look! We're finally out of the West and the South for our D2 Diamond Series of the Week! We head to the PSAC for a match-up between arguably the two best teams in the PSAC West and two of the four best teams in the entire conference.
Mercyhurst has been missing maybe their best pitcher since the beginning of March in Matthew Minnick, but they have still been by far the most impressive squad in the conference, and one of the best teams in the country.
Seton Hill is anchored by one of the best starting pitchers in the nation in Perry DellaValle, and he'll be tasked with, somehow, trying to tame a Laker offense that is hitting *.363* as a team, and has *7* players already in double digits for RBI through 14 games.
Comparatively, Seton Hill has played 21 games and has 6 players in double digit RBI so far.
Mercyhurst hasn't faced much resistance so far this season, so this will be a good gauge on where the Lakers actually stand as we hit the bulk of conference season.
Here are the other series' will be keeping an eye on throughout this weekend:
#10 Mount Olive (29-5, 15-0 Conf. Carolinas) at Belmont Abbey (21-13, 12-6 Conf. Carolinas)
Conference Carolinas
Game One (Friday, 3/31, 6 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Two (Saturday, 4/1, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Three (Saturday, 4/1, 4 p.m. ET): Live Stats
California Baptist (21-10, 12-5 PacWest) at #11 Point Loma (16-9, 8-5 PacWest)
PacWest Conference
Game One (Thursday, 3/30, 6 p.m. PT): CBU - 6, PLNU - 2 (Box Score)
Game Two (Friday, 3/31, 3 p.m. PT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Saturday, 4/1, 12 p.m. PT): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Four (Saturday, 4/1, 3 p.m. PT): Live Stats | Live Video
#16 Florida Southern (22-6, 6-3 SSC) at Palm Beach Atlantic (20-12, 11-8 SSC*)
Game One (Friday, 3/31, 6 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 4/1, 12 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Saturday, 4/1, 3 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
(PBA is only a provisional member of the SSC and are not eligible for postseason play yet. The 11-8 record is their record so far this year against schools who are also in the SSC.)
#24 Flagler (21-12, 9-3 PBC) at #6 USC Aiken (22-9, 7-5 PBC)
Peach Belt Conference
Game One (Friday, 3/31, 7 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 4/1, 3 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Sunday, 4/2, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Erskine (24-9, 13-2 Conf. Carolinas) at North Greenville (23-11, 9-6 Conf. Carolinas)
Conference Carolinas
Game One (Friday, 3/31, 7 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Two (Saturday, 4/1, 12 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Game Three (Saturday, 4/1, 2:30 p.m. ET): Live Stats | Live Video
Findlay (14-5, 5-3 GLIAC) vs Wayne State (Mich.) (12-7, 2-0 GLIAC)
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Game One at WS (Saturday, 4/1, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Two at WS (Saturday, 4/1, 3:30 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Three at UF (Sunday, 4/2, 1 p.m. ET): Live Stats
Game Four at UF (Sunday, 4/2, 4 p.m. ET): Live Stats
And here is what the weekend looks like for the most recent version of the PerfectGame.org Division II Top 25.
1. Tampa (21-7, 8-1 SSC): The top-ranked Spartans will face stiff competition this weekend on the road, as they head to Florida Tech for three contests.
2. North Georgia (23-6, 9-3 PBC): The Nighthawks are home again this weekend, this time for three games against Montevallo, along with a pair of games on the road against West Florida on Tuesday (Apr. 4) and Wednesday (Apr. 5).
3. Chico State (24-5, 17-1 CCAA): Chico will attempt to continue its absolute assault on the CCAA with three games at home this weekend against Cal State-San Marcos. In the back of their mind though, they have to have next weekend's series with UC San Diego circled on the schedule.
4. Dixie State (24-7, 13-4 PacWest): After sweeping #11 Point Loma last week, the Trailblazers have already had a little bit of a letdown, dropping their first game of this weekend on the road at Fresno Pacific on Thursday (8-4). They'll face the Sunbirds three more times this weekend.
5. Emporia State (23-6, 12-3 MIAA): The Hornets are another team laying down an early-season assault on their conference competition, and they already dropped the first game of their series this weekend on the road at Central Oklahoma, 9-6. They'll face them two more times this weekend, and Missouri Western awaits on Tuesday (Apr. 4).
6. USC Aiken (22-9, 7-5 PBC): USCA is involved in the only series between two ranked teams this weekend, as they'll welcome in to town #24 Flagler for three games.
7. Angelo State (22-4, 4-0 LSC): The Rams got off to a good start in conference play last weekend, and they'll look to continue that this weekend on the road with four games at Tarleton State.
8. Azusa Pacific (24-3, 11-2 PacWest): The Cougars already won the first game of their conference series against Academy of Art to push their winning streak to nine games, and they'll look to put together their second double digit win streak of the year already when they face Academy of Art three more times this weekend.
9. Nova Southeastern (20-10, 8-4 SSC): The defending champions are riding a four-game winning streak in to another conference series at home this weekend, this one with Barry for three games.
10. Mount Olive (29-5, 15-0 Conf. Carolinas): As noted above, UMO will be taking on its biggest test of the conference season thus far when they face Belmont Abbey on the road for three games this weekend.
11. Point Loma (16-9, 8-5 PacWest): The Sea Lions have now lost six straight after beginning their weekend against California Baptist with a loss on Thursday evening (6-2), but they'll get three more cracks at the Lancers this weekend.
12. Mercyhurst (13-1, 4-0 PSAC): The Lakers take their 11-game winning streak in to their toughest test of the season with a split four-game PSAC series against Seton Hill.
13. Colorado Mesa (18-8, 10-2 RMAC): CMU stays at home this weekend for another conference series, this time a four-gamer against New Mexico Highlands.
14. Lubbock Christian (21-8, 5-1 Heartland): The Chaps will face Texas A&M-International in three games on the road this weekend, and take on #15 West Texas A&M in a single game on Tuesday (Apr. 4)
15. West Texas A&M (21-5, 3-1 LSC): WTAM will try to keep pace with Angelo, and they have a good chance to, with four games at home against UT Permian Basin this weekend, and then a single game on the road at #14 Lubbock Christian on Tuesday (Apr. 4).
16. Florida Southern (22-6, 6-3 SSC): The Mocs put their 14-game winning streak on the line with three games on the road at Palm Beach Atlantic this weekend.
17. Central Missouri (20-8, 12-5 MIAA): The Mules have this weekend off, but will face Lindenwood in a single contest on Tuesday (Apr. 4) at home.
18. UC San Diego (20-5, 12-3 CCAA): Just like the team at #3, UCSD has to make sure not to get caught looking ahead, as the Tritons are facing Stanislaus State on the road for three games this weekend.
19. Delta State (22-8, 13-5 GSC): The Statesmen shouldn't have too much trouble this weekend, as they'll face Christian Brothers for three games on the road, and then face Ouachita Baptist for a single game on Tuesday (Apr. 4).
20. Lynn (20-10, 4-5 SSC): Lynn is at home this weekend for three games against Rollins in conference play.
21. Minnesota State (15-4, 10-0 NSIC): Along with UMO, MSU is pushing one of the longest unbeaten conference streaks so far this year, and they'll put their unblemished record on the line against SW Minnesota State in four games at home.
22. Southern Arkansas (24-5, 17-1 GAC): The leaders in the GAC are taking on Ouachita Baptist for three games on the road this weekend.
23. Millersville (16-6, 2-2 PSAC): The Marauders will take part in a split four-game series this weekend with Mansfield, with the first two at home and the latter two on the road.
24. Flagler (21-12, 9-3 PBC): The Saints get a chance to cement their place in the Top 25 for perhaps the rest of the season if they can notch a big weekend on the road at #6 USC Aiken.
25. Henderson State (18-10, 12-6 GAC): HSU is still trying to hang within striking distance of the aforementioned SAU, and they'll try to do that with three games at home against Arkansas-Monticello this weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment