After a fun second weekend, college baseball returns to action this weekend as 14 Big 12 teams are hitting the diamond. Normally, I would say that there are several big-time matchups, but honestly, this is by far the worst weekend of the non-conference. While it may not be the greatest weekend on paper, let’s take a look at the top five storylines heading into the weekend.
West Virginia’s Streak
Less than ten undefeated teams are left in college baseball, and West Virginia is one of them, sitting at 12-0. A big reason why the Mountaineers have been so successful so far is their pitching. They have a Big 12-leading team ERA of 2.66, and starting pitcher Carson Estridge has yet to give up a single run in 15 innings. Of course, I can’t forget about Griffin Kirn and Gavin Van Kempen, who also played extremely well. When you combine their pitching with their consistent bats, that equals a recipe for success.
Until now, I haven’t talked about them nearly enough due to their lackluster schedule, but 12-0 is not easy to do, no matter who you play. I want to see if they can make it to the Big 12 play undefeated.
Can TCU Bounce Back?
After an opening win over a ranked Southern Miss team last weekend, I thought the Frogs could take the series. Instead, they lost back-to-back games against the Golden Eagles. It was primarily due to the fact that their bats cooled down those last two games.
In game two of that series, TCU scored just one run in eight innings before making a push in the ninth. And while they got down early on Sunday, they put up just three runs in nine innings. By no means am I hitting the panic button on this team, but they have a chance to redeem themselves this weekend when they host Fresno State, the early favorite to win the Mountain West.
Will Oklahoma State and Arizona Stay Hot?
Nobody in the Big 12 was more impressive than Oklahoma State and Arizona last weekend. Both teams went to Houston for a tournament, and both came away with two ranked wins over SEC opponents. This weekend isn’t about their opponents; it’s about how they respond after a big weekend. The Wildcats are hosting a bad Pepperdine team for a four-game series, while the Cowboys will host Illinois State for a three-game set. If these two are the top two teams in the Big 12, then I expect nothing short of a series win this weekend.
It’s Now or Never for Texas Tech
The more I talk about Texas Tech, the more I feel like I am repeating myself. As usual, pitching seems to be the hot topic of discussion with this team. The Red Raiders have a 6.99 team ERA, which is by far the worst in the conference. Between the starting rotation and the bullpen, this team needs to get it together before Big 12 play starts next weekend. I know Texas Tech has played a brutal non-conference schedule, but their performance so far this season has been unacceptable, and now they get Grand Canyon on the road, which is no walk in the park.
Who is on Upset Alert?
I know BYU may not be on anyone’s radar, but they are on mine this weekend when they host Stetson for a three-game series in Provo. The Hatters are the favorites to come out of the ASUN conference, and while their record may not seem like much (7-5), they have played an extremely tough non-conference so far. Their offense can keep them in any gam,e but the matchup I am focused on is their pitching against BYU’s lineup. The Cougars lead the conference in home runs, led by Cooper Vest, who has hit five already this season.
Other Series
- UW-Milwaukee at Kansas
- William & Mary at Kansas State
- Canisius at Cincinnati
- Monmouth at UCF
- Utah at San Jose State
- LMU at Baylor
- Grambling State at Houston
- Gonzaga at Arizona State
