March 20, 2009

Hoos and Hurricanes Highlight Weekend Slate

The top series of the weekend will be in Charlottesville, Va., as Ryan Jackson (right) and No. 9 Miami (Fla.) (5-1, 16-3) visits No. 16 Virginia (4-0, 18-0) in a key ACC series. The Wahoos are the last undefeated team in Division I and will get their strongest test to date.

No. 19 Clemson (4-2, 13-4) heads to Florida State (1-3, 9-7) in another important ACC match-up. The Seminoles need a spark to turn around a mediocre start.

In the SEC, No. 5 LSU (2-1, 15-4) travels to South Carolina (1-2, 13-4) and No. 24 Alabama (2-1, 14-5) heads to No. 17 Ole Miss (2-1, 13-4).

No. 4 Cal State Fullerton (13-3), the favorite in the Big West, entertains Oral Roberts (7-2), the favorite in the Summit, in a three-game set beginning on Thursday.

The Pac-10 starts conference play with an intense intrastate rivalry with Arizona (11-7) heading to No. 6 Arizona State (14-3).

Two big series highlight the start of league competition in Conference USA. No. 10 Rice (12-5) travels to Southern Miss (12-6) and East Carolina (13-4) plays host to UCF (7-12).

In the Big 12, No. 7 Texas A&M (2-1, 13-7) heads to Missouri (1-2, 9-10). No. 13 Oklahoma State (0-0, 14-5) starts its conference schedule at Nebraska (1-2, 12-6-1).

No. 11 Coastal Carolina (2-0, 17-2) plays an important Big South series at Winthrop (3-0, 12-6). Two key Sun Belt battles include Western Kentucky (6-0, 12-5) at Troy (1-2, 11-7) and Florida Atlantic (3-2, 13-3) at Middle Tennessee (5-1, 14-3). Big East favorite Louisville (12-5) starts league play at home against Georgetown (6-11). VCU (0-0, 9-5) has a CAA set at UNC Wilmington (3-0, 15-2). Atlantic 10 favorite Charlotte (11-4) begins conference play at home against Fordham (4-11). In the Southern Conference, Georgia Southern (1-0, 14-3) visits Appalachian State (1-7, 6-12) and College of Charleston (5-1, 14-3) plays at Samford (3-3, 7-11). In the Southland, preseason favorite UTSA (3-3, 10-8) plays at first-place Sam Houston State (5-1, 14-5). In christening the OVC schedule, Jacksonville State (11-7) heads to Murray State (13-5).

Enjoy the games this weekend!

(photo courtesy of Miami Media Relations Office)