March 27, 2009

ACC, Big West Highlight Weekend Series

A pair of series involving ranked teams highlights this weekend’s ACC schedule. No. 5 Miami (Fla.) (7-2, 19-5) has its second straight tough series. After winning two of three at Virginia last weekend, the Hurricanes entertain head coach Danny Hall (right) and No. 7 Georgia Tech (6-1, 16-3). The No. 16 Cavaliers (5-2, 21-2) play at No. 6 North Carolina (5-3, 19-4).

The Big West starts its conference slate with two great series. No. 2 Cal State Fullerton (16-3) heads to UC Riverside (15-4) and No. 18 Cal Poly (17-4) plays at No.12 UC Irvine (13-7).

In the Big 12, first-place Kansas (3-0, 15-7) heads to No. 17 Texas A&M (3-3, 15-9) and Nebraska (3-3, 15-8-1) goes to second-place and No. 11 Oklahoma (2-1, 21-5).

The SEC had No. 14 Ole Miss (4-2, 15-6) playing at No. 4 LSU (4-2, 19-5). The only team still undefeated in league play is No. 13 Arkansas (6-0, 17-4), which plays host to Mississippi State (2-4, 14-10).

The West Coast Conference starts league action with No. 21 Pepperdine (16-8) at San Diego (16-10). In the Pac-10, No. 3 Arizona State (3-0, 17-3) plays at USC (1-2, 10-10). In the Mountain West, San Diego State (4-2, 16-8) goes to No. 20 TCU (2-1, 14-6), while BYU (4-3, 14-9) continues its series at first-place New Mexico (4-0, 23-3).

In Conference USA, No. 24 East Carolina (3-0, 18-4) heads north to meet Marshall (2-1, 10-12). The Big Ten starts conference action with No. 23 Ohio State (18-3) heading to Happy Valley to meet Penn State (13-8). The balanced Southland has Lamar (5-4, 16-8) going to Southeastern Louisiana (6-3, 15-8). The MVC sees first-place Southern Illinois (3-0, 11-13) visiting Creighton (2-1, 8-14). Kent State (3-0, 15-5) plays at Ball State (2-1, 11-10) in the MAC. In the OVC, the two teams tied for first have home series as Eastern Illinois (3-0, 15-5) entertains Tennessee Tech (0-3, 11-8), while Southeast Missouri State (3-0, 13-8) plays host to Tennessee-Martin (0-0, 9-10). Missouri State (3-0, 11-11), the favorite in the MVC, steps out of conference to play against Summit-favorite Oral Roberts (8-5).

The Southern Conference also had the top two teams at home, as College of Charleston (8-1, 17-4) welcomes Furman (3-6, 9-11), while second-place Georgia Southern (3-1, 17-5) hosts third-place Elon (6-3, 12-7). In the Atlantic Sun, second-place Florida Gulf Coast (7-2, 13-10) travels to third-place Belmont (6-3, 12-11). First-place Lipscomb (8-1, 12-10) heads west to meet defending national champion Fresno State (10-9). Middle Tennessee (8-1, 17-4), tied for first in the Sun Belt, plays at UALR (3-6, 7-15).

The A-10 has two key series, as preseason favorite Charlotte (1-2, 14-6) travels to Dayton (3-0, 12-10) and Rhode Island (2-1, 12-7) plays at Xavier (3-0, 12-6). CAA-leader UNC Wilmington (5-1, 17-5) heads to Georgia State (2-1, 15-7). In the Big East, Notre Dame (1-2, 14-8) plays at Pittsburgh (2-1, 13-6).

Enjoy the games this weekend!

(photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Media Relations Office)