April 3, 2009

Pitches and Peaches for a Great Weekend in Georgia

There are three huge series taking place this weekend in the state of Georgia.

In the SEC, No. 2 Georgia (7-2, 24-3) entertains No. 3 LSU (6-3, 21-7). The Bulldogs are on top of the Eastern Division and bring a five-game win streak into the series with the Tigers, which are second in the Western Division.

The ACC has No. 5 Georgia Tech (8-2, 18-4), the top team in the Coastal Division, playing host to No. 6 North Carolina (7-4, 22-6). The Tar Heels are sitting in third in the Coastal Division.

In the Southern Conference, first-place College of Charleston (10-2, 20-5) heads to Statesboro to face fourth-place Georgia Southern (4-3, 18-7).

Also in the SEC, No. 9 Arkansas (8-1, 20-5), the top team in the Western Division, plays at South Carolina (4-5, 19-8). Another key ACC match-up, No. 25 Florida State (6-4, 17-8), the leader in the Atlantic Division, heads south to No. 8 Miami (8-4, 21-7), the second-place team in the Coastal Division. In the Sun Belt, second-place Western Kentucky (8-1, 20-7) heads south for three at third-place FIU (6-3, 17-7). In the Atlantic Sun, Jacksonville (8-4, 18-8) and Belmont (8-4, 15-12) are tied for second and will battle in Nashville. In the Big South, second-place Winthrop (6-3, 16-10) entertains third-place Charleston Southern (7-4, 12-17).

The Big West again has two huge series as No.11 UC Irvine (3-0, 17-7) plays at No. 1 Cal State Fullerton (2-1, 19-5), while No. 23 Cal Poly (0-3, 18-7) looks to rebound from its sweep at the hands of the Anteaters by playing host to Cal State Northridge (2-1, 13-14). The top set in the Mountain West has No. 22 New Mexico (5-1, 25-5) heading east to play at TCU (3-3, 16-9). The WAC has two big match-ups as conference play begins with Sacramento State (0-0, 16-9) playing at New Mexico State (0-0, 25-3) and San Jose State (0-0, 19-5) heading across the water to face Hawaii (0-0, 16-9). In the Pac-10, first-place Arizona State (5-1, 20-5) heads to Washington (1-2, 10-15). In the WCC, Pepperdine (0-3, 16-11) looks to bounce back by playing host to Gonzaga (2-1, 18-7).

In the Big 12, No. 13 Texas (4-5, 18-7) visits No. 15 Oklahoma State (3-3, 20-8) and No. 10 Baylor (5-4, 18-7) heads to Kansas (3-3, 17-10). In Conference USA, No. 7 Rice (4-2, 18-7) entertains Tulane (1-2, 17-11). Division-leaders meet in the MAC as Toledo (5-1, 11-13) travels to Ohio (5-1, 11-12). In the Big Ten, Ohio State (2-1, 21-5) heads north to Minnesota (1-1, 14-8). Two of the three teams tied for first in the Southland will battle as UT Arlington (8-4, 15-12) entertains Southeastern Louisiana (8-4, 17-9). There are two key series in the OVC as Southeast Missouri (6-0, 16-9) welcomes Jacksonville State (4-2, 15-10) and Eastern Illinois (5-0, 19-5) plays host to Murray State (1-2, 18-9). In the MVC, Wichita State (1-0, 15-10) welcomes Illinois State (3-1, 12-7).

In the CAA, leader UNC Wilmington (5-1, 17-7) travels to second-place George Mason (4-2, 21-5) and Georgia State (2-1, 17-8) plays at Delaware (4-2, 17-8). In the A-10, first-place Dayton (6-0, 16-10) visits Rhode Island (4-2, 14-10-1). In the Big East, first-place West Virginia (5-1, 20-6) entertains Georgetown (3-3, 10-16) and USF (4-2, 16-10) welcomes Pittsburgh (4-2, 17-7). In the MAAC, Marist (5-1, 14-9) makes its way to Manhattan (5-1, 12-9). In the opening weekend of NEC play, Central Connecticut State (0-0, 9-6) goes to Wagner (0-0, 9-8).

Enjoy the games this weekend!

(photo courtesy of Georgia Media Relations Office)