College Weekend Preview, Mar 6-9

We are at the point of the season where most of our state’s squads are in the throws of the conference season. Although NCAA D1 and NJCAA D2 haven’t started yet, most of our squads have started with the small 4 year schools at least 2 weeks in. That means each series gets more and more important – whether it be to separate from the pack, stay within reach of the top, or make sure your team stays in the hunt for the postseason tournament.

One thing to look out for this weekend are schedule changes. Weather does not look good for Saturday in Oklahoma. We’ve already seen some changes like OBU and ECU moving their Saturday’s games to Sunday, USAO playing OPSU on Thursday and Friday, etc.

Let’s take a look at the upcoming weekend.

NCAA D1

OU vs Sam Houston St
OSU vs Illinois St
ORU vs Southern Indiana

All 3 of our state’s D1 schools are hosting their final non conference series of the season as they all begin conference play next weekend. To be honest, all 3 should win at least 2 games this weekend as SMSU, Illinois St, and So Indiana are a combined 11-22 on the season.

OU will be looking to bounce back from losing their first game of the season – a 11-0 run rule at DBU while OSU split their 2 game set with Winthrop on Tuesday and Wednesday. ORU beat Illinois St on Wednesday.

NCAA D2

The big series in D2 this weekend is UCO vs Pittsburg State. UCO will be hosting their first MIAA series of the season and they are coming off of a sweep at Emporia State. The Bronchos are 4-2 in conference and sit in 5th place only 2 games out of 1st. The Gorrillas started the season 9-0, but have gone 3-3 since with all 6 games in conference.

Rogers State is technically in 1st in the MIAA at 3-0 although Fort Hays State sits at 6-0. The Hillcats host Newman , 4-11 (1-5).

Northeastern State comes into the weekend at 3-3 after being swept by RSU last weekend. The Riverhawks are at Missouri Western, 1-13 (0-6), so this is a good chance for NSU to stack up some wins to stay in the mix for a postseason tournament berth.

In the GAC, it is another week of intrastate matchups. OBU vs ECU, NWOSU vs SEOSU, and SNU vs SWOSU.

SEOSU has won only 7 games this year, but they’ve won 6 of them in GAC play putting them at 6-2 and only 2 games back of 1st place. The Rangers swept ECU last week after being swept the first 2 weekends. NWOSU sits in 9th place right now so while it is still early, a series win at home seems needed to stay in the race down the road.

The Bison have won their last 2 series and sit at 5-4 in 5th place. While ECU is at 1-8 in conference don’t bet on the Bison taking the Tigers lightly at the Tigers beat OBU last year 2-1.

SWOSU started the season 8-2 but have gone 1-5 since. Both teams have only 2 wins in conference, so if either want to stay in the hunt for one of the top 8 teams for postseason play, a series win would go a long way.

Oklahoma Christian is coming off a 3-1 series win over TAMU International last weekend, but the Eagle sit in 10th place in the LSC 3 games out of 8th place. With OC taking on TAMU Kingsville, they will need another weekend like last to stay in the hunt.

NAIA

USAO vs OPSU
MACU at Wayland Baptist
OCU vs Nelson
Southwestern Christian at Central Christian
OK Wesleyan at York

USAO hosts Panhandle State in the only intrastate matchup this week. The Drovers have won both of their series, 2-1, so far and sit in 2nd place in the SAC standings. The Aggies have dropped both of their series and are 2-4 in conference sitting in a 5 way tie for 7th place (only 8 make the postseason tournament). Not for a lack of runs, the Drovers have been agonizingly close to several sweeps this year, but there always a game where they struggle on the mound.

MAUC is riding a 12 game winning streak and sit atop the league at 6-0 a full 2 games ahead after 2 weeks. The Evangels are on the road for the first time in conference play at a 3-3 WBU team that lost their series with USAO and won against OPSU.

OCU has struggled this year and sits in the 5 way tie for 7th at 2-4 in the league. A series win over Nelson (4-2 GAC) at home could go a long way in moving them up the standings as the season goes on.

Southwestern Christian sits in a tie for 2nd at 4-2 as they beat both OCU and College of the Ozarks, 2-1, in their first 2 SAC series. The Eagles get another team near the bottom of the league at Central Christian so another series win, or better yet a sweep, would stack up the wins at they look to stay at the top of the SAC standings.

When the NAIA Coaches Conference Rankings came out this week, OKWU was listed as the top team in the KCAC. However, the Eagles are in 2nd at 7-2 a game behind Ottawa (who was ranked #2 by the coaches). OKWU has played teams in the bottom half of the conference so far and while York is 4-1 in league play, they will probably be in the bottom half by season’s end. A series win is the bare minimum for the Eagles if they want to challenge for the league title in the grind that is the KCAC.

NJCAA

Division 1

NEO vs Connors State
Eastern vs Seminole State
Rose State vs NOC Enid

NEO is coming off a 2-1 series win over Eastern last week in season’s opening series. Connors State will be playing their first conference series.

Both Eastern and Seminole State are 1-2 as the Trojans dropped 2 games to Rose State. Seminole State is still probably the favorite to win the region, but would make it a lot more difficult if they were to lose this series.

Rose State and NOC Enid are playing a 4 game series with 2 on Friday and 2 on Sunday. This is a fun little series as the Jest have won 9 in a row and Rose State has won 2 straight series vs ranked teams.

Division 2

Carl Albert State vs UA Rich Mountain
NOC Tonkawa vs Hesston

The Vikings/Buck series (2 games) was a last minute add and will not count toward the Region standings. These 2 will play their 4 game series the last regular season weekend. CASC comes in at 12-4 and they have not lost a series yet. The Bucks are 10-10. If anything, this will be the series with the best scenery this weekend.

NOC Tonkawa comes in at 18-1. Hesston is 2-14 an they have lost 7 in a row including a 4 game sweep at the hands of Redlands last weekend.

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