SSBR College Series of the Week: Murray State College vs NOC Enid

For a while now, most of the various levels in college baseball have started conference, or in this case, Region play. However, one of those that haven’t is Region 2 in the NJCAA D2 level.

That starts this week, and perhaps what the biggest series of the season happens this week happens when nationally ranked Murray State faces nationally ranked NOC Enid in a 4 game series.

It’s not often that both team in any series are both ranked in the national polls, and it is even less often when both teams are from the Sooner State. That is exactly what we have this weekend as Murray State comes in at #13 and NOC Enid comes in at #17 in the latest NJCAA National Rankings.

This season, Region 2 goes back to a schedule where teams face each other 4 times over a weekend with the first 2 games are at one team’s yard on a Thursday/Friday and the other 2 games at the other team’s yard on a Saturday/Sunday. (There will be an exception when Western plays UA Rich Mountain and Carl Albert State when all 4 games will be at one place.)

With MSC and Enid the only 2 teams from Region 2 on either side in the rankings, this series could be the biggest of the year if either team expects to be claiming the regular season crown in the West division.

Who: Murray State College vs Northern Oklahoma College – Enid
When: Thursday at MSC (Tishomingo), 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.; Saturday at NOC Enid, 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

#13 Murray State Aggies (16-6)

Murray State comes into the series playing extremely well. They have won 3 games in a two and 9 of their last 10. Two of those 9 wins (and the loss) came at NJCAA D1 #9 LSU Eunice. In fact, Murray State is the only team to defeat LSU Eunice at all this season as they’ve gone a total of 3-3 against the Bengals.

MSC has really got it done at the plate so far this year. In their 22 games, the Aggies are slashing .320/.437/.563 (team OPS 1.000). They’ve hit 35 HR as a team with 183 RBI. Murray State is averaging over 9 runs per game.

Individually, the Aggies have 6 qualified hitters batting at least .343 or better. Sean Keenan leads the team in AVG (.388) and hits (33). Tanner Norman leads the Aggies in RBI (33), OBP (.500), SLG (.789), and is 2nd in HR (8). Rayner Beene is 3rd on the team in AVG (.380) while providing 5 HR and 25 RBI. There are a total of 5 players with at least 24 RBI or more.

On the mound, MSC is led by Tayte Dome. He leads the team in starts (6), IP (31), strikeouts (33), and WHIP (1.32). Dome threw 7 innings of 1 hit ball at LSU Eunice then followed that up with a 7 inning, complete game in his next outing.

Eli Ramirez and Carson Culbreath have been the other 2 full time starters for Murray State with Ramirez throwing 30 Ks in 17.2 IP. Caden Allen, Kylen Dodge, Isaac Gamble, and Brance Garrett have all started at least one game with Allen having a 0.77 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 11.2 IP.

NOC Enid Jets (20-5)

Enid comes into the series as one of 2 teams in the country at D2 with at least 20 wins. The Jets are riding a 12 game winning streak that seeing them score more than 15 runs per game.

At the plate, the Jets have been more than impressive. As at team, Enid is slashing .364/.517/.597 with 29 HR and 253 RBI.

Bryan Williams leads the team at the top of the lineup and figuratively with a slash line of .438/.552/.775. Even though he primarily leads off for the Jets, Williams leads the team in hits with 35 and RBI with 36 RBI along with being 2nd in HR with 6.

Noah Smith leads the team in HR at 8 and is only 1 behind Williams in RBI with 35.

The Jets have 4 pitchers with at least 5 starts with Bennett Percival and Wyatt Rutledge leading the team in IP at 22.2 and 21.1 respectively along with leading the team at 2.38 ERA and 3.38 ERA respectively. Percival leads the team in strikeouts at 31 with Jack Jones next at 25 in 20 IP.

Outlook

Not trying to cop out here, but this is too close to call. This series looks about as evenly matched as you can see.

Played at 2 of the best ballparks you’ll see in Oklahoma (The Ranch in Tishomingo and David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid), this would be a great series to watch in person.

Whatever happens this weekend, if either team wins the series 3-1 or somehow sweeps, they would have a huge advantage in the standings going forward.

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