What To Watch For This Weekend In College Baseball (5/13)

Image credit: Virginia Tech shortstop Tanner Schobel (Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech)

Top 25 Schedule

(15) Texas Tech at (3) Oklahoma State
Stream on ESPN+ (7/7/2 p.m. ET).

In a key Big 12 series, Oklahoma State (34-14, 13-5) hosts Texas Tech (32-16, 11-7) in O’Brate Stadium. The Cowboys are chasing their first Big 12 title since 2014 and hold a 1.5-game lead on second-place TCU, which this weekend is playing Kansas. Texas Tech lurks in third place, two games back. While there is a scenario for Oklahoma State to clinch the title this weekend, it’s far more likely that this race goes down to the final weekend. Still, an Oklahoma State series win would give it a commanding lead and help it secure a top-eight seed in the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech is looking to not only stay in the title race but also boost its RPI (42) and possibly make a late push at hosting a regional. Beyond the implications on the standings and the postseason, this series also features Texas Tech slugger Jace Jung (.364/.513/.682, 12 HR) and Oklahoma State righthander Justin Campbell (7-1, 2.91), two of the best draft prospects in the conference.

(7) Louisville at (4) Virginia Tech
Stream on ACC Network Extra on Friday (3 p.m. ET) and Sunday (1 p.m.). Watch on ACC Network on Saturday (1 p.m.).

Louisville (34-13-1, 15-8-1) and Virginia Tech (34-10, 14-8) are set for a top-10 clash in Blacksburg, in the biggest series at English Field since at least 2013. Both the Cardinals and Hokies are angling for top-eight seeds in the NCAA Tournament and the top seed in the ACC Tournament, though both trail Miami (36-12, 17-7) in that race. This weekend pits two of the top offenses in the country against each other, as Louisville ranks seventh nationally at 9.1 runs per game and Virginia Tech is 12th with 8.8 runs per game. Both teams rank in the top 25 nationally in home runs (Virginia Tech 86, Louisville 73) and the ball could be jumping this weekend. Two of the top shortstops in the 2023 draft class will be in this series, as Virginia Tech is led by Tanner Schobel (.376/.467/.705, 14 HR) and Christian Knapczyk (.335/.473/.463, 15 SB) gets things started for Louisville.

(25) Vanderbilt at (5) Arkansas
Stream on SEC Network+ (7:30/7:30/3 p.m. ET.

Vanderbilt (32-15, 12-12) and Arkansas (36-12, 16-8) are both coming off big road series wins—the Commodores at Georgia and the Razorbacks at Auburn—and now face another stiff test this weekend at Baum-Walker Stadium. Arkansas is leading the SEC West and tracking toward a top-eight seed in the NCAA Tournament, though it needs to keep winning games to keep its standing in both races. Vanderbilt needs a solid finish to the season to host regionals and this weekend presents a big opportunity to make a statement. The Commodores will have a different look on the mound this weekend as freshman lefthander Devin Futrell (8-1, 2.03) will move to the front of the rotation after serving as the midweek starter. He ranks 20th nationally in ERA, but a Friday night start against an offense of Arkansas’ quality in one of college baseball’s toughest environments will be a different challenge altogether. He’ll be matched up against Arkansas righthander Connor Noland (5-3, 2.99), who has been solid all season long but is coming off his worst start of the season. Getting the series off to a good start will be paramount for both teams.

(6) Miami at (13) Florida State
Stream on ACC Network Extra on Friday (7 p.m. ET). Watch on ACC Network on Saturday (7) and ESPN2 on Sunday (noon).

Miami (36-12, 17-7) and Florida State (30-17, 13-11) will renew their rivalry this weekend in Tallahassee. This is one of college baseball’s best rivalries and there will be plenty at stake beyond bragging rights. The Hurricanes are leading the ACC title race but Louisville (34-13-1, 15-8-1) and Virginia Tech (34-10, 14-8) are in hot pursuit. Florida State is aiming to host regionals, but it’ll need a solid finish to the season, and that starts this weekend. This series also produces perhaps the best pitching matchup of the weekend, as Florida State lefthander Parker Messick (6-2, 2.56) squares off against Miami lefthander Carson Palmquist (7-3, 2.95). Messick leads the nation in strikeouts (128), while Palmquist (92) ranks 24th.

Texas-San Antonio at (17) Southern Mississippi
Stream on ESPN+ (7:30/3/noon p.m. ET)

It’s a battle of the top two teams in the Conference USA standings, as Southern Miss (36-13, 18-6) hosts UTSA (32-16, 16-8). The Golden Eagles had been flying high in April and looked to be on their way to hosting a regional for the first time since 2017. Now, however, they have lost five of their last seven games, including their last two series, and it may be a fight to the finish for both the C-USA title and hosting. The Roadrunners are two games out of first place and need to boost their RPI to stay in the mix for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. UTSA has not advanced to regionals since 2013 but has made marked improvements during coach Patrick Hallmark’s three seasons at the program’s helm. This series is must-win for both teams and promises to be a fantastic atmosphere at Pete Taylor Park.

Evansville at Dallas Baptist
Stream on PatriotBroadcastingNetwork.com (7:30/3/2 p.m. ET).

The Missouri Valley Conference has a fascinating dynamic this season. DBU (31-17, 9-6) was the preseason favorite and has played brilliantly in non-conference competition this season. Just on Tuesday, the Patriots upset No. 3 Oklahoma State and pushed their RPI to No. 3 in the country. But they have also lost three conference series, allowing Evansville (28-18, 12-3) to push into first place in the conference standings. The Aces have won seven straight and 13 of their last 15 games and are aiming for their first MVC title since 2014. This weekend has a lot riding on it for both teams. The Patriots need it to stay in the hunt for the conference title and for the Aces it is a big opportunity to improve their RPI, which at No. 69 probably isn’t good enough to put them in at-large consideration for the NCAA Tournament.