Brooks Raley and Texas A&M battle rival Texas with both team's Big 12 title hopes still alive. (Photo courtesy of Wildmen03 at Texags.com)
The Lone Star Showdown this weekend between Texas and Texas A&M will heavily impact the Big 12 conference race. Texas currently leads Kansas State and rival Texas A&M by one game in the conference standings. The two teams will be playing a split series, with the Friday game in College Station and the two remaining games in Austin. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State face off in the Bedlam Series, with Friday’s game to be played at Driller’s Stadium in Tulsa and the other two games at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma desperately needs a series win to keep pace in the Big 12 title race, and Oklahoma State is fighting for a spot in the Big 12 tournament. The Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri looks to be a battle. Both teams are within two games of the conference lead and still mathematically capable of obtaining a conference crown. Kansas State, who trails Texas in the standings by just one game, is fighting toward the school’s first Big 12 championship when they take on Texas Tech this weekend. The Wildcats are not only in the thick of the Big 12 hunt, but they also look to be virtual locks to make their first post-season appearance in school history. Nebraska hosts Cal State Bakersfield this weekend in a non-conference tussle, and Baylor has the weekend off.
Here are the scheduled game times with probable starting pitchers:
#16 Texas A&M v. #8 Texas
FRIDAY (6:30 CT): Brooks Raley (So., LHP, 7-1, 1.96 ERA) v. Chance Ruffin (So., RHP, 7-2, 2.78 ERA)
SATURDAY (12:00 CT): Ross Hales (Fr., LHP, 4-1, 4.10 ERA) v. Cole Green (So., RHP, 4-1, 2.65 ERA)
SUNDAY (2:00 CT): Barret Loux (So., RHP, 3-1, 4.11 ERA) v. Taylor Jungmann (Fr., RHP, 5-3, 1.72 ERA)
Prediction: Texas takes 2 of 3
#17 Oklahoma v. Oklahoma State
FRIDAY (7:35 CT): Andrew Doyle – RHP (6-4, 4.19 ERA) v. Andrew Oliver – LHP (5-5, 4.99 ERA)
SATURDAY (7:05 CT): Stephen Porlier – RHP (1-1, 4.74 ERA) v. Tyler Lyons – LHP (5-4, 3.57 ERA)
SUNDAY (4:05 CT): Garrett Richards – RHP (7-2, 6.84 ERA) v. Tyler Blandford – RHP (6-3, 4.97 ERA )
Prediction: Oklahoma takes 2 of 3
#21 Kansas at Missouri
FRIDAY (6:30 CT): LHP Schaeffer Hall (Jr., 4-4, 4.03 ERA) v. RHP Kyle Gibson (Jr., 8-3, 3.66 ERA)
SATURDAY (2:00 CT): RHP T.J. Walz (So., 6-1, 3.45 ERA) v. LHP Scooter Hicks (Sr., 4-1, 3.58 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 CT): RHP Brett Bollman (Jr., 5-0, 1.98 ERA) v. RHP Nick Tepesch (So., 5-4, 6.24 ERA)
Prediction: Missouri takes 2 of 3
Texas Tech at #21 Kansas State
FRIDAY (6:30 CT): RHP Nate Karns (3-5, 6.18 ERA) v. RHP AJ Morris (11-0, 1.29 ERA)
SATURDAY (2:00 CT): RHP AJ Ramos (4-4, 5.40 ERA) v. LHP Lance Hoge (5-2, 3.67 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:00 CT): TBA v. RHP Todd Vogel (3-0, 4.67 ERA)
Prediction: Kansas State sweep
Cal State Bakersfield at Nebraska
FRIDAY (6:05 CT): RHP Martin Medina (Fr., 2-2, 6.83 ERA) v. RHP Mike Nesseth (So., 3-4, 4.38 ERA)
SATURDAY (3:05 CT): RHP Spenser Messmore (Fr., 2-2, 5.95 ERA) v. RHP Kash Kalkowski (Fr., 1-2, 6.23 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:05 CT): LHP Johnathan Montoya (Fr., 3-5, 6.89 ERA) v. RHP Sean Yost (R-Fr., 1-4, 6.54 ERA)
Prediction: Nebraska sweep
