Big 12 Weekend Preview 2/17-2/19

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Opening weekend is upon us once again. Here is a preview of the Big 12, including pitching probables and a few players to look out for on each team.

 

BAYLOR vs. ORAL ROBERTS (Waco, TX)

Friday:
Baylor: LHP Josh Turley, Jr. (4-5, 3.39 ERA in 2011)
Oral Roberts: RHP Drew Bowen, Jr. (6-2, 1.73 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Baylor: RHP Max Garner, Jr. (2-4, 3.12 ERA in 2011)
Oral Roberts: RHP Alex Gonzalez, So. (8-7, 3.41 ERA in 2011)

Sunday:
Baylor: TBA
Oral Roberts: RHP Kurt Giller, So. (0-1, 11.80 ERA at Nebraska 2010)

Who to watch: Baylor LHP Josh Turley – Turley is now the head bear on the pitching staff, with Pinckard and Verrett gone.

KANSAS at MUSIC CITY CLASSIC (Murfreesboro/Nashville, TN)

Friday:
Kansas: RHP Frank Duncan, So. (0-3, 3.09 ERA in 2011)
Middle Tennessee State: RHP Hunter Adkins, Jr. (2-9, 5.44 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Kansas: LHP Wes Benjamin, Fr.
Bowling Green: RHP Cody Apthorpe, Jr. (5-6, 4.42 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Kansas: RHP Thomas Taylor, Jr. (5-3, 4.58 ERA in 2011)
Belmont: RHP Matt Hamann, Sr. (9-2, 2.81 ERA in 2011)

Sunday:
Kansas: RHP Drew Morovick, Fr.
Lipscomb: RHP Josh Cotham, Jr. (0-0, 3.63 ERA in 2011)

Who to watch: Kansas CL Tanner Poppe – Poppe began his career as a starter, but will transition to the back of the bullpen with his low 90s fastball and solid curveball.

KANSAS STATE at CSU-BAKERSFIELD (Bakersfield, CA)

Friday
Kansas State: RHP Matt Applegate, Sr. (5-5, 4.63 ERA in 2011)
CSU-Bakersfield: LHP Jeff McKenzie, Jr. (1-0, 0.00 ERA at San Joaquin Delta College)

Saturday
Kansas State: LHP Joe Flattery, Jr. (6-3, 2.73 ERA at Iowa Central CC)
CSU-Bakersfield: RHP Scott Brattvet, Jr. (1-1, 6.28 ERA at Santa Ana College)

Sunday
Kansas State: RHP Gerardo Esquivel, So. (1-2, 2.55 ERA in 2011)
CSU-Bakersfield: LHP Taylor Aikenhead, So. (4-1, 3.03 ERA at Bakersfield College)

Who to watch: Kansas State CL Johnny Fasola – Fasola missed a large portion of 2011 with a back injury, but is impressive enough to inherit the closer’s job from KSU all-time saves leader James Allen.

MISSOURI at AUBURN (Auburn, AL)

Friday:
Missouri:RHP Eric Anderson, Jr. (3-0, 4.93 ERA in 2011)
Auburn: RHP Derek Varnadore, Sr. (6-3, 3.68 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Missouri: LHP Rob Zastryzny, So. (2-5, 4.33 ERA in 2011)
Auburn: RHP Slade Smith, Jr. (2-2, 5.83 ERA in 2011)

Sunday:
Missouri: RHP Jeff Cline, So. (6-3 2.30 ERA at Maplewoods College)
Auburn: TBA

Who to watch: Missouri OF Blake Brown – Brown finished last season on the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention list, and followed it up with an All-Star selection in the California Collegiate League.

OKLAHOMA at PEPPERDINE (Malibu, CA)

Friday:
Oklahoma: LHP Dillon Overton, So. (8-4, 2.30 ERA in 2011)
Pepperdine: RHP Jon Moscot, Jr. (2-2, 4.27 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Oklahoma: RHP Jonathan Gray, So. (6-2, 2.89 ERA at Eastern Oklahoma State)
Pepperdine: RHP Scott Frazier, So. (2-1, 1.00 ERA in 2011)

Sunday:
Oklahoma: LHP Steven Okert, Jr. (9-1, 1.91 ERA at Grayson County College)
Pepperdine: LHP Alex Najera, Jr. (1-4, 4.79 ERA in 2011)

Who to watch: Oklahoma CL Damien Magnifico – Reported 103 MPH fastball? If that isn’t enough reason, I don’t know what is.

OKLAHOMA STATE at CAL POLY (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Friday:
Oklahoma State: LHP Andrew Heaney, Jr. (7-4, 4.03 ERA in 2011)
Cal Poly: RHP Joey Wagman, Jr. (4-3, 3.62 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Oklahoma State: LHP Kyle Ottoson, Sr. (3-1, 3.38 ERA at Arizona State)
Cal Poly: LHP Matt Imhof, Fr.

Sunday:
Oklahoma State: RHP Randy McCurry, Jr. (2-4, 2.91 ERA in 2011)
Cal Poly: RHP Kyle Brueggemann, Jr. (7-3, 3.49 ERA at College of Sequoias)

Who to watch: Oklahoma State OF Zach Fish – The big slugging freshman from Michigan is expected to start from day one.

TEXAS vs. DUKE (Austin, TX)

Friday:
Texas: RHP Nathan Thornhill, So. (3-0, 1.89 ERA in 2011)
Duke: RHP Marcus Stroman, Jr. (3-4, 2.80 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Texas: LHP Hoby Milner, Jr. (7-4, 2.45 ERA in 2011)
Duke: LHP Trent Swart, Fr.

Sunday
Texas: RHP John Curtiss, Fr.
Duke: RHP Robert Huber, So. (4-1, 4.37 ERA in 2011)

Who to watch: Texas 2B Brooks Marlow – With Jordan Etier serving a four-game suspension, Marlow has a chance to cement himself in the lineup with a solid first week of play.

TEXAS A&M vs. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (College Station, TX)

Friday:
Texas A&M: RHP Michael Wacha, Jr (9-4, 2.29 ERA in 2011)
Illinois-Chicago: RHP Joey Begel, Jr. (4-3, 4.98 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Texas A&M: RHP Ross Stripling, Sr. (14-2, 2.29 ERA in 2011)
Illinois-Chicago: RHP Charlie Weinberg, Jr. (6-5 5.17 ERA in 2011)

Sunday:
Texas A&M: RHP Rafael Pineda, So.
Illinois-Chicago: RHP Matt Heaslip, Sr. (5-5, 5.78 ERA in 2011)

Who to watch: Texas A&M SS Mikey Reynolds – Reynolds has a chance to fill an important hole in the A&M defense. The JUCO transfer started 43 of 44 games at short stop as a freshman for St. Mary’s.

TEXAS TECH at RED RAIDER CLASSIC (Lubbock, TX)

Friday:
Texas Tech: RHP Duke Von Schamann, So. (5-0, 3.92 ERA in 2011)
Missouri State: RHP Pierce Johnson, Jr. (6-5, 4.76 ERA in 2011)

Saturday:
Texas Tech: RHP Shane Broyles, Jr. (7-1, 2.81 ERA at Seminole State College)
Tennessee Tech: RHP Matthew Shepherd, Sr. (3-7, 5.67 ERA in 2011)

Sunday:
Texas Tech: LHP Daniel Coulombe, Jr. (0-2, 3.98 ERA in 2011) or TBA
Tennessee Tech: RHP Nick Price, Jr. (4-4, 6.14 ERA in 2011)

Texas Tech: LHP Daniel Coulombe, Jr. or TBA
Missouri State: TBA

Who to watch: Texas Tech 1B Scott LeJeune – LeJeune lead the conference in doubles in 2010, but decided to sit out in 2011 for personal reasons. LeJeune is back for 2012 and looking to continue his hot hitting.