Pac 12 Weekend Preview May 10/11/12

Oregon State at Stanford

The series this weekend for Stanford has to be considered a must-win, if the Cardinal has any dreams about playing in the postseason. Stanford enters the weekend 26-17 overall and 11-10 in Pac-12 play. They are currently in fifth place in the Pac-12 and ranked No. 21 in the latest NCWBA poll. The Cardinal were able to take two out of three from Arizona State last weekend, but followed up the series with a midweek lost to San Francisco. The latest RPI ranking has Stanford sitting at 76, which means the Cardinal could really use a win over the Beavers. Oregon State, on the other hand, comes into the weekend ranked No. 5 in the NCWBA poll. They are 38-8 overall and 17-4 in the Pac-12. Winners of nine in a row, Oregon State swept California last weekend and beat Portland during their midweek game. The Beavers rank sixth in the RPI ranking and are in perfect position to claim one of the national seeds.

Series Prediction: Oregon State takes two out of three.

Friday, May 10 – 6:35 p.m. PT

Oregon State- Matt Boyd LHP (9-2, 1.88 ERA)

Stanford- Mark Appel RHP (8-3, 1.56 ERA)

Saturday, May 11- 2:00 p.m. PT

Oregon State- Andrew Moore RHP (8-1, 1.37 ERA

Stanford- Dean McArdle RHP (2-2, 7.04 ERA)

Sunday, May 12- 1:00 p.m. PT

Oregon State- Ben Wetzler LHP (5-1, 1.46 ERA)

Stanford- John Hochstatter RHP (3-2, 3.83 ERA)

Washington State at USC  

The Washington State Cougars travel to Los Angeles this weekend to take on the USC Trojans. The Cougars are 20-24 this season and are 7-14 in the Pac-12. They sit ninth in the conference, one game behind California. Washington State has lost four in a row, after being swept last weekend at home against Oregon. They then dropped the midweek game against Portland. USC, on the other hand, comes into the weekend 17-29 overall. They are 8-13 in the Pac-12. The Trojans are seventh in the conference, two games back from Arizona. USC took a break from conference play last weekend, as they lost two out of three against TCU.

Series Prediction: USC takes two of out three.

Friday, May 10 – 6:00 p.m. PT

Washington State- Joe Pistorese LHP (4-3, 2.63 ERA)

USC- Bob Wheatley LHP (3-3, 1.96 ERA)

Saturday, May 11 – 7:00 p.m. PT

Washington State- Tanner Chleborad RHP (3-8, 6.60 ERA)

USC- Wyatt Strahan RHP (3-3 2.67 ERA)

Sunday, May 12 – 1:00 p.m. PT

Washington State- Scott Simon RHP (3-2, 3.66 ERA)

USC- TBD

Arizona at UCLA

The other series this weekend in the Pac-12 with regional implications is Arizona traveling to UCLA. The Wildcats enter the weekend 29-17 and 10-11 in the Pac-12. Sitting in sixth place in the conference, Arizona is coming off a series loss last weekend to Washington. Arizona sits 82 in the latest RPI ranking. A series win on the road against UCLA could go a long way in improving the Wildcats resume. UCLA, third in the Pac-12, sits at 31-14 overall. They are 14-7 in the Pac-12. The Bruins swept Utah last weekend, but lost to Cal State Northridge in their midweek game. UCLA currently ranks 19^th in the latest RPI rankings and are No.11 in the latest NCWBA poll. If the Bruins finish strong, they appear to be in line to host a regional.

Series Prediction: UCLA takes two out of three.

Friday, May 10 – 6:00 p.m. PT

UCLA- Adam Plutko RHP (6-2, 2.68 ERA)

Arizona- Konner Wade RHP (4-5, 4.22 ERA)

Saturday, May 11 – 2:00 p.m. PT

UCLA- Nick Vander Tuig LHP (8-3, 1.84 ERA)

Arizona- James Farris RHP (4-4, 3.92 ERA)

Sunday, May 12 – 1:00 p.m. PT

UCLA- Grant Watson LHP (5-3, 3.29 ERA)

Arizona- Tyler Crawford RHP (5-1, 3.79 ERA)

Utah at Washington

The season has not been kind to Utah so far, and this weekend appears to be even tougher as the Utes travel to Seattle to take on a red hot Washington Husky team. Utah comes into the weekend with a 16-26 record. They are 5-19 in the conference, which puts them last in the Pac-12. Utah was swept last weekend at UCLA, and their midweek game against BYU was cancelled. Washington enters the weekend with a 17-29 overall record. They are 8-13 in the Pac-12, which puts them in 8^th place. The Huskies have won three of their last four, including a series victory at Arizona last weekend. The Husky offense dropped 30 hits on Arizona in Friday night’s win by a final of 23-1. Washington also defeated Seattle University during their midweek game.

Series Prediction: Washington takes two out of three.

Friday, May 10- 5:00 p.m. PT

Washington- Jared Fisher RHP (2-2, 2.34 ERA)

Utah- Mitch Watrous RHP (3-3, 2.92 ERA)

Saturday, May 11- 12:00 p.m. PT

Washington- Austin Voth RHP (5-5, 2.69 ERA)

Utah- Dalton Carroll RHP (3-6, 4.48ERA)

Sunday, May 12- 12:00 p.m. PT

 Washington-TBD

Utah- Tanner Banks RHP (1-4, 5.08 ERA)

Arizona State at California

The Arizona State Sun Devils travel to Berkeley to take on California this weekend. The Sun Devils come into the weekend with a 30-14-1 overall record. They are 12-9 in the Pac-12, good enough for fourth in the conference. The Sun Devils are coming off a series loss last weekend to Stanford. Getting back on track against California will help the Sun Devils make a stronger case for the postseason. At the moment Arizona State sits 15 in the RPI ranking and are No. 15 in the latest NCWBA poll. California is 21-26 overall and 9-15 in the Pac-12. They were swept last weekend against Oregon State. The Bears are ninth in the Pac-12, two games back from Washington in the loss column.

Series Prediction: Arizona State takes two out of three.

Friday, May 10- 6:00 p.m. PT

Arizona State- Trevor Williams RHP (5-4, 3.60 ERA)

California- Ryan Mason, RHP, (5-3, 3.81 ERA)

Saturday, May 11- 7:00 p.m. PT

Arizona State- Ryan Kellogg LHP (10-0, 2.80 ERA)

California- Trevor Hilldenberger RHP (5-3, 4.79 ERA)

Sunday, May 12- 12:00 p.m. PT

Arizona State- TBD

California-TBD

Oregon at Ohio State   

It’s Oregon’s turn to take a break from conference play this weekend as they travel to Big 10 country to take on Ohio State. The Ducks are 37-11 overall and 19-5 in the Pac-12. The Ducks are second in the Pac-12, one game behind Oregon State for first place. They swept Washington State last weekend. Oregon sits 8^th in the latest RPI rankings, and are in good shape for a national seed.  Ohio State sits 33-15 overall and 13-7 in the Big 10. The Buckeyes are currently in third place. Ohio State ranks 47 in the latest RPI ranking. This weekend could help both teams quest for postseason. If Oregon can win the series, a road win against a top 50 RPI team could only help the Ducks national resume. If Ohio State can pull off the upset, it would possibly solidify Ohio State’s claim for a postseason bid.