Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech among five college baseball teams to watch this weekend

Sean Ryan

Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech among five college baseball teams to watch this weekend image

Conference play for most of college baseball is in full swing as we hit the first day of spring. With it comes jockeying for position in an attempt to build a resume worthy of postseason consideration.

Here are five college baseball teams to watch this weekend.

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys (14-6) were a trendy preseason pick to reach Omaha this year, a year removed from a Big 12 title and Super Regional appearance. To say Oklahoma State has struggled isn’t necessarily fair as its losses all have come to strong teams – Arizona State (2), Illinois (2), Auburn and Oregon State. But meeting lofty expectations often is easier said than done. The Cowboys get a chance to see how they stack up by opening conference play at top-ranked TCU in what should be one of the best series of the weekend.

Virginia Tech

The Hokies (4-2, 11-10) did what no ACC team has done since 2012: sweep Virginia. The question now is what Virginia Tech will do with that series in its back pocket. The Hokies promptly dropped a midweek game to a very good Liberty squad and rebounded with a win over Radford. But, conference play is where they need to make their mark and if they are capable of sweeping No. 1 Virginia, they are capable of making more noise. Clemson is on the docket this weekend.

Virginia

On the flip side, the Cavaliers (2-4, 13-5) dropped four straight games for the first time since April 2008 and lost coach Brian O’Connor for four games due to a suspension for unintentionally bumping an umpire late in the first game against the Hokies. The sky isn’t falling in Charlottesville, but with No. 12 Florida State paying a visit this weekend, it is a clear reminder that last year’s national runner-up needs to play better – or else it might find itself in a big-time ACC hole.

Cal

So far, the Golden Bears (2-1, 15-5) have been one of the biggest surprises of the season. Pac-12 coaches picked Cal to finish 10th in their preseason poll, and the Bears got off to a great start by taking two of three against No. 7 Oregon, which was tabbed first in that same poll. Next up is a trip to Washington, which pushed UCLA to the limit in dropping two of three to the Bruins last week. Can Cal, which has played only three road games, take its momentum on the road?

Auburn

The Tigers (0-3, 14-7) have some nice nonconference wins (Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and a midweek W over Alabama in a game that doesn’t count toward SEC standings), but drew a tough task in opening SEC play at undefeated Texas A&M and hosting Vanderbilt, the defending national champion. With few – if any – weekends off in the SEC, this weekend looms large for Auburn in making a statement against the Commodores and avoiding an 0-6 start, which will be tough to overcome.

Sean Ryan