For the second straight week, UC Irvine is tabbed the No. 1 team in the country, according to
Baseball America and
Collegiate Baseball. After tallying a 4-1 record last week, the Anteaters return to Anteater Ballpark to host USC and Cal State Northridge. The Trojans make the short trip down the 405 to battle the Anteaters Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. UC Irvine went 2-0 against USC last year to narrow the Trojans' lead in the series to 27-22. The Anteaters, who sit atop the conference leaderboard with an 11-1 mark, follow up their midweek contest with a conference series against Cal State Northridge. Friday's first pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday's contests get underway at 1:00 p.m.
The Matadors hope to snap a three-game skid prior to making their trip to Orange County. Cal State Northridge, 1-13 on the road this season, embarks on a five-game road trip Tuesday when it visits UNLV for a pair of games. Tuesday’s meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday outing shows a 1:00 p.m. start.
UC Santa Barbara has the opportunity to enhance its resume this week when it travels to No. 5 Cal State Fullerton for a three-game stint. The Gauchos, 4-4 against Top 25 competition, are playing their second consecutive weekend tournament against a ranked opponent. Last week, UC Santa Barbara dropped its Big West series to then-ranked No. 12 Cal Poly, 2-1. Games times for the series that runs Friday-Sunday are 7:00, 6:00 and 1:00 p.m. Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series, 85-31.
Prior to its clash with the Titans, UC Santa Barbara hosts Cal State Bakersfield in a Tuesday afternoon contest. The Gauchos are 3-0 versus the Roadrunners this season.
The Titans return to the familiar confines of Goodwin Field after an impressive 5-0 mark last week, which included four road victories. Cal State Fullerton, riding a six-game win streak, entertains USC Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. The Titans hold a 40-35-1 edge over the Trojans.
One of the hotter teams in the conference in recent weeks has been Long Beach State. The 49ers have rattled off six wins over the last eight contests and now sit fourth in the league with a 7-5 record. This week Long Beach State visits the City of Angels for a Tuesday-night contest against the UCLA Bruins at Jackie Robinson
Stadium. Three days later, Long Beach State returns to Blair Field to entertain UC Davis for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The Aggies, who enter the week riding a three-game losing streak, travel to Nevada Tuesday for a nonconference contest. The Wolfpack won the previous meeting back on March 10, 2-1, in 11 innings.
Following a Big West series sweep over Cal State Northridge, UC Riverside seems to be back on track. The Highlanders improved to 24-13 overall and 5-7 in the conference to sit seventh. This weekend the Highlanders return to the Riverside Sports Complex, where they are 10-7, to host Pacific in a three-game series. UC Riverside, who has won the last four contests versus the Tigers, recently erased a season-long five-game skid with four consecutive wins. UC Riverside looks to keep that streak alive when it opens the week with a showdown at San Diego. The Highlanders and Toreros take to the diamond Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
The 13-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs registered a 2-1 record against conference foe UC Santa Barbara to improve to 10-5 in the Big West, good enough for second place. The Mustangs take a break from league play with five nonconference contests on the docket. They begin the week hosting Fresno State Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. The Mustangs defeated the Bulldogs, 13-11, earlier this season. The following day Cal Poly travels to Saint Mary’s for a 3:00 p.m. start.
Baggett Stadium is the site for the weekend matchup between Cal Poly and San Francisco. The Mustangs own a 9-6 edge over the Dons in the short-lived series. The first pitch in the series will be tossed Friday at 6:00 p.m. Saturday’s contest also begins at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday’s matinee starts at 1:00 p.m.