Rounding Third: Bedlam Looms Large

The wins just keep piling on for OSU, who gets in-state rival OU this weekend.

Here’s a look at where the Cowboys stand in the national polls, some info on the upcoming game against Arkansas-Little Rock, and three things to watch this week.

In The Polls (As of April 27)

Collegiate Baseball: 11th (9th last week)
Baseball America: 12th (17th last week)
D1Baseball.com: 12th (15th last week)
RPI: 13th (19th last week)
USA Today: 13th (15th last week)
NCBWA: 13th (15th last week) 

Midweek Opponent

Arkansas-Little Rock (14-25, 10-10 Sun Belt)
6:00 p.m., Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, Stillwater
All-Time Series: OSU leads 43-2
Most recent: OSU 7-6, April 8, 2014
Live: Stillwater Radio 93.7 FM, Twitter: @OSUBaseball 

Don’t expect much from this game. The real challenge is in Tulsa and OKC this weekend, so look for Coach Holliday to rotate some younger players in against UALR. The Trojans come to Stillwater on a six-game losing streak, and have losses to OU (22-0) and Oral Roberts (15-2) this year.

UALR hasn’t won a game against OSU since 1987, and that shouldn’t change this year. With a 6.61 team ERA and .259 team batting average, this may seem more like a scrimmage to the Cowboys. The best I can say about the Trojans is they have a good fielding percentage. And that’s never good when that’s the best part about a team.

OSU should pick up an easy win here, and will be winners of five of the past six heading to ONEOK Field on Friday.

Players To Watch: 

3B Tanner Rockwell (.329, 2 HR, 29 RBI)
LF Ryan Scott (.344/.400/.506, 17 2B, 19 RBI)
SP Reed Willenborg (1-3, 5.97 ERA, 27 K in 31.2 IP)

Three Things To Watch

1. Tulsa’s ONEOK Field serves as the host of this year’s Big 12 Baseball Championship, so being able to play a game on the field before the conference tourney begins will be a great help to the younger Cowboys who may not have experienced this field. Tickets are still available (along with the two games in OKC) so be sure to grab them if you’re looking to be entertained this weekend.
2. It’s almost time to start thinking about postseason. I know the big question this year will be “Will the Cowboys earn a national seed?” Thankfully, Aaron Fitt of D1Baseball answered that question yesterday:
   

   “Oklahoma State’s stock is on the rise again, that was a huge series win on the road. I’ll see those guys next weekend for Bedlam, looking forward to that. I think if the Cowboys win their last three series (Oklahoma, West Virginia, at Michigan) and take the Big 12 regular-season crown, they’ve got a solid chance at a national seed. Winning the head-to-head series vs. TCU earlier this year was big.”

3. I’m working on a special piece for Bedlam that I hope to have ready before the series starts on Friday. Keep an eye out for it – I hope you’ll enjoy it.