It’s time for the college baseball week 10 weekend preview. Check out the storylines to watch in week 10 college baseball games below:
Series of the week: Western Kentucky University @ Troy
Western Kentucky University travels to Troy this weekend to face the Sun Belt Conference leader. WKU is tied for second place in the Sun Belt, one game behind Troy. A series win this weekend will move the Hilltoppers into a tie with Troy, and a series sweep would ensure WKU will have at least a share of first place. WKU head coach Chris Finwood will send his normal starting rotation to the mound this weekend with sophomore left-handed pitcher Tanner Perkins, freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman and redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Brian Edelen.
Player to watch: OF/DH Jacob Daniel (EKU)
Despite a 14-23 overall record, Eastern Kentucky University is just 1.5 games out of first place in the wide-open Ohio Valley Conference race. The Colonels have won seven of their last 10 games and are coming off a weekend sweep of in-state rival Morehead State University last week. If the Colonels are going to make a run at the Ohio Valley Conference regular season title, they will need another strong weekend from junior slugger Jacob Daniel. The outfielder is batting .366 with eight home runs, 36 RBI and 22 runs scored on the season and slugged a walk-off home run in game one of the Morehead St. series.
Stat of the week: UK’s conference losing streak
The University of Kentucky was a preseason sleeper pick in the Southeastern Conference, but the Cats have collapsed in conference play. UK has lost 12 consecutive SEC games and now holds last-place in the conference to itself. The Cats welcome SEC West leader Arkansas to Lexington this weekend so the schedule doesn’t get any easier. UK’s only conference wins came against 11th place Tennessee. Strangely, UK had won nine non-conference games in a row before Tuesday’s loss to WKU.
Out-of-state Ky. collegian to watch: SS Zach Osborne (Tennessee, PRP)
No out-of-state Kentucky collegians are playing Kentucky schools this week, so we’ll give you an out-of-state player to watch instead. Pleasure Ridge Park alum Zach Osborne and his Tennessee teammates are coming off the school’s first SEC series win of the season last week. The Vols are still a longshot to make the SEC tournament, but Osborne is doing his part to keep them in the race. The former Little League World Series star is batting .360 with one home run, 16 RBI and 21 runs scored on the season.