SPEAKER_00 0:31

What up, Jason? What up, Jason? Welcome to the Midweek Show. This is the Lucky Finn Inning Podcast, a five arms and a Lucky Finn network, I guess. Uh show you could call it. We're going to talk about the midweek games today. We're going to review all the midweeks. Uh we're who we're picking, who we're not picking for this weekend's weekend's games, and then we're going to talk maxing, swackshin', the big west, and the sunbelt action and see who it's going to be our pick for those. And a lot of them are pretty much at-large bids for the field of 64. So uh Jason, how are we feeling about this week? Uh, we've been doing you've been doing a lot of study and reading up and watching some games.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

Don't give me too much credit. No, I think when I looked at the schedule for this week, it's a little lower than um it's not as great of feelings as far as the amount of uh top matchups, but we do have some that stand out and some big mid-major ones. So I'm really excited to talk about those mid-major ones uh that have some big implications on conference standings.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

So, yeah, so we had a couple big ranking games yesterday. Uh, we're gonna be filming on Tuesday on Wednesday. So yesterday on Tuesday, we had Georgia and Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Kansas, Pitt and West Virginia. The one thing we can start off with real quick is Coastal getting one hit by UNC Wilmington. Uh thoughts on that for North Carolina, uh, UNC. I mean, Jesus, too many North Carolinas. Uh coastal.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Yeah, I think this sucks for Coastal Carolina, especially when this is a team that's sitting in the mid-major. We've discussed them a little bit before. They're not playing as strong of mid or weekend games as some of the top conferences. So every every game kind of matters for this team. I mean, at this point, we know Coastal is a good program. So them losing, I mean, they could they could survive some losses. They have the brand recognition now, which everybody loves, right? So over the last 10 years they've built that up. So I don't think it hurts them too much, but I'd like to see them bounce back and get some uh get a get a sweep this weekend.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Yeah, I I think they're I think they're sitting pretty for for who they are, and maybe they're just a team that just hey, we're we're kind of set in stone. We're we're in the pocket seat. Uh, so I I don't think they have really much that to worry about.

SPEAKER_02 2:56

Now they don't have a good showing this weekend. We might be talking a different different tune, but I don't think it's too big of a deal. I think uh the biggest thing uh that stood out to me this this week was the pit West Virginia game. West Virginia kind of went Johnny Holstaff uh pitched some bullpen guys. The norm the starter that started was is not a normal starter. He just I don't think it was ever the intention for him to stay in too long, but I mean he struggled to find the strike zone um and then gave up gave up a big slog of a home run on a breaking ball. Um, and then the the rest of the staff did not pitch well. I remember I was actually watching this game for uh at the at the beginning, turned it off to go do something else, and then you text me what felt like an hour later and told me they were in the fourth inning, and it was it was absurd. I mean, 23 runs on 13 hits is not good showing for the pitching staff of West Virginia. So, I mean, great for the offensive pit, but it's hard, it's hard to say is it a better offensive performance or is it just a worse defensive performance?

SPEAKER_00 4:00

I it it looked like it was just all offense. I mean, they they scored in every inning but the seventh. And they and they're they're they're second in their third, they scored seven in the second, they scored eight in the third, and they just kept pouring. And like you said, I mean, you you had texted me the score, and I was like, it's only the fourth inning. So it sucks. You you lose that midweek game, but uh Pitt Pitt's got a good matchup this weekend, and so does kind of West Virginia. They're both these are both series that we'll end up talking about later.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

But yeah, the the the sucky thing for West Virginia is you're at home. This was a crowded ball game. I mean, I don't think you could find a seat in the park. Uh there were people everywhere. Uh it was awesome uh as far as a crowd goes. Uh fun fact, Kenny, I found out uh apparently this series used to be played sometimes at PNC Park, so in Pittsburgh, which wish they could go back to that. That would be pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 4:58

But I mean, if if both of the programs keep on building the way they are, and I it'd be nice. I mean, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia played did that, and yeah, I think more teams should do that. I think it's just good to kind of do the home and home is good, but a neutral side here and there is kind of adds to it.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Yeah, because we also saw Boston College play at Finway recently, too. So that's like those kind of things are always neat.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Well, uh Kansas and Nebraska, we uh round two, Kansas is gonna take the series direct, right? So they're gonna take the two game series. They beat Nebraska early in their season. Look, look, from we we kind of came up with our field 64. You have Kansas hosting. I think people kind of they were they were happy about that. And I think Kansas is starting to still, you know, they're looking like that, they're edging into that that conversation to be a host.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

Yeah, I think this Kansas team looks strong. Uh, they had a multiple home runs in this game. Uh, Nebraska had a struggle. Uh, it turns out like there was an error uh by Nebraska, which ended up costing them a run because that error should have been an out, and then the next batter hit a home run. But uh there was another play where the ball looked like it it you could have ruled an error, but I'm glad that the uh score didn't, uh especially being Kansas at home uh for Nebraska because there was a ball hit up the up to center field, and with the turf, it bounced really high and went over the center fielder's head, uh, which allowed him to get the third, and he ended up scoring as well. Now, who's to say that run doesn't score if the ball doesn't bounce over his head and he just makes a clean play? But either way, uh, you know, it ends up being a two-run game at the end of the day, and those two runs both scored. So I but either way, great performance by both teams. Uh Nebraska down in the ninth. Uh, I don't know who the guy was pitching for Kansas. I believe it was number 29, but Guinea, this guy's uh breaking ball was so strong, they actually put the RPMs, they put the RPMs up on the screen for one of those pitches. I've not seen that. So yeah, it was like it was definitely over 2,000, but I don't I don't know the actual numbers on what you know anywhere in the 2000s could be good. So it's um, but but really it was Nebraska chasing in the ninth. It felt like after they got a guy on with one out, uh, you're down by two, you're you're trying to hit swing for the fences a little bit. You got one of your best hitters up. Uh what felt like he was swinging for the fences, they both end up um getting out and I mean on a and on multiple chases, right, for those last two batters. So it felt like Nebraska got away from what they're used to and what they're good at, which is hitting for average uh there in the ninth. But you never know what the game plan is, right? Especially when you're you're you're looking for a big win on the midweek and you're looking to get some momentum back for your team.

SPEAKER_00 8:01

So yeah, especially coming off the the good series against USC and and you took the words out of my mouth, they just didn't play their game, but uh I tell you what, I think Georgia Tech is looking like one of the most promising teams to win this College World Series this year. Uh they put a whipping up on Georgia. A whipping. And that was I think that game was over pretty quick, but let me pull up my I'm over here checking the score of the Oregon. We won't won't jump into it because they're playing right now. Oregon State and Oregon are playing. It looks like Oregon's got the bases loaded with two outs, but update not too good. Top of the third, but uh that that'll be a good one.

SPEAKER_02 8:53

I think that's that's a big one for RPI as well, just strength. I mean, Oregon State needs this game if they really want to continue to stay atop because they don't play a lot of strong opponents the rest of the way, so they need this win.

SPEAKER_00 9:04

Yeah, they're only they're only two two for two for quad white quad one wins, and we I think this is a game that I think everybody will look at them and be like, okay, is are they a legit team? Because you and I keep saying, are they even a a conversation piece to have?

SPEAKER_02 9:21

Yeah, and I think we had talked about it the other day where it's like we don't hate Oregon State. I have nothing against Oregon State, but it's just they don't they don't have a strong schedule to be able to really tell if this team's good or not. And um Oregon needs this win too. I mean, Oregon uh beat that's won that series against Nebraska, uh, won their series against Oregon, or not Oregon, Illinois. Uh, but they they need they need more big wins too, because for right now, we have them in the top 16 hosting, but everywhere else I see does not, and they're they're outside of the top 16. They're probably looking at a two-seed right now. And I mean, for a West Coast team, you would love to be a host, especially after they last time they hosted, uh, you know, they got they lost in their own regional. So um they really need to bounce back, and it would be cool to see them host again and have an opportunity to avenge their uh regional loss. I believe that was last year, right?

SPEAKER_00 10:15

So yeah, so look, before we're gonna jump into our picks, uh, and we'll we'll go down the list of all the other midweek games. Florida loses a series to Jacksonville. I I believe this should cement Florida as maybe barely even getting a four seed at that. Uh what for for in a uh region? Oh in a regional seed. Oh, I I'm I'm being generous.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

They're not gonna get what are you talking about, generous?

SPEAKER_00 10:49

I don't mind having them in in not in there, but the way they talk about Florida.

SPEAKER_02 10:54

I know we didn't want to talk about Florida, but well, Florida's probably gonna get a two, they're gonna get a two-seed.

SPEAKER_00 11:00

Oh, absolutely not. Maybe three.

SPEAKER_02 11:02

Kenny, they're not gonna get a four seed. All the four seeds are gonna go to the conference winners of the lower conferences.

SPEAKER_00 11:07

Well, well, give them give them three. I don't even want to, I really don't even want to give them a two.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

I mean, where they're sitting right now, they have a strong RPI. They're sitting 21. They're sitting right there for a two-seed. But we talked about it last weekend, and yeah, I know you said we said we weren't gonna talk about Florida much, but I mean they still have those last two series um against what Kentucky and LSU, those are gonna be opportunities for them to to bounce up, and they still have AM in Oklahoma, those are too strong. Uh, I mean, they got AM this weekend. We're not gonna talk about it too much just because we were limited on our games we could talk about, but uh AM is a strong team. If they can come out and win that series, I mean this is gonna propel them into regional conversational. So I think I conversational. That's a good word. Yeah, yeah. I I I caught it, but I was just gonna ignore it. Thank you, Kenny. But uh some of the other ones that stood out in the midweek that we mentioned, UC Santa Barbara with a win over Cal Baptist, those are two two mid-major teams that are pretty strong in their resumes. Uh, Utah Tech for WAC, those are when you think about them and Cal Baptist, if you don't watch back WAC baseball, they're one-two. And so Utah Tech with a win over BYU. Utah Tech, I mean this is a team right now. I thought Cal Baptist would be the team that wins the WAC, but it's looking like Utah Tech could after Cal Baptist lost their series to uh Tarleton State this past weekend, and Utah Tech's standing number one right now in the conference, so that'll be interesting to see down the stretch.

SPEAKER_00 12:37

Yeah, the the the only other one that I am a little worried about, and maybe not, maybe the Missouri State Arkansas series uh game this week. I think Missouri, Missouri State, it sounded like they were off to a hard, hot, hot start, but uh Arkansas just came through um to pull that one off.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

But uh Jason, you ready to jump into our picks of the week and we can get really rolling? I'm excited. Let's do it. All right, we got our top matches. Top matches that we picked this week is Virginia at Pittsburgh, West Virginia at Cincinnati. Uh, Purdue is one of those hot teams that no one's really talking about. They got a good little series against USC and then Georgia and Ole Miss, and then finish off with Oklahoma and Auburn. Jason, you are big on pit. I think you switched.

SPEAKER_02 13:35

I did switch as we were preparing for this. Um I had Virginia originally, and then looked at it, looked at it a little more. This has not much to do with yesterday's game just because West Virginia's pitching staff was so bad. But I did some when I did some diving into this, uh Virginia's pitching is a little stronger, but Pitts offense is Thompson walks in the ACC. They're one of the better offensive teams, and they have the one of the lowest K percentages, lowest strikeout rates in the conference. So I think this is gonna be a performance that Virginia's pitching staff is gonna have to come through. Now, don't get me wrong, I've seen some games where Pitts given up a lot of runs. I believe uh one of their games against Wake Forest, they gave up 22. So they're gonna have to rely on their offense. Uh they're hot as of late, and um, it'll be interesting to see how they do. Uh, they're sitting right behind Georgia Tech in most offensive categories, so uh, and Virginia just isn't as strong offensively. So you'll see I usually lean towards pitching staffs, but uh for this one I'm going with the home team. Yeah, so but this week I'm going with the home team uh 2-1.

SPEAKER_00 14:47

Oh, dude, I forgot to make that in play. I keep that's what got me last one because even even when I said it. You know, well, since I've got Virginia, I'll take Virginia 2-1. I'll take Virginia 2-1 on the series. Okay. Um, maybe they just they settle in and you know, Pittsburgh offer that high win, maybe they get a little cocky. Um, and and speaking of Pittsburgh and West Virginia, we got West Virginia at Cincinnati. We both got West Virginia. Um they are Cincinnati's got Quentin Coates, he's a home run leader. Uh he is second, he's got 23 home runs. Both are coming off midweek losses since he lost to Wright State 7 to 12. Um, and Wright State's one of those potential field of 64 teams, too, to watch out for. Um now you have on here, since he's big on home runs, and I'm sure that has to do a lot with Quincy Coates. Uh who has the disadvantage, advantages of this game?

SPEAKER_02 15:50

Um, in this series, uh, you know what I think kind of stands out about West Virginia's home runs, they're towards the bottom in the conference, with uh, if not the worst, with only 26, but they're one of the better teams for average and hitting. But their pitching staff is really strong. So I'm gonna go against what I talked about in the last one and go with West Virginia's got a stronger pitching staff here. And uh I think I think they're gonna be pretty pretty ready to go after this loss yesterday. I mean, clearly they didn't care too much about yesterday, they didn't throw a normal starter, they kind of threw a Johnny Hole staff like we were talking about earlier, and uh so I think they're really focused about this series against Cincinnati, who's another team that's looking to make the postseason as well. But West Virginia is hoping to host a regional. So um I got West Virginia 2-1.

SPEAKER_00 16:36

I'll take West Virginia and sweep. I'll take a sweep. I'll take a sweep. Uh next next we got uh Purdue at USC. I keep on wanting to say Southern Cal. I just need to keep on going, just going with Southern Cal. Again, we talked about USC's got great pitching staff. Uh makes it Edwards, leaves the country in K's. Um I could see Purdue fighting in this series, maybe putting up a good fight. Um I don't see them winning a game. I'll I'll I'll take USC going 3-0 and Purdue putting up a good fight in maybe the Friday night game, kind of keep them off guard. And but I think USC's got this one in the bag. 23. Are they really 23?

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Southern Cal? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They fell off after that series. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 17:31

I think I think people are they're low on Nebraska for whatever reason. Nebraska looks good. I mean they don't doubt it. You know, I don't doubt it. Yeah, they drop from like I don't know. To me, they're still right outside of the regional host for our side, which puts us in that 17 to 20 range, but so it's not far off. But uh, I think for this series, I got USC as well. I'm gonna go. I wanted to go sweep too, but I'm gonna go 2-1. Uh I actually think opposite of you, though. I don't think Purdue's gonna show up at all on Friday. I think Southern, I think Mason Mason Edwards is gonna have a great game. Uh, he gave up, I think, eight or nine hits last game, but he still did well, giving up only two runs and seven innings. Uh, still the nation's leading strikeout. And so I think he's gonna show up big. And I think Southern Cal knows their offense needs to show up after that poor series against Nebraska. So I think they're gonna jump on Purdue, but I think Purdue may get it, may go 2-0 Southern Cal, and then Purdue wins the last game of the series. Uh, but but I see it 2-1.

SPEAKER_00 18:39

All right, got 2-1. Uh, Georgia and Ole Miss. Ole Miss is hot right now. Ole Miss is really getting good. Georgia's had a few up and down games lately. Uh, but I'm gonna take Georgia on this one. Um, just because of the this midweek game, I think they've they've kind of settled into a point where hey, we got we got we really need to step it up. We've got a lot to prove. That was not a good look for us at all. Um, but playing at Ole Miss is not easy. Not easy.

SPEAKER_02 19:13

Not at all. Um, I'm actually going Ole Miss on this one. I am not going sweep as much as I kind of wanted to. Uh, it's just tough to sweep anybody, especially the strong Georgia team, as far as yeah, how good their offense is. So I'm gonna go 2-1 Ole Miss, and I'm gonna say, you know, Hunter Elliott's a strong Friday night starter for Ole Miss. He's uh sixth in the SEC in strikeouts, only fourth, fourth in walks, so that's pretty strong. Uh, they've won nine of their last 10 games, so they're playing really well. I think this is another team that a lot of people are kind of have a little lower. Uh, I mean, we also don't have them hosting a regional right now, but currently top 10 in RPI, Georgia's sitting at uh, I believe, in the 20s. And you know, now it's about that time where we start talking about RPI a little bit. We talked about a little bit last episode where this is about the time where you start looking at RPI because it's kind of giving you a glimpse of the whole season rather than just what have you done for me lately. But even then, Omis winning nine of their last 10. And if you take away one game against Arkansas, Georgia's top hitter, Daniel Jackson, is only hitting 178 in his last seven games, dating back to the start with uh start of Florida series, and only has one home run. And on the other side, uh Tristan Bissetta has a home run in five straight games, ignoring in their midweek game, uh, Ole Miss's midweek game against Murray State, where he still went two for two. So, you know, it seems like Ole Miss's offense is playing a little playing well right now. Yeah, and I think with their strong pitching staff, they're gonna have to show up and kind of lock down that Georgia offense. And it I think you look at this Florida, if you look at we talked about Florida already, but if you look at how Florida performed against Georgia with their pitching staff and the way Ole Miss could this weekend as well, I think that's where I see Ole Miss kind of taking this series 2-1.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

Yeah, they they uh their fan base seems to be on the on the I was about to say the lane train, they're not on the lane train anymore, but they they're chugging along, they seem to be confident. Um Auburn in Oklahoma. Oklahoma just swept Mizzou, Mizzou is dead last in the SEC. Um The is a series that I'm gonna kind of really focus on, especially within the SEC, because where's Auburn at? And how is how well is Oklahoma? Oklahoma Auburn's got an incredible pitching staff, they're number one in strikeout walk ratio. They got a uh 4.1, 4.21 K to uh walk ratio. Um Oklahoma didn't hit well against Texas. Texas is a great pitching staff. We talked about our boy Rio Has. So I have Oklahoma taking the series. Oh, excuse me, wrong. I have Auburn taking the series 2 1.

SPEAKER_02 22:00

All right. I also have Auburn taking the series 2-1. Um, I think this is another one where both teams really need a good performance here because both teams want to host a regional uh identical records across the board and overall and SEC play at 28 and 12 and 10 and 8. And so, like you were talking about, I'm leaning towards Auburn because of their pitching staff pitching so well lately. Um, and don't get me wrong, Oklahoma's series win over Missouri. You expect to win those games. Um, there's nothing wrong with what they did. I just think Auburn's pitching staff is just so strong. And the way they performed against Florida, we even talked about it, right? How good is this Auburn team? What are we gonna see from them moving forward? Uh, and then they show up against Florida, play really well against a team that I think when I look at Florida and Oklahoma, they're both kind of similar in terms of yes, offensive firepower. And so that's why I kind of lean towards Auburn here. Uh, and I'm gonna go 2-1 just because it's so hard to pick a sweep.

SPEAKER_00 23:01

Uh, yeah, especially again, especially in SEC baseball, and especially how the way this season's playing out. I mean, we we honestly don't have any idea. I don't think that's a that's going across the board with everybody. Uh, but we are not gonna leave out our favorite people. Let's jump into our mid-mig mid-majors. Uh, we got a good picks up on the board. We got North Florida at Florida Gulf Coast, our my favorite California team, Cal State Fulleton at UC Santa Barbara, Barbara. We got some Mac Action, Sunbelt, and the good old HBCU SWAC team. Jason, lead us off. Who out of all of these, what is your most important series that you think?

SPEAKER_02 23:46

Hmm, most important Bethune Cookman at Florida AM is definitely the top. Uh, this is a BC team that is strong. They're they're looking to make the tournament uh for the SWAC, and Florida AM is right there with them in terms of conference record at 15-3. So this is one-two matchup in the SWAC. And uh, and I think this Bethrewn Cookman team is just really strong pitching staff and offense. So I think that gives them the edge over Florida AM. And so uh, but but going on the road, we talked about it, it's not easy no matter where you go. So uh this is a big matchup for both teams, and uh, but I think Bethrean Cookman's gonna pull it out.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

Yeah, the only thing I saw was uh Famu's got a really good uh defensive team. Um, but Bethune Cookman looks like looks on a tear. I mean, that yeah, we talked about their pitching. Edwin Sanchez, um, he's incredible, but but their hitting wise is incredible too. I I'll take Bethune Cookman sweeping Famu this week, and uh they'll definitely be sweeping. Oh, I got a sweep on the road.

SPEAKER_02 24:51

I'll take a sweep on the road. I like it. I mean, I'm not I'm not agreeing. I got two one. Yeah, I think uh Famu's gonna come in and uh I don't know that like you you were talking about him already, Edwin Sanchez. I don't think they're gonna beat Edwin Sanchez, but no, uh, I think they'll be able to pull out one of the other games. Uh they're gonna need to because even if a loss here, you know, they can you you still want to hold pace for that two seed in the conference.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

So yeah. Let's talk some Mac action. MAC action, we got Kent State and Western Michigan. Kent State is number one, Western Michigan is number four, and they're both Western Michigan is similar to West Virginia. It's they're hitting on average, they're not gonna hit many bombs, and they're both coming off a three-game winning streak. Um, I've been to a West Virginia game, and I believe at this time of year it was pretty cold. So, no hot bats, maybe. Maybe we'll see how the weather is. I don't know. I don't think it plays that big of a factor, but who you got?

SPEAKER_02 25:52

Uh, I'm going Western Michigan. I'm going home team in this one. Uh, this is a Western Michigan team who doesn't have as strong of a resume as Kent State does, but I they do have one of the best nation nation's best hitters in Taylor uh Tanner Malley. Uh, we talked about him a little bit a couple weeks ago, so good to give them some recognition and get their team up here. Uh, this is number one versus number four in the Mac. Uh Kent State kind of leading the leading the way, but you look at this 15 and 6, 14 and 7, so and that's 1-4. So it tells you the Mac is not separated by much. Um, Kent State hasn't not that I think that they're bad, but I think Western Michigan, they're both going on three-game win streaks. Uh, Western Michigan being at home, it's still in conference. As much as I uh I think Kent State's gonna perform here. This is one of those I kind of went back and forth on, just like uh the North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, we'll talk about too. Uh, but I went with the home team, Western Michigan 2-1.

SPEAKER_00 26:51

Good pick. Good pick. Jason, uh, bring us into North Florida since you brought them up already.

SPEAKER_02 26:57

Who do you have in that one? Kent State. Did you say sweep or two one?

SPEAKER_00 27:00

Oh, no, no, no. Uh I'll do 2-1. I'll do 2-1, and I'm um because maybe it's cold. I mean, that thing that it sucked, but the last time I watched uh Western Michigan was kind of getting beat up, but that was four years ago. So that what I just said has nothing to do with anything.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

And just so everybody knows, we're tracking this because on our weekend episode, we are going to recap how we did and see who won between us. And basically, every game matters. That's why we grabbed this series and who won. So it all matters. But you were talking about North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast. If we jump right into that, I am going Florida Gulf Coast 2-1. You'll notice my floating head on if you're watching on YouTube is not on the right side like the other ones are. It's because I just slightly leaned towards North Florida, but I had to still go with the whole team in Florida Gulf Coast. Reason being, Florida Gulf Coast has struggled recently. They have lost seven of their last 12. You'd think, well, then why are you going against North Florida when they've won seven of their last 10? But Florida Gulf Coast is one of the best hitting teams in the conference for most major categories. Also one of the top pitching staffs in terms of strikeouts and walks. And they're just ahead of North Florida and running differential 1.6 to 1.1 per game. So for me, I think uh Florida Gulf Coast coming off of a 12 12-inning game in the midweek against FIU and a win, and North Florida coming off of a loss against Florida State. Um, I think Florida Golf Coast kind of has the edge here. Uh, that's a 12-inning game and a win. You can take a lot of momentum off of that, especially when you're you're trying to kind of take grasp of the A Sun when you have a better RPI than North Florida, but North Florida's sitting number one right now at 14 and 4. You're at 8-9. This is a series they need to come in and win. And um I'm going Florida Golf Coast 2-1.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

Yeah, I'm looking at their uh looking at the the rankings right now. Oh, F okay. I was looking for Florida Golf Coast. There he is. North Florida is the pick to be um that team to get into that comp uh field of 64, excuse me. But uh I got North Florida. I'll take North Florida just because of their conference record and and um I that I'm glad you pulled up that logo. I did not know we gotta we gotta do a little episode about that. Uh about logos in general, yeah. What which which ones have sport uh baseball oh focus logos?

SPEAKER_02 29:43

Yeah, where it's not their normal, yeah, yeah. So you got two one or three-o?

SPEAKER_00 29:49

Three-o. I'll go, I'll I'll take I'll use my sweep.

SPEAKER_02 29:52

I think I got use your sweep. I haven't you know what's crazy? I haven't I haven't used my sweep at all, but I tell you what, I got two coming in for the next two series. Who who's your first sweep? Who's your first sweep? UC Santa Barbara with a sweep over Cal State Fullerton. You were talking about Fullerton being your favorite West Coast team. Uh, my favorite West Coast team right now is UC Santa Barbara. They're strong in RPI, which kind of shows that they've pit played really well during the whole the whole course of the season. They've won 10 of their last 12 games. Yeah, Fullerton's lost three three in a row, but let's be fair, two of uh they had a series against Oregon State, they lost 2-1, and then they lost to USC in the midweek. So I'm not holding too much against them. They're they're a strong team as well. Both teams have really strong pitching staffs for conference, but UC Santa Barbara kind of has the edge in offense. So I'm going with a 3-0 sweep, UC Santa Barbara, and trying to keep pace and hold that number one spot in the big west. Who you got?

SPEAKER_00 30:53

I will also take a sweep. I'll take uh Santa Barbara. Oh, you already used it. Oh joy, I don't I you get unlimited sweeps, unlimited amounts. We don't get bonus points on them. So I mean I guess I could keep on using them. I'll take I'll take Santa Barbara on a sweep. I believe uh there'll be a great uh three or two in a in a uh in the field of 64. So I think they're a good pick to take.

SPEAKER_02 31:20

So here's a question, Kenny, and we could probably talk about it more after the series. But if you were looking at it right now, if you see Santa Barbara wins the Big West, I'm assuming you have them as a two-seed. But if they don't win the Big West, let's say they get knocked out in the tournament, do you have them in as a two-seed still, or do you think that drops them down to a three?

SPEAKER_00 31:44

I think it would drop them down to a three just because the whoever's NCAA or you know D1, I think they're gonna give it to somebody who is you know earned it, deserved it, because you can't just take away something because you know their overall record. You gotta you gotta make the consequences of a loss, especially at the end of the season. Um so yeah, I I think they'll move them to a three.

SPEAKER_02 32:12

Okay. I actually uh I'm gonna go on the other side and say I think they're gonna be a two seed in the tournament. Um now we'll see how the rest of the season plays out. I wanna we'll I I just wanted to touch on it a little bit, but let's talk about it again on uh this weekend when we when we re-reframe or recap the game.

SPEAKER_00 32:32

Sounds good. Let's get in that last game into the fun belt. It is uh Southern Miss at South Alabama. Southern Miss is second in the Sunbelt, and Alabama's Alabama, South Alabama is third in the Sunbelt. Uh Southern Milt Miss is just here, up and down, there and good there. Uh I don't I'm I'm not on Southern Miss, but I do have them in this game uh taking uh taking the game at South Alabama.

SPEAKER_02 33:06

Interesting. I also have them, but I have them sweeping. I'm pretty confident in this. Oh uh their pitching staff is pitching really well right now. Uh they just came off of a sweep over Texas State, uh, which was a team that was kind of holding pace in the uh in the conference, uh, was actually above uh Southern Miss in the conference, but Southern Miss at home got a big sweep. They needed it, they got a lot of momentum right now. So I'm going with a sweep at Southern South Alabama. Uh I believe this is a 2-3 in the SWAC, right? Or SWAC. Yeah, Southern Mr.

SPEAKER_00 33:39

2-3.

SPEAKER_02 33:40

Uh so but Southern Miss has the edge in ERA. Uh, when I look at some of the other team stats, um, it looks like South Alabama has the edge in offense a little bit, but not by much. And so that kind of leads me to hey, like, I think I think this Southern Mist team still needs to prove that they're for real if they want to get back into the idea of hosting a regional because everybody seems to be out on them right now. So if they want an opportunity, they need another sweep. And um, I think they're gonna get it.

SPEAKER_00 34:11

Yeah, the the Sun Belt is 2-1. I'll I'll do 2-1. I'll too, I'll do 2-1. Uh, yeah, the Sun Belt is uh the Sun Belt is is is a conference that's a lot of their teams are looking for at-large bids. Um uh they're they're fighting, they're fighting, so that's that's a conference we gotta look at. Of course, my throat decides to do that. I'm still trying to check out the score for Oregon State and over Oregon. It looks like it's still 1-0. Um we can end it right here, Jason. What do we think Oregon State needs to do if if they lose this game? What is if they lose it, what is it, what does it look like? And if they win it, what does it look like? That'll be our last thing.

SPEAKER_02 35:02

And then the trivia answer. I think a win over Oregon does not help Oregon State too much in terms of rankings, only because of just when I look at full resume and uh who's above them. I do think it looks good in terms of we sit here and talk about hey, we need to see them perform against better teams because we don't see a lot of strong quad one wins. Uh, this is an opportunity. So I think that's the part that looks good for them. But in terms of rankings, I don't I I think they're kind of at their limit. They just keep winning and they're gonna end up in probably a six or seven in the tournament. Uh they lose. I kind of think it drops some doubt out of top eight. So I think it hurts Oregon State more than a loss would hurt hurt Oregon. I'll say that. Just in terms of scheduling and uh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:57

Uh yeah, I think it's it's the smallest little bit of proof that I think Oregon State has for the rest. I think they have a series against Cal Poly at the end of the year. I think we talked about that.

SPEAKER_02 36:09

They've been playing a lot of big West teams.

SPEAKER_00 36:12

Yeah, they're all big West over there, but um But yeah, Jason, we'll end it here. Let's get to our trivia question. Our trivia question was uh who was the last national champion to miss the postseason the following year? Now I remember Mississippi State. So I'm between Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

SPEAKER_02 36:40

Could it have been both of them possibly in back-to-back years?

SPEAKER_00 36:47

Oh, I didn't even think about that.

SPEAKER_02 36:50

Yeah, um you want to put it up on the screen real quick? It is old in 2023, which makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 37:01

I'll tell you what makes sense because they weren't that they were the bubble team. They were the they were the last or is that Mississippi State? God, why are the Mississippi teams? I think they were the last in in that year. And to pull that one off.

SPEAKER_02 37:17

Talking about the year they won.

SPEAKER_00 37:19

Yeah, the year they won.

SPEAKER_02 37:20

I believe that was yeah, I think they were I was about to say I believe they were a three-seed.

SPEAKER_00 37:24

Yeah, they were they were like the last one in. And but uh I believe LSU might take the cake on being probably the worst team to ever follow out, follow a national championship.

SPEAKER_02 37:39

So well, I don't yeah, so yeah, old Miss didn't make it in 2023, and fun fact, Mississippi State also didn't make it the year before in 2022. So back-to-back times in Mississippi has kind of let themselves down the following year, but LSU's on pace to kind of back be right there with them. That's kind of why we had this question this week. LSU does not look good, and so the uh the teams on the Gulf Coast uh not looking good in terms of following up their national titles, but everybody would rather win a national title than worry about a missing tournament. So you miss the tournament when you're not a big deal. Only one team can make the only one team can win it all, Kenny, but over a hundred don't make the tournament at all.

SPEAKER_00 38:29

So yeah. Well, I mean, I'll quickly end it here. They went six and twenty-four in conference, 25 and 9 overall. So I they probably might be worse than L Shoe. I'll have to double check. But oh wow. All right, y'all. That is our midweek episode. Um, we hope you see you this weekend and uh just kind of recapping everything. I'm hoping I do well because I realize that I'm messing up and not noticing that some of these games are at these locations, and I think that's what got me screwed up. So uh bounce back, bounce back, bounce back time. All right, please like, subscribe, please share this, leave a comment and review. Um, I think the boys are starting a new uh new uh show, the Who's your Hoosier Homers. I'm sure we don't have a lot of Indiana Hoosier fans besides my wife, but that's it from us. We'll see y'all later.