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Anthony Eyanson (Photo Courtesy of LSU Athletics)
With conference play underway across the country, there will be a number of marquee matchups every weekend until the end of the season. This weekend’s slate is a perfect example of that, as there are a pair of top 10 series in the SEC alone. On top of the big-time SEC matchups, No. 12 Wake Forest and No. 7 Clemson will provide plenty of action in the ACC, while two newly-ranked Big 12 teams square off in Morgantown.
Here’s what to watch for in week six.
Top 5 Showdown Deep In The Heart Of Texas
Even with another top 10 series on the docket, the most high-profile series this weekend is a clash between No. 2 LSU and No. 5 Texas. The Tigers are off to a roaring 21-1 start, with their lone blemish being a one-run loss to Omaha. They haven’t exactly faced the 1927 Yankees every weekend, but they did string together an impressive 4-0 run in Texas three weeks ago that included solid wins over Dallas Baptist, Kansas State and Nebraska. Most recently, LSU opened up SEC play with a sound sweep of Missouri.
LSU boasts one of the deepest lineups in the country. Its .345 team average ranks third nationally, and it’s a unit that’s led by freshman Derek Curiel (.434/.578/.632). Curiel is the team’s leading hitter, but Bear Jones (.424/.519/.812) has a team-leading eight home runs and 34 RBIs to his name, while the dynamic middle infield duo of Daniel Dickinson (.368/.547/.721) and Steven Milam (.367/.442/.658) have collected 28 and 24 RBIs, respectively. That has been the “core four,” so to speak, thus far for LSU, but there isn’t an easy at-bat in the entire starting nine. In fact, there are 10+ hitters who head coach Jay Johnson would feel comfortable having in the box at any given moment.
For as formidable as its lineup is, LSU’s rotation consists of the three-headed monster that is Kade Anderson (4-0, 2.57 ERA), Anthony Eyanson (3-0, 3.90 ERA) and Chase Shores (4-0, 3.80 ERA). Anderson has an enticing blend of strikes and stuff and has been a consistent “up-arrow” name as it pertains to the draft, while Eyanson is the most polished pure pitcher of the trio. Shores has long been known for his power stuff and fastball-slider combination, and he has fared well since returning from injury. The Tigers’ bullpen is a bit light when compared to their other personnel groups, but expect the duo of Zac Cowan (2-0, 1.47 ERA) and freshman Casan Evans (1-0, 0.73 ERA) to log important innings this weekend.
Since losing 4-3 in extra-innings on opening night, Texas rode a 17-game winning streak to a top five spot in our most recent rankings. The Longhorns on Tuesday dropped a 12-inning thriller to in-state rival UTSA, but there’s a world—albeit they’ll need a little bit of help—where they could be vying for the No. 1 spot come Sunday night.
While Texas has a handful of quality bats in its lineup, the strength of this year’s club is undoubtedly its pitching. Indiana State transfer Jared Spencer (2-0, 2.36 ERA) has been excellent in his first full season as a starter, while fellow southpaw Luke Harrison (2-0, 2.08 ERA) has enjoyed similar success. Freshman Dylan Volantis (2-0, 1.65 ERA) has thrived in a Swiss Army Knife-type role, and he could be used in a myriad of ways this weekend. He can start, he can eat innings in the middle and he can also close. Speaking of guys who can close, junior righthander Max Grubbs has pitched his way to a 0.98 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 18.1 innings. Additionally, expect Ruger Riojas (4-1, 3.98 ERA) to be used multiple times in relief this weekend.
In its first-ever SEC series last weekend, the Longhorns swept Mississippi State on the road. An impressive result in and of itself, yes, but what made it even more impressive was the fact that they still managed to pull off the sweep with Max Belyeu (.338/.446/.584) and Jalin Flores (.306/.402/.569) going a combined 1-for-20. Other hitters rose to the occasion like they’ve done all year, especially Ethan Mendoza (.406/.523/.667) and Rylan Galvan (.314/.462/.784). Galvan’s seven home runs and 19 RBIs both lead the team, but eight different hitters have double-digit RBIs to their name. One of whom is freshman Adrian Rodriguez (.308/.372/.538), who has been one of the more impressive freshman hitters in the country to this point and looks the part of a potential first-rounder in 2027.
I fully expect a hard-fought series in which each team hits one another with haymaker after haymaker. The environment in Austin figures to be outstanding, which will make an already-fantastic matchup that much better. Texas’ pitching has silenced almost every lineup it’s faced up to this point, but I think LSU wins the rubber game on Sunday to pick up a massive series victory.
How To Watch No. 2 LSU (21-1, 3-0 SEC) at No. 5 Texas (17-2, 3-0 SEC)
Friday’s game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network, while both Saturday and Sunday’s games can be streamed via SEC Network+.
Top-Ranked Tennessee’s Gauntlet Continues
I went in-depth on the Volunteers last week so I won’t spend too much time on them, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t touch on their impressive sweep of then-No. 6 Florida. Future first-rounder Liam Doyle (3-0, 0.72 ERA) and Marcus Phillips (2-0, 0.69 ERA) both turned in fantastic starts, while Reese Chapman (.319/.413/.623) paced the offense with a pair of home runs and six RBIs. On Tuesday, however, Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of a dangerous East Tennessee State club. A shocking result, but—to put it simply—that’s baseball. There’s a lot of talk about how there are no easy weekends in the SEC, and this is a prime example of that being the case. After taking on No. 6 Florida last weekend, Tennessee now squares off against No. 10 Alabama on the road.
Speaking of the Tide, they are off to an excellent 21-1 start and most recently swept Texas A&M before picking up a hard-fought, extra-inning victory over South Alabama. Alabama is somewhat similar to LSU in that its resume is a bit light. However, in addition to last week’s sweep of A&M, it did have a strong second weekend of the season in which it picked up wins over Coastal Carolina, NC State and Ohio State.
Alabama is led by potential 2026 No. 1 overall pick Justin Lebron (.360/.477/.872), who leads the country in both home runs (12) and RBIs (45). Veteran slugger Will Hodo (.383/.514/.765) has collected 15 extra-base hits and 27 RBIs, and this season he’s come through with a number of big swings. Southern Miss transfer Bryce Fowler (.278/.416/.433) also has 27 RBIs, while Kade Snell (.413/.510/.675) has been a steady presence in the box.
On the mound, physical righty Riley Quick (4-0, 1.33 ERA) has flashed a loud arsenal and is trending towards a first-round selection this July. Quieting Tennessee’s lineup is far easier said than done, but I have to imagine head coach Rob Vaughn feels confident sending Quick to the hill each Saturday night. Looking at Thursday night’s game, though, southpaw Zane Adams (2-0, 3.00 ERA) is in line to start. Adams has 26 strikeouts in 24 innings and features a low-90s fastball to go along with a pair of effective secondary offerings in a high-70s-to-low-80s changeup and a high-70s curveball. In the bullpen, righthander Tyler Fay’s (1-0, 0.73 ERA) sinker-slider combination does a nice job evading the barrels of opposing hitters, while Braylon Myers (2-0, 1.32 ERA) and multi-slot specialist Carson Ozmer (1-0, 1.59 ERA) have also emerged as reliable options.
It’s impossible to pick against Tennessee right now, but I do think the Crimson Tide will pick up a win this weekend and prove that they can play with the best of the best.
How To Watch No. 1 Tennessee (20-1, 3-0 SEC) at No. 10 Alabama (21-1, 3-0 SEC)
Tonight’s game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU, while both Friday and Saturday’s games can be streamed via SEC Network+.
Two ACC Powerhouses Collide In The Palmetto State
In what is the best ACC series up to this point, No. 12 Wake Forest and No. 7 Clemson this weekend square off at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Both teams are off to a great start, though this series is also a bit unique in that it is each team’s biggest test of the season. After a disappointing end to 2024, the Demon Deacons have hit the ground running to the tune of an 18-4 record and perfect 6-0 conference record. They last weekend swept Miami, but are fresh off a midweek loss to a quality Liberty team.
There was plenty of buzz throughout the fall regarding shortstop Marek Houston (.414/.509/.782), and so far he’s exceeded expectations. Houston was always a plus defender with plus bat-to-ball skills, but he’s put on plenty of good weight and with it has come added impact. He’s more explosive in the box and has shown the ability to drive the baseball on a more regular basis. So far, Houston has 16 extra-base hits—including eight home runs—and 39 RBIs, and he could be selected inside the top 10 this July. Butler transfer Kade Lewis (.455/.551/.792) has also been on the barrel consistently, and the same can be said for potential first-rounder Ethan Conrad (.372/.495/.744) and Dalton Wentz (.352/.400/.534). Jack Winnay (.325/.454/.766) has gotten going lately, and his nine home runs lead the team.
The Deacs have long-been known for their pitching, especially when it comes to the development of arms. This year’s success story appears to be Logan Lunceford (4-0, 1.33 ERA). Lunceford’s had impressive stuff dating back to his freshman year at Missouri, though this spring—on top of his entire arsenal taking a step forward—he’s done a better job at competing around the zone and upping his competitive pitch percentage. Through 27 innings, Lunceford has notched 50 strikeouts against just nine walks and looks every bit the part of a legitimate Friday starter.
Sophomore righthander Blake Morningstar (3-0, 2.70 ERA) has also found success in the rotation, while junior Luke Schmolke (2-0, 0.54 ERA) has been sensational in relief to the tune of 27 strikeouts to only four walks. The bullpen trio of Griffin Green (0-0, 1.46 ERA), Josh Gunther (1-1, 2.89 ERA) and Zach Johnston (1-0, 2.63 ERA) have also been key relief pieces.
The biggest positive on Clemson’s resume right now—outside of its emphatic 16-5 win over No. 23 Arizona on opening weekend—is its sweep of arch-rival South Carolina. However, that could change with a pair of wins this weekend. After a slow start, Cam Cannarella is now hitting .346/.464/.474 following a five-hit game on Tuesday. The biggest revelation on the roster has been infielder Jarren Purify, who is off to a blistering start and hitting a team-best .386/.495/.657 with 10 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs. Josh Paino (.299/.385/.506) and Dominic Listi (.338/.523/.473) lead the team with 27 and 24 RBIs, respectively, but 10 different Tiger hitters have at least 10 RBIs to their name.
As a whole, Clemson’s pitching staff has thrown the ball quite well. It starts with righthander Aidan Knaak (3-0, 3.86 ERA), who has one of the best changeups of any sophomore in the country. He has shown the ability to thrive when the lights are at their brightest, but he’ll have his hands full tomorrow against a deep Wake Forest lineup. Lefthander Ethan Darden (3-0, 2.08 ERA) is in the midst of what’s been a breakout junior season, while the bullpen quartet of B.J. Bailey (2-0, 0.51 ERA), Reed Garris (1-0, 0.87 ERA), sidewinder Lucas Mahlstedt (0-0, 1.10 ERA) and Joe Allen (2-0, 1.93 ERA) have all been outstanding.
Like every series discussed in this piece, I find it difficult to project a winner. However, I’ll lean towards Clemson taking two of three games.
How To Watch No. 12 Wake Forest (18-4, 6-0 ACC) at No. 7 Clemson (21-2, 2-1 ACC)
Both Friday and Saturday’s games can be streamed via ACC Network Extra, while Sunday’s game will be broadcast nationally on ACC Network.
Top 25 Newcomers Square Off In Morgantown
As luck would have it, two newcomers to this week’s Top 25 face each other this weekend in a key Big 12 series. From this chair, it is perhaps the most underrated series of the entire slate. Since an abysmal showing on opening weekend in which it suffered a pair of double-digit losses, Arizona has gone 16-1, with its lone defeat coming at the hands of No. 1 Tennessee. The biggest key for the Wildcats since that first weekend has been figuring out where each arm fits best. Coaches Chip Hale and Kevin Vance have done exactly that, as the pitching staff has been firing on all cylinders for multiple weeks in a row.
West Virginia has gotten off to a blistering 18-1 start, with its only loss coming against Kennesaw State. The Mountaineers haven’t had the most impressive schedule, but they have more than handled business. This weekend is a big-time opportunity to add a marquee series win to their resume. West Virginia doesn’t have the most powerful lineup, but all nine hitters consistently put together competitive at-bats. Juniors Skylar King (.444/.551/.556) and Sam White (.391/.465/.580) are the team’s two leading hitters, while USC-Upstate transfer Jace Rinehart’s (.348/.444/.652) 19 RBIs lead the team.
The Mountaineers’ team ERA of 3.14 ranks eight nationally, and it’s a pitching staff that’s led by lefthander Griffin Kirn (3-0, 3.42 ERA). Kirn is a little bit in the mold of Derek Clark in that he’s a strike-throwing lefthander who transferred in from a Division II school, though he’s not as much of an innings eater. Nonetheless, he has turned in three quality starts so far. Righthander Chase Meyer (4-0, 3.29 ERA) has the most impressive stuff on the staff and is fresh off an impressive week in which he collected 12 strikeouts across 5.2 total shutout, hitless innings. Carson Estridge has been the most reliable bullpen arm, and across 18.2 innings, the 6-foot-7 righthander has allowed just two earned runs.
Potential first-round pick Brendan Summerhill (.427/.505/.695) has been the Wildcats’ catalyst, and he leads the team in a handful of offensive categories. Outfielder Aaron Walton (.391/.549/.609) is the team’s second-leading hitter, and veteran Garen Caulfield’s (.312/.371/.519) 24 RBIs lead the way. Collin McKinney (0-1, 1.29 ERA) and freshman Smith Bailey (1-1, 1.80 ERA) is quite the duo with which to bookend a rotation, and since opening weekend, dynamic righthander Owen Kramkowski has allowed just five earned runs across 21.2 innings. Shifting focus to the bullpen, sidearmer Casey Hintz (4-0, 1.50 ERA) has been a groundball machine, and both Garrett Hicks (3-0, 2.35 ERA) and Tony Pluta (0-0, 0.00 ERA) have thrived in late-inning roles.
How To Watch No. 23 Arizona (16-4, 4-0 Big 12) at No. 25 West Virginia (18-1, 1-0 Big 12)
All three games this weekend can be streamed via ESPN+ (subscription required).
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