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College baseball games of the week: Dodgertown Classic headlines loaded week

By Brett Gibbons

GREENVILLE, NC - APRIL 29: East Carolina first baseman Alec Burleson (19) is unable to handle a pick off play on Houston pitcher Tyler Bielamowicz (13) during a game between the Houston Cougars and the East Carolina Pirates at Lewis Field at Clark LeClair Stadium in Greenville, NC on April 29, 2018. Houston defeated ECU 6-5.(Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, NC - APRIL 29: East Carolina first baseman Alec Burleson (19) is unable to handle a pick off play on Houston pitcher Tyler Bielamowicz (13) during a game between the Houston Cougars and the East Carolina Pirates at Lewis Field at Clark LeClair Stadium in Greenville, NC on April 29, 2018. Houston defeated ECU 6-5.(Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – JUNE 28: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Oregon State Beavers reacts to a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Division I Men’s Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 28, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – JUNE 28: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Oregon State Beavers reacts to a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Division I Men’s Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 28, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

The Dodgertown Classic, featuring UCLA, Michigan and Oklahoma State headlines the best college baseball games of the week.

Coming fresh off a jam-packed weekend of ranked matchups, College Baseball is reloading for more action. Tournaments and mid-week ranked games headline another loaded week for baseball, which promises to deliver more entertaining matchups.

Dodgertown Classic

Mar. 8-10

Early baseball season means tournament season and some interesting neutral site matchups that often times preview Regional and World Series matchups. The Dodgertown Classic is no exception, featuring three ranked teams participating: No. 4 UCLA (9-2), No. 17 Michigan (8-1), and No. 19 Oklahoma State (6-4). Going into the week of the tournament, the teams are a combined 27-13.

UCLA and Michigan have dominated the country in ERA, ranking third and fifth, respectively. The two square off on Friday, March 8 on the first day of the Dodgertown Classic. The Bruins’ only losses have come in one-run fashion, and the Wolverines only dropped their last game. However, this matchup is the first true test for either club.

Oklahoma State is coming off series wins against UT-Rio Grande Valley and Wright State, but faced a tough series loss against Iowa, and get their shot at the Bruins on Saturday, March 9. The consistency from the pitching staff of the Cowboys is incredible, having yet to give up more than five runs. USC is the fourth team in the tournament and is having a lackluster start to the season, sitting at 3-5. In a very tough PAC-12 conference, the Trojans will need to beat Michigan and Oklahoma State to stay in the mix.

There are three very entertaining teams and games coming out of this tournament this weekend, and you won’t want to miss any of it.

No. 14 East Carolina at No. 12 Mississippi State

Mar. 5

The season hasn’t started off like the Pirates had envisioned, with losses to Campbell, Wright State, and Monmouth, and a close extra innings affair with Utah. The offense has struggled to bring runners in. Despite a 0.478 slugging percentage (33rd), ECU has averaged just 6.4 runs per game (t-103rd). Positives come from the pitching staff, who allow just 7.19 hits per game (52nd) and strike out 9.7 batters per nine innings (77th).

The pitching will need to be solid for ECU because Mississippi State will be bringing the lumber; Sophomore infielder Justin Foscue has already hit four home runs (t-8th). The pitching for the Bulldogs has been unreal so far, allowing just 1.69 runs per game (8th) and fanning an average of 12.5 batters per nine innings. The accuracy continues as Mississippi State has allowed just 22 walks in 101 innings, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.59 (8th).

After holding offensive juggernaut No. 3 Texas Tech to just two runs this past weekend, Mississippi State proved their pitching staff is one of the best in the nation. The Pirates will have to be prepared to swing the bat efficiently, or they might just run over. Enjoy this weekday game between ranked teams and watch some seriously dominant pitching.