Game time is tomorrow at 5pm Pacific and will be televised on ESPN and/or ESPN3.

Some key Indiana stats:

• Batting Average: Indiana 23rd
• OBP: Indiana 29th
• Slugging %: 17th
• Runs per game: 14th
• 9th in ERA at 2.66.

Beavs usually have a significant pitching advantage but batting disadvantage. This game, the pitching is neutralized, and Indiana has the better offense. Should be interesting.

Indiana is throwing Aaron Slegers (9-1, 2.13 earned run average), who stands 6″10. The pitchers seem to keep getting larger as the games do, too. The Beavs looked so tiny versus Texas A&M (didn’t see Louisville, unfortunately). Gotta say, I look forward to seeing Max Gordon vs Slegers. We know what the Beavs need to win…same as always: a good start from Boyd, executing small ball, fielding, yada yada. I think this game could come down to executing a squeeze or hit and run. I’m not counting on 11 runs again. I’m thinking something like 5-4 or 4-3 final for whomever executes best.

Busy day, can’t do a write up.

Game thread.

Game 1 – 3 p.m. (ESPN 2/3): Mississippi State Bulldogs (48-18) vs. No. 3 Oregon State Beavers (50-11)

The rotation for this series is Moore, Boyd, Wetzler.

Miss St stats:

• 38th in batting (OSU 59th)
• 31st in runs (OSU 59th)
• 33rd in OBP (OSU 53rd)
• 76th SLG (OSU 79th)
• 13th ERA (OSU 2nd)
• 66th Fielding % (OSU 47th)

On paper MSU wins most catetgories, and the pitching advantage is not great for the first time this post-season. Beavs will have to score 4 or 5 to win.

Beav fans should get a kick out of this.

Slow week, so let’s get the discussion going. All games on ESPNU. They might show up on ESPN3, too. I haven’t watched any Kansas State, but their offensive numbers are good:

• 2nd in batting average
• 9th in OBP
• 26th in stolen bases
• 29th in runs

Not much power, though, so it appears they manufacture runs. Their pitching is ranked 86th (3.86 ERA). On paper, these teams look similar sans the Beav’s clear pitching edge. If any of you guys have a scouting report on K-State chime in and let us know.

Folks asked for my take on UCSB. I haven't seen them this year, but I saw them in-person quite a bit last year, and they were mediocre. I don't fear them at all because great pitching will shut down decent hitting. UCSB's pitching is bad (4.01 team ERA), and they don't play well on the road. Beavs should be fine.
Cliff has a writeup you can read here. I'd say it's accurate.

Here's the schedule:

05/31/13	vs. Texas A&M vs. UC Santa Barbara	Corvallis, Ore.	12:05 p.m. PT
	vs. Texas-San Antonio	Corvallis, Ore.	5:00 p.m. PT
06/01/13	TBD	Corvallis, Ore.	TBA