Baseball Preview: OSU at UNC

The 12th ranked Cowboys (2-2) face a tough test this weekend as they travel to Chapel Hill to take on the No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels (2-1). After splitting games with Stephen F. Austin and UT-Arlington, the Pokes take on a formidable opponent in North Carolina, who is coming off an impressive series victory over the 11th ranked UCLA Bruins.

North Carolina hosts the Cowboys for a three-game series, which will begin Friday at 2 p.m. and will continue through the weekend with 1 p.m. and 11 a.m. starts, respectively. The Tar Heels averaged 7.7 runs a game and batted .311 against UCLA and the staff recorded a 2.03 ERA while limiting UCLA to just a .147 batting average.

On the flip side, the Pokes averaged 4.8 runs a game and batted .259 to go along with a 2.80 ERA and an opponent’s batting average of .216.

The Cowboys will likely send out Trey Cobb for the series opener. Cobb allowed 3 runs in 5 innings of work but just one run was earned. He also allowed 6 hits while striking out 5. Cobb will oppose right-hander Zac Gallen of the Tar Heels; Gallen struck out 11 batters in 7.2 innings in a shutout victory.

Logan Warmoth, Brian Miller and Tyler Ramirez are leading the way for the Tar Heels offensively; they own 16 of UNC’s 33 hits. Warmoth is batting .455 and already has a double and triple under his record. Ramirez is one of two Tar Heels to homer on the weekend, the other being Zack Gahagan.

Donnie Walton and Conor Costello have led the way so far for the Pokes. Walton is batting an even .400 on the year and Costello already has 6 RBI. Both have a pair of extra base hits to their name.

Oklahoma State is 5-1 all time against North Carolina, with the last matchup dating all the way back to 1988. Two of OSU's wins over UNC came in the College World Series (1960 & 1966).