The 2009 Big West league schedule hits the halfway point this weekend and with four teams within three games of the duo atop the conference, the race for the championship and automatic bid as well as prospective at-large NCAA bids hang in the balance.
Cal State Fullerton, winners of four in a row and 10 of its last 14, are tied for the top spot in the league standings thanks to a 7-2 record. The Titans are sitting pretty in the pole position as they already won a series against fellow 7-2 Big West club Cal Poly. This weekend the CSF returns home to take on Pacific, a team that it has enjoyed a lot of success over in recent years. The Tigers have lost to the Titans in 12 of the last 13 meetings and have not taken a series from CSF since April 17-18, 2004. Pacific will also look to reverse its lack of luck at Anderson Family Field in recent years as it has not won a series at Cal State Fullerton's home stadium since May 14-15, 1999.
League co-leader Cal Poly is entering a stretch that will test of the mettle of the 28-9 Mustangs. The club plays nine of its final 12 games on the road, a place where it is just 1-4 on the season and 1-2 in Big West action. The road literally begins this weekend against Cal State Northridge, a club looking to right itself after a 3-0 start in league play. CSUN has dropped four conference series in a row to Cal Poly, but its last series win against the Mustangs came at home in 2004.
Former Big West leader Long Beach State will look to keep pace with the leaders as it welcomes UC Santa Barbara to 49er Softball Complex for a key three-game set. The doubleheader on Saturday will have a national viewing audience as ESPNU will televise the twinbill live beginning at noon. LBSU is coming off a sweep at the hands of Cal Poly, while UC Santa Barbara won its series against Cal State Northridge. The series win for either team would keep it within striking distance of the two co-leaders heading into the stretch run. History points toward the 49er side as LBSU is 68-30-1 against the Gauchos and have not lost a series to UCSB since April 13-14, 2001.
UC Riverside will be looking to make history this weekend as the Highlanders need one more conference win to tie and two to surpass its program single season Big West victories mark with half the league slate to go. It will be a tough road to the record this weekend as UCR welcomes UC Davis to Amy S. Harrison Field. The Aggies are the top pitching team in the conference, leading the Big West in ERA (1.52), shutouts (12), and strikeouts (237), while ranking second in opponents’ batting average (.220). The Highlanders have plenty of momentum on their side as they won a their conference series against Pacific for the second straight year.
There will be a bonus game Wednesday for BIg West softball fans as Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara meet in Santa Barbara for the finale of their three-game conference series. The game was moved to Wednesday after the scheduled Friday doubleheader between the clubs was moved to Saturday due to weather issues.