MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Oklahoma’s No. 67 RPI doesn’t necessarily scream dominance, but the Sooners’ conference record is good enough for first place in the Big 12.
“They’re maybe the scariest team in the league,” said West Virginia coach Randy Mazey, whose club hosts Oklahoma in a three-game series beginning Friday night at Monongalia County Ballpark.
The Mountaineers (21-13, 4-5) took two of three from the Sooners each of the previous two years and need another series victory to boost their NCAA regional odds.
West Virginia leads the Big 12 in team batting average (.287) and homers (36) and sports a No. 55 RPI, but has only a 6-8 record against the RPI top 100.
Oklahoma (24-15, 8-4) owns the conference’s second-best average (.286) and also sits No. 2 with 27 home runs. The Sooners pitching staff leads the league with 8.86 strikeouts per nine innings, highlighted by Saturday’s starter Alec Hansen, who averages more than 11.
“They have the best lineup. They’ve got the first or second-best pitching in the league with their quality of arms,” Mazey said. “This is as good of a team as there is out there. They’re very capable of coming in here and putting it on you three times if you don’t play well.”
West Virginia will counter with freshman right-hander BJ Myers (2-1, 3.63 ERA) on Friday, junior left-hander Ross Vance (5-2, 2.79) on Saturday and sophomore right-hander Chad Donato (5-3, 1.61) in the finale.
Mazey figures to make a quick read on the excitable Myers.
“He knows its Oklahoma and he knows we have a new stadium,” Mazey said. “BJ pitches with a lot of energy no matter who he pitches against. He’s going to be a little ramped up for this one. If he’s throwing his breaking ball for strikes, that will be a telltale sign that he’s settled in.”