It's that time of year again – rivalry weekend in college baseball. With the exception of Utah, every team has a geographically-linked archenemy that they'll square off against. Six Pac-12 schools are ranked in at least one of the major polls, and as the teams at the top look to make their case for hosting a regional, the teams on the bubble are fighting for their postseason livelihoods.
(Last week: No. 5)
The No. 8 Trojans looked strong in a tough road series in Tucson, managing to keep Arizona at arm's length for the majority of the series – save for the last few innings in a tight series finale – and still pulled off the sweep. Up next, of course, is No. 7 UCLA, for a three-game set at Dedeaux Field.
(Last week: No. 1)
The Bruins dropped the opening game to Oregon State 3-2 despite taking a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning, but bounced back in a big way to outscore the defending conference champions 14-6 in the final two games. After a sampling of the Los Angeles rivalry at Dodger Stadium in February, this time it counts.
(Last week: No. 2)
The No. 5 Sun Devils haven't had much trouble with winning Pac-12 series, but they've struggled in the past with finishing them off. Responding with a Saturday win after a nail-biting Friday loss got ASU back on track, though a midweek trip to UNLV will be a quick turnaround after a series that was more taxing (two extra-inning games) than it would have expected.
(Last week: No. 8)
After pair of road wins in Berkeley, California, over the ranked Golden Bears, the Cougars are suddenly in uncharted territory. Senior left-handed pitcher Joe Pistorese (4-3, 2.68 ERA) has bolstered Washington State's rotation and already thrown three complete games, including one against Cal in a 4-0 shutout Friday.
(Last week: No. 6)
Sometimes success comes down to being in the right place at the right time, and it's safe to say that most teams will view this year's shorthanded Stanford team through this lens – even if they don't admit it. In earning a sweep of the Cardinal Saturday, the Huskies exhibited little mercy in 13-1 and 5-0 wins after taking the series opener 4-2. Who would have thought that come rivalry week, both Washington schools would be a hotter matchup than their flashy Pacific Northwest counterparts in Oregon? Bring on the Apple Cup!
(Last week: No. 3)
Going quiet against a team with only one true stud atop its rotation isn't necessarily sufficient a cause to slam a hand down on the panic button, but I'd keep one hand on the table next to it. The Golden Bears will make a quick midweek stop three hours inland to face Fresno State Tuesday before hosting the archrival Cardinal in the Battle of the Bay.
(Last week: No. 10)
The Beavers swept the rival Ducks in Corvallis last season, and if the play of either team this season carries any weight going into the series this Friday, it would be fair to expect a similar result. But as former Oregon State head football coach (and current Nebraska coach) Mike Riley once said: "Anything can happen."
(Last week: No. 7)
The Utes came away with arguably their most impressive win in years, avoiding a sweep at the hands of ASU, snapping a 27-game losing streak against ASU that spanned 55 years. The sad reality of a Pac-12 with only 11 teams is that Utah is left out of the rivalry week fun, with a three game set against... Southeastern Louisiana. An in-state matchup with Utah Valley caps an 11-game homestand for the Utes, who next hit the road to play Stanford.
(Last week: No. 4)
The Wildcats were in firm control of the broom just a week ago with a sweep of Oregon, but found themselves being flung into the dustpan by USC, dropping three straight at home. They'll make the trip up north to Phoenix Muni for the first time Saturday.
(Last week: No. 9)
After extensive research, I've concluded that ducks can indeed fly. But these Ducks are headed in one direction – down. Losers of seven of their last eight, Oregon is at a critical crossroad in its season. The Ducks begin the fight for their postseason lives as the Civil War opens at PK Park Friday.
(Last week: No. 11)
A home-and-home with Pacific stands between a showdown across the Bay with Cal. Last time around, these two teams were trending in directions opposite their current winning patterns. But there's still plenty to be excited about for fans of the Cardinal – its men's basketball team won the National Invitational Tournament, and football's spring game is Saturday.
Reach the reporter at smodrich@asu.edu or follow @StefanJModrich on Twitter.
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