Preview: Arizona State at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. (Interstat) — Two of the nation’s hottest teams will meet Wednesday at L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park when the undefeated and eighth-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils face the seventh-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a midweek nonconference showdown.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature of 71 degrees forecast.

The Sun Devils (8-0) arrive with momentum after a commanding 15-3 victory over the Sooners (7-1) on Tuesday night. Arizona State’s offense has been relentless, scoring at least nine runs in six of its eight wins this season. A player to watch for the Sun Devils is Beckett Zavorek, who drove in two runs in Sunday’s 16-6 win over Saint John’s.

Oklahoma saw its seven-game win streak snapped in Tuesday’s series opener. The Sooners had been dominant prior, outscoring opponents 80-1 in a three-game sweep of Coppin State last weekend. Right-hander Cord Rager, who fired five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Sunday’s 11-0 win over Coppin State, could be a key arm for the Sooners out of the bullpen in this quick turnaround.

The matchup features two potent lineups. Arizona State is averaging 11.8 runs per game, while Oklahoma averages 10.6 runs per contest. The Sun Devils’ pitching staff will look to contain a Sooners lineup eager for redemption at home.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest is projected to be a tight one, with a predicted final score of Arizona State 8, Oklahoma 7.

Following Wednesday’s game, both teams embark on challenging weekend series. Arizona State heads to Arlington, Texas, for the State Farm College Baseball Showdown, facing Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Oklahoma remains home to host Gonzaga for a three-game set beginning Friday.