CONFERENCE PLAY COMMENCES
The American will begin conference play this weekend as all ten teams are in action. UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and UTSA will all look to win their first conference series. Action begins on Friday at 4 p.m. ET when Charlotte travels to South Florida. UAB will host UTSA, while East Carolina takes on North Texas in Denton, Wichita State hosts Florida Atlantic and Tulsa will travel to Memphis.
CHARLOTTE WALKS OFF NO. 14 KENTUCKY
Trailing 3-1 and down to their final out, American Player of the Week lifted Charlotte past the 14th-ranked Wildcats with a three-run walk-off home run. The win marked Charlotte’s second win over a ranked opponent this season (vs No. 4 Florida State, 6-5 on Feb. 8). Charlotte will travel to South Florida to take on the Bulls this weekend to open American conference play.
PLAYING THE BEST
Heading into this weekend of play, The American as a conference has played the hardest strength of schedule in the nation. Five teams have played schedules ranked in the top 40, while Charlotte having the 2nd toughest strength of schedule in the nation. Wichita State (13), Memphis (23), North Texas (31) and Tulsa (40) have all played top 40 schedules.
DOUBLING DOWN
Two American squads are ranked 1st and 2nd in the nation in doubles and doubles per game. East Carolina leads the nation with 54 doubles and 2.35 doubles per game, while Tulsa is second in the nation with 43 doubles and 2.26 doubles per game.
NCAA RPI RELEASED
The first edition of the NCAA RPI has been released and American teams are well represented. Five of the ten American teams are ranked in the Top 50 – Charlotte (20), Wichita State (27), Florida Atlantic (41), South Florida (43) and Tulsa (50), while East Carolina is ranked 51. As a whole, The American is ranked 5th in the RPI, behind only the SEC, Pac-12, Big 12 and ACC, while being ahead of the Big 10.
SCHEDULE / RESULTS
MONDAY, MARCH 4
South Florida 5, Villanova 2
South Florida, Villanova 1
Minnesota 14, Charlotte 4 (5)
TUESDAY, MARCH 5
Florida Atlantic 13, Central Arkansas 1 (5)
Abilene Christian 5, UTSA 2
Ole Miss 9, Memphis 0 (6)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
17/19 Texas A&M 12, North Texas 0
4/7 Oklahoma State 4, -/RV Wichita State 3 (8)
FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Charlotte at South Florida* (ESPN+)____________ 4 p.m.
UTSA at UAB*________________________________ 6 p.m.
East Carolina at North Texas* (ESPN+)__________ 7 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at -/RV Wichita State* (ESPN+)____ 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
UTSA at UAB*________________________________ 2 p.m.
Tulsa at Memphis* (DH)_______________________ 3 p.m.
East Carolina at North Texas* (ESPN+)__________ 3 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at -/RV Wichita State* (ESPN+)____ 5 p.m.
Charlotte at South Florida* (ESPN+)____________ 5 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
Charlotte at South Florida* (ESPN+)____________ 11 a.m.
UTSA at UAB*________________________________ 1 p.m.
East Carolina at North Texas* (ESPN+)__________ 1 p.m.
Tulsa at Memphis*___________________________ 1 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at -/RV Wichita State* (ESPN+)____ 1 p.m.
All times ET and subject to change
* American Athletic Conference
