April 12, 2018 TAKE FIVE WITH JERRY Director of Sports Journalism Jerry Hill gives his five takes for the April 13-15 weekend that includes men's and women's tennis matches at home and both baseball and softball on the road again:
1. Swan song. Theresa Van Zyl, the lone senior for the 25th-ranked women's tennis team, will play her final matches at the Hurd Tennis Center this weekend. The Lady Bears will play Louisiana Tech (10:30 a.m.) and West Virginia (5 p.m.) on Friday, then Iowa State (1 p.m.) and UT-Arlington (6 p.m.) on Sunday.
2. Bragging rights. In a top-30 showdown, the #24 Baylor men's tennis team hosts 30th-ranked Texas Tech with state bragging rights on the line. The Bears close out the regular season with matchups at #9 TCU next Thursday, April 19, and at home against #19 Texas the following Sunday, April 22.
3. Break from the Big 12. At the halfway mark in league play, the baseball team (15-16) goes out of conference for a three-game series this weekend at Memphis (11-23) after Tuesday's momentum-turning 4-2, 12-inning win on the road at Sam Houston State.
4. Back on track. After struggling in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to McNeese State, junior ace Gia Rodoni (14-7) will try to return to form when the No. 16/17 softball team (25-10, 3-3) faces Oklahoma State (29-12, 7-2) in a series this weekend in Stillwater.
5. Facing giants. Playing in the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic on Friday and Saturday in Athens, Ga., the 42nd-ranked women's golf team will be matched against a field that includes #2 Alabama, #3 Arkansas, #5 Duke, #13 Florida and defending NJCAA national champion Daytona State.