Baseball hosts SFA in "Piney Woods" series
4/29/2010 9:45:00 AM | Baseball
More than just pride is at stake when the Bearkats and the Lumberjacks challenge one another this weekend.
Stephen F. Austin (27-12 13-7 Southland) is locked in a battle for the regular season championship. With four weeks left to play, the Lumberjacks stand in second place a game-and-a-half behind first place Texas State.
Hanging with the Jacks and the Bobcats in the title hunt are Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana. The Demons are tied with SFA for second and the Lions stand in fourth, two full games behind Texas State.
Sam Houston (17-25 9-12 Southland) is fighting just to assure itself of a berth in the conference post-season tournament.
The top eight regular season finishers advance to the tournament which will again be held in Corpus Christi in late May. Sam Houston has won the last three Southland tournament titles but stand in ninth place in the league race at the moment.
The Bearkats' remaining series are at home with second place SFA and cellar dweller Central Arkansas and on the road with fourth place Southeastern Louisiana and 10th place A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Kats took a step in the right direction Tuesday night winning a non-conference game 5-3 over the University of Houston Cougars.
"It was good for this group to have some success Tuesday," SHSU head coach Mark Johnson said. "There is a lot of baseball left before the tournament and this is a big series for us."
Dallas Gallant will be the starting pitcher in Friday's first game. Two Bearkats, designated hitter Chris Andreas and second baseman Braeden Riley, bring double digit hitting streaks into the contest. Andreas, who leads Sam Houston with a .390 average, has hit safely in the last 13 games. Riley, who leads the Southland Conference in total hits for the second year in a row (68), has an 11 game hitting streak.
Stephen F. Austin leads the Southland Conference with a .327 team batting average this season. Riley Huble (.493) and Tanner Hines (.354) are the Lumberjacks top two hitters.
FRIDAY FAMILY PLAN TICKETS
"Family Plan" tickets for Friday's SHSU-Nicholls game are available. "Family Plan" tickets offer the opportunity to purchase four hot dogs, four pop corns, four drinks and four tickets all for just $8 each. There is a minimum purchase of four tickets per customer but any amount over four tickets may be purchased at one time.
For more information on exciting offers like the "Friday Family Pack Tickets", go to the ticket link below or contact the Sam Houston State ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
