McNeese visits Don Sanders for important SLC series
4/9/2010 7:03:00 AM | Baseball
By Cody Stark. Huntsville Item
HUNTSVILLE - Sam Houston State plays host to McNeese State in a key three-game series that begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium as both teams fight to keep pace in a wild Southland Conference regular season race this year.
To say the race for the Southland Conference regular-season baseball championship is wide open this year would be an understatement.
Heading into this weekend's action, there are six teams jumbled at the top of the standings. With plenty of games left on the schedule, who knows how it is going to shake out.
Texas State took two of three from Stephen F. Austin last week to move into sole possession of first place with a 9-3 league mark. The Bobcats have a good chance to maintain their one-game lead over McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana, which are both 8-4, or add to it with a three-game series at Central Arkansas (3-9) this weekend.
But as things have unfolded to this point, anything can happen.
Southeastern Louisiana was cruising along in SLC play until running into Lamar last week. The Cardinals, who are currently tied with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for ninth at 4-8, cooled off the Lions by winning two of three in Beaumont.
McNeese moved up the standings by sweeping Central Arkansas last week.
Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State are also knocking on the door. The Lumberjacks and Demons are tied for fourth at 7-4.
SFA has a prime opportunity to move up with a three-game series at UTSA this weekend. The Roadrunners, who usually field a solid team, have struggled this season and are tied for last with UCA at 3-9.
Northwestern State also could help its cause this weekend with a series at Nicholls. The Colonels are in eighth place at 5-7, which is currently good enough for the final berth to the SLC tournament.
The team that has the most to gain this weekend is Sam Houston State. The Bearkats had a chance to stay with the pack last week, but got swept by Northwestern State to drop to seventh in the standings at 6-6.
Sam Houston really needs a good showing as McNeese State comes to town. Another sweep and the Bearkats will be fighting just to make the SLC tournament.
A&M-Corpus Christi and Lamar square off, so one of those teams is going to be either 6-8 or 7-8. The Bearkats need to take two of three to insure they are not on the outside looking in down the stretch.
Sam Houston's season so far has been a roller-coaster. The Kats swept a road series with UTSA two weeks ago during a seven-game winning streak. Then, last week, Sam Houston was swept by Northwestern State. Wednesday afternoon SHSU stopped a four-game losing streak with a 10-0 victory at Texas Southern.
Tickets for Sam Houston State baseball home games are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com. All Sam Houston students, faculty and staff receive free admission with their SHSU BearkatOne I.D. cards. For $2, students and faculty/staff can upgrade their seats with reserved chairback seat. Offer is available at the ticket booth the day of the game.
For more information on other exciting ticket offers like the "Friday Family Pack Tickets" or "Super Tuesday" Mini-Pack Tickets, see the links 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.
Purchase Friday Family Pack Tickets
