SLC Baseball Tournament capsules
5/21/2012 11:51:00 PM | Baseball
Bearkats' half of the draw:
No. 4 Texas-Arlington (32-23, 19-14)
The Mavericks were the only team to take a series from the Bearkats this season winning two of three in Arlington (May 4-6). The Kats took the opening game of the series on a great pitching performance from sophomore Caleb Smith. The second-team all-Southland pitcher worked seven innings, including one after a three-hour lightning delay, to get the win. He allowed just three hits and after the game was suspended the Kats finished off the 2-0 win the next day.
No. 5 McNeese State (24-28, 17-16)
The Bearkats took two of three from McNeese (April 21-22), sweeping a Saturday double header in Lake Charles. The highlight of the weekend was senior pitcher Justin Jackson, who tossed a gem against the Cowboys. He came within two outs of pitching a no-hitter before allowing back-to-back singles. He finished off the game with his 10th strikeout for the 4-0 victory. In the first game of the day, Smith struck out nine, allowing just three hits in a 6-2 win.
No. 8 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (23-31, 14-19)
After dropping the opening game of the home series against the Islanders, the Kats bounced back to take the next two and the series (April 27-29). The Islanders handed Smith his first loss in Southland play, tagging him for four runs in five innings of work. The Bearkats won a wild one on Saturday, beating the Islanders 8-7, scoring the winning run on a balk call in the bottom of the 9th (VIDEO) In the series finale, SHSU handed SLC Newcomer of the Year Daniel Minor the loss, touching him up for nine hits and five runs. First-team all-Southland third baseman Kevin Miller led the way at the plate, going 7-for-12 in the series with five RBI.
Opposite half of the bracket:
No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana (36-19, 20-13)
The Bearkats took two of three from the Lions in the final Southland home series of the season (May12-13), wrapping up the regular season Southland title (VIDEO). The two teams split a Saturday double header, with the Bearkats taking the second game to even the series in dramatic fashion. Freshman Ryan O'Hearn hit his second home run of the season (VIDEO) in the bottom of the 8th and then hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth for the 3-2 win (VIDEO). The Bearkats won the series and Southland Conference clincher on Sunday, taking it 8-3. Southland Conference Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year Brock Hebert was just 1-for-8 in the series and didn't drive in a run.
No. 3 Texas State (31-22, 19-14)
Early in the Southland Conference season, the Bearkats made their first statement of the year, sweeping a home series from preseason Southland favorite Texas State (March 23-25). In the first game of the series, the Kats handed Southland Pitcher of the Year Travis Ballew the loss, scoring four runs on eight hits. All of the offense for the Kats came in the seventh inning, including a game-winning two-run homer for first-team all-Southland DH Anthony Azar (VIDEO). Against second-team all-SLC pitcher Colton Turner in game 2, the Kats chased the Bobcat starter in the third inning after the Kats collected six runs on eight hits on their way to a 10-4 win. SHSU completed the sweep with a 5-2 win on Sunday (VIDEO).
No. 6 Stephen F. Austin (23-31, 16-17)
The Bearkats opened the Southland Conference season taking two of three over rivals SFA at Don Sanders Stadium (March 9-10). Forced to play a double header because of weather, the two teams split the opening two games. Third-team All-SLC outfielder Jake Arrington provided the offense for the Kats in the opener connecting for a two-run homer. Cody Dickson got within an out of a complete game, allowing just two runs and four hits in 8 2/3 innings of work. The series finale was a no-doubter for the Kats, winning 9-1. Arrington again delivered the offense with a triple and three runs driven in.
No. 7 Central Arkansas (25-28, 16-17)
The Kats closed out the regular season at Central Arkansas, taking two of three from the Bears (May 17-19). Big innings in the second innings (six runs) and ninth (four runs) lifted the Kats to a 12-2 victory in the opener. After dropping the middle game of the series, the Kats closed strong, scoring five runs in the last three innings, to win the game 7-4. The win was the 24th in Southland play for the Bearkats, tying the SLC record for most league wins in a season.
