Kats face tough test in stacked regional
5/29/2014 5:49:00 PM | Baseball
NCAA FORT WORTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
The Bearkats will have their work cut out for them in the NCAA Fort Worth Regional that gets underway Friday at 2:30 p.m. Sam Houston (41-17) faces Dallas Baptist (40-19) in the opener of one of the toughest regional fields in the country, featuring three teams with 40 or more wins.
There is a more business-like approach for the Bearkat team, making a third-straight NCAA Regional appearance. For players like catcher Anthony Azar, outfielders Colt Atwood and first baseman Ryan O'Hearn they have only known NCAA postseason play.
"At the selection show Monday the thing I was most impressed with our team is that I think they were looking forward to see where we were going and then we realized who we we're playing from that point on we've been locked in,” head coach David Pierce said.
Sam Houston played its way into the regional final two years ago in Houston, knocking out host Rice before falling to Arkansas. Last season the Kats opened the tournament with a win over Louisiana-Lafayette before falling to host LSU and being eliminated in a rematch with the Cajuns.
The top three seeds in the Fort Worth Regional all played each other in 2014. However the Bearkats saw both DBU and TCU in the first month of the season.
"Both (series) were early and I think all three of us are different teams now,” Pierce added. “For us, it gives us confidence. At that time, we played very well. I think those types of games against those types of opponents gets you over the hump when you struggle a little bit and makes you realize you're a pretty good team. Whether it's TCU, DBU or a top 50 program, all those games help."
Junior pitcher Tyler Eppler will get the start for the Bearkats against Dallas Baptist on Friday. Eppler has been outstanding in his last five starts, with a 4-1 record and a 1.58 ERA. He has struck out 27 batters and only walked four in 40 innings of work. Eppler has tossed at least seven innings in each of the last five starts.
The 6'6 right-hander has been the Friday starter for Sam Houston all season and looks forward to getting the opportunity to pitch in an NCAA Regional.
“I think it's big. It sets the tone for the whole weekend,” Eppler said. “I want to go out there and give my team a chance to win. Winning Game 1 would be huge momentum for us going into the second game of the series. Pitching Game 1 is important in going out there and giving my team the best chance to win."
Catcher Anthony Azar is the first Sam Houston player to be crowned the Southland baseball player of the year. The Bearkat senior leads the team in nearly every offensive category – batting (.376), hits (82), runs scored (40), RBI (47), home runs (9), slugging (.560) and on-base percentage (.454).
Sam Houston's senior backstop is looking for a better performance in NCAA Regional play. He has just five hits in 32 regional at-bats and a .156 batting average. Azar did hit a homer and drive in two runs last season in Baton Rouge, La.
"Everyone is real excited to come out here and play,” Azar said of playing in Fort Worth. “Because it's close to home we're going to have a lot of fans and family and we're really excited to be here."
Each game the Kats play in the Fort Worth Regional will be broadcast on ESPN3.com and will be played at either 2:30 p.m. or 7 p.m.
