Bearkats open Southland title defense against UNO
3/5/2015 2:32:00 PM | Baseball
The three-time defending Southland baseball champions, Sam Houston State, will begin the campaign for a fourth straight title this weekend when the Bearkats host New Orleans.
The series gets underway Friday at 6:30 p.m. With the threat of inclement weather Sunday, the Bearkats and Privateers will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m.
“I've always approached conference play as a 30-game war,” Bearkat skipper Matt Deggs said. “The team that shows up to play for 30 games with the most intensity and is willing to lay it all on the line is the team that usually finds itself on top.”
PROBABLE WEEKEND PITCHING MATCHUPS:
Friday: LHP Andrew Godail (0-2, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Alex Smith (2-1, 2.42 ERA)
Saturday Game 1: LHP Logan Boyd (1-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Shawn Semple (1-1, 1.10 ERA)
Saturday Game 2: RHP Sam Odom (0-2, 4.41 ERA) vs. LHP Daniel Martinez (0-1, 7.24 ERA)
Not much went right for the Bearkats (5-8) last weekend against Louisiana-Monroe. The team posted a series batting average of just .156 while the pitching staff posted an ERA over 5.50. Only one of the three starting pitchers made it past the fifth inning and the bullpen was charged with 10 total runs.
Shortstop Miles Manning had the best weekend at the plate with a .500 batting average. The junior scored three of the Kats six runs in the series.
The Bearkats dropped a fourth straight game Tuesday night against McNeese State, 5-2, despite a great two-way performance from Dylan Ebbs. The sophomore pitcher and designated hitter tossed six solid innings on the mound and allowed just two unearned runs on four hits. Ebbs also went 3-for-4 with two RBI at the plate, driving in the Bearkats only runs of the game.
“This is a new beginning and fresh start for us. Our schedule is a grind but if we stay together it will strengthen us. This thing can turn on a dime. This is baseball. There's no panic here but obviously we've got to continue to work to play better baseball.”
New Orleans (6-7) has won its last two games by a combined score of 21-2. The Privateers took the final game of their series against Middle Tennessee, 8-2, before beating Sacred Heart, 13-1, Tuesday night.
Outfielder Chaz Boyer hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the win over Sacred Heart. He leads the team with 11 RBI and is just one of two players on the team with a home run. Designated hitter Jonathan Coco leads the team with 18 hits this season. He has six RBI and seven runs scored. Outfielder Ryan Calloway leads Privateers with 10 runs scored.
The game two starter Shawn Semple leads New Orleans with a 1.10 ERA in three starts. He has allowed just two runs in 16 1/3 innings pitched. Opponents are batting .200 against him. Seth Laigast is the leading relief pitcher with 10 1/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. He has a 1.74 ERA in seven appearances with one save.
This weekend's schedule is subject to change due to the threat of inclement weather Sunday. All scheduling changes will be posted on www.gobearkats.com as well as on twitter @BearkatSports and @BearkatBaseball.
