Kats open season on Friday at UL-Lafayette
2/18/2016 12:33:00 PM | Baseball
After spending two full season as an assistant at Louisiana-Lafayette, helping develop the program into an offensive juggernaut, second-year Sam Houston State baseball coach Matt Deggs returns as the Bearkats open the 2016 season on Friday.
The Bearkats and preseason No. 6 Ragin' Cajuns open Friday at 6 p.m. from M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field with the middle game on Saturday at 2 p.m. and the Sunday series finale, broadcast on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app., scheduled for 1 p.m.
“For me, and this is the way I have always been, it's another three-game series,” Deggs said. “It's a chance to go on the road and beat a top 10 team and boost our RPI. This was something put in place while I was at UL.”
As the hitting and third base coach, Deggs and the Ragin' Cajuns went 101-30, capturing a pair of Sun Belt championships and a regional title. Despite the successes, and relationships built during his tenure, Deggs says the weekend is all about his current team.
“You can't make too much out of it,” Deggs said. “Our biggest opponent is ourselves. There are some unbelievable people and very loyal fans in Lafayette. Coach Robichaux and Anthony Babineaux and all those guys have been great to me and my family. They are some of my best friends but it will be a dog fight when we get over there.”
The Bearkats have 29 newcomers including several who are expected to make their debuts in a Sam Houston uniform this weekend. Even with the new faces, Deggs does not believe the Bearkats are at any sort of disadvantage.
“Talent trumps experience generally,” Deggs said. “There are some exciting young guys. Andrew Fregia, Riley McKnight, Riley Gossett and I could go on and on. It's a matter of going out and playing the game. They didn't move the bases or plate back. The field isn't any bigger. It's just a little nicer venue, there are a few more people and the players play a bit faster.”
On the mound, the faces will be more recognizable for a unit that returns considerable depth. Right-handed junior Sam Odom will make the Opening Day start after logging a 4-5 record and 4.45 ERA in 17 games and 12 starts last year. Left-handed senior Hayden Nixon (0-1, 3.09 ERA in 2015) will pitch Saturday and Cody Brown, a right-handed junior transfer from Tyler Junior College earns the Sunday start.
“They're going to keep us in the game,” Deggs said. “I think we have a staff that is going to work efficient and match zeros. I think Sammy has a chance to go deep into the game on Friday and save the bullpen for the rest of the series. That is the biggest thing I am looking for is not how many pitches in the pitch count but how stressful are the pitches or if we were able to avoid some damage.”
The Bearkats play eight of their first 10 games against preseason top 25 opponents. Following the opening three-game set, the Kats return to Don Sanders Stadium on Tuesday for the home opener against UTSA at 6:30 p.m.
For now, Sam Houston's focus remains locked on an opening weekend opponent who serves as a model for what Deggs is working to develop in Huntsville.
“A lot of people have them picked to bust down the door and get to Omaha this year,” Deggs said. “I hope they do – just not against us.”
