No. 25 Oklahoma pays weekend visit to The Don
2/25/2016 5:04:00 PM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE – The final results have not been what they wanted, but in his second year at the helm, Sam Houston State baseball head coach Matt Deggs has lived up to the “playing anyone anywhere” mantra. That will not change this weekend, but the Bearkats hope the results will.
Sam Houston welcomes No. 25 Oklahoma for a three-game series at Don Sanders Stadium beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and Sunday's finale is slated for 1 o'clock.
The early season tests have been abundant for a Sam Houston (0-5) squad searching for its first win. The Kats have played four of its first five against ranked opponents including an 11-6 defeat to No. 23 Texas Tech on Wednesday.
In that game, like they had the night prior in a loss to UTSA, the Bearkats jumped out to a lead, banging out three runs in the second inning, highlighted by a bases clearing single from Matt Broadbent, who is 5-for-8 with four RBI on the current home stand.
The Kats will turn to right-handed starter Sam Odom help right the ship on Friday. On Opening Day, the junior held No. 6 Louisiana to one run and two hits during eight innings on the hill. Odom struck out eight and held the Ragin' Cajuns hitless for 6 1-3 innings.
The Sooners (3-2) make their first visit to Huntsville at Don Sanders Stadium following a 7-1 midweek victory against Southland Conference foe Abilene Christian. Oklahoma has clicked offensively, entering the weekend with a .300 batting average, averaging seven runs per game.
Oklahoma is expected to start junior right-hander Jake Elliott on Friday. The Coppell, Texas, product earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention a season ago and this year, made the Opening Day start, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks through six innings against Northeastern.
A season ago, Sam Houston traveled to Norman, Okla., responding from a 3-2 loss in Game 1 to take the final two, 4-3 in 11 innings and 8-5. Center fielder Bryce Johnson began his current 18-game hitting streak in the series finale against the Sooners and carries it into the weekend.
Tickets for the series are selling fast and fans are encouraged to secure theirs by calling (936) 294-1729 or visiting GoBearkats.com. Chairback seats are available for $12 while general admission is priced at $10. The Bearkats have brought in over 1,100 attendees through the first two games this week.
