Kats visit Texas for televised game Tuesday
3/7/2016 10:14:00 PM | Baseball
AUSTIN – Outside of the league members itself, it could be argued that no one knows more about Big 12 Conference baseball this season than the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
On Tuesday, the Kats face their fourth Big 12 foe in 14 games, visiting Texas and UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a 6 p.m. game, which will be aired on the Longhorn Network and ESPN3. The game was originally scheduled for 7 o'clock but has been moved up due to inclement weather.
“Our schedule has callused us up a little bit,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “We've seen really good arms and guys that can really swing it and play defense. We understand where we match up and we're going to have to throw strikes, execute pitches, make plays and execute offensively.”
Sam Houston (5-8) has played a total of five games against Big 12 opponents including midweek matchups against Texas Tech and Baylor as well as a three-game weekend set against Oklahoma. The Bearkats fell 11-6 to the Red Raiders and 5-1 to Baylor but swept the Sooners, with all games at Don Sanders Stadium.
After starting 0-5, Sam Houston is 5-3 against its formidable schedule since Feb. 26. Most recently, the Kats gained another confidence booster, taking two in a three-game set at Wichita State, in a series which Sam Houston hit .320 as a team and scored a total of 28 runs.
“Confidence is huge,” Deggs said. “We're the same team every day. We prepare really well and we work hard but now it's time to up our game a little bit and play with a little more attitude and toughness behind us.”
The Longhorns (5-7) enter the midweek on the opposite end of the spectrum. Texas claimed a series win against UNLV, split four games with nationally-ranked Stanford and drubbed Texas State before dropping four straight to California at home.
Despite a lopsided 73-19 historical win-loss advantage for the 'horns since the two teams began playing in 1952, Sam Houston has won two straight in Austin including 5-3 in 2013 and 5-0 a season ago. Five current players appeared in the 2015 victory including Spence Rahm who finished 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
“Spence ignited our entire team,” Deggs said of Rahm's recent performance at Wichita State. “To have 12 pitch at-bat and triple off the wall in right field was a gigantic at-bat for us. It allowed us to relax and get going.”
Right-handed pitcher Cody Brown (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will make his second start. After a rough outing in the opening series, the junior transfer settled in, holding Oklahoma and Texas Tech hitless in 2 1-3 combined innings during three games. On Wednesday, Brown allowed four hits and two earned runs in 3 1-3 innings against Rice.
The Longhorns will counter with right-hander Morgan Cooper (0-0, 3.00 ERA). As a unit, the Longhorns pitching staff has limited opponents to a 3.28 ERA, although the offense has struggled at times, hitting .247 collectively after averaging fewer than three runs per game in four games against Cal.
The game will be the fourth in a seven-game road trip for Sam Houston. The Bearkats open Southland Conference play on Friday at 6:30 p.m. against New Orleans.
