Weather alters weekend schedule at UIW
4/14/2016 2:51:00 PM | Baseball
SAN ANTONIO – With four consecutive Southland Conference series wins under its belt, the Sam Houston State baseball program seeks to continue the success and keep pace in the hotly-contested league this weekend at Incarnate Word.
Due to inclement weather, the squads will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the three-game set on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bearkats dropped the first two of a six-game road trip at No. 10 Texas Tech on Wednesday.
Sam Houston (18-16, 11-4 SLC) enters the weekend at third in the conference standings, just two games back of league-leader Southeastern Louisiana. The Bearkats are led by Bryce Johnson (.365), Zach Smith (.321) and Matt Broadbent (.319), all of whom own .300-plus averages.
After starting the year 6-11 overall, the Bearkats have reeled off a 12-5 record, winning 10 straight league games for the third time since 2000 and built confidence with a group that includes 19 freshmen and 26 newcomers.
Playing a major role in the resurgence has been the dominance of the bullpen. Sam Houston closer Greg Belton owns a 2.16 ERA in league games with five saves while seventh and eighth-inning specialists Hayden Nixon (2-0, 1.08 ERA) and (0-1, 4.50 ERA) have been equally effective.
Incarnate Word (10-24, 3-9) struggled out of the gates against a formidable schedule of its own but has won three of four including a 5-2 decision against UTSA on Tuesday. Utility freshman Eddy Gonzalez is tied for the conference lead with five triples while infielder Austin Hoffman is second in putouts (281).
Friday's meeting will be the ninth between the two programs with Sam Houston holding a 6-2 advantage. The Bearkats claimed all three games at Don Sanders Stadium last year with Zach Smith hitting .375 (3 for 8) along with a team-leading four runs scored and three RBIs while Bryce Johnson and Spence Rahm hit at a .333 tilt (4 for 12) with Johnson adding three RBIs.
The Bearkats' projected Friday starter, right-hander Sam Odom (4-0, 2.61 ERA), shut out the Cardinals, striking out a career-high 10 hitters, allowing just four hits while holding UIW scoreless in a complete-game victory.
Sam Houston will send right-hander Heath Donica (5-2, 4.21 ERA) to the mound on Saturday and righty Riley Gossett (3-0, 3.55 ERA) on Sunday. UIW's weekend rotation includes left-hander Denson Hull (0-1, 8.31 ERA), right-hander John Shull (2-2, 3.65 ERA) and righty Cody Richey (0-3, 8.65 ERA).
