Top-25 showdown begins Friday vs. Louisiana
2/24/2017 2:37:00 AM | Baseball
Games 5-7
Friday, Feb. 24 – Sunday, Feb. 26 • Huntsville, Texas • Don Sanders Stadium
#13 Louisiana (1-2) vs. #18 Sam Houston State (2-2) • Purchase Tickets
Game Notes • Watch Live • Live Stats • @BearkatsBSB on Twitter
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Heath Donica (SHSU) vs. LHP Gunner Leger (LA)
Saturday: LHP Seth Ballew (SHSU) vs. RHP Nick Lee (LA)
Sunday: RHP Hayden Wesneski (SHSU) vs. RHP Evan Guillory (LA)
HUNTSVILLE – Just over a year ago, Sam Houston State's 19 freshmen and largely youthful group were throw in the deep end with a season-opening trip to face sixth-ranked Louisiana. With a year under their belt, that group has another chance at the Ragin' Cajuns.
The Bearkats host Louisiana in a three-game set at Don Sanders Stadium beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the Sunday finale will take place at 1 p.m. Tickets are on sale by calling the Sam Houston ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
Sam Houston is coming off a 7-2 loss to No. 16 Texas on Wednesday night in what was the largest crowd in program history with 2,815 spectators in attendance. By taking 2-of-3 against Nevada on Opening Weekend, the Kats keep intact a string of 16-straight home series wins, dating to April 2014.
The Bearkats will turn to Heath Donica on the mound Friday, looking to set the tone for the series. The right-hander struck out 14 hitters while one-hitting Nevada in an Opening Day, 1-0 win. The strikeout total ranks second in team lore and first since the Kats transitioned to Division I in 1987.
As a staff, Sam Houston boasts a 3.16 ERA but is expected to face a unit equally as dominant on the mound. Through three games, Louisiana pitching has stifled opponents to the tune of a 1.38 ERA and a .151 batting average against.
Offensively, the Bearkats are led by senior catcher Robie Rojas, who has hit .462 (6-of-13) including a pair of RBIs. Sam Houston's Bryce Johnson (6-of-16) and Andrew Fregia (6-of-17) have also made the most of their first four starts, batting .375 and .353 respectively.
While Sam Houston pitching, including the debuts of five freshmen out of the bullpen, has garnered much of the early-season praise, the defense has also made its presence known. Sam Houston has committed just three errors in four games and Wednesday featured highlight-reel grabs from Lance Miles and Clayton Harp.
The series pits a pair of teams sharing much recent history and even more ties. Sam Houston head coach Matt Deggs spent two seasons as an assistant under UL legendary coach Tony Robichaux, helping direct the Ragin' Cajuns to back-to-back Sun Belt titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013 and 2014.
The two teams have met five times over the last four seasons including the 2013 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional when Sam Houston handed the Cajuns a 4-2 loss before the Kats were eventually sent packing in a 7-5 elimination-game loss. UL's last visit to Huntsville came on Feb. 16, 2005. The Bearkats won that game, 6-5.
