Five games in six days begins at Texas State
2/27/2017 10:13:00 PM | Baseball
Game 8
Tuesday, Feb. 28 • 6:00 p.m. • San Marcos, Texas • Bobcat Ballpark
Sam Houston State (3-4) vs. Texas State (3-5) • Game Notes
Live Stats • Live Stream • @BearkatsBSB on Twitter
Game 9
Wednesday, March 1 • 6:30 p.m. • Huntsville, Texas • Don Sanders Stadium
Sam Houston State vs. Pepperdine (4-2) • Purchase Tickets
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STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday: RHP Dakota Mills (SHSU) vs. RHP Cam Baird (TXST)
Wednesday: TBD (SHSU) vs. RHP Chandler Blanchard (PEP)
SAN MARCOS – Sam Houston State will play five games over the next six days, beginning Tuesday with its first road trip of the season, visiting Texas State at 6:00 p.m. The Bearkats return home the following day to host Pepperdine at 6:30 p.m. from Don Sanders Stadium.
The Bearkats are looking to continue momentum from Sunday's 8-3 victory against No. 13 Louisiana. Despite dropping the series, Sam Houston produced its best all-around game in the finale, registering a season-high 10 hits without committing an error or permitting a Ragin' Cajuns walk.
Sam Houston turns to right-hander Dakota Mills (0-1, 3.86 ERA) against the Bobcats. The junior is in search of his first victory after allowing two runs in 4 2-3 innings against No. 16 Texas a week ago. Mills retired the first eight Longhorns' hitters in his first outing.
Wednesday's game against Pepperdine will be the first of eight straight home matchups as the Kats play just three road games between February and March.
While Sam Houston and Pepperdine have never met, the Bearkats and Bobcats will be meeting for the 104th time. Since Texas State departed the Southland Conference, Sam Houston has won six straight in the series, a streak that began March 23, 2012.
Seven current Bearkats made starts in last year's 8-6, comeback victory against Texas State, including shortstop Taylor Beene who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Center fielder Bryce Johnson is the only current member of the program to also appear in Sam Houston's last visit to San Marcos – a 10-0 victory in the fourth game of the 2015 season. The now-junior has hit .714 (5-for-7) with three runs and as many RBIs in two games against the Bobcats.
The Kats enter the midweek ranked tops in the country for sacrifice bunts (11) and 27th in fielding percentage (.982). The pitching staff, which owns a 3.23 ERA in seven games, is 43rd for walks allowed per nine innings (2.81) and 44th in WHIP (1.19).
Texas State, who was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt West Division, took one game off No. 22 Oklahoma State over the weekend in Stillwater, Okla. The Bobcats scored 22 runs during three games, including a 12-11 win on Saturday. The Cats are seventh nationally in doubles (22), with six coming from junior outfielder Derek Scheible, who is third in the country.
Meanwhile, Pepperdine continues its seven-game tour of the Lone Star State with a stop in Huntsville. The Waves picked up a 2-1 win on Saturday in their lone victory at Texas A&M. The squad, which ranks 33rd nationally in doubles per game (2.5), was picked to finish third preseason in the West Coast Conference.
QUOTEABLES:
Head coach Matt Deggs on the week ahead…
“We're right back at it. We have another great team on the road this time. Ty Harrington has a great program over there and he does a great job. They have been a very good program for a long time. It will be a great test for us, especially going on the road.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on approaching the midweek…
“There is a lot at stake. If you want to get to 40 wins, you have to be productive during the midweek. To set the weekend up really good for us, we will need some guys to pitch well midweek. We're going to need to swing the bats and take some pressure off every pitch. I think we'll keep getting better. Any time you have five games in a week, it's a stress on your pitching staff.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the performance in Sunday's win vs. Louisiana…
“We are coming off a tough week. Texas threw some good arms and the first two starters for UL are as good as anybody. To see us respond like we did on Sunday and make some adjustments was very encouraging and positive.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on Pepperdine…
“Any time you face somebody that has won a national championship, you know they are doing things right. They have a long, proud history and they won't be intimidated being on the road. First things first, we have Texas State, but we'll have our hands full Wednesday night at home as well.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the defensive ability showcased this season…
“We all saw the way we finished and how talented we were defensively a year ago. We knew we would do nothing but improve. We are fielding the baseball at a .982 clip which is as good as any big league team. We are turning some double plays. The pitching and defense are definitely the backbone of what we're doing. What we have to do is have a great approach at the plate and take a little pressure off both.”
