Kats host Buffalo for three-game series
3/22/2017 6:48:00 PM | Baseball
Games 22-24
Thursday, March 23 – Saturday, March 25 • Huntsville, Texas • Don Sanders Stadium
Buffalo (4-13) vs. Sam Houston State (16-5) • Game Notes
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HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State takes a step away from Southland Conference action, hosting Buffalo in a three-game series beginning Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The matchup will be the first all-time between the two programs and continues the Kats eight-game homestand.
The Friday 6:30 p.m. tilt is also the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day presented by FASTSIGNS with Sam Houston faculty and staff members receiving up to four complimentary general admission tickets. The offer must be redeemed at the West Box Office of Bowers Stadium prior to 12 p.m. on March 24. The ticket office is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
After being held to single-digit hit totals during their first six games of the season, the Bearkats have averaged 10.93 hits and 8.4 runs over their last 15 games, going 14-1 during that stretch.
Sam Houston pitching has been equally as impressive during the last 15 games, posting a 2.60 ERA while limiting opponents to a .244 average. In overall games, the squad dropped its ERA below three after Tuesday's win at Rice and continued the trend as it fell to 2.79 after Tuesday.
Six of Sam Houston's nine everyday starters are hitting above a .300 clip and boast an on base percentage higher than .400. Out of the bullpen, six different relievers boast an earned run average sub-3.15. Of that group, only Jordan Cannon pitched for the Kats a season ago.
WEEKEND ROTATION
Thursday – LHP Kyle Backhus (1-0, 2.21 ERA) vs. RHP Alec Tuohy (3-2, 11.86 ERA)
Friday – LHP Seth Ballew (1-1, 4.42 ERA) vs. RHP Charlie Sobieraski (0-4, 6.94 ERA)
Saturday – RHP Hayden Wesneski (5-0, 2.32 ERA) vs. RHP Shawn Dubin (1-1, 2.45 ERA)
INSIDE THE MATCHUP VS. BUFFALO
Sam Houston and Buffalo meet for the first time in the history of both programs this week. Buffalo becomes just the second member of the Mid-American Athletic Conference (MAC) that the Bearkats have faced. SHSU has played Central Michigan seven times with the last coming in 1989.
While Sam Houston has played 19 of its first 21 games at home, Buffalo has spent all 17 of its games on the road. UB's first home game will take place April 5. By that time, the Kats will have played 23 times at The Don.
SAM HOUSTON IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Bearkats are second nationally in sacrifice bunts (27), ninth in triples (10), 11th in walks allowed per nine innings (2.56), 14th in stolen bases (37), 17th in earned run average (2.79), 21st in double plays turned (21), 22nd in sacrifice flies (12), 24th in WHIP (1.17) and 28th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.00).
Individually, Sunday starter Hayden Wesneski is one of nine players tied with a national-leading five wins. Friday starter Heath Donica is 10th nationally in strikeouts (46) and 48th in ERA (1.25). Designated hitter Blake Chisolm is eighth nationally in hit by pitch per game (0.47) and 16th in hit by pitch (8) while also ranking sixth in on base percentage (.557) and 39th in slugging (.707). Three Kats ranked in the top-50 for sac bunts including Taylor Beene in sixth (6) while Lance Miles and Riley McKnight are 19th with five. Bryce Johnson is fourth in stolen bases (13). Andrew Fregia is 15th in triples (3) and 37th in hits (32).
RECAPPING THE UTA GAME
Sam Houston State scored in seven consecutive innings and pounded out 17 hits in a 14-2 victory against UT Arlington on Tuesday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
The win was the Bearkats eighth consecutive and 14th in the last 15 games for Sam Houston, running the team's record to 16-5 while continuing a scorching month of March that has seen the Kats hit .340 as a team and post a .438 on base percentage in 13 games.
Sam Houston scored three runs in the first and seventh, one run each in the second, third, fifth and sixth as well as four in the fourth. The result marked the first time since 2011 that the program had scored one run in at least six consecutive frames.
QUOTABLES:
Head coach Matt Deggs on the weekend rotation…
“We're going to rest (Heath) Donica. He leads the league in innings pitched and I think probably is way up there over the last two years. Our mission with him is to have him trending at the end of the year. It's going to be a good chance for us to look at Kyle Backhus going tomorrow night.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the timely hitting in March…
“Water finds its level. Ultimately, you're going to start playing together. When they function as a unit, they can be a problem. That's all we're doing is working to get better every single day. We're trying to win each day individually. I like where we're at. We still have a lot of room for improvement and growth.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the surge from Lance Miles…
“He's what I call a utility knife. He's a guy that we can use in a multitude of ways. When can bunt with him, hit and run and trust him to drive in runs. He's great at putting the ball in play and with two outs. It's good to see him get some confidence and get rolling. He is a huge part of what we're going.”
Outfielder Clayton Harp on the offense…
“We're going a great job getting our swings off. The pitching staff has done a great job setting the tone and throwing up zeroes for us. They make it free and easy for us. We have a lot of confidence now. We're hitting the ball hard. We're just playing and having fun.”
Second baseman Lance Miles on the hard work resulting in victories…
“It started on the first day of school with all the work we've put in. The last 14 or 15 games have been a product of that work. We've been playing good baseball. We just continue to work harder in practice and not take anything. We're not really too worried about the wins. When you do all of those things, the wins will take care of themselves.”
