Kats wrap homestand, host Rice on Tuesday
3/27/2017 10:57:00 PM | Baseball
Game 25
Tuesday, March 28 • 6:30 p.m. • Huntsville, Texas • Don Sanders Stadium
Rice (7-19) vs. Sam Houston State (17-7) • Game Notes
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HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State wraps up an eight-game homestand and stretch of 23 home games in 25 outings on Tuesday when the squad hosts Rice at 6:30 p.m. from Don Sanders Stadium.
Despite dropping two-of-three to Buffalo last weekend, Sam Houston has won 15 of its last 18 games including a 13-3 record in March. During the current month, the Kats are hitting .340 as a team, alongside 11.4 hits per game and a 3.31 ERA.
Sam Houston will turn to right-hander Dakota Mills (3-1) who is searching for his second consecutive win. The redshirt junior drew the no decision in the squad's meeting at Rice two weeks ago, but held the Owls in check, scattering four hits in 5 1-3 innings while allowing two runs and striking out four.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP VS. RICE
Sam Houston and Rice meet for the 133rd time on Tuesday with the Kats holding a 70-61-1 lead in the all-time series. The Bearkats are 31-23 all-time vs. the Owls in Huntsville and 5-6 at Don Sanders Stadium.
The squads began playing during the 1950 season and have met at least twice each year since 2006. Sam Houston has won six of the last 10 matchups including a 6-2 win vs. Rice in Houston on March 14 when Clayton Harp belted a two-out, three-run double in the eighth inning to push the Kats ahead.
SAM HOUSTON IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Bearkats are fourth nationally in sacrifice bunts (29), fourth in triples (13), eighth in walks allowed per nine innings (2.61), 17th in stolen bases (41), 22nd in stolen bases per game (1.71), 23rd in sac flies (14), 24th in WHIP (1.20), 28th in on base percentage (.403), 32nd in batting average (.306), 33rd in earned run average (3.28), 42nd in runs (169), 43rd in hit by pitch (29) and 49th in fielding percentage (.976).
PUTTING THE 'K' IN BEARKATS
Through 24 games, Sam Houston pitching has struck out 191 hitters for an average of 7.95 strikeouts per game. The Bearkats are on pace to crack the top-three in program history for strikeouts in a season for the second consecutive year.
In 2016, Sam Houston registered 439 strikeouts in 64 games, the second-most in team lore. That year, the squad averaged 6.85 strikeouts per game. The program record for strikeouts in a season is 470 (7.83 per game) across 60 games in 2009.
QUOTABLES:
Head coach Matt Deggs on facing Rice on Tuesday…
“Like I said before, the last time we played them, the respect factor hasn't changed. They have a legendary coach and a historically great program. We'll have our hands full. They can really pitch and have great players over there. You can throw record out the window. We'll have to bring our best stuff tomorrow.
Head coach Matt Deggs on confidence gained from prior win vs. Rice…
“These guys will scrap. Take the result and throw it out the window most nights with these guys. It's all about the competition. They embrace that side of things. They're going to have a great day of preparation and see what happens.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on Dakota Mills facing the Owls once this season…
“Nothing changes. You have to go and fill up the strike zone and both sides of the plate with the fastball and locate a second pitch. If he can do that, I like our chances.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on looking to close the homestand with a win…
“We're spoiled. We haven't had to spend the night in the hotel yet and it's the end of March. I haven't had that happen before in my career. We'd like to send these fans home with a win tomorrow night. They've been great to us. We've had a great atmosphere every time out. It's also going to be nice to wrap up this homestand and test ourselves on the road. That's a bridge we haven't crossed yet.”
