Kats begin title defense, host Lamar
3/9/2017 7:17:00 PM | Baseball
Game 13
Friday, March 10 – Sunday, March 12 • Huntsville, Texas • Don Sanders Stadium
Lamar (8-5) vs. Sam Houston State (8-5) • Game Notes
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HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State opens its 30-game Southland Conference season on Friday, welcoming Lamar for the first of a three-game set at 6:30 p.m. from Don Sanders Stadium.
The Bearkats, who captured both the league's regular-season and tournament championship a season ago, were picked to repeat by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
There may be no one tougher to be at home in the Southland than the Bearkats, who enter the weekend having won 13-straight, three-game home league series – including all nine under third-year head coach Matt Deggs.
The squad ranks in the top-50 nationally in eight statistical categories. The Bearkats are first in sacrifice bunts (23), 11th in stolen bases (26), 13th in stolen bases per game (2.0), 22nd in walks allowed per nine innings (2.67), 29th in sacrifice flies (7), 31st in ERA (3.05), 39th in WHIP (1.2) and 41st in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.89).
Friday's matchup marks the 128th meeting all-time against the Cardinals with Sam Houston holding a 65-61-1 edge since the series began in 1950. The two league rivals have split the last 10 matchups with six being decided by one run – including all three a season ago in Beaumont.
No one was hotter a year ago against the Cardinals than Robie Rojas, who hit .538 (7 of 13) with six RBIs and four runs. Bryce Johnson went .400 at the plate (6 of 15) with a pair of RBIs and runs scored. Andrew Fegia added four hits in 11 plate appearances (.364) -- a single, double, triple and home run.
Lamar has gotten off to a strong start this season under the direction of first-year head coach Will Davis. The Cardinals are averaging 6.38 runs per game behind an average of 9.07 hits.
Sam Houston turns to Friday starter Heath Donica (2-1, 0.39 ERA) looking to start the series in style. The right-handed senior is third nationally in strikeouts (33) and 36th in hits allowed per nine innings (2.67). The Corsicana product has permitted just one earned run in 23 innings.
Sam Houston pitching has held opponents to three runs or fewer in 7 of 13 games this season and owns a 3.05 ERA, the lowest in the Southland Conference. Of Sam Houston's first 13 games, eight have come against opponents either ranked (Baylor, Louisiana, Texas) or receiving votes (Nevada).
After being held to single-digit hit totals during its first six games of the season, the Bearkats have averaged 10 hits and 7.28 runs over their last seven games, going 6-1 during that stretch, with the lone loss coming in a 6-5 defeat to No. 10 Baylor on Tuesday.
Tickets for Friday are available for as low as $6 by calling (936) 294-1729 or by visiting GoBearkats.com. Students and staff are admitted free with a valid Bearkat OneCard. All three games can also be heard at no cost courtesy of the Bearkat Sports Network via GoBearkats.com.
QUOTABLES:
Head coach Matt Deggs on how the non-conference has prepared the team…
“Our schedule has been a grind. It has been somewhat of a gauntlet through the 13 games. It has also given us a chance to learn and reassess. We're 8-5 after 13 games. If you would have told me we were 7-6 or 6-7, five or six weeks ago, I would have believed you. It's early. We could very well be 11-2. This has been an opportunity for us to keep learning and growing.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on competing in the Southland Conference…
“Playing the conference is pure and simple, a 30-game war. The team that treats it as such are generally the ones that have a chance to win it at the end. Every game is an individual battle for us. We have to take them one at a time. I know we'll be ready to go tomorrow.”
Starting pitcher Heath Donica on playing in the Southland…
“There's a bunch of good teams in this conference. We know we're picked to win but none of that stuff matters. We got a taste last year of what it's like to win a conference championship. To be able to repeat that, it's a goal we have. That's an expectation here. We're excited to get that going.”
Center fielder Bryce Johnson on the improvement of the offense…
“I think we've gotten a lot better. We're starting to find out what each person's role is. The timely hits will progressively come. I think it's more of getting the opportunities under your belt and making the most of them. Everyone on this team believes in each other. We have a bunch of returners coming back so we've been in positions before.”
