Sam Houston visits SFA for three-game set
4/13/2017 12:09:00 AM | Baseball
Games 34-26
Thursday, April 13 – Saturday, April 15 • Nacogdoches, Texas • Jaycees Field
Sam Houston State (24-9, 12-0 SLC) vs. Stephen F. Austin (20-15, 9-3 SLC)
Game Notes • Live Stats • Watch Live • @BearkatsBSB on Twitter
NACOGDOCHES – Sam Houston State looks to build on its already historic start to Southland Conference play, visiting Stephen F. Austin for a three-game set beginning Thursday at 3 p.m. from Jaycees Field. All three games will be streamed via Facebook.com/SFALumberjacks.
The Bearkats have won 17-straight Southland Conference games, a league record, dating to a season ago, and are off to the second-best start in conference history at 12-0. Meanwhile, head coach Matt Deggs enters the weekend three victories shy of reaching 100.
WEEKEND ROTATION
RHP Heath Donica, SHSU (6-1, 1.47 ERA) vs. RHP Trevor Kiminski, SFA (3-1, 4.22 ERA)
LHP Seth Ballew, SHSU (4-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. LHP Patrick Ledet, SFA (4-2, 4.37 ERA)
RHP Dakota Mills, SHSU (4-2, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Tony Grabowske, SFA (2-2, 3.53 ERA)
SAM HOUSTON STATE HAS...
... won 17-straight Southland Conference games, a new league record, dating to April 22, 2016.
... won 22 of its last 27 games, hitting .333 as a team while boasting a 3.64 ERA in that span.
... played 12 of its 33 games against teams ranked or receiving votes in the preseason.
... seven different everyday starters hitting above a .300 clip overall and eight in Southland games.
... played 26 of 33 games at home but began a season-long nine-game road trip on Tuesday at Baylor.
... done major damage in the middle frames. The Bearkats highest scoring innings are the fifth (48) and sixth (46). The team has scored 37 percent of its 251 runs during the two frames.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Thursday's meeting will be the 109th between Sam Houston and SFA and 51st game in Nacogdoches. Sam Houston leads the overall series, 78-30 including a 37-13 advantage in Nacogdoches. The Bearkats have won six of the last 10 matchups with five of the last 10 being decided by two runs or fewer.
Sam Houston faced Stephen F. Austin six times a season ago, the most of any opponent. The Bearkats took two-of-three in the regular season and two-of-three at the Southland Conference Tournament.
The Bearkats have won five of their last six regular-season series against Stephen F. Austin but dropped the most recent visit to Nacogdoches as the Lumberjacks took two-of-three during April 2-4, 2015.
SAM HOUSTON IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Sam Houston ranks in the top-30 nationally in 10 statistical categories. The Kats are second in triples per game (0.59), fourth in triples (19), fourth in sacrifice bunts (36), eighth in stolen bases (62), eighth in walks allowed per nine innings (2.56), eighth in stolen bases per game (1.91), 16th in on base percentage (.406), 17th in batting average (.312), 20th in WL percentage (.727) and 21st in runs (251).
A LOOK BACK: KATS SHOW RESOLVE, DEFEAT BAYLOR
Sam Houston defeated Baylor, 7-4, overcoming a two-run deficit in the seventh after dominating much of the early innings defensively and on the mound.
The Kats (24-9) fell behind thanks to a four-run Baylor sixth but responded in the seventh, drawing four walks, including three with the bases loaded off a pair of Bears (20-13) relievers, to re-take the lead before adding an insurance run on a Lance Miles RBI single in the eighth and Clayton Harp two-out homer in the ninth.
Making his first collegiate start, Dominic Robinson tossed 5 1-3 innings, scattering nine hits while working around Baylor baserunners in each of his frames. The left-handed freshman allowed two runs, both after he exited, while fanning four without allowing a walk.
ON DECK
Following the completion of the three-game set at Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston will continue its streak of playing nine-straight away from the confines of Don Sanders Stadium.
The Bearkats will take on Houston at Sugar Land's Constellation Field on Tuesday in the first of three games this season to decide the inaugural Sanders Cup, named for Houston philanthropist and Sam Houston alumnus Don Sanders. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and tickets are available for $11 and can be purchased at SugarLandSkeeters.com.
