Kats look to capture Sanders Cup at Houston
4/24/2017 10:39:00 PM | Baseball
Game 41
Tuesday, April 25 • 6:30 p.m. • Houston, Texas • Darryl & Lori Schroeder Field
Sam Houston State (26-14) vs. Houston (27-12) • Game Notes
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HOUSTON – Sam Houston State's nine-game road trip has offered its share of ups, and more recently, downs. On Tuesday, the Bearkats have an opportunity to cap the season-long trip on a high note.
Sam Houston visits No. 12 Houston at 6:30 p.m. in the second game of the inaugural Don Sanders Cup. The Bearkats, who knocked off the Cougars, 5-4, last week in Sugar Land, are one win shy of securing the series, which will conclude one week from Tuesday in Huntsville.
The Kats were swept in Southland Conference play for the first time in 32 series last weekend, dropping all three at Central Arkansas. Sam Houston was plagued by a combined nine errors in the set as only seven of the Bears' 15 runs were earned.
Despite dropping five-straight league games, the Bearkats have won two consecutive midweek games away from Don Sanders Stadium. Sam Houston defeated Baylor, 7-4, in Waco on April 11 before upending Houston, 5-4, six days ago at Constellation Field.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP VS. HOUSTON
Tuesday's meeting will be the 162nd overall between Sam Houston and Houston. The overall series is the longest played in the Bearkats' program history.
The Cougars own a slight 81-80 advantage in the series. The squads have split the last 10 matchups. Eight of the last 10 matchups have been decided by three runs or fewer including four one-run games.
The programs split two games a season ago with Houston notching a 4-3 victory in Houston on April 26 and Sam Houston drawing even with a 4-0 win one week later (May 3) in Huntsville.
LOOKING GOOD OVER THE HILL
Sam Houston's 26-14 record through 40 games is tied for the third-best start to a season since the program began Division I play in 1987, trailing only the 2012 squad (29-11) and the 2009 team (27-13).
The 26 victories in 40 games matches the 2014 squad which went on to finish 43-19, winning the Southland Conference regular-season title and advancing to the 2014 Fort Worth Regional.
Dating to 1987, through 40 contests, Sam Houston teams have won 24 or more games in 11 seasons, reaching a NCAA Regional in eight of those. Last year's Regional-bound team tallied 24 wins in that stretch.
ONE WIN SHY OF 100
Matt Deggs is 99-64 overall in three years at Sam Houston including 54-23 in Southland Conference play. Since joining Division I in 1987, three Sam Houston coaches have reached the century mark including John Skeeters (16 seasons/456 D1 wins), Mark Johnson (5 seasons/167 wins) and current Texas Longhorns head coach David Pierce (3 seasons/121 wins).
In his third season, Deggs is 2-3 against Houston, leading the Kats to two straight after dropping three in a row. Deggs led Sam Houston to both the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles during 2016, the first time both feats have been accomplished in the same season.
QUOTEABLES:
Head coach Matt Deggs on facing Houston…
“They're a great ballclub with a lot of talent. I thought they were extremely athletic when we played them in Sugar Land. It will be a tough battle. I love our schedule. It tests up every week. It will be a good battle.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the nine-game road trip…
“I knew our schedule was a grind from the get go. We were home early and had a lot of road games late. Any time you play the non-conference schedule and league schedule we have, it's a battle every time out. This has been a good experience for us. It's an opportunity for us to grow.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the last time out at Central Arkansas…
“The takeaway is that it was all in our hands to win or sweep the series. No disrespect to UCA. It could have swung either way. When you're not functioning in all three phases of the game, the one constant should be our defense and dominating routine plays. That's how fine the margin or winning or losing is. If we're not a complete ballclub in all three phases, we're susceptible to losses like anyone else.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the opportunity to win the Don Sanders Cup…
“That's something that's not lost on us or the players. I am sure it's not lost on the Cougars either. Any time you put a trophy in front of a bunch of competitors, everyone is going to want to win it. It has been a lot of fun to compete in the series, especially against a quality opponent like Houston.”
