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Post by The Cats on May 5, 2014 9:14:05 GMT -5
Entering the last two weeks of Southern Conference play, there is no mid-week games this week for the Catamounts due to WCU's exam schedule, but the Cats travel to Statesboro for a three game series with Georgia Southern starting Friday, May 9th. Like the App series, this will be the last scheduled regular season games with Georgia Southern as conference partners. The Catamounts and Eagles have met 109 times on the diamond, dating back to 1970. The Cats hold a slight 56-53 overall lead in the series, thanks to a 3 game sweep of the Eagles in Cullowhee last season. The Eagles are 31-19 overall. and 13-11 in conference play, good enough for 4th place in the SoCon standings. The Eagles are playing well at home this season, with a 19-9 overall record in games at Clements Stadium, but the Eagles are only 4-5 in conference games played in Statesboro. At home this season, the Eagles lost two to Samford, two to UNCG, and one to App State, so GSU has only won one series at home, with no sweeps. Georgia Southern is 5-5 in their last ten games, and are currently on a 3 game win streak, after sweeping Furman in Greenville this past weekend. Georgia Southern provides a video feed via their All Access (fee). The Catamount Sports network will broadcast all three games. Game days and times Friday, April 9 vs Western Carolina – 6 p.m. Saturday, April 10 vs Western Carolina – 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 11 vs Western Carolina – 1:30 p.m. |
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Post by SCCat66 on May 5, 2014 20:56:35 GMT -5
Understand that Jeremy Null is very questionable for this weekend. If shutting him down this weekend will help insure his availability and effectiveness in the SoCon Tournament, that definitely should be done.
If he can't go, then the 3 starters would probably be TJ Fussell, Bryan Sammons and Jordan Smith. Long relief would have to be "by committee" all 3 days. No one person has really stepped up this year. Colton Davis, Korey Anderson and Nate Williams have all shown some flashes of brilliance, but nothing really consistent.
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Post by wcu32 on May 6, 2014 8:33:23 GMT -5
Saturdays game is now 4:30 because of graduation.
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Post by mjecat1971 on May 6, 2014 19:27:53 GMT -5
What is the nature of Null's injury?
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Post by SCCat66 on May 6, 2014 19:59:36 GMT -5
Rumor that there is a shoulder problem, but one of the other player's Dad just posted on Catamount Pride that it is NOT a shoulder problem. He said it is a back strain that prevents Jeremy from getting the arm extension he needs for velocity.
Understand he had nothing near his normal velocity in the 2 innings vs. App. last Friday night. And he had trouble throwing strikes also.
Glad to hear it's not a shoulder problem. I'm praying he'll be able to go in the tournament, even if he has to be held out of action this weekend in Statesboro.
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Post by wcu32 on May 6, 2014 21:41:35 GMT -5
You could notice big difference game 1 vs Citadel. He was not the same and not sure what his velocity was vs Citadel but it definitely dropped at Samford and he threw alot of sliders. That was just from watching video. Good news is its not shoulder or arm but would more than likely would have if he continued to push through it. Hope he pitches this weekend so i can watch him but ill gladly wait for Wednesday May 21st to watch in person if he throws game 1 of tourney.
This probably the last time WCU and Georgia Southern play for awhile. Ive been to every series since graduated and every SoCon tourney so this gonna suck. Been trying to get Mo and Coach Hennon to play each other. Wouldnt mind little tourney in Chattanooga at their AA park. We almost had one put together with WCU, Georgia Southern, Elon, Tennessee, Auburn and either Tech or Clemson back in 2008 to be played in 2010 or 2011 but little thing called economy crashed. Had the stadium and commitments but thats as far as it got. Stillwell was going to sing also to help raise some money. Maybe one day we get it back together.
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Post by SCCat66 on May 7, 2014 19:21:37 GMT -5
We have a tough series facing us this weekend for several reasons.
(1) Statesboro is a place where we have never played especially well. 20-36 all-time record down there. That's because GSU always has a good baseball team.
(2) This is GSU's final weekend series before the tournament and they will NOT want to lose their last SoCon home series before leaving for the SunBelt.
(3) We are going in with a patched-up lineup. Pre-Season SoCon Player of the Year (Aaron Attaway) on the sidelines with a wrist injury. Pre-Season SoCon Pitcher of the Year (Jeremy Null) probably on the sidelines with a back problem. That's two big voids in our lineup and someone(s) needs to step up in order for us to take this series.
(4) Our record is much better on our home field than on the road. That could be said for nearly every team in any sport.
Hats off to Coach Mo. He has pushed just about all the right buttons and made just about all the right moves to put the right people on the field at the right time to make the plays that needed to be made. He is not bashful about making a pitching change; hoping to get the right person on the hill for that time in the game.
We need to go to Statesboro and score a ton of runs. Low scoring games will probably not be to our advantage.
We currently have a one-game lead on Davidson in the all-important loss column. Barring any further rain-outs, we will play one more SoCon game than Davidson because they've had 2 games lost to weather and we've only had one rain-out. So if we finish with the same number of SoCon losses, we win the regular season championship.
There are a lot of W-L scenarios that could play out this weekend and next. We just need to go to Stateboro and take care of business. Wish I could be there, but my only brother & his wife is coming down to visit us this weekend. Our dear Mother is deceased, but we will be remembering (with thanksgiving) her life and love. Please do the same for/with your own Mother.
Go Cats!
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Post by The Cats on May 9, 2014 19:47:31 GMT -5
Cats win game #1 by a final score of 5-4.
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Post by SCCat66 on May 9, 2014 20:52:18 GMT -5
Huge win tonight. Null was rested. Coach Mo used Sammons (3 innings) and Fussell (4 innings). He may throw Jordan Smith tomorrow instead of his regular Sunday. Based upon the last 7-8 starts, we can count on Jordan to go deep into the game; at least 7 innings, maybe 8. Then let Tyler Powell finish the game.
If that's the way things go tomorrow, then Sunday will truly be "pitcher-by-committe" with Sammons and Fussell maybe able to do one inning each.
Huge win tonight. Takes a lot of pressure off. If GSU had swept us this weekend, then we would have had to sweep Davidson to win the regular season.
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Post by wcu32 on May 9, 2014 22:27:07 GMT -5
Stole one tonight. Had no business winning that one. Ill take ugly win every time
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