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Post by wcu32 on Apr 14, 2016 20:09:38 GMT -5
Is the glass half empty or half full?
Was right about our RPI putting us in position to be in at large conversation if took care of business in conference. However the last time I look we are 0-7 vs top 50 and those are the only games vs top 100. That means little to no chance we have. Also about out of games vs teams that can help resume. Think we are at least one game short with the rain out vs UNCA so if want to increase chances we need to pick up resume game somehow.
Well went with Quinn as player of year because of their lineup but little doubt Lewis gonna win it.
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Post by wcatradio75 on Apr 15, 2016 8:16:35 GMT -5
Is the glass half empty or half full? Was right about our RPI putting us in position to be in at large conversation if took care of business in conference. However the last time I look we are 0-7 vs top 50 and those are the only games vs top 100. That means little to no chance we have. Also about out of games vs teams that can help resume. Think we are at least one game short with the rain out vs UNCA so if want to increase chances we need to pick up resume game somehow. Well went with Quinn as player of year because of their lineup but little doubt Lewis gonna win it. Agree. We need to win the tournament if we want to advance. We are capable of playing well against top competition, but we haven't closed the door. We had a real chance this week @ Clemson, and played GT well in 2 of the 3 games. Only recent blowout was Carolina (after 10 days on the road), but the awful start to the season didn't help. |
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Post by wcu32 on Apr 15, 2016 8:43:04 GMT -5
Very curious to see what happens this weekend vs Samford. There could be 30 jacks hit between the two teams. If our pitchers walk the world again this week it could get ugly quick. The Samford hitters just a little better than VMI. OK ALOT better. And they have better arms. Not the arms they have had recently but still pretty good.
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Post by wcatradio75 on Apr 15, 2016 12:17:13 GMT -5
From the Samford website: "CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- The Samford University baseball team will begin play in its most critical road series of the 2016 campaign Friday as the preseason-picked Southern Conference-favorite Bulldogs face off against the current first-place Western Carolina Catamounts in a highly-anticipated league showdown to be held at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium.
The teams are scheduled to open the series Friday at 4 p.m. (CDT) with game two slated to begin Saturday at 1 p.m. The finale is scheduled to start Sunday at noon.
Samford (19-14, 5-4 SoCon) heads into the weekend riding the positive momentum of a three-game winning streak. Since dropping a hard-fought, 4-3 10-inning decision to Wofford on Friday, the Bulldogs have rattled off consecutive victories against Wofford, 11-3 and 6-0, as well as a 13-3 home triumph over Alabama State on Tuesday.
Samford has been victorious in seven of its last 10 outings and has won both of its last two SoCon series against Wofford and Mercer.
The Bulldogs enter this weekend's showdown as the fourth-place team in the conference standings. Samford, at 5-4 in league play, currently sits just one game behind third-place Mercer (6-3), a game-and-a-half behind UNCG (5-1) and three games behind first-place Western Carolina (8-1).
On the road this season, the Bulldogs own a 5-7 record, but were victorious in their last SoCon contest away from home, a 5-3 victory at Furman on March 26.
Samford's starting pitchers this weekend will be junior right-hander Jared Brasher (2-3, 3.67 ERA) Friday and freshman righty Connor Radcliff (2-3, 6.00 ERA) on Saturday. Sunday's starting pitcher for the Bulldogs is still officially listed as TBA.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Western Carolina (17-14, 8-1 SoCon) enters this weekend's series as the first-place team in the conference. The Catamounts are in the midst of an eight-game SoCon winning streak and have not been defeated by a league foe since March 24.
Ironically, Western Carolina was defeated in its first SoCon game of the season, 14-8, at home against ETSU, but haven't been beaten in league play since.
Three of the Catamounts' last four losses have come against nationally-ranked opponents. On March 22, Western Carolina dropped a 10-2 decision at No. 3-ranked North Carolina, before dropping back-to-back non-conference contests versus #17/#18 Clemson, 10-8 and 7-6 (10), on March 30 and Tuesday, respectively.
The Catamounts boast a 7-4 record at home this season and have not played at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium since March 30.
Western Carolina enters this weekend's series ranked No. 1 in the nation in home runs per game (1.60). The Catamounts are also ranked No. 2 in the country in slugging percentage (.520) and third in home runs (48). Western Carolina's Bryson Bowman has already blasted 11 home runs this season and leads the team with 87 total bases.
Matt Smith, the Catamounts' junior outfielder from Fredericktown, Ohio, boasts a .419 batting average this season with nine home runs and a .669 slugging percentage, while speedster Bryson Bowman leads the SoCon with 23 stolen bases on 25 attempts.
Western Carolina's starting pitchers this weekend will be sophomore left-hander Brendan Nail (1-4, 4.89 ERA) on Friday, junior southpaw Bryan Sammons (5-1, 5.23 ERA) on Saturday and freshman lefty Tristan Baker (3-2, 5.19 ERA) on Sunday.
BULLDOGS' RECORD AGAINST WESTERN CAROLINA - - THE DUNN ERA
Since Head Coach Casey Dunn took the reins to the Bulldogs' baseball program in 2004, Samford has compiled a 12-12 record against Western Carolina. Last season, the teams squared off four times with the Bulldogs earning three victories, including an 8-7 triumph in their opening game of the SoCon Tournament.
During the 2015 regular-season series, Samford played host to the Catamounts and took two out of three games. The Bulldogs cruised to a 13-4 win in the opener, but then dropped a 7-4 decision in game two.
The rubber match was a regionally-televised affair and proved to be a nearly five-hour contest held at Joe Lee Griffin Field. In a crazy game, Samford rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and held on for a key 16-14 victory to claim the series.
SAMFORD VS. WESTERN CAROLINA - - THE LAST TIME OUT
On May 20, 2015, Samford junior second baseman Frankie Navarrete singled through the right side of the infield to drive in pinch runner Greg Mula in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the second-seeded Bulldogs an 8-7 win over seventh-seeded Western Carolina in the first round of the SoCon Tournament at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Samford overcame an early six-run deficit to come back for the win. With the victory, the Bulldogs achieved their eighth 30-win season in the last 10 years.
Samford entered the ninth inning trailing Western Carolina, 7-5. With one out, Navarrete tripled. With two outs, Hunter Swilling and Heath Quinn were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Jared Watson then singled to drive in Navarrete and Swilling to tie the game and force extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Damon Waller walked to lead off the inning. Mula then pinch ran for Waller and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Rodriguez. After Richard Greene was intentionally walked, Mula and Greene both moved up a base on a passed ball. Navarrete then delivered the walk-off hit to give the Bulldogs their 8-7 win."
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