Thursday, April 8, 2010

On Deck - #22 Lions vs. University of Texas-Arlington

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SLU Lions (24-6, 8-4) vs. UTA Mavericks (14-15, 7-5)
Alumni Field, Hammond, LA
Game 1: 6:00 pm Friday April 9
Game 2: 2:00 pm Saturday April 10
Game 3: 1:00 pm Sunday April 11

The #22 ranked SLU Lions will begin an eight game home stand this weekend with a crucial Southland Conference series against the Mavericks of the University of Texas-Arlington at “The Pat” in Hammond. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 with Saturday’s start time slated for 2:00. The series will conclude on Sunday with a 1:00 start time.

This weekend is crucial because with a series win the Lions can put some separation between them and the Mavericks. SLU currently sits in a 2nd place tie with McNeese State in the conference standings. UTA sits in the 6th spot but is only game out of second place. Texas State is the conference leader.

Lion Nation you need to answer the call….the boys need you at “The Pat” for all three games. And bring those noise makers because we need the stadium to BE LOUD!!

Ok back to baseball…..The Lions are coming off of their first series loss of the season as they were only able to come away with one win at Lamar last weekend. After dropping their first SLC opening series at Sam Houston, UTA has won its last 3 SLC series at UTSA, at Northwestern State, and over Nicholls State.

SLU enters the series hitting .296 as a team and is lead by Jeff Harkensee (.356, 3 HR, 24 RBI) Justin Boudreaux (.350, 7 HR, 35 RBI), and Cody Gougler (.324, 3 HR, 25 RBI). The Lions have 6 regulars hitting over .300, as Brock Hebert, Cass Hargis, & Chris Franklin are above the .300 mark. On the mound the Lions pitching staff sports a SLC leading 3.47 ERA and is holding opponents to a SLC leading .261 BA. Josh Janway leads the team with a 1.89 ERA.  Brandon Efferson and Jordan Hymel are tied for the team lead with 5 wins each and Chris Franklin leads the way with 6 saves and 38 strikeouts.

Michael Choice (.396, 11 HR, 31 RBI) and Chad Comer (.340, 2 HR, 21 RBI) lead the way at the plate for Mavericks. On the mound Jason Mitchell (4-2) is their man, as he enters with a 1.96 ERA. Mitchell has struck out 61 batters in 55 innings (thanks Daryl). As a team UTA is hitting .283 and opponents are hitting .279 against them. Choice, who is a projected 1st round draft choice this summer, has 32 walks this season. He currently has 6 intentional walks and needs one more to break the UTA single season record. I am betting he shatters the school's record this weekend.

NOTES:
Good pitching beats good hitting - SLU ranks 1st in the SLC in Opposing BA (.261), ERA (3.47), Saves (13), Runs Allowed (133) and Earned Runs Allowed (102).

Money ball - Offensively SLU ranks 1st in the SLC in On Base Percentage (.417), Walks (152), Hit by Pitch (61), and Sac Bunts (36). The Lions rank 2nd in the SLC in Runs Scored (230), RBI (206), and Doubles (72).

SS Justin Boudreaux ranks 8th in the SLC with a .615 Slugging Percentage and a .462 On Base Percentage. He ranks 3rd in Runs Scored with 34 and 2nd in RBI with 35.

2B Brock Hebert ranks 8th in Runs Scored with 30 and 6th with 29 RBI.

OF Jeff Harkensee’s 42 hits ranks 8th in the SLC, as Boudreaux and OF Cass Hargis rank 9th with 41.

Harkensee leads the SLC in doubles with 15, as Hargis ranks 3rd with 12.

Hargis leads the conference in triples with 4 and Boudreaux ranks 4th in homeruns with 7.

In the Hit by Pitch category the Lions have a hold on 4 of the top 10 spots as Josh Cryer leads the way with 10. Trey martin is 3rd with 9, Boudreaux is 4th with 8, and Phil Freeman is 6th with 6.

Trey Martin leads the conference with 6 Sac Bunts, as Cryer and Hebert sit at number 4 with 5. Cryer ranks 3rd with 3 Sac Flies.

Boudreaux is 4th in the league with 12 Stolen Bases and Hargis is 7th with 10 swipes.

Josh Janway (1.62) is the SLC leader in ERA. Brandon Efferson (2.38) ranks 4th and Tyler Watkins (3.27) ranks 7th.

Janway (.213) ranks 2nd in Opposing BA and Efferson (.251) is 8th.

Chris Franklin ranks 9th in strikeouts with 38.

Efferson and Jordan Hymel lead the SLC in wins with 5 each.

Franklin’s 6 Saves ranks 2nd and Janway’s 5 Saves rank 3rd in the SLC.

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