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Texas Tech Baseball: Scouting The Lubbock Regional

By Matthew Conner

Jun 23, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders infielder Orlando Garcia (2) fields a ball in front of infielder Michael Davis (3) to start a double play in the ninth inning against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Coastal Carolina defeated Texas Tech 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders infielder Orlando Garcia (2) fields a ball in front of infielder Michael Davis (3) to start a double play in the ninth inning against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Coastal Carolina defeated Texas Tech 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 24, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Baseball before the contest between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Baseball before the contest between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Seed Sam Houston State

An in-state foe, Sam Houston State, is the third seed in the Lubbock Regional.  This year, SHSU had a nice season with a 40-20 record.

One stat that does not bode well for the Bearkats though is their record in road games.  Overall, they went 10-11 in true road contests, which suggests that Tech would have quite the home field advantage this weekend.

Furthermore, the Bearkats finished just 3rd in the Southland Conference regular season race.  Still, they punched their NCAA Tournament ticket by taking the conference tournament.  Overall, the Southland was ranked No. 12 in RP, a far cry from the No. 1 RPI league, the Big 12.

SHSU hangs its hat on its offensive firepower.  The No. 23 hitting team in the nation (.307 average) has seven regular members of its lineup hitting over .300.  The offensive leader for the Kats is infielder Blake Chisholm (who also pitches on occasion).  The JUCO transfer hit .355 this year with four homers.

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As a team, SHSU averaged 6.8 runs per game scored.  Comparatively, Tech put up 7.2 and Arizona 7.9.

Sam Houston also had a nice season on the pitching mound.  The Kats ranked No. 21 in the NCAA with a 3.51 team ERA.

Workhorse Heath Donica leads the SHSU rotation.  He posted the same ERA as Tech’s Steven Gingery (1.69) this year while tossing 101 innings.  Donica was 9-1 with a stellar 100 strikeouts in 14 starts this year.  Look for him to face Arizona on Friday meaning that Texas Tech may not have to take on this tough senior righty.

The other three top starters for the Bearkats are far more pedestrian.  They combine for an ERA of 4.03 so Texas Tech would expect to have offensive success against the Bearkats if they were to meet this weekend.

Last year, SHSU fell twice to Arizona in the regional round of the tournament.  They have seven players returning from that team so the environment in Lubbock should not be too much for this scrappy team to handle.  The Bearkats look to be a dangerous No. 3 seed that could give Texas Tech and Arizona some trouble, especially if their bats stay hot.

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