Stephen F. Austin

May 8, 2012

 Game Notes & What To Watch For:

COVERAGE: Tuesday’s game can be seen on Comcast Sports Southwest in the Houston area with Mike Morgan providing the play by play and former MLB pitcher Steve Sparks providing in-game analysis. Fans can also listen online to the Rice radio call on www.riceowls.com with J.P. Heath on the mic. Fans can also follow @SFA_Athletics on Twitter for in-game updates, or follow SFA Athletics on Facebook.

AGAINST THE OWLS: SFA is just 5-22 all-time against the Owls after last year’s 9-1 loss at Reckling Park. That meeting was the first between the teams since 1995, with the ‘Jacks not having a win in the series since 1994. The last time SFA won in Houston was a 10-4 decision in 1989.

- Rice enters Tuesday’s game ranked in the top 10 in multiple polls, including No. 8 in the latest Baseball America tally. They rebounded from losing the first game of last weekend’s series vs crosstown rival Houston to take the final two games after taking two of three from East Carolina in the previous weekend. In all, Rice is 20-7 at home this year, but does have a pair of midweek non-conference losses at Reckling to both Sam Houston State and Grambling.

- In his last six appearances, including four starts, Chase Greening is 4-1 with a 2.18 ERA, striking out 17 and walking six four batters in 33.0 innings. Meanwhile, as a starter freshman Cameron Gann has won four of his six starts, holding batters to a .226 average with 27 strikeouts and 15 walks in 46.0 innings.
 
- Sophomore shortstop Hunter Dozier currently leads the Lumberjacks with a .344 batting average and ranks in the top 10 in the SLC in batting average, hits, runs scored, homers, doubles, walks and slugging percentage. But he’s not the only ‘Jack who’s been hot at the plate as seniors Chris Hernandez and Boby Loveless have also been on a hot streak of their own. In his last eight games Loveless is hitting .462 with a dozen hits in 26 at-bats, three doubles and four RBI, including a 4-for-4 day in the series finale against Southeastern. Meanwhile, Hernandez has four extra-base hits in his last eight games, including hitting his second homer of the year on Sunday.

- Senior stopper Alex Moshier had a rough start to his 2012, allowing a pair of runs in each of his first two appearances; however, since Feb. 26 he has been nearly untouchable. In his 18 appearances since Feb. 26, he has put up a 4-0 record with seven saves while throwing 25.0 innings. In that span he has allowed just 3 runs - 1 earned - for a 0.36 ERA, allowing just 13 hits and holding hitters to a .155 average with 30 strikeouts and just 13 walks.

- Senior Jarid Scarafiotti scored his 100th run of his career over the weekend and now needs just two more hits to become just the second Lumberjack ever with 200 hits for a career. His 21st career homer on Saturday put him in sole possession of fifth place on the SFA list, while he also stands in seventh with 31 doubles, just one ahead of sophomore Hunter Dozier who has already amassed 30 in his career. Dozier has 17 doubles this season, just one shy of tying the SFA single-season record.

-SFA-