Despite coming into Reckling Park sporting a 9-10 record (6-9 vs. D-1, 2-7 on road, 1-8 vs. Top 200), Stephen F. Austin has been a quality offensive club this season, with the team hitting .292/.375/.429, with 14 HRs, averaging 3 extrabase hits per game and just under 5 runs/game. Their lineup boasts 7 regulars hitting .288 or better, led by Ricardo Sanchez (.444/.500/.593, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 5-7 SBs) and Hunter Dozier (.385/.468/.600, 8 doubles, 2 HRs, 11 RBIs, 7-8 SBs). They also run well, having stolen 25 - 33 bases. Their one vulnerability on the offensive end has been their relatively high strikeout totals (averaging almost 7.5 Ks/game, despite playing to a very weak Strength of Schedule). This would appear to indicate that they aggressive, free swingers. Consequently, whomever starts for us (and I'm presuming it will be either Chase McDowell or Connor Mason) should probably lead with the off-speed stuff and breaking balls.
Defensively, the Lumberjacks have a respectable .958 fielding percentage; however, their SS (Dozier) has already committed 8 errors, and opponents have run freely against their pitchers/catchers, stealing 28-33 bases (almost 2 per game).
On the mound, SFA's starting pitching has actually performed quite well, but the bullpen has dragged down the staff's overall stats (4.86 ERA, .279 BAA, 2:1 BB:K ratio, 131 Ks in 166 IP). Of their two mid-week starters, I suspect we'll get the one who has pitched well so far this season, especially since this is the Lumberjack's only mid-week game this week...
Jr RHP Kevin Bishop: 4 starts, 2-0, 22.1 IP, 2.82 ERA, .256 BAA, 9 BBs, 2 HBP, 11 Ks
Sr RHP Justin Choate: 5 app, 3 starts, 1-2, 191 IP, 8.38 ERA, .321 BAA, 6 BBs, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 17 Ks
...of couse, not surprisingly, Bishop pitched against much weaker opponents (including Grambling twice and Sacred Hearts); whereas Choates went against LSU, Dallas Baptist and A&M-- all on the road. Of the two, Choates appears to be the power pitcher, but perhaps without an off-speed pitch to keep hitters from sitting on his fastball; Bishop is more of a finesse pitcher, but one who has had some control issues. Consequently, I could envision very different approaches at the plate by our hitters depending upon which one is pitching-- if it's Choates, we should be our usual, aggressive, first pitch swinging (if fastball in the zone) selves...but if it's Bishop, I would suggest we be much more patient, as were over the weekend at times against Harvard.
Here's SFA's schedule/results and individual/team stats through their first 19 games...
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2013/sch...n-F-Austin
http://sfajacks.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl...l#TEAM.MLB
Given our very low RPI (#105) and Strength of Schedule (#177), we just need to keep winning and keep improving our quality of play. Let's keep our streak alive heading into this weekend's opening of conference play. Go Owls!
