March 9, 2011
Game Notes
WACO, Texas - Louisiana Tech (8-3) returns to action Thursday evening in what will be the first of eight-straight games on the road, kicking off with 17th-ranked Baylor. The Bulldogs and Bears will square off at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday before closing the weekend with a pair of matinee games on Saturday and Sunday, set for 3 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
The Bulldogs posted a 2-1 record this past weekend against Middle Tennessee, taking the first two games of the series before dropping the finale on Sunday. Baylor (7-5) took two of three games at the Houston College Classic with wins over Houston and No. 21 Rice. While Tech's midweek contest against Grambling State was postponed, the Bears knocked off Texas State, 6-4, in San Marcos on Tuesday night.
Mark Threlkeld paces the offensive attack for the Bulldogs as he leads the team with a .444 batting average, totaling six doubles, three home runs and nine RBI on the season. Alex Williams currently owns an 11-game hitting streak and ranks third on the team hitting at a .364 clip. Senior Joey Ford has totaled seven multiple hit games this season to rank second on the club with a .391 average.
The Bears are hitting .290 as a club with CF Brooks Pinckard leading the way with a .370 average. Pinckard leads the team with 20 hits and has stolen a team-high 11 bases. Logan Verrett anchors the weekend rotation while Pinckard and freshman Trae Davis lock down the backend of the bullpen. As a staff, the Bears boast a 4.95 ERA while limiting opposing teams to a .277 batting average.
THE RUNDOWN
• Alex Williams has hit safely in all 11 games to start the 2011 season, tying his career-long hitting streak.
• Mark Threlkeld leads the conference in doubles (6) and ranks second in home runs (3) and total bases (35). In fact, the junior third baseman ranks amongst the WAC leaders in 12 offensive categories.
• Freshman Ben Carlisle has made three career appearances. In those appearances, the southpaw has now allowed a hit, a run or a walk. In fact, Carlisle has retired the last 12 batters that he has faced.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Friday will mark only the eighth time that Baylor and Louisiana Tech have met on the diamond. Overall, the Bears have taken four of the prior seven meetings, however, the Bulldogs own a 3-2 record in games played at Baylor Ballpark.
The Bears return eight position starters and a total of 11 pitchers from a 2010 squad that posted a 36-24 record before ultimately ending their season in the Fort Worth Regional Championship game against TCU.
Baylor has faced a difficult schedule thus far, boasting series wins over Oral Roberts, Georgia and perennial power, Rice. Logan Verrett anchors the weekend rotation while Trent Blank, Josh Turley and Tyler Bremer will factor into this weekend's rotation. Freshman Trae Davis has been utilized in the setup roll this season, earning three of Baylor's seven wins. Duel standout Brooks Pinckard has been utilized in a closing role this season and features a plus fastball and a slider as an out pitch.
Offensively, Pinckard leads the attack for the Bears in a leadoff role. The junior leads the team with 11 stolen bases and currently hits at a .370 clip. Joey Hainsfurther and Max Muncy are two stalwarts in the offensive attack and both feature a .360-plus average.
As a staff, the Bears have only allowed three home runs and have fanned 80 batters to only 50 walks. Defensively, Baylor has turned 11 double plays while committing just 12 errors.
ON DECK
Following a four-game set against Baylor, the Diamond Dogs will travel to UT Arlington next Wednesday before heading down to Houston for a weekend series against Rice.
