HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Diamond 'Dogs (12-9) are geared up to face the Sam Houston Bearkats (6-15) for the Conference USA opening series at Don Sanders Stadium in Huntsville. This weekend marks the second time the two programs face off as conference opponents and the first ever three-game series played on Sam Houston's home field.
 
The Bulldogs and the Bearkats meet for just the second time as Conference USA opponents and the first time ever in Huntsville for a three-game series between the two programs. Tech welcomed Sam Houston to Ruston with a three-game sweep, including a 10-inning thriller that resulted in a walk-off three-run homer by Adarius Myers in the series finale.
 
The Bulldogs enter the weekend coming off a midweek victory at home over the ULM Warhawks after winning their first road weekend series against Wichita State in Kansas.
 
Series Information
Date: Mar. 21-23, 2025
Venue: Don Sanders Stadium (Huntsville, Texas)
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT (Friday) | 2 p.m. CT (Saturday) | 12 p.m. CT (Sunday)
Watch: ESPN+ (Friday & Saturday only)
Radio: Sportstalk 97.7 FM / LA Tech Athletics app
Stats: LATechSports.com/stats
Weekend Rotation: Grant Hubka (Friday) | Luke Cooley (Saturday) | TBA (Sunday)
 
Series History
Series Record: LA Tech leads 9-6
Last Meeting: May 24, 2024 (W, 5-3)
Streak: W7
 
The last time the Bulldogs faced Sam Houston in Huntsville was in 2020 for a midweek, where Tech used a huge six-run 10th inning to take the contest. The Bearkats tied the game at 3-3 in the home half of the seventh and the score stood until Tech exploded in extra innings. The Bulldogs have played Sam Houston just four times in Huntsville since 2007, which was the last time the Bearkats defeated Tech at Don Sanders Stadium (9-6 on March 10, 2007).
 
Garrison Berkley leads Tech in batting average (.342), on-base percentage (.443), base hits (27), runs scored (22) and stolen bases (7). He is tied with Michael Ballard for the team lead with seven doubles and tied with Brody Drost for the most triples at two each. Ballard's two home runs over the weekend at Wichita State propelled him to having the most for the Bulldogs thus far this season, and he also leads the team in slugging percentage (.541) and RBI (20).
 
Luke Cooley holds team bests in ERA (3.42), innings (23.2), strikeouts (27) and wins (3). Blake Hooks enters with four saves, which leads Conference USA and ranks among the top 20 in NCAA Division I.
 
The Bulldogs infield has been one of the best at turning two in the country with 22 double plays that lead the conference and sit among the top five nationally.
 
Previewing the Bearkats
Sam Houston enters the contest with a 6-15 record coming off a series loss at home to Abilene Christian. The Bearkats have won just three of their last 10 games despite playing #13 Oklahoma in a road weekend series and dropping a midweek to Baylor in Waco. Sam Houston is led by head coach Jay Sirianni, who has amassed a career record of 147-121 since taking over the reigns of the Bearkats baseball program in 2020. After a 7-7 record to finish a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sirianni led the Bearkats to four-straight 30-win seasons. While serving as an associate head coach and pitching instructor for the Bearkats for five years prior to taking over as head coach, Sirianni helped lead Sam Houston to conference regular season titles in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022 along with four NCAA Tournament appearances and a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals in 2017. As head coach, Sirianni's Bearkats have had a pair of players selected in the first round of the MLB Draft with Colton Cowser selected fifth overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 and Walker Janek chosen by the Houston Astros with the No. 28 selection of the 2024 draft.
 
The Bearkats are led by Hunter Autrey and Brady Christensen, who are the only players for Sam Houston batting over .300 this year. Autrey has team highs with 26 hits, three homers, 21 RBI, .531 SLG and is tied for the team lead with six doubles and eight stolen bases. The Bearkats have six players with at least 20 hits this year and eight players that have scored at least 10 runs. Sam Houston's weekend rotation features three right-handed pitchers in Devin Bennett, Ryan Peterson and Felix Schlede. Peterson leads the team in total innings pitched yet carries a season record of 0-5 through five starts this year. He has struck out 28 batters while allowing 17 earned runs on 32 hits and 10 walks this year. Bennett is set to make his fourth start this year with an 0-2 record. He is one of three pitchers for Sam Houston's staff with at least 20 innings and has punched out 15 batters. Schlede will make his second start on the mound and has yet to have a decision to his name this year. He has 10 strikeouts through 13.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on 14 hits and nine walks.
 
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