2/22 UALR Game

[BLUE collar]

ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK (2-2,0-0)
2010 RPI: 140
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 4
.
All Conference Candidates:
2B Jason Houston (.297-14-53, 11SBs, .983 defense)
1B Jake Rowell (.308-8-48, .990 defense)
3B Casey McCollum (.310)
.
The Good News:
Year two of the Scott Norwood era got off to a flying start with last year’s 10-2 early season mark. Let’s hope his Trojans can do that again… and then build off it. One thing is for sure, improvement is showing, as witnessed by the teams’ jump from No. 233 in the RPI in 2009 to 140 last season. The all-senior infield of 1B Rowell, 2B Houston, SS Brock Feldmann (.293, 10SBs) and 3B McCollum (.310) will be a huge building block for this team. J.C. transfers OF Cameron Bentley and LHP Dillon Wilson had huge falls and could push for All Conference consideration. Also, two players worth watching will be Catcher Niko Navarro, a 2007 22nd round draftee of the Pirates, and 1B/3B Cody Gilles, a J.C. All American in ‘09, both players sat out last season and will make big contributions this time around.
.
The Bad News:
Despite the early season success, UALR lost it confidence quickly when it came to conference play, slogging out to a 4-14 start in the SBC and eventually not making the conference tournament as the 9th place team. Do not repeat that, obviously. There are six returning senior hurlers that got a lot of use last season, but none of them had an ERA below 6.00, so there will be a lot of depth, but it needs to be quality depth. Some new pitchers will have to make the adjustment to D-1 level baseball in a hurry, which is never a great circumstance to count on. Finding a new bullpen ace to replace J.R. Boling, who had eight saves and a 4.31 ERA last season. (http://blogs.eastonbaseball.com/coll...lt-conference/)


The Trajoans split a four game series in Nacogdoches, Tx against Stephen F. Austin over the weekend. The following is a link to their stats from the opening weekend.

Player avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb hbp so gdp ob% sf sh sb-att po a e fld%

[qng001]

We lost to them both MBB and WBB. I hope our baseball team beats them.

[Dawg06]

Arkansas-Little Rock (2-2) at Louisiana Tech (3-0)

Helmet Night: First 25 Louisiana Tech students and the first 25 kids 14 and under will receive a free LA Tech mini batting helmet

Day: Tuesday
Date: February 22, 2011
Time: 6:00 PM CT
Location: Ruston, LA
Venue: J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park
Weather: 58°



Game Notes: UALR, LA Tech
Coaches: Scott Norwood, Wade Simoneaux
Rosters: UALR, LA Tech
Stats: UALR, LA Tech
Schedules: UALR, LA Tech
Media Guides: UALR, LA Tech

Probable Starters
8 Ryan Juris LHP
36 Marc Picciola RHP


Radio: none
Video: All-Access
Live Stats: GameTracker
Twitter Updates: Austin Staton
In-Game Chat: FlashChat

UALR Series
Tech leads 47-19
Tech has won 2 straight

Scouting the Trojans
Tuesday’s meeting against UALR will mark the fi rst of two games this season between the two programs. The Bulldogs will return the trip to Little Rock, Ark., next Tuesday in an afternoon showdown at Gary Hogan Field. In the nine years of the Simoneaux era, the two squads have only met on one occasion. However, Tech owns a 47-19 all-time record against the Trojans with most of the wins coming when Louisiana Tech was a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

The Trojans return 16 letterwinners from a 2010 squad that finished the season with a 29-25 record and a ninth-place finish in the Sun Belt. The Trojans feature 23 upperclassmen, all of which spent time within the junior college ranks.

UALR (2-2) split a four game series this past weekend against Stephen F. Austin. The Trojans picked up a pair of wins sandwiched between two losses in a doubleheader on Saturday. In the series, the Trojans his .220 as a team and managed five extra-base hits, none of which were home runs. Senior Jake Rowell had a team-high five hits in the series and hit at a .333 clip. Junior college transfers Sean Bignall and Justin Barnes combined to hit .333 while totaling one RBI on six hits.

Defensively, the Trojans turned nine double plays and committed four errors in the series. SFA was able to run on the Trojan pitching staff as the totaled six stolen bases on six attempts.

The Trojans are expected to start lefty Ryan Juris. The senior faced two batters and walked both during a relief appearance on opening day against SFA. Last season, Juris posted a 3-3 record in 17 appearances. Tuesday will mark only the fourth start of his Trojan career. In 37.1 innings pitches last season, the senior allowed 59 hits, 31 earned runs, 14 walks while striking out 24 batters to tally a 7.47 earned run average.

As a staff this season, the Trojans have a team ERA of 3.72 and have surrendered 14 walks 15 earned runs while allowing just six extra-base hits.

[Walk-On]

I don't know if it is just because it is the begining of the season or what, but the students are showing out. The hill was packed friday and a bunch of people were watching from the tables. Hopefully winning will keep this up. Damn I love baseball.

[Gooddawg]

Gotta think Gilley gets the start tonight. I haven't heard how he's been throwing but can't wait to catch the game tonight. I don't recall signing Marc Picolla but he had some dominating numbers in HS.

[Woods Dawg]

Gotta think Gilley gets the start tonight. I haven't heard how he's been throwing but can't wait to catch the game tonight. I don't recall signing Marc Picolla but he had some dominating numbers in HS.

Gilley hasn't been dressed out...may be a problem with him.

[bdawg34]

Gilley hasn't been cleared by the NCAA yet but hopefully will be by today. He committed to Southeastern out of high school and stayed for a few weeks and went to BPCC. Apparently, something to do with that situation is coming to bite him in the butt.

[Dawg06]

Marc Picciola will be make his debut on the mound in a predetermined, one inning start.

[Dawg06]

Starting Lineup
16 Austin Hedges DH .250
21 Kyle Roliard LF .200
26 Mark Threlkeld 3B .455
44 Alex Williams 1B .333
3 Joey Ford 2B .545
34 Clint Ewing C .429
8 Justin Gordy CF .000
33 Will Avis RF .000
2 Ryan Gebhardt SS .200

[DocMarvin362]

I don't know if it's a good thing or a scary thing that we have a guy in the 5 hole that batted .371 last year.

[qng001]

5-2 Tech
start Top 2nd

[tangidawg]

6-5 TECH bottom of the 4th

[rtr002]

What's up with Gametracker? It loads up and then nothing.

[mentechsters]

What's up with Gametracker? It loads up and then nothing.

Having trouble with it too. Anybody got a score?

[JAMROB]

9-8 TECH t7