TSU starting to see results from program’s recent overhaul
They went 31-17 and routed Southern 10-0 for their first SWAC title since 2008 two years ago, then returned to the tournament championship game last year before falling 7-5 to Alabama State.
“These last two seasons, the program has experienced a lot of success,” Robertson said. “In winning the SWAC championship in 2015 and competing very well in the (NCAA) regional down there in College Station, it created a winning culture, which we had been trying to instill my first six years.”
Robertson’s hope is their success bolsters a case for their own field – sometime in the not too distant future.
“My vision is that we’ll start putting some things in place during my tenure here, so one day the kids and families who make a decision to come to Texas Southern and be part of our tradition, with the baseball program and the university, will have their own field,” the ninth-year coach said.
Program overhaul
In the meantime, they’re focusing on what they control — building a winning team.
The Tigers won 30 games and their division in 2010 but lost in the tourney semis, then struggled to recapture their success over the next four seasons, sparking a complete overhaul of the
program.
They changed their approach to everything, from strength and conditioning, to pitching, defense and baserunning.
“You’re starting to see the results from that,” Robertson said.
Despite falling in last year’s final, they outscored their opponents 40-13 in tourney play, with two run-rule wins.
They’re swinging the bats well again this season.
Against Pine Bluff last week, the Tigers racked up 16 hits on Saturday and 17 on Sunday. They also banged out 17 hits in an 8-0 win in Game 2
of a doubleheader with Prairie View on March 12.
“We’re using a combination of our talent,” Robertson said. “We have a talented offense, and we haven’t even come close to reaching our potential. We’re scoring runs at a premium in conference.”
Missing top arms
Texas Southern started 0-8 while navigating a tough road schedule without two of its top pitchers.
Senior Ryan Rios, who Robertson expected to lead the staff after notching 18 wins
Left: Texas Southern’s Gerrek Jimenez has contributed in the field and at the plate for the Tigers.
his first three seasons, is ineligible, and opening-day starter Chris Suarez is out for the year after Tommy John surgery.
Without them, the staff ERA was 7.38 entering this week, but righthander Seth Oliver is battling — he’s 3-1 in five starts — and the rest of the staff is coming around under pitching coach Ehren Moreno. Right fielder Olajide Oloruntimilehin, the cleanup, is leading their attack, with four home runs and 18 RBIs through 19 games, and third baseman Gerrek Jimenez sports a teamhigh .333 batting average.
First baseman/designated hitter Jose Camacho is heating up, going a combined 7-for-8 with four RBIs in the first two games against Pine Bluff last week, and catcher Blake Hicks is another clutch stick.
They face Grambling State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at MacGregor Park.
“We’re overcoming some odds and some adversity really early in the season, and we’re making it work in spite of all the things going on in our program,” Robertson said. “So I’m really proud of the way our team has held up in conference over the first three weekends.”
JB Carter / TSU Athletics