Sam Houston State looks to maintain recent hot streak

Sam Houston State looks to continue its recent form when the Southland Conference baseball tournament begins Wednesday at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.

Meanwhile, teams such as Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State hope a big tournament run can lead to an NCAA regional bid.

Sam Houston (37-19) already looks set for an NCAA regional. But if the Bearkats run through the conference tournament like they did conference play, they won’t leave anything to chance.

Top-seeded Sam Houston ended the regular season withe six straight wins, and last week’s sweep of Houston Baptist gave the Bearkats five three-game sweeps in conference play.

The Bearkats have done it with balance. Sophomore Cypress Ranch graduate Bryce Johnson leads the league in hits (83), and there are two undefeated arms in the rotation in Klein product Sam Odom (7-0) and former Cypress Ranch ace Riley Gossett (6-0).

The Bearkats open against conference Newcomer of the Year Zac Michener and No. 8 seed Stephen F. Austin at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

No. 2-seeded Southeastern Louisiana (36-18) could produce another regional bid for the conference. The Lions are led by Southland Player of the Year Jameson Fisher and his .449 batting average.

No. 3 Northwestern State (33-22) and No. 4 Lamar (35-17) will have to win the tournament to punch a ticket to regionals.

Lamar’s 60 home runs led the league. Conversely, Northwestern State is led by its pitching, ranking second in team ERA (3.04) and opponent batting average (.248).

The double-elimination tournament begins with Northwestern State and No. 6 McNeese State at 9 a.m. No. 7 New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana follow at noon.

After the Sam Houston Stephen F. Austin game, it’s No. 5 Central Arkansas and Lamar finishing the day at 7 p.m.