BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[tigerfan_2001]

Would have to be head-to-head, which TU would have in that scenario (even tho I find it hard to believe that TU would drop three at Centenary).

If you were to compare just the series between the 3 teams:

TLU would be 4-2 in that situation. (3-0 v Cent, 1-2 v TU)
Trinity would 2-4. (2-1 v TLU, 0-3 v Cent)
Cent would be 3-3. (0-3 v TLU, 3-0 v Cent)

[Ron Boerger]

ah, true.   Hadn't considered Centenary being in the mix but if they win all three this week against Austin and the three against Trinity that could happen, couldn't it?   +1 for you.

[108 Stitches]

A lot of things can happen in college baseball but considering the last time TU and Cent played the scores were 8-1,10-0,4-2 a sweep is not likely by Cent, they have a very young team and will be much better come the end of the season, but they just don't have the pitching depth. I expect a 2 of 3 win in both series by TU, but the way things have gone so far in Texas this year, who knows. The TLU series should be intense.

[SCAC_BaseballFan]

This definitely isn't the Centenary team of last year. I agree that they will have much more experience next year. Their 3 man rotation is solid, but after that the bullpen is a coin flip no matter who they roll out (see box score from game 3 @ TLU if you are skeptical). They are definitely a dangerous team come tournament time due to having 3 solid starters, but the inconsistency in the lineup and bullpen make them very suspect (losses to Southwestern and Schreiner).

[108 Stitches]

Quick stat check for the Trinity vs TU series:

                                   TLU                 Trinity

Team BA                    0.289                0.320
SLG                           0.374                 0.456
Batters over 0.300    4                       7
Team HR's                  8                      21

Team ERA                  3.02                  2.41
3 Staters ERA     1.07,1.57,2.61       1.93,2.01,2.08

The bull pen ERA for TLU drops off quite a bit.

My keys to the game:

For TLU to take 2 of 3 they have to ride their starters deep into the games. 
TLU can not walk anyone as they could get hurt with Trinity's power.

For Trinity they have to be patient and work the count and get to TLU's bull pen.

[SCAC_BaseballFan]

Another semi key statistic is that TLU fields .975 and TU fields .969

While both are good, TLU really thrives on throwing strikes and letting the defense work. It will be interesting to see how this approach works against a very good offense like TU.

[Ron Boerger]

Good stuff, 108.  I'd add that both teams need to keep errors and unearned runs down.

.	TLU	TU
Fielding percentage	.975	.969
Errors	28	36
Passed Balls	5	12
Wild Pitches	34	28
Hit by Pitches (thrown)	42	31
Walks (allowed)	106	128

TLU has played 32 games, Trinity 31 so the raw numbers are pretty valid comparisons.

Edit:  Have no idea where I got the walk numbers originally - maybe I transposed the WP numbers.  That's what happens when you do stuff while trying to pay attention to a teleconference.

[108 Stitches]

Ron, I am not sure where you got the walk numbers but TU has 128/38 total/conf. (265 innings) Of the 128 total 29 are from one of the wilder pitchers who won't likely throw this weekend.

TLU has 106 in 271 innings,  but they don't show conf numbers.

Now I am a bit confused looking at the pens, TU has 4 starters and ~81 innings from the pen.

The TLU numbers I posted were their top three ERA's it looks like the other two starters have ERA's of 2.7 and 4.11, so it looks like they might be shuffling things a bit.  I doubt they would put a pitcher out against TU with a 4.11 ERA.

Don't know them that well, so we will see who takes the mound for them.

SCAC_fan: They better throw strikes because if they walk anyone they will get burned by the long ball at the TU field! (providing wind not blowing in)

[108 Stitches]

While Trinity and TLU duke it out for the top two seeds for the SCAC probably of more interest is who will be the 3 and 4 seed. I also have a question regarding the format.

Are there only going to be 4 teams or will they take 5 like last year and have a "play in game" for the 4/5 seeds?

If they only take 4 it could be really interesting as Centenary, Southwestern and UofD all have a chance to get in depending on what happens. Curious if someone knows the format.

[SCAC_BaseballFan]

I have heard from an AD within the SCAC that it is a 4 team, double-elimination tournament

[SCAC_BaseballFan]

With that said, as long as Centenary wins 2 of 6 against Austin College and Trinity they are in. I foresee them going 3-3, and in the occurrence of a tie in the standings with Dallas or Southwestern, Centenary holds the tiebreaker over both teams

[108 Stitches]

OK then for the 4th seed it will come down to the SW and Dallas and their series at the end of the season. That will also be an intense set of games for both of those programs.  (I assume that Dallas with either sweep Schreiner or at least take 2/3 this weekend)

[108 Stitches]

Trinity took the first TLU game 4-0 in a pretty clean game. Bogeese was very shaky and worked out of jams in all three innings he pitched and  Trent Rape came in in the third and shut TLU down. Snider for TLU pitched a pretty good game just made a couple of mistake pitches and got hurt, he gave up 10 hits but they were not really strung together other than a HR with a runner on and a mistake 0-2 pitch for a double that scored 2.

TLU is a very big strong and good looking baseball team and both the infield and OF made some outstanding plays. I have not seen all of the teams TU has played but put them up there with Chapman, with stronger offensive, and probably a little less pitching, (if Snider was their number 1), but we will see more today. Trinity overall is a better team, but TLU could easily take a game or two from them if they don't come prepared to play. Middle part of TU order seems to be coming back out of their doldrums.

Late Add: Today's game is a strike out breast cancer fundraiser, the Trinity players will have pink jersey's all fans are encouraged to wear pink and pink T shirts jersey replicas are for sale and all proceeds going to several women cancer funds.

[108 Stitches]

Trinity swept TLU, 5-2 and 9-3 today. The main difference between the two teams IMO was pitching. TLU is a very good defensive and offensive team, but just does not have the pitching staff that Trinity does. 

[sportsfan]

108 I agree  TLU is a very good hitting team with solid D.  Difference was Rape and Speers who set the tone.  Is Rape new and where has he been?  Zack I know has been nails for two plus years.  Hoping tigers rolling at right time after Hendricks fiasco a few weeks back