Baseball Readies for Cameron

April 23, 2009

 WEATHERFORD, Okla. -- The Southwestern Oklahoma State University baseball team will look to secure its spot in the upcoming Lone Star Conference post-season tournament with a pair of victories in its series against Cameron University. The two neighboring schools play four games beginning with a doubleheader Friday in Weatherford followed by games three and four Saturday in Lawton. Both start times are at 1 p.m.

SWOSU is 28-21 overall and in fourth place in the LSC standings with a 21-19 mark. Cameron enters the series perched atop the league race with a mark of 37-13 and 28-12 in the league. The Aggies took over the top spot by winning three-of-four games in their most recent series against nationally-ranked Abilene Christian.

The Bulldogs are battling four other teams - Tarleton State, Southeastern Oklahoma, Eastern New Mexico and Central Oklahoma - for the final three spots in the six-team LSC tournament field. SWOSU has a one-game lead on all of its nearest pursuers, but has the most difficult test facing the league's top-rated team.

Second-year coach Scott Selby said his team has had a good week of preparation leading up to the Cameron matchup and is confident that his team will be ready to play once Friday arrives.

"We are in charge of our own destiny. We don't have to watch any scoreboards other than our own," Selby said. "These games are important not only for us to continue our season, but to enter the tournament playing well...and with confidence."

SWOSU's success this year has been one of the top baseball stories in the league this year. The Bulldogs were picked 10th out of 12 teams in the pre-season and were winners of just 12 games a year ago. Now, the Bulldogs are in position for making their third ever trip to the LSC Tournament and in range of winning 30 or more games for the first time since 1998.

The Bulldogs have been one of the top offensive teams in the league ranking fourth in average at .327 and third in home runs with 48. Eight of the nine players in SWOSU's everyday lineup are batting .300 or better with the ninth person hitting .299.

Third baseman Ricky Kirby and outfielder Kenny Hare are hitting over .400 while first baseman Travis Rose has set a school single-season home run mark with 15.

On the mound SWOSU has used a number of pitchers with success but none greater than that of freshman Aldemar Betrian and senior Chris Morrison. Betrian threw back-to-back shutouts against Southeastern and Eastern New Mexico while Morrison has four complete games this year.