LAWTON, Okla. – The Cameron University baseball team will open up their season with a home and home three game series against Southwestern Oklahoma State, Feb. 2-3.
The Series:
The three game series will kick off with a single nine inning game on Friday, Feb. 2 in Lawton, Okla. starting at 2 p.m. The series will conclude in Weatherford, Okla. on Saturday, Feb. 3 with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
About the Aggies:
Cameron returns just 10 players from last year's squad, so head coach
Brady Huston will have to rely on some new faces to fill some of the holes in the lineup and in the rotation. CU is coming off of a year where they went 30-20 overall and 10-10 in Lone Star Conference play, which earned them the four seed in the conference tournament. Just two days ago, they were picked sixth by league officials in the LSC Preseason Poll.
The most notable returner is senior shortstop Micah Kauukai. Kaaukai was a honorable mention All-American and All-LSC performer a year ago, and was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason 3rd Team All-American and 1st Team All-Region selection to start 2018. He led the nation in on base percentage last season and was the team leader in batting average, runs scored, and stolen bases. Also returning for CU is catcher
Cole Williams and infielder
Luke Hughes, who played well down the stretch last season for the Black and Gold.
On the mound, Cameron returns starters
Andrew Garza,
Gaige Vines, and
Reid Garrett. Garza led CU in 2017 with 10 starts and 55.2 innings while posting a 5.34 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Vines had a promising freshman campaign with three wins in seven starts, while Garrett posted a 4.23 ERA and a .250 opponent's batting average.
Scouting SWOSU:
Southwestern Oklahoma State finished 2017 with a 18-27 overall record and a 14-16 Great American Conference mark; they were also selected sixth in their conference's preseason poll. The Bulldogs are in their seventh year under head coach Zach Saunders, who like Huston, will have to fill some holes in the lineup with only nine returners and 30 new faces.
On deck:
The Aggies are on the road for their next weekend series as they visit Texas A&M International for three games, Feb. 9-10.
