Baseball team begins season with three-game series

The Bears baseball team will open the 2012 season with a three-game series against the Creighton Blue Jays beginning at 3 p.m. Friday at Bear Stadium.
Coach Allen Gum said the team is doing good based on the three preseason intrasquad games.
“Hitting is real good,” Gum said. “I’m just worried about the pitching, but overall I’ve seen some good things out of the different players.”
Gum said he tries to put the players in as many game situations as he can in order to prepare the team for the season.
“Right now we are just trying to get out and do as many reps as we can,” Gum said.
He also said the opening game will help him get information about the team does in game situations.
“Creighton is one of the top teams in the nation. Last year, they were a regional team and won 45 games,” Gum said.
He said the Blue Jays are an extremely good opponent and said the Bears will focus on their pitches and taking one inning at a time.
The Bears finished the 2011 season with a record 24-17-7, with a Southland Conference record of 13-22.
Some of 2011’s stronger players are returning this season among them is senior right-handed pitcher Ryan Angus. He was named Southland Conference Pitcher of the week in March last year and led the Bears with 72 strikeouts last season.
Sophomore Jonathan Davis will begin the season as the centerfielder. Davis was named to the preseason All-Southland Conference team last week and was named the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year last season.
He recorded five home runs and 30 RBI in 157 at bats for the Bears last season and finished with a .350 batting average.
Davis said he would try to help the team win this season.
“I really don’t know what to expect from Creighton but I know when they roll into Bear Stadium Feb. 17, we will be ready to play,” he said. “Last year they were a good team like always, but I feel that if we stick to what we have practiced and what we have been coached, then we will be successful against Creighton.”
The Bears defeated the Blue Jays 8-7 in their only game last season at Bear Stadium.
Junior outfielder Ethan Harris, who had one home run and 23 RBI in 175 at bats for a .303 batting average, is also a key returner.
Gum said the team’s goals this season are simple.
“Our number one goal is to get in the Southland Tournament. Our goal is to win championships,” Gum said.
Davis said he wishes to improve his defense.
“I’m looking forward to an exciting season but I’m taking it one day at a time,” he said.
The second game of the three-game series will be at 5 p.m. Saturday. The series finale will be at 1 p.m. Sunday.