Despite losing to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in the opening round of the Southland Conference baseball tournament Wednesday afternoon, the Sam Houston State Bearkats are still a viable contender for an NCAA Regional spot.
A couple of Regional projections recently had the Bearkats playing at the Waco Regional hosted by Baylor.
SHSU not only won the regular season conference title, but also swept a nationally-ranked team (Texas State) in the process with another victory over a ranked opponent (Rice) to its cred as well.
The Bobcats were ranked No. 23 when the Bearkats swept them at Don Sanders Stadium in March. Rice was ranked No. 9 when the Bearkats traveled to Houston and came up with a 2-1 victory.
This keeps SHSU in the top 50 in RPI, ranked No. 49.
History wasn't on the Bearkats side coming into this tournament anyway, considering only two regular season champions have gone on to win the conference tournament in the event's 20-year history.
Read more about Sam Houston State athletics and the Southland Conference baseball tournament at SB Nation Houston and our StoryStream here.