SAN ANTONIO -- When Royals infielder Hunter Dozier came out of the game on Friday night in San Antonio, a team representative told him the media may want to talk to him before he left the ballpark.
"For what? A walk?" Dozier inquired.
That's when the infield prospect received some unexpected news -- his alma mater had just pulled out an upset in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Dozier, the Royals' first-round pick in 2013, is a product of Stephen F. Austin State University, a 14th seed in this year's tournament. The Lumberjacks are now headed to the next round after toppling No. 3 seed West Virginia, 70-56.
"That's what March Madness is all about," Dozier said. "But they have a good basketball team. They were definitely feeling like they were going to win, and a lot of people were too. I'm excited for them."
Dozier's exuberance may have been tempered a bit, mainly because the Royals clubhouse was a quiet one after they lost to the Rangers on a Lewis Brinson walk-off three-run homer at the Alamodome.
So Dozier, who played baseball for the Lumberjacks from 2011-13 and was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year as a senior, spoke quietly about what his school's victory means to him.
"I knew they could do it," he said. "Everyone was kind of thinking West Virginia was going to win. [But SFA is] a good basketball team, and they've had a good basketball team for a long time. So it wasn't an upset for me."
Dozier has filled out brackets the last couple of years but forgot to do so this year. But that doesn't mean he won't enjoy the extra bragging rights he's earned among his teammates by his underdog team advancing.
"It's a good win," he said. "I have some pride for that one, definitely."