HUNTSVILLE ? Saint Mary's right handed pitcher Brian Justice shut down Sam Houston State's bats and right fielder Kyle Jensen hit a pair of  home runs to lead the Gaels to a 14-5 victory over the Bearkats in the second game of the Hillcrest Ford / SHSU Baseball Classic Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium.

The loss was the first for the Kats who were off to a 5-0 season start for only the third time in school history. Saint Mary's stands 4-1 for the year.

Justice shut out Sam Houston for six innings, allowing only four hits before third baseman Seth Hammock led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left field. The Kats added a second run on a pair of Gael errors and a single by Daniel Nottebart. Justice ended giving up six hits and striking out two Kats as he upped his season record to 1-1.

Bearkat pitcher Dallas Gallant got off to a rocky start as the Gaels scored three runs on three hits and a walk in the top of the first inning. Left fielder Justin Fazio had a two-run single and first baseman Anthony Aliotti brought in the third tally with a sacrifice fly.

Jensen upped Saint Mary's margin to 7-0 with consecutive two-run home runs to left field in the fourth and sixth innings.

Gallant surrendered five runs on 10 hits in his five innings, striking out three and walking three as he dropped to 1-1 for the year. Will Skelton failed to get an out in relief, giving up five runs in the top of the sixth before being replaced by Cody Springer. Nicholas Daniels pitched the final two innings.

A three-run home run to left by designated hitter Troy Channing in the eighth gave the Gaels a 13-2 lead.

Sam Houston added four runs in the bottom of the ninth.

In the tournament's first game Friday afternoon,  Nebraska rallied from a 5-0 decifit to defeat Missouri State 14-12. Adam Bailey hit a two-run triple in a six-run eighth inning to score the winning run.
The Cornhuskers totaled 12 hits while the Bears had 14.  Kash Kalkowski was the winning pitcher in relief. J. C. Casey took the loss. Nebraska stands 4-1-1 while Missouri State fell to 0-4.
The Hillcrest Ford/SHSU Baseball Classic will continue Saturday with four games. Saint Mary's takes on Missouri State at 10 a.m. then the Gaels meet Nebraska at 1:30 p.m.

Sam Houston takes the field against Nebraska at 5 p.m. then faces Missouri State at 8 p.m.

The tournament concludes with two games on Sunday.

HILLCREST FORD / SAM HOUSTON
BASEBALL CLASSIC SCHEDULE

Tickets to the tournament are $8 for reserved seats and $6 for general admission.