HUNTSVILLE - A grand slam home run by C. J. Cron, a three-run homer by Devin Walker and a solo shot by Austin Shackelford powered Utah to a 12-4 baseball victory over Sam Houston State Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
Utah (2-2) produced its runs on 15 hits and two Bearkat errors. Sam Houston (0-4) totaled eight hits. A crowd of 338 watched on a cold opening night to the Bearkats' 2010 home schedule at Don Sanders Stadium.
Jordan Whatcott (1-1) was the winning pitcher for the Utes while Dallas Gallant (0-2) took the loss. Brandon Kimbrel and Jacob McMurtry threw in relief for the Kats.
Senior designated hitter Devin Walker gave Utah a quick 3-0 lead with a two-out home run to right center in the top of the first inning.
Sam Houston's first scoring opportunity came in the fourth inning when junior center fielder Mark Hudson led off with a triple to right center. The next two batters lined out and Greg Olson struck out swinging to leave Hudson stranded.
Utah loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning with an error, a single and a walk. Sophomore catcher C.J. Cron laced a shot to right center for a grand slam home run to put Utah up 7-0.
Junior catcher Doug Oney started a three-run fifth for the Bearkats with a double to right, scoring Chris Andreas. The junior designated hitter led off the inning with a single and reached second on an outfield error. Hudson added an RBI single and junior left fielder Michael Heard stole home on a first and third double steal play.
Left fielder Austin Shackelford's lead off solo home run to right extended the Ute's lead to 8-3 in the sixth.
Freshman out fielder Greg Olsen singled then scored on a fielding error after reaching third on a single by Ryan Mooney for Sam Houston's fourth run.
Utah and Sam Houston will meet in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at Don Sanders Stadium. The pair will complete the four-game weekend series with a 1 p.m. single game Sunday.
Tickets for Bearkat baseball home games are on sale on line at www.gobearkats.com or at the Sam Houston Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
