The Sam Houston State baseball team dropped its Southland Conference opener on Friday night 9-6 to Texas Arlington.
Dallas Gallant got the start on the mound for the Bearkats, taking the loss. He allowed all nine runs in six innings pitched.
A bulk of the scoring in the game came in the first three innings. The Kats put up three runs in the first on a home run by Chris Andreas. The Mavs answered back with six in the bottom of the frame. SHSU scored one in the second and two more in the third to cut it to a 7-6 game. But over the last six innings, they scattered six hits, leaving nine runners on base, including leaving them loaded in the 8th.
UTA pitchers combined to strike out 13 Bearkat hitters.
The two teams will continue a three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. and conclude the Southland opener on Sunday at 1 p.m.
