The top third of the Bearkat batting order accounted for seven hits, four RBIs, two doubles, a triple and a home run as Sam Houston rolled up a 11-4 victory over Northern Colorado Friday night.

Second baseman Braeden Riley, third baseman Ryan Mooney and first baseman Chris Andreas had hot bats for a Bearkat squad that totaled 15 hits to give SHSU a victory on the first night of the Bearkat Baseball Classic.

Earlier in the afternoon, Nebraska defeated Northern Colorado 12-8. The Cornhuskers and Bears will battle again at 1:30 p.m. Saturday with Nebraska  turning around and playing the Bearkats at 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium.

Senior Matt Shelton picked up his first mound victory for Sam Houston (3-2). The righthander spread eight hits over six innings striking out three Bears.

Andreas went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, a solo home run in the sixth inning, a double and a single. Riley posted a double and a single. Mooney produced a triple and a single in four.

Jessie Plumlee and Greg Olsen also produced a pair of RBIs each for the Kats.

Tickets for all Sam Houston home events are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU 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 is (936) 294-1729.

The schedule for the tournament: