Back In The Groove
3/27/2011 7:57:00 AM | Baseball
In the midst of a four-game winning streak, the Bearkat baseball team just maybe got back on the right track.
Sam Houston sprayed the ball for 12 hits, scored a pair of runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings and also got solid performances from its starting pitcher and relievers to beat the Roadrunners 6-3 on Saturday.
"It's a good feeling. We've won a couple in a row now and we're playing good baseball," said Kats second baseman Ryan Mooney, who went 3-for-4 and drove in a run.
For the second straight day, the Bearkats (3-5 in Southland Conference play, 16-8 overall) fell behind early. The Roadrunners put the first run on the board in the second inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by UTSA center fielder Daniel Rockett.
The deficit didn't last for long, though.
"You don't want to start off from behind but when you do, you just keep playing," SHSU head coach Mark Johnson said. "It's a little bit easier at home. You still get your at-bats. We just don't want to start off that way too much."
In the bottom of the third inning, the Kats started to get into a groove at the plate. Following right fielder Greg Olson's one-out walk and stolen base, Sam Houston brought home two runs on three straight singles from Mooney, designated hitter Chris Andreas and center fielder Mark Hudson.
The formula was the same in the next two innings.
Following short innings by Brent Powers (3-2) in the fourth and fifth, the Bearkats went back to work with their bats.
Sam Houston followed up a one-out walk in the fourth with a bunt single from catcher Doug Oney and an infield chopper by left fielder Kyle Singleton that stretched the Kats' lead to 3-1. With two outs, Olson and Mooney singled to drive in another run.
In the fifth, the Bearkats scored twice more when third baseman Kevin Miller singled in Hudson and shortstop Braeden Riley, both of whom were in scoring position.
The Kats also had a chance to add even more to their total, but Miller popped out with the bases loaded to end the sixth.
"We really fed off the good start we got from Brent Powers (five hits and two runs in six innings)," Mooney said. "I think that's where it all started. He gave us a good six innings and the bats came alive and we were able to score some runs in the middle innings.
"We put a lot of hits together and we just put the ball in play, I think that was the biggest thing."
UTSA (1-7, 7-17) clawed to within four runs after scoring a run in the sixth on a triple by shortstop Ryan Hutson. Left fielder Riley Good led off the inning with a triple and scored on Hutson's hit.
Pinch hitter Jason Mohn pulled the Roadrunners to within 6-3 on a solo home run over the left-center field wall to lead off the seventh.
That was all UTSA could muster as Sam Houston reliever Michael Burchett held the Roadrunners without a hit and also kept them from getting into scoring position in the final 2 2/3 innings.
"Brent Powers gave us a chance to win. He stayed out there six innings and threw well," Johnson said.
"Michael Burchett came in and closed the door for us. It was a little hairy here and there. He's not a major strikeout pitcher, so they're going to put some balls in play. He's just trying not to let them hit square balls and he did a good job."
Sam Houston will attempt to go for the series sweep today over UTSA. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
"At the beginning of the series, we were wanting to bounce back and get back on track for later on (in the conference race). We get a win tomorrow and we'll be right back in the middle of things," Mooney added.
Following the third and final game with UTSA Sunday, the Bearkats will travel to Dallas Baptist on Tuesday then play host to Rice Wednesday, March 30, in the first of three games against teams included in the special $20 Bearkat Baseball "Super Weekday Pack" on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets .
The "Super Weekday Pack" includes a reserved seat ticket for Sam Houston baseball versus the Rice Owls on Wednesday, March 30; the Baylor Bears on Tuesday, April 5 and the Houston Cougars on Tuesday, April 12.
Sam Houston head coach Mark Johnson, the 44th coach in NCAA Division I baseball history to roll up more than 1,000 career victories, has announced his retirement at the end of the 2011 season. This will be an opportunity to see history in the making as the Bearkats play host to three in-state Division I rivals.
For more information go to www.gobearkats.com/tickets or contact 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.
