Catcher Anthony Azar blasted a solo home run in the fifth inning to lead the Sam Houston baseball team to a 6-3 win over New Orleans in the league opener for both teams. The Bearkats (14-4, 1-0) allowed three first-inning runs but nothing else.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 2:00 p.m. because of the threat of inclement weather on Sunday.

The Privateers hit a three-run homer off of Bearkat starter Tyler Eppler in the first frame but the junior righty recovered to pitch 6 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.

SHSU scored two runs in the third before tying the game at 3-3 in the fourth on an RBI single by center fielder Colt Atwood. The Bearkats took the lead for the first time in the fifth when Azar led off the frame with a solo home run to give the Kats a 4-3 lead.

The Kats would add a run each in the sixth and seventh. Atwood drove in a run on a sacrifice and lefet fielder Luke Plucheck hit an RBI single that scored third basemen Carter Burgess.

Reliever Alan Scott closed out the game for the Bearkats by throwing the final 2 1/3 innings. Scott struck out the side in the ninth around a one-out single. He registered his second save of the season.