Logan Boyd struck out nine batters in six innings of work to lead Sam Houston State to a 9-3 series-clinching win over Wichita State Sunday at Don Sanders Stadium. The Bearkats (2-1) will play at Texas State (0-2-1) Tuesday at 6 p.m. in San Marcos.
“Logan Boyd set a great tone for us on the mound,” Bearkat head coach Matt Deggs said. “We challenge our pitchers to go out and set the tone and they did a great job. The hitters kept coming. This is an older group that has a lot of toughness and they just keep grinding. We challenged ourselves to a Super Regional type setting today, it was winner take all, and our guys played that way.”
Boyd tied his career high with nine strikeouts while allowing just one run on five hits. The junior lefthander didn't issue a walk in the game. He had to pitch out of trouble in the second and third innings but then went on to retire 10 straight batters at one point.
The Atascocita product allowed a pair of lead off singles in the second inning but managed to get a “strike 'em out, throw 'em out” double play to end the threat. The only run he allowed came in the third when he allowed a single and a double to open the frame. The run came on a sacrifice fly but Boyd managed to get a strikeout to work out of the jam.
“Whenever you get a big lead like that it helps you to relax,” said Boyd. “You've just have to go throw strikes, compete and do what you do. Our defense really helped me get out of some stressful situations today.”
Sam Houston plated four runs in the bottom of the second to open the scoring for the first time in the series. The Bearkats loaded the bases with two outs and second baseman Ryan Farney worked a walk for the first run of the game. Outfielders Travis Lee, Colt Atwood and Hayden Simerly each legged out infield singles to make the score 4-0. Lee was thrown at the plate trying catch the Shockers off guard.
The Kats added to their lead in the fourth inning. Shortstop Jake MacWilliam led off the fourth with a single up the middle and catcher Collin Yelich followed with a bunt single down the first base line. Ryan Farney also reached on a bunt single but the Shockers' pitcher Willie Schwanke threw the ball away allowing MacWilliam to score. An RBI groundout by Simerly made the score 6-1.
SHSU added some insure runs in the eighth. After a ground out by Yelich to lead off the frame, Farney hit a double into the gap in left center and came around to score on a single by Lee. After a stolen base, Atwood doubled to right field to score Lee.
Simerly singled for the third time in the game to drive in Atwood and make the score 9-3. The senior outfielder and designated hitter had started the season hitless in the first two games. Starting in right field for the first time today, he went 3-for-5 with three runs driven in.
“We had some good at-bats today and didn't give up. We didn't think six runs was enough so we kept piling it on,” Simerly said. “It was good to respond in the fashion we did today, scoring nine runs.”
Wichita State added two runs in the top of the seventh off of reliever Alex Bisacca. The leadoff man reached on a single and moved to second on a throwing error. He scored on a double by Hilliard, who then scored on a double by pinch hitter Michael Mucha. Bisacca was able to get out of the jam.
Juan Cortina came out of the bullpen to start the eighth but was only able to manage one out. The Bearkats turned to closer Ryan Brinley with runners on second and third. He struck out the first batter he faced and Nate VanDyke, who replaced Brinely at third base, made a nice play to snag a sinking liner to end the inning.
Brinley closed out the ninth inning, allowing just one hit. He picked up his second save of the season and upped his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 23.
The Bearkats will head to Corpus Christi next weekend to play in the Kleberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field, the home of the Corpus Christi Hooks.
