CORPUS CHRISTI -- Sam Houston starting pitcher Andrew Godail and Missouri starter Reggie McClain dueled for eight innings before the Tigers knocked a two-run walk-off home run to beat the Bearkats 2-0 Friday in the Kleberg Bank College Classic.
“It was a great game and I thought both pitchers went out and fought like warriors,” Bearkat head coach Matt Deggs said. “It was right there for us to take and we've got to execute a little better. I thought Godail pitched his heart out. We competed and stuck together and it just didn't turn out our way. They got a big hit in the end and that's the way it goes.”
Godail tossed eight shutout innings with four strikeouts before allowing the home run in the ninth. He allowed only four hits and two walks through the first eight frames.
The Bearkats managed only four hits in nine innings against McClain. The junior struck out four Kats and picked up his second win of the season.
Sam Houston had lead off runners on in multiple innings but could only get two into scoring position in the game.
Designated hitter Hayden Simerly reached on an error by the pitcher to lead off the second inning and was sacrificed to second with two outs in the inning. Second baseman Ryan Farney grounded out to end the inning.
Center fielder Colt Atwood gave the Bearkats their first hit of the game with a bunt single in the third. He was erased when Simerly reached on a fielder's choice. Simerly then stole second to get in scoring position but he was stranded there.
With two down in the fifth, catcher Collin Yelich lined a single up the middle for the Bearkats second hit of the ballgame but he was stranded at first.
Right fielder Travis Lee slapped a single into left center to lead off the sixth inning but was erased on a ground ball double play. Left fielder Bryce Johnson flew out to right field for the final out of the inning.
For the second straight inning the Bearkats got the lead-off runner on but had him erased on the bases. Simerly singled to start the seventh but was thrown out trying to steal second.
The Bearkats went hitless in both the eighth and ninth innings before the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth.
Base runners were at a premium for the entire game, as each team had just four hits and one error going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
“This is a regional type atmosphere. These are the kind of arms we'll face if we want to win a regional or super regional and go to Omaha. We competed very well and it just didn't go our way. We'll come back out tomorrow and respond,” Deggs said.
The Kats will play a doubleheader against Purdue Saturday starting at 11 a.m. before playing in the tournament finale against A&M-Corpus Christi Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
