Four Bearkats posted two hits apiece and Andrew Godail and Greg Belton combined to limit the Cowboys to a single run as Sam Houston completed a day of upsets on opening day of the Southland baseball tournament with a 5-1 victory over McNeese State.

Each of the lower seeds won Wednesday. No. 1 Southeastern Louisiana fell to No. 8 A&M-Corpus Christi 4-2; No. 2 Northwestern State lost to No. 7 Houston Baptist 4-1 and No. 3 Nicholls was edged by No. 6 Central Arkansas 7-6. McNeese was the No. 4 seed and the Kats the No. 5

Sam Houston and A&M-Corpus Christi will meet in the 7 p.m. game Thursday night at Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters.

Godail (5-6) spread five hits over six and two thirds innings for the victory. The senior pitcher struck out six of the 29 batters he faced, walking only one Cowboy. Greg Belton finished the game. McNeese scored its only run in the bottom of the ninth.

“We came out ready to play. We've been waiting for this all week long,” Godail said. “The defense did a great job tonight. They got me out of some jams. And the hitting came out hot. You put those two together it's going to be a good day.”

Right fielder Bryce Johnson, center fielder Colt Atwood, left fielder Hayden Simerly and designated hitterJake MacWilliam each had two hits. Atwood's performance at the plate moved him within one hit of tying Braeden Riley's Sam Houston school career record of 291. Johnson and Atwood each accounted for two RBIs.

“It was a great game,” Johnson said. “Andrew pitched his heart out and that's what we needed to start this tournament. Right now, we're off and running which is a good thing. Tonight we came out with a lot of momentum and scored quickly.”

With one out in the top of the second inning, Sam Houston exploded for five consecutive hits. Catcher Collin Yelich singled to second base, shortstop Miles Manning singled through the left side and third baseman Ryan Brinley hit through the right to load the bases.

Johnson blasted a burner up the middle to score Yelich and Manning. Atwood tripled to right field to bring in Brinley and Johnson. A pop foul ended the string of hits, but MacWilliam doubled to left center to score Atwood and give Sam Houston five runs on six hits in the second frame.

Godail did not give up a hit until the third inning. An error and a hit batsman loaded the bases for the Cowboys with two outs but a force play by second baseman Zach Smith ended the threat.

McNeese had runners at first and third with no outs after a lead-off walk and a single in the bottom of the sixth. Smith came up with another big defensive play, catching a hard hit line drive and throwing to first base for a double play.

“Now we turn around and face an outstanding A&M-Corpus Christi team,” head coach Matt Deggs said. “Don't let their record fool you. They showed tonight they are a quality team. We're going with Logan Boyd tomorrow and look to continue the momentum.”

With Wednesday's victory, Sam Houston upped its all-time record in Southland Conference tournament opening games to 11-3. The Bearkats are making their 14th appearance in the event. Sam Houston won the tournament to earn the league's NCAA automatic bid in 1996, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Day 1 - Wednesday, May 20
Game 1 - #6 Central Arkansas 7, #3 Nicholls 6
Game 2 - #7 Houston Baptist 4, #2 Northwestern State 1
Game 3- #8 A&M-Corpus Christi 4, #1 Southeastern Louisiana 2
Game 4 - #5 Sam Houston 5, #4 McNeese State 1

Day 2 - Thursday, May 21
Game 5 - #2 Northwestern St. 4, #3 Nicholls 3 (Nicholls eliminated)
Game 6 - #1 Southeastern La. vs. #4 McNeese State
Game 7 - #6 Central Arkansas vs. #7 Houston Baptist
Game 8 - #5 Sam Houston vs. #8 A&M-Corpus Christi