Houston Baptist scored 10 runs in the first three innings and ended the day with a 14-5 victory Friday over Sam Houston in the first contest of a three-game weekend series between the pair at Husky Field.
The Huskies posted their runs on 14 hits and four Bearkat errors. Led by center fielder Colt Atwood and catcher Trevor Winne, who both went 2-for-4 (each with a double), Sam Houston totaled eight hits.
HBU upped its season record to 23-24 and stands 13-12 in Southland play. The Kats dropped to 26-24 for the years and to 15-10 in league play. With the loss, Sam Houston falls into a tie for fourth place with Nicholls. The Bearkats have clinched their berth among the eight teams in the Southland Tournament in Sugar Land in two weeks, however.
Southeastern Louisiana increased its first place lead to four games with five contests to play as the Lions stand 21-4 in the league. Northwestern State (16-7) and McNeese State (17-10) stand second and third, respectively.
Houston Baptist and Central Arkansas are tied for sixth place with identifal 13-12 records.
A two-run triple by Andrew Alvarez, a run-scoring single to right field by Curtis Jones and a sacrifice fly by Greg Espinosa got Houston Baptist off to a quick start in the bottom of the first inning. Alvarez scored on a throwing error to put HBU up 5-0.
Designated hitter Hayden Simerly singled to right field to lead off the second inning. He reached second on a balk and scored on a single to center field by Winne.
Sam Houston cut the HBU margin to three with another tally in the top of the third inning. Left fielder Bryce Johnson was hit by a pitch and scored on Atwood's double to right field.
The Huskies exploded for five runs again in the bottom of the third. Zach Nehrir started things with a two-run single to center field. Thomas Clay scored on a throwing error. Nehrir scored on a wild pitch and Jones singled to center field for the fifth tally.
Sam Houston scored three in the top of the sixth inning as Johnson walked and later scored on a wild pitch. Atwood singled and later tallied on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Jake MacWilliam. Winne doubled to bring in Atwood.
Bearkat starter Andrew Godail (3-6) took the loss. Only four of the 10 runs scored in his time on the mound were earned. He gave up seven hits in three innings work. Derrick Hadley and Hayden Nixon threw in relief with Hadley working two innings and Nixon three.
With his two hits, Atwood upped his career total to 286. He now stands six hits away from breaking Braeden Riley's school mark of 291 set in 2008-11.
Saturday's second game of the series sees a 1 p.m. first pitch. The two teams will complete the series with a 2 p.m. Sunday game.
