Eyeing a doubleheader sweep and series win on Sunday at New Orleans, the Sam Houston State baseball team stumbled in the opener, allowing the Privateers to overcome a four-run deficit but bounced back in the finale as the home run ball came to life at Maestri Field.
The Bearkats fell 7-6 in the day's first game, before using a nine-hit performance and pair of long balls to salvage the series finale, 8-4. The Southland Conference series opener concluded a seven-game road trip with Sam Houston (6-11 overall, 1-2 SLC) returning home next weekend to face Northwestern State.
In the finale, right-hander Riley Gossett held the Privateers (13-3, 2-1 SLC) in check, tossing seven innings while allowing six hits and an earned run. The freshman struck out three and did not allow a walk, in the process, moving to 2-0 on the season.
”We got two good pitching performances,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “I thought our bullpen looked good but our defense let us down in the first game. If not for that, it's a sweep on the day. Their team is hot right now but it was good to come out with at least one win.”
After falling behind 1-0, freshman Barrett Koerselman launched his first career home run, bringing around Matt Broadbent to give to Kats a 2-1 advantage. One inning later, Zach Smith, who finished 3-for-7 with five RBIs on the day, added on, singling through the right side to plate Taylor Beene.
Maintaining a one-run lead entering the eighth, the Kats took advantage of some much needed run support as Lance Miles lifted a sacrifice fly to center field and one inning later, Robie Rojas belted his second homer of the series, a two-run shot, to put the Kats up 6-2.
Miles, who finished 3-for-8 on the day, added a bunt single to plate Beene for a second time and Smith singled through the right side to score Johnson and make it 8-2. New Orleans, who won the lone game Saturday and took the series, added a pair in the ninth but could muster nothing more.
The Bearkats, who struck out 11 times in the Saturday opener, did not take long to get going on the second day. In the first inning, a Smith sacrifice fly was followed up with a double from Rahm and Hunter Hearn single, all plating a run, to make it 3-0.
In the third, Smith, who raised his average to a team-leading .390, belted a solo home run over the right field wall, while providing right-hander Heath Donica (1-2) with a 4-0 advantage. After climbing back with a run in the fourth, UNO struck big on key Sam Houston miscues in the sixth.
A throwing error and walk placed runners on first and second before a double to right field plated both runners to make it 4-3. Another free pass was followed with an RBI single to center, setting the stage for a two-out, three-run home run to make it 7-4.
The Privateers maintained their three-run lead into the ninth but as the Bearkats had different ideas. Nate VanDyke and Johnson led off with consecutive walks and Miles singled to center, loading the bases. One hitter later, Smith grounded into a fielder's choice, plating VanDyke. With runners on the corners, Mac Odom came in to pinch run at first but was caught stealing. With Matt Broadbent at the plate, Johnson came home to score, thanks to a wild pitch, but a groundout ended any further damage.
Donica pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs, with only three being earned. One outing after striking out eight Wichita State hitters, the junior fanned seven, while walking three.
“Our biggest opponent right now is ourselves,” Deggs said. “We've got to continue to minimize the mistakes. We come back and load the bases in the ninth and just didn't get the hit. You play 30 of these and we expect to continue getting better and improving.”
With no midweek game, the Kats return Friday, beginning a three-game set against Northwestern State. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with Saturday's second game slated for 3 p.m. and the Sunday finale at 1 o'clock. The Demons were picked second preseason by the conference's head coaches, followed by the Bearkats in third.
