AUSTIN – Facing a 9-0 deficit entering the seventh inning, the Sam Houston State baseball team was in search for some magic – the same magic that resulted in an eight-run comeback win on Friday at Wichita State.
Despite showing the same signs of life, scoring three runs in the seventh, a double-play ball in the eighth and a lone hit in the ninth sealed a 12-3 Texas win on Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
“These guys are never out of the fight,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “When you score runs you have to hang zeros and we weren't able to do that. Those guys have as good of arms as we've seen.”
Sam Houston started a season-high six freshmen and saw more come off the bench and make an impact. In the three-run seventh inning, the first four hitters to reach were all first-year players.
“It was good to see some of these freshmen get their feet wet on a big stage,” Deggs said. “This is an unforgiving schedule and we were too generous tonight and they took advantage. Our season starts Friday.”
Texas scored in four straight innings between the second and the fifth, highlighted by a five-run fifth to move to 6-7 on the season. The loss dropped Sam Houston to 5-9 entering the first Southland Conference series at New Orleans this weekend.
In the seventh, pinch hitter Jaxxon Grisham took a first-pitch single to center for his first career hit and advanced to second on an error from the Longhorns pitcher. Then, Jordan Cannon reached on a full-count hit by pitch to place runners on first and second. Barrett Koerselman, making his first career start, singled to center to load the bases for Josh Biles, who doubled down the left field line, plating two.
Taylor Beene flew out to right field, scoring Koerselman to make it 9-3, but a strikeout ended any further threat. The 12 Longhorns runs marked the fourth time this season Sam Houston has allowed double-digit runs, with the most recent coming in the comeback 15-11 win on Friday.
The two RBIs were the first of the season for Biles, who was also making his first career start at first base. Sam Houston recorded eight hits with Koerselman and Zach Smith logging the only multi-hit performance for the Kats.
Sam Houston sent eight different pitchers to the mound including starter Cody Brown who drew the loss, tossing three innings while allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. Texas starter Riley Cooper picked up the win, permitting just three hits in six innings while fanning eight.
“We're a weathered ball club already,” Deggs said. “We've been in every ball game except for tonight. Tonight got away from us. We were still able to climb back in a little bit. This schedule has callused us up and given us an opportunity to grow and learn. All along, we've had one goal and it's to go out and win the league.”
Tuesday's game was the fifth against a Big 12 opponent and the ninth against a team that was ranked in the preseason top 25. With league play on the horizon, Deggs believes the Bearkats are better because of the experience, despite the win-loss record.
“They don't crown the champion at the beginning,” Deggs said. “We set the schedule up like this so that we could learn and be weathered. This is going to be a heck of a ball club moving forward, it's just a matter of time.”
