HUNTSVILLE – At most ballparks across the Southland Conference, steadfast pitching is reserved for Friday nights. Sam Houston State Saturday starter Heath Donica, the league's leader in wins, has proved to be the exception to the rule.
The right-handed junior permitted just one run (none earned) while scattering five hits and striking out seven without allowing a walk as the Bearkats defeated Abilene Christian 3-1, capturing the squad's sixth-straight conference-series victory.
“I probably only had five or six balls that were taken for balls or strikes and I knew that coming in, so I wanted to fill up the bottom of the zone early and get bad swings,” Donica said. “When I got to the two-strike counts, it was about executing pitches and being able to finish. Our defense makes it easy because they make all the routine plays.”
Sam Houston (24-15, 16-4 SLC) did not knock down the fences, recording seven hits for a second consecutive day, but when they needed it, shortstop Taylor Beene put one over the wall, doing so with a solo go-ahead home run in the seventh.
“The first couple at-bats, I hit it but didn't hit it well,” Beene said. “Going into the last at-bat, I wanted to get something started because it was a tied ballgame. He threw me a first-pitch ball so I knew fastball was coming next. I was on top of the plate and hit it well.”
Beene led off the frame in the inning, taking the second pitch he saw just to the left of the 375-foot marker in left field to make it 2-1. The long ball was his first of the season and 15th of the season for a Sam Houston ballclub that has now won six straight.
“He's got a little sneaky pop,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “That's what his batting practice looks like every day so it's just a matter of having a great approach. That was a huge lift right there and then we added another run which was gigantic.”
In the eighth, the Bearkats added some insurance against the Wildcats (13-23, 5-12 SLC), started by Lance Miles, who clubbed a double down the right-field line. The second baseman aggressively took third on a flyout to right from Zach Smith and plated on a balk to make it 3-1.
Senior Spence Rahm, who finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk, was a key addition to the lineup in his first starting opportunity at the plate since April 10. The designated hitter gave the Bearkats a 1-0 lead in the first inning, driving his first of two doubles, down the left-field line to score Riley McKnight.
“It was good to see him come off the bench,” Deggs said. “He swung the bat well. It was good to see him challenge again which is what we need, him to come in and be dangerous. I thought he played extremely well today and we're going to need him down the stretch.”
Donica's win moved him to 7-2 on the season and with seven strikeouts, it marked his third-straight start fanning seven-plus hitters. After the Corsicana product exited in the eighth, Sam Houston turned to Greg Belton, who was masterful, picking up his eighth save while striking out four and allowing one hit in 1 1-3 innings of work.
The Bearkats seek their fourth sweep in league play on Sunday, facing the Wildcats at 1 p.m. Sam Houston will turn to right-handed freshman Riley Gossett (4-0, 3.55 ERA). Tickets are available by calling the ticket office at (936) 294-1729 or visiting GoBearkats.com.
“They just find a way to win,” Deggs said. “These guys don't have a backup plan. When you're working without a safety net, you find a way. There is no ego involved with us. It's all about doing your job and finding a way.”
