HUNTSVILLE – For a guy who does not consider himself to be a pitcher, infielder turned reliever Miles Manning came up with a key stop out of the bullpen, helping Sam Houston State baseball lock up a ninth-straight Southland Conference victory on Friday night.
The Bearkats downed Stephen F. Austin, 7-3, powered by a six-run second inning, another strong performance from starter Sam Odom and Manning's two innings of relief in the first of a three-game set in front of 1,090 fans at Don Sanders Stadium.
“The first one is always huge,” Manning said. “If you win the first one, you're in the driver's seat. Even when I pitch, I still don't feel like I am a pitcher. I just try to throw strikes and let it move. I try to throw it over the plate and let them get themselves out. We are coming in trying in trying to fill the zone up.”
Manning entered in the seventh inning with runners on first and second and no outs, proceeding to record three straight outs against the Lumberjacks (15-17, 4-9 Southland), needing just 14 pitches to do so. The performance solidified a win for Odom (4-0) who tossed six frames, scattering five hits and allowing three runs (two earned) while walking four and fanning as many.
After a shaky start to the season by the bullpen, the unit has helped bolster a Sam Houston (17-13, 10-3 SLC) pitching staff that owns a 3.01 ERA in league games, including Manning, who has permitted just one hit in 3 1-3 innings of work in those games.
“Just rewind to the beginning part of the year,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “Two on with no outs, what would that turn into for us? To have guys continue to get better and better as well as be able to have a guy come in, sink a fastball and get out of an inning was gigantic. If we were going to name a player of the game, it's going to Miles Manning, as far as I'm concerned.”
Eight different Sam Houston hitters combined for 11 hits, highlighted by Lance Miles who led the charge, reaching base four times with a 3-for-3, two-RBI performance. The second baseman did so hitting in the three-hole for just the fourth time this season.
“Coach Deggs preaches all the time just trying to stay through the dish,” Miles said. “We had guys on base, like Riley McKnight and Bryce Johnson, and when that happens, it makes my job easy. I am just looking to put it on the ground and get them in.”
The Bearkats teed off for seven hits, scoring six runs while sending 10 batters to the plate in the second inning. After Hunter Hearn led off with a single, Matt Broadbent recorded his first triple of the season, only to be driven in one hitter later on a Spence Rahm double to left center, giving the Kats an early 3-0 advantage.
Two batters later, after Taylor Beene reached on a bunt single to put runners on the corners, Bryce Johnson matched the number on his jersey, reaching base for a 44th consecutive game while extending his hit streak to 10 games with a first-pitch RBI liner up the middle.
Following a McKnight bunt single to load the bases, Miles cashed in, singling to right center, plating a pair of runs before catcher Robie Rojas notched an RBI groundout to shortstop, helping the Kats set the tone for the remainder of the night.
“They are competing really hard at the plate,” Deggs said. “I was proud of how we were able to put the ball in play. We hit too many fly balls, even though they were barreled up. We need to keep putting pressure on the defense. It's a new guy every night. Everyone has a job to do and that's what you're seeing right now.”
With SFA tallying one run each in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to cut their deficit to 6-3, Sam Houston senior Zach Smith stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh, driving a two-run, two-out double to left center, scoring Miles and Matt Broadbent, who each walked.
“He was over here like Pavlov's dog just salivating and we had already discussed a game plan before tonight,” Deggs said. “First spot where we could pinch hit, we were going with him. He was prepared and had a great mindset. He is a team guy. That allowed us to breathe a little bit.”
In a non-save but crucial situation in the ninth, right-hander Greg Belton slammed the door, striking out two while allowing one hit. SFA starter Erik Nois (1-3), who settled down after the second inning, was saddled with the loss, allowing 10 hits and seven runs while walking three and striking out two in 6 2-3 innings.
The squads return to the diamond Saturday for the middle game, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Bearkats, winners in 11 of the last 12 games, look to continue their upswing with right-hander Heath Donica (4-2, 4.03 ERA) taking the hill. He will be opposed by the Lumberjacks' Jarred Greene (4-1, 4.03 ERA).
“It was great to come out against your rival school and set the tone early,” Miles said. “That's a good team over there. They can really swing the bats so I have to credit the relief pitching that kept us in it. You're probably interviewing a different guy each night; it's not just one guy coming up with the big hit. That's a dangerous thing to have in conference.”
