BEAUMONT – The Sam Houston State baseball program set the tone early and bounced back late at Lamar but ultimately it would not be enough. The Cardinals scored three runs in the eighth, downing Sam Houston 9-8 in the opener Friday night.
“I liked the way we played tonight,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs. “It didn't go our way. We don't have time to bleed. We'll come back out here tomorrow ready to go. That's a good ballclub over there and they're an older veteran group. We threw the first lick and they did a good job. It was a good fight.”
Sam Houston's Robie Rojas seemingly stole the show, finishing 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs. The catcher put the Bearkats ahead 7-6 with a bloop RBI single to right in the seventh before a well-executed hit and run added another for a two-run advantage.
“Robie is getting better and better,” Deggs said. “He made a couple of adjustments this last week and I like the way he's swinging the bat. All of the hitters grinded and competed tonight against good arms.”
The Bearkats (31-19, 19-6 SLC) jumped out on the Cardinals in the first, pounding Lamar starter Will Hibbs for four hits including a two-run home run from Rojas, his third this season. The homer followed a near miss from Andrew Fregia, who belted an RBI double off the wall in left center.
“We're watching a guy that is going to get better and better,” Deggs said of Fregia. “I am proud of the way he works and proud of the way he goes about his business. He's one of the hardest workers we've got. He is a very talented player and that is a good combination.”
With a 4-0 lead, Sam Houston poured on another in the second. Bryce Johnson added his second infield single in as many innings, following a Mac Odom infield hit. After a run-down cost the Bearkats an out, Riley McKnight delivered with a bunt single to plate Odom.
The Cardinals (32-15, 17-8 SLC) struck back for four in the third and another pair in the fourth to tie the game at six. Lamar's Trey Silvers belted a two-run homer in the fourth, leading the charge with a 2-for-3 performance that included four RBIs and two runs.
The squads each produced 12 hits, marking the 24th time this season the Bearkats have recorded double-digits. Johnson went 3 for 5 with an RBI and run scored in the leadoff spot, marking his team-leading 25th multi-hit game this season and sixth three-hit performance.
Sam Houston starter Heath Donica went six innings, including four scoreless despite a shaky third and fourth. The right-hander struck out eight, moving his season total to 70, just 12 shy of moving into the program's top 10 totals for a season.
“I can't say enough about Heath Donica and the effort he gave us tonight,” Deggs said. “It's tough to get hit and punched like that and respond. I thought he did a great job of settling in, throwing up two more zeroes and letting us come back and take the lead there.”
Reliever Miles Manning (4-3) was saddled with the loss. The right-hander fanned a pair to keep the Cardinals off the board in the seventh before the squad rallied in the eighth. Lamar reliever Travis Moore (3-2) earned the win, holding the Kats hitless over the final 2 1-3 innings.
“We went our formula we've used all year that has been rock solid,” Deggs said. “We just didn't finish tonight. That being said, we'd go right back to Miles tomorrow. We'll get it done tomorrow. Our mission is to come back tomorrow, even it up and get it done on Sunday.”
The squads return to action Saturday for the middle game at 2 p.m. Sam Houston sends right-hander Riley Gossett (6-0, 2.76 ERA) to the mound. The freshman will look to keep alive the Bearkats' streak of seven-straight conference series wins.
