HUNTSVILLE – The home opener for the Sam Houston Bearkats went just as scripted as Jay Sirianni's squad dropped UTSA, 4-2, on Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
 
Jack Rogers delivered three doubles and starting pitcher Tyler Davis allowed just one run in 5.0 innings for the win before handing it over to the bullpen for the final 4.0 frames.
 
The Kats (1-1) got a run in the first and added two more in the fourth for what would prove to be all the offense they would need. UTSA (0-1), meanwhile, was playing their first game of the season and could not get starting pitcher Luke Malone out of the fourth inning as he was saddled with the loss.
 
Rogers became the first Bearkat since 2016 to pick up a trio of 2-baggers in a game, his first giving the Kats a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. He ignited a fourth-inning rally with a leadoff double in the fourth, coming in to score on the first of two singles by Blake Faecher in the game.
 
Gavin Johnson also added a 2-out RBI single in that inning and Christian Smith picked up an RBI in the fifth on a ground ball.
 
Davis, meanwhile, used 81 pitches to navigate his 5.0 innings, allowing just four hits with four strikeouts for the win. Tanner Sembera made his Bearkat debut and tossed 2.2 frames out of the bullpen with a pair of strikeouts before handing it off to Hayden Collins who got the final out of the eighth inning.
 
The save went to Alex Havlicek, who struck out a pair, but allowed a pair of extra-base hits, including a homer to Austin Ochoa, before shutting UTSA down with the tying run at the plate.
 
The Kats will try to clinch the series on Saturday with a noon contest at The Don. Lefty Matt Dillard is set to get the start with the game to be aired on KSHU 90.5 FM.