HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston handed Houston a 9-3 thumping to take game one of the Don Sanders Cup on Tuesday at Don Sanders Stadium.
The Bearkats (16-10) and Cougars (12-13) will play game two at Houston on April 11 then close out the series on May 16 at Constellation Field in Sugarland.
Sam Houston exploded for six runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead.
Tyler Davis walked to lead off the inning and moved to third on a single through the right side by
Easton Loyd.
Clayton Chadwick hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the first run.
Myles Jefferson doubled down the left field line, and
Carlos Contreras walked to load the bases.
Joe Redfield followed with a two-run single, and
Justin Wishkoski and
Walker Janek drove in the other two runs with back-to-back singles coupled with a throwing error.
That was plenty of support for starter
Marshall Wales. He scattered three hits over five innings to go with four strikeouts to improve to 1-2 on the season.
The Bearkats added two more runs in the fourth after the Cougars finally got on the board in the third.
Contreras opened the frame with a single and moved to second on passed ball. After he advanced to third on a groundout, Wishkoski walked and stole second to set up consecutive RBI singles by Janek and Davis to make it 8-1.
Sam Houston returns to WAC play when New Mexico State comes to Huntsville for a three-game series Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
