HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston Bearkats fell behind early and could not make up the deficit in an 11-6 loss to Missouri State on Friday night at Don Sanders in the opening game of the 2025 season.
Missouri State (1-0) struck for three runs in the top of the first inning against Bearkat (0-1) starter Ryan Peterson, and although the sophomore did not allow another run in his 5.0 innings, the Bears eventually broke it open with five runs in the sixth on their way to the win.
Peterson struck out the side in that first inning, setting the stage for a career-high eight strikeouts in the game, but Carter Bergman's 3-run double with two outs in the opening frame held up long enough to tag Peterson with the loss.
Bergman's swing was the second of 10 extra-base hits for the Bears, and the second of eight doubles. He finished with three hits, along with teammate Nick Rodriguez, to lead the Missouri State offense.
On the mound, reliever Jake Syverson got the win with 1.1 scoreless innings of middle relief with three punchouts.
Hunter Autrey led thew way for the Sam Houston offense with a 3-for-4 night which included a 3-run homer in the ninth. Ty Marthilijohni added a pair of hits in addition to gunning down a pair of Bears on the bases.
He set the table earlier in the game for the Kats' first true threat of the evening, leading off the fourth inning with a bunt single and Brady Christensen followed with a 2-run blast to left-center field to trim the Bear lead to 3-2.
But the Kats could not add any more and the Bears opened things up with five more runs in the sixth off reliever Cam Diaz, upping the lead to 8-2. They added two more in the seventh before Sam Houston threatened again in the bottom half of the inning, but left the bases loaded and Missouri State eventually tacked on another in the top of the ninth ahead of Autrey's homer.
UP NEXT
The Kats and Bears will battle again on Saturday in a game that has been moved to a 6:00 p.m. first pitch at The Don due to the likelihood of poor weather in Huntsville earlier in the day. The game can be heard online via the Bearkat Sports Network.
