JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Sam Houston Bearkats scored six unanswered runs, but could not overcome and early deficit in an 9-6 loss to Jax State in the series opener on Friday night at Jim Case Stadium.
Hunter Autrey homered and finished with three RBI, and reliever Felix Schlede had a season-best seven strikeouts; however, Jax State (25-17, 8-8 CUSA) struck for six runs in the first and added two more in the second to stake itself to an 8-0 lead that turned out to be enough.
The start of the game was delayed two hours due to rain, but JSU got a solo home run from Drew Collins on the first pitch of the first inning and gave starter Jackson Phipps a big lead before the Kats (8-34, 2-14 CUSA) began to chip away.
Sam Houston plated three in the fourth, getting a 2-run single from Sam Lee to draw to within 8-3 and Autrey's 2-run homer an inning later trimmed the advantage to 8-5. Schlede, meanwhile, was in the midst of putting up 4.1 innings of relief to hold the Gamecocks where they were. Devin Bennett followed Schlede by throwing the final 3.0 innings, allowing only an unearned insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
The Kats got another back in the seventh on a sac fly from Autrey, but JSU turned to stopper Jackson Sleeper who retired all seven batters he faced to end the game and secure his fourth save of the year.
Gamecock reliever Karson Bonaparte got the win with 2.1 innings of relief of Phipps, moving his record to 3-2 on the year. Bearkat starter Noah Kendrick fell to 0-7 with the loss, allowing six runs in just 0.2 innings.
UP NEXT
The Kats will look to even the series on Saturday with sophomore righty Ryan Peterson on the mound. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. with the game to be aired on ESPN+.
