Sam Houston State Bearkat baseball team axed Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks by the score of 5-2. The win gave the Bearkats a Southland Conference record of 1-0 (8-5 overall).

The Bearkats exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second to make it 4-0 on a two run home run by rightfielder Jake Arrington and a two-run single by leftfielder Luke Plucheck.

“The big second run inning was a big blow and Jake (Arrington) really got us going,” head coach David Pierce said.

The Lumberjacks scored their first run in the top of the third inning on a RBI single by Hunter Dozier that made the score 4-1.

The Bearkats add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning to increase their lead to 5-1.

The Lumberjacks scored their second run in the top of the ninth inning to cut the lead to 5-2. But by then, it was a little too late as the Bearkats went on to win by that final score.

Starting pitcher Cody Dickson went eight and 2/3 innings and got the win. He struck out eight batters, and gave up two runs on four hits and walked five.

“I thought Cody was outstanding tonight,” coach Pierce said. “He pitched well with both pitches and an occasional change-up. That is why he was able to go deep in the game.”

Starting pitcher Justin Choate went six innings for the Jacks and suffered the loss. He gave up four runs on ten hits.

The second game of the series will be tomorrow at Don Sanders Stadium. Game time was originally set to begin at 4 p.m., but it will start at 2 p.m.

Anthony Azar’s game-winning single in the bottom of the eight innings helped the Bearkats defeated the University of California-Riverside Highlanders by the score of 4-3 and to take 2 out 3 in the series.

The win gave the Bearkats an overall record of 6-5 for the season.

“I wanted to get any pitch that was around the zone that I could get a good swing on and just put the ball in play and get the run in,” Azar said.

The Highlanders had an opportunity to score in the top of the second inning when Bart Stephonovich drew a base on ball with two outs. However, Stephonovich was thrown out at second by Bearkat catcher Azar to end the threat

The Bearkats capitalized on that mistake and struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Kevin Miller hit a single up the middle that allowed Azar to score from second that made the score 1-0. Azar led off the inning with a double.

Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI single in the bottom of the third increased the Bearkat lead to 2-0. Colt Atwood reached first on a fielder’s choice and stole second base.

The Highlanders scored their first run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the Bearkat lead to 2-1 on a RBI single by Jake Gallaway that allowed Vince Gonzalez to score. Gonzalez walked in the top of the inning with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch by starting pitcher Caleb Smith. He reached third on a single by Cody Hough.

They scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead by the score of 3-2 on a RBI ground out by Eddie Young and a RBI single by Cody Hough. tunity to tie it in the top of the fifth when Bolasky led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Phil Holinsworth.

The Bearkats tied it at 3 on a RBI ground out by O’Hearn that scored Corey Toups. Toups led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and advanced to second on a bunt single by Atwood. A bunt single by Luke Plucheck loaded the bases.

The Highlanders had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning when
Clayton Prestridge singled in the top of the seventh inning with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch by reliever Michael Oros. Young walked to make it first and second. Gonzalez grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Plucheck led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a triple and scored the eventual game-winning run on Azar’s single with one out in the inning.

The highlight of the game came in the top of the ninth inning when Plucheck made a diving catch to rob pinch hitter Nick Vilter of a possible double and ended the hopes of the Highlanders from starting a rally in order to tie the game.

“I felt that I had a chance to get it, so I called for it,” Plucheck said. “When a pitcher is giving his all to win, the position players have to come through for him sometimes and I was just glad I was able to do that.”

He (Plucheck) got a lot of speed,” head coach David Pierce said. “He basically outranned the ball and timed his jump. He really save the day.”

Reliever Michael Oros went two innings and got the win. He struck out two batters and gave up a hit.

Highlander starting pitcher Trevor Frank pitched seven inning and suffered the loss. He gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out seven.

Smith went four and two-third innings for the Bearkats and got the no-decision. He struck out eight batters and gave up three runs on five hits.

The loss give the Highlanders an overall record of 4-6.

The Bearkats next game will be on Tuesday as they host Houston Baptist Huskies at Don Sanders Stadium. Game time is at 6:30 p.m.

Here is Plucheck’s catch that saved a double in the top of the ninth inning called by Derek Martin of the Bearkats Sports Network:

Sam Houston State Bearkat baseball team defeated the University of California-Riverside Highlanders by the score of 9-4. They are now 5-4 for the season.

“I thought we had some quality at-bats and because of that, we got some guys in scoring position and that counted in our favor,” head coach David Pierce said.

The Highlanders struck first in the top of the first inning on a solo home run by Phil Holinsworth to make it 1-0.

Kevin Miller’s RBI single tied the score at 1. Luke Plucheck reached first with one out in the bottom of the first on an error by thirdbaseman Cody Hough and advanced to second on a single by Anthony Azar.

The Highlanders answered in the top of the second when Eddie Young scored on a fielder’s choice that made it 2-1. Young led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Colt Atwood. He advanced to third on a bunt single by Cody Hough.

Jake Arrington scored on a sacrifice fly by Corey Toups that tied the game at 2. Arrington led off the bottom of the second inning with a double. He advanced to third on an error by starting pitcher Dylan Stuart when he tried to pick off Arrington at second base.

Miller’s RBI double in the bottom of the third gave the Bearkats a 3-2 lead.

The Bearkats scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth that made it 5-2 on a RBI single by Corey Toups’ and a sacrifice fly by Plucheck.

They added four runs in the bottom of the seventh to increase the lead to 9-2

The Highlanders scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut the Bearkat lead to 9-4 on a RBI triple by Holinsworth and an RBI single by Clayton Prestridge.

Starting pitcher Cody Dickson went seven innings and got his first win for the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out one.

“Coach Pierce stressed that we had to come out with a lot of energy and I think we did that well tonight,” Miller said.

Stuart went 6 1/3 innings and suffered the loss.

Game two of this three game series will be tomorrow at Don Sanders Stadium. Game time is at 4 p.m.