Bearkats Defeats Cougars 5-4

In front of a crowd of 1,244, the #20 Sam Houston State Bearkats baseball team defeated the Houston Cougars by the score of 5-4, improving their overall record to 26-10.

The Bearkats got their revenge as they had lost to the Cougars earlier in the season in Houston.

“The pitching was huge tonight,” right fielder Jake Arrington said. “They just threw strikes and we made plays when we needed to.”

The Cougars was looking to strike first in the top of the first inning when center fielder Landon Appling led off the game with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a ground out by short stop Chase Jensen. With two outs, starting pitcher Michael Oros issued walks to first baseman Codey Morehouse and catcher John Cannon to load the bases. But he got Jacob Lueneburg to ground out to second baseman Jesse Plumlee to end the inning.

The Bearkats took advantage of their opportunity and exploded for three runs in the bottom of the second inning that made it 3-0 on a RBI ground out by first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and a pair of RBI singles by Plumlee and left fielder Luke Plucheck.

Arrington led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a single by third baseman Kevin Miller.

The Cougars scored their first run in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 3-1 on a two out, RBI single by Codey Morehouse that scored left fielder Michael Pyeatt from second. Morehouse was thrown out at second to end the inning after trying to extend the single to a double.

A two out, RBI double by Runte in the top of the sixth inning chipped the Bearkat lead to 3-2.

With Runte on second base, it seemed as if the Cougars were going to tie the game, but right fielder Jake Arrington made a diving catch to rob third baseman Taylor White of a potential game tying base hit to end the threat.

“It was a great play based on positioning and how far he had to go,” head coach David Pierce said. “He really equated two runs for us tonight.”

The Cougars had another opportunity to tie the game when Appling was hit by a pitch by reliever Taylor Holt to lead off the top of the seventh inning.

Brandon Bergen came in relief of Holt and got the next three outs to get out of the jam.

“After the lead off hitter got hit by a pitch, Bergen was our choice because he can handle the running game and the bunting game,” coach Pierce said. “He really picked us up.”

Arrington hit a line drive home run to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the Bearkat lead to 4-2.

The Cougars did not go away as they cut the lead to 4-3 on a RBI ground out by designated hitter Jonathan Davis.

Runte followed with a walk with the go-ahead run coming to the plate.

Michael Burchett came in relief of Bergen and got pinch hitter Casey Grayson to fly out to end the inning.

“I just came in and threw strikes and let the defense do their work,” Burchett said.

The Bearkats added an insurance run in the bottom of the eight inning to increase the lead to 5-3 .

A one out, RBI single by Morehouse in the top of the ninth inning cut the Bearkat lead to 5-4. That was all that the Cougars would muster as Burchett settled down and got the final two outs to end the game.

“Any run in a close game like this is big,” Arrington said. “It was good for us to get another win out here.”

Oros went four innings and got his fifth win of the season. The Bearkats used four pitchers in relief with Burchett getting his fifth save of the season.

The Bearkats will carry their momentum on the road as they face McNeese State for a three-game weekend series that begins on Friday.