Bearkats Takes SLC Title With Series Win Over The Lions

by Cheval John

The Southeastern Louisiana Lions was fighting for a shot at the Southland Conference regular season title.

Coming into the series with the Sam Houston State Bearkats, who are first in the Southland Conference, they were a mere three games behind the Bearkats and was hoping for a three game sweep  against the Bearkats.

They took the first game of the double-header by the score of 3-2, but lost in the second game by the same result of 3-2.

The Bearkats came out today in the rubber match and snuff out their dreams as they defeated the Lions by the score of  8-3.

With the win, the Bearkats clinched the SLC regular season title, their first since 1989.

“We really don’t have any superstars….the most gratifying thing is how they really came together,” Bearkat head coach David Pierce said.

“They want to win and what we try to do is build it up in their heads and let them know that they can compete with anybody and beat anybody at any time,” assistant coach Philip Miller said.

“I think they have adopted to that and have done a good job.”

The Bearkats waste no time in the bottom of the first inning  as they exploded for three runs to take the lead by the score of 3-0.

Kevin Miller hit a two-run single past a diving Ben Hernandez that scored Colt Atwood and Luke Plucheck that made it 2-0.

Colt Atwood led off the bottom of the inning with a single and advanced to third on a double by Luke Plucheck.

Miller scored the third run of the game on a wild pitch by reliever Kaleb Manuel.

He advanced to second when Ryan O’Hearn was hit by a pitch to keep the momentum going.

Both runners advanced to second and third, respectively on a sacrifice bunt by Jesse Plumlee.

Jake Arrington was hit by a pitch to load the bases that allowed Miller to score on the wild pitch.

The Lions was looking to respond in the top of the second inning when Jonathan Pace led off with a double.

He advanced to third on a fly out by Cody Gougler.

However, he would remain on third as starting pitcher Michael Oros struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

“He(Oros) is an everyday grinder,” coach Pierce said. “He went out there and pitch his butt off.”

The flood gates opened up for the Bearkats as they added four more runs in the bottom of the second inning to increase their lead to 7-0.

A sacrifice fly by Miller, a two-run single by Jake Arrington and a error by Lions shortstop Hernandez accounted for the four runs in the inning for the Bearkats .

Greg Olson‘s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth increased the Bearkat lead to 8-0.

The Lions ended their scoring drought and scored three runs in the top of the eight inning to cut the lead to 8-3.

Hernandez lined an RBI single to right field that made it 8-1.

One batter later, Jonathan Pace hit a two-run single to complete the Lions’s three run inning.

That would be all they would muster as they run out of gas in the top of the ninth inning and conceded the game and the title to the Bearkats.

Oros went seven total innings and got his seventh win of the season.

The Bearkats’ final home game of the season comes on Tuesday against nationally ranked Rice Owls, before they go on the road to face Central Arkansas this weekend to close out the season.

About Cheval John

Cheval John is the Founder and CEO of Vallano Media, LLC, a marketing agency which helps small to mid-sized businesses use social media correctly to build a loyal following and in the process become more profitable. Cheval is also the host of "What's The Word?" a podcast about finding out what inspires people to choose their respective careers and how social media impacted their lives and business. He is the author of two books including the Amazon Best-Seller, "8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn." He has spoken at Social Media Week Lima in Ohio and at Social Media Day Houston 2017 about topics around live streaming and podcasting. Cheval has been featured in media outlets including Ebony Magazine, Social Media Today and Forbes. He was named a Houston Top 25 Social Media Power Influencer (2016 and 2017) and a Twitter Top 50 Influencer by Onalytica in 2018.

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