Bearkats 3-Toreros 2
Luke Pluckeck’s (1-1) game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Sam Houston State (SHSU) Bearkats a 3-2 win over the University of San Diego Toreros.
Plucheck pinched-run for leftfielder Hayden Simerly (0-1) in the bottom of the eight inning.
“I was lucky enough to bring it to a 3-2 count, so I was looking for a fastball,” Plucheck said. “I kept my hands in and drive it through.”
The win was the first under new head baseball coach David Pierce, who took over after Mark Johnson retired last year.
“I am proud of the guys because they fought back and never gave in,” coach Pierce said. “We earned that win.”
The Toreros struck first in the top of the third on a single by Corey LeVier (3-4) that scored Bryan Haar (1-4) to make it 1-0. Haar singled with two outs in the inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. He stole third base that allowed him to score.
The Bearkats couldn’t get anything going as starting pitcher Paul Sewald had a no-hitter going for six innings.
Julian Duran’s (3-4) two-out RBI double in the top of the sixth inning to increase the lead to 2-0.
The Bearkats tied the game at two in the bottom of the eight inning on catcher John Hale’s (2-4) two-out two run single to right field. Hale broke up the no-hitter in the seventh inning with an infield single.
“I was trying to get a pitch to hit because I knew that a single would score two,” Hale said.
Thirdbaseman Kevin Miller’s (2-4) double with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and scored the game-winning run on Plucheck’s single.
Reliever Michael Oros went three innings and got the win while Toreros reliever James Pazos got the loss.
Starting pitcher Cody Dickson went three and one-third innings, giving up a run and five hits. He struck out two while Sewald got the no-decison.
The final game of the series will be tomorrow at Don Sanders Stadium on the campus of SHSU. Game time is at 1 p.m. For more information on the team, visit gobearkats.
Here are the two hits that gave the Bearkats their first win of the season called by Jason Barfield, play-by-play announcer for Bearkat Sports Network:
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