Bearkats Takes The First Game Of Crucial Series
A five-run explosion in the bottom of the second inning helped the Sam Houston State (SHSU) Bearkat baseball team take the first game of the series from Northwestern State Demons by the score of 5-4.
With the win, they have extended their first place lead in the Southland Conference with an 11-2 record (21-9 overall) while the Demons, who is second in the conference has an 9-3 record(12-15 overall).
The win also extended their win streak to 10 games.
“It’s a big to get the first win, especially when they are only one game behind,” reliever Brandon Bergen said. “If we had failed tonight, we would have been tied…..the win gave us a little breathing room.”
The Demons waste no time when centerfielder Drew Helenihi stole home to give them a 1-0 lead. Helenihi led off the game with a single and stole second base. With two outs, both Nick Hinojos and Will Watson were hit by pitches by starting pitcher Cody Dickson to load the bases.
They were looking to add more in the top of the second when designated hitter Matt Burns led off the inning with a walk. He advanced to second on an error by first baseman Ryan O’Hearn when he dropped the ball on a pick-off attempt by Dickson.
However, Dickson settled down and got the next three outs to end the Demon threat.
The Bearkats capitalized for five runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead by the score of 5-1.
O’Hearn scored from second base on a error by second baseman Ray Frias that allow right fielder Jake Arrington to reach first and third baseman Kevin Miller scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher John Hale. Arrington would later score the third run of the game on a RBI single by Colt Atwood that went up the middle of the field. Catcher Anthony Azar hit a two-out, two run single to left field that capped off the five run inning. O’Hearn led off the bottom of the second inning with a walk and advanced to second on a single by third baseman Kevin Miller.
Third baseman Ryan Westbrook hit a two out, RBI single in the top of the third inning to cut the Bearkat lead to 5-2.
They kept chipping away as they added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by Hinojos and Watson to bring the Demons within a 5-4 score.
Things got interesting in the top of the ninth inning when Helenihi appeared to be out at first base, but was called safe at first base by umpire Ricky Rodriguez to set up the potential tying run for the Demons. But Helenihi was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice that allowed Buckley to reach first.
Buckley stole second base to put himself in scoring position to tie the game. Reliever Michael Burchett walked Purdy to put the potential go-ahead run at first.
Burchett got Hinojos to get the second out and Hale thrown out Buckley at third to end the game.
“The pitch was in the dirt and I blocked it and Buckley took off,” Hale said. “I picked it up and threw to third and he was out…the game was over.”
Bergen threw 4 and 2/3 innings in relieve and got his first win of the season while starting pitcher Colin Bear took the loss. Burchett got his third save of the season.
The second game of the series begins at 6:30 p.m at Don Sanders Stadium on the campus of SHSU.
