Rice Gets Revenge On The Bearkats

by Cheval John

Earlier in the season, the Sam Houston State Bearkats went to the home field of Rice Owls and defeated  them by the score of 2-1.

With the rematch here at SHSU, the Bearkats were looking to sweep the season series against the Owls and make a case to the Selection Committee for an at-large bid in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, just in case they didn’t win the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament next week.

The Bearkats (34-17), who clinched the SLC regular season title on Sunday, did not accomplished the task as the Owls got their revenge and defeat the Bearkats by the score of 5-0.

“There’s a chance our RPI will get better after playing this game,” head coach David Pierce said. “We benefit tremendously if we win, but I don’t think it hurts our chances at all.”

The Owls (37-13) was looking to strike in the top of the first when Michael Fuda hit a lined single to left field that would have scored Ford Stainback from second. who led the game off with a walk.

However, Stainback was thrown out at home to avoid any damage.

It remained scoreless for two more innings before the Owls finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning when Perrott rip a single past third baseman Kevin Miller and shortstop Corey Toups that scored J. T. Chargois from third to make it 1-0.

The Bearkats had an opportunity to tie it in the bottom of the fourth when Miller hit a single to left field, but was picked off at first to extinguished the rally.

The Owls exploited that mistake and opened up the flood gates starting with Stringer’s two-out, two run single in the top of the sixth inning to tack on to their lead to 3-0.

They added two more runs in the top of the eight inning to increase their lead to 5-0.

The Bearkats best chance came in the bottom of the eight when Greg Olson led off with a single to right field.

Toups was hit by a pitch with one out to add more base runners. Colt Atwood followed with a walk to load the bases.

However, reliever Tyler Duffey strike out Plucheck and got Miller to fly out to end the threat.

Starting pitcher Andrew Benak went 7 2/3 innings and got his seventh win of the season while Dickson suffered his fourth loss of the season.

The Bearkats will finish the regular season on the road when they face the University of Central Arkansas this weekend.