Bearkats Loses First Game In NCAA Baseball Championships Houston Regional

by Cheval John

Houston, Texas- After striking for four runs in the top of the fifth inning to gain their first lead in the contest, it seemed as if the # 3 seeded Sam Houston State Bearkat baseball team was on their way to getting their first win in the NCAA Baseball Championships Houston Regional.

However, the # 2 seeded Arkansas Razorbacks had different ideas as they rebounded in the bottom of the seventh inning and scored three runs to regain the lead and eventually defeated the Kats by the score of 5-4.

Starting pitcher Caleb Smith threw 117 total pitches in 7 2/3 innings and held the Razorbacks at bay for most of the game.

But it wasn’t enough as Arkansas got key hits when it counted.

The trouble began in the bottom of the fourth inning when Matt Reynolds led off the inning with a double.

They added two more base runners on consecutive walks to Brian Anderson and Bo Bingham to load the bases.

A pair of sacrifice flies scored both Reynolds and Bingham to give the Razorbacks a 2-0.

It didn’t take long for the Bearkats to answer as they scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to lead it by the score of 4-2.

Luke Plucheck drove in their first run on a bases-clearing ground out to cut the lead to 2-1.

Anthony Azar followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2.

Then, Jake Arrington followed with a two-run triple to complete the four run rally.

For two innings, Smith kept the Razorbacks at bay as he retired six batters in a row.

Then the lead evaporated in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Razorbacks scored three runs on a two-run single by Tim Carver and an RBI ground out by Reynolds to take back the lead and win by the score of 5-4.

The Bearkats will try to avoid elimination tomorrow as they face Prarie View A&M Panthers at 1 p.m.

The Panthers lost a nail biter to regional host Rice in the nightcap by the score of 3-2.