Arkansas State Steals First Game Of Series From Bearkats

By Cheval John

Pinch-hitter Ryan Robert’s go-ahead, game-winning two-run single in the top of the ninth inning gave Arkansas State Seawolves a 5-3 victory over Sam Houston State Bearkats in the first of the three-game series on Friday night.

Though both teams left 10 men on base, the Bearkat pitching staff walked 9 Arkansas State batters in that put them in a difficult position to win.

“When you walk nine guys, you always going to get beat,” coach David Pierce said. “The bullpen didn’t do a very good job tonight.”

Seawolves reliever Chandler Hawkins pitched two innings in relief and got the win.

But starter John Koch was in command of his pitches and went after the strike zone with his change up and fast ball that kept Arkansas State (7-2) in the game.

“He (Koch) just pounded the zone. … He’s very competitive, managed the game well.” Pierce said.

The Seawolves struck first in the top of the third inning after third baseman Claude Johnson issued a bases-loaded walk to score Stuart Levy from third to make it 1-0.

Carter Burgess’s two out, two-run double to left field in the bottom of the third inning gave the Bearkats a 2-1 lead.

Luke Plucheck drew a walked with two outs.

Atwood followed with a walk to put runners on first and second and both later scored on Burgess’ double.

Arkansas State had opportunities to tie the game in the top of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and every time, the Bearkats found a way to get out of those jams.

The Bearkats (4-5) got that critical third run when Ryan Farney scored from second on an error by Johnson to increase their lead to 3-1.

It seemed as if SHSU was out of the woods, but the Seawolves found a way to get back in the game in the top of the eighth when pinch-hitter Ryan Roberts hit a two out, two-run single to right field to tie the game at 3.

Zach George led off the ninth inning with an infield single. The play was as close as it gets as he just barely beat the throw., but in the process went down with an injury.

Austin Baker pinch ran and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dustin Jones. He advanced to third on a wild pitch by Jason Simms, who suffered the loss for the Kats.

Logan Uxa and Johnson was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs.

Then Robertson hit the go-ahead, two run single to right field that brought in Baker and Uxa for the 5-3 lead.

Things got interested in the bottom of the ninth when Atwood issued a walk with one out after coming back from 0-2 on the count.

Though Burgess struck out for the second out, Ryan O’Hearn kept the inning alive by issuing a walk to bring the potential game-winning run in Spence Rahm.

Rahm hit a sharp grounder that would have went into the left field, but Johnson made a diving stop to his left and threw Rahm out by a margin to end the game.

“He (Rahm) had a good swing down the line, but Johnson made a good play,” Atwood said.

Bearkat starter Caleb Smith went 6 1/3 innings and got the no-decision with 9 strike outs and one earned run given up.

The Bearkats (4-5) have been close in every contest this season.

Even with a tough loss, they are aiming to regroup and get better for tomorrow’s game.

“We had a lot of close games,” center fielder Colt Atwood, who went 2 for 2 with three walks said, “We’ve been in every game that’s for sure. We haven’t been blown out but we got to get back to work.”